UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA %\t Wnm of SSBilliam ronttrniag km tU ilmmnmt, TOGETHER WITH tin ity <§8W$, Qobf[t tjt §ob$t, Smtnbum Wiit tt Qtzauix, BY WILLIAM LANGLAND. (1377 A.D.) EDITED FROM MS. LAUD MISC. 581, COLLATED WITH MS. RAWL. POET. 38, MS. B. 15. 17. IN THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MS. Dd. 1.17. IN THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, THE MS. IN ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD, MS. BODLEY 814, ETC. I5Y THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FFLLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. THE "CROWjVEY' M3EB ; OH TK7.1 Z\ LONDON : PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TBUBNEE & CO., 60, PATEENOSTEE EOW. MDCCCLXIX. 53520 I t t c c* t • 38 JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS. \. ZO) CONTENTS. Preface II. § 1. The five shapes of the Poem. § 2. Com pletion of the A-text. § 3. Date of the B-text. § 4 Anachronisms. § 5. Description of MSS. xn. Dublin D 4 12 (described in the foot-note) ; xm. MS. L; xiv. MS. E xv. MS. W; xvi. MS. Y; xvn. MS. Ashburnham 129 xviii. MS. ; xix. MS. C2 ; xx. MS. Ashburnham 130 xxi. Camb. Univ. Lib. Gg. 4. 31 ; xxn. MS. C ; xxm. MS B; xxiv. Addit. 10574; xxv. Cotton Calig. A. xi; xxvi Corpus (Oxford) 201 ; xxvu. Caius 201. § 6. Description of the printed editions. § 7. Character of the B-text. § 8 Allusions in the B-text. § 9. Dialect of the B-text. § 1 0, Method of printing the Text. § 11. Method of printing the foot-notes. § 1 2. Explanation of the side-notes. § 1 3 Argument of the poem (B-text) Prologue to Piers the Plowman (230 lines) Passus I. (207 lines) ... Passus II. (236 lines) Passus III. (349 lines) Passus IV. (195 lines) Passus V. (651 lines) ... Passus VI. (332 lines) Passus VII. (200 lines) Passus VIII. , or Prologue to Dowel (126 lines) PAGE 1 11 21 32 48 57 93 111 125 CONTENTS. Passus IX., or Passus I. de Dowel (206 lines) ... Passus X., or Passus II. de Dowel (474 lines) Passus XL, or Passus III. de Dowel (431 lines) ... Passus XII. , or Passus IV. de Dowel (293 lines) Passus XIII., or Passus V. de Dowel (460 lines) Passus XIV., or Passus VI. de Dowel (332 lines) Passus XV., or Prologue to Dobet (601 lines) ... Passus XVI., or Passus I. de Dobet (275 lines) ... Passus XVII., or Passus II. de Dobet (350 lines) Passus XVIII., or Passus III. de Dobet (431 lines) Passus XIX., or Prologue to Dobest (478 lines) Passus XX., or Passus I. de Dobest (384 lines) ... Critical Notes "A Short Glossary" PAGE 132 143 168 192 210 235 254 288 303 322 344 367 387 421 PEEFACE II. TEXT B. § 1. I have said (Pref. I. § 2) that the poem of Piers the Plowman assumes five different shapes in the various MSS. Three of these are due to the author himself, who altered, added to, and re-wrote the poem twice over, so that we find MSS. of the " Vernon " type, or Type A, which is the earliest version ; of the " Crowley " type, or Type B, the second version ; and of the " Whitaker " type, or Type C, the latest. The fourth shape is the mixture of A- and C- texts, as exhibited in the Trinity MS. R. 3. 14 (described in vol. i. p. xviii.), Harl. 6041 (described at p. xx. of the same volume), and MS. Digby 145 (described at p. xxiv.), and has already been commented on in describing the Trinity MS. The fifth shape is a combination of B- and C-texts, and will be discussed presently ; see the description of MS. ~No. xxiii. in §*5, below. Besides these, certain MSS. present forms of the poem which can be reduced to no particu- lar class, but are simply the result of still further confusion and corruption. It is unnecessary to specify them here, because the descriptions of the various MSS. enter fully into such details. § 2. I much regret that the former volume, as published, was incomplete. No MS. of the A-class had at that time been observed to contain more than eleven Passus ; with the single exception noted at p. 154 of that volume, where a fragment of eighteen hues of what seemed to be a twelfth Passus was printed from the MS. in University College, Oxford. But fortunately this note of mine led to the discovery by Mr Geo. Parker, assistant in the Bodleian library, of another MS. (Eawl. Poet. 137), which contained the whole of the 11 TREFACE II. — TEXT B. twelfth Passus and rendered the A-text complete. This is now printed, on the pages numbered 137* to 144*, in such a manner that these pages can be easily inserted between pp. 136 and 137 of vol. L, thus completing that volume at last. A full description of the Eawlinson MS., together with remarks upon this final Passus, will be found on p. 142*. DATE OP THE B-TEXT. § 3. It will be well, perhaps, to say a few words here about the date of the B-text, in addition to what has been said already (vol. i. p. xxxii.) ; for I believe that I now see some reason for placing the date even a little later than I have placed it already. I now prefer the date 1377 to 1376, and proceed to adduce my reasons. In the first place, I must say a few more words about the passage which mentions John Chichester. 1 The argument that this refers to the year 1370 is now vastly strengthened. It is not only the Laud MS. which has the reading "tweis 2 thretty & ten" in Pass. xiii. 270, but we find the same reading in the Eawlinson MS. ; and since these two, and the one printed by Mr Wright, are alone of the first authority, we have thus two witnesses as against one. But there is another point which is of great weight. In contrasting Langland's statement, that Chichester was mayor in 1370, with Fabyan's statement, that he was mayor in 1369, I unfortunately concluded that it was Langland, not Fabyan, who was in error. I am rejoiced to find, after more careful examination, that the error lies exactly the other way. There is a singular fault in Fabyan's numbering of the regnal years of Edward III., which seems not to have been hitherto mil iced. He actually omits the sixth year of Edward's reio-n altogether, making the seventh year follow the fifth; and hence arises a confusion throughout the whole of the remainder of the reign, resulting in his being always a year wrong. 3 One singular conse- opience is that he talks of the fifty-second year of that King's rei^n, 1 See p. 225 of this volume. 2 Sic in MS. ; " twies " is a better spelling. The line, as quoted in note 2, p. xxxii. of vol. i., is not spelt exactly us in the MS. 3 See Fabyan's Chronicles, ed. Ellis ; pp. 441, 442, &c. Sir II. Ellis should have corrected this blunder. See my letter in " Xotes and Queries," 4th S. iv. 152. PREFACE II. — TEXT B. hi when it is well known that he only reigned fifty years and a few months. After applying this correction, the result is that Chichester was not elected mayor till October, 1369, so that in April, 1370, he was of course mayor still. And this i'act is corroborated by a statement in Eiley's Memorials of London (p. 344), where we read — " Afterwards, on the 25th day of April in the year above-mentioned [1370], it was agreed by John de Chichestre, Mayor," &c. Besides which, Chichester was never re-elected, nor was there at any time whatever another mayor of the same name. And, since Langland thus turns out to be quite right in his date, we may take it upon his authority that the said April was " a dry April." For though it is not recorded as having been such, it is very probable that it was so, when we consider the excessive rains of the preceding autumn. "And in this yere [1369] was the thirde mortalytie, wherof dyed moche people, and suche a morayne fyll also amonge beestes that the lyke therof was nat seen many yeres before ; and vpon y* ensuyd suche excessyvenes of rayne that come was therwith drowned in y e erthe, and so bukkyd with water, that the yere ensuynge [1370] whete was at .xkl a busshell." ' — Fabyan's Chronicles, ed. Ellis, 1811 ; p. 480. Langland is clearly right about the date of the mayoralty and the dearth ; and the previous excessive rains render it probable that he is right about the drought also. Further than this, Tyrwhitt Las sheAvn that the fable of the cat and the rattons in the prologue points to a date at least as late as 1376, 2 " when Richard was become heir- apparent ; " but I would place it a year later, for these three reasons. First, the fable is of still more force if we suppose Richard to have already ascended the throne, and there is a direct allusion to his accession in the very curious line — "Ac resoun shal rekene with 30W yif I regne any while : " Pass. iv. 177 — which line, it is very important to observe, is not in the A-text, for the sufficient reason that Edward III. had already reigned a long while when that former version was composed. 1 Cf. " J>ere was a earful comune whan no carte come to toune With bake bred fro stretforth, &c. ; " Pass. xiii. 236. 2 See p. xxxiii. note 1, in Preface I. IV PREFACE II. TEXT B. Secondly, the introduction of the extraordinary passage (Pass. iii. 299 — 349), about a time of jubilee or millennium, seems to me to have been directly suggested by the proclamation of a jubilee by Edward III. in February, 1377, because he had more than completed fifty regnal years. It is not often that a monarch has the chance of making such a proclamation, and it must have excited much interest. This passage, be it also noted, is not in the A-text. Thirdly, in the fable of the cat and the rattons, we have to make out who is meant by the cat. The kitten is clearly Richard II., and history tells us that the cat, i. e. the powerful lord against whom the commons were so enraged, was John of Gaunt, who was said to have exercised undue influence over the young king. It was in 1377 that public opinion first expressed itself strongly on this point, and the outcry was so great that the duke had to clear himself how he could, and this he did in a speech the substance of which is still preserved, and which was spoken on the 13th of October in that year. See Lingard's History of England, ed. 1825 ; vol. iv. p. 224. There are two other allusions that require a short notice. There are several references to pestilences, and we know that the allusion to " Jjise pestilences" in Pass. v. 13 (both in A-text and B-text) is to the pestilences of 1349 and 1362 ; but when "the pestilence" is mentioned in B. xiii. 248 in close connection with a reference to the mayoralty of Chichester a few years previously, we may fairly conclude that the pestilence meant ivS that of 1376. Sometimes only three great pestilences are reckoned, viz. those of 1349, 1362, and 1369 ; but some writers reckon a fourth, in 1376, and it seems to have been a severe one. Thus Fabyan says of it — " In this .1. yere [read xlix yere], fyl many wonderfull sykenesses amonge the people, whereof y' : people dyed wonderly faste as well in Italye as in Englawde ; amonge the whiche dyed sir Edwarde called the lorde Spencer, a man of great fame, whose body was enteryd at Teukesbury. And for this mortalytie was so sharpe and sodayne, pope Gregory beforenamed grauwted of his goodnesse to suche as were contrite and (■"iifessyd, clene remyssion of theyr synnes ; the whiche indulgence contynued in Englande by the fcerme of .vi. monethes."— Fabyan, ed. Ellis, p. 485. This grant of the pope's seems to be the very thing PREFACE II. TEXT B. v alluded to in the line discussed, and in 1. 246 just above it, where Haukyn says that all that the pope sent him was " a pardoun with a peys of led." The other allusion is in Pass. xv. 80, 81. " Go to be glose of be verse $e grete clerkes ; If I lye on 30W to my lewed witte ledeth me to brennynge ! " On this Dr Whitaker remarks, at p. xxxii. of his preface to the poem, that this is "an allusion to the statute empowering the diocesan alone to commit heretics to the flames, which was enacted in the second of Henry Fourth." I cannot admit this for a moment ; it is contrary to all the other evidence, and it is almost certain that at least some of the MSS. which contain the passage are absolutely older than 1400. Langland's expression is a very natural one, if he thought that his being burnt for heresy was a not impossible event. It is quite startling enough to find your neighbour's house on fire, still more so to find that your neighbour himself is being burnt. They did such things in France long before the year 1400. Two Minorite Friars were burnt at Avignon a. d. 1354, " pro quibusdam erroneis opinionibus, prout Domino Papse et Cardinalibus suis videbatur." — Tlionue "Walsingham Historia, ed. Piley, i. 278. On the other hand, I would not place the date of the B-text later than 1377 (or at the very latest, 1378). It is something to have shewn that it was written fifteen years later than the date com- monly received, and it seems unnecessary to go further. The argu- ment which most weighs with me is tins, viz. that if it had been in hand in September, 1378, or a little after that, I cannot see how Langland could possibly have refrained from at least one allusion to the schism of the popes, the event which so animated Wycliffe. Instead of which, the nearest and only approach to a hint of anything of the kind is in Pass. xiii. 174 — " Can nou^t confourmen a pees bytwene be pope and his enemys " — which is too mild an expression for the occasion. 1 Hence I assume 1377 as the exact date. § 4. Anachronisms. It must be remembered that one effect of 1 I do not think it follows that we are to find an allusion to the " schism " in the C-text ; that may have heen written when the novelty of it had worn off. Whether the C-text contains such an allusion or not, I cannot as yet positively say. VI PREFACE II. — TEXT B. the double revision of the poem by its author has been to introduce occasional anachronisms. Thus, when the poet speaks of Eeason being set on the bench between the king and his son (A. iv. 32), lie of course refers to Edward III. and the Black Prince, as the remark was made in 1362; but when the line is allowed to stand without change in the later versions, as occurring in a part of the poem which was not very much altered, the allusion is lost, and it can only be taken as a general expression signifying that Eeason was placed in a seat of dignity. Again, the allusion to the accession of Eichard II. in the words " ^If I regne any while " is of less force when retained in the C-text than when first composed and inserted in the B-text. Hence, in considering the chronology of any passage, we must be care- ful to ascertain in which version of the poem the given passage first appeared. § 5. DES RIPTION OF THE MSS. XIII. 1 MS. Laud Misc. 581, in the Bodleian Library, Oxford ; de- noted throughout this volume by the letter L, and used to form text 1 Eleven MSS. have been already described. The descriptions of MSS. I. — X. are in vol. i. pp. xv. — xxiv.; and the description of MS. XI. in vol. i. also, at p. 142*. The twelfth MS. must be described here in a footnote, as it turns out to belong to the A-class. XII. MS. D. 4. 12 in Trinity College, Dublin. This is a paper MS., the size of the page being about 8£ inches by 5, and each page contains about 30 lines. The margins of some of the leaves are a good deal worn, and in some places slips have been inserted on which the text (apparently the same) has been rewritten. A frag- ment of the Romance of Alexander the Great is in the latter part of the volume. The last fragment resembles the Alliterative Romance printed by Mr Stevenson for the Roxburghe Club, 1849 ; in a note to which edition, at p. ii., Mr Stevenson thus describes the Dublin MS. " It is a small quarto volume, written upon paper towards the end of the fifteenth century. It contains a copy of the Visions [read Vision] of Piers Plouhman, which ends imperfectly in the Seventh Passus. The Romance of Alexander then follows, commencing with 1. 678 of our text [i. c. of the text in MS. Ashmole 44], and ends with the line 3426. This fragment consists therefore of 2748 [2749 r] lines. I am indebted for my acquaintance with it to the kindness of Sir F. Madden." The copy of Piers the Plowman in this MS. ends at 1. 45 of Pass, vii., and is contained on 26 leaves. An analysis of the Prologue shews that it bears a tolerably close resemblance to MS. TJ (A-text), and a still closer resem- blance to MS. Rawl. Poet. 137, described at p. 142* of vol. i. But it has certain variations and additions which extend the Prologue to 124 lines. After 1. 54 of the Prologue it inserts the four lines following : Persons with jjair pnmianses permutyn bair cherches, With al be besynes of bair body • be hotter to haue, PREFACE II. TEXT B. Vll B. This MS. is of strong vellum, and contains 94 leaves, of which one at the beginning and. two at the end. are blank. The remaining 91 leaves are entirely occupied by the poem here printed. The size of each leaf is about 10£ by 7\ inches, and it contains about 40 lines on each page. The poem is divided into sections or paragraphs, each of these being separated from the one following it by a blank space. At the beginning of each section is the mark ^[, painted blue. The initial letters of each Passus are also painted blue, and neatly flour- ished with red. The ink is of a pale light brown, in some places faded, but always distinctly legible. There are a few marginal notes by the scrihe, such as "nota" opposite Pass. i. 146, a red hand oppo- site iii. 323, the names of the seven deadly sins in Pass, v., the words " Indulgentia Petri" opposite vii. Ill, the words "quid est caritas" opposite xv. 145, and the quotation beginning " Fumws, &c," quoted in the footnote on p. 319. There are also a few glosses over words, which have been printed wherever they occur. Besides these, there are several marginal notes by later hands, none of which are of any value, excepting the remark opposite xv. 148 — "nofa. the name of thauctowr." Nearly all the Latin words and quotations have a red line drawn round them. Just above the first line of the poem we find in red letters, nearly obliterated, the title " Incipit Liber de Petro Plowman." ' At the bottom of the first page is written — " Liber Gulielmi Laud, Archiepi Cantuar : et Cancellarij Vniuersitatis Oxofi. 1633." At the top of the first page is loosely scribbled — " . . Eobart Langeland, borne by malverne hilles." At the end are the names of former owners — " Baffe Coppynges. Mem. y* I haue lent to Nicholas brighom the pers ploughman w ch I borowed of M. Le of Addyng- Vicars on fele halue fandyn bairn to Done, Ledcrs J?ai ben of lovcdays & with be la we mellyth. The first pair of lines I do not remember to have seen before ; the last pair agree with the extra lines in MS. Rawl. Poet. 137. There are two extra lines also aftei 1. 83, resembling B. prol. 112, 113; and ten extra lines after 1. 95, answering to the passage in B. prol. 92 — 99, but in some places bearing a closer resemblance to the C-text. Line 58 is omitted, and 11. 96 and 97 transposed so as to follow 1. 89. For the information enabling n.e to give this analysis, I am indebted to Professor Dowden of Dublin. 1 The Bodleian Catalogue says " Petre Plowman" merely, but the whole tille can bj read, in strong: sunlight. Vlll PREFACE II. TEXT B. ton." — " Liber Kic. Johnson." — " In desire specie is tariaunce. Jon Thynne."— " T. Long of Dorchester." On the back of the last fly- leaf is scribbled — " Amongest all other take hede of one thinge, In othere mennes matters make lyttle medling." I also subjoin a list of catchwords, as they sometimes differ in spelling from the words in the text. Fol. 8 b. As auoutrie and deuoses (sic). Fol. 16 b. $if je bidden boxomnesse. Fol. 24 b. Ne none of here semantz. Fol. 32 b. To pwrehace 30W pardouw. Fol. 40 b. But )ms it bilongeth to bileue. Fol. 48 b. And as I cast vp niyn eyen. Fol. 56 b. For eche a mayde \>at he mette. Fol. 64 b. For I haue seyne hym in silke. Fol. 72 b. And as we went ]>us in J?e weye. Fol. 80 b. And I jjat am kynge. Fol. 88 b. That couetise were cristene. I look upon this MS. as of the very highest importance. My original reason for printing it was that it seemed to me, after a short examination, much upon a par with the MS. printed by Mr Wright, and I considered that, supposing the MSS. to be of nearly equal value, it would be a great gain to print the imprinted one, in order to have two complete copies of the poem in type. I began my collation with no very great respect for the MS., and was ready to amend it wherever it seemed to have inferior readings. But when, in several instances, after making some such alterations, larger knowledge com- pelled me to alter them back again, the case was altered. The con- viction was gradually forced upon me that the MS. is of the highest order of excellence, and the chief authority upon all difficult points. When, in certain somewhat doubtful places, after consulting the other MSS. of the B-class, the A-text, Whitaker's text, Crowley's text, the Cotton MS. of the C-text, &c, I found this Laud MS. helping me out of the difficulty for about the twentieth time, I felt compelled to pay to it all due respect. But the circumstance that most attracted my attention was the occurrence of numerous little crosses made by a cor- PREFACE II. TEXT B. IX rector's hand in the margin. Wherever a word is misspelt or some other error, even of quite a trivial nature, occurs in the text, so surely (except very rarely) do we find the corrector's mark. In a few cases the correction has heen actually made (in one case in red ink or paint), but not in general. Sometimes it is very difficult to make out why the cross is there, and the corrector seems to have been very particular. But these small crosses are not all. There are also some large crosses made by very fine thin lines, in the same faded ink as the text, the meaning of which I believe to be that they mark passages winch the author intended to alter, and, in every case, actually did alter, viz. in the C-text. There are also very small ticks against some lines, for what reason I cannot explain. 1 On the whole, I cannot see any reason why we should not attribute these marks to the author himself, as this seems by far the simplest solution. There is no doubt about the age of the MS. ; it may have been written at any time between the years 1377 and 1410. Indeed, it may be an autograph copy, as Langland was very probably himself a poor professional scribe, and speaks with scorn of those who could not write out things properly (B. xi. 299) ; and this MS. is a good specimen of caligraphy. But, in order that the reader may see this the more clearly, let me enumer- ate the principal lines against which a small cross is found, giving at the same time the reasons for its presence in those instances where the reason is not indicated in the footnotes. Prol. 67 (mychief for myschief) ; I. 81 ; I. 178 (a chaste, altered to as chaste) ; II. 91, 116, 227 (r omitted in mynstralles) ; III. 98, 132, 227; IV. 27, 54 (fethynge altered to ferthynge) ; IV. 67 (pos- sibly wan should be wente) ; IV. 136 (a, altered to as); IV. 147 (for no apparent reason) ; IV. 152 (me altered to mede) ; V. 265 (vsne, altered to ysue) ; V 272, 347, 357, 447, 600, 616 (cMlde badly writ- ten so as to look more like dilde) ; VI. 195, 214 ; VII. 94 ; VIII. 12 (why?); VIII. 43, 53, 67 (me inserted afterwards) ; VIII. 69, 125 ; IX. 67, 97, 139, 160 (comely written above the line), 167 (an for and) ; X. 172, 361, 416, 426, 434 (or altered to #) ; XI. 53, 125 1 Unless they mean that alteration is necessary. Thus, there is one opposite Pass. ii. 35, where, for caritatia, Whitaker has treive charite, and another opposite 1. 8, which in Whitaker is completely different. X PREFACE II. TEXT B. (gon added above the line), 130, 194 (of altered to on), 250 {after added at end of line), 331, 388, 427 (Jim altered to him) ; XII. G9, 76, 253; XIII. 46, 338, 356, 374, 385, 430; XIV. 16 (it should have been against L 18), 171 (perhaps ben should be omitted), 176 (why?), 179 (why?), 184, 186, 263 (an for and), 311 ; XV. 19, 122 {placebo not underlined with red), 164, 194, 530, 581 (an for and) ; XVI. 209, 249; XVII. 164, 258; XVIII. 19 (iouste written above the line), 109, 201 ; XIX. 184, 247 (why?), 344, 360, 461 ; XX. 118, 242, 288. The reader who actually refers to every one of these passages will scarcely think my supposition extravagant, if he is at all conversant with MSS. and their freqiient errors. It has been objected, that the spelling is faulty ; l but is there any reason for supposing that Langland could or would have spelt better 1 It may also be objected that there are a few mistakes not marked for correction ; but let any one try the experiment of writing out 7000 lines of poetry, and reading it once over afterwards. It is quite as correct as any autograph MS. can fairly be expected to be, and in any case, it is (as far as the sense and metre are concerned) by far the best MS. of the B-text extant. 2 The following is a list of the lines marked with a large cross ; viz. VI. 261 ; VII. 75, 116, 121, 155 ; IX. 6Q, 145 ; X. 393, 442 ; XL 165 ; XII. 300. I will only discuss one of these, viz. VII. 155, where the mistake is very obvious. Here Langland makes Daniel interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream where the reference should have been to Belshazzar. The "correction" of this, in the C-text, is curious, being incorrect still. " How Daniel dyuinede 3 ' and undude J>o dremelcs Of king Xabugodonosor • J>at no peer hadde, And suthe after to hus sones • settle hem what \d thouhte." Whitaker's edition, p. 163. For remarks upon the method of printing this MS., see § 10. 1 Sec further remarks upon the spelling in § 9. 2 That is, as fur as I know at present. I am not at all sure that my list of MSS. is complete. 3 Whitaker prints dymnede ; hut this, with him, is a trifle. PREFACE II. TEXT B. XI XIV. MS. Eawlinson Poet. 38, in the Bodleian Library (of which a fragment is in MS. Lansclowne 398, in the British Museum), denoted throughout this volume by B. This is an imperfect MS. upon vellum, written in a clear bold hand, divided into sections by blank spaces at the end of each, the mark 1T at the beginning of each paragraph being painted red and blue alternately. At the end is the mark of ownership — " William Butte ; " and on a flyleaf at the beginning — " Suum cuique. Tho. Hearne, Sept. 20. 1732. An imperfect MS. of Pierce Plowman." Each leaf, where perfect, has a wide margin, and measures about 11^ by 8£ inches. But it has been at some time shamefully maltreated by some one who, apparently for the purpose of theft, cut off the margins of several of the leaves at the beginning, reducing them to about 9 inches by 5£. The first eight leaves were then abstracted, but they are not all lost, as I found four of them in the British Museum, bound up with several other pieces in MS. Lansdowne 398 ! There they were, with the margins cut off; and careful measurement proved them to be exactly of the same size as the cut leaves at Oxford ; besides which, the handwriting and general appearance of the pages exactly tallied, each page containing about 31 lines. I have therefore marked the collations with the Lansdowne MS. also by the letter E, to avoid confusion. The leaves there preserved are the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, containing the portion from Prol. 125 to Pass. i. 137. The first, second, seventh, and eighth leaves are lost altogether, as also eight consecutive leaves near the end of the poem, from Pass, xviii. 411 to Pass. xx. 27. Tho piece at Oxford consists of 101 leaves, beginning at Pass. ii. 40. All the existing portion has been carefully collated, and the collation yields some curious results. "Wherever it agrees with MS. L, it agrees with it very closely, the resemblance frequently extending even to peculiarities of spelling. Yet it has certain peculiarities of its own, such as kende for hynde, and the persistence with which it exhibits the prefix I- or y- (generally the former) before past participles. It agrees with the text, for instance, in giving the right date of Chichester's mayoralty, and generally corroborates the readings of the text in difficult passages. It is Xll PREFACE II. TEXT B. therefore to be classed with the Laud MS. as regards its general character. But close collation shews that it abounds in omissions and additions of no insignificant kind, although the mere variations are but few. It is necessary to account for them, and a comparison of these passages with the C-text clearly reveals their exact signifi- cance. The omissions (amounting to more than 150 lines) are mostly due to mere carelessness ; a few coincide with the briefer narrative in the A-text ; and some of them occur at points where the B- and C-texts vary. The additions (amounting to about 160 lines) almost invariably occur at points where the C-text is fuller than the B-text, and it is easily seen that the Rawlinson MS. really exhibits the poem in its transition stage between these two forms, and the best idea of it is formed by calling it a copy of the B-text with later im\wovements and after-thoughts. On this account, nearly all the additional lines which it furnishes have been inserted in the text, distinguished from the rest by the use of square brackets. 1 The principal omissions are these : — R omits V. 481, accidentally ; VIII. 14 — 17, not in A-text ; VIII. last half of 99, 100 — 103, and first half of 104, owing to the repeti- tion of hynge ; IX. last half of 113, 114, 115, and first half of 116, owing to repetition of icedloke ywrou^te ; IX. 158, 159, 166, 177 — 185, 199—202, none of them in A-text; X. 425; XL 45—48, altered in C-text; XII. 13, 141—148, 170, 186; XIII. 14—20, half of 373 and of 374 ; XIV. 155—159, 251, 252 ; XV. 239—243, see C-text ; XV. 70, 395, 396, 495—531 ; XVI. half of 27 and of 28 ; XVII. 36—46, altered in C-text, 112—123, 217—243, 314; XVIII. 178, 197, 250, 251, the last two slightly altered in the C-text; and XX. 237, 238. The principal additions are these : — R adds a line, probably spurious, after V. 283, being perhaps the only addition in the course of the first nine Passus ; two lines after X. 77, see C-text; X. 291—303, cf. both A-text and C-text; X. 381, 411—413 ; a line after XL 105, see C-text ; parts of lines XL 1 The only additional lines admitted into the text (as far as I remember) from other MSS. are five, viz. V. 273, 338, 569, VI. 49, and XV. 224. Their genuineness is doubtful, and I now think they should have been excluded. PREFACE II. — TEXT B. x iii 126 and 127, much wanted ; XI. 154 — 164, perhaps not to he found elsewhere; a line, perhaps spurious, after XI. 190; XI. 374 — 384, some of which lines are in the C-text ; XI. part of 419, 420, and part of 421, see C-text; XII. 57—59, see C-text; XII. 78; XII. 118 — 127, see C-text; XII. 152, 153, see C-text; XIII. 164—171, cf. the C-text ; XIII. 293 — 299,- also in the C-text, but transferred to a very different part of the poem ; XIII. 400 — 409, partly in the C-text, hut in quite another place ; XIII. 437 — 454, also in the C-text, hut transferred elsewhere; XIV. 227— 237, in the C-text; XV. 239—243, 298, 299 ; after 1. 388, a superfluous hue ; 464 — 477, a very curious passage, which may he called the "whistling" passage; 539 — 556, also in the C-text ; half of 564, 565, 566, and half of 567; XVII. 68, also in the C-text; half of 176, 177, and half of 178, also in the C-text; 307, 308, also in the C-text; XVIII. half of 310 and half of 311 ; and a C-text line after XX. 36. The chief passages wherein MS. E merely varies from the text are in III. 51 — 63, where it approaches the A-text ; IX. 168 — 170, where it is surely corrupt ; and XVI. 270 — 273, where it also seems to he corrupted. XV. A MS. in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, marked B. 15. 17 ; being the one printed by Mr Wright in his well-known and convenient edition, and therefore denoted in this volume by the letter W. It contains three pieces in the same handwriting through- out, viz. (1) Piers the Plowman; (2) A Treatise on Sin, in prose, beginning — " In euery synful man or womman J>at is bounder in deilly synne ben J?re wrecchednesses " — and ending — " If it do fee good and profite to Jiee, Jmnke god and pray for me. fe grace of Ihesu crist be wijj J)ee and kepe )>ee. Amen;" (3) a short poem of 44 lines, beginning — "Crist made to man a fair present," which is printed in Eeliquite Antiquse, vol.i. p. 166, with the title of " Love." There is no doubt about the antiquity and value of this MS., and it is an excellent thing that we have it in print. It is on stout vellum, the size of each leaf . being about 11^ by 7^ inches, much resembling MS. L in shape. The handwriting is bold and firm, and the letters large. It is divided into sections by breaks, and the mark IF occurs at the beginning of each paragraph. These breaks are denoted in the XIV PREFACE II. TEXT B. printed edition by setting the first line of the paragraph a little back- ward. It will readily be seen that the paragraphs are much more numerous and shorter than in MS. L. It is, of course, written in long lines ; the printing of the poem in short lines being a mere matter of taste and convenience. I hold it to be somewhat inferior to the Laud MS., and to exhibit a sliglitly varied form of the poem ; but the difference between them only comes out after verbal collation of the whole poem. In many passages it agrees with the text very closely indeed, and it does not contain a single line which is not also in the Laud MS. It has, however, a few faults of omis- sion, and that too where the omitted lines are sometimes indispens- able. The chief omissions are these, viz. : — Prol. 170, i. e. after 1. 338, p. 11 of Wright's edition ; last line of Prologue, supplied in Mr Wright's edition from MS. T (A-text) ; Pass. I. half of 37 and half of 38, which so many MSS. omit, and which should follow 1. 535, p. 17 1 ; I. 145, to follow 1. 752, p. 23; II. 186, to follow 1. 1255, p. 39 ; V. 90, to follow 1. 2652, p. 82 ; XII. 105, to follow 1. 7650, p. 234; XV. 367, to follow 1. 10371, p. 317; XVII. 209, to follow 1. 11785, p. 360 ; XVIII. 361, to foUow 1. 12809, p. 391 ; XIX. 86, to follow 1. 13132, p. 401 ; and XX. 299, to follow 1. 14526, p. 443 ; of which twelve lines MS. L omits but one. I do not include in this list XIII. 49, because it is not really omitted in the MS., but only in the printed copy. For further remarks concerning MS. AY, see § 6. I should add that the various readings which it supplies are /< eculiar, and frequently unlike those of any other extant MS.; but they pair off very well with the readings of Crowley's edition. It lias been collated throughout. 2 XVI. A MS. in the possession of H. Yates Thompson, Esq., of Liverpool ; denoted by the letter Y, and partly collated, viz. through- out the passages XVI. 56—91, XVII. 96—340, XVIII. 411— XX. 27. Several readings are also cited from it in the latter part of Pass. X VI. and in other parts of Pass. XVII. and XVIII. This MS. is 1 All these references to lines and pages are to the lines and pages of Mr Wright's edition. 2 XV*. I ought here to mention the MS. used by Crowley, now lost. For remarks upon it, sec § G; and for numerous citations from Crowley's edition, see the Critical Notes at the end of this volume ; and, in particular, the note to Pass. v. 168. PREFACE II. TEXT B. XV neatly written on vellum, all the titles and Latin quotations being in red. The poem is divided into sections by breaks, and it is a fair copy. Each leaf measures about 11^ by 7 inches, and each page contains about 37 lines. The MS. consists of 110 leaves, of which the first 104 (13 quires of 8 leaves each) contain Piers the Plowman, terminating on fol. 104 recto. It is followed, on the reverse of the leaf, by a poem ou the Mass, about 358 lines long, beginning — man or woman J>at wol lere A masse deuou[t]ly for to here — and ending — For godis low sey noght nay. And that hey holi god he queyte the tlii mede Of whom we spek of when we say oure crede. This is immediately followed by an Old English Gra.e : — ^•atias. God that his brede brake. at his maw[n]de whanne he sate. Amonge his postyllis twelue. He bles oure brede and oure ayl. fat we haw and haw schal. and be with vs him-selwe. In nomine patris fyfili 4' sphitns sancti. Amen. In several places the scribe has drawn a crest, viz. an eagle displayed, standing on a light green tuft, with the letter L painted in red on the breast. The readings of this MS. do not greatly differ, upon the whole, from the ti'xt here printed ; most of the variations resemble those MSS. in and C, described below ; nos. XVIII. and XXII. My thanks are due to Mr Thompson in an especial manner for his kindness in lending me this MS., and so enabling me to become thoroughly acquainted with its contents at my leisure. XVII. MS. Xo. CXXIX, in the possession of Lord Ashburnham. Of the MSS. here described which are written with breaks between the paragraphs, this is the fifth and last. It is a very fair copy of the B-text, but written in a variable hand, perhaps by more hands than one. It has been read over by a corrector, who has written cor. or corec. at the end of every quire. The Latin words have red lines XVI PREFACE II. TEXT B. drawn round them, and are written somewhat larger than the rest, as in MS. W. Several final ees have been added, and several erased. It preserves 1. 170 of the Prologue in the form — And hangen it vpon pe Cattis hals panne here we mowen — which only differs from our text in a single letter. In Pass. i. 37, 38, it originally had hut one line ; hut it now has — Ne liflode to pi likam pat lief is to the soule leue not pi likam • for a Here hyra tech . . . pat is pe wrechede world ' wolde pe hitraye — where \at lief is to pe soule is written over an erasure, and the next line added in the margin. The following lines may also he compared with the text : — Al pis sei3 I slepinge and seuen sythes more ; Prol. 230. And now persons han perceiued pat Freres parte with hem ; v. 143. pay hadde panne hen infamis pai can so euele hele conseille ; v. 1G8. And in a wynkynge wrathe wex I aslepe ; xi. 4. The word "faunteltee" (xi. 41) is glossed by yowth. The name "longe wille" (xv. 148) is underlined with red. On the whole, it agrees very closely with the text here printed, and frequently uses similar spelling ; hut we find occasional plurals in -us, as in With suche wyse wordus to wyssen any sottus ; x. 8 — also such forms in -ad as clepud, vilclaid, and even -un for -en, as in Of alkyn libbyng laborers lopun forp summe ; prol. 222. My thanks are due to Lord Ashbnrnhain for kindly allowing me to examine fully and to describe both this MS. and No. XX. below. XVIII. MS. No. 79 in the library of Oriel College, Oxford; re- presented in the footnotes by the letter 0. This is much the neatest, and probably altogether the best, of the MSS. which are written con- tinuously, i. e. without a break at the end of each paragraph. It is a small M.S. on vellum, about 8^ by 6| inches in size. It has lost the first half of the first quire, the first four leaves being held in merely at their edges; then follow eight complete quires of eight leaves each ; PREFACE II. — TEXT B. XV11 an incomplete quire of only five leaves (the fifth, sixth, and seventh being lost) ; one more complete quire ; and one more incomplete quire of seven leaves (the first being lost). The rest of the MS. is on paper, of a much later date, and will be described presently. On the first page now left to us, is the tag-end of a Latin poem of small merit, consisting of only eight lines, the last being Hoc tibi det mumcr dispiseb ober, 148 Til bei been bobe beggers & by my spiritualte libben, Or ellis alle riche * and riden aboute. 150 I, wrabbe, reste neuere * bat I ne muste folewe Jpeise wickide folk • for swich is my grace. I haue an aunte to nunne ', &c. x The rest of the MS. is of later date, and on paper, and the paper leaves seem to have been thrust in to fill a gap where something has been taken out. What if a good copy of the poem on the Deposition of Richard II. has thus been lost to us] It is not altogether a wild guess ; see the description of the next MS. The paper leaves contain 4 Latin distichs on the complexion of man, viz : — 1 Dr Wlii taker prints whye for whyte, § for 7" (1. 130), graften for graffen, hav for han, leve for Inure, schryfles for schryftes, disperelp for dispise\>, &c. This investigation is useful, as affording a measure of his inaccuracy throughout the work. PREFACE II. — TEXT B. XIX Sanguineus. Largus, amans, liillaris, ridens, rubeiq?<e seege of ierusalem & how it was destroyed. Begins — 'n tyberyes tyme " the trewe emperowr — and ends — And hool reedyn to rome * yblessyd be god almy^ty. AmeN. This piece is written in a very small, close handwriting. Cf. MSS. r 1 The right answer to my question in Tref. to Text A, p. xii, as to what berame of Dr Clarke's two MSS. is this. His MS. No. CII. is now MS. Addit. 10574 in the Brit. Museum, and his MS. CXXIX. is now MS. Ashburnham CXXX. XX U PREFACE II. TEXT B. Cotton Calig. A. 2, Camb. Univ. Libr. Mm. 5. 14, & Laud 656. (G) How the good wife taught her daughter; printed by Sii F. Madden ; with which compare the copy printed in the Babees Book, ed. FurnivaU, 1868, p. 36. The second article, viz. the Fragment, is an entirely distinct thing from Wiq fourth article. Being, moreover, wrongly bound up, it looks at first like two fragments ; for the passage beginning with than drede went wy^tly ' and warnede fals (ii. 208), and ending with woldest thow glase that gable and grauen (iii. 49), is on the second of these leaves ; while the rest of the passage, from iii. 50 to "faciat dextra " (iii. 72) is on the first half of thej^r^ leaf, the rest of that leaf being blank. It is a fragment belonging to the B-text, but too short to be of any importance ; which is my reason for not numbering it separately, as theoretically it ought to be. With regard to the other copy (article 4), it is a faulty copy of the B-text, having been much spoilt by attempted corrections. These are written over erasures, and are almost always alterations .for the worse. Thus, in 1. 1, the last part of the line has been erased and rewritten, to in- troduce the reading "set" instead of "softe." 1 Again, in the passage about Chichester's mayoralty (xiii. 270), it has — " a thowsand and thre hundryd syxty and nyne "—where the three last words are over an erasure ; and we also find " 1369 " in the margin. In Prol. 14 it has the false reading " rychely y-maked." It omits Prol. 170 ; but 1 am not aware that any portion of the poem, except a few stray single lines, is missing. It is of later date than the other Ashburn- ham MS., and altogether inferior to it. It contains, however, one note of considerable importance. Inside the cover is written, in a hand of the fifteenth century, the remark — "Robert or wHliam Langland made pers ploughman." I was not before aware of this, as it is not mentioned in Lord Ashburnham's 1 "Which scorn* to prove that the alteration was made after Crowley's edition was published. It is incredible that any MS. should have had set, when the time referred to is early morning ; nor have I seen set in any other MS. whatever. Nor do I believe hat Crowley's MS. had set ; it must have been his mistake; cf. note 1, p. xxxiii. PREFACE II. TEXT B. XX1U catalogue ; but it now appears that John Bale's note (printed in my Pref. to Text A, p. xxxv.) is squeezed in between this older note and the lower margin of the cover. It is older testimony than Bale's, and it is worth remarking that it does not mention Robert only, as Bale does, but offers us the alternative of William. XXI. ISIS. Gg. 4. 31 in the University Library, Cambridge. A MS. of the sixteenth century on paper, loosely written in a running hand j size, about 9 by 6| inches. It has 105 written leaves, and con- tains (1) Piers the PloAvanan, fol. la to 101a ; (2) a Table, entitled "here ynsuethe y 6 table off pyers plowman," fol. 1015 to 103a; (3) "A goodly prcaer" (fol. 104a to 105&), in 15 stanzas of 7 lines each, beginning — " blessed god : sovereange goodnes " — and ending — "sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, lord god w/t//oute end." It is in the same handwriting throughout. There are no paragraph-marks or breaks, but all the Latin words are written in red. It is an unpromising MS. to look at, but is con- siderably better than it appears to be, having been transcribed from a very fair and tolerably complete older copy. It follows our text pretty closely, its chief variations seeming generally to agree with the readings of MSS. Y and O. The " Table " is merely a sort of abstract, made to serve the purpose of a brief index, and is of no value. The " goodly preaer " is also a miserable production, scarcely permitting itself to be scanned. XXII. MS. Dd. 1. 17, in the University Library, Cambridge, collated throughout, and represented in the footnotes by C. Of this vast folio MS., the leaves of which measure about 18 by 12 inches, I must say but little, for brevity's sake. A slight sketch of its contents may be found in HalliAvell's Manuscript Parities of Cambridge, p. 3 ; but it is described at large in vol. i. of the Catalogue of the MSS. It is known as the " Liber Glastoniensis," having once belonged to Glastonbury Abbey. It is chiefly written in double columns, and may be considered to consist of three parts, of which the first two are in Latin, the last chiefly in English. The first part contains the Polychronicon (imperfect), the Historia Britonum of Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Gesta Karoli, the Chronica Martini Poloni, the Hist. Trojana of Guido de Colonna, the Hist. Hierosol. of Jac. de Vitriaco, XX.1V PREFACE II. — TEXT B. the Consolatio Peccatorum of Jac. de Thcranio, and a few smaller pieces. The second part contains the Testamenta xii. Patriarcbarum, Marianus Scotus, Marco Polo, Hayton, Gesta Machometi, Gildas de Excidio (which last was employed by Josseline for his edition of Gildas, published in 1568), and a few shorter pieces. The third part contains (1) Piers the Plowman ; begins on fob 1, and ends at fob 31a, col. 1. (2) A prose treatise, headed "How men tbat ben in bele sholde visite sike folk;" begins at fob 31a, col. 2, and ends at fob 32a, col. 2 ; (3) Mandeville's Travels, fob 325, col. 1, to fob 53b, col. 2; (4) "Seuene Sagges," fob 54a, cob 1, to 63a, col. 3, written in treble columns ; printed by Mr Wright from this MS. for the Percy Society, 1845; (5) in Latin, Clementis Lantoniensis Ecclesie Presbiteri Concordia Quatuor Evangelistarum," fob 63b to the end ; see Wright's Bibliog. Britan. Anglo-Norman Period, p. 265. Each column contains about 60 lines, and the whole of Piers the Plowman, except 49 lines, is contained on 30 leaves ; but when allowances are made for the space occupied by titles and Latin quota- tions, it is easily calculated that the poem is imperfect. This is, in fact, the best copy of the MSS. which, besides missing several single lines, unaccountably omit a passage near the beginning of the Sixteenth Passus, viz. 11. 56 — 91, an omission which produces com- plete nonsense. Other lines omitted are prob 103, 196 ; I. 117 ; IV. 32, 54, 57, 189 ; V. 428, 520; VI. 3, 8, 84, 222, 223, 283, 303, SOS- SI 1, 315, &c. On the other hand, it furnishes a few additional lines, some of which, viz. V. 273, 338, 569, VI. 49, and XV. 224, 1 have ad- mitted into the text, though few of them seem to be properly alliter- ated. 1 Yet in many places this MS. follows the text very closely, much more so than MS. W, and it was altogether necessary to collate it care- fully throughout. The scribe seems to have taken pains never to let the line run beyond the breadth of the column, so that, if he had a long line to write, and could not get it all in, nor find room for it just above or below, he simply omitted the last word or a part of it ! Thus in Pass. xx. 16, having cheuisaunce to write, he had only room for chc, and so left it. There are several similar examples. One very ■striking point about the MS. is the dialect. Coming from Glaston- 1 See footnote on p. xii. above. PREFACE II. TEXT C. XXV bury, we should expect to find in it Southern forms, but "we find numerous examples of a much more northern-looking character than are exhibited by any otber MS. Examples are, brade, broad, mare, more, capes, copes, fram, from, hilk or elke, eacb, haunt i/s in the indie, plural, liase in the indie, plural, arises and kisses in the imper. plural, &c. On this account, I have frequently given the readings from C when the only variation is in the inflexion or spelling. Almost all through the poem it wrongly has and instead of ac, so that it seemed at last unnecessary to record it, though I have done so in a very great number of instances. I believe that the form ac occurs only about twice or three times throughout, as, e. g. in xx. 35. An instance of singular spelling is the scribe's use of th for t, as in the "Romans of Partenay;" so that we meet with thecheth for teclieth, tlwur for tour (tower), thel for tel, with for wit, and the like. Notwithstanding all its defects, corruptions, and peculiarities, it is a MS. of early date and considerable importance ; a fact which, should be borne in mind. XXIII. MS. Eodley 814, Oxford; represented in the footnotes by the letter B. This is the most disappointing MS. of the whole series. To all appearances, it is of an early date, and neatly written, though without breaks at the end of each paragraph. It might well be expected to rank as third or fourth best, but its real value is but small. It is on vellum, closely resembling the Laud MS. in size and shape, being 10^ by 7 inches ; it has 94 leaves, of which the last two are blank, the poem ending on fob 92a. Each page contains 40 lines. Former owner's name, " Thomas Hobsune." The point about it most worthy of remark is that it does not wholly follow the B-type. It presents a combination of texts, the point of junction being some- where about 1. 121 of Pass. ii. Before that point, it closely resembles Whitaker's (C-text) edition, but afterwards approaches the B-text, with which, soon after the beginning of Pass, iii., it agrees very closely down to the end of the poem. The exact nature of its varia- tions is clearly shewn in the Critical Note to P. ii. 121, and the notes immediately following it. "Whence this form of the poem arose it is not easy to tell. As MS. R represents the B-text, with amendments in the latter part of the poem, it may be that MS. B represents the XXVI PREFACE II. TEXT B. same, with amendments near the beginning. But this is not very likely, and when we further observe that this MS., during the latter part of Pass. II., actually approaches the A-text, we may feel toler- ably sure that it is, in fact, a corrupt version, the misarrangements of which are due to the scribe only, who pieced together the Prologue and three first Passus as well as he could, and then followed a B-text copy throughout the rest of the poem. This is rendered more proba- ble when we further observe the extreme corruptness of many of the readings which it furnishes, such as sobrid for herbericed (V. 233), amenJemcnt for a mendynaunt (XIII. 3), clerkistoi cherles (XVI. 121), he for his manye (XVIII. 81), a pilgrymior apierynge (XIX. 88), and the like ; many of these variations being of a most senseless charac- ter. Besides this it omits many necessary lines, such as III. 18, 307, 308, 345; IV. 32, 54, 57; V. 150, 223, 428, 473, &c. ; some of which, but not all, are also omitted in MS. C. In many respects it follows MSS. C and 0, so that the collocation of letters COB often occurs, but it is invariably the worst of the three. Still I have care- fully collated it throughout, not because it is of much value, but because there are two other MSS. (Addit. 10574 and Calig. A. xi, to be described presently) which so closely resemble it, that to collate one of these is practically the same as collating all three ; and to col- late three MSS. at a time is a thing worth doing. At the same time, I have considered myself at liberty not to give a few of the most ridiculous and unmeaning variations. Moreover, the collation is of some use from another point of view ; it shews how corruptions arise, and where to expect them, and even helps to establish the correctness of the text by mere force of contrast. I may add that it commonly has the endings -id, -is, and -ip, instead of -ed, -es, and -ej>. XXIV. MS. Additional 10574, in the British Museum; formerly No. CII. in the collection of Dr Adam Clarke. It is on vellum, neatly and closely written, and apparently of early date, and contains 91 leaves, being imperfect at the end. It terminates at Pass. xx. 352, but the 32 missing lines are supplied in Dr Clarke's handwriting. The state of the text and the spelling of the words agree so minutely with those of MS. B, that one is the mere duplicate of the other ; and, PREFACE II. TEXT B. XXVli as far as I can judge, they are in the same handwriting, and written in the same year. Of course it therefore resemhles the C-text at first, and approaches the B-text at Pass. iii. 121 ; see the Critical Note to that line for further information. See also p. 60 of the Catalogue of Dr Clarke's MSS., by J. B. B. Clarke j 1835. At the end is the note — " brought from kelsey [Lincolnshire] xxvj octobm anno xxxiiij He. viij ui [1542] per me Ion Thynne." This is in the same hand as the signature " Ion Thynne " in the Laud MS. XXV. MS. Cotton Calig. A. xi. (B. M.). This closely resembles the two last, being probably a copy of one or other of them. It is of later date than those, on vellum ; size, about 8f by 6 inches. It con- tains (1) an imperfect copy of Bobertof Gloucester's rimed Chronicle (2) Piers the Plowman, beginning at fol. 170, and ending at fol. 284 and (3) De Vita Monachorum per sanctum Aldelhmum .anno 709 foil. 287, 288; also some Latin verses on fol. 1696, &c. Three leaves (foil. 274 — 276) are blank, giving the impression that some- thing is lost, but the last line on fol. 273o is Pass. xix. 272, and the first line on fol. 277 is Pass. xix. 273. For further information, see the description of the two last MSS., and the Critical Xote to Pass, iii. 121. XXVI. MS. Xo. 201 in Corpus Christi College, Oxford ; given to the college by W. Fulnian, M.A., formerly a fellow of this college. On vellum, measuring about 12 inches by 7, and containing 93 leaves, with about 42 lines on each page. Writing rather loose and hurried. All the Latin quotations in red. Each paragraph has prefixed to it the mark 1T, painted red. This MS. is of the B-type, but frequently, as it appears to me, corrupt. It contains several bines not in other copies, but their genuineness is doubtful. The most curious point about it is the method of division into Passus, which resembles that of no other MS. of any class whatever. It would seem as if the scribe had endeavoured to divide it into Passus how he could, without any guide, and had added a few lines by way of conclusion and introduc- tion to each, for it is just at the points of division that the readings seem to be the wildest. The account of its divisions will therefore give the best idea of its peculiarities. XXV1I1 PREFACE II. TEXT B. Passus I. begins — l In sonw sesoura whan softe was the sunne ; ends — Or Eochel or Eomeney be roost to diffy^e. Explicit passus Primus Petri Plouhman. Incipit Passus 8ecundus. II. begins — What bis Mouwteyw rneneb • & be derke 2 dale [i. 1] ; ends — Iniaynolengere lenge bew/t/< "ourelord looke be euere [i. 207]. Explicit Passus Secundus de visione Petri Plouhman. Incipit Passus Tercius. III. begins — I Covrbet ^yt on my knees • & gradde hire of grace [ii. 1] ; ends — & also wepte & weylede for she was a-tachid [ii. 236]. Explicit Passus Tercius. Incipit Passus Quartus. IV. begins — ISTow is Meede be Mayd & no mo of alle [iii. 1] ; ends — To heryn Matinys of be day & a Messe after [v. 2]. Explicit Passus Quartus. Incipit Passus Quintus. V. begins — Off wynkynge y waked bo & wo was y with alle [v. 3] ; ends — At be daye of dome we dide Jwt we hy»i hyjhte [vii. 200]. Explicit Passus Quintus. Incipit Passus Seztus. VI. begins — And wa?uie y awaked was j wondred were y were, Tyl bat y be-bowhte me what by»g y dremede, & y-Eobet 3 in russet ga« rome a-bowhte [viii. 1] ; ends — & dryveb awey dowel oonly boru dedly synne [ix. 206]. Explicit Passus Sextus. Incipit Passus Septimus. VII. begins — Sire wit hadde a wif was klepid dame stodye [x. 1] ; ends — banne scripture skornede me ' & a skele me tolde, For me lakkede latyn lyght by me he sette, & seyde, multi mult a sciunf, § se ipsos nesciunt. bo for sorwe y wepte ' & was wrotli3 of hire specbe, & of myn wynkynge y a-wook & wondrede ba/zne Of alle ]>e dremes Jjat y drempte • so dauwgerous bei were, & t?/rned me on fie obfi>uu.n >!<■ Dowel. Incipit Passus Octauus. 1 By a mistake, the initial letter is a capital A, inside which is a rude drawing of the poet, dozing and dreaming in an uncomfortable sitting attitude. 2 Over an erasure. It probably had merke originally. 3 The MS. has " Robt," with a stroke through the b. Perhaps it means "& y, Robert, in russet," &c. If so, it may be from this misreading that the fiction arose which gave to the author the name of Roh rl. 4 I consider the last three lines to be spurious. PREFACE II. TEST B. XXIX VIII. begins — And as y lay & lookede vpon be lauwde grene, I jjouhte on be Metelis • hou merveylows bei were, Tyl sodynly hevynesse • on slepe broukt me panne. Anore a merveylous metelys me tydde to dreme ; For y was ravisshid • & Fortune me fette, & in-to be lond of longy??ge, &c. [xi. 4 — 7] ; ends — be wiche y p?*eyse fere paeyence is more perfy^t ban is rycchesse [xi. 310]. & Jjus y fel in bowhtis feele flappynge in mjn herte, pat alle my??, spiritys wery?? sore stoned • & perwith y wakned, & as manye & feele jjowhtis felle flappynge in myw herte, Alle my?? spirytis wery?? stoned & be?-w/t7i y a- waked, 1 & ful sore sy3hede be syghte was so mervylous, & streyhte me & t??rned me " & to my-selue y seid, bis ys a myghil merveyle what meny??ge it meneb, & in bis bowbt stille y lay a long tyme after. Explicit Passus Octauus. Incipit Passus Nonus. IX. begins — As y lay & lokede for]) lowe vpon be greene, I fel in a slu?nbry??ge & sone to me cam keende, & ne???pnyd me by my name ' & bad me nemy?i heda Of be worchynge of pis world wit for to take, & on hey} Mouwteyn pat Mydlerd hette [xi. 312— 315] ■; ends — & myche me?*the & ma??hed & with pat word he vanshede [xii. 293]. Explicit Passus Nonus. Incipit Passus Dec! mas. X. begins — Awake y gan pevwith • witles neer-honcle [xiii. 1] ; ends — & wepte & wey^lede & berw?'t7? y awakede [xiv. 332]. Explicit Passus X" s . Incipit Passus XI'". XL begins — After my wakynge it was longe after [xv. 1] ; ends — vitam etcrnam. amen. [xv. G01]. Explicit Passus XI" S . Incipit Passus XII'". XII. begins— AGeyn y gan to sleepe softe & my sy}de y gan to tumc, & a-noon y sey3, as y sey$ erst & spak to hym with mowJ?e, 2 1 These lines are thus repeated. I do not admire the " flappynge in myn herte." It is surely spurious. 2 Agaiu two spurious lines. XXX PREFACE II. TEXT B. Xow, fayre falle 30W, quod y po for 30ure fayre schewynge [xvi. 1] ; ends — fan y waknede perwith & wipyd hope myn ey3cs [xvi. 167], & for y hackle so soore y-slept ' sory was y panne, & on pe dremy??ge y dre???pte " euery doynge y powhte. Explicit Passus XII'". Incipit Passus XIII"'. XIII. begins — And whan y hadde longe leyn y lawhte to me herte, & after Pers plowhmaw y pry^ede & starede [xvi. 1 68] ; ends — & wente awey as pe wynd • & perwz't/i y waknede [xvii. 350]. Explicit Passus XIIP". Incipit Passus XIIII'". XIV. begins — An wellowerd [sic] & wetschod y wente forp panne [xviii. 1] ; ends — pat p^re ne may no gn'sly goost ' glyde pere it schadwep [xviii. 431]. Explicit Passus XIIII" 3 . Incipit Passus XV". XV. begins — Anon y wakned & ]>an y wroot "what pat ydremede[xix. 1]; ends — & y wroot as y mette [xix. 478]. Explicit Passus XV"'. Incipit Passus XVI'". XVI. begins-— And wan y was wakned • y wente forp aloone, Sy3ghenge & evycheryd [sic] ' & elenge in herte [xx. 1,2]; ends — So sore he gradde after grace ' pat [I] l began a- wake. Explicit. In the date-passage (xiii. 270) it has — " A thowsand & pre hu?idred 3eere • & two & xx ty & ten " — which is utterly wrong. It is evidently an inferior MS. ; yet it may he worth consulting in a case of difficulty. Thus in xiv. 188 it reads — " & if pe powke plede," &c. — which is unquestionably right. XXVII. MS. Xo. 201 in the library of Cains College, Cambridge. This is a mere transcript, and not altogether an accurate one, of Rogers's printed edition of 1561. At the end is a copy of the stanza which is found prefixed to the early editions of the " Crede," and several blank leaves are left, evidently for the purpose of tran- scribing the " Crede " also. It is obviously of no value. Comparison of the MSS., and tht ir sub-classes. I would here add, by way of recapitulation and a more complete exhibition of the rela- 1 The MS. has had he, but it has been erased. PREFACE II. TEXT B. XXXI tion of the MSS. to each other, that they are divisible into sub-classes, each of which possesses certain characteristics. The agreement of those in the same sub-class is very close. (a) 1. Laud Misc. 581 (L). Here printed. 2. Bawl. Poet. 38 (E) ; has later additions. (b) 1. Mr Yates Thompson's MS. (Y). A fair text. 2. Camb. Univ. Lib. Dd. 1. 17 (C). Imperfect, having lost a passage in Passus xvi. 3. Bodley 814 (B). Similarly imperfect, and frequently corrupted. 4. Addit. 10574. Almost a duplicate of the last. 5. Cotton Calig. A. xi. Practically a later copy of B. (c) 1. Oriel 79 (0). A fair copy, but has lost four leaves. 2. Camb. Univ. Lib. LI. 4. 14 (C2). Practically a later copy of 0, but contains the whole text. (d) 1. Trim Coll. Camb. B. 15. 17 (W). Printed by Mr Wright. 2. The MS. printed by Crowley. To the remaining MSS. I cannot certainly assign the right sub-class. Hence it appears that Mr "Wright's text is, as regards its sub-class, more remotely distant from our text than any other ; that is, its differences of reading are icidcr differences. Xevertheless, by reason of its exhibiting a very pure text, it frequently comes very near to our text, and is apparently closer to it than many others in many passages. If the reader will reflect upon it, he may see that a first-rate MS. of the fourth sub-class may be greatly preferable to inferior MSS. of higher sub-classes. Such is certainly the fact in this instance. § 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINTED EDITIONS (b-TEXT). Of the earliest printed editions by Robert Crowley, there are certainly three different impressions, all printed in one year, viz. in 1.350. (is). 4242. Read portate. 4272. Read pro. 4465*. For her read her -of. 5064. Read is not drorikelewe. 5108*. For the read be. 5158*. Read is it. 5384*. Read minuentur. 5553. For or read on, 5684*. Read for. 6168. Read To salve (MS. to salue). 6186. Read mansede 1 This word prouided is perhaps a better reading than is furnished by any other copy. It keeps up the alliteration, and strikes one as being right. 2 In three instances only, he falsifies his text of set purpose ; see Critical Notes to vii. 196, xii. 87, and xiii. 159. 3 Crowley has also two lines in Passus iii., viz. after 1. 30 and 1. 101 respect- ively (given in the Critical Notes), which appear nowhere else. XXX viii PREFACE II. TEXT B. (as directed in Mr Wright's note). G188. After That insert al. 6234. Read Be hemself. 6378. Read gaf. 6561. For And read But. 665 \. For and read quod. 6667. For Ne read iVo (MS. no). 6781. Read T7ie defaute (MS. J>e defaute). 7134*. For ne read mo. 7141. Read discerne. 7292. For a?*<2 read /. 7625. Read Nolite judicare, ct non. 8103*. Read Edentes. After 1. 8127 (ending pomitentiam) insert — And sithtlie he broughte us drynke Dia perseverans. [See note to XIII. 49.] 8776*. For Of read Or (MS. or). 8801*. For Nor read For (MS. /or). 8915. Read God or. 8936. After wasshen insert ft 9192*. For many read may. 9207. Read De deliciis. 9566. Omit no after do. 10233*. Read Founde. 10265*. For Fo read To (MS. fo). 10515. For raw read rao?t>. 11451*. Omit the third /o. 12854*. Omit the. 13082. For so read se. 13946*. Read And nede ne. 13966. Read So Nede at. 14311*. For hande read hadde. In most of the Latin quotations, Mr "Wright has purposely made the spelling conform with the usual mode, printing sed for set, com- modat for comodat, scintilla fox sintilla, and the like. There are also a few places where a question of editing arises. Thus, I should he inclined to read bonched, not vouched (147), y-honted, not y-honted (1318). iryucn, not icyttcn (2530), solue, not solne (3319), lenen, not leven (3826), lene, not leve (4240), meue, not mene (5836), meuestoio, not menestow (6149), engreynen, not engreyven (8941). The MS. can, of course, he read either way. It is the old difficulty of having to decide between n and u. It is sometimes a little difficult to find one's place in Mr Wright's book. The following table may be of service in this respect. Pass. I. p. 15 Pass. VIII. IX. X. XL „ XII. „ XIII. „ XIV. . If sixteen lines be allowed to every page, this will generally give the place very nearly. Thus, to find Pass. XV. 400: Divide 400 by 16, I. p- 15 II. J) 28 III. 1> 43 IV. )) 65 V. 5) 77 VI. }) 117 VII. 5) 138 151 Pass. XV. p. 294 159 „ XVI. „ 330 173 „ XVII. „ 348 202 „ XVIII. „ 369 228 „ XIX. „ 396 246 XX „ 425 273 PREFACE II. TEXT B. XXXIX and the result is 25 ; add 25 to 294 (on which page Pass. XV. begins) and we have 319 as the page on which XV. 400 occurs, which is quite right. Another method is to keep an eye on the nearest Latin quotation, which being in italics, is easily noticed. § 7. CHARACTER OP THE B-TEXT. The remarks I have now to make have reference only to the form, not the matter, of the text printed in this volume. The A-text (vol. i.) shewed the poem as originally sketched, and the MSS. of it were found to be in most cases imperfect either at the beginning or end, and there were a considerable number of various readings. But the B-text, though nearly three times the length, is frequently fonnd in a perfect state, and the numerous MSS. of it agree together in a way which is sometimes astonishing. It is not uncommon to find five consecutive lines alike in all the MSS. as far as arrangement of the words is concerned, and this likeness sometimes prevails even to minute correspondences of inflections and spelling. Hence there is a certainty, a firmness, and a conclusiveness about the text which is very satisfactory. There are probably more doubtful points in a single Canterbury Tale or in a single Act in some of Shakespeare's plays than in the whole of the B-text of Piers the Plowman. The alliterative form of it has conduced to this ; for, on the one hand, the alliteration greatly assists the memory, so that I find, for instance, that it is easy to retain thousands of lines of it by heart, and, on the other hand, there has been no temptation to scribes to "improve " it by the addition or subtraction of syllables, because a syllable more or less makes no such difference as it does in Chaucer. I wish especially to draw the reader's attention to this, that he may remember, once for all, that any "conjectural emendations" are, in general, entirely out of the question. Wherever the read- ing has been doubtful, I have consulted either the A-text, or the C-text, or else more MSS. of the B-type, so that the resulting text has almost always plenty to support it. A glance at the footnotes will shew that, though more MSS. have been collated than were collated for the A-text, the footnotes occupy less space, and that I have fre- quently found room for giving variations of a somewhat minute x } PREFACE IT. TEXT 13. character, such as the spellings of uncommon words, or examples of dialectal forms. I shall only add here that, regarding each of the three forms of the poem in its integrity, the B-text is the "best of the three. § 8. ALLUSIONS IN THE B-TEXT. "Without giving a full account of all the very numerous allusions to places and events in the B-text, I collect here a few of the most useful ones. Allusions to himself. The author says he was nicknamed " Long Wille," XV. 148. Allusions to his name ""Wille," V. G2, VIII 124. His wife Kitte and daughter Ealote, XVIII. 426. He is forty- five years old, XI. 4G [observe fifte =fift% XII. 3. His character and bearing, XV. 1 — 10. He thinks little of those who know only Latin and English, and not French, XV. 369. His knowledge of how to draw up a legal document, XL 296—299. Allusions to places. Malvern hills, pr. 5, 214; VII. 141. Norfolk, V. 239; Walsingham, pr. 54, V. 230; Bromholm, V. 231. Winchester fair, V. 205 ; pass of Alton, XIV. 300. Hertfordshire, V. 362; Buckinghamshire, II. 109; Eutlandshire, II. 110. Canterbury, XV. 437; St Thomas's shrine, V. 566; XV. 551. Abingdon, X. 326. Dunmow, IX. 168. Chester, V. 402, 467. London, pr. 85, 91 ; V. 129, XIII. 264, &c. ; Stratford, XIII. 267 ; Cock Lane, Smithneld, V. 319 ; Cheapside, V. 322 ; Garlickhithe, V. 324; Tyburn, XII. 190; Southwark and Shoreditch, XIII. 340; Westminster, II. 160, III. 12, XX. 285, &c; Westminster Hall, XX. 132 ; Court of Arches, II. 60, XX. 135 ; river Thames, XII. 161, XV. 332. Places abroad. Xormandy, III. 188 ; Calais, III. 195; Avignon, XIX. 420; Roqueniadour, XII. 37; Lucca, VI. 102; also Borne, Gallicia, Bruges, Prussia, Babylon, Alexandria, &c. Allusions to circumstances. Deposition of Edward II., III. 126. Coinage of nobles, III. 45. Battle of Crecy, XII. 107. Treaty of Bretigny, III. 188. Second great pestilence (1361 and 1362), V. 13. Storm of wind, V. 14. Chichester mayor of London in April, 1370, XIII. 271. Fourth pestilence (1375 and 1376), XIII. 248. Jubilee in the last year of Edward's reign, HI. 297. Accession of Richard II., IV. 177. Wycliffe's translation of the Bible, VIII. 90. TREFACE II. TEXT B. xli These are the references most often "wanted. A complete table will be given in the fourth volume. The numerous allusions to London should be noticed. § 9. DIALECT OF THE B-TEXT. From a careful comparison of the various MSS. of the poem, I arrive at the conclusion that the text here printed represents the probable dialect of the author with great fidelity, as, indeed, might be expected when we remember that it is probably an autograph copy. I have been told that the spelling and grammar of my text are faulty, and that the Vernon MS. (or A-text), printed in vol. i., is far better. To this I can only reply that, as a matter of fact, the Vernon MS. seems to be, as far as the spelling and grammar are concerned, an "improved" text, and very unlike the majority of the rest. Indeed, I know of none that agree with it. It is a very great mistake to suppose that the MS. which exhibits the best grammatical forms, is therefore the best MS. It is obvious that, if the author had small regard for grammar, then the MS. which is very correct in that respect, does in effect, in that same respect, represent him least. The Vernon MS. was chosen for the A-text because it seemed, upon the whole, to give the best sense, and satisfactory MSS. of the A-text are somewhat scarce. The Laud MS. has been chosen for the B-text because it is, also as regards the sense, by far the best. It has been suggested to me that the MS. printed by Mr Wright is more correct from a grammatical point of view. I have examined this point, and hardly find it to be true. The truth that results from the comparison is a very curious and significant one. It is, namely, that the coin- cidences between the Laud MS. and the Trinity MS. are frequently startling. They agree in many instances with a most singular minuteness. And when it is remembered that the two MSS. are quite independent of each other (except in so far as they are due to the same author), and belong to different sub-classes, I think their frequent resemblances corroborate and confirm the general genuineness of both in a very remarkable way. It is none of our business how Langland ought to have written ; we merely have to ascertain how he probably did write ; and for this reason I think it a great gain to have tho xlii PREFACE II. TEXT B. Laud MS. in print, exactly as it stands, without any improvements or alterations except such as can be fairly justified by other MSS. and by other passages in the MS. it sell'. Thus, I read in Mr Morris's Specimens of Early English, that the third person singular of a weak verb Mich as to loven, ends i\\-ede, as lovede, and that the third person plural ends in -eden, as loveden. Kow such is decidedly not the general practice of the (B-text) MSS. of "Piers the Plowman," the Oriel MS. being the sole and striking exception. And to illustrate this, I give instances in which Mr Wright's text and my own agree, in order that there may be no need to raise the question as to which is the better. We find that the third person singular generally ends in -ed, and the third person plural quite as often in -ed as in -eden. The following examples are from the Prologue. LoJced, 9,slombred, 10, sweyued-, 10, preched, 68, bonched, 74, blered, 74, parceyued, 100, lowed, 129, greued, 139, 2> in place oi-ed and -ej>, and the Camhridge MS. Dd. 1. 17, which is utterly unlike the rest, and obviously does not represent the dialed of tin' author. This latter MS. frequently has verbal plurals in -es, and instead of han dly employs Jtusc, ami even liases, though the last is probably an error. Some of its more remarkable variations arc given in the footnotes. Compare also thr descripl ion of this MS. abo 1 * e. The important Rawlinson MS. frequently agrees with the text most minutely. It shews a like confusion of the endings in -en and - W ; ouerlepe L = one deep W ; stroke L = strook W ; stode L = stood W, done L = doon W, and so on. It woidd be a great mistake to imagine that the final -e in tlie.se strong preterites was intended to be sounded : for there is no instance of the kind in English of any date or dialect, as far as I am aware. We should also observe the contracted forms ritt (better spell njt, as in \V) for rideth, rest for resteth, both of which occur in prol. 171 ; also// hifedeth in prol. 194, where MS. "W actually has the fuller form. Both MSS. agree in the use of verbs in -ie or -ye, such as ////-. 120, louye, L26, shonye, 174; observe also cracchy, 186, where MS. AV has cacchen. The present participles generally end in ■yng or 4ng, but we (very rarely) find some other form, such as dry- uende, XX. 99. The prefix I- or y- is found, not only before past participles, but sometimes with past tenses, as in yrifled, V. 234 (/;■///-./ in MS. K, rilhd, in WTni:) ; and in yspilte, X. 380. Tin i PREFACE II. — TEXT B. xlv is also an indication of confusion of dialect in the use of pronouns, since both heo and sche are used for she, and liij or Ivy and bei for they. As an instance of plural adjectives in -es, I may mention cardinales verities, prol. 104. There is one grammatical error which occurs so frequently that we may safely attribute it to the author. I allude to the use of is or was with plural nouns, a clear instance of which occurs in Y. 99. In some cases I have ventured to correct was to were, on the strength of some other MSS., but I now wish I had let the Laud MS. alone, as there are quite enough instances of the use of was to justify retaining it ; and it is still a not uncommon vulgarism. As to the part of England which the dialect of the text represents, I do not offer an opinion. The author has been said to have been born in Shropshire ; his father is said to have had a farm in Oxfordshire; he himself mentions Malvern in Worcestershire as one place of his abode, and Cornhill in London as another ; and most of his allusions are to London. We may, however, feel confident that his conversation is more that of the lower and less educated classes than of the upper classes. I think it very likely that grammar was a thing about which he troubled himself but very little, and he certainly makes some singular mistakes. He twice quotes Mich I mndictam instead of michi vindicta (in this all the MSS. agree) ; he at one time translates noa meedberishj " thou shalt not kill,'' though at a later period he came round to the more correct view, that the true Latin phrase is non occides. He quotes passages from the Bible which cannot be found there ; he cites St Matthew when he means St Luke, and St Gregory when he means St Jerome. He seems to have had a hazy notion that the word Christ means a conqueror, and many more such blunders might be mentioned. Yet with all this, he was none the less a great poet, a man of genius, and the author of a marvellous work. § 10. METHOD OF PRINTING THE TEXT. The Text is, as has been explained, mainly from MS. Laud Misc. 581, but has a few alterations and additional lines from other MSS., inserted between square brackets. The rejected readings of MS. L will be found in the footnotes. The chief additions are from MS. 1;. xlvi PREFACE II. — TEXT B. The Laud MS. has very few contractions ; those that occur are denoted by italic letters. All the Latin words are printed in italics, hut the contractions are not expressed by any alteration of type, as there can never be the least doubt of the readings. 1 The metrical dot which appears in the middle of each line in the MS. is denoted by an inverted full-stop. It marks the place for a slight pause in reading, and is frequently equivalent to a comma. It is, in a very few instances, wrongly placed in the MS. I have taken the liberty of putting it always, as I believe, in the right place. The lines of each Passus are numbered separately. But I have not reckoned in the Latin quotations in the counting, except where they are in verse. "When they are not to be reckoned in, they are " set back ; " if reference is made to them, they are denoted by the number of the English line preceding them. The punctuation of the text is my own ; it differs sometimes from Mr Wright's, but not often. I may here remark that the scribe of the Laud MS. has frequently made a distinction between the two sounds of th. The sound of th in thin he commonly denotes by writing th at length, as in precheth, thinketh, and the like. The sound of fit in thine he expresses by the thorn-letter, as in be, \at, panne, and the like. In MS. C v 7 e find the thorn letter used much more sparingly, the words the and that being of frequent occurrence. In MS. W, on the other hand, the thorn- letters are far more numerous, so that we there find b//*/.v'b, precJieb, . But the scribe of Ms. W makes one curious exception; ho evidently disliked this letter at the beginning of a line, so that, in such a position, he writes That, no1 )>//. As a rule, the thorn-letters are more numerous in the later than in the earlier MSS. I am much indebted to Mr Geo. Parker for his accurate transcript of fche Laud MS., and for much help in the work of collation with MSS. II and B. § 11. METHOD of PRINTING THE FOOTNOTES. The lisl of MSS. quoted in the footnotes may he briefly repeated. They are L (Laud Misc. 581, the text); It (Rawl. Poet. 38); W 1 The only Latin word that admits of the least doubt is the one which T rend a^ repugnat. This i~ remarked upon in the Note t" Pass. wi. 47. PREFACE II. TEXT B. xlvii (Trin. Coll. Camb. B. 15. 17, printed by Mr Wright) ; C (Camb. Univ. Lib. LVl. 1. 17); (Oriel 79); B (Bodley 814); Y (Mr Yates Thompson's) ; C2 (Camb. Univ. Lib. LI. 4. 14). Of these, W, C, 0, B have been collated throughout, as far as they go ; B is cited in the footnotes to Pass iii. 1 — 86, and afterwards is more closely collated. MS. C2 fills up the gaps in O, and Y is useful towards the end of the poem. The readings of B and W are more important than those of the rest. The principles upon which the various readings are expressed in the footnotes have been already carefully detailed, in vol. i., p. xxix. § 12. EXPLANATION OP THE SIDE-NOTES. The numbering of the folios in the margin refers to the Laud MS. The thick numbers (Clarendon-type) in the margin refer to the pages of vol. i., and will be found exceedingly useful for comparing the A- and B-texts. If, for instance, it be required to compare Pass. iii. 76 with the A-text, the number 31 just above shews that it will be found on p. 31 of the former volume. Conversely, if it be required to compare any line on p. 31 of vol. i. with the B-text, the place is easily found by looking for 31 in the margin of vol. ii. Wherever the B- text is fuller than the older one, and contains some extra lines, an obelus (f) will be found prefixed to the side-note. Thus, on p. 35 of vol. ii. the side-note " For Christ knows thy conscience " is thus marked. Hence 11. 67 and 68 (against which this side-note is written) will not be found in the A-text. The side-notes in vols. i. and ii. are in general exact!// alike, wherever the texts agree closely, and this greatly helps to find the place. Thus, on p. 35, opposite 1. 69, is the side-note — '• Cease, lords, to write," &c. ; and opposite 1. 72 is the side-note — " But remember ye," &c. Both these side-notes occur in vol. i., but in a different order. The former of them is half- way down p. 31, but the latter at the top, in the A-text, owing to a different arrangement of the text. Thus the side-notes and thick numbers furnish a rough collation of the two texts at once ; a more exact comparison of the two can easily be made by the reader for him- self. The obeli and thick numbers of course cease after the end of Passus X. xlviii PREFACE II. TEXT B. § 13. ARGUMENT OP THE POEM. (TEXT B.) The poem is distinctly divisible into two parts, the "Vision of Piers the Plowman," and the "Vision of Do-well, Do-bet, and Do-best." Of these, the former is again divisible into two distinct visions, which may be called : (1) The Vision of the Field Full of Folk, of Holy Church, and of Lady Meed, occupying the Prologue and Passus I. — IV. ; and (2) The Vision of the Seven Deadly Sins and of Piers the Plowman, occupying Passus V. — VII. The latter consists of three parts, viz. The Visions of Do-well, of Do-bet, and of Do-best. The Prologue to Do-well is Passus VIII. ; Passus I. — VI. of Do-well form Passus IX. — XIV. The Prologue to Do-bet is Passus XV. ; Passus I.— III. of Do-bet form Passus XVI.— XVIII. The Prologue to Do- best is Passus XIX. ; it consists of but one Passus, viz. Passus XX. But some of these contain more than one vision, the number of visions in the whole poem amounting to eleven. 1. Piers the Plowman. I. Vision op the field full of folk, of Holy Church, and of Lady Meed. 1 In the Prologue, the author describes how, weary of wandering, he sits down to rest upon the Malvern Hills, and there falls asleep and dreams. In his vision, the world and its people are represented to him by a field full of folk, busily engaged in their avocations. The field was situated between the tower of Truth, who is God the Father, and the dungeon which is the abode of the evil spirits. In it there were ploughmen and spendthrifts, anchorites, merchants, jesters, beggars, pilgrims, hermits, friars, a pardoner with his bulls, and priests who had deserted their cures. [There 2 Avas also a king, to whom an angel spake words of advice. Then was seen suddenly a rout of rats and mice, conspiring to bell the cat, from doing which they were dissuaded by a wise mouse.] There were also law-serjeants, burgesses, tradesmen, labourers, and taverners touting for custom. Passus I. Presently, he sees a lovely lady, of whom he asks the; 1 See the argument of the A-text, vol. i. p. xxxix. 2 The passages within square hraekets are not in the A-text. PREFACE II. TEXT B. xli.K meaning of tlie tower. She tells him it is the abode of the Creator, who provides men with the necessaries of life. The dungeon is the castle of Care, where lives the Father of Falseness. He next asks her name, and she tells him she is Holy Church, and instructs him how great a treasure Truth is, how Lucifer fell through Pride, [that Love is the treacle of heaven,] and that the way to heaven lies through Love. Passus II. He asks how he may know Falsehood. She bids him turn and see Falsehood and Flattery. Looking aside he sees, not them alone, but a woman in glorious apparel. He is told she is the Lady Meed (i. e. Reward) who is going to be married to Falsehood on the morrow. Holy Church then leaves him. The wedding is pre- pared, and Simony and Civil read a deed respecting the property with which Falsehood and Meed are to be endowed. Theology objects to the marriage, and disputes its legality ; whereupon it is agreed that all must go to Westminster to have the question decided. All the parties ride off to London, Meed being mounted upon a sheriff and Falsehood upon a 'sisour.' Thus all come to the King's court, who vows that he will punish Falsehood and his crew if he can catch them. On hearing this, Liar flees to the friars, who pity him and house him for their own purposes. Passus III. Lady Meed is arrested and brought before the king. The justices assure her all will go well. To seem righteous, she con- fesses and is shriven, offering to glaze a church-window by way of amendment ; and immediately afterwards, advises mayors and judges to take bribes. The king proposes she shall marry Conscience, and she is willing to do so : but Conscience refuses, and exposes her faults. She attempts to retaliate and to justify herself; but Con- science refutes her arguments, quotes the example of Saul to shew the evil of covetousness, and declares that Reason will one day reign upon earth, and punish all wrongdoers. [Then shall men think that Messiah has come, and the reign of Peace shall begin. Conscience concludes by advising Meed always to read texts in connection with the context.] Passus IV. Acting upon the advice of Conscience, the king orders Reason to be sent for; who comes, accompanied by Wit and 1 PREFACE II. — TEXT B. Wisdom. At this moment, Peace enters, with a complaint against Wrong. Wrong, knowing the complaint is true, gets "Wisdom and Wit on his side by Meed's help, and offers to buy Peace off with a present. Reason, however, is firm and will shew no pity, hut advises the king to act with strict jnstice. The king is convinced, and prays Reason to remain with him for ever after. II. The Vision of the Seven Deadly Sins and of Piers the Plowman. Passus V. The king goes to church, and afterwards to meat, and at this point of the vision the dreamer awakes. But it is not for long; he soon falls asleep again, and has a second vision, in which he again sees the field full of folk, and Reason ' preaching to 1he assembled people, reminding them that the late'storm and pesti- were judgments of God. Repentance seconds the efforts of Conscience, and many begin to repent; Of these the first is Pride, who makes a vow of humility. The second is Luxury, who vows to drink only water. The third is Envy, who is described with much particularity, and who confesses his evil thoughts and his attempts to harm his neighbours. [The fourth is Wrath, a friar, whose aunt was a nun, and who had been both cook and gardener to a convent, and incited many to quarrel.] The fifth, Avarice, who confesses how he lied and cheated, and taught his wife to cheat; [and who, not understanding the French word restitution, thought that it was another term for stealing.] The sixth, Gluttony, who (on his way to church) is tempted into a beer-house, of the interior of which the author gives a life-like and perfect picture. He too repents, though not till he has first become completely drunk and afterwards felt the ill effects of drinking. The seventh is Sloth, [a priest who knows rimes aboul Robin Eood better than his prayers, and can find a hare in a field more readily than he can read lives of saints.] Robert the robber too repents, and prays earnestly for forgiveness, [and Repent- ance makes intercession for all the penitents.] 2 Then they all set out in Bearch of Truth, 'hut no one knows the way. Soon they meet with a palmer, who has met with many saints, but never with one 1 In the A-text, it is Conscience who preaches. - In :ill M.SS. of the A-.] .. Passus VI. begins lure, at 1. .520 of the present text. PREFACE II. TEXT B. H named Truth. At this juncture Piers the Ploughman " put forth his head," declaring that he knows Truth well, and will tell them the way, which he then describes. Passus VI. The pilgrims think the way long, and want a guide. Piers says he will come himself and shew them, when he has plough- ed his half-acre. Meanwhile, he gives good advice to rich ladies and to a knight. Before starting, Piers makes his will, and then sets all who come to him to hard work. Many shirk their work, hut are re- duced to subordination hy the sharp treatment of Hunger. Next fol- low most curious and valuable passages respecting the diet of the poor, striking for higher wages, and the discontent caused hy pros- perity. [A mysterious prophecy is appended.] Passus VII. At this time Truth (i. e. God the Father) sends Piers a hull of pardon, especially intended for kings, knights, bishops, and the labouring poor, and even for some lawyers and merchants, in a less degree. A priest disputes the validity of this pardon, and wants to read it. The dispute between this priest and Piers becomes so violent that the dreamer awakes, and the Poem of Piers the Plowman (properly so called) ends with a fine peroration on the small value of papal pardons, and the superiority of a righteous life over mere trust in indulgences, at the great Day of Doom. 2. Vita de Dowel. III. The Vision of Wit, Study, Clergy, axd Scripture. Passus VIII. In introducing a new poem, 1 the "Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest," the author begins by describing a dialogue that passed between himself and two Minorite friars concerning the doc- trine of free-will. After this, he again falls asleep, and perceives in a dream a man named Thought. He asks Thought where Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best live, and Thought gives him some account of these, but says that the best person to give him further information is Wit. After wandering for three days, the dreamer and Thought meet with Wit. 1 Though this latter portion is, in its form, altogether a new poem, the author no doubt intended it from the first to be the sequel and completion of the forme- portion. ]jj ; V.CE fl. — TEXT R Passus IX. Wit tells the dreamer that Do-wel dwells in a castle called Caro, wherein also is enclosed the Lady Anima, and they are rded by the constable Inwit (Conscience), and his five sons (the I Here follow a di course upon the duly of the church to 7 tect idiots and helpless persons, and upon the right distribution of elms.] Next follow discussions upon the good that there is in well- assorted and lawful wedlock, and the evil of mercenary or ill-advised marriages, and 1 ;erous connections. Pass is .V. Tie' dreamer applies to yet one more adviser, viz. Dame Study, tie' wife of Wit. [She laments that wicked men most fre- quently obtain this world's wealth.] She inveighs with great justice ami force against tie' way in which shallow would-be theologians cavil aboul the mysterious things of God, and unworthily amuse them- selves with vain quibbles. [She laments the lack of charity, now that the rich eat, in private parlours.] At last, she commends the dreamer to ( Ilergy and Scripture, from whom he may hope to learn yet more. Accordingly, he seeks these, and is favourably received. [Clergy ex- plains the nature of Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-hest, quotes the fate of Eophni and Phinehas, and utters the remarkable prophecy that a kin-- would come and reform Religion, when the abbot of Abingdon should, receive lVoin him a knock, and incurable should he the wound.] A dispute arises between Clergy and William on the subject of pre- destination, which gives the latter the opportunity of declaring the" insufficiency of mere wisdom to obtain admittance into heaven, and the ' 1 likelihood which honest but ignorant men have of attain- lie life eternal. 1\. The Vision or Fortune, Nature, and Reason. Passiis - v/ - ' !l :1 ne-w vision, William sees Fortune, with her attendant damsels named Lust-of-the-flesh and Lust-of-the-eyes, who bid him ice in his youth. Bui at the approach of old age, he finds that the friars, once his friends,, avoid him, because he wished to be buried in his parish church. Loyalty and Scripture give him good advice, and he is told why Trajan was released fro,,, hell. Loyalty cites Christ's example of humility, declares poverty to he like a walnut, and says i!l ''< pnestsunfil for their offii as bad as a notary who knows* not how to draw up a charter. His dream continues, and he sees Nature, PREFACE II. — TEXT B. liii who shews him how all animals except man follow Reason. He asks why this is ; Eeason rebukes him, and he awakes. V. The Vision of Imaginative. The dreamer beholds one who rebukes him for his impatience. He asks the stranger's name. Passus XII. The stranger says he is Imaginative, who exhorts him not to despise learning, instructs him as to the relative chances of salvation of the learned and the ignorant, and tells him why wealth is like a peacock's tad. After distinguishing between three kinds of baptism, Imaginative suddenly vanishes. VI. The A^ision of Conscience, Patience, and Haukyn the Active-Man. Passus XIII. In the sixth vision, Conscience, Pa- tience, and the dreamer go to dine with Clergy. At the high dais is seated a doctor of the church, who astonishes all by his gluttony. After dinner, the doctor, being well primed with wine, is ready to ex- pound theological subtleties. Conscience and Patience bid farewell to Clergy, and set out as pilgrims in company with the poet. Soon they meet with one Activa-Vita, or Haukyn the Active-Man, who is a minstrel and seller of wafers. Haukyn's coat is covered with spots of dirt, significant of his sins ; and the dreamer notices amongst them the spots of Pride, Wrath, Envy, Lechery, Avarice, Gluttony, and Sloth ; [cf. Pass. V.] Conscience asks Haukyn why he has not brushed his coat. Passus XIV. Haukyn explains that he has but one coat, and it is difficult to keep it clean. Patience instructs Haukyn in his duties, explains the value of Contrition, Confession, and Satisfaction, laments that riches should rob man's soul of God's love, praises poverty, and enumerates its nine advantages. Haukyn's repentance and sorrow for his sins awake the dreamer. 3. Vita de Sobet. VII. The Vision op the Soul and of the tree of Charity. Passus XV. After a few remarks about his own behaviour, "William again dreams, and beholds Soul or Reason, of whom he inquires the nature of Charity. Soul answers him, quoting the Lives of the Saints, and shews him that the friars are now far from being charit- able. He alludes to the story of Mahomet's pet dove, to the fatal gift Jiv PREFACE II. — TEXT B. of Constantine, and to the miracles of Christ, ending with the charitable wish that Saracens and Jews may be saved. Passus XVI. He is then shewn the tree upon which Charity- grows, supported upon three props, the meaning of which is explain- ed by Piers the Plowman Himself, who is now identified with the human nature of Christ. Next follows a part of the history of Christ, His incarnation, miracles, and betrayal by Judas Iscariot. At this point the dreamer suddenly awakes. In his anxious search after Piers the Plowman, he meets with Abraham or Faith. VIII. The Vision of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Faith (Abraham) explains how he became God's herald, and shews William the leper (Lazarus) lying in his lap. Passus XVII. Next William beholds Spes, or Hope, who, like Abraham, is in search of Piers. Spes and William journey towards Jerusalem, and behold a Samaritan riding near them. Soon they find a wounded man lying in the way. Faith and Hope pass by him, but the Good Samaritan (i. e. Charity or Christ Himself in the garb of Piers the Plowman) has compassion upon him, and takes care of him, leaving him at an inn called Lex Christi. The dreamer offers to become the Samaritan's servant, and learns from Him how the Holy Trinity is symbolized by a man's hand, or by a blazing torch. Once more the dreamer awakes. IX. The Vision of the Triumph of Piers the Plowman. Passus XVIII. This, the finest Passus in the whole poem, is entirely occupied with the history of Jesus. With growing power and vividness, the poet describes the crucifixion, the struggle between Life and Death and between Light and Darkness, the meeting together of Truth and .Mercy, Pdghteousness and Peace, whilst the Saviour rests in the grave; a triumphant description of His descent into hell, and His, victory over Satan and Lucifer, till the poet wakes in ecstacy, with the joyous peal of the bells ringing in his ears on the morning of Easter day. 4. Vita de Dobest. X. The Vision of Grace. Passus XIX. But alas ! the poem of Dobest reveals how far oil' the end yet is. The Saviour leaves PREFACE II. TEXT B. ly earth, and Antichrist descends upon it. Piers henceforth, denotes the -whole Christian body, upon whom Grace or the Holy Spirit bestows various gifts. Grace makes Piers His ploughman, and gives him four oxen (the four evaugelists), and four " stots " (the four chief Latin " fathers ") ; also four seeds, Avhich are the cardinal virtues. Pride and his host attack the Church of Unity. All men are invited by Conscience to partake of the eucharist, but an impenitent brewer refuses to do so, and an ignorant vicar reviles the cardinals whom the pope sends from Avignon. A lord and a king are introduced, who justify their own exactions. Then the dreamer awakes. XL The Vision of Antichrist. Passus XX. Before falling asleep once more, William encounters Need, who rebukes and in- structs him. He then dreams once more how Antichrist assails the Church of Unity, which is defended by Conscience against Pride and all his host. Diseases assail all mankind ; Death " pashes " to the dust kings and knights, emperors and popes, and many a lovely lady. Life, with his mistress Fortune, indulges in all kinds of excesses. He becomes the father of Sloth, who marries Wanhope. Old-age appears as the enemy of Life. The dreamer takes refuge in the castle of Unity, which is beleaguered by many foes, especially by Envy and Hypocrisy. At last one Flattery, a friar, gains admission to the castle, offering to salve Conscience of all hurts with soothing but deadly remedies, till Conscience, hard beset by Pride and Sloth, cries out to Contrition to help him ; but Contrition slumbers, benumbed by the deadly potions he has drunk. With a last effort Conscience arouses himself, and seizes his pilgrim's staff, determined to wander wide over the world till he shall find Piers the Plowman. Again the dreamer awakes, and here ceases the still unfinished history of the religious life of man. ' 1 For a more detailed and exact analysis of the poem, see Frofcssor Morley's English Writers, \q\. i. p. 758. lvi ERRATA. P. 5, 1. 93. Dele stop at the end of the line. P. 5, 1. 95. For semantj read seruantz. So also in Pass. ii. 13, ii. L'oO^ii. 212, iii. 89, iii. 161, iii. 214, hi. 216, hi. 225, the plural nouns ending with 3 should rather end with z, though the MS. has 3. P. 217. Insert marks of quotation at the end of 1. 118, and the beginning of 1. 119, and correct "Conscience" to "Clergy" in the sidenote. P. 398. In note to 1. 168, in the quotation from Crowley, read "tel" for "tell." THE VISION OF WILLIAM CONCERNING "PIERS THE PLOWMAN." fnriuit liber be |jciro pofomait. [Prologus."] In a somer seson whan soft was the sonne, I shope me in shroudes • as I a shepe were, In habite as an heremite vnholy of workes, Went wyde in J?is world wondres to here. Ac on a May mornynge • on Maluerne hnlles Me hyfel a ferly of fairy mo thoi^te ; I was wery forwandred and went me to reste Vnder a brode banke bi a bornes side, And as I lay and lened and loked in be wateres, I slombred in a slepyng it sweyued so merye. IT Thanne gan I to meten a merueilouse sweuene, That I was in a wildernesse • wist I neuer where, As I bihelde in-to be est an hiegh to be sonne, I seigh a toure on a toft • trielich ymaked ; A depe dale binethe a dongeon bere-Inne, With depe dyches & derke " and dredful of sight. (Pane of A text)l [MS. L; fol. 1.] One summer season, clothed as a hermit, I went abroad in the i world to hear * wonders. On Malvern hills, a strange thing befel me. Being tired of wander- ing, I rested me q by a bourne's side, where I Boon fell asleep. Then dreamt I a wondrous dream, 1 -j that I was in a strange wilder- ness, and saw on the east side of it a tower on a toft, and beneath it a deep dale with a 1 Q dungeon. Obs. L=MS. Laud 581 ; W= MS. printed by Wright ; 0=MS. Oriel ; R=MS. Rawlinson ; C=Camb. MS. Dd. 1. 17 ; C2=Camb. MS. LI. 4. 14. Readings from the last of these are given only occasionally. 2. in] into W. shepe] sheep W ; scheep 62 ; but C has schepe {with a final e). 5. Ao] And CC2. 9. in] on W. 10. in] in-to W. sn-eyned] sweyed W. 11. to] so in W (but not printed). 12. a] WO om. 13. As] And as W; And C. an hiegh] on hyi ; on hie C2. 14. seigh] saw? O. trielich'] rie- liche (with t erased) C ; triedliche 0. A FAIR FIELD FULL OF FOLK. [PROL. A faire felde ful of folke fonde I there bytwcne, Of all; maner of men • be niene and be riche, Worchyng and wandryng • as be worlde asketh. Some [putten] hem to be plow pleyed ful selde, but some were clad in gay apparel. Others prayed, ami Icil an austere life, like anchorites. There was also a fair field, full of. all manner of folk. Some of them Some [putten] hem to be plow pleyed ful selde, 20 ploughed, sowed, ami w.,rK,a hard; In settyng and m sowyng swonken tul harde, And wonnen that wastours with glotonye destruyeth. 11 And some putten hem to pruyde ' apparailed hem bere-after, In contenaurcce of clothyng comen disgised. 24 1T In prayers and in penance putten hem manye, Al for loue of owre lorde lyuede?i ful streyte, In hope forto haue ' heueneriche blisse ; As ancres and heremites that holden hem in here selles, 28 And coueiten nought in contre to kairen aboute, For no likerous liflode • her lykam to plese. IT And somnie chosen chaffare they cheuen the bettere, As it semeth to owre sy3t that suche men thryueth ; And somme murthes to make as mynstralles conneth, And geten gold with here glee ' synneles, I leue. 34 Some were jesters Ac iapers & iangelers • Iudas chylderen, against whom' Feynen hem fantasies and foles hem maketh, And han here witte at wille ' to worche jif bei sholde. Some chose merchandise, whilst some were minstrels. That Poule precheth of hem here ; nel nought preue it 38 20. [putten W] putte C2 ; put LC. See l. 23. hem] him C. pleyed] plei- den W ; pleyede ; plaiden C ; pleyed LC2. selde] seelde O ; seeld C2 ; sel- den C. 21. in sowyng] WOC2 omit in. swonken] swynken C. 22. with] in OC2. destrwyeth] dis- troys C. 23. apparailed] apparayleden OC2; apparailed LWC. 24. disgised] degised W. 25. prayers] preyere O. in pe- nance] penaunces W. 26. loue] pe loue W. 27. forto haue] to haue after \V. 29. kairen] cayren ; carien WC2 ; walken C. 31. chosen] chesen C. cheuen] chcueden W. 32. suche] swilke C. men] OC2 om. 33. conneth] konne W ; kuaueth C. 34. synneles] Mr Wright prints gilt Its ((■(. Text A) ; but we find syn- in lis in LWC ; not synles in OC2. 35. Ac] As COC2. 36. Feynen] pat feynen OC2. 37. at wille] at her .wille OC2. sholde] wolde W. 38. nel] wdl W. In the margin of is written, Qui non lahorat uon manducet. PROL.] BEGGARS, PILGRIMS, HERMITS, FRIARS. Qui turpiloqidum loquitur [is luciferes liyne]. IF Bidders and beggeres fast aboute }ede, 40 With her bely and her bagge[s] of bred ful ycrammed ; Fayteden for here fode * fou^ten atte ale ; In glotonye, god it wote gon bij to bedde, And risen with ribaudye ' tho roberdes knaues ; 44 Slepe and sori sleuthe ' seweth hem eure. II Pilgrymes and palmers ' plated hem togidere To seke seynt Tames ' and seyntes in rome. Thei went forth in here wey with many wise tales, And had den leue to lye • al here lyf after. 49 I seigh sorame tbat seiden • )>ei had ysou3t seyntes ; To eche a tale pat pei tolde here tonge was tempred to lye, More pan to sey soth it semed bi here speche. 52 1T Heremites on an heep With hoked staues, Wenten to Walsyngham and here wenches after ; Grete lobyes and longe • that loth were to swynke, 55 Clotheden hem in copis * to ben knowen fram othere ; And shopen hem heremites • here ese to haue. II I fonde pere Freris • alle pe foure ordres, Preched pe peple for profit of hem-seluen, Glosed pe gospel as hem good lyked, 60 For coueitise of eopis construed it as pei wolde. Many of pis maistres Freris • mowe clotben hem at lykyng, There were beggars, too, dissembling [Fol. 1 6.] knaves, who lived in gluttony, sleep, and sloth. Pilgrims and palmers were there, who went to Rome, and had leave to lie ever after. + I saw some that said they had sought saints. Hermits, too, went to Walsing- ham, and their wenches with them ; great long lubbers were they, and loath to work. I found friars there, of all four orders, gloz.ing the Gospel, 4 covetous cheats, whose traffic had much to do with money. 39. Qui] But Qui W. The readings are — Qui turpiloquiwni loquitur, tyc. LC ; But Qui loquitur turpiloquium ■■• is Luciferes hyne W ; resembles W, with knaue instead of hyne ; Cz has the same as O, with hyne written above knaue. Cf. Text A. 41. bely'] belies W. badges'] L has bagge ; but WCOCz have the plural. 42. atte ale] at pe ale W ; at ale O ; at nale C2. 43. it] W out. gon] go W ; gayt C. hij] pei WO ; they C. 44. po] r e 0. 45. seweth"] sheweth C ; suen O. 46. plhted] pli^teden ; plated L ; plbten W ; gedir C. 47. To] For to W. in] at W. 49. to lye] for to lye O ; to lee C. 51. To echo] Tho hilke C. here] thayr C. 52. to] OC2 otn. here] thair C. 54. here] hire W ; thair C. 59. Preched] Prechynge \V ; Pre- cheden 0. 60. Glosed] Gloseden 0. 62. maistres] so also in C ; maiatre W ; maystre 0. mowe] now W. A PARDONER AXD HIS BULLS. [PROL. For since charity lias taken to trailing, many strange things have happened. There preached a pardoner, and shewed a hull, saving he could assoil everyone. Men came and kissed it; and he blinded their eyes with it, and got rings and brooches. Were the bishop worth his ears, this would not be suffered. 5 [Fol. 2.] Parish-priests complain that their parishes are poor now since the pesti- lence, and su they go to London. t Bishops and For here money and marcliandise marchen togideres. For sith charite hab be chapman and chief to shryue lordes, 64 Many ferlis han fallen in a fewe ^eris. But holychirche and hij " holde better togideres, The moste my[s]chief on molde ' is mountyng wel faste. IT j)evQ prsched a Pardonere • as he a prest were, 68 Broujte forth a bulle " with bishopes seles, And seide fiat hym-self my^te assoilen hem alle Of falshed of fastyng of vowes ybroken. IT Lewed men leued hym wel * and lyked his wordes, Com en vp knelyng " to kissen his bulles ; 73 He bonched hem with his breuet & blered here eyes, And rau3te with his ragman • xynges and broches. Thus bey geuen here golde glotones to kepe, 70 And leueth such loseles bat lecherye haunten. Were be bischop yblissed and worth bothe his eres, His seel shulde nou^t be sent to deceyue be peple. Ac it is naujt by be bischop fat be boy precheth, 80 For the parisch prest and be pardonere parten be siluer, That J>e poraille of be parisch sholde haue }if bei nere. H Persones and parisch prestes " pleyned hem to be bischop, 83 Jjat here parisshes were pore • sith be pestilence tyme, To haue a lycence and a leue at London to dwelle, And syngen fere for symonye for siluer is swete. 86 11 Bischopes and bachelors bothe maistres and doctours, C3. marcliandise'] hire marchaun- diae W ; mauchaudises (sic) C. 66. Jiij] \>ei 0. 67. myschief] mychief L ; meschief WCO. iwQ vp wel OC2. G9. with] wif many W, 71. of vowes] of Auowes W ; and of vowes CO. 72. hym] it W. 74. oonched] bunchede ; Mr Wright j>rints bouched. eyes] eiaen W ; yen ; eyen C. 77. leueth'] leuej? it or leneb it (misprinted leveth in) W; leuys or lenys C ; louen OC2. ]pat] as W. 78. yolissed] yl ilessed W ; Iblessid 0. 80. Ac] And C. toy] both C. 82. poraille'] pore porayle O. nere] ne were W< '. 84. parisshes] pariase C. pore] ponere W. sith \>e] sith C. 85. a leue] leue WO. PROL.] CARDINAL VIRTUES AND CARDINALS. 5 pat ban cure vnder criste * and crounyng in tokne 88 others having cuieof souls live And signe bat bei sholden shryuen here paroschienes, in London, even Prechen and prey for hem and be pore fede, vro i. 90.) Liggen in London in lenten, an elles. Somme seruen be kyng and his siluer tellen, 92 t some serve the king in his In cheker and in chancerye chalengen his dettes. exchequer. Of wardes and wardmotes weyues and streyues. IT And some seruen as seruantz lordes and ladyes, t some are stewards to lords. And in stede of stuwardes ' sytten and demen. 96 Here messe and here matynes and many of here oures Arn don vndeuoutlych ; drede is at fie laste Lest crist in cons[is]torie ' acorse ful manye. I parceyned of be power bat Peter had to kepe, 100 t st Peter deputed his power To hynde and to vnbynde ' as be boke telleth, of the keys to the How he it left wib loue as owre lorde bight, rirtues; ' r Amonges foure vertues be best of alle vertues, ])at cardinales ben called & closyng 3atis, 104 fieve crist is in kyngdome to close and to shutte, And to opne it to hem and heuene blisse shewe. Ac of be cardinales atte Courte bat cau3t of bat name, t but as to the power of the men And power presumed in hem • a Pope to make, 108 now called ,,iit- t 11 cardinals— I will To han bat power pat peter hadcle mpugnen 1 nelle ; not impugn it. For in loue and letterure be eleccioun bilongeth, For-bi I can and can nau^te " of courte speke more. ^f ]3anne come Jiere a kyng kny^thod hym ladde, 112 Next 1 beheld a IMi3t of J3e comunes ' made hym to regne, And panne cam kynde wytte and clerkes he made, 88. cranny ng~] crowng {sic) C ; 101. to unbynde~\ vnbynden W. crownes Ca. 102. left] self (!) OC2. 91. JAggen\ Liggand C. in Lon- 103. C omits. dori] at Londone W. 105. crist is'] is crist W. in] iu 93, cliancerye] chauncelrie W. his W. 'Ji. and wardmotes] and of warde- 106. opne] opene W ; open C. motes W; of wardemotes OC2. weyues 107. Ac] And C. atte] at "WO. and] of weyues of OCz. • 108. And] Ac (!) O. 96. stuwardes] stywardes W ; sti- 10 ( J. han] haue CO. inpiignen] wardes C. irnpugnen W ; Iinpugne it O. 99. consistorie WCO] constorie L. 110. letterure] in lettrure "VV. acorse] a-curse C ; curse O. 111. and ran] and I can OC2. AN ANGEL SPEAKS IN LATIN. [rROL. + Up and his knights said the commons must support them, t The commons provided plough- men to till the [Fol. 2 6.] soil. t Then a lunatic cried aloud and Baid, "Christ grant, sir king, that you may rule well." t Then an angel exclaimed in Latin — t giving the king good advice. t A buffoon re- plied in Latin to the angel. For to conseillc pe kyng and \>e comune saue. IT The kyng and kny^thode and clergye bothe 116 Casten pat J>e comune ' shulde hem-self fynde. 11 J)e comune contreued of kynde witte craftes, And for profit of alle J>e poeple • plowmen ordeygned, To tilie and Iranaile • as trewe lyf askej). 120 ])a kynge and J?e comune ' and kynde witte \>e thridde Skope lawe & lewte • eche man to knowe his ownc. II J)anne loked vp a lunatik a lene jsing with-alle, And knelyng to J>e kyng clergealy he seyde ; 124 " Crist kepe J>e, sire kyng and pi kyngriche, And leue pe lede pi londe so leute pe louye, And for pi l^tful rewlyng be rewarded in heuene ! " II And sithen in pe eyre an hiegh An angel of heuene Lowed to speke in latyn — for lewed men ne coude Iangle ne iugge ' pat iustifie hem shulde, • 130 But snffren & seruen — for-thi seyde pe angel, " Sum Bex, sum Princeps neutrum fortasse deinceps; — qui iura regis ' Christi specialia regis, 1 33 Hoc quod a gas melius iustus es, esto pi us I Nudum ius a te vestiri vidt pietate ; Qualia vis met ere ' talia grana sere. 13G Si ius nudatur nudo de iure metatur. Si seritur pietas ' de pietate metas /" H Thanne greued hym a Goliardeys ' a glotoim of wordes, And to pe angel an heLj [answered] after, 140 " Dum rex a regere • dicatur nomen habere, Nomen habet sine re ' nisi studet iura tenere." 118. contreued] controlled (pro- bably miswritten) C. 120. and traua'de] and to frrauaille W. 121. and kynde"] kynde C. 122. lewte] leautcWC; leute 0. 125. Were commences the fragment of MS. K which it newfound in MS. Lansdowne 308 ; see the Preface. 12(5. leue] leue or lene WCO. lede] to lede OC2. 135. iui] vis R. 137. im] vis R. 140. [answered C] answerde W; answerede 0; answeres LR. 111. Dun,] so in LWR ; Cum CO. PR0L.] THE RAT'S COUNSEL AGAINST THE CAT. 7 IT And banne gan alle be comune ciye in vers of latin, t The commons ln ... too spoke in To be kynges conseille • construe no-so wolde — 144 Latin. " Precepta Regis ' sunt nobis vincula legis." H Wib bat ran fere a route of ratones at ones, t Then a rout of rats and mice ran And smale mys with hem mo pen a bousande, together to take And comen to a conseille • for here comtine profit ; 148 For a cat of a courte cam whan hyni lyked, And ouerlepe hem ly3tlich and lai^te hem at his wille, And pleyde wib hem perilously ch and possed [hem] aboute. 151 " For doute of d} r uerse dredes • we dar notute wel loke ; t "We areaii afraid of the cat." And jif we grucche of his gamen " he wil greue vs alle, Cracche vs, or clowe vs and in his cloches holde, That vs lotheth bo lyf or he lete vs passe. My3te we wib any witte his wille withstonde, 156 We my3te be lordes aloft ' and lyuen at owre ese." IT A raton of renon • most renable of tonge, t a rat of renown said, " I have Seide for a souereygne • help to hym-selue ; — [Foi. s.] " I haue ysein segges," quod he " in be cite of london l^^ wear* '" Beren bhes ful bri:te abouten here nekkes, 161 collars on their } } necks. And some coders of crafty werk ; • vncoupled bei wenden Bobe in wareine & in waste where hem leue lyketh ; And otherwhile bei aren elles- where • as I here telle. 164 Were bere a belle on here bei^ bi Thesn, as me thynketh, t a beii might be . . . hung on to such Men my3te wite where bei went and awei renne ! a collar. And ri3t so," quod J>at ratoure " reson me sheweth, t Let us put a 143. And \>annc] Thanne W. co- 157. aloft] o-lofteW; on lofte R. mime] comunes 0. vers] a vers R. 158. renon] renounWCO. reliable] 147. mys] rnees W ; myce O. with] resonable R. myd W. 159. hym-sclue] hem alle R. 148. here] be W. 160. ysein] seyn CO; y-seyen W. 149. courte] contree W. segges] segthis C. 151. [hem COR] LW om. 161. Beren] WerenC. biyes] beiges 152. dar] doren ; durrc C2. mel] W ; behes C ; byes O ; be3es R. C om. 162. wenden] so in LCOR ; wentcn 153. of] R om. W. 154. or] & O. dome] clawen W ; 163. hem leue lyketh] hem-self liked clawe RO ; clow C. W ; baj-m lef lykeb R. 155. or] er WE. 165. beij] bighes C ; byesO; byeR. 156. mille] wit C (wrongly). 167. \>af] be O. 8 THE RATS DARK NOT "BELL THE CAT. [ruc-L. collar and bell on the cat's neck. + When lie is playful, we can Staj | when wrathful, we must run away." t But when the bull was bought, never a rat durst hang it on the cat's neck. + So theirs was labour lost. t A mouse ad- dressed the rout, saying, t "If we kill the old cat, a young one will eome ; t and it is very To bugge a belle of brasse or of bribjte syluer, 1G8 And knitten on a colore ' for owre com tine profit, And hangen it vp-on be cattes lials ' banne here we mowen "Where he ritt or rest or renneth to playe. And 3d' him list for to laike • benne loke we mowen, 172 And percn in his presence - ber while hyni plaie liketh, And jif him wrattheth, be ywar and his weye shonye." IT Alle bis route of ratones to bis reson bei assented. Ac bo be belle was ybov^t and on fie bei3e hanged, 17G Jjere ne was ratoun in alle be route for alle be rewme of Frauwce, Jjat dorst haue ybounden J)e belle ' aboute be cattis nekke, Ne hangen [it] aboute be cattes hals ' al Engelonde to wynne ; And helden hem vnhardy and here conseille feble. 180 And leten here laboure lost & alle here longe stud ye. H A mous bat moche good couthe, as me thoi^te, Stroke forth sternly • and stode biforn hem alle, And to be route of ratones ' reherced bese wordes ; 184 " TI10U3 we culled fie catte 3ut sholde ber come an- other, To cracchy vs and al owre kynde £0113 we croupe vnder benches. For-bi I conseille alle be comum ' to lat be catte worthe, And be we neuer so bolde • be belle hym to shewe ; 188 For I horde my sire seyn is seuene 3 ere ypassed, 0. 168. ovgge] bigge CO ; bye C2. 169. on] it on W. 170. W omits. 171. R omits, rest] restib 0. 172. R omits. 173. \cr while] be while WR. 174. ywa/r] way W. 175. \ns (1)] be R. )>ei] om. 176. Ac] And C. yoouyt] y-brou^ W. 177. retvme] reaume \V ; win ("'. 178. yboundt n] boundeu W : bounde 170. lit] occurs in WCROC2 ; L om. \>e cattes] his R. 180. And.] Alle W. 181. alle] Oom. 184. route of] O om. 185. culled] killen W; hulled C; killeden ; had Iculled R. 186. cracchy] cracche ; cacchen W; cache C2. croupe] cropen W , crepe C ; crope R. 188. so] W om. PROL.] THE MOUSE'S EXCELLENT ADVICE. 9 J2ere fe catte is a kitouw fe courte is fid elyng; 190 bad for the court j)at witnisseth koliwrite who-so wil it rede, reigns. Ve terre vbi puer rex est, fyc, t Eceies. x. 16. For may no renke fere rest liaue for ratones bi ny^te ; j)e while he cacchejj conynges " he coueiteth nou3t owre caroyne, 193 But fet hym al with venesoim defame we hym neuere. For better is a litel losse fan a longe sorwe, t Better a little loss than a long \)q mase amonge vs alle {30113 we mysse a schrewe. 196 sorrow. For many mannws malt * we mys wolde destruye, t Mice and rats are a nuisance, And also 30 route of ratones • rende mennes clothes, as wen as cats. ISTere fat cat .of fat courte * fat can 30W ouerlepe ; For had ye rattes jowre wille • 3e couthe noi^t reule 30wre-selue. 200 I sey for me," quod f e mous " I se so mykel after, [Foi. 3 &.] Shal neuer f e cat ne f e kitouw bi my consedle be greued, ~Ne carpyng of f is coler fat costed me neure. 1 1 do not ray And f 0113 it had coste me catel biknowen it 1 nolcle, collar. But suffre as hym-self wolde to do as hym liketh, 205 t Let them go where they like." Coupled & vncoupled to cacche what thei mowe. For-fi vche a wise wi^te I warne • wite wel his owne." — 5F What f is meteles bemeneth ye men fat be merye, Deuine 3e, for I ne dar bi dere god in heuene ! 209 IT }it houed fere an hondreth in houues of selke, There were a hundred Senaunt3 it semed fat serueden atte barre, sergeants in silk Plededen for penyes and poundes fe lawe, 212 hoods, law- 102. \>ere] no R. 204. had costs'] hadde costned W ; 193. owre] youre W. costed R. 194. fet] f edeb W; fedes C. al] O om . 207. For\i — wifte] For vche a wyse 196. C om. man R. vche] ech W ; ilke C. 198. yi] the C ; be O. 208. bemeneth] bymene R. 199. \>ctt cat of \>at] be cat of fat 209. for— dar] ne dar I noi^t R. W; bat cat of be R. 211. it semed] it bi-semed W ; it 200. rattes] ratones R. semeden O ; as it semed C. atte] at 201. for me] it for mv-self R. be WOR. 203. ]\ r c] Thoruj W. costed] cost 212. Plededen] Pleteden WCRO ; CO. Tleded C2. ' 10 BAKERS, BREWERS, MASONS, COOKS. [PROL. pleaders, who never spoke till they saw their money. 6 I s:iw too barons, burgesses, bond- men, bakers, butchers, brewsters, and others: and ditchers who lead ill lives, and sing Idle songs. Cooks were cry- ing " hot pies," and taverners were praising their wine. And noi^t for loue of owre lorde • vnlese here lippes orris. Jpow my3test better mete be myste • on maluerne hulles, Jjau gete a raomme of here mouthe but money were shewed. IT Barones an burgeis and bonde-men als 216 I sei} in pis assemble as 30 shul here after. Baxsteres & brewesteres and bocheres manye, Wollewebsteres and weueres of lynnen, Taillours and tynkeres & tolleres in marketes, 220 Masons and myno?/?'S ' and many other craftes. Of alkin libbyng laboreres lopen forth so?nme, As dykers & delueres bat doth here dedes ille, And dryuen forth be [longe] day ' with " Dieu vous saue, Dame Emme I " 224 Cokes and here knaues " crieden, " hote pies, hote ! Gode gris a[nd] gees gowe dyne, gowe ! " 1T Tauerners vn-til hem tolde fie same, " White wyn of Oseye and red wyn of Gascoigne, 228 Of be Eyne and of be Eochel be roste to defye." — Al bis sei3 I slepyng • and seuene sythes more. 2 13. vnlese] vnlose (pririted un- ol< ><*■) W ; vnlose ; vnlouse C. 214. be] W om. 215. momme] mom W ; muwme OR. but — mere] but moneie be j til moneie be W ; er mony hem by R. L has monoy, miswritten for money; cf. Pass. 1.1. II. 216. burgeis] burgeises W. 218. Baxteres] baksteres Wit. 222. alkin] alle kynnc W ; alle kyn O ; alkyn C ; alle R. 223. doth] doon WO ; does C. 224. [longe] so in WCO; L has dere. Cf. Text A. be — day] here dayes here R. vans] W om. 226. and] and WRO ; an C ; L has a. 227. tolde] fcrewely tolden W. 228. red wyn] R om. 230. W omits ; but Mr Wright sup- plies the line from MS. T (of the A- class). seij] sawe CO. PASS. I.] THE VISION OF HOLY CHURCH. 11 PASSUS I. Passus Primus de vision e. 'hat this montaigne bymeneth ' and be merke dale, I now ten the meaning of the And be felde ful of folke I shal 30W faire schewe. mountain, the A loueli ladi of lere • in lynnen yclothed, field ' Come down fram a castel and called me faire, 4 camTdown from And seide, " Sone, slepestow sestow J>is poeple, bade' me iol at How bisi J?ei ben abouten be masel the people; J?e moste partie of bis poeple Jjat passeth on bis erthe, most of whom seek only worship Haue bei worschip in pis worlde bei wilne no better; in this world (here Of other henene ban here " holde bei no tale." 9 [ Fo1 - *•] imaged by a IT I was aferd of her face bei3 she faire were, field;. I was afraid, and And seide, "mercy, Madame what is bis to mene 1 asked what it »u " ]3e toure vp be toft," quod she " treuthe is bere-Inne, » In tile tower," And wolde bat $e wrou^te • as his worde techeth ; 1 3 xruth!V. e.'ciod For he is fader of feith fourmed 30W alle, the Creator > Bothe with fel and with face • and 3af 30W fyue wittis £— Forto worschip hym ber-with be while bat 3c ben here. And berfore he hj T 3te be erthe ' to help 30W vchone 17 who gives men wool and linen Of wollen, of lynnen ' of lyfiode at necle, sufficient. In mesnrable manere " to make 30W at ese ; IF And comaunded of his cnrteisye " in comune bree Three things are . . on really needful, — binges ; a\j Title. So in LWC ; Passus nriraus site] scho C. de visione petri plowman R ; Primus 12. toure"] thour C. rp~\ ou W. PasBua 0. 13. techeth] thecheth C. 3. lere] leere W; lyre C. 14. is] Oohi. fourmed'] and formed 5. sexto ir] sest \>o\v R ; seest pou 0. W. (5. abouten] alle aboute W. 16. \>e] W o?u. \>at~] om. 10. aferd] a-fered CW ; a-feerd 0. 18. of lyfiode] o lifode (sic) C. 12 THREE THINGS NEEDFUL FOR LIFE. PASS. I. clothes, meat, and drink. But beware of drink, and re- member Lot's sin, which was caused by drunkenness. t Gen. xix. S2. t Thus was Lot encumbered. Moderation is wholesome, though the appetite be keen. Believe not thy body, which is 9 leagued with the fiend; therefore beware." Arne none nedful but po • and nempne hem I tliinke, And rekne hem l>i resouw ' reherce pow hem after. That one is vesture from chele pe to saue, And mete atte mele for myseise of pi-selue, 24 And drynke whan pow dryest ac do noi^t out of resold ; That pow worth pe werse whan pow worche shuldest. If For loth in his lifdayes for likyng of drynke, Dede bi his doi^trcs • pat pe deuel lyked ; 28 Delited hyni in drynke as pe deuel wolde, And lecherye hym lau^t " and lay bi hem bope ; And al he witt it wyn pat wikked dede. Inebriamus eum vino, dormiamus que cum eo, Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen. Thorw wyn and porw women " fere was loth acombred, And pere gat in glotonye • gerlis pat were eherlis. 33 For-pi drede delitable drynke and pow shall do fie bettere ; Mesure is medcyne pouj pow nioche ^erne. It is nai^t al gode to pe goste pat pe gutte axep, 3G JSTe liflode to pi likam • [pat leef is to pi soule. Leue not pi likam] for a Iyer him techeth, That is pe wrecched worlde wolde pe bitraye. For pe fende and pi flesch folweth pe to-gidere, 40 This and pat [sueth] pi soule * and seith it in pin herte \ 21. and'] om. 22. pow] 2e 0. 23. is] W <>m. vesture] clothinge Ca. chele] chelde C; colli W ; colde C2. 24. atte] at W ; at be R ; atte the ('. 25. ac] and CCa. 28. lyled] wolde C, But C omits the next line, which ends with wolde. 31. omits, it] it be WC. 33. gat] he gate 0. gerlis] barnes < '. eherlis] karles C. 35. niiirhr] mychc ; muchel W ; mikile C ; muche R. 36, to] for 0. pe — axep] guttis askys C. 37, 38. [pat leef— not pi likam.'] LWC wrongly omit this, owing to the repetition of likam ; but we find — bat leef is bi soule Lef nauit bi licame R ; tat leef is to bi soule Leeue pow not bi likham OC2. Cf. Text A. 39. be] a O. 40. \,e] W om. 1 1 . [sueth] so in R. The other readings liardly make sense : they are — seest L ; seeb WO ; sees C ; seib Ca. Cf. Text A. seith] setth C. it] om. PASS. I.] THE TREASURES OF THE WORLD. I :j And for bow sb oldest ben ywar I wisse be pe beste." IF "Madame, me?'cy," quod I "me liketh wel ^owre i thanked her, and asked her to WOrdeS. 4o whom the treasures of the Ac be money e of bis molde fat men so faste holdeth, world belonged Telle me to whom, Madame • bat tresore appendeth ] " If " Go to be gospel," quod she " bat god seide hym- she bade me go . to the gospel, and Sellieil, read how Christ Tho be poeple hym apposed wib a peny in be temple, bdn^shSn ? Whether bei shulde ber-with worschip be kyng [F01.4&.] penny. Sesar. 48 And god axed of hem of whome spake be lettre, And pe ymage ilyke • bat bere-inne stondeth 1 I Cesaris,' fei seide ' ' we sen hym wel vchone.' II ' Reddite cesari,' quod god ' bat cesari bifalleth, 52 "Render unto Et que sunt del, deo or elles -$e done ille.' xxn. 21). For ri^tful reson shulde rewle 30W alle, Reason and . common ser.se And kynde witte be wardeyne jowre welthe to kepe, should rule you. And tutour of ^oure tresore and take it 30W at nede ; For housbonderye & hij holden togideres." 57 Jjanne I frained hir faire • for hym bat hir made, Then 1 asked her " That clongeouri in pe dale bat dredful is of si3te, Lie meant 6P What may it be to mene ma-dame, I 30W biseche 1 " 60 H "Jjat is be castel of care • who-so cometh berinne "That is the castle of care," May banne bat he borne was • to body or to soule. she said, "the abode of Satan, berinne wonieth a wi3te bat wronge is yhote, Fader of falshed • and founded it hym-selue. 64 Adam and Eue he egged to ille, "'J dece '" e * 00 J Adam and Eve, 42. ywar'] ware C. besfe] bettre 0. 52. cesari (2)] cesar C. 44. Ac] And C. holdeth] kepeth 53. ille] yuele O. E. 54. r infill] rhtfully W. 45. to — Madame] madame to whom 55. welthe to kepe] wele to kype C. E. 57. For] And O. hij] bei : heo 47. Tho] When C; To 0. hym] E. bat hym 0. 58. hir (2)] me W. 49. axed] asked WCO. hem] hym 60. biseche] be biseche C (an ob- W. vious error). 50. ilyke] was lik W. 61. ]:e] a E. cometh] comb W. 51. Cesaris] Cesares W ; Cesar C. 62. or] & 0. hym] it W. lO 14 HOLT CHURCH DECLARES HERSELF. [pass. I. and Cain, and Judas. He binders love, ami deceives all that tnist in vain treasure." Then I wondered Who Bhe was, and conjured her to tell me her name. "I am Holy Church, who received thee in infancy; thou broughtest me then pledges, to work my will." Then I prayed her to teach me Christ's will, 11 for I wished for no treasure but my soul's salvation. "Truth is the best of treasures ; [Vol. 5.J whoever is true Conseilled caym to kullon his brother ; Iudas he iaped • with iuwen siluer, And sithen on an eller honged hym after. 68 He is letter of loue ' and lyeth hem alle, That trusten on his tresor bitrayeth he sonnest." IT Thanne had I wonder in my witt what womman it were J?at such wise wordes ' of holy writ shewed ; 72 And asked hie on be hie3e name ar heo bennes jeode, What she were witterli ' bat wissed me so faire 1 IT " Holieherche I am," quod she " bow obtest me to knowe, I vnderfonge be firste and fie feyth ta^te, 7G And brou3test me borwes my biddyng to fulillle, And to loue me lelly j?e Avhile bi lyf dureth." H Thanne I courbed on my knees and cryed hir of grace, And preyed hir pitousely prey for my synnes, 80 And also [kenne] me kyndeli • on criste to bileue, That I mi3te worchen his wille • bat wrou3te me to man ; " Teche me to no tresore but telle me J?is ilke, How I may sane my soule bat seynt art yholden ? " 84 1T " Whan alle tresores aren tried," qicod she " trewthe is be best ; I do it on deus caritas to deme be sobe ; It is as derworth a drewery * as dere god hym-seluen. If Who-so is trewe of his tonge • & telleth none other, 66. hillen] killen WCO. 67. iuwen] Iewes 11 ; Iuwes C2. 68. an] C om. hym after'] hym- selue W ; hy/» selue, corrected to \iym :i£ter 0. 70. he] he hem W. bitrayeth he] bytrayed area R. 71. it] sche R. 72. shewed] me scheued C. 73. o?i] in CO. ar heo] er she W ; ers scho C ; er sche ; er heo R. 76. vnderfonge] vnderfeng W. 77. And] And pou. 0. 78. vie] C om. vie lelly] lely me R. 79. courbed'] coureed C. 80. prey] to preye R. 81. {kenne WCRO] L corruptly has kende. 82. R omits. 85. aren tried] been I-tryed O. quod she] CO om. 87. It] >at it R. d re wen/] drury W. 88. Who-so] Who W; He R. PASS. I.] CHRIST APPOINTED ARCHANGELS. 15 and wilnetll no man in word and work is like our Lord. 89 Luke viii. 21. Kings andknights should govern rightfully, and bind trans- gressors ; And doth be werkis ber-with ille, He is a god bi j?e gospel agrounde and aloft, And ylike to owre lorde bi seynte lukes wordes. Jpe clerkes fat knoweb jus " shulde kenne it aboute, 92 For cristene and vncristne clarnej? it vcbone. ^[ Kynges & krh^tes ' shulde kepe it bi resouw, Eiden and rappe down in. reumes aboute, And taken trangressores ' and tyen hem faste, 96 Til treuthe had ytermyned • her trespas to be ende. And bat is be p?'ofessiouw appertly • bat appendeth for and to do so is far better than to kny3teS, fast on Fridays. And nou^t to fasten a fryday in fyue score wynter ; 99 But holden wib him & with hir bat wolden al treuthe, And neuer leue hem for loue • ne for lacchyng of syluer. 12 IT For Dauid hi his dayes dubbed ki^tes, For David dubbed And did hem swere on here swerde • to serue trewthe Truth. euere ; And who-so passed bat poynte was cipostata in be ordre. 104 1T But criste kingene kynge • kni3ted ten, Cherubyn and seraphin suche seuene and an-othre, And 3af hem nryjte in his maieste • J>e muryer hem bou3te ; And ouer his mene meyne • made hem archangeles, 108 Tau3te hem bi be Trinitee ' treuthe to knowe, taught them To be buxome at his biddyng • he bad hem nou3te elles. obedier.ee. ^[ Lucifer wijj legiounes lerned it in heuene, Lucifer was most But for he brake buxumnesse his blisse gan he tyne, brake obedience: And Christ, too, knighted Cherubim and Seraphim, and 89. doth] om. 90. agrounde'] on ground 0. aloft"] on loft ; o lof te W. 93. clameSp] cleymep W; claynieth R. 95. down] adoura O. 96. trangressores] marlted as a Latin word in, WC ; transgressouris 0. 98. \:e] W om. for] to WO. 99. a] o W. 101. And] Ne R. 103. swerde] swerde (printed SAverdes) W ; swerd CO ; swerdes R. 104. \>at] pe O. was] is O. 105. kingene] kyngen C. 106. an-othre] ofwe W. 107. muryer] mismritten murger L ;' murgur R ; murier W ; muryer C. 108. meyne] meynge C. 110. To] And R. 112. But for] Til R. 1C THE FALL OF LUCIFER. [PASS. I. and then lie and And fcl fro fat felawsliip * in a fendes liknes, 113 his fellows became Bends. In-to a depe derkc liclle to dwelle fere for eivre ; And mo fowsandes wif him fan man couthe noumbre, + Hia fellows had Lopen oul wij? Lucifer * in lothelich forme, 116 trusted his lies. . For _pei leueden vpon liym fat lyed in pis manere : + isaiah iiv. u. Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero altis- simo. % And alle fat hoped it ro^te be so none heuene mi$te hem holde, t The fiends fell But felleii out in fendes liknesse nyne dayes togideres, for nine days, tuiQodshut Til god of his goodnesse ' gan stable and stynte, 120 And garte fe heuene to stekye " and stonden in quiete. If AVhan thise wikked went out wonderwise Jjei fellen, Somine in eyre, somme in erthe • & sowraie in belle depe; [Foi. 5 6.] Ac lucifer lowest • lith of hem alle ; 124 Lucifer, for hia exceeding pride, For pryde fat he pult out • his peyne hath none ende ; beii; with him an And alle fat worche with wronge wenden hij shulle ^ongdoers shall j^ ^ deth d&y . ^ dweUfl ^ ^ shrewe. But they that do Ac fo fat worche wel * as holiwritt telleth, 128 after' the word may be sure of And enden as I ere seide • in treuthe, fat is f e best, 13 Mowe be siker fat her soule * shal wende to heuene, heaven ; and therefore say i per treuthe is m Tnnitee and troneth hem alle. best treasure." For-fi I sey as I seide ere bi si3te of fise textis, 132 Whan alle tresores arne ytried treuthe is fe beste. Lereth it fis lewde men for lettred men it knowen, pat treuthe is tresore • fe triest on erfe." 115. wi)>] myd W. - 126. \>at] C om. (by mistake), hij] 117. C omits, pedem] pedem Jjei WRO. iiicura 0. et — altissimo] &c. R. 127. and'] to R. lis. none] no C. 128. Ac] And WRC. L20. stable] stahlisse W. 129. ere] erst 0. \>e] om. L21. stekye] stekie W ; steke C. 130. soule] soules W. 122. wonderwise] in wonder wise 131. and troneth] for to saue R. W. 132. \>ise textis] J>is texte 0. shtc 123. in erthe] in \>e erthe C. of] R om. 124. lith] lif yet W. 133. omits, ytried] tried W. 125. pult] pelt R; putte W ; put 134. it] Horn. \>is] bise W ; J>iese C ; puttede 0. ; this R. it knowen'] ne knowen C. PASS. I.] THE TEACHING OF CONSCIENCE. 17 «[ " }et liaue I no kynde knowing," qitod I " " ^et mote "But i have no natural know- ^e kenne me better, 136 ledge of it," said i. By what craft in my corps it coniseth and wliere." ^[ " j?ow doted daffe," quod she " dulle arne fi wittes ; "Thou fool," said To litel latyn- J)ow lemedest ' lede, in f i jouthe ; natural conscience, Heu micln, [quod] sterilem auxi vitam ivuem- teaching you 1 . to love God, '£'"' • and leave deadly 61.1. % It is a kynde knowyng," quod he • " fat kenneth in fine herte 140 For to louye pi lorde lener fan fi-selue ; No dedly synne to do dey fou3 f ow sholdest : This I trowe be treuthe * who can teche f e better, if any can teach ^[ Loke f ow snffre hym to sey and sithen lere it after, him < For thus witnesseth his worde ' [worche] fow fere- after ; 145 For trewthe tellef fat lone is triacle of heuene ; t Truth says that . Love is the May no synne be on him sene • fat vseth fat spise, treacle of heaven. And able his werkes he wrov^te with loue as him liste ; And lered it Moises for f e leuest f ing • and moste like For Love is what God likes best, to heuene, 149 and eke the And also f e plente of pees ' moste precious of vertues. peace. % For heuene my^te nou^te holden .it • it was so heuy t Heaven could ,, , , „ not hold it, and of hym-self, it fell t0 earth> Tyl it hadde of fe erthe • yeten his fylle. 152 % And whan it haued of fis folde flesshe & blode t But having . taken human taKen, nature, it Was neuere leef vpon lynde lifter fer-after, unden-leaf.' 13G. yt mote y] ye mote W. y 144. lere] here C. kenne me] I lerne R. 145. W omits, [worche COC2] 137. corps] cors W ; coors 0. worcheth L (wrongly). 138. Here MS. R. has lost two 146. of] in 0. leaves. It begins again at P. ii. 1. 40. 148. his] this C. he] he (printed 139. lede] leode WO. jouthe] be) W. thougthe C. [quod] This reading 149. lered] lernede 0. \>e] om. must be right, as shewn bg the scansion 150. \>e] C om. plente] plentee WO. of the line. It occurs in MS. Camb. Cf. Text A. Ff. 5. 35. But LWC, and Crowley's 152. yeten] eten WO ; heten C. text, have quia. 153. haued] hadde WO ; had C. 140. he] she W ; sche 0. See note, pis] be 0. taken] OC2 om. 13 CHRIST TEACHES MEN LOVK. [PASS. I. And portatyf and persant ' as fe poynt of a nedle, 155 That myjte non armure it lotto nc none hei3 walles. t Love is a leader ^[ For-f i is loue leder " of J?e lordes folke of heuene, of t lie angels, and . . , u mediator. And a mene, as f e Maire is bitwene f e kyng and f o comune ; Ei3t so is loue a ledere and fe lawe shapeth, 159 Ypon man for his mysdedes f e mercinient he taxeth. [Foi. 6.] And for to knowe it kyndely it comseth bi myght, And in f e herte fere is f e heuede and f e hei3 welle ; l£ ^f For in kynde knowynge in herte fere a my3te higynneth. Love began with And fat falleth to fe fader fat formed vs alle, 164 who let hu son Loked on vs with lone and lete his sone deye Mekely for owre mysdedes • to amende vs alle ; And 3et wolde he hem no woo fat wrou3te hym fat peyne, even as Christ But mekehch with mouthe * mercy he bisoiv^te 1G8 enemies!* To haue pite of fat pocple • fat peyned hym to deth. % Here myjtow see ensamples • in hym-selue one, gnmting mercy to That he was mi3tful & meke • and mercy gan graunte ins heart. To hem fat hongen him an heij and his herte f irled. Therefore i advise % For-thi I rede 30W riche • haueth reuthe of f e pouere ; pityon the poor- TI10U3 30 be my3tful to mote beth meke in ^owre for -with the ' W erkes. 174 same measure, &c. (Matt. vii. 2). ^ -pox f e same mesures fat 3e mete amys other elles, 3e simile n ben weyen f er-wyth whan 3e wende hennes ; Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur vobis. For though ye be ^[ For foi.13 3c be'trewe of 30wre tonge and trewliche true in word and deed, except ye , "Wynne, gTve aims, 001 AM as chaste as a clulde fat in cherche wepeth, 158. bitwene] bitwise 0. 170. Here] Here {printed There) 160. mail] a man C. W. myitow] myghtestow C. en- 161. mygkt] nyght (!) C. samples] ensample W ; ensauinpyle C. 1G2. heuede] heed W. 172. hongen] hengen W. 1G6. Mekely] Mekel G. 174. Thota] Thought C. 1C8. with] bi 0. he] W om. 178. cherche] kerke PASS. I.] CHASTITY USELESS WITHOUT CHARITY. 19 But if 3e louen lelliche ' and lene be poure, Such goed as god 30W sent ' godelich parteth, 180 3e ne haue na more nieryte • in masse ne in homes, ye have no merit .in your prayers. )?an Malkyn of hire maydenhode fat no man desireth. fFor lames be gentil iugged in his bokes, st James te'is us ' ° °° . that Faith with- That faith with-oute be faite ' is ri3te no binge worthi, out works is pi -i o e dead (Jain. ii. 20) ; And as ded as a dore-tre ' hut 3H be dedes iolwe ; loo Fides sine operibus mortua est, $c. 1T For-thi chastite with-oute charite worth cheyned in 80 chastity 11 without charity is helle " ^ut an unlighted . . T lamp. It is as lewed as a laumpe ' bat no lijte is Inne. % Many chapeleynes arne chaste • ac charite is awey ; Many chaplains . . . , are chaste, but Aren no men auarousere ban hij * wnan pel ben have not charity ; auaunced ; 189 Vnkynde to her kyn and to alle cristene, Che wen here charite and chiden after more. they eat up what . . , . . they should give Such chastite wib-outen charite worth cheyned m away> an d ask for helle ! 192 more - •|f Many curatoures kepen hem clene of here bodies, curators that . . . . . , j should be chaste Thei ben acombred wib coueitise pel konne nou3t don are encumbered . , „ , with avarice. it fram hem, So harde hath auarice yhasped hem togideres. rj-oi. 6 6.] And bat is no treuthe of be trinite but treccherye of This treachery i n c Reaches the laity helle, 196 to put off giving And lernyng to lewde men be latter for to dele. ^[ For-bi bis wordes ben wryten in be gospel, see what is in the Date & dahitur vobis ' for I dele sow alle. Gospel (Luke vi. 38). And bat is be lokke of loue ' and lateth oute my grace, Love comforts the To conforte be careful • acombred wib synne. 201 % Loue is leche of lyf and nexte owre lorde selue, And also be graith gate bat goth in-to heuene ; Love is the 180. goed] good WCO. 189. hij] \>ei 0. 181. more] C om. ne] nor W. 196. no] in O {wrongly). 184. faite] feet W ; feite O ; facte 200. lateth] letejj WC. or faite C. 201. conforte] couwforte ; con- 185. C om. the second as. \>e] thy C. forten W ; confort C. 188. ac] and C. 202. nexte] nexit C. 20 LOVE IS THE WAY TO HEAVEN. [PASS. 1. readiest way to "Foi'-Ju I sey as I seide ere by j?e textis, 20-i and Truth is the Whan alle tresores ben ytryed treuthe is J?e beste. trea Tires." Now baue I toldc J>e what treuthe is * J>at no tresore is bettere, I may no longer lenge J>e with ' now loke J?e owre lorde!" 207 204. ere — textis"] erst bi ]?e trewe 205. ytryed] tried AV textis 0. PASS. II.] THE VISION OF LADY MEED. 21 Y PASSUS II. Passus secundus de visione, vt supra. 1? et I courted on my knees and cryed liir of grace, Then i prayed licr And seide, "mercy, Madame for Marie loue of heuene, That "bar ]jat blisful barne fat bou3te vs on be Eode, Kenne me bi so??zme crafte to knowe be fals." 4 to teach me how If " Loke vppon bi left half and lo where he standeth, Falsehood. Bothe fals and fauel and bere feres manye. ! " ^ n ^a^e him. IT I loked on my left half ' as be lady me taughte, i looked, and, at i? 4.1 l • l ru J o first of all > beheld And was war of a vomman wortheli yclothed, o a woman very Purfiled with pelure be finest vpon erthe, nc y c ot e ' . Y-crounede with a corone • pe kyng hath non better. decked with a . 1-111 crown and costly Fetishch hir fyngres were fretted with golde wyre, rings. And bere-on red rubyes as red as any glede, 12 + She wore rubies . r J J ° | diamonds, and And diamantz of derrest pris I and double manere saf- sapphires. feres, Orientales and ewages enuenymes to destroye. % Hire robe was ful riche • of red scarlet engreyned, [18] "With ribanes of red golde and of riche stones ; 1 6 tt. iii-i t t Never beheld I Hire arraye me rauysshed suche ncchesse saw I neuere ; BUC h rich away. Title. So in LWC ; Secundus liclie W. Passus O. 10. corone] croune C. hatli] haes 1. courbcd] courrecl C. C. 4. to] for to O. 11. fretted] fettred C; fetrid 0. 5. he] sche 0. standeth] stondcj* gold] gol C. W. 13. sa feres] saphires W ; saphyrs 7. tattghte] thaughte C. C ; saphers O. 8. was] whas C. wortheli] wor)n- 17, saw] sau; W. 22 FALSE IS THE FATHER OF MEED. [PASS. II. "Who is this? I asked. " That Is Meed (Bribery)," she said, " who has done me much evil. [Fol. 7.] I had wondre what she was * and whas wyf she were. IF " What is bis womman," quod I "so worthily a- tired?" 1F " That is Mede be Mayde," qiiod she " hath noyed mo ful oft, 20 And ylakked my leraman ' bat lewte is hoten, And bilowen hire to lordes J)at lawes han to kepe. In be popis paleys she is pryue as my-self, But sothenesse wolde nou3t so • for she is a bastarde. 24 + Her lather was ^[ For fals was hire fader pat hath a fykel tonge, named False; and - ., ., , , , L she is like him. And neuere sothe seide sithen he come to ertne. IT And Mede is manered after hym ri3te as kynde axeth ; t Matt. vii. n. Qualis pater, talis filius ; \bona~] arbor bonum fructum facit. I ax^te ben herre ban she * I cam of a better. 28 + My father is the 1T Mi fader be grete god is ' and grounde of alle graces, god with-oute gynnynge & I his gode doii3ter, And hath 30ue me mercy to marye with my-self ; And what man be merciful * and lelly me loue, 32 Schal be my lorde and I his leef • in be hei^Q heuene. IT And what man taketh Mede myne hed dar I legge, That he shal lese for hir loue a lappe of caritatis. + see what David How construeth dauid be kynge ' of men fat taketh savs of men who lr , o zj take Meed. Mede, 6b And men of Jns molde fat meynteneth treuthe, And how 3e shal saue 30W-self " be Sauter bereth wit- nesse, Dumine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, fyc. One God. + Every merciful man is my hus- band. + Psal. xiv. I (Vulgate). 18. she] scho C. whas] whos WCO. 20. hath'] hathes C. 21. lemte] leautee W; leaut C. 22. han] hathes C. 26. come] com "WC. 27. axeth] aske> WO; askes C. [bona] So in CC2 : horms LWO. fructum'] fructuw {printed fructrum) W. 28. an^te] omte W. herre] hyere W ; heyer O. 29. graces] grace C. 30. 'O] Oo (printed So) W. his] C om. 81. ^one] yeuen W; geue C. 32. lane] loue}? 0. 38. shal] shul W ; schul ; sal C. ^aw-sclf] 3ow-seluen 0; 30ur-self W; jowrc-self C. PASS. II.] MEED BETROTHED TO FALSEHOOD. 23 5T And now worth bis Mede yinaried • al to a mansed To-morrow shall Meed be married Schrewe, to Falsehood, by To one fals fikel-tonge • a fendes bi3ete ; 40 e p ° ery " Panel borw his faire speche hath Jns folke enchau?*ted, And al is lyeres ledyng bat she is bus ywedded. fl To-morwe worth yinade be maydenes bruydale, To-morrow you . . may see the whole And fere mi^te bow wite, n bow wolt which bei ben crew of tiiem, alle 44 That longeth to bat lordeship ' be lasse and be more. Knowe hem bere if bow canst and kepe pi tonge, And lakke hem noi^t, but lat hem worth til lewte be t but let them alone. mstice, And haue powere to punyschen hem banne put forth bi resoure. 48 . .19 IT JSTow I bikenne be criste," quod she ' " and liis clene i now commend thee to + Christ." moder, And lat no conscience acombre be • for coueitise of Mede." IT Thus left me bat lady liggyng aslepe, t Thus she left And how Mede was ymaried m meteles me bou3te ; 52 pat alle be riche retenauns bat regneth with be false Afterwards, i , . , . i,ii -i beheld the bridal. Were boden to be bridale ' on bothe two sydes, Of alle maner of men be mene and be riche. To marie bis may dene • was many man assembled, 56 + Thither were assembled As of kni^tes and of clerkis and other comune poeple, knights, clerks, sheriffs, beadles, As sysours and sompnours Shireues and here clerkes, [Foi. 7 &.] Bedelles and Bailliues and brokoures of chaff [a] re, 39. alto'] vn-toW. mansed'] mansed 45. longeth] longen WO. W {see Mr Wright's note) ; maysed 46. kepe] kepe bow W ; kepe wel C ; in MS. mansed is glossed by ; kepen R. cursid. sell reive] sherewe W; 0». 47. fc?yte]leauteW; leuteO; leautC. 40. Here MS. R begins again. 48. \>anne] bat C. fihrl] fikel of R. a] and C. 50. lat] at R. 41. tor/o] thourth C. his] hir C. 53. retenauns] retenaunce WO; hath^] hayth C. • retenauwt} C ; retenawans R. 43. ymade] ymaked W ; ymaad 0. 54. boden] bede R. maydenes] maydesnesse (!) C. bruy- 56. was] were W. man~] men W. dale] bridale WO ; brydale 0. 58. sompnours] somonowrs W ; 44. mhte ]>ow] my^tow W ; nmtist sumpnoures RO. bou 0. wolt] wilt WRO. 59. chaffare WCO] ehaffrc L. 24: TIIE DEED OF ENDOWMENT. [PASS. II. t advocates, and Forgoeres and vitaillers • and vokates of be arches ; GO many others. _ , . ■, I can nouat rckcno be route • bat ran aboute mede. t of these, Simony 5T Ac Syinonye and cyuile ' and sisoures of conrtes ami Civil were the ,,_ . ,, ,_ - „ , . ipai, A\ ere moste pryue with Mede • of any men, me boivjte. Then Flattery led Ac fauel was be first bat fette hire out of houre, 64 Falsehood. And as a brokour broi^te hir • to be with fals enioigned. Whan Symonye and cyuile sei3 here beire willc, Thei assented for siluer to sei as bothe wolde. t Then i.iar leapt Tliamic lepe Iyer forth, and seide " lo here ! a chart re, charter! ' * That gyle with his gret othes " gaf hem togiderc," G9 And preide cyuile to se and symonye to rede it. simony and civil Thanne Symonye and cyuile stonden forth bothe, And vnfoldeth fie feffement • fat fals hath ymaked, 72 And J) us bigynneth bes gomes • to greden ful heij : — u Sciant presentes fy futuri, fyc. carta. "Know H Witeth and witnesscth bat wonieth vpon bis ertlie, + Meed is married Jpat Mede is y-maried • more for here goodis, Jjan for ani vertue or fairenesse ' or any free kynde. 76 Falsenesse is faine of hire * for he wote hire riche ; and Flattery And fauel with his fikel speche • feffeth bi J>is chartre earldom of Envy, To be prynces in pryde • and pouerte to dispise, To bakbite, and to bosten and here fals Avitnesse, 80 To sccrne and to scolde and sclaundere to make, Vnboxome and bolde to breke be ten hestes ; — IT And be Erldome of enuye and Wratthe togideres, With be chastelet of chest • and chateryng-oute-of-resou?i, ani the county of u e counte f coueitise and alle be costes aboute, 85 ( ovetousness; ' > ' 60. vokates] aduokettes W. 75. y-maried'] raaried C. 62. Ac] And C. 76. vertue] vertus C. or (1)] of 63. me] R om. CO. or (2)] or for 0. kynde] kyne 64. Ac] And C. C ; kende R. 65. omits. 78. speche] felaw 0. 66. beire] so also C; bo\>er (printed 79. prynces] princesse O. bothe) W: bof?er 0; bethere R. 82. R begins, Bold and vnbuxuw.. 67. Thei] And R, sei] seggen R. 84. ehastelet] ohastiletWO. c/ieste] 68. lepe] leep W ; leup R. cleste C; gestes R. resoim] tyme R. 71. stonden] stondeth I!. 85. e bedcl ' of Bokynghain-shire, and many others. Eainalde j, R cue f Rotland Sokene, Munde be Mellere and many moo other. The deed was then "In be date of be denel • bis dede I asselo, 112 Bi si^tc of Sire Symonye and cyuyles leue." But Tiieoiogy was % benne tcned hym theologye • whan he bis tale wroth, and said to civil, "Wo herde, And seide to cynile • " now sorwe mot bow hane, 115 Sucli [weddynges] to worche to wratthe with treuthe ; And ar bis weddyng he wroujte • wo be hityde ! % For Mede is moylere • of amendes [engendred,] And god graunteth to gyf Mede to treuthe, 119 And bow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure • now god gyf be sorwe ! Thi tixt telleth be nonjt so • treuthe wote be sbthe, For dignus est operarius his hyre to haue, And bow hast fest hire to fals ' fy on bi lawe ! 123 For al by lesynges bow lyuest and lecherouse werkes, Symonye and bi-self " schenden holicherche, be notaries and 3ee noyeth be peple, 3e shul ahiggen it bothe ' bi god bat me made ! Wei 3e witen, wernardes • but if ^owre witte faille, 128 That fals is faithlees and fikel in his werkes, Meed should be wedded t to Truth. Remember the text (Luke x. 7). tThou livest by lying. 22 But ye shall abide it + here- after. Ye well know Falsehood is a 107. which} whilch C ; bis R was] C om. 110. Bainalde] Reynald WCR Reynold 0. Rotland] Rutland W: RutlandeC; Rokelond R; Ruteland.O 111. Munde] Maude WCRO. mellere] millere W ; mylner 0. 112. In \>e~] In R. 1 asselt] I en- kcIo W ; is yseled C. 113. and] at R. 114. tcned'] tenetk R; torned C. herde] hardc C ; yherde R. 115. to] vn-to W. 116. [weddynges WRO] wend- ynges LC. Cf. Text A. 117. ar] er WC'O. 118. moylere] muliere W ; Moilere C ; mulirie 0. [engendred WO] en- gendreth LCR. 119. graitnteth] graunted CO. 121. Here MSS. Bodley 814, Cotton Calig. A. xi., and B. M. Addit. 10574 (which vp to this point have followed the C-text), begin to agree with the B-text. See Note. 123. fest] fast R. 124. lecherouse] lechores R. 125. schenden^] schcden {by mis- take for schewden) C. 126. noyeth'] noyen WO ; noythis C ; nuyjet R. 120. fikel] fals R. PASS. II.] IS SUCH A WEDDING LEGAL? 27 And was a bastarde y-bore of belsabubbes kynne. traitor, and Beelzebub's And Mede is moylere ' a mayden of gode, bastard son; And my3te kisse be kynge for cosyn, an she wolde. (Reward) might f For-bi worcheth bi wisdome and bi witt also, 133 kiS8 the Ung - And ledeth hire to londouw bero lawe is yshewed, Then take her to London, and see If any lawe wil loke ' bei ligge togederea if the law win . . . permit this. And bou3 Iustices iugge hir to be loigned with lals, 3et beth war of weddyng for witty is truthe, 137 [Foi.8b.] And conscience is of his conseille and knoweth 30W vchone ; And if he fynde sow in defaute • and with be fals if conscience find this out, holdo, it will go hard It shal bisitte 30wre soules nil soure atte laste ! 14U i as t." •Jf Here-to assenteth cyuile ' ac symonye ne wolde, Tyl he had siluer for his seruise * and also be no- taries. 23 % Thanne fette fauel forth floreynes ynowe, Then Flattery fetched out And bad gyle to gyue * golde al aboute, 144 florins, and bade And namelich to be notaries bat hem none ne faille, t ' he notaries. And feffo false- witnes ' with fioreines ynowe ; " For he may mede amaistrye and maken at my wille." "0" Tho bis golde was gyue * grete Avas be bonkynge 1 48 Great were the ' . thanks for these To fals and to fauel for her faire 3iftes, bribes. And comen to conforto fram care be fals, And seiden, " certis sire • cesse shal we neuere Til Mede be bi wedded wyf borw wittis of vs alle. 152 For we haue Mede amaistried • with owre mery speche, 130. was] as R. y-bore'] ybornc attc] at^eW; at C. C ; Iborn 0. 141. ac] and C. 131. is] O om. moylere] muliere 142. Tyl] ThWC. h is] this R. W ; mulere O. 145. noon ne] non ne R ; noone 0. 132. an] and WCRO. she] he R. 146. witnes] witnesse CRO ; wit- 133. witt] witti 0. nesses W. 134. lame] it W. 147. he] \>ei WCO. 136. with] to W. 148. gyue] y-gyue W ; Igyue R. 137. beth] be W. weddyng] f^e 152. \>i wedded] weddid pi O. wcddynge R. 153. lianc] han O. with] thoq R. 140. some] so spelt in LWCRO. 28 ALL REPAIB TO WESTMINSTER. [PASS. II. Meed consents to go to London. Then were hood and Flattery glad, and hade all he ready to go to Westminster. Then they all wanted horses. 24 Meed was set on m sheriff's back, and Falsehood on an assizer's; Flattery I ides upon ta flatterer, but Simony and Civil had to go on foot. Smnmonersare to bw saddled, and provisors and deans to be used as horses, + and to he sad- dled with silver. [Fol. 9.] That she graunteth to gon with a gode wille, To Londou?* to loke • $if bat be lawe wolde lugge 30 w ioyntly • in ioye for euere." 15G •ff Thanne was falsenesse fayne and fauel as blithe, And leten sornpne alle segges in schires aboute, And bad hem alio be bown ' beggeres and othere, To wenden wyth hem to Westmynstre to witnesse bis dede. 160 ^| Ac banne cared bci for caplus to kairen hem bider, And fauel fette forth banne ' folus ynowe ; And sette Mede vpon a Schyreue shodde al newe, - ' And fals sat on a sisoure fat softlich trotted, 1 G4 And fauel on a flat[er]ere " fetislich atired. If Tho haued notaries none ' annoyed )>ei were, For Symonye and cyuile shulde on hire fete gange. fjf Ac Jjanne swore Symonye and cyuile bothe, 1C8 That sompnoures shulde be sadled ' and seme hem vchone, And lat apparaille Jjis prouisourcs in palfreis wyse ; — " Sire Symonye hym-seluen * shal sitte - vpon here bakkes. ^f Denes and suddenes • drawe 30W togideres, 172 Erchdekenes and officiales • and alle 30wre Eegystreres, Lat sadel hem with siluer owre synne to suffre, As auoutrie and deuo[r]ses • and derne vsurye, 154. she] sho C; heo R. to gon] goo R. 155. \>at] W om. \>e] Rom. 158. sompne] somone W. alle] alle he R. 169. of here] otheres R. 160. hem] liym R. \>is] be R. 161. Ac] And C. kairen] carien WO. 162. folus] foles W; fool is CO. 163. vpon] vpp R. shodde] ehoed W ; I-schoud R ; schod O. 165. flaterere] So in WCRO ; L has flatere. 160. fumed] hadde W ; had C; hadden 0. 168. Ac] And C. 169. sompnoures] somonoj/rs W. vchone'] echone WC ; ichoon 0. 170. Jns] bise W; f>e R ; keise 0. 171. hym-seluen] hym-self W • hyra-selue R. 172. suddenes] sudenes ; south- denes WE ; subdeanes C. 173. officiales] deknes officiales R. alle] C om. 175. auoutrie] deuoutrie R. de- i/orses] so in, ; diuorces W ; de- uorces ; but LR have deuoseg. vsurye] vsure RO. PASS. II.] THE KING IS ANGRY WITH FALSEHOOD. 29 To bere bisehopes aboute • abrode in visytynge. 176 IT Paulynes pryues for pleyntes in be consistorie, " Pauline's friends shall serve my- Sbul serue my-self bat cyuile is nempnecl ; self," said civil. And cartesadel be comissarie owre carte sbal be lede, "Yoke our And fecchen vs vytailles • at fornicator -es. 180 ^f And maketh of Iyer a longe carte to lede alle bese and make of Liar a long cart." othere, As Freres and faitours bat on bere fete rennen." Plowman 29 And thus fals and fauel " faretb forth togideres, Th » s «" fare forth together. And Mede in be myddes and alle bise men after. 184 ^[ I haue no tome to telle be taille bat hem folweth, Of many maner man bat on bis molde libbeth ; Ac gyle was forgoer and gyed hem alle. GuUe led the ^[ Sothenesse sei3 hym wel " and seide but a litel, 188 sootimess spurred And priked his palfrey • and passed hem alle, ^"conscience. And come to be kynges courte • and conscience it tolde, And conscience to be kynge carped it after. ^f "Now by cryst," quod be kynge • "and I cacche " if i could imt catch Falsehood, mj^te 192 or Flattery," ■n i n l r. i • n said the king, Jb als or lauel or any ol his teres, .. j would nang I wolde be wroke of bo wrecches bat worcheth so ille, them both " And don hem hange by be hals • and alle bat hem meynteneth ! Shal neure man of molde meynprise be leste, 196 But ri3te as be lawe wil loke late falle on hem alle." ^[ And comanded a constable • bat come atte furst, i command the To " attache bo tyrauntz • for eny thynge, 1 hote, at tach them OH And fettereth fast falsenesse for enykynnes ^iftes, 200 fetter Falsehood, 177. pryues] pryuees W ; preues 0. 188. hi/m] hem WE. a] W om. \>e] WC om. 190. come] com WE. 179. be] oure O. 193. or] other R (in both jflaces). 181. maketh] makeC. longe] lang 194. ]>o] be C. W; lange R. ^ese] biseWC; bes R. 196. of] of bis W; on O. leste] 182. Freres] fobberes R. faitours] leeste WO. fautouris 0. 197. Ml] wol WC ; wole 0. 184. men] other CO. 198. come] com W. atte] atte be 185. tome] toom 0. hem fol/meth] R; at C. hire folwed W. 200. enylnjnnes] any kynnes WC ; 186. W omits. any kyns O. 30 FALSEHOOD FLEES TO THE FRIARS. [PASS. II. door, and heard the doom, and bade Falsehood flee. and cut off Guile's And gurdeth of gyles hed and lat hym go no furthere. Let not Liar And 3 if $e lacche Iyer late hym nou3t ascapen Er he be put on be pilorye for eny preyere, I hote ; And bryngeth Mede to me ' maugre hem alle." 204 Dread was at tho ^[ Drede atte dore stode and be dome herde, And how be kynge comaunded ' constables and se/iantz, Falsenesse and his felawschip to fettren an to bynden. Jeanne drede went wi^tliche ' and warned be fals, 208 And bad hym flee for fere and his felawes alle. ^| Falsenesse for fere panne fleij to be freres, And gyle dob hym to go agast for to dye. 211 Ac marchantz mette with hym and made hym abide, And bishetten hym in here shope to shewen hero ware, And apparailled hym as a prentice be poeple to seme. % IJ^tliche Iyer • lepe awey panne, Lorkynge thorw lanes • to-lugged of manye. 216 He was nawhere welcome for his manye tales, Ouer al yhowted and yhote trusse ; Tyl pardoneres haued pite and pulled hym in-to house. They wesshen hym and wyped hym and wonden hym in cloutes, 220 And sente hym with seles on sondayes to cherches, And gaf pardoun for pens poundmel aboute. Then fled Falsehood and Guile; [Fol. 9 6.] but tradesmen prayed Guile to keep their shops for them. Liar leapt away through by-lanes, being nowhere welcome. But pardoners took him in, washed him, clothed him, and sent him to church with pardons. 202. y] thou C. lacche} laccheth R. 203. be] C om. 204. bryngeth'] bryught C. maugre] maugree W ; maugrey O. 205. atte] at be WCO. 206. comaunded] demede R. ser- iantz] sergeauntz \V ; s^rgeantz C ; Bergeauntis O. 207. an] and WCRO. 210. jlch] flehtR; fleis C. 212. Ac] And C. 213. sliope] shoppes W. 214. And] W om. apparailed] apparaylcdcn O. a prentice] Appren- tice W. 215. lepe] leep "W ; leepe O. 216. Lorkynge] Lurkynge W. 217. nawJiere] nowher W; nawere R ; nou3\vher O ; naught where C. 218. yhowted] jo w LC ; I-howted RO ; y-houted or y-honted (^printed y-honted) W. 219. haued] hadde W; hadden O. 220. wonden] wounden WCO. hym] C om. 221. sente] senten W ; sent R. cherches] kyrkees C ; chirche O. 222. gaf] yeuen \V. pens] pans R. PASS. II.] LIAR IS RECEIVED BY PARDONERS. 31 ^[ Tlianne loured leches and lettres bei sent, Then leeches Jjat he sholde wonye with hem wateres to loke. 224 dwell with them; Spiceres spoke with hym to spien here ware, ^a spicers asked him to be For he couth of here craft ' and knewe many go7ftmes. shopkeeper, ^f Ac mynst[r]alles and messageres mette with hym Minstrels entertained him Ones, half a year; And helden hym an half^ere ' and elleuene dayes. 228 IT Freres with faire speche • fetten hym bennes, but Friars fetched AJ «i P , , . him thence, and And. ior knowyng 01 comeres coped hym as a frere. clothed him as a Ac he hath leue to lepe out as oft as hym liketh, And is welcome whan he wil • and woneth wyth hem oft. 232 % Alle fiedden for fere ' and flowen in-to hemes, Thus a11 ^a into corners for fear, Saue Mede be Mayde • na mo durst ahide. and only Meed Ac trewli to telle she trembled for drede, even she wept And ek wept and wronge whan she was attached. 236 when taken prisoner. 225. spoke'] spoken ; speken C. WR ; spake C. with'] to E. 231. Ac] And C. 226. of here] on here E ; of hir 234. na mo] narna C ; no moo ; WC. gommes] gimmes E. no man E. 227. Ac] And WC. 235. Ac] And C. she— drede] heo 228. an half-yere] half a jere E. tremeled for fere E. 229. with] with hir C. \>ennes] 236. eh] al-so E. whan] E om. bennes {printed pennes) W ; theynnes she] heo R. 32 ARREST AND TRIAL uK LADY MEED. [PASS. III. PASSUS III. Passus tertius. 28 Now is Meed, all alone, brought to the king. " I shall ask her," said the king, " whom she wishes to wed ; and perhaps I may forgive her." So a clerk brought her to the chamber. [Fol. 10.] Oladly the Justices went to see her, and said, "VTow is Mede pe Mayde • and namo of hem alle 1 -^ With bedellus & wip bayllyues broi^t bifor pe kyng. The kyng called a clerke • can I noivjt his name, To take Mede pe mayde and make hire at ese. 4 " I shal assaye hir my-self and sothelich appose What man of pis molde • pat hire were leueste. And if she worche bi my witte and my wille folwe, I wil forgyue hir pis gilte • so me god help ! " 8 II Curteysliche pe clerke panne as pe Kyng hight, Toke Mede bi pe Middel ' and brou^te hir in-to chaumbre, And pere was myrthe and mynstralcye ' Mede to plese. IT They pat wonyeth in Westmynstre worschiped hir alle; 12 Gentelliche wip ioye pe Iustices somrae Busked hem to pe boure pere pe birde dwelled, Title ; Passus tertius ; Passus iij«s L ; Passus Tertius de visione, C ; to which W adds vt supra ; and E adds petri plowman, vt supra, &c. Obs. Occasional readings from MS. B (Bodley 814) are given in lines 1-86 ; after which it is more closely collated. See Note. 2. wi\>] BOow. ba/yllyues] baillies'W; baylisO; baillifsC. brovqt] ybroujtRB. 5. sothclich] coutblicbe II. 6. pis] C om. molde'] world RB. 7. B omits, my (1)] W om. 8. \>is gilte~] pisgultesR; \>e gilt B. 9. \>anne] C om. hight] bym hy^t B. 10. into] in ; to B. 11. to] forto B. 12. n'orschiped] worscbipedera ; worshiped WB. 13. somme] comen ; sone B. 14. hem] hym B. birde] burde W ; buyrde 11 ; berde B ; bryde O ; bred C2. gold cups and ruby rings. PASS. III.] THE JUSTICE COMFORTS HER. 33 To conforte hire kyndely " by clergise leue, And seiden, " mourne nought, Mede • ne make pow no "Mourn not, Meed, we SOrwe, 1 6 will get thee For we [wil] wisse pe kynge and pi wey shape, To be wedded at pi wille and where pe leue liketh, For al conscience caste • or craft, as I trowe ! " IT Mildeliche Mede panne • mercyecl hem alle 20 Tiien Meed Of peire gret goodnesse and gaf hem vchone and ^ ve tnem Coupes of clene golde and coppis of siluer, Kynges with rubies and ricchesses manye, The leste man of here meyne a niotoua of golde. 24 Thanne lau^te pei leue pis lordes, at Mede. IF With that comen clerkis to conforte liir j?e same, Then came clerks, And beden hire be blithe * "for we beth pine owne, b ii tnej Meed] we For to worche Jji wiUe Jje while fow myjte laste." 28 JJJjT"** 1 * Hendeliche heo panne bihight hem pe same, she promised to love them, and lo "loue 30W lelli • and lordes to make, make them lords. And in pe consistorie atte courte do calle ^owre names ; Shal no lewdnesse lette pe leode pat I louye, 32 " Naught shau That he ne worth first auanced • for I am biknowen whom 1 love pere konnyng clerkes shid clokke bihynde." Ing 30 advanced." ■f panne come pere a com essoure coped as a Frere, Tlien eame a To Mede pe mayde he mellud pis wordes, 36 ^ a fosor ' * nd And seide ful softly in shrifte as it were, " Theij lewed men and lered men " had leyne by pe "Though learned , , and lay had all bOtlie, lain by thee, I And falsenesse haued yfolwed pe al pis fyfty wyntre, would assoil thee 17. [mil R] willen B ; wol W ; LCO C ; lely R ; leely B. 07n. shape'] make B. 31. And'] O om. con si storied] con- 18. B omits, leue] leef W. storie RB. wwre] hire W. na/mes~_ 19. conscience] Consciences W. name 0. caste — craft] crafte and cast R ; 33. ne]Rom. auanced] vaunsed R. cast a craft B. 31. clokke] so in LWCROB. 21. jpeire] hire W ; her 0. 35. come] camW; com RB. coped] 22. cqppix] cuppes RO ; pecis B. ycoped R ; caped C. 27. beden] hiden C. 36. mellud] melled C ; mellid B ; 28. \e — laste] while our lif lastep B. mened W ; medelede 0. 29. heo] sho C ; sche ; she B. 37. softly] sotely 1!. 30. y>w] hem WCOB. lelly] lealy 39. B omits, falsenesse] falsedc R. 3-1 SUE IS SHRIVEN liV A CONFESSOR. [PASS. III. for a load of wheat." Then Meed knelt to him, and shrove her, and gave him a noble. Then he assoiled her, and said that if she would glaze a window, she should be saved. I shal assoille be my-selue for a seme of whete, 40 And also be bi bedeman • and bere wel bi message, Amonges knistes and clerkis • conscience to tome." 1F Thanne Mede for here mysdedes ' to J? at man kneled, And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse shamelees, I trowe, 44 Tolde hym a tale and toke bym a noble, Forto ben hire bedeman • and hire brokour als. IT Thanne he assoilled hir sone and sithen he seyde, " We ban a wyndowe a wirchyng wil sitten vs [fnl] [l'ol. 10 b.] She said that, were that only sure, she would + be his friend. + " Lechery," said she, " is a frailly of the flesh. + Be not hard on those who practise it, and I will glaze your windows." heigh ; 48 Woldestow glase bat gable and graue bere-inne pi name, Siker sholde bi soule be heuene to haue." "Wist I that," quod pat womman "I wolde noujt spare For to be 30wre frende, frere and faille 30W neure 52 Whil ^e loue lordes ' fat lechery haunteb, And lakkeb noujt ladis pat lone]) wel pe same. It is a frelete of flesche 30 fynde it in bokes, And a course of kynde wher-of we komen alle ; 5G Who may scape pe sklanndre pe skape is sone amended ; It is synne of [pe] seuene sonnest relessed. 1T Haue mercy," quod Mede • "of men fiat it haunte, And I shal keure 3owre kirke 3owre cloystre do maken, Wowes do whitten and wyndowes glasen, 61 Do peynten and purtraye and paye for }>e makynge, 42. torne] turne ROB. 44. shroud] shrof WE ; shroof B. 47. he seyde'] a savde R. 48. a (2)] in W. [/W] So hi W< ROB ; L has wel. Cf. Text A. 51 — 03. R has only these f our li/aes — Wist I |':tt, quat) mede • bere nyswyn- dow no W0W3, bat y ue wolde make and amende it with of myne, And my name write openliclic bere- Lane, bat vch a segge schal I-se Ich am suster to 30W alle. 55. «] W retains a, omitted in the printed copy. 3c] bei B. 57. K'(l)] W om. 58. B omits. [be] inserted in WOC2 ; LC om,. sonnest"] is sonnest O. relessed] for-gyuene C. GO. Ttewe] keuere 0; kouere C; couere W. yymre (2)] & 3oure 0. PASS. III.] ALMSDEEDS SHOULD BE DONE IN SECRET. 35 That eury segge shal seyn I am sustre of ^owre ho us." 31 IT Ac god to alle good folke suche grauynge defendeth, But God forbids such painting of To writen in wyndowes of here wel dedes, 65 windows. On a.uentxxre pruyde he peynted fere • and pompe of be worlde ; For crist knoweb bi conscience • and bi kynde wille, + For Christ r r _ r J knows thy And bi coste and bi coxxeitise ' and who be catel o^te. conscience. 11 For-bi I lere 30W, lordes lexxeb suche werkes, 69 cease, lords, to write on To writen in wyndowes of jowre wel cledes, windows, and to Or to greden after goddis nxen whan ye delen doles ; >vhcn yo give ' An axxentxxre $e han ^owre hire here and joure hexxene a ins ' als ; 72 Nesciat sinistra quid facial dextra. But remember ye the test, Matt. Lat not^te bi left half • late [ne] rathe, vi.s. Wyte what bow worchest with bi rijt syde ; For bus hit be gospel * gode men do here almesse. IT Meires and maceres • that menes hen hitwene 76 Hear this, mayors and masters, and \)e kynge aixd be comune ' to kepe be lawes, punish butchers „ . .-- , , 1 and bakers on the To punyschen on pxllories • and pynynge stoles piiiory. Brewesteres and hakesteres hocheres and cokes ; For bise aren men on bis molde • bat moste harme For they defraud the poor that buy WOrcheth 80 by retail. To be pore peple • bat parcel-mele huggen. IT For they poysou?? be peple • priueliche and oft, 32 Thei rychen borw regraterye and rentes hem huggen With bat be pore people shxdde put in here womhe ; For toke bei on trewly " bei tymhred nou^t so hei3e, 85 were they true men, they would Ne hou3te non hurgages * he ye ful certeyne. not be so rich. 63. seyn'] seye WCO. di)j B. In W ndswritten by, as 64. Ac] And C. printed. 66. On] An W ; And CR ; In B. 77. kepe] kepe wel O. peynted'] ypeynted R. 78. on] vppon R. 67. crist] god R. hynde] kende R. 79. bakesteres] baxters C. 68. And] R om. 80. on] vppon R ; of B. 72. An] On WCO ; In B. Turn] 82. For — poysoim] And also poy- haue W. sene R. poysotm] enpoisone W ; 73. [ne] so wtWCRB; liOhaveno. punyschen O. Cf. Text A. ' 83. huggen] biggen WO ; bieggen B. 75. For] AndO. Ut] bitt R; bid- 86. burgages] burgage R. 3G MEED ADVISES MEN TO TAKE Ii KIBES. [PASS. III. But Meed advised H Ac Mede be Mayde be Maiie hath bisoirjte, the mayor to take __ ,, , ,, , . i Of alle suche sellers syluer to lake, bribes, [Pol. 11.] and to suffer them to cheat. 88 Or present} with-oute pons as peces of siluer, Hinges or other ricchesse be regrateres to maynetene. H "For my loue," quod that lady ' "loue hem vchone, And soffre hem to selle somdele ajeins resoun." 92 11 Salamon be sage a sarmouw he made, For to amende Maires ' and men fat kepen lawes, But s,>lomon thus speaks ' all L Job And tolde hem Jjis teme Jjat I telle thynke ; xv. M). This Latin means, that fire Bhall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Ignis deuorabit tabcrnacula eorum qui libmter accipiunt munera, Sfc. Amonge Jjis lettered ledes bis latyn is to mene, 96 That fyre shal falle, and [brenne] al to bio askes The houses and fie homes of hem [Jjat] desireth 3iftes or ^eresjyues * bi-cause of here offices. % The kynge fro conseille cam and called after Mede, 101 33 Then the king who was brought And ofsent hir alswythe • with seriauntes manye, Bong. mi1 ' That brou3ten hir to bowre with blisse and with ioye. Then tlie king courteously spake thus : " Never hast thou done worse than now; but do so no more. I have a knight named Con- 104 IT Ourteisliche be kynge banne comsed to telle, To Mede be mayde melleth )?ise wordes : " Vnwittily, womman ! wroujte hastow oft, Ac worse wrou^testow neure • fan bo bow fals toke. But I forgyue [be] bat gilte and graunte be my grace ; Hennes to bi deth day do so namore ! 108 IT I haue a kny3te, conscience cam late fro bifunde ; science; will thou jtf i ie w n ne t,h be to wyf wyltow hym haue ? " many him .- " ' I J r Jinnies'] homes W. tyat WCROB] Lom. 99. lere&ryues] jereiiftes R ; yeres- yiftes C. offices] office R. 100. fro] fro be W. 101. alswythe] as swibe WC ; also pwibe B. seriauntes] sergeauntz W j sergeauntes CO ; seraauntis B. 102. That] And W. 101. melleth] he meneb W. 106. Ac] And C. 107. [be] bee WO ; be R ; ho (by mistake for be) CB ; L om. Cf. Text A. \>at] bis O. 108. do] to do R. 109. biwnde LR] biyonde \YCO. 110. wyf] wyue RB. PASS. III.] MEED CONSENTS TO MARRY CONSCIENCE. "}e, lorde," quod pat lady • "lorde forbede elles ! Ill But I be holely at jowre heste lat hange me sone ! " H And panne was conscience calde to come and appiere Bifor pe Kynge and his conseille as clerkes and othere. Knelynge conscience • to pe kynge louted, 115 To wite what his wille were and what he do shnlde. IT " Woltow wedde pis womman," quod pe kynge • " 3if I wil assente, 117 For she is fayne of pi felawship • for to he pi make 1 " 1T Quod conscience to pe kynge • " cryst it me forbede ! Ar I wedde suche a wyf wo me bityde ! 120 For she is frele of hir feith fy kel of here speche, And maketh men mysdo many score tymes ; Truste of hire tresore treieth ful manye. Wyues and widewes wantounes she techeth, 124 And lereth hem leccherye that loueth hire ^iftes. 3owre fadre she felled porw fals biheste, And hath apoysounde popis • [&] peired holicherche ; Is nau3t a better baude • bi hym pat me made, 128 Bitwene heuene and belle in erthe pough men sou3te ! For she is tikil of hire taile • talwis of hir tonge, As comune as a cartwey • to eche a knaue pat walketh, To monkes, to mynst[r]alles * to meseles in hegges. 132 Sisoures and sompnoures suche men hir preiseth ; Shireues of sbires ' were shent }if she nere ; For she dop men lese here londe and here lyf bothe. 37 " Yes," said she, " I will do your will." 31 Then was Conscience called, who knelt and asked the king's will. " Wilt thou wed this woman ? " said the king. " Nay, Christ forbid ! " quoth Conscience. " She is frail and fickle, and makes men sin. [Fol. 11 6.] She teaches women wantonness. She caused Adam's fall ; and harms holy Church. She is frail, and a tale-bearer; as common as a cartw ay to ever y 35 knave. Assizers and summoners and sheriffs praise her. 111. forbede] forbede it W. lorde — dies] lord it me forbede R. 113. calde] called WCO ; Icalled R. 115. louted] a-lowtid B. 116. shulde] wolde W. 117. 1] she B. Woltow] Wiltow CR ; wilt \>o\\ OB. 1 1 8. fayne'] R om. 120. Ar] Er WCROB. 121. fyJtel] and fykel R. 123. treieth] bitrayepW; bitraiepB. 124. wantounes] It may be wanton- nes, the reading being uncertain in W and C ; but cf. wantownesse RO. 126. she] he R ; O om. fals] faire R ; hire fals B. 127. apoysounde] a-poysowned ; apoisunde C ; appoysond R ; apoisoned B ; enpoisoned W. peired] and peired WO ; and appayreth R. L omits &. 129. in] and R. 130. tikil] fikil 0. talwis] and talewis W. hir] R om. 132. to (2)] and to R. 133. sompnoures] Somonows W. 134. nere] ae were W. 5 3 3S CONSCIENCE ENUMERATES MEED'S MISDEEDS. [PASS. III. She makes men lose both land and life, releasee prisoners by brilntf. She ties true men fast, and hangs the innocent. She is assoiled when, she pleases. She is intimate with the pope, and seals bulls. She maintains priests in concubinage. :io + She corrupts judges with jewels. She directs the law as she likes, and appoints love-days. She letetb. passe prisoneres • and payeth for hem ofte, And gyueth be gailers golde and grotes togideres, 137 To vnfettre be fals fie where hym lyketh ; And takejj be fcrewe bi be toppe and tieth hym faste, And hangeth hym for hatred " jjat harme dede neure. If To be cursed in consistorie she counteth noi^te a russhe ; 141 For she copeth be comissarie ' and coteth his clerMs ; She is assoilled as sonc as hir-self liketh, And may neije as moche do ' in a moneth one[s], 144 As 3owre secret seel in syx score dayes. For she is prine with be pope prouisoures it knoweth, For sire symonye and hir-selne ' seleth hire billies. 1f She blcsseth bise bisshopes • bei3e fey be lewed, 148 Pronendreth persones ' and prestes meynteneth. To banc lemmannes and lotebies alle here lif dayes, And bringen forth barnes ' a3ein forbode lawes. There she is wel with be kynge • wo is be rewme, 152 For she is fanorable to be fals and fouleth trewthe ofte. IT Bi ihesus, with here ieweles 3owre iustices she shendeth, And lith a3ein be lawe and letteth hym be gate, That feith may noi^te haue his forth here floreines go so bikke. 156 She ledeth be lawe as hire list and louedayes maketh, And doth men lese borw hire loue bat lawe my3to wynnc, 130. letet7qia.fR) latesC; late}? B. prisoneres] prisons R. 139. be treme] trewthe R. Injm] hem W. 110. hym] hem W. 111. eonsistorie] constorie RB. she] he R. russhe] resshe C ; rische ; rcische B ; bene W. 142. she} he R. 143. as{\)] al-so B. ill. neizs] nee C. as] nl-so B. [ones nor,] one LWC. Cf. Tezi A. 145. vmrc] oure 0. 140. she] he R. 148, 149. bei^e — persones] Rom. 150. lif dayes] lyues dayes C. 151. bringen] bryngeb WB. for- bode] forboden O. 152. rewme] resume W ; reame C. 153. \>e] W om. fouleth] defouleb W ; folweb CB. 154. ymre] be R. she] heo R. 155. letteth] let R. 157. ledeth] let R. PASS. III.] MEED IS CALLED UPON TO REPLY. 39 J)e mase for a meno man bou} he mote hir eure. Lawe is so lordeliche ' and loth to make ende, 160 Law will not , - . ■- „ make an end With-oute present} or pens ' she pleseth wel iewe. without bribes. IT Barounes and burgeys " she bryngeth in sorwe, she brings barons and And alle be comune in kare bat coueyten lyue in burgesses to sorrow. trewthe ; For clergye and coueitise she coupleth togideres. 164 J^is is be lyf of that lady '• now lorde jif hir sorwe ! C Fo1 - 12 -J Such is her evil And alle that meynteneth here men meschaunce hem life. bityde ! For pore men mowe hane no powere to pleyne hem Thepoorcannot make their bou3 bei smerte ; complaints Snche a maistre is Mede amonge men of gode." 168 ^[ Thanne morned Mede • and mened hire to the kynge, Then Meed was sorry, and asked To haue space to speke spede if she my^te. leave to speak. IT The kynge graunted hir grace with a gode wille ; The king bids her excuse liersclf " Excuse be, }if bow canst • I can namore seggen, 172 For conscience acuseth be ' to congey be for euere." H " Nay, lorde," quod fat lady • " leueth hym be worse, " Disbelieve Conscience," said "Wlian }e wyten witterly ' where be wronge liggeth ; she ; There bat myschief is grete Mede may helpe. 176 And bow knowest, conscience * I cam nou^t to chide, Ne depraue bi p<^sone with a proude herte. Wel bow wost, wernard ' but 3if bow Avolt gabbe, " for wen knowest thou, Conscience, Jjow hast hanged on myne half elleuene tymes, 180 thou hast hung And also griped my golde gyue it where be liked ; eleven times, and And whi Jjoav wratthest be now wonder me thynketh. fmme , 3it I may as I my3te menske be with jiftes, 183 And mayntene bi manhode mere ban bow knoweste. 1T Ac bow hast famed me foule bifor be Kynge here. and hast defamed me. And yet / 159. mote hire'] nioote heer ; mute 170. she] a R. hero C2. 173. congey'] cc-ngeien \V. 160. make] make an 0. 174. leueth] leue R ; leues C. 161. pens] pans R. she] he R. 177. ]pow] tat f?ow R. 162. burgeys] burgeises W. she] 179. roost] woost W. heo R. 181. grijied] Igripe R. gyue] and ?af B. 163. comune in] coraunes iwto O. 183. menshe] amende B. 167. pore] ppuereW. hem] R om, 185. Ac] And ('. 40 Tiirc king's WARS IN NORMANDY. [pass. hi. For kulled I neuere no kynge • ne conseilled ber-after, No dede as bow demest • I do [it] on be kynge ! 187 IF In normandye was he nou3te ' noyed for my sake ; Ac bow bi-self sothely shamedest hym ofte, Crope in-to a kaban for colde of bi nailles, Wendest bat wyntre woldehaue lasted euere, And draddest to be ded • for a dym cloude, 192 And hiedest homeward for hunger of bi wombe. U AVib-out pite, piloure * pore men bow robbedest, And here here bras at J>i bakke to caleys to selle. There I lafte with my lorde his lyf for to saue, ID 6 I made his men meri • and mornyng lette. I batered hem on be bakke and bolded here hertis, And dede hem hoppe for hope ' to haue me at wille. Had I ben Marschal of his men " bi Marie of heuene ! should have beeu I durst bane leyde my lyf and no lasse wedde, 201 Uuid! He shulde haue be lorde of bat londe • a lengtho and a brede, And also Kyng of pat kitthe • his kynne for to helpe, J3e leste brolle of Ms blode a barounes pere ! 204 II Cowardliche bow, conscience conseiledest hym bennes, To leuen his lordeship for a litel siluer, That is be richest rewme bat reyne ouer houeth ! IT It bicometh to a kynge fat kepeth a rewme, 208 To 3iue Mede to men pat mekelich hym serueth, To alienes and to alle men to honoure hem with jiftes ; Mede make'th hym biloued • and for a man holden. never killed a king, u thou + Bayeat, 'Twas thou who madesl him return from Normandy, ning home for hunger. 38 lint / laughed and made my lord merry, mid made his men hopeful. Had T heen [Fol. 12 6.] But thou, Conscience, didst counsel him to leave that richest realm. A kinj,' should reward them that serve him. 180. hynge] kni}t R. 187. \it WHO ; hit 15] LC om. noyetf] Inuyed \i ; anoied B. 189. Ac] And C. 190. Orope] And crope B. hibanc] Cabane W ; caban CO. L91. haue lasted] lmn y-lasted W ; a laai R. lasted] durid < >. 193. hicdest] byedesl bee O. 195. here] bare CO. 196. lafte] lefte I-'. 197. lette] lettede O. 198. /] And I O. batered] hatred W". 200. his] O om. 202. a] in (in both places) W. of] of al B. 203. of] of al B. Utthe] ki> WB • kyth R ; ki^e O. 204. brolle] brol WR. blode] kynne CB. pere] piere WC. 205. \>ennes] baime O. 208. a (2)] be COB. PASS. III.] WHAT ARE THE TWO KINDS OF MEED. 41 Empcroures and Erlis and al nianere lordes 212 Thus emperors 1 _ and earls get For jiftes han }onge men • to renne and to ride. their young servants. The pope and alle prelatis ' present3 vnderfongen, Thus, too, the i pope gives And medeth men nem-seluen to meyntene nere rewards to men. lawes. 3J) Seruauwtz for her seruise we seth wel be sothe, 216 servants receive wages. Taken Mede of here maistre • as bei mowe acorde. Be^eres for here biddyime • bidden men Mede : Beggars ask for ob J ° . gifts, and so do Mynstralles for here murthe ' mede bei aske. minstrels. be kynge hath mede of his men to make pees in The king ° [+ receives meed] loildo ', 220 to keep the peace. Men bat teche chyldren craue of hem mede. Prestis bat precheth be poeple to gode, asken mede, Priests expect r inass-pencc. And masse-pans and here mete at be mele tymes. Alkynnes crafty men • crauen Mede for here, prentis ; Trade and Tiri i i-i ctctK P a yment go Marchauntz and Mede mote nede go togideres ; 22o together; none No wi3te as I wene with-oute Mede may libbe." reward!""' IT rOuodl be kynee to conscience • " bi criste ! as me " Then Meed is L ^ J r J ° worthy to rule," thynketh, said the king. Mede is wel worthi be maistrye to haue ! " 228 II " Kay," quod conscience to be Kynge • and kneled to "Nay," said Conscience, be erthe, " there are two , , •,! kinds of Meed ; " There aren two manere of Medes ' my lorde, with ^owre leue. bat one, god of his grace graunteth in his blisse the one, such as i i i-it-ii. ooo God gives men lo bo bat wel worchen whil pel ben nere. 262 oneart h. The prophete precheth ber-of and put it in be sautere, Domine aids habitahit in tabemaculo tuo ? t see Psalm xv. 1 (Vulgate xiv.). 'Lorde, who shal wonye in bi wones and with bine holi seyntes, 213. For] \>\iti R. ymge men"] 223. \>c] R om. mele] male 0. ^oilmen R. renne] ^ernen R. 224. Alhjnnes] Alle kynne W ; 214. alle] alle be W. Alle kyns 0. crafty] craftes W. 216. Seruanntz] Sergeauntz W. prentis] Prentices WO ; prentyces R. seth] se C. 225. mote] most R. 217. maistre] mayster 0; malstres 227. [Quod WCROB] Quatj L. WCB; meystres R. 228. wel] R om. 230. with] by R. 221. of hem] after W. 234. and] Rom. 42 THE JUST MAN DEFINED BY DAVID. [PASS. III. Or resten on bi holy hilles? ' ' bis asketh dauid ; 235 1T And dauyd assoileth it hym-self as fie sauter tclleth, + ps. xv. 2. Qui ingreditur sine macula, fy operatur ius- tieiam, Tlio bat entrcn of o colour ' and of on wille, And han \vr0u3te werkis ' with ri$te and with rcson ; And he bat ne vseth naivjte be lyf of vsurye, And enfourmeth pore men and pursueth treuthe; 240 Ps. xv. 5 ; Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, fy munera super innocentem, fyc. [Foi. 13.] And alle bat helpeth be innocent ' and halt with bo rijtful, "With-oute mede doth hem gode and be trewthe helpeth — Suche manere men, my lorde shal hane bis furst Mede Of god at a grete nede whan bei gone hennes. 244 the other, such as There is an-other Mede mesurelees ' bat maistres de- maintains . , misdoers, and of Siretll j which the psalter a i . i -\r i i • j_ i speaks (Ps.xxvi. ±° meyiitene mysdoers • Mede bei take; And bere-of seith be sauter • in a salmes ende, In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt, dextera eorum repleta est muneribus ; such as take And he fiat gripeth her golde ' so me god helpe ! 248 to answer for it. Shal ahie it hittere " or be hoke lyeth ! Priests that take IT Prestes and parsones * bat plesynge dcsireth, the reward st That taketh Mede and [moneie] for messes bat bei Matthew ppeaks , , of(Matt.vi.5). syngeth, Taketh here mede here as Mathew vs techeth ; 252 235. on] in WCOB. 245. cm-other] and other C. 238. rvrovqte] y-wroght W ; Iwroust 247. ]>ere-of] f>er B. sunt] Com. li. 249. bitter x] bittirli O ; ful bitten? 230. ne] W om. K ; ful bytterly B. lyeth] lees C. 240. innocentem] inwoeontoOT B; 251. taketh] taken WO ; takes C; ini atesO; Lnnoc : LWCR. taked R. [moneie WC] money 0; I'll, helpeth] helpen WO. halt] moneye B; this seems preferable to holt II ; hold C ; holden W ; holdijj B. the spelling mone LR. 242. \>v] O om. trewtlie] trewe II. 252. Taketh] Taken WO ; Takes C. 213. \ns] J>o 0. receperunt O] recipiebant LWCRB. 244. a] (>cli; O om. 41 PASS. III.] LABOURERS RECEIVE NOT MEED, BUT HIRE. 43 Amni, amen, [receperunt] mercedem suam. But that which IT That laboreres and lowe folke taketh of her maistres, If^Me^ 61 ™ It is no manere Mede but a mesurable hire. SJT* but In marchandise is no mede I may it wel a-vowe 255 ^J^^J It is a permutacioura apertly ' a peny worth for an othre. barter. IF Ac reddestow neuere Eegum bow recrayed Mede, Hast thou not .-, i n read, in Kings, Whi be veniaunce fel on Saul and on his children i how God told God sent to Saul bi Samuel be prophete, torAmaieVs sfn* feat agage of amaleke and al his peple aftre 260 a " ainst Israel? Shuldo deye for a dede • bat done had here eldres. d Sam. xv. ; J r Exod. xviii. 8). IT 'For-bi,' seid Samuel to Saul • 'god hym-self hoteth Samuel said to The, be boxome at his biddynge • his wille to fulfdle : Wende to amalec with byn oste and what bow fyndest + Go to Amaiek and slay men bere, slee it ; ^o* and beasts, Biernes and bestes brenne hem to ded ; "Wydwes and wyues wo??? men and children, Moebles and vnmoebles and al bat bow myjte fynde, Brenne it, bere it nomte awey " be it neuere so riche + and bum aii thou findest For mede ne for [moneie] ; loke bow destruye it, 2G9 there." Spille it and spare it nou^te bow shalt spede be bettere.' 1T And for he coueyted her catel and be kynge spared, But because he did not so, Forbare hym and his bestes bothe • as be bible wit- nesseth, 272 Otherwyse ban he was • warned of be p?*ophete, God seide to Samuel bat Saul shulde deye, God sent to say that he should And al his sede for bat synne shenfullich ende. die. Such a myschief Mede made • Saul be kynge to haue, Thus did Meed 253. lon-c\ lewed R. taltetli\ taken 265. brenne'] bren "W ; brynne C. WO. e W. 254. i«] nis R. mesurable] reson- 267. Moebles] Mobles C ; Mebles abile CB. ROB. vnmoebles] \Timobles C ; vn- 256. a] R om. mebles ROB. \>at] WO om. 257. Ae] And C. 269. ne] nor C. [moneie C] money 258. venimtnee] vengeaunce WC. OB ; monee W ; mone LR. 260. al] R om. 275. slienfvllieh] shendfullicbe B ; 263. be] to be O. his] is C. his — sbentfulliche R ; sbenfulicbe C. ende] to] & his wille 0. endede R. 264. fyndest] fynst R. ■14 REASON SHALL ONE DAY BANISH MEED. [PASS. III. make God hate him. 42 [Fol. 13 (>.] t But now-a-days, a truth-teller is likuned. I, Conscience, well know Hint Reason shall reign. Saul shall be blamed, and David diademed; ami there shall be Love, Humility, and Loyalty; Loyalty shall punish trespassers. Meed makes [t many lords.] But Common Sense shall yet return, and make Law a labourer. + Then shall Jews think that Moses or Messiah is come. That god hated hym for euere • and alle his eyres after. The culorwm of bis cas kepe I noi^te to shewe; 278 An anenture it noyed men • none ende wil I make. For so is bis worlde went wib hem bat han powere, That who-so seyth hem sothes * is sonnest yhlamed. 281 IT I conscience knowe bis for kynde witt me it tai^te, jpat resoure shal regne ' and rewmes gonerne ; And ri3te as agag hadde ' happe shnl somrae. 284 Samuel shal sleen hym and Sanl shal he blamed, And danid shal he diademed " and daunten hem alle, And one cristene kyngo " kepen hem alle. 1T Shal na more Mede he maistre, as she is nouthe, Ac loue and lowenesse and lewte togederes, 289 frise shnl he maistres on molde ' trenthe to saue. H And who-so trespasseth ayein trenthe * or taketh a3ein his wille, Leute shal don hym lawe and no lyf elles. 292 Shal no seriaunt for here semyse were a silke howue, Ne no pelure in his cloke • for pledyng atte harre. Mede of mys-doeres ' maketh many lordes, And oner lordes lawes renleth he rewmes. 296 II Ac kynde lone shal come 3it and conscience to- gideres, And make of lawe a lahorere • suche loue shal arise, And such a pees amonge fie peple and a p^rfit trewtlie, ]}at iewes shal wene in here witte and waxen wonder glade, 300 j)at Moise.s, or Messie be come in-to bis erthe, And haue wonder in here hertis pat men heth so trewe. lewte] leautee 277. eyres] eires ; heires WCRB. 278. shewe'] telle W. 279. An] On WO; E om, mien- ture] Aunter R. 281. sot firs'] sobest W. 282. 7] retained in W (but not m the printed copy), vie it] it me W. it tuiijfe] tau^te it 0. L'SS. .«)„■] he R ; scho C. 289. Ac] And C. lon>enes8e]\ev?ed* nese C ; lewidnesse B. W ; leaute CB. 200. on] of CB. 292. lyf] lif WRB ; lief C ; lijf 0. 293. seriatmt] sergeant W ; ser- geant CB. here] his W. 294. atte] at be WOB. 297. Ac] And C. kynde] kende R. 299. a] R om. PASS. III.] KINGS SHALL NOT OPPRESS THE COMMONS. 45 1T Alle bat bereth baslarde * brode swerde or launce, Men shall beat Axe [other] hacbet or eny wepne ellis, 304 axes into sickles Shal be denied to be deth but if be do it smythye In-to sikul or to sitbe to scbare or to kulter ; Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, fyc. ; t isaiah ii. t. Eche man to pleye with a plow pykoys or spade, Spynne, or sprede donge ' or spille bym-self with sleutbe. 308 H Prestes and parsones • with placebo to hunte, + Priests shall And dyngen vpon dauid ecbe a day til cue. placebo only, TT , T i . r> n i or lose their Huntynge or naukynge ' u any of hem vse, benefices. His boste of bis benefys worth bynome hym after. Shal neither kynge ne kny3te constable ne Meire 313 + Kings and knights shall not Ouer-lede be coniune • ne to be courte sompne, oppress the Ne put hem in panel ' to don hem pli^tc here treuthe, But after be dede bat is don one dome shal rewarde, Mercy or no mercy ' as treuthe wil acorde. 317 f Fo1 - 14 -] H Kynges courte and comune courte • consistorie and t The king's court and the chapitele, commons' court Al shal be but one courte * and one barou?^ be iustice ; Thanne worth trewe-tonge a tidy man • bat tened me neuere. Batailles shal non be ne no man here wepne, 321 tWarshaii cease. And what smyth jjat ony smyt[li]eth ' be smyte ber- with to dethe, Non leuabit gens contra geniem gladiwn, $c. + Is aiah h. 4. IT And er jjis fortune falle fynde me»( shal jje worste, By syx sonnes and a schippe • and half a shef of arwes : + Si ? BS and wonders will And be myddel of a nione shal make be iewes to torne, t>e seen." 303. baslarde] baslard R ; base- chapitele LR] Chapitle WCO. larde W ; baselard CB ; basalard O. 318, 319. consistorie — courte'] B 30-1. [other R ; o\er OB] ouj^? 1 omits. WC ; orther L (corruptly). 319. one] oon WC ; on R ; o O. 307, 308. B omits. baroun] C om. 307. pykoys] pykoise W ; pikeys 322. smythrtli] smybejj WO ; smi- CO ; pycoys R. thie R ; smyteth LCB. smyte] sniiten 308. or (2)] other R. spille'] lese R. R. 310. a] W om. 325. to] R om. 318. consistorie] constorie R. 4G WHEN QUOTING A TEXT, [pass. 111. + Prov. xxii. 1. + Bleed replies by quoting Scripture, + Prov. xxii. 9 (Vulgate). + "You are like x lady," said Conscience, " who read but half . i text (I Theas. v. 21); + the re9t of it was over the leaf. t And what says the rest of yuur text? It condemns you." And saracenes for pat si^te • shullo synge gloria in excelsis, #c, 326 For Makomet & Mede myshappe shal fat tyme ; For, melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe." 1F Also wroth as pe wynde wex Mede in a while, " I can no latyn," quod she • " clerkis wote pe sothe. Se what Salamon seith ' in Sapience bokes, 330 That hij pat jiueth ^iftes pe victorie wynneth, & nioche worschip had per-with as holiwryt telleth, Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, fyc." IT "I leue wel, lady," quod conscience " pat pi latyne be trewe ; 333 Ac pow art like a lady pat redde a lessoun ones, Was, omnia probate and pat plesed here herte, For pat lyne was no lenger • atte leues ende. 33G Had [she] loked pat other half and pe lef torned, [She] shulde haue founden fele wordis • folwyng ]>cr- after, Quod bonum est tenete • treuthe pat texte made ! IF And so ferde ^e, madame! $e couthe naniore fynde, 340 Tho $e loked on sapience sittynge in 3onre stndie. Jjis tixte pat ye han tolde " were gode for lordes, Ac 30W failled a cunnyng clerke " pat conthe pe lef haue torned ! And if 3e seche sapience eft fynde shal 3e pat folweth, 344 A fid teneful tixte • to hem pat taketh Mede, And pat is, animam autem aufert accipientium, tyc. : 320. \>af\ f>e R. 327. For] And CB. 329. mote] wite VV; wyten B. 331. hij] \>& WB; he O. yuetlt] mien W ; jeuen B. 332. moche] moost W ; myche 0. 333. I] retained in W [but not in the printed copy), 334. Ac] AnC. 330. no] om. (!) 337, 338. [she WC] sche RO ; $e LB (corruptly), torned] Itumed R. 340. couthe] koude C ; coude RO. 34-.'. ham told] haue Itolde R. couthe] coude R. 343. Ac] And C. haue torned] attorned (contr.from a torned) R. 345. B omits, taketh] taken 0. PASS. III.] OBSERVE THE CONTEXT. 47 And J>at is be taille of be tixte of bat bat $e schewed, t Prov. xxii. 9 J5at jsei^e we wynne worschip and wib mede haue victorie, 348 j)e soide bat be sonde taketh bi so mochc is bounde." 347. y>\ she W. schewed] scheweden 349. sonde'] somd (miswritten for ; schede (!) R. sondz ?) U. 348. mede'] me (!) K. 48 THE KING COMMANDS REASON TO APPEAR. [PASS. IV. PASSUS IV. Passus quartus de visione, vt supra. 43 [Fol. 14 &.] " lie reconciled," said the king, " and kiss her, Conscience." " Not unless Reason advises me so to do." " Then ride and fetch Keason here," said the king. " r\esseth," seith be kynge * " I suffre 30W no lengerc. ^ }e shal sau^tne for sothe • and serue me bothe. Kisse hir," qiwd be kynge " conscience, I hote." IF " Nay, bi criste," quod conscience ' " congeye me for euere ! 4 But resoun rede me ber-to rather wil I deye ! " IT " And I comaunde be," quod be Kynge to conscience banne, "Rape be to ride • and resoun bow fecche ; Comaunde bym bat be come " my conseille to here. 8 "He shall give us for he shal reule my rewrae and rede me be beste, good advice." And acounte with be, conscience so me cryst helpe, How bow lernest fie peple ' fie lered and be lewede." Conscience gladly IT " I am fayne of bat forwards " " seyde be freke banne, rode off, . .... and gave And ntt r^te to resoim • and rowneth 111 his ere, lo 44 And seide as be kynge badde and sithen toke his leue. message. H " I shal arraye me to ride, quod resouw • " reste J>e a while "— And called catoim his knaue curteise of speche, 1 G And also lomme trewe-tonge- ' telle-me-no-tales- Ne-lesyng-to-law^e-of- for-I-loued-hem-neuere — Reason bids his knave Cato saddle his horse called Sutler-lill-I-see- my-time. Title, vt supra] petri plowman, vt supra R ; CB om. 1. CessetW] Cesses C. 2. sawrtne] sau^tle OB. 3. hote] he hote B. 4. for] cr for W. for etier/'] rather COB. 11. \e lered] lered R. 13. ritt] ryt W; rit CO; ridi> B. 14. sithen] sitb.es R. 18. la/mye] laujenW; laugheC; lawe R ; laujhe O ; lau^ghe B. of] at 0. PASS. IV.] REASON, WIT, AND WISDOM COME TO THE COURT. 49 " And sette my sadel vppon suffre- til-I-se-my-tyrtie, And lete warrok it wel with witty-wordes gerthes, 20 And hange on hym be heuy brydel to holde his hed lowe, For he wil make wehe • tweye er he be there." IT Thanne conscience vppon his caple kaireth forth Then Conscience and Reason rode laSte, to the king, and And resoura with hym ritte rownynge togideres, 24 "Whiche maistries Mede maketh on bis erthe. IT One waryn wisdom And witty his fere Wisdom and Wit Folwed hem faste [for bei] haued to done for they wanted In J»e cheker and at be chauncerie to be discharged of ReWs advice- binges ; 28 And riden fast, for resourc shulde rede hem Jje beste, For to saue hem, for sillier • fro shame and fram harmes. IT And conscience knewe hem wel bei loued coueitise, t Conscience And bad resouw ride faste and recche of her noither, werecovetour" "Jjere aren wiles in here wordes • and with Mede Jjei dwelleth ; 33 There as wratthe and wranglyng is bere wynne bei siluer, IF Ac fere is loue and lewte Jjei wil noujte come bere ; t and shunned Contricio fy infelicitas in vijs eorum, §c. Loyalty. Jjei ne gyueth nou^te of god one gose wynge, 36 JyJj2J 7 Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum. [Pol. is.] For, wot god, Jjei wolde do more • for a dozeine chickenes, Or as many capones or for a seem of otes, 20. lete} let B ; lat W. it] hym W. is marked for correction. turned] gerthes] gere B. hadde WC ; hadden B. 21. holde] helde E. 28. \>e chelier] bescheker W. and] 22. wehe] wehee W. tweye] twies R om. at \>e] in be WCOB • atto WB ; twyes O ; twyees C. be E. 23. kaireth] carieb WB. 29. hem] om. 24. ritte] iytW; ritEO; rydesC; 32. CB omit. resoim] O om. rytt B. neither] neiber WO ; nother R. 25. Mede— erthe] on eerth Mede 33. \>ere— wiles] >ei am wyli O. be mayde maketh R. 35. Ac \>ere] Ac where W : ' And ber 27. hem] hym W. [for \>ei WOB] C ; bere E. for hij C; LE om. ; but in L, the line 3G. gose] goose W; goos 0. 50 PEACE BRINGS A COMPLAINT AGAINST WRONG. [PASS. IV. t "They will do Jxui for loue of owre lordc or alle hise leue seyntes. "fo^kdOTen 16 ' For-bi, resoun, lete hem ride • J?o riche, bi hem-seluen, JSS?8ato» For conscience knoweth hern novate ne cryst, as I trowe. 41 And banne resoun rode faste be ri^te hei^e gate, As conscience hyrn kenned * til bei come to be kynge. Tiie kinp receives 1T Curteisliche be kynge banne • come a3ein resoun, 44 them courteously. , , . . i p i i • i And bitwene hym-seli and his sone • sette hym on benche, And wordeden wel wyseh a gret while togideres. l • » Enter Peace, with IT And jjanne come pees in-to parlement • and put a plea against wrong. lorth a bille, How wronge a3eines his wille • had his wyf taken, 48 And how he rauissbed Rose Eeginoldes loue, And Margarete of hir maydenhode maugre here chekis. "Wrong (said he) " Bothe my gees & my grys his gadelynges feccheth ; has stolen my geese and rigs, I dar no^te for fere of hym fy3te ne chyde. 52 Bayard, ™ He borwed of me bayard • he broujte hym home neure, Ne no ferthynge ber-fore for nau3te I couthe plede. murdered my He meyneteneth his men to morther myne hewen, men, stolen my . wheat, and beaten Forstalleth my feyres • and n^teth in my cbepynge, 56 And breketh vp my bernes dore " and bereth aweye my whete, And taketh me but a taile for ten quarters of otes, And 3et he bet me ]>er-to and lyth bi my Mayde, I nam novate hardy for bym • vneth to loke." GO IT The kynge knewe he seide sothe for conscience hym tolde,- 39. Tone] be loue W. 53. he] and R. hym~\ it R. 40. resoun] R om. 54. CB om. nauite] ou?t W ; omt 43. \>ei] he O. f,at O. 44. come] com \V. ayin] ayeins W. 55. liewen] hennes (!) R. 4fi. a] at 0. 57. CB om. bernes dore] berne- 47. put] puttede O. dores 0. 49. Itcginohh-s] ReignaldesW; Rey- 58. but] C om. a] o O. taile] noldesCO; ReynaldesR; RaynaldisB. taille WC. ten] a ten CB. 50. maugre] maugree W ; maugrey 59. bet] betef> WB. O ; magre B. 60. nam] am \VR. vneth] vnne^e 52. hym] hem W. WROB : vnees C. I PASS. IV.] WISDOM AND WIT SIDE WITH MEED. 51 J?at wronge was a wikked luft and wrou^te moche sorwe. 62 IT Wronge was afered banne • and wisdome he sou^te Then was wrong rp -i •, i t • 7 P . , afraid, and tried io make pees with Jus pens and profered hym to bribe wisdom manye, to plead for him. And seide, " had I lone of my lorde be kynge litel 4.G wolde I recche, 65 Thei^e pees and his powere pleyned hym eure ! " 1T J?o wan wisdome and sire waryn be witty, wisdom and wit For bat wronge had ywro^te so wikked a dede, 68 And warned wronge bo " with such a wyse tale ; " Who-so worcheth bi wille wratthe niaketh ofte ; I seye it bi bi-self • jiow shalt it wel fynde. But if Mede it make * bi myschief is vppe, 72 that, unless he For bothe bi lyf and bi londe lytb in his grace." ^"p, he was* IT Thanne wowed wronge wisdome ful 3erne, To make his pees with his pens handi-dandi payed. [Pol. is &.] Wisdome and witte Jjanne ' wenten togideres, 76 Then Wrong And toke Mede myd hem mercy to winne. wisdom and wit 1T Pees put forb his bed and his panne blody ; t ° iera- e « Wyth-outen gilte, god it wote • gat I Jris skabe, l^°Zty Conscience and be comune knowen fie sothe." 80 lieild " ^F Ac wisdom and witt were about faste But wisdom and Wit tried to over- To ouercome be kyng • with catel, }if bei nry^te. come the king. IT fie kynge swore, bi crist • and bi his crowne bothe, The king swears ., j, , . .. ■,-,, , Wrong shall pat wronge lor his werkis sholde wo bolye, 84 suffer, and shall And comaunded a constable to casten hym in pens, "And late hym no^te pis seuene jere seen his feet ones." IT " God wot," qtiod wysdom " bat were namte be wisdom offer bail, and says beste ; 62. luff] lift ; lyft C. wronge— 75. his pees] pees WB. sorwe] muche sorwe wrou^te R. 77. myd] with C. 66. hym] hem R. 78. put] putte WE. 67. wan] whan CB ; wente WO. 79. gilte] gult R. 70. bi] my CB; by my O. 81. Ac] And C. were] wereu OB. 71. yi-self] myself WCB. 84. \olye] thole R. 52 MEED TRIES TO BUY WRONG OFF. [pass. IV. Wrong will pay damages. Wit seconds this. Then Meed proffers Peace a present of gold, and encases that Wrong shall keep the peace. Peace begs Wrong off, and forgives him, since Meed has made amends. 48 But the king Bwears that Wrong shall not get off so lightly. Then some advised Reason to take pity on Wrong. [Fol. 10.] And he amendcs mowe make • late meynprise hym haue ; And be borwgh for his bale and biggen hym bote, 89 And so amende bat is mysdo and euermore be bettere." H Witt acorded ber-with ' and seide j?e same : " Bettere is fat bote bale adoun brynge, 92 jpan bale be ybette • & bote neuere j?e bettere." 11 And banne gan Mede to mengen here • and mercy she bisonght, And profred pees a present ' al of pure golde : " Haue bis, man, of me," quod she " to amende bi skabe, 96 For I wil wage for w 7 ronge he wil do so namoie." IT Pitously pees banne ' jurayed to be kynge To haue mercy on bat man fat mys-did hym so ofte : " For he hath waged me wel as wysdome hym taujte, And I forgyue hym bat gilte with a goode wille ; 101 So bat fe kynge assent I can seye no bettere ; For Mede hath made me amendes I may namore axe." IF "'Nay," quod be Kynge bo • "so me cryst helpe ! 104 "Wronge wendeth noujte so awaye arst wil I wite more ; For loupe he so li^tly laughen he wolde, And efte be balder be ' to bete myne hewen ; But resouw haue reuthe on hym ' he shal rest in my stokkes, 108 And bat as longe as he lyueth but lowenesse hym borwe." IT Sorame men redde Eesouw bo to haue reuthe on fat schreWe, And for to conseille be kynge and conscience after, 88. mowe] mowe {printed nowe) W. 89. borwgh] borgh WCB ; boruj R. biggcn] buggen WRj bi^en B. hym] hem C. 90. evermore] euere be R. 92. Bettere'] }>at bettere R. mengen] meken R. she] be R; 94. C om 99. on] of O. 103. made me amendes] me amendes maad W. axe] aske O. 105. arst] erstWCOB. mite] Com. 10G. loupe] lope WO ; lepe B. laughen] ley^hen R. 107. balder] boldere WR. hewen] hucn O ; hewes R. 110. redde] radde WR; radden O; redden B. J PASS. IV.] REASON SAYS HE WILL SHEW NO PITY. 53 That Mede moste be meynpemcwr resou?? bei bisou$te. ^f " Rede me noujte," qziod resou?a "no reuthe to "Nay," says , Reason, " not till •haue, 113 all lords and Til lordes and ladies louien alle treutlie, And haten al harlotrye " to heren it, or to ruouthen it ; Tyl pernelles p?«-fil be put in here hucche ; 116 And childryn cherissyng be chastyng with ^erdes ; And harlotes holynesse be holden for an hyne : rioters are holy, clerks [t charit- Til clerken coueitise be • to clothe be pore and to fede, able to the poor], And religious romares record are in here cloistres, 120 As seynt Benet hem bad Bernarde and Eraurcceys ; And til prechoures prechyng be preued on hem- and priests practise what Seluen j they preach ; Tyl be kynges conseille be be comune prafyte ; Tyl bisschopes baiardes ben beggeres chambres, 124 Here haukes and her houndes helpe to pore Re- ligious ; ■([ And til seynt lames be sou^te ' fere I shal assigne, tui men go no That no man go to Galis but if he go for euere ; and Rome-seekeVs And alle Rome-renneres for robberes of [byjonde] 1 28 king's^oin^ver 6 Bere no siluer ouer see * Jjat signe of kynge sheweb, the sea ' Noyther graue ne vngraue golde noither siluer, Vppon forfeture of fat fee who so fynt hym at Douere, But if it be niarchaurct or his man ' or messagere with unless they be merchants, lettdTQS, lo2 messengers, pro- t-. . i r> i • visors, or priests. rrouysoure or prest or penaunt ior Jus synnes. 112. moste] muste OB. bayardis B. 115. hermit] heren W. 125. to] )>e CB. pore] pouereWR; 116. pernelles] Parnelles W ; pero- Religious] religiouses R. nelles RB ; Peronelle C. 128. of] W om. [by-^onde] blonde 117. childryn] childrene W; chil- COB; biyonde W; preferable to by- dren COB ; childerne B. chastyng] sende, as in LR. chastysyng 0. 129. see] sehe 0. 118. an hyne] vnheende 0; nanjte 130. Noyther] NeiJ^cr WCOB; R. Nother R. noitlter] nefyer WCOB; 119. clerken] clerkene WR ; clerkis nother R. B. to fede] fede W. 131. hym] it W. 122. And] C om. 132. if] B om. it] he WCOB; but 124. baiardes] Bayardee WCRO ; see Text A. 54 I will have no pitj while Meed is here. \YK"XG OUGHT TO BE PUNISHED. [PAS*. IV. Were I king, no Wrong should go unfurnished, or gel grace by bribes. 50 No evil ought to go unpunished, nor good unre- warded. Were this rule kept, Law might go and cart manure, and Love should rule over all." [Fol. 16 6.] t Then I saw Meed wink at the lawyers ; + and Waryn Wisdom winked again at Meed. ^| And jet," quod resoxm, " bi be Bode I slial no rcuthe haue, "While Mede hath pe maistrye in bis moot-halle. Ac I may shewe ensaumples • as I se other-while, 136 I sey it by my-self," q^od he • " and it so were That I were kynge with crowne ' to kepen a Eewme, Shulde neuere wronge in Jjis worlde • pat I wite my3te, Ben vnpunisshed in my powere • for peril of my sonle ! Ne gete my grace for giftes • so me god saue ! 141 Ne for no Mede haue mercy but mekenesse it make. ^f For nullum malum pe man mette with inpunitum, And badde nullum bonum ' be irremuneratum. 144 ^| Late jowre confessoure, sire Kynge construe bis vnglosed ; And yd 3e worken it in werke I wedde myne eres, That lawe shal ben a laborere and lede a-felde donge, And loue shal lede bi londe as pe lief lyketh ! " 148 H Clerkes fat were confessoures coupled hem to- gideres, Alle to construe bis clause and for pe kynges profit, Ac nou^te for conforte of pe eomune ne for be kynges soule. ^f For I sei3e mede in the moot-halle " on men of lawe wynke, 152 And bei lawghyng lope to hire and lafte resouw manye. ^f Waryn wisdome " wynked vppon Mede, And seide, "Madame, I am 3owre man • what so my mouth -iangleth ; 155 I falle in floreines,"quod pat freke "an faile speche ofte." 136. Ac] And C. as] CB other] ou\>er \\. 137, 138. and — crowne] B crowne] coroune W ; corowu 0. 139. wite] witt R. 141. for] f3oru3 ^" 142. make] made R. 143. in/n/nitum] impunitum O. 144. badde] bad WRB; bade om. 0)0. 146. le worken] he wirke B. myne] boj^e niyne 0. 150. Alle] Al W. 1 52. sei^e] sei3 WC ; seyj E ; SV3 ; say B. 153. lope] lepe C. lafte] left WE. 155. am] C om. iangleth] iangle WR. 156. an] and WCROB. PASS. IV.] THE KING SAYS REASON IS RIGHT. 55 ^ Alle rhtful recorded pat resoim treuthe tolde, 157 [t ah true men . "* i i i • i thought Reason] And witt acorded per- with ' and comended nis wordes, was right, and ,. . i-,iii i j} i that Meed was a And pe moste peple in pe halle ' and manye ot pe W retcii. grete, And leten mekenesse a rnaistre and Mede a mansed sclirewe. 1 60 ^[ Loue lete of hir lijte and lewte jit lasse, As for Love, he i laughed her to And seide it so heije • pat al pe halle it herde, scom, and said, " WllO-SO wilnetll hir to wyf ' for Welth of her godis, "Whoever marries her will surely But he be knowe for a koke-wolde kut of my nose ! " prove a cuckold." ^[ Mede mourned po • and made heuy chere, 165 For pe moste comune of fat courte ' called hire an hore. Ac a svsoure and a sompnoure sued hir faste, t a sheriffs clerk * and others com- And a schireues clerke • byschrewed al pe route, 1 68 fort Meed. " For ofte haue I," qiiod he " holpe 30W atte barre, And jit jeue je me neuere pe worthe of a russhe." Oil IT The kynge called conscience " and afterwardes The king decreed that Reason was resouw, right, And recorded pat resouw had rijtfullich schewed, 172 And modilich vppon Mede with myjte pe Kynge loked, And gan wax wrothe with lawe for Mede almoste had t and reproves his lawyers ; shent it, And seide, " porw jowre lawe, as I leue I lese many chetes ; Mede ouer-maistrieth lawe and moche treuthe letteth. Ac resourc shal rekene with jow jif I regne any while, And deme jow bi pis day • as $e han deserued. 178 157. ritffuT] rightfulle W. WCOB. 159. pe (2)] pis R. 170. je«wre] W om. many] myn B. 168. al] al {printed at) W. chetes] eschetes W ; eschetis B. 169. holpe] Ihulpe R. atte] at pe 178. bi pis] on a O. 56 THE KING ELECTS TO LIVE WITH REASON. [PASS. IV. t and declares tlial justice shall be done. t Conscience e kynge "but the comune wil assent, It is ful hard, bi myn bed here-to to brynge it, Alle 30Avre lige leodes • to lede bus euene." 184 ^[ " By hym fat rau3te on be rode " • quod resouw to be kynge, " But if I reule bus ^owre rewme • rende out my guttes ! 3if 3e bidden buxomnes be of myne assente." If " And I assent," seith be kynge • " by seynte Marie my lady, 188 Be my conseille comen of clerkis and of erlis. Ac redili resourc fow sbalt nou^te ride fro me, For as longe as I lyue lete be I nelle." ^[ " I am aredy," quod resoun. ' " to reste with 30W 192 euere So conscience be of owre conseille • I kepe no bettere." "And I graunt," quod the kynge "goddes forbode it faile, Als longe as owre lyf lasteth • lyue we togideres." 195 180. at] om. 189. C omiis. Be] so in LROB. 181. moste] alio R. folke] O om. comen] so in LOB ; Icome R. Jlence wvtnesð] witnesse C. net] R om. the reading in W, By my counseil denied] ydemed R. 182. the] C om. 186. But if] But B. 187. yf] If WCROB. 188. with] saye C ; quod 0; quah R. cowtmune, is probably corrupt; cf. Text A. 190. Ac] And C. 192. aredy] al redy WCB. 194. it] he R. it faile] ellia W. 195. lasteth] last R. lyue] leue R. TASS. V.] THE VISION OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 57 T PASSUS V. Passus quintus de Visione. he kyng and his knightes to the kirke vvente The king goes to matins. To here matynes of be day • and be masse after. Jpanne waked I of my wynkynge and wo was with-alle, The fiest vision- ends. J5at I ne hadde sleped sadder and yse^en more. 4 Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge feyntise me hente, Here begins the SECOND VISION, That I ne my3te ferther a-foot • for defaute ol slepynge ; V iz. of the Deadly And sat softly adown and seide my hileue, J£*' p L0WMAN . And so I baheled on my bedes * bei brou^te me a-slepe. IT And )>anne saw I moche more fan I bifore tolde, 9 For I say be felde ful of folke bat I bifore of seyde, And how resoun gan arrayen hym alle be reume to The sermon of , Conscience upon p?*ecne, tl le pestilence and And with a crosse afor Jje kynge comsed Jms to %£££££ techen. 1 2 IT He preued bat bise pestile?ices [were] for pure synne, And j?e southwest wynde on saterday at euene Title. Passus Quintus ; Passus O. \>ei] til >ei B. quintus de visione LCB ; to which W 0. moche] myche ; mykile C. adds vt supra ; and R adds petri tolde] of tolde W. plowman, vt supra. 10. say] seij W ; sey C ; saw ; 3. waked] awaked RB. ras] C om. sau^ B. 4. sleped] slept W. ys&heri] yseien 12. with] om. afor] bifore C. B ; I-sye 0. 13. preued] p/'euef? 0. pestilences] 5. Ac] And C. fourlonge] furlong pestilence C. [were W] was LCROB ; W ; forlong CO ; furjlonge R. feyu- hut were seems required. tise] a feyntise O. 14. southwest] south westrene W. 7. sat] sette me B. wynde] wijnd O. on] vppon a B. 8. go I] R om. on] vppon R; of euene"] eue C. 58 CONSCIENCE TREACHES A SERMON. [PASS. V. 53 Pear-trees, plum-trees, beeches, and oaks were blown down. The dreamergives an outline of Conscience's sermon. Conscience bids a waster work, and tells Pernel to put her finery [Fol. 17 6.] away. Thomas is to fetch home his wife Felice; and Wat's wife is to blame. t Betfe is to beat lazy Betoun. Chapmen are to chastise their children. Was pertliche for pure pryde and for no poynt elles. Piries and plom trees were puffed to be erthe, 16 In ensample, ye segges • ye shulden do fie bettere. Becb.es and brode okes were blowen to be grounde, Torned vpward ber tailles " in tokenynge of drede, J3at dedly synne at domesday sbal fordon bem alle. 20 H Of bis matere I my^te * mamely fid longe, Ac I sbal seye as I saw ' so me god belpe ! How pertly afor be poeple resouw gan to preche. IF He bad wastoure go worcbe what be best coutbe, 24 And wynnen his wastyng • with somme manere crafte. II And preyed peronelle her p?/rfyle to lete, And kepe it in bir cofre for catel at hire nede. IT Thomme stowue he tau3te • to take two staues, 28 And fecche [fehce] home fro be wyuen pyne. IT He warned watt his wyf was to blame, Jjat hire bed was worth balue a marke • bis bode noi^te worth a grote. And bad bette kut " a bow other tweyne, 32 And bete betoun. ber-with but if she wolde worche. And banne be charged chapmen ' to chasten her chil- deren ; Late no wynnynge hem forweny whil bei be 3onge, 15. pure] R om, 17. ye segges] )> at ye segges (printed that the segges) W. ye shulden] sholden W ; shulden B. 19. tailles] taile R. in tokenynge] to kenynge R. 21. mamely] mamelen W; mamlyB. 22. Ac] And C. saw] sau^ WB. 23. pertly] ape?'tly B. gan] bigan WB ; gand C. 25. crafte'] craftys R. 26. And] He W. peronelle] Per- nele WR. 27. Mr] CB om. 28. stowue] Stowue C ; stouue R ; Stowe ; of stowue B ; Stowue or Stowue {printed Stowne) W. staues] stones R. 29. [felice WCROB] filice L. fro be] fram R. wyuen] wyuen or wynen LWCO ; wyuene or wynene RB. See note to Text A ; p. 144. 30. He] And 0. 31. \>at] For W. halue a] half a C ; half WROB. his] & his W ; & is B. Iwde] hed C ; B om. worth (2)] R om. 32. bow] bou2 W ; howghe C. other] outlier W ; or C. tweyne] tweye WR ; tweyen O. 33. if] C om. she] heo R. 34. chasten] chastijen W; chasti- sen ; chaste R. 35. hem] R om. forweny] for- wanye WB ; for- wan yen R. whil] be while R. PASS. V.] DUTIES OF KINGS AND POPES. 59 Ne for no pouste of pestilence plese hem noi^te out of resouw. 36 If " My syre seyde so to me and so did my dame, t The better the child, the more bat be leuere childe ' be more lore bihoueth, profit in teaching And Salamon seide be same " bat Sapience made, Qui parcit virge, odit jilium. t Spare the rod, and spoil the be Englich of bis latyn is ' who-so wil it knowe, 40 child (Prov. xm. .24). Who-so spareth be sprynge spilleth his children." IT And sithen he preyed prelat3 and prestes to-gideres, Priests should practise what " bat ^e prechen to be peple • preue it on 30wre-seluen, they preach. And doth it in dede it shal drawe 30W to good ; 44 If 3e lynen as 3e leren vs we shal leue 30W be bettere." IT And sithen he radde Religioure here reule to holde — Religion should rule strictly. u Leste be kynge and his conseille * 30wre comzmes ap- payre, And ben stuwardes of 30wre stedes • til 3e be ruled bettre." 48 IF And sithen he conseilled be kynge be comunQ to t The king should love the com- louye, mons. "It is bi tresore, if tresoure ne were ' and triacle at bi nede." And sithen he prayed be pope haue pite on holi- tThe pope should govern himself. cherche, And er he gyue any grace * gouerne firste hym-selue. 52 IT " And 3e tbat han lawes to kepe late treuthe be t Lawyers should covet truth. 3owre coueytise, More ban golde or other gyftes if 3e wil god plese ; For who-so contrarieth treuthe he telleth in be gospel, 36. pouste'] poustee W. 49. \e (2)] his W. comxtne~\ comunes 41. sprynge] 3erde B. spilleth] he 0. spilleth R. children] child B. 50. tresore — mere] trewe tresor W. 42. preyed] prechede W ; proved ne] R om. R. 51 . pope] erased in R. on] of C. 43. lowre-sclveti] yowselue WR. 54. or other] oubcr W ; & o\er 0. 45. lyuen] leuen WC. leren] lerae 313] he O. R. 55. who-so] who B. telleth] telth 48. stvwardes] stywardes WOB ; R. stiwardes CR. 60 PRIDE AND LUXURY REPENT. [PASS. V. That god knoweth hym noi^te ' ne no seynte of heuene, t Matt. xxv. 12. Amen clic.o vobis, nescio vos. Pilgrims should IT And je bat seke seynte James and seintes of seek St Truth. Rome, 57 Seketh seynt treuthe " for he may saue 30W alle ; Qui cum patre § filio bat feire hem bifalle )jat suweth my sermon ; " ' and bus seyde resourc. Thanne ran repentance and reherced his teme, 61 [Foi. is.] And gert wille to wepe ' water with his eyen. SUPERBIA. IF Peronelle proude-herte platte liir to be erthe, I. pbidh. Pemei And lay longe ar she loked ' and " lorde, mercy ! " repents her pride, , cryed, 64 And byln^te to hym • bat vs alle made, and vows to wear She shulde vnsowen hir serke • and sette bere an heyre a hair shirt, and . . to be ever To aifaiten hire nesshe bat fierce was to synne : " Shal neuere heiye herte me hente but holde me lowe, 68 And suffre to be myssayde — • and so did I neuere. But now wil I meke me and mercy biseche, For al bis I haue hated in myne herte." LUXURIA. 55 II. lechery. ^f jjanne lecchoure seyde " alias ! " ' and on owre lady Lechour repents, he cryed, 72 To make mercy for his mis-dedes • bitwene god and his soule, 56. hym] hem R. Amcn~] Amen 63. Peronelle] Pernele WE. amen C. 64. she] he R. cryed] he criede R. 60. suwcth] seweth W; suen 0; 65. byhiyte] bisoujte CB. to] vn- Bueth R; suwes C. resouti] O adds to O. Amen. 66. heyre] haire RB. 61. and] om. teme] tyme C. 67. fierce] fiers W; fers RO ; feerse 62. eyen] ei3en WB; ey3es R; yen 0. C ; firs B. Snperbia. This is here written in 68. holde] holde I wole W. the margin of LWCO. Further on, 70. wil I] I wole W. we find the other titles, Luxuria, 71. al] R om. hated] I-hated R; Inuidia, &c. hauntid B. PASS. V.] ENVY CONFESSES HIS SIN. Gl With bat he shulde be saterday seuene 3ere bere-after, and vows t\it i it it i henceforth to Drynke but myd be doke " and dyne but ones. drink only with the ducks. INUIDIA. 11 Enuye with heuy herte asked after scrifte, 76 And carefulhch mea culpa he comsed to shewe. He was as pale as a pelet in be palsye he semed, And clothed in a caurimaury I couthe it no^te dis- creue ; In kirtel and kourteby and a knyf bi his syde, 80 Of a freres frokke • were be forsleues. And as a leke hadde yleye * longe in be sonne, So loked he with lene chekes lourynge foule. IT His body was to-bolle for wratthe fat he bote his lippes, 84 And wryngynge he 3ede with be fiste to wreke hym- self he ]jou3te With werkes or with wordes whan he seighe his tyme. Eche a worde Jjat he warpe was of an Addres tonge, Of chydynge and of chalangynge was his chief lyftode, With bakbitynge and bisnier • and beryng of fals wit- nesse ; 89 }?is was al his curteisye ' where bat euere he shewed hym. IT "I wolde ben yshryue," quod bis schrewe "and I for shame durst ; I wolde be gladder, bi god fiat gybbe had meschaunce, III. EtrvY. Envy confesses his misdeeds. He is pale, paralytic, and like a dried leek for leanness. He bites his lips, and wrings his fist. t His words were as if from an adder's tongue. t " I had rather than an Essex cheese that Gib should suffer loss. 74. \>e saterday'] on \>e day E. 75. myd'] with CK. Inuidia. O has Envie. 78. as pale] also pale B. \>e] om. palsye] palacye C. 79. clothed] cluted K. cauri- maury] kaurymaury W ; Caurymaury CB; taurimauri (!) R. couthe] coude R. discreue] discryue WCOB; de- scriue R. 80. kourteby] courtepy W ; curtehy R : curtepy B. 81. \>e] his R. forsleues] fore sleues WR. 82. leke] leek J>at W. yleye] y- leyen C. 84. to-bolle] to-bollen WCO ; to- bolne B. bote] boot W; hot R. 85. wryngynge — -lede] wryng3ed R. \>e] his 0. fiste] fust W; fuyst B. 86. seighe] sey3 R ; say B ; saw O. 87. of] B om. an Addres] an add re R ; a neddres W. 88. and] O om. 90. W omits, etiere] C om. 91. yshryue] schryuen 0. schrewe] shcrewe W. 62 ENVY MAKES STRIFE BETWEEN MEN. [pass. V. 56 1 annoy my neighbour, and make his friends his foes. I stir up strife between t men, [Fol 18 6.] yet I pretend to be my foe's friend. When I kneel in church, I pray Christ to curse them that have borne away my bowl. 57 I envy [t Eleyne] his new clothes, laugh when men lose, weep when they win, Than Jjoujo I had bis woke ywonne " a weye of essex chese. 93 11 I hane a neighbore ney^e me • I haue ennuyed hym ofte, And lowen on hym to lordes * to don hym lese his siluer, And made his frendes hen his foon thorw my false tonge ; 96 His grace and his good happes • greneth me ful sore. Bitwene many and many I make debate ofte, ]3at bothe lyf and lyme is lost Jjorw my speche. And whan I mete him in market J>at I moste hate, 100 I hailse hym hendeliche • as I his frende were ; For he is dou3tier J?an I I dar do non other. Ac hadde I maystrye and my3te * god wote my wille ! IT And whan I come to be kirke and sholde knele to be Rode, 104 And preye for pe pople • as be prest techeth, For pilgrimes and for palmers for alle j?e poeple after, jjanne I crye on my knees • bat cryste 3if hem sorwe J3at bar[en] awey my bolle and my broke schete. 108 % Awey fro be auter banne turne I myn eyghen, And biholde how Eleyne hath a newe cote ; I wisshe banne it were myne ' and al be webbe after. ^f And of mennes lesynge I kmghe bat liketh myn herte; 112 And for her wynnynge I wepe and waille be tyme, 93. moke] wouke W ; wike B. 94. neyyz] by W ; ny} OB. cn- nuyed] anoyed W ; enuyed CRO ; i'ii nyed B. 96. made'] also R. 97. greueth] grenen WOB ; greues C. 100. 101. 103. 104. for O. hate'] hatye R. hailse] haile B. Ac] And C. hirhe] chcrche R. his] is C. to (2)] to- 106. and for] and B. 108. baren] so in OB; beren W; bare RC ; bar L. brohe] broken OB. 109. eyghen] ey^es R ; yen O. 110. horn] Worn. Eleyne] heleyne R ; Elyne C. hath] has C. 111. be] C om. webbe] web WRO ; weeb B. 112. mennes] hisR. liheth] werkes C ; akib B. \>at — lie He] b«t myn herte akeb O. L18. And] Ac R. her] his R. PASS. V.] ENVY LAMENTS HIS BITTER FEELINGS. 63 ^f And deme pat hij don ille pere I do wel worse ; judge iii-doers, Who-so vndernymeth me here-of I hate hym dedly myself. after. I wolde pat vche a wyght were my knaue, 116 For who-so hath more pan I J?at angreth me sore. And pus I lyue louelees lyke a hither dogge, So live i loveless, That al my "body bolneth • for hitter of my galle. swells with tTiii iiriA bitterness, which 1 my3te noujte eet many 3eres as a man oujte, 12>0 nothing eau For enuye and yuel wille is yuel to defye ; assuage. May no sugre ne swete binge ' asswage my swellynge, !N"e no diapenidion dryue it fro myne herte, Ne noyther schrifte ne shame hut ho-so schrape my maweV' 124 % "$us, redili," quod, repentaunce and radde hym to Repentance bids . , . him be sorry. pe beste, " Sorwe of synnes is sauaciouw of soules." ^[ " I am sori, ' quod fat segge "I am hut selde other, "i am never . ■, , , i ,-, , jy T otherwise," said And pat maketh me pus megre " lor 1 ne may me he. venge. 128 Amonges Burgeyses haue I he dwellynge At Londoure, And gert hakhitinge he a brocoure to blame mennes ware. Whan he solde and I nou3te ' panne was I redy t"i have often To lye and to loure on my neighbore * and to lakke his neighbour; but re -i nc\ will try and make cnaiiare. 162 amends." 114. \>at] men \>&t R. hij] bei nouberC. we]noR. schrape'] schape 0. WO; huy B. 125. jus] 31s WR ; bis CB ; bis 115. liere-of] herof (printed hero) (corrected to 31s) 0. redili] rede I 0. W. and] has C ; hab B. 116. I] And I 0. vche a] cch a 126. savacivun] saluacion C. W ; Ilk a C. my] my owne O. 127. \>at] be B. 118. hither] lyther CR ; liber B. 128. venge] avenge 0. 119. bitter] hytterhed B. of] in R. 129. Burgeyses] burgeis C ; hurgeys 121. defye] diffye CO ; dime B. R. 122. sugre] sucre RB ; sugure C. 130. gert] gart W; grete C; gret 123. diapenidion] diapendiouw CB. B. bahbitinge] bagbytyng R. Ne — diapenidion] For no diapendion 131. redy] a-redy R. may B. ] 32. lye] lee C. to lakke] lakke 124. Ne] Bom. noyther] neiJwWOB; CB. cltaffare] ware R. G4 WRATH CONFESSES HIS MISDEEDS. [pass. tlV. In.v. Wrath comes, with two white eyes. [Fol. 19.] t " Once," said lie, "I was a friar, and gardener to the convent. tThe regular clergy and the friars are wroth with one another t and despise one another. I wil amende pis, ^if I may • porw my3te of god alm^ty." 133 IRA. % Now awaketh wrattlie with two whyte eyen, And nyuelynge with pe nose * and liis nekke hangynge. IT " I am wrath," quod he • " I was sum tyme a frere, And fie couentes Gardyner for to graffe ympes ; 137 On limitoures and listres ' lesynges I ymped, Tyl pei here leues of low speche • lordes to plese, And sithen pei blosmed obrode in boure to here shriftes. 140 And now is fallen per-of a frute • fat folke ban Ave] leuere Schewen her schriftes to hem pan shryue hem to her persones. H And now persones [han] parceyued pat Freres parte with hem, Jjise possessioneres preche • and depraue freres, 144 And freres fyndeth hem in defaute ' as folke bereth witnes, That whan pei preche pe poeple in many place aboute, I, wrath, walke with hem and wisse hem of my bokes. J3us pei speken of spmtfualte pat eyther despiseth other, 148 133. wiT] wolde C. Jw«>] by CB ; bi O. myyte] my (!) C. \>orio— of] by dere B. 135. nyuelynge'] neuelynge W ; sneuelyng C ; sneueling B. \>e] his CB. hangynge] hyngyng CB. 137. \>e] om. couentes] couent E. 138. listres] listers C ; lcgistreris 0. 140. blosmed] blesmed {so mis- written) C. obrode] abrode CO ; a- brood W; R om. U\. frute] fruyt WCROB. han] haue R. wel] C om. 112. shryue hem] shryuen C. 143. persones han] L omits ban ; but we find persons han W; han per- Hones COB ; haue p^-sones R. The reading in W alone gives the right sense, parceyued] aperceyued R. 144. depraue] dempne C. 145. freres] R om. 1 46. place] places WRO. 147. walke] walkes C. hem] Tlie first time R has hym, but the second time hem. 148. of] of my WE. eyther] ai)>er C. PASS. V.] HOW WRATH WAS COOK IN A CONVENT. 65 Til fei be botlie beggers " and by my sp/nYualte libben, Or elles alle ricbe and riden aboute. 150 I, wrath, rest neuere ' fat I ne moste fohve 1 1 keep them excited. This wykked folke • for suche is my grace. IT I haue an aunte to nonne • and an abbesse bothe, t My aunt is a Hir were leuere swowe or swelte fan [suffre] any abbess. peyne. 151 I haue be cook in hir kichyne and fe couent serued tiwas eoc* in her kitebeu. Many monthes with hem ' and with monkes bothe. I was f e prionresses potagere • and other ponre ladyes, And made hem iontes of iangelynge ' fat dame Iohanne 1 1 got up all kinds of scandal. was a bastard, And dame Clarice a knijtes defter ac a kokewolde was hire syre, And dame Peronelle a prestes file • Priouresse worth she nenere, 160 For she had childe in chirityme • al owre chapitere it wiste. IT Of wykked wordes I, wrath here wortes I-made, ti fed them with wicked words. Til ' f ow lixte ' and ' f ow lixte ' lopen onte at ones, And eyther hitte other • vnder fe cheke ; 164 Hadde f ei had knyues, bi cryst her eyther had killed other. IF Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope and had a gode t Gregory ruled that no prioress forwit, might hear con- • fession. )?at no priouresse were prest for fat he ordeigned. 149. my] E om. with CB; And made liem iowtes wi}? 150. B omits, alle] al W. 0. Iohanne] Iohane W ; Iohan C ; 151. moste] muste OB; mot R. ione R. 153. an avrite] a naunte R. and 159. ac] and COB. an] & O. bothe] R om. 1G0. Peronelle] Pernele W ; peronel 154. mere] hackle W. pan] or O. RO. she] heo R. [sw/re WCEB] L has the unusual 1G1. she] heoR. chirityme'] ohirie- speUlng soeffre. tymeWO. chapitere'] Chapitre AVOB. 156. bothe] alse R. 162. I-made] made WCB. 157. 2 )rwuresses ~\ Prioresse WCO. 1G4. eyther] aither C. poure] pouere \VC; pouer R; pore 1G5. Hadde] Ha C. her eyther] OB. ei|?er COB. 158. And — of] T made hir wortes 1G7. prest] preest "WO. GG HOW WRATH WAS PUNISHED BY MONKS. [rASS. V. + 1 rather shun monks; t for priors and abbots m:ike one do penance for lling. [Fol. 19 &.] t Hut when I can get at the \\ toe, my tongue runs fa>t indeed." t "Repent," said R ipentance; Jjei had fanne ben in/amis fc firste day J»ei can so yuel hele conseille. 168 IF Amonge monkes I m^te be • ac many tyme I slionye ; Fur jjere ben many felle frekis my feres to aspye, Bothe Priourc an suppnoure and owre pater abbas ; And if I telle any tales " fei taken hem togyderes, 172 And do me faste fiydayes * to bred and to water, And am chalanged in f o chapitelhous 'as I a childe were, And baleised on fe bare ers and no breche bitwene ; For-fi haue I no lykyng * with J?o leodes to Avonye. 170 I ete there vnthende fisshe and fieble ale drynke ; Ac other Avhile, whan wyn cometh whan I drynke Avyn at eue, I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe • Avel fyue dayes after. Al fe wikkednesse fat I AA^ote bi any of owre bretheren, 180 I couth it in oaatc cloistre • fat al owre couent Avote it." IT " Noav repent fe," cmod Kepentauwce " " and reherce f oav neure Conseille fat fOAv cnoAvest bi contenau»ce ne hi ri3te ; 1 83 And drynke nou^te ouer delicatly ' ne to depe noyther, J?at f i Aville bi cause f er-of • to wrath my^te torne. 108. hen'] bo CR. mfamis] so in LCRO, and in W (though printed in- fantes); but infames in B. \>e x — day~\ Oom. so — liele] ille holde CB. hele] holde 0. 1G9. ac] and CR. shonye] slionye it W. ] 70. feres] feeris W ; fieres C. 171. an] and WCROB. ' 173. do] doon W. 17!. om]2eetamR. cliapitclhous] - WCB. 17.". ers] ars B; hers (altered to bak) It. and] B om. 17G. omits. \d] V, om. leodes] R ; Ieedis B. 177. vnthende] vnliecndc 0. fieble] febleWROB. 17*. Ac] And C. cometh] come C. whan (2)] Vnnne W ; and COB. wyn (2)] wel R; it COB. 179. I] And W. 180. mote] woot WO ; wot B. bretheren] bretber C; brej?ere B. 181. eouth] kijre B; couJ»e {glossed by make knowe) O. owre (2)] \;e COB; I; om-. mote] wool WCO: wot RB. 183. ?-iyte] sy3t 0; speche R. 184. wojiJ^e] natW; nau^l R; not OB. noyther] aeijser WOB; neyther R ; now } -i ■:• i '. 185. i/] be CROB. PASS. V.] DESCRIPTION OP AVARICE. 67 Esto sobrius," he seyde " and assoilled rae after, 186 t" ami keep your- And bad mo wilne to wepe • my wikkednesse to amende. AUARICIA. IT And banne cam coueytise can I hyni noi^te descryue, 188 So hungriliche and holwe sire [Heruy] liym loked. He was bitelbrowed and baberlipped also, With two blered eyghen as a blynde hagge ; And as a letheren purs lolled his chokes, 192 Wei sydder ban his chyn jjei chiueled for elde ; And as a bondman of his bacou?j his berde was bidraueled. With an hode on bis hed • a lousi hatte aboue, And in a tauny tabarde of twelue wynter age, 196 Al totorne and baudy and ful of lys crepynge ; But if bat a lous couthe haue lopen be bettre, She sholde nou3to haue walked on bat welche ' so was it tbredebare. IT " I haue ben coueytouse," quod bis caityue • " I bi- knowe it here ; 200 For some tyme I serued • Symme atte Stile, And was his prentis ypli^te ' bis profit to wayte. First I lerned to lye a leef other tweyne, Wikkedlich to weye was my furst lessouw. 201 V. AVAEICE. Then came Avarice, t with a greasy beard like a bondman, and a threadbare and torn coat. "I acknowledge 1 am covetous, for I once served Sim at the Stile, where T learnt lying and false weights. ISfi. and] and so he R. 188. Auaricia] Descripcio Avaritie R. can I] I can RO. novate] najt W ; no3t B ; not 0. 189. [ZfefflyWOB] Henri L; henry CR. 100. bitelbrowcd] bytter browid B. also] bobe CB. 193. sydder'] Bidder WC ; siddere B. cliiueled"] ryucledcn {corrected to chyueleden) O ; cbeuerid B. 195. art] his R. 19G. twelue] twelf WC* 197. totorne] to torn (printed so torn) W. 198. \>at] R am. have] ban W. ha tie lopen] lepe R. 199. /irtwc] hanW. on pat welclie] on bat welbe W; on bat welsch R; there CB; peron O. In R the line begins, He ne sehulde nomt walke on bat welsch. 200. coueytouse] couettise C. I — here] y knew hit neucre B. 201. aUe] at be RO. 202. profit] prophete(I) C. 203. leef] no in LWCROB. other] ouper WC. 68 nOW AVARICE LEARNT TO CHEAT. [pass. V. i vent to To Wy and to Wynchestre • I went to be faire, Winchester and ■,,_. . ... , , . . Weyhui fair, and \\ ith many manere marchandise ' as my Maistre me lii 3 te j 206 sold my wares by Ke had be grace of gyle • ygo amonge my ware, cheating. It had be vnsolde J?is seuene 3ere so me god helpe ! Then i went to IT Thaiuie drowe I me amonges draperes " my donet to tlic drapers, and . OAO learnt from them Icme, -jUJ To drawe be lyser alonge • be lenger it semcd ; Amonge be riche rayes I rendred a lessotm, There i learnt to To broche hem witli a [pak-]nedle and plaited hem fasten pieces of . stuff together, togyderes, 212 and press them And put hem iu a presse • and pyn[n]ed hem berinne, out till they n i i n tit ii seemed longer. Tyl ten 3erdes or twelue [naddej tolled out tnrettene. My wife made ^[ My wyf was a webbe ' and wollen cloth made ; woollen cloth, . „.„ and paid for it by She spak to spynnesteres to spynnen it oute. 21b Ac be pounde fat she payed by poised a quavteroxm [Fol. 20.] She brewed barley, and made mixed drinks for poor people, 220 more, Than myne owne auncere • who-so wey3ed treuthe. IT I bou3te hir barly malte she brewe it to selle, Peny ale and podyng ale she poured togideres For laboreres and for low folke; bat lay by bym- selue. 1T The best ale lay in my boure • or in my bedchambre, And who-so bummed ber-of bou3te it ber-after, 21G. She'] Heo E. spynnesteres] a spinnester R. 217. Ac] AndC. ]>at] Oom. poised] peised \VR; weyed CO. quarterov/ii] quartron W ; quate?-one C ; quartrou/t O ; quarter R. B has, Ac for J?e pound she paied al-J^ouj hit weyed a quai- tvoun more. 218. auncere"] aunser COB. 219. malte] R om. 220. podyng] puddyng WCR ; pud- yng 0. she] heo R. 221. for] COB om. 222. ale] of alle R. my hcd- chambrc] bedde chamhre C. 22:j. B jomits. hou^te] he boujt CRO. 20G. marchandise] mn'chandises COB. 207. had] hadde WROB. ygo] go C ; goo B. amonge] amonges W. mare] chaffare WCOB. 208. be] so in LR ; ben WCB ; been O. 209. amonges] among WCOB. 210. lyser] HserWCB; lesere O. 211. rages] rayeree R. 212. [pah-nedlc WCO] packenedlo B ; bat-nedle L ; batnedel R. See Text A. plaited] playteWj plyghted C ; plytyd B. 213. pyimeA] so in CB ; pyned LR ; pynnede O ; pyne W. 211. [hadde WOCB] LR om. TASS. V.] HOW AVARICE MADE RESTITUTION. C9 A galoxm for a grote god wote, [no] lesse ; 224 andsoidaie at a groat a And 3 it it cam in cupniel J?is crafte my wyf vsed. gallon. Rose be regratere was hir rhte name ; Her name is Rose the regrater. She hath holden hokkerye ' al hire lyf tyme. . IT Ac I swere now, so the ik bat synne wil I lete, 228 But now i repent ami will make And neuere wikkedliche w T eye ne wikke chafFare GO restitution." vse, But wenden to Walsyngham and my wyf als, And bidde be Eode of bromeholme • hrynge me oute of dette." IT " Repente[de]stow be euere," qiwd repentance ' "ne t "Have you never made restitucioim madest 1 " 232 restitution?" _, „ -r ,t , ,, ■. , ,, .,i said Repentance. IT " )us, ones I was lierberwed, quod he " with an hep of chapmen, I roos whan bei were arest and yrifled here males." t"Yes ; ionce rifled some 1T " That was no restituciou??," quod repentance "but pedlars' paeks; a robberes thefte, Jpow haddest [be] better worthy * be hanged berfore Jjan for al bat ' bat bow hast here shewed." 237 1T " I wende ryflynge were restituciou??," quoihe ' "for tfori thought restitution meant I lerned neuere rede on boke, rifling, as i don't know Frciicli.'* And I can no frenche in feith ' but of be ferthest ende of norfolke." IT "Ysedestow euere vsurie," q?zod repentauwce "in t " Did you ever lend on usury? " aUebi lyf tyme?" 240 224. [no] so in WCEOB ; L has na. 233. yis] $is WCOB. herbenvcd] y- 225. it] Com. cupmel] cuppernele lierberwed W; herberd C; sobrid(I) B. WB ; coppemele B ; copmele C. vsed] 234. roos] aros B. arest] at reste vseth E. B. yrifled] ] riflede WCOB; Trifled E. 226. was] is E. 23G. [be Cj LE om.; be \>q W; been 227. hokkerye] hukkerye W ; O ; ben B. be] to be 0. bukrie 0. 237. C has, thanne for al tat thow 228. Ac] And C. so] also B. the baste bere now ysbewed; OB the ik] thee ik W; theicb E ; thebi C; same, but has schewid/br yshewed. }eik B. LWE agree. 231. bromeholme] Bromholni 238. for] COB om. lerned] lerid WCOB. of dette] dette C. B. rede] COB om. 232. Repcntedcstow] Eepentedes- 239. \e ferthest] ferrest C. nor- tow W ; Eepentedest Jjow E ; Ee- folke] Northfolk WC. pontestowLC ; Eepentist J?ow OB. \>e] 240. Vsedestow] Vsedist J>ow OB. WCBOtfw.; B retains. «c]orWCO. euere] om. 70 HOW AVARICE SKINNED THE POOR. [rASS. V. t "Only in my youth, \\ Inn 1 learnt to clip coin. 1 1 hare lenl t" lords, and dealt with exchanges. [FoL 20 6] 1 1 have made knights mercers and diapers. 1 1 pity the poor as much as a pedlar does cats. IT " Nay, sothly," he seyde * "sauc in my jouthe. I lemed amonge Lumbardes and iewes a lessouw, To wey pens with a peys and pare be heuyest, And lene it for lone of be crosse * to legge a wedde and lese it; 244 Suche dedes I did wryte 3if lie his day breke. I hanc mo mancres borw rerages fan borw miscreiur Sf comodat. IF I haue lent lordes ' and ladyes my chaffare, And ben her broconr after and borate it my -self. 248 Eschaunges and chenesances • with suche chaffare I dele, And lene folke bat lese wol a lyppe at euery noble. And with lumbardes le^res ' I ladde golde to Eome, And toke it by taille here ' and tolde hem bere lasse." "Len[t]estow euere lordes for loue of her maynten- aunce?" 253 IT " 3 e > I haue lent lordes loued me neuere after, And haue ymade many a kny^te • bothe mercere & drapers, Jjat payed neuere for his prentishode " noujte a peire gloues." 256 IT " llastow pite on pore men bat mote nedes borwo 1 " IT " I haue as moche pite of pore men as pedlere hath of cattes, J?at wolde kille hem, yf he cacche hem iny3te ' for coueitise of here skynnes." Lendestow C ; Lcnt- 241. louthe] ^ougbe B. 242. and — lessoun] a lessoim, and of iewes R. 243. pens] pans R. peys] pays C. 245. breke] broke RB ; brook O. 240. mancres] manoirs W, como- dat] so in LCROB; also comodat in W (though printed commodat). 217. lent] Ilente R. 248. boutfe] broi^t (!) R. 240. chaffare] chaffares R. 252. taille] taleW. hem] O om. 253. Lentestow W] Lenestow L ; Lenedest f?ow R : ist tmi OB. 254. lordes] to lordes W. loued] }?at loucden ; louede J;ei B. 255. ymade] maad C ; made B. a] CR om. 250. his] hir CB. peire] paire of C. 257. llastow] Hast \>ou O. 258. as moche] as mikile C : also muche B. of — men] of hem CB ; on hem O. pedlere] £e pedlere R. 259. yf] and R. cacche hem] COB om. for— of] forto haue CD. PASS. V.] REPENTANCE BIDS AVARICE REPENT. 71 IT "Artow manlyclie amonge fi neijbores of fi mete and drynke?" 2 GO IT " I am kolden," quod lie, " as liende ' as hounde is in ti am as hos- pitable as a cur kychyne, in a kitchen." Amonges my neighbores, namelich such a name icli liaue." H "Now god leue neure," quod repentance "but fow t"God grant , tliat your issue repent fe rather, may have no joy j)e grace on fis grounde • fi good wel to bisette, 264 winnings. ]S T e fine ysue after f e haue ioye of fat fow wynnest, Ne f i excecutours wel bisett ' f e siluer fat pow hem leuest ; And fat was wonne with wronge with wikked men be despended. For were I frere of fat hous fere gode faith and t were i a friar, i would not touch a chai'ite is, 268 penny of yours. I nolde cope vs with f i catel • ne owre kyrke amende, Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of fyne, bi my soide hele, For f e best boke in owre hous • f ei^e brent golde Avere f e leues, And I wyst wytterly fow were suche as fow [tellest,] [Or elles fat I kouf e knowe it • by any kynnes wise.] Senilis es alterius cum ferritin pinguid queris, 274 Pane tuo pocius vescere, liber eris. ^F Thow art an vnkynde creature I can f e ncujte as- 1 1 cannot absolve .,.« you till you make SOllle, Zib restitution. 2G0. Artow] Art pow EOB. \>i saue W. hele] CB om. mete and] met and of CB. 271. brent] brend EB. 2G1. COB place as hende before 272. [tellest WCEOB] telleth L; quod he. is in] in his E. 7>ut the line is marked for correct ion. 2G3. Now] om. leue] leue pee 273. LWBO omit this line, but it or lene pee W. neure] CB om. is found in CBC2, and in Crowley's 265. ysue] vssue E; hcires WCB ; text, which has kindes wyt for kynnes eyres 0. wise. I quote it from C. " 2G6. wet] COB om. pe] pi 0. 27-i. cum] dum W. 267. be] Bom. 275. pocius] pocius (printed potius) 2G9. nolde] wolde noujt E. hyrhe] W. cherche E. 276. \e nouite] noujt pe CB. 270. of— hele] so god my soule 72 HE BIDS HIM TRAY FOR MERCY, [rASS. V. Til bow make restitucioura and reknc with hem alle, And sithen bat resoim rolle it in be regystre of heuene, That Jjow hast made vche man good I may be nou3te assoille ; 279 Non dimittitur peccatum * donee restituatur abla- tio)), fyc. t ah who touch *\ Por alio bat Tliauel of bi good " haue jrod my trouthe ! your money must . ' L . make restitution [Ben] liolden at be heighe dome • to helpe ]>e to restitue. at the last day." . - , . And who so leuetli nou3te bis be soth loko in be santer glose, 282 t Pa. n. 6. In miserere met deus ' where I mene trenthe, Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, Sfc. IT Slial nenere werkman in bis worlde " bryuc wyth bat bow wynnest ; 284 t in. xviii. ae. Cum sancto sanctus eris • construe me bat on englische." IT Thanne wex bat shreAve in wanhope and walde haue hanged hi/u-self, [Foi. 21.] U"e hadde repentaunce be rather* reconforted liym in bis manere, t Repentance bids " Haue mercye in bi mynde and with bi mouth him pray lor mercy. biscche it, 288 For goddes mercye is more * ban alle hise other werkes ; t ps. cxiiv. 9 Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, §c. (Vulgate). IT And al be wikkednesse in bis worlde ' bat man my^te worche or thynke, Ne is no more to be mercye of god • ban in be see a glede ; 277. R inserts qvod repentance plowmare. after restitucioun. 284. ShaT] For schal R. 278. it] be C ; B o»i. 285. construe — englische'] C om. 279. assoille] saue R. donee] nisi me ]>at] me bis W; bou me bat B. R. ablatvm] oblatum WCB. 286. \,at ] be R. himself] hymW. 280. {haue C] hauen B ; han WO ; 287. reconforted] co?iforted R. hath LR. hym] CB om. 281. [2?6-» WCOB] Is LR. liolden] 289. LOR preserve, WCB omit, the haklynge R. to (2)] R om. Latin quotation, eius] domim R. 282. novate )>is be] this be noujt 290. be] O om. in] of 0. bis] CB. be] a R. C om. n-orche] do COB. 283. After &c. follows, in "R only, the 291. iVe is] Nis WCOB. [quasi curious line, bere is no laborer© wolde WCORB] L om. sintilla] so in W leue with ham • bat knoweth peres be {though printed scintilla). PASS. V.] AND HAND OVER HIS GAINS TO THE BISHOP. 73 Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei, est [quasi] sintilla in medio maris. IF For-bi liaue mercy in bi mynde • and marchandise, t "Give up your . . „ trading," said Idle it, 2V'2 Repentance. For bow hast no good grounde to gete be with a wastel, But if it were with thi tonge * or ellis with bi two hondes. For be good bat bow hast geten bigan al with false- + That which you V 1 won, you won neae > falsely. And as longe as bow lyuest per- with bow ^eldest novate, but borwest. 296 IT And if Jjow wite neuere to whiche * ne whom to t»you know not . whom to repay, ioouiuuc, give your money Bere it to be bisschop and bidde hym of his grace, t0 the bis1 '""- Bisette it hym-selue ' as best is for bi soule. For he shal answere for be at be heygh dome, 300 For fie and for many mo " bat man shal 3if a reken- + He shall answer for you. ynge. What he lerned 30W in lente * leue bow none other, And what he lent 30W of owre lordes good to lette 30W fro synne." GULA. VI. Gluttony. IT Now bigynneth glotomj for to go to schrifte, 304 Glutton goes to . . n church to confess, And kaires hym to-kirke-ward his coupe to schewe. but on the way 1T Ac Beton be brewestere bad hym good morwe, brewster hails And axed of hym with fat ' whiderward he wolde. IT " To holi cherche," quod he " forto here masse, 308 295. bigan] hit began B. 304. Gula] LWCOC2. 297. mite'] wost COB. rcstitue] 305. Juiires] karieb WB. kirhc] restitute R ; make restituciou» B. cherche R. coupe] culpe B. 301. for] COB om. 306. Ac] And W ; An C. 303. Corruptly made into two lines 307. axed] asked WR. of] at W. in COB. hym] B om. n-hidenvard] whider And what he lente yow of his B. goode * to wite yow fro synne, 308. cherche] kirke O. forto] to For he sholde helpe yow of oure CB. lordes goode C. 71 CU'i'lO.N THINKS OF KEPEXTING. [pass. v. She offers him air; lie asks if it is spiced ; she says, yes. And sithen I wil !>«• shryuen and synne namore." 11 "I haue gode ale, gossib," quod she "glotown, wiltmv assaye 1 " "Hastow aujte in bi purs any liote spices?" H*'I haue pepei and piones," quod [s]lie "and a pounde of garlike, 312 A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed • for fastyngdayes." H Jjanne goth glotouw in and grete othes after ; Cesse be souteresse • sat on j?e benche, Watte be warner and his wyf bothe, 31 G Tymnie be tynkere • and tweyne of his prentis, Hikke be hakeneyman and hughe be nedeler, "S, SaricfoT Clarice of cokkeslane • and be clerke of be cherche, Dawe be dykere and a dozeine other ; 320 Sire Piers of Pridie and Peronelle of Flaundres, A rihihour, a ratonere • a rakyer of chepe, A ropere, a redyngkyng and Pose be dissheivs, Godfrey of garlekehithe and gryfin be walshe, 324 And vphplderes an hepe • erly hi be morwe Geuen glotoim with glad chere • good ale to hansel. IT Clement be cobelere • cast of his cloke, And atte new faire • he nempned it to selle ; 328 Hikke be hakeneyman hitte his hood after, And badde bette be bochere ben on his side. J5cre were chapmen y-chose bis chaffare to preise ; Glutton goes in. There were Cis the shoemaker's wife, Wat the warrener, Tim the tinker, Gl Hick the ostler, Cock lane, the clerk of the [Fol. 21 b.] church, Sir Piers of Pridie, Pernel of Flanders, a ribibe-player, a ratcatcher, and many others, whii all welcomed Glutton. Clement the cobbler offers to barter his cloak, and Hick the ostler his hood. "10. wiltoro] woltow W ; wilt ]>o\i OB. 311. pv/rs] purs, quod he VI. 312. piones} pionus C ; pioyne R ; greynes B. she'] soinW; sche OK; heLCB; seel. 310. 313. A] AndaW. 315. souteresse] sowesterc B. 316. warner] wanner B. 317. Tymme]Symm.eCKB. prentis] praitices WCO ; prentys R; preabii B. 318. hvghe] howe R ; hue O. 310. eokkeslane] cockislane B. \> e clerke] elerc C. 320, 321. R transposes these lines. 321. Sire] And sire R. Pridie] Pride C. Peronelle] Pernele W. 322. rakyer] Baker COB. 323. redyngkyng] Rydyngkyng C. dissheres] disshere B ; dyssheres doubter R. 324. garl-eJtehitlie] garlek-hethe R. gryfin] grifyth R. 325. erly] herly R. 326. Geuen] Gvuen C. glad] good COB. 328. atte] at f>e WCOB ; to be R. lie] R om. 330. ben] to ben R. 331. mere] It. om. y-chose] chosen CB. PASS. V.] SCENE IN A PUBLIC-HOUSE. 75 Who-so haueth be hood shukl haue amendes of be cloke. 332 11 Two risen vp in rape and rouned togideres, Then ail rose And preised bese penyworthes • apart bi hein-selue ; chakreo E. vp] E om. an] and WCEOB. Mile] gille 334. \>csc] be E. WCEOB. 336. bi] E om (!). 347. . gxmne] gonne E; higonne 337. noumpere] nounpereW; noun- WC; bigune O. [gotltely C] gurle, pier C. nere] were R. corrected to gotheli O ; gohelen W ; 338. From O ; also in CBC2 ; LWE grouly B ; godly LE ; but in L, the omit. Crowley has the line, but j)uts line is marked for correction, Crowley there for bre. prints gothlen. gredy] guedy E. 341. yserued] serued CB. 348. potel] potel and more B. 342. who-so] who bat COB. rathest] 349. And] He E. ruivct] rowet rather COB. E ; rewet C ; ruet B. rigge-bon] 343. sire] wele C ; wel B ; wol sire rigges hou« C; ruggebonesW; rigges- O. bones II ; rigge-bonys O ; riegbonesB. 345. seten so] sitten so E ; so setyn 350. pat herde] Uom. nose] noses W. J>ey C; so bei seten B; so seten 0. 351. wexed] waxed COB. wispe] songen] syngen E. vmwhile] vmb- wips E. 76 CLUTTOX DRINKS TILL nE IS DRUNK. [pass. V. He coulil scarce stand, and walked all ways, like a glccnian's biteh, 63 or a man setting bird-catcliing lines. He stumbled at tlie threshold, when Clement Caught him and carried him, [Fol. 22.] for which serviee lie was ill repaid. His wife put him to bed, and he slept all Saturday and Sunday. Then he woke up, rubbed his eyes, and asked where the cup was. IF He my$te neither steppe no stonde er he Iris staffo hadde; 352 And banne gan ho go liclie a glewmannes Heche, So?»me tyme aside and somme tyme arrere, As Avho-so leyth lynes forto lacche foules. IT And whan he drowgh to be dore • banne dymmed his eighen, 356 He [stumbled] on be thresshewoldc • an threAve to be erthe. Clement be cobelere * cai^te hym Li be myddel, For to lifte hym alofte ' and leyde him on his knowes ; Ac glotoun was a gret cherle and a gryni in to lift- ynge, 360 And coughed vp a caudel • in dementis lappe ; Is non so hungri hounde * in Hertford sclrire Durst lape of be leuynges so vnlouely bei smaujte. ^F With al be wo of pis worlde his wyf and his Avenche 361 Baren hym home to his hedde " and hrou3te hym bcr- inne. And after al Jris excesse " he had an accidie, Jjat he slepe saterday and sonday til sonne 3ede to reste. Jjanno waked he of his wynkyng and Aviped his eyghen ; 368 \)q fjTste Avordc bat he warpe ' AVas, " where is pa holle]" 352. ne] no C. 353. ff<>~] to goo B. glewmannes'] glemartnes W; glwemannes (sie) 11. 354. arrere] arereWCRB ; arere O. 355. hjnes] lymjerdis B. lacche] kacche B. 356. And] Ac B. eighen] ej^es B. 357. [stumbled WCO] stomlid B; trembled L ; trended B. thrcsshe- rvolde] breiswald B ; bresshfold W '. an) and W &c. throve] throwe C ; outfrbrew B. 359. hym] Com. Ttnomes] knowes, altered to knees C ; knees O. 360. a gryni] grym O ; heuy B. 361. coughed] cowede B ; kowid B. 363. \>e] bat WCOB. leuynges] Ieuyng B. \>ei smauzte] hit smacchid 11. 365. home] B oin. 367. slepe] sleep "WB. yde to] wente to O ; took CB. 369. pe(l)] Com. TASS. V.] GLUTTON VOWS AMENDMENT. 77 His [wif] gan edwite hyni bo • how wikkedlieh he lyued, And repentance ri^te so rebuked liym bat tyme : t His wife and ^ " As jiow with wordes and werkes hast \vrot13te rebuke him. yuel in bi lyue, 372 Shryue be and be shamed ber-of and shewe it with pi mouth." ^T " I, glotou?*," quod be gome " gylti me ^elde, t "i confess that I have often used J3at I haue trespassed with my tonge ' I can noi^te oaths, telle how ofte, Sworen 'goddes soule' • and 'so god me help and halidom,' 376 J)ere no nede ne was * nyne hundreth tymes ; IT And ouer-seye me at my sopere and some tyme at t and have been gluttonous, nones, J)at I glotouw girt it vp ' er I hadde gone a myle, And y-spilte bat my$te be spared and spended on somme hungrie ; 380 Ouerdehcatly on fastyng dayes drunken and eten bothe, And sat some tyme so longe bere bat I slepe and ete t sometimes , sleeping and eat- at Ones. } n g both at once." For loue of tales in tauemes to drynke be more, I dyned, And hyed to be mete er none whan fastyng dayes were." 384 370. [mif WO] witte LRB ; wit C. WC ; hundrid OB. Cf. Text A. 378. ouer-seye] ouerseyen W. at 371. so] boo so O. my] atte C ; at he B. 372. yuel] ille COB. 379. it] GOB em. 373. shamed] a-schamed OR. Jn] 380. And] And {printed An) W. COB om. y-spiUe] spilt COB. spended] spend 374. gome] grom W; goome C. R. on somme] vppon \>q B. 375. \>at] Of \>at R. 382. \>at I] and R. slepe] sleep 376. soule] soule and his sydes R. W ; sloped C ; slep R ; slepte O. at] god — help] help me god R ; me god al at B. helpe W. and halidom'] at \>e holy 383. to drynlie] and for drynke W ; dom B ; W om. to ete R. 377 ne]Wom. hit nd ret h] hundred 384. hyed] hired me B. SLOTH CONFESSES HIS SINS. [PASS. V, t "This con- fession of yours will help you." Gl IT " This shewyng shrifte," qitoil repentance * " shal bo meryte to be." 1T And banne gan glotouw grete and gret doel to make For his lither lyf • pat lie lyued haddo, 387 • " for hunger or for tliurst i vow,- said he, And avowed [to] fast- " henceforth to ~ ohscrve Shal nenere fisshe on be fryday denen in my wombe Tyl abstinence myn aunte * haue 3iue me lene ; And 3it bane I hated hir al my lyf tyme." VII. Accidia. t Sloth comes, asking for a seat. t He went to sleep over his prsyers. [Fol. 22 &.] t Awaked, he smvs he forgets his pater-noster. ACCIDIA. H jjanne come sleutbe al bislabered ' vritJi two slymy ei3en, 392 " I most sitte," seyde be segge " or elles sbulde I nappe ; I may novate stonde ne stoupe " ne with-oute a stole knele. Were I broujte abedde • bnt if my taille-ende it made, Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse " ar I were rype to dyne." 39 G Pie bygan benedicite with a bolko and his brest knocked, And roxed and rored and rutte atte laste. ""What ! awake, renke ! " quod repentance "and rope be to shrifte." ^T " If I shulde deye bi bis day • me liste novate to loke ; 400 385. shrifte] of shryfte f>. meryte] come'] cam WCOB. JnslabereS] by- mercy CB. slobred It. shjmij ehen] slymed ey^es 386. \>anne] C om. grete] to grcte B. RB. grct] muche B. to malte] made 393. shvldc I] Ischulde OB. O. 394. a] It om. 387. lither] luber W. 396. ryngynge] Jyng B. ar] er 388. [to WCOB] LB om. avowed WCB ; ere it ; or 0. to] made his avow to J'.; vowede 397. his] is C ; on his B. to 0. thurst] thrust© C. 398. roxed] raxed W; roskid B. 3S9. \>c] WCO om. Shal—defien] atte] at \>c WO ; al out atte B. j.it neuere fisch on \>0. If] Al-^ou^ B. day] day quod 392. Accidia] LWC ; BOB om. he B. liste] lest R. PASS. V.] HOW SLOTH IS FOND OF IDLE TALES. 79 I can nou^te perfitly my pater-nosfer as be piest it ttmt he knows rimes about Syngetll, Robin Hood. But I can rymes of Itobyn hood and Randolf erle of Cliestre, Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady fie leste bat euere was made. ^T I haue made vowes fourty and for-^ete hem on be morne ; 404 I parfourned neure penaunce • as be prest me hi3te, t "i never ■\T i jy i. t perform my JNe ry;te son lor my synnes 3d was I neuere. penances rightly. And jif I bidde any bedes but if it be in wrath, J3at I telle with my tonge • is two myle fro myne herte. I am occupied eche day haliday and other, 409 1 1 am always occupied with With ydel tales atte ale * and otherwhile in cherches ; idle tales. Goddes peyne and his passioim ful selde bynke I bere-on. 1T I visited neuere fieble men ne fettered folke in puttes, 412 I haue leuere here an harlotrie * or a somer game of 1 1 had sooner , hear sucli tilings souteres, than aU that evei . Or lesynges to laughe at and belye my neighbore, ar wrote. }3an al bat euere Marlce made Mathew, John, & lucas. And vigilies and fastyng dayes * alle pise late I passe, And ligge abedde in \enten an my lemman in myn 1 1" Lent, 1 He . , „ in bed till mass armeS, 41/ is nearly over. Tyl matynes and masse be do and banne go to be freres ; 401. it] COB om. R ; at chirche W. 403. Ac] And C. of (2)] CO om. 411. pere-on] on CO ; on it W. euere— made] pat is made COB. 412. fielle] feble WOB ; seke R. 404. vowes] auowesW. fourty] fifty puttes] pittes COB. COB. on \e] al at CB ; or R ; on O. 413. have] hadde R. a] Cam. morne] morwe WCRO ; morwen B. somer game] somer gamen B. 40r>. parfourned] performed B. 414. lesynges] lesynge W. at]oi~R. 400. iVe]ForB. synnes] synne CB. neighbore] nejebores WCOB. 409. occupied] ocuped If. 415. \an] R om (!). lucas] lull B. 410. atte ale] at pa Ale WCRO ; at 416. late I] I late R. be nale B. in clicrclics] in cherche 418. and panne] ban C. 80 SLOTH IS A PRIEST, BUT CANNOT SING. [rASS. V. + I am shriven about twice in two years. t Though I am a priest, I cannot sulfa ; Come I to ite, missa est I holde me yserued. I nam noi^te sliryucn some tyme but if sekenesse it make, 420 Noi^t tweies in two 3ere • and banne vp gesse I schryue me. H I haue be prest and parsouw • passynge thretti wynter, 3eto can I neither solfe ne synge * ne seyntes lyues rede, t hut i can flmi But I can fynde in a felde • or in a fourlonge an hare, a hare in a field. . Better Jj an in heat as vir ' or m oeati omncs 425 Construe oon clause wel and kenne it to my paroch- ienes. I can holde louedayes • and here a Beues rekenynge, Ac in canourc ne in be decretales ' I can noi^te rede a lyne. 428 H 3if I higge and borwe it but yif it be ytailled, 1 1 forget what I for3ete it as 3erne and 3if men me it axe I borrow. , Sixe sithes or seuene ' I forsake it with othes, And bus tene I trewe men ten hundreth tymes. 432 I I Keep back my IF And my seruauntz some tyme her salarye is servants' wages. .. bihynde, Reuthe is to here [be] rekenynge * whan we shal rede acomptes ; So with wikked wille and wrath the my werkmen I paye. IT 3if any man doth me a benfait or helpeth me at t I can hold love-days. t I requite benefits with Dnkindness. nede, 436 428. CB om. ne in ]>e] nor in W ; ne O. 429. it (1)] au3t W. yf (2)] B om. ytailled] tailled COB. 430. as] also B. -icrne] soone 0. axe] aske R. 432. tene I] I tene RB. hundreth'] B ; sulue R ; solue (printed solne) hundred WOB. W. 434. is] it is WB. [\>e WCOB] 420. oon — met] it clausemel R ; LR om. me his clause wel B. my] \>i (!) B. 436. doth] do COB. benfait] bien- paroehienes] parisshens WUOB. fait WC; benfeet RO ; bienfet B. 427. and] or R. Mjpethyhelpe COB. 419. yserued] serued COB. 420. if] COB om. 421. schryve] misirritten shcryue in L. me] C om. 422. thretti] twenty B. wynter] yere COB. 423. yte] And yet W. solfe] solf PASS. V.] SLOTH FALLS DOWN IN A SWOON. 81 I am vnkynde a3ein his curteisye and can nou$te [Foi.23.] vnclerstoncle it ; 437 For I haue and haue hadde some dele haukes maneres, I nam novate lured with loue but bere ligge au3te vnder be thombe. IT The kyndenesse bat myne euene-eristene kidde me 1 1 forget the kindnesses men [fernyere], 440 do to me. Sixty sythes I, sleuthe • haue fofrj^ete it sith, In speche and in sparynge of speche ' yspilte many a tyme Bothe flesche & fissche • and many other vitailles ; Bothe bred and ale butter, melke, and chese 444 ti waste much meat and drink." Forsleuthed in my seniyse til it my$te serue iioman. IT I ran aboute in ^outhe • and 3af me noi^te to lerne, And euere sith [haue] be beggere • for my foule sleuthe ; lieu mieJri, [quod] sterilem viiam duxi Iuuenilem. 448 1T " Bepentestow be nainte 1 " quod repentance • and sioth fails down swooning, but rijte with bat he swowned, rujiiate wakes Til vigilate be veille fette water at his ey^en, And flatte it on his face and faste on hym criede, And seide, " ware be fram wanhope • wolde be bitraye. and bids him •■ repent. ' I am sori for my synnes' sey so to bi-selue, 453 And bete bi-selue on be breste • and bidde hym of grace ; 437. vnJtynde] vnkende R ; vn- other vitailles COB. many] myn R. hende 0. ayin] ayeins W ; a^ens ; 447. [haue C] haue I WO ; I haue to CB. his] Wont. B; 1AI omit ; but the line is marked 439. nam] am WCB. lured] leired for correction inTu. Crowley has haue. C;lieuredB. \>ere ligge mate] aujt 448. [quod RB] quia LWCO ; be CB ; if ou^t lye O. be] R om. which sjwils the scansion. 440. kidde] kudde R; kydden O. 449. Bepentestow] Repentest \o\\ [fernyere \VC] ferne^ere RB ; feme BO; Repentest R ; RepentedestowW. jer ; farnere L. \>e~] WCO om. swomned~] swhounede R. 441. sythes] sithe R. foryste] for- 450. eyysn] ey^es R; yen O. yete W ; miswritten fo^ete L. 451, 452. B transposes these lines. 442. of speche] OB om ; of speches 451. it on] water in B. faste] Rom. C. yspilte] I spilt COB ; I spelt R. 452. fram'] fro CB ; for WO. a tyme] tynies CB. wolde] he wolde B. 443. 444. Bobe flesshe and fisshe 453. so] bou B ; WCO om. butter, mylk, an chess.', 454. bete] bette C. \>e] fu C. hym] Bobe brede an ale and many god B. 6 82 ROBERT THE ROBBER TRAYS FOR MERCY. [pass. V. Then Sloth Bat iiji and (blessed himself,] and vowed ho would always go to church early and regularly, attend evensong, and make «.» amends. Robert the robber thought to make restitution, and prayed to Christ, Baying, "Christ, that saved Dismas on the cross, [Fol. 23 &.] have merry upon me ! " For is no gult here so grctc fat Lis goodnesso nys more." If Jjanno sat slcutlic vp and seyned Lym swithe, 456 And made avowe to-foro god for Lis foule slcutlic, " SLal no sondaye be pis seuene ^cre • but sykenesse it lcttc, Jjat I nc slial do me er day to pc derc clicrcLc, And Leren matines and masse • as I a nionke were. 4G0 SLal none ale after mete Loldc me pennes, Tyl I Laue euensonge Lerde I behote to pe Rode. And 3ete wil I 3elde a3ein • if I so moclic Laue, Al pat I wikkedly wan sithen I wyttc hadde. 4G4 If And pougL my liflode lakke leten I nolle, pat eclie man ne slial Laue Lis ' ar I Lennes wende : And with pe residue and pe remenaunt ' bi pe Rode of chestre ! I shal seke treuthe arst • ar I sc Rome !" 4G8 If Robert pe robbere ' on reddite lokede, And for per was nou3tc wher-of * he wepe swithe sore. Ac 3et pe synful shrewe seydc to hym-selue, " Cryst, pat on caluarye vppon pe crossc dcydest, 472 Tho dismas^ny brother bisoi^te 30W of grace, And haddest mercy on pat man for memento sake, So rewe on bis robbere * bat reddere nc hauc, , , > ' debeo Ne neuere wene to wynne ' with crafte pat I owe. 47G But for pi mykcl mercy ' iuitigaciou?i I hisecLe ; 455. is] \>er is B. no] no {printed ne) W. nys] is CROB. 466. seyned] sayned C ; blissid B. 457. avowe] avow ; awowe C : a vow RB ; auow {printed a vow) W. 458. but — it~\ but jif sckcuesse mo R. 459. nc] B om. 463. And— I] What I nam R. 4G5. my] me R. 466. ne] ROB om. 467. with \>e] with CO. \. owe] knowo R. 477. for] C om. I] om. PASS. V.] REPENTANCE PRATS FOR THE TEXrTEXTS. S3 Ne dampne me nonjte at domesday for |?at I did so ille." 1T What bifel of fis felouw I can novate fairo schewc, what became of We] I wote he wepte faste • water with bofe his cyen, ye t he wept "we, And knowleched his gult ' to cryst 3ete eftsones, 481 Jjat pcnifencla his pykc ' he shulde polsche newe, CC and vowed And lepe with hym oner londe al his lyf tymc, penitence. For he had leyne hi latro • luciferes aunte. 484 IF And fanne had repentaunce renthe • and redde hem t Repentance .. . . prays for all the alio tO knole, penitents. " For I shal hiseche for al synful * owre saueoure of grace, To amende vs of owre mysdedes and do mercy to vs alle. IT ~Now god," cpiod he, " fat of bi goodncssc • gonne be t"OGoU, who tt i ,r,n didst suli'er man worlde make, 488 to commit sin, And of nau^te madest tmjte ' and man mosto liche to bi-selue, And sithen sufTrcdest for to synne a sikenesse to vs alle, And al for be best, as I bilene what enere be hoke t for the ultimate j ii ,i benefit of man- telleth, kiml> feh'x culpa ! o necessarium peccatum ade ! $c. For Jjourgh fat synne b i sone ' sent was to bis erthc, And hicam man of a mayde " mankynde to sane, 493 tana wast • made man ; And madest Ju-sclf with Jn sone and vs synful yliche, Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitu- t(Gen. x.-ig- dinem nostram ; 478. so] om. gonne W. make] to make W. 479. feloun] schrewc O. 489. aiqte] alle Jjynge B. 481. Remits, gult] gilt WCO. 490. svffredest] suffrest COB. for eftsones] efter soones 0. to] hym to It; for 0; for oure B 482. polsche] polische O ; polissh (which last is clearly wrong here). 0; pulscheB. 491. telleth] telle CB. peceatwn 483. lyf] C om. ade] ade peccatam 0. 484. had] hath R. 494. vs synfuT] vs silf B ; CB omit 488. he] R om. (!) \>at] precedes the quotation, and also 11. 495 — 197. gonne COB. gonne] gumie O; hi- et sbnilituMnem] WO om. 84 1 St John iv. 16); t and didst die upon Good Friday; t(Eph. iv.8); t wlicn the s\m was darkened at noon-day ; CIIRTSTS PASSION AND RESUEIiEC'TIoN. [pass. v. t (Isaiah ix. 2); t and on the third day didst rise again ; tMat. ix. 1P>. [Fol. 21.] fJo. i. 14. Et alibi : qui manet in caritate, in deo mancf, fy deus in eo ; IF And sitli with bi self sonc in owre sutc deydcst On godefryday for mannes sake at ful tyme of be dayc, 49G J?cre Jji-solf ne bi sonc no sorwe in deth felcdest ; But in owre secte was be sorwe and J>i sonc it ladde, Captiuam duxit captiuitatem. If ])o, sonne for sorwe ber-of les sy3te for a tyme Aboute mydday whan most li^tc is and mele tyme of seintes ; 500 Feddest with pi freschc blode owre forfadres in derk- nesse, Popidus qui ambidahat in tenehris, vidit lucem magnam ; And thorw be li^te bat lepe onto of be ' lucifer was blent, And blewe alle pi blissed • in-to be blisse of paradise. IT ]}e thrydde daye after bow ^edest in owre sute, 504 A synful Marie be seighe • ar seynte Marie bi dame, And al to solace synful bow suffredest it so were : Non veni vocare iustos, set pcccatores ad peni- ■» tenciam. % And al pat Marke hath ymade mathew, Johan, and lucas, Of bync dou3tiest dedes • were don in owre amies. 508 Verbum caw factum est, et liabitauit in nobis. fy — eo] out. 495. bi] be It. sutc] so in ; scute R ; secte W. Crowley has sute. 496. \>e] 11 om. 497. ne] and Et. 498. \?e] bat R. duxit] duxi CB. 499. les] lee3 W ; lese C. syrte] lijt W; hysli^tO. for] of W. 500. mele] meke (!) B. 501. n-ith] bo with ]!. fresche Mode] Fleiach & bi blood B. amilnila- bat] ambulai CB. 502. was] it R. 503. Missed] blissed bennes R. be] pyc. 504. \>ow] O om. sute] so in WO ; suyte CB ; seute R. 505. A] And COB. br] bow CB. ar] er WCROB. 500. And] CB om. al] O om. set] sed R. 507. And] To (!) B. 508. dovitiest] doujty WCOB. were] waSW; bat weren B. PASS. V.] A THOUSAND MEN SET OUT TO FIND TRUTH. 85 And bi so moche, me semeth • be sikcrere we mowc Eydde and biseche if it be bi wille, bat art owre fader and owre brother be memable to vs, And haue reutbe on bise Ribaudes • bat repente liem t we pray Thee, ' have mercy on all liere SOre, 512 these penitents." bat ouere bei wratthed be in bis worlde in worde, boivjte, or dedes." IT banne bent hope an borne • of den*, tu conuersus t Then Hope - 1 seized a horn, and viuificabis \nos,] blew it; (Ps.ixx. J L J 20, and xxxi. 1 ; And blew it with Beati quorum • remisse sunt iniqui- Vulgate.) fates, bat alio seyntes in houenc songen at ones, 516 . Homines Sc iumenta saluabis, quemadmodum +Ps - xxxv - ~> J * (Vulgate.) multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, deus, 8,~c. IT A thousand of men bo • thrungen togyderes ; Then * thousand > 0,; men thronged Criede vpward to cryst ' and to his elene mocler together, hoping 1 J to find Truth. To haue grace to go with hem treutbc to soke. 519 1T Ac bore was wyjte non so wys • be wey bider couthe, But no one knows the way. But blustreden forth as bestcs oucr bankes and liilles, Til late was and longe bat bei a lede mette, At last they met a Palmer in Apparauled as a paynyra ' in pylgrymes wyse. pilgrim's weeds, He bare a burdouw ybounde with a brode liste, 524 a staff in his hand, a bag and a In a withewyndes wise ywounden abouto. bowl by his side, A bolle and a bagge he bare by his syde ; An hundreth of ampulles on his hatt scten, «teinhis ■*■ hat, and marked Signes of synay and shelles of galice ; 528 509. me] it R. sikerere] syker- 518. G-iede] Cryeden 0. loker E. 519. To— go] Grace to god (!) R. 510. biseche} biseche it CB. 520. C omits, teas Toy^te] ne was B. 511. to] til CO. 521. blustreden] blostereden R ; 512. reuthe] mercy R. here] Rom. blustrenden (sic) C. forth] for C. 513. wratthed] wrabbeden O; 522. )>at\>ei] til bey" C ; til bei wif> B. wraths C. in — worlde] R om. dedes] 525. rcithewyndes] wijnvynde W ; dede CO. wodebyndia B ; swithe wyndes CO. 514. [nos] m R only. 526. bolle] bulle R. 515. blew] he blew 11. 527. An] An {printed And) W. 516. \>at] Til CB. deus] found in hundreth] hundred WROB. W {but not printed). 528. synay] a sise (!) R. SG "piers the plowman" appears. [pass. w ith crosses and keys mi his cloak. G8 They asked him whence he came; and he said, From Sinai, the sepulchre, Bethlehem, and Babylon. " Knowest thou a saint namod Truth ; where dwells ho?" ] [e answers that he cannot tell. [Pol. 2t 6.] Enter Pieks the Plowman. "Peter!" quoth he, " I know him well. Conscience and Common Sense told me where he lives. I have sown his seed, And many a cruclic on his cloko and keyes of Rome, And f c vernicle bifore • for men shulde knowe, And se bi his signes whom he soi^tc haddo. 531 IF J^is folke frayned hym firsto fro whennes ho come 1 IF "Fram synay," he scyde "and fram owre lordes sepulcre ; In hethleem and in babiloyne • I haue ben in bothc, In ermonye, in Alisanndre in many other places. 3e may se bi my signes ' fat sitten on myn hattc, 536 J3at I haue walked ful wyde in wctc and in drye, And soi^te gode seyntes for my soules hclth." IF " Knowestow oujte a corscint fat men calle trentho 1 Coudestow au3te wissen vs fe weye ' where fat wy dwcllcth]" 540 IF " Nay, so me god helpe ! " * scide f e gome f annc, " I seygh nenere palmcre with pike ne witli scrippe Axen after hym cr til now in f is place." " Peter ! " quod a plowman ' and put forth his hed, 5 1 1 " I knowe hym as kyndely • as clerke dof his hokes ; Conscience and kynde witte • kenned me to his place, And deden me suren hym sikerly to serue hym for euere, * Bothe to sowc and to sette ' fc while I swynkc myghte. 518 I haue hen his folwar al f is [fifty] wyntre ; Lothe ysowen his sede " and sued his bestes, 529. a] CR om. crucJie] crouche W< OB. keyes] be cayes 11. 530. knowe] 1-knowe R. 531. signes] seynes R. 632. ]>is] beise O. frayned] fivy- neden B. 633. Fran,'] Fro COB (twice), synay] Synay (printed Synj ) \Y. 534. bethleem] Bcdlem COB. 535. ermonye"] Armonye W. in Alisawndre] go in Wj but printed and Alisaundre. in j and in R. 538. soules] .son!.- R. 540. Coudestm] koud< I bow ROB. auife] CB om. be] be ri^tc B. tvy] \vy3tG R ; he COB. 541. mc] mote me B. 512. seygh] 11c s:ui2 B. scrippe] scrippe wende O. 513. Axen] Asken W. til] COB om. 545. holies] bookeCOB. 517. deden] diden W ; dido 0. suren hym] suren hem R; swore COM. 549. [fifty] WCOB : fourty Li; ; Crowley has fifty. Cf. Pass. VI. 85. 550. ysopien] [-sowe R ; sowenCB; sewe O. sued] Eeddi ( 10 ; feed I). PASS. V.] THE PILGRIMS ASK HIM THE WAY. 87 With-Tnne and with-outcn wayted his profyt. and everywhe ® 9 I dyke and I delue I do fat treuthe hoteth ; 552 jSJ^Jj Some tyme I sowc and some tyme I thresche, please him well. In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte what treuthe can deuyso, I weue an I wynde and do what treuthe hoteth. fl" For f 01130 I seye it my-sclf • I serue hym to payc ; 55G Ich haue myn huirc [of hym] wel • and otherwhiles more ; He is fe prestest payer fat pore men knoweth ; He pays me He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre fat he ne hath it at euen. He is as low as a lombe and loueliche of speche, 5G0 And 3if 30 wilneth to wite where fat he dwelleth, I shal wisse 30W witterly fc weye to his place." IF " 3e, leue Pieres," quod bis pilgrymes and profered The pilgrims then ' ' x * L offer Piers money, hym huirc which he refuses. For to wende with hem to treuthes dwellyng place. 561: % " Nay, hi my soulcs hclth," quod pieres and gan forto SAvere, " I nolcle fange a ferthynge • for seynt Thomas shryne ! Treuthe wolde loue me be lasso a longe tyme bere- after ! 5G7 Ac if 3c wilneth to wende wcl bis is bo weye thider, Butheteiis them -, to go through [prtt I shal say to yow and sette yow in be sofe.J Meekness, tin , i , i 1 they come to IF }e mote go bourgh mekenesse botlie men ana wyucs, conscience. Tyl 3c come in-to conscience fat cryst Avite f e sothe, Jjat 30 loucn owre lorde god • leuest of alio f inges, 572 to And f anne 30wrc neighborcs nexte • in non wise apeyre 551. wayted] I- way ted R. 504. treuthes] treuthe C. 552. / do] & do OB. treuthe] he 565. soulcs helth] soule CT> ; soules R. hoteth] me hoteb B. helj>e (printed helpe) W ; soule perel 555. an] and WCROB. nsenc— R. wynde] wynde and wede B. do] I do 5G6. fange] fonge RB. C. Iwteth] me hotib B. 567. a] COBotw. \>ere-after] after 557. \of hym R] LWCOB oni. COB. 559. lie ne] He CROB. non— 568. y] yow W. hyre] no men heir huyre R; noon 560. FromC; also in OBC2 ; LWR hynen his hire B. \>at— euen] fat and Crowley omit. [>ei ne haue it anone R. 571. in-to] to COB. 88 THE PLOUGHMAN DESCBIBES THE RIGHT WAY. [PASS. V. " Next (says he) cro a the brook called He-buxom- of-speech by the ford railed Honour-your- fathers. Pass by Swear- not-in-vain and the crofl called Covet-not; Otherwyse fan fow woldest he wrou^tc to fi-selue. 11 And so boweth forth hi a broke ' bcth-huxum-of- speche, Tyl 30 fynden a forth • ^owrc-fadres-honourcth, 57 G Honora patrem fy matrem, cjr-. : WadeJ) in fat water and wascheth 30W wel fere, And }e slml lepe f e ^tloker al jowre lyf tyme. And so shaltow se swere-non3te- but-if-it-be-for-nede- And-namelich-an-ydel- fc-namc-of-god-almyjti. 580 H Jjanne shaltow come by a crofte but come f ow nox^te f ere-Inne ; That crofte hat coueyte-noujte- mennes-catel-ne-her- wyues-, [Foi. 25.] Ne-none-of-hcr-seruauntes- • f at-noyon-hem-myjte. 583 Loke 3e broke no bowes fere but if it be jowre owne. also by the stocks IT Two stokkes f ere stondeth • ac stynte 30 noi^te fere, named Steal-not and siay-not. Ihey [hatte] stele-nou3te, ne-slee-noi^tc stryke forth by bothe ; And leue hem on f i left halfe and loke noii3te fere- after ; And holde wel fyne haliday heighe til euen. 588 Thanne shaltow blenche at a berghe ' bere-no-false- wutnesse, He is frithed in with florcines and other [fees] many ; Loke f ow plukke no plante fere • for peril of f i soule. Turn aside from the [thill] Beat- no- false-witness, SI 574. \>i-selm] pe-selue 0. r»7.">. boweth] bouh R ; bowe CB. beth] be R ; bees C. of] of bi R. 576. forth] forthe RB ; fooi^e ; ford W ; fordc C. honoureth] $e honoure O. 577. in] in-to B. \>at] om. wasclteth] wassheWC. \>crc] Jw-Inne W. 578. \>e] C om C ; Ihtlier OB 579. shaltow] schalt J^ovv R. <>m. if] B om. 580. an] on W; in OB. 581. \ow] COBoro. CR. eateU] R om (!). 583. noi/en] anoien B. 584. 3c] )?ow R. lowre] on joure R. 585. stondeth] stonde CB. ac] and C. 586. \liatte CR] hatten OB ; hbte W ; hat L. ne] & W. by bothe] bifore COB. 589. blenche] written more like lirtloher] lighter bleuche m.li ; blenche W. Cf. Text A. berghe] beruh R ; bevua 0. 582. That] ]pc If. mennes] men seniles R 590. He] R om. ' frithed in] fiorischid wijj-lnne B. [fees WCRB] foes L ; foos 0. 591. \>6>c] 30 R. \>i soule] 30iire PASS. V.] GRACE IS PORTER TO THE TOWER OF TRUTH. 89 IT Jjanne shal 3e se sey-soth- so-it-be-to-done- 592 ami then shall ye .... see Say-sooth. In-no-manere-ellis-naujte- for-no-mannes-biddynge. 5T banne shaltow come to a courte " as clere as be sonne, s° shall ye como to a court, wilh be mote is of mercy ' be manere aboute, 595 waiisof wit, and . ,tii .,, battlements of And alle be walhs ben ot witte * to holden wille oute ; Christendom, And kerneled with crystendome ' man-kynde to saue, Boterased with bilene-so- or-bow-beest-nou^te-ysaued. with houses that are roofed with IT And alle be houses ben hiled halles and chambres, Love-as-brethren. Wit[h] no lede, but with loue ' and lowe-speche-as-bre- theren. GOO be brugge is of bidde-wel- be-bette-may-bow-spede ; t The bridge is Pray-well. Echo piler is of penaunce of preyeres to seyntes, Of almes dedes ar be hokes bat be gates hangen on. IT Grace hatte be gate ward a gode man for sothe, G04 Grace is the gate- . . . keeper, and his Ilys man hatte amende^ow ' tor many man him man is called .. . Amend-you, to knowetll ; whom give a Telleth hym bis tokene bat treuthe wite be sothe ; ' I parfourned be penaunce be preest me enioyned, And am ful sori for my synnes and so I shal euere, G08 Whan I binke bere-on beighe I were a pope.' 1T Biddeth amende-^ow mckc him til his maistre ones, Ask Amend-you 1 to pray his To wayne vp be wiket • bat be womnian snette, master to open Tho Adam and Eue • eten apples vnrosted ; 612 of p arad j se . ' Per euam ctin[c]tis clausa est, fy per mar lam virginem \iterum\ patefacfa est ; 592. se] R om. maist B. 593. no] none RB ; good \V. 602. JEche] like C. preyeres] 595. \>e mote] bat moot hit B. of] prayer C ; preyer ; preiere B. O om. manere] Manoir W. 603. almes dedes] almeis dede C. 596. And] CB om.. \>e (1)] bo B. pat] COB om. 597. kerneled] I-carneled R. man- 60-1. hatte] hotib B. hynde] bat kende R. 605. hatte] hotib B. for] R om. 598. Boterased] Botrased W ; Bi- man] men WB. trased G ; I-huterased R ; Bretaskid B. 607. parf owned] parfournied R ; 599. And] O om. hiled] I-hyled R ; performed B. \e (2)] bat be W. helied B. halles] halle B. chambres] 611. wayne] wayne OB; wayne chambers C. or wayue LRC ; waynen or wayuen 600. With] WitL; but the line is (jtrinted wayven) W. marked for correction. 612. [iterum] in R only. See 601. bmyye] brygge COB. may] note. 90 Till; SEVEN SISTERS AT TIIK rOSTEUNS. [pass. Take heed of Wrnth-tliee, [Fol. 25 6.] lest ye be driven out, and the door be closed and locked against you. But there are also seven sisters there at the gates, called Abstinence, Humility, Charity, Chastity, If For he hath pe kcye and pe [cliket] pou$ pe kynge slepe. And if grace graunte pe ' to go in in )>is wise, j?ow shalt sec in fi-selue trcuthe sitte in fine hertc, In a cheyne of charyte * as pow a childe were, GIG To suffre hym and seggc noi^tc • a3ein pi sires wille. 11 Ac bewar panne of wrath-pe J; at is a wikked shrewe, lie hath enuyc to hym pat in pine hertc sitteth ; And pukketh for]) pruydc ' to praysc pi-seluen. G20 ))o boldnesse of ])i bienfetes " maketh pa blynde panne, And panne worstow dryuen onto as dew and pe dorc closed, Kayed and [cliketed] to kepe pe with-outen ; Happily an hundreth wyntre ar pow eft ontre. G24 )5us myght pow lesen his loue to late wel by pi-selue, And neuere happiliche efte entre ' but grace pow hauc. IT Ac pcre [aren] seuene sustren ' pat seruen treuthc euore, And aren porteres of pe posternes that to pe place longeth. 628 Jjat one hat abstenencc • and humilite an other, Charitc and chastitc ' ben his chief maydencs, 613. he] scho C. [clifot WCB] clikat LR. J'""}] j-'ou^ bat B. 614. in in] iu WCKOB ; but see Text A. 615. sitte"] W om. G 1 7. segge] saye C. segge nou^te] to segge (!) It. \>i sires] thy circa C ; pvn heiris B. ' 618. Ac] And WC. Wrath-\e] Wratthe CB. shreme] aherewe W. 619. to] til COB. 620. pukketh] pukkes C; pucketh R ; poukep 0; pokep WB. for\>] for C ; R om. 621. bienfetes] benefetea II; bien- faittea CB ; beenfetia O. maketh] make C. 622. \>anne] Oom. worstow] worsl Jou B ; worpest \h*u O. dryuen] dryuea C. den] deuh R ; a dew CB. closed] I-closed R. 623. Kayed] I-cayed R ; Keyed WCOB. [cWteted CB] clikated L; cliketted W ; I-clycated R. 624. hundreth] hundred WOB. ar] er WCOB. G25. myght \>ow] myjtist \>ou ; my2teatow W ; mijtow It. 626. hit] til 0. 627. Ac] And WC. [aren R] are W ; ar L ; been ; ben B ; be C ; see next Hue. svstren] sistren O; systera C ; ^iftcs (!) R. 628. aren] am W; been Oj ben B ; be C. porteres] porfcea 0. of] ouer R. \>e (2)] C om. 629. Inun't'it, ] vmblete R. PASS. V.] THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING ADMISSION. 91 racicnce and pees ' moclie poeplc bei helpctli, Patience Pea* 3 Largenesse be lady lieo let in ful manye ; 632 and Bounty. Heo hath hulpe a bousande oute * of be deucles pon- folde. If And who is sibbe to bis seuene ' so me god helpc ! lie is wonderliche welcome and fairc vnderfongen. And but if 30 be syb • to summe of bise scnene, G3G without their It is ful harde bi myne heued ; " qito& Peres " for any gain entrance at P , , that gate." 01 30W alle To geten ingonge at any gate bere but gyaco be be more.'' ^f "jSTow, bi cryst," quod a cutpurs "I haue no The cut-purse, the ape-ward, and kynne JJCrC ! bd\) wafer-maker flccllll'G tilCV lllVP " !Ne I," quod an apewarde * " bi aujte bat I knowc ! " no kindred there; IT " Wite god," quod a wafrestre " wist I f)is for sothe, Shulde T neuere ferthere a fote for no frcrcs prechynge." If " 3us," quod Pieres J?c plowman ' and pukked hem but Piers teiis . , them Mercy alle to gOCle, 04o dwells there also, " Mercy is a mayuene pere " hath my^te ouer nem alle ; a ii sinful men. And she is syb to alle synful and her sone also ; And bori^e be helpc of hem two • (hope bow none other), bow my3te gete grace bere • bi so bow go b'ityme." If "By seynt Poule," qtwd a pardoncre "perauentwre t a pardoner J J 1 l * says he will fetch I be noi^te knowc berp, G48 i"s box. G32. heo] he R ; she WOB ; sho C. f rostra] waferer OB. for] R om. in] out (!) 0. 642. Shulde] Shul C. freres] 633. Heo] Sche OB ; Sho C. hulpe] frere R. so in R; holpe WCO ; holpcn B. 613. yis] 31s B; 31s WC. pukked] ponfolde] pondfolde R ; punfolde \VB ; poukede O ; poked WRB ; puto C. pounfolde C ; pynfold 0. hem] the (miswritten for thorn) C ; 634. who] who so CB. O om. 636. if] if bat R. y>] he B. 641. a] as C. hath] and ha)? B. 638. ingonge] ingong ; Ingange hem] WCOB om. C ; in-going WB. any] be COB. 647. \>ere W] bere bi LO ; bore • 610. Ne] NorWCB; NouO. 7(2)] be R.; bere W; bcrby CB. I kan W. 648. /•uo/rc \ere] welcome R. Gil. Wite yotl\ God wot B. ma- 92 THE PARDONER GOES TO FETCH HIS BOX. [PASS. V. I wil go fecclie my "box with my breuettes ' and a bulle with bisshopes lettres ! " t a common " By cryst," quod a comunc wormian " bi companyc woman says she will follow him. wil I folwe, \)o\v slialt sey I am bi sustre I nc wot Avherc bei bicome." 651 Git>. go~\ COB om. fccche~\ fetle B. lissh<>2)cs] bisshope C. PASS. VI.] THE PEOPLE ASK PIERS TO GUIDE THEM. 93 PASSUS VI. Passus Sextus. ff-4 "rphis were a wikked way but wlio-so liadde a gyde The pilgrims say -*- That wolde folwen vs eclie a fote ; " bus bis folke a guide; hew mened. Quatj Perkyn be plouman • " bi seynt Peter of Pome, piers says lie wm i-i'i a guide them, when I haue au halt acre to erye • bi be neighe way ; 4 [Foi. 2c] Hadde I eried pis half acre and sowen it after, his half-acre. I [wolde] wende with 30W and be way teche." IF " ))is were a longe lettynge" • qzere whiles] so in R ; vt supra. j?e whyles O ; \>e while W. . 3. CB omit. 9. shal] schal R; shul WC ; 5. eried] hered R. soiven] I-sowen sbullen B. \)pe V7CROB] L om. R. )>e whete] whete CB. C. [wolde WOB] wil LR ; wyl C. 10. ladyes] lady.B. 7. a (3)] retained inW (but omitted 11. han] haue WRCB. sendal] in the printed edition), sklayre] sandel YVC. 04 PIERS TELLS THEM WHAT TO BE DOING. [PASS. VI. Maketh cloth, I conscillc 30W and kcnneili so $owre doii3trcs ; tociothotiie j)c nedy and be naked nymmeth liede how hij liggeth, 95 ' And castetli hem clothes • for so comaundeth treutlie. 1G For I shal lene hem lyflodc • but ^if be londe faille, Flesshe and bred bothe ' to riche and to pore, As longo as I lyue ' for be lordes loue of heuene. and to help the ^[ And a li e nianere of men bat borw mete and drynke poor labourers. ' lybbeth, 20 Helpith hym to worche wijtliche J>at wynneth jowre fode." a knight declares ^f « XJi crist," quod a knvitc bo " he kcnncth vs be lie will help Piers to labour. best ; Ac on be tcme trcwly tai^tc was I neuere. Ac kenne me," cp/od be kny^te * " and, bi cryst, I Avil assaye ! " 24 Piers says he will K « J}[ SC ynt Poillc," 0110(1 Perkyil " " ZC profre 30W SO work fur both, if the knight will faire, guard the church from wasters, j}at I shal swynke and swete " and sowe for vs bo the, And oper labourcs do for bi loue al my lyf tyme, In couenauret bat bow kepe ' holikirke and my-selue 28 Fro wastoures and fro wykked men bat bis worlde struyeth. and hunt hares 5F And go himtc liardilichc to hares and to foxes, and foxes, and mi 7i» To bores and to brockes • bat breketh adown my no hegges. 14. Mahcth] Make C. henneth so] wynnes C. kennes C ; kennyb B. 23. Ac] And C. tauite] caught 15. nymmeth] takes C. hij lig- (so miswritteii) C. getli\ bei liggeb W; bey ligge COB ; ' 24. 4c] But W; And C. hi cryst] a lyggeth R. COB om. 16. castetli] castes 0. Item] hym 20. some] saw C. R. comaundeth] biddib O ; com- 27. labourcs] laboreres R. amide C. 28. In the margin of O — be lyuyng 17. lene] so in LOB; lene or leue ,of trewe knyjtis. my] by C. RC ; lenen or leuen (printed leven) 29. /raj COB om. struyeth] structh W. R ; struthes C ; stroyen O ; stroieb 19. ye] oure 0. B ; destruyeb W. 20. lybbeth] lyues C. 31. brockes] bukkes R. adown] 21. BelpitK] Ilelpes C. wynneth] doun \V. mync] men B. TASS. VI.] PIERS' ADVICE TO THE KXIdllT. 95 And go amiite pe faucones wilde foules to kille ; 32 wuthe-twiwi birds with For suclie comctli to my croft ' and croppetn my falcons. whete." 1F Curteislich pe knyjte panne • comsed pise wordes, "By my power, Pieres," quod he "I plijte pe my The knight gladly consents. trentne To fulfdle pis forward * Jjow^ I fi^te sholdc ; 36 Als longe as I lyue I shal pe mayntene." IF "3©5 said 3it a poynt," quod Pieres • "I preye 30W piers further bids „ him to barm no 01 more ; tenant, to take no Loke 3e tene no tenaunt but treuthe wil assent. ^ And powgh 3e mo wo amercy he»i late mercy bo [F0I.26&.] taxoure, 40 And mekenesse pi mayster matigre medes chokes, And powgh pore men profre 30W presentis and 3iftis, Xym it nau^te, an auenturc " 30 mowe it naiqte deserue ; For pow shalt 3el.de it a3ein at one 3eres ende, 44 In a ful perillous place pnrgatorie it hattc. IF And mysbede noii3te pi bonde-men pe better may to injure no labourer, pow spede ; powgh he be byn vnderlynge here wel may happc in heuene, pat he worth worthier sette and with more blissc, 48 [pan pow, bot pou do bette • And lyue as pow shulde ;] Amice, ascende superius. t remembering For in charnel atte chircho * cherles ben yuel to knowe, X iv. 10/ Or a kni3te fram a knaue pore knowe pis in pin herte. 32. go] so W. \>e] bi WR ; by C. 4G. And] COB oin. bondc-mcn] foules] foweles W; bestis O. boude-maa R. may] mayst OR. 33. suclie] swiche WR ; swilce C. 47. happe] happen B. 34. \>ise] hise O. 48. worth — sette] worthier sit CO ; 37. Als] Al-so B ; As CR. worbiere sitteb B. 38. y] 3he ; 300 B. a] C om. 49. LWRO omit. Copied from C ; 30. Loke] Lokib bat B. found also in BC2, and in Crowley's 40. hem] men R ; CB om, text, In CBC2 it is wrongly placed 41. \>i] be CB ; 3011^' 11. medes] after the Latin quotation ; rightly mede R. placed in Crowley, slnilde] sholdust B. 43. -A"//'"] ^cmeb B. an auenturc] 50. charnel] a chanel (!) R. atte] in aduenture B. y] bow R. at WR ; and in CB. cherles] elerkes R. 45. liatte] hatteth RD. 51. \>cre] COB om. 9G PIERS PREPARES TO SOW HIS HALF-ACRE. [PASS. VI. to be true of A lid bat bow be trewe of bi tonge • and tales bat Jjow tongue, ro hatie, 52 But if bei ben of wisdome or of witte • bi werkmen to chaste, and to avoui Holde with none harlotes ne here noi^te her tales, rib. ikls. .. And nainehche atte mete suclie men eschue ; For it ben be deueles disoures • I do be to vnder- stande." 56 The knight again IT " I assente, bi seynt lame " • scyde be kni^te panne, " Forto worche bi bi wordes be -while my lyf duretb." 77 IT "And I shal apparaille me," quod Pe/kyn ' "in pilgrimes wise, And wende with 30W I wil * til we fynde trenthe ; GO piers o says he If And cast on me my clothes yclouted and hole, go, and take with My coheres and my coffes ' for colde of my nailles, lum corn to sow, , , , , , , -, . , , r And hange myn noper at myn hals • in stede 01 a scrippe ; A busshel of bredcorne brynge me ber-inno ; 61 For I wil sowe it my-self • and sitthenes wil I wende To pylgrymage as palmers don ' pardouw forto haue. promising that H Ac who so helpeth me to erie ' or sowen here ar I all who help him shall have [t leave WCIlde, harvest, ' Shal haue leue, bi owre lorde ' to lese here in heruest, 68 And make hem mery bere-mydde maugre who-so bigruccheth it. 52. \>at bow] COB om. \>i] R om. clowtede B. hole] I-hole R. talcs — hatie'] loke bow tales hatye CO ; G2. coffes] cuffes CRO ; cuffus B. loke talis fat how liate B. 03. hoper] glossed in OC2 — i. a 53. \>ci] it COB. of (1)] C om. seed leep. a] be B. of {'!)] COB om. chast e] chastie CR; Go. sowe] saw C. and] B om. chastise OB. sitthenes] sibenes W ; sytthen R ; f>4. with] nan^t with R. siben C ; seben B. 55. atte] atbeWCR; atO; atbiB. G6. To] On B. for] om. 56. it ben] it both R. \c (1)] bo G7. Ac] And WCB. or] and W. B. vnderstande] vnderstone C. here'] CB om. arjerWCOB; ere R. 57. seyde— kniife] be kimt sayde <68. lese here] laccheherC; lacche COB. hire OB. 59. In margin of O — How peers 69. And] Ac B. Jieni] COB om. ; goo}> on pilgrimage. And] COB om. hym R. \>ere-mydde] ber-with C. 61. me] WCOB om. cast — clothes] bigruccheth it] grucches C ; grucchib on my clobis caste B. yclouted] bote O ; grucche B ; it be-grucche R. TASS. VI.] PIERS MAKES HIS WILL AND TESTAMENT. 97 5f And alkyn crafty men • bat konne lyuen in treuthe, and that he win I slial fynden hem fode bat feithfulliche libboth. ^T Sane Iakke be iogeloure ' and Ionet of be stues, 72 except jack the juggler, and And danyel be dys-playere • and denote be baude, J anet of the And frere be faytoure ' and folke of his ordre, Robin the taie- And Eobyn be Bybaudoure for bis rusty wordes. set."' Treutbe tolde me ones and bad me tellen it after, 7G Deleantur de libro vinentium I sbulde nou^te dele Psalm bwffi. 29. with hem ; For liolicherche is hote of hem • no tythe to take, [Pol. 27.J Quia cum iustis non scribantur ; y 8 Tliey ben ascaped good auentwre now god hem amende !" IT Dame worche-whan-tyme-is Pieres wyf tmte, 80 Piers' wife is . . . named Work- iiis dou3ter li^te do-r^te-so- . or-bi-dame-shal-be-bete, when-time-is, his His sone hi3te suffre-bi-souereynes-- to-hauen-her-wille- as-you-aiv'-bid," Deme-hera-nomte-for-if-bow-doste- ' bow-shalt-it-dere- ^nd his son is ' ■» ' Obey-your-king. abugge. " Late god yworth with al • for so his worde techeth ; 8-4 % For now I am olde and hore and haue of myn owen, Piers says lie is . : " old, and must 1 penaun ce and to pilgrimage I wil passe with bise other, make ins win. For-bi I wil, or I wende do wryte my biqueste. In del nomine, amen I make it my-seluen. 88 the testament. ill "I bequeath my He shal haue my soule bat best hath yserued it, soul to Him that And fro be fende it defende for so I bileue, Til I come to his acountes ' as my credo me telletb, best deserves it, 70. alkyn'] alle kynne WOR. 82. souereynes] suffereignes C. 71. libbetli] lyuees C. to] RO om. 72. IaMe] IaggeW. stues] stuwea 83. doste] do CB. it] fulO; is C. W; stewes C ; stiuesR; styuehous B. abugge] a-byggeC; abiegge B. 73. dys-playere] dees-pleyere WCO. 84. CB omit, so] O om. denote] Etiote CB ; euot 0. 8G. to] CO om. 74. his] hire W. B has— And J?e 87. or] er WCOB ; ar R. biqueste] frere faytour wif? al his hool ordre. queste R. 76. it] hit forb B. 88, 89. In— soule] one line in R. 77. I— hem] CB om. 89, 90. pat best, $e.] one line in 78. hote] hoten O. take] aske R. R. yserued] deserued Yv T . it defende Quia] so in W; misprinted Qui. — bileue] I-keped it R. 79. now] but O; WCB om. 91. credo me] crede It. 80. worclte] werche wel I'>. 98 MANY SET TO WORK IN EARNEST. [PASS. VI. To haue a rclees and a remissions • on bat rental I leuc. 92 ana my body to 5T J)o kirke shal hauc my caroigne • and kepe my the church, that takes tithe of my hoilCS ; For of my conic and catcl lie craued f»e tytlie. I payed it liym prestly for peril of my soulc, 5F9 For-thy is he holden, I hope to hauc me in his masse, 9G And mengen in his memorye • amonge alle crystenc. My wife shall ^[ My wyf shal haue of bat I wan • with treuthe and have my lawful winnings, for my nomore, And dele amonge my doujtres ' and my dove children. For bowghe I deye to-dayc my dettes ar quitte, 100 I hare home bat I horwed * ar I to hedde jede. with the residue ^[ And with be residue and be rcmenaunte hi be Rode will I worship Truth, and be of LlllvCS ! I wil worschip ber-with treuthe hi my lyue, And hen his pilgryme atte plow for pore mennes sake. 101 My plow-fote shal he my pyk-staf • and picche atwo be rotes, And helpe my culter to kerne and dense be forwes." Piers and the 5f Now is perkyn and his pilgrymes to be plowe pilgrims set about ploughing, and faren ) MphimT To erie bis halue acre • holpyn hym manye. 108 Dikeres & delueres • digged vp be halkes ; jpere-with was perkyn apayed and preysed hem faste. Other werkemen berc were ' bat wroujten ful jerne, 92. a (2)] om, leuc] bileue CB. 104. atte] at be BB ; at CO. 93. caroigne] cariogneC; carayne 105. plow-fate] ploughwes foot B; BR. plow-pote B; plow-foot WC. 94. he] she WB. \>c] B om. staf] pikid staf B. and — rotes] to 95. hym] ful W ; hem B. picche a-two rotis B. atwo] at R. !>'.». ( ^'W/7'w]childresR;chilis] soinW; misprinted his. quitte] dette is I-quited R; dettes holpyn] ber helpen B, arequyteW. 109. digged] digges C. halites] 101. ar] erWCOB. baukys B. 102. and] of CB. 111. yrnc] faste C. PASS. VI.] SOME SHIRK WORK, AND FEIGN BLINDNESS. 99 Eclie man in his manere made hym-sclf to done, 112 And some to plese perkyn piked vp be wedes. IT At heiffhe pryme peres lete be plowe stonde, At high prime ° Piers looked at To ouersen liem hym-self • and who-so best \vr0113te, [Foi. 27 &.] what Hie work- He sliulde be huvred ber-after ' whan heruest-tyme 8<> J ' men had done. come. 116 IF And banne seten somme and songen atte nale, But some helped ,.. him only b y And hulpen erie his half acre with "how! trolh- drinking and singing, lolli!" 51 " Now, bi be peril of my soule ! " quod Pieres al in pure tene, " But 2e arise be rather and rape 30W to worche, 120 tm Piers threatened them Shal no greync bat groweth glade 30W at nede ; with famine. And bough 30 deye for dole be deuel haue bat rec- cheth ! " IT Tho were faitoures aferde and feyned hem blynde, Then the shirkers feigned to be Somme leyde here legges aliri as suche loseles connetn, wind, or lame, And made her mone to pieres • and preyde hym of grace: 125 " For we haue no lymes to laboure with • lorde, y-graced be 3e ! 5T Ac we preve for sow pieres ' and for 30wre plow mid said ail they " L J r could do was to bothe, pray for hi 111, Jpat god of his grace 30wre grayne multiplye, 128 And 3elde 30W of 30wre almesse • bat 3e 3iuc vs here ; For we mav noujte swvnke ne swete suche sikenessc since they could J ? J not work. vs eylcth." 112. Eclie] Elke C. rccchcs C ; rccche R. 115. To] And 3eed to 11. and] B 123. Tho] TwoC. aferde} afered W. om% 124. aliri] a-liry W; a-lyrye C. 11G. lie] For he B. conneth] knouea C. 117. atte nale] at be nale ROB ; at 12G. y-graced'] graced R; graceful be ale R. B. y] be W. 118. hulpen'] holpen WCOB ; bo 127. Ac wc] And C. for (2)] O helpen R. erie] herieC: ere W; to om. erye RB. his] \>is W. how] hey 0. 120. of] for W. yyiere] om. 122. deye] deyede R. dole] doel almesse] almose C. W; deul R; deel 0; defaufce B. 130. novate] neijer B. eyletk] C have] hym haue B. recchcth] om.; ayleth li. 100 TIERS TELLS THE IDLERS OF TUEIR DUTY. PASS. VI. •« i siuii soon find IF " If it be soth," qiiod pieres, " J?at ^e seyne • I slial out if what you say is true," said it SOlie aSSpye ! 3e ben wastoures, I woto wel and trcuthe wote be sotlie ! 132 81 And I am his olde liync and hi^te liyra to warne "Which bei were in bis worlds his werkemen appeyred. IF 3 e wasten bat men wymien with trauaille and with tene, •Truth shall teach Ac treuthe shal teche 30W • his temc to dryue, 13G you to drive his team; Or 30 shal ete baiiy bred and of be broke diynke. rea\iybU"d 1 i°wm But & lle be h] ^ de M broke-legged • or bolted with LeIp - yrnes, He shal ete whete bred and drynko with my-selue, Tyl god of his goodnesse amendement hym sende. 140 t You mi s ht do Ac y myjte trauaille as treuthe wol Je and take mete something to pi earn money, & IlUyre To kepe kyne in be felde be corne fro be bestes, Diken or deluen or dyngen vppon sheues, Or helpe make morter or bere mukke a-felde. 141 t but you live by ^f In lecherye and in losengerye 2e lyuen, and in lying and in sloth. sleuthe, And al is borw suffrance ' jjat veniaimce 30W no taketh. Anchorites and ^[ Ac ancres and hemnytes • bat eten [noit] but at hermits I will feed, but only noneS, And namore er morwe myne almesse sliul bei haue, And of my catel to cope hem with bat han cloistres and cherches. 14.9 t But Robort Ac robert renne-aboute • shal nowjte haue of myne, 131. If it] If bis CB. \at — seyne] 143. dyngen vppon] picchen vp B. CB om. In, margin of O — Of ydel 144. make] to make B. beggers. 145. in (2)] COB om. y, lyuen] 132. y] bo B. mote (2)] wot wel B. lyue B. 134. Ms] bat his B. appeyred] 147. Ac] As C. [no^t WCOB] LB fipayreth B. omit. 135. with (2)] COB om. 148. er] er be W. 138. [or WCEOB] and L. 140. of my] COB om. ; of W. 139. whete] swete O. cope] kepe W. and chercJies] in 142. kyne] kyeneC; ken B kyen kerkes B. WB ; kijn 0. PASS. VI.] ONE OF THE [DLEIIS IS CONTUMACIOUS. 101 Ne posteles, but pey p/v?che comic ' and haue powere Run-about shall have nothing. 01 pe bisscnop ; They shal haue payne and potage • and make hem-self [Foi. 28.] at ese, 152 Tor it is an vnrcsonablc Religioun pat hath ri3te noujte of certeyne." % And panne gan a wastoure to wrath hym and wolde Then the wasters i n , began to resist, haue yfoi^te, . and one of them And to Pieres Jje plowman he profered his gloue ; threatened Piera > A Brytonere, a braggere ' a-bosted pieres als, 156 And bad hym go pissen with his plow for-pyned schrewe ! " "Wil tow or neltow we wil haue owre wide, 82 Of pi flowre and of pi flessche ' fecche whan vs liketh, And make vs myrie per-myde • maugre pi chekes ! " 160 % Thanne Pieres pe plowman ' pleyned hym to be who prayed the knight to keep his kny^te, promise. To kepe hym., as couenaunte was fram cursed shrewes, And fro pis wastoures wolueskynncs pat maketh pe worlde dere : " For po waste and wynnen noi^te and pat ilke while 164 Worth neuere plente amonge pe poeple per-while my plow liggeth." ^[ Curteisly pe kny3te panne • as his kynde wolde, The knight "Warned wastoure * and wissed hym bettere, them/ " " Or pow shalt abugge by pe lawe • by pe ordre pat I bere!" 168 151. Juiue] 31U haue E. 160. \>er-myde] }>er-with CB. 152. hem-self] hem COB. 161. \e] O om. 153. rqte — of] no thyng in COB. 163. wolucshjnnes] wolf skynnes 154. And] COB om. a] W om. CO ; of wolues kynne B. \>e] \>\s, E. to] CB om. 16-1. \>ai] Bom. 155. \>e] om. he] om. 1 65. pe] II om. pcr-whilc] \>o 156. Brytonere'] Bretoner WRB. while WEOB. Uggeth] lief) B ; legges 157. with] on R. C. 158. Wiltom — neltow] wil bow or 166. as] C om. nellefjowB; wilt pou. or nylt pow 0. 167. bettere] pe better 0. 159. Of] And of E. fecche] 168. abugge] abiggeWCO; abieggo facche C ; fetfce hit B. B. by ( I ) j ' with E. 102 PIERS GETS HUNGER TO PUNISH HIM. [PASS. VI. Butoneofthem IT " I was noi^t wont to vvorclie," quod wastour "and oared nothing for , Piers or the now Wll 1 110U;t Dlgynne ! threatened them. And lete li^to of bo lawc ' and lasse of be kny^te, And sette Pieres at a pees and his plow bothe, And manaced pieres and Ins men 3if bei mette eft sone. 172 Piers swears he ^[ " l\o\v, by be peril of my soule ! " quod pieres * " I will punisli them yet, and calls in shal apeyre 30W alle ! " Hunger. And houped after hunger ' bat herd hym atte firste : "A-wreke me of bise wastoures," quod he ' "bat bis worlde schendeth ! " Hunger caught IT Hunger in haste bo ' hent wastour hi be mawe, 17G Waster, and 83 And wronge hym so hi be wombe * bat bothe his even wrung ami buffeted him so, wattered ; He buffeted be Britoner aboute be choices, ]5at he loked like a lanterne • al his lyf after. He bette hem so bothe he barste nere here guttes ; 180 that Piers had to Xe hadde Pieres with a pesedof preyed hunger to interfere, and [t pray Hunger CeSSe, to C61LSG 1 They hadde ben dolucn bothe • ne deme bow non other. " Suffre hem lyue," he seyde ' " and lete hem cte with hogges, Or elles benes and bren ybaken togideres, 184 Or elles melke and mene ale " bus preyed pieres for hem. Then the shirkers IF Faitoures for fere her-of • flowen in-to hemes, flew to the barns •in to thrash) And Hapten on with flayles fram morwe til euen, ir,0. wax] nas 0. wont] woned 179. after'] tyme B. B;woneR. nil — noup] I nyl COB. 180. he] pat he B. barste] brastC. 171. pees] pese WCRCB. plow] 181. lof] loof WO; lafe C ; lofe II. plowht C. to cesse] sese R. 172. manaced] manseyd R. 182. bothe] W om. ne— \>ow] 173. Now] R om. wilne pou B. 17."). schendeth] schenden R; 183. lyue] to lyue B. and] B om. shendes C. 1 84. and] an C ; or W. brcnl 170. \>o] pan B. mawe] wombe W. bran COB. 177. And] And he B. bothe — 185. mene] meyne ROB ; meynye C. wattered] al waterred his eyjes I!. 186. her-of] p-er-ofCOB. into] 'mil. 178. Britoner] Brctoner WRB. L 87. flapten] flapped C; flappidenB. TAS3. VI.] ALL ARE MADE TO EARN THEIR LIVING. 103 That hunger was noujt so hardy on hem for to loke, 188 For a potful of peses bat peres hadde ymaked. An heep of heremites henten hem spades, And ketten here copes and courtpies hem made. And wenten as werkcmen • with spades and with schoueles, 192 And doluen and dykeden to dryue aweye hunger. IT Blynde and bedreden were botencd a Jousande, Jjat seten to begge syluer • sone were bei he-led. For fat was bake for bayarde was bote for many hungry, 19G And many a beggere for benes • buxome was to swynke, And eche a pore man wel apayed * to haue pesen for his huyre, And what pieres preyed hem to do as prest as a sper- hauke. 199 And bere-of was peres proude and put hem to werkc, And ^af hem mete as he my3tc aforth and mesurable huyre. IF Jeanne hadde peres pite and preyed hunger to wende Home in-to liis owne erde ' and liolden hym fere. "For I am wel awroke now of wastoures, borw bi my3te. 204 Ac I preye be, ar bow passe " quod. Pieres to hunger, " Of beggeres and of bidderes what best be [to] done 1 [Fol. 2S b.] Hermits seized spades and dug. The blind, bedridden, and lame received assistance. [841 t Many beggars set to work willingly, for which Piers gave them meat. Then bad Piers pity, yet fears they will do ill when Hunger departs, 188. so] R om. for to] fort B. 189. peses] pesen ; pisen B ; pese C. 190. An] And C. 191. ketten] kuttcn CB; kitten WO. copes] capes C. courtpies] curtepies B ; curtbyes CO ; curtebies R. made] maked W. 192. with (2)] COB om. 193. doluen] dolueden 0. 194. bedreden] bedrede B ; bedered 0. ootened] botoned C; bootnedW. 195. \>at] And C. set en to] re- peated in L, hij mistake. apayed] payed as (1)] also B. 19G. bote for] bote to R. 197. a] CO om. buxome] fayne R. mas] were B. 198. eclie] elke C. CO. Us] her O. 199. to] for to R. 200. peres] pieris so B. 201. mesurable] resou?*able O. 203. in-to] vn-to W. erde] er}e COB; yerdW. 204. now] W om. 205. ar] erWO; or CB. to] JjotoR. 200. and] O om. of] CB om. be] is R. [io WCROB] L om. 104 BEGGARS OUGHT TO HAVE ONLY COARSE FOOD. [PASS. VI. For I wote wel, be bow went bei wil worche ful ille ; though they are For myscMef it maketh bei beth so meke nouthc, 208 meek enough . now. And for defaute of her fode bis iolke is at my wille. Jjey are my blody bretheren," quod, pieres " for god bou3te vs alle ; Trcuthe tai^te me ones to louye hem vchone, And to helpen hem of alle binge ay as hem nedeth. And now wolde I witen of be • what were be best, 213 An[d] how I my}te amaistrien hem and make hem to So be asks Hunger to give him adi ice. worche."' Hunger tells him ^[ " Here now," quoi hunger tn feed the able- bodied beggars wisdome : with horses' bread and beans, and holde it for a Bolde beggeres and biggc • bat mowe her bred bi- swynke, 21 G "With houndes bred and hors bred holde vp her hei Abate hem with benes for bollyng of her wombe ; and to make them And ^if be gomes grucche bidde hem go swynke, And he shal soupe swettere whan he it bath deseruid. ^f And if pow ijn.de any freke bat fortune Lath ap- peyred, 221 Or any manor fals men fonde bow suchc to cnowe ; Conforte [hem] with bi catel " for crystes loue of heuene, Loue hem and lene hem so lawe of god techeth : — Alter altcrius onera portate. 225 Men who have been unfortunate should be com- forted. tGal. vi. 2. The needy and naked should be And alle maner of men bat bow my3te asspye, money. That nedy ben, and nai^ty belpe hem with bi godis, 207. nil worche] wolen do 0. 210. \>ey are] It aren 11; And sit J?ei arn O. bretheren,"] brother C. for] & R. 214. And] An L; but marliecl for /•Direction, amaistrien] aniaystrien R ; a-maistren W ; a-mastrie O ; maistro B ; maister C. 215. Here] I here R; Here me V>. 218. bo llyng] bolnyng CB vombes W. !1. And] Ac R. fortune] falshed I'll), te — grucche] bej' [;miie COB. go] go and R. 220. R omits. 222. 223. CB omit. 222. fals] fawti O. cnowe] knowe WRO. 223. [Item RO] hym LW. 224. Loue] Hire B. hem] hym CB (in both places), so — god] for so be lawe COB. onera] bonera R ivombc] portate] so in W, but misprinted portare. grucche 225. of] RB om. \>at] CO om. myrte] nmtist O. 22 G. nau^ty] no^t ban B. PASS. VI. 1 THE BIBLE REPROVES IDLENESS. 105 Loue hem and lakke hem noujte ' late god take be veniaunce ; Theigh boi done yuel • late bow god [y-worbe] : — 228 Michi vindictam, fy ego retribuam. t Rom. xu. io. And if bow wil[t] be graciouse to god do as be gospel [Foi. 20.] techeth, And [biloue] be amonges low men so shaltow lacche grace, Facife vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis." Lukexvi. 9. ^T " I wolde nomt greue god," quod piers "for al be Piers wants to know if it is right good On gl'OUnde ; to make meu work. Mi'^te I synnelees do as bow seist 1 " • aeyde pieres 86 banne. 232 IT " 3©, I bihote be," quod hunger "or ellis be bible Hunger refers him to Gon. iii. lieth ; 19 ; Go to Genesis be gyaunt be engendroure of vs alle ; ' In sudore and swynke bow shalt bi mete tilyc, And laboure for bi lyflode' ' and so owre lorde hy;te. 236 And sapience seyth be same • I seigh it in be bible ; ' Plger pro fri gore ' no felde nolde tilye, andtoProv.xx.4. And bcrfore he shal begge and bidde and no man bete bis hunger.' ^T Mathew with mannes face mouthed bise wordes, 240 Tiie slothful ser- a besaunt vant, Mat. xxv. bat seruus neguam had a nam • and for he wolde nointe 28; lu. xix. 22, 24. chaffare, He had maugre of his maistre for euermore after ; And binam [hym] his Mnam ' for he ne wolde worche, 228. \>om] WCOB om. [y-mor\>e 233. and] & in OR. W] better than, aworthe LE ; CO 237. seigh] se CB. it] R om. hare worthe ; B has worche. 238. pro] pro {printed pne) W. 229. And] Ac 0. ivilt] WCO ; nolde] wolde R. wolt B ; wil L ; R om. 239. he shal] shal lie CB. 230. [biloue WCOB] bilow L; by- 240. mouthed] mouthe C; mouth- lowe R; in L, the line is marked for etli R. correction, low] levved W. vobis] 211. nam] Mnam WC ; man (!) vosW. mamona] rnawmona (printed RB. wolde] nolde COB. Mammonc) W. 242. for] WCB om. 233. bihote \>e] be bihote B. \)c] 243. [%/» WCROB] Lorn. Mnam] god R. napm (sic) R; nam O. ne] C om. 10G MEN T WIIO BAT TOO MUCH BECOME IDLE. [PASS. VI. xix. 26. 8? Common sense tells men to work And 3«if bat Mnam to liym • Jjat ten Mnanies hadde, And with bat he seyde • bat holicherche it herde, 245 m it xxv. 29; Lu. 'He bat hath shal haue ' and helpe bere it ncdeth, And lie pat nou3t hath, shal noi^t haue and no man hym helpe ; And pat he weneth wel to haue I wil it hym bireue.' 1T Kynde wifct wolde bat echo a wyght wrou^te 249 Or in dykynge or in deluynge or trauaillynge in preyeres, Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf cryst wolde men wroi^te. po sauter seyth in be psalme of beati omnes, 252 J?e freke bat fedeth hym-self with his feythful labours, He is blessed by be boke in body and in soule : Labores manuum tuarum, $c." IT " 3et I prey 30W," quod pieres "jpar cJiarite, and 30 kunne Eny leef of lechecraft lere it me, my dere. 256 For somme of my smiauntz ' and my-self bothe Of al a wyke worche nou3t • so owre wombe aketli." T " I wote wel," quod hunger ' " what sykenesse 30W eyleth, ^e han maunged ouer-moche grone. Ac I bote be," quod hunger wilnest, ]pat bow drynke no day ' ar bow dyne somwhat. They should not Etc nomte, I bote be ' ar hunger be take, 203 eat till they are hungry. And sendo be .of his sauce to sauoure with bi lippes ; 88 And kepe some tyl soper-tyme ' and sitte nou^t to longe, l's. exxvii. 2 (Vulg.). Piers complains that somo of his men are always ill. Hunger says it comes from their over-eating. and bat maketh 30W 2G0 " as bow byne hole 244. Mnam'] nam 110. Mnames] Mnammea CB ; napmes R ; nammes ( >. 247. )pat] C om. nouyt hath'] hath nou^t CB. 248. met] for R. 250. in (-2)] CB om. 251. lyf (2)2 COB om. men] lei WCOB. 252. be] a R. 253. \at] B om. his] C om. 257. hot he] been seek obcr while 0. 258. a] {?e 0. nrijhe] woke R. 2G0. over] to COB. and] B om. grone] to grone COB. 261. Ac] And COB. 263. be (2)] R om. 265. tyl] to KO; for CB. PASS. VI.] TEMrERANCE STARVES THE DOCTORS. 107 Arise vp ar appotit haue eten bis fulle. t Fo1 - 29 & J Lat noujt sire surfait ' sitten at bi borde : J They should not Leue hirn no^t, for be is lecberous and likcrous oi i e t sir surfeit sit opq beside them. tonge, ^b And after many manere metes • bis maw is afyngred. 1T And 2if bow diete be bus • I dar legge myne eres, Were men thu 3 ? Y ' Y oo J moderate, Phy- J)at pbisik sbal his furred bodes for his fodo selle, sic would sen p his cloak, and And bis cloke of calabre with alle be knappes ot tumfarm- , , 070 labourer. golde, -2 1 ■!> And be fayne, bi my feitb his pbisik to lete, And lerne to laboure with londe • for lytlode is swcte ; For morthereres aren mony leches lorde hem amende ! J3ei do men deye borw here drynkes " ar destine it wolde." 276 ^1 "By sevnt Poule," quod pieres ' " bise aren profit- Piers thanks . r Hunger for such able wordis ! advice. Wende now, hunger, whan bow wolt bat wel be bow euere ! For bis is a louely lessouw lorde it be for-^elde ! " IT " By -bote god," quod hunger ' " hennes ne wil I Hunger says he must dine ere he Weilde, 280 goes away. Til I haue dyned bi bis day and yclronke bothe." ^T " I haue no peny," quod, peres ' " poletes forto Piers says he has . no geese or pigs, Dlgge, only cheese, curds, ,-r , , tii i cream, an oat JNe neyther gees ne grys but two grene cheses, cake, and loaves of A fewe cruddes and creem • and an hauer cake, 284 beans and bian ' 2GG. Arise"] And rysW; And rise B; ber aren mo morareres (sic) ban COB. eten] I-ete R. leches R. 2G8. lecherous] likerous CB. 27G. do men] maken men to P>. UJterous] lecherous CB. of] of his drynkes] drynkyngis B. destine] COB. here desteny B. it] COB om. 2G0. afyngred] a-fyngerd C. 277. pieres] Tiers W; perkyn CY>. 270. be] C om. 278. be yon-] bow be R ; be bee O ; 271. nodes'] hood B. be be B. 272. be] R om. knappes] knoppes 270. it] CB om. CB. 280. By-hote] I bihote B. ne 274. lerne] lere CO ; to lere B. mil I] wol I nat COB. laboure] labori R. 282. forto] to W. 275. For] R om, morthereres — 283. CB omit, gees] goos O. leches] many lechis bun morbereris grys] grijs O. 10S now Tin: took appeased hunger. [pass. VI. also parsley, leeks, and cabbages, 8D And two lones of benes and bran ' y-bake for my fauntis. And 3et I sey, by my soule I baue no salt bacou??, ]S r o no kokeney, bi cryst ' coloppes forto maken. 287 Ac I baue pe?*cil and porettes and many kole-plantes, And eke a cow and a kalf • and a cart-mare To drawe a-felde my donge J?e while be drought lasteth.. And bi bis lyflode we mot lyue ' til lammasse tyme ; And bi Jsat, I hope to baue heruest in my croft ; 292 And banne may I di3te pi dynex as me dere liketh." Alle be pore peple bo pesecoddes fetten, beanf IT 00118 ' Beues and bakcn a PP les ' > ci troujte in her lappes, cherries to feed Chibollos and cheruelles • and ripe chiries manye, 29G Hunger. - 1 J ' And profred peres Jus present to plese with hunger. Hunger wanted ^T Al hunger eet in hast • and axed after more. more, and they , „ ,, „ „ „ , , n brought peas and panne pore iullcc tor fere • iedde hunger 3 erne tthmking to With grene poret and pesen to poysouw hunger bei poison him. bo^te. 300 By pat it neighed nere heruest newe come cam to chepynge ; panne was folke faync " and fedde hunger with be best, With good ale, as glotourc tai^te and gerte hunger go slepe. which must last out till liarvest. The poor people But in harvest- time they fed Hunger plentifully, 285. bran] of bran B. y-bake] I take CB. 288. Ac] And C. pereit] peroile WE; percelle C ; persoly B. porettes] porett II ; porete B. kole-plantes] cale-plantes C; queynte herbes R. 290. a-felde] on feld B. be (1)] B om. \e (2)] C om, drought last- el 'h] wetler, is drye COB. 291. til — tyme] to heruest tyme CB ; til heruest tyme come 0. 21)3. liketh] likes C; lykede B. 294. fetten] to fette B. 295, 296. Only one line in CB; thus — Benes, Chibolles, and cherueles and many ober herbes. 295. lappes] lappe R. 297. And — \>is] To make Piers a COB. with] with his COB. 298. Al] An C; AcB. axed] asked C ; askib B. 300. poret] porettes COB. and] and wib B. to — hunger] to poisone hym W; hunger bey CB. \>ouite] soi^te B. 301. it — nere] neighed C ; neyjhede it O; hit neighed B. newe] & newe Wj CB om, 302. B omits, hunger with] hem of CO. 303. CB omit, gerte] garte W. PASS. VI.] WELL-FED LABOURERS STRIKE FOR WAGES. 109 IF And f o wolde wastour nou3t werche but wandren aboute, 304 ]N"e no begger ete bred fat benes Inne were, [Foi. 30.] But of coket or clerematyn ' or elles of clene wbete ; and beggars would eat only ~Ne none halpeny ale in none wise drynke, the finest bread. 13 ut of j?e best and of f e brounest fat in borghe is to aelle. 308 1T Laboreres fat bane no lande to lyue on but her Labourers were dainty, nancies, Deyned nou3t to dyne a-day nyjt-olde wortes. May no peny ale hem paye ne no pece of bakonn, But if it be fresch flescli other fische ' fryed other and wanted fresh flesh and fried bake, 312 fish, And fat chande or plus chaud for chillyng of here mawe. IT And but if he be heighlich huyred ' ellis wil he and -rumbled about wages, chyde, And fat he was werkman wroi^t waille f e tymc, A3eines catones conseille comseth he to iangle : — 31G Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento. t(Cato. Distich. H He greueth hyni a3eines god and gruccheth a3eines resouw, And fanne curseth he f e kynge and al his conseille after, Suche lawes to loke laboreres to greue. 319 304. wolde— nourt] ne wolde no wortis ne drynke no peny ale OC2. wastour R ; wolde noujt (omitting nmift] R om. (by mistake). wastour) C; >ei wolden iw^t B. 312. if it be] COB om. bait] wandren'] wand red COB. y-bake WB ; baken 0. 306, 307. But of coket or clene 312, 313. fryed— chaud] R om. whete and drynke of >e beste ale C ; or] and W. here] bis R. B the same, with or of for or. 314. if] CO om. heighlich] bye 306. or (1)] or of R ; and W. O. 307. halpeny] so alio in RO ; half- 315. COB omit. peny W. 3 1 7. grucehcth] gruccbede B. 308—311. CB omit. 318. And] Horn, panne— he] he 308. of (2)] O om. corses be C; be cursef be O; be 309. haue] hadde O. to — but] cursed be B. but lyue wif O. 319. loke] look C. 310. 311. Wolden ote no nyjt olde 110 A PROPHECY OF FAMINE, [PASS. VI. except when Ac whiles hunger was her maister bcrc woltle nono of hungry, hem chydc, 320 Ne stryue ajcines his statut so sterneliche he loked. a warning to H Ac I warne 30W, werkemcn ' wynneth while 30 workmen, niowe, For hunger hide[r]ward haste th liyni faste, He shal awake with water • wastoures to cliaste. 324 and :. prophecy of Al fyue [3ere] be fulfilled • suche famyn shal aryse, Thorwgh nodes and bourgh foule wederes frutes shul faille, And so sayde saturne and sent 30W to warne : 327 t a mysterious Whan 30 se be sonne amys * and two monkes hedes, prophecy. And a Mayde haue be maistrie • and multiplie hi eight, jjanne shal deth withdrawe and derthe he iustice, And dawe be dyker deye for hunger, But if god of his goodnesse • graunt vs a trewe. 332 320. Ac] And COB. \>ere— hem] 326. \>ourgh] CROB om. foule wolde £>ey nat COB. wederes] foule werdis ; foolis wordis 321. his] \>e B. B. 322. Ac] And C. 327. sent] sende B. 323. hiderward] so in WCROB ; 329. multiplie] so in WCOB ; LR hideward L. fasted] ful faste R. have multiplied ; Crowley has mul- 324. water] wat R. chaste] chastie tiply. bi] be R. C ; chastise OB. 320, 330. Transposed in B. 325. fyue] fewe B. [3^7; R] 3eer 331. deye] shal d}-e B. OB ; LWC om. ; Crowley has yere. 332. But] And R. if] W om. suche] CB om. T.VSS. VII.] TRUTH SENDS PIERS A BULL OF PARDON. Ill T PASSUS VII. Passus vij" s - de vislone, vt supra. 92 reuthe herde telle her-of and to peres lie sent, Truth bids Piers labour before the To taken his teme • and tulyen be erthe, famine comes, And purcliaced hym a pardoura a pena fy a culpa For hym, and for his heires for enermore after. 4 And bad hyrn holde liym at home ' and eryen his leyes, And alle bat halpe hym to erie to sette or to sowe, ana promises . pardon to all Or any other myster • bat my^te pieres auaille, who help him to Pardoun Avith pieres plowman treuthc hath ygrannted. ^[ Kynges and kny^tes * bat kepen holycherche, 9 Just kings ana And ry^tfullych in reumes reulen be peple, lightly through Han paxdouw thourgh pzwgatorie to passe ful lyjtly, pm [Poi^'o t>.] With patriarkes and prophetes ' in paradise to be felawes. 1 2 IT Bisshopes yblessed • ^if bei ben as Jjci shulden, Bishops who . . observe the Legistres of bothe be lawes ' be lewed fere-with to commandments, preche, And in as moche as bei mowe amende alle synful, 93 Title. So in LWCRB ; Passus lus 0. 9. cherehe] cherches R. 1. her-of] her-of (printed her) W. 10. reumes'] reames C; Remes W. he] om. sent] wente B. 11. JIan] And (!) R. lytfly] lighte 2. taken] maken W. tulyen] so COB. in LR ; tilien WCB; tilie O. 12. felan-es] felawe WCOB. G. halpe] holpen WOB ; holpe R. 13. shulden] mowe amende B. 7. myster] meatier Wj mester R; 14. \>e (1)] WB.B om. mynysterye B. 15. And] om. 8. pieres] peres J^c R ; pieris J?e B. 112 TRADESMEN ARE TO MEND THEIR WAYS. [I'ASS. VII. sit with tlio Apostles at doomsday. Merchants have not plenary pardon, because they keep not holidays, and swear. Truth hade them trade fairly and mend hospitals, repair broken bridges and dower maidens, and assist poor scholars. Ann jHTcs with be apostles • [bis] pardoufl Piers sheweth, And at be day of dome • atto heigh deyse to sytte. 17 ^T Marchauntz in be margyne hadden many ^eres, Ac none a pena 4' a culpa • be Pope nolde hem graunte, For j?ei holde noi^t her halidayes as holichercho techeth, And for bei swere by her soule and ' so god moste hem helpe,' 21 Ajein clene conscience • her catel to selle. ^[ Ac vnder his secret seel treuthe sent hem a letho, Tliat bey shulde bugge boldely • fiat hem best liked, 24 And sithenes selle it s^ein and sane be wynny[n]ge, And amende mesondieiix bere-myde and myseyse folke helpe, And wikked wayes * wi^tlich hem amende ; And do bote to brugges • fat to-broke were, 28 Marien maydenes or maken hem nonnes ; Pore peple and prisounes fynden hem here fode, And sette scoleres to scole * or to sorame other craftes ; Eeleue Religiouw ' and renten hem bettere ; — 32 " And I shal sende 30W my-selue seynt Michel niyn archangel, Jjat no deuel shal 20 w dere ' ne fere sow in 2uwre deyinge, And witen 30W fro wanhope if ye wil bus worche, in. [bisWCOB] bus LR. 17. deyse] deys WCOB ; dayes R. to] W om. I'.). Ac] And C. none — pena] no pena R. a (2)] O om. Pope] pape C. nolde hem] wald hem namt R ; wolde hem B. 20. holds] held C. halidayes] halyday R. techeth] telle th R. 21. by — soule] ofte R. and] Rom. moste] mote B ; R om. 22. catel] chaffare B. 23. Ac] And CB. his] her O. seel] sehel O. 24. \at] what B. best liked] likede best 0; best liketh R. 25. it] it vs R. mynnynge] wyn- nywges R; misivritteii wynnyge L. 26. \>ere-myde] ber-with CRB. 27. CB om. hem] W om. 28. brugges] brugges {altered to brygges) C ; briegges B. 29. mahen] to make B. 30. and] or R. prisounes] prisones RCO ; prisons W ; pnsoneris B. fode \ Mode CB ; lijflode 0. 31. somme] R om. Si. deyinge] deynge R; doyngd ^Sic) COP., and Crowley. PASS. VII.] THE LAWYERS GET LEAST PARDON. 113 And sende 30-wre sowles in safte to my seyntes in Then they would „ „ „ reach heaven. ioye." 36 ^T Jjanne were Marchauntz mery many wepten for ioye, Then the And preyseden pieres pe plowman pat pwrchaced pis for joy" * bulla IT Men of lawe lest pardon/? hadde pat pleteden for Lawyers had -» t I Q n least pardon ; for IVieCie, dy they take bribes. For pe saute?" sauetli hem noujte • such as taketh jiffces, And namelich of innocentz pat none yuel ne kunneth ; Super innocentem munera non accipies. Ps. rfv. 5 (Vuig.). Pledoures shulde peynen hem to plede for such, an helps, Prynces and prelates ' shulde paye for her trauaille • A regihus fy prync'i pihus erit merces eorum. 11 Ac many a iustice an iuroure wolde for Iohan do more, 44 ]5an pro dei pietate ' leue pow none other ! Ac he pat spendeth his speche and spckep for po Bnthethatpieads the cause of the pore poor _ Jjat is Innocent and nedy • and no man appeireth, Conforteth hym in pat cas ' with-oute coueytise of [Foi. si.] 3iftes, 48 And scheweth lawe for owre lordes loue as he it hath lerned, Shal no deuel at his ded-day deren hym a my3te, no devil shall j)at he ne worth sauf and his sowle pe sauter hereth death-day.' 1 witnesse ; Domine, quis hahitabit in tabernaculo tuo, $c. Ps. xw. 1 (Vuig.). 3G. sende] sente C. in (1)] in-to an] and WCROB. 0. 44. Ac] And C. a iustice] Iustices 37. Marchauntz — wepten] manye COB. iuroure] Iurour CO; Iur- marchauntz pat wopen R. many] rouris B. Iohan] ion O. & O. 4G. Ac] And C. spendeth] speneth 39. Two lines In R ; the first ends R. at hadde ; the second is eked out by 48. Conforteth] And conforteth R. adding for pat craft id schrewed. 49. lerned] I-lerned R ; y-lernedW. 41. ne kunneth] konnesC; kunnen 50. ded-dtiy] dede-day C ; dee}?-dny OB. R omits the Latin. WB. 42. peynen] pyne CO ; pynen B. 1 1 1 HI 11:1,1. LAB01 ii. I- I 01 i HO i i i DO I, VII. ^ir, fiir.-.i If Ac fco bugge •■■. ater, dj wynd< ' ne witte, ne fyre be .•i,i ••. be In i th.6, 52 ' , !!,.: U:U, Jji i foure be fader of heuene ' made to pU folde iu i omune ; | bi n tn 'Hi,' fcn or< trewe folke to b< Ipe, . , , v.iili oute god bym- •< i i If Whan bei drawcn on fco deye ' and [ndulgencee wol'l': baue, 56 ll«i- pardowz ii tul petit at hen partyng hem Jjat any Mode of raene nun • foi her mojyng taketh, Yt uwy.rs, |,i..y 3 ,; Iegi tn and lawyer* ' holdetb j i -, for treutbe, Jjat, 3 i f * fj.ii, I lye Mathew i to blame, 60 For be bad me make jow bi/a 'and bic prouerbe me tolde, Qiwdcumgue vulti vi faciant vobit homiiu faclte ' ' i i .i. 1T Alio lybbyng laborer* 'J>atlyuen with hei bond* , ;!!,'i n'.'.'i-, hav« J)at trewlich taken 'and trewlich wynnen, A j i < l Lyuen in loue and in lawe for her lowe herti , 64 I [auetb );<• same ab oliu ioun ' j at i at wa , to p< re ■. r. ■>■ a i -. ■■'. • Beggere oe bidderes ' ne beth nouate in be bullo, w 'i ii they But ii' p'-. tiou« I/': loth • |>at snapetb nera to beg I .,/ bo put l i or bit • but if be haue node, 6 il< i i fal* ■,-, ii,|j j-': fende and defraudetb J>e n'-'ly, And .-'l >> be bigiletb 1/ gyuore ag< in* bi wiL Foi if be - ■•■ i the were nou^te nedy 'he wolde jiue bat an other, t Mai. vii. 18, I., .-„ llM ■) ||m should ^', i to Hm 1 • ,1,-' An. i 0. »< (1)] no B I"- B, /'-/a/a J nolde* I jin-ihr fer)>e WCBOB 60. M (2)] B ""' ' '"I '■ B. ;,, i OB. 61. »"'//''| take 0, 64, /" "//" i" •• • ' '. '• i /" '/'•• ! b< i te B, ,. wft/nwte] wlb (!) O, i,. EauetK] Hon Oj Hat C; .'. -,/ >A y> | vii-i') I e day C ; Hftji B vnto |>e deb OB; in i" 'i' Hi H 68, bit] bid .07. //. . ii CBB /w hi r 7o. /,„/,/,■//, ] gylefcb B .-. ,,„,/, I OCT, /»t] In < OB 71. jitt*M] i! t-'' 1 COB, ,'i m] ii,'- C l'- BB, m£\ and PASS. VII.] SHAM BEGGARS AND TRUE ONES. 115 feat were more nedy pan he so pe nediest shukl be hulpe. 72 Catou?i kennetk men bus • and be clerke of be stories, Cui des, videto is catou??es teehynge, t Dion. cato. And in pe stories lie tecketh to bistowe byn aknes ; Sit elemosina \tua] in manu tua, donee studes cui des. IT Ac Gregori was a gode man and bad vs gyuen alle t Rope Gregory's J3at asketb, for bis lone bat vs alle lenetk : — 77 t choose not, but Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte pretereas e ' u ilium qui meretur accipere. Quia incertum est pro quo [Deo] magis placeas. IT For wite ye neuere who is wortki ac god wote who hath nede, Tn hym bat taketk is pe trecckerye if any tresoun wawe ; For ke fat jiuetk, 3eldeth and jarketh hym to reste, t He that gives, And he bat biddeth, borweth • and bryngeth hym-self ^tawt in dette. 81 For beggeres borwen euermo and her borgke is god [Foi. si 6.] almy3ti, To 3elden kern pat 3iuetk liem ' and ^et vsure more : Quare non dedisti peccuniam meain ad mensarn, t Luke xix. 23. vt ego veniens cum vsuris [exegissem illam ?] IF For-bi biddetk nou3t, ^e beggeres but if 3c kaue gret nede ; 8-t For wko-so hath to buggen hym bred pe boke bereth witnesse, 72. more — he] more nedyer and 80. \at nneth] 31ft R. nastier R. 81. biddeth'] bit R. 73. men] me WO. of ]pe] of 82. For] For-thi R. horghe] bo- WCOB. rugh C; boru3 O; bor3 R. 75. piM WCOB] LE mi. 83. move] amore R. veniens] 76. Ac] And C. wax] is R. veniara W. [exegissem] exigissem, 77. leneth] leues G. [DeoW]deam &c. CB; & exigissem R; exig^-em L; LCROB; deo in Crowley. exigere WO. [illam] omitted in the 78. mite 3c] ye woot COB. ac] MSS. ; added from the Vulgate, and C. 84. gret] COB om. 79. In] Alle in R. be] R om. 85. hath — buggen] may ly C ; may any] C on. wawe] walke WCROB. bigge OB. 11G WHY BEGGARS ARE SO NUMEROUS. [PASS. VII. t To have brei d, is enough. t Ps. SXXri. 25 (Vulg.). [t Ye] are love- less and lawless, and seducers of Some break n bone, and beg ever after. They are always meeting with accidents. Rut the old and feeble, women with child, blind and maimed, lie hath ynough fat hath bred ynovtgh ' fough he haue nou3t elles : Satis diues est, qui non indiget pane. IT Lato vsage be jowre solace • of seyntes lyues redynge, )3e boke banneth beggavie ' and blameth hem in f is man ere : 88 Iunior fui, etenim senui ; et non vidi iustum dereUctum, nee semen eius [querens pavem.~\ "ft For }e lyue in no loue ne no la we hohle ; Many of 30W ne wedde nou3t f e wowmen fat 3e with delen, But as wilde bestis with wehe worthen vppe and worchen, 9 1 And bryngeth forth barnes ' fat bastardes men calleth. Or fe bakke or some bone he breketh in his 3outhe, A[nd] sitthe gon faiten with 30111-0 fannies ' for euer- more after. pere is moo mysshape peple amonge f ise beggeres, ]2an of alle maner men fat on f is molde walketh ; 9G And f ei fat lyue f us here lyf mowe lothe f e tyme, })at euere he was man wroi^t • whan he shal heflnes fare. IT Ac olde men & horo fat helple.es ben of strengths, And women with childo ' fat worche ne mowe, 100 Elynde and bedered • and broken here membres, 80. ynough] I-nowo R (in both places) ; B omits the second. \ovgli\ if C. 11011'] R om. (!) 88. hem] COB om. etenim] eteni?;?. (printed et jam) W. [qirerens partem OCB] LWR omit. 89. lyue] lyue noint CB. 90. reommeri] womman C. Yaf] CO om. 91. bestis] hors B. worthen vppe] & \vor)> vp O. 92. calleth] callid B. 93. same] \>a R. he breketh] he l.reke C; )rei broken B ; 30 brekij? B. his] here R. 94. And] L has A; but the line is marked for correction ; And WCROB. ioure] here R ; her 0. 95. mysskape] myshap C ; mys- happy B ; myschappid 0. 97. And \,ei] to R. 98. \-at] J;an C. he — man] Jrei wore men W. he shal] f;ei shal W. fare] C om. 99. Ac] And C. 101. bedered] bedreden W; bed- rede OB; bedred C; bederede 1!. PASS. VII.] THE PiUEST ASKS TO SEE THE PARDON. 117 Jjat takefch bis myscliief niekelyck as meseles and that are meek, othere, Han as pleyne pardons as fie plowman hym-self ; For loue of her lowe hertis - owre lorde liath liem have their purgatory on graunted 104 earth. Here penaunce and her pwrgatorie here on bis erthe. ©J 5F " Pieres," quod a prest bo " " bi pardouw most I rede, a priest asks to see Piers' pardon. For I wil construe eche clause ' and kenne it be on engliche." ^1 And pieres at his preyere • be pardoun vnfoldeth, Piers shows it ; it , , had but two lines, And I binynde hem hothe • bihelde al be bulle. 1 01) Al in two lynes it lay and 110113 1 a leef more, And 'was writen ri^t bus hi witnesse of treuthe : Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam eternum ; quoted from Mat. xxv. 46. Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum. u^DULGEifciA PETKl) IT "Peter!" quod be prest bo • " I can no pardowi Tho priest says it /. t ,i n isio pardon at fynde, 112 all- But 'dowel, and haue wel and god shal haue bi sowle, And do yuel, and haue yuel " hope bow 11011 other [But] after bi ded-day be deuel shal haue bi sowle ! ' " [Foi. 32.] % And pieres for pure tene " pulled it atweyne, 116 Piers, for pure , . vexation, tears it And seyde, "si ambulauero in medio vmbre asunder, , . . • 7 7 • . quoting Ps. xxii. mortis, non timebo mala; quoruam tu mecum es. 4 (Vuig.). 1T I shal cessen of my sowyng," quod pieres "and swynk noujt so harde, Ne about my bely ioye so bisi be namore ! Of preyers and of penaunce my plow shal ben her- Piers says he „ shall give himself alter, 102. \>is iwyschief] pise ruyschiefs 111. in witnesse] watinesse (!) B. WCB ; teise mescheuos 0. eternum] eternam B. 103. as (1)] a 0; also B. 115. [But WCOB] bat LR ; Crow- 105. on] vpon B. ley has But. ded-day] dede-day C; 107. mil] schal E. eche] ich a 0. deeb-day WB ; deth-day EO. on] an E. 116. mala] O om. 108. vnfoldeth] he vnfoldeth E. 118. Ne] Ne be COB. bisi] bisily 109. Uhelde] biholde C. bulle] COB. be] COB om. bille C. 119. of (2)] COB om. penaunce] 110. Al] And W; Alle E. penaunces E. 118 THE PRIEST AND TIERS DISPUTE. [PASS. VII. 9 * . And wepen whan I shukle skin; bough whele bred up to prayer and * l r o Benanee - me faille. 120 " David ate His ^y Jpe prophete his payn cte in penaunce and in sorwe, bread witli weeping, By bat be sauter seith • so dede other manye ; Jpat loueth god lelly • his lyflode is ful esy : Ps. xii. 4 (Vuigo. Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac node. 1F And, but if Luke lye • he lereth vs hi foules, 124 "We shulde nov^t be to bisy aboute be worldes blisse ; i.uke xh. 22. Ne solUciti sitis • he seyth in be gospel, Mat. vi. 25. . _ And sheweth vs hi ensanipks * vs selue to wisse. 12 / who feeds the j?c foules on Jjc felde who fynt hem mete at wynter? ti.e'v have no Haue bei no gernere to go to but god fynt hem alle." ThTpriest asks ^ "What !" quod ]>e prest to perkyn "peter ! as me Piers who taught hinVp+.Tl him all this. pniketn, J?ow art lettred a litel • who lerned be on boke 1 " "Abstinence and ^[ " Abstinence be abbesse," qz/od pieres • "myne a.b.c. Conscience," he replies. nic tai^te, 132 And conscience come afterward and kenned me moche more." " You should take H "Were bow a prest, pieres," q?zod he ' ")>ow n^te Ps. xiii. 1 IVulg.] iTi for your text," preche where bow suoldest, jj'9 ie pr " As deuynour in deuynyte with dixit insipiens to bi teme." "i refer you to % " Lcwed lorel ! " qwod Pieres • " litel lokestow on be Prov. xxii. 10," quoth Piers. bible, Idb On salomones sawes selden bow biholdest, [Eice] derisores et iurgia cum eis, ne crescant, $c." 121. ete] eetWR. 134. pieres] WO om. miite] myjt- 122. other manye'] many other est WROB. sholdest] woldest R. COB. 135. As] As a B. in] of R. 124. he —foules] or lereth vs be 13(3. Leircrf] Lew C. Pieres] foles R. Pieris bo B. litel — on] ful litil 127. hi] B om. vs sclue] ouresilue lokist bou vp-on B. ]pc] bi R. B; oure seluen O. 137. On] Or on O ; Vppon B ; And 128. on] in WCOB ; of R. fynt] R. selden] ful selde B. [Eire O] fyndes C. at] in B. Ecce LWRCB. (Eice is the old sjtell- 121). fynt] fyndes C. in;/ of the word now sjwlt Ejice.) et 132. \e abbesse] Horn. — ereseant] Worn. 133. come] cam W. PASS. VII.] THE DREAMER AWAKES. 119 5T fie prest and perkyn • apposeden eytlier other, They disputed so And I jjorw here wordes a-woke and waited aboute, And seighe be sonne in be south • sitte Jjat tyme, 140 Metelees and monelees ' on Malueme hulles, wandering over Malvern hills, I Musyng on bis meteles ; and my waye ich 3ede. mused on this IF Many tyme bis meteles hath maked me to studye Of j?at I seigh slepyng * if it so be mj^te, 144 And also for peres be plowman • ful pensyf in herte, And which a pardouM peres hadde * alle be peple to t about Piers and the priest. conforte, And how be prest impugned it with two propre wordes. 147 ^^Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie • for I se it ofte faille ; [Foi. 32 &.] Catoutt and canonistres ' conseilleth vs to leue cato (Dist. u. si) liiils us (Igsdisg To sette sadnesse in songewarie for, sompnia ne cures, dreams. % Ac for be boke bible • bereth witnesse, How danyel deuyned be dremes of a kynge, 152 IOO Jjat was nabugodonosor ' nempned of clerkis. Yet Daniel Daniel seyde, " sire Kynge bi dremeles bitokneth, Nebuchadnezzar J)at vnkouth kny^tes shul come bi kyngdom to cleue ; < Belshazzar J> Ainonges lowere lordes bi londe shal be departed." And as danyel deuyned in dede it felle after, 157 winch turned out quite true. fie kynge lese his lordship and lower men it hadde, 1F And ioseph mette merueillously ' how be mone and Joseph too had a dream, be sonne, And be elleuene sterres " hailsed hym alle. 1G0 140. shtte] satte C ; sate O; at B. 151. Ac] And C. bible] of the 141. monelees] moneles B; monei- bibile C; of \>e bible B. lees WCOB. 152. dremes] dreme B ; dreem W. 142. \>i& meteles] ^eise metelis O. 153. nempned] Inempned B. and] a B. One would think that the 154. dremeles bitokneth] dremels reading should be on ; (a = on.) bitoknej? W ; dremelis bitoknen O ; 143. The paragraph-mark is omit- dremces bitoknes C ; dremes bitokeneb ted in L ; but in W, ive have here a B. large illuminated letter, 155. cleue] cleyme WB ; clayme 143. \-is meteles] fceise metelis O. C ; reue B. hath] ban OB. to] om. 158. lese] lees WO; les B; lees 148. Ac] And C. songewarie] aftir B. sompnewarie O. 159. and \>e] & O. 150. songewarie] sompnewarie 0. 160. hgm] bem CO. 120 popes' pardons are unsafe to trust to. [pass. VII. which his father interpreted, and so it caine to pass. Wherefore I often mused upon Piers and the priest, ajid concluded that Do-well surpassed indulgences. lOl The pope, I fully believe, can grant pardon. Mat. xri. 19. Rut to trust to Triennials is very unsafe. Jjanne Iacob iugged iosephes sweuene : "Beaufiltz" q«od his fader • "for defaute we shullen, I my-self and my sones " seclie pe for nede." ^[ It bifel as his fader seyde " in pharaoes tyme, 164 Jjat ioseph was iustice * egipte to loken, It bifel as his fader tolde ' his frendes fere hym senate. And al pis niaketh me on f>is meteles to pynke ; ^[ And how pe prest preued no pardotm to dowel, K>8 And denied pat dowel indulgences passed, Liennales and triennales " and bisschopes leWres, And how dowel at pe day of dome is dignelich vnder- fongen, And passeth al pe pardoun of seynt petres cherehe. 1T Now hath pe pope powere pardouw to graunte pe peple 173 With-outen eny penaunce " to passen in-to heuene ; Jjis is owre bileue - as lettered men vs techeth, Quodcumque ligaueris super terrain, erit ligatum et in celis, fyc. And so I leue lelly " (lordes forbode ellis !) 170 j)at pardoiui and penaunce and preyeres don saue Soules pat haue synned seuene sithes dedly. Ac to trust to pise triennales ' trewly me pinketh, Is noi^t so syker for pe soule certis, as is dowel. ISO II For-pi I rede 30W, rentes pat riche ben on pis ertlie, Vppon trust of 30wre tresoure triennales to haue, Be 30 neuere pe balder to breke pe [ten] hestes ; And namelich, 30 maistres mayres and iugges, 184 162. Beau] Bew O. filtz] so also in R ; fitz WOC ; fiz B. 165. egipte] al Egipte B. 166. \cre hym] hym £>ere B. 167. Hs meteles] J:eise meteles ; y.s metels WCEB. 169. denied] uempned B. indul- genees] indulgence BOB. 172. passeth] passid B. al\:e] alle R. petres] Peter C ; Petir B. 173 — 180. O omits; but in the margin is the note — now hap be p. 174. eny] C om. 175. is] B om. <$v.] B om. 176. lordes] oure lordis B. 177. saue] pe same CB. 179. Ac] And C. trust] trist RB. 180. Is] It is It. soule] saules C; soulis B. 181. renhes] thenke R; to pynk B. 183. balder] bolder WCEB. [ten CBOBj x LW. PASS. VII.] GOD GIVE US GRACE TO DO WELL ! 121 pat han be welthe of bis worlde and for wyse men Ve mayors, and wealthy judges, ben IlOlden, who purchase To purchace 30W par clou?? and be popis bulles. par [Foi. 33.] At be dredeful dome whan dedfel shullen rise, ' u j ' when ye stand And comen alle bifor cryst acountis to 3elde, 18S before Christ at • i doomsday, How bow laddest bi lyf here • and ins lawes keptest, and your deeds lire 1 C ' 1 i';ll"M'i 1 • And liow bow dedest day bi day • be dome wd rekerce; 162 A poke ful of pardou/i bere * ne prouinciales le^res, though you had a n n n r sackful of Theigh 3c be founde in pe fraternete ' of alle be foure provincial letters, ordres, 192 And haue indulgences double-folde but if dowel 30W help, I sette 3owre patentes and ^owre pardounz at one pies 1 win give little for your pardon hele ! unless Do-well ^F For-bi I conseille alle cristene • to crye god mercy, And Marie his moder • be owre mene bitwene, 196 God give us grace to work such pat god gyue vs grace here ar we gone hennes, WO rks, that Do- ,. , , . t 1 .T -, n well at doomsday buche werkes to werche while we ben here, will say we did pat after owre deth-day • dowel reherce, God ' 3 mlL At be day of dome Ave dede as he hi3te. 200 [Explicit visio itrillehm de petxo plowman. Et sequitur vita de dowell, Dohdt, et Do-beste, secundum icytt § reson.~\ 185. for'] COBR om. if dowel] dowel wil R. 186. and] at 0. 194. pwi'dmna] pardon WCROB. 1S7. dede] so in WCR ; be dede B ; one] on RB ; a 0. pics hele] pese ded L. rise] arise CB. hule C ; peese hole B. 188. bifor] to-fore W. acountis] 196. be] >at she be B. and acountes R. 198. while'] pe while R. 190. dedest] dost R. 199. deth-day] dede-day C. 191. pole] pook C ; P011I13 R. Colophon. From MS. Camb. 192. foure] fyue R. Univ. Lib, LI. 4. 14, in a later hand ; 193. indulgences] indulgence CB. cf. Text A. tow fjusbtin k $o-kI, $o-H d $o-brst, smmbmn (iilit tt |lcsouu. PASS. VIII.] PROLOGUE TO " VISIO DE DO-WEL." 125 PASSUS VIII. (INCIPIT DO-WEL.) Passus oetauus de visione [Petri Plowman. Incqiit Dowel, Dobet, $• Dobest.~\ , , 103 THus yrobed in russet ' I romed aboute Everywhere i wandered, to find Al a somer sesou/t ' for to selce dowel, Do-weii. And frayned ful oft * of folke bat I mette, If ani wi}te wiste where dowel was at Inne, 4 And what man he mi^te be of many man I axed. 5T Was neuere wijte, as I went ' bat me wisse couthe None knew where he dwelt. Where bis lede lenged • lasse ne more ; H Tvl it bifel on a fryday • two freres I mette, 8 One Friday, i met J J ^ two Minorites, Maistres of be Menoures men of grete witte. I hailsed hem hendely • as I hadde lerned, And preyed hem pa?' charitee • ar J?ei passed forther, and asked them to tell me where If bei knewe any contre * or costes, as J?ei went, 12 Do-weii dwelt. Where fat dowel dwelleth doth me to wytene. Title. [Petri — Dobest] so in R spelt rowmed in L, but the line is (but with the spelling Plowhman) ; & marked. primus de dowel L\V ; vt supra C ; vt 3. frayned} asked C. supra ; Et hie incipit primus de do- 4. was] were R. wel, &c, B. O merely lias Passus 5. man] men B. oetauus. See the Note. 6. Was — went] And was neuere in Obs. From this point mere varia- y\s worlde R. turns of spelling and inflexion will 7. omits, lenged] logged was B. not so often, be given, as they can be ne] ofmr B. well ascertained front, the foregoing 9. Maistres] And maistres R. part. 11. par] for CR ; pur OB. 1. romed WCRO] romed me B ; 12. contre] courte R. as] frer R. 120 THE PARABLE OF THE WAGGING BOAT. [PASS. VIII. t For such bo If For bei ben men on bis molde bat moste wyde about every- where, walken, And knowen contrees, and eourtes and many kynnes places, Botlie prynces paleyses * and pore mennes cotes, 16 And do-wel and do-yuel where bei dwelle bothe. IT " Amonges vs," cp/od be Menours • " bat man is dwellynge, And euere hath, as I hope and euere shal here-after." " Nay," said i, ^ " Contra," quod I as a clerke and comsed to dis- " even the " With us, at all times," said one. t<> 1 puten, 20 righteous man sins seven times [Foi. 33i>.] And seide hem] sothli, "sepcies ' in die cadd histus ; a day, . (Prov. xxiv. ic.) Senene sythes, seith be boke synneth be ri3tful. And who-so synneth," I seyde ' " doth yuel, as me binketh, And dowel and do-ynel moAV noii3t dwelle togideres. Ergo, he nys nai^t alway amonge 30W freres ; 25 He is otherwhile ellis where to wisse be peple." "ni explain that IT " I shal sey be, my sone " seide be frere banne, about the . , righteous man," " How seuene sitnes be sadman * on be day synneth; By a forbisene," quod bo frere " I shal be faire so he cannot alwaysbe with you." shewe. 29 "Put a man in a H Lat brynge a man in a bote amydde a brode water, boat in open sea, be wynde and be water • and be bote waggynge ana the wagging Maketh be man many a tyme to falle and to stonde : ot'the boat will ' • ' make him For stonde he nenere so styf • he stombleth ^if lie stumble, though he is safe. 33 do-wel CB. omits this line. 25. nys] is CKOB. 26. is] C om. 27. shal] B om. 28. \c (2)] a WCOB. 29. aforbisene] an ensample B. 30. a (3)] be WCOB. 32. \>e] a 0. a] BO om. and'] ban B. stonde'] stumble 0. 33. he] B om. stombleth] tumbleb 23. I seyde] he saide CO; seide B. moeue] nieue WR ; moueb 0; he B. meuyb B. 24. dowel — do-yuel~\ do-yuel and moeue ; 14. n-yde] wilde COB. 14—17. R omits. 15. contrees and eourtes] townes and contreis B. 18. \>e Menours] a menoures (tie) R. 19. euere (2)] B om. 20. comsed] by-gane C. 21. [hem WCOB] LR om. sothli] R om. 22. seith] on be day *eib B. PASS. VIII.] THE DOCTRINE OF FREE-WILL. 127 Ac ^it is he sauf and sounde and so hym bihoueth, For jif he ne arise be rather and rau^te to be stiere ; Yet if he neglects fie wynde wolde, wyth be water be bote ouerthrowe ; be upset by his" And panne were his lyf loste ' bourgh lacchesse of own fault " hym-self. 37 U And bus it falleth," quod, be frere " bi folke here on Even so on earth. erthe ; fie water is likned to be worlde • pat wanyeth and 105 wexeth, fie godis of bis grounde aren like to be grete wawes, The waves are fiat as wyndes and wederes walweth aboute. 41 fluctuating riches. fie bote is likned to owre body bat brutel is of kynde, The boat is the frail body. J5at porugh be fende and [be] flesshe • and be frele worlde Synneth pe sadman a day, seuene syfches. 44 H Ac dedly synne doth he nou^t • for dowel hym kepith, Yet the just man . . ... . iloth no deadly And bat is chante be chain pioim • chief help aaein sin, and is safe. synne ; For he strengtheth man to stonde and stereth mannes soule, And bowgh bi body bow • as bote doth in be water, 48 Ay is bi soule sauf but [if] pi-self wole Do a dedly synne ' and drenche so bi soule ; if thou do deadly God wole suffre wel bi sleuthe ' jif pi-self lyketh. justly drowned." For he 3af be to ^eresjyue ' to ^eme wel pi-selue, 52 And bat is witte a[nd] fre wille ' to euery wyjte a por- ciowi, To fieghyng foules to fissches & to bestes. Ac man hath moste berof ' and moste is to blame, 34. Ac] And CB. 48. And] tat E, \>onyh] doib B. 35. stiere] steere W ; stere COB ; b*'] be W. be] C om. Sterne E. 49. [if WCOB] LE om. \>i-sclf 36. myth] and E. wole] bow wole bi-selue W. 39. wanyeth] wanes C ; wantib B. 50. so] CB om. soule] selue E. 41. waltveth] walkeb WEB; 51. slentJte] soule K. walkes C ; walken 0. 52. to (1)] a W. 42. body] bodyes CB. 53. and] L has a, but the line is 43. \>ai] And B. [be WCOB] bi marked for correction; and WCROB. LE, be (3)] bis R. 54. , r ] and also COB. 47. man] men W. 55. man] banne, altered to mew E. 128 THE DREAMER AGAIN FALLS ASLEEP. [PASS. VIIT. " I can't follow that," said I ; "so farewell." [Fol. 34.] alone,] and came to a grove, lOfi and listened to the sweet birds' lays. Then I slept again, and had a wondrous dream. But if he worche wel beivwith as dowel hym techeth." 1T "I haue no kynde knowyng," quod I • "to conceyue alle jowre wordes, 57 Ac if I may lyue and loke ' I slial go lerne bettere." " I bikenne f»e cryst, [quod he] pat on be crosse deyde." And I seyde, " be same saue 30W fro myschaunce, GO And 31110 30W grace on bis grounde ' good men to worthe." Again 1 wandered IT And bus I went wide-where • walkyng myne one, wide, [walking , , ±>y a wilde wildernesse • and bi a wode-syde. Blisse of bo briddes [abyde me made,] 64 And vnder a lynde vppon a launde * lened I a stouwde, To lythe be layes • be louely foules made. Murthe of her mouthes made me bere to slepe ; j)e merueillousest meteles mette me banne G8 pat euer dremed wyjte " in worlde, as I wene. one like myself ^T A moche man, as me boi^te and lyke to my-selue came, and called .. " me by name, Come and called me • by my kynde name. " What artow," quod I bo ' " bat bow my name knowest?" 72 " J3at bow wost wel," quod he * " and no wy^te bettere." who said, he was IT " Wote I what bow art?" • "fought," seyde he banne, " I haue suwed be bis seuene jere sey bow me no rather 1 " « Thought," said % " Art bow thought ?" quod I bo • " bow couthest me 7G 67. slepe] sleple W. 68. \ie] R om. merueillottsesf] Merueylokest R ; merueilous B. mette me] Mette I me ; me mette B. 69. L repeats dremed, but the line is marked. 70. moche] mykil C. me] R om. 72. \>o] R om. 7o. scy] seye W ; sey^ ; sawe C. 76. couthest — wisse] kannes me wisse C ; knowest, y-wysse B ; coud- est me wisse where R. Thought. I, " tell me where is Do-well." wisse 57. ww re [quod e] bi R. he W] quod bei R ; LCOB om. on \>e] on W ; vppon be B. 62. myne] bi myn B. 63. wode-syde] wodes side WCB. 64. Blisse] be blisse B. \>o] be WCOB. [abyde me made R] bromte me aslepe LWCOB. But see the three next lines ; and cf. Text A. 65. a (1)] RB om. vppon] vnder B. I] y me B. 66. lythe] hiren B. \>c (2)] bat to B ; bat be R. lonely] R om. PASS. VIII. 1 ' ACCOUNT OF DO-WEL, DO-BET, AND DO-BEST. 129 Where bat dowel dwelleth and do me pat to knowe 1 " 11 " Dowel and dobet and dobest be thridde," quod be, "Aren three faire vertnes and beth nau^te fer to fynde.. Who-so is trewe of his tonge and of his two handes, " whoever is meek, mild, and And borugh his laboure or jjorugh. his londe his true," said he, oi " Una Do-well lynode wynneth, ol follows. And is trusti of his tailende taketh but his owne, And is nou3t dronkenlew ne dedeignous • dowel hym io? folweth. Dobet doth ry^t bus ac he doth moche more ; 84 Do-het does even more, and gives He is as low as a lombe and loneliche of speche, to the needy, And helpeth alle men • after bat hem nedeth ; j)e bagges and be bigurdeles ' he hath to-broken hem alle, pat be Erl auarous helde, and his heires ; 88 And pus -with Mammonaes [moneie] he hath made hym frendes, And is ronne in-to Religioim * and hath rendred be and hath rendered ° ' the Bible, bible, And precheth to be noeple • seynt Poules wordes, and preaches 1 r L l _ from the text, Libenter suffertis insipientes, cum sit/'s ipsi 2 cor. xi. 19. sapientes, 1 And suffreth be vnwise with 30W for to libbe, 92 And with gladde wide doth hem gode for so god 30AV hoteth.' 77. \at (2)] hym R. 87. to-brolten] to-brook C ; broken 78. \>e] om. B. 81. or] and B. \>oni(jh (2)] COB 88. ]>e] B om. om. londe] londes COB. 89. \>ns] R om. Mammonaes] 82. CBom. his tailende] taylyng O, Mamondes C. [moneie WCOB] mono 83. is] is (printed his) W. dronk- LB. hath] had B. made] ymade R. enlew] dronkelew R ; dronkelewe 90. in-to] to "WCOB. bible] Lille (primted dronklewe) WB ; dronklewe (!) R. C ; drunklew 0. dedeignous] deygn- 91. precheth] praihed CR. ous CB. 92, 93. In one line — And to pe vn- 84. doth (1)] does C ; do B. he] B wise ye do goode for so god yow om. beddis C ; B the same, bvt reith hoti{> 85. as (1)] B om-, for heddis. 9 130 THE DREAMER WANTS TO LEARX MORE. [PASS. VIII. Do-best is above botb, and bears a bishop's crosier. •ft Dobest is aboue botlie " and beretb a bisschopes [Fol. 34 !).] Do-well and Do- bet have crowned a king, 1©8 with consent of Do-best." I thanked him, and asked him where these three dwelt. "Only Wit can tell thee," said he. So Thought and I went on till we met Wit. crosse Is hoked on bat one ende to halie men fro belle. A pyke is on fat potent e to pulte adown be wikked, Jjat way ten any wikkednesse dowel to tene. 97 And dowel and dobet amonges bem ordeigned To croune one to be kynge " to reule hem bothe; Jjat jif dowel or dobet did a^ein dobest, 100 Jjanne shal be kynge come and casten bem in yrens, And but if dobest bede for bem f»ei to be fere for enere. H Thus dowel and dobet • and dobest be tbridde, Crouned one to be kynge to kepen hem alle, 104 And to reule be Fieume * hi her thre wittes, And none other-wise but as pel thre assented.'' IT I thonked thou3t bo • bat lie me ]ms tau^te ; " Ac 3ete sauoureth me noi^t bi seggyng I coueite to lerne 108 How dowel, dobet, and dobest * don amonges fe peple." 1T " But witte conne wisse be," q?wd bou3t " where bo thre dwelle ; Ellis wote I none bat can fat now is alyue." IT J5oii3te and I thus * thre days we 3eden, 112 Disputyng vppon dowel ' day after other, 94. bothe] hem bobe O. 95. Is] And is B. hoheS] an lioke R. 96. A~] And a B. is] R om. on — potente] on be potente CO ; in be poynt B. pulte] pelte R ; pilte O ; putte WCB. wikked] helle B. 97. wihkednesse] wiokednesse to doB. 98. and (2)] hab B. ordeigned] ordeyneden O ; ordeyneb B ; han or- deyned \V. 99. one] and R. R omits from to reule (I. 99) to kynge in I. 101. 100. did] dob O. 101. casten] putte B. 102. bede] did C ; dyde B ; bidde O. hem] hym CB. \>ei — \>ere] bei be ber O ; J^er to be B. 103. dobest] best C. 104. be] be {printed the)W; be B. kepen] so in WCOR ; spelt kepin L ; B has belpe. 105. br] bi O. 106. none] in non B. assented] assentes C ; assented B. 1()7. \>us] B om. 108. Ac yte] Ac R; And yet C ; And ari3t B. seggyng] Keying W ; sayeng C ; segge B. lerne] lere B. 110. quod] C om. \>o] bei B. 111. can] can be telle B. is alyvc] lyueb B. 112. we] COB om. PASS. VIII.] WILLIAM AXD THOUGHT MEET WITH WIT. 131 And ar we were ywar ' with witte gan we mete. He was longe and lenc liche to none other, "Was no pruyde on his apparaille ne pouerte noyther, Sadde of his semblaunt * and of soft chiere. 117 I dorste meue no matere to make hym to iangle, i asked Thought But as I bad bou^t bo be-mene bitwene, ioo question for me, And put forth somme pwpos to prouen his wittes, What was dowel fro dobet and dobest fram hem bothe. ^T panne bor^t in bat tyme ' seide jjise wordes, 122 and he asked him " Where dowel, dobet • and dobest ben in londe, Do-bet, and Do- Here is wills wolde y wyte " yif Avitte couthe teche hym, And Avhether he be man or [no] man pis man fayne Avolde aspye, 125 And worchen as pei thre Avolde • bis is his entente." 114. tve(l)]yB. mere ywar] were Iwitt R. war WB ; war were E. we (2)] 10. 125. [no «».] so in BCB ; Lorn if a 119. be] to be B. no, but the line is marked ; WO have 120. somme~\ his R. womman, which is probably corrupt. 123. Where] Whether R. dobet] fayne] COB am. and dobet B. len] was CB ; R om. 120. pis] thus W. 124. is] r.«m. yn-yte] witeWCOB; 132 LADY ANIMA AND THE CASTLE OF CARO. [PASS. IX. PASSUS IX. (DO-WEL I.) Passus nanus [de visione ; et primus de dowel.] HO " Do-well dwells," said Wit, " in a castle made by Kind of four things, earth, air, wind, and waier. Within the castle Kind has inclosed the lady Anima, whom ' the prince of this world' [Fol. 35.] hates. Do-well, Do-bet, and Do-best are her appointed keepers. 119 " Qire dowel dwelleth," quod witte ' " noujt a clay *-* hennes, In a eastel pat kynde made of foure kynnes pinges ; Of erthe and eyre is it made medled togideres, "With wynde and with water witterly enioyned. 4 Kynde hath closed pere-Inne " craftily with-alle, A lemman pat he loueth like to hym-selue, Anima she hatte ac enuye hir hateth, A pronde pryker of Fraunce pri/nceps Indus mundi, 8 And wolde winne hir awey with wyles, and he my^te. IT Ac kynde knoweth pis wel • and kepeth hir pe bettere, And hath do hir with sire dowel * is dnke of pis marches. Dobet is hir damoisele • sire doweles doubter, 1 2 To serue pis lady lelly ' bothe late and rathe. Dobest is aboue bothe a bisschopes pere ; fi&i he bit, mote be do • he renleth hem alle Anima pat lady is ladde hi his lerynge. 16 Titlk. Passus norms LO ; Passus Nonus de visione, vt supra CR; to which W adds et primus de Do-bet (cm obvious mistake} ; B adds, et se- cuwdus de Dowel. But Crowley has the correct title. 2. kynnes] inan^r R. 3. eyre'] of Eyr WB ; heyer R. is it] is it (printed it is) \V. 6. lilie] y-liche R. 7. hatte] hatteth R. 10. Ac] And CR. 11. And— do] And hath I-do R; As does C ; And doo}? W ; As do]? B. sire] R om. )>is] £e R. 14. aboue] aboute R. 1 5. do] don B ; doon 0. reulcth] reule C. 1G. lerynge] lernyng R. PASS. IX.] CONSTABLE INWIT AND HIS FIVE SONS. 133 5F Ac jje constable of bat castel • fat kepeth al be The constable of , the castle is In- waCCHe, W it [Conscience], Is a wys km^te with-al • sire Inwitte he katte, And hath fyue feyre sones bi his first wyf ; Sire sewel and saywel • and herewel be hende, 20 w »ose sons are ' See-well, Say- Sire worche-wel-wyth-binediande ' a wi^te man of well, Hear-weii, Work-well, and strengthe, Qo-weiL" And sire godfrey gowel • gret lordes for sothe. )?ise fyue ben sette • to saue bis lady anlma, Tyl kynde come or sende to saue hir for euere." 24 IT "What kynnes thyng is kynde," q^^od I " eanstow "Who is Kind?" me telle?" 11 "Kynde," q?wd witte, "is a creatour of alle kynnes "Kind is the . great Creator, DingeS J who made all Fader and fourmow of al bat euere was maked ; And bat is be gret god • bat gynnynge had neuere, 28 Lorde of lyf and of ly^te of lysse and of peyne. Angeles and al bing aren at his wille. Ac man is hyin moste lyke of marke and of schafte ; man being most like Himself. For borugh be worde bat he spake ' wexen forth bestes, Dixit, fy facta sunt; p s . exivm. s i. adam (Vulg.). IF And made man likkest • to hym-self one, 33 [112] And Eue of his ribbe-bon with-outen eny mene. For he was synguler hym-self • and seyde faciamus, As who seith, ' more mote here-to • ban my worde one ; t An argument t.1- , ,ii -,i i) „- for the Trinity. JNly myjte mote nelpe now with, my specbe. 37 Itiste as a lorde sholde make lettres ' and hym lakked t a writer needs both parchment pamiemyn, and pen. 20. herewet] sire here-wel R. 31. hym moste'] most hym R. 21. Sire] And CB. schafte] schape C. 22. gret lordes] a grete lord R. 82. mexen] so in LRO ; woxcn 23. sane] kepe W. lady] R on. WCB. Dixit] Et dixit B. sunt] 25. kynnes] kynne R ; COB om. sunt, &c. CB. 2G. creatour] creature COB. alle 33. lilikest] I-likest R. kynnes] alkynge C ; alkynne R ; 34. mene] mede B. alkyns O. 35. and] R om. 28. )>at— gret] be get (sic) R. 3(5. mote here-to] mut \>crto 0. 29. lysse] blisse RB. 37. now] forb W. 29, 30. Transposed in B. 38. a] C om. 134 THE CREATION OF MAX. [PASS. IX. t So God made man by His Word and Might. [Fol. 35 &.] The castle is called Caro. The lady is Life, it ./ nima, and dwells in man's heart ; In-wit is in his head, and rules Aiilma. t Wo to him who misuses his In- wit. Jjough lie couth write neuere so wel " }if he had no penne, jje lettrc[s] for al pe lordship I leue were neuere ymaked. 40 IT And so it senieth hi hym as pe bible telleth, Jjere he seyde, dixit, § facta sunt ; He moste worche with his worde and his witte shewe. And in J?is manere was man made ' porugh my^te of god almrjti, "Wi tli his worde and werkemanschip and with lyf to laste. 44 And pus god gaf hym a goost of pe godhed of heuene, And of his grete grace graunted hym blisse, And pat is lyf pat ay shal last • to al [his] lynage after. And pat is pe castel pat kynde made * caro it hatte, 48 And is as moche to mene • as man with a soule ; And pat he wrou^t with werke and with worde bothe, Jjorugh my3te of pe maieste man was ymaked. IT Inwit and alle wittes ' closed ben per-inne, 52 For loue of pe lady anima " pat lyf is ynenipned ; Ouer al in mannes body • he walketh and wandreth, Ac in pe herte is hir home and hir moste reste. Ac Inwitte is in pe lied and to the herte he loketh, What anima is lief or loth he lat hir at his wille ; 57 For after pe grace of god pe grettest is Inwitte. IF Moche wo worth pat man • pat mys-reuleth his In- witte, And pat be glotou»s globbares her god is her Avombe ; 39. no] a CB. 40. lettres O] lettre LWCRB ; Crowley has letters ; see t. 38. 41. semeth] semed R. bible] book COB. he seyde] it sayes C ; hit seij? B ; he seyjj O. 45. of] |:oru3 W. godlied] godded R. 47. [///* WE] LCOBow. lynage] lynages CO. 48. \>at] Jns E. castel] catel (!) RB. 49. is] fmt is 0. 50. worde] his wordes R. Inn-it] Iu-wyttis B. K2 closed] I-clothed I! 54. CB omit. 55. Ac] And WC. hir (1)] his C; B om. hir (2)] his CB. 66. Inwitte] wytt B. he] R om. 57. or] & O. his] hire E. 59. man] wbt E. GO. globbares] glubberesWO; gloh- bers C ; clobberis B. PASS. IX.] THE CHURCH SHOULD PROTECT IDIOTS. 135 Quorum deus venter est. t PhiUp. in. 19. For j?ei seruen satlian • her soule shal lie liaue ; Gl Jpat liuetli synful lyf liere her soule is liclie f e deuel. And alle fat lyuen good lyf aren like god almijti, Qui manet in caritate, in deo manet, §c. 1 1 st John iv. % Alias ! fat drynke slial for-do fat god dere boujte, And doth god forsaken hem pat he shope to his lik- nesse ; Go Amen dico vobis, nescio vos: § alibi: et dimisi tMat. xxv. 12; . Ps. lxxx. 13 eos secundum desideria eorum. (Vuig.). [II 3] II Foles fat fauten Inwitte I fynde fat holiclierche t idiots should Sliulde fynden hem fat hem [fauteth] and faderelees the church; ' children ; And wydwes fat han nou^te wher-with to wynnen hem her fode, G8 Madde men, and ruaydenes ' fat helplees were ; t and so should . widows, madmen, Alle bise lakken Inwitte " and lore bihoueth. ami helpless ^T Of f is matere I my^te ' make a longe tale, And fynde fele witnesses anionges f e foure doctours, And fat I lye noi^t of fat I lere f e luke hereth wit- nesse. 73 ^[ Godfader and godmoder fat sen her godchildren t Godfathers and Godmothers At myseise and at mischief and mowe hem amende, should protect their charges. Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie • but ^if fei hem helpe. 7G For more bilongeth to fe litel barne ' ar he fe lawe knowe, }2an nempnyng of a name and he neuere f e wiser ! Shulde no crystene creature crien atte 3ate, venter'] venter eorum B. RCOB] fauted LW ; marked in L. 61. soule'] so in R; soules WCOB. 68. CB omit. 62. soule] soules C. deuel] deuelis 72. witnesses] witnesse CR. 0. 73. of— ye] I lerethe (sic) R. 63. like] lik to WCOB. 74. Godfader] Godfadir OB ; God- 64. bointe] abou^te COB. fadres W. qodmodcr] godmodir OB ; ('."). he. shape'] schope hem R. ,y godmodres W. alibi — eorum] R om. eorum] &c. CB. 75. At] \>at is R. at] COB om. 66. fauten] laylen B. 76. fif] if COB ; W om. 67. hem (2)] R om, [fauteth 78. he] CB om. 13(5 DO-WELL BEGINS WITH THE FEAR OF TOE LORD. [PASS. IX. Xe faille payn ne potage • and prelates did as ]>ei shulden. 80 t a Jew would A In we wolde novate se a Iuwe " go iangelyng for de- not see a Jew Buffer want. I3.1IG6, [Foi. se.] Tor alle f e moebles on f is molde and he amende it mrjte. T Alias ! fat a cristene creature shal be vnkyndc til an other, Sitthen Iuwes fat we iugge Iudas felawes, 84 Ayther of hem helpeth other • of fat fat hym nedeth. t why should not Whi ncl we cristene ' of cristcs good be as kynde C-'lirist inns he charitable like- As Iuwes, fat ben owre lores-men 1 ' shame to vs alle ! J2e comnne for her vnkyndenesse I drede me, shul abye. 88 ^[ Bisschopes shul be blamed for beggeres sake ; t it is a great He is worse fan Iudas fat jiueth a iaper siluor, ciiine to give to a i -i • i 1 1 -i c i • i i unworthy objects. And biddetli f e begger go • for his broke clothes : Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda, qui patrimo- nium cliristi minus distribuit : fy alibi, : Perniciosus dispensator est, qui res pauperum Cliristi inutiliter consumit. He doth nou^t wel fat doth f us • ne drat nou^t god almi^ty, 92 Xe loueth noint salamones sawes bat sapience taujte ; [114] t • • 4- 7 • • Ps. ex. io (Vuig.). lmcium sapiencie, Timor domini : Ecclus. i. 16. ^1 ]}at dredeth god, he doth wel ; fat dredeth hym for loue, 80. Ne] And R. 90. a iaper] Iapers COB. 82. moebles] mebles WOB ; nobles 91. biddeth] bit R. begger] beg- (!) R. on] of RB. geris B. go] go forb B. minus] 83. cristene WCROB] spelt cres- minus LCROB ; minus or mimis W. tene in L. be] be so OB. til] to CB. est] O om. Christ'/] COB am. 84. Sitthen] Syn W. 92. drat] drad R ; drat, altered to 85. Ayther — hem] bat ayther R. drad C. \>at pat] hem bat R. hym] hem W. 93. Ne] He W. 86. net] nyl C ; nylen O ; ne wil 94, 95. COB have one long line — R ; ne wille B. Dred god for loue & btm doste wel " 87. shame] to schame R. but nou^t for vewgeaunce, and \o\\ dost 88. vnkyndenesse] wikkednesse CB. bet. ahje] abide B. 94. dredeth] drat R {Us). pass, xii.] (To follow page 136.) 137* SUPPLEMENT TO "PIERS PLOWMAN," PART I. TEXT A. [MS. Rawl. Poet. 137. Fol. 40.] PASSUS XII. Passas tercius de dowel. 11 /"Irist wot," quod clercrie "knowe hit sif be lyke, "Christ knows," I *■ ? said Clergy, " I ^ I haue do my dewer ' be dowel to teche ; have tried to , .. teach you Do-wel. And who-so coueyteb don betere ban be boke tellep, He passeb be apostolis lyf • and put him to auwgelys ! 4 But I se now as I seye as me sob thinkytj, j)e were lef to leme but lob for to stodie. Jjou woldest konne bat I can • and carpew hit after. You want to team _ in order to cavil." Presuinptuowsly, parauenture a-pose so manye, o That [hit] my3the turne men to tene • & theologie bobe. 3if I wiste witterly bou woldest don ber-after, Al bat bou askest a-soylen I wolde." Skornfully bo scripture • [set vp here] browes, 1 2 scripture set up her brows, And on clergie crieb ' on cristes holy name, and tola ciergy .. n . , „ not to tell me That he shewe me hit ne sholde but 3d [hit] stryt were more . Of be kynde cardinal wit and cristned in a font ; — And seyde [hit] so loude bat shame me thoujthe, 16 " }?at hit were bobe skabe and sklaundre to holy cherche, "Theology [Note. See the account at the end men] me U. of the Passus, shewing whence this 12. ]>o] miswritten J?e in MS. Raw- Twelfth Passus is derived.] linson ; U has yo = ]>o. [set vp here] Pass. XII. Called Passus tercius de So in U ; MS. Rawlinson has sherte dowel in MS. U and MS. Rawlinson vp his, where at least his is wrong. 137. See the note to Pass. XI. 1. 303, 13. crie\>] cryede U. cristes] godis on p. 154. U. 1. \>e~\ ye U; but the y represents \>. 14. shewe me hit~\ schewi3t U (enr- 3. coueyte]) don] coueite to don U. ruptly). [hit] it U ; MS. Rawl. om. 4. \>e~\ U om. hi/m] hem U ; cor- 15. kynde] U om. ruptly. 16. [Mt]itTJ; MS. Rawl. om. me] G. U omits. me it U. 9. [hit] it U ; MS. Rawlinson omits. 17. bo\>e] U om. # 138* SCRIPTURE FORBIDS CLERGY TO SAY MORE. [PASS. XII. forbids me to teach sinners. Ps. cxviii. 158 (Vulg.). 2 Cor. xii. 4. Sitthe theologie be trewe to teller hit defendeb ; Dauid god.es derling defend}']) hit al-so : Vidl [preuaricantesj et tabescebam: I saw synful, he seyde ' ber-fore I seyde no-bing, 20 Til bo wrecches hen in wil here synne to lete. And poul precheb hit often prestes hit redyn, Audiui archane que nan licet homini loqui : I am not hardy, quod he ' b«t I herde wit7i erys, Telle hit with touwge to synful wrecches. 24 And god graunted hit neuere • be gospel hit witnesseb, In be passioura, whan pilat ' a-posed god al-my3thi, And asked Ihesu on hy pat herden hit an hundred, Quid est ueritas ? quod he • verilyche tel vs ; 28 God gaf him now answere but gan his tounge holde. So do not ten him Kijt so I rede," quod she ' " red bou no ferber ; Of pat he wolde wite wis bi//J no hetere. For he cam not by cause ' to lerne to dowel, 32 But as he seyb, such I am whew he with me carpeb." And when scripture be skolde hadde pus wyt y-sheued, Clergie in-to a caban crepte anon after, And drow be dore after him • and bad me go dowel, 36 Or wycke, ^if I wolde wheber me lyked ! J)a» held I vp iny/2 handed * to scripture be wise, To be hure man 3if I most for enere-more after, With pat she wolde me wisse wher pe toun were, 40 Kynde wit hure co??fesso«r hure cosyn was Inne. J)at lady ban low and lai^the me in here armes, And sayde, " my cosyn kynde wit knowen is wel wide, And bis loggyng is with lyf pat lord is of erbe. 44 And }if bou desyre with him for to a-byde, pe [Fol. 40 b.] Jo. xviii. 38. any more ' At this, Clergy withdrew. But I prayed Scripture to tell me where her cousin Kind Wit (Common Sense) lived. 18. Smite] Scihojj (sic) U. trewe] yat trewe is U. to] U om 19. [preuaricantes] SoinU; MS. Rawl. corruptly has preuarioationes. 20. MS. U ends with tabescebam ; and from this line to the end,ive hure only MS. Rawl. to trust to. seyde no- ting] It is clear that the poet con- strues tabescebam as if it were taccbam. The same idea recurs in ll. 23 and 29. 22. Audiui, &c. Quoted again in Text B. Pass. XVIII. 33. such I am] i. e. I am not to be commended ; alluding to Pass. XI. I. 28(5. 41. wit.] The MS. haswt, the usual contraction for with ; but see 11. 43 and 53; and hit for hit, 1. 25. PASS. XII.] THE AUTHOR GOES TO SEEK OUT KIND WIT. 139* I shal be wisse where bat he dwelleb." And panne I kneled on my knes and kyste her wel sone, And Ranked hure a bousand sybes with brobbant herte. 48 She called [to ken] me " a cleriouw pat hyjfc Omnia-probate ' a pore bing with alle, " ])u\x shalt wende with wil," quod she • " whiles pat him lykyb, Til 3e come to be burghe quod-bonum-est-tenete. 52 Ken him to my cosenes hous * pat kinde wit hy^th, Sey I sente him bis segge and pat he shewe hjm dowel." \)us we lau3)>e oure leue • lowtyng at onys, And wente for]? on my way " with omnia-probate, 56 And ere I cam to pe court quod-bonum-est-tenete, Many ferlys me hy-fel in a fewe ^eris. The fyrste ferly 1 fond ' a-fyngrid me made ; As I 3ede thurgh 30iibe • a-^en prime dayes, 60 I stode stille in a stodie " and stared a-bowte ; " Al hayl," quod on bo, and I answered " welcome and with whom be 3c 1 ? " "lam d welly ng with deth and hunger I hatte, To lyf in his lordshepe • longyt my weye, 64 I shal felle pat freke in a fewe dayes ! " " I wolde folwe pe fayn but fentesye me hendeb, Me folvveb such a fentyse ' I may no ferber walke." " Go we forb," quod pe gom " I haue a gret boyste 68 At my bak, of broke bred • bi bely for to fylle ; " I will tell you," she said. She said to Omnia-probate, " Go and sliow Will the way." So we went to the court called Quod-bonum-est- tenete.. [Fol. 41.] As I went through Youth, I met a man and hailed him. 1'e said he lived with Death, and his name was Hunger. He offered me some scraps of bread. 49, 50. These two lines are written as one in the MS. Some such phrase as to ken me seems to have been lost ; see 1. 53. 50. Omnia probate'] Compare Text B. Pass. III. 1. 335. 52. burghe'] ? burgher MS. But burghe = borough is meant ; it is call- ed a court in 1. 57. 58. Cf. Prologue; 1. 62. Here fol- lows the catchword— \?c ferste ferly. GO. y>u\ie] miswritten 30U ' \>e in MS. ; the metrical dot being inserted by mistake after the letter u. Hut the reading is certain ; cf Text B. Pass. XI. 17, .">4, 59; and especially observe the whole drift a/ Text B. Pass. XI. G2. A half-line has probably been, lost here. 6G. Cf. Tass. V. 5. 140* HE MEETS WITH HUNGER AND FEVER. [PASS. XII. Next I met one called Fever. " Do not follow me, Will," he said. " But do well while your days last." [Fol. 41 6.] So Will made haste to write his Do-wel ; and he also wrote his Peres the Plowman. A bagge ful, of a beggere I boi^pe hit at onys." Thau maunged I wit vp at be fulle, For be myssyng of mete no mesour I coude. 72 With bat cam a knaue w/t/t a cowfessowes face, He liaised me and I asked him after, Of whew bat he were • and wheder pat he wolde. " With deb I duelle," qwod he ' " dayes and ny3tes ; 76 Mi name is feuere, on be ferbe day • I am a-brest euere ; I am masager of deb men haue I tweyne, Jjat on is called cotidiaw a cowrour of oure hous, Tercian pat oper ' trewe drinkeres bobe ! 80 We ban letteres of lyf ' he shal his lyf [tyne ;] Fro deb, pat is oure duk • swyche dedis we brynge." " My^th I so, god wot 3 oure gates wolde I holden." "Nay, wil !" qwod pat wyjth " wend bou no ferther, 84 But lyue as J>is lyf is ordeyned for the, ])ou tomblest wib a trepget 3if bou my tras folwe ; And nianwes merbe wron^p no mor pan he deseruyb here, Whil his lyf and his lykhame lesten to-gedere. 88 And ber-fore do after do-wel • whil bi dayes duren, Jjat bi play be plentevous • in paradys -with auwgelys. j)oa shalt be lau3th into ly^th with loking of an eye, So bat bou werke be word ' J?at holy wryt techeb, 92 And be prest to preyeres and profitable werkes.". Wille [wiste] burgh in-wit — fou wost wel pe sobe — j)at pis speche was spedelich and sped him wel faste, And wrou^the pat here is wryten and oper werkes bobe 96 70. boui\>e] cf. wroiqb, 1. 87 ; laujbe, 1. 55 ; &c. 71. Corrupt; probably two half- lincs lost. 78. Fevers and Death appear in Text B. Pass. XX. 81. [tyne] The MS. has tyme, cor- ruptly. See Pass. XI. 233. 86. \>ou] miswrittert ]>e in the MS. ; the being the preceding word. 87. wroujp] = \vr0u3te. Cf. 1. 70. The reading worbe would make better sense. 94. Tlie word wiste has evidently been dropped here, probably on account of wost following. 96. This means that, besides the Vita de Do-wel, Do-bet, et Do-best, the author wrote Peres the Plowman. PASS. XII.] the author's works and death. 141 * Of peres be plowma/i • and mechel puple al-so ; And whan bis werk was wrou^t ere wille my^te a-spie, Deb delt him a dent and drof him to be erbe, Now he lies buried under the And is closed vnder clom cnst haue his sonle ! 100 c i ay ! And so bad I oh an but busily wel ofte, John But added . , this ending. Whew he saw bes sawes busyly a-legged. By lames and by Ierom ' by lop and by obe>*e, And for he medleb of niakyng he made pis ende. 104 Now alle kewne creatures " bat cristene were euere, God for his goudnesse gif hem swyche happes, To lyue as Jjat lord lykyb • bat lyf in hem putte. Furst to rekne Eichard kyng of bis rewme, 108 God save King Richard, and all And alle lordes bat louy/i him • lely in herte, lords that love God saue hem sound • by se and by land ; Marie moder and may • for man bou by-seke ; Jjat barn bryng vs to blys bat bled vp-on J?e rode ! Amen. 112 Nomen scriptoria tisot plenus amoris. 98 — 100. These are the author's John But, who made a second " end," own words ; he kills himself off, by because he was accustomed to " meddle way of finishing his poem, but he lived with niakyng," i. e. to compose verses. to re-write it, nevertheless. 102. busyly'] Read sothely ? Busyly 101 — 112. Obviously added, as is repeated from the line above. stated, by another hand, viz. that of 142* NOTE ON PASSUS XII. The discovery of the unique copy of the greater part of this Passus is due to Mr Geo. Parker, assistant in the Bodleian Library, from observa- tion of my note at p. 154 of the volume containing Text A of Piers Plowman. It is a most important and satisfactory discovery, as offering the complete solution of the problem as to the true termination of Text A. I had made out this much ; (1) that there was once a Passus XII., or more strictly a Passus tertius de dowel, of which 18 lines were pre- served in MS. U (belonging to University College, Oxford) ; (2) that this Passus must have been the concluding one of the Poem of Dowel in its earliest form ; (3) that it must have contained considerably less than 180 lines, as shown by the state of the Vernon MS.; (4) that it must, in fact, have consisted of less than 131 lines, as shown by the state of the University College MS. All these suppositions are now fulfilled ; the missing portion — 100 lines long — was found by Mr Parker in MS. Rawl. Poet. 137, in the Bodleian Library, the very existence of which was unknown to me until the Rawlinsonian MSS. were recently catalogued. This is now here printed, with various readings of the first 19 lines, one of which, the sixth, .is omitted in the University College copy. This Rawlinson MS. is corrupt in places ; in fact, every MS. of Piers Plowman is corrupt occasionally ; — but it is sufficiently good to show us clearly how the poem ended. I here add a formal description of it, to supple- ment the descriptions on pp. xv — xxiv. XI. MS. Rawlinson Poet. 137 ; on vellum ; of the early part of the fifteenth century. Size, about 9^ in. by 5f. It consists of 41 leaves bound together, containing the whole of Piers Plowman, Text A. The four loose leaves, mentioned below as forming part of the old cover, are numbered 42 — 45. It is very remarkable as being the only perfect copy of its kind. At the beginning is the important heading — " Hie incipit liber qui uocatur pers plowman. Prolog;*.? ; " and this is the only copy of any kind 1 have yet seen wherein the word Prologus occurs. See Page 1, first footnote. At the end is the very important colophon — Explicit Do-wel, shewing that the poem really did end here, in its ear- NOTE ON PASS. XII. 143* liest form. It is beyond a doubt copied from an earlier MS., viz. the very same one that MS. U (No. IV) was copied from. The text is in pre- cisely the same wrong order, the inisarrangement of which is explained at p. xx. It has nearly the same readings, such as when I south wente (Prol. 1. 1) — y wente wyde (1. 4) — i" sweuenede (1. 10) — tryly ontyrid (where MS. U has a- tired ; 1. 14) ; and so on. But it nevertheless varies slightly from that MS. occasionally, the most curious instance which I have noticed being in the Prologue, at 1. 54, where MS. Rawl. has the lines — Schopyn hem ermytes here ese to haue. on fele halue fonden hem to done, Lederes bei be of louedayes and with be lawe medle. All these MS. U omits, possibly on account of an undecipherable word in the second line, where MS. Rawl. has a blank space. But the most curious point about the two latter lines is their non-appearance in other copies. After Piers Plowman follow "Fragments of the old French Ro- mance of Guy earl of Warwick, four leaves on vellum." ff. 42 — 45 (end of MS.) l Ces ciz li quice ad riame. Assez sur done or e argent. Del son meint vesselment. Sire qris Jonas dit li rei. Entendez ore vers moi. Ma vie me auez ore garri Par ceo cher ke esta ici, &c. On fol. 42 b is written in an old aud large hand, Hoc volumen conceditur ad vsum fratrum minorum de obseruantia cantuarie. The name of the scribe was one Tisot. I have not the slightest doubt of the entire genuineness of the new portion. It is Langland's beyond a doubt, every word of it, from line 1 down to the end of line 100. All these lines are not only in his manner, but contain his favourite words, phrases, and turns of expression, and have the same changes of rhythm as we find in his works elsewhere. We obtain also a new proof that the author's name was " Will ; " as had been already ascertained by observing that Thought calls the author " Wille " in Pass. IX. 1. 118, just after it had been noted (1. 62) that the same Thought was acquainted with the author's " kind " or Christian name. We learn further that the author's original idea was to conclude the poem in the following way. " I met," he says, " with a man named Fever, who was the messenger of Death." Fever brought a letter from Death, and was authorized to slay Life. "If I may" — says our author — " I would go with you on your way." But Fever tells him to live on, as God has ordained, to continue to do well, and to look for a reward 1 These probably formed part of the old cover, the MS. having now a modern binding. 144* NOTE ON PASS. XII. in Paradise, if he will only be regular at prayers, and ready to do pro- fitable works. " Now William (i. e. the author) knew by his conscience that this speech required immediate attention, and so he made haste and completed the poem here written ; and besides this Poem of Do-wel, he wrote the poem about Piers Plowman and many others ; and when this work was wrought, ere Will might spy, Death dealt him a dint, and drove him to the earth ; and he is enclosed under clay ; now Christ have his soul ! " It is obvious that this notice of his own death is a mere flourish, intro- duced for the sake of winding up the poem at a moment when he had no idea of expanding and rewriting it ; which, however, he certainly did, and even used again some of the phrases and thoughts contained in this very portion at the end of which he kills himself off. And with these words — " Christ have his soul ! " — the poem, in its first form, truly ends. But in the present copy we have 12 superfluous lines, added by one " Johan But," who, having read the whole poem, and being satisfied that most of the ideas in it could be well supported by quotations from James, Jerome, Job, and others, was pleased to dignify it with an end- ing of his own, as lie had been accustomed to metrical composition him- self, having before then " meddled in making," i. e. dabbled in verse. But he has very little more to say than to hope that God will bless all men and teach them to do right ; and so God save King Richard and all his lords, and may Mary, mother and maiden, beseech for man, and may Christ bring us all to bliss. The commonplaceness of these lines, and the smallness of their number, is of some importance. It shews us how men fared who attempted to add to the master-poet's words, and it affords some proof of the genuineness of the numerous additions which Langland made in his later versions, and which are not in the " Johan But" style by any means. TASS. IX.] TRUE WEDLOCK IS PLEASING TO GOD. 137 And nou3t for drede of veniaunce doth ber-fore j?e bettere ; He doth best, ])at witli-draweth hym by day and bi nyjte 96 To spille any speche * or any space of tyme ; t Waste not speech or time Qui offendlt in [oto], in omnibus est reus. (jamesii. 10). ^[ Lesyng of tyme treuthe wote fie sothe ! Is moste yhated vp erthe of hem bat beth in heuene, And sitthe to spille speche • pat spyre is of grace, 100 t Speech is God's gleeiiuui. And goddes gleraan ' and a game of heuene ; Wolde neuere be faithful fader his fithel were vn- tempred, ISTe his gleman a gedelynge a goer to tauemes ! *\ To alle trew tidy men pat trauaille desyren, 104 t our Lord loves workers Ps. Owre lorde loueth hem and lent loude other stille, xxxm. 11 (Wig.). Grace to go to hem • and agon her lyiiode ; Inguirenles aidem dominum non minuentur omui bono. *ff Trewe wedded libbing folk - in bis worlde is dowel : + Truly v»edded -n id' -i i i fulk do weU - For bei mote worche & wynne and be worlde susteyne. For of her kynde bei come bat confessoures ben of such come i 1nn confessors, nempned, 10 ( J martyrs, &c. Kynges and kiu^tes kayseres and cherles, Maydenes and martires • out of o man come. ]?e wyf was made be weye for to help worche, 112 And bus was wedloke ywroujt with a mene persone ; t How weddings should be made. First bi be faderes wille ' and be frendes conseille, 95. E has — And drad hym nau^t 102. /lis] bia W. vntemprcd] vn- for loue of vengeance to do be betters, tymbred R. 96. He doth] thovv dost COB. ]>at 105 v hem] om. other] eifcer 0. — hym] if bow withdrawe COB. 10G. to hem] to hem tille B. agon] 97. it-no WCOB] verbo LB ; see p. agoon BO ; ofgon W. 184. in — est~] est in omreibus COB. 108. mote] musten O. 99. yhated] hatid O. vp] vpon 109. \>ei] he B, WOB. 110. Kaysers and kyngis " knyiUis 100. sitthe] seche B. spyre] spire and clerkis B. CBOB ; spicerie W. 111. o] a COB. 101—103. C omits from and in 101 113 — 116. E omits from with a to gleman in L03. mene to ywrouate. 13S beth's seed did ill in marrying gain's. [pass. ix. [Fol. SCt.] F.ilse folk are conceived in an ill hour, like Cain, Ps. vii. 15(Vulg.). [118] f God warned Seth's issue not to marry with Cain's. God was wroth with tliem for so doing ; Gen. vi. 7. Wherefore He bade Noah build the ark, for the flood should destroy Cain's seed. And sytthenes bi assent of hem-self " as bei two myjte acorde. And thus was wedloke ywroi^te and god hym-self it made ; 116 In erthe be heuene is • hym-self was be witnesse. IT Ac fals folke faithlees theues and lieres, Wastoures and wrecch.es out of wedloke, I trowe, Conceyued hen in yuel tyme as caym was on Eue. 120 Of such synful shrewes j?e sauter maketli mynde, Concepit in dolore, etpeperit inlqultatem, §c. : And alle bat come of bat caym come to yuel ende. For god sent to seem and seyde hi an angel, Jpyne issue in ))yne issue I wil bat bei he wedded, And nou^t bi kynde with caymes ycoupled ne yspoused. 125 II }et some, a^ein be sonde of owre saueoure of heuene, Caymes kynde & his kynde • coupled togideres, Tyl god wratthed for her werkis ' and suche a worde seyde, 128 ' )?at I maked man now it me athynketh, Penitet me fecisse hominem.' ^T And come to Noe anon • and had hym nou^t lette : ' Swithe go shape a shippe of shides and of hordes. ])i self and bi sones three and sithen jowre wyues, Buske 30W to bat hote • and hideth ^e ber-inne, 133 Tyl fourty dayes he fulfilde " fat [be] node haue ywasshen Clene awey be cursed blode ' bat caym hath ymaked. 1 1 7. \>e — is] \>ere heueu is R ; and in heuene W. was \c] bereb WCB. 118. faithlees'] and faithles R. 120. in] R om. on] and B. 121. in dolore] doloremR. $c] RB om. 123. For] And W. seem] sem B. an] be CB. 125. cai/mes] caym R. nc~] nor W. 12G. saueoure] lorde CB. 127. 7iis] her B. 128, 129. CB have one long line— Til god saide for wrathe bat I maked man me a-thynkes. 128. for] wife 0. 129. now] Worn, athynheth] for- bynkeb W ; binketh R. 130. come] so?«me C; sente B. 131. of (2)] CB om, 132. self] folkB. three] bre (not printed) W ; B om. 134. [beW] LCROBow. Crowley retains it, ywasshen] Iwasted R. PASS. IX.] THE FLOOD WASHED AWAY THE SINNERS. 139 ^f Bestes pat now ben simile banne pe tyme, 136 « A1Ith b * 19 J3at euere bat cursed caym " come on bis erthe ; must , die for Alle shal deye for his dedes bi dales and bi Indies, And pe foules bat ileeghen for[tli] with other bestes, Excepte oneliche * of echo kynde a couple, 1 40 save of eac » kin( i a couple." Jpat in pi shyngled shippe • shul ben ysaued.' Here abou3t[e] pe barne pe belsyres gultes, And alle for her forfadres • pei ferden pe worse. j)e gospel is here-ageine in o degre, I fynde, 144 Flllus non portabit iniquitatem patris, § pater t Ezek. xviu. 20. non portabit iniquitatem fill I, cjr. ^[ Ac I fynde, if be fader be false and a shrewe, Jjat somdel be sone shal haue pe sires tacches. 14G ^T Impe on an ellerne and if bine apple be swete, t An apple graft t*il on mi Mochel merneile me pynketh & more of a schrewe, eider wm not bo jjat bryngeth forth any barne but if he be be same, And haue a sauoure after be sire ' selde seestow other ; Numquam \colligimus\ Je spinis vuas, nee de. t Mat. s\\. 10. tribulis fycus. And bus bourw cursed caym cam care vppon erthe ; [Foi. 37.] ,-.. ... This was all And al for bei wrou^t wedlokes ' ajem goddis wille. because Seth's _ , . . , . r> i • , , seed married Jbor-Jn haue pei maugre tor here manages pat marye so Caill ' s- lier childcren; 153 For Some, as I se now " SOth for to telle, Now, some marry -r. •• n n -I1T11 111 ^ 0V mone V f 4 or coueitise oi catel vnkyndeliche ben wedded.. As careful concepciouw • cometh of suche manages, 15G 138. bi (2)] R om. UG. \>e] of ^e B. sires'] sire CR. 139. forth] so in CWROB ; L has 147. on] in C ; vpon R. ellerne'] for, but the line is marked. Ellere W ; ellern tree B. if] B om. 140. of eche kynde] of ich a kynde 148. bynketh] thynk C. & 0. eclie] on R. 150. [colligimus COB] colligit'/r 141. bi] bis R. LWR. was] vua \Y. 142. aboufte] WCRB ; boi^te O; 152. wedlokes] wedlok COB. abouatL. belsyres] belsire 0. gultes] 153. For-\>i — \>ei] For bei haue be giltesWCRB. B. for] of W. for— mariages] COB 143. forfadres] fadresW. her for- om. marye so] so marien CO ; marien fad res] his sake B. B. \at — so] as ine/t marien now R. 144. $— portabit] wee pater R. 156. As] Ac OB; And C. of suche] portabit iniq : flit, <)V] &e C ; por- to |;at 1!. tabit, &c ; B om. 140 THE GREAT EVIL OF UNEQUAL MARRIAGES. [PASS. TX. t Jo. xiv. G ; or a young wench is wedded to an old feeble man. Many, since the pestilence, have married ill, and have no children but strife. Though they go to Dunmow, they never fetch the Hitch. Then wed not for money, but marry well, and God bless you ! As bifel of be folke " bat I bifore of tolde. I, boni t. bonas 11 For goode shulde wedde goode bough hij no good hadde ; ' I am via cy Veritas] seith cryst * I may auaunce alle.' IT It is an oncomely couple bi cryst, as me binketh, To ^yuen a ^onge wenche ' to an olde feble, 1G1 Or wedden any widwe ' for weltli of bir goodis, jjat neuere shal barne bere but if it be in armes ! Many a peire sithen be pestilence ban pli3t bem to- gideres ; 164 j)e fruit J»at bei brynge forth ' aren foule wordes, In ialousye ioyeles ' and ianglyng on bedde. Haue bei no children but cbeste an cboppyng hem bitwene. IT And bough bei don bem to donmowe but if be deuel help 1GS To folwen after be iliccbe fecche bei it neuere ; And but bei bothe be forsworne • fat bacoun bei tyne. *fi For-bi I conseille alle crystene coueite nou^t be wedded For coueitise of catel ne of kynrede riche. 172 Ac maydenes and maydenes macche 30W togideres, Widwes and widwers ' worcheth fie same. 157. be] bat R. 158, 159. R omits. 158. For] Ther-foreW. The gloss \. boni means id est, boni. hij] bei WO ; huy B. 159. I] For I CB. seith] seid B. seith cryst] om. alle] yow alle \T. I — alle] as me bynkeb B. 160. 161. B transposes these lines. 1G0. an oncomely] an vukoujre C ; a wondur 15. cryst] Ihesus R. 161. feble] febil man B. 102. widwe] wodewe W. 163. if] B om. in] in hir W. 104. )>e] B om. 105. \ci] W om. 166. R omits, ioyeles] geolous B. on bedde] abedde CB. 1G7. dieste] cheeste W ; chydes C ; iangelynge R. choppyng] clappyng W ; gaying {sic) R. 108—170. R has— And for to go to dtwmowe ' to fecche bom here bakon, And whan bei haue brou^t it bom to whom is best to selle it, And bus bei lyuen in coueytise ' be deuel and bei to-gyderes. 170. And] B om. 171. crystene] cristen men B. be] to be R. 172. catel] no catel B. 1/ynrede] no kynrede B. 173. macche] make R. 174. Widwes— rcidmers] Wydeweres and wydewes R. PASS. IX.] BASE-BOBX CHILDREN COIIE TO NO GOOD. 141 For no Ion ties, but for loue " loke ye be wedded, And banne gete je be grace of god and good ynogli to lyue with. 176 ^1 And euery maner seculer fat may noujt continue, t it is better to marry than burn. Wysly go wedde and war hym fro synne ; For leccherye in likyng is lyme^erde of helle. Whiles bow art }onge ' and bi wepne kene, 180 Wreke J?e with wyuynge ^if bow [wilt] ben excused. Dam sis virforfis • ne des tua robora scortis, Scribitur in portis • meretrix est ianua mortis. 5T Whan 33 haue wyued, bewar • and worcheth in t observe right seasons. tyrne ; 16-i K"ou3t as Adam & Eue " whan caym was engendred. For in vntyme, trewli • bitwene man & woromaa, Ne shnlde no bourde on bedde be ; but if bei bothe None but the , pure should live were clene together. Bothe of lyf and of soule and in parfyte charitee, 188 |jat ilke derne dede • do noman ne sholde. And if bei leden bus her lyf it [like])] god almi^ti ; [Foi. 37 6.] For he made wedloke firste ' and him-self it seide ; 121 Bonum est vt vnusguisque vxorem snam habeat, ticor. vii. 2. propter fornicacionem. If And bei pat obergatis ben geten for gedelynges ben Bastards are , , , , „ _ commonly false, noluen, 1 J_i liars, ungracious, As false folke fondelynges " faitoures and lyars ; Vngracious to gete goode or loue of be poeple, Wandren and wasten ' what bei cacche mowe. 175. londes] laudes (fur landes) C. 187. bourde'] berde R. on heckle] y] bat se R. a-bedde R ; on (printed or) bedde W. 176. \>e] R om. bothe] CB om. Ill — 185. R omits. 188. Bothe] R om. and] L really 111. continue] contene 0; con- has & and, evidently by mistake. teyne B. 189. nc~] R om. 178. 170] to B. 190. And] But CB. leden] ledden 179. likyng] lokyng COB. R. [like\> WOB] likes C ; liked LR. 181. Wreke] Werke 0. [milt 0] 191. propter, $?c] R om. woltWCB; wil L. Bum] Cum CB. 193. As] And RB. 186. For] And R. in vntyme] 195. \>ei] be C. vnite (!) CB. 142 WHAT ARE D0-WEL, DO-BET, AND DO-BEST. [PASS. IX. i^eines dowel pei don yuel and pe deuel sonic, 190 And after her deth-day shulle dwelle with pe same, But god gyue hem grace here ' hem-self to amende. t Thus, Do-woii ^[ Dowel, my frende, is ' to don as lawe techeth, is, to do lawfully ; m . Do-bet, to love all To loue pi frende and pi foo leue me, pat is dobet. to help ail. To jiuen and to 3emen bothe 3onge and olde, 201 To helen and to helpen is dobest of alle. or, Do-wcii is, H And dowel is to drede god and dobet to suffre, bit, to suffer; And so cometh dobest of botbe and bryngeth adotfra Do best, to be . i nft . lowly of heart. J>e ™dy, 204 And pat is wikked wille " pat many werke shendeth, And dryueth away dowel • porugh dedliche synnes." 197. shulle dwelle] soule dwelles 203. dowel is] pus ifi dowel K. to] C ; ]>Q soule shal dwelle B. same] (2)] is to COB. deuel K. 205. werke] a werk W; werkes R. 198. hem] hym C. 20(5. dryueth] dryue C. \>orvgh] 199—202. R omits. with CB. synnes'] syne COB. 1 99. to] CB om. as] as pe COB. PASS. X.] DAME STUDY REPROVES HER HUSBAND WIT. 143 PASSUS X. (DO-WEL II.) Passus decimus de visione, § secundus [de] dowel. rFHanne badcle witte a "wyf ' was liote dame studye, Then had w it a -*■ J?at lene was of lere and of liche bothe. study, She was wonderly wroth * pat witte me bus tai^te, And al starynge dame studye sternelich seyde, 4 who sternly said " Wei artow wyse," quod she to witte " any wysdomes "Thou art wise , , n to teach fools ! to telle To flatereres or to folis ' bat frantyk ben of wittes ! " And blamed hym and banned hym and badde hym be stylle, With suche wise wordes to wissen any sottes ; 8 And seyde, " noli mittere, man margerye perlis cast not pearls be for© swine Amanges hogges, bat han hawes at wille. (Mat.vii.6). Jjei don but dryuele ber-on draffe were hem leuere ])an al be precious perre * pat in paradys wexeth. 12 I sey it bi suche," quod she "bat sheweth bi her i speak of those that prefer Werkes, riches to wisdom. J3at hem were leucr londe and lordship on erthe, Or ricchesse or rentis and reste at her wille, Title. & — dowel] vt sup?-« CR ; CEB. wittes] wytte B. & tercius de dowel B ; et iyts de 9. man] CB om. margerye] Dowel W ; & \]us dowel L. lias magerie RB. merely Passus decimus. 12. \>c] C om. perre'] perree W ; 1. hate] called R. was] f>atwasB. pere B. wcrctli] vexes (.sic) C. 2. lere] lire CB. liche] lichee R. 14. on erthe] here R. 3. wroth] wrou^t B. 15. Or] Other R ; Of B. or] other 4. seyde] loked W. R ; and of B. 6. frantyk] frenetike WO ; frentik Ill WISDOM IS WORTH LITTLE NOW-A-DAYS. [pass. X. 12 -'J \\ i idom is worth nothing now-a- il.iys, unless it is (aided with ('i)vetousness, like wool. [Fol. 38.] t Wicked men have this world's goods. (t Job xxi. 7); Jer. xii. 1. t Ps. lxxii. 12 (Vulg.). t Ps. x. 4 (Vulg.). t Jugglers and tale-tellers get most wealth. Jjan alio pe sotlie sawes pat salamon seyde euere. 16 ^T Wisdome and witte now is nou3t worth a carse, But if it be carded with coucytise ' as clotheres kemben here wolle. "Who-so can contreue deceytes an conspire wronges, And lede forth a loue-day to latte with treuthe ; 20 He fat suche craftes can to conseille is clepid ; Jjei lede lordes with lesynges and bilyeth treuthe. IT lob pe gentel in his gestes witnesseth, Jjat wikked men, pei welden pe welthe of pis worlde, And fiat pei ben lordes of eche a londe ' pat oute of lawe libbeth j 25 Quare impij vivunt ? bene est omnibus, qui preuaricantur fy inique agunt ? H jpe sauter seyth pe same ' bi suche pat don ille, Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes ; in seculo oplinuerunt diuicias. ' Lo ! ' seitb holy letterrure • ' whiche lordes beth pis shrewes ! ' Jjilke pat god moste gyueth leste good pei deleth, 28 And moste vnkynde to pe comune pat moste catel weldeth ; Que perfecisti, destruzerunt ; vastus autem [quid fecit ff] Ilarlotes for her harlotrye • may haue of her godis, And iaperes and iogeloures ' and iangelers of gestes. "fl" Ac he pat hath holy writte ay in his mouth, 32 And can telle of Tobye and of pe twelue apostles, 17. carse] so in R ; kerse WCOB. 18. it he] he B. kemben] kemen B. here] CROB om. 19. can contreue] kan troue C. de- ceytes] desaytise C. 20. to— with] and letten be R. 22. lordes] lordynges C. 23. gestes] gestes gretely COB. 24. \c'i] COB om. 25. of — a] of eck COB ; in vck a R. lame] C om. (!). 26. hah iin dantes] Sc habundantes 0. diuicias] R om. 27. holy] J;e holy 0. letterrure] lecture B. lordes] W om. 28. moste ffi/neth] most greueth CR ; gyuejj moost W ; moost good gyuejb 0. 29. [quid fecit] supplied from The Vulgate ; not in the MSS. 32. In the margin of is Nofa : how good carpyng is not loued. 33. ]ie] W om. PASS. X.] NOW-A-DAYS, MEN SCOFF AT THE TRINITY. 1 15 Or prechen of pe penaunce pat pilat wrou^t To Ihmi pe gentil pat Iewes to-drowe : — Litel is he loued pat suche a lesson?? scheweth, 36 Teachers ofhoiy Or daunted or drawe forth I do it on god hym-self ! uttie'ioved. 5T But po pat feynen liem folis ' and with faityng libbeth, A^ein pe lawe of owre lorde • and lyen on hem-selue, Spitten and spewen and speke foule wordes, 40 trying jesters •"■ know little about Drynken and dryuelen • and do men for to gape, music. Lickne men and lye on hem • pat leneth hem no ^iftes, J?ei conne namore mynstralcye ne musyke, men to glade, Than Munde pe mylnere ' of malt a fecit dens I 44 ~Ne were here vyle harlotrye • haue god my treuthe, t They depend on Shulde neuere Kyng ne kni3t ne chanou?i of seynt Poides 3yue hem to her 3eres3iue pe ^ifte of a grote ! 1[ Ac murthe and mynstralcye amonges men is nouthe But minstrelsy and mirth are Leccherye, losengerye and loseles tales ; 49 now nothing but Glotonye and grete othes pis murthe pei louieth. ^[ Ac if pei carpen of cryst pis clerkis and pis lewed, 121 If they speak of Atte mete in her murthes • whan mynstralles ben Christ, it is to make a mock of Stllle, 52 the Trinity. J)anne telle th pei of pe trinite a tale other tweyne, And bringen forth a balled resou?? and taken Bernard to witnesse, And putten forth a presumpsiouw • to preue pe sothe, 34. \>e] COB om. pilot] Pilat C. wikkedly W. 46. chanoun] canoim R. 36. Litel] Ful litel B. 47. yresyue] yeresgyfte C. lifte] 37. daunted — drawe'] dauntep or worth R ; value 0. drawib B. god] B om. 49. Leccherye] But lecherie B. 38. \>o] )?ei B ; J^oo W. losengerye] and losengerie RCOB. 39. lorde] C omits, by mistake. 50. )>ei^] R om. 41. dryuelen] drauelen O. for] 51. carpen] harpen C. for (printed fer) W. gape] Iape B. 52. her] COB om. murthes] 42. Lickne] Likkene RO ; Lykene murf>e W. C. yftes] gestes CB. 53. tweyne] tweye W ; tweyen 0, 44. mylnere] muleuerc R ; meluer 54. forth] O om. 10 1-46 MEN AMUSE THEMSELVES WITH PROFANE QUIBBLES. [PASS. X. Tims they talk Jpus fei dryuele at her deyse fie deite to knowe, 56 at the dais, and , [Foi. 38 6.] And gnawen god with fe gorge " whan her gutte is are full ; fulle. but the needy 5F Ac fie careftd may crye and carpen atte 3ate, man is driven from their gate Bothe afyngred and a-thurst and for chele quake ; Is none to nymen hym nere " his noye to amende, GO But [hoen] on hym as an hounde ' and hoten hym go fennes. Litel loueth he fat lorde fat lent hym al fat hlisse, j)at fus parteth with fe pore a parcel whan hym nedeth. were not the poor Ne were mercy in mene men more fan in riche, 64 kinder than the rich, many would Mendinantj meteles • mi^te go to hedde. God is moche in f e gorge of f ise grete maystres, Ac amonges mene men his mercy and his werkis ; see what is said in And so seith fe sauter • I haue yseye it ofte, 68 Ps. exxxi. 6 (Vuig.). Ecce audiuimvs earn in effrata, inuenimus earn in campis silue. Clerkes and other kynnes men carpen of god faste, cierks have And haue rhyml moche in be mouthe ac mene men in Christ in the L J x mouth, but poor herte. t men in the heart, _ _ 1f .., i P i i H Ireres and taitoures ' nan iounde sue he questiouws To plese with proude men • sithen f e pestilence tyme, And prechen at seint poules for pure enuye of clerkis, j)at folke is nou3te formed in f e feith ne fie of her goodes, 74 56. deyse] deys WCOB ; dayes R. for correction. 57. gutte— f idle] guttis is fulle (sic) 63. hym] hem 0. C ; guttis been fulle OB ; guttes f ullen 66. gorge] gorges E. W. 67. Ac] And B. 59. afyngrel] a-fyngerd C ; an- 68. J] Ich R. yseye'] sei^en WB ; hungred O ; a-hungred B. a-thvrst] seyn ; seen C. inuenimus] & a-furst W ; a-brist ; a-thrust CB. inueninn/.s CB. earn (2)] eurn R. chele] chelde C. 60. hynnes] R om. 60. Is] Is \cr WB. noye] nuye R ; 70. (hym WCROB] L om. be] B anoy W. to] R om. om. 61. [hoen on] so in R; heon on 72. sithen] syn W; sib 0. be] C LC ; howen on ; howlen on B ; om. tyme] R om. hunten W. In L, the line is marked 74. is] been 0. feith] fayit C PASS. X.] THEY OMIT THE DUTY OF ALMS-GIVING. 147 Ne sori for her synnes ' so is pryde waxen t Pride has so in- crGHSGd Lint In religious and in alio be rewme ' amonges riche & prayers have no m r- power. pore, 7o J^at preyercs liaue no power be pestilence to lette. And 3ette be wreccbes of bis worlde is none ywar bi other, Ne for drede of be deth • withdrawe noi^t her pryde, ' Ne beth plentyuous to be pore ' as pure charite wolde, t Men lack But in gaynesse and in glotonye for-glotten her goode hem-selue, 81 And breken nou^te to be beggar • as j>e boke techeth, Frange emrierdi panem tnum, fyc. t Isaiah iviii. 7. And be more he wynneth and welt welthes & ricchesse, And lordeth in londes be lasse good he deleth. 84 % Thobye telleth 30W nou3t so take hede, 3e riche, How be boke bible • of hym bereth witnesse : Si tibi sit copia, habundanter tribue ; si autem fTobitiv. 0. exiguum, illud impertiri stude libenter : — Who-so hath moche, spene nianliche so meneth Thobie, And who-so litel weldeth reule him ber-after ; 88 For we haue no lettre of OAvre lyf • how longe it shal t Life is uneer- n . tain. dure. Suche lessou/zes lordes shulde louie to here, 75. is pryde] pruyde is R. waxen] 83. welt] weldijj B. ricchesse'] woxen RWB ; vaxen C. richesses RB. 76. alle] C om. rewme] Reme W. 84. And] Enere as he R. And — 77. ^e pestilence] Jns pestilences R. londes] And lord of leedis and londis Here R has two extra lines, belonging B. to the C-text. 85. hede, y] he \>e C (sic). For god is def now a dayes • and 86. bible] of be bibile C ; of \>o. deyneth his heres to opne, bible B. hyrn] hem CB. sit copia] j?at gerles for here gyltes * he for- copia sit COB. illud] COHom. irn,- grynt hem alle. pcrtiri — libenter] inpe^tire libenter For deyneth we should read deyneth stude R. not. 87. spene] spende WO. manlichc] 78. wrecches] wryeches C. inuche C. meneth] seij? W. B is 79. npt^t] no^t of B. corrupt. 81. in (2)] CB om. for-glotten] 88. And] Bom. forglutten WCO ; for-gutten B. 89. dure] endure B. 148 THE RICH EAT IN TRIVATE TARLOURS. [r-ASS. X. t Men should not seek out feasts. [Fol. 39.] t Now rich men eat in a private parlour instead of in hall. t I have heard men at the high table cavil against God, asking why God let the serpent deceive Eve ; t Ezck. xviii. 20. And how he my^te moste rueyne - manliche fynde. 1F JSoi^t to fare as a fitheler or a frere for to seke festes, 92 Homelich at other mennes liouse[s] and liatyen her OWllt'. Elyng is pe halle vche daye in pe wyke, Jjere pe lorde ne pe lady liketh noirjte to sytte. Now hath vche riche a reule ; to eten bi hym-selue 96 In a pryue pa[r]loure for pore mennes sake, Or in a chamhre with a chymneye and leue pe chief halle, ])at was made for meles • men to eten Inne ; And al to spare to spille pat spende shal an other. ^T I haue yherde hiegh men etyng atte table, 101 Carpm as pai clerkes were of cryste and of his mi^tes, And leyden fantes vppon fie fader fat fourmed vs alle, And carpen ajeine clerkes crabbed wordes ; — ' Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre suche a worme in his blisse, £at bigyled fie won/man and pe man after, 106 Jjorw whiche wyles and wordes pei went[en] to helle, And al her sede for here synne pe same deth snffred ] IT Here lyeth 30wre lore ' • pise lordes gynneth dispute, ' Of pat 3e cleikes vs kenneth of cryst by pe gospel ; Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, Sfc. Whi shulde we pat now ben for pe werkes of Adam Eoten and to-rende 1 ' resou?z wolde it neuere ; 112 91. he viyrte] \>e\ my^ton B. meyne] meyiiee W. 92. Nbuit] And nou^t C ; And how nojt B ; Ac not 0. or] or as R. for] R om. 93. [houses] so in WCBOB ; house L. 94. Elyng] Elenge WCOB. \>e] }?at B. ?ryhe] weke RC. 95. ne] and COB. to] om. 96. vche] ech WB ; ich ; elk (sic) C. hymselue] hem-selue C. 98. a (1)] B om. with] by B. 100. al] O om. to spille] to spende W ; and to spille {badly) CB. spende] spene R ; spille W. 101. yherde] herd CRB. 103. vppon] on CB. 107. wenten CRB] wente W ; went L. 109. pise] bat beise O. 110. y] f>e WB. patris] R om. 112. to-rende] to-rene R ; rend CB: renten O. wolde] walde RC. portabit — suum] honus suuw portabit R. PASS. X.] HOW CAN ANY MAN FATHOM GOD's WILL? 149 Vnusqulsque portabit onus smun, fyc' t Gal. vi. 5. Suclie motyues bei moeue * bis maistres in her glorie, And maken men in mysbileue bat muse moche on her The men who believe them, WOrdeS J disbelieve. If Ymaginatyf her-afterward shal answers to 3owre pwrpos. 115 Tf Augustyne to suche argueres he telleth hem bis teme, Augustine refers us to Rom. xii. 3. N071 plus sapere qaam oportet. Wilneth neuere to wite whi bat god wolde Suffre Sathan his sede to bigyle, Ac bileue lelly in be lore of holicherche, 119 Believe and pray. And preye hym of pardoura and penaunce in bi lyne, And for his moche mercy e to amende 30W here. For alle bat wilneth to wyte be weyes of god aln^ty, Evil be to him I wolde his eye were in his ers and his fynger after, know God's ways. J3at euere wilneth to wite • whi bat god Avolde 124 Suffre sathan • his sede to higile, Or iudas to be iuwes • ihesu bytraye. Al was as bow wolde lorde, y worschiped be bow, Praised be Thou, And al worth as bow wolte what so we dispute ! 128 badone! ^f And bo bat vsetli bis hanelounes ' to blende mennes [two to him] who wants to witteS, know Do-well What is dowel fro dobet ' now def mote he worthe, (Sitthe he wilneth to wyte whiche bei ben bothe), But if he lyue in be lyf bat longeth to dowel ; 132 [Foi. 39 &.] For I dar ben his bolde borgh • bat dobet wil he neuere, 113. moeue'] moeuea B ; meuen 0; 127. \>ow wolde] bow woldest meue WE (misprinted mene). WCOB ; he wolde R. yworschiped] 115. her-afterward] here-after CB. worshiped C. \>ow] be W. a-nswere] answerie R. ynvre] hir W. 128. al] C on. 11G. Augustyne'] Austyn WORB. 120. hanelounes] hanylounes or he] WCOB am. hem] WCOB om. hauylounes C ; written so as to rc- \is] his 0. senible hauelounes in L ; hauylounes 117. mite] wete B. O ; hauelons R ; hauylouws B. 119. Ac] And B. bileue] bileueb blende] hlynde O. WB. 130. now] \>at W. 122—124. be weyes— to wite] CB 131. Sittke] Siche B. bothe] nUeR. omit. L32. lyf] lyue RB. 122. weyes] whyes O. 133. bolde'] R om. he neuere] be 126. to — iuwes] be lew R. nere R. 150 THE POET BESEECHES STUDY TO HELP IIIM. [PASS. X. Wit, hearing Study bo talk, was confounded, and signed to me to beseech her. 127 I [bowed] to Study, and asked her to teach me about Do-well. She said she would recommend me to Clergy (Learning), whose wife was Scripture (Writing). Jjeigh dobest drawe on hym day after other." ^T And whan {nit witte was ywar what dame studye tolde, He hicorne so confus • he couth novate loke, 136 And as doumbe a[s] deth • and drowe hym arrere ; ^f And for no carpyng I couth after no knelyng to |?e grounde, I my3te gete no greyne ' of his grete wittis, 1 39 But al laughyng he louted and loked vppon studye, In sigue fat I shulde biseche hir of grace. IF And whan I was Avar of his wille • to his wyf gan I loute, And seyde, " mercy, madame 30wre man shal I worthe, As longe as I lyue " bothe late & rathe, 144 Forto worche 30\vre wille fie while my lyf dureth, With }»at 3e kenne me kyndely ' to knowe what is dowel." IT " For f i mekenesse, man," quod she " and for f i mylde speche, 147 I shal kenne fe to my cosyn fat clcrgye is hoten. He hath wedded a wyf with-Inne J)is syx monethes, Is sybbe to f e seuene artz * scripture is hir name. Joel two, as I hope • after my techyng, Shullen wissen fe to dowel I dar it vndertake." 152 ^] Jjanne was I also fayne as foule of faire morwe, And gladder fan f e gleman fat golde hath to jifte, And axed hir f e heighe weye " where fat clergye dwelte, 134. \c\rjh — drawe] bei don best bat drawen B. 135. what] how E. 136. hlcomc — confus'] was seufitid (y-scuwfitid ?) B. 137. as (2)] as WCROB ; a deth'] deef B. and] he B. hym] B ; C om. 142. B omits. 143. worthe] worbe OB; be C. 145. Forto] And forto R; For y so y- L. al B. dureth] lastes C. 14G. kenne — kyndely] kendely (oy mistake} R. 148. clergye'] clergise B. 149. monethes"] monethus R ; monbes \VB. 150. Is] tat is B. \e\ W om. artz] ars RB ; artes C. 152. wissen] wise R. it] wel R. 153. also] as R, of] on B. 155. axed] basked R; asked W. PASS. X.] SHE COMMENDS HIM TO CLERGY AND SCRIPTURE. 151 "And telle me some token," quod I " "for tyme is J>at I wende." 156 IT "Axe be keidie wave," quod she "hennes to suffre- "The way 11 T 11 thither is through Bothe-wel-&-wo 3if bat bow wult lerne, suffer-weai-and- And ryde forth by ricchesse • ac rest bow nai^t berinne, For if bow couplest be ber-with • to clergye comestow passing by Riches i />r\ an ^ lechery, neuere. 100 ^[ And also be likeronse launde bat leccherye hatte, Leue hym on bi left halue • a large inyle or more, Tyl bow come to a courte ' kepe-wel-bi-tonge- tui thou come to iti i i the court called Frodesynges-and-hther-speche- - and-likerouse-drynkes. Keep-thy-tongue. banne shaltow se sohrete and symplete-of-speche, 165 Then shait thou see Sobriety and bat eche wnte be in wille his witte be to shewe, 128 ' J Simplicity. And bus shaltow come to clergye • bat can many binges. Coming to clergy, i -, n tell liim it was I 1F Saye hym bis signe I sette hym to scole, loo who put him to And bat I [grete] wel his wyf ' for I wrote hir many s ' 10 [Foi. 40.] bokes, And sette hir to sapience and to be sauter glose. say i taught his wife the Psalter Logyke I lerned hir • and many other lawes, and wisdom, , ,, . r .-,, -r i t • . lo.'ic and music. And alle be musouws in mu[sijke • I made hir to knowe. 172 ^f Plato be poete " I put hym fyrste to boke, i taught Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle and other moo " to argue I tau^te. Grammer for gerles I garte first wryte, And bette hem Avith a baleis • but if bei wolde lerne. Of alkinnes craftes I contreued toles, 177 156. I] we R. 169. [grete WCB] grette LRO. 157. she'] studye COB. 170. to'] B om. glose] glosed B. 158. \onmolt] bat wold B (wrongly). 172. \>e] W om. mvsouns] muy- 159. ac] butO; and C. );ow] OB sones R. in] of O. muslkc] muke om. 'in L, but marked for correction; 160. clergye] cherche R. musik WCROB. 7] 'Rom. 161. hatte] hattes C; is hote R; 173. hym] W om. fyrste] Bom. hattebB. 1 7 4. Aristotle] so in WCRO ; 162. hym] it "WCOB. or] and CO. ArestotleL. moo] Bom. I] I hem B. 161. Fro] For C. 175. gerles] gildire C {a confusion 165. sobrete] sobere C. sjjeche] between g[erles] and [oh]ildire). berynge R. wryte] to write \V. 168. Saye] Telle B. signe] taken 176. 7/e»i] kyniRB. baleis] wandeC. C ; tokene B. J] bat y B. 177. contreued] controued C. 152 THE BEST PART OF TIIEOLOGY IS LOVE. [PASS. X. I also t night masons the u e of level and line. But Theology has vexed me often ; musing on it only makes it mistier. But for the love that is in it, it were a sorry thing. 189 t Love truly, if Do-weil pleases you. Cato (Dist. i. 2G) says differently, but Theology bids us love and return good lor evil; Of carpentrie, of kerucres and compassed masou?ts, And lerned hem leuel and lyne bough I loke dymme. IT Ac theologie hath tened me ' ten score tymes, ISO The more I muse f ere-Inne fie mistier it semeth, And be depper I deuyne be derker me it binkcth ; It is no science for sothe forto sotyle Inne ; A fid lethy binge it were 3if J»at loue nere. 184 Ac for it let best by loue I loue it be bettre ; For bere fat loue is leder ' ne lacked neuere grace. Loke f ow loue lelly • 3 if pe lyketh dowel ; For dobet and dobest " ben of loues kynne. 188 *[ In other science it seyth I [seigh] it in catou??, Qui simulat verbis, [nee] corde est fidus amicus, Tu quoquefac simile, sic ars deluditur arte. "YVho-so gloseth as gy lours don go me to be same, 192 And so shaltow false folke and faythlees bigyle, J}is is catormes kennyng ' to clerkes fat he lereth. Ac theologye techeth noi^t so who-so taketh 3eme, He kenneth vs pe contrarye a3ein catones wordes ; For he bit vs be as bretheren and bidde for owre enemy s, 197 And louen hem fat lyen on vs ' and lene hem whan hem nedetli, And do good a3eines yuel • god hym-self it hoteth, 178. carpentrie] capentrie C. 189. 179. lerned] kewnede 0. 190. 180. Ae~] COB om. similat 183. science'] sentens C. sotyle'] in R. sai^tele R ; subtile C ; sutile B. 191 . 184. A] And O. lethy] lop B ; luditur lyght C. 192. 185. Ac] And COB. let] letef. W; COC2 ; leet R. pc] C om. 195. 186. pere pat] pat pere R. ne] 196. per W. lacked neuere'] lakkes no C ; 197. lakkep no OB. B om. 187. Loke] Loue R. pe hjheth] 199. powthenkeR. biddes 188. For] And 0. omnes] [seigh CWO] saye LB ; seye R. simulat] so in WCROB ; L. [nee COB] vel LW ; vel sic] cum O. deluditur] di- R ; dilludiftw 0. go me to] so in LRW ; do hem don hem B. lemc] gome R. He] And COB. bit] bid C ; biddep WB. as] And] And also CB. hoteth] C. habemvs] est R. ad R om. v^? PASS. X.] ASTRONOMY AND GEOMETRY ARE DIFFICULT. 15 Dum temjpus habemus, operemur bonum ad t Gai. vi. 10. omnes, maxime autem ad domed icos fidei. H Poule preched be peple ' bat parfitnesse loued, 200 To do good for goddes loue and gyuen nieri Jjat asked, And nameliclie to suche ' fat sueth owre bileue. And alio bat lakketh vs or lyeth vs • owre lorde techeth t We must love ' our enemies. vs to louye, And noujt to greuen hem bat greueth vs god liym-self for-badde it, 204 Miehi vlndictam, fy ego retrlbuam. t Rom. *i\ 19. For-bi loke bow louye as longe as bow durest, For is no science vnder sonne so souereyne for be soule. 1F Ac astronomye is an harde bynge and yuel forto Astronomy, geometry, and knowe, [F01.40&.] geomancy are Geometrie and geomesye • is ginful of speche ; 208 evu things, Who-so thenketh werche with bo two * thryueth fill late. For sorcerye is be souereyne hoke bat to be science and deal with 60rcery. longeth. f[ }et ar bere fybicches in forceres • of fele mennes makynge, 211 Experinientz of alk[en]amye be poeple to deceyue, Deal not with If bow binke to dowel ' dele ber-with neuere. 130 Alio bise sciencefsl I my-self • sotiled and ordeyned, 1 invented these ' l j « sciences to de- And founded hem formest folke to deceyue. ceive men." 1T Telle clergye bise tokenes and scripture after, 21G 201. aslted] asketh R ; asken OB. bo R. science longeth] sciences bi- 202. \>at] asW. suet It] scheweth R. longeb "W. 203. vs (1)] R om. or lyeth vs] 211. fybicches'] fibiche G. mennes'] and lies V8 C; & lieb vs O ; and mawnys B ; men C. bilieb vs B ; or lyeb W. owre lorde] 212. alkenamye] so inWG ; alkene- god COB. mye O ; alconomie R ; alle kyu amye 201. hym-self — it] bat forbedes C ; B ; alkamye L. bat forbedib O ; bat for-bede B. re- 213. )>inke] benkist B. dele] dele tribuam] retribuani kc CB. bou B. 206. science] conscience CO. 214. sciences] so in WRB ; science 207. an] andC ; Row, knorve] Com. LO ; sciens C. 208. is] so W. ginful] synful B. 215. founded] by-fond R. 209. werche] to worche B. 210. \Ase tokenes] bis tokene W. 210. bohe] ho!k B. \>e (2)] tat B ; and] and to R. 154 THE DREAMER GREETS CLERGY AND SCRIPTURE. [PASS. X. To conseille be Icyndely to knowe what is dowel." If I seidc, "graunt mercy, madame " and mekeliche hir grette, so i went on tin i And went whtlich awey with-oute more lettyncre, met Clergy and J u J ° ' his wife, And til I come to clergye I coutke neuere stynte. 220 And gret[te] be good man as studye me tai^te, And afterwardes be wyf and worshiped hem bothe, And tolde hem be tokenes bat me tai^te were. whoreecived me Y» r as neuere gome vppon bis grounde sith god made be worlde, 224 Fairer vnder-fongen ne frendeloker at ese, )}an my-self sothly sone so he wist J^at I was of wittis hous • and with his wyf dame studye. i said i was sent I seyde to hem sothely bat sent was I bider. 228 to learn about Do- well, Do-bet, and Dowel and dobet and dobest to lerne. Do-best. [131] ^[ " It is a comune lyf," quod clergye ' " on holycherche tbe articles of to bileue, faith ; With alle be artikles of be feithe • bat falleth to be knowe. And bat is to bileue lelly bothe lered and lewed, 232 On be grete god bat gynnyng had neuere, tin three persons, And on be sothfaste sone ' bat saued mankynde and one God. Fro be dedly deth and be dcueles power, Jjorwgh be helpe of be holy goste be whiche goste is of bothe ; 236 Three [propre] persones ac nou^t in plurel noumbre, For al is but on god and eche is god hym-selue ; 217. To] I COB. to— is] for to mane C. sith} syn G ; synnes B. \>e] knowe R. }?is 0. 218. grannt mercy'] gramercy B. 225. frcndelohe r] frendloker CRB ; hir] y here B. frendeleker ; frendlier W. 219. mhtlieh awey] mi^teliche my 227. pat] That (printed Than) W. wey R ; wi^thi a-weye B. wyf ] C om. 220. tit] R om. 228. hem] hym COB. was J] I 221. grette] so in WCRO ; grett was R. B ; gret L. man] man wel CB. 235. \>e (2)] W om. studye] \>a gode wif R (which is 237. [propre R] wrongly omitted better). in LWCOB. ac] and CR. 224. Was] Was here B. gome] 238. eche] elkon C. PASS. X.] CONCERNING FAITH IN THE TRINITY. 155 Deus pater, deus films, deus spiritus sanctus ; God f e fader, god f e sone god lioligoste of bothe, Maker of mankynde and of bestes bothc. 240 ST Axistyn f e olde bere-of be made bokes, t Austin wrote books about this. And hym-seli ordeyned • to sadde vs in bileue. Who was his autour 1 ' alle f e foure euangelistes ; And cryst clepid byni-self so fe ewangelistes bereth witnesse : — 244 Ego in jpatre fy pater in me est ; fy, qui videt + John xw. 9, 10. me, videt et patrem meum. Alle f e clerkes vnder cryst ne couthe f is assoille, P>nt f us it bilongeth to bileue ' to lewed fat widen [Foi. «.] dowel. For had neuere freke fyne wytte f e feyth to dispute, Xe man had no merite ' myjte it ben yproued : 248 tThe merit of Fides non habet meritum, vbi humana racio of proof. prebet experimentum. IT Jjanne is dobet to suffre for f i soules helth, t Do-bet is to Al fat f ft boke bit by holycherche techyng ; And fat is — ' man, bi f i mi3te • for mercies sake, 251 Loke f ow worche it in werke fat f i worde sheweth ; Suche as f ow semest in sy^te ' be in assay y-founde ; Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares : t Be what you And lat no body be • bi fi beryng bygyled, But be suche in f i soule as f ow semest with-oute.' ^T Jeanne is dobest to be bolde to blame fe gylty, 256 t Do-best is to be blameless, and to Sithenes fow seest fi-self • as in soule clene ; blame the guilty. 240. Maker] Makers C ; Najjeles (!) E. yproued] ypreued W ; proueel B. RB. prebet experimentum] kc R. 241. he] WCOB am. 249. \>i] )>e W, soules] soule RCB. 242. ordeyned] ordeigned it CB. helth] sake COB. 243. Who] Who so B. 250. Al] And B. bit] bides C. 244. ewangelistes] eu^ngelist COB. cherche] cherches W. est] R om. videt me — meum] me 252. \>i] |us R. worde] werke CB. vidit, pr/frem meum \idit R. W 253. y/oundc] founden 0. vel] omits this Latin quotation. aut R. 246. it] Com. bilongeth] longeth 254. beryng] lernynge CB. bygyled] RO. lowed] men COB. be bygiled R. 247. For] Ne B. 255. be] COB om. 248. Ne] For 0. merite] mercy 256. dobest] dobet B. 15G LET EVERY FAULT-FINDER MEND HIMSELF. [PASS. X. t Mat. vii. 3. t Mat. vii. 5. t I advise every blind buzzard to amend himself. Ac blame bow neucre body • and bow be blame-worthy : Si culpare veils culpdbilis esse cauebls, Dogma tuum sonlet cum le tua culpa remordet. 2G0 God in be gospel " grymly repreueth Alle bat lakken any lyf and lakkes han liem-selue : Quid consideras festucam in ocido fratris tui, trahem in oculo tuo \non vides ?] Why meuestow bi mode • for a mote in bi brotheres eye, Sithen a beem in June owne ablyndeth bi-selue ] 2G4 Eice jprimo trahem de oculo tuo, fyc, Whiche letteth be to loke ' lasse other more. IT I rede eche a blynde bosarde do bote to hym-selue ; For abbotes and for prioures and for alle manere prelates, As parsones and parisshe prcstes bat preche shulde and teche, 2G8 Alle manere men to amenden by here my3te ; t Priests should This tixte was tolde 30W • to ben war, ar 3c tai^te, J)at 3e were suehe as 3e seyde ' to salue with othere. For goddis worde wolde nou^t be loste for bat worch- eth euere, 272 If it auailled noi^t be eomuue • it my3te auaille 30W- seluen. IT Ac it semeth now sothly to be worldes syght, Jjat goddes worde worcheth nau3te " on lered ne on lewede, parissh«j (printed parisshes) W. shulde] schulle R. 269. manere] manere of COB. by] be CR. myite] my3t.es W. 270. tolde] I-told R (better), war] y-war W ; ware C. ar] er WCOB. 271. seyde] seye W. to] to (print i-il So) W. salue] saue B. 272. loste] boste R ; altered in L Eice] so from boste to loste. 273. io}v-seluen] joure-seluen R ; yow G ; 30W B. 274. now] noil. \>e] Rovi. worldes] wordis B. 275. worde] wordes R. on (2)] CB om. practise what they preach. t Yet God's will is not done. 2G0. tuum] tua B. te] B om. 201. grymly] greuously W. 262. Quid] Qui W. OB omit all after trabem ; C all after the second in ; now vides is in R only. 263. meuestow] meues Jjow R ; mouestow C ; meuest \>ou OB ; printed menestovv W. brotheres] brother R. 264. Sithen] Sijjjje R. aUyndetK] blyndejj 0; ablendeth R i/j" LWCROB. de] in W. 265. Whiche] Witt R. 266. a] B om. 267. for (2)] COB om. for (3)] COB om. manere] mancce of COB. 268. As] And C ; Ac B. parisshe] PASS. X.] THE CRIMES OF HOPHNI AND PHINEAS. 157 But in suche a manere as Marke meneth in be gospel, Dum cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foil earn cadunt. + Mat. xv. n ; mt t ,., n Lu. vi. 39. Tl Lewed men may likne 30W bus • bat be beem lithe in 30wre eyghen, 277 And be festu is fallen • for ^owre defaute, In alle manere men " bourgh mansed prestes. pe bible bereth witnesse ' bat alle be folke of israel t Remember Hophni and Byttere abou^te be gultes • of two badde prestes, 281 piuneas (1 sam. iv.). Offyn and Fynes ; • for her coueytise, ' p?oi. 41 a.] Archa del myshapped ' and ely brake his nekke. If For-bi, 3e corectoures, claweth her-on and corecteth fyrst ^ow-seluen, 284 And banne mowe je saufly seye as dauid made be sauter : Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis : arguam t Ps. xiix. -21 (Vulg.). te, q statuam contra faciem tuam. H And banne shal borel clerkes ben abasched to blame 30W or to greue, And carpen noujte as bei carpen now and calle 30W doumbe houndes, Canes non valentes latrare, t Dumb dogs; Isaiah lvi. in. And drede to wratthe 30W in any worde * 30wre werke- manship to lette, 288 And be prestiore at 30wre prayere * ban for a pounde of nobles ; And al for 30wre holynesse haue 3e bis in herte. 276. a] COB om. foueam] fouiarn R. 284. y] CB om. claweth] clawes C. 277. lihne] liken C ; likken O. corecteth'] corectes C. ww-seluen] \>us] COB om. youre-seluen COB. 279. mansed] mased C; mansed 285. savfly] safly WCO ; mawliche (uttered to mased) B. E. seye] segge B. made] made in 280. alle] al W (omitted in printed W. tuam'] &c B. copy). 286. And] COB om. borel] burel 281. Byttere] Ful bitterli B. WR. or— greue] Bom. to (2)] Bom. abovyte] bo^te COB. gultes] giltes 287. carpen (2)] do COB. and] WCO ; gilt B. two] po two B. ne W. valentes] volentes B. 282. Offyn] so in WCOR; Offny 289. prestiore] presteore ~R ; presb- B. Fynes] Fynees C ; fynyes B. ier CO ; prester W ; more prcest B. 283. myshapped] meskapud R ; pray ere] preyeres R. for] CB om. myschappid B. 290. al] B om. 158 TOMP AND ARROGANCE OF THE MONKS. [PASS. X. [1[ Amonges rijtful religiousc fis reule sclmlde be holde ; Gregory the pope Gregorie fe grete clerke and fe goed pope 292 Of religioun f o reule " reherseth in his morales, And scyth it in ensaumple for Jjei schulde do fere- after, as fish die out of ' Whenne fissclies failen f e node or f e fresche water, Rdig^onwhen Jpei deyen for drouthe • whanne fei drie ligge; 296 Ei3t so, quod Gregorie ' religioun roileth, Sterueth and stynketh • and steleth lordes almesses, }3at oute of couent and cloystre coueyten to libbe.' t if heaven be on For if heuene be on fis ertlie and ese to any soule, cloister. ' It is in cloistere or in scole • be many skilles I fynde ; For in cloistre cometh [no] man • to chide ne to fi^te, But alle is buxumnesse fere and bokes to rede and to lerne.] 303 ^] In scole fere is scorne but if a clerke wil lerne, And grete loue and lykynge for eche of hem loueth other. But now, Religion j^ c no ^ is religioun a ryder • a rowmer bi stretes, is a rider, and a buyer of land; A leder of louedayes and a londe-bugger, A priker on a palfray fro manere to manere, 308 An heep of houndes at his ers as he a lorde were. And but if his knaue knele ' fat shal his cuppe brynge, t and behaves like He loureth on hym and axeth hym • who taujte hym a great lord. curteisye 1 t Lords ought not Litel had lordes to done • to 3yue londe fram her heires 312 091 — 303. In R only; rf. Text A stretes'] Romere aboute "W. and Text C. See the Critical Note. 307. a] R om„ bugger] bygger 297. Gregorie] here miswritten CO ; biere B. Grigori ; but see 1. 297. roileth] mis- 309. An] And C. ers] ars B. written rolletb ; but see A xi. 206. 310. if] B om. his (2)] hym C ; 302. [no] supplied from Text C ; hym >e OB. cuppe] coppe WO ■Rom. 311. hym (2)] COB om. _ 304. scorne] a scorn B. scorne — 312. done] soinWB; don L ; doon nil] sidle • and scorne but jif he R. WC ; do O ; seep. 170, I. 37. 30G. Ac] And CO. rowmer — PASS. X.] THE ABBOT OF ABINGDON SHALL BE WOUNDED. 159 To Eeligious, fat haue no reutlie fough it reync on to give to monies. here auteres. If In many places f er hij persones ben • be hem-self at ese, Of Jje pore haue pel no pite and fat is her charite ; Ac Jjei leten hem as lordes • her londe lith so brode. 1" Ac fere shal come a kyng * and confesse 30W re-. t But a king shall 1 come and reform liglOUSeS, ^17 Religion. And bete 30W as f e bible telleth for brekynge of 3owre reule, And amende monyales monkes and chanovms, And putten hem to her penaunce • ad pristinum stalum ire, 320 And Barounes with Erles beten hem f orugh beatus t Ps. \. c virres techynge, Jjat here barnes daymen and blame 30W foule : Hij in cuxribus, [ft] hij in equis ; ipsi obligati t Ps. xix. s, 9 (Vulg.). sunt, qc. 11 And f anne Freres in here freitoure • shal fynden a keye Of costantynes coffres ' in which is f e catel 324 J3at Gregories god-children han yuel dispended. IT And fanne shal fie abbot of Abyndoun and alle t Then shall the rl . -1 . n abbot of Abingdon [his] issu for euere receive a knock Haue a knokke of a kynge • and incurable fe wound e. romt e ns; % That f is worth soth, seke 3e fat oft ouer-se f e bible : 313. reuthe] ryghte C. 321. with} and COB. beten'] biten 314. places] place C. \>er] or B. R. virres] so in LWE ; vir-is B ; hij] hei WO ; thay C. persones ben] vir CO. ben persons W. be] be (pr. by) W. 322. Hij] so in the MSS. in both 315. }pe] om. her] his C; hir places, except that C has Hijs in the pure E. first case. \et WCROB] L om. 316. Ac] And COB. londe lith] 324. coffres] tresore COB. londes lyen W.. 325. god-children] gode cbilderne E. 317. religiouses] religiouse O; re- 326. Abyndoun] Abyngton C. ligiouras B. [_his WCROB] L om. issu] vssue R. 318. \>e] C om. 328. fi»] is (corruptly) B. \e] 319. monyales] monial C. 30UIY; B. eedeneiwm] credenciuw CB, 320. hem] W om. ad] B om. insanabili] insabili CRB. 1G0 RICH MEN SHALL HARDLY ENTER HEAVEN. [PASS. X. [Fol. 42.] t Isaiah xiv. i, 5, 6. t Before that king comes, Cain will awake. 133 Kinghood and knighthood help not to heaven. Paul says the rich cannot win heaven (1 Tim. vi. 9). t Ecelus. x. 10. t Cato, Dist. iv. i. t Wise men all praise poverty." " I deny it," I said ; " I refer you to Peter" (Mark xvi. 1C). Quomodo cessault exactor, quieuit tributum; centriuit domiuus bacidum impiorum, et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga in- sanabili, fyc. % Ac ar J>at kynge come • cayme shal awake. 3:29 Ac dowel shal dyngen hym acloune and destruyen liis myjte." " J)anne is dowel and dobet," quod I " dominus and kni^thode." % " I nel noivjt scorne," quod scripture " " out if scryueynes lye ; 332 Kynghod ne kny^thod by nau^t I can awayte, Helpeth noujt to lieueneward one heres ende, ISTe riccliesse ri3t nou^t ne reaute of lordes. ^T Poule preueth it inpossible riche men [to] haue beuene, 336 Salamon seith also fiat syluer is worst to louye : Nichil iniquius quam amare peccuniam. And caton kenneth vs to coueiten it naujt but as nede techeth, Dilige denarium, set parce dilige formam. And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes botbe 340 TVryten to wissen vs to wilne no ricchesse, And preyseden pouerte with pacience ; ' be apostles bereth witnesse, ]3at bei ban heritage in heuene " and bi trewe rijte, Jpere riche men no rijte may clayme but of reutbe and grace." 344 ^T " Contra" quod I, " bi cryste bat can I repreue, And preue it bi Peter and bi poule bothe, 330. Ac] And COB ; But W. dyngen] dygen C. 333. ne] & OB ; a C. 334. heres'] heris \VB. 335. reaute] Reautee W ; realte RB. 336. it] om. inpossible] so in R ; impossible ; impossible WCO. [to WOB] LRC om. 338. it — techeth'] not but as it nedib OB ; nouit but as it nedes C. as— techeth^] at pure nede R. 341. Kilne] wille B. 344. men] man R. no] no^t B. may] mowen O ; CB om. 345. repreue] reherce CB. PASS. X.] THE DUTY OF ALMS-GIVING. 161 Jjat is baptized beth sauf • be he riche or pore." IT "jpat is in extremis" quod scripture "amonges "That refers to t . _ ,-, Saracens and saracenes and lewes ; 3 8 JewS) » sa id she. Jpei mowen be saued so and bat is owre byleue, )}at an vncristene in fiat cas may crysten an hethen, And for bis lele byleue whan he be lyf tyneth, Haue be heritage of heuene ' as any man crystene. 352 IT Ac crysten men with-onte more may noujt come to "The rule for , Christians is neuene, given in [t col For fat cryst for cristen men deyde and confermed be lawe, Jpat who-so wolde and wylneth with cryste to aryse, Si cum Christ o surr exist is, fyc, He shulde louye & leue and be lawe fulfille. 356 Jjat is — ' loue bi lorde god • leuest aboue alle, and in Lu. x. 27. And after, alle crystene creatures • in comune, eche man other,' And bus bilongeth to louye • pat leueth to be saued. And but we do )ms in dede • ar pe daye of dome, 360 I[t] shal bisitten vs fid soure pe siluer bat we kepen, t we should not i. panni. hoard silver or And owre bakkes bat moth-eten be and sen beggers go c'othes. naked, Or delyte inwynand wyldefoule and wote any in defaute. For euery cristene creature shulde be kyncle td other, [Foi. 42&.J Christians ought And sithen hethen to helpe * in hope of amendement. to help each other. God hoteth bothe heigh and loAve ' bat no man hurte other, 366 347. CB omit, is] been 0. beth 359. to (2)] \V om. savf] been saued O. he] >ei 0. 360. ar] er O ; or CB ; sit W. 348. saracenes] Sarzens W. 361. [It WCROB] I L (line marked); 350. an (1)] on R. ]>at] J?is CB. 362. bakkes] glossed i. panni in L, hethen] haythen C. and clones in C; B has bakclobis. 351. his] is C. moth] mote R ; mottbis B. be] B om. 354. ?»e»] man B. deyde] deyede 363. delyte] delitevsCOB. and (I)] RO ; deide W ; dede C ; dide B. & in R. wote] wite W ; woot O ; 355. surrexistis] resurexistis C ; wyten B. resurexisti B. 365. CB omit. 357. bi] te B. pi— god] god bi 366. B omits, hoteth] bedes C. lorde R. abonc alle] of alle tbynges hothr] W om. CB ; aboue al bing 0. 11 162 THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION. [pass. X. Sea Lu. xviii. 20." Rom. xii. 19. t " This is a long lesson," said I. " I am saved, if saved, by pre- destination. John iii. 13. Solomon, who wrote Wisdom — f who taught men better than he and Aristotle ? And seith, ' slee noujt fat semblable is to myne owen liknesse, But if I sencle fe sum tokne'; " and seith, non mecaberis, Is, slee nou^t, but sufFre and al for fie beste. 369 [For, Michi vindictam, fy ego retribuam.~\ ' For I sbal punysshen beni in pwrgatorie or in f e putte of helle, Vclie man for bis mysdedes * but mercy it lette.' " IT " jpis is a longe lessomz," quod I "and litel am I fe wyser ; 372 Where dowel is, or dobet derkelich ^e sbewen ; Many tales ye tellen fat tbeologye lerneth ; And fat I man made was and my name yentred In f e legende of lyf longe er I were, 376 Or elles vnwriten for somme wikkednesse as holywrit wytnesseth, Nemo ascendit ad celum, nisi qui de celo de- [s\cendit. % I leue it wel," quod I, " bi owre lorde and on no letterure bettere. For Salamon f e sage • fat sapience tau^te, God gaf bym grace of witte and alle his godes after, [To reule fe reume and riche to make ;] 381 He demed wel & wysely ' as holy writte telleth. Aristotle & he who wissed men bettere 1 Maistres fat of goddis mercy ' techen men and prechen, Of here wordes f ei wissen vs for wisest as in here tynie, 367. seith'] saide C. semblable is] is senibland C ; is semblable B. 368. seitlv] sayde C. mecaberis'] so in WCRB ; necaberis L (with n altered from m) ; necabis O. The mistake is the author's. See the Critical Note. 369. Is] I COB. [For—retribuam] in R only ; cf. Text A ; and see 1. 204. 370. hem] R om. 370, 371. or in— mysdedes] CB omit. 374. theologye] teologie R. 375. I man] y am B. 376. lyf] seyntis 0. 377. vnwriten] writen 0. somme] COB om, writ] C om. wytnesseth'] telleth R ; witnesse C. descendit] miswritten decendit in L. 378. I] And I R. quod I] R om. ; CB place it after lorde. 380. gaf] gaf (printed gat) W. his] R om. 381. In R only. Cf. C-text. 385. wisest] visest C. as] R om. PASS. X.] NEITHER SOLOMON NOR ARISTOTLE WERE SAVED. 163 And al holiclierche holdeth hem bothc ydampned ' 135 J l Yet are they bah IF And if I sknlde worke bi here werkes to wynne rne in heU ! Were I to do as heuene, 387 they taught, and Jjat for her werkes and witte now wonyeth in pyne, i were unwise )}anne wrou3te I vnwysely what-so enere ye preche. lluleed - If Ac of fele witty in feith htel ferly I haue, Jjough. her goste be vngraciouse god for to plese. For many men on Jjis molde more sette here hertis 392 In good ban in god • for-bi hem grace failleth, t But many men rather seek goods At here moste myschief * whan bei shal lyf lete. than God. As Salamon dede, and such other bat shewed gret wittes, Ac her werkes, as holy wrytte seyth was euere be con- trarye. 39 G For-bi wyse witted men and w T el ylettred clerkes, As bei seyen hem-self • selden done ber-after, Super cathedra[ni] moysy, tyc. Mat. xxiii. 2. H Ac I wene it worth of many • as was in Noes tyme, j3o he shope bat shippe of shades and hordes ; 400 Was neuere wriate saued bat wromt ber-on • ne ober t The flood de- ' ' r * stroyed all but werkman elles, Noah. But hriddes and bestes and be Missed ISoe, And his wyf with his sones ' and also here wyues ; [Foi. 43.] Of w^tes bat it wro^te was none of hem ysaued. 404 ^f God leue it fare noiv^t so bi folke * bat be feith techen Of holicherche, bat he[r]berwe is • and goddes hous to t May Holy Church prove to Saue, be Noah's ark ! 386. al] as C. holdeth] holt 0. (wrongly) CB. seyth] R om (!). mas] 387. here'] his CB. werkes] wekes so in LCROB ; were W. (wrongly) C. 397. and] ne R. 388. and] and here R. 398. selden] selde W ; sendeu (!) 389. wromte] wromte (printed C. cathedram] so in RO ; cathedra wroughe) W. so] B om. LWCB. 390. Ac] And COB. of] O om. 399. it] I R. 392. men] man R. hertis] herte R. 400. shoj?e] shoop W. and] and of 394. At here] Ac J?e OB ; And f>e WR. C. myschief] rnyscheef is O. lyf] 404. COB omit, writes] wightes be lif B. W. ysaued'] saued R. 395. dede — other] and other dede R. 406. Jierberwe WCOB] herhirw R; 396. Ac] And C. werkes] wordes heberwe L ; (the line is marked). 1G4 THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS SAVED. [PASS. X. t Ps. xxxv. 7 (Vulg.). Put the thief on the cross was saved, because he shrove him to Christ ; and so a robber escaped purgatory. Who did worse than Mary Magdalen, or Paul ? And shelden vs fram shame pe/*-inne as noes shippe did bestes ; And men pat maden it amydde }>e flode adreynten. J?e oulorw??i of pis clause • curatoures is to mene, 409 J5at ben carpenteres holykirke to make for crystes owne bestes, Homines § iumenta saluabis, domine, Sfc. [At domes-day pe [dilimye] worth of deth and [fyr] at ones ; For-pi I conseil 30W clerkes of holy cherche pe wri3tes, Wercheth. $e werkes as $e seen I-write lest ^e worth nai^t pe/*-inne.] 413 IT On gode fridaye I fynde a feloun was ysaued, ])at had lyued al his lyf with lesynges and with thefte ; And for he biknewe on pe crosse • and to cryste sc[h]rof hym, 416 He was sonnere saned fan seynt Iohan [pe] Baptiste, And or Adam or ysaye • or eny of pe prophetes, Jjat hadde yleine with Lucyfer many longe 3eres. A robbere was yraunceou??ed rather fan pei alle, 420 With-outen any penaunce of pwrgatorie to perpetuel blisse. H Jjanne Marye Magdaleyne what woraman dede worse 1 Or who worse pan dauid pat vries deth conspired 1 Or Poule pe apostle • pat no pitee hadde, 424 Moche crystene kynde * to kylle to deth 1 407. shelden] shilden W ; schilde RCOB. noes] Noe C. 408. adreynten] adrugend (sin) C. 400. clause] cause O. curatoures] in curatoures R. 411—413. In R only. Cf. C-text. [diluuye] so in MS. Camb. Univ. Lib. Ff. 5. 35 ; R wrongly has deluye. [fyr] so in MS. Ff. ; R Ms feer. 414. On gode'] For a goed R. ysaued] saued O. 415. lyued] I-lyued K. 416. oiJaaewe on] beknede to W. schrof WRB] L Jias scrof ; but the line is ma rhed for correction ; scliroue CO. 417. saued] I-saued R ; y-saued W. [|* WCROB] L om, 418. or (1)] er COB ; ar R. 419. yleine'] I-lyen R ; yleyen WC. 420. yravnecouned] vaunceoned C ; raunsomed B. 422. \>«n] dede >an R. 425. R omits. PASS. X.] BY THE EVIL, MEN KNOW THE GOOD. 165 And [now] ben bise as souereynes wyth seyntes in Yet they are now in heaven. heuene, 426 J?o bat wrou^te wikkedlokest in worlde bo bei were. 1T And bo bat wisely wordeden and wryten many bokes Of witte and of wisdome with dainpned sonles won ye. t But many witty men are in hell. J?at salamon seitk, I trowe be soth and ce/'teyne of vs alle, 430 [Sunt] iusti atque sapient es • § opera eorum in t Ecdes. ix. 1. manu del sunt, §c. ; ^T j)ere aren witty and wel libbynge ac her werkes ben yhudde In be hondes of aln^ty god • and he wote be sothe 432 Wher for loue a man worth allowed bere and his lele werkes, Or elles for his yuel wille & enuye of herte, And be allowed as he lyued so : for bi lyther, men t By the evil, men know the knoweth be gode ; good. % And wherby wote men whiche is wbyte " if alle binge blake were, 436 And who were a gode man but if bere were some shrewe 1 For-bi lyue we forth with lither men • I leue fewe ben gode. For qant oportet vyent en place ' yl nij ad que patt, t when necessity is upon us, we And he bat may al amende haue mercy on vs alle ; must suffer. 426. \nom WCOB] LR om.; but Worn, a] of B. the line is marked in L. wyth] and 434. <£•] and for W. CO. souereynes wyth'] souereyne B. 435. as] for R. so] \>ere O. hi] 427. roiTikedlokest] wikkedest COB. by be W. so -lyther] so lither C; in] in be B. \>o~\ be C. \>ere as liben : so liber B. \>e] CB 428. wordeden] wroujten B. om. 429. of (2)] Bom. wisdome] wis- 436. mote] wite C ; witen ; wiste dames 0. tconye] wonnes C. WB. is] were W. 430. [Sunt R] Siue LCOW ; B has 438. lither] obere W. I— ben] Siut. thay ben few C ; I leue fewe ; hij 431. \>ere~\ Thay C ; bey B. witty'] beb fewe B. willy CB (corruptly'). libbynge] 439. qant] so in LC ; quant W ; likyng B. ac] and COB. yhudde] quanta R; whan B. vyent] vyn R; hid 0. comeb WCOB. en] in COB. yl ny 433. Wher for] so in LRO (wher= ad] il nad CO. yl—pati] B om. whether) ; Wher-fore WCB. loue] 440. on] of COB. 1GG CHRIST NEVER COMMENDED LEARNING. [PASS. X. t Vs. xiii. i For sothost worde bat euere god seyde ' was bo he (VU1B ' ) - 17 A At seyde, nemo bonus. 441 13G J Christ never ^ Clersve bo of crystes mouth • co?rcmended was it litel, commended °' / > * ^wwiat™ : Li. Fur he seyde to seynt Peter • and to suche as he loued, see Mark xiii. 9, Dum steter'tfis ante lieges et presides, §c. ; which says, bou"h 2e come hifor kyn^es ' and clerkcs of be lawe, 'When ye are ; ° 3 J ° r ' brought before Beth no^te ahasched for I shal be in 30ure raouthes, And 3yue 30W witte at wille and knnnynge to conclude Hem alle bat a3eines 30W of crystenedome disputen. t cf. Ps. cxviii. 4c ^[ Dauyd maketh menciouw ' he spake amonges kynges, (Vulg.). And mi3te no kynge ouercome hym • as bi kunnyng of speche. 449 But witte ne wisdome -wan neuere be maystrye, Whan man was at myschief with-oute be more grace. Augustine says ^[ be doughtiest doctour • and deuynoure of be trinitee, (Confess. Lib. viii. ' ° J ' c. 8), Was Augustyn be olde and heighest of be foure, 453 Sayde bus in a sarmouw ' I seigh it writen ones, Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapient es ■in inferno mergimur : And is to mene to englisshe men • more ne lasse, 1 wise clerks are Aren none rather yrauysshcd fro be ri3te byleue 45 G often sunk in hell, . pan ar bis cunnynge clerkes ' bat conne many bokes ; whilst poor ^[ Xe none sonner saued ne sadder of bileue, ploughmen and shepherds attain pan plowmen and pastoures & pore comune laboreres. lie iivcn ' Souteres and shep[h]erdes " suche lewed iottes 460 441. For"] For be B. was] COB 454. seigh] sai» B. idioti] so in om. LRW; ydiote COB. rapiunt] rnpmnt 442. bo] om. it] CB om. {printed irapiunt) W. nos] om. 443. Dum] Cum W. mergimur] C om. 445. Beth] Bees C. abasched] 455. to — men] to men W ; on abassed C. Englissh COB. more] to more COB. 44G. yw] B om. at] and WCOB. ne] and to COB. lasse] losse C. and] B om. 45G. rather] o]>cre i&\>er OCB. 447. of] R om. 457. conne] knowe R ; kunnen B. 449. And] Al R. as] B om. as 458. saued] I-saued R. bi] and be C. 459. pastoures] portours B. pore] 450. ne] and W. wan] ne wan poiier R ; obcre WCOB. CB. \>e] B om. 4G0. B omits, shejdierdes] so in 452. doughtiest] dou^tiorokest R. W ; miswritten sheperdes in L. 453. Augustyn] Ausfyn WCROB. suche] and obere W ; and swich C. \>e olde] y-holde B. fe] hem R. iottes] lultes W. PASS. X.] CLERKS LOSE HEAVEN; PLOUGHMEN WIN IT. 1G7 Percen with a pater-noster be paleys of lieuene, by help of but one Pater-noster ! And passen p?irgatorie penaunceles • at her hennes partynge, In-to be hhsse of paradys " for her pure byleue, Jjat inpariitly here knewe and eke lyued. 4G4 ^F }ee men knowe clerkes bat han cursed be tyme, t cierks are often sorry they ever Jjat euere bei couth or knewe more ban credo in deum knew more than that. patrem ; And pryncipaly her pater-noster • many a pe?-sone hath wisshed. 467 % I se ensaniples my-self and so may many an other, t Not common servants, but J3at seruauntes bat semen lordes selden falle in arrerage, stewards, run in But bo bat kepen be lordes catel * clerkes and reues. Eijt so lewed men • & of litel knowynge, Selden falle bei so foide and so fer in synne, 472 As clerkes of holikirke " bat kepen crystes tresore, t so fares it with . them that keep Jje which is mannes soule to saue as god seith in be ciirist's treasure." gospel : Ite vos in v in earn meam." t Mat. xx. 4. 461. Percent] }?at persen B. 468. In margin of is Exemplum 462. passen] passen Jmrgh B. bonum. may many'] mowen 0. an] 464. inparfitly] in parfit lif B. WCOB om. here] K om. ehe] R om. 469. arrerage] rerage R ; areragis 465. \>at — cursed] cursen R. 0. 466. couth— hnewe] kou^e on \>e 470. But] But {printed And) W. book COB. patrem] COB om. \>e] R om. 467. her] }>e R. a] C om. wisshed] 471. knowynge] kunnynge R. I-wisched R. 472. \>ei] R om. 1G8 THE DREAMER SEES A NEW VISION. PASS. XI. PASSUS XI. (DO-WEL III.) Passus xj us . [Compare this with the con- clusion of the A-text; page 1:16* of vol. i.] [Fol. 44.] rrVEaime scriptiwe scorned me and a skile tolde, -*- And lakked me in latyne and lijte by me she sette, And seyde, " multi multa sciunt, fy seipsos nesciunt." ])o wepte I for wo " and wratth of her speche, 4 Again i slept, and And in a wynkyng wratth wex I aslepe. had a marvellous A merueillouse meteles mette me panne, dream. Fortune bade me gaze in the mirror called the World. Jjat I was rauisshed rijt fere " and fortune me fette, And in-to pe londe of longynge " allone she me brou^te, And in a myroure pat lii^t mydlerd ' she mad me to bi- holde. 8 Sitthen she sayde to me ' " here myjtow se wondres, And knowe fat pow coueytest and come per-to, par aunter." Title. Passus vndecimus & (sic) supra C ; Passus vndecimws W ; Passus xws de vis. vt supra K; B adds k. quartus de Dowel. 1. scome/Z] serued C. 2. in] a R. she] he R ; COB om. 3. wratth] wra^jje ; sorwe R. 4. wynkyng] wyndynge COB. wratth] wrath R ; wraf?e W ; wra^e O ; wratthe CB ; wrath in Crowley. wex I] so in LCOB ; weex I W; til I was R. 5. A] A ful B. meteles] sweuene COB. me] I me 0. mette— \>annc] me tydde to dreme R. 6. \>at] For R. and] for R. 7. And] B om. in-to] to C. all- one] & loue R. 8. And] om. mydlerd] so in LCB; mydleerd O; myddelerd R; middelerbe W. to] COB om. 9. Sitthen] Sone W. to] vnto 0. 10. par avmter] par aunter R; par- aducnture B. PASS. XI.] HE IS THREATENED BY OLD AGE. 1G9 fl" jjanne hadde fortune folwyng hir • two faire danioy- Fortune had two damsels, named SeleS, Lust-of-the-Flesh ~ . . . ni.ii 11^ an i R. brynge] broi^t wollen B. CB. 22. a] B om. 33. stode] stonde B. 25. folwed] folwe}* CR ; folwijj B. 34. fer] fare C. til] to RCB. 170 MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES. [PASS. XI. Man proposes, God disposes. TFol. 44 ft.] Old Age and Holiness mourned. Lust-of-the-Eyes comforted me; and bade me con- fess to a friar when I pleased. A man may stoupe tymes ynow • whan he shal tyne be croune. 35 II ' Ilvmo proponit' qiiod a poete and plato he hyght, ' And deus disponit,' qiiod he lat god done his wille. If trewthe wil witnesse it he wel do fortune to fohve, Coucupiscencia-carnis ' ne coueityse-of-eyes Ne shal nou^t greue be gretly ne higyle be, hut bow wolt." 40 IT " Jee, farewel phippe !" q«od fauntelte and forth gan me drawe, Til concupiscencia-carnw ' acorded alle my werkes. IT " Alias, eye ! " qwod elde ' and holynesse hothe, " )pat witte shal torne to wrecchednesse for wille to haue his lykynge ! " 44 IT Coueityse-of-eyghes conforted me anon after, And folwed me fourty wynter and a fyfte more, pat of dowel ne dohet ' no deyntee me ne Jjoujte ; I had no lykynge, leue me if be leste of hem aujte to knowe. 48 % Coueytyse-of-eyes cam ofter in mynde Jpan dowel or dohet amonge my dedes alle. Coueytise-of-eyes conforted me ofte, And seyde, " haue no conscience * how bow come to gode ; 52 Go confesse [be] to sum frere ' and shewe hym bi synnes. For whiles fortune is bi frende * Freres wil be louye, 35. tymes'] tyrne WOB. be] B om. 36. poete] poete bo B. 40. gretly] graythly B. be (2)] W om. bow wolf] if bow wolt bi-selue W. 41. ph'ippe] fipp B. qvod] so in W (but printed and), forth'] he B. 42. alle] til alle B; wib alle B. 43. eye] ebe W ; eyghe C ; ey^e BB; yeO. 44. wille] wil W. 45—48. B omits. 45. anon~\ sone COB. 4G. folwed] folow C. and— fyfte] or fifty or ; or fifty and CB. 47. no] no (printed Ne) W. ne (2)] WCOB om. \ovye~] thynke C. 48. leue — leste] ne no luste CB; ne lust 0. 49. mynde] ray mende B ; my mynde 0. 50. b«»] And (!) C. 51. CB omit. 53. [be BCB] bee WO ; L om., but tlie line is marked. 54. Freres] su/« frere B. tvil] wol WC ; wolen OB. PASS. XI.] WILLIAM REBUKES THE FALSE FRIARS. 171 And fecclie be to her fraternite and for be biseke, To her priour prouyncial a pardoun forto haue, 56 And preyen for be, pol bi pol jif fow be pecuniosus." Set pena pecuniaria -non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis. H By wissynge of J?is wenche T wroi^te ' here wordes r did as she bade. were so swete, Tyl I foi^at jouthe and 3am in-to elde. And banne was fortune my foo * for al hir faire biheste, And pouerte pursued me ' and put me lowe, 61 And bo fonde I be Erere aferde and flyttynge bothe, in my old age the friar avoided me, A3eines owre firste forward * for I seyde I nolde Be buryed at her hous but at my parisshe cherche. 64 because 1 wanted . to be buried at my For I horde onys how conscience it tolde, parish church. J?at bere a man were crystened by kynde he shulde be buryed, Or where he were parisshene • ri^t bere he shulde be grau en. And for I seyde bus to freres a fool bei me helden, 68 And loued me be lasse for my lele speche. Ac 3et I cryed on my confessoure bat helde hym-self J^J^^ 1 " so kunnynge, did so - "By my feith, frere," quod I • " $e faren lyke bise woweres, 71 J)at wedde none wydwes but forto welde here godis ; Ri3te so, by be Bode rou3te 3e neuere Where my body were buryed • bi so 30 hadde my siluer. Ich haue moche merueille of 30W and so hath many 1 said that 1 wondered at him. an other, 75 55. fccche] fette R. Hseke] by- flettyngC; flitynge R. seche R. 64. buryed'] buriel {sic) B. 57. pecuniosvs WC] peccuniosus L ; 07. mere] were a R. pecunious R ; peccunyous B. Set] R 70. Ac] And CB. em. pecuniaria WCOB] written pe- 72. welde] vvedden B. godis] gooses cuniarea in L ; pecularia R. WC ; goodi.s B ; goed R. 58. wroiqte] dede R. 73. ye] bei B. 59. yim] yarne C ; 3erne ; ran R. 74. buryed] y-buried B. my] the CO. biheste] speche W. CB. C2. aferde] vnstable B. flyttynge] 75. an other] other RCOB. 172 BAPTISM MORE NEEDFUL THAN BURIAL. [I'ASS. XL "Why 3owre couent coueyteth ' to confesse and to burye, Rather ban to baptise barnes bat ben catekumelynges. Baptism is of Baptizyng and burying bothe ben ful nedeful, more service than burial. Ac moche more merytorie ' me bynke[b] it is to baptize. For a baptized man may as maistres telle th, 80 Jjorugh contricioun come to J?e heigh heuene ; Sola contricio \delet pcccatum.] [Foi. 45.] IF Ac a barne with-oute bapteme " may nov^t so be saued ; John iii. 5. Nisi quis renatus fuerit [ex aqua, §c. ;] Loke, 3e lettred men ' whether I lye or do noujte." Loyalty looked And lewte loked on me and I loured after. 84 upon me, " Wlierfore lourestow 1 " quod lewte ' and loked on me harde, " 3if I durste," quod I, " amonges men " bis meteles auowe ! " and bade me « fa ^ p e t er all( j j^ poule," quod he " and take hem spcuk out. bothe to witnesse, Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo, set publice argue illos." ^F " fiei wol alleggen also," quod I " and by be gospel pmien, 88 Mat. vii. i. Nollte iudicare quemquam." ^ " And wher-of serueth lawe," quod lewte " " if no lyf vndertoke it, Falsenesse ne faytrye ; ' for sumwhat be apostle seyde, Non oderis fratrem. 77. catekumelynges] cathecumynys do] COB om. O ; catekounelyns CB. 84. lewte] lewete bo R ; leaute B. 78. bothe] hath CB. ben] beb WR. loked] lok C. 79. Ac] And C. \»jnkep] so in 85. lourestow] lourest bis meteles] beise metelis 0. L. it] CO om. 87. j«] 3he O; gis W; CB om. 80. as] as bise W ; as wel as B. take] so in LR; took WC ; toke OB. 81. to] til R. [delet peccatvm hem] COB om. publice] puplice 0. COB] LWR merely hare &c. 88. quemquam] R adds &c. 82. a]W om. so] CB om.. saved] 89. lewte] leute ba/me R. it] ysaued R. \_ex aqua, fyc COB] LWR erased in 0. om. 90. ne] and CB. aq?ostle] gospil S3, whetlier] whefcarE; wheher C. CB. TASS. XI.] PRAISE LITTLE, BUT BLAME LESS. 173 And in be sauter also seithe dauid be prophete, Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis, §c. Ps - xlix - 2 i It is licitum for lewed men to segge be sotlie, 92 "Even the ignorant may If hem lyketh and leste • eche a lawe it graunteth, publish the truth, Exeepte persones and prestes * and prelates of holy cherche, It falleth noiv^te for bat folke no tales to telle, Jjough be tale were trewe and it touched synne. 96 ^[ J?inge bat al be worlde wote wherfore shuldestow spare [To] reden it in Retoryke to arate dedly synne 1 Ac be neuere more be fyrste be defaute to blame ; But be not the . . . first to find fault." JJouje bow se yuel, sey it nou^te iyrste • be sorye it nere amended. 100 No binge bat is pryue publice bow it neuere, Neyther for loue laude it nou3t • ne lakke it for enuye ; Parum lauda, vitupera parcius" % " He seith sothe," quod script?q sothe R. \o] CB 96. mere] be W. touched] toucheW. om. 97. \>inge] Ac binge R. shuldestow] 104. Ac] And C. she] he COB. shuldist pon OB. if] R om. knewe] knowe R, 98. [To W] And LCROB. arate] 105. After this line R has an extra a-raten R. line — be bileue bat lord bat lettred 99. Ac] And C. be (2)] be {omitted men techeth; where the first bat should in printed copy) W. be of oure. Cf. Text C. 100. set/] ne seie B. amended] 108. plencre] al plener B. porter] amendite R. C om. tate] gate COB. 174 Christ's blood saves all men. [pass. XI. I pondered upon my election to grace. Isa. lv. 1. [Fol. 45 &.] "Christ saves all men," said I. Mk. xvi. 16. "A churl must have his lord's leave to sell his goods ; And plukked in pauci priueliche ' and lete be remenau?;t go rowme ! ' % Al for tene of lier tyxte trembled myn herte, And in a were gan I waxe and with my-self to dispute, Whether I were chosen or nou3t chosen ; ' on holi- cherchc I boivjte, 112 }pat vnderfonge me atte fonte • for one of goddis chosen ; For cryste cleped vs alle come if we wolde, Sarasenes and scismatikes and so he dyd be iewes, vos omnes scicienfes, v&nite, §c. ; And badde hem souke for synne sanfly at his breste, And drynke bote for bale brouke it who so my3te. IT "J3anne may alle crystene come," cpa RCB. fonte] funt B ; fount C. one] oen R. chosen] chosne L ; but see 1. 112. 115. Sarasenes] Sarzens W. sci- cirntes] so in LRCOB ; sicientes W. 116. sau fly] saue R ; safly B. 117. brouhe] broke C. 118. may] mowen 0. 119. ]>at] R om. with] R om. 120. reneye] receyue R ; forsake C. 1 122. cherle] cherche (!) C. 124. arrerage] arreragis B. rowme so] renne R. 125. a reneyed] he rennelh R. gon] rennen W ; RCOB om. 126. Ac] And WC. 126, 127. The last half of 1. 126, and first half of 1. 127, are found in R only. But see Text C. PASS. XI.] TRAJAN RELATES HOW HE ESCAPED FROM HELL. 17-"> And conscience a-counte with hym] • and casten hym in arrerage, And pntten [hym] after in a prisone in purgatorie to but he can be L imprisoned for brenne, 128 debt." For his arrerages re warden hym bere to be daye of dome, But if contriciouw [wol] come and crye, bi his lyue, Mercy for his mysdedes with month or with herte." ^[ " ]3at is soth," seyde scripture " may no synne scripture bade me tmst to God's lette mercy. Mercy alle to amende and mekenesse hir folwe, 133 For bey beth as owre bokes telleth * aboue goddes werkes, Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius." pb.mHv.9 (Vulg.). % " ^ee ! baw for bokes ! " quod one was broken oute of helle, Hnte troianus, had ben a trewe knyste toke witnesse Trajan declares how be was re- at a pope, 136 leased from hell. How he was ded and dampned to dwellen in pyne, For an vncristene creature ; ' — " clerkis wyten be sothe, )5at al be clergye vnder cryste ' [ne] mi3te me cracche fro helle, But onliche loue and leaute • and my lawful domes. % Gregorie wist bis wel ' and wilned to my soule 141 "Pope Gregory prayed for my Sauacioun, for sothenesse * bat he seigh in my werkes. release." And, after bat he wepte " and wilned me were graunted 128. [hym WBOB] LC om. a] eius (1)] om. COE om. ' 135. ye] $\e ; Ye EC. 129. For] And for E. arrerages] 136. Hitfe] bat hijte B. had] arrerage CB; arerage 0. to] rijte to & hadde B. a] be COB. E; til B. 137. ded] dedcB,; deed B. pyne] 130. \mol WC] wole OB ; miswrit- peyne COB. ten wel in LE, but the line, in L. is 138. myten] wite W. marked for correction, lyue] leue E. 139. be] C om. \_ne W] LCEOB 131. or] and W. om. me] hym B ; C om. 132. seyde] quod COB. may] bat 140. leaute] my leute E. and (2)] may B. of E. 133. alle to] may al E. and] bat 141. wilned] wilneth COB. E. hirfoln-r] he folweth E. 142. for] for be E. seigh in] seith 134. beth] bee C. bokes] boke R. of E. 'in] CB om. 176 TRAJAN SAVED BY SAINT GREGORY'S PRAYER. [rASS. XI. " See how this pagan was saved ! " said Loyalty. Grace, wyth-outen any bede byddynge his bone was vnderfongen, 144 And I saued, as 30 may se with-oute syngyng of masses ; By loue, and by lernynge of my lyuyng in treuthe, Brou^te me fro bitter peyne • fere no biddyng my^te." IT " Lo, 3e lordes, what leute did by an Emperoure of Borne, 148 )5at was an vncrystene creature * as clerkcs fyndetli in bokes. iN"ou3t f orw preyere of a pope • but for bis pure treuthe Was fat sarasene saued as seynt Gregorie bereth wit- nesse. "Ye lords, think "Wei ou3te je lordes, Jut lawes kepe ' J>is lessouw to haue upon Trajan. . _ „ in mynde, loJ And on troianus treuth to thenke ' and do treuthe to f e peple. [IF J?is matir is merke for mani of 30W ac, men of holy cherche, ])e legende sanctorum 30W lereth more larger fan I 30W telle ! Ac fus lele loue and lyuynge in treuthe 156 Pulte oute of pyne a paynym of rome. Blessed be Truth I-blessed be treuthe • bat so brak helle 3ates, that so saved that Saracen! And saued be Sarasyn fram Sathanas and his power, jDere no clergie ne couthe • ne kunnynge of lawes. 160 Loue and leute is a lele science ; For fat is f e boke blessed of blisse and of ioye : — God wrou3t it and wrot hit with his on fynger, And toke it moyses vpon fe mount alle men to lere.] [Foi. 40.] ' Lawe with-outen loue,' quod troianus ' ' leye fere a bene, 165 This matter is dark. 144. bede] bede (printed bene) W. In the margin of is the note — Nofa. be ground of trentalis. 145. may'] mowen 0; now R; W 07n. synr/i/ng] syngen C. 146. By] E om. 148. did] R om. 149. fyndetli] fynde CB. 1 50. In R, the word pope is erased, and in the margin (by a later hand) is — in Episeojjiim Romanuw. 151. sarasene] Sarsen W. 152. le] bise B. to] COB om. 154—164. In Ronly. PASS. XI.] MEN SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER. 177 Or any science vnder sonne fe senene artz and alle, "Learning with- But if fei ben lerned for owre lordes loue loste is alle less," said ' C f e tyme : '— T ^ an - For no cause to cacche siluer f ere-by ne to be called a mayster, 168 But al for loue of owre lorde and f e bet to loue f e peple. For seynte Iohan seyde it and sotli aren his wordes, ' Qui 7ion diligit, manet in morte — 1 John m.u (Vulg.). % Who so louetli nou3te, leue me he lyueth in deth- deyinge ' — And fat alle manere men enemys and frendes, 172 Men should love _-'".. n eacn other, Louen her eyther other and lene hem as her-selue. Who so leneth noujte, he loueth noujte * god wote f e sothe, And comaundeth eche creature * to confourme hym to louye, And souereynelyche pore poeple and here ennemys and especially „ -t *n their enemies and alter. 17 b the poor. For hem fat hateth vs is owre meryte to louye, And pore peple to plese ; • here prayeres may vs helpe. For owre ioye and owre hele ' Ihesu cryst of heuene, For Christ wears tlie poor man's In a pore mannes apparauie • pwrsuetn vs euere, 180 apparel. And loketh on vs in her liknesse " and fat 'with louely chere, To knowen vs by owre kynde herte and castyng of owre eyen, 167. B omits, if] WCROB om. leueth. god~] our B. detk] dee}? B; 176. pore] pe pouere W. here'] hir deef {printed deep) W. \VC. 173. Louen] Loue W. lene] so in 179. For] And W. hele] heele W ; 0; in other MSS.. it is more liltc euel (!) R. Ihesu] is ihesu R. leue; see the Critical Note, hem] 180. pitrsucth] pursued W. hym C. her-selue] hera-selue W. 181. B omits. 174. Who] For who 11. leneth] 182. eyen] eighe C ; eijeB; ye ; leneb ; in other MSS., it looks lihe eyes R. 12 178 WE ARE ALL BRETHREN IN CHRIST. [PASS. XI. Wheber we lone be lordes here byfor owre lorde of blisse ; ^[ And excitcth vs hi be euangelye bat, when we niaken festes, 184 We shulde nou3te clepe owre kynne per-to ne none kynnes riche ; i.uke xiv. 12. < Cum facitis conuiuia, nolite inuitarc amicos ; Ac calleth be careful ber-to be croked and be pore, For ^owre frendes wil feden 30W and fonde 30AV to quite 3owre festynge and 30wre faire jifte ; velie frende quyteth so other. 188 ciirist repays % Ac for be pore I shal paye " and pure wel quyte her what is given to ... the poor. trauaille, Jpat 3iueth hem mete or moneye • and loueth hem for my sake.' For be best ben so??mie riche ' and so?nrne beggers and pore. 191 we are aii For alle are we crystes creatures and of his coffres riche, biood, And bretheren as of blode as wel beggares as erles. For on caluarye of crystes blode • crystenedome gan sprynge, viz. of the Mood And blody bretheren we bycome bere of body ywonne, shed at Calvary. , 1 Pet. ii. 2. As quasi modo ijeniti • and gentil men vche one, 19G No beggere ne boye amonges vs but if it synne marie ; John viii. 84. Qui f acit peccatum, seruus est peccati, §c. IT In be olde lawe as holy lettre telleth, 183. Wlie\>er] miswritten Wherter 190. moneye'] mone R. and] or in L. owre] be W. W. After 1. 190 It inserts an aj>- 184. euangelye'] euangeliste B. ■parently spurious line — 185. shulde] shal C. none hywnes] ^[ Alrni^ty god hath made riche • none kyne R ; no kyn OB. men if he wolde. 186. Ac calleth'] And calles C. 191. For] Ac for R. 187. yowre] oure C. mil feden] 192. his] GB out. wolen fede KB; wol fenden C. fonde] 198. And] As It. 0] 00 W; COB fonden R. om. n-el] O om. 188. festynge'] fastyng B. yfte] 194. on] at R, 3ifte W; ^iftes RO ; ^iftis B; giftes 195. bycome] hicome (printed bi- C. quyteth] quit R. comen) W. 0] one R ; a CB. 189. CB omit, pure] puire R. 198. holy] be It. telleth] techifc B. quyte] quiten R. PASS. XI.] BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS. 179 Mennes sones men called vs vclione, Of adames issue and Eue ay til god-man deyde ; 200 And after his resurreccioim • Redemptor was his name, And we his bretheren, bourgh bym yboujt bothe riche Both rich and . poor are Christ's and pore. brethren. For-bi loue we as leue bretheren shal • and vche man [Foi. 4g &.] laughe vp otber, And of bat eche man may forbere " amende bere it nedeth, 204 And euery man helpe other for hennes shal we alle ; Alter alterius onera portate. Gai. n. 2. And be we nou3te vnkynde of owre catel ne of owre kunnynge neyther, For noet no man how neighe it is to be ynome fro bothe. 207 For-bi lakke no lyf other bough he more latyne knowe, Let no man __ , , o i n • • , 1 n blame another JN'e vnder-nym nou3te ioule lor is none with-oute faute. overmuch. For what euere clerkis carpe ' of crystenedome or elles, Cryst to a comune woman seyde • in comune at a feste, }2at fides sua shulde sauen hir and saluen bir of alle Luke vii. «. synnes. 212 % Jjanne is byleue a lele helpe aboue logyke or lawe ; Of logyke ne of lawe in legend", sanctorum Logic and law Is litel allowaunce made but if bileue hem helpe. account. For it is ouerlonge ai logyke • any lessoun assoille, 21 G 199. called] callen WO; callij? B. W; not C; B places not after man. 200. mail] mand (sic) C. deyde'] neighe] COB om. be] ben W. ynome] deyede R ; deyed CB. bynorne C. to — ynome] ne how sone 202. yoov%t\ y-boivjt {printed y- be take B. brought) W ; bo^t OB ; bought C. 209. for] C om. is] J>er is B. 203. loue] lyue O. bretheren] faute] defaute WE. childern R. shal] schul O; W om. 211. a (2)] the CB. laughe] law^he O. rp] SoinliR; of 212. hi)' of] of hir CB. alle] W ; on O; vp-on C ; vppott B. WCOB om. 204. And] For O. of] if COB. 213. above] abue (sic) R. 205. other] of^er here R. shal] 214. ne] or W. shul W; schulle R. 215. allowaunce — bileue] alowed 206. vnkynde] vnkendeR. neyther] bei both • but by-leue R. nouther C ; rxo]>cr R. 21 G. ar] er WO ; or CB. 207. noet] so in LR ; noot O ; woot 180 Christ's example of humility. [PASS. XT. Cleave not to logic or law. Mat. vii. 2. Learn rather the law of love. Luke xxiv. IS. Luke xxiv. 31. Christ set an example of humility. And lawe is loth to louye but if he lacche syluer. Bothe logyke and lawe • bat loueth nouste to lye, I conseille alle erystene cleue noujte ber-on to sore. For sum wordes I fynde ywryten • were of faithes techyng«, 220 Jjat saued synful men as seynt Iohan bereth wytnesse ; Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur vobts. ^ For-bi lerne we be lawe of lone as owre lorde tai^te, And as seynte Gregory seide for mannes sonle helthe, Melius est scrutari scelera nostra, quean naturas rerun). IT "Why I moue bis matere is moste for be pore, 22-1 For in her lyknesse owre lorde ofte hath ben y-knowe. Witnesse in be Paste wyke whan he 3ede to Emaus ; Cleophas ne knewe hym nai^te bat he cryste were, For his pore paraille ' and pylgrymes wedes ; 228 Tyl be blessed and brak be bred bat bei eten, So bi his werkes bei wisten bat he was Ihesus ; Ac by clothyng pei knewe hym noii3te ne bi carpynge of tonge. % And al was in ensample to vs synful here, 232 J3at we shulde be low and loueliche of speche, And apparaille vs noi^te oner proudly ' for pylgrymes ar we alle ; 217. lovye] loue C. lacche] take C. 218. Bothe] But 0. to] for to E. 219. erystene] cristen men CB. cleue] clyue W ; to cleue B. sore] soore W. 220. ywryten] writen WCB ; write E. were] ]>at were W ; (?a were B. 221. remecietur] remescietwr R ; remencietw?' B. 224. moue] meue WE OB ; moeue C. for] C om. 225. her] here E ; hir W ; his COB. ofte] of E. ben] be E. y-knorve] knawen C. 226. Paste] Pask W ; Pasqe E ; Passe C. wyhe] woke E ; weke C. 227. ne] COB om. 228. paraille] apparaille W ; ap- paralle C ; apparayle B. wedes] wede B. 229. Messed] blissed ECB. 230. bl] be E. his] bise WC. 231. Ac] And C. by] be E. bi] beE. 232. in ensample] ensaumple for sothe E. 234. ouer] to CB. ar] er C. PASS. XI.] CHRIST PRAISED MARY WORE THAN MARTHA. 181 And in be apparaille of a pore man and pilgrymes lyknesse Many tyme god liath ben niette • amonge nedy peple, Jjere nenere segge hym seigh in secte of be riche. 237 % Seynt Iohan and other seyntes • were seyne in pore st John and other . , saints had poor clotnynge, clothing. And as pore pilgrymes • preyed mennes godis. Ihesw cryste on a iewes doubter aly^te gentil -woman [Foi. 47.] bough she were, 240 Was a pure pore mayde and to a pore man wedded. The virgin Mary was poor. ^[ Martha on Marye magdeleyne an huge pleynte she Martha com- , plained of Mary. made, And to owre saueour self seyde bise wordes, Domine, non est tibi cure quodsoror mea reliquit Lukex. 40. me sola[M~\ ministrare, fyc. ? IT And hastiliche god answered and eytheres wille folwed, 241 Bo the Marthaes and Maries as Mathew hereth witnesse, Christ praised Ac pouerte god put bifore and preysed it be hettre ; Maria optimam partem elegit • que non [aufcre- Lukex. j>. tur ab ea.~\ ^[ And alle fie wyse bat euere w r ere ' by au^te I can aspye, Preysen pouerte for best lyf if pacienee it folwe, 248 wise men praise And bothe bettere and blisseder by many folde ban pove13 ' ricchesse. 235. in be] in C ; B om. ap- 242. In tlie margin of Lis — Martha paraille] paraile E. & Maudelene. an] and (!) EC. she~] 236. mette] y-mette E ; at be mete sho C ; W om. B. 243. solam] so in WCOB ; sola L. 237. segge] mane i. segge C. E omits all after cure; COB omit 238. seyne] seyen W; seyn ECB. ministrare. in] G om. pore] o^er B. 244. liastiliche] stilleliche B. 239. preyed] preyude E ; prayden 245. Marthaes] in Marthas CB. C ; preieden B. mennes] men E. Maries] in Maries CB. as] and B. godis] goodes W; goedes E; goddes 24G. Ac] And C. it] bat "W. C; goodis B. [a/uferetur — ea] supplied from, COB. 240. ahnte] Y\Ae W. she] a B. " 247. be] CB om. rvyse] wyes B. 241. Was] A was E. pure] puir 248. Preysen] Preiseden W. foln-e] E. pure pore] pore pure B. mayde] folwed W; wolde E. may den EB. wedded] y-wedded WE. 249. blisseder] hlesseder W. 182 WHY POVERTY IS LIKE A WALNUT. [PASS. XI. Al though it be soure to suflxe ' bere cometh swete after ; The walnut has a As on a walnot with-outc • is a bitter barke, bitter husk, but a sweet kernel. And after bat bitter barke (be be shelle aweye), 252 Is a kirnelle of conforte ' kyncle to restore ; So is, after, pouerte or penaunce • pacientlyche ytake. Such is poverty. For it maketh a man to haue myndo in godo • and a grete wille To wepe and towel bydde wber-of wexeth mercy, 250 Christ is the Of winch cryst is a kirnelle • to conforte be soule. kernel. * And wcl sykerer he slepyth be [segge] bat is pore, And lasse he dredeth deth and in derke to be robbed, }3an he bat is ri^te ryche resoiuz bereth wytnesse ; 260 Pauper ego ludo, dum tu dines meditaris. % Al bough salamon seide as folke seeth in be bible, prov. xxx. 8. Din Idas nee paupertates, fyc, "Wyser ban salamon was bereth witnesse and taujte, J?at parfyte pouert was ' no possessiou?^ to haue, 2G4 And lyf moste lykynge to god • as luke bereth witnesse, Mat - xix - '-'• Si vis perfeetus esse, vade fy vende, §c. ; And is to mene to men • bat on bis molde lyuen, To he perfect, wo "Who so wil be pure parfyt mote possessiouw forsake, must sell all. . Or selle it, as seith be boke and be syluer dele 268 To beggeres bat gone and begge and bidden good for goddes loue. ^[ For failled neuere man mete bat netful god serued ; Ps. xxxvi. 25 \Non vidi iustum dereMdum, nee semen ems (Vulg.). querens panem ;] As dauid seith in be sauter • to suche bat ben in Aville 250. Al] For TV; And COB; Alio seeth] men seth K. In the margin of R. ]>ere — after] Jjer-after corned swete L is — p«rfite povertee. TV. 2G5. as] and C. 254. is] CB om. 266. mene] many (!) C. 255. For it] Rom. a (I)] COB om. 267. pure] pouere C; pore OB. 257. omits. mote] moot TVO. 258. [segqeR] man LTVCOB ; of.]. 269. gone] gaen C; goon TV; gon 237. RB. 259. robbed] yrobbed TV; rubbid 270. serued] seruejj TVR. [Non — B. pattern] in on///. 262. Al] Alle R; And OB. folke 271. \>at] as B. PASS. XI.] TRIESTS SHOULD BE PAID BY THE BISHOP. 183 To serue god godeliche ne greueth hym no penaunce, Nichil inpossibile volenti, [Cf. Mat. xvii. 20.] Ne lakketh neuere lyflode " lynnen ne wollen., 273 Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur Ps. xxxm. n (Vulg.). omni bono. If prestes weren parfyt • bei wolde no syluer take [Foi. 47 &.] For masses ne for matynes ' noi^te her mete of Priests should decline presents. vsureres, He neither kirtel ne cote beigh bey for colde shulde deye, 276 And bei her deuo[i]r decle as clauid seith in be sauter, Iudica me, deus, § discerne causam meam. Ps. sm. 1 (Vulg.). Bpera in deo speketh of prestes pat haue no spendyng Ps. xxxvi. 3 , (Vulg.). syluer, J?at yd bei trauaille trewlich and trusten in god alnubti, Hem shulde lakke no lyflode noyther wollen ne lynnen. And be title fat [ye] take ordres by telleth ^e ben auaunced; 281 J?anne nedeth noii3te 30W to take syluer for masses bat Priests should not take money 3e syngen. f or masses. For he bat toke 30W ^owre tytle shulde take 30W 30wre wages, Or be bisshop bat blesseth 30W if bat 3c ben worthy. The bishop 11 For made neuere kynge no kny3tc but he hadde catel to spende, 285 272. no] noujt no B. R reads — 279. trusten] tristen RB ; trist C. Witheny wel or wo (half-line blank) 2S0. Hem] thaym C. wollen — To serue god godeliche ne greueth lynnen] lynnen ne wollen W. hem no penaunce, 281. pat] COB om. [ije WR] |?ei nichil difficile volenti, S)C. LCOB. ordres] ordre O; her ordre 273. neuere] noyther R. lyflode] B. telleth] til CB. 3c] pei B. Com.. 282. nouyte — to] naught yowC; not 274. parfyt] wise R. no] no 30W O ; yow no^t to WRB. syngen] (printed ne) W. In the margin of syngeth R. — Of annueleris p?v?stis. 283. 30 m (1)] R om. shulde] shal C. 277. deuoir] so in WCOB; deuor 284. Or] Of C. blesseth] blessed L; deuer R. dede] Rom. seith] says W; blisses C; blissij> B. C; seide R. discerne] so in W, but 285. neuere] neuere no L; but as printed decerne. the other MSS. omit this first no, it is 278. deo] deo &c CB. haue] han unnecessary to retain it. R ; hauejj B. 184 SOME PRIESTS CANNOT READ CORRECTLY. [PASS. XI. A wretched knight is lie who lias no wealth. Priests trust to their title and tonsure for their support. A charter ran he challenged if it be in false Latin, or be lniswritten. James ii. 10. Ps. xlvi. 7, 8 (Vulg.). As bifel for a kr^te or fonde hym for his strengthe ; It is a careful kny^te ' and of a caytyue kyngcs makynge, pat hath no londe ne lynage riche ne good loos of his handes. 288 \)q same I segge for sothe • by alle suche p?'estes, Jjat han noytlier kunnynge ne kynne but a croune one, And a tytle, a tale of nou^te to his lyflode at myschiefe, He hath more hileue, as I leue to lacche borw his croune 292 Cure," j?an for konnyng or — ' knovven for clene of berynge.' I haue wonder [for] why and wher-fore J?e bisshop Maketh suche prestes j?at lewed men by tray en. 295 If A chccrtre is chalengeable ' byfor a chief iustice ; If false latyne be in be lettre be la we it inpugnetb, Or peynted parenterlinarie [or] parceles ouer-skipped ; fie gome j?at glosetb so charges for a goky is holden. ^f So is it a goky, by god • bat in his gospel failleth, Or in masse or in matynes ' maketh any defaute, 301 Qui offendit in vno, in omnibus est reus, Sec. And also in be sauter • seyth dauyd to ouerskippers, Psallite deo nostro, psallite ; quoniam rex terra deus israel ; psallite sapienter. fie bisshop shal be blamed bifor god, as I leue, Jjat crouneth suche goddes kni3tes bat conneth noi^t sapient er 304 286. fonde] foond W; fonde, altered to fande C ; fynde B. 287. a (2)] CO om. 288. no] nober R ; neiber B. riche \ R om. loos'] los RB. handes'] hondea R ; hand B. 280. suche] swiche WRC. 290. one] oon C ; on hede B. 291. at] at his W. 292. lacche] lacchen R. 293. Tmowen] knowyng COB. for] or for B. of] WB om. 294. I for W] and RC ; & LO ; H and Crowley om. 297. \>e] bat RCOB; bat (printed the) W. injji/r/neth] impugneb WR; impugnes C. 298. parenterlinarie] par enteHin- arie R, [or W Crowley] LRCOB om. otter-skipped] ouer-kipped C. 299. goky] gooky C. 301. in (2)] GO om. est reus] R om. 302. ouerskippers] ouerkippers C. 304. crovneth] crowned CB; O om. conneth] kuwneth R; kuwnen B; kunne O ; konnes C. PASS. XI.] THE DREAMER SEES THE WONDERS OF NATURE. 185 Synge ne psalmes rede ' ne segge a messe of be day. of unfit priests. Ac neuer neytlier is blamelees ' be bisshop ne J?e chapleyne, For her eyther is endited and bat of ' ignorancia Non excusat ejpiscojpos • nee idiotes prestes.' 308 ^ Jois lokynge on lewed p?'estes hab don me lepe fram Tins is a digres- sion," said pOUeite, Loyally. J;e wliiclie I preyse fere pacyence is more parfyt ban ricchesse." IT Ac moche more in metynge Jms with me gan one My aream con- tinued, and I dispute, next saw Nature. And slepynge I seigh al J?is and sithen cam kynde, [Foi. 48.] And nempned me by my name ' and bad me nymen kede, 313 And borw be wondres of bis worlde • wy tte for to take. Nature bad me ' ' behold (he won- And on a mountaigne bat mydelerd hy^te as me bo dera of the world. boujte, I was fette forth • by ensaiunples to knowe, 316 Jjorugh eche a creature and kynde my creatoure to louye. I seudi be sonne and be see and be sonde after, 1 saw tlie sun > the ° ' ' ' s^a, and the sand, And where bat bryddes and bestes by here make[s] bei 3eden, Wylde wormes in wodes and wonderful foules, 320 beast?, worms, and fowls, With fiekked ictheres and of lele coloures. man and his Man and his make " I my3te bothe byholde ; 305. segge] seye WCO ; synge B. 314. wondres] wordes BB. \>is] J:e 306. Ac] And WC. we] and E. E. \>e (2)] C orri; 315. mydelerd] mydel erde E; 307. her] euera O; her euer B. myddel evpe W; midilerd B. \.»] of] is W. than C ; W om. 308. idiotes] idiotos B. 31G. fette] fet WC ; feet B. en- 309. on] of O. don] doon W ; do savmples] ensampel C. R. lepe] luppe R. 318. see] sehe O. sonde] sande C. 310. \>e] CB om. \erc] here B. 319. And] B om. [makes W] is] B om. make LCRO; mak B ; but see 1. 335. 311. L has only a faint paragraph- pel] WO om. mark, but it is certain that a new 320. in] and R. paragraph begins here. 321. fethercs] federes R. 313. nempned] called C. wy] COB 322. and] hadde O. bothebgbolde] om. nymen] nemen B. se hothe R. lS;i HOW WELL BIRDS BUILD THEIR. NESTS ! [PASS. XI. poverty and plenty, bliss anil bale. I saw that Reason ruled all beasts ; 324 males withdrew from females after breeding time. I saw birds making their nests, and wondered. Snine birds hid their eggs. Poucvte and plente * bothe pees and werre, Blisse and bale • bothe I seigli at ones, And how men token Mede and mercy refused. % Besoune I seighe sothly suen alle bestes In etynge, in drynkynge " and in engendrynge of kynde ; And after course of concepcioiw none toke kepe of other, 328 As whan pei hadde ryde in rotey tyme ; anon ri^te ber-affcer, Males drowen hem to males a mornynges hi hem-self, And in euenynges also 3e[de] males fro femeles. )2ere ne was cow ne cowkynde pat conceyued hadtle, J5at wolde belwe after boles ne bore after sowe ; 333 Bothe horse and houndes and alle other bestes Medled noi^te wyth here makes ' pat with fole were. IT Briddes I bihelde • pat in buskes made nestcs ; 33G Hadde neuere wye witte • to worche pe leest. I hadde wonder at whom and where pe pye lerned To legge pe stykkes * in whiche she [leyep] and bredeth ; Jjere nys wri^te as I wene shulde worche hir neste to paye ; 340 If any masoim made a molde per-to moche wonder it were. % And jet me merueilled more how many other briddes Hudden and hileden her egges ful derne 324. at] al at W. 325. how] om. 32G. men] sewen W ; schewen R; suwen CB. . 327. in (2)] & 0. liynde] kende R. 328. of (2)] til R. 329. As] And COB. 330. a] on O. mornynges'] mor- wenynges WROB ; morwenges I '. 331. And] om. ^ede] no in R; wis written ^e in L, but the line is murhedfor correction, ; in other MSS. we find — \>e males ben fro femelles W ; the males fro femeles C ; j?e males fro ]pe femeles OB. 332. \>ere] ]>e R. we (1)] COB om. 333. belwe] belwen R. 336. ouskes] busches R. 337. neuere] nere R. wye] weye R; wi3th B. 339. legge] laye C. Ye] R om. slie] he COB ; a R. \leye\> W] layes C ; in L badly spelt ley the ; leuth R ; lej^efj B. 340. nys mriite] is no wit R. neste] nestes W. 342. And] Ac W. how] R om. 343. Hudden'] Hidden W. hileden] heleden CR ; helieden B. egges] egghes C ; eeggis B ; eyren O. PASS. XI.] REASON RULES ALL BEASTS BUT MAN. 187 In mareys and mores ' for men sholde hem nou3t fynde, And hudden here egges whan Jjei bere-fro wente, 345 For fere of other foules and for wylde bestis. % And some troden her makes • and on trees hredden, Some bred upon trees. And broujten forth her brycldes so al aboue be gronnde ; And some bryddes at be bille borwgh brethynge con- ceyued ; 349 And some kauked, I toke kepe how pekokes bredden. i observed the peacocks. Moche merueilled me * what maiater bei hadde, And who tau3te hem on trees ' to tymbre so heighe, J5ere noither buirn ne beste may her briddes rechen. [Foi. 48 &.] % And sythen I loked vpon be see and so forth vpon Then i looted at „ „ the sea and stars, fie sterres, o54 Many selcouthes I seygh ben nought to seye nouthe. 1T I sei"h fioures in be fritthe and her faire coloures, tfw flowers, and " ° ' the grass. And how amonge be grene grasse grewe so many hewes, And so??ime soure and some swete selcouthe me boi^te ; Of her kynde and her cokrare to carpe it were to longe. ^[ Ac bat moste moeued me and my mode chaunged, Reason u ie i aii beasts except j?at resoun rewarded • and reided alle bestes, 361 man. Saue man and his make ; many tyme and ofte jSTo resoun hem folwed and banne I rebuked Eesoura, and rhte til hym-seluen I seyde, 364 i askei Reason ' why this was so. " I haue wonder of be," quod I " bat witty art holden, Why bow ne suwest man and his make * bat no mysfait he??i folwe % " 315. hudden'] hidden W. egges] 0. forth vpon] on COB. egges C ; eegis B ; eggys 0. 355. ben] beth E ; J?at ben B. 348. brouyten] bredde E. seye] segge E ; seyn B. 3-19. CB omit. bille] bile W ; 356. in] of E. bible (!) 0. brethynge] bredyng (!) 357. grewe] greuj E ; growed W ; O. grewen B. 350. kauked] kackeled C ; kakele- 359. her (2)] of here E. den O; kakelid B. I] I (printed 360. mode] moed E ; mood W. and) W. kepe] hede E. pekokes] 362. CB omit, tyme] tynies E. pacokkes C. bredden] breden E. 363. No] Ne CB. 351. \>ei hadde] hem made W. 364. 7] COB om. 353. noither] nei^/- WB ; no^er E. 365. holden] holde E. buirn] burnW; barne C ; barn OB. 366. sumest] BcheweBt R. mysfait] may] ne may R. mysi'eet W ; mysfaut C; misfeith R ; 3ol. vpon (1)] on COB. see] sehe mysfai}? B. 188 TATIENCE IS A FAIR VIRTUE. [PASS. XI. " Who is more long-suffering than God ? " Reason would ^[ And resou?z arated me and seyde, " rccche }>e neuere, Wlii I suffrc or noi^t suffice bi-self hast noiv^t to done ; 3G8 Amende bow it, if bow my^te ' for my tyme is to abyde. Suffrannco is a souereygne vertue • and a swyfte veni- aunce. Who suffreth more fan god ] " qiiod he " no gome, as I leue ! He mi'3te amende in a Minute while al pat mys standeth, 372 Ac he suffreth for so??mie mannes good and so is owre hettre. [% Holy writt," quod bat weye " " wisscth men to suffrc ; Propter dewn subiecti estote omni creature. French e men and fre men affeyteth pus her childerne, Patience is a fair Bete vertue est soff ranee • mat dire est pety\f] veniance, Bien dire et Men soffrir • fait lui soffrant a Men venir. For-jri I rede," quod reson " rewle bi tonge bettere, And ar bow lakke [eny] lyf ' loke if fow be to preyse ! For is no creature vnder criste • can formen hym-seluen ; And if a man mi3te make hym-self goed to be poeple, Vch a lif wold be lakles • leue bow non other. 382 ISTe bow schalt fynde but fewe fayne for to here Of here defautes foule by-for hem rehersed.] ^T ])e wyse and be witty wrote bus in be bible, De re que te non molestat, \noli\ certare. For be a man faire or foule it falleth noujte for to 1 Pet, ii. is. virtue. No creature can make himself. Few can bear blame. Ecdus xi. 9. lakke 367. And'] And bo B. 369. it] COB om. is] is nou^t CB. 370. a (1)] COB om. a (2)] of 0. 371. suffreth] suffres C ; suffrecle WO. gome] man (with i. gome writ- ten above) C. 372. Minute] litel {corrected to mynute) C. 373. suffreth] suffres C ; suffrecle 0. is] it is W. 374—384. In R only. Cf. Text C, where some of these lines may he 386 found. 376. BeW] written Vele m R; but see Text C. petyt] written pety ; but petit in MS. Cott. Vesp. B. 16. 377. soffrir] soffrer R ; bid the rime requires soffrir. lui] le in MS. Cott. ; ly in Whi taker ; but lui in MS. Camb. Dd. 3. 13. 379. [eny] so in MS. Cott. ; mis- written my in R. 385. \>e (2)] C om. que te] quiete R. [noli WCOB] noly L; nolite R. PASS. XI.] THE DREAMER BEHOLDS A STRANGER. 189 j)& shappe ne be sbafte bat god shope hym-selue ; For al pat he did was wel ydo as holywrit witnesseth, Et vidit deus cun[c]ta que fecerat, et erant valde Gen. i. si. bona ; % And badde euery creature in his kynde encrees, God bad man in- crease and mul- Al to murthe with man ' pat most woo tholye 390 tipiy. In fondynge of be flesshe ' and of be fende bothe. For man was made of suehe a matere he may nou}t wel astert 392 J?at ne some tymes hym bitit to folwe?i bis kynde ; Catouft acordeth bere-with nemo sine crimine riuit." cato, Distich. i. 5. ^[ Tho caii3te I colours anon and comsed to ben Then 1 awoke, aschamed, And awaked ber-with; wo was me banne 396 and was very sorry to dream no Jjat I in meteles ne my^te " more baue yknowen. more. And banne seyde I to my-self and chidde bat tynie ; " l!s"ow I wote what dowel is," quod I ' " by dere god, as me binketh ! " And as I caste vp myn eyghen one loked on me, and [Foi. 49.] , . - - Then saw I one, axed 400 Of me, what binge it were 1 " ywisse, sire," I seide, "To se moche and suffre more certes," quod I, "is dowel ! " ^[ "Haddestow suffred," he seyde "slepyng bo bow who rebuked me for my im- Were, patience. ])ow slioldest haue knowen bat clergye can • and con- cerned more borugh resouw ; 404 388. \>at he] L has fce, corrected to 396. And] And I 0. \>at he in the -margin; batheWCROB. 397. haue] hauen E. did] wroust E. ydo] do O. wit- 399. mote] woot WC ; wot EB. nesseth] witnesse CB. dere] CB om. 389. euery] to vch a E. encrees] 400. And] B om. eyghen] eyen C; encreesse W ; encresce CR. eyes E ; yen O. one] 0011 WC ; on 390. most] moste W ; moost ; EB. axed] asked WE. niaest C. tlwlye] tholieth EO ; 403. Haddestow] Haddest bow EO ; tholde C. Haddist B. 393. tie] R om. tymes] tyme 404. hiimren] yknowe CO ; knowe WCOB. bitit] bitid CO ; bitidib B. EB. concerned] contreuedW. \>orugh] 394. Ipere-with] with-al E; herwih bi B. 0. 190 SHAME OFTEN BRINGS AMENDMENT. [PASS. XI. For resoun wolde haue reherced be ri3te as clergye saide. 405 Ac for fine entermetyng • here artow forsake ; Philosophus esses, si tacuisses. heubtom he ^ Adam> whiles he s P ak nou 3 t ' had Paddys at wille, was in Paradise. Ac whan he mameled aboute mete and entermeted to knowe 408 j)e wisdom and be witte of god • he was put fram hlisse ; And ri3t so ferde resou?i hi the ; bow with rude spec-he Lakkedest, and losedest binge fat longed noujt to he done ; ])o hadde he no lykynge forto lere be more. 412 ^T Pruide now and presumpciouw pe?- auenture, wole be appele, That clergye bi compaignye • ne kepeth nou3t to sue. Shal neuere chalangynge ne chydynge chaste a man so sone As shal shame, and shewden hym and shape hym to amende. 41 G if a drunken man For lat a dronken daffe • in a dyke falle, fall into a ditch, J let him lie there. Late hym ligge, loke noi^te on hyin til hym lest to ryse ; For bough resouw rebuked hym panne [receheth [he] neuere, 419 Of clergie ne of his conseil he counteth noi^t a rusche ; ne] W om. to Pride and pre sumption will accuse thee. Shame brings amendment. 40G. Ac] And CO. artow] art ]iow EOB. 407. whiles] miswHtten whhiles in L; \>e whiles R ; whilis B. 408. entermeted] entermct hym C; entirmetid hym B. 409. and] of COB. was] C om. /'ram] fram be R ; fra C; fro B. 410. rude] >i rude WCB. 411. losedest] losest C. longed] longed \>q W ; longed B. to be done] \>e to done R ; to doone W ; to done O ; to be doute CB. 412. lere] lerne O. 413. wole] wol WR; wolen OB; wyl C. 414. pi] in J:i R. sue] efte to sitte R. 415. Skat] For sclml R. cluiste] chastie C; chastise O ; caste B. 416. sltape] schapew R. 417. dyke] dyk W ; diche OB. 418. lest] liste WC ; list RB. to ryse] aryse W. 419—421. [recclteth — panne] in 1! only ; but necessary, and occurs in Text C. [he] supplied from MS. Cot- ton ; R wrongly has hym. [To blame] supplied from MS. Cotton ; R wrongly omits. For various readings see Text C. PASS. XI.] WILLIAM ASKS THE STRANGER' S NAME. 191 [To blame] or for to bete hym banne] it were but pure synne. Ac wban nede nymeth hym vp " for doute lest he when he recovers, shame tells him sterue, 422 his fault.** And shame shrapeth his clothes * & his shynes wassheth, J?anne wote be dronken daffe • wherfore he is to blame." ^F "3e seggen soth," quod I ' "ich haue yseyne it ofte, "You blame me," I said, " for re- vere [smit] no binge so smerte ne smelleth so soure, buking Reason." As shame, fere he sheweth him for euery man hym shonyeth • Why 3e wisse me Jras," quod I ' " was for I rebuked resou??-." 428 1T " Certes," quod he, "bat is soth" • and shope hyni "res," he replied. for to walken ; And I aros vp ri3t with fat and folwed hym after, Then i prayed him to tell me And preyed hym of his curteisye to telle me his name, his name. 422. nymeth"] takes C ; nyme B. no \>inge] non R. smelleth] cumlleth 423. sJirapetli] shcrapet (sic*) C. {altered to stumlleth or scmulleth) R. shynes] lioadis B. wasslu-th] was- soure] foule R. sliede C. 427. for — sTionyetK] nomau loueth 42.">. soth] soth by ruy soule R. his felachippe R, 426. [smit R] smyt WO; smytes 429. he] I R. shope] schope R; C; smytefB; badly spelt smitte in L. shoop W. walken] waken R. 192 THE STRANGER'S NAME IS IMAGINATIVE. [PASS. XII. PASSUS XII (DO-WEL IV). Passus duodecimos. " I am Imagin- ative," lie said. " I have followed thee for 45 years. Amend in thy middle age. [Fol. 49 !>.] Lukexii.38. Thou hast often been warned. Prov. iii. 12. Rev iii. 19. "Tarn ymagynatyf," quod he • " Idel was I neuere, -*- \)ow$e, I sitte bi my-self in sikenesse ne in helthe. I haue folwed pe in feithe pis fyue and fourty wyntre, And many tymes haue moeued pe to pinke on fine ende, 4 And how fele fen^eres are faren and so fewe to come, And of pi wylde wantou?;esse po Jjow 3onge were, To amende it in pi myddel age ' lest mi^te pe fay lied In pyne olde elde pat yuel can suffre 8 Pouerte or penaunce ' or preyeres bidde ; Si non in prima vigilia, nee in secunda, $c. Amende pe while pow my^te pow hast hen warned ofte With poustees of pestilences with pouerte and with angres ; And with pise hitter baleyses ' god beteth his dere childeren, 1 2 Quern diligo, castigo. Title. Passus xij us LW ; Passus Duodecimus CO ; wrongly called Passus xj «s de visit me, vt supra R ; also B wrongly adds et quint us [read quartus] de dowel. 2. ne) nor W ; and COB. 4. moeued] meued WRB. 5. femwres] fernyers C ; femeres R. are] be R ; an (!) C ; am B. G. of] B om. 7. faylled] faile RB ; faille C. 8. elde] eelde R. ynel] so yuel CB. 9. bidde] to bidde W. 10. while] be while R. Jew] be CB. 11. o/"]andCB. pestilences] pesti- lence C ; penaunce R. PASS. XII.] IMAGINATIVE REPROVES THE POET. 193 And dauid in jje sauter seitli of suche fat louetli Ihesus, ' Virga tua fy baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata Ps. xxii. i sunt, $c. (Vu,g0 - Al-f ough f ow stryke me with f i staffe with stikke or with jerde, It is but murth as for me to amende my soule.' And f ow medlest f e with makynges • and my^test go You make poetry „ i? • , „ instead of saying sey bisauter, 16 your psal t ,/ And bidde for hem fat ^iueth fe bred ; for fere ar bokes ynowe To telle men what dowel is • dobet, and dobest bothe, There are books And prechoures to preue what it is of many a peyre enough." '^ f re res." IT I seigh wel he sayde me soth • and, somwhat me to excuse, 20 Seid[e], " catorm conforted his sone • fat, clerke fough i referred Mm to ■. Cato — ne were, To solacen hym sum tyme • as I do whan T make ; Interpone tuts interdum gaudia cutis, §c. (Cato, Distich, ui. IT And of holy men I herde," qziod I • " how f ei other- while 24 Pleyden, f e parriter to be in many places. Ac if fere were any wight fat wolde me telle but asked onee What were dowel and dobet and dobest atte laste, weT ' Wolde I neuere do Averke but wende to holicherche, And fere bydde my bedes ' but whan ich eet or slepe." 13. R omits this line, and the quo- 20. ancV\ ac R. tation. ipsa'] ipse C. consolata] 21. Seide] Seid L; And seide R; consolata {printed consolati) W. Seide W ; Saide C. conforted'] con- 14. or with] other CO ; o)>er wif B. forted me W ; to conforte CB. 16. makynges] niakynge R; mais- 22. as] and R. I] ich R. tries CB. 21. of] R om. herde] here B ; 17. yueth] geues C ; ^euen B. )>c] hard C. me B. ar] ben 0. ynowe] y-knowe 25. places'] a place R. W ; om. 26. Ac if] And if C ; «f R. 18. men] me 0. is] CB om. nught] wit R. 19. preue] proue CB. a] C om. 28. do n-erhe] worche B ; wyrke C. 13 194 BE WARNED BY WELL-KNOWN EXAMPLES. [PASS. XII. "Paul I ells you,' he said. 1 Cor. xiii. 13. " To act loyally is to do well. If a monk, keep your rule. Pun not to Rome or Roquemadour (in Guienne). Be warned by Lucifer, Solomon, Sampson, Job, Aristotle, Hippocrates, Virgil, Ale ;aiider, Police, and fair Rosamond. [Pol. 50.] IT "Poule in his pistle," qiiod he ' "pmicth what is dowel ; 30 Fides, sjics, car it as ; cj- maior harum, §c. Feith, hope, and charitee and alle hen good, And sanen men sundry tymes ac none so sone as charite. 32 For he doth wel with-oute doute ' pat doth as lewte techeth ; J?at is, if ])OW he man maried ' bi make bow lonye, And lyue forth as lawe "wole * while $e lyuen hothe. IT Ei3t so if bow he Eeligious " renne bow neuere ferther 3G To Rome ne to Jlochemadore ' hut as bi reule techeth, And holde be vnder ohedyence bat heigh wey is to Leuene. ^F And if bow he mayden to marye " and mi3te wel conlyuue, Seke Jiow neuere seynt forther for no soule helthe. 40 For what made Lucyfer to lese be heigh heuene, Or salamon his sapience or sampson his strengthe 1 Ioh be Iewe his ioye * dere he it ahou3te, Arestotle and other mo • ypocras, & virgyle ; 44 Alisaundre pat al wan elengelich ended. IF Catel and kynde witte w r as comhraunce to hem alle. Felyce hir fayrnesse • fel hir al to sklaundre ; And Eosamounde 113 1 so reufully bysette, 48 30. Poule'] With poule R. pistle] pistles R. preueth] proues C. <$'] R om. horv?u] R om. 31. and (2)] R om. good] goed R. 32. etc] and C. 34. \>om] he CB. 35. And] R om. while] be while R. hothe] here COB. 36. ferther] be ferber B. 37. Ilochemadore] P^ochemado?/?• CROB ; Rochemador W. 38. heigh] be lme B. 39. mayden] mayde & R. co/i- tynue] contene 0. 40. neuere] nerc R. no] thy CB. 42. or] other R. 43. C om its. dere he if] dere it he O ; dere he B ; ful deere W. 45. Alisaundre] Alexander C. ended] endeden O. 4(3. combruunce] a comhraunce B. 48. reufully] reuful B. bysette] besette R ; to bileue W. PASS. XII.] GRACE GROWS AMONG THE LOWLY. 195 fie bewte of hir body in badnesse she dispended. Of many suche I may rede • of men and of wommen, fiat wyse wordes wolde shewe and worche be contrarye, Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes. 52 If And riche renkes rijt so gaderen and sparen, Ri <* men get money, and their And bo men jjat pei moste haten mynistren it atte enemies spend it. laste ; And, for bei suffren & se ' so many nedy folkes, And loue hem nor^t as owre lorde byt lesen her soules ; Date cj* dabitur vobis, §c. ^^Ve vi. 38. [So catel and kende wit • acombretb ful many ; 57 "Wo is hym bat hem weldeth • but if he hem [w T el] desjDende ; Seientes et non facientes varijs flagellis vapula- Cf - ^^^ xii - er-of] ber»• n - Quod scimus, loquimur; quod vidimus, testamur. Of quod scimus comcth clergye ' and connynge of heuene, 68 And of quod vidimus cometli kynde witte ' of si3te of dyue[r]se peple. Grace springs Ac grace is a gyfte of god • and of gret loue from love. spryngeth ; Knewe neuere clerke how it cometh forth ne kynde witte be weyes, Jo' 1 " i»- 8- Nescit aliquis vnde venit, aut quo vadit, §c. Learning is to Ac ait is clergye to coraende and kynde witte bothe, be commended. And namely clergye, for crystes loue fat of clergye is rote. 73 For Moyses witnesseth bat god wrote for to wisse be peple, Moses said an In be olde lawe, as I e lettre telleth bat was be lawe adulteress was to , be stoned of iewes, (Lev. xx. 10). •Jjat what woman were in auoutne taken were she riche or pore, 7G With stones men shulde hir stryke • and stone hir to deth. A womman, as we fynden was gulty of bat dede, Ac cryste of his eurteisye • borw clergye hir saued ; 67. As] And CB. bnirnes] burnes wroot WC. wisse] wise R. WO ; barnes CRB. cart] konne C ; 75. pat] R om. lain ; lawmen B. 7G. in WCROB] L 7ia.i tlie word in 68. and'] a R. tlir margin, auoutrie] deuoutrie R. 69. of] G om. quod] B om. were she] were he R ; COB om. or] dyuerse] miswritten dyuese in L; other COB. diuerse WCROB. 77. stones] stanes C. stryhe] 70. Ac] And CB. striken R. stone] stonen RB ; stonye 71. Knewe] Know C. ne] be (!) 0. C. deth] dede R. be] his R. 78. R omits, me fynden] I fynde 73. of] B om. W. 74. ?vitnesseth] witnesse C. wrote] 79. \ornf] and torus R. PASS. XII.] WAS SAVED BY CHRIST'S LEARNING. 197 For f orw carectus fat cryst wrot f e iewes knewe hem- But Christ, by qplnpn SO hiswritin £, beiuen &U saved one such Gultier as afor god and gretter in synne (Jolm viii - 6 ° jjan f e woman fat fere was • and wenten awey for scliame. pe clcrgye fat fere was • conforted f e womman. it was His learn- Holykhke knoweth fis • fat crystes writyng saued; 84 her. So clergye is conforte to creatures fat repenten, And to mansed men • myschief at her ende 1T For goddes body my3te no^te be ' of bred, with- Transubstantia- tion requires Ollten clergye, learning to i i-1-i-i-ii • ^,^-1 accomplish it. pa winch body is bothe " bote to f e ri3tful, 88 And deth and danipnaciou^ • to hem fat dyeth yuel. As crystes carecte conforted and bothe * coupable shewed pe wowiina?& fat f e iewes broii3te fat Ihmis f oii3te to saue ; Nolite iudieare, et non iudicabimini, #c. [Foi. so &.] Mat. vii. I. lli^t so goddes body, bretheren * but it be worthily taken, 92 Dampneth vs atte daye of dome as }e carectes dede f e iewes. For-f i I conseille f e for cristes sake ' clergye fat f ow Therefore love learning. louye, For kynde witte is of his kyn • and neighe cosynes bothe To owre lorde, leue me ; * for-f i loue hem, I rede ; 96 80. For'] And W. carectus — wrot] O; carectes B; carette B. con- cristes carectus B ; carrectis fat crist forted] counfortedew. 0. cot/pable] wroi^te CO. coupile C ; couple B. shaved] 81. Gultier'] Giltier WCO ; Gilty scheweden 0. B. gretter in] in gretter 0. 91. f e] E om. brou^te] bo^te B. 81. kirhe] cherche B. hnoweth] non] non (printed not) W. knew B. saved] saued hire W. 92. body] B om. but] but if W. 85. pat] fat hem B. 93. Dampneth] Dampned B. 86. tnanscd] mased C ; manasid carectes] caractes W. \>e — dede] B. dede fe carette B. 88. is] is bote to B. bote] boote 94. \>at \>on] to COB. WC ; B om. 95. neighe] ny^ B. 89. dyeth] dyen CB. 96. hem] hyni C. 90. carecte] carrectes C ; caractes 198 CLEUKS LEARN BY HELP OF BOOKS. [pass. XII. Learning and common sense a.e our mirrors Clerks learn from books. Like a blind man in battle, so is one with common sense but untaught. Leviles kept the ark, For bothe ben as miroures • to amenden owre defautes, And lederes for lewed men and for lettred bothe. 11 For-bi lakke bow neuere logyke lawe, no liis cus- tumes, Xe countreplede clerkes ' I conseille J>e for eure. 100 For as a man may noujt se Jjat myssetli his eyghen, Namore can no klerke • but if he cau3t it first Jorvigh bokes. Al-bough men made bokes god was be maistre, And seynt spirit be saumplarye and seide what men sholde write. 104 And ri^t as sj^te serueth a man to se be heighe strete, Ki^t so ledeth letterure • lewed men to resotm. And as a blynde man in bataille bereth wepne to fi3te, And hath none happ with his axe • his enemye to hitte, Namore kan a kynde witted man * but clerkes hym teclie, 109 Come for al his kynde witte • to crystendome and be saued ; Whiche is pe coffre of crystes tresore * and clerkes kepe pe keyes, To vnlouken it at her lykynge and to pe lewed peple 3yue mercy for her mysdedes if men it wole aske 113 Buxomelich & benygneliche and bidden it of grace. 1T Archa del in pe olde lawe leuites it kepten ; Hadde neuere lewed man leue to leggen hondc on pat chest, 116 90. lawe] is lawe B. 101. eyghen] shte R. 102. if] C om. can^t] cacche O. 104. jpe] his COB. men] ma» R. 105. W omits. Found in LCROB C2. 106. ledeth] kreth R. letterure'] clergie CB. 107. And as] As as (sic) C. bereth] here R. 108. his] Com. enemye'] enmyC; enemyes O. 109. kynde n-itted] kende wedded R. but] but if O. clerkes] clergie CB. 112. vnlouken] vnloken WCOB. 113. yjuc] Gyfe C ; For R. mole] wol C ; wolen B ; wole (printed wolde) W. 114. bidden] biden C. of] as R. 115. olde] holde R. 11G. leggen'] lvgge C. Ipat] the COB. chest] kyste C. PASS. XII.] NEVER DESPISE MEN OF LEARNING. ] 90 But he Avere preste or prestes sone patriarke or pro- and no others. phete. [IT Saul, for he sacrifised * sorwe hym he-tydde, saui did wrong And his sones al-so for pat syrmo myscheued, (i Sam. xiii.i2). And many mo other men bat were no leuites, 120 Jpat with arclia dei 3eden in reuerence and in wor- chippe, And leyden honde ber-on to liften it vp ' and loren hir cf.2Sam. vi. 7. lif after. For-bi I consed alle creatures * no clergie to dispise, Never despise tv tit • • learning or JN e sette schort he here science • what so bei don hem- clerks. selue. 124 Take we her wordes at worthe for here witnesse he trewe, And medle we naujt muche with hem to meuen any Meddle not with , , such. wrathe, Lest cheste chafen vs to choppe vche man other ; Nolite tangere christos meos, c] For W. selkouthes] sel- 127. chafen] chasen II ; a-chaufe couthe C ; selcoube OB. seighen] in Cotton MS.; ckaufe in Whitaker, seye B. p. 232. 134. an] and C. 128. is] is kynge and B. kepere] 135. Ac] And C. sothely] shortly kepere ]>er-oi B. B. no] CB om. ysaued] saued CBB. 200 THE MAGI AXD THE SHEPHERDS. [PASS. XII. but their books Ne bronjte by her bokes ' to blisse no to ioye ; 136 brought none to bliss. For alle her kynde knowynges * come but of dyuerse sigbtes. IF Patriarkes and praphetes ' repreued her science, And seiden, her wordes ne her wisdomes [was] but a folye ; As to be clergye of cryst counted it but a trufle ; 140 1 cor. iii. i9. Sapiencia huius mundi, stulticia [est] apud deum. For pe heihe holigoste heuene shal to-cleue, And loue shal lepe out after * in-to pis lowe erthe, [Foi. 5i.] And clennesse shal cacchen it * and clerkes shullen it fynde ; Luke ii. is. Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem. IT He speketh bere of riche men ri^t noujt ne of ri3t witty, 144 Ne of lordes fat were lewed men • but of be hexte lettred oute, Mat. ii. i. I bant magi ab oriente, §c. IF If any frere were founde fere Icli 3if be fyue shil- lynges j Ne in none beggares cote was fat barne borne, But in a burgeys place of bethlem be best ; 148 i-ike ii. 7. Set non erat locus [eis] in diuersorio ; fy pauper nan habet diuersorium. The an R ei % To pastours and to poetes ' appiered bat aimgel, appeared lo the shepherds, And bad hem go to bethlem * god d is burin to honoure, 136. brou^te] bougie R. 143. shullen] schal C; shal B. 137. Jtnomynges] knowynge CB. 144. Hit novTjt ] nojt B ; nou^t C. fwi/f] earn E. ll.">. hexte'] hyeste WO; heighest 138. fepreneff] repreueth RB ; re- C ; behest e B. preuedcn W; reproued C. science] 146. Ich] I WCOB. Bightes C ; si^tis B {rf. line 137). 147. beggares] burgeises W. 139. ne] and W. wisdomes] wis- 148. burgeys] Burgeises W. beth- dome E. [was B] nas LWCOB ; but levi] bedlem 0. [eis] supplied from observe the alliteration. the Vulgate ; W has ei ; LCOB om. 1 40. As] And W. it] COB om. locus] CB om. trufle] trefle E. [est WCB] LBO 149. To] to B. \>at] be WCOB; om. deum] R om. an R. 141—148. R omits. 150. bethlem] bedlem O ; bethelem 142. \,is] be W ; his O. C ; bthlem (sic) B. burth] sone B. PASS. XII.] THE TWO MEN THROWN INTO THE THAMES. 201 And songe a songe of solas ' gloria in excelsis deo ! Luke a. u. [Riche men rutte bo and in here reste were, 152 ])o it sclion to [fie] scheplierdes • a schewer of blisse.] 11 Clerkes knewe it wel and comen with here presentz, The Magi. And deden her homage honozf/'ablely • to hym pat was almyjty. 155 "Why I haue tolde [pe] al pis — * I toke ful gode hede i say this because you slandered How pow contraryedest clergye with crabbed wordes, learned men ; ' How pat lewed men li^tloker pan lettred were saued, Jjan clerkes or kynde witted men " of crystene peple.' IT And bow seidest soth of somme ac se in what manere: — 1G0 Take two stronge men and in themese caste hem, Throw two nun into tlie Thames, And bothe naked as a nedle her none syker[er] fan other, J}at one hath connynge ' and can swymmen and dyuen, one who can swim and one Jjat other is lewed of pat labonre lerned neuere who cannot ; swymme; 164 Which trowestow of po two • in themese is in moste which is in danger F " drede 1 He }>at neuere ne dyued ne noujt can of swymmynge, Or po swymmere pat is sauf bi so liym-self lyke, Jjere his felaw net forth as pe node lyketh, 168 And is in drede to drenche ' pat neuere dede swymme V 151. songe"] syngen R ; sange C. 161. themese] Themise C; temese 152, 153. InRonly ; and in C-Text. R ; tamise OB. caste hem] hem caste 153. \_\>e]from Cotton MS.; R om. O. 154. Clerkes] And clerkes R. 162. her] er C ; arn ; bat B. 155. her] W om. After this Vine sylterer] miswritten syker in L, siker C inserts — And goddes sone that in R ; sikerer WCOB. sittes in lieuene and shal saue vs 163. dyuen] driuen R. alle ; B has the same, except was 164. lerned] bat lerned W; and syttyb for sittes. This line is not in lerned B. swymme] to swymme COB. the Cotton MS. Vesp. B. 16. 165. bo] 'hem CB ; be 0. in 156. [be CRB] bee O ; LW om, themese] bat W. themese] temese 157. contraryedest] contrariest C. RO ; tamyse B. in moste] most in 158. liitloher] li^tliker 0. sailed] B ; in oost (!) C. I-saued R. 166. ne (1)] R om. 159. clerkes] clergie B. 167. lyke] likib B. 160. ac] and C. sc] se jit OB ; se 168. Jlet] flette C ; fleteb WB. yit C. what manere] whanere (!) R. 202 CLERKS ARE HELPED BY THEIR LEARNING. " So," said ]i(>, " can a learned man sooner leave sin. [pass. XII. "He who cannot IT " Jjat swymme can noint," I seide "it semeth to swim," I said. J my wittes." IT "Ei3t so," quod be Kenke "resorw it sheweth, Jpat lie bat knoweth clergye " can sonner aryse 172 Out of synne and be sauf bongh he synne ofte, If liym lyketh and lest • fan any levved lelly. For if be clerke be konnynge he knoweth what is syimej And how contriciouw with-onte confessiouw conforteth \> e soule, 17G As bow seest in be sauter in psahne one or tweyne, How contriciou?i is cowimended • for it caceheth awey synne ; Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates, fy quorum tecta sunt \peccata^\ §c. And Jjis conforteth vch a clerke and keuereth hym fram wanhope, In which node pe fende • fuiideth a man hardest ; 180 j)eve pe lewed lith stille and loketh after lente, And hath no contricioim ar he come to shryfte & banne can he litel telle, And as his lores-man leres hym bileneth & troweth ; And fat is after person or parisch prest and, \vtr- auentwre, [bothe] 184 Vnconnynge to lere lewed men • as Ink bereth wit- nesse, Ps. xxxi. 1 (Vulg.). Clerks do not despair. [Fol. 51 (,.] Unlettered men liave to learn aa they are taught. 170. R omits. semeth] cornej? B. iny] C om. 171. \>c] that CB. Rente] frek B. 173. and] and he R. synne] senege R. 174. lyleth] likes 0; likid B. lest] list CB. 175. knoweth] knowe C. 177. As] And CB. \>e] thy COB. psalme] psalmes CB ; Salmes WO. 178. [peecata] in R only. R. 179. kcueret h] couo-eb W ; kenneth supplied, 181. lente] leant (sie) C, front confusion with leute ; leaute B. 182. ar] er her (.sic) C. \>anne] R om. he — telle] C om. 183. And] But W. Am] is C. 184. and] be whiche hen W. par- auentnre] par auenter R. [bothe R] heO; LWCBw.; cf. C-Text. Crow- ley has he is. 185. to] te 0. lerc] lerne B. cecvs] secus B. cecum] secum B. [a mho in foueam] in OC2 only ; cadunt I have PASS. XII.] THE "BENEFIT OF CLERGY " AT TYBURN. 203 Dam cecus ducit cecum, [umbo in foucam Mat.xv. u. cadunt.~\ IT Wo was liym marked btft wade mote with be lewed ! Wei may be banie blisse bat hym to boke sette ; 187 Weiiforhim ' who can read ! ]3at lyuynge after letterure saued hym lyf and soule ! Dominus pars liereditatis mee • is a meri verset, Ps. xv. 5 (Vuig.). bat has take fro tybourne twenti stronge beues : Reading has ' J . saved thieves J}ere lewed theues ben lolled vp " loke how bei be saued ! from Ty burn. ])a tbef fat had grace of god • oa gode fryday as bow spcke, Was, for he selte hym creaunt to cryst on be crosse The penitent thief was saved, & knewleched hy»? gulty, 193 And grace axed of god [bat to graunten it is] redy [To hem] bat boxomeliche biddeth it - and ben in wille to amenden hem. Ac bough bat bef had heuene he hadde none heigh but had a low place in heaven ; blisse, 196 As seynt Iohan and other seyntes " bat asserued hadde bettere. lii^t as Sfu/B man 3eue me mete and sette me amydde as if i were to sit on I he floor be flore, of the hall to eat. Ich haue mete more ban ynough ac nou3t so moche worship As bo bat seten atte syde table " or with be souereignes of be halle, 200 186. R omits. and he is euer LCOB. 187. blisse'] blesse bat man W. 195. [To hem] from W ; LCROB to— sette] sette to scole R. om. pat] bam B. biddeth] bid C. 188. saved] saueb W. hem] hym B ; hem. (not printed) W. 189. meri] murye W ; myrie C. 196. Ac] And CB. \>ef had] CB verset] verseit R. om. none] no C ; but not so B. 191. be] ben RB. 197. assented] deserued WCOB. 192. on] a R. pom sjtcke] buspeke In margin of L — in domo meo rnulte R ; thow spake C ; bow spekest W ; ya sunt maw tiones. speken 0. 198. sum man] som men C ; if men 193. Was] bat was B. he] bat be B. $cue] gyf C. sette— flore] arnyd- B. wlte] yald W ; ^elde R ; yelde C ; de be floor sette me "W. galte ; ^ald B. creaunt] recreant 199. Ich have] I haue CB ; And R. on — A] & vpon a cros R. hneiv- hadde W. pan] \>a B. ac] and C. leched] know C ; knewe ; knew B. 200. atte] at be WCROB. syde] hym] Horn. COB oro. pe (1)] COB om. 194. R omits, [pat — is] soinW; 20 i TRAJAN AND THE PENITENT THIEF. [PASS. XII. But sitte as a begger bordclees Li my-self on be grounde. so he is not with So it fareth bi bat feloim bat a gode fryday was the apostles, saued ; He sit neither with seynt lbh«n ' Symonde, ne Iude, Ne wyth maydenes ne with martires * confessoures ne wydwes, 204 but by himself. But by hyni-self as a soleyne and scrued on be erthe. For he bat is ones a thef is euermore in daungere, And as lawe lyketh to lyne or to deye ; De peccato prqpiciato, noli esse sine meht. And forto seruen a seynt • and such a thef togyderes, It were noyther resoure ne ri3t to rewarde hem bothe alicb.3. 209 Trajan dwelt IT And ri^t as troianus be trewe knj^t tilde noi^t depe not deep in hell ; , . m helle, ];at owre lorde ne had hym li^tlich oute so leue I be thef be in heuene. and the thief is For he is in be lowest of heuene • if owre bileue be lowest in heaven. __ _ trewe, 212 And wel loselyche he lollcth bere by be lawe of holy- cherche, Ps. ixi. 13 (Vuig.). Quia reddit vnicuique ivxta opera sua, fyc. 11 And why bat one thef on be crosse creaunt hym jelt Bather ban fat other thef bough bow wolde appose, Alle be clerkes vnder cryst ' ne couthe be skil assoille ; Quare placuit, quia voluit. 201. sitte] sete W; settib B. a 210. tilde] tilte O; dwelte W. begger] beggers COB. 211. be] bat be B. thef] R om. 202. a] on CB. 212. of] COB om. 203. sit] soinWC; sitt RB ; sittij? 213. ivel loselyohe] wollosliche R; O ; sitte L. with] by CB. seynt] R wel lowselicb. C ; wel loselicb O ; wel om. Symonde] ne Symoud R. looseliche B. Quia] Qui WB ; And 204. confessoures] ne confessoures R. reddit] reddite R. R. with] C om. 214. And] Ac R. on] vpon R. 205. But] CB om. soleyne] so'ayn yelt] yald W; ^elde R; jelte OB; C. \>c] W om. gylty (!) C. 208. forto] to C. 215. nolde] woldest WRO. 209. were] war C. to] C om. 21G. \>e (2)] R om. assoille] telle It. TASS. XII.] NATURE TEACHES THE TIE AND PEACOCK. 205 And so I sey by be bat sekest after be wliyes, 217 inquire not into And aresonedest resoiw a rebukyng as it were, And of be flonres in be frytli and of her feire hewes, Where-of bei cacclie her coloures so clere and so briate, And wiliest of briddes and of bestes • and of hire You wished to , , . , __, know too much. bredyng to knowe, 221 "Why somme be alowe and so??mie alofte bi lykyng it were, And of be stones and of be sterres bow studyest, as I lene, [Foi. 52 ] How euere beste or brydde ' hath so breme wittes : 224 11 Clergy e ne kynde witte ne knewe neuere be cause, Ac kynde knoweth be cause hym-selue " [and] no creature elles. He is pe pyes patroura • and putteth it in hire ere, Nature is the pie's patron. pat bere pe borne is thikkest • to buylden and brede ; And kynde kenned be pecok • to cauken in swich a kynde, 229 And kenned Adam • to knowe his pryue membres, And tau3te hym and Eue • to hylien hem with leues. 1T Lewed men many tymes maistres bei apposen, Men sometimes -TTTi » l lMi ii->j t • i as k wn y Adam Why Adam ne lined 110113 1 nrste ' his moutli pat eet pe did not cover up 1 c\nn his mouth, first. apple, 266 Rather ban his lykam a-low lewed axen bus -clerkes ; Kynde knoweth wlii he dede so ac no clerke elles. 217. whyes] whaies C ; wyes B. COB om. 218. aresonedest] resonedest CB. 228. fait] W om. ]>ere] CB om. 219. 220. R inserts these lower to] fjere to R. bvylden] byggen C ; down, after I. 222. bilden in B. and] and to C. 219. her] Com. 229. kenned] kenneth COB. pecok] 220. cacehe] caughte C; lamte B. pakok C; pocok 0. cauken] kauken 221. of(2)] WRO; CB om,.; very COB. faint in L. to] COB om. 230. kenned] kende kenned R. 222. he] so CB. alowe] aloii? W ; knowe] knowen R. lowe CB; low R. 231. hylien] helien WCRB; liilen 223. be (1)] R om. O. 22-1. euere] euery B. or] ow^er 232. )>ei] COB om. W ; other R. 233. ne] COB om. Idled] huled 22G. Ac] And C. hym-selue'] CB R; hilled C ; heliede B. om. [«»rf WCOB] LR dw. 234. lyham] likame W ; likham CR. 227. is] his C. pycs patroun] pye a-low] alogh W. lewed'] \>e lewid B. patroea R. putteth] put R. it] 235. ac] and COB. 206 WEALTH IS LIKE A PEACOCKS TAIL. [PASS. XII. The fairest fowl is the feeblest of flight. is in his way. His voice is harsh. Ac of briddes and of bestes men by olde tymo 236 Ensamples token and termes as telleth bis poetes, And fat f e fairest foule foulest engendrctb, And feblest foule of flygbt is fat fleeghetli or swym- metb ; And fat is fe pekok ^fe fe pohenne • proude riclie men pei bitokneth, 240 The peacock's tail For fe pekok, and men pursue hym may nou^te fleighe heighe ; For f e traillyng of his taille ouertaken is he sone, And his flesshe is foule flesshe and his feet bothe, And vnlouelich of ledene and laith for to here. 244 IT Ri^t so f e riche • if he his ricehesse kepe, And deleth it noujt tyl his deth day f e taille of al sorwe. Hi^t as fe pennes of fe pecok [peyneth] hym in his fli^te, So is possession/? payne ' of pens and of nobles 248 To alle hem fat it holdeth ' til her taille be pliikked. And f ough f e riche repente f anne and birewe f e tyme, J)at euere he gadered so grete ' and gaf f ere-oi so litel, Jjough he crye to cryst fanne ' with kene wille, I leue His ledne be in owre lordes ere • lyke a pyes [chiteryng]. And whan his caroigne shal come in caue to be buryed, I leue it flaumbe ful foule fe folde al aboute, 255 The rich man's wealth is like the peacock's tail 23G. Ac] And C. 237. token] toke R. \ris] so also in R ; thise CB ; be WO. 23!). fleeghetli] fleeb W ; fleth R ; flieth CB ; flyeb 0. 240. is] W om. pekoh] pokok ; pacok C. pohenne] so in COB ; Pelien W; pohen R. proude] CB om. \>ei] W om. 241. pecok] pocok O; pacok C. pursue] pursuen R. may] ne may R. 243. his (2)] is C. 244. of] on 0. ledene] cryeng C. laith] IopJj W; laithe R; loth C; layb O ; lobly B. -4">. his] is C. 247. as] so as W. as] so CB. pecok] pocok 0; pacok C. [peyneth WOB] payned LR ; peyned C. 24S. and] or CB. 250. repente'] repente hyw 0. 252. hene] clen CB. 253. be] is COB. lyke] yliche ; lyl (sic) R. \_ch iter;/ ng W] LCROB om. ; but the line is marked in L. 254. his] is C. caue] graue C. 255. flaumbe] flawme WRO ; flambe CB. PASS. XII.] EXECUTORS ARE LIKE A PEACOCK'S FEET. 207 And alle pe oper per it lyth [enuenymep] porgh his attere. 256 X>y pe [po feet] is vnderstonde " as I liaue lerned in auynete, Excecutoures, fals frendes pat fulfille noii3t ]iis wille Jjat was writen, and pei witnesse to worche ri3t as it wolde. Jjus pe poete preues pat pe pecok for his fetheres is reuerenced, 2 GO Rht so is pe riche ' bi resouw of his godis. % J5e larke, pat is a lasse foule is more louelich of ledne, And wel awey of wenge • swifter pan pe pecok, And of flesch, by fele folde fatter and swetter. 264 To lowe lybbyng men ' pe larke is resembled ; Arestotle pe grete clerke suche tales he telleth ; 1[ Thus he lykneth in his logyk * pe leste foule oute. And where he be sauf or noi^t sauf pe sothe write no clergy e, 268 Ne of sortes ne of salamon no scripture can telle. Ac god is so good, I hope ' pat sitth he gaf hem wittis To wissen vs weyes pere-with (pat wissen vs to be saued, And pe better for her bokes) " to bidden we ben holden, )3at god for his g?-«ce gyue her soules reste; 273 For lettred men were lewed men }ut ne were lore of her bokes." His executors are like the peacock's feet. Tlie lark lias a sweeter voice than the peacock. [Fol. r,2 6.] Whether Aristotle is saved, none knows. God, who gave the heathen wit to teach us, will perhaps save them." 256. And] CB om. o\er] er^e O; schere B. [enuenyme\> WCOB] en- uenymed LR. attere] attre W ; atter RCO ; attir B. 257. [po feet WR] poo feet CO ; pownes feet B ; profeet (!) L. vnder- stonde] vnderstande W; vnderstonded R. ha ne] COB om. auynete] any- net tes C. 258. 259. \at fulfille— witnesse] C om. witnesse] witnesses R. i'i\t] COB om. it] lie R. 2(!0. )~at] om. pecok] pocok 0. 2G1. riche] riche man B. 203. wenge] wynge WCO ; wlienge B. 266. Arestotle] For aristotel R; Aristole C. he] COB om. 2G7. logyh] glosinge R. leste] leeste W. 268. where] whetyer W. sauf (1)] saue C. sauf (2)] COB om. no] Pe (!) 0. 269. of (2)] COB om. 271. weyes] wayes C. 273. soules] soule R. 274. men (2)] CB om. jut] yet WO ; yit CB. ne were] nere CB ; ner O. lore] loore W. her] \v R. 208 BAPTISM BY WATER, BLOOD, AND FIRE. [PASS. XII. "Clerks ik-ny 5[ " Alle bise clerkes" quod I bo "bat on cryst salvation to r ' i. r r J Saracens and leuen, Seggen in her sarmones ' bat noytlicr sarasenes ne iewes, Ne no creature of cristes lyknesse with-outen crysten- dome worth saued." 277 IF " Contra" qjiod ymagynatyf bo and comscd for to loure, 1 1>et - iv - is. And seyde, " saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicij. ^T Ergo saluabitur" qiiod he and seyde namore latyne. "Trajan was " Troianws was a trewe knyjte and toke neuere cristen- saved, though never baptized," dome, 280 said he. And he is sauf, so seith be hoke * and his soule in heuene. " There is also a For here is fullyng of fonte • and fullyng in hlode 1 aptisra by blood, and one by fire. sliedyng?, And borugh fuire is fullyng and bat is ferme hileue ; Aduenit ignis diuiuus, non comburens, sed illuminans, $c. True men, that IT Ac trewth bat trespassed neuere • ne transuersed never trespass, . . must be approved a3emes his lawe, 284 But lyueth as his lawe techeth • and leueth bere he no hettere, And if bere were, he wolde amende • and in suche wille deyeth, Ne wolde neuere trewe god ' hut treuth were allowed ; And where it Avorth or worth noi^t • j?e hileue is grete of treuth, 288 275. quod] quo B. on] in W. also in R ; traiuersed WCOB. aieines] 276. Seggen] Seyen W ; Sayand C. a?en R. noyther sarasenes] no sarazyns C ; 285. lyueth] lyued R. teeheth] no Sarsyn B. taujte R. 278. comscd'] bygane C. 280. if] B om. 281. is] Bom. sauf] saaf W; 287. treuth] trewe treuthe R. om. so] as COB. 288. where] wheijw W ; were 282. For] Ac R. fonte] founte C. RCOB. it] it be W. worth noii-f] 283. fuire] fuir R ; fir WO ; fier B ; worth nau^te R ; nojt worj? W ; notnt fire C. sed] set C. C ; nojt B ; not 0. 28i. Ac] And C. transuersed] so PASS. XII.] IMAGINATIVE SUDDENLY VANISHES. 209 And an hope hangyng per-inne to liaue a Mede for his There is much treuthe. 289 "*•«*-*' For, Deus dicttur quasi dans vitam eternam sais, hoc est, fidelibus ; et alibi : si ambidauero in medio vmbre mortis, \&c] Ps. xxu. L J (Vulg.). j)e glose graunteth vpon pat ver« • a gret mede to treuthe, And witt and wisdome," qjwd j?at wye "was somme wit and wisdom were once tyme tresore, thought to be the To kepe with a comnne • no katel was holde bettere, nation/' And moche murth and manhod : " — and ri^t with pat Then he vanished. he vanesched. 293 289. a] CB om. for'] B om. For] 291. wye] weye R. Quia COB. [<^c CROB] LW om. 293. manhod] manhede R; manhed 290. treuthe] trewe R. C. with] myd R. 14 210 THE FOET WANDERS ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. [PASS. XIII. PASSUS XIII (DO-WEL V). Passus terciodecimus. Then I awoke, and thought much about my dream — how Fortune failed me, and friars would bury no poor, [Fol. 53.] and evil priests betrayed men to final doom; A nd I awaked pere-with witles nerehande, -t*~ And as a freke J? at fre were forth gaii I walke In manere of a mendynaunt many a ^ere after, And of Jns metyng many tyme moche boi^t I hadde. 4 First, how fortune me failled • at my moste nede, And how jjat elde manac.ed me ' my3t we euere meten ; And how j>at freris folwed • folke )>at was riche, And folke J>at was pore at litel prys J>ei sette, 8 And no corps in her kirke^erde ne in her kyrke was huvyed, But quikke he biquethe hem aujte • or shulde lielpe quyte her dettes. And how bis coueitise ouercome clerkes and prestes, And how bat lewed men ben ladde ' but owre lorde hem helpe, 12 Jjorugh vnkonnynge curatoures to incurable peynes. Title. Passus terciodecimus LCO; Passus xiijws, &c. W ; Passus duode- cimos (I) de visione, - vt supra R; Passus tercius decimus et Sextus {read Quintus] de dowel B. 1. aivahed] wakede 0. 2. a] om. fre] fere R ; fey B. walke] walken R. 3. a mendynaunt] amendement (1) B. a (2)] RCOB om. 4. tyme] tyraes R. G. manaced] mansed R. mint — euere] we mi^te n euere COB. 7. ?vas] weren 0. 8. was] weren O. 9. ne] nor W. her (2)] liir (jjrinted his) W; C om. iras] were R. 10. quikke] bei quyk B. he] CB om- hem'] hym B ; W om. or — quyte] to quyte wib W. 11. bis] COB om,; bus R. 13. peynes] peyne C. PASS. XIII ] HE DREAMS, AND SEES CONSCIENCE AND PATIENCE. 211 % And how J?at ymagynatyf in dremeles me tolde, and how imagin- /-> p it ix-1- ni , • i • ative taught "19 Ol kynde and ol Ins connynge and how curteise he is how loving tobestes, Naturei8 ' And how louynge he is to bestes on londe and on water ; 1 6 Leueth he no lyf lasse ne more ; Jpe creatures bat crepen • of kynde ben engendred. And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde • vix iustus sal- and how he spoke of the difficulty Uabltur, of salvation, and And wban he had seyde so • how sodeynelich he passed. 20 IT I lay down longe in J? is boi^te and atte laste I slepte, And, as cryste wolde, bere come conscience to conforte Again i dreamt, and beheld me bat tyme, Conscience, who And bad me come to his courte with clergye sholde I with clergy. dyne. IT And for conscience of clergye spake I come wel be rather, 24 And Jjere I say a maistre • what man he was I neste, Then saw i a j i i . i . master, who pat lowe louted and loueliche to scripture. went with con- mr n • i i l t 1 -i i science to dinner. 11 Conscience knewe hym wel and welcomed hym faire ; Jpei wesshen and wypeden and wenten to be dyner. 28 Ac pacience in be paleis stode in pilgrymes clothes, Patience stood And preyde mete for charite ' for a pore heremyte. 1T Conscience called hym in and curteisliche seide, wmL?"* 14—20. R omits. 25. say~] sei'3 WCO. neste] so in 14. dremeles'] dremes C. LRC ; nyste WOB. 15. his] COB om. 26. louted] a-loutid B. 16. is] his C. bestes] briddes W. 27. Conscience] Conscien C. wel] 17. Leueth] Leue)j or LeneJ> {printed B om. Leneth) W. 28. wesslien] wasscheden O ; wes- 10. sitthen] COB om. iustus] W shenden (sic) C. wypeden] vvipten om. B. wenten] wente R ; went C. \>e] 21. down] CB om. COB om. 22. pat] in pat R. 29. Ac] And WC. 23. me] om. shoUe] shul C. 30. for (1)] par WO ; pur B. 24. come] com WC ; cam RB. 212 HE SEES A DOCTOR DINING SUMPTUOUSLY. [PASS. XIII. The muster s:it in the best place. Patience and I sat at a side- board. Luke x. 7. The master and his man ate costly dishes, but their sauce was over-sour. Conscience hade Scripture bring [Fol. 53 ] bread tor Patience and me. " "Welcome, [wye !] go and wasshe pow slialt sitte sone." 32 IT j}is maister was made sitte ' as for pe moste worthy, And panne clergye and conscience and pacience cam after. ^T Facience and I • were put to be macches, And seten by owre selue at a syde-borde. 36 1T Conscience called after mete and panne cam script?e W 38. hem] hyrn R. 39. of alle] and of W. Edentes] Edentes (printed Edentis) W. 40. Ac] And C. ne] nor W. 41. Ac] And C. ete mete] liarlde metes R. mortrewes] mortreux C. 42. n-el] B om. 43. Ac] And C. over] euere COB. grounde] y-grounde CB. 44. many] many a W. 2 )ei J ne ~\ peynes 0. 45. )>o] the COB. and wepe] with many R. lacrimas] lacrimis C. L has in the margin — contra sacerdotes. 40. ful] L has for altered to ful ; ful WE ; COB om. 47. macche] make COB ; mete R. 48. lof] lafe C. to-for] to-forn W. PASS. XIII.] THE DOCTOR DRINKS MUCH WINE. 213 And sith lie drough vs drynke \diu\-perseiieram. Mat. iii. 2 ; cf. x. 22. " As longe," quod I, " as I lyue ' and lycame may dure!" " Here is propre seruice," quod pacience * " ber fareth no pryn.ce betters ; " ^T And banne lie broi^t vs forth a mees of other mete : Ps. i. (Vulgate). of Miser •ere-mei-deus ; 52 And he hroujte vs of Beati-quorum * of becdus-virres Ps. xxxi. i, >. niakynge, Et-quorum-tecta-sunt-- pecccda in a disshe Ps- xxxi. i. Of derne shrifte, dixl and confitebor tibi ! Ps. xxxi. 6. " Brynge pacience some pitaunce " • pryueliche quod conscience ; 56 ^T And banne had pacience a pitauwce * pro-hac-orabit- Patience had a pittance of Ps. ad-te-omms-sanctus-in-tempore-oportuno ; xxxi. 6. And conscience conforted vs ' and carped vs mery tales, Cor contritum § humiliation, dens, -non de- Ps. i. io. spicies. H Pacience was proude of fat ppopre seruice, And made hym muirth with his mete " ac I morned i mourned to sea the doctor drink. eiiere, 60 so much wine. For Jns doctoure on J?e heigh dese dranke wyn so faste ; Ve vobis qid potentes estis ad bibendum vinum ! isa. v. 22. 1f He eet many sondry metes mortrewes and puddynges, He ateaii sorts of Wombe-cloutes and wylde braune & egges yfrved £ with grece. 49. W has — And si^pe he brou^te pitaunce] CB om. pryueliclie] om. vs drynke Dia perseucrans — (omit- 57. And] It om. C begins — And ted in printed copy'), [din OB] dia thanne come to pacience ' a pitaunce LWR ; dya C. ybroughte ; O has the same; B the, 50. As] Also B. 7(l)]heR0. I same, with com per for come. 2 >r "] lyue] lif R. Of pro COB. ad te] R om. 51. is] C om. 58. humiliatum] miswritten humi- 52. rs] COB om. a mees of] COB litatum in L. om. deus] R om. GO. mete] raene R. ac] and C. 53. he — rs] COB om. vs] R om. 61. on — dese] vp-on pis hey deyes of (2)] and of R. virres] soi/tLW; R. dranke] tlronk R vinum] CB vir COB ; vir his R. om. 54. Et] And R. 02. He] And R. eet] ete CB. mor- 55. and] & W. trewcs] mortreux C ; mortrels B. 56. Brynge] And brynge CB. 63. yfryed] fryed R ; fried CB 2U THERE IS PERIL AMONG FALSE BRETHREN. [PASS. XIII. " Only 4 days ago he preached from 2 Cor. xi. 27," said I. S Cor. xi. 25, 24. " They forget St Paul's words in 2 Cor. xi. 26, which I will not translate. I never heard a friar preach from that text ! This glutton pities not us poor." Jpanne seide I to ray-self so pacience it lierde, 64 " It is nou$t foure dayes fat f is freke * bifor f e dca of ponies, Preclied of penaunces fat poule f e apostle suffred, In fame 9" frigore ' and nappes of scourges ; Ter cesus sum, § a iudeis quinquies quadra- genas, cfc. H Ac worde f ei oucrhuppen • at ech a tyrne pat pei preche, G8 jDat poule in his pistel to al f e peple tolde ; Periculum est in f crisis fratribus. Holywrit bit men be "war I wil non^t write it here On englisch, an auenture ' it sliolde be reherced to ofte, And greue fere- with fat good men ben ac gramarienes shul rede ; 72 Vnusquisque a fratre se custodlat, quia, vt dicitur, periculum est in falsis fratribus. IT Ac I wist neuere freke fat as a frere 3ede * bifor men on englisshe Taken it for her teme and telle it with-outen glosynge. J?ei prechen fat penaunce ' is p?*ofitable to f e soule, And what myschief and malese cryst for man tholed, Ac f is goddes glotoo," quod I • " with his gret chekes, Hath no pyte on vs pore he perforneth yuel ; 78 )}at he precheth he preueth noi^t " ' to pacience I tolde, 65. is] C om. den] deen WB ; dene C. of"} of seynt K. 66. penaunces] penaunce C. 67. $] and C ; et K. 68. Ac] And C. onerlmppen] ouerhippen CB. a~\ CB om. preche] prechen BCB. 69. pistel] epistle 0. al] O om. Pericvlum—in] Et in pericuio E. in] O om. 70. bit] biddif> B ; bides C. write] writen R ; writte C. 71. On] In WEB. an] on W; in B. auenture] auntcr O. -•1. \>at] W om. men] COB om. ben] W om. ac] an C. rede] redde W. 73. Ac] And C ; E om. a] E om. on] an E. 74. her] his W. telle] tellen E. 75. ]>ei] Ac J>ei E. 76. and] or COB. malese] male ese WEO ; mal esse C ; malaise B. tholed] tholde C. 77. Ac] And C. 78. pore] pore men OB ; pouere men C. pcrforneth] performed B. 79. he — nouyt] and preueth E. PASS. XIII.] WILLIAM IS WROTH WITH THE DOCTOR. 215 And wisshed witterly • with wille fal egre, 80 j?at disshes a[nd] dobleres bifor bis ilke doctour, i wished the Were [molten] led in his maw " and Mahoun amyddes ! been molten lead " I shal iangle to bis Iurdan • with his iust wombe, To telle me what penaunce is " of which he preched [Foi. 54.1 rather."— 84 Pacience perceyued what I thou3t and wynked on me to be stille, And seyde, " bow shalt se bus sone whan he may no more, He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche and puffe at Patience said the doctor would do ech a worde, r>em.nce soon, And banne shullen his guttis godele " and he shal galpen after ; 88 For now he hath dronken so depe he wil deuyne sone, And praien it by her pocalips * and passioun of seynt and prove that . such dishes are a AuereyS, penitent's food. ))at neither bacou?z ne braune * blan[c]mangere ne mor- trewes Is noither fisshe [ne] flesshe ' but fode for a penaunte. And banne shal he testifye of a trinitee • and take his felawe to witnesse, 93 What he fonde in a freyel after a freres lyuynge, 80. wisshed] wissed C. witterly'] 89. n'il] wole WRB. deny ne] dyuya ful witterly W. ful] for (corrected to (sic) B. In the margin of — Doc- ful) L ; ful "VVCROB. tours of freris. 81. and] miswritten a in L. do- 90. by] R om.', by-for C. her Meres] doublers WC ; doubleris ; pocalips] be appocalipsis B. dubbleris B. ilke] ille B ; Horn. 91. blancmangere~] so in WCO; 82. [molten WCOB] molte B ; blaumanger or blaumanger L ; bla- moltou?i L. led] leded (!) C. his] manger B ; ne blanmanger R. mor- here R. traces] mortreux C ; mortrels B. 83. iust] mysty R ; Iutte, corrected 92. fisshe] fisse C. [ne CROB] to Iuste O. norW; no L. fisshe— flesshe] fieisch 81. me] men 0. rather] \>ere ay ne fisch B. a penaunte] be penauntes R. R ; a penaunce C. 85. wynked — to] bad me R. 93. \>anne] C om. a] be W. 86. shalt] salt G. fclan-e] felawes COB. 87. a (1)] C om. a (2)] CB om. 94. freyel] frayel WCB ; freiel R. 88. godele] godle R ; gobele WC ; a (2)] COB om. freres lyuynge] frere grobele ; gruwe B. leuynge R. 216 THE DOCTOR EXPLAINS WHAT DO-WELL IS. [PASS. XIII. " He will begin And but if be fyrst lyne be lesyng * leue me neuere and talk lies. after ! Then ask him p.bout Do-well "Then you do not well," I said, " for you have eaten up our pudding! " And banne is tyme to take ' and to appose bis doctoure Of dowel and of dobet • and if dobest be any pe- nannce." — 97 If And I sete stille, as pacience seyde • and bus sone bis doctour, soon the doctor As rody as a rose • rubbed his chekes, couched and /-< i -i i n n • i i -i nn talked. Coughed and carped ' and conscience hym herde, 100 And tolde hym of a trinite • and toward vs he loked. " is Do-weii pen- 5f " What is dowel 1 sire doctour," qiiod I • " is dowel ance?" said I. any penaunce 1 " Do-weu," said If " Dowel 1 " qiwd bis doctoui- — 'and toke be cuppe he, and drank, . - . " is to do no evil." and dranke — "Do non yuel to June euenecrystene nox^t by bi powere." 104 If " By bis day, sire doctour," quod I * " banne be ye nou3t in dowel ; For 3e han harmed vs two in bat ye etcn be pud- dyng, Mortrewes, and other mete • and we no [morsel] hade ! And if 3e fare so in }owre fermorie ferly me binketh, But chest be bere charite shulde be " & jonge childern dorste pleyne ! 109 I wolde permute my penaunce with }owre for I am in poynte to dowel ! " 95. ?/*] Worn. \>e—lyne] he first 102. is (1)] his C. dowel] do-best lyue W ; pe first leef O ; the first lif R ; it W. C ; pe frust lif B. 103. toTte—drcmke] dronk after R. 96. take] talke R. to (2)] COB 104. Do] Is do W ; Crowley also oni. inserts Is; but see C-Text; and cf. 1. 07. of (2)] WO om. dobest] dowel 115. W. be] do B. 105. day] O om. \anne] COB om. 98. sete] sat WCROB. as] an 106. han] haue R. (sic) C. 107. Mortrewes] Mortreux C ; Mor- 99. As] Al so B. rubbed] robbed trels B. {morsel WCB] mussel LRO. R. 108. if] R om. fermorie] Fer- 100. Coughed] Coujwede R ; Com- merye WCR. Bed B. 109. chest] cheeste W. be] O om. 101. >:s] vs al C ; vs alle B. $onge] CB om. TASS. XIII.] DO-WELL OBEYS ; DO-BET TEACHES ; DO-BEST DOES BOTH. 217 1T J5ann3 conscience curteisliche a contenaunce he made, Then Conscienoa asked him the And preynte vpon pacience * to preie me to be stille, same. And seyde hym-self, " sire doctour and it be 30wre wille, 113 What is dowel and dobet 1 ' $e deuynours knoweth." 1T "Dowel," quod bis doctour "do as clerkes techeth, "Do-wen," said ' 1 ' ' he, " obeys ; Do- And dobet is he bat techeth and trauailleth to teche l)e t teaches ; Do- hest botli teaches Other, 116 and obeys." And dobest doth hym-self so • as he seith & precheth : — Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno Mat. v. 19. • celorum." IT " Now bow, clergye," quod conscience " carpest what is dowel." " I haue seuene sones," he seyde * " seruen in a castel, The seven sons of Clergy (i. e. the J)gyq be lorde of lyf wonyeth to leren hym what is seven sciences). dowel; 120 % Til I se bo seuene and my-self acorden, I am vnhardy," quod he " to any wy$t to preue it. For one pieres be ploughman hath inpugned vs alle, [Foi. 54 &.] And sette alle sciences at a soppe • saue loue one, 124 ploughman says And no tixte ne taketh to meyntene his cause, except love." But d'dige deum and doniine, quis habitabit, ijr. And seith bat dowel and dobet aren two infinites, Whiche infinites, with a feith fynden oute dobest, 128 Which shal saue mannes soule Jjus seith piers }>e ploughman." H " I can noii3t her-on," quod conscience • " ac I knowe wel pieres ; 111. curteisliche] ful curteislich lerne COB. hyni] hem CB ; WO B. he~] WCOB am. om. 112. preynte~] prentede B ; prynkid 122. to preue j proue B. B. pacience'] penaunce B. to (2)] 124. sciences'] science BO. sopjx] COB om. soep B ; sope W. 115. do'] dos B. 125. taltetli] takees C. 117. doth] doo C. 127. seith] seigh C. \>at] om. 118. carpest] capest (Jnj mistake) two] twa C. C. 128. a] 00 B. 119. seuene] B om. in] at COB. 129. \>e] CB om. 120. wonyeth] woneth CB. leren] 130. ac} and C. wel] COB om. 218 DO-WELL LEARNS; DO-BET TEACHES j DO-BEST LOVES. [PASS. XIII. Conscience says they must wait till Piers conies. Cf. Mat. x. 22. " Learn, and do well ; teach, and do better; love, and do best. Cast coals upon thine enemy's head. He wil noujt ajein holy writ speken I dar wel vnder- take ; ])anne passe we ouer til piers come and preue bis in dede. 132 Pacience hath be in many place and perauntre cnoweth J)at no clerke ne can • as cryst bereth witnesse ; Pacientes vincunt, $c." " At 3owre preyere," quod pacyence Jjo " so no man displese hym ; Disce," quod he, " doce ' dilige inimicos. 136 Disce, and dowel • doce, & dobet ; Dilige, and dobest bus tau3te me ones A lemman bat I loued • loue was hir name. ' With wordes and with werkes,' quod she ' ' and wille of J)yne herte, 140 Jjow loue lelly bi soule al bi lyf tyme ; And so fow lere be to louye • for be lordes loue of heuene, Jpine enemye in al wyse euene forth with bi-selue. Cast coles on his hed and al kynde speche, 144 Bothe with werkes and with wordes fonde his loue to wynne ; And lay on hym bus with loue til he la[u]ghe on be ; And but he bowe for J?is betyng blynde mote he worthe ! IT Ac for to fare bus with J>i frende foly it were, 148 131. aiei/ri] ajeynes E. dar roeZ] dir O ; CB om. vndertake] vnder- stonde B. 133. place] places CB ; a place E. peravmtre] par auenture ECO. cnoivcth] knoweth. EO ; knowib B ; knowes C ; moused W. 134. ne can] can E ; knoweb 0. 135. At] so in CEOB ; written like Ac in LW. hym] hem E. 136. quod~\ quod (printed quo) W. doce] & doce 0. dilige] and dilige COB. In margin of L — disce, doce, et dilige. 138. omits. 110. with (2)] COB om. 141. \>ow] E om. 142. \>ow] to E. \>e (1)] and E. \>e (2)] oure W. 144. and] of WEB. 145. werkes — wordes] werke and word COB. 146. lay] ley E ; leye WO ; lye C ; beie B. laughe C] lau^e W ; laiuhe E ; law^he ; laughe B ; laghe L. 148. Ae] And C. TASS. XIII.] THE BOLDNESS AND MIGHT OF LOVE. 219 For lie bat loueth be lelly lyte of byne coueitetli. Thy Mend needs not sucli treat- Kynde lone coueitetli novate • no catel but speebe, ment. With half a laumpe lyne in latyne ex vi transicionis? ^ I here bere-inne aboute ' fast ybounde dowel, 152 i bear about d - well, fast bound," In a signe of be saterday bat sette firste be kalendare, said Patience. And al be witte of be Wednesday of be nexte wyke after ; \)e myddel of be mone " is be nn^te of bothe. And here-with am I welcome bere I haue it with me." IT " Vndo it, late bis doctour deme if dowel be ber- inne ; For, bi hym bat me made miate neuere pouerte, 158 "No evil can harm him who Miseise, ne myschief • ne man with his tonge, has charity. Colde, ne care ne compaignye of theues, Ne noither hete, ne haille ne non helle pouke, Ne noither fuire ne node ne fere of bine enemy 1G2 Tene be eny tyme • and bow take it with be ; Caritas niclvil timet. i John iv. is. [And eek, haue god my soule ! ' and bow wilt it craue, Jjere nys neyther emperour ne emperesse erl, kyngfi, ne barotm, 165 Pope, ne patriarch bat puyre reson ne schal make Reason, by help of Charity, will ])e meyster of alle bo men born} n^t of bis redeles ; make thee master . „ of all men." JNoivjt thoru3 wicche-crafte, but tnoru3 wit ' (& bow wilt bi-selue) 168 Do kynge and quene • and alle be comune after 3yue be alle bat bei may 3iue as [for be] best jemere, 149. lyte] litel WCB ; litil O. 159. Miseise] Misaise B. ne] ne coueitetli] desireth B. no W. 151. transicionis] transgvesziomsO. 161. noither] nother B; neiber 152. aboute'] a beaut C; a beaute WOB ; nouther C. B. In margin of ~L — Solucwm. 162. noither] nother B; neiber 154. And] In 0. ]:e{2)] Com. wed- OCB ; W om. enemy] eneniyes 0. ncsday] wodnesday W; wedenesday 1(54 — 171. In B only; but ef. C- B. wylie] woke 0. Text, which has a passage epitomized 155. is] as W. mfote] nyghtWCB. from, it. 157. late] and late R. deme] dem 170. [for]pe] such is my conjecture ; C; se B; sen (altered to deme) L. f/)fi MS ks (ie for. if] where B. \>er-i?ine] heir-inne E. 220 NONE CAN RECONCILE TWO CHRISTIAN KINGS ! [PASS. XIII. And, as bou demest, wil bei do alle here dayes after ; Pacientes vincunt, tf'c."~\ "Nonsense," said 5f " It is but a dido," quod bis doctonr • " a dysoures tale. the doctor; . , , , . , ., Al be witt of Jus worlde and wrjte mennes strengthe Can noujt confourmen a pees bytwene be pope and his enemys, 174 Xe bitwene two cristene kynges can no wijte pees [Fol. 55.] " no one can reconcile two Christian kings ! ' Conscience rose up to go. Clergy says he will fetch him a bible. Conscience wishes to mourn for his sins. make. Profitable to ayther peple " and put be table fro hym, And toke clergye and conscience ' to conseille, as it were, 177 Jjat pacience bo moste passe for pilgrimes kunne wel lye. 1f Ac conscience carped loude and curteislicb seide, " Frendes, fareth wel " and faire spake to clergye, 180 " For I wil go with J)is gome if god wil 3ine me grace, And be pilgryme with pacience til I haue proued more.'' If "What 1 ?" qwod clergye to conscience " ar ^e coueitouse nouthe After 3eres3yues or ^iftes • or ^ernen to rede redeles 1 I shal brynge 30W a bible • a boke of be olde lawe, 185 And lcre 30AY, if 30W lyke be leest poynte to know, }3at pacience be pilgryme perfitly knewe neuere." % "Nay, bi cryste," quod conscience to clergye • "god be for3elde, I 88 For al fat pacience me pn>freth ' proude am I litel. Ac be wille of be wye and be wille [of] folke here Hath moeued my mode • to mourne for my synncs. wi rte] wip ; 173. and] ne R. wi3th B. 174. \>c pope] W om. enemys] enmye B ; enemye C. 175. mfote] \vi3th B. 178. pacience] pacien (sic) C. ]>o] poo ; pow W. moste] moost C ; mote R. 179. Ac] And C. loude] aloude R. 181. me] the CB. 183. ar] er C. 181. or (1)] an C; & O ; and B. or (2)] other R. to] ye to C ; 3c to B. redeles] rideles CO. 18G. y)w li/Jtc] ye liken R. leest] best COB. 187. \>ct] R om. neuere] euere B. 188. to clergye] CB om. 189. litel] ful litil 0; butlitileCB. 190. Ac] And C. perto] for so)?e W. 207. nys] ne is R ; is no COB. 191. Haued] Hadde WCOB. Mag- 208. al kynnes] alle kynnes W; dele'igne] marie magdeleyne R ; Mau- alle kynne R ; al kyns O. deleyne W. 209. Sarasenes] And Sarasynes R. 195. do] da C. suri'e] al Surrie B ; surry C ; Surrie 197. gazafilacium] Gazophilacium R. )>e] R am. W; gazofilacium E. 210. Turne] Turnen R; Torne C. 198. fyrst] O om. one] oure B. 199. softliche] sothliche CB. 212. deuore] deuoir WCOB ; deuer 201. Jn] this CB. R. 202. to] of W; and R. 213. conformen] so in R; confer- 204. for-n-alhed] of-walked W. men WCO ; conlirmen B ; cf. I. 208. milne] wille \Y. 214. preued] s^z-ued O. 222 CONSCIENCE AND PATIENCE MEET A MINSTREL. [PASS. XIII. conscience and H Conscience bo -with pacience passed pilgrymes as it Patience set out T x r 1 ° J as pilgrims. Were. Jjanne had pacience, as pylgrymes han in his poke vittailles, 216 Sobrete, and symple speche " and sothfaste hyleue, To conforte hym and conscience if bey come in place J^ere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is hungrye contrees bothe. soon they meet ^[ And as bei went by be weye ' of dowel bei carped ; with a minstrel. . r . J r J r I jjei mette with a mynstral as me bo bou^te. 221 Pacience apposed hym fyrste • and preyed hym he sholde hem telle To conscience, what crafte he conthe an to what contree he wolde. IT " I am a mynstral," quod. Jjat man " my name is actiua vita : 224 Alle ydel ich hatye • for of actyf is my name. A wafrere, wil je wite ' and serue many lordes, And fewe robes I fonge or furred gounes. 227 Couthe I lye to do men laughe banne lacchen I shulde Other mantel or money amonges lordes mynstralles. Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe ne telle none gestes, Farten, ne fythelen at festes, ne harpen, Iape ne iogly ' ne gently ch pype, 232 Ne noyther sailly ne saute ne synge with j?e gyterne, I haue none gode gyftes of bise grete lordes, Patience asks him who he is " I am activa- vita," he says, " a wafer-seller. Because I can play neither on tabour, trump, nor pipe, I get no gifts, 215. 2>assed~\ passib B. 219. hungrye contrees'] hongercon- treyes R. 220. bei] be W. of] and of R. \c'i (2)] R om. carped] carpeden 0. 221. mette] metten RO. mynstral] ministrale R. \>o] B om. 222. fyrste] booO. hym (2)] CBom. 225. Alle] And alle O. ydel] ydel- ncsse W. of] O om. 226. mil] wol WCB ; welle R, 227. And] IC; A B. 228. Couthe] Coude R. lye] lee C. to] and R. 229. money] nione R. mynstralles] or mynstrals W. 230. Ac] And C. tabre] taborne C. none] no WO ; noon C. 232. CB om, iogly] Iogele WO; iangele R. 233. sailly] saille WO; sayle RB. savte] sautre C. 234. none] no WO ; na C. \>ise] bis RC. TASS. XIII.] HAUKYN, THE WAFERER AND MINSTREL. 223 For no bred jjat I brynge forth * saue a beneson on be save a Messing on , Sunday. son day, Whan be prest preyeth be peple her pater-nosier to bidde 236 For peres fie plowman • and pat hym profite wayten. And bat am I, actyf Jjat ydelnesse hatye, i hate idleness. For alle trewe trauaillours ' and tilieres of be erthe ; Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse I fynde hem with wafres. 240 % Beggeres and bidderes • of my bred crauen, Beggars, friars, and the pope Faitonres and freres and folke with brode cronnes. have bread from me. I fynde payne for be pope and prouendre for his palfrey, And I hadde neuere of hym haue god my treuthe, 244 Noither prouendre ne parsonage • 3ut of be popis ^ifte, Saue a pardoutt with a peys of led • and two pollis amydcle ! Hadde iche a clerke fat couthe Avrite ' I wolde caste The pope ought to send me a hym a bille, cure for the pestilence. })at he sent me vnder his seel a salue for be pesti- lence, 248 And Jjat his blessyng & his bulles bocches mi^te de- stroye : In nomine meo demonia [eicient], fy super egros Markxvi. n, is. manus imponent, § bene habebunt. And banne wolde I be prest to [be] peple ' paste for to make, And buxome and busy aboute bred and dryuke 235. brynge] brou^t R. 246. pegs'] payes C. amyddc] 236. preyeth] p/rches C ; p?rchif> amyddes W. B. 247. iche] ech C ; ich WR. 237. peres] pier C. pat] \>o f?at B. 248. sent] sende B. In margin of wayten] wayteth RB. R — laus & vis Indulgenciarww. 238. am I] I am CROB. 249. And] R om. frit] B om. 239. For] Of R. pe] COB om. boeehes vii^te] myite bocches O. 240. with] \vif3 my W ; om. [eicient] so in WCROB ; eicivmt L. 241. Udderes] bilderis B. " 250. \Jpe WCROB] L om. paste] 243. prouendre] p?vmende B. paast W ; past B. 245. pe] Worn, yftc] jiftes R. 251. busy] bisy be B. 224 ALL LOXDON LIKES HAUKYn's WAFERS. [PASS. XIII. For hym and for alle his fonde I bat his pardouM 252 Mi3te leclien a man as I bilene it slmlde. smeiy the pope For sith he hath be powere • bat peter hym-self hadde, has the pot with ' ' L J the salve! He hath be pntte with be salue sothly, as me binketh : [Foi. 56.] Anient it hi & durum non est mihi: quod autem Acts iii. 6. J hahco, \Jwc\ tibi do; in nomine domini, surge fy ambula. Perhaps men are f Ac if mute of miracle hym faille • it is for men ben not worthy ! noiijt worthy 256 To haue be grace of god & no gylte of be pope. For may no blyssyng done vs bote bnt if we wil amende, Ne mannes masse make pees • amonges cristene peple, Tyl pruyde be purelich fordo and bat bourgh payn defaute. 260 II For ar I haue bred of mele ofte mote I swete, And ar be comune haue corne ynough • many a colde mornynge ; So, ar my wafres ben ywrou^t ' moche wo I tholye. ah London likes f Alle Londourc I leue liketh wel mv wafres, 264 my wafers. " And lowren whan bei lakken [hem] — it is noujt longe ypassed, Jjere was a earful comune • whan no carte come to toune With [bake] bred fro stretforth bo gan beggeres wepe, And werkmen were agastc a litel bis wil be bou^te I have to work hard at baking There was a dearth there longe. 252. his (l)j hisse C; hise P.. 253. 1] B om. it] O om. 254. sith'] sethe R. 255. hath] hase C. potte] poot B. [hoc RO] LVVCB om. in— domini] O om. 256. Ac] And C. hen] beth R. 257. \e (1)] no R. \,e (2)] W om. 268 262. ar] er WCOB. a] COB om. colilr] calde C. 2(53. ar] er WCOB. yicrou-ii] wrought COB. ivo] wa C. 264. Alle] Al {printed At) W; Al COB. 265. CB omit, [hem, WR] it LO. 207. [bake RJ LWCOB om. ; bnt it improves the line, stretforth] Strat- forde WCOB ; statforde R. gan] gon- 258. For] R om. n-il] wolen B. 260. purelich] priueliche R. \>at] nen WCO ; guwnen B ale R; Wow. 268. litel] lite W; litil COB 261. B omits, ar] er WCO. ofte] wil] wel R. hovste] bomt on B. erst CO. PASS. XIII.] THE DEARTH WHEN CHICHESTER WAS MAYOR. 225 In f e date of owre dryjte • in a drye appn'le, in Api-ii. 1370, A f ousande and thre hondreth tweis thretty & ten, My wafres fere were gesen whan chichestre was when Chichester tit • » n»i was mayor." Maire. 271 ^[ I toke gode kepe, by cryst • and conscience bothe, Of liaukyn f e actyf man and how lie was y-clothed. He hadde a cote of crystendome as liolykirke bileueth, 1 observed how Ac it was moled in many places with many sondri coat was* plottes, Of prnyde here a plotte, and fere a plotte of vnboxome speche, 276 Of scornyng and of scoffyng and of vnskilful berynge, it was spotted As in aparaille and in porte proude amonges f e peple, Otberwyse fan lie hath with herte or sy3te sliewynge ; Hym willynge fat alle men wende be were fat he is nou^te. 280 For-why he bosteth and braggeth with many bolde othes, And in-obedient to ben vndernome of any lyf lyuynge, He was dis- And so syngulere by hym-self as to sy3te of f e poeple, Was none suche as hym-self • ne none so [pope]-holy, Y-habited as an hermyte an ordre by hym-selue, 285 under no rule, Religioun sanz reule ' and resonable obedience ; Lakkyng lettred men and lewed men bothe, 209. drye apprile] druye auerel R. ye O ; ei^e B. 270. hondreth] hundred WOB ; 280. willynge] wilnynge R. wcnde] hondrede R. thretty'] so also in, R ; wenden ; wente R. nourte] not O. twenty WCB ; twenti 0. 281. bosteth] bosted C. braggeth] 271. \>ere] COB om. gesen] gesene bragged C. WR ; looks lilts gefene in B. was] 283, 284. W has — And noon so were R. singuler by hym-self • ne so pomp 272. gode] grete R. holy ; COB have — And so singuler by 273. hanky 11] in L. this word (here hym-self ne noon so poppe (sic) holy. and elsewhere) loo7cs more likehaukyn. L and R are alike, except that for ij -clothed] clothed CB. pompe (L) we find pope in R, a read- 274. cote] Cite (!) C; citee B. ing which I have adopted. See Criti- kirkc] chirche CB. cal Note. 275. Ac] And C. places] place R. 285. Y-habited] In habyte O ; In 276. here] hire C ; he R. abite B. an (2)] and C. 279. hath] hym haf W. with] 286. and] or W. wyfct B. or] and R. sy^tc] eye C ; 15 223 HAUKYn's PRIDE xVMD boastfulness. [pass. XIII. boasting of his strength, good looks fine voice, and liberality. a liar in soni; In lykyng of lele lyf ' and a Iyer in soule ; 288 "With Inwit and with outwitt ymagenen and studye, As best for his body be to hane a badde name, And cntermeten liym ouer-al ber he hath noi^t to done, Wilnyng bat men wende his witte were be best, 292 [Or for his crafty kunnynge or of clerkes be wisest, Or strengest on stede or styuest vnder gurdel, And louelokest to loken on and lelest of werkes, And non so holy as he ne of lif clennere, 296 Or feyrest of feytnres of fonrnie and of schafte, And most sotyl of songe • other sleyest of hondes, And large to lene losse bere-by to cacche ;] And if he gyueth o^te pore gomes telle what he deleth ; 300 Pore of possessioura in purse and in coffre, And as a lyon on to loke ' and lordeliche of speche. ^[ Baldest of beggeres a bostour pat nou3t hath, In towne and in tauernes ' tales to telle, 304 And segge binge bat he neuere seigh and for soth sweren it ; boasting of what Of dedes bat he neuere dyd demen and bosten, he never did, And of werkes bat he wel dyd witnesse and seggen — " Lo ! if 3e leue me nou^t or bat I lye wenen, 308 Axeth at hym or at hym and he 30W can telle, What I suffred and seighe and some tymes hadde, And what I couth and knewe and what kynne I come of."' 311 He was the boldest of beggars, [Fol. 56 6.] 289. With (I)] B om. with (2)] R om. ; Crowley also omits, with outwitt] with oute wit C. 290. badde] bolde R. 291. to] do B. 292. Wilnyng] Willynge WCB ; wilnynge R. 293—299. In R only ; yet found in, the C-text in a different part of the poem ; see Critical Note. 300. gyueth] gyue O ; gyfues C. •pore'] to pouere W ; the pouere CB. telle] til C ; tellib B. deleth] delet C. 301. coffre] cofre bobe W ; coffres bothe COB. 302. on] R om. : vppon B. 303. Baldest] Boldest WCROB. a] as a B. 305. segge] saies C. seigh] er sawe C ; sau3 B. 307. seggen] siggen W. 308. y] \>on OB ; thow C. wenen] 3ee wenen B. 310. What] Whan C. tymes] tym C. 311. Itn&ive] knowe C. PASS. XIII.] HAUKYN IS SOILED WITH WRATH AND ENVY. 227 Al lie wolde Jmt men wiste of werkes and of wordes, wishing men to Which myjte plese be peple and praysen hym- seluen : 313 Si liominibus placerem, Christi senilis non essem ; Gai. i. 10. Et alibi : nemo potest duobus dominis seruire. Mat. vi. 2t. 1T "Bi criste," quod conscience bo • " bi "best cote, hanky n, Hath many moles and spottes it moste ben ywasshe." ^T " 3e, who so toke hede," qiiod haukyn " byhynde Haukyn admits his coat is and bifore, 316 soiled. What on bakke and what on bodyhalf & by be two sydes, Men sholde fynde many frounces and many foule plottes." 11 And he torned hym as tyte and banne toke I hede, It was fouler by felefolde fan it firste semed. 320 1 saw that it i • i i -t was spotted with It was bidropped with wratthe and wikked wille, wrath, envi-, With ennye and yuel speche entysyng to f) r 3te, Lyinge and laughynge and lene tonge to chyde ; Al bat he wist wykked by any wi3te, tellen it, 324 And blame men bihynde her bakke and hydden hem and slander. meschaunce ; And bat he wist bi wille • tellen it watte, He told will's ... faults to Wat, And bat watte wiste wille wiste it alter, And made of frendes foes ' borugh a false tonge, 328 " Or with my3te of mouthe or borugh mannes strength© Auenge me fele tymes other frete my-selue 312. of (2)] B om. 323. Lyinge] Ly^ynge E. laugh- 313. hym-seluen] heni-seluen CRO. ynge] lakkynge R (which is perhaps 315. it] and B. yirasshe] ywasshen the trite reading), and leue~\ a lef C ; ywaischen B ; ywasschid ; wa- E ; and leef 0. schen R. 324. \>at] the that C. tellen] to 316. yi\ 3he ; ^ee B. tellen B. 317. and] C om. what] RO om. 326. it] it to ROB. hodyhalf] bodye CB. two] to R. 328. of] B om. \>orugh] throught C. 319. tyte] tit CB ; tijt O ; tyd W. 329. of] or -with W. mannes] 320. felefolde] felfolde R. mennes W. 322. enuye] eneuye R. 330. Auenge] Auenged R. 228 haukyn's melancholy and lechery. [pass. XIII. or else fretted himself like a pair of shears. Ps. x. 7. Ps. lvi. o (Vulg.). Ilaukyn confesses that no one trusts him. " In illness I trust to a witch of Southward or Shoreditch," lie said. Then I saw that his coat was soileil with LECHERY, [Fol. 57.1 "VVytli-inne, as a slicpster shere ; " — I-shrewed men & cursed ! Cuius malcdiccionc os plot urn est, cj- amaritudine; sub lingua eius labor § dolor : fy alibi: filij liominum, denies eorum anna cj* sagitte, fy lingua eorum gladius aentus : — IT "Jjere is no lyf fat I louye lastyng any while, 332 For tales bat I telle no man trusteth to me, And whan I may no^t haue be maistrye • with malen* colye I take, J5at I cacche be crompe be cardiacle some tyme, Or an ague in suche an angre and some tyme a feure, 33G J?at talceth me al a twelf-moneth tyl fiat I dispyse Lechecrafte [of] owre lorde " and leue on a wicche, And segge, bat no clerke ne can ne ciyste, as I leue, To be souter of southwerke or of shordyche dame emme ! 340 And segge, bat no goddes worde gaf me neuere hote, But borw a charme had I chaunce & my chief hele ! " H I wayted wisloker and Jeanne was it soiled With lykyng of lecherye " as by lokyng of his eye. 344 For vche a mayde fat he mette • he made hir a signe Semynge to-synne-Avard and some tyme he gan taste Ahoute be mouth, or bynethe bygynneth to grope, Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene " and to be werke ^eden, 331. shepster] shepsteres WO; shapsteris B. I-] In B. men'] man W : cf. C-Text. Sf (1)] R om. labor $• dolor] &c COB. <5" alibi — acutus] R om. gladius acutus] Sec 0. ;i32. / luiiye] I loue RC ; me louej? W. 334. with] which R ; swieh W. 335. \>e (2)] and be W. 336. affile] aguwe B. suche] swich wco. 337. tahetli] hit holdefc B. 338. [of WCOB] or LR ; but the line is marked for correction in L. 339. segge] seye WB ; seggej? 0. 340. shordyche] sordich 0. 341. segge] seyeWB ; saye ; segge J? 0. no] none of B. ivorde] B om. gaf me] ^auen B. 343. misloher] bisilokerCB. \>anne teas] that C. it soiled] I-soyled R. 344. as by] and by CO; and B. his] myn R. Here follows the catch- word in L — for eche a mayde pat he mette. 345. signe] syngne R. 348. eytheres] either C. PASS. XIII.] HIS AVARICE AND CHEATING TRICKS. 229 As wel in fastyng-days & frydayes " and forboden nyjtes ; 349 And as wel in lente as oute of lente • alle tymes ylyche, Suche werkes with, hem [were] neuere oute of sesou?i ; which with him was never out Tyl pei my3te namore " and panne had merye tales, 352 of season. And how pat lechoures louyen lau^en an iapen, And of her harlotrye and lioredome ' in her elde tellen. H Thanne pacience parceyued ' of poyntes [of] his cote, His coat was Was colmy porw coueityse and v[n]kynde desyrynge ; avarice, More to good pan to god ' pe gome his loue caste, 357 And ymagyned how he it my3te haue With false mesures and mette and with false witnesse : false measures, and talse witness, Lened for loue of pe wedde ' and loth to do treuthe, And awaited porwgh which * wey to higile, 361 And menged his marchaundyse ' and made a gode moustre ; — " J3e worste with-in was a gret witte I lete hit, And if my neighbore had any hyne or any beste elles, " If myneigh- J ° J J J bour had what More profitable pan myne many sleightes I made, 3G5 i wanted," said he, " I stole it. How I my3te haue it ' al my witte I caste, And but I it had by other waye atte laste I stale it, Or pryuiliche his purse shoke vnpiked his lokkes, 3G8 Or by ny$t or by day • aboute was ich euere, porwgh gyle to gadren pe good pat ich haue. 349. in] R om. $] as COB. and] vnkynde] vkynde L ; but marked for as W. correction, 350. as (1)] also B. ivel] lef R. 35!). vicsures] mesure 0. mette] lente] leynten B {twice). met WCO. 351. Suche] Swiche WCO ; Seche 360. for] it for 0. wedde] weed B. B. hem] hym C. [were WRCB] 361. awaited] I awaytede ; way- weren ; was L. tid B. which] whites R. wey] weyws 352. had] hadde R ; hadde» OB ; R. to] he my3te best B. W om. 363. a] O om. 353. lechowres] leccherous C. 364. if] CO om. any] an R. Imyn] lawett R. iapen] Iapeng 367. I] if I R. it] COB om. other] (sic) C. ooper W ; a-nober B. 354. And — harlotrye] Or herlotrie 36S. shoke] schoke R ; shook WC R. in] and in R. 0; shok B. vnpiked] and vnpikede 355. 0/WCOB] LR om. W. 356. Was] so in LliGOB; That were 369. Or] Other R (twice). W. colmy] colomy WC ; culmy 0. 230 AT MASS, HAUKYX MOURNS OYER HIS LOSSES. [PASS. XIII. in ploughing, i IF 3if I ^cde to be plow • I pynclied so nanvo, took a piece of ins field. pat a fote londe or a forwe fccclien I wolde, Of my nexte neighbore nymen of his erthe ; And if [I] rope, ouer-reche or yd hem red bat ropen, To seise to me with her sykel bat I ne sewe neuie. IT And who so [borwed] of me • abou[j]te be tyme, 370 With presentes priueliche • or payed somme certeyne. i was sure to win So, walde he or nomt wolde he wynnen I wolde ; from him. And bothe to kyth and to kyn • vnkynde of bat ich hadde. i made men who ^T And who so cheped my chaffare " chiden I wolde, bought of me _ . „ pay too much. JLmt lie protred to paye ' a peny or tweyne 381 More ban it was Avorth • and }et wolde I swere, pat it coste me moche more swore manye othes. IT In halydayes at holicherche • whan ich herde masse, Hadde [I] neuere wille, wot god witterly to biseche Mercye for my mysdedes fat I ne morned more 386 For losse of gode, leue me • ban for my lykames giltes As if I had dedly synne done ; I dred noi^t bat so sore, 388 As when I lened and leued it lost or longe ar it were payed. So if I kydde any kyndenesse • myn euen-cristene to helpe, At mass, I only mourned over my losses. [Fol. 57 6.] 371. pynched] puched C ; pikid B. 372. feechen I] fecche Ich R. 373. 374. nymen — reche] R om. nymen] and nymen W. [7 WCOB] L om. rope] so in C ; repe WO ; ripye B. ouer-reche] y ouerreche B. or] or (printed of) W; & O. red] reed WO ; rede R. ropen] repen RB. Line 374 is marked for correction in L. 375. To] And COB. seise] seysed B. her] my COB. ne] OB om. 376. [borwed WR] borweth LCOB. abovjte] he bou^te B ; miswHtten aboute in LR. 377. presentes] present CB. 378. walde he] so in R; wolde he COB; he wolde W. lie (2)] R om. nourt — he] he nolde COB. 381. to] me to COB. 383. me] R om.. swore] and so swoor W ; & swore O'B. 384. In] On W. at] in O ; and CB. herde] here O. 385. [7 WCOB] LR om. ; hit tlte line is marked in L. neuere] nere R. 387. For] For {printed Nor) W. my] R om. giltes] gilte CB. 388. As] And C. dred] dredde WO ; drede CB ; dradde E, 389. lened— it (1)] haue lent hit and is B. and] CO om. were] be B. PASS. XIII.] HE CONFESSES ALSO HIS GLUTTONY. 231 Vpon a cruel coueityse ' myn liertc gan liange. And if I sent ouer see my seruauntz to Bruges, 392 if i sent my Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys my profit to wayten, To marcliaunden with, monoye • and maken her es- chaunges, Mijte neuere me conforte • in be mene tyme, Neither messe ne matynes • ne none manere sistes, 396 i kept thinking „ about my bar- JNe neuere penaunce perlourned ne pater-noster seyde, gains at prayer- , . time." pat my mynde ne was more on my gode, in a doute, pan in be grace of god and his grete helpes : Vbi thesaurus tuus, ibi $ cor tuum." Mat. vi. 21. [5et [J>e] glotoim with grete othes ' his [garnement] hadde soyled, 400 And foule he-flohered it • as with fals speche ; pere no nede ne was [tok] godes name an Idel, Swore bere-by swithe ofte ' and al by-swatte his cote. And more mete ete and dronke ben kende mi^t N ext Ha ukyn defie— 404 confesseshis "And kai^te seknesse suw-tyme for my sorfetes and is ta despair ' ofte ; And banne I dradde to deye in dedlich synne " — pat in-to wanhope he [worthe] and wende nau^t to be sailed, pe whiche is sleuthe so slow fat may no slithes helpe it, 408 391. a] om. herte] consience R. it is given in the Critical Note. 392. if~\ om. see'] sehe O. ser- 400. [be] must be inserted ; R om. vauntz] seruaunt B. [garnement] mismritten granement ; 393. Pruslonde'] pruys londe R ; but garnement ( = garment) is right. Pruce lond W ; spruce land (sic) C. 402. \>ere] misroritten As ]>ere, 394. marcliaunden] marchaimdisen which is nonsense : it is repeated B. monoye] so in R ; moneie WCOB. from, Pass. V. 1. 377, which see. [tol<] esehaunges] chaunges R. must be inserted ; R om. 395. neuere] nere R. tyme] while 404. kende] such is the usual spell- W. ing in R, wherever L has kynde. 396. none] no RC. shtes] shytes 405. sorfetes] misroritten forfetes ; R. but sense and alliteration decide it. 398. on] in R. a] O om. 407. [worthe] mismritten wrathe 399. Vbi] Vbi est R. in R. 400 — 409. In R only, and the text 408. slithes] a better spelling is is corrupt. The reason for inserting slei^tes ( = sleights) ; ef. 1. 'M~>. 232 THE SEVERAL BRANCHES OF SLOTH. [PASS. XIII. With the sloth- ful, every day is a holiday. Ne no mercy amendeii be man bat so deyeth.] The branches of 51 Which ben be braunches • bat bryngeth a man to Sloth. r * J ° sleuth I 410 [Is wha/me a man] morneth noi^te for his mysdedes • ne maketh no sorwe, Ac penaunce bat be prest enioigneth perfourneth yuel, Doth none almes-dede * dret hym of no synne, 413 Lyueth a^ein be bileue and no lawe holdeth ; Ych day is haliday with hym * or an heigh ferye ; And if he au3te wole here it is an harlotes tonge. 416 Whan men carpeth of cryst ' or of clennesse of soule, He wexeth wroth & wil noi^te here but wordes of myrthe. He hates to hear Penaunce and pore men • and be passion?? of seyntes tlit lt? ir t.*iit.ls of the saints. He hateth to here Jere-of • and alle J; at it telleth. . 420 J;ise ben be braunches, beth war tat bryngeth a man to wanhope ! ^e lordes and ladyes and legates of holicherche, )}at fedeth foles sages flatereres and lyeres, 423 And han likynge to lythen hem • to do 30W to lawghc ; Luke vi. 25. Ve vobis qui ridetis, §c. : And jiueth hem mete and Mede and pore men refuse, In jowre deth-deyinge " I drede me ful sore, 410. Which"] Acwhiche E. bryng- eth'] bryngen WOB ; brynges C. 411. [Is whanne a man 0] Is whan man B; He bat W; LRC have the extraordinary false reading His wo- man ; but, fortunately, the C-Text helps vs out. (Is = it is, as else- ■ivhere.) mysdedes] dedis 0. 412. Ac] And WHO. enioigneth] enioyned B. perfourneth yuel] pe?-- forme bij nyUeb B ; pari&urned C. 413. Doth] Doos C. almes-dede] almesse W. dret] drat 11 ; dred W ; drede CB ; dredib 0. 414. holdeth] haldes C. 415. Vch — is] lice day or lie C ; Ecbe day or eche B. is] is an 0. with hym] om. or] & ; as B. 417. Whan] Andwhawne O. carp- eth] carpen WCOB. of (2)] COB om. soule] saule C ; soules W. 418. wexeth] waxes C ; 419. and (1)] of W. passiouri] possessiouw C. 421. beth] be CB. 422. y:] pe R ; also R lordes, C. 423. foles] fole R, lyeres] leers C. 424. han'] base C. lythen] heren B ; listem {sic) C. to (3)] R om. 126. ful] R om. waxib B. \e] O om. repeats be kirce cherche] cberches 1 sages] sage O TASS. XIII.] THE POOR ARE GOD'S MINSTRELS. 233 Lest bo tlire maner men • to moche sorwe 30W brynge : Consentient es tj- agentes pari pena punientur. Patriarkes & prophetes and prechoures of goddes Preachers save men's souls, wordes 428 Sauen borw her sarmoiut ' mannes soule fram lielle ; Eijt so flater[er]es and foles aren fie fendes disciples, but flatterers are the fiend's To entice men borw her tales to synne and harlotrye. disciples. Ac clerkes bat knowen holywryt * shulde kenne lordes, What danid seith of suche men • as be sauter telleth : Non liabitabit in medio domus mee, qui facit Ps. c 7 (Vnig.). superbiam e ' what oure lorde g For to saue bi soule • fram Sathan bin enemy, And a lered man, to lere be ' what oure lorde suffred, have a 'earned man to teach you, 427. \>o] ]>q CO. to moche'] to 433. suche'] swiche WO ; swilc C. muche to mykil (sic) C. yo?v] R om. <$'] ^ om - punientur] puniendi sunt R. 434. harlote] harlotes CB. ne] 4211. sarmoun] sermons W; ser- nor WR. chambres] chambre WB. mou« CO ; sermon B. marines soule] 435. witnesseth] witnesse C. manne saule C. 437 — 454. In R only; but found in 430. flatereres] miswritten flateres C-Text. The passage is fairly cor- in L ; but the line is marked for cor- red. redion. aren] and CO. 442. reueles] at reueles R ; but at 431. entice] eten (!) C. and] and should probably be omitted, as in MS. to WB. Cotton Vesp. B 16. 432. Ac] And C. 234 god's minstrels are of three kinds. [pass. XIII. These solace the soul. [Fol. 53.] Conscience ask9 Haukyn why he had not brushed his coat. And fitliel J>e, with-out flaterynge of godc friday \>q storye ; And a blynd man for a bourdeoure or a bcdrede womman, 448 To crie a largesse by-for oure lorde 30111-6 gode loos to schewe ! pise thre maner ministralcs ' maketh a man to lawhe, And, in his deth-deyinge )?ei don him grete conforte, pat bi his lyue lythed hem and loned hem to here. Jpise solaseth J>e soule • til liym-selue be-falle 453 In a wel [gode] hope, [for he wrox^te so] amonges worthi seyntes.] ^[ Ac flat[e/']eres and foles " Jjorw her foule wordes, Leden J>o fiat lonen hem • to luciferes feste, 456 With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe and luciferes fithele. Thus haukyn pe actyf man hadde ysoiled his cote, Til conscience acouped hym Jjere-of in a curteise manere, Win he ne hadde wasshen it • or wyped it with a brusshe. 454. [gode] R om. [for he wrou-ite so] R om. But cf. C-Text. 455. Ac] And C ; pere R. flat- everes] miswritten flateres in LR. 45G. loueri] loued R. 460 457. lay] lady (sic in MS.) W. sorme] sowe (sie) R. 458. ysoiled] soyled R ; ysuyled 0. 460. jcasshen] whasshen W ; wais- chen B ; wasched R. it (2)] O om. TASS. XIV.] HAUKTN HAS ONLY ONE SUIT OF CLOTHES. 235 I PASSUS XIV (DO-WEL VI). Passus ziiif*. Haue but one [hool] hatere," quod haukyn ' "I am "I have but one . ? , suit, which I \>e iasse to blame deep in," said Jjough it be soiled and selde clene • I slepe Jwe-inne on an } "' 1113 tes ; And also I haue an houswyf " hewen and children — Vxorem duxij, ty ideo non possum venire — Lukexiv. so. Jjat wolen bymolen it many tyme • maugre my chekes ! % It hath ben laued in lente ' and oute of lente bo the, "it has been washed with the With J»e sope of sykenesse fat seketh wonder depe, 6 soap of sickness. And with Jie losse of catel loth forto agulte God or any gode man • bi ai^te pat I wiste ; And was shryuen of be preste fat gaue me, for my synnes, To penaunce, pacyence * and pore men to fede, 10 Al for coueitise of my crystenedome in clennesse to kepen it. Title. Passus quarto-decimus de 4. wolen] walden C ; wolden O. visione, vt supra CR.(but~R hasxiijus) ; bymolen'] bifoule C; defoule B. Passusxiiijws, &c WO ; B adds et vij?/* tyme] tymes R. maugre] maugree [read v]us] de dowel. W ; magre B. 1. one] oon WC ; on RB ; an 0. 5. lente] lenten R ; leaute B [hool WCOB] LR em. (twice). 2. soiled] soulid B ; suyled C. " 6. seketh] sekest CB. selde clone] foule COB. on] o W. 7. loth] bathe C ; bofje B. 3. an houswyf] a wif CB ; a wijf 8. or] ar R ; or (indistinct, and O. haven] and hewen B. venire] printed of) W. &c. R. 23G CONTRITION, CONFESSION, AND SATISFACTION. [PASS. XIV. But i could If And couthe I neuere, by cryste kepen it clone an never keep it , clean an hour." JiOUre, 12 J?at I ne soiled it with sy3te " or sum ydel speche, Or borugh werke or borugh worde or wille of niyn herte, Jjat I ne flober it foule fro morwe tyl eue." " contrition shall H " And I shal keniie be," qtcod conscience • "of con- clean your coat," . . said Conscience. triClOlVtt to make, 10 J?at shal clawe bi cote of alkynnes filthe, Cordis contricio, §c. : — " i)o-weii sha'i Dowel [shal] wasshen it and wryngen it J>orw a wys wash it; coniessour, Oris confessio, at~] But GO. flober] lloboure 22. Shal] Do-best shal C ; Dobet (J. scbal B. myste] cheeste W. bimolen] 16. henne] telle B. bynolnen CB ; by-mole R. moth] 17. clawe \>i cote] bi cote make mougbt ; moche B. biten] beten B. clfne B. clawe] C om. 24. none] no CRB. yarnement] 18. [sTuilW] scbal O; LCRB om. garment R. it (1)] it (but omitted in printing') W. 25. ]>ow] \o B. by] C om. PASS. XIV.] PATIENCE DISPLAYS VICTUALS OF VIRTUE. 237 )?an Haukynnes wyf be wafrere with his actiua. vita." U "And I shal p<e] \>ee W. )>ovgli] ^0113 }>ow 37. Vitailles] Vitales R. R. 38. ynmiglt] I-nowe EB. 20. \>e~\ thy COB. 39. neuere'] nere R. lyf] J?ere lif 30. groired] growe B. vyne] f>e R. vyne B. 40. or (2)] and RO. " 31. Alle] To alle W. 41. meet] \>e wete B. 32. ynough] Inought C; y B; I- 42. fyre] fuir R ; fyer B. cryTtat] now R. criket WO ; crikat RCB. 33. Ne] Dum B. 43. corlue] Corlew WR ; curlowe 34. laughed'] lawhed R ; low} O. C ; curlu B. swerye] swore RCOB. 44. by (2)] COB om. 35. leueth'] \ow\> B. by] nojjcr be 238 THE PATERNOSTER IS Man's FOOD. [PASS. XIV, so man lives by In menynge bat alle men myjte be same 45 belief and love. ■* * Lyue borw lele byleue and loue, as god witnesseth ; John xiv. 1-5. Quodcumque pecieritis a %>atre in nomine mco, Sj'c. : tj* alibi, Mat - iv - *• Non in solo pane viuit homo, set in omni vcrho, quod pi'oceclit de ore dei." IT But I loked what lyflode it was bat pacience so preysed, Mat. vi. io. And banne was it a pece of be pater-noster • fiat voluntas tua. 48 Take ana eat If " Haue, haukyn ! " quod pacyence • "and ete bis this when * hungry. wlian be liungreth, Or whan bow clomsest for colde ' or clyngest for drye. Shal nenere gyues be greue ne grete lordes wrath, Prisone ne peyne for — pacicntes vincunt. 52 Only be always ^ Bi so bat bow be sobre • of syjte and of tonge, In etynge and in handlynge and in alle bi fyue wittis, Darstow neuere care for corne " ne lynnen cloth ne wollen, and let an else j$ e f or drynke, ne deth drede but deye as god lyketli, be at God s will. J J & •> ' Or borw honger or borw hete at his wille be it; 57 For if bow lyuest after his lore ' be [shorter] lyf be better : Si quis amat cristum, mundum non diligit istum. 5T For borw his breth bestes wexen and abrode jeden, Ps - cx,viii - 5 Dixit & facta sunt, &c. : (Vulg.). /* J Ergo borw his breth mo wen men & bestes lyuen, 61 45. myyte] my$t se CB ; myjten toures R ; gomes O ; synne B. do 0. \>e] C om. 54. in (3)] COB om. 46. a 2>atre~] R om. de ore dei] 55. Darstow] Thardestow C j Tharst &c CB. ' J.ow ROB. 47. what~\ what £at R. if] R om. 58. lyvcsf] lyue W. [shorter 48. if] R om. WC] schorter ORB ; misivritten shot- 49. ete] et W. ter in L, but the line is marked for 50. clyngest] chillist O. drye] correction, better] leuere R. drou^the R. 60. bestes] mo wen men and bestis 51. Shal] And scliiil 11; Schulden B. wexen] woxen W; wexeth R. O ; Shulde B; Shul C. gyues] fey- 61. lyuen] libben R. PASS. XIV.] THE SEVEN SLEEPERS OF EPKESUS. 259 As holywrit witnessefch wlian men segge her graces, Aperis tu manum tuam, § imples omne animal Ps. cxiiv. 10. benediction e. fl" It is founden bat fourty wynter ' folke lyued with- The Israelites , . lived 40 years in OUteil tUiyinge, the wilderness. And oute of J)e flynte spronge be node • bat folke & hestes dronke, 64 And in Elyes tyme " heuene was yclosed, Heaven was • closed pat no reyne ne rone; " bus rede men in bokes, in the time of pat many wyntres men lyueden • and no mete ne tnlyeden. Seuene slepe, as seitli be hoke seuene hnndreth wynter, Seven men (at mt • iii i i • Ephesus) slept IF And lyueden with-oute lyfiode and atte laste bei too years. woken, 69 [Foi. so.] And if men lyued as mesure wolde shulde neuere more be defaute Amonges cristene creatures if crystes wordes ben trewe. Ac vnkyndnesse [cariatia] maketh ' amonges crystene Dearth causes ^ -. unkindness, and peple, i'J, plenty pride; but , , i i i , i i o moderation is And ouer-plente maketh pruyae ' amonges pore & pri ceiess. riche ; Ac mesure is so moche worth • it may novate be to dere, For be meschief and be meschaunce ' amonges men of The sin of Sodom was due to Sodome, excess of food Wex borw plente of payn & of pure sleuths ; 76 Ociositas § habundancia panis peccatum turpis- simum nutriuit. 62. witncsseth] witnesse C. segge] dre C. seye WOB ; sayes C. graces] grace 69. attc] at pe WROB ; pe C. B. 70. more'] COB om, be defaute] 63. tulyinge] tiliyng OB; tilynge C. defaute be B. 64. bestes] best B. 72. Ac] And C. [caristia ECOB] 65. Elyes] h'elyes CB. caristiam W ; carestia L. crystene\ 66. rone] roon W ; roen R ; raynde cWstes R. C ; ron B. rede] rett R. in] on R. 73. pruyde] pryde WO ; CB om. 67. wyntres] wynter R. lyueden] 74. Ac] Ther-fore W ; And C. so] lyued R. tnlyeden] teleden R ; tylied W om. C ; tiliden O ; tilieden B. 75. In margin of 0— Of Sodom Sc 68. slepe] slepen ROB. seith] sayes Gomor. C. hundreth] hundred WOB ; hun- 240 CONTRITION SAVES MEN J CONFESSION SLAYS SINS. [PASS. XIV. For Jiei mesured nou3t liem-self of pat J>ei ete and dronke, They Binned, Dide?i dedly synne ' J>at J>e deuel lyked, beii. So vengeaunce fel vpon hem • for her vyle synnes ; }}ei sonken in-to helle • Jo citees vchone. 80 11 For-Ju mesure we vs wel and make owre faithe owre scheltrouw, contrition comes And borw faith cometh contricioiui ' conscience Avotc wel, through faith, "Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne and doth it to he venial. And bough a man niyjte noujte speke * contricioim my3te hym saue, 84 an.i saves men. And hrynge his sonle to blisse " by so fat feith here witnesse, Jjat, whiles he lyued, he hileued in be lore of holy- cherche ; Ergo contriciouw, feith, and conscience * is kyndelich dowel, And surgienes for dedly synnes ' whan shrifte of mouth failleth. 88 Confession is yet IT Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is ' if man he worthier, i[n]hche contrit ; ana slays sins. For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne * he it neuere so dedly ; Per confessionem to a prest peccata occiduntur, jpeve contriciouw doth but dryueth it dou?i in-to a venial synne, 9^ Ps.xxxi.1 As dauid seith in be sauter ct quorum tecta sunt (Vulg.). . peccata. 78. Did en] Thei diden W. 86. in] COB om. \>e] CO om. 79. So] And B. fel] fil W. 88. surgienes] surgyanes R; surgien synnes] synne B. 0. synnes] synne KB. failleth] 80. \>o] J?e WROB. vchone] Ucone faylede 0. C. 89. Ac] And C. is] C om. be] C 81. scheltroun] sheltrom "\VO ; 'Rom. inliche] in-lich R ; inlich ; shyltroun C ; sheltru/i B. y-liche WC ; iJiche L ; ilich B. 82. mote] woot it O. 90. synne] synnes CB. it] }?ei CB. 84. CB omit. 92. dryueth] dryues C. doan] CB 85. by] for W ; COB om. here] om. Jieer O. 93. As] And COB. PASS. XIV.] SATISFACTION UPROOTS SIN ALTOGETHER. 241 Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute pe rote • and bothe sleetli Satisfaction -, • i . i uproots sin. ' and voideth, And, as it neuere had y"be " to no^t luyngeth dedly synne, ]2at it neuere eft is seen, ne sore but semeth a wounde yheled." 96 ^[ " Where woneth charite 1 " quod haukyn • " I wiste " where is charity P " said neuere in my lyue Haukyn. Man fat with bym spake as wyde as I haue passed !" 1T " fcere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is and "Where truth and humility pacience of tonge, are." )5ere is charitee, fe chief chaumbrere for god hym- selue!" 100 1T "Whether paciente pouerte," quod haukyn "be "is patient poverty better more plesaunte to owre drijte than well-spent J)an ricchesse ri3tfulliche ywonne ' and resonableHch yspended 1 " ^F " $e, quls est illeV quod pacience " quik laudabi- mus earn. Jpough men rede of richchesse ri^t to f e worldes ende, I wist neuere rente fat riche was pat whan he rekne " wiiat rich man is out of dread sholde, 105 for spending ill? "Whan it drow to his deth-day fat lie ne dred hym sore, And fat atte rekenyng in arrerage fel rather fan oute of dette. 94. Ae] And C. pacience or B ; pacience C. driite] 95. And] And {printed, An) W. lord R ; sight C ; si^t B. ybe] be R. 102. ywonne'] I-wonne R ; wonne 96. if] it is COB. is] COB om. WCB ; wonnen O. yspended] de- ne] COB om. semeth'] semees C ; as spended W ; spende C ; spendid OB. B. yheled] heled CB. 103. y] jhe O ; 3ee B. 97. Where] ye where R. woneth] 104. jpough] Thoint C. rede] red- wonyej? W ; wonnes C. In margin den O. of O — Where is charite. neitere] 103. renlie] freik B. \>at (2)] ban nertf R. B. 99. and] & fawne O. 106. it] he WCOB. drow] drogh 100. \c] B om. chaumbrere] W ; droue C ; drou3 B. dred] dreddo chamber C ; chaumbre R ; chauni- WOB ; dradde R. ber B. 107. pat] R om. atte] at \>e WRC 101. paciente] pacience and R ; OB. 16 242 BEGGARS SHALL HAVE JOY HEREAFTER. [PASS. XIV. The poor claim joy hereafter. [Fol. 59 6.] Beasts ami birds are grieved by the winter, but have summer after- wards. Beggars will have bliss some time. Dives had .joy once. ^[ There pe pore dar plede and preue by pure resou», To liaue allowaunce of his lorde ' by pe lawe he it cleymeth, 109 Ioye pat ncuere ioye hadde of rijtful iugge he axeth, And seith, ' lo ! briddes and bestes pat no blisse ne knowetk, And vv'ilde wormes in Avodes porw wyntres poAv hem greues , 112 And makest hem Avelnyegh meke and mylde for defaute, And after poAv sendest hem somer pat is her souereigne Ioye, And blisse to alle pat ben bothe wilde and tame. J)anne may beggeres, as bestes ' after bote waiten, 1 1 G J)at al her lyf ban lyued • in langour and in defaute. But god sent hem some tyme ' some manere ioye, Other here or elles where kynde Avolde it neuere ; For to wrotherhele Avas he Avroi^te pat neuere was ioye shaped. 120 ^[ Angeles pat in helle now ben hadden ioye some tyme, And diues in deyntees lyued • and in douce rye ; Ri^te so resouw sheweth pat po men pat were riche, And her makes also lyned • her lyf in murthe. 124 ^j' Ac god is of a wonder wille " by pat kynde Avitte sheweth, To jiue many men his mercymonye • ar he it haue de- seraed. Bi3t so fareth god by some riche reuthe me it pinketh, 111. knowetli] couthe COB. 112. hem] hyni B. 114. hem] hym CB. her'] B om. 116. as] and BCOB. bestes} bid- ders {corrected to beestes) 0. bote'] bothe C. 117. Ian g our] himgur B. in (2)] B om. 118. hem] hym CB. 120. mrotherhele] wo other wel C ; woo ober wele B ; oue?- myche woo 0. mas Ioye] ioye Avas R. 122. in (1)] in {printed in the) W. douce rye] doute vrrie {sic) B. 123. bo] be W; J>oo 0. \at— riche] R om. 125. Ac] And C. «■] W om. 126. men — mercymonye] man his mede W. PASS. XIV.] ALAS ! THAT RICHES ENTICE MAN'S SOUL ! 243 For bei han her liyre here an heuene as it were, God gives some And is gret lykyng to lyue ' with-oute laboure of body ; reward here. And whan he deyeth, ben disalowed " as dauid seith in be santer, 130 Dormierunt, fy niehil inuenerunt ; Ps. lxxv. 6 And in an other stede also velud sompnnm mrgencium, domine, in cluitate fua, $ ad niclrilum rediges. Ps. ixxii.20. Alias ! fat ricchesse shal rene and robbe mannes soule Alas \ that riches Fram be loue of owre lorde at his laste ende ! 133 B ouiofGod"s % Hewen bat ban her hyre afore • aren enermore nedy, And selden deieth he out of dette " fat dyneth ar he dese?'iie it, And til he haue done his deuor • and his dayes iourne. For whan a werkman hath wrou^te banne may men se be sothe, 137 What he were worthi for his werke and what he hath workmen » are 1 t not paid befjre- deserued ; hand< And nou^t to fonge bifore • for drede of disalowynge. ^[ So I segge by 30W riche it semeth nou^t bat }e shulle Haue heuene in 30wre here-beyng and heuene her-after; Ei^t as a semaunt taketh Ms salarye bifore & sitth a servant, if , , , paid beforehand, wolde clayme more, 142 claims no more. As he bat none hadde and hath huyre atte laste. It may nou3t be, }e riche men or matheu on god lyeth ; De delicijs ad delicias, [difficile] est transire. cc Mat. x>x. 23. IT Ac if [ye] riche haue reuthe ' and rewarde wel be pore, 128. Tier — here] here her salarium 140. nourt] R om. B. an] and WCO ; her B. 141. heuene in] to heuenes for E. 129. is] his B ; eke ; W om. here] hi^e B ; hee C. beyng] heryng lyue] be lif R. CB; dwellyng W. heuene (2)] heuene 131. J)'] BO om. rediges] eorum also W. her-after] b^r-after WR. rediges R. See Note. 142. as] so as W. salarye] hire C. 134. Hemen] bay B. hyre afore] sitth] after C. more] huire R. huire to-fore R. 143. none] non ne R. huyre] 135. he (1)] R om. ar he] or bei R. heuene R. atte] at be WROB. 136. deuor] deuoir WC ; deuer RB. 144. god] yow CB. Be] De (printed dayes] G am. Vce) W. [difficile WCROB] deficilo 137. may] mowew ; may {printed L. transire] ascendere R. many) \V. wy ?«om] men may B. 145. Ac] And C. [ye WCROB] 138. he were] were he B. be L. 244 TIIE RIGIITEOUS RICH ARE TWICE REWARDED. [PASS. XIV. Yet good rich men may win heaven, [Fol. CO.] as when a paid servant receives a bounty. The righteous have a double reward. Even wild beasts enjoy the summer, but beggars suffer in winter. And lyuen as lawe techeth • done lentc to alle, 146 Criste of his curteysie " shal conforte jow atte laste, And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse " fat reuful hertes habbeth. 148 And as an liyne pat hadde his hyre ar lie bygonne, And whan he hath done his deuor wel men doth hym other bounte, 3yueth hym a cote abone his conenaunte ri3te so cryst 3-iueth hetiene Bothe to riche and to noujte riche pat rewfullich lybbeth ; 152 And alle pat done her deuor wel • ban dowble hyre for her trauaille, Here foi^yuenesse of her synnes and heuene blisse after. 51 Ac it nys but selde yseyn • as by holy seyntes bokes, Jpat god rewarded double reste • to any riche wye. 156 For moche murthe is amonges riche ' as in mete and clothynge, And moche murthe in Maye is amonges wilde bestes, And so forth wbil somer lasteth * her solace dureth. Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer bredlees pei soupe, 1G0 And 3it is wynter for bem worse for wete-shodde pei gange, A-fyrst sore and afyngred • and foule yrebuked, And arated of riche men • pat reuthe is to here. 163 146. lawe] pe lawe CB. done] and doon WB. leute] leaute WCB ; lewte O. to] to hem WCOB. 147. atte] at \>e "WOB ; att ]>e R. 148. habhetli] liases (sic) C. 149. pat] O om. 151. wneth] Gyfe C. cote] Cite C ; citee B. 152. to noic^te] nojt to B. rem- fullich] riitfullich R. 153. deuor] connande C. hyre] B om. 154. Here] CB om. 155 — 159. R omits. 155. Ac] And C. nys] is W. selde] seldom B. yseyn] so seyn C; so seieu B. bokes] lyues 0. 158. moche] mykyl C. 160. Ac] And C; R om. Mid- somer] myssomer CR. soupe] soupen ; slepe W. 161. wete-shodde] watschod R. gange] gangen 0; gone W. 162. A-fyrst] A-first CO; A-furst WE ; a-frust B. A-fyrst sore] Sore a-frust B. afyngred'] afllyngred CR ; an-liungrid B. foule yreluhed] foul- iche rebuked COB. 163. men] om. PASS. XIV.] MAY WICKED RICH MEN AMEND ! 245 Now, lorde, sende hem sonier • and some manere ioye, The Lord send them summer Heuene after her hennes goynge ' bat here han suche hereafter, defaute ! For alle n^test bow haue made " none mener fan other, And yliche witty & wyse if be wel hadde lyked. And haue reuthe on bise ricbe men " bat rewarde noi^te bi prison eres ; 168 Of j?e good bat bow hem gyuest ingrati hen manye ; Ac, god, of bi goodnesse gyue hem grace to amende, ami give tin rich grace to For may no derth hen hem dere • drouth, ne weet, amend; Ne noyther hete ne haille haue bei here hele, 172 Of bat bei wilne and wolde wanteth hem nou3t here. IT Ac pore peple, bi prisoneres lorde, in be put of myschief, Conforte bo creatures • bat moche care suffren and comfort she ' ■<►»/» P°° r tnat !lere borw derth, borw drouth • alle her dayes here, 1 / 6 suffer so much. "Wo in wynter tymes • for wantyng of clothes, And in somer tyme selde soupen to be fulle ; Conforte bi careful cryst, in bi ryche, For how bow confortest alle creatures • clerkes hereth witnesse, 180 Conuertimini ad me, fy salui eritis : cf. isa. xxx. is. H bus, in genere of his [gentrice] • Ihesu cryst seyde, To robberes and to reueres to riche and to pore, bow tamtest hem in be Trinitee to take baptesme, Baptism cleanses ' y ' us first of all. And be clene borw bat crystennynge of alle kynnes [synnes] ; 184 167. \e wet] thy wille COB. 178. selde] seldeu C. 168. And] But lord W. on] of CB. 179. bi (2)] B om. ryche] richesse prisoneres] prisones R. W. 169. ingrati] vnkynde 0. 181. his] alle his R; WCOB om. 170. Ac] And C. hem] vs O. [gentrice O] gentries W ; gentrise CB; 171. ben] om. weet] weet hem genitrice LR. greueW. 182. and] R om. reveres] reueris ' 172. Nc] Bom, ne] nor C. WCOB. After 1. 182, R adds — To 174. Ac] And C. bi] bei B. prh- hores, to harlot es to alle maner soneres] prisones R. poeple. 176. borw (2)] and CO; of B. 184. Se] to be W. [synnes RCO] rfrowfli] dro^be OB. synne WB ; L om.; but the line u 177. wynter tymes] wyntves tyme R. marked. 24G OUR CHARTER IS OF POVERTY AND PATIENCE. [PASS. XIV. Confession amends us afterwards. The parchment of our patent of pardon is made of po\ erty and [FoL CO b.] patience. Christians should have wealth in common. And [if] vs fel borw fulye to falle in synne after, ConfessiouM, and [knoAvlecliyng] • & crauyng bi mercy Sliulde amende vs as many sith.es as man wolde desire. Ac if be [pouke] wolde plede here-ajeiiie " and punyssh vs in conscience, 188 He sliulde take be acquitance as quik and to be qued scliewe it, Patent, $r., per passionem domini, And putten of so be pouke and preuen vs vnder borwe. Ac be perchemyn of bis patent of pouerte be moste, And of pure pacience and pariit bileue. 192 Of pompe and of pruyde be parcheniyn decorreth, And principalicke of alle peple but bei be pore of herte. Ellis is al an ydel al bat euere we writen, Pater-nostres and penaunce and pilgrimage to Eome. But owre spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe [wille], 197 Elles is al owre laboure loste ; lo ! how men writeth In fenestres atte freres if fals be be foundement ; For-bi crystene sholde ben in Qomuim riche none coueitouse for hym-selue. 200 ^[ For seuene synnes pat bere ben assaillen vs euere, ])e fende folweth hem alle ' and fondeth hem to helpe, Ac wib ricchesse bat Eibaude ' rathest men bigyleth. 185. [if WR]LCOB om. fel'] fille W. synne] som C ; somer (!) B. 186. [hnowlechyng CORB] mis- written knelecbyng in L ; hit the line is marked; knowlichynge W. Con- fessioun — hnowlechyng] Knowlecb- ynge and confession B. <§■] in W. 187. as (2)] B om. 188. Ac] And WCR. [pouke R] pope (!!!) LWCOB ; sec 1. 190. here- a^einc] J^ere-ajeine KB ; her-ayein {printed ayein) W. punyssh] pun- iscben. on R. 189. He] Ho R. to] do R, 190. so] COB om. 191. Ac] And C. moste'] mnste 0. 192. jH're] poue?-e C ; pore B. 193. decorreth] decourre)? WR. 191. alle] al \>e W. 195. ore] Worn, writen] written C. 196. Pater-nostres] Pater noster CROB. penavnee] penaunces R. pil- grimage] Pilgrymages W. 197. But] And R. spences] spence C. and] and oure RB. [wille WCO] welle LlvB. 199. atte] at \>e WCROB. 200. ben] O om. coueitouse] coueite COB. 201. pat] WCOB om. ben] ben J>at W. vs] pee O. 203. Ac] And C. pat] bo R. Iiilande] ribalde C ; ribaudes R. rathest] be rabest "W. PASS. XIV.] HOW RICHES CONDUCE TO PRIDE. 247 For pere pat ricliesse regneth • reuerence fohveth, 204 where wealth And pat is plesaunte to pryde ' in pore and in riche. follows. And pe riche is reuerenced • by resourc of his richchesse, Jpere pe pore is put bihynde and pew auentwre can more Of witte and of wysdom pat fer awey is better 208 Jjan ricchesse or reaute and rather yherde in heuene. For pe riche hath nioche to rekene and ri^te softe Riches hinder ... ,-. men on their WalKetn, wav to heaven. j)e heigh waye to-heuene-ward oft ricchesse letteth, Ita [irijpossibile diuiti, fyc, % Jpere pe pore preseth bifor pe riche • with a pakke at his rugge, 212 Opera enim illorum sequ\u\ntur illos. Rev. xiv. 13. Batauntliche as beggeres done and baldeliche he craueth, For his pouerte and his pacience a perpetuel bhsse ; Beati pauperes, quoniam ipsorum est regnum Mat. v. s. celorum. ^[ And pryde in ricchesse regneth rather fan in pouerte, Pride reigns in riclics Arst in pe Maister pan in }e man some mansion?! he hath. 216 Ac in pouerte pere pacyence is pryde hath no my3te, but patience in Ne none of pe seuene synnes " sitten ne niowe pere p< " longe, Ne haue powere in pouerte if pacyence it folwe. For pe pore is ay prest to plese pe riche, 220 The poor man And buxome at his byddyng • for his broke loues ; 204. reuerence] reuerences B. 212. preseth'] precheth R. rugge] 205. pore] pouerte C ; pouert B. ryggeCO. sequuntu)-]seqantur~LCIiB. 206. And] Ac B. reuerenced] 213. Batauntliche] Batanlich C. yreuerenced C. 214. 7iis (2)] COB om. 207. pere] That C. 215. And] Ac E. pouerte] pouert 208. fer] B om. an-cy] wei E. EB. 209. reaute] realte O ; rente B. 216. Arst] Or E. paw] or E. yherde] herde G; herd OB. \>e] O om. he] E om. hath] hauep 210. rijte softe] many tyme hym WR; has C. )>rtW. 217. Ac] And C. 211. heigh] ri}t E. oft] W om. 219. it] W om. ricchesse] riche E; Eichesse hym W. 221. byddyng] hiddynges W. loues] [inpossibilc W] possihile LCEOB. looues O. 2-18 HOW POVERTY OFTEN PRESERVES MEN [PASS. XIV. And buxonienesse and boste • aren euer-more at werre, And ayther hateth other • in alle manere werkes. ]n'Th SUn0t If Avrattue wrastel with be pore he hath be worse ende; 224 For if bey bothe pleyne be pore is but fieble, And if he chyde or chatre hym chieueth be worse ; [For louhch he loketh and louehche is his speche, J3at mete or mone of other men mote asken. 228 And if glotonie greue pouerte he gadereth be lasse, in.eias For his rentes ne wol naujte reche • no riche metes to gluttony, it is only for good ale, Du gg6 j And ]jou3 his glotonye be to gode ale he goth to cold beddynge, And his heued vn-heled • vn-esiliche I-wrye; 232 not for other For whan he streyneth hym to streche be strawe is hi u ies. , ' his schetes ; if he yields to Q f or lii s glotonie and his grete scleuthe • he hath a sloth, he suffers for it, greuous penau?ice, Jjat is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for col do, And Bum tyme for his synnes so he is neuere murie, Withoute mornynge amonge • and mischief to bote.] Avarice cannot *J[ And if coueitise Avolde cacche be pore bei mav grapple with . him fairly, nou^t come togideres, 238 And by be nekke namely * her none may hente other. For men knoweth wel pat coueitise • is of a kene wille, hiving too long And hath liondes and armes ' of a longe lengthe. arms And pouerte nis but a petit binge appereth nou^t to his naide, 242 for fair wrestling And louelv layke was it neuere bitwene be lonoe and with him. J J f o be shorte. 222. more] CB om. 240. wel] om. a] W om. 223. ayther] ei^er WOB. 241. a longe] longe R; ful greet 224. wrastel] wiystel C. W. 225. For] And WO. 242. nis] ne is B ; is 0. a] O om. 227—237. In R only. Cf. C-Text. petit] pety E. navle] nauele WCE ; 238. if] J>ou^ R. wolde] walde E ; name (!) B; in margin ofL— vrnbili- WCOB om. as. 239. her] for B. hente] henten E. 243. it] COB om. PASS. XIV.] FROil THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 2 49 And bough auarice wolde angre be pore lie hath but [Foi.6i.] litel my3te, 244 For pouerte hath but pokes • to putteu in his godis, What is a fieve auarice hath almaries • aud yren-bounde cofiresj anironcoierf And whether be li3ter to breke 1 • lasse boste it rnaketb, A beggeres bagge fan an yren-bounde coffre ! 248 ^[ Lecherye loueth hym nou^t ' for he 3eueth but lytel Lechery loves syluer, JSTe doth hym nou3te dyne delycatly ne dryuke wyn oft. A strawe for be stuwes ! • it stode nou3t, I trowe, Had bei [no byng] but of pore men her houses were vntyled ! 252 IT And bough sleuthe suwe pouerte and serue nou3t He is saved from sloth hy god to paye, adversity. Mischief is his rnaister and maketh hym to thynke. J?at god is his grettest helpe ' and no gome elles, And his seruaunt, as he seith and of his sute bothe. And where he be or be noi^te he bereth be sigue of pouerte, 257 And in pat secte OAvre saueoure saued al mankynde. For-thi al ppre pat paciente is may daymen and asken We'.i may the After her endynge here heuene-ricbe bhsse. claim heaven! IF Moche hardier may he axen fat here myjte haue his wille In londe and in lordship " and likynge of bodye, 262 Much more may 1 i f iTi 1 ii l i t ' ie ^ iat forsakes And tor goddis loue leueth al an lyueth as a beggere ; nis weaiui, 2-14. angre] C om. but] but a B. 253. god] C om. 245. godis] soddes C ; soddis B. 255. Ms] KB om. gome] man C ; 247. lasse — it] so in LCROB ; and with i. gome above it. lasse boost W. 256. Follows I. 257 in B. 7ds (1)] 248. beggeres] begger C. coffre] so in LOB ; is C; he bis {printed he coffires (sic) C. is) W ; he is R. sute bothe] suyte 250. nouyte] B om. bethe C ; suyte bofje B. 251, 252. R omits, stuwes] styue- 257. where] wheijjcr WC ; v/hejter hous B. it] hit ne B ; J>ei W. [no OB. be (2)] C omits. \>yng WCOB] none L. pore men] a 259. al pore] alle pore R; euery pore man B. were] stoode W; stood poore "VV ; al pouc/'te COB. paciente] C ; stoden ; stonden B ; probably paciens 0. owing to stode in 1. 251. vntyled] 202. londe] lorde R. vnhiled ; which is pcrhajJS right. 203. an] and "WCROB. 250 as a betrothed maid forsakes her kindred. For so is he who forsakes wealth." *' What is poverty ? " said Haukyn, See Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum Jlistoriale, 1. x. c. 71. " What is this in English ? " THE TRUE DEFINITION OF POVERTY. [PASS. XIV. And as a mayde for niannes loue lier moder forsaketh, Hir fader and allc her frendes and folwetli hir make, Moche is snche a rnayde to louie of hym Jjat such one taketh, 266 More Jan a mayden is J?at is maried Jjorw brokage, As bi assent of sondry partyes and syluer to bote, More for coueitise of good ban kynde lone of bothe ; — IT So it fareth bi eche a persone ' bat possession?! for- saketh, 270 And put hym to be pacient and pouerte weddeth, ]3e which is sybbe to god hym-self and so to his seyntes." IF " Hane god my trouthe," quod Haukyn "^e preyse faste -pouerte ; What is pouerte with pacience," quod he " proprely tomenet" 274 U " Paupertas" quod pacience " est odibile bonum, Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum dei, sanitatis mater ; Absque solicitudine semita, sapiende tempered Hx, negocium sine damjono ; Incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine felicitas." IF "I can nou3t construe al bis," quod Haukyn ' "30 moste kenne [me] bis on englisch." 276 " In englisch," quod pacyence, " it is wel harde wel to expounen ; Ac somdel I shal seyne it by so bow vnderstonde. 264. for'] for a R. 265. Hir] And 0. folwetli] folowes C ; folwed E. 266. suche a] J?at R. Mochc — louie] Muche moore is to loue W. 267. More — is] Than is bat maiden W. is (2)] C om. 268. As] And COB. 271. put] puttes C ; puttib OB. 272. )>e] R om. to — seyntes] ney^ is pouerte R. 273. ie — faste] bat huyre faste preyse R. 274. n'it'i] R om. quocl he] om. 275. sanitatis] sanitas CB (also sanitas in MS. W) ; semita R. so- licitudine] solitudine R {once) ; B (twice). 276. al] COB om. ^e] be R. Itenne me ]>is] so in WE ; kenne bis L ; seye it ; seyn hit B ; sayn C. 277. reel (1)] ful B. 278. Ac] And CR. )>ok] ye C ; see B. PASS. XIV.] THE EXPOSITION OF THE DEFINITION. 251 Pouerte is be first poynte " bat jiryde inoste hateth, i. "Poverty is Thanue is it good by good skil al bat agasteth pryde. Eijte as contriciou/j is confortable binge conscience wote wel, 281 And a sorwe of hym-self * and a solace to be sowle, [Foi. 6i 6.] So pouerte propreliche • penaunce, and ioye, and health to the body. Is to be body pure spiritual helthe, 28 4 Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum, And continuous confort & cura animarum. IT Selde [sit] pouerte be sotlie to declare, 2- it has few re- ... sponsibilities. Or as mstyce to lugge men enioigned is no pore, Ne to be a Maire aboue men ne mynystre vnder kynges ; Selden is any pore yput " to punysslien any peple; 289 liemocio curarum. Ergo pouerte and pore men • pe?'fornen be comaunde- ment, Nolite iudicare quemquam. be bridde : — 1F Selde is any pore ricbe but of rijtful heritage ; "Wynnetb lie nau3t with weglites fals • ne with vnseled 3. The poor do not win wealth mesures, 292 falsely. ~Ne borweth of his neghbores * but bat he may wel paye, Possessio sine calumpnia. IT be fierthe is a fortune bat florissheth be soule *■ Poverty is the gift of God. Wyth sobrete fram al synne ' and also ^it more ; It affaiteth be flesshe fram folyes ful manye, 296 A collateral conforte * crystes owne jifte, 280. it] C om. 289. any] enemye (!) R. yput] 281. mote] it woot 0. putte CB. 282. a (2)] COB om. 290. The words be bridde are really 284. spiritual] pcrpetuel 0. only a title to the paragraph follow'- 285. animarvm] COB add the ing. Cf. 1. 294. words the secounde, which is really 291. any pore] pore ribt B. of] of only a title to the paragraph follow- his B. ing. Cf. 1. 290. 292. weghtes] wi^tea W ; weightea 286. [sit WE] sitte (which is in- C; weyjtis OB ; wittes B. with (2)] ferior spelling) LCO ; sytteb B. COB om. 287. Or] For W. as] a B. en- 294. fierthe] ferbe WBOB ; ferde ioigned — pore] B om. C. is] it is B. a] B om. 288. to] for to B. a] W om. 295. synne] synnes 0. aboue] oiu'?'e B. Injnges] kyng 0. 252 THE DEFINITION OF TOVERTY EXPLAINED. [PASS. XIV. 5. It is the mother of health. C. The poor may walk unrobbed through the pass of Alton; so poverty is a •ate path. •Tuvenal, Sat. x. 22. 7. It is a source of wisdom. 8. It deals fairly with others. 9. It is an uncer- tain fortune, [Fol. 62.] Donum dei. IT })g fyfte is ino tier of helthe ' a frende in alle fondynges, And for be land eucre a leche a lemnian of al clennesse, Sanitatis mater. IT fie sexte is a path of pees • $e, borw be pas of altouw Pouerte my3te passe with-oute peril of robbynge, 301 For bere Jjat pouerte passeth pees folweth after, And euere J?e lasse pat lie beretb be hardyer he is of herte ; For-bi seith seneca • paupertas est absque solicitudine semita, 304 And an hardy man of herte amonge an hepe of bcues ; Cantabit [pauper] coram latrone viator. IT J}e seueneth is welle of wisdome and fewe wordes sbeweth, For lordes alloweth hyrn litel or lysteneth to his reson, He tempreth be tonge to-treuthe-ward and no tresore coueiteth ; 308 Sapiencie temper atrix. % The eigteth is a lele laborere and loth to take more J?an he may wel deserue " in somer or in wynter, And if [he] chaffareth, he chargeth no losse mowe he cbarite "\vynne ; Negocium sine dampno. ^1 The nyneth is swete to fie soule ' no sugre is swettere ; For pacyence is payn ' for pouerte hym-selue, 313 And sobrete swete drynlce ' and good leche in sylccnesse, 298. is] it is be R. helthe] hele R. 290. land] so in AV; lawde RC ; lewede ; lewid B. Sanitatis] Sani- tas CB (and in 3IS.W). 300. sexte] sixte it R. path] pa}>jje O ; paab B. pas of] pa (sir) R. altoun] Aultone WC ; aultomi O ; altone RB. 303. pat] O om. he (2)] R om. 304. solicitudine] solitudine ROB. 305. [pavper O] paupertas LA VCR B; see Note, viator] viatore AV. 306. is] it is R. n-elle] wille CB. 307. For] Ther-fore AV. litel] lite R. 308. He] For he AV. and] bat R. Sapiencie, #c] R om. 309. eigteth] eighte CB. is] it is R. a] Bom. laborere] labour AA r COB. 311. [AeAVCROB] L om. ; but the line is marked, chaffareth] chaffare COB. rvynne] wynte R. 312. nyneth] nythe it (sic) R; ny- jente B. to] for O. is (2)] COB om. PASS. XIV. J HAUKYN WEEPS BITTERLY FOR HIS SINS. 253 ];us lered me a lettred man for owre lordes loue, Seynt austyn, a blissed lyf ' with-outen bysynesse, 31G and a blessing without care." For body and for some absque solicit udine felicitas. Now god, fat al good gyueth ■• graunt his soule reste, J?at Jms fyrst "wrote to wyssen men what pouerte was to mene ! " % "Alias !" quod haukyn be actyf man bo ' " j?at, after "Alas!" said Haukyn, " how my crystendome, 320 sore it is to live I ne hadde ben ded and doluen ' for doweles sake ! So harde it is," quod haukyn " to lyue and to do synne. Synne suweth vs euere," quod he " and sori gan wexe, And wepte water with his eyghen and weyled be tyme, Then he wept for his sins, ]5at euere he dede dede bat dere god displesed ; 325 Swowed and sobbed and syked ful ofte, )3at euere he hadde londe or lordship lasse otber more, Or maystrye ouer any man mo pan of hym-self. 328 " I were nou^t wortby, wote god," quod haukyn • "to declaring him- , . . self unworthy to were any clothes, Ne noyther sherte ne shone saue for shame one, To keure my caroigne," quod he and cryde mercye faste, And wepte and weyled • and pere-with I awaked. 332 awakes. 315. lettred'] lered R. loue'] loue dede] dide dede WCO. of heuene W. 326. Swowed] Swouned (printed 316. a] CB om. bysynesse] hisy- Swound) W; Swonde C ; He swowned nesse ladde W. Cf. C-Text. B. 317. for (2)] COB om. absque] R 327. or] ouberW. lordship] larde om. solicitudine] solitudine B. (corrected to lord) O. 319. bw*]biaWCO. 329. mote god'] wite god R; COB 320. be — \>o] R om. om. were] werien W ; werie CR. 321. doweles] dowel C. 330. Ne] B om. noyther] nouther 322. do] do (printed do no) W. C ; neiber WOB. See Note. 331. caroigne] cariogne C; careyne 323. suweth] scheweth R. W ; caroyne R ; caroyne wib B. 324. tyme] thyme C. mercye faste] fast mercye COB. 325. euere he] he euere WO. dede 332. awaked] waked C. wear more clothes than a shirt. 254 MANY COUNT THE POET AS A FOOL. [PASS. XV. PASSUS XV (PROLOGUE TO DO-BET). Fassus xv ns : finit dowel, § incipit dobet. It took me Ion to make out wh Do-well was. Many thought me a fool, because I reverenced not lords. Again I slept. I saw one without tongue or teeth, 8 ig Ac after my wakyng ' it was wonder longe, hat XX ^ r t cou th kyndely • knowe what was dowel. And so my witte wex and wanyed • til I a fole were, And sorame lakked my lyf ' allowed it fewe, And leten [me] for a lorel and loth to reuerencen Lordes or ladyes or any lyf elles, As persones in pellure " with pendauntes of syluer ; To seriaumtz ne to suche seyde novate ones, ' God loke 30W, lordes ! ' • ne louted faire ; Jjat folke helden me a fole • and in }>at folye I raued, Tyl resoura hadde reuthe on me • and rokked me aslepe, Tyl I seigh, as it sorcerye were a sotyl binge with-al, One with-outen tonge and teeth • tolde me whyder I shulde, 1 * And wher-of I cam and of what kynde; • I conjured hym atte laste, Title. So in W ; Passus xiiijws de visione, vt supra E ; Passus xvns. Explicit de do-wel, & Incipit primus de do-bet C ; Passus xvvs de dowel. Et incipit primus de dobet B ; Passus qwrntodecimws O. 1. Ac] As B; An C. wahyng] walkynge EB. wonder] C om. 2. couth] koudo WC ; coude RB. 3. a] B om. 5. [me WRB] LCO om. 7. with] and with COB. 8. ne] and R. seyde] and seide R ; seide I W. ]0. vie] C om. 12. it] it of R. a] & 0. 13. whyder] wonder R. 14. of] COB om. of— kynde] winder I scbulde R. PAPS. XV.] IN A NEW DREAM, HE BEHOLDS REASON. 255 If he were crystes creature for crystes loue me to tellen. IT " I arn crystes creature," quod lie "and crystene in who said he was Christ's creatui e, many a place, 16 In crystes courte I-knowe wel * and of bis kynne a partye. Is noyther peter be porter ne poule with his fauchoune, and known to _ _ Peter and Paul. pa[_tj wil defende me be dore dynge ich neure so late. At mydny3t, at mydday my voice so is yknowe, 20 Jjat eche a creature of his courte welcometh me fayre." 5T "What ar ye called," quod I, "in fiat courte " I asked Mm his name. amonges crystes peple ? "])e whiles I quykke he corps," quod he " "called am [Foi. 62&.] " A itiiniA," he I anima ; said, And whan I wilne and wolde ' animus ich hatte ; 24 "also animus, And for bat I can and knowe called am I mens ; mens. And whan I make mone to god ' memoria is my name ; memorui. And whan I deme domes • and do as treuthe techeth, Jeanne is ratio my ri^t name ' resoii/i an englisske ; 28 ratio. And whan I fele bat folke telleth • my firste name is sensu.% kiwis. And bat is wytte and wisdome ' be welle of alle craftes ; And whan I chalange or chalange noujte ' chope or refuse, Jeanne am I conscience ycalde goddis clerke and' his eonscientta, notarie ; 32 15. creature'] creature quod he B. 23. qvy7(ke]quykne (printed ciuiknc) for — loue'] anoon W. "W ; quikye R ; quik was in COB. 16. crystes] criste C. a] R nm. corps] body C. called] I-cald R. 17. crystes] crist C. his] CB om, 24. and] or 0. animus] anima B. 18. ne] ne {printed Nor) W. his] 25. and] W om. mens] mens, be R. thou^te R. 19. \at] so in WCROB ; (;aL; hut 28. resoun] & resoura 0. an] on marked for correction. "VVCOB. 20. so is] is so R. yknowe] knowe 29. firste] CB om. W; knowen 0. 31. I] om. c/iepe] clepe O. 21. eche] IchR; like C. 32. conscience] Com. 22. quod 1] follows courte in COB. 256 TIIE NUMEROUS NAMES OF REASON. [PASS. XV. and spirUus." See Isidore, Etymol. lib. xi. c. 1. And whan T loue lelly owre lorde and alle other, Jjannc is lele loue my name and in latyn amor ; And whan I flye fro pe flesshe and forsake pe caroigne, jpanne am I spirit specheles and spirihis panne ich hatte. 36 Austyn and ysodorus ayther of hem bothe Nempned me pus to name ; ' now pow my3te chese, How pow coueitest to calle me now pow knowest alle my names. Auima pro diuersis actionibus diuersa nomina sortitur : dum viuificat coipus, anima est ; dum vult, animus est; dum self, mens est ; dum recoJit, memoria est. Dum iudicot, racio est; dum sent it, sensus est ; dum amat, amor est ; dum negat vet consent it, consciencia est ; dum spirat, spiritus est." % "3e hen as a hisshop," quod I ' al hourdynge pat tyme, 40 " For hisshopes yhlessed • pei hereth many names, Presul arid pontifex and metropolitans, And other names an hepe episcopus & pastor.' 1 '' " i suppose you ^r « Vj a t is soth," seyde he • " now I se pi wille ! 44 would fain know what they j)ow woldest knowe and kunne pe cause of alle her mean ? " said lie. names, And of myne, if pow mj^test me pinketh hy pi speche ! " "Yes," said i. % " 3e, syre," I seyde " hy so no man were greued. Alle pe sciences vnder Sonne and alle pe sotyle " You have as many names as a bishop," said I. craftes 34. and] C om. 35. flye] fle R. 36. 7] I a W. and] WCOB om. 37. ayther] o);er B. 38. now] and now W. myyte] my^tist 0. 3!). noiv] for now W. \>ow know- est] knawestow C ; knowest )jow B. alle] W om. vult] wit (.vie) R. 8Cit] B om.; sit R. R. C. 48 40. as] B om. 41. \>ei] COB om. 42. metropolitanns] metropolanus 45. he?-] my W. 46. myne] me W. 47. so] so Jjat B. 48. sciences] science ROB ; sciens TASS. XV.] REASON RErROVES THE POET. 257 I wolde I knewe and couth • kyndely in myne herte ! " ^[ " Jjanne artow inparfit," quod he ' "and one of "Then you are . too proud," prydes knyjtes ; said he. For such a lusto and lykynge lucifer fel fram heuene : Ponam pedem meum in aqidlone, 4" similis ero Isaiah xiv. it. altissimo. ^[ It were a3eynes kynde," quod he "and alkynnes "No one can expect to know reSOUft, 52 everything. Jpat any creature shulde kunne al excepte cryste one. A^ein such Salomon speketh * and dispiseth her wittes, And seith, sicut qui met comedit midtum, non est Prov. xxv. 27. ei bonum : Sic qui scrutator est maicstatis, qpprimitur a gloria. To englisch men bis is to mene • bat mowen speke & Too much honey cloyeth the maw. here, J3e man bat moche hony eteth • his ruawe it en- gleymeth ; And be more fat a man of good mater hereth, 57 But he do ber-after " it doth hym douhle scathe : Beatas est, seith seynt Bernard qui scripturas legit, [Foi. 63.] Et verba vertit in opera ' fullich to his powere. 60 Cf. John xia 17. Coueytise to kunne and to knowe science Pulte out of paradys * Adam and Eue, Sciencie appetifus hominem imnortalitatis [glo- Lustofknow- . -, ,. ., ledge caused the ria\ spohauit. f a u. And ri3te as hony is yuel to defye and engleymeth be mawe, Ei^t so fat borw resouM - wolde be rote knowe 64 49. I (2)] OB om. Interne] knowe 59. est] B om. COB. couth] limine 0. GO. verba vertit] vertit verba B. 50. injmrjit] vnp«>'fit CB. prydes] fullich] follich B. pride C. Gl, G2. C omits. 52. alkynnes] alle kynnes W; alle Gl. science] sciences W. kyne B ; al kyns ; alkyn B. 62. Pulte] so m E ; Butte WB ; 53. one] B om. Bullede 0. \_gloria WO] gloriam 54. qpprimitur] oppranatur B. LCBB. 56. eteth] eet B ; eteis C. it en- 63. rhtc] ?et B. gleymeth] it englames C; is en- 64. pat] he bat W. glaymed B ; is engleymed B. 17 ■fU 258 FOOLISH EXPENDITURE IS BLAMEWORTHY. [PASS. XV. Rom. xii. 3. Doctors should leave hard matters, and talk of the seven sins. and foolish spending of money. Ps. xcvi. 7 (Vulg.). Of god and of his grete myites Ids graces it letteth. For in fe lykyng lith a pryde • and a lycames coneitise, Ajein crystes conseille and alle clerkes techyng, That is, 7ion plus sapere quam qportet sapere. Freres and fcle other rnaistres • fat to f e lewed men prashen, G8 3e moeuen materes inmesurables ' to tellen of fe Trinite, Jjat ofte tymes f e lewed peple of hir bileue donten. Bettere byleue were mony • doctoures snch techyng, And tellen men of f e ten comaimdementz and touchen fie seuene synnes, 72 And of fe braunches J>at burgcou?zeth of hem and bryngeth men to helle, And how fat folke in folyes ' niyspenden her fyue wittes, As Avel freres as other folke * foldich spenen In housyng, in haterynge and in-to hiegh clergye shewynge, 76 More for pompe fan for pure charite ' f e pocple wote f e sothe Jpat I lye nou3t, loo ! • for lordes ^e plesen, And reuerenccn f e riche f e rather for her syluer ; Confundantur omnes qui adorant scul[p]tilia ; § alibi : 65. of] C om. grete] COB om. graces] grace COB. GG. Jje]JjatB. UtJi]]ygQsC. « (2)] in a CB ; W om. G8. fcle] E om. \>e] WO om. G'J. y] COB om. inmesurables] so in CB ; Tmesurables ; vnmesur- able W ; vnmesurables R. 70. B omits. 71. Bettre it were to nianye doc- tours • to leuen swich techyng W; Betere by-leue by moue ' doctoures techynge R ; Better to leue wer many • doctours swich techyng CB ; O lilte L, ivitli to bileue for byleue. 72. And] To C. \>e (1)] C om. 73. CB om. burgcouneth] burionej? W; bourgeleth E. 75. spenen] so in EC ; spenden W ; J^ei spenden ; speken B. In margin of O — Pride of Freris. 7G. and] B om. in-to] COB om. 77. poeple] pople B ; peple W ; pe- pile C. 78. lye] ne lye O. 79. \>e (2)] R om. syluer] good is O. [sculptilia WCROB] scultilia L. mendacium] &c. R. -at?- PASS. XV.] THE FORCE OF EXAMPLE. 259 Vt quid diligitis vanitatem, fy queritis men- Ps. iv. 3 (Vuig.). dacium ? Go to be glose of be verse ^e grete clerkes ; 80 Ye clerk?, cringe for money's sake. If I lye on 30W to my lewed witte ledetli me to brennynge For as it semetli, ^e forsaketh no mannes alruesse, Nota .• de tratti- \ms[moargmo/L.] (Ji vsureres, of hores ' of anarous chapmen, And louten to bis lordes * J? at mowen lene 30W nobles, A^zine 3owre revile and Eeligioure • I take recorde at Ihesus, 85 }3at seide to his disciples • ne sitis personarum aeceptores. cf. Deut. i. 17; xvi 10 ^[ Of bis matere I my3te make a longe bible, Ac of curatoures of crystene peple as clerkes bereth witnesse, 88 I shal tellen it for treuth sake take hede who so lyketh ! H As holynesse and [honeste] * oute of holicherche As good teachers spread holiness, Spredeth so evil teachers Jjorw lele libbyng men " fat goddes lawe techen, Ei^t so ont of holicherche alle yneles spredeth, 92 There inparfyt presthod is prechoures and techeres. And se it by ensample ' in somer tyme on trowes, J^ere so??ime bowes ben leued and somme bereth none ; some boughs . . p . , r> i i have leaves, pere is a myschiel m be more of suche manere bowes. some are bare. Rijt so persones and prestes and prechoures of holy cherche, 97 Jjat aren rote of be ri3te faith • to renle be peple ; Ac bere be rote is roten reson wote be sothe, 80. ]>e] fcise W. 91. lawe] lawes E. 83. of (3)] and E. 92. yveles] euel B. spredeth] 85. and'] & 30111-0 E. at] of COB. spredes C; spreden 0; spryngeb W. 86. personarum aeceptores] E 93. prechoures'] and pz-echoures E. transposes. 94. And] I W. trowes] trewes E. 88. of (2)] ouer E. In margin of 96. more] more {printed morre) O— Curatis. WjmooreO. 89. treuth] trutes WCOB. hede] 97. so] so bi W. cherchc] cherches he (!) C. lyketh] lokes C. E. 90. As] And B. [honeste WCEO 98. \>at aren] Is te E. B] honestete L. 99. Ac] And WC. 200 HYPOCRIST IS LIKE A WIIITED WALL. [i'ASS. XV. [Fol.636.] If ye clerks would leave rich clothing, unlearned men would amend. Hj'pocrisy is a snow-hidden dunghill, or a whited wall. " Faier wordes " [in margin o/C]. Shal neure floure no frute ne faire leef be grcne. 100 For-bi, wolde 30 lettred leue • be leccherye of clothynge, And bo kynde, as bifel for clerkes and curteise of crystcs goodes, Trewe of 3owre tongc and of 30wre taille botbc, And hatien to bere harlotrye ' and noii3t to vnderfonge Tythos of vntrewe binge ytilied or chaff ared, 105 IT Lotbe were lewed men but f>ei 3owre lore folwed, And amenden hem bat mysdon • more for 3owre en- samples, }?an forto prechen & preue it nou3t ' ypocrysie it semeth. 108 For ypocrysie in latyn is lykned to a dongehul, J?at were bysnewed with snowe and snakes wyth- inne ; ^F Or to a wal bat were whitlymed and were foule wyth-inne. Ri3t so many prestes • prechoures and prelates, 112 >e aren enblaunched with hele paroles • and with clothes also, Ac 3owre werkes and jowre wordes Jwe-vnder aren ful vnlouelich. U Iohannes crysostomus ' of clerkes speketh and prestes, Sicut de ternplu omne bonum progrcditur, sic de templo omne malum procedit. 101. 3O J.-e EB. lettred] lettred men O. 102. blfet] fel O. cwteise] cur- tcsie C. 103. taille] taile R; tail WCOB. 104. hatien] hauen (!) C. nou^t] amt E. 105. Tythes] TethesC. of vntrewe] of trewe E ; but of trewe W. ytilied — chaffared] I-tyled or I-chafared E. 107. amenden] amendeden W. \at] f^at J3ci E. 10!). For ypocrisie] The which W. is lyltned] likned is CB. dongehvX] dongouw E. 111. CB omit, whitlymed] wirot- lymed wijjout O. mere] O om. 113. y>] CB om. arm] Er C. also] E om. 114. Ac] And EC. ynere (2)] COB on. \>ere] B om. Jul] B om. vnlouelich] wlueliche (sic) E. 115. crysostomus] criostomus E. progreditur] egreditur COB ; procedit E. floret] noreret O. corvptum] co- rupta E. omnium] omnium (printed omnis) W. saeerdocium] sacerdos E. peccamdumC] peccatum E. pallidum — mareidam] marcidam & pallidam OCB. inteligis] In-tellis E. PASS. XV.] AS THE PRIESTS ARE, SO IS THE CHURCH. 201 Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret a sound priesthood makes ecclesia ; si autem coruptum fuerit, omnium a flourishing church, fides marcida est. Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus populus co[n]iiertitur ad peccandum. Sicut cum videris arborem pcdlidam fy mar- but, as a , . . . withered tree cidam, inteligis quod vicium habet in radice, has an evu root, . 7 . . 7 . , ? • soa wicked Ita cum videris popidum inaucipUnatum of ir- people snewa , . . , , . 7 . • an unsound rehgwsiwi, sine dubio sacerdocium eats non priesth00d> est sanum. % If lewed men wist what bis latyn meneth, 116 And who was niyn auctor • nioche wonder me binketh, But if many a prest here for here baselardes and here broches, A peyre bedes in her hande ' and a boke vnder her arme. Sire Iohan & sire Geffray * hath a gerdel of syluer, 120 sir John and A baseharde, or a ballokknyf with botones ouergylte. have a silver Ac a portous bat shulde be his plow • placebo to segge, Hadde he neure seruyse to saue syluer ber-to * selth it with yvel wdle ! Alias ! }e lewed men • moche lese $e on prestes, 124 Ac tinge bat wykkedlich is wonne • and Avitli false Things wickedly won go to wicked sleigtheS, men. "Wolde neuere witte of witty god but wikked men it hadde ; 116. In margin of — Prestis. botonei] & barres O. 117. who] B om. 122. Ac] And C. portous] port- 118. a] R om. be re] heer O. hors WB; porthous C; porthos 0; here (2)] B om. for — broches] for portos R. segge] saye C. Lore broches and for here baselardes 123. saue] haue R. seith] sayes E. - C. it] B om. seith — mile] for 119. peyre] peire of W. MS. spendyng at ale 0. yvel] euel E; {which in 1.118 has heer for bere) ydel WCOB. has a totally different Hue, here, viz. 125. Ae] And C. Schulden go synge so-uyseles • wib 126. witte] \>e wit WCOB. witte sire philip be sparwe. — god] of witty god be wit COB. 120. hath — gerdel] ban gyrdeles O. hadde] maked R. 121. or a] and a CB; & 0. with 262 THE TOET ASKS WHAT CIIARITY IS. [PASS. XV. Evil got is evil snent. Covetous clerks die intestate, and are blamed after death. [Fol. G4.] Good men are lamented." " What is charity ? " said I. Joe which aren prestes inparfit and prechoures after syluer, 1 2 / Sectoures and sudenes ' somnoures and her lemmannes. Jpis bat with gyle was geten vngraeiouslich is spended ; So harlotes and liores ' ar hidpen with such goodis, And goddes folke for defaute ber-of forfaren and spillen. % Curatoures of holykirke as clerkes bat ben auerouse, Lijtlich bat bey leuen loselles it habbeth, 133 Or dyeth intestate ' and banne be bisshop entreth, And maketh murthe bere-with and his men bothe, And seggen. ' he was a nygarde " bat no good mj^te [aspare] 136 To frende ne to fremmed • be fende hane his soule ! For a wrecched hous he helde al his lyf tyme ; And pat he spared and bispered " spene we in murthe.' ^T By lered, by lewed • fat loth is to spende, 140 Jjus gone her godes be be goste faren. Ac for good men, god wote gret dole men maken, And bymeneth good mete-3yueres and in mynde haueth, In prayers and in penaunces " and in parfyt charite." IT " What is charite 1 " quod I bo " a childissh binge," heseide; 145 128. Sectoures] Seketoures E; Exe- cutours W. sudenes] Rodenes WEB ; suddenes CO. somnoures] Somonowrs W. 129. ]pls] ThatW. spended"] spened E ; despended W. 130. hulpen] so in E ; holpe WO ; hoi pen C. witli] boru^ O. goodis] godeth (!) E. 131. And] Ac E. 133. habbeth] hase C ; ha}; B. 134. \>anne] f?er B. 135. \>ere-with] ber-royd W. 13G. [aspare WCEB] spare : as- spare L. 137. fremmed] fremde C; frem B. 138. he helde] held he W. 139. bispered] bi-sperred E ; bi- sperde 0; bispared CB. spene] so in E; spende COB; dispende W. ire] we hit B ; C om. 140. By — loved] Be bei lered be tei lewide 0; Be he lewid be he lend B. spende] spene E ; despende W. 141. gone] goon WC ; goen E. be] by C 142. dole]&ee\0; delB; doelWC. 143. in] C om. haueth] hem haueth EB. 11 1. penaunces] penannce COB. 145. childissh] childist B. sieut] sicut W (but not printed), in — celo- rinii] kc O. In margin of L — quid est caritas. PASS. XV.] TILE AUTHOR'S NAME IS " LONGE WILLE." 203 " Nisi efficiamini sicut jpamuli, non intrabitis Mat. xviii. 3. in regnum celorum ; "With-outen famitelte or foly " a fre liberal wille." IT " Where shulde men fynde such a frende • with so fre an herte 1 I haue lyued in londe," quod I ' "my name is longe "My name,' d said I. "is I. said I, "is Long ■Wille 148 Will; I have never found And fonde I neuere ful charite * hifore ne bdiynde ! charity. Men beth mercyable " to mendynantz & to pore, And wolen lene pere pei leue • lelly to be?i payed. IT Ac charite pat poule preyseth best and most plesaunte to owre saueovire, 152 As non [injlatur,] non [est] ambiciosa, non guerit 1 cor. xm. 4, 5. que sua sunt, I seigh neuere such a man so me god helpe, That he ne wolde aske after his and otherwhile coueyte au whom 1 have seen are Jjinge pat neded hym nou^t " and nyme it if he my3te ! covetous." ^f Clerkis kenne me pat cryst is in alle places ; 156 Ac I seygh hym neuere sothly * but as my-self in a miroure, It[a] in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem. 1 cor. xiii. 12. And so I trowe trewly by pat men telleth of charite, It is noi^t championes fy^te " ne chaffare, as I trowe." ^T "Charite," quod he, "ne chaffareth noujte ' ne "Charity," said 1 _ he, "is no chalcngeth, ne craueth. 100 trader. As proude of a peny as of a pounde of golde, 146. fawntelte] fauwtee O. W; god R. As] Is W; CB om. 147. fynde] CB om. [injlatur WCROB] inflatus L. [est lis'. I (1)] B om. lyued] CB om. WCROB] L om. I (2)] he W. longe] lange C. In 155. neded hym'] nedeth hym CO ; margin of L — note, the name of hym neded R. nyme] take C. he] thauctott?- (in a later hand). In thay C. margin of R and 0— Longe Wylle. 156. Jtenne] tellen 0. 150. pore'] be pore 0. 157. Ac] And C. neuere] om. (!) 151. leue] loue C. payed] apayed a] R om. \_lta COB] It L; Hie R; R. W om. 152. Ac] And C. preyseth] pre- 158. And so] Also B. cheb 0. plesaunte to] pleses C; 160. ne (2)] nofcer R. pleseb OB. owre saueoure] oure lord 161. of (\)] as CB. \ 264 THE SWEET DEMEANOUR OF CHARITY. [l'ASS. XV. He is ever glad. He covets not. And is as gladde of a goune of a graye russet As of a tunicle of tarse ' or of trye scarlet. He is gladde with alle gladde and good ty[l] alio wykked, 164 And leuetli and louetli alle " fat OAvre lorde made Ho curses no one. Cars< Hi lie no creature • ne lie can here no wratthe, lNe no lykynge liatli to lye ' ne laughe men to scorne. Al fat men seith, he let it soth and in solace taketh, And alle mancre meschiefs in myldenesse he sunreth ; Coueiteth he none erthly good hut heuene-riche bli se." •0* " Hath he any rentes or ricchesse or any riche frendes 1 " IT " Of rentes ne of ricchesse ne reccheth he neuere. 172 For a frende fat fyndeth hym failled hym neuere at nede ; Fiat-voluntas-tua fynt hym euer more. Ps. xii. c (Vuig.). And if he soupeth, ette hut a soppe of spcra-in-deo. [Foi. Gi&.] He can purtreye wel fe pater-noster and peynte it with aues, 176 And other- while is his wone to wende in pilgiymage, J)ere pore men and prisones liggeth her pardourc to haue. Jjough he here hem no bred ' he hereth hem swetter lyflode, Loueth hem as owre lorde biddeth ' and loketh how fei fare. 180 Mat. vi. 10. He visits men in prison. 103. tarse] Carse C; say B. trye] tried CO ; fyn B. 164. tyl] til WCRO; to B; mis- written ty in L; hut marked for cor- rection. 165. And] He E. 166. Curscth] Corse}? W; Cursees C. 167. hath to] haue 11. men] me II. 168. let] leet W; lat 0. 170. good] godes R. 172. ne (1)] nor W. ne (2)] COB out. reccheth] rekke}? W. 173. fyndeth] fynt R. failled] failles C. hym (2)] by R. 174. fynt] fyndes C ; fyndij? OB. 175. soupeth] soupe CO. ette] eet R ; ete> W ; he ete C ; he etif? OB. 176. n-cl] O om. aues] aue R ; C om. 177. is his none] is wone R; he is woned WB ; he is wonte C f he is wone O. in] on W ; o R ; C om, pilgrimage] pilgrymages WCOB. 178. prisones] prisoners COB. liggeth] lygges C ; been O. 179. hem (1)] hym C. lyflode] O om. 180. biddeth] bit R. PASS. XV.] CHARITY CLEANSES MEN FROM PRIDE. 2G5 ^[ And whan he is wery of bat werke banne wil he some tjme Lahory in a lauendrye ' wel be lengtke of a myle, He works in the laundry, And 3 erne in-to 30uthe " and 3ephche speke Pryde with al be appurtenaunce ' and pakken hem to- gyderes, 181 And bouken hem at his brest and beten hem clene, washing clean all proud things ; And leggen on longe with laboraui in gcmihi meo, Ps. vi. 7 (Vuig.). And with warme water at his eyghen wasshen hem after. And banne he syngeth whan he doth so & some tyme seith wepyng, 188 Cor contritum § liumiliatum, deus, non de- Ps. 1. 19 (Vnig.). sjricies." ^1 " By cryst, I wolde bat I knewe hjm" quod I "no creature leuere ! " IT " With-outen helpe of Piers plowman," quod, he • " his only Piers Plowman can persone seestow neuere. shew him to you. ^1 " Where clerkes knowen hym," quod I " bat kepen holykirke ? " ^T " Clerkes haue no knowyng," quod he ' " but by werkes and bi wordes. 192 Ac piers be plowman parceyueth more depper What is be wille and wherfore bat many wy3te suffreth, Et vidlt deus cogitaciones eorum. Mat. ix. 4; Luke xi. 17. For bere ar ful proude-herted men paciente of tonge, 181. tyme] B om. seest f?ow ROB. 182. Labory'] so in R; Labouren 191. Where] Wheijjer W. clci-hcs WCOB. a (1)] WCOB om. n-el] hnon-en] clergie knew CB. \>at] ^a om. R. Mrltc] cbercbe RCB. 183. ^outhe] fxni^t B. spehe] secbe 192. knowyng] knowlecbynge R. R {which seems better). hi] COB om. 18-4. appurtenaunce] appwrten- 193. Ac] An C. parceyueth] per- aunces W ; appwtenantz C ; purten- ceyued CO. aunce R. 194. [ What W] £>at LR (marked in 186. leggen] lyggen C. on] a B. L) Wher COB. )>e] R om. mille] 187. eyghen] e)^es R; yen O. welle CB. wyrte] wit R; a \vi3t O. 188. And] R om. Et] And R. vidit] vidis C. 189. quod I] COB om. 195. ar] er C ; arn O; is E: 190. Piers] peres j-e R. seestow] lierted] berte R. 2GG TIERS THE PLOWMAN IS CIIRIST. [PASS. XV. some promi men And boxome as of berynge ' to burgeys and to lordes, are servile. * And to pore peple ' nan peper m fe nose, 197 And as a lyoun he loketli fere men lakketb his werkes. IT For fere ar beggeres and bidderes ' bed[e]men as it were, Some beggars Loketh as lambren • and semen lyf-holy, 200 feign innocence. ... Ac it is more to naue her mete ' with such an esy mancre, Jjan for penaunce and parfitnesse f e pouerte fat such taketh. Man is known ^ j3ere-fore by coloure ne by clergye ' knowe shaltow only by his will. hym neuere, jSToyther forw wordes ne werkes but forw wille one. And fat knoweth no clerke • ne creature in erthe, 205 Piers is Christ; But piers fe plowman ' petrus, id est, chrishis. 1 Cor. x. i. For he ne is noi^te in lolleres ' ne in lande-leperes herrnytes, ~Ne at ancres, fere a box hangeth ' alle suche fei faiten. Fy on faitoures and in f aid ores svos I 209 charity is God's For charyte is goddis champiou/i and as A good chylde champion. hende, And f e meryest of mouth • at mete where he sitteth. j)e loue fat lith in his herte • maketh hym ly^te of speche, 212 And is [companable] and confortatyf as cryst bit hym- selue, 19G. burgeys] trargeises W. 207. ne is] nys WE ; is COB. 109. ar] aren R; am O: er C. lolleres] losellis O; freris B. lantle- [bedemen WEOB] bedmen LO. leperes] land-lepynge B. 200. lambren] lambroim R; lam- 208. at] in B. bern C. semen] semed R. hjf] fid 209. faitovres] a faytonr B. hi] W. on C. 201. Ac] And C. n-ith] on ~R; in 211. meryest] merj?e B. mouth] COB. an] COB am. muthe R. 202. and] or COB. 212. \e] To R. 203. coloure] colon B. hym] hem 213. [_eompanable RCO] compnign- C; Worn. Cf. 1. 189. able WB; compenable L. confort- 205. ne] in (!) C. in] on W; an atyf] confortif C. fieri— ^c] tristes E, fieri sicut yporcrite {sic) R. 20G. id est] i. Wj hit is B. PASS. XV.] CHARITY WAS OXCE A FRIAR. 2G7 Mat. vi. 1G. [Fol. 65.] He wears both silk and russet. Edmund and Edward were land's and saints. Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite, tristes, fyc. For I liaue seyn hym in sylke and somme tyme in russet, Bothe in grey and in grys • and in gnlte herneys, And as gladlicli he it gaf to gomes bat it neded. 21G IT Edmonde and Edwarde ' eytlier were kynges, And seyntes ysette tyl charite hem folwed. H I haue seyne charite also • syngen and reden, Eyden and rennen in ragged wedes, 220 Ac biddyng as beggeres bihelde I hyni neuere. Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh, Ycalled and ycrimiled and his crowne shaue, [And clenlich yclofcd in cipres & in tartaryne.] 224 He once wore a And in a freres frokke he was yfounde ones, long ago. Ac it is ferre agoo in seynt Eraunceys tyme ; In J?at secte sitthe to selde hath he be knowen. 227 1F Riche men he recomendeth • and of her robes taketh, J3at with-outen wyles • leden her lyues, Beatus est dines, qui, $c. Eccius. xxxi. s. IT In kynges courte he cometh ofte ' bere be conseille is trewe, Ac if coueityse be of be conseille • he wil nonjt come ber-inne. In courte amonge iaperes he cometh but selde, 232 He seldom comes amongst scoffers. 214. scyn] seyen W ; seen 0. 215. gulte] gilt WCOB. herneys] hemes C. 216. as] also B. 217. eyther] ayther C; eyter of hem B ; bote W. 218. tyt]so E; for W. 219. seyne] yseyen WR. reden] redend (altered to redAnd) C. 221. Ac] Aud C. beygcrcs] a begger B. bihelde] biholde C. 1] CB om. 222. Ac] And C. 223. and] O om. ycrimiled] I- crymeled R ; y-crymyled AV r ; ycry- maylid 0; crymailed C. shaue] y- shaue WR ; schauen O. 224. From 0; also in CB ; LWR omit, cipres] cipyrs C; p?/rpre B. in (2)] B om. tartaryne] tarterine C. Possibly a spurious line ; not in Crowley. 225. freres] frere R. 226. Ac] And C. fcrre] so in R ; fer COB ; fern W. 227. In] And in COB. he] O om. hwwen] knowe R ; founde W. 228. of] B om. 229. est] B om. 231. Ac] And C. noutf] C om. 232. hit] nojt but WOB ; noujt be C. 208 CHARITY ONCE DWELT WITH BISHOPS. [PASS. XV. Once he lived with bishops, For braulyng and bakbytyng and beryng of fals witnesse. He is seldom in ^[ In be constorie bifor be comissarie lie conieth nomt the consistory. ful ofto, For her lawe dureth ouer-longe but if be! lacchen syluer ; And matrimoisme for monve ' niaken & vrunaken, 236 And bat conscience and cryst hath yknitte faste, Jjei vndon it vnworthily bo doctours of lawe. [IF Amonges ereliebiscliopes and ojjer biscliopes ' And prelates of holy cberche, For to wonye with hem his wone was sum tyme, 240 And cristes patrirnonye to be pore ' parcel-inel dele, but now avarice Ac auerice hath be keyes now and kepeth for his bears the keys. , kynnesmen, And for his seketoures & his seruants & somme for here children.] IT Ac I ne lakke no lyf ' but lorde, amende vs alle, 244 And gyue vs grace, good god ch.ari.te to folwe ! For who so my3te mete with hym such maneres hym eyleth, Noyther he blameth ne banneth bosteth, ne prayseth, Lakketk, ne loseth * ne loketh vp sterne ; 248 Craueth, ne coueiteth ne crieth after more, In pace in id-ipsum dormiam, fyc. j)e moste lyflode bat he lyueth by " is loue in goddis passion??, ISToyther he biddeth, ne beggeth ne borweth to 3elde ; lie neither blames nor bans, nor craves more. Fs. iv. 9. 233. braidyny] braggyng B.. 234. \>e] B om. constorie'] so in RB; Consistorie "VVCO. fuZ] ful (printed but) W. 230. monye] mone R. 237. yknitte'] knyt C. 238. \>ei] bat C. bo] the C. 239—243. In R only. Cf. C-Text. 244. CB omit. 245. And] But B. got?] C om. 246. with] myd "W. eyleth'] aylib OB ; C om. 247. blameth ne banneth] bannes ne blamed C ; bauneb ne blameb ; blanneb ne blameb B. 24S, 240. Transposed in COB. In pace — <5 - c] R om. id] C om. 250. )>at] COB om. by] R om. 251. he} he ne R. ne (1)] ne he C. PASS. XV.] THE LIVES OF ANTHONY AND EG1DIUS. 2G9 Misdoth lie no man no with his mouth greueth. 252 ^[ Amonges cristene men bis myldnesse shukle laste ; In alle manere angrcs • haue f»is at herte — J}at bough bei suffrcd al bis god suffred for vs more, God suffered yet more for us. In ensample we shulde do so * and take no veniaunce Of owre foes bat doth vs falsenesse • bat is owre fadres wille. 257 For wel may euery man wite if god hadde wolde hym- au was by God's permission. selue, Sholde neuere Iudas ne iuwe haue Ihesu don on Bode, iNe han martired peter ne Poule ' ne in prisouw holden. [Fo1 - 65&] Ac he suffred in ensample • bat we shulde suffre also, And seide to suche bat suffre wolde ' bat pacientes vincunt. IT Verbi gratia" quod he "and verrey ensamples manye, In legenda sanctorum * be lyf of holy seyntes, 264 Read the Lives of the Saints, What penaunce and pouerte and passioun bei suffred, In hunger, in hete • in al manere angres. Antony and Egidie • and other holi fadres of Anthony and Egidius, "VYoneden in wildernesse amonge wilde "bestes; 2G8 Monkes and mendynauntz men bi hem-selue, In spekes an in spelonkes selden speken togideres. Ac noyther antony ne Egidy * ne hermite bat tyme Of liourcs ne of leopcrdes ' no lyflode ne toke, 272 who were fed chiefly by birds. But of foules bat fleeth • bus fynt men in hokes. Excepte bat Egydie after an hynde cryede, 254. at] atte R. maneres C. 255. god'] go R. 268. n-ildcrnesse] wildernesses R. 25G. shulde] schul C. no] R om. amonge'] amonges R. 257. owre] O om. 270. an] and WCROB. in] RCOB 258. wel — man] euery man may om. spelonkes] spekelonkes CB. wel R. hadde] R om. wolde] wold 271. Ac] And C. W ; walde C. selue] sulue R. 272. liouns] leons W ; lyons R ; 250. Sholde] Shul 0. ne] te B. lyouns COB. ne (2)] bei B. 2G0. han] haue RB. 273. foules] be foules R; foloughes(l) 2G1. Ac] Ami G. shulde] CB on. C. fleeth] lleigh C; flyen O. bws] 266. in (2)] and in COB. manere] bat B. fynt] fyndeb W ; fyndea C. 270 PAUL THE HERMIT WAS FED BY BIRDS. [PASS. XV. Rgidius was sustained by a hind, Anthony by a bird. Paul the first hermit founded the Augustine firiars. St Paul made baskets. St Peter fished. Mary Magdalen lived in desert places. And borw be mylke of bat mylde best ' be man was susteyncd ; And day by day had lie liir noi^t his hunger forte- slake, 276 But selden and sondrie tymes as seith be boke and techeth. ^T Antony a dayes aboute none tyme, Had a bridde bat brou3te hym bred bat he by lyued ; And bough be gome hadde a geste ' god fonde hem bothe. 280 H Poule primus heremita had parroked hym-selue, Jjat no man 11113 te n )' m se ' f° r mosse an( i f° r leues; Foules hym fedde fele wynteres with alle, Til he founded freres of austines ordre. 281 Poule, after his prechyng * panyers he made, And wan with his hondes bat his wombe neded. Peter fisched for his fode and his felawe andrewe ; Some bei solde and some bei sothe * and so bei lyued bothe. 288 And also Marie Magdeleyne by mores lyued and dewes, Ac moste borw deuocioun and mynde of god almi3ty. I shulde noujt bis seuene dayes seggen hem alle, Jpat lyueden bus for owre lordes loue manye longe 3eres. 202 275. mylde] meke E; kynde B. panyers] payneres R. susteyncd] ysusteyned I!. 286. 7tis (1)] E om. 27G. And] Ac E (which seems 288. solde] shalde C. sothe] sojren better). O ; se\> B ; sethed C ; soden "\\ r ; 277. tymes] tyme E. scit7i] sayes eeten E. C. techetlh] teches C. 289. Magdaleyne] Maudeleyne W 278. a dayes] on a day E. none] EO. lyued] E om. and] and by be noon 0. 279. bred] his brede E. 281. had parroked] andparroke(l) C ; hadde parroked in E. 284. ordre] ordre or ellis freris lyerj B. 285. Poule] An-o(v-r poule O. E. 290. Ac] And C. 291. shulde] shol C. seggen] tellen C. 292. manye — yrcs] amonges wilde bestes E. PASS. XV.] WILD BEASTS FAWNED UPON THE SAINTS. 271 Ac bere 113 was lyoun ne leopart ' bat on laundes No lion, leopard, nor wild beast Wenten, harmed theui. Noyther bere, ne bor ne otlier best wilde, Jjat ne fel to ber feet • and fauned with be tallies. And if bei couth ban yearped ' by cryst, as I trowe, J?ei wolde haue felde bat folke bifor wilde fonles. 297 [For alle be curteisie bat bestes kunne J?ei kidde pat folke ofte In likkyng and in lowynge ' fere bei on lanndes ^ede.] Ac god sent hem fode bi foules * and by no fierse God fed them by birds, not by bestes, beasts. In menynge pat meke binge niylde binge shulde fede ; As who seith, religions ry3tful men shnlde fynde, 302 And lawful men to lyf-holy men lyflode brynge. And banne wolde lordes and ladyes be loth to agulte, Lords would not exact too ranch, And to take of her tenauntz * more ban treuth wolde, if Mars took Fonde bei pat Freres wolde forsake her almesses, 306 And bidden hem bere it bere it was yborwed. For we ben goddes foules • and abiden alwey, 30S [Foi. 66.1 Tyl briddes brynge vs * fat we sbulde lyue by. For had %e potage and payn ynough " and peny-ale to Pottage and bread and peuny- drynke, ale should And a messe bere-mydde ' of manere kynde, 3e had ri3t ynough, je Religious and so 30'wre reule me tclde : 312 293. Igouii] leon W. leopart] almysse B. leopard W ; leopartz R ; lyberde C. 307. Item] hym B. ybonced] 295. ne] hit ne B. fel] fil WB. borwed R. \>e] hir C ; herere->nydde] therwith C ; be ligious] Religiouses WO. shulde] mydde B. 0] on R ; any COB. schol C. fynde] fede W. 312. had] han O. rugiet] so in R ; 303. orynge] sholde brynge W. rugit WCOB. [onager WCROB] oner- 30G. Fonde] so in R; Founde ger L. herbarn habucrit] habuerit (printed Foulde) W; Founde CB; herbam R. brutoruni — sufficiat] R Foundcn O. almesses] alincsse CR; om. quia] O 0111. 272 HOW THE FRIARS GIVE TO THE POOR, [PASS. XV. Job vi. 5. Unlearned men might liciic-e learn to give less. Why should lords leave lands away from their heirs ? Va. cxi. 9 (Vulg.). Truly, 'tis the friars that give to the poor ! Rich men add trees to a forest. Nunquam, dicit lob, rugi\e\t [onager] cum hcrbam habuerit? aid mugieb bos cum ante plenum presepe stcterit ? brutorum animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum eis 'pabulum c<>uninnie sufficiat ; ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tun. ^T If lowed men knewc Jus latyn ' pei wolde loke whom pei 3eue, And auyse hem bifore ' a fyue dayes or sexe, Or pei amortesed to monkes • or chanouws her rentes. Alias ! lordes and ladyes lewed conseille haue 30 316 To 3yne fram 3owre eyres pat 30Avre ayeles 30W lefte, And 3iueth to bidde for 30W • to such pat hen riche, And hen founded and feffed eke to hidde for other. % Who perfourneth pis prophecye ' of the peple pat now lyhheth, 320 Dispersit, dedit pauperibus, §c. ? If any peple pe/fourme pat texte • it ar pis pore freres ! For pat pei heggen ahouten in buildynge pei spene, And on hem-self sum ' and such as ben her laboreres, And of hem pat habbeth pei taken and 3yue hem pat ne habbeth ! 324 ^[ Ac clerkes & kiry^tes ' and comimeres pat ben riche, Fcle of 30W fareth • as if I a forest hadde, }5at were ful of faire trees • and I fonded and caste 313. whom] wham R. yvc~\ gyfue C. 314. a] RO am. 315. Or] Er WOB ; Ar RC. amortesed] amortiseclen C; mortise- den O ; enmorteysed B. rentes] rente W. 317. -ion-re (2)] C om. ayeles] Ailes C. y>w lefte] hadde CB. 318. yiueth] yf\\c\> it AVB. to (2)] to {misprinted Yd) W. \>at] as R. 319. founded^] I-founded R. 320. yis] the COB. dedit] deus B. 321. ]>at] this COB. ar] er C. )>is] Ye B. In margin of — Deri- dendo. 322. spene] spenen 0; spcndeRB; spende it WC. 323. such as] on hym }?at B. as] R om. 324. Item (1)] CB om. \>ei taken] y-take B. and] B om. Vjue] jyuejj W ; 3euen B ; gyfes C. ne] na C ; ncde B ; TV om. 325. Ac] And C ; As B. 327. /] B om. fonded and] fond and B ; foonddand C. PASS. XV.] EICH MEN SHOULD FEAST BEGGARS. 273 How I niJ3te mo fer-inne • amonges hem sette. 328 Rist so, 3e riche ' -$e robeth fat ben riclie, Ye rich clothe tliG rich And helpeth hem fat helpeth 30W and 3iueth fere no nede is. As who so filled a tonne of a fresshe ryuer, and add water to the Thames. And went forth with fat water to woke with themese, Ei^t so, 39 riche ' 3c robeth and fedetb 333 Hem fat han as 3c han ; hem 3e make at ese. ^f Ac Religious fat riche ben shulde rather feste beggeres J3an burgeys fat riche ben • as f e boke techeth ; 336 Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauper!- Peter cantor, cap. 47. bus dare. s. Hieron. Epist. CC. 8. Item, peccatorwus dare, est demon/bus immolare. Peter cantor, Item, monache, si indiges et accipis, pocius das id. cap! 48. quam accipis. Si autem non eges, § accipis, rapis. Porro, non indiget Monaclms, si habeat quod nature stifficit. For-f i I conseille alle cristene to confourmen hem to charite ; For charite with-oute chalengynge vnchargeth fe charity delivers eouIs from SOule, purgatory. And many a prisone fram purgatorie * forw his preyeres he delyu[e]reth. Ac fere is a defaute in f e folke fat f e faith kepeth ; Wh erf ore folke is fe feblere • and nou3t ferme of bilieue. 341 J'.'.'O. 3c (1)] pe B. robet h \ so in W ; 336. burgeys] burgeises W. I- robet ; robbethB; robbeu ; rob- tern (1)] Item idem E. Item (2) — bip B. See 1. 333. rapis] E om. 331. tonne] fauna or tonne W; tonne 337. confourmen] con forte B. ful R ; tunne OB. fresshe] ful R. 338. \>e soule] E om. 332. ivolte — themese] wooke wip fe 339. his] is B. he] COB om. ; is temse O. In margin of — Q«id ast E. delyuereth] so in WOB ; deliueres dare iwpijs. C; deliuered E; delyuretb L. 333. robeth] so in WC; robbetb E; 341. Wlierfore] Where E. is] been robben ; robbip B. O. feblere] Abler C. 33o. Ac] And C. feste] fede E. 18 274 ALL THINGS AltE NOW OUT OF JOINT. [PASS. XV. Of counterfeit coin. [Fol. fifi b.] Man's soul is alloyed v.ith sin. As in lussheborwes is a lyther alay and jet loketli lie lyke a sterlynge, fie merke of bat mone is good ac be metal is fieble ; And so it fareth by some folke now • bei lian a faire speche, 34 4 Croune and crystendome be kynges merke of heuene, Ac be metal, J?at is mannes sonle with synne is foule alayed ; Bothe lettred and lewede • beth allayed now with synne, That no lyf loueth other ' ne owre lorde, as it semeth. For borw werre and wykked werkes and wederes vn- resonable 349 Wederwise shipmen • and witti clerkes also Han no bilieue to be lifte ne to be lore of philosofres. ^f Astrymyanes alday in her arte faillen, 352 }?at whilum warned bifore " what shulde falle after. Shipmen and shep[h]erdes fat with shipp & shepe wenten, Wisten by be walkene ' what shulde bityde ; As of wederes and wyndes bei warned men ofte. 356 Tillers conid once Tilieres bat tiled be erthe • tolden her maistres, calculate the yield of the soil ; By be sede fat bei sewe what j?ei selle mi^te, And what to lene and [what] to lyue by be londe was so trewe. 359 Now failleth be folke of be node and of b e londe bothe, Weatherwise men are now-a- days at fault. 342. As\ And COB. lyther] luper V. 343. mone] moneie C ; monee W. uc] and C. 346. Ac \>e] And pat C. mannes] man C. alayed] allaied C. 347. GBomit. 348. it semeth] I leue 0. 349. For] For what E. 350. witti] om. 351. lifte] lif B. philosofres] phi- losophic B. 352. Astrymyanes] Astrimyanes R ; Astromyens OB ; Astronomiens \VC. 353. falle] byfalle R. 354. Shipmen] Chapmen CB. shepherdes] so in W ; schepherdes R ; 6heperdes L ; scheperdis B ; shiperdes C; heerdis 0. shepe] shipmen CB. 355. walliene] walkne W ; wolken C ; welken OB ; wakkne R. 356. As] And B. and] and of RB. 357. tiled] tilien B. 358. By] Whi B. 359. [what WCOB] LR om. hjtie] leue RB. 3G0. \>c (2)] om. PASS. XV.] CLERKS AND DOCTORS KNOW NOTHING. 275 Shep[li]erdes and shipinen ' and so do bis tilieres; 361 Neither bei kunneth ne knowetk one cours bi-for an- but are now at a loss. other. Astrymyanes also aren at her wittes ende ; Of fat was calculed of be element be contrarie pei fynde. 364 Gramer, be grounde of al • bigyleth now children ; For is none of bis newe clerkes who so nymeth hede, None of these new clerks jpat can versifye faire • ne formalich enditen ; can versify, Ne nou3t on amonge an hundreth bat an anctour can construe, 3G8 ~Ng rede a le^re in any langage hut in latyn or in nor read move than Latin or englissh. English. Go now to any degre • and but if gyle be inayster, And flaterere his felawe vnder hym to fournien, Moche wonder rne thynketh amonges vs alle. 372 Doctoures of decres • and of diuinite Maistres, Masters of divinity know })at shulde konne and knowe alkynnes clergye, no logic. And answere to argumentz and also to a quodlibet, (I dar nou3t seggen it for shame) if suche weren apposed, 37G jpei shulde faillen in her philosofye • and in phisyk bothe. Wher-fore I am afered of folke of holikirke, Even churchmen, . perhaps, skip the Lest bei ouerhuppen as other don in offices & in services, houres. 361. Shepherdes] so in WO ; Shep- 368. Ne nou^t] Nau^t W ; Is not erdes L ; Schipherdes C ; Schepe/'des O. R ; sheepperdis B. 369. in (2)] COB om. or in] and 362. kunneth — fawwcth'] kanne nc COB. knawes C. 370. if] B om. be] me (!) C. 363. Astrymyanes] Astrimyanes R ; 371. flaterere] flatre R. Astromyens B ; Astronornj-ens WCO. 372. Moclie] And muche R. 364. be element] be elementz C ; 374. alkynnes] alkynne R ; alle be elenientis OB ; clement {sic) R. kynnes WCB ; alkyns OB. 365. Mgyleth] bigles (sic) C. 377. in (1)] of WCOB. in (2)] 366. nene] now CB. nymeth'] in her ; B om. takes C. 379. ouerhvppen] ouer-hippen RCB. 367. W omits, enditen] endenten offices] office W. R. 276 HOW MAHOMET TAMED A DOVE. [pass. XV. Saracens too believe in one God. Ac if jjei oucrliuppe, as I hope noi^te " owre by leu o suffiseth ; 380 As clerkes in corpus-christi feste singen & reden, Mere faith, they ^ so la fides svfficit ' to saue with lewed peple. SHj , Ml 1IH-C3. 5T And so may sarasenes be saued scribes and iewes ; Alias panne ! but owre loresmen lyuen as pei leren vs, And, for her lyuynge, pat lewed men be pe lother god agulten. For sarasenes ban somwhat * semynge to owre bileue, For pei loue and bileue in o person e almijty ; And we, lered and lewede in on god bileueth. 388 Ac one Makometh, a man • in mysbileue Broi^te sarasenes of Surre and se in what manere. J)is Makometh was a crystene man and for he moste nou^te be a pope, In-to Surre he soi^te and porw his sotil wittes 392 Daunted a dowue and day and ny^te hir fedde ; J5e corne pat she cropped he caste it in his ere. And if he amonge pe poejde preched or in places come, Hie dove peeked Jjanne wolde pe coluer come • to pe clerkes ere, 39 G at his ear for „ -xri it- to™. Menynge as alter meet pus Makometh hir enchatmted, A[nd] dide folke panne falle on knees • for he swore in bis prechynge, J3at pe coluer pat come so come fram god of heuene [Fol. 67-] Mahomet went to Syria, and tamed a dove. 380. Ac if] And if WC ; Ac £0113 R. oiterltvppe] oue-hippe (sic) R ; ouer- byppe CB. gvffiseth] suffise C ; suffi- cit R. 381. singen — reden] syngynge and redynge C. 383. may] many B. 384. lyven] leuen CB. 385. agulten] agylte C ; to agulten O : a-gilten B. 387. o] on R ; oo B. 388. oilenetli] liileues C ; beleuen O ; almy^ty W ; Crowley has beleue. Here R adds a line, which seems superfluous — Cristene and vncristene ' on one god bileueth. 3S9. Ac] And WO; An C. in] of (I) 0. 390. Brovite] at the end of I. 389 in W. 391. a] RCOB om. crystene] cristend C. man] WCOB om. 393. Daunted] He daunted W. 394. ere] here R. 395. 396. R omits. 395. places] place CB. come] commue (sic) B. 396. \>e (I)] C om. to] in-to O. 397. as] B om. enchavnted] cliaunted R. 398. And WCROB] A L. 399. coluer] culuer RB. PASS. XV.] THE ENGLISHMAN'S PET DOVE IS AVArxICE. 277 As messager to Makometh men forto teche. 400 And bus borw wyles of his witte and a whyte dowue, Makometh in mysbileue • men and wo?ftmen bro^te, Thus he misled )?at lered fere and lewed ^it • lyuen on liis lawes. IT And sitth owre saueoure suffred be sarasenes so bigiled, 404 ]3orw a crystene clerke acursed in his soule ; Ac for drede of be deth I dar nonjt telle treuthe, cm Englishmen How englissh clerkes a coluer feden J?at coueityse Z^jmI hatte, And ben manered after Makometh J?at no man vseth treuth. 408 H Ancres and hermytes • and monkes and freres Peren to apostles borw her parfit lyuynge. Wolde neuere be faithful fader bat his min[i]stres God's ministers , , , should take no Sholdc 411 alms, Of tyrauntz bat teneth trewe men taken any almesse, But done as Antony did Dominik and Fraunceys, but live like st Beuet & Bernarde be which hem firste tau3te To lyue hi litel & in lowe houses by lele mennes almesse. 415 Grace sholde growe & be grene borw her good lyuynge, And folkes sholde fynde fat ben in dyuerse sykenesse, J}e better for her byddynges in body and in soule. Her preyeres and her penaunces to pees shulde brynge Their prayera should bestow Alle Jjat ben at debate and bedemen were trewe ; 420 peace; 400. As] And R. WC] mynystres O ; mynystris B ; 401. a] B om. minstres LR ; Crowley has ministers. 403. lered — lewed] lyued Jjo }jere 412. teneth] tenees C. and lyue W. pere] CB om. I //urn] 413. Antony] domynyk O. Do- leuenRCO; leeuen W ; lieuen B. Cf. minik] antony O. and] or R. 1. 576. 415. e [mynnen] wel how matheu seith how a man made a feste ; He fedde hem Avith no venysou?* ' ne fesauntes ybake, But with foules bat fram hym nolde " but folwed his whistellynge ; 456 Ecce alt ilia mea § omnia parata sunt, fyc. ; Mat. xxn. 4. And wyth calues flesshe he fedde be folke bat he loued. j)e calfe bytokeneth clennesse ' in hem bat kepeth lawes. A calf betokens cleanness. 1T For as be cow borw kynde mylke " be calf norissheth til an oxe, So loue and lewte lele men susteyneth, 460 443. what] wat was B. creperes in L ; Crowley has cropers. 445. is] so in R and Crowley ; be 454. [mynnen W] menen O {and WCOB. fulled'] foulled (!) C. Crowley) ; mismritten, nymmen in L ; stokkes] stoke B. neine/t B ; take CR ; observe the al- 446. Wasshen] I-wasclien R. literatim, how] hede whate R. taseles] taselles C ; taslis B. 455. hem] hem {printed him) W. 447. YtouJted] YwalkedC. ytented] 456. fofooed] folowen C ; folwe B. so in C; tentted R; y-teynted WOB. altilia] volatilia B. hande] handes E. 457. And'] om. 448. And] RA^t W. of] of a W. 459. norissheth] norisshe C. 453. [croperes 0] croperis B ; 460. So] So doth R. and] & and cropers {and crepers in margin) O ; L {by mistake), lele] and lele R. ciopiers W ; keperes R ; miswritten susteyneth] sustened CB. 280 TRIESTS WILL RESENT MY CENSURE. [PASS. XV. As a calf desires And maydenes and mylde men mercy desiren ; milk, so just men desire mercy. It^t as pe cow-calf couoyteth swete my Ike, So don rijtful men mercy & treuthe. [And by pe hande-fedde foules his folk vndcrstonde, J3at loth ben to louyo ' with-outen lernynge of cn- saumples. 4G5 As fowls come Ri3t as capones in a court comcth to mennes whist- when whistled to, so rude men lynge, In menynge after mete folweth men pat whietlen, Ei3t so rude men pat litel reson cunneth, 4C8 Louen and by-leuen by lettred me?znes doynges, And by here wordes and werkes wenen and trowen. And, as tho foules to fynde fode after whistlynge, So hope pei to haue heuene poru3 her whistlynge. 472 The maker of the And by pe man fiat made pe feste " pe mageste bymeneth ; feast is Gcd. ' J}at is, god of his grace ' gyueth al men blisse ; With wederes and with wondres ' he warneth vs with a whistlere, Where pat his wille is to worschipen vs alle, 476 And feden vs and festen vs for euere-more at ones.] Parsons and ^[ Ac who beth pat excuseth hem pat aren persou??es priests will be wroth with me; and presteS, jjat heuedes of holycherche ben pat han her wille here, With-oute trauaille, pe tithe del pat trewemen biswynkyn, 480 )?ei wil be Avroth for I write pus ac to witnesse I take but see Ps. Bothe Mathew and Marke and Memento-domine- C7.T.\\. 1, 6 (Vuig.). dauid ; \_Ecce audiuimus cam in effrcda, eye] What Pope or prelate now perfourneth pat cryst hi3te, 462. as] so O. sivcte myllie] mclk OB ; ben W. ewete "W. 479. heuedes] hedes CB. ckerche] 464 — 477. In R only. A very cherches R. curious passage. Cf.\. 456 above. 481. wil] wol W; wole R; wolen 465. louye] written like louj;e. 0; wiln B. ac to] ac OB; and C. 478. Ac] And C. beth] ben C. 482. [Eece— $c] in 11 only; earn frat (2)] R om. aren] so in, RC ; arn is misivritten cum; see Pass. X. 68. PASS. XV.] MANY BISHOPS AND FEW CONVERTS. 281 Ite in vnlversum mundum fy predicate, fyc. ? Mark xvi. 15. H Alias ! bat men so longe on Makometh shulde byleue, 484 So many prelates to preche as be Pope maketh, see how many bishops tlie pope Of Nazareth, of Nynyue of Neptalim, and damaske, makes! J5at bei ne went as cryst "wisseth sithen bei wil[ne] a name, ^f To be pastours and preche be passioun of Ihmis, [Foi. 68.] And as hym-self seyde ' so to lyue and deye ; 489 Bonus pastor animam suam ponit, fyc. ; John x. 11. And seyde it in sauacioun • of sarasenes & other. For crystene & vncristene • cryst seide to prechoures, Ite vos in vineam meam Mat. xx. i. And sith bat bis sarasenes scribes, & Iuwes 492 llan a lippe of owre byleue • be li3tloker, me thynketh, ]5ei shulde torne, who so trauaille wolde to teche hem of be Trinite, Querite fy inuenietis, fyc. Mat «l 7. ^T It is reuth to rede how rhtwis men lvued, Good men of 7 J old suffered How bei defouled her flessh forsoke her owne wille, many things. Fer fro kitth and fro kynne • yuel yclothed ^eden, 497 Badly ybedded no boke but conscience, Ne no richchesse but be Rode • to reioyse hem Inne; Absit nobis gloriari, nisi in crucedomininostri, fyc. Gal. vi. it. 1F And bo was plente & pees amonges pore & riche ; And now is routhe to rede how be red noble 501 Thenobieis preferred to the Is reuerenced or be Eode receyued lor be worthier cross. 484. shulde'] schullen E. byleue'] 493. Han] Hand(!) C. liyloker] so beleue O. li^tliker ; lightlier WC. methynk- 487. wisseth] wissed C. [ivilne a cth] it semeth R. R] wil a L ; wille haue W ; wol haue 494. trauaille wolde] trauailed W. C ; wolen haue OB ; but R is right. to] & R. 488, 489. \>e passioun — seyde] re- 495 — 531. R omits. tamed in MS. W, but omitted in 496. forsoke] & forsoke» B. printed copy, so] W om. deye] to 498. Badly] ful baddeli B. dye W. ponit] B om. 501. red] reed C ; rede B. 490. it] it is B. 502. or] erWCOB. receyued] and 491. For] To R. #] and to R. receyued WB. \>e (2)] W om. 492. nth* sitthen R. 282 THE FATAL GIFT OF COXSTANTIXE. [fass. XV. All men honour the cross that is engraved upon coins. The fall of the Templars. Luke i. 52. Bishops shall live like Levites. Constantine's gift condemned by an angel. [Fol. G8 b.] ]3an crystes crosse, fat ouer-cam def and dedly syirne. 1T And now is werre and wo and who so why axeth, For coueityse after crosse f e croune stant in golde. Botho riche and religious * fat Rode jjei honoure, 506 )5at in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles. For coueityse of fat crosse men of holykirke Shul tourne as templeres did f e tyme approcheth faste. II Wyte 30 nou3t, wyse men how f men honoured More tresore fan treuthe 1 ' I dar nou^t telle f e sothe ; Eesou/i & ri3tful dome fo Religious demed. 512 Ri3t so, 3e clerkes for ^owre coueityse, ar longe, Shal f ei demen dos ecdesie and jowre pryde depose, Deposuit potentes de sede, §c. % 3if kny3thod & kynde wytte ' and comwwe con- science Togideres loue lelly leueth it wel, 3e bisshopes, 51G \)q lordeship of londes ' for euere shal 3e lese, And lyuen as leuifici as owre lorde 30W techeth, Per primicias fy decimas. 1F Whan costantyn of curteysye * holykirke dowed With londes and ledes lordeshipes and rentes, 520 An Angel men herde an heigh at Rome crye, ' Dos ecdesie f is day hath ydronke venym, And fo fat han petres powere am apoysoned alle.' A medecyne mote f er-to fat may amende prelates, J)at sholden preye for f e pees ; • possessions hem letteth, Take her landes, ye. lordes • and let hem lyue by dymes. 504. axeth] askeb W. mime by cowsciewce. 505. stant] standes C. 517. londes] jonve londes W. 507. in (2)] C am. nobles] nobiles 3c] ^e schid ; ye shul CB, shal C. 509. tourne] ouif presthod were parfit be peple s[h]olde amende, ])at contrarien crystes lawe and crystendome dispise. For al paynym[es] prayeth and parfitly bileueth 532 Paynyms pray In fie holy grete god • and his grace bei asken, Mahomet, And make her mone to makometh her message to shewe. J3us in a faith lyueth bat folke and in a false mene, And bat is routhe for ri^tful men bat in be Eewme wonyen, 536 And a peril to be pope and prelatis bat he maketh, which is a peril to the pope. pat here bisskopes names " of Bedleem & babiloigne ; [H Whan be heye kynge of heuene • sent his sone to erthe, Many miracles he wromte " man for to turne ; 5-10 Christ wrought many miracles, In ensaumple bat men schulde se bat by sadde resomj Men nh^t nou3t be saued but J>oru3 mercy and grace, And thoruj penaunce and passion and parfit byle[f] ; And by-cam man of a mayde • and metropolitanus, And baptised and [bishoped] with be blode of his baptized men, and confirmed llCrte 545 them with hia Alle bat wilned, and [wolde] ' with inne-wit by-leue it. 527. In margin of L (in a late 538. here] bereth R. Bedleem] hand) — a medycyne to ernende pre- Bethleem WRCOB. <^] and of RCOB. latc.9, &c. 539 — 556. In R only. Properly, 528. were] it were B. cherche~\ so this passage belongs to the C-text, as, in CB ; chirches WO. in the other MSS., I. 538 is closely 520. of] of J?at B. 0)'] er WCOB. joined to the line following it. Thus 530. presthod~] prested C. sholde] roe find in L — of Bedleem & babi- solde L, but marked ; schul C. loigiie, J^at hippe aboute in Engelonde, 532. paynymes] so in WCROB ; &c. See I. 557. paynym L. prayeth] preire B. and 543. bylef] miswritten byle in R : — bileueth] to on persone to helpe R. cf. C-text. 533. In — god] On o god }>ei greden 545. [bishoped] written biscbiued R. )>ei] R om. « R ; cf. C-text. 535. in (2)] B om. 546. \_wolde] woled R ; cf. C-text. 536. for] for \>e R. inne-wit] a better spelling nould be 537. a] in a CB ; in 0. and (2)] inwit. and to R. 284 ST THOMAS THE MARTYR IS A BRIGHT EXAMPLE. [PASS. XV. Many a seint syttlien " hath soffred to deye, sainta suffered Al for to enforme be faith • in fele contreyes deyeden, death in many T . . . , . . . i • n countries. In ynde and m alisauwdre m ermonye and m bpaync, In delfol deth deycden for there faith sake ; 550 st Tiiomas died In sauac/on of be fayth seynt thomas was yniartired, Amonges vn-lcende cristene ' for cristes loue he deycde, And for be ri^t of al bis reume and al reiimes cristene. Holy cherche is honoured hey^liche boru3 his deynge, He is a pattern to He is a forhysene to alle hishopes ' and a bri^t myroure, all bisli ops. And souereyneh.cn e to suche fat oi surrye bereth be name,] 556 Jjat hippe aboutc in Engelonde to halwe mennes auteres, And crepe amonges curatoures [and] confessen ageyne Jje lawe, cr. ixut. xxiii. Nolite miit&re falcem in mcssem alienam, §c. Many man for crystes loue was martired in Eomanye, Er any crystendome was knowe fere or any crosse honoured. 560 Pishops are H Euery hisshop bat bereth crosse by bat he is holden, their people. Thorw his prouynce to passe and to his peple to shewe hym, Tellen hem and techen hem on be Trinite to bileue, And feden hem with gostly fodc [and nedy folke to fynden. 564 Isaiah and Hosea ^ c y S aie of 30W speketh • and osyas bothe, )pat no man schuld be bischope ' but if he hadde bothc, 551. thomas] nearly erased in R ; inaigne C ; amonges romaynes R. ef. C-text. 560. Er] Er ar LC (by mistake) ; 557. Kvppe] huppe WO. in] om. Er W ; Ar R ; er pat B ; Er pan 0. Engelonde] Englong B. In R the any'] R om. was] were R. crosse] line is — And nau^t to huppe abonte cros pere R. here in englande " for to halwe autres. 561. he] R om. 558. crepe] crepe in R. curatoures] 563. techen] schewen It. on] of creatouris (1) B. [and WE] LCOB OB. om. confessen] conf esse men R ; con- 564 — 567. [and nedy— fade] In R fessiou/i B. alienam] R om. only. Not in C-text. Omitted in 559. Many] Many a R. in Ho- LWCOR, prohauly owing to the repe- manye] in Romayne WCOB ; in Ro- til ion of gostly f ode. PASS. XV.] THE JEWS BEHELD CHRIST'S MIRACLES. 285 Bodily fode and gostly fode] and gyue fere it nedeth ; In domo mea non est panis neqioe vestimentum, isa. iii. 7. et idea nolite constituere me regem. Ozias seith for such fat syke ben and fieble, 568 Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum, vt [sit] Maiachi iii. 10. cibus in domo mea. 1T Ac we crystene creatures fat on f e crosse byleuen, Aren ferme as in f e faith goddes forbode elles ! And han clerkes to kepen vs f er-Inne • and hem fat shal come after vs. IT And iewes lyuen in lele lawe owre lorde wrote it Jews trust to ii ~_~ the law. hym-selue, 572 In stone, for it stydfast was • and stonde sholde eure — Dilige deum fy proximum • is parfit iewen lawe — And toke it moyses to teche men til Messye come ; And on fat lawe f ei [lyuen] yit and leten it f e beste. IT And 3it knewe f ei cryst • fat crystendome tan^te, They knew ciu-ist T-i 1 1 i i «. to be a prophet hor a parat propluts • fat moche peple saued 578 Of selcouth sores f ei [seyen] it ofte, Bothe of myracles & meruailles ' and how he men by His many „ . , miracles. tested With two fisshes an fyve loues fyue thousande peple ; And bi fat maungerye men mi3te wel se • fat Messye he semel. 582 And whan he luft vp lazar • J at layde was in graue, Lazarus. 5G7. and (2)] to R. nedeth'] nedede men] it hem R. Messye] messias B. R. me] me in CB. After regem 57G. on] om. lyuen] lyue WO ; both L and R add — yz : meaning leuen CB ; leue R. Cf. 11. 403, 57(5. yzaias (Isaiah). Cf. 1. 565. -lit] R om. 568. oreum] so in LCRB ; orreum 577. knewe] knowen ; knowe B ; W. [sit 0] LWCROB om. me 1] CB knaw C. om. 578. Mr] And for R. 569. Ac] And C. 579. [seyen RB] seyn C ; sei^en WO ; 570. ferme] for me (!) R. seyne L (but see Pass, xvi, 116, 117). 571. vs (2)] COB om. 580. meruailles] miruaille C. $] 572. it] OB om. and of B. he] Horn. 573. was] is COB. sholde] schal 0. 581. an] and WCROB. 574. pro.eimnm] proximum tnum 582. men] \>ei R. O. iewen] lues O. 583. luft] hifte R ; lifte WCOB. 575. And] And he C; Ac he B. 28G JEWS KNOW A PART OF OUR CREED, [pass. XV. John xi. 43. IFol. 69.] Tliey sought to slav Him. Cf. Dan. ix. 24, 26. Jews still think Christ a false prophet. Since they know the first clause of the creed, they should he taught the second, And vnder stone ded & stanke ' with styf voys hym called, 584 Lazare, veni foras, Dede hym rise and rowme ' ri3t bifor pe inwes. Ac pei seiden and sworen with sorcerye he wroi^te, And studyeden to stroyen hym and stroyden hem- self; And porw his pacyence her powere • to pure nov^t he broi^te, 588 Pacientes vincunt. H Danyel of her vndoynge deuyned and seyde, Cum sanctus sanctorum venicd, cessahit vnxlo vestra. And 3et wenen po wrecches pat he were pseudo-pro- pheta, 590 And pat his lore be lesynges and lakken it alle, And hopen pat he be to come • pat shal hem releue, Moyses eft, or Messye here maisteres ^et deuyneth. IF Ac pharesewes and sarasenes • Scribes & Grekis 594 Aren folke of on faith pe fader god pei honouren ; And sitthen pat pe sarasenes and also pe iewes Konne pe firste clause of owTe bileue credo in deum patrem omnipotentem, Prelates of crystene prouynces • shulde preue, if pei myjte, 598 Lere hem litlum & lytlum o] the CB. 591. CB om. 593. here — yt] ^et here maystries R. 594. Ac — sarasenes] Ac f arise wes and sarasines R ; And sarazens and pharasees COB. GreMs] so in OB ; grekes CR ; Iewes W. Crowley has Grekes. 505. of] B om. 597. Konne] Kunnen R. omnipo- tentem] COB om. 598. prouynces] prouince R. 599. Lere] To lere WB. Jilium] filiiiM eius, &c. COB. PASS. XV.] AND SHOULD BE TAUGHT ALL OF IT. 287 Tyl J>ei couthe speke and spelle et in spiritum sanctum, oil they know And rendren it & reeorden it " with, remissionem peccatorum, 601 Camte resurreccionem, et vitam eternam ; amen." 600. ef] and E. Crowley has reade. Yet rendren 601. rendren'] reden WCEOB ; seems right. 288 THE FRUIT, CHARITY, GROWS ON THE TREE, PATIENCE. [PASS. XVI. "I thank you," " ATc said I, "but what |\ is Charity ? " "*- ' PASSUS XVI. (DO-BET I.) Passus xvj us , fy primus de dobet. "ow faire falle 30W ! " quod I po • " for jowre faire vity ? " -*- , shewynge, For haukynncs loue be actyf man euere I shal jow louye j Ac jet I am in a were what charite is to mene." "There is a ties IT " It is a ful trye tree," quod he " trewly to telle. 4 Mercy is be more ber-of be myddel stokke is reuthc, )2e leues hen lele wordes " be lawe of holycherche, \)q hlosmes heth hoxome speche " and henygne lokynge ; Pacience hatte Je pure tre and pore symple of herte, 8 of which charity And so, borw god and borw good men * groweth \>e is the fruit." frute charite." If " I wolde trauaille," quod I, " bis tree to se * twenty hundreth myle, And forto haue my fylle of J?at frute forsake al other edulium. saulee. "Where grows Lorde," quod I, "if any 'wijte wyte whider-oute it it?" saiil I. , „ „ , _ groweth?" 12 Title. So in LW ; Passus xvb/s C; and pure WO ; pore and B. OC ; Passus xvus de visione vt supra 9. \>orm (2)] RGB om. )>e] f>at B. R ; Passus septodecimws et secuwd«s charite] caritas B. de dobet B. 10. wolde] wole B. 4. trye'] tried 0. trewly] treuthe 11. forto] to CROB. fylle] ful!e R. \VB. savlce] so in C ; saule OB ; soule 5. more] moore 0. renthe] rycthe R ; saulees W. In margin of R — (sie) C. Agite penitenciam. Cf . Pass. xiii. 48. 8. and pore] so in R ; and pouwe 12. ovte] out bat R. PASS. XVI.] THE THREE PROPS OF THE TREE CHARITY. 289 IT " It groweth iii [a] gardyne," quod he " bat god made "it grows," said . 1 lie, "in the heart, hym-seluen, i„ i a ,„i belonging Amyddes mannes body be more is of bat stokke ; plowman." Herte hatte be [hjerber bat it in groweth, And liberum arbitrium • hath be londe to ferme, 16 Vnder Piers be plowman to pyken it and to weden it." " Piers be plowman ! " quod I bo and al for pure ioye bat I herde nempne his name * anone I swouned after, And laye longe in a lone dreme ' and atte laste me Then dreamt i that Piers shewed pollute, 20 me the tree, Jxit Pieres be plowman • al be place me shewed, three-props?" And bad me toten on be tree • on toppe and on rote. [Foi. 63 &.] With bre pyles was it vnder-pi^te I perceyued it sone. " Pieres," quod I, " I preye be whi stonde bisc piles here ? " 24 IT " For wyndes, wiltow wyte," quod he ' to Aviten it fram fallynge ; Cum cea'derit iustus, non collidetur ; quia domi- Ps. xxxvi.'2i (Vulg.). nus supponit mauum suam ; And, in blowyng-tyme, abite te floures " but if j?is piles helpe. be worlde is a wykked wynde to hem bat wolden " The world," said Piers, " is a treuthe, wind that blows Coueityse cometh of bat wynde and crepeth amonge be hues, 28 And forfret neigh be frute borw many faire si3tes. banne with be iirste pyle I palle liym down bat is, The first prop is the Father's potencia dei pair is. might. 13. [a WCROB] L om. 25. witen] weten B ; kepen II. 14. more] moore O. 26. piles] floures (!) CL>. 15. hatte] hat B; high teW. herler 27, 28. to hem — n-yitde] R om. WCO] erber LR; herbergh B. hem] hyrn C. wolden] willen WCOB. 16. to] be W. 29. forfret] fofrete (sic) C ; for- 17. Vnder] And vnder R. to (2)J freteb WOB. COB om. 30. panne] And R; That CB. 18. I] he B. palle] so in WR; pu'lle COB ; Crow- 20. lone dreme] loue derne C. ley has pale. Cf. 1. 51. patris] W 22. me] me to WC. om. 21. 1(2)] R om. piles] pikes C. 19 290 THE THREE PROPS AGAIXST THE THREE FOES. [PASS. XVT. Tlie flVsh is also a fell wind. is the devil, ])q flesshe is a fel wyndc • and in flourynge-tyme }?orw lykyng and lustes so londe lie gynneth blowe, )5at it norissheth nice si^tes • and some tyme wordes, And wikked werkes ber-of ' wormes of synne, 34 And forbiteth be blosmes ri^t to be bare leues. The second prop H Jjanne sette I to J>e seconnde pile • sapiencia dei patris, is the Son, or the _ . Father's wisdom. )jat is, j>e passiouw and be power • ot owre pryncc Ihesu. 37 jporw preyeres and borw penannces ' and goddes passion?* in mynde, I sane it til I se it rypen & somdel y-fruited. The third enemy And banne fondetb be fende my fruit to destruye, 40 Witb alle be wyles fat be can • and waggetb be rote, And casteth vp to be croppe vnkynde neigbbores, Bakbiteres breke-cbeste * brawleres and cbideres, And leitb a laddre bere-to of lesynges aren be ronges, And feccbetb away my floures sumtyme afor botbe myn eyben. 45 Ac liberum arbitrium • lettetb hym some tyme, )3at is Lieutenant to loken it wel by leue of my-selue ; Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum, nun- quain remittetur, tyc. ; Hoc est idem, qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat. Ac wban be fende and be fiessbe ' forth with be worlde 48 Manasen byhynde me my fruit for to fecche, J3anne liberum orbit ri urn laccheth be thridde plante, who steals my flowers. Mat. xii. 32. Against the world, the flesh, and the devil, 31. fel] feble B. 32. lykyng] libyng C. and] of O. loude he] lowe be B. 35. forbiteth] forbetes C. 38. porw (1)] With R. j>orn> (2)] COB om. penaunces] penaunce 0. 40. \>e] E om. fende] fynde C. 41. waggetli] wagged CO. 43. breke] brewe Ii. cheste] )>z cheste W ; cbestes C. 44. rongex] longes (!) B. 45. afor] by-fore CE ; to-fore B. 46. Ac] And C. Icttcth] lacches C ; lacchib B. hym] hem E. 47. repugnat] written repug 1 or repug J in all the MSS. Crowley has repurgatur, which reading Mr Wright follows. See Critical Note. 48. Ac] And C. n-han] what E. 50. laccheth] takes C. thridde] firste WCOB ; out cf. II. 30, 3G above, plante] planke E. PASS. XVI.] THE THREE PROPS ARE THE TRINITY. 291 And palleth adown f e pouke purelich f orw grace the third prop is And lielpe of fe holy goste " and fus haue I fe maystrie." 52 IT " Now faire falle 30W, Pieres," q?iod I • " so faire ye discryuen be powere of f is postes and her propre ray3te. Ac I have folates a threve of fis fre piles, "Teii me," said . I, " wliere these In what wode thei woxen ' and where fat f ei growed ; props grew ? •• For alle ar fei aliche longe none lasse fan other, 57 And to my mynde, as me Jnnketh • on More fei growed, And of gretnesse and grene of greyne fei semen." IT " bat is soth," seide Pieres " so it may bifalle ; GO I shal telle f e as tite what f is tree hatte. be grounde bere it groweth goodnesse it hhte, "They denote the . Trinity." And I haue tolde be what hr^te be tree • be trmite it meneth " — And egrelieh he loked on me • & ber-fore I spared 64 To asken hym any more ther-of and badde hym ful [Foi.70.] " What is the iayre fruit p •• To discreue be fruit ' fat so faire hangeth. IT " Here now hineth," quod, he f • " if I nede hadde, Matrymonye I may nyme a moiste fruit with-alle. 68 "Beneath, is the r _ fruit of panne contenence is nerre fe croppe as caljejwey Matrimony." bastarde, banne bereth f e croppe kyndefruite and clennesteof alle, 51. purelich] priuelich R. 59. of (1)] R om. o] oon Y. 54. postes] postles C. myrte] myites greyne] 00 greyn 0. W. CO. seide'] quod YWO. so— may] 5."). Ac] And CB. frouites] toughes it myght so Y; so it my3te 0; so (!) B. threve] thrane (for thraue) may K. It; trewe B. 61. tite] stit Y; tid W; tyt R; 56—91. CB omit. Sec Preface, tyte 0. hatte] highte W. This passage is collated with MS. Y 62. hifte] hatte W. (Mr Yates Thompson's MS.). 68. may nyme] my^te neuen Y. 56. woxen] waxen 0; wexen Y. 69. panne] ThatYO. contenence] fyat] Y om. growed] groweden O. continnance Y. nerre] neer W ; ner 57. ar — longe] yliche longe J?ei ben Y; nere R. oalewey] so in 0; cay- Y; yliche been f>ei longe O. lewey R; kaylewey W; calawey V; 58. growed] groweth Y ; growen O. calwey L. 292 THE DEVIL BTBALS FRUIT FROM THE TREE. [['ASS. XVI. I prayed him to pull down an apple. A sad noise issued from the tree. The devil gathered up all that tell, and placed his prey in limbo. Piers strives to regain the fruit. The Annuncia- tion. Maydenhode, angeles peres ' and rathest wole be ripe, And swete with-oute swellyng ' soure worth it neuere." II I prayed pieres to pulle adown an apple, and he wolde, lo And suffre me to assaye • what sauoure it hadde. IT And pieres caste to f c croppe and panne comsed it to crye, And wagged wydwehode and it wepte after. 76 And whan it meued Matrimoigne • it made a foule noyse, Jjat I had renth whan Piers rogged it gradde so reufulliche. For enere as pei dropped adown fie deuel was redy, And gadred hem alle togideres bothe grete and smale, Adam & abraham and ysay Jie prophete, 81 Sampson and samtiel and seynt Iohan f e baptiste ; Bar hem forth boldely ' no body hym letted, And made of holy men his horde • in lymbo inferni, 84 There is derkenesse and drede • and f»e deuel Maister. 5F And Pieres for pure tene fat o pile he lai^te, And hitte after hym happe how it myjte, Filius, hi fe fader wille and frenesse of spiritus sancti, 88 To go robbe fat raggeman and reue fe fruit fro hym. TT And fanne spakke spiritus sanctus ' in Gabrielea mouthe, To a mayde fat hi^te Marye a meke finge with-alle, 71. rathest'] rapestY. wole] wolde 0. 73. pieres'] Piers \o W. 77. it{\)] hell, noyse] no.«e(!)Y. 78. pat I] And I W; [at R. royi/ed] rused R. 81. abraham] Eue Y. ysay] ysaac O. 83. boldely] haldely R ; bodily WY. hym] hem RY. letted] lette R. 81. me?i] O om. 85. There — drede] Ther as derk- nesse & drede is Y. 8G. o] oo ; oon Y. \at — lau^te] of |;at a pil he rau2te W. 87. And] He W. happe] hitte W. it] lie ; happe Y. 88. fader] faderes R. spiritus sancti] Y om. (by mistake). 89. raggeman] Rageman WRO ; ragman Y. reue] reuend R. 90. Gabr teles] gabriel R. 91. mayde] maiden Y. PASS. XVI.] THE ANNUNCIATION AND INCARNATION. 293 "J2at one Ihesus, a iustice sone moste iouke in her Gabriel's address chanibre, 92 Tyl plenitude temporis fully comen were, Jjat Pieres fruit floured • and fel to "be ripe. And banne sliulde Ihesus iuste bere-fore bi iuggement of armes, Whether sliulde [fonge] be fruit • be fende or hym- selue." 96 ^T ]3e mayde myldeliclie bo be messager graunted, Mary assents. And seyde hendelich to hym "lo me, his han de- may den, For to worchen his wille with-outen any spine ; " Ecce ancilla domini ; fiat michi [secundum Lukei. ss. verbum tuum], Sfc. And in be wombe of bat wenche was he fourty wokes, Tyl he wex a faunt Jjorw her nessln? and of fijtyng The incarnation, couthe, 101 To haue y-fou3te with be fende ar ful tynie come. And Pieres be plowman • parceyued plenere tjine, Piers learns leech- And lered hym lechecrafte bis lyf for to saue, 10f ])at bowgh he were wounded with his enemye to warisshe hym-self ; And did him assaye liis surgerye • on hem bat syke essays to cure the sick, were, Til he was parfit practisoure [if] any peril [felle], [foi. 70 6.] And so^te oute be syke * and synful bothe, 108 92. Obs : Henceforward only a 100. mokes] woukes W ; wookes C ; few readings are given from Y. See wekes R ; wikes B. note to 1. 56. 101. n-cx] weex W. 92. iustice] Iustices WO. iouke] 102. y-fouite] fou^tenOB; foughte iouken R. C. 93. fully comcn] tyrae I-come R. 103. plenere] \>e plener R. In margin of O — Annis quingentis 104. hym'] hym a B. decies rarsumque ducentis, vnus defu- 105. \-on-yh] Jjovqt B. his] CB om. er&t cum deus ortus erat. warisshe] warschen R; warsohe B. 95. shulde] schul C. M] & bv R. 106. surgerye] surgewrie WB. 96. [fonge WO] fonde LCRB; 107. [if WCROBY] of L. [felle foonde Y. \>c fende] the fynde C ; CBY] fel O; fille W ; "fulle LR. to fynde B. 108. oute] out of CB. and] and \>Q 99. [secundum — tuum] in B only. O. 291 THE MANY MIRACLES OF CHRIST. [PASS. XVI. ami heals many. And salued syke and synful • bcthe blynde & crokede, And conmne wowmen conuerted • and to good torned ; Mat. ix. 12. Non est semis opus medicus, set \infirmis~\, §c. Botlie meseles & mute ' and in be menysourc blody, Ofte he heled suche • ho ne helde [it] for no maistrye, 112 He restores life to Saue po he leclied lazai' • bat hadde yleye in graue, Quatricluanus quelt; quykke did hym walke. johnxi. S5. Ac as he made J>e maistrye meatus cepit esse, And wepte water with his eyghen bere seven it manye. 110 Some bat be si3te [seyen] • saide J?at tyme, pat he was leche of lyf and lorde of heigh heuene. Tiie Jews said He Iewes iangeled pere-a^QjnQ ' and iugged lawes, was a wizard. * . o-,i And seide he wro^te Jjorw wiccnecraite & with be deueles nn^te, 120 John x. 2o. Demonium habes, fyc. IT " Jjanne ar ^e cherles," quod [ihesws] " and ^owre children bothe, Mat. xii. 27. And sathan 30wre saueoure * jow-selue now 3e wit- nessen. He reminds the For I haue saued 30w-self," seith cryst • "and jowre Jews of His miracles. sones after, 3owre hodyes, 30wre bestes and blynde men holpen, And fedde 30W with fisshes ' and with fyue loues, 125 110. And'] Horn, [infirmis] so in 119. aieyne] ayenis C; a3enst B. O; LWCB have in. ; R has in. h. See and] j?at R. Critical Note. 120. Jwra] with CQB. Kith] wit 111. mute] dome C. R. hales] habet W. 112. Ofte] Of C. he (1)] W om. 121. cherles'] clerkis (!) B. [iheswi] heled] helib B. suche] swiche W; only R has the right reading, v-ia. flic ; Bwilko C. ne] nowth C. [if WEOB] this is corrupted into ich in LWCY ; LC om. B has I, partly erased ; see I. 123. 113. \o] than C. 122. 10m] so in RY ; ye W; youre 115. Ac] And C. \>e] bat R. COB. y] O om. 116. seyen] seen C. 123. yym] youre C. self] B om. 117. Some] And som CB. [seyen CB] seith cryst] R om. seye R; sei3en W ; seyne L (but sec 125. fisshes] two fisshes W. with last line), saide] Bayed C. (2)] C om. PASS. XVJ.] THE BETRAYAL ON MAUNDY THURSDAY. 295 And left baskettes ful of broke mete • bere awey "who so wolde ; — " And mysseide be iewes manliche and manaced hem to He threatens to bent them ; bete, And knotted on hem with a corde and caste adown JohaU.15. her stables, 128 foat in cherche chaffareden or chaungeden any moneye, And seyde it in si3tc of hem alle so Jjat alle herden, " I shal ouertourne bis temple and adown throwe, John u. 19. And in thre dayes after • edify e it newe, 132 And make it as moche other more * in alle manere poyntes, As euere it was, and as wyde wher-fore I bote 30W, Of preyeres and of parfitnesse pis place fat -$e callen ; Domus meet domus oracionis vocabvtur." Matxxi in. Enuye and yuel wille was in be iewes : 136 The Jews seek to slay Him. Thei casten & contreueden - to kulle hym whan bei mi3te, Vche daye after other beire tyme bei awaited. Td it bifel on a fryday • a litel bifor Paske, foe borsday byfore bere he made his manndee, 140 on Maundy ' ' J J ' Thursday He says Sittyng atte sopere he seide bise wordes — that He is " I am solde borw one of 30W he shal be tyme rewe foat enere he his saueoure solde * for syluer or elles." IT Iudas iangeled bere-a^ein ac Ihesus hym tolde, 14-4 It was hym[-self] sothely and seide, " tu dicis." Mat.xxvi.25. 126. broke mete'] broke?* brede CB ; tbe paske CB ; Pasqe W. breed broke?* 0. 140. ]>orsday] thoresdayCR ; borus- 129. pat] And C. day ; Jmrsday WB. maiuidce] cene 130. it] O om. R; maunde COB. 131. throwe] J>rowe it W. 141. Sittyng] Sittande R. arte] at 132. CB omit. JjeWCROB. 133. other] ou\>er W ; or B. 142. solde] salde C. one] summe 135. \>is] the C. R. 136. was] area R. 143. he] R 0???. solde] salde C. 138. peire] thair C ; O om. ; hir W ; 144. ac] and C. here B. awaited] awaiteden W; 14.>. hym-self] so in WCROB; hym waited CB. L. 139. it] C om. Paske] pasche R ; 29G JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS V.'ITII A KISS. [pass. XVI. Judas appoints the token, viz. a kiss. [Fol.71.] Mat. xxvi. 49. " I find gall in thy laughter," said JeSUS. Mat. xviii. 7. John sviii. 8. On the Friday He jousted in Jerusalem, Jjanne went forth bat wikked man and with be iewes mette, And tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with ihesus, And which tokne to bis day to mochc is y-vsed, 148 Jjat is, kissyng and faire contcnannce & vnkynde wide ; And so was with iudas bo pat Ihoras bytrayed. " Ane raby" quod bat rihaude and ri^t to hym he 3ede, And kiste hym, to he cai^t jwc-by • and kulled of be iewes. 152 ^ panne Ihesus to Indas and to be iewes seyde, " Falsenesse I fynde in bi faire speche, And gyle in bi gladde chere and galle is in bi lawghynge. pow shalt he myroure to manye ' men to deceyue, 15G Ac be wors and bi wikkednesse shal worth vpon bi- selue ; Necesse est vt veniant scandala ; re liomini illi per quern scandalum venit ! pow I bi tresoim he ytake at 3owre owne wide, Suffreth my postles in pays & in pees gange." On a thoresday in thesternesse • bus was he taken ICO Jjorw indas and iewes ihesus was his name ; pat on pe fryday folwynge for mankynde sake lusted in ierusalem • a ioye to vs alle. 146. pe] C om. 147. hem'] hym C. hnorce] C om. 148. And] pe R. y-vsed] vsed RO. to — y-vsed] is to myche vsed 0. 150. And so] As B; And C. pat] he COB. L51. ribaude] ribahle C. ^ode R. 152. of] fcorujR. 154. I] ich R. 156. be] be a OY. many ma« hem B. 157. Ac] And C. bi {printed tho) W. yde] manye ' men] I-''] N RO; vpon] on 0. veniant] venient B ; veniat C. liomi- ni] B om. scandalum venit] COB om. 15S. pon-] pou?t B. ytaltc] take WYRB; taken CO. at] and R. 159. Suffreth] Suffyres C. postles] so in R; Apostles W; apostyles C; apostelis O; apostlis B. 2 >a 'J st '\ s " nl RYO ; pais B ; pees WC. jyws] so l ' 1 RYCOB ; pays W. 1G0. On] In R. in] in \>e O. tlicstemesse] Mirkenesse C. 162. mankynde] mankyndes WO ; mankende I! , PASS. XVI.] THE TOET SEES ABRAHAM, OR FAITH. 207 On crosse vpon caluarye " cryst toke be bataiUe, 164 and defeated A3eines deth and be deuel destruyed her botkeres cross. myites, De} r de, and deth fordid • and daye of nyjte made. IT And I awaked Jjere-with & wyped myne eyghen, Then i awoke, And atter piers be plowman • pryed and stared. 168 everywhere for Estwarde and westward e • I away ted after faste, And ^ede forth as an ydiote in contre to aspye After Pieres be plowman ; many a place I souate. And banne mette I with a man a mydlenten son- On MMicnt , _ __ Sunday I met daye, 1/2 Abraham, or As hore as an hawethorne and Abraham he liijte. I frayned hym first fram whennes he come, And of whennes he were and whider pat ho Jjou^te. IT " I am feith," quod bat freke " it falleth noi^te to lye, 176 And of Abrahames hous an heraud of amies. I seke after a segge J? at I seigh ones, A ful bolde bachelor • I knewe hym by his blasen." Abraham is "What bereth fat bnirn?" q«od I bo • "so blisse pe whose blazon is bityde!" 180 awTr,,,,,y ' ^T " jjre leodes in o lith non lenger ban other, Of one mochel & my3te in mesure and in lengthen Jjat one doth, alle doth • & eche doth by his one. J?e firste liath vii^te and maiestee maker of alle binges; 184 164. On] On a CB. 175. \>ointe] so in CROBY ; souMe 165. deth'] ]>& &&)> O. her] \>ere R. W. botheres] so in W; bother CYOB ; 170. \>at] f^is COB. to] me to It. beire R. 177. an] and CB. 166. deth] deed W. 178. 7(1)] AndW. segge] man C. 168. \>e] CB em. 179. Jtneme] knawe C; knowe O. 169. 1] and CB. amayted] waited 180. bereth] ber|> W. buirn] WCBOB. barne CB. 171. omits. 181. in] on RCOB. 172. a (2)] on 0. 182. myyte] oo mageste O ; oon 173. hore] hoorW; hoer R; heor myjt and mageste CYB. in (2)] B. an] any CB. CB em. 174. fray tied] train C. 184. pinges] thyngc RCOB. 298 THE THREE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY. [pass XVI. the Father, the Son, nrtil the Holy Uhost. a servant. [Fol. 71 &.] Pater is his propre name a persone by hym-selue. pe secounde of bat sire is sothfastnesse, filius, Wardeyne of pat witto hath was euere with-oute gynnynge. jjc Jjridde hatto be holygoost a persons by hym-selue, pe li^te of alle bat lyf hath a londe & a watre, 189 Confortoure of creatures of hym cometh al blisse. So bre bilongeth for a lorde ' Jjat lordeship claymeth, My^te, and a mene to knowe his owne my3te, 192 " The Father sent Of hym & of his seruaunt and what bei suffre bothe. forth His Son as So god bat gynnyng hadde neure but bo hym good Jjou^te, Sent forth his sone * as for seruaunt bat tyme, To occupien hym here til issue were spronge, 196 J?at is, children of charite & hohcherche be moder. Patriarkes & prophetes and aposteles were be chyldren, And cryst and crystenedome and crystene holy- cherche. In menynge bat man moste • on o god bileue, 200 And bere hym lyked & loued • in bre persones hym shewed. And J?at it may be so & soth manhode it sheweth, "Wedloke and Avidwehode • Avith virgynyte ynempned, In toknynge of be Trinite was taken oute of o man. Adam OAvre aller fader Eue Avas of hym-selue, 205 And be issue bat bei hadde • it Avas of hem bothe, And either is otheres ioye in thre sondry persones, Wedlock, widowhood, and virginity denote the Trinity. 185. propre] COB om. 186. \>af\ )>a W. of— is] is of J^t sire COB. sotlifastnesse] s ted fastn esse C ; stefast (sic) B. 187. of] of al 0. 188. hatte] highte W ; has C ; ha> B ; hat R. 189. pe— hath'] f?at alle >e list of >e lif R. a (1)] on B. a (2)] on COB. 191. \>re] ther C ; per B. claymeth'] laymes (!) C. 192. a] WCO om. hnowe] Rom. 193. hym] hj'm-selue R. \e I svffre] sofl'ret hem R. 198. chyldren] barnes R. 199. and (3)] and alle R. 200. on] in R. 202. O omits. 204. tahen — man] out of man taken W. o] a COB. 205. orvre] was oure W. alter] alf>er OB. Eue] and Eue W. 206. \>ei] he COB. FASS. XVI.] VARIOUS SYMBOLS OF THE TRINITY. 299 And in heuene & here one syngulere name ; 208 And [pus] is mankynde or manhede of matrimoigne yspronge, And bitokneth be Trinite " and trewe bileue. ^T Mi^te is matrimoigne bat multiplieth pe erthe, Matrimony And bitokneth trewly • telle if I dorste, 212 Father of ail. [Hym] bat firste fourmed. al ]?e fader of heuene. j)o sone, if I it durst seye resembleth Avel pe wydwe, The Son Deus mens, deus metis, vt quid dereliquisti me ? widow (Ps. xxi. j)at is, creatour wex creature * to knowe what was bothe; 215 As widwe with-oute wedloke • was neure 3ete yseye, Na more my3te god be man but if he moder hadde ; So wydwe with-oute wedloke may noi^te wel stande, There can be no . . . ' widow without JN e matrimoigne with-oute monlerye * is noi^t moche to wediack. preyse ; Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel, $e. pus in pre pe;-sones is perfitliche manhede, 220 pat is, man & his make • & moillere her children, Man and his wife . , . . in an( * children And is nou^t but gendre of o gencracioun bifor Ihesu form a Trinity. cryst in heuene, So is pe fader forth with pe sone and fre wille of bothe ; 223 Spiritus procedens a patre § filio ; Which is pe holygoste of alle • and alle is but o god. pus in a somer I hym seigh as I satte in my porche ; I Abraham saw 208. here] in er^e 0. 217. No] Ne na E. 209. [Jpus WCOBY] \>\s L; hat R; 219. moillerye] moillerie YB ; moy- the line is marked for correction. len?R; MuliereW; mulerie O ; moil- or] and W. yspronge] C om. liere C. 210. COBY omit. 220. manhede] puir manhode R. 211. Mtfe] so in R ; Might COYB ; 221. mart] a man CB. moillere] Mighty W. is] is in R. moillerie Y; moilliere C; mulliere 212. if] it if COBY. W; moilre B ; mulerer O. her] here 213. [Hym WO] He LCRBY. R ; WCOBY om. 214. if I it] is if I CO; if y B. 222. gendre] genderdC. o] aWC; resembleth — \>e] resemblaunt to COB. OB om. Ihesu] B om. tvydree] widuwes B. 224. holy] O om. 215. nr*] weex W; wax B. 225. a] O om. 300 UOW ABRAHAM BECAME GOD'S HERALD. [PASS. XVI. me three Persons I ros vp and rouerenccd hym • & ri:t faire hym grette: (Uen. xviii. 2). x ? J ° Thre men to my sy^te I made wel et ese, 227 Wesche her feet & wyped hem ' and afterward bei eten Calues fiesslie & cakebrede ' and knewe what I thou2te ; Fill trewe tokenes bitwene vs is to telle whan mo lykcth. God asked me if Firste he fonded me if I loued bettere 231 1 loved Him more than isaae. Hym, or ysaak myn ayre be which he hijte me kulle. He wiste my wille by hym he wil me it allowe, I am ful syker in soule ber-of and my sone bothe. I circumcised my sone sitthen for his sake ; My-self and my meyne and alle bat male Avere 23G Bledden blode for pat lordes loue and hope to blisse be tyme. cud promise! me Myn afiiaunce & my faith is ferine in bis bilieue : nn inheritance. For hym-self biln^te to me and to myne issue botlie [Foi. 72.] Londe and lordship ' And lyf with-outen ende ; 240 To me and to myn issue more ^ete he me graunted, Mercy for owre mysdedes as many tyme as we ask en ; Luke i. 65. Quam olim abralte promislstl, fy semlni eius. And sith he sent me to seye I sholde do sacrifise, And done hym worshipe with bred and with wyn bothe, 244 And called me be fote of his faith • his folke forto saue, And defende hem fro be fende folke bat on me leneden. Tims have i ever j)us haue I ben his heraude ' here and in helle, herald. And confortod many a careful bat after his comynge wayten. 248 226. ros] roos W ; raas C ; aros B ; bis (printed his) W. aroos 0. 241. tete] if (!) B. me] man B; 228. <$•] in E. hem'] hes R. W om. 230. is] been O. me] we B. 242. Mercy] More CB. 232. lie htye] het B. 245. \efote] be forb ; stot CB. 233. he] a R. 240. hem] hym C. leneden] 235. sitthen] sith BO ; sibe B. bileuedcn B. 237. love] sake O. 248. a] COB om,. wayten] wait- 238. faith] fay R. bis] his CB ; eden W. PASS. XVI.] OF THE EEFEB IN ABRAHAM'S BOSOM. 301 And bus I soke hym," he seide "for I [herde] seyne i seek Him l a + p whom John lately baptized, Of a barne bat baptised hym Iohan Baptiste was his name, )3at to patriarkes and to prophetes • and to other peple in derknesse Seyde fat he seigh here fiat sholde sane vs alle ; 252 and of whom He t-i t . i, ,, prophesied" (Ju. A,cce agnus aci, eye. i.29). IT I hadde wonder of his wordes and of his wyde clothes ; For in his bosome lie bar a thyng bat he blissed euere. And I loked on his lappe a lazar lay bere-Inne 1 saw a leper in . , . . 1 ,-. , , , Abraham's lap. Amonges patriarkes and profetes pleyande togyderes. "What awaytestow?" quod he "and what woldestow haue 1 " 257 " I wolde wyte," quod I bo • " what is in jowre lappe 1 " which 1 asked ft ct t 1 jj ii ii, . XC\\\\ to shew me. «il "Loo ! quod he, and Jete me se • "lorde, mercy !" I seide, "J?is is [a] present of moche prys what Prynce shal it bane 1" 2C0 "It is a prariouse present," quod lie • " ac be pouke "Tiie devil," said •i i ii j.x i i he, "lias claimed it liatll attached, this leper and And me bere-myde," quod fat mm " may no wedde vs me: quite, Xe no buyrn be owre borwgh ne bryng vs fram his daungere ; Oute of be poukes pondfoldi • no meynprise may vs no one can „ , ransom as fecche, 20-4 249. [herde WCROB] L omits, but 257. amaytestow] art {jou B. the line is marked. 258. is] is bis 0. 251. to (2)] CB om. to (3)] 2G0. [a WCROB] L om. COB om. 261. ac] and C. 252. seigh] seyde E. here] hir C ; 262. \1ere-7nyde] bere-with RC. maa] livw O. xhat R. 2G3. Zwyra] barne CO. 255. on] in W. 2G4. R mis, pondfoldi-] ponfold 256. CB om. pleyande] pleyinge CY ; pynfold OB. no] ne no OB. WYO ; pleyede R. may] om. 302 ONLY CHRIST CAN RESCUE MANKIND. [PASS. XVI. un Christ comes, Tyl lie come ]?at I carpe of cryst is his name, 2G5 )5at slial delyure vs some daye out of pe deueles powere, And bettere wedde for vs legge • pan we ben alle worthy, ana offers nfe for j;at is, lyf for lyf or ligge pus euere 2G8 life " Lollynge in my lappe tyl such a lorde vs fecehe." IF " Alias ! " I seyde, " pat synne so longe shal lette \)q my^te of goddes mercy ' pat my3t vs alle amende ! " Then i wept, but I wepte for his wordes Avith pat sawe I an other 272 another, Eape'lich renne forth-; ' pe ri}te waye he went. I affrayned hym fyrste • fram whennes he come, whose name i And what he hi3te & whider he wolde • and wightlich he tolde. 275 asked. 2GG. some daye'] om. 270 — 273. R has— Alias, thoujte I j>o ' ^at is a longe a-bydynge, And sued hym for he softe jede, pat he toek vs as tit ac, trewly to telle. 27J. affrayned] fraynede 0. 275. And'] Ii om. nig lit licit] whith-liche K. PASS. XVII.] THE POET SEES ONE NAMED HOPE. 303 PASSUS XVII. (DO-EET II.) Passus xvij" s , et secundus de do-bet am spes" quod he, " a spye and spire after a "i™ hope," . said he, " and kliyjte, bear a letter, That toke me a maundement ; vpon be mounte of synay, To reule alle rewmes with ; I here be writte here." " Is it asseled 1 " I seyde " may men se bi letties 1 " 4 "Nay" he sayde, "I seke hym fat hath be sele to and seek Him i who shall seal kepe ; , it » IF And bat is, crosse and crystenedome And cryst [F0I.72&.] pere-on to hange. And whan it is asselel so I wote wel pe sothe, J3at Lucyferes lordeship • laste shal no lenger." 8 " Late se pi lettres," quod I • " Ave mi^te pe have knowe." "shew me," said IT jjanne plokked he forth a patent a pece of an harde roche, Wher-on [were] writen two wordes on pis wyse y- Then he shewed i n me a stone, glosed, Title. Passus xvijwsOCYB; Passus 7. asseled] enseled W. I— sothe') xvjiis de visione vt supra R ; W adds R om. — et ijws de Do-bet; B adds — et 8. R has— Sathanaa power schal tercius de dobet. . last no lenger, And bus my lettvn 1. qiiod—spyc] a spie, quod he R. meneth. See Critical Note. and spire) spere R. 9. b< lettres] bat lettve R. 3. with] j>ere-with R. )>e writte) 10. panne— he] A plucked R. it writen O ; it write Y. patent] pauntelet B. 4. asseled] enseled W. \>i] the 11. [were WCBY] weren O; was COB. LR. 5. I] W om. ]>e sele] fceal (!) C. 304 CONTRADICTION BETWEEN FAITH AND HOPE. [PASS. XVII. whereon were tho Dil'uje ileum fy proximum tuum, §C. Commandments. pin was be tixte trewly • I tokc ful gode 301110 ; 12 ]?o glose was gloriousely writen • with a gilte penne, Mat. xxii.40. Inhijs duobus mavdatis tota lex pendet §• pro- phet la. IT " [Ben] here alle bi lordes lawes?" quod I "30, leue me wel," he seyde, "He that dooth "And who so worcheth after bis writte I wil vnder- thus is safe." taken, 15 Slial neuere deuel bym dere ne deth in soule greue. For bough I seye it my-self I haue saued with bis charme Of men & of wommen many score J>ousandes." "Yes," said the IT " He seitli soth," seyde bis herand • " I haue yfounde herald ; " behold . „ here are Joshua, it Otte ' } others.'" Lo here in my lappe pat leued on bat charme, 20 Iosue and Tudith and Iudas Macaheus, 3e, and sexty bousande hisyde forth bat hen 110113 1 seyen here." "Which of you ^T " $owre wordes aren wonderful," quod I tho must I believe ? " , . . „ said r. which 01 30W is trewest, And lelest to leue on • for lyf and for soule 1 24 Abraham seith bat he seigh " holy }e Trinite, Thre persunes in parcelles departable fro other, And alle bre but god bus Abraham me tau$te, And hath saued fat bileued so and sory for her sy lines, 28 12. ymc] gome R. \>ix] sayed be C ; seide be B ; seib be 13. roriten] I-write R. mandatis] 0. yfoimde] founded CBY ; founden R om. tota— pendet] pendet tota O. lex R. prophetia] p/vpbete CB. 20. on] of R. 14. [Ben WCBY] Beera ; Ls LR. 22. 3c] R om. leue] lef R. wet] wide C ; R om. 23. aren] be C; be« B; been O. 15. A?id] COB om. bis mritte] my tho] CB om. wit R. 24. an] so W. 16. deth] dette COB ; deet Y. 25. holy] hoolly W. 18. of (2)] CB om. baiisandes] 26. departable] despartable B. fousand W. ' 28. bat] but I CB. UUued] bi- 19. He seith] Ye seien W. seyde leueth 1!. synnes] synne COB. PASS. XVII.] ONE STAFF IS BETTER THAN TWO. 305 He can novate segge be sonime • and some aren in liis lappe. What neded it banne ' a newe lawe to bigynne, "What need of a Sith fie fyrst sufficeth to sauacioun & to blisse ? IT And now cometli spes, and speketh bat hath aspied be lawe, » 32 And telleth nou^te of be Trinitee • bat toke hym his lettres, ' To byleue and louye in o lorde almy^ty, such as Hope And sitthe rijt as my-self so louye alle peple.' % ])e gome bat goth with o staf • he semeth in gretter To walk with one -, i start' is better ■hele 36 than walking J3an he bat goth with two staues to sy3te of vs alle. And l^te so, by pe Eode ! • resoun me sheweth, It is lyjter to lewed men a lessoun to knowe, )?an for to techen hem two and to harde to lerne be leest ! 40 It is ful harde for any man on abraham byleue, Hope's law is And welawey worse 3it • for to loue a shrewe ! Abraham's. It is lifter to leue in bre louely persones )3an for to louye and leue as wel lorelles as lele. 44 Go bi gate," quod I to spes ' "so me god helpe ! Go thy way, ]3o bat lerneth bi lawe wil litel while vsen it ! " And as we wenten bus in be weye wordyng togyderes, ffoi. r.i] jpanne seye we a Samaritan ' sittende on a mule, 48 Samaritan, riding Eydynge ful rapely te rl^t weye we 3eden, 29. He] I O. and some'] of bo bat {printed to the) W. B. his] ray O. 42. welawey] waylawey C ; wel 30. neded it] nedib bee ; nedes awey W ; weiloway B. it C ; nedib it B. bigynne] bringe K. 43. lifter] written li3tor ; cf. 1. 39. 32. cometh] bigynneb OY ; bi- 44. leue] leue or lene (uncertain cometh CB. hath] W om. in the MSS.) lele] lelles 0; leles 36—46. K omits. CB. 36. gome] ruane C. goth] gaes C. 45. I] erased in B. to] COB om. o] a COB. in] in a B. 46. wil] wol W ; wel B ; O om. 37. goth] gos C. 47. wenten] wente vs B. 39. It] That it W. «]o\V. hnoroe] 48. sittende] so in R; sitfcynge lere B. WCOB. 40. lerne] lere C ; here B. }?e J be 49. Rydynge] Ryden R. 20 30G FAITH, HOPE, AND THE GOOD SAMABITAN. [PASS. XVII. coming from Jericho. Faith, Hope, and the Samaritan find a wounded man (Lu. s. 33). Faith passes by him. Hope also passes by him. But the Samaritan alights, and washes his wounds with wine and oil, Comynge fro a cuntre ' fat men called Ierico ; To a iustes in iherwsalem he chaced awey faste. Bothe fe heraud and Lope and lie mette at ones 52 Where a man was wounded and with f eues taken. He my3te neither steppe ne stonde ne stere fote no handes, Ne helpe hym-self sothely * for scmiuyf he semed, 55 And as naked as a nedle • and none helpe ahoute hym. IT Feith had first si3te of hym ac he fiegh on syde, And nolde nou3t neighen hym by nyne londes lengthe. ^T Hope cam hippyng after fat hadde so ybosted, How he with Moyses maundement " hadde many men y-holpe ; GO Ac whan he hadde si^te of fat segge a-syde he gan hym drawe, Dredfully, by fis day ! as duk doth tram fe faucou». H Ac so sone so f e Samaritan hadde si^te of fis lede, He k^te adown of lyard ' and ladde hym in his hande, And to f e wye he went his woundes to biholde, G5 xlnd parceyued bi his pous he was in peril to deye, And but if he hadde recourere fe rather fat rise shulde he neure ; [And breyde to his boteles " and bothe he atamede ;] 68 Wyth wyn & with oyle ' his woundes he wasshed, Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed & in his lappe hym layde, 50. Comynge] Com CB. 52. \>e] CB om. and (2)] B om. he] glossed by .i. xpc. (meaning id est Christus) in LWR. 53. wounded'] I-wounded R. 54. He] A R. stere] stire C ; sterie B. handes] hand B. 56. hym] R om. 57. of] on R. ac] and C. fiegh] fled C. " on] a W. 58. nolde] walde C. by] B om. 59. )>at] & 0. 61. segge] grome C. 62. Dredfully] Dredful B. duk] doke WCRO ; a doke B. 64. of] B om. ladde'] CB om. /mode] handes R. 65. to \e] with bat R. 66. bi] in R. 67. if] 3if R ; WB om. recourere] recouerer WOY ; recouered B ; socur C. rather] rapelier W. 68. In R only ; but see C-text. 70. hym (2)] he OB. PASS. XVII.] T11U SAMARITAN HIDES TO JERUSALEM. 307 And ladde hym so forth on lyard ' t j lex christi, a takes him to a grange railed graunge, ux christi, "VVel six niyle or seuene biside J?e newe market ; 72 Herberwed bym at an hostrye and to }>e hostellere and teiis the innkeeper to take Called, care of him, And sayde, " haue, kepe bis man • til I come fro be iustes, And lo here syluer," be seyde " for salue to bis woundes." And be toke hym two pans " to lyflode as it were, 76 giving him two 1-111 i xi pence for Lib And seide, " wbat be spenetn more 1 make be good expenses. here-after ; For I may noujt lette," quod. bat leode & lyarde be bistrydeth, And raped hym to-iher^al em-ward • pe ri^te waye to Then he rides on to Jerusalem. ryde. IT Faith folweth after faste • and fonded to mete Faith and Hope i nn ride after him. hym, 60 And spes spaklich hym spedde spede if be mj^te, To ouertake hym and talke to hym • ar J>ei to toun come. ^[ And whan I sey3 j?is, I soiounied nou3te ' but sbope Then ran i after the kind me to renne, Samaritan, and And suwed bat Samaritan ' pat was so ful of pite, 84 mi „ u And graunted hym to ben his grome " gramercy," he seyde, " Ac bi frende and bi felawe," quod he * " bow fyndest me at nede." 5F And I thanked hym bo " and sith I hym tolde, 73. hostrye'] ostrie COB. to] R om. 80. folweth] folwede WCOB. hostellere] ostiler CB. 81. spaklich] sparkliche R ; 74. haue] there is a point after scharpli B. this word in C and O. 82. to (2)] til COB. 76. pans] pens WCO. 83. to] C om. 77. speneth] speudejj WB ; spendes 84. \at (1)] \>e R. pite] piete C. C. 85. grome] gome R. gramercy] 78. lette] om. (!) bistrydeth] graunt mercy WCRO. bistroode C ; bistrode OB. 86. quod he] he saide CB ; om. 308 THE SAMARITAN INSTRUCTS THE POET. [FAS:j. XVII. I told him what How pat feith ileigh awey " and spes his Maw bothe, Faith and Hope . had done. -tor sijte ol pe sorweiul man • pat robbed was with penes. 89 LFoi. 736.] " Hauc hem excused," quod he • "her help may litel auaille ; He told me that May no rnedcyn on molde pe man to hele brynge, cure the wounded Neither i'citli lie fyn hope • so festred ben bis wonndis, Wood of a child With-out pe blode of a barn borne of a mayde. 93 bom ofa v.. tin. Aud be he fotiieA in jjat blode baptised, as it were, And panne plastred with penaunce and passioim of pat babi, He shulde stonde and steppe ; " ac stalworth worth he neure, 9G Tyl he haue eten al pe barn and his blode ydronke. "Nearly ail," said For went neuere wy in pis worlde ' porw pat wilder- he, " who pass through that neSSe, robbed. iP&b he ne was robbed or rifled rode he pere or ^ede, Saue faith, & his felaw spes, and my-selue, 100 And pi-self noAV, and such - as snwen owre werkis. outlaws He in ^ For outlawes in pe wode and vnder banke lotyeth, wait there. i n -t And may vch man se and gode merke take, 103 Who is bihynde and who bifore and who ben on hors, For he halt hym hardyer on horse • pan he pat is a fote. Their chief was For he seigh me, pat am Samaritan snwen feith & his afraid of me. felaw 106 On my caple pat hatte euro " (of mankynde I toke it), 88. fieigh] fleed C ; fles R. 99. or (1)] ne R. 89. \>e] bat W. 101. as] >at RCz. 91. on] vnder R. 102. outlawes] outlawe is R. loty- 93. mayde] mayden O. eth] lowted C. 94. be he] he be COB ; be he 103. may] movven W ; mow e C ; (printed he be) W. he] R om. mown C2. 95. plastred] pastrid B. and] and 104. mho (2)] wo is B. p e R. 105. halt] haldesC. a] on YBC2 ; 96—340. Here MS. O has lost three at C ; W om. leaves; this portion is collated with 106. seigh] seithRC2. feith] forth MSS. C2 and Y. Y. 96. ac] and CC2. 107. hatte] hattip B ; highte W. 97. ydronke] drunkyn C2. PASS. XVII.] JESUS OF BETHLEHEM SHALL SAVE ALL, 309 He was vnhardy, pat harlot ' and hudde hym in in- ferno. 108 Ac ar pis day pre dayes I dar vndertaken, in three days* Jnat he worth fettred, pat feloune fast with cheynes, bound. And nenre eft greue grome pat goth pis dke gate ; [0 mors, ero mors tua, eye] Hoseaxm. u. 51 And panne shal feith be forester here and in pis Then shall Faith „ . , ,, le keeper of the iritth walke, 112 forest here, And kennen out co mttne men ' pat knoweth nou^te pe con Ire, "Which is pe weye pat ich went and wherforth to ilicTusalem. And hope pe hostelleres man shal be pe?-e pe man Htli ana Hope shall i i lie the innkeeper's an helynge ; And alle pat fieble and faynt be pat faith may noujt teche, 1 1 G Hope shal lede hem forth with loue • as his lettra telleth, And hostel hem and hele porw holicherche bileue, and take care of Tyl I haue salue for alle syke and panne shal I re- the feeble 0,ies - tourne, 119 And come ajein bi pis contree and confort alle syke jjat craueth it or coueiteth it • and cryeth pere-after. For pe barne was born in bethleem pat with his blode The child bora iu is— dayes] 119. retourne] tume W. bise daies bre B; thise dayes thre 121. it (1)] C2 om. or] and W. dayes C. and] or W. 111. grome] gome WRC2. \_0 — 122,123. For the barne was borne tua] in R only. in Bethlem of a clene mayde, 112—123. R omits. That shal with his blood • saue alle 112. forester] forster WCC2Y. \>at lyuen in feith, malke] C om. And foloweth the tecbynge of holpe U3. out] CCzBY om. comune]\n- bat is his felawe Y. ku«na«de (misroritten uuku/nna/«le) So also CC2B ; but C omits borne, B. C2 omits the first his, C the second 115. an] in Y ; to CC2B. his, and all three rightly hare hope 117. telleth] hem telles CB. for holpe. L\V are alike, and better. 310 " Shall I believe in the Trinity, a* Faith taught me ?" said I, " Hi- in the law nf Love, as Hope taught me r 1 " " Follow the teaching of both. [Fol. 74] Show to heretics thy hand. The Father is like the folded FIST; the palm betokens the Holy Ghost ; TI1K HAND IS A TOKEN OF THE TRINITY. [PASS. XVII. Alio fat lyueth in faith and folwetli his felawes tech- ynge." IF " A ! swete syre ! " I seyde f o " wher [shal IJ byleue, 1 24 As feith and his felawe • enfonrmed me bothe? In f re persones departable ' pat perpetuel were euere, And alio fre but o god pus abraham me tau^te ; — And hope afterwarde lie had me to louye 128 god wyth al my good and alle gomes after, Louye hem lyke my-selue ac owre lorde aboue alle." IF " After abraham," quod he " fat heraud of armes, Sette faste fi faith and forme bileue. 132 And, as hope l^te f e I hote fat f ow louye Tliyn euene-crystcne euermore euene forth with fi- self. And if conscience carpe fere-a^eia or kynde witte oyther, Or heretykes with argumentz • fin honde fow [hem] shewe; 13G For god is after an hande * yliere now and knowe it. IT Jpe fader was fyrst, as a fyst with o fynger fold- ynge, Tyl hym loued and lest • to vnlosen his fynger, And profre it forth as with a paume to what place it sholde. 140 j)G paume is purely fe hande • and profreth forth f e fyngres To mynystre and to make fat my^te of hande knowetli, 124. I seyde"] seide I P.. wher] whether R. [sMl I YOO2BJ I shal J AVE. 125. ni fn a fined'] enformen CBYC2. 127. pir] this C; f>is is B. 129. Cz omits. 130. my-selve] my-suluen R. ac] and CCz. 132. faste] fully W. 133. hitfe] bihijt R. 136. \hetn WR] hym LCC2B. 138. as] CC2Y am. 0] a CYB. foldynge] folden R. 139. loued] leued R. lest] lisle WCC2BY; luste R. vnlosen] vn- closen B. 1 lo. profre] profered R. 141. profreth] pwfer C. 142. mynystre] mmstre R; myns- tre Y. PASS. XVII.] FIST, PALM, AND FINGERS MAKE ONE HAND. 311 And bitokneth trewly telle who so liketh, fie holygost of heuene he is as be paume. 144 fie fyngres fat fre hen to folde and to serue, the fingebs Bitokneth sothly be sone bat sent was til erthe, fiat toched and tasted atte techynge of be paume Seynt Marie a Mayde and mankynde lau?te ; 148 Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancio, [natus,] fyc- fie fader is banne as a fust with fynger to touehe, ThewsT, palm, /-. • , 7 7 . o and fingers arc Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum, g-c, but one hutd. Al J>at be paume parceyueth profitable to fele. (Jo- xii ' 32)- Thus ar bei alle but one as it an hande were, And pre sondry si3tes in one shewynge. 152 fie paume, for he putteth forth fyngres and pe fust The palm puts , , forth both the DOUie, fingers and the fist Ei3t so redily * reson it shewetb, How he bat is liolygoste • sire & sone praieth. And as pe hande halt harde • and al bynge faste 156 The hand holds things by help porw ioure fyngres and a thonibe ' forth with be paume, of the fingers and Ei3te so pe fader and J>3 sone & seynt spirit pe bridde Halt al pe wyde worlde • with-in hem thre, Bothe welkne and pe wynde ' water and erthe, 1G0 Heuene & helle ' and al bat pere is Inne. j?us it is, nedeth no man to trowe non other, That thre binges bilonget'i in owre lorde of heuene, The Trinity is a And aren [serelepes] by hem-self • asondry were neure, mty ' 143. liketh] it liketh Y; it liked 157. a] Bom. CB. 159. Half] Haldes C; W om. 144. he] Cz om. with-in] with R. thre] breholden W. 145—147. CB om. 160. welkne] wolkne WE; f>ewelk- 146. til] to Cz. ene B ; welken CC2. 147. atte] and R. 161. \cre is lime] so in R ; is j?er- 148. [natus CBY] LWRCz om. Inne W; ther-Inne is CYCzB. 149. Ipanne] pawme W. a] Rom. 162. is] RGB om. nedeth] it totichc] thouche R. nedej? Cz. to] WCB om. 151. an hande] a fust R. 164. [serelepes] so in Y: serelopea 152. in one] in oen in R. W; surleps R; sereples CCzB; ser- 153. he] it W. he putteth] he clepes L (Jbut marked for correction). paume put (!) R. were] were bei WCYCzB. 156. halt] haldes C. 312 THE FIST IS THE FATHER, THE FINGERS THE SON, [PASS. XVII. The folded fist is like (iod the Creator. The fingers are as the Son, who is the skill or Science of the Father. The palm unfolds the fist, and [FoL Tib.] receives from the fingers, and fingers, fist, and palm are but one hand. Namore ban myn hande may • meue with-outen fyngeres. 105 ^T And as my fust is ful lionde yfolde togideres, So is be fader a ful god formeour and shopper, Tu fabricator omnium, fyc, And al be myjte myd hym is in makyng of fynges. 108 % The fyngres fowrmen a ful liande to pwrtreye or peynten Keruynge and compassynge " as crafte of be fyngres ; Iii^t so is be sone be science of be fader, And ful god, as is po fader no febler ne no better. 172 pe paume is purelicli be hande • hath power bi hymselue, Otherwyse fan be wrythen fuste or werkmanschip of fyngres ; For be paume hath powere ' to put oute alle be ioyntcs, And to vnfolde be folden fuste [for hym it bilongeth ; And receyuc bat be fyngres recheth and refuse bothe, Whan he feleth pe fust and] be fyngres wille. 178 So is be holygoste god nother gretter ne lasse pan is be sire and be sone • & in be same myjte, And alle ar pci but o god as is myn hande & my fyngres, Vnfolden or folden * my fuste & myn paume, 182 Al is but an hande how so I tome it. 165. myn — may] may an hand R. fyngeres] my fyngres WCC2YB. Kdi. And] B om. fust] neef C. yfolde] y-holdeu W. 167. shepper] scheppere R; shap- pen? WC2 ; chappere B ; shapeowr Y ; schipper C. 168. And] CYC2B om. myd] with C. of] of alle CYC2B. 169. or] or to CC2B. 170. and] ovB.. «s]isR. crafte] crist C. 173. hath] and hab WC2. 174. \>e wrythen] he writhes be C ; lie wribeb be B; pe writen R. 175. \>e paume] he W. put] pult R. alle] R om. After 1. 175 Bin- scrts — and to strecche out be synwes ' and weynes bobe. 176 — 178. (for— and] in R only : but cf. C-text. 176. folden] R om. fuste] Neue C. 178. and] atte L ; at WC2 ; as CYB. 179. So} To (!) C. 180. and] or R. 181. my] C om. 18:5. is] is it R. an] so in WR ; on CC2B ; oon Y. 183, 184. how 80—\>e hande] WCC2YB omit ; retained in R and Crowley. PASS. XVII.] AND THE PALM IS THE HOLT GHOST. 313 Ac who is herte in pe hande ' euene in pe myddes, 184 He who is hurt in the palm fails in He may receyue r^t noi^te resou« it shewetn ; power over the For pe fyngres, pat folde shulde ' and fie fuste make, gst. For peyne of pe panme * powers hem failleth To [clucche] or to clawe to clyppe or to holde. 188 51 Were fie myddel of myn honde ymaymed or ypersshed, I shulde receyue ri^te nou^te " of pat I reche myite. Ac pough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were to- if the fingers only are hurt, the Shullcn, palm still retains And pe myddel of myn hande * with-oute male ese, 192 p< " In many kynnes maneres I my^te my-self helpe, Bothe meue and amende ' pough alle my fyngres oke. Bi pis skil, me pynke[th] • I se an euydence, J5at who so synneth in pe seynt spirit assoilled worth Likewise he who sins against the he neure, 19G Holy Ghost is !N"oither here ne elles-where as I herde telle,. Qui peccat in [spiritum sanctum, nunquam,] §c. , For he prikketh god as in pe paume ' pat peccat in [spiritum sanctum]. (Mk. hi. io), For god pe fader is as a fuste pe sone is as a fynger, The holy goste of heuene is, as it were, pe pawme. So who so synneth in seynt spirit it semeth bat he for he grieves the J J i i Hand in the greueth 201 palm. 185. CC2YB omit. oken Ca. 186. fuste] Neeue C. 195. \>ynketh] so in WCCaYB ; 187. panme'] loofe C. pynke L ; hit seel. 278. skil— \>ynk- 188. [clncche WY] cluche RC2 ; cth] kile he seyde (sic) R. cleuche CB ; clicche L. to (3)] or 196. \>e] CC2YB am. CB. 197. herde] here C2. [spiritum 180. ymaymed"] ymayheymed (sic) sanctum] most MSS. have spiritu C. ypersshed] ypersed R ; I-pmsshed sancto ; but Ca has the right reading Y ; y-perissed WC ; perished C2B. here, though not in the next line. 190. of] and of CB. [nunquam] in R only. 191. Ac] And C2 ; As C. to- 198. as] Ca am. shullen] to-schiruerd (sic) C; to- 198, 199. as in— fader] Com. a swolle R. fynger] the fynger CC2YB. 19i'. male ese] ma layse (sic) B. 200. \>e] C2 am. 194. meue] moeue CY ; meue 201. so] Gz am. in] in pe WCB ; (printed inene) W ; mono C2. oke] aaeynes pe R. 314 The Trinity is like a Torch, having wax, wick, and i line. Like a smoulder- ing torch without light, so is the quenching of the Spirit. Glowing coals give no light like a blazing lurch does ; A TORCH IS A TOKEN OF THE TRINITY J [PASS. XVII. God, bat he grypeth with and wolde his grace qnenche. IT And to a torche or a tapre pe trinitee is lykned ; As wex and a weke were twyned togideres, 204 And banne a fyre flaumende forth onto of bothe ; And as wex and weyke and hote fyre togyderes Fostren forth a ilanmbe and a feyre leye, So doth be sire & }>e sone & also spiritus sanctus 208 Fostren forth araonges folkc loue & bileue, Jjat alkyn crystene clenseth of synnes. And as bow seest some tyme sodeynliche a torche, The blase bere-of yblowe out $et brenneth be weyke, With-oute leye or li3te ' J) at be macche brenneth, 213 So is }>e holygost god ' & grace with-oute mercy To alle vnkynde creatures ' bat coueite to destruye Lele loue other lyf • bat owre lorde shapte. 210 IT And as glowande gledes gladieth noi^te pis wcrk- men, pat worchen & waken ' in wyntres ni3tes, As doth a kex or a candel ' bat Canute hath fyre & blaseth, Namore doth sire ne sone • ne seynt spirit togyderes, [Fol. 76.] Graunteth no grace ne foriifnesse of synnes, Til be holi goste gynne to glowe and to blase. the spirit, blown So pat be holygoste gloweth but as a glede, upon by Love, _ n ,-,-,-, t i ct_t flames like fibe. Tyl fat lele loue • ligge on hym 6z blowe, 221 224 And panne flaumbeth he as fyre • on fader & on films, or to E 203. And] For R. or] lykned] ylikned CYB. 205. fyre] fere R. flaumende] flawmende R ; flawmynge WB ; flaum- yng CC2Y. ante] ou^t R. 206. hote fyre] warme fere R. 207. a (2)] B om. leye] lowe C ; light C2. 209. W omits. Fostren] Brynges C. bileue] loiale hileue C2. 210. \>at] C2 om. clenseth] clens- ede R. 213. leye] lowe C. macche] smacche C2Y. brenneth] swellifch C2. 216. other] or W : eifer B. shapte] schnpte R ; jaf C2. 2 17— 243. R omits. 217. as] as a CC2BY. glowande] glowynge WCGaB. gledes] glede o li'.Y. gladieth] ' ne gladeflj CC2BY. 219. kex] kyse C2 ; kixe B. 221. Graunteth] Graunte WCC2B. 223. \>at] doth C2. gloweth] glow.' B. glede] glade W. 225. fader] pater YC2. TASS. XVII.] FOR IT IIAS WAX, WICK, AND FIRE. 315 And melteth her myjte in-to mercy as rnen may se in wyntre Ysekeles in eueses borw hete of be sonne, As icicles are ' ' melted by the Melteth in a mynut while • to myst & to watre ; 228 s »"' s neat, so the Spirit inclines the So grace of be holygoste be grete mj^te of J:e trinite Trinity to mercy. Melteth in-to mercy ' to niereyable, & to non other. And as wex with-outen more on a warme glede As wax laid on an ember will "Wil brennen & hlasen he bei to-gyderes, 232 blaze, And solacen hem bat may se bat sitten in derkenesse, So wole be fader foraif • folke of mylde hertes so the Father forgives Jjat renfnlliche repenten & restitucioiu? make, penitents. In as moche as bei mowen amenden & payen. 236 And if it suffice novate for assetz bat in suche a wille deyeth, Mercy for his mekenesse wil make good Jte reme- nannte. And as be weyke and fyre ' wil make a warme flaumbe As a wick, when lighted, burns, For to myrthe men with • bat in merke sitten, 240 So wil cryst of his curteisye and men crye hym mercy, so Christ forgives Bothe forame & foraete & ^et hidde for vs To be fader of henene forsyuenesse to haue. IT Ac hew fyre at a flynte fowre hnndreth wyntre, 244 But fire without tow or tinder will Eot bow hane towe to take it with tondre or broches, not be of service; Al bi labonre is loste and al bi longe trauaille ; For may no fyre flaumbe make faille it his kynde. So is be holy gost god & grace with-outen mercy 248 bo is the Spirit like Grace To alle vnkynde creatures * cryst hym-self witnesseth, without Mercy . 7 . 7 . . „ (Mat. xxy. 12). Amen dico vobis ncscw vos, qc. 226. in-to} to C2YB ; o C. om. 227. Yseheles] Iseyokels C. in] 238. mil] & Y. and W. eueses] euesynges WCC2B. 239. warme] faire Y. )>e] CB om. 240. myrthe] norische B. with] 228. Melteth] Melte W. myd W. merM] \>e derke W. 230. in-to] to WCC2BY. non] W 244. Ac] And C ; But C2. fyre— om. o] fuvr and R. 236. In] Y\ B. 245. tome] taccho B. tondre] 237. assetz] assetth C; aseth Cz ; hinder R. to a-seej? B. \>at] Y om. ft] CC2BY 247. Ms] is WC. 31 G LACK OF CHARITY CONDEMNS MEN. [PASS. XVII. rrthouart •ff Be vnkynde to bin euene-cristene • and al bat bow unkind, ,,.,, canst bidden, Delen & do pcnaunce ' day & ny3te euere, 251 then, for all the And pwrchace al be pardoura of Pampiloura & Rome, pardons thou canstbuy, the And indulgences ynowe " & be ingratus to bi kynde, Spirit hears thee not. pe holy gostc hereto be noi^t • ne helpe may be by resoim ; For vnkyndenesse quencheth bym bat he can nou^te shyne, Ne brenne ne blase clere for blowynge of vnkynde- nesse. 256 Poule be apostle • preueth wher I lye, icor. xui.i. Si Unguis hominum loquar, §c. Beware, ye wise For-thy beth war, 2e wyse men • bat with be woMlde deleth, That riche ben Sc resouw knoweth reuleth wel jowre sonle. ofunkiudness, Beth noujte vnkynde, I conseille 30W to $owre euene- crystene. 260 For many of jow riche men • bi my soule, men telleth, lest ye burn, imt $g brenne, but je blaseth noiute bat is a blvnde be- blaze not. ' J kene ; Mat. vii. 21. JSfon omnis qui dicit domine, domine, intrabit, §c. ^[ Dines deyed dampned • for his vnkyndenesse [Foi. 75b.] Of his mete & his moneye to men that it neded. 264 Remember Dives. Vch a riche T rede rewarde at hym take, And gyueth ^owre good to bat god bat grace of ariseth. 250. \>at] C2B om. \>mv] bau B. 2.58. worlde] CWRC2YB; miswrit- 251. $ (1)] or CC2BY. .)• (2)] or ten wolde L (but marked). B. 259. sonle] soulis B ; self Ca. 252. Pampilouri] paemploen R. 202. \>at] k \>at 11. a blynde] nn 253. ingratus] ingratis CY ; in- vnkynde CB. intrabit] CC2BY om. grat R. Jtynde] kyn ie II. 263. dampned] Idanipned R. 255. quencheth hym] qwenche hem 2f>4. his (2)] of his WCz ; RY om. R- neded] nedes C : nedib B. 25C>. for] but Y. 265. a riche'] riche m&n B. 257. roher] wheibcr W. Unguis] 266. grace of ariseth] alle grace of lingua B. rfseth B. PASS. XVII.] MURDERERS QUENCH THE LIGHT OF LIFE. 317 For [fei] fat ben vnkynde to his hope I none other, But fei dwelle fere dines is * dayes with-outen ende. Jjus is vnkyndenesse fe contrarie • fat quench eth, as it Uukindness n r . ^ quenclies the were, 2G9 Holy Spirit, fie grace of f e holy gooste • goddes owne kynde. For fat kynde dothe, vnkynde fordoth • as f ese cursed theues, Vnkynde cristene men • for coueityse & enuye, 272 as thieves quench Sleeth a man for his moebles wyth month or -\vyth handes. For fat fe holygoste hath to kepe fo harlotes de- stroyeth, fie which is lyf & loue • f e leye of niannes hodye. For euery manere good man may he likned to a torche, Every good man r\ i, m . . _,_ is like a torch ; (Jr elles to a tapre ' to reuerence fe lrmitee ; 2/7 And who morthereth a good man me thynketh, by he who murders T him, quenches myn Inwyt, the light. He fordoth f e leuest ly3te • fat owre lorde loueth. IT Ac 3ut in many mo maneres • men offenden f e holy- goste, 280 Ac f is is f s worste wyse • fat any wi3te my^te Synnen ajein f e seynt spirit assenten to destruye, For coueityse of any kynnes finge fat cryst dere boujte. 283 How my3te he axe mercy or any mercy hym helpe, How shall the fiat wykkedlich & willefullich wolde mercy anynte 1 mercy ? Innocence is nexte god & ny^te and day it crieth, ' Yeniaunce, veniaunce • forjiue be it neuere, 267. [)>ei WCCzBY] LB om. 280. Ac] But Cz ; And WC. 268. \>ei~\ thay schul CCzY ; fat fei 281. Ac] And C ; But Cz. shal B. 282. Synnen] Synegen R. fe] 269. vnkyndenesse] kyndenesse (!) CBYC2 om. B. 283. Wynnes'] CYC2B om. 271. dothe] deth R. cursed] cor- 284. Also in R; WCYC2B omit : scde W. Crowley retains it. 272. o] fe WC:. WC ; anientice YC2B. 275. lyf] fe lif CB. 286. nexte] nex C. 278. who] who- CBC2Y; ho-so R. 318 Rev. vi. 10. Even Love cries out for vengeance." " Bat were I to pray for the Holy Ghost's forgiveness," said 1, " should 1 be saved ? " "Thou mightest; yet how seldom is a condemned felon pardoned for his penitence! THE .SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GllOST. [PASS. XVII. That slient vs & shadde owre blode forshapte vs, as it were ; 288 Vindica sanguinem iustorum!' Thus ' veniaunce, veniaunce ' verrey charite asketh ; And sith holicherche & charite chargeth J>ls so sore, Leue I neure that owre lorde wil loue fat charite lakketh, 291 iSTe haue pite for an}- preyere fere fat he pleyneth." II "I pose I hadde synned so ' and shulde now deye, And now am sory, fat so • f e seint spirit agulte, Confesse me, & crye his grace • god, fat al made, And niyldliche his mercy axe " my^te I noiEjte he saued 1 " 296 1T"3us," seide fe Samaritan "so wel fow niy^te repente, Jjat ri^twisnesse f orw repentance to reuthe my^te torne. Ac it is but selden yseye • fere sothenesse bereth wit- nesse, Any creature fat is coupable afor a kynges iustice, Be raunsoned for his repentaunce fere alle resou?* hym dampneth. 301 For fere fat partye pursueth f e pele is so huge, }2at f e kynge may do no mercy til bothe men acorde, And eyther haue equite as holy writ telleth ; 30-i 288. vs (1)] Rom. shadde] shad CYB ; shedde WE ; schede C2. for- sha/pte] for-schupte R. were] seined E. Vindica] Vindicta CB. 290. sith] sit C. 291. lakketh] hattes C ; hatib B. 293. pose] sopose C2. synned] syneged It. now] nou$t (!) C ; noujth. C2 ; no?t B ; nou^ R. 294. now] nou^t (!) R. am] I am W. so] I so WCC2YB. spirit] Spiri3t I R. 295. grace] mercy C2. 296. mere//] grace C2. saved] I- saued R. 297. yis] Thus (!) C ; bus B ; 31s WYCz. wel] R om. myjc] mhtes Jti. 298. ]>orw] to R. 299. Ac] And C ; But $et C2. it is] is it B. yseye] yserje W ; seyen CB ; seie C2Y. \ere] the CB ; that Y. 300. \>at is] be R. afor] by-for R. iustice] Iustices C. 301. repentaunce] R om. (!). dampneth] dampned Y. 302. pele] peel R; peple WC2YB ; pepile C ; Crowlev ks plee. is] his C. 301. eyther] neither (!) C. donee] in Y only ; the two words following are supplied from Pass. V. 279. TASS. XVII.] SMOKE, BAIN, AXD A SCOLDING WIFE. 319 Numquam dimittitur peccatum, [donee restltu- atur ablatum.] pus it fareth bi suche folke bat falsely al her lyues Euel lyuen & leten nou^te til lyf hem forsake ; [Drede of desperacz'on dryueth a-weye banne grace, Despair dnves ,.11 t away grace. pat mercy in her mynde * may rnu^t banne falle ;] 308 Good hope, bat helpe shulde to wanhope torneth — [Foi. re.] Nou3t of be nounpowere of god bat he ne is nr^tful it is not through To amende al bat amys is • and his mercy grettere power, pan alle owre wykked werkes as holiwrit telleth, 312 Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius — (Ps. exiiv. 9, Ac, ar his rijtwisnesse to reuthe tourne • some restitu- but because some cioimbihoueth; " JJ*-*- His sorwe is satisfaccioura for hym bat may nou^te paye. 1T Thre binges Jjere ben • bat doth a man by strengthe Three things Forto fleen his owne hous as holywryt sheweth. 316 of Ms own house; pat one is a wikked wyf • fat wil noujt be chasted, a shrewish wire, Her here fleeth fro hyr for fere of her tonge. And if his hous be vnhiled • and reyne on his bedde, rain dripping He seketh and seketh til he slepe drye. 320 roof, And whan smoke & smolder smyt in his syate, and smoke that T 1 1 , . . irritates his eyes. it doth hym worse fan his wyf ' or wete to slepe. For smoke & smolder smyteth [in] his eyen, Til he be blere-nyed or blynde and hois in be throte, 305. lyues] lyue E. W ; schastisid C2 ; chastied C. 306. Euel lyven] I wulle leue?j 318. fiere] so in C2B; feere WCY; C2. fere R. fleeth] flien B. fro] R om. 307,308. InVi only; hit see C-text, 319. his] C om. vnhiled] vnhilled 309. \at helpe] CB om. torneth] CC2Y ; vnheled RB. on] in CBT. lurne B. 320. and seketh] al aboute CC2BY. 310. pe nou npon- ere] noun power slepe] ligge CY ; liggith C2 ; liegge B. Y; be nounper R. 321. |-] or CC2BY. smyt] smitte 312. eius (1)] domini R. RC2. Y omits from smyt to smolder 313. Ac] But C2; And C. rty- in 1. 323. wisnesse] rightfulnesse CYC2B. 323. smyteth] smerteth R. [in 314. R omits. WC2YB] LRC om. Cf. 1. 341. 315. \>ere] that C. In the margin 324. llere-nyed] blereneyed R ; of L is — Pumitf, Mulier, & stiliicidia blereighed "WCC2Y ; bleridB. hors] Expellu«tho,7/i,v in n (loino p/vy[ pria]. hoos CY ; bos C2B : cowjhe R. \c] 316. Forto] C2 om. hous] Worn,. his B. 317. chasted] so in R ; chasti d The scoldii is the frailty of our llesh j 320 WHAT THE SMOKE, ETC., RESEMBLE. [PASS. XVII. Cougheth, and curseth fat cryst gyf hem sorwe 325 J?at sholde brynge in better wode or Howe it til it brende. IF jjise thro fat I telle of • ben fus to vnderstonde. g wife The wyf is owre wikked flesshe fat wil nou3t be chasted, 328 For kyncle cleneth on hym euere " to contrarie f e soule. And f owgh it falle, it fynt skilcs [f at] frelete it made, And fat is li3tly for^euen and forjeten bothe, To man fat mercy asketh and amende fenketh. 332 the dripping rain IT The reyne fat reyneth ' fere we reste sholde, is like sicknesses j . ., _ _. „ Ben sikenesses & sorwes fat we siinren oit, As Powle f e Apostle to f e peple taujte, Virtus in infirmitate perfieitur, fyc. And f owgh fat men make moche deol in her angre, And [ben] inpacient in here penaunce pure resou?« knoweth, 337 J3at f ei ban cause to contrarie * by kynde of her syke- nesse. And lijtlich owre lorde • at her lyucs ende, Hath mercy on suche men fat so yuel may suffice. 340 But the smoke is ^f Ac f e smoke and f e smolder fat smyt in owre like unkindness, quenching mercy. eygheil, }3at is coueityse and vnkyndenesse ' fat quencheth goddes mercy. 2 Cor. xii. 9. ami impatience under sickness is pardonable. 325. Covgheth] He koirjeth R ; Coughees C ; Coughed Y ; Than Cougheth he C2. pat] and hit B. 7iem] hym CRC2Y. 326. it (1)] B om. brende] brenne BC2Y. 327. ben \ms] fms ben R. to] CR om. 328. The] Jn-e B. pat] R om, chaxted] chastised WB ; schastisid C2. 329. eleueth] clyuej> W. 330. [\>at WCRC2BY] )>e L. it] is CC2Y. 332. amende] to amende hym B ; to amende C2. 334. sikenesses] siknesse WCC2Y. Sf] and other R. oft] ov^te R. 335. in] retained in MS. W. per- ficitw] C om. 336. deol] doel WC2RY ; dole C; dol B. her] C om, 337. [ben W] be R ; LCCzYB om. 338. cause] resoim R. 339. litflieh] ful l^tli B. 340. so] CB om. Here collation with recommences, and with Cz and Y ceases. 341. Ac] And C. smyt] smitte I!. 342. \>at 0)] COB otw. is] R om. \>at (2)] R om. PASS. XVII.] THE DREAMER ONCE MORE AWAKES. 321 For vnkyndenesse is be contrarie • of alkynnes resoim ; For bere nys syke ne sori • ne non so moclie wrecche, There is no man 1,1 1 nl ii it ii ljut call > '' lle Will, pat lie ne may louye, & hym lyke and lone of his herte Goed wille & good worde bothe wisshen and willen Alle nianere men mercy & foi^ifnesse, 3-17 ioveMs And louye liem liche liym-self and his lyf amende. — himself." I may no lenger lette," quod he and lyarde he pryked, And went away as wynde and bere-with I awaked. awakes. *' 344. vioche] yuele a 0. wrecche] 349. lyarde— pryked] harde priked werche (!) C. CB ; harde prikede for); O. 345. lene] lene or leue in the MSS. 350. away] Oom. awaked] wakede 346. #] R om. bothe] and W. R; awakijj B. willeii] wilnen R. 21 322 THE EVENTS 0* PALM SUNDAY. [pass. XVIII. PASSUS XA r III (DO-BET III). Passus xviij" s , et terchts de dobet. [Fol. 70 b.] The dreamer wanders wearily, and falls asleep. He dreams about Palm Sunday and its events (Mat. xxi.; -Mk. xi.). The good Samaritan, or Piers Plow- man, comes riding onwards. w olleward and wete-shoed * went I forth after, As a reccheles rente pat of no wo reccheth, And 3ede forth lyke a lorel al my lyf tyme, Tyl I wex wery of be worlde • and wylned eft to slepe, And lened me to a lenten • and longe tyme I slepte ; 5 And of crystes passiouw and penaunce be peple fat of-rau^te, [Eeste] me fere, and rutte faste tyl ramis palmarum ; Of gerlis & of gloria laus • gretly me dremed, And how osanna hy orgonye olde folke songen, ^ One semhlahle to be Samaritan & some del Piers be plowman, Barfote on an asse bakke botelees cam pryk[y]e, Wyth-onte spores other spere spakliche he loked, 8 to 12 Title. Passus deeimus octauus CO; to which W adds — &c. et iijws de dobet, and B (wrongly) adds— ct quart?/* de dobet; R has — Passus xvijws de visione, vt supra. 2. As a] And as a CB ; And as 0. renke] freek B. wo] Com. recclieth] rougbte WB. 4. wylned'] wilnes C. eft to] cfte R. 5. slepte'] slepe B. 6. \>e] \>er B. \>at of-rauyte] bat of taughte C ; ofte tau^te O ; \>er-ot tau}te B. This line is perhaps mis- placed, and should follow I. 8. 7. [Reste] so in WCOY ; I reste B ; Rested LR ; (but reste is the A.S. form). 8. <$'] on,. 9. osanna] Osanna (printed ho- sanna) W. orgonye] Organye WC ; orgene R ; organ B. folhc] folkes CB. 10. \>e (2)] CB om . 11. on] and oon C ; & on OB. cam] so in WR; gan COBY. prykye] prikye WO ; prekie B ; pryke LC ; prikyngc R. 12. other] or 0. spaldiche] sprac- liche R ; sharpliche B. PASS. XVIII.] "BLESSED IS HE WHO COMETH," ETC. 323 As is be kynde of a knyjte J-at cometh to be dubbed, To geten hem gylte spores • or galoches ycouped. IT Jjanne was faith in a fenestre and cryde "a! fill Faith cries out, 7 • 7 . >i proclaiming the aaUld 1 «Son of David." As doth an Heraude of amies whan [auntrous] cometh to iustes. 1G Olde iuwes of ierusalem for ioye pei songen, B&nedietus qui venit in nomine domini. Mat. xxi. 9. IF jjanne I frayned at faith what al fat fare be-ment[e], And who sholde iouste in Ihemsalem "Ihesus," he Faith says that 1 Jesus is coming seyde, to joust, "And fecche bat J?e fende claymeth • Piers fruit be plowman." 20 "Is Piers in bis place 1 ?" quod I & lie preynte on me, " pis ihesus of his gentrice wole iuste in piers amies, ana will wear . . Piers' coat- In his helme & 111 his habenouw * humana tuitura. armour. pat cryst be noi^t biknowe here • for contsu[iri]matus dens, 24 In Piers paltok J?e plowman • Jus priker shal ryde ; For no dynte shal hym dere as in deitcde patris." " Who shal iuste with ihesus 1 " quod I " iuwes or scribes ? " IT " Nay," quod, he, "be foule fende and fals dome & He win joust 1 , , against the foul uetn. Jb fiend, and against Deth seith he shal fordo and adown brynge Al Jjat lyueth or loketh in londe or in watere. false doom and death- 13. B omits. be] C om. 22. bis] bus B. gentrice] gentries 14. geten] geute B. or] and COB. WC ; gentrie RB. 15. cryde] crie C. a (2)] B om. 23. in his] hise C ; his B ; O om. 16. [auntrous BO] aunterous C; 24. biknowe] yknowe C ; yknowen Auentrous W; aduenturws B; aun- O; knowe B. consiimvmatus] so in twros L. WROBY; consumatws LC. ('/. 1. 57. 18. panne] That C. be-mente] so in dens] est COB. B places 1. 24 after RO ; hymente WCB ; hement L. 1. 25. 19. sholde] R om. 25. priker] prikierc W. 20. fecche] feccheth R .; fecche out 28. he] faith R. |r] but be H. B. foule] R om. Sf deth] to deye R. 21. bis] bat B, J] Com. preynte] 30. or (1)] and WE. or (2)] and twynclid B ; prent R. W. 32 4 PILATE UPON THE JUDGMENT-SKAT. [PASS. XVIII. fur ever. Hosea xiii. 14. Tilate comes with much people (Mat. xxvii. 19). Life threatens to Lyf seyth bat lie likth and leytb. bis lif to wedde, ucfu.it Death, . . pat lor al bat doth can do with-in pre dayes, .32 To walke and fecche fro be fende " piers fruite be plowman, And legge it pere hym lyketli and lucifer bynde, And forbete and adown brynge bale [&] deth fur euere : mors, ero mors tua I ^1 panne cam pilatus with moche peple sedens pro tribunali, 36 To se how doughtilich deth sliolde do ' & deme her botheres l^te. pe iuwes and be iustice * a3eine ihesxx bei were, And al her courte on hym cryde • crucifige sharpe. Tho put hym forth a piloure bifor pilat, & seyde, 40 " This ihesus of owre iewes temple iaped & dispised, To fordone it on o day and in thre dayes after Edefye it eft newe • (here he stant bat seyde it) And 3it maken it as moche ' in al manere poyntes, 44 Bothe as longe and as large hi loft & by grounde." ^[ " Cru\ci\fige" quod a caccbepolle " I warante hym a wicche ! " " Tolh, iolle ! " quod an other • and toke o[f] kene bornes, And bigan of kene thorne • a gerelande to make, 48 [Fol. 77.1 One bears false witness against Jesus. John xix. 15, The crown of thorns. 31. he] Com. UMK] so in ~R ; L 41. This] pus B. iewes] R om. really has likthe {but the e is not temple] peple CB. taped] bap Iaped wanted) ; lie> WCO ; lijejj B. W. Here B adds the probably 34. legge] lede B. spurious line — and seide he wolde 35. forbete] forbite R ; for to bete felle a-douw pe te/wple • pat is so COB. adown] doun R. [<£' OY] of strong. B ; LWCR om. ; but it seems neces- 42. To] and B. on o] in a R ; in sary. ero — tua] mors tua ero R. o B. 43. seyde it] it seide B. 36. moche] COB om. 37. her botheres] hcrr beither R ; bir brotheres (!) CB. rfate] my^t O. 38. ]>e] B om. iustice] Iust.'ces COB. 39. her] here R ; be WCOB. hym] \hes\\ R. 40. Tho] to B. 44. yt] yit to B. 45. hi] a R ; on B. 46. Crucijige] misn-ritten Crufige L. 47. of] so in WCROB ; o L ; see next line. TASS. XVIII.] THE EVENTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION. 325 And sette it sore on his heel and seyde in envye, " Aue, rabbi/ /" qitod bat Eibande ' and brew redes at Lym ; Nailled hym with bre nailles • naked on j e Rode, Jesus is And poysorm on a pole bei put vp to his lippes, 52 three nails, And hede hym drynke his deth-yuel • his dayes were ydone. " And jif bat bow sotil be help now bi-seluen, If bow be eryst, & kynges sone come downe of j?e a i i bidden to come Sown f om Rode ; the cross. Jjanne shnl we leue pat lyf fie loueth and wil nou3t letebedeye!" 56 % " Consummatum est," quod cryst '& comsed forto "ttis FIMSFtED." SWOWe, John xix. 30. Pitousliche and pale • as a prisouw bat deyeth ; ]?e lorde of lyf & of h^te bo leyed his eyen togideres. ])e daye for drede with-drowe • and derke bicam be The light of daj withdraws. sonne, CO ])e wal wagged and clef " and a! be worlde quaued. Ded men for that dyne come out of depe gwues, Dead bodies rise. And tolde whi pat tempest so longe tyme dured. " For a bitter bataille " be ded bodye sayde : 64 One of them tells ' of the battle "Lyf and deth in bis derknesse her one fordoth her between Life and , Death. other ; Shal no wi^te wite witterly " who shal hau i be maystrye, Er sondey aboute sonne rysynge " ' & sank with bat til erthe. 67 50. \>at Ribavde] be ribaudes R. 58. Pitousliche'] Ful pitousliche B. 51. JVailled] bei nailid 15. \>re] 59. The lorde] Til lore R. thre (with ioxxve written in margin) R. 60. bicam] bigan 0. on] vp-orj R. 61. waT] wallis of be temple B. 52. on] vppon B. vp] R om. worlde] word 0. qwvuett] qtuzkid B. 53. deth-yuel] euyl deeb B. ydone] 62. dyne] dene WR ; deeb B. depe] doon C ; done OB. here R. 54. \>at] CB om. 64. bodye] bodies B. 56. shut] shulde B. 66. wite] wit C ; witte R. 57. swowe] so in OB ; swowen C; 67. sonne] be sunnc OB. til] in-to swoune W ; swowne R. B. 326 THE BLIND LONGEUS JOUSTS AGAINST JESUS. [PASS. XVIII. Hut. xxvii. 51. The two thieves. No one "breaks the legs of Christ But a blind knight, named Longeus, jousts against Jesus, [Eol. 77 6.] and pierces His heart. The blood heals his blindness. Some seyde fat ho was goddes sone fat so faire deydo, VerefiMus del erat i*te, fyc. And soTWine saide he was a wicche • "good is fat we assaye, Where he he (led or novate ded ' doun er he be taken." IT Two tlieues also ' tholed deth fat tyme, 71 Vppon a crosse bisydes cryst so was fe cominie lawe. A cacchepole cam forth and craked hotlic her legges, And her amies after • of eyther of f o theue's. Ac was no hoy so bolde goddes body to touche ; For he was knyjte & kynges sone • kynde forjaf fat tyme, 76 J3at non harlot were so hardy • to leyne hande vppon hym. ^T Ac fere cam forth a knyjte with a kene spere ygrounde, Hi3te longeus, as fe lettre telleth and longe had lore his si3te. Bifor pilat & other peple ' in be place he honed ; 80 Maugre his many tethe he was made fat tyme To take f e spere in his honde ' & iusten with rhesus ; For alio fei were vnhardy • fat houed on hors or stode, To tonche hym or to taste hym • or take hym down of Eode. 84 Cut fis blynde bacheler fanne * bar hym forugh fe herte ; \)g blode spronge down by f e spere & vnspered f e kni3tes even. f>9. \>at we] R om. 70. he (1)] B om. dad (2)] B om. doun] a-doun B. 71. d-eth] dede R. 72. a~] B om. bisydes] biside C. 73. .1] Ac a R. 74. her] be W. of eyther] B om. \>o] the C ; \>o two B. 75. was] \>er was B. hot/] body W. 70. tyme] tbrowe R. 77. hande'] an baud R. 79. Hitfe] F at hi^te B. 81. Mavgre] and magre B. hu many] be (!) B. 83. or] & COB. stode] stede B. 84. hym (1)] R om. or to] or COB. hym (3)] W om. of] of be B; on (!) C. 85. \>anne] bat R ; WO om. 86. \e (1)] pat B. spronge] ran B. vnspered] opned R. \>c kniytes] hise CO ; his B. PASS. XVIII.] LONGEUS YIELDS HIMSELF TO CHRIST'S GRACE. 327 Jpanne fel fe knj^te vpon knees * and cryed liym mercy — "Ajeyne my willc it was, lor de to wowndo 30W so Longeus cries mercy of Christ. sore ! " 88 He seighed & sayde "sore it me athynketh ; For );e dede fat I haue done I do me in 3owre grace ; Haue on me reuth, ri^tful ihesn ! " • & rijt with bat he wept. H Thanne gan faith felly be fals iuwes dispise, 92 Then Faith reproves the Jews Called hem caytyues acursed for euere, of cowardice, For bis foule vyleynye " veniaunce to 30W alle, To do be blynde bete hym yhounde it was a hoyes conseille. Cursed caytyue ! kni3thod was it neuere 96 To mysdo a ded body • by day or by ny^te. )3e gree 3it hath he geten for al his grete wounde. IT For aowre champiouJi chiualer chief kny3t of 30W Ba s™g that «>eir 3 L chief champion alle, nad yielded himself recreant. 3elt hym recreaunt rennyng ri3't at ihesus wille. 100 For be bis derkenesse ydo ' his deth worth avenged, And 3e, lordeynes, ban ylost • for lyf shal haue be maistrye, And 30wre Fraunchise, Jjat fre was • fallen is in thral- dome, And 3e, cherles, & 30\vre children ' chieue shal 3c neure, "Ye shall never thrive e\c6Rfc Ne haue lordship in londe ne no londe tylye, 105 by usury." But al bareyne be • & vsurye vsen, 87. vpon] vppon his B. hym] 100. ylt] so in RB ; ^elte O ; Yelde ihcsu R. C ; ylt W. 89. He] And he B; How he C. 101. pis] C om. Ids'] R om. sore] ful sore B. avenged] I-venkesched R. 93. Called] and kallid B. far] 102. y] CB om. lordeynei] lur- hem for R. daynes W ; lurdeynes O. 94. alle] falle W. 103. is] it B. 95. yhounde] bounden O. 104. cherles] clerkes CB. 30 (2)] 96. caytyue] caytif WC ; caityues W om. R ; kaitifs B ; caytyues castyng O. 105. Ne] To W. londe] honde CO. 98. )>e] >re (!) B. gree — hath] no] none R. grythe ye hase (!) C. 328 MERCY AND TRUTH MEET TOGETHER. [PASS. XVIII. Which is lyf bat owre lorde " in alle lawes acurseth. Row jowre good dayes ar done as Danyel prophecyed, Whan cryst cam, [of] her kyngdom * be croune shulde [cesse]; 109 cf. D.m. ix. 2t. Cum veniat xtoiciitt; sanctorum, cessabit vnxio vestra" ^ What for fere of bis ferly & of be fals iuwes, I drowe me in Jjat derkenesse ' to decendit ad inferna. And pere I sawe sothely secundum scripturas, 112 From the west Out of be west coste ' a Avenche, as me thonate, uoast approaches Mercy. Cam walkynge in pe wey to-helle-ward she loKcd. Mercy hijt bat mayde a meke bynge with-alle, A ful benygne buirde • and hoxorne of speche. 116 II Her snster, as it semed cam softly walkynge, Euene out of pe est • and westward she loked. A ful comely creature treuth she kijte, For pe vertue bat hir folwed ' aferd was she neuere. 1 20 ^1 Whan JjIs maydenes mette ' mercy and treuth, Eyther axed other of J)is grete wonder, Of fie dyne & of pe derknesse and how pe daye rowed, And which a W^te and a leme lay befor helle. 124 " Ich haue ferly of bis fare • in feitli," seyde treuth, "And am wendyng to wyte what J?is wonder meneth." ^T " Haue no mcrueille," quod mercy " myrtlie it bytokneth. maideu," -A- niayden fat hatte marye and moder with-out felyng From the East comes Truth. They wonder at the marvellous events. [Fol. 78.] 107. lyf] be lif B. acurseth'] a- cursid B. 108. ar] arn W; aren C ; bo 1! ; been O. 109. [of W] LECOBY om. ; bid the line is marked for correction in L. her'] pe E. pe] and COBY. [cesse WOY] cece O ; sesse B ; lese R ; L has a blank space, cessabit — vestra] R om. 1 1 0. pe] po R. 114. walkynge] wandrynge B. )■/■] pat It. 116. buirde] burdeWR; birde C; beerde O ; berd B. 117. softly] softeliOB; softily G; sofly R ; sooply W. 119. comely] manli E; many(!) 0. 121. Whan] And whan R. 123. dyne] dene ROB. of (2)] CB om. 126. wonder] wonde R. 128. hatte] hat R; hattip B; hio-hte W. PASS. XVIII.] A TREE CONDEMNED ; A TREE SHALL REDEEM. 329 Of any kynnes creature conceyued porw speche 129 said Mercy.. And grace of pe holygoste ; • wex grete with cMLde ; "YVith-outen wem in-to pis worlde she broi^t hym ; And pat my tale be trewe I take god to witnesse. 132 Sith pis barn was bore ben xxx t! wynter passed ; thirty years ago. Which deyde & deth poled pis day aboute mydday. And pat is cause of pis clips pat closetll now pe His death cansea ., _ _ this eclipse. sonne, 135 In menynge pat man shal * fro merkenesse be clrawe, pe while pis li^te & pis leme shal Lucyfer ablende. For patriarkes & prophetes ban preched her-of often, jjat man shal man saue porw a maydenes helpe, And pat was tynt porw tre • tree shal it wynnc, 140 what was lost And pat deth doun brou^te deth shal releue." shall win back." ^T " Jjat pow tellest," quod treuth " is but a tale of waltrot ; For Adam & Eue & abraham with otlier Patriarkes & prophetes pat in peyne liggen, 144 Leue pow neuere pat ^one h^te • hem alofte brynge, Ne haue hem out of helle holde pi tonge, mercy ! Truth refuses It is but a trafle pat pow tellest ' I, treuth, wote pe Mercy says. sothe. For pat is ones in lielb • out cometh it neuere ; 148 lob pe prophete, patriarke reproueth pi sawes, Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio" cf. Jobvti. 9. % panne mercy ful my Idly mouthed pise wordes, 129. any hynnes] any kende R; 141. douri] adown "W. mannys skynues B. 142. treuth'] C om. is] it is CR. 130. And] burgh B. wex] she tale of] C repeats these words, and wex B. omits waltrot. 131. wem] hewime B. hym] hym 145. hem alofte] a-loft schal CB ; forb 0. a-lofte schal hem O. 133. Sith] Sit C. bore] so in R; 140. hem] hym B. holde] helde L yhoreW; born COB. xxscti] thretty (by a mere slip). C; bryttiR. "l47. a] R om. trvfle] fcryf ule C ; 134. deth] COB om. truyfle R. I] R om. 136. be] is R. 148. \>at] he bat W. it] he W. 137. pis (1)] be R. 149. patriarke] and patriark B. 138. her-of] her-on 0; here R. \>i] bise B. 330 ''Venom," said Mercy, "destroys venom. A dead scorpion heals the scorpion's sting. This death shall destroy death." " See," said Truth, "here conies Righteousness from the North.' [Fol. 78 6.] " And Peace from t lie South," said Mercy. Righteousness greets Peace. Christ's death shall destroy death, [pass, xviii. "Thorw experience," qitod she • " I hope bei shal be saued. For venym for-dotli venym • & bat I proue by resoun. For of alle venymes foulest is be scorpiou», 153 May no medeyne helpe be place bere be styngeth, Tyl be be ded & do ber-to ' be ynel he destroyetb, )5e fyrst venymouste bonv venym of bym-self. 156 So shal bis deth for-do I dar my lyf legge, Al bat deth [for]dyd furste • borw be deuelles en- tysynge ; And ri^t as borw gyle man w;is bigyled, So shal grace pat bigan make a good sleighte ; 1 60 Ars vt artem falleret." «H " Now suffre Ave," seyde trcuth • " I se, as me binketh, Out of be nippe of be north noujt ful fei hennes, Rijtwisnesse come rennynge ' reste we be while ; For he Avote more fan we he was er we bothe." 164 IT " That is soth," seyde mercy • " And I se here hi soutbe, Where pees cometh playinge in pacience yclothed ; Loue hath coueyted hir longe ' leue I none other But he sent hir some lettre ' what bis li^te bymeneth, Jjat ouer-houeth helle bus ; • she vs shal telle." 169 IT Whan pees, in pacience yclothed • approched nere hem tAveyne, R^twisnesse hir reuerenced for her riche clothyng, And preyed pees to telle hir • to what place she wolde, 151. she'] he R. \>ei shal] bow schalt E. 152. I j) roue] so in CR; preue I \VO ; proue B. 153. venymes'] venym CB. 154. he] it O. 1 56. venymouste] venym is moost ( !) 0. venym] virtue R. 1 .57. for-do] do R. my] y B. 158. fordyd] fordide W; LCROB omit the prefix fax-, which is wanted; ef. 1. 343. 160. sleiyhte] sighte CB ; seep {altered to sighte) 0. 163. come] cam CO. me \e] whe .i B. 166. pees cometh] cometh pes R. 167. leue] leege B. 169. site] he R. 170. yclothed] clothed RO ; is y- clobid B. nere] nei} CB; ny} 0. hem] hym B. 171. hir] hem COB. for] by W. 172. she] he R. PASS. XVIII.] RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE MEET. 331 And in her gay garnementz whom, she grete folate, *\f "My wille is to wende," quod she "and welcome Peace says she t t i is come to hem alle, 174 welcome all Jjat many day my^te I novate se • for merkenesse of JX Ieemed synne, Adam & Eue & other moo in helle. Moyses & many mo mercy shal haue, And I shal daunce f t?r-to * do f ow so, snstre ! 1 78 For Lhesus iusted wel ioye bygynneth dawe ; Ad vesperum demordbitur fletus, 4' ad matu- Ps.mk.6 iinum leticia. UB ''' Loue, fat is my lemman snche lettves, me sente, « Mercy and That mercy, my sustre, & I • mankynde shulde sane, mankind." ^ And fat god hath forgynen & grannted me pees & mercy, 182 To be mannes meynpmioure for euere-more after. Lo ! here f e patent ! " quod pees • "in pace in idipsum — Ps. iv. 9 (Vuig.). And fat fis dede shal dure — dormiam cf reguiescam" IT "What, raiiestow?" quod ri^twisnesse • "or fow art Righteousness • j i i 1 , _ _ rebukes her. r^t dronke ! 186 Leuestow fat 3onde h^te ' vnlouke my^te helle, And sane mannes soule 1 • sustre, wene it neure ! At f e bygynnynge, god • gaf f e dome hym-selue, Jjat Adam & Eue and alle fat hem suwed, 190 "Adam was to Shulde deye doune ^te and dwelle in pyne after, the fruit. L If fat f ei touched a tre and f e fruite eten. Adam afterward a^eines his defence, Frette of fat fruit • & forsoke, as it were, 194 173. garnementz] garmentz E. 185. dure] endure B. she] he R. 186. rauestow] rauest \>ou OB. 174. is] his C, site] he K. 187. Leuestow] Leuest pou O. 175. myyte] ny^te B. 30/tde] ponder OB. 178. R omits. And] COB om. 188. it] bow it R, so] also B. 189. At— god] For god be bigyn- 179. dawe] to dawe OB. leticia] nerreyere hem helpe. For-pi late hem chewe as pei chose ' & chyde we nou^t, sustres, For it is hotelees bale pe bite pat pei eten." 200 ST " And [I] shal preue," quod pees " her peyne mote haue ende, And wo in-to wel mowe wende atte laste ; For had Jsei wist of no wo wel had J?oi noujte knowen. For no Avi3te wote what wel is • fat neuere wo suffred, Xe what is bote hunger pat had neuere defaute. 205 If no nyjte ne were no man, as I leue, Shuhle wite witterly what day is to mene • Shulde neuere ri^tc riehe man pat lyueth in reste & ese 208 Wyte what wo is ne.were pe deth of kynde. So god pat bygan al of his good wille By cam man of a mayde man kynde to saue, 211 And suffred to be solde * to see pe sorwe of deyinge, The which vnknitteth al kare & comsynge is of reste. For til modicum mete with vs I may it wel avowe, Wote no wi^te, as I wene what is ynough to mene. ST For-pi god of his goodnesse ' pe fyrste gome Adam, Sette hym in solace " & in souereigne myrthe ; 217 And sith he suffred hym synne sorwe to fele, 107. R omits. I] and WCOB. riittrisnesse] ri^t-fulnesse B. 19!). sustres] syster CO; fuster B. 201. [I WCOB] LR om.; but the line is marked for correction in L. preue] preie R. ende'] an ende CB. 202. wo] from wo W. mowe] schal B. 203. had] R om. \>ei (2)] bei {printed the) W. 205. hote] hoot WO ; hot B. 206. as] is as C. leue] wene B. 207. wite] neuere wite W. 209. is] is ne wel CB. 211. B ycam] And bicam B. 212. to (2)] and R. 214. mete] mette ROB; met C. vs] hym O. 215. is ynough] ynogh is W; is nou;te R. 216. of his] his of B. 217. myrthe] ioye R. 218. sith] syne C. synne] synege R. PASS. XVIII.] ONE NAMED " BOOK " TESTIFIES OF CHRIST. 333 To wite what wel was • kyndelich to knowe it. And after god auntred hym-self and toko Adaraes and afterwards . , took Adam's kynde, 220 nature. To wyte what he hath suffred in J) re sondri places, Eothe in heuene, & in erthe " & now til helle he pynketh, To wite what al wo is pat wote of al ioye. ^[ So it shal fare bi J?is folke ; her foly & her synne Man's sin and oi n i i i i 'of • folly shall teach bhall lere hem what langour is • & lisse with-onten ende. him what bliss ts. Wote no wighte what werre is pere J?at pees regneth, ~Ne what is witterly wel " til weyllowey hym teche." H Thanne was pare a wi3te • with two hrode eyen, 228 Then appeared one named Book, Boke li^te pat heupere • a bolde man of speche. " By godes body," q«od pis boke " I wil bere witnesse, j?at po pis barne was ybore ' pere biased a sterre, nhoteiisofthe , . star in the East. I hat alle pe wyse ol pis woiide m o witte acordeden, That such a barne was borne in bethleem Citee, 233 Y>ni mannes soule sholde saue ' & synne destroye. And alle pe elementz," qitod pe boke • " her-of bereth witnesse. }2at he was god pat al WTOU^te ' pe walkene firste The air showed God's power, Shewed; 236 when the comet po pat weren in heuene token stella comata, birth. And tendeden hir as a torche to reuerence his birthe ; fie ly^te folwed pe lorJe in-to pe lowe erthe. [)3e] water witnessed pat he was god • for he went The water bare witness, when He On it ; 240 walked upon it. 219. was] is E. to] and W. it] den] acorden WCB. CB om. 233. borne] y-bore W; y-born R. 220. auntred] grauntid COB. Citee] }>e Citee W ; be cite R. 221. hath] base C. \re] tbe C; B 235. C omits. om. 236. walkene] so in ; walkne R ; 223. pat — of] and wbat is W. wolkneW; welkne C ; welkene B. wote] woot CO ; wot B. 237. comata] cometa W. 225. lisse] blisse R. 238. tendeden] tenteden CB. hir] 229. beupere] bewpere R ; bewpeer it W. as] om. ; beaupeere W ; beaupere CB. 240. [>; WHO] bat LCB. wit- 231. ybore] born 0. nessed] witnesjb ORB; witnesse C. 232. wyte of] men in R. aevrde- 334 "lift up youb heads, o ye gates!" [pass, xviii. Peter be apostcl parceyued his gate, And as lie went on be "water ' wel hyni knewe, & seyde, Mat. xiv. 28. j HUe me venire ad te super aquas. An a now the And lo ! how be Sonne gan louke her liste in her-self, sun's light fails. i. mare Whan she seye hym suffre • bat sonne & se made, 244 The erthe for heuynesse that he wolde suffre, The earth quakes. Quaked as quykke binge and al biquasht[e] be roche. Lo ! helle mi^te nou3te holde hut opened bo god boled, And lete oute symondes sones to seen hym hange on Eode. 248 And now shal lucifer leue it thowgh liym loth binke ; For gygus be geaunt • with a gynne engyned To hreke & to hete doune bat ben a3eines rhesus. Jesus shall rise "And I, hoke, wil he brent • but ihesus rise to lyue, again!" [Foi. 796 In alle my3tes of man & his moder gladye, 253 And conforte al his kynne & out of care brynge, And al be iuwen ioye vnioignen & vnlouken ; And but bei reuerencen his Rode • & his resurexiou/?, And bileue on a newe lawe • be lost lyf & soule." 257 a spirit speaks ^[ " Suffre we," seide treuth ' " I here & se bothe, to hell. How a spirit speketh to helle " & bit vnspere be jatis, Ps. xxiii. 9 Attollite port as, §c." (Vulg.). A voice loude in bat li^te - to lucifer cryeth, 2 GO "Princes of heii, " Prynces of bis place • vnpynneth & vnlouketh ! unbar the gates!" ... , .„..,, lor here cometh with croune bat kynge is of glone. Thanne syked sathan & seyde to hem alle, 242. as] C om. fre] bat R. hym] 256. reuereneen] reue/'sen W. he hym B. 257. bilene] leuen CB ; leue O. 244. «;] mone B. After this line COBY have the (pro- 245. heuynesse'] buxomnesse CB. bably spurious) line — Al this I book 246. biguashte] biquaschte ; witnesse • and yet muche more ; biquasche K; biquasshed WC ; to- where, far Al, OY have And. chef B. 259. How] R am. hit] sa in OB ; 248. tones] sone W. bitt R ; biddeb W; biddes C. 249. leue] R om. (I) 260. cryeth] cried CO. 250. 251. R omits, gynne] gyn 261. vnpynneth] oppeneb 0. hab W. doune] a-doun WCOB. 263. syked] si^ede R; srjhede 0. 253. of] of a R. hem alle] helle R. PASS. XVIII.] SATAN AND LUCIFER REPROACH EACH OTHER. 335 " Suclie a ly^te, c^eines owre leue • Lazar it fette ; 264 Satan ad™ ses Care & conibraunce • is comen to vs alle. * he " l ? Keep the gates If bis kynge come in mankynde wil lie feccbe, barred - And lede it ber kyin lyketb & ly^tlych me bynde. Patriarkes & prophetes ban parled ber-of longe, 268 J?at sucb a lorde & a lyjte ' sbulde lede hem alle hennes." ^[ " Lystenetb," quod Lucifer "for I bis lorde knowe, Lucifer says that Botbe J?is lorde & Jjis li^te ; is longe ago I kneAve against Jesus?' bym. May no detb bym dere ne no deueles queyntise, 272 And where be wd, is bis waye ac war bym of be periles ; If be reue me my ri^te • be robbetb me by maistrye. "We must _, . . _ . . eal to His ±or by r^t Aj bi resoun bo rentes bat ben here, justice. Bodye & sonle ben myne • botbe gode & idle. 276 For bym-self seyde bat sire is of beuene, 3if Adam ete be apple • alle sbulde deye, He said that . , , . , , . Adam should And dwelle witb vs deueles • bis bretynge be made ; die." And he bat sothenesse is • seyde bise wordes ; 280 And sittben I seised ' seuene bundreth wyntre, I leue bat lawe nil nau^te lete bym be leest." IT "Tbat is sothe," seyde Sathan "but I me sore "True," said Satan, "but thou drede, didst win by For bow gete hem with gyle & his gardyne breke, 2S4 guile. 264. leue] loue B. it] so in ECO my R. lie rohheth] & robbe R. Y ; is B ; out W. '275. U] CB om. )>o] boo ; be 265. com oraimce] encombraunceW. WCEB. rerikei] freikis 15. ben 2G7. lede] do 0. it] hem R. here] icb haue O. hym lyheth] lazar is R. 276. ben] been 0; beb W. 2G8. longe] loude B. 277. COB omit. 269. a (2)] W om. shulile] schal 278. yf] bat y£ R ; If WO J c R ; shol C. apple] R om. 270. Jjysteneth] listneb now B. 280. he] R om. 271. is] it is B. 281. sitthen] I sitthen R. Iseised] 272. Iti/m] bis lorde R. so in W; I sessed II; be seised CBj 273. wil — his] wolde bis is B. isysesidO; isyCeisdY. seveni '. , Ms] R om. ac] and C. seue E ; many OY. 274. rem] so in ROB; reueb W; 282. nil] wole ; wil B. reuees C. mc (1)] C om. my] of 284. gelr] gatist B. hem] bym < !. oot SATAN HAS TEMPTED JESUS IN VAIN. [PASS. XVIII. And in semblaunce of a serpent sat on be appeltre, Thy words to And etrrredest hem to cte Eue by liir-selue, Eve were false. And toldest Mr a tale of tresoura were be wordes ; And so bow haddest hem oute * & hider atte laste. 288 It is noii3te gray the ly geten bere gyle is be Eote." Goblin says their "For god wil noint be bigilcd " ' quod Gobelyn, " ne title is invalid. bi-iaped ; We haue no trewe title to hem for borwgh tresou?* were bei dampned." Satan says " Certes, I drede me," quod be deuel " leste treuth wil hem fecche. 292 ^[ J^is pretty wynter, as I wene hath lie gone & preched ; I hane assailled hym with synne & some tyme yasked that he has tempted Jesus in vain, for 32 years. [Fol. 80.] " I warned Pilate's wife. I would have lengthened His Life. Where he were god or goddes sone 1 he gaf me shorte answere. And bus hath he trolled forth - pis two & thretty wynter, 29 G And whan I seighe it was so slepyng, I went, To warne pilates wyf what dones man was ihmis ; For iuwes hateden hym • and han done hym to deth. I wolde haue length ed his lyf ' for I leued, 3U' he deyede, 300 That his soule wolde snffre • no synne in his sy3te. For be body, whil it on bones 3ede ' aboute was euere, To saue men fram synne 3if hem-self wolde. 285. semblaunce'] semblaunt OB ; liknees 0. serpent] Nedder C. sat on] sete vp-on W. 286. eggedest] eggest C. ete] ete ber-of B. 288. so] al-so B. hem] hym B. 290. Gobelyn] goblyn 0. 291. title] tilyle (!) E. \orn-gh] wib B. 292. be] bis O. After this line CBY have the (probably spurious) line^Oute of oure poustee and ledeu hem henries. 2'.t3. wene] leue B. hath — gone] he wente aboute R. 294. assailled] assoiled (!) C. tyme] R om. 295. Where] Whetyer W ; Were B. 296. hath he] he hath R. trolled] tollid B. two] to R ; twa C. 297. slepyng] lepynge W ; sepynge B. 298. dones] dones O ; done WR ; doone Y ; doon C ; dene B. 300. I (1)] And I R. lengthed] lenged C. 301. snffre] nau3t suffre R. PASS. XVIII.] TUE GATES OF HELL ARE BROKEN'. 337 And now I se where a soule cometh hiderward i s,e i,n s„„i seylljnge. 304 UK"*"" With glorie & with greti li3te god it is, I wote wel. I rede we flee," q?/od he • "faste alle hennes. Let us Ace." For vs were better novate be • fan biden his syate. For bi lesynges, Lucifer loste is al owre praye. 308 Firste borw be we fellen fro heuene so heighe ; For we leued bi lesynges • [we loupen oute alle with be ; And now for thi last lesynge •] ylore we haue Adam, And al owre lordeship, I leue • a londe & a water; 312 Nunc yyrincepx hums rnundi eicietur fonts." John xii. si. IF Efte be hjte bad vnlouke & Lucifer answered, " What lorde artow 1 " quod lucifer • " quis est iste ? " Ps. xxin. iu (Vul" ). " Rex glorie " • be li^te sone seide, " And lorde of my3te & of mayne & al manere vertues ; domin us virtutum ; 316 Dukes of Jus dym place • anon vndo bis 3ates, "Undo these That cryst may come in be kynges sone of heuene." And with bat breth belle brake • with Beliales barres ; The gates of hell are broken. lor any wye or warde wide opene J?e 3atis. 320 % Patriarkes & prophetes • populus in tcnelris, Mat. iv. io. Songen seynt Iohanes songe • ecce agnus del. John i. 36. Lucyfer loke ne my3te so ly^tc hym ableynte. 323 And bo J>at owre [lorde] loued in-to his li^te he lai^te, And seyde to Sathan, " lo ! here ' my soule to amendes Our Lord offers For alle synneful soides to saue bo bat ben worthy. 304. seylhjnge] sailynge RO. of (2)] om. mayne] man WE 305. glorie] Ioie C. with (2)] RO many B. om. 317. Dukes] Duk R. 306. we] \>at we W. 318. \>e] R om. 307. biden] to a-biden B. 319. brake] braste R. 309. fellen] fallen B. 320. opene] so in B ; open CO ; 310, 311. leued] loueden B. \>ii] on opned WR. Ju W; bise B. [roe — lesynge] in R 322. Iohanes] Iohan B. only; but of. C-Text. ylore] y-lorn 323. ableynte] ablente WHO; a- W ; yloste C. blyndyde C ; a-blvnde B. 312. a (1)] on B. a (2)] on OB. 324. [lorde RWCOBY] L om. eicietur] eicitur RB. lawite] tooke C. 315, 316. In one line in R, which 325. soule] soul is B. omits sone. And] be R ; And a B. 22 3:38 CHRIST OFFERS SATAN LIFE FOR LIFE. [pass. XVI II. Christ claims his Mync pei be & of me • I may pe bette hem clayme. Al-pough resou« reeorde • & ri^t of my-self, " Thou, Satan, didst win man- kind by guile. Exod. xxi. 24. I offer soul for soul, [Fol. 80 &.] life for life, death for death. 328 Mat. v. 17. That if pei ete pe apple alle shulde deye, I bihj^te hem nou^t hero ' helle for euere. For pe dede pat pei dede ' pi deceyte it made ; With gyle pow hem gete agayne al resouw. 332 For in my paleys, paradys in persone of an addre, Falseliche poAV fettest perc ' pynge pat I loued. IT Tims ylyke a lusarde with a lady visage, Theuelich pow me robbedest ; pe olde lawe graunteth, J5at gylours be bigiled • & pat is gode resouw ; 337 Dent em pro dente, 4" oeulum pro oculo. Ergo, soule shal soule quyte ' & synne to synne wende, And al pat man hath mysdo " I, man, wyl amende. Menibre for membre bi pe olde lawe was amendes, And lyf for lyf also * & by pat lawe I clayme it, 341 Adam & al his issue at my wille her-after. And pat deth in hem fordid my deth shal releue, And bothe quykke & quyte • pat queynte was porw synne ; 34 I And pat grace gyle destruye ' good feith it asketh. So leue it nou^te, lucifer a3eine pe lawe I fecche hem, But bi ri3t & by resoiui " raunceouw here my lyges : Non vcni soluere legem, sed adimplere. ))ow fettest myne in my place a^eines al resoun, 348 328. Al-\>ovgh] And poii} WB. 329. \>ei] he W. 331. dede (1)] dyede C. dede (2)] dide WCB ; diden 0. 332. gete'] gate C. 333. my] O om. paleys'] place OB. 334. fettest] fecchest R. \>ere] WO (yni. 336. \e] and pe W. lawe] lawe it B. 337. be] ^at ben B. 338. soule (2)] B om. to synne] C om. 339. man wyl] may wel O. amende] amende it R. 340. amendes] amendid B. 311. \>at] pe 0. it] R om. 342. al] B om. 343. \>at] at R. 344. qvyldti] quik R ; quyko ; quykee C ; quykye B ; quykne W. 345. destruye] distroyed CB. 346. it] I WCOB. novate] neuere R. ayine] pat aaen B. 347. U tit] And 0. hij] ROB om. I y Hi's] lieges C; leges R; liegges B. adimplere] implere R. 348. fettest] foched C. myne] liym li. al] R om. PASS. XVIII.] GUILE IS DEFEATED BY GRACE. 339 Falseliche & felounelich ; • gode faitli me it tai^te, To recoure hem thorw raunceoun • & hi no resoim elles, So bat with gyle bow gete • J>orw grace it is ywone. Thou didst Jjow, Lucyfer, in lyknesse of a hither addere, 352 ii£j7ai n Getest hy gyle bo that god loued ; IT And I, in lyknesse of a leode • bat lorde am of heuene, i reqnite thee, /"i-Ti.-ii I. i . in likeness of a braciousliclie bi gyle haue quytte go gyle a3eme gyle ! man. And as Adam & alle • borw a tre deyden, 356 Adam & alle borwe a tree shal torne a^eine to lyne ; And gyle is higyled & in his gyle fallen : Guile is beguiled. Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit. Ps.vH. ie Now hygynneth bi gyle ' ageyne be to tourne, And my grace to growe • ay gretter & wyder. 3G0 \)e hitternesse bat bow hast hrowe " hronke it bi-sekien, ]3at art doctonr of deth diynke bat bow madest ! Drink that which 5F For I, bat am lorde of lyf • loue is my drynke, And for bat drynke to-day I deyde vpon erthe. 3G4 I fai^te so, me brestes ^et for mannes sonle sake ; i thirst still, but May no drynke me moiste ne my thruste slake, Tyl ])e vendage falle • in be vale of iosephath, ])at I drynke ri3te ripe must * resureccio mortuorum, Joel m. 12, 13. And banne shal I come as a kynge cronned with angeles, 3G9 And han out of helle ' alle mennes sonles. IT Fendes and fendekynes hifor me shulle stande, 349. me if] it me B. 361. WO omit. hast] CB om. 351. with] \>orw$ WCOB. gete] orouhe] now brouke R. This line is gate C. it is] is it (J. ywone] wonne found in Crowley. Cf. Pass. xi. 117. COB. 3G5, 3G6. B trattsposes these two 352. from] frat B. hither] lither lines. RCOB. 365. \>restes] bristeb 0: tim 353. Getest] Gatest C; Gete R; C; thurstes R ; fmrstej> WB. Gat B. fro] fringe K 366. thruste] fcrist 0; thrysfc C; 354. 7] CB om. threst R ; fmrst WB. 355. qvytte] y-quyt B. gyle (2)] 367. fre vendage] vengeaunce B. rijt B. ' 368. m list] most R. 356. alle] alle other CB. 370. han] so in Rj haue WCOB. 357. aieine] R om. mennes] mannvs ; manere < B. 359. to] C om. 371. fendekynes] fyndekynea WC ; 360. wyder] widder WOO ; gret- feendkyns 0. tere R. 310 THE KING OF KINGS CAN PxUlDON ALL. [PASS. XVIII. Fiends ana And be at my biddynge " where so enre me lyketh. 372 obey me. And to be merciable to man panne my kynde it asketh, For we betb bretheren of blode bnt no^te in bap- tesme alle. Ac alle pat beth myne hole bretheren in blode & in baptesme, Shal nou^te be dampned to pe deth pat is with-outen ende ; 37G Tibi soli pecccmi, §c. It is nou3t vsed in erthe * to hangen a felou?i Ofter pan ones • pough he were a tretour. And }if pe Kynge of pat kyngedome come in pat tyme, There pe feloun thole sholde deth or otherwyse, 380 Lawe wolde, he 3eue hym lyf if he loked on hym. IT And I, pat am kynge of kynges shal come snche a tyme, There dome to pe deth • dampneth al wikked ; And }if lawe wil I loke on hem it lithe in my groce, Whether pei deye or deye novate for pat pei deden ille. 385 Be it any pinge abo^te pe boldenesse of her synnes, I may do mercy porw rijtwisnesse ' & alle my wordes trewe. And pongh hohwiit wil pat I be wroke ' of hem pat deden ille, 388 ccf. Pass. iv. U3.) Nullum malum inpunitum, Sfc, Thei shul be clensed clereliche & wasshen of her synnes My brethren shall not be condemned. Vs. 1. G (Viils; A king can pardon a felon. [Fol. 81.] I, the King of kings, can pardon whom I will No ill shall go unpunished, 373. And— he] Ac K. \>annc— liynde] my kende panne R. it] WO om. 377. in] on R. 380. pe] W om. thole sJwlde] schulde pole O. or otherwyse] so in RCBY ; ou\>er oper-wise ; or ooper Iuwise W ; other else in Crowley. 381. Lane] be lawe O. yve] geue C ; ^af R ; 3aue O. if] and R. 383. There] Where be 0; Where B; Wher C. al] alle {printed alle the) W. 384. lolte — 7iem] on hym loke 0. 385. \>ei] has he, the first time only. 386— 3S8. CB om it. 386. it] om. ahou^tc] om. (!) 387. may] WOY w». trewe] been trewe 0. 388. yat (1)] R om. Nullum] For nullum 0. PASS. XVIII.] CHRIST BINDS SATAN WITH CHAINS. 341 In my prisoura pz«-gatorie • til parce it hote, And ray mercy shal be shewed to manye of my yet mercy shall be shewn. bretheren. 31)1 For blode may suffre blode bothe hungry & akale, Ac blode may noi^t se blode blede, but liym rewe."- — Audiui archana verba, que rum licet homini 2Cor.sii. 4. loqui. — " Ac my rijtwisnesse & ri^t sbal reulen al belle, And mercy al mankynde bifor me in beuene. 395 For I were an vnkynde Kynge ' but I my kynde bolpe, 1 were unnatural . not to help my And namelicb at such a nede • ber nedes belpe bi- own kin. boueth ; Non intres in indicium cum seruo tuo, \domine.~] Ps. cxiu\ 2 (Vnlg.). )?us bi lawe," quod owre lorde ' " lede I wil fro hennes 1 win release , n , -, . those that loved ])o )mt me loued • & leued in my comynge. me ." And for bi lesynge, lucifer bat bow lowe til Eue, 400 Thow sbalt abye it bittre" — • & bonde bvm with Christ binds J Satan. cheynes. Astaroth and al be route hidden hem in hemes, Ashtaroth and others hide They dorste nou3te loke on owre lorde be boldest of themselves. hem alle, But leten hym lede forth what hym lykcd and lete what hym liste. 404 % Many hundreth of angeles harpeden & songen, The angels harp . and sin„'. Qulpat caro, purged caro ; regnat deus aei, caro. 11 Thanne piped pees • of poysye a note, " Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus, 392. hungry] hungre C; and ley; OB. til] to R. hungred {sic) B. akale] so in K ; a- 401. bittre] bitterli 0. bonde] a- cale WO ; a-calde G ; a-cold B. bond B. 393. Ae] And C. se] se his R. 402. Astaroth] Astarot E ; Astroth /////»] it CB. W; Astoroth C; Astrot B. hem] ' 396. kynde] kyn R. Iwlpe] so in thaym C. R ; helpe WCOB. 404. what hym (1)] whom hym W; 397. namelich] mandlich (!) C; with hym who hym C ; with hym alle maliche B. such] silke (!) C. nedes] bat hym B. what (2)] whom W. nedeB. \domine] in O only. 407. solito] solitus R. nebula] so 399. me] I R. in the MSS. 400. lowe] so in R ; leighe WC ; 312 Tiic sun is brightest after sharp showers. Love is dearest alter strife. Truth ami Peace embrace. Righteousness and Peace kiss cadi other. Ps. lxxxiv. 11 (Vulg.). [Fol. 81b.] Ps. cxxxii. 1 (Vulg.). The poet awakes, and bids his wife Kitte and his daughter Kalote THE TOET BIDS HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER [PASS. XVIII. Post inimicitias [clarior est et amor]. 408 After sharpe shoures," quad pees " moste sliene is po sonne ; Is no weder warmer ban after watery cloudcs. !N"e no loue leuere • ne leuer frendes, 411 Jjan after Averre & wo whan loue & pees be maistres. Was neuere werre in bis worlde ' newykkednesse so kene, Jjat ne loue, & hym luste to laugliynge ne broujte, And pees Jjorw pacience • alle perilles stopped." "Trewes," quod treuth " bow tellest vs soth, bi ihesus ! Clippe we in couenaunt ' & vch of vs cusse other." 41 7 " And lete no peple," quod pees " perceyue bat we ehydde, For inpossible is no byng • to hym tat is almy^ty." IT " Thow seist soth," seyde ry^twisnesse & reuer- entlich hir kyste, 420 " Pees & pees here ! per seeula seeulorum." Misericordia fy Veritas obuiauerunt sibi, iusticia ef pax osculate sunt. Treuth tromped po, & songe ' te deum laudamus ; And banne luted loue in a loude note, Ecce quam bonum, fy quam iocundum, $c. IT Tyl be daye dawed • pis damaiseles daunccd, 424 That men rongen to be resurexioura • & ri^t with bat I waked, And called kitte my wyf and kalote my doubter — " Ariseth & reuerenceth • goddes resurrexioun. 408. [clarior — amor~\ LW omit, ; RCOBY retain this Imlf-line, 409. sharpe] scharpest R. shene] clene B. 411. Here It lias lost eight leaves, down to Pass. XX. 27. This passage is collated with Y. 411. leuer] more better 0. 414. ne (1)] CB om. 415. stopped] stoppepW. 416. Trewes] Trews O. 417. cusse] kisse COBY ; clippe W. 418. lete] latte O; leteb W. ehydde] chide CY; chiden O. 419. inpossible] impossible OY. 42:!. lone] W om. in] in-to B. 425. rongen] range C ; rouuge B. waked] a-wakid B. 42(5. called] y-callid B. 427. Ariseth — reuerenceth] so in, OBY ; Arises and reucrens C ; And bad hem rise and reucz-ence W. goddes] crista B. PASS. XVIII.] TO REVERE THE CROSS OF CHRIST. 313 And crepetli to pa crosse on knees & kisseth it for a to revere and kiss the cross. luwel ! 428 For goddes blissed body ' it bar for owre bote, And it afereth pe fende for suche is f>e my3te, May no grysly gost glyde pere it shadweth ! " 43] 428. crepetK] crepe W. JtissetK] 431. shadweUt] so in Y ; shadwi}> kisse W; kisses C. B ; schadwes C ; Bchadewija < > : walkejj 429. goddes blissed] cristisowen B. W. 3-U THE TOET AOAIN DREAMS OF TIERS. [pass. XIX. PASSUS XIX (PROLOGUE TO DOBEST). Passtis xix ,,s ; 4' explicit clobet, cj* incipit dobest. The poet awakes rpHus I awaked & wrote • what I had dremed, and writes his dream. A And di^te me derely & dede me to ch ere lie, To here holy J>e masse • & to be houseled after. In myddes of J?e masse J>o men ^ede to offrynge, He again sleeps, I fel eftsones a-slepe • & sodeynly me mette, and dreams of . . , . , That Pieres J>e plowman was paynted al blody, Piera the IMownian, holding a cross. " Is tliis Jesus or Piers the Plowman ? " "It is Christ wearing Piers' coat-armour." And come in with a crosse " bifor J>e comnne peple, And ri3te lyke in alle lymes " to owre lorde ihesu ; 8 And Jmnne called I conscience ' to kenne me po sothe. " Is Jiis thesns pe iuster ] " quod I ' " j>at inwes did to deth? 1 Or it is Pieres fe plowman ! who paynted hym so rede?" Quod conscience, & kneled po • " Jjise arcn Pieres amies, His coloures & his cote-armure ac he Jjat cometh so blody 13 Is cryst with his crosse " conqueroure of crystene." Title. Passus decimw« nonus YO ; to which B adds — et quirttws de dobct. W agrees with L. 1 . dremed] ydremed WC. 3. holy ]>er\ f>e holi B. 3, 4. kto be— masse] COBY om. r>. COBY omit. C>. That] £>a?me 0. 8. lymes] Jjynges W. {). And] CBY om. lit. did] diden B ; diden hywi O. 11. it is] so in WCOBY ; is it in ( Irowley. 1 :S. ac] and C. 14. Ts] Wij>B. PASS. XIX.] THE NAMES OF KNIGHT, KING, AND CONQUEROR. 345 If " Why calle $e hym cryst ? " quod I " sithenes iuwes " why can Him calle hym ihesus 1 Patriarkes & praphetes prophecyed bifore, 16 jpat alkyn creatures shulden knelen & bowen, Anon as men nempned • f e name of god Ihesu. His name is Jesus. Ergo is no name • to f e name ot lh^us, ~Ne none so nedeful to nempne by nyjte ne by daye. For alle derke deuelles aren adradde to heren it, 21 And synful aren solaced ' & saued bi fat name. And 3e callen hym cryst • for what cause, telleth me ? Is cryst more of my 3 to & more worthy name 24 is Christ a . worthier name ? " J)an mesw or lhesus fat al owre loye come of? 1T "Thow knowest wel," quod conscience "and fow Conscience replies, konne resoura, That knrote, kynge, conqueroure may be pe^sone. "One man may be both knight, To be called a kni3te is faire ' for men shal knele to king, ami . „„ conqueror. hym ; 28 To be called a Kynge is fairer • for he may knyjtes make ; Ac to be conquerour called ' fat cometh of special To be called a conqueror conie» g?*0fCe, of special grace. And of hardynesse of herte & of hendenesse [bothe], To make lordes of laddes of londe fat he wynneth, 32 And fre men foule thralles fat folweth noi^t his [Foi.82.| lawes. IT The iuwes, fat were gentil men • ihesu. f ei dispised, The Jews -r-iii'i o i • i -i it despised JeSUS, Bothe his lore & his lawe now ar f 31 lowe cherlis. and arc now As wyde as fe worlde is wonyeth fere none 36 But vnder tribut & taillage " as tykes & cherles. And f fat bicome crysten • by conseille of f e baptiste, 15, y~\ ^ °'"' ca ^ e ( 2 )] called kynge] kyng and B. o]aB;ofooY. CBY ; calleden O. 29. To] And to 0. is] om. 19. is] J?er is B. \>e] f^at B. of] 30. Ac] And CYB. CBY om. 31. [bothe COBY] LW om. 23. y] thay C. callen] callid B. 36. -4s] Also B. wonyeth— none] 25. come] come|) B. noon of hem \>er wonyef W, 26. konne] canst 0. 38. baptiste] baptisme WCO ; bap- 27. O puts kynge before knyjte. fcesme X ; baptyme B. 346 CHRIST is A CONQUEROR. [pass. XIX. The Christians are free men. Jesus performed the duties of a king, and hare a crown of thorns. He arose, and was a conqueror. He pave his lieges places in Paradise. And now He cometh to teach us Aien frankeleynes, fre men • borw fullyng bat bei toke, And gentel men with ihesu • for Iaesus was [yfulled], And vppon caluarye on crosse ycrouned kynge of iewes. 41 IT It bicometh to a Kynge • to kepe and to defende, And conquerour of conquest his lawes & his large. And so [dide] Ihesus be iewes lie iustified & taiute hem 44 ])q lawe of lyf that last shal euere ; And fended fram foule yueles feueres & fluxes, And fro fendes bat in hem [were] & fals bileue. j)o was he ihmis of iewes called gentel prophete, 48 And kynge of her kyngdome & croune bar of bornes. % And bo conquered lie on crosse as conquerour noble ; My^t no deth hym fordo " ne adown brynge, That he ne aros & regned and rauysshed belle. 52 And bo was he conquerour called of quikke & of ded, For he jaf Adam & Eue and other mo blisse, Jjat longe hadde leyne bifore as lucyferes cherles. IT And sith be jaf largely alle his lele lyges 56 Places in paradys at her partynge hennes, He may wel be called conquerour & bat is cryst to mene. IT Ac be cause bat he cometh bus ' with crosse of his passioim, Is to wissen vs bere-wyth bat whan bat we ben tempted, 60 39. fre] & frea 0. fullyng'] )?e WCYB] werren (sic) O ; was L. fitllvng B. 40. \_i/f tilled WCY] yfullid OB; y foiled L. 42. to (2)] O om. 43. And] And a C. 44. [dide] so in WCOBY : ded L. 45. lyf] longe lijf O. 46. fended] fende hem ; fenden Y ; fendist B ; defended W. 47. fro] o»i. in] O om. [were fals] al fals O. 50. crosse] \>e crois B. 52. ne tiros] naroos W ; no roos 0; aros CB. 53. railed] calle C ; B om. 55. leyne] y-leyen W. luryferes] lucifer Y. 56. alle] to alle B. 59. he] C o»i. his] CYB om. 60. \at (2)] B om. PASS. XIX.] THE OFFERINGS OF THE MAGI. 347 Jjer-with to fyjte & fenden vs • fro fallyng in-to synne, And se bi his sorwe bat who so loueth ioye, that he who rp i> , , , loveth joy must lo penaunce & to pouerte he moste putten hym- suffer wo. seluen, And moche wo in J?is worlde willen & sufrxen. 64 If Ac to carpe more of cryst And how he come to bat name, Faithly forto speke " his firste name was ihesus. Tho he was borne in bethleem as be boke telleth, And cam to take mankynde kynges and aungeles Eeuerenced hym faire with richesse of ertlie. Angeles out of heuene come knelyng & songe, Gloria in excelsis deo, tyc. IF Kynges come after • kneled, & offred Mirre & moche golde with-outen mercy askynge, Or any kynnes catel " but knowlechyng hym soe- His name w.is Jesus at first. 68 72 Angela sung to him. Luke ii. 14. Kings offered him their gifts. uemgne [Fol. B26J Bothe of sonde, sonne, & see & sithenes pei went In-to her kyngene kyth • by conseille of angeles. And there was jjat worde fulfilled ' be which bow of speke, 76 Omnia celestla, terrestrla, flectantnr in hoc no- Pha.ii.io. mine IJiesu. For alle be angeles of heuene at his burth kneled, And al be witte of be worlde was in bo pre kynges ; Eesoiw & [rijtwisnesse] & reuth bei offred, AVherfore & whi wyse men Jmt tyme, 80 Maistres & lettred men Magy hem called. These Magi offered Him reason, righteousness, and rath ; 61. fenden'] defenden W. in-to] to W. synne] om. (!) 02. se] se (printed so) W. so] Bom. 64. wo] who B ; om. willen] to willen W. 65. J.^]AsCB. ?nore]Jjom. name] C om. 66. Faithly] Feib-fulli B. 69. Retiereneed] Reuerenseden B. ric/iesse] richesses W. 70. out] B om. 71. come] bat come W. kneled] knelynge OY ; and kneliden B. 72. moche] mylkyle (!) C. 74. sonde] lond W ; souleB; sonde and COY. see] sehe O. 75. her — kyth] hir kyngenelich C ; hir kyngenlith Y ; erbe kyngriche B. angeles] an angel B. 76. worde] world Y. 75). [riytwisnesse'WOY] rhtfulnesse LCB : h„i see 1. 84. 348 \\ THAT INCENSE, GOLD, AND MYRRH SIGNIFY. [PASS. XIX. denoted by 1f That o kynge cam with vesoun keuered vnder souse. incense, )?e secounde kynge sitthe sothliche ofTred Bi^twisnesse vnder red golde resomzs felawe. 84 r ,,1( >. Golde is likned to leute bat last shal euere, And resoura to riche golde to ri3te & to trenthe. The J>ridde kynge bo cam knelyng to ihesu, 87 and myrrh. And presented hym with pitee apierynge hy myrre ; For mine is mercy to mene • & mylde speche of tonge. Thre yliche honest binges [were] oflred bus at ones, J}orw bre kynne kynges " knelyngo to ihesu. Jesus was not yet ^[ Ac for alle bise preciouso presentz owre lorde prynce a king or a conqueror. llieSUS J '1 Was neyther kynge ne conquerour ' td he gan to wexe In be manere of a man & bat by moche sleight ; Like a conqueror, As it hicometh a conquerour • to konne many sleightes, He learnt many sleights. And many wyles & witte • pat wil hen a leder ; 9G And so did ihesu in his dayes ' who so had tyme to telle it. Sum tyme he suffred & sum tyme he hydde hym ; And sum tyme he fau3te faste • & fleigh otherwhile. And some tyme he gaf good & graunted hele hothe, Lyf & lyme " as hym lyste, he wrought. 101 As kynde is of a conquerour so comsed ihesu, Tyl he had alle hem bat he fore hledde. IF In his iuuente bis ihesus atte iuwen feste, 104 He wrought miracles. 82. o] of (!) Y; on B. 83. sitthe] ek CB ; ech Y. soth- liche] soijdi he B. 84. Riytwisnessc] Rhtfulnesse B. red] B om. 85. Golde] For gold W. leute] beaute B. last] fast Y. 8G. W omits. 87. H CB om. 88. presented] presente C. apier- ynge] apperynge WO ; appaieryng Y; a pilgrym (I) B. oy] to C. DO, 91. Thre yliche] f?isc \>vec y- likne B. were — kynges] CB omit. {were WOY] was L. 92. prynce] kyng W. 94. pe] \>\se B. moche] muchel W. 95. sleightes] wilis B. 96. wyles — witte] sotile wittis B. 97. ihesu] Iohan B. had] holdij? B. to] B om-. 98. Sim] So |>at B. 99. fleigh] fledd C ; pleiet B. 100. good] gold B. hele] Idle B. 102. a] B om. so] and so Y. 103. had] badde C. 104. -iuuente] IuuenteeWY; Inno- cence CB. atte] at WC ; at J;e Y. iutven] Iewne C ; Iuen O. PASS. XIX.] JESUS EARNS THE NAMES DO-WELL AND DO-BET. 349 Water in-to wyn tourned as holy writ telleth, He tamed water And bere bigan god of his grace to dowel. began toDO- For wyn is lykned to lawe & lyf of holynesse ; And lawe lakked bo • for men loued nou3t her enemys. And cryst conseilleth pus & comaundeth bothe, 109 Bothe to lered & to lewed ' to louye owre enemys. So atte feste fh'ste as I bifore tolde, at the feast in Bygan god, of his grace & goodnesse, to dowel : 112 And bo was he cleped & called noi^t holy cryst, but Ihesu, A faunt fyn, ful of witte films marie. fl" For bifor his moder marie made he bat wonder, in the presence of Mary. Jjat she furste & formest ferme shulde bilieue, 11G That he borw grace was gete ' & of no gome elles. [Foi. 83.] He wroust bat bi no witte but borw worde one, After be kynde bat he come of bere comsed he dowel. And whan he was woxen more ' in his moder absence, Next He wrought many miracles, He made lame to lepe ' & 3aue li3te to blynde, 121 And fedde with two flssh.es • & with fyue loues Sore afyngred folke mo ban fyue thousande. }}us he conforted earful & cauite a gretter name, 124 and caught a greater name, j)e whiche was dobet * where bat he went. viz. do-bex. For defe borw his doynges to here & dombe speke he made, And alle he heled & halpe ' bat hym of grace asked. And bo was he called in contre ' of be comime peple, 10fi. to] CYB om. 120. was woxen] woxen was W. 107. of] W om. 121. lame] lame men B. 109. \>us] vs COBY. comaundeth'] 123. afyngred] ahungerd C : and comaunde C. hungrid B. fyue] a CY. mo—ilwu- 110. Bothe] W om. sonde] fyue fiowsan and mo B. 111. atte] at be COY; bat be B; 124. earful] be careful B. a] Y at bat {printed the) \\. om. gretter] gret B. 113. bo] boo O ; banne W. cleped 126. defe] deef CY : deefe ; deue flWow. cryst] chirche CB. Crowley W; deefe men B. \>orrv— doynges] has— not only christ but Jesu. he made B. speke— made] speke 1 1 7. of] CBY om. made C ; to speke B. 119. \>ere] the Y. comsed] bygan 127. he] Bom. C. :;;,<) CHRIST S JOYFUL RKSURRECTION. Then was He called the Son of David. 1 Sam. xviii. 7. [pass. XIX. 129 None was so worthy as He to be king. The Jews then crucified Him, For pe dudes pat he did fill dauid, ihesus! For dauid was dottiest of dedes in his tyrne, The berdes po songe Saul interfecit mille, et dauid decent milia ; For-pi pe contre pere ihesu cam called hym fill dauid, And nempned hym of nazereth & no man so worthi To be kaisere or kynge • of pe kyngedome of i.nda, 134: Ne ouer iuwes iustice • as ihesus was, he?» borate. IT TVhere-of caiphas hadde enuye & other of pe iewes, And forto done hym to deth • day & nyjte pei casten ; Kulleden hym on-crosse-wyse at calaarie on fryday, And sithen buryden his body & beden pat men sholde and watched His Kepen it fro ni^t-comeres • with knyjtes y-armed, 140 body, For no frendes shulde hym fecche for prophetes hem tolde, pat pat blessed body of burieles shulde rise, And gone in-to galile and gladen his apostles, And his moder Marie ' pus men bifore denied. 144 ^T The kny3tes pat kepten it biknewe it hem-selueii, pat angeles & archangeles " ar pe day spronge, Come knelynge to pe corps & songen, christus re- surgens Yerrey man bifor hem alle ' & forth with hem he jede. 148 ^[ The iewes preyed hem pees & bisoi^te pe knystes lest He should rise again. Angels sans: at His resurrection. 129. fill — iJiesus] ihesu til i dauid COBY. 130. hit] B om. 131. berdes] burdes W ; birdes Y ; byrdes C ; burges B. {<>] that COBY. Saul] Sal CB. 132. Xbr-pi] For B. 134. inda] Iude C ; Iudee B. 135. Ne] And be B. iustice] Ius- 138. Kulleden] And killiden B. on (2)] on ]>e B. 14(). y-armed] armed Y. 142. blessed] blisful C; bisseful (sic) B. shulde rise] risen sholde W. 144. mm] tei B. 145. it (1)] so in W and Crowley : hym COBY. hem-teluen] hym-selue CB. 147. Come] Comen kynlyn (!) B. t ! e ;s C. ihesus] B om. 137. done] done or doun L; doon corps] corees C ; oors B WCY; don B ; do O ; cf. gone in 1. 14S. man] men (sic) WO. 143. 149. pecs] be pees W. PASS. XIX.] THE INCREDULITY OF THOMAS. 351 Telle be comune bat pere cam a compaignye of his The Jews bade aposteles, thesou,,, x His body was And bywicched hem as J?ei woke & awey stolen it. stolen " IT Ac Marie Magdeleyne ' mette hym hi pe wey, 152 Bllt Mary Goynge toward galile * in godhed & manned, Him aiivV" And lyues & lokynge & she aloude cryde, ™ '"" In eche a compaignye fere she cam christus resurgens! pus cam it out bat cryst ouer-cam rekeuered & lyued ; Sic oportet christum pati, cy intrare, §c. ; Lukexxiv. 46. For [pat] bat wowimen witeth may noi^te wel be con- for what a woman seille ! 157 k »°"; sis '"> x J ' secret. H Peter pe/-ceyued al bis & pwrsued after, Bothe iames & Iohan Ihesu for to seke, [Foi. 8:6.] Tadde & ten mo with Thomas of ynde. 1G0 And as alle pise wise wyes weren togideres. His apostles In an hous al hishette • & her dore ybarred, acioseThouse, 1 " Cryst cam in, & al closed bothe dore & 3 ates, Smein^ 8 ' To peter & to his aposteles and seyde^wza; vohis ! 16-1 And toke Thomas by Jje hande and tai^to hym to grope, And fele with his fyngres his flesshelich herte. Thomas touched mr tii i i •, o - i i , and knew Him. II 1 nomas touched it & with his tonge seyde, ' Deus mens cj - dominus mens. John xx. 28. Tliow art my lorde, I bileue god, lorde ihesu ! 1G8 pow deydest & deth boledest and deme shalt vs alle ! And now art lyuynge & lokynge & laste shalt euere ! ' 150. Trtle~\ to telle B. \>e comune] 162. hishette'] Inset C ; bisette V. O om. cam] coomen O. ybarred] so in W ; ysperrede CY ; 151. as] arB. it] hym B. yspered 0; I-spord B; Crowley has 154. li/ues] so hi W ; on hue O ; a barred. lyueY; lymes CB. she] so'CBY. 163. ,y] soitiW; COBY om. ; hit 155. C and B are corrupt here. cf. C-Text. 157. [batfWCOBY] Lom. n-ih-th] 164. his] bise W ; be B. witetbes (!) C. conseille] counseille 165. grope] grappe C. W : counseil CYB ; couwceyl 0. 1G8. god] my god W. god lorde] 158. perceyued] perceyues C. my lord god B. 160. Tadde] so in COB; Thaddee 169. shalt] sbal B. W; ThaddeY. 170. shalt] schalt Jwu 0. 161. as] B on. ir yes] men B. 3.") 2 CHRIST TEACHES DO-BEST. [pass. XIX. Christ blessed Thomas, and those still more wlio believe without sight. John xx. 29. Then He taught DO-BEST. Mat. xviii. 28. He gave His apostles power to bind and unbind. He ascended into heaven. He shall judge all men at Doom's- dav." H Crist carped panne and curteislich seyde, ' Thomas, for Jiow trowest pis & trewliche hileuest it, Blessed mote pow be • & be shalt for euerc. 173 And blessed mote pei alle be in body & in soule, That neuere shal se me in si3te • as Jjow doste nouthc, And lellich bileuen al ])is • I loue hem & blesse hem ; Beati qui nun viderunt, \et crediderunt,~\ $c.' ^1 And whan Jsis dede was done dobest he taujte, And 3af Pieres power • and pardoun he graunted To alle manere men mercy & f0T3yfD.es, 179 Hym myjte men to assoille ' of alle manere synnes, In couenant pat pei come & lcnowleche to pave, To pieres pardon pe plowman redde quod debes. IT Thus hath pieres powere be his pardouw payed, To bynde & to vnbynde bothe here & elles-[where], And assoille men of alle synnes • saue of dette one. 185 ^F Anone after an heigh vp in-to heuene He went, & wonyeth fere & wil come atte laste, And rewarde hym rijte wel pat reddit quod debet— Payeth parfitly as pure trewthe wolde. 180 And what persone payeth it noujt punysshen he pinketh, And demen hem at domes daye • bothe quikke & ded, Jpe gode to pe godhede • & to grete ioye, 192 And wikke to wonye in wo with-outen ende." 172. bilcuest] leuest O. 175. filial se] seien B. 176. [et eredidervnt COBY] LW om. 178. he] hym B. 17 It. men] of men C. 180. Hym — to] His power rny^te men Y ; He mj^t men B. {These two readings are simpler, yet probably not genuine.) men] Worn.; Oplaces it after assoille. synnes] synne W. 181. hnoivleche] so in ; know- licbe CY ; knouleche B ; apparently mismritten knewleche in L; knewe- liched W. 183. hath] O om. be] byW ; bi B. 184. to (2)] WCOBY om. [where WCOBY] L omits, but the line is marltcd ; els where in Crowley. 185. assoille] soilled C. alle] CB om. an heigh] on heigh B 186. hy 3 on the in-to] in-to f>e Y ; to CB. 187. Toil] wo 'put for wol) B. atte] at Jre WOB ; at CY. 188. And] L has And wil ; but wil should be omitted, as in WCOBY. 189. Payeth] And payejj O. 191. hem] hym COB. at] a CY. 193. wihlte] wikkede WCOBY. PASS. XIX.J TUB DESCENT OF THE IIOLY GHOST. 353 Jpus conscience of crist & of be crosse carped, And conseilled me to knele ber-to & Jjanne come, me bou^te, 195 One spiritus paraclitus ' to pieres & to his felawes; The spirit In lyknesse of a ^tnynge he ly^te on hem alle, and Ms fellows. And made hem konne & knowe • alkyn langages. I wondred v, T hat bat was • & wagged conscience, And was afered of the ly^ie ' for in lyres lyknesse 200 [Foi.si.i Spiritus paraclitus • oner-spradde hem alle. % Quod conscience, & kneled "bis is crystes messager. «ths is Christ's And cometh fro be grete god ' & gmce is his name. said conscience. Knele now," quod conscience " " & if bow canst synge, Welcome hym & worshipe hym with veni, creator spiritus." 205 ^F Thanne songe I fat songe * and so did many hundreth, And cryden with conscience • " help vs, god of grace !" Grace counsels Piers And Jjanne bigan grace to go with piers plowman, And conseilled hym & conscience Jje comune to sompne, 209 " For I wil dele to-daye ' & dyuyde grace, bestowing gifts of To alkynnes creatures * fat [han] her fyue wittes, Tresore to lyue by to her lyues ende, 2 1 2 And wepne to fyjte with • Jjat wil neure faille. For antecryst & his • al be worlde shal greue, against the power of Antichrist. And acombre Jje, conscience • hut if cryst Jje helpe. ^[ And fals prophetes fele flatereres & glosers 216 Shullen come & he curatoures • oner kynges & erlis, And pryde shal be pope prynce of holycherche, For pride shall be pope. Coueytyse & vnkyndencsse cardinales hym to lede. 194. \>c~\ om. repetition of And wepne, &c. Wand 195. come'] cam WOY ; com CB. Crowley retain this passage. 200. the] \>at CYB. lyknesse] light- 215. \>e (2)] Crowley omits. nesse W. " 216. fele] fell in Crowley. 206. and] W am. 218. prynce] and prince in 210. dyuyde] ^yiie diuine W. Crowley. 211. [han WCOYB] kan L. 219. hym] hem in Crowley. 213—220. COBY omit, owing to 23 354 THE DIVERS GIFTS OF THE SriRIT. [pass. XIX. The gifts of the Spirit ; 1 Cor. xii. i. Wit and eloquence; merchandise ; handicrafts : mathematics ; painting j foreknowledge ; astronomy ; strength to do justice; For-bi," quod grace, "er I go • I wil gyue 30W trcsore, And wepne to fi3te with whan antecryst sow assailletli." 221 And gaf echo man a grace to gye with hym seluen, That ydelnesse encomhrc hym noii3t envye ne pryde, Diuisiones graciarum sunt, §c. IF Some he 3af wytte with, wordes to shewe, 224 "Witte to wynne her lyflodc with ' as be worlde askcth, As prechoures & prestes • & prentyce[s] of lawe, J?ei lelly to lyue hy lahoure of tonge, And hi witte to wissen other • as grace hem wolde teche. 228 1T And some he kenned crafte ' & kunnynge of syjte, With selJyng & huggynge • her hylyf to wynne, And some he lcred to lahoure a lele lyf & a trewe, And somme he tai^te to tilie to dycke & to thecche, To wynne with her lyflode hy lore of his techynge. And some to dyuyne & diuide • noumhres to kenne ; And some to compas craftily & colonres to make ; And some to se & to saye what shulde hifalle, 23 G Bothe of wel & of wo telle it or it felle, As Astronomyenes borw astronomye ' & philosophres wyse. IT And some to ryde & to recoeure pat vnri^tfully was wonne ; He wissed hem wynne it a3eyne ' borw wightnesse of handes, 221. antecryst] any cristyne CB. 222. eche] om. gye] gide W ; go COY ; goo B ; but Crowley has guide. 22 1. wordes] is wordis B. 225. Witte] WiJ? B. her] his Y. worlde] work O. 226. prentyces] Prentices WCOY ; prinois B ; miswritten pmityce in L. 227. by] )?oru3 O ; by a B. 229. he] B om. crafte] craftis B. 230. huggynge] byggynge CYB. oijlijf] bilyiieWC; bUeueY; bileue 240 {altered to biliue) ; lillode B. 231. a (2)] COB om. 232. thecche] hegge COBY. 234. to (1)] BY om. nownibres] membres C ; menbris B. 236. " pat he pat vseth pe fairest crafte ' to pe foulest I couth haue put hym, pinketh alle," quod grace • " pat grace conieth of my jifte ; 248 Loke pat none lakke other but loueth alle as bre- " Let none blame , t others. theren. ^f And Avho pat moste maistries can be myldest of berynge, And crouneth conscience kynge & makcth crafte Make conscience , , your king. ^owre stuward, And after craftes conseille cloth eth 30W & fede. 252 For I make pieres pe plowman my procuratour & my reve, And Eegystrere to receyue reticle quod clebes. My prowor & my plowman Piers shal ben on erthe, My piowmaa And for to tulye treuthe • a teme shal he haue." 256 II Grace gaue Piers a teme ' foure gret oxen ; Grace gives Piers fuur oxen, )3at on was Luke, a large beste and a lowe-chered, 241. foluyles] so in W ; foluiles 251. crouneth'] crowned CBY ; COY ; forluylie B. crowne 0. inaheth] rnaked CB ; make 243. for alle] fol (!) C. O. 244. lele] lee B. a crafte] craft 252. C omits, clotlictli] cloJ>e B. to B. fede] fede}> O. 245. debate] debatis B. 255. prowor] so in W ; prowecw 247. I] B om. Y ; prowyowr O ; plough B ; plowght 248. CBY omit. C; purveowrC2 ; Crowley Aosprouisor. 249. Loke] LokeJ? W. none] no 256. tulye] tilie WCOBY. Y ; no man W. loueth] loue C ; Y om. 257. foure] of foure W. 250. 7vho] J;eiB. can] konne CY ; 258. a lotve-chcred] of lowc chere kwrae B. be myldest] be> mylde B. B. 35G FOUR OXEN, FOUR STOTS, AND FOUR SEEDS. [PASS. XIX. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ; and four " stots," Austin, Ambrose, Gregory, and Jerome ; and also four seeds, viz. the cardinal virtues. The first is the Spirit of Prudence ; the second, of Temperance ; which protects men against all excesses j And marke, & mathew bo brydde myghty bestes bothe, 259 And ioigned to hem one Iohan • most gentil of alle, J?e prys nete of Piers plow • passyng alle other. % And grace gaue pieres of his goodnesse, foure stottis, Al Jjat his oxen eryed * bey to harwe after. 2G3 On hy3te Austyne • & amhrose an-other, Gregori be grete clerke * & Ierome be gode ; J?ise foure, be feithe to teche • folweth pieres teme, And harwed in an hand while * al holy scripture, 267 Wyth two harwes fat bei hadde • an olde & a newe, Id est, vetus testament um 3f nouum. ^T And grace gaue greynes be cardynales vertues, And sewe [hem] in mannes soule & sithen he tolde her names. Spiritus prudencie ' be firste seed hy3te, And who so eet J>at ymagyne he shulde, 272 Ar he did any dede deuyse wel be ende ; And lerned men a ladel bugge ' with a longe stele, ]5at cast for to kepe a crokke to saue be fatte abouen. ^T The secounde seed hi3te • spiritus temperancie. 27G He fat ete of J>at seed hadde suche a kynde, Shulde neuere mete ne mochel drynko • make hym to swelle, Ne sholde no scorner ne scolde ' oute of skyl hym brynge, 260. mosf] the most CBY. 262. stottis] grete stottes CB. 263. ]>eg] hem 0. harwe] harwen itB. 264. amhrose an-other] ano|>er am- brose B. 265. Ierome] Ieromye Y. 267. an] Y om. 268. an] and B. Id est] COBY om. 269. cardynales] so in COY ; car- dynals B ; Cardynal W. 270. sewe] sewen Y ; swee (sic) C. [hem WC2] it LCOBY. he] COBY om. 273. did — elede] deide an}' dee); W. deuyse wel] auyse hym wel of B. 274. ladel] lady (!) Y. bugge] bygge CB ; to bigge O. 275. \>at] To O ; And W. 276—355. Here the Oriel MS. has lost a leaf. This passage is collated with Cz. 277. hadde] it had C2. 279. sholde] W om. PASS. XIX.] PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE, AND JUSTICE. 357 ISTe wynnynge ne welthe of wor[l]deliche ricchesse 280 Waste worde of ydelnesse ne wykked speclie meue ; Shulde no curyous clothe comen on hys rugge, Ne no mete in his mouth fat maister Iohan spiced. [Foi. kj ^f The thridde seed fat Pieres sewe * was spirihis for- the third, the ... 7 . . Spirit of tltudiniS. 284 Fortitude, And who so eet of fat seed hardy was eure. To suflre al Jmt god sent • sykenesse Sz angres ; My3te no lesynge ne lyere • ne losse of worldely catel Maken hym for any mownynge * fat he nas merye in soule, 288 And bolde & abydynge • bismeres to snffre, And playeth al with pacyence ' & parce miclii, domlne, which confers And couered hym vnder conseille • of catou?* f e wyse ; P ' 1 Esto forti animo, cum sis dampnatus inique. 292 Dion. Cato ; Dist. m ii. It ^T The fierthe seed fat pieres sewe • was spiritus iusticie, tiie fourth of And he fat eet of fat seed • shulde be euere trewe With god, & noujt agast but of gyle one. For gyle goth so pryuely fat good faith other-while May noi^te ben aspyed • for spirit us iusticie. 297 IT Spiritm iusticie spareth nou3te to spille which punishes Hem fat ben gulty • & forto correcte J?e Kynge, 3if he falle • in gylte or in trespasse. 300 For counteth he no kynges wratthe • whan he in courte sitteth To demen as a domes man; * adraddo was he neure, and is afraid -vr • 1 n l pit ii -i neither of duke iNoither ot duke ne oi deth fat he ne dede fe la we, nor of death. For present or for preyere or any prynces le^res ; 304 280. CC2BY om. worldelicUe] see 288. nas'] ne was B. 1. 287. 291. couered] coueren CC2Y ; 281. Waste] Wat B. ne] ne no couerejj B. CBY. 293. fierthe] so in CB ; ferfe 282. rugge'] rygge C ; rigge C2B. WC2Y. 285. so] W om, was] was he W ; 294. euere] neuere B. he was B. 297. aspyed] espied W. 28G. sykenesse] & siknesse Y. 300. in (2)] in ony C2. 287. lesynge] lesynges WCC2BY. 301. counteth] a-counteb B. ne lyere] no ber (!) C ; hym dere B. 303. \>e] WCC2BY om. worldely] wordly O ; no B. 358 The harrow is the law. Weeds are like vices. Grace bids Piers to buikl a barn. Piers asks for wood, and receives the cross of Christ. [Fol. 85 &.] He builds the house of Unity. PIERS BUILDS THE HOUSE OF UNITY. [PiSSS. XIX. He dede equite to alio ' euene forth his powere. IT Thise foiu*e sedes pieres sewe and sitthe he did hem liarwe Wyth olde lawe and newe lawe fat loue my3te wexe Amonge pe foure vertuea * and vices destroye. 303 IF For coniunelich in contrees kamniokes & wedes Fouleth pe fruite in pe felde pere pei growe togyderes ; And so don vices vertues worthy. Quod Piers, " harweth alle pat kunneth kyndc witte ' bi conseille of pis doctours, 312 And tulyeth after her techynge pe cardinale vertues." ^T " A3eines pi greynes," quod grace " bigynneth for to ripe, Ordeigne pe an hous, Piers to herberwe in pi comes." IT " By god ! grace," quod Piers • " ^e rnoten gyue tynibre, 316 And ordeyne pat hous • ar }e hennes wende." % And grace gaue hym pe crosse with pe croune of ponies, That cryst vpon caluarye * for rnankynde on pyned, And of his baptesme & blode pat he bledde on Eode He made a maner rnorter & mercy it bijte. 321 And pere-with grace bigan to make a good founde- ment, And watteled it and walled it with his peynes & his passiouw, And of al holy writ ' he made a rofe after, 324 And called pat hous vnite holicherche on englisshe. 308. \>e] po W. 309. comunelich] comunosY. ham- mohes] calokes B. 312. kimnetli] kormep W; konne CC2Y ; kiwme B. h/nde] kyndly CC2BY. 313. tulyeth'] tiliepWCaYB; tellcs C. her'] his C; pis C2. \>c] B om. 314. pi] pi {printed thei in 2nd ed.) W. grace] grace to Piers CBYC2. bigynneth for to] pat pi grcynep B. 315. Piers] CBY om. ; L has quod Piers, where qwod is wrongly repeated from 1. 31G. cornea] so in WB ; corne CC2Y. 316. god] goddis (wrongly) B. moten] most CB. 317. nende] wente B. 323. watteled] watlede W ; vratled CC2Y ; watrid B. peynes] peyne W. 324. al] C2 om, 325. on] in C2. PASS. XIX.] PRIDE PREPARES TO ATTACK PIERS. 359 And whan f>is dede was done • grace denised A carte, hy^te cristendome • to carye pieres sheues ; And gaf hyni caples to his carte • contriciouw & con- Piers' horses i fessioii», 328 "* i are in confession. And made presthodc haywarde pe while hym-self went As wyde as J>e world e is ' with pieres to tulye treuthe. H Now is Pieres to Jje plow & pruyde it aspyde, Pride sees Piers And gadered hyrn a grete oest • to greuen he binketh and prepares to r*\ it n t i , attack him. Conscience and al crystene • and cardmale vertues, Plowe hern doune & broke hem & Lite atwo be mores; 334 And sente forth swnpiydous ' his seriaunt of armes, He sends out And his spye spille-loue ' one speke-yuel-byliynde. spiii-iove. }5ise two come to conscience ' and to crystene peple, And tolde hem tydynges " pat tyne bei shulde J>e sedes, 338 That Pieres pere hadde ysowen ' J?e cardynal vertues ; Pride's message . _. - i i i o • i • to all Christians, And Pieres berne worth broke & bei bat ben m vnite Shulle come out, & conscience & ^owre two caples, Confcssiou?! & eontriciouw and 3 owre carte be byleue Shal be coloured so queyntly and keuered vnder owre threatening to work them evil SOphlstl'ie, 3-13 by sophistry. J3at [conscience] shal noi^te ' knowe by eontricioiiH, He by confessiouM - who is cristene or hethen, Ne no maner marchaunt bat with nioneye deleth, Where he wynne wyth ri^te " with wronge, or with vsure. 326. grace] grace ano?i C2. Cardinally or Cardinally C2. 329. ]>e while] while Y. 340. worth] wrob B. brolte] y- 331. it] is B. broke WB; brokyn C2. wort h broke) 332. to] for to W ; hym to B. with brake C. 333. CC2BY omit. 341. $ (1)] of {corrected to &) Y ; 331. Blome] Blew CB. hem (1)] on B. hym B. breJte] brak B. bite] bitte 343. owre] W om. C2 ; bot B. 344. [conscience] consciouw in L, 338. hem] hym C. but marlted for correction. 339. ysowen] sowyn C2. cardynal] 347. Where] WheiperW. cardinals (with s nearly erased) C; 300 CONSCIENCE BIDS MEN FLY TO UNITY. [PASS. XIX. Pride and Lechery prepare to waste the world. Conscience bids men to fly to Unity or Holy- 1,'hnrch. Common Sense bids them dig a ditch about Unity, to serve as a moat. [Fob 8G-1 A list of those who repented not, fl "With suclie coloures & queyntise cometh pryde y-armed, 348 With f e lorde fat lyueth after f e luste of his body, To wasten, on welfare • and on wykked kepynge, Al fe worlde in a while ' forw owre witte," quod pruyde. II Quod conscience to alio crystenc f o " my conseiile is to wende 352 Ilastiliche in-to vnyte " & holde we vs fere, And preye we fat a pees were • in Piers heme f e plow- man. For witterly I wote wel * we heth noujte of strengthc To gone agayne pryde but grace were with vs." 350 IT And f anno cam kynde wytte • conscience to teche, And cryde & comaunded al crystene peple, Tor to deluen a dyche depe a-boute vnite, That holy-cherche stode in vnite • as it a pyle [were]. IT Conscience comaunded fo • al crystene to clelue, 3G1 And make a muche mote • fat my^te ben a strengthc, To helpe holycherche & hem fat it kepeth, *[[ Thanne alkyn crystene saue comunc wommen, 3G-4 Eepenteden & refused synne " saue they one ; And fals men, flat[er]eres • vsureres and theues, Lyeres and questmongeres fat were forsworen ofte, Wytynge and willefully with f e false helden, 3G8 And for syluer were forswore " sothely f ei wist it. H jpere nas no crystene creature ' fat kynde witte hadde, 318. 349. 350. pynge] 353. 354. 356. mences. 357. 359. dichen y-armed"] armed CC2B. lyueth] leueth C2. on (2)] in W; C2 om. he- lyuynge W. vs \ere] us welle per C2. a] C om. were] where C2. Here collation with O recom- And] CBY om. a dyehe] and ; and dike B. diche CY; & 360. a pyle] appil (!) B. [were COBY] weereW; were in Crowley; L omits, but the line is marked for correction. 363. hem] he CB. 365. refused] refuseden CB. 366. flaterere$] miswritten flateres in LY ; flatereris WOB ; flatwers C. 368. Wytynge'] Wytyngli 0. PASS. XIX.] CONSCIENCE INVITES MEN TO THE EUCIIARIST. 3G1 Saue schrewes one suche as I spak of, That lie ne halpe a qttantite holynesse to wexe. 372 Many penitents assist the growth So?nme borw bedes-byddynge and somme Jjorw pyl- of holiness. grymage, And other pryue penaunce and some borw penyes delynge. ^1 And banne welled water for wikked werkes, Men weep for ' __ their sins. Egerlich ernynge out of mennes eyen. 376 Clennesse of be couiurq • & clerkes clene lyuynge Made vnite holicherche • in holynesse to stonde. " I care no^te," quod conscience • "bough pryde come Conscience ims all Christians to 110 lithe, Ot 9 dine, \)a lorde of luste shal be letted • al bis lente, I hope. Comeb," qziod conscience ' " 30 cristene, and dyneth, })at han laboured lelly al bis lente tyme. Here is bred yblessed • and goddes body ber-vnder. offering them the Lord's Sapper Grace J?orw goddes worde gaue Pieres power, 384 once a month. [And] myites to maken it • & men to ete it after, In helpe of her hele • onys in a monetli, Or as ofte as £ey hadden nede • bo bat hadde ypayed To pieres pardoura \a plowman redde quod debes." ^[ "How?" quod al be comioiG " bow conseillest vs The commons 11 wish to know if to Jelde 389 they must make restitution. Al bat we owen any wy3te • ar we go to housel I : % " That is my conseille," qiiod conscience • " & car- dynale vertues, Jjat vche man foi^yue other • and bat wyl be pater- noster, 392 371. one] om. suche] and swich 370. \>ough~\ ^oiijt B. YO. 380. lente] leaute (Try confusion 372. halpe] hape Y. with leute) Y ; cf. 1. 382. 373. pylgrymage] pilgrymages W. 381. Come])] Comes C. quod] B 371. penatmce] penaunces W. om. se] iclie O ; ]>e B. penyes] pens T ; pans B. 385. [And W] LCOBY omit, but 375. for] with G; Jmrgh B. it is found in Crowley, myites] so 376. ernynge] ^ernynge B ; ren- in WB ; Mighte COY. nynge 0. 387. \>o] j?ey Y. hadde] om. ' o77. of \>e] out of W. 3G2 Mat. vi. 12. THE IMPENITENT EREWER. [pass. XIX. lie prefers selling dregs aiul dratl". conscience warns If " Caytyue," quod conscience tlie brewer. Et dimitte nulls to B. 394. heme] how CB ; bow Y. 395. al] C om. 397. dregges] draggesY. it] it out W. on] C om. 398. \%kte] Thilke C. ale (1)] alle B. ale (2)] alle bo)?c B. 400. moche] B om. 402. artow] art \>on OB. 403. lore] fe lore B. 404. worstow] worfest f mi O ; worst f>ou B. 405. fede] seed O. 40G. Y omits. 407. In margin of O — Of cardy- nal is. Ill), acownted] counted COY. 411. card// /ml] Cardynal vertues B. 412. payeth] payed C. US. folweth] folowedC; folwei B. PASS. XIX.] CARDINALS SHOULD STAY AT AVIGNON. 3G3 \)e comune damat cotidie cclie a man to other, ' j?e contre is be curseder bat cardynales come Imie ; The country is ' . . . the worse for And bere they ligge and lenge moste • lecherye jierc them. regneth:' — 416 For-bi," quod bis vicori • " bo verrey god, I wolde That no cardynal come amonge be comuna peple, But in her holynesse ' holden hem stille i wish they would . stay at Avignon! At Anynoun, amonge be mwes ' cum sancto sanctus Ps.ivu.26 eris, 4-c, 420 (VuIs - ) " Or in Rome, as here rule wole be reliques to kepe ; And bow, conscience, in kynges courte ' & shnldest Conscience, * Grace, and Piers neure come bennes, should be in royal courts And grace bat bow gredest so of gyonr of alle clerkes, And Pieres with his newe plow • & eke with his olde. Emperour of al be worlcle bat alle men were cristene. IT Inparfyt is bat pope bat al peple shulde helpe, And sendeth hem bat sleeth suche as he shulde saue ; And wel worth piers be plowman ' bat [purjsueth god in doynge, 428 Qui pluit super iustos • 4' iniustos at ones, Mat. v. a. And sent be sonne to saue • a cursed mannes tilthe, As bry^te as to be best man • & to be beste woman. Ente so Pieres be plowman peyneth hym to tulye Piers works for all alike, As wel for a wastonr & wenches of be stuwes, 433 As for hym-self & his seruauntz saue he is firste yserued ; 414. eohe— to] ech a man til W; 426. ]>at] be COBY. peple] \>a iche man to ; ech of hem to Y. peple OY; \>a pepile C ; be world W. 415. curseder] corseder W. In the margin of — De papa. 417. bis] the CB. be] by WCOBY. 427. hem] swiche W. suche] hem 418. be] Y om. W. as] bat W. 419. holynesse] owne holynesse 428. piirsueth WCOBY] sueth(wi^ (which sounds better) 0. holden] pur erased) L. helden WC ; holidem (!) B. stille] 429. at] bobe at B. stille at home 0. 430. \>e sonne] thy sone Y. 420. Auynoun] auiouw O; Anion 431. to (1)] Y om. %] or W. CY. 432. tulye-] tilyc WCOBY 421. reliques] lewis B. 433. stuwes] styuehous B. 423. gredest~] graddest W. 434. is] C om. yserued] semede 424. his (1)] is C ; B om. ehe] als C. CB. 3G4 GOD AMEND TIIE POrE ! [pass. XIX. for the traitor ami the true man. God amend the pope I The pope spills Christian hlood. Exod. xx. 13; Heb. x. 30. He cares about little except his own will. The commons care little about conscience. [Fol. 87.] And trauaillcfli & fculyeth for a tretour also sore As for a treAve tydy man al tymes ylyke. 436 And worshiped be lie J?at wrou^te al bothe good & wykke, And suffreth bat synful be ' til some tyme fat bei re- pente. And god amende be pope • fiat pileth holykirke, And cleymeth bifor bo kynge to be keper ouer crystene, 440 And conntetli noi^t bough crystene ben culled & robbed, And fynt folke to fy3te and cristene blode to spille, A3eyne be olde lawe & newe lawe as Luke \>er-oi witnesseth, Non occides: michi vindictam, $c. It semeth, by so hywj-self hadd[e] his wille, 444 That lie ne recclietli ri^te noi^te * of al be remenaunte. And cryst of bis curteisye be cardinales saiie, And tourne lier Avitte to wisdome & to wele of soule ! For be comun&" q?at (1)] )>o j>at B. til— re- pente] erased in "W ; supplied by Mr Wright from another MS. 440. keper] O om. over] our C; on Y. 441. novqb] at noujt O ; Y om. \>ough] ^on^t B. culled] killed WCOB ; kulled Y. 442. fynt] fyndes C. 443. lane (2)] B om. witnesseth] witnesse C. occides] occides &c. 0. vindictam] so in the MSS. 444. hym-self] J^at hyrusilf B. hadde] soinWYB; miswritten hadd in L ; had C. nnlle] owne wille O. 4 15. ne] WCO om. remenaunte] to\er remenaunt 0; renaunt (!) B. 447. witte] wittis B. wele] wel C ; weljje W. 448. For] B om, counten'] ac- counted it B. 449. cardinale] Cardynals B. 450. \sevie W] seigh CC2 ; seie B ; seen ; sight (J/y mistake) Y; L has so we ; Crowley has se. 451. gyue] gil Y ; gif C. PASS. XIX.] TUB KING VINDICATES HIMSELF. 365 And alle bo faire vertucs * as vyces bei semeth ; Eche man sotileth a sleiglit synne forto hyde, Each man And colonreth it for a kunnynge and a clene other." lyuynge," 455 1T Tlianne loughe bore a lorde • & " by bis li^te," sayde, a lord says tint " I halde it ry^te & resoura of my reue to take to take an that A1 . -■•, 1-. ,i his auditor says Al pat myne auditour or eiles my stuwarde is his, Conseilleth me by her acounte & my clerkes wryt- ynge. 459 ^T With spiritus intellecius they seke be reues rolles, And with spiritus fortitudinis • fecche [it] I wole." % And panne come bere a kynge & bi his croune a king says, seyde, " I am Kynge with croune • be commie to reule, 463 And holykirke & clergye fro cursed men to clefende. And if me lakketh to lyue by be lawe wil I take it, " what i want, i can lawfully take. Jjere I may hastlokest it haue • for I am hed of lawe ; For 3e ben but membres & I aboue alle. 467 And sith I am ^owre aller hed I am 30wre aller hele, i am the head. And holycherche chief help • & chiftaigne of be com/line. And what I take of sow two I take it atte techynge i act by the spirit of justice." Of spiritus iusticie for I mgge 30W alle ; So I may baldely be houseled • for I borwe neuere, 472 JNe craue of my comune • but as my kynde asketh." 453. B omits. \w~\ the COY. 464. to] O om. defende] fendeW. gemeth'] semed CY. 466. hastlohest] so in OY; hasti- 454. sotileth] subtile}? WOY ; lokest W ; hastilekest B ; hastlyest C. suttelde C. hed] hede 0Y|; heed W. 455. colonreth] colourd C ; keuereb 467. For] And W. y>] tei B. B. for] with COBY. a (2)] B om. membres] menbris B. 456. loughe] louath B. \ns] G om. 468. sith] seib B. aller (1)] alfcer 457. halde] holde WCOBY. reue] OjeldirB. aller (2)] alber OB. reme B. 469. chcrche] chirches WO. chif- 460. they] to CBY. reues] Iewes taigne] cheuentayn B ; Chieftayn (!) B. WOY. 461. [it WCOBY] L omits, but is 470. atte] at be WCOBY. marked for correction. I] Y om. 472. baldehj] boldely WCBY ; mole] wole after W. boldli 0. 462. \>anne] om. '17:'.. craue] care B. 3GG Till;; POET AGAIN AWAKES. Conscience says he must reign by reason and truth. [pass. XIX. bat bow koiine H " In condicioim," quod conscience defends And rule bi rewme in resouw • ri^t wel, & in treuth, Take Jow may in resoum • as bi lawe asketh ; 4 70 Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum, set turn ad depredandum ! " \)e vyker hackle fer home * & faire tokc his leuc, The poet awakes. And I awakned fere-with • & wrote as me mette. 475. in (1)] and CY; bi 0. In the margin of — De pietate regis. 476. may] so in COBY; mayst W. \>i~\ J?e 0. depredandum] deprclien- dend«/?i (printed deprtsdandum) W; dep»7?candtt»i CBY. 477. vyker] vicorie O. his] is C. 478. awakned] a-wakty B. wrote] wroot WCY ; wroujte ; wrojt B. PASS. XX.] THE TOET JIEETS WITH NEED. 3G7 PASSUS XX (DO-BEST I). Passus xx us de visione, Sf primus de dobest. Thanne as I went by be way whan I was J? us awaked, The poet wanders Heuy-chered I 3ede • and elynge in herte ; I ne wiste where to ete ne at what place. And it neighed nyeghe be none •& with nede I mette, 4 and at noon meet* with Need. That afronted me foule • and faitour rne called. " Coudestow noi^te excuse be ' as dede be Kyngc & other, jjat fiow toke to pi bylyf to clothes and to sustenance, As by techynge & by tellynge of spiritus temperancie, And pow nome namore ' pan nede pe tau^te, 9 And nede ne hath no lawe neneure shal fallein dette? "Need hath no law. For pre thynges he taketh his lyf forto saue, That is mete, whan men hym werneth & he no moneye a man may take food weldeth, 1 -Z 51 Xe wyght none wil ben his borwe * ne weclde hath [Foi. 87 6.] none to legge. ■"oo 1 - Title. So in W. CBY omit de vi- gin of — Necessitas. sione. O has only Passus vicesimus. 7. bylyf} bilyue WO ; bilcue CBY. 1. \>us] Bom. 8. As] And WOBY ; but Crowley 2. chered] chere (!) C. ; elynge] reads As. by (2)] CB om. elenge WCOBY. 9. nome] take C. 4. nyeghe] neb W; nere CY; neer 10. ne (1)] Oom.; ne (printed he) ; ne B. W. 5. afronted] afrounted WCBY ; 11. thynges] kyngis (I) B. frountede O. foule] wel foule CBY. 12. werneth] vrarnea 0; warnes faitour] a faytour B. C ; warned YB. G. Coudestow] Kanstow WCY; 13. none (1)] ne B. wedde] wede kanst ]>o\x ; kaut j^ou B. In mar- C. none (2)] ne now B, 3G3 NEED EXCUSES THE TOOK. or clothing, or a drink of water. [PASS. XX. And he caujte in fat cas & come pcre-to by sleighte, He synneth nou^te sothelich fat so wynneth his fode. And f ongh he come so to a clothe • and can no better cheuysannce, 1 G Nede anon ri^te * nymeth liym vnder meynpryse. And if hym lyst for to lape f e lawe of kyndo wolde That he dronke at eche diche ar he for th urate deyde. So node, at grete nede may nymen as for his owne, 20 Wyth-oute conseille of conscience * or cardynale vertues, So fat lie snwe & saue • spiritus tcmperancie. % For is no vertue by fer • to spiritus temperancie, Neither spiritus iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis ; 24 For spiritus fortitudinis forfaiteth ful oft, He shal do more fan mesurc • many tyme & ofte, And bete men ouer bitter ' and so??zme of hem to litel, And greue men gretter fan goode faith it wolde. 28 Justice sometimes •IT And spirit us iusticie shal iuggen, wolhe, nolhe, After f e kynges conseille * & f e commie lyke. And spiritus prudencie in many a poynte shal faille Of fat he weneth wolde falle • if his wytte no were. 32 "Wenynge is no wysdome ne wyse ymagynaciouw, Homo proponit fy deus disponit • & gouerneth alle good vertues. Ac nede is next hym * for anon he meketh, 35 And as low as a lombe • for lakkyng of fat hym nedeth. Temperance is greater than Justice or Fortitude. fails Prudence may also fail. Man proposes, God disposes. 1C>. come] come}? B. a] B om. clieuysaimce] che (!) C. 17. nymetli] takes C. 18. lyst] lif (!) B. for] CBY om. 19. dronke] drinke 0. echo] ech a Y. 20. at] at (printed al) W. 22. suwe] sewe WC ; sue ; swe Y. 23. is] ]>ev is B. 24. Neither] Ne WO. 25. forfaiteth] forfetej? WOYB; forfetes C. 20. C omits, more] no more (!) B. 27. Here collation with Y ceases, an I with R recommences, bete] bettc C. oner bitter] ful bitterli ; ouer- betterli B. of hem'] body R; but this is a C-text reading. 28. it] COB om. 29. ivolhe nolhe] wol he nol he B ; wole he nel he (printed wol he nele he) W ; wole he or nyle he ; wil he nyl he B ; wol wyl lie nel he (sic) C. 31. a] G om. 35. Ac] and R ; (but C has Ac). 36. as (1)] also B. of] R om. After tin* line R has — For nede maketh nede fele nedes lowh-herted. But this is a C-text line, and t he- second nede should be ncdy. I>ASS. XX.] THE POET DREAMS OF ANTICHRIST. 36^ "Wyse men forsoke wele for fey wolde be nedy, wise men chose And woneden in wildernesse & wolde noi^te be riche. ^F And god al his grete ioye • gostliche lie left, And cam & toke mankynde * and bycam nedy. 40 God became So nedy be was, as seyth pe boke in many sondry places, J}at be seyde in bis sorwe ' on pe selue Rode, ' Botbe fox & foule may fleigbe to hole & crepe, Mat. viu. 20. And pe fisshe hath fyn • to flete with to reste, 44 jjere nede hath ynome me " pat I mote nede abyde, And suffre sorwes ful sowre pat shal to ioye towrne.' For-pi be noujte abasshed to byd[d]e and to be nedy ; Then be not Syth he pat wroi^te al pe worlde ' was wilfullicb nedy, needy." Ne neuer none so nedy ne pouerere deyde." 49 IT AVhan nede had vndernome me pus • Anon I felle The poet again sleeps, and aslepe, dreams. And mette ful merueillously pat, in mannes forme, Antecryst cam panne ' and al pe croppe of treuthe 52 Antichrist over- Torned it vp so doune • and ouertilte pe rote, And [made] fals sprynge & sprede & spede mennes nedes ; In eche a contre fere be cam • he cutte awey treuthe, And gert gyle growe pe/*e as he a god were. 56 37. Wyse men'] Filosofres R (as in 52. al )>e~\ alle R ; al CB. In mar- C-text). forsolic~\ forsoken OB. wele] gin of O — Antecrist. leronimiis super welth R. C repeats this line. illud Dan. 12. beati/s qui expectat & 38. in wildernesse] wel elengly R pmienit vsqne ad dies .1335. beatns, (as in C-text). inqwit, qui, i/tterfecto scntichristo, dies 39. god al] po god of B. supra nvanerum prefinitlMn .45. pre- 41. nedy he ?i'as] he was nedy R. stolatwr, qvibus & dominvs salnator in 43. foule] foughel C ; gray B. sua magestate ventures est. [See S. fleighe] fle WRCO ; go B. Jerome on Dan. xii. 12.] 44. to flete] it fleet C ; f>at it fletib 53. it] C am. B. to (2)] or to R. 54. \madeB,] LWCOBpw. sprynge] 46. sowre] sore B. pat] to B. spronge ; spryngib B. sprede] 47. byddc] bidde RCOB ; bide W ; spredib B ; spredde 0. spede] spedde byde L. COB. 49. pouerere] porere B ; also porer 55. contre] Court CB. O. 56. gert] syet or gyet (!) B. growe] 50. had] hab W. me] R om. I grew B. god] gcd (printed Good) W. felle] Ifel RC ; IfflW; a fel B. 24 370 PRIDE BEARS ANTICHRIST S BANNER. [pass. XX. [Fol. S8.] Friars welcome Antichrist. Only fools resist him. Holy and true men are cursed by Antichrist's followers. Pride bears Antichrist's banner. Conscience counsels the worldly-foolish to keep within the church. Nature hears Conscience, and Freres folwed fat ferule for he 3af hem copes, And religiouse reuerenced hym and rongen here belles, And al f e couent forth cam to welcome fat tyraunt, And alle hise, as wel as hym ' saue onlich folis ; GO Which folis were wel leuer ' to deye fan to lyue [Lenger], sith [lente] was so rebuked, And a fals fende antecriste ouer alle folke regned ; And fat were mylde men & holy J>at no myschief dredden, C4 Defyed al falsenesse • and folke fat it vsed, And what Kynge fat hem conforted ' knowynge hem any while, They cursed, and her conseille ' were it clerke or lewed. IT Antecriste hadde thus sone hundredes at his ban ere, 68 And Pryde it bare ' boldely aboute, With a lorde fiat lyueth after lykynge of body, That cam a3ein conscience • fat kepere was & gyoure Ouer kynde crystene * and cardynale vertues. 72 ^1 " I conseille," qwod conscience f o " cometh with me, 3e foles, In-to vnyte holy-cherche • and holde we vs there, And crye we to kynde fat he come & defende vs, 75 Foles, fro f is fendes lymes " for Piers loue f e plowman. And crye we to alle f e co?nune ' fat f ei come to vnite, And fere abide and bikere • ajein beliales children." ^T Kynd conscience fo herde and cam out of fo planetes, 58. religiouse] religiouses R. 59. forth] R am. )>at] a R. 60. as (1)] also B. 61. reel leuer] gl add ere R. 62. [Lenger WCOB] Lengore LR. sith] ban 0. \_leute~] leutewlente RB ; lenten LWCO; out cf. C-text, and see 1. 145. O has — Lenger ban lenten to be so rebuked, which agrees with Crowley, rebuked] robbid and reued B. 63. a] as a W. 64. And] Saue W. were] we R. myschief] mesch of (!) B. 60. any while] gyle R. 69. boldely] ml buldli B. 70. after] after • lust & O. 71. gyoure] gwiowr C. 72. cardynale] cardinales R. 73. cometh] comes C. 76. \is] be O. fendes] feend C. 77. to (1)] on R. PASS. XX.] OLD-AGE BEARS DEATH'S BANNER. 371 And sent forth his foreioures • feures & fluxes, 80 Coughes, and cardiacles • crampes, and tothaches, Tiewmes, & radegoundes * and roynouse scalles, Byles, and bocches and brennyng agues ; Frenesyes, & foule yueles forageres of kynde, Hadde yprykked and prayed polles of peple, J?at largelich a legiou?i • lese her lyf sone. 1T There Avas — "harrow and help! here cometh kynde, With deth fat is dredful to vndone vs alle ! " 88 ^T The lorde that lyued after lust " tho alowde cryde After cowforte, a knyghte * to come and here his banere. " Al-arme ! alarme ! " quod fat lorde " eche lyf kepe his owne." 11 And banne mette bis men ar mynstralles my^te pipe, 92 And ar herandes of armes * hadclen descreued lordes. ^T Elde be bore he was in be vauntwarde, And bare be banere bifor deth by ri^te he it claymed. Kynde come after with many kene sores, 96 As pokkes and pestilences • and moche poeple shente ; So kynde borw corupciou??s • kulled fnl manye. II Deth cam dryuende after • and al to doust passhed Kynges & kny^tes kayseres and popes; 100 Lered ne lewed he let no man stonde, That he hitte euene Jjat euere stired after. sends forth his messengers, 84 viz. diseases, so that many die. Lechery cries after Comfort. Eld (Old-age) bears Death's banner. [Fol. 88 6.] Death dashes kings and popes to dust. 80. foreioures] forreyours W; for- reouris O ; forreores R. 82. roynouse] ronyouse C ; ruy- nouse 0. scalles] scabbes W. 85. yprykked] priked O. of] of the COB. 86. \>at] R om. lese] lose R ; loste W ; loren CO ; lorn B. 88. vndone] vndoen R ; vndon CB ; vndo WO. 90. conforte a] R om. 91. Al-arme] Alarme COB; A larme WE. alarme] a larme W. 92. And] Horn, 94, 95. COB omit. 94. hore] horel R. lie] \>&t W. \>e] R om. 96. come after] cam after hym R. 97. and] bat O. 98. kulled] killede OB ; kilde W. 99. dryuende] driuende R ; drv- uynge WCOB. doust] duste WB ; dust COB. passhed] paschte (altered to daschte) R ; passid B. 101. ne] and W. let] leet WC ; left R. 102. hitte] ne liitte 0. evcre stired] stirred neuer CB. 372 Conscience begs Nature to cease his plagues. Then Fortune flatters the survivors. Lechery arms himself; his arrows are feathered with false promisei. Avarice attacks Conscience. Simony sends him to beguile men. AVARICE CRAFTILY ATTACKS CONSCIENCE. [PASS. XX. Many a louely lady and leramanes of knyghtes Swouned and swelted for sorwe of dethes dyntes. 104 IT Conscience of his curteisye to kynde lie bisou^te, To cesse & suffre • and see where bei wolde Leue pryde pryuely and be parflte cristene. IT And kynde cessed tho -to se be peple amende. 108 Fortune gan flateren thenne • bo fewe pat were alyue, And byhight hem longe lyf and lecherye he sent, Anionges al manere men • wedded & vnwedded, And gadered a gret hoste al agayne conscience. 112 51 This lecherye leyde on with a laughyng chiere. And with pryue speche • and peynted wordes, And armed hym in ydelnesse • and in hiegh berynge. He bare a bowe in his hande and manye blody arwes, "Weren fethered with faire biheste • and many a false truthe. 117 Wit[h] his vntydy tales • he tened ful ofte Conscience and his compaignye of holicherche be techeres. IF Thanne cam coueityse '"and caste how he my3te 120 Ouercome conscience and cardynal vertues, And armed hym in auaryce • and hungriliche lyued. His wepne was al wiles to wynnen & to hyden ; With glosynges and with gabbynges he gyled be peple. 124 Symonye hym sent[e] to assaille conscience, And preched to be peple • and prelates bei hem maden, To holden with antecryste her temperaltes to saue ; 103. lady'] R om. of] R om. 104. Swouned] Swowed B. dethes] dethe C ; hise W. 106. cesse $■] se and to C ; see and B. 109. alyue] on lyue OB. 113. a] R om. laughyvg] lawh- ynge R ; lawynge O ; Ianglynge W. 116. blody] brode W. 118. With] so in WCROB ; Wit L. his] R om. 121. cardynal] cardinales R. 122. And] B om. hungriliche] vngraeliche R ; vngreliche C. 123. wiles] whyles O. wynnen] wynnyng B. hyden] holden B. 124. with(2)] RCOB om. he gyled] to bigyle O. 125. sente] so in WCOB; sent L; sende R. 12G. \ei] CB om. PASS. XX.] AVARICE CORRUPTS JUSTICE. 373 And come to be kynges conseille as a kene baroun, And kneled to conscience in courte afor hem alle, And gart gode feith flee • and fals to abide, 130 He corrupts And boldeliche bar adown • with many a brijte B noble Moche of be witte and wisdome • of westmynster both in West- , ,, minster 11. ..1 halle. He ingged til a iustice and iusted in his ere, 133 And ouertilte al his treuthe "with "take bis vp amende- ment." And to be arches in haste he jede anone after, and in the court And torned Ciuile in-to Symonye " and sitthe he toke be official ; 136 For a [mantel] of nienynere he made lele matrimonye He contrives Departen ar deth cam " & deuo[r]s shupte. IT "Alias!" qjtod conscience, & cried bo ' " wolde Conscience . , n i • , „„ wishes Avarice criste, of his grace, 139 would become a That coueityse were cristene J?at is so kene a filter, iVohM j And bolde and bidyng ' while his bagge lasteth." IT And banne lowgh lyf and leet dagge his clothes, Life laughs, And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes, And helde holynesse a iape and hendenesse a wastojw, 144 And lete leute a cherle and Iyer a fre man ; Conscience and conseille he counted it a folye. and counts Conscience as Tf ihns relyed lyf for a litel fortune, roily. 128. come] cam W ; coomen 0. 138. deuors] deuos L; a deuos R; 129. kneled'] kneleden 0. a/or] deuors W ; diuorce COB. shupte] bifore C ; bi-forin B. schupte R ; shapte WC ; schapte O ; 131. a] CB om. brwjbe] rede R. shappe B. noble] noblis B. 139. his] R om. 133. lugged] logged W. til] to 140. a filter] to fijte R. WO. 141. bidgng] abydynge ROB. while] 134. with] B om. vp] vpon B. J>e while R. bagge] bake C. 135. to] into R. 143. in (1)] au W. in (2)] wi> 136. Ciuile in-to] B om.. W. 137. [mantel WCROB] mentel L. 145. leute] Ieautee W ; leaute C. mantel — menynere] menyuere mantel 146. and] and his W. a] RCOB R. he] and W. lele] an vnleele B ; om. it— folye] at a flye W. a lele C. 374 SLOTH MARRIES WANHOPE (DESPAIR). [pass. XX. And pryked forth with pryde preyseth lie no vertue, [IS T e] careth nou^te how kynde slow and shal come atte laste, 149 And culle alle erthely creature[s] saue conscience one. Life takes Fortune for his mate, ami is the father of Sloth. Slnth marries Despair. Sloth uses his sling against Conscience. 152 15G Lyf leep asyde ' and lau3to hym a lemman, " Heel & I," quod he " and hieghnesse of herto Shal do be nou3te drede noyther deth ne elde, And to foi^ete sorwe and 3yue nou^to of syniie." IT This lyked lyf " and his lemman fortune, And geten in her glorie a gadelyng atte laste, One J?at moche wo \vr0u3te sleuthe was his name. Sleuthe wex wonder 3erne ' and sone was of age, And wedded one wanhope a wenche of be stuwes. Her syre was a sysour pat neure swore treuthe, 160 One Thorn me two-tonge ateynte at vch a queste. IF This sleuthe was war of werre and a slynge made, And threwe drede of dyspayre a dozein myle ahoute. For care conscience bo eryed vpon elde, 164 And bad hym fonde to fy3te • and afere wanhope. IF And elde hent good hope and hastilich he shifte hym, em fights against And wayued awey wanhope and with lyf he fy3teth, And lyf fieigh for fere to fysyke after helpe, 168 And bisou3te hym of socoure and of his salue hadde, And gaf hym golde, good woon pat gladded his herte, And pei gyuen hym agayne a glasen houve. Life, Life flees to physicians. 148. pryhed] prikeb W. 149. [Ne WR] He CO ; And B; A ( = lie) L. slow"] slawe G. slow — come] shal come and sle hym B. 150. culle] kiUeWCOB ; calle R. creatures] so in WCOB ; creature LR. 151. leep] lep CB; lepte W. leep asyde] seith occide (!) R. 154. And] But 0. 1 57. wo] R om. 150. stv/mes] stif-hous B. 161. tivo-tonge] two-tonges B. a queste] enqueste W. 162. was] wex COB. war— werre] werre & werre 0. 103. threwe] drow B. of] & O. 165. hym] It om. 166. elde] helpe B. he] O om. shifte] chifte B. IW.fyfbeth] righted CB. 169. hadde] he hadde W. 170. And] HeW. golde] goel R. Ms herte] here hertes R. 171. gyuen] gafyn B. houvc]\\o\\no WCOB'; houe R. PASS. XX.] OLD-AGE ATTACKS THE POET. 375 Lyf leued fat lechecrafte lette shulde elde, 172 And dryuen awey deth " with dyas and dragges. IT And elde auntred hym on lyf and atte laste lie hitte em Mils a A Fisicien with a forced hood fat he fel in a palsye, P y " And fere deyed fat doctour • ar thre dayes after. 176 " Now I see," seyde lyf " fat surgerye ne Fisyke Life is careless, May novate a myte auaille ' to medle a3ein elde ; " Revel. 1 And in hope of his hele gode herte he hente, And rode so to reuel a ryche place and a merye, 180 The companye of conforte • men cleped it sumtyiue. [Foi. 89 &.] And elde anone after me and ouer myne heed ^ede, Eid attacked me, at j iniT-T iv , and made rue bald. And made me balled bilore " and bare on f e croune, So harde he 3ede ouer myn hed it wil be seen enre. IT "Sire euel-ytaujte elde," quod I • "vnhende go with i reproved him. the ! 185 Sith whanne was f e way ouer [mennes] hedes ? Haddestow be hende," quod I " " f ow woldest haue asked leue ! " IT " 3e ! leue lordeyne," quod he and leyde on me with age, 188 And hitte me vnder f e ere • vnethe may ich here ; Then he made He buffeted me aboute f e mouthe " & bett[e] out my tethe, beatout'my teeth, . n -. . . T , . and lamed me And gyued me in goutes 1 may nou^te go at large. with gout. And of fe wo fat I was in my wyf had reuthe, 192 And wisshed fill witterly fat I were in heuene. 173. dryuen] to-driue R. dyas] so 183. on~] vppon B. in W; dias CO; dayes R; diagrag- 184. eure] euene B. mator (!) B. dragges] drogges W. 186. pe] bi 0. [mennes] so in 174. auntred] aduenturid B. hitte] WCROB ; men L ; cf. I. 286. hette B. 188. lordeyne] so in R; lul'deyn 175. a (3)] the CB ; om. W ; lordyng COB. 177. surgerye] surgiens CB. 189. may] rny^teW; but sec]. 191. 178. a] oo B. medle] medele CO; 190. me] me so W. lette WCO] mede W. bett L; bet RB. out in y] me on the 179. herte] hope 0. he] RB om. COB. tethe] wange-te'the R. % — 180. so] forf W. reuel] a reuel tethe] pat out my tee£ he bette W. W. 191. gyued] gyede O. 181. conforte] court CO; court of 192. had] hadde (printed hande) (!) B. men] B om. W. 182. me] hym R. yde] he 3ede O. 193. ful] wel R. 370 Death drew nij;h me, and I begged Nature to release me. He bade me dwell in Unity, and learn to love, and then I should lack nothing. I found Unity- besieged by seven giants and Anti- christ. NATURE COMFORTS AND ADVISES THE POET. [PASS. XX. For f e lyme fat she loued me fore • and leef was to fele, On ny^tes namely whan we naked were, I ne myght in no manere * maken it at hir wille, 196 So elde and she sothly • hadden it forbeten. ^[ And as I seet in f is sorwe I say how kynde passed, And deth drowgh niegh me ' for drede gan I quake, And cried to kynde • out of care me brynge. 200 " Loo ! elde fie hoore hath me biseye, Awreke me, if ^owre wille be • for I woldc ben hennes." IT " ?if f ow wilt ben ywroken wende in-to vnite, And holde f e fere eure tyl I sende for f e, 204 And loke f ow conne so??mie crafte ar f ow come f ennes." " Conseille me, kynde," quod I "what crafte is best to lerneT' IF "Lerne to loue," quod kynde " & leue of alle othre." IT " How shal I come to catel so ' to clothe me and to fede?" 208 " And f ow loue lelly," quod he " lakke shal f e neure Mete ne wor[l]dly wede whil f i lyf lasteth." ^T And fere, by conseille of kynde I comsed to rowme Thorw contriciouM & confessions ' tyl I cam to vnite ; And fere was conscience constable * cristene to sane, And biseged sothly ' with seuene grete gyauntz, 214 J5at with Antecrist helden hard a3ein conscience. 194. lyme] leeme B. 195. we] sche O. 196. at] B om. 197. she— forbeten] hee it hadde forbete R. forbeten] for-boden B. 198. as] was (!) R. seet] so in WR ; sat CB ; satte O. say] so in R ; sey^ O ; seigh C ; sau^ WB. 201. me biseye] my lif seye R. 203. yivrohen] I-wreke R ; wroken W ; wroke B. 204. holde] halde R. 205. conne] cunne OB ; cune R. ar] er WB ; or CO. 206. Conseille] Conseileth R. is] be R. 207. leue] lief C ; leef W. of] R om. 209. qnod he] quod I B ; R om. 210. Mete] Wede R. worldly WROB] vvordly LC ; but cf. P. xix. 287. wede] mete R. 211. /] Rom. rowme] roome O ; rome WCRB. 213. conscience] R om. to] for to O. 214. gyauntz] geauntz W; geauntes RCO ; giauntes B. PASS. XX.] CONSCIENCE CRIES OUT FOIt HELP. 377 IT Sleuth with his slynge * an hard saut he made, 216 Proude prestos come with hym moo ban a thousand, In paltokes & pyked shoes & pisseres longe knyues, Comen a3ein conscience ; with coueityse bei helden. IT "By Marie," qiiod a mansed preste • of be marche of yrlonde, 220 " I counte namore conscience • bi so I cacche syluer, Than I do to drynke a drau^te of good ale ! " And so seide sexty of be same contreye, 223 And shoten a^ein with shotte many a shef of othes, And brode hoked arwes goddes herte, & his nayles, And hadden almost vnyte and holynesse adowne. ^T Conscience cryed, " helpe * clergye, or ellis I falle Thorw inparfit pastes ' and prelates of holicherche." Freres herdeu hym crye ' and comen hym to helpe, Ac for bei couth nou3te wel her craft ' conscience for- soke hem. 230 ^T ISTede neghed tho nere * and conscience he tolde That bei come for coueityse to haue cure of soules — "And for ]?ei arn poure, par auenture for patrimoigne hem failleth, 233 Thei wil flatre, to fare wel folke pat ben riche ; And sithen bei chosen chele and [cheytif] pouerte, Lat hem chewe as bei chese and charge hem with no cure ! 23G Sloth led the assault, with A\ arice. [Fol. 90.] An Irish priest despises Con- science. Oaths are shot ajrainst Con- science. Conscience cries for help. The friars offer him aid. Need warns Conscience against the friars. " Let them chew as they choose ! 216. an] and (!) CB. savt] saute R ; assaut WCOB. he] COB om. 217. moo — thousand] passynge a huudreth R; a correction made by the author ; see C-Text. 218. pisseres] pisseris WB ; pissers CO. 219. helden] holde B. 220. 3Iarie] \>e marie R. mansed] mased CB. of] was of R. yrlonde] erland R ; Irlande CB ; irloond ; Walys W. 221. namore] no more bi OB. 7(2)] bat yB. 224. a$ei?i] ayein hym COB. many — shef] with many schef COB. of othes] arwes B. 225. nayles] bones B. 229. and] B om. 230. Ac] And COB. 231. tho] to C. nere] Jere B. 232. for] for no (!) R. 233. hem failleth] bei faille W. 234. to] and W. folke] wib folk W. 235. sithen] seyn CB. [cheytif] cheitif C ; chaytijf O ; cheytifte I.K ; clieitiftee W (which must be a sli/>). cheytif pouerte] pore cheitifte B. 236. chese] so in. R ; chose W ; chosen COB. 378 CONSCIENCE WELCOMES THE FRIARS. [PASS. XX. Let friars bo beggars." Hut Conscience welcomes the friars, and offers to find them food, For lomer he lyeth bat lyflode mote begge, Jjan he bat laboureth for lyflode & leneth it heggeres. And sithen Freres forsoke be felicite of erthe, Lat hem be as begge res or lyue by angeles fode !" 240 ^T Conscience of bis conseille bo comsed forto laughe, And curtei[s]lich conforted hem and called in alle freres, And seide, " sires, sothly • welcome be je alle 7b vnite and holicherche ac on thyng I 30W preye, Holdeth 30 w in vnyte and haueth none envye 245 To lered ne to lewed but lyueth after 3owre rewle. And I wil be 3owre borghe 3e shal haue bred and clothes, And other necessaries [I-nowe] • 30W shal no thyng faille, 248 if they win leam With bat 3e leue logyk • and lerneth for to louye. to love. J For loue laft bei lordship bothe londe and scole, Frere Fraunceys and Dominyk • for loue to ben holy. IF And if 3e coueyteth cure kynde wil 30W teche, 252 That in mesure god made alle manere thynges, And sette [hem] at a certeyne and at a syker noumbre, And nempned names newe * and noumbred be sterres ; Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum, fy omnibus eis [nomina vocaf], fyc. IT Kynges & knyghtes bat kepen and defenden, 256 Han officers vnder hem and vch of hem certeyne ; God made all things of a certain number. Ps. cxlvi. 4 (Vulg.). Kings have all their soldiers numbered. 237, 238. E omits. begge] bigge 0. it] it to O. 239. And sithen] For sittb E. j>e] E om. 241. \>o] E om. laughe] laujte (!) B. 242. curteislich] curteilich {marked for correction) L. 244. and] and to C. ac] and C. 247. shal] shullen B. 248. [I-norve RJ I-now C ; ynowe WOB ; better than anowe L. yym shal] bow schalt E. faille] lakke E. 250. laft] f^er-of lofte B. 251. Frere] Freres COB. 252. coueyteth'] coueites C ; coueite WOE. teche] telle R. 253. thynges] bynge B. 254. [hem W] it LCEOB. at (2)] WO om. a (2)] C om. 255. names — noumbred] hem names • and newe nombre E. sterres] pastes (!) COB. Qui] Quis E. ,$•— eis] EO om. [nornina CB] LWEO om. [vocat] not in the MSS. 256. hepen] kepten E. 257. hem (1)] hym EB. vch] of icbe 0. certeyne] a certein WOB. PASS. XX.] HELL IS WITHOUT NUMBER. 379 And if bei wage men to werre bei write hem in nouinbre, [Or] wil no tresorere hem paye trauaille J)ei neure so sore. Alle other in bataille hen yholde hrihours, 260 Pilours and pykehernois in eche a place ycursed. [F0I.90&.] % Monkes and monyals * and alle men of Religion?* Monks have Her ordre and her reule wd to han a certeyne in their houses. nonmhre. Of lewed and of lered be lawe wol and axeth 264 A certeyn for a certeyne saue onelich of freres. Only friars are • it- unnumbered. ror-bi, quod conscience, " by cryst * kynde w r itte me telleth, It is wikked to wage 30W • ye wexeth ont of noumbre ! Heuene hath euene noumbre • and belle is with-out Heii is without noumbre ; 268 For-bi I wolde witterly • fat $e were in be Eegistre, And jowre noumbre vndre notarie[s] sygne & noyther mo ne lasse !" H Enuye herd bis and heet freres to go to scole, 271 Envy bids the friars learn logic, And lerne logyk and lawe and eke contemplaciouM, And preche men of plato and preue it by Seneca, J)at alle binges vnder heuene ou^te to ben in coniune. to prove that ail things should be % And ^it he lyeth, as I leue bat to be lewed so in common, precheth, 275 259. [Or] LWCROB omit; but it R. is necessary to the sense, and may be 264. not] it wole 0. found in Crowley ; W OB surmount the 265. onclick] boliche B. difficulty by placing 1. 259 after 1. 267. out of] of on R. 261 ; the C-text inserts an additional 268. Heuene'] Euene 0. line. Or wil] And ber-fore wolen 269. \>e] O om. men B. tresorere] so in R ; tresour- 270. notaries] so in WCOB ; notarie erer O; tresore CB ; man tresore W. L; notari R. sygne] signes CB. hem paye] taken hym wages R. so 271. heet] heitR; het B ; leete O. sore] Com. to (1)] RB om. ; and per /taps it is 260. bataille] batililis (!) B. bri- better omitted. hours] brokouris O. 272. contemplacioun] constellac/on 261. a] CB om. place] parische (!) O. R. ycursed] acursed ROB ; a-corsed 274. alle] CB am. to] om. C. 275. And ji£] R om. 263. Her ordre and] Heraude (!) :>,s!) EVIL MEN CONFESS TO THE FRIARS. Exod. xx. 17. [pass. XX. For god made to men a lawe and Moyscs it taujte, Non concupisces rem proximl tui. And euele is bis yholde ' in parisehes of engelonde, in England, the For persones and parishprestes bat sliulde be peple parisli-priests T r r should toilless sliryue, 278 men; lien curatoures called to knowe and to hele, Alle bat ben her parisshiens penaunce to enioigne, And sliulden be ashamed in her shrifte ; ae shame maketh hem wende, 281 but men flee to the And fieen to be freres • as fals folke to westmvnstre friars, J ' That borweth and bereth it bider and banne biddeth frendes ^erne of fo^ifnesse • or lenger }eres [lone]; 284 IF Ac whil he is in westmynstre he wil be bifore, And make hym merye with other mennes goodis. And so it fareth with moche folke • bat to be freres shryueth, As sysours and excecutowrs bei wil fjyue be] freres 288 A parcel to preye foi hem • & make he??i-self myrye With be residue and be remenaunt ' bat other men biswonke, And snffre be ded in dette ' to be day of dome. II Fnuye herfore hated conscience, 292 And freres to philosofye he fonde hem to scole, like cheats who flee to West- minster. So executors repair to the friars. Envy hates Conscience. 276. god made] made god B. 277. is] is (printed in) W. yholde] golden B. engelonde] englonde R; englond OB. 278. skidd e] shullen B. 279. to (2)] B om. 280. penaunce] penaunces R. to] hern to B; and C ; R om. 281. sliulden] shullen B; R om. her] hir [printed his) W. ac] and C. 282. And] To CB. as] and B. mestmyngtre] Westmynyster 0. 283. it] COB aw. 284. [lone O] loone WC ; of lone B ; leue or lene LR. 285. westmynstre] Westmynyster OB. 28G. mennes] men R. 287. fce] R om. shryueth] hem shryueb WO. 288. wil] schul R. foyue \>e WRO] ^eue be B ; geue be ; L has be, with ue written above, but the line is marked for correction. 289. hem-self] hem R. 290. be(l)] R om. \>e (2)] R om. 292. herfore] here-fore OR. 293. philosofye] philosophires C. hem] banne W ; O om. PASS. XX.] MEN DISLIKE HARD PENANCE. 381 The while coueytise and vnkyndenesse ' conscience as- sailled. In vnite kolycherche " conscience helde hym, Conscience bids And made pees porter to pynne be jates 296 towthaKof Of alle taletellers ' and tyterers in ydel. mty ' Ypocrisye and he an hard saut J?ei made. Ypocrysie atte 3ate hard gan f^te, And wounded wel wykkedly • many [a] wise techer, Hypocrisy ham.s J3at with conscience acorded • and cardinale vertues. Conscience called a leche fiat coude wel shryue, 302 [Foi. 91.] " Go salue \ o fat syke hen • [and] f orw synne ywounded." Shrifte shope sharpe salue and made men do penaunce shrift Baivea them For her mysdedes fat Jjei wroujte hadden, 305 And fat piers were payed • redde quod dehes. Mat.xviH.28. ^F Somme lyked nou3te f is leche * and leitres f ei sent, The y like not . r . -, „ Shrift's plasters. )ii any surgien were [in J f e sege fat softer couth piastre. 308 Sire lief-todyue-in-leccherye lay fere and groned ; For fastyng of a fryday he ferde as lie wolde deye. " Ther is a surgiene in f is sege fat soft[e] can handle, They ask for another leech, one And more of phisyke hi fer and fairer he plastreth, Flatterer, a friar. One frere flaterere is phisiciene and surgiene." 313 Quod contriciou?? to conscience • " do hym come to vnyte, 294. conscience"] B om. ywounded] &woundid 0. 296. pynne] penne B. 304. shope] shoop W ; shupptc R ; 297. Of] For O. tyterers] so in shep B. men] B om. O; tytereres RB ; titeleris W ; tutelers 306. piers] Pieris ]>e ploughman C. in] an R. B ; piers £>e (!) C. payed] y-payed 298. an hard] and haid (!) B. W. $ant] sawte R; saute O; assaut WCB. 308. [in R] LWCOB om. ; but see 299. W omits, atte] at \>e RCOB. 1.311. \e sege] B om. sege] so in R ; fete] to fi$te OB. segge WCO. couth] koude WR. 300. [a WRB] LCO om. techer] 309. lief] lif R ; leef WCO. techeris 0. 310. For] For >e B. a] o R. 301. cardinale] cardinales R. 311. sqfte] so wiWRCOB; soft L. 302. coude ?vcl] wel kouthe COB. 312. more] can more B. 303. GVjTogoW; To CB. ben] 311. QuoO] Quatj B. were R. [and WR] LCOB om. 3S2 PEACE PARLEYS WITH FLATTERER. [pass. XX. Conscience says the parish-priest is the right confessor; but Flatterer may be sent for. The friar gets a licence to hear confessions. Peace, the porter of Unity, parleys with Flatterer. Flatterer says he can make salves, and his com- panion tells his name. 2 Tim. iii. G. For here is many a man ' hette borw ypoerisie." IT " We han no nede," quod conscience • " I wote no better leche 316 Than persoim or parissh prest penytancere or bisshop, Sane Piers be plowman ' bat hath powere ouer hem alle, And indulgence may do but if dette lette it. 319 I may wel suffre," seyde conscience * " syn $e desiren, That frere flaterer be fette and phisike 30W syke." 1F The Frere her-of herde and hyed faste To a lorde for a lettre. ' leue to haue to curen, As a curatour he were and cam with his letfres 324 Baldly to be bisshop & his brief hadde, In contrees bere he come in • confessiouws to here, And cam bere conscience was and knokked atte jate. IF Pees vnpynned it • was porter of vnyte, 328 And in haste asked " what his wide were 1 " " In faith," quod. J>is frere • " for profit and for helthe Carpe I wolde with contriciouft • & berfore come I hider." 331 V "He is sike," seide pees "and so ar many other, Ypoerisie hath herte hem * ful harde is if bei keure." "lama surgien," seide be segge • "and salues can make ; Conscience knoweth me wel • and what I can do bothe." " I preye pe," quod pees bo • " ar bow passe ferther, What hattestow, I preye fie 1 hele nou^te bi name." IT " Certes," seyde his felow • " sire penetrans-domos" 817. penytancere] penitauncer WC OB ; penauncer R ; resembles peny- tantere in L. 318. hath'] haueth R. her?)'} R om. 320. syn] synnes R; sith C; si^e B. 321. syke] seke R. 322. hyed] hi?ed hym B. 323. to curen] curen C ; cure OB. 324. As] And as CB. lettrcs] let- tere R. 325. Baldly] Boldely WCRB; Booldli 0. 32G. come] cam RGB ; coome WO. in] Inne COB ; WE om. confes- sion >is] confessiouw 0. to Iiere] R om. 327. atte] at f>e WCROB. 328. Pees] Pieris B. 330. frere] freria B. helthe] hele 0. R. 333. is] it is B. 334. seide] y (!) B. segge"] frere 337. hattestow] hattest \>on OB. 338. Certes] Sire B. seyde— felon'] felaw seyde he ; saide he felawe C. PASS. XX.] TIIE FRIAR GAINS ADMISSION. 383 " h, go |>i gate," quod pees "bi god, for al bi phisyk, Peace refuses to But bow conne so?mne crafte bow comest noi^t her- " " h " u " Inne ! 340 I knewe such one ones • noujte eighte wynter passed, Come in Jms ycoped at a courte fere I dwelt, And was my lordes leche ' & my ladyes bothe. [Foi. 91 &.] And at be last j?is limito?o • " I wil bicome a pilgryme, 358. He] And R. lat] leet C ; leete ; lett B. hem (1)] hym C. 359. lenten] lente R (twice), lat] latte O; lette R; letijj B. bite] bitte R. 360. Tliat] This C. 361. and (2)] R om. 363. For] And for COB. 365. frerex] frere WO. 366. goth] goo> WO ; goos C. gadereth] gadderes C. 368. ivahe] awake C ; a-wakicl B. was wont] was woned B ; woned R. 369. lafte] lefte II. 370. for] of 0. alhjn] alle kynne WROB ; alkynne C. 371. seigh] seye R ; see C; sei B ; jrawne saw 0. so] also O. 373. hym] COB om. 375. dremeth'] clreint (!) B. 376. hath] hath so R. 377. esyly] hesily RB. ]pei] the C. PASS. XX.] CONSCIENCE BECOMES A PILGRIM. 385 And walken as wyde as al be [worlde] lasteth, To seke Piers be plowman Jjat pryde may destruye, and seek Piere And bat freres hadde a fyndyng • Jjat for nede flateren, And contrepleteth me, conscience ; now kynde me auenge, 382 And sende me happe and hele • til I haue piers be plowman ! " And sitthe he gradde after grace til I gan awake. awakeST" 16 * Explicit hie dialog us petri plow man. 379. a* (1)] al so B. al] alle R ; 382. contrepleteth] conterpledes C. WO om. [worlde R] world WCOB; Colophon. So in WCO ; Explicit wordle L. hie B; Passus ijw.? de Do-best R; 3S0. seke] seche B. may] myjte R. adds — Lauderis Christe quia finitur 381. And] B om, liber iste. 25 CRITICAL NOTES, ETC. 3S7 CRITICAL NOTES. [In the following notes, further information is given about the various readings of the MSS., &c. The chief results of a collation of the text with Crowley's printed text of 1550 {first edition, unless the number 2 or 3 is added) are also given here ; except where it agrees with MS. W (the Trinity MS. printed by Mr Wright.)] Pkologue. The word Prologus I have found in only one MS., viz. in MS. Rawl. Poet. 137. Most MSS. have no title here. In MS. Laud the words "Incipit liber de Petro Plowman" are written in red letters, but are so nearly obliterated as hardly to be distinguished except in a strong light. An examination of Crowley's text shows that it must have been taken from an excellent MS., which has frequently, however, been misread, and sometimes misprinted even when rightly understood. Sometimes the MS. itself may have been at fault. Owing to all these three sources of error, very little reliance can be placed upon the readings, and I have therefore selected some of the most noteworthy, omitting to notice all the misprints and false readings, such as reuke for renke in 1. 192 of the Prologue, and the like. Readings from Crowley's first edition are given below, and are distin- guished by the absence of any letter or number after them, as in notes to lines 1, 2, &c. But some readings from his other editions are also worth giving. Ilis second issue is denoted by (2), his third issue by (3). Thus in 1. 1, his first issue has sette, his second has set. 1. soft] sette ; set (2). 2. shroudes~\ shroubes. 5. Ac] And. This reading is very common in Crowley ; so also in MS. C we find Ac almost always replaced by And. 7. forwandred] of wandrynge. 10. sweyued] swy^ed. 12. wist T] I wyste. 18. of] Cr. omits in (2) ; but the first edition retains it. Slight variations of this kind I shall not in future notice; nor shall I, in general, give those readings in which Crowley's text agrees with MS. W, as it has already boon observed that there is a great similarity between Crowley's MS. and the Trinity one. By way of examples of which, it may be noted that in 1. 27 wo find in Crowley the words to haue after; in 1. 29 we find carien; in 1. 31, cheueden ; all of which arc found in the footnotes as occurring in W • 3SS CRITICAL NOTES (PROL. 2 A — 120). 24. comen\ commcnly. 34. syuneles. Certainly gillies, as iu Rogers's edition, is a better reading, because it preserves the alliteration ; but synneles has been retained as being the usual reading of the MSS. ; and moreover, Crowley has synles, or sinks- In the A-text, giltles occurs iu MS. T only. 35. In the margin of MS. Oriel are numerous sidenotes, such as " Minys- t/v/lis " opposite 1. 33, " Pilg/vmys " opposite 1. 46, &c. So in Crowley's text we find " Common Iestars " opposite the present line, " Pylgrinis " opposite 1. 46, &c. Further notice of them, except in a few instances, is unnecessary. 38. The text referred to is probably 2 Thess. iii. 10 ; si quia non vult operari, nee manducet. This is shewn by the words in the margin of the Oriel MS. (sec footnote). The quotation in 1. 39 is not from the Bible, but is intended to assign a reason for not mentioning St Paul's words. 39. hyne\ knaue (2). Crowley's first edition merely has turpiloquiam, fyc. 41. bely is the usual reading, but perhaps belies (W) is better, and is sup- ported by lealies in Crowley. Crowley also has bagges. 43. hij. So written ; ij stands for y. 50. The obelus (f ) in the sidenote points out new matter, not found in Text A 69. with") with many. 71. See Critical Note to 1. 68, Text A. 74. bonched~\ bouchid. But we must read bouched (as in Text A), as shewn by the word bunchede in MS. O. 75. rynges~] both ringes. 77. leuetK] leueth it to. But most MSS. omit it and to, aud then we should rather suppose leueth = believe, as in 1. 72. 82. The chief-letter of the alliteration is wanting. 95. seruantz. The MS. has "seruantj," but we may consider 3 to repre- sent z at the end of plural nouns, as in the present case and in the words diamantz, seriantz, &c. In Crowley the line ends with to lordes and to lodges. 97. messe~\ masses. 110. letterure] letture; lecture (2). Probably from misreading lett^-ure. 115. comune~\ communes ; commons (2). 122. The chief-letter is wanting. Without doubt we should read lif, not man; for Langland often uses lif in place of man. Sec, e. g., Pass, xx. 91. 126. leite ; so in Crowley. Mr Wright prints lene, but lene = grant, gire, in the sense of bestowing a present, aud is a variation of the verb lend. On the other hand, leue = grant in the sense of to permit, allow. The former answers to the German leihen, the latter to the German erlauben, and the two should not be confounded, as they often have been iu many passages in Chaucer, &c. In Text A, Pass. V. last line, lene should have been printed i CRITICAL NOTES (PROL. 140 — 2 to). 3S9 letie, both in the text and footnote. See my note on lene and leue in Notes and Queries, 4 S. ii. 126. 140. Crowley has answered, and begins the next line with Bum. 150. laa^te\ caught. This destroys the alliteration. 154. Crowley has — Scratchyng vs & clawyug vs, & in hys clawes hold. 165. bei^\ bight. 169. a colere] hys coller. 170. Crowley retains this line, though MS. W omits it. 174. him wratthetK\ he wrath. 178. haue ybounden] bynd. 179. Crowley iuserts it after hang. 185. culled \>e\ kyl thys. 186. cracchy\ catch, croupe] crep. 1S7. Crowley's later impressions omit this line, but the first impression retains it. 190. )>ere] Where, kitowi] kylling (sic) ; kitling (2). 191. Crowley has this curious sidenote. "Omnium doctissimorum suf- fra°-io, dicuntur hec de lassiuis, fatuis, aut ineptis principibus, non de etate tenellis. Quasi dicat, vbi rex puerilis est." This is evidently said out of re- spect to the reigning king, Edward VI. Crowley is, however, certainly wrong in his assertion. The author's intention was, to warn the English against Richard ; and Tyrwhitt is nearly right in saying that this fable must have been written in the latter part of a.d. 1376, when, after the death of the Black Prince, his son Richard had become the heir. More probably, it was written just after Richard's accession. 197. MSS. L and R have the curious spelling " mannas." A more usual reading is " mannes." 199. y)io\ vs. 200. ae] you ; in both places. This must be an instance where Crowley has taken a liberty, for you would not be used in the nominative in an early MS., of the end of the fourteenth or beginning of the fifteenth century. In 1. 209, Crowley prints Diuine ye, probably because the imperative mood is there used ; for the use of ye with this mood still survives. 211, 212. Crowley has the present tenses, seruen, Tleten. 213. vnlese] vnclosen. But this spoils the alliteration. 215. After this line Crowley's later copies insert the six lines following :— I sawe bishops bolde, and bachilers of diuine Become clarkes of accountes, the kynge for to serue Arcke deakens and deanes, that dignities haue To preache to the people, and pore men to fede Ben ilope to London, by leaue of her bishop And ben clarkes of the kinges benchc, the contrye to shend But these lines were erroneously inserted in his second impression. They 390 CRITICAL NOTES (PROL. 210 — PASS. I. 150), answer to 11. 90 — 95 of the Prologue in Text A, which arc replaced in Hie B-texl by lines S7 — 91, which see. To insert them again here is to use un- necessary repetition. 21G. burgeis seems to be a plural form ; it occurs in LRC. Crowley has btirgeses. Passus I. 14. fourmed] and former of. 34. deliiable] delectable. 30. Crowley wrongly omits c/ode, and has for instead of to. 37, 38. Crowley omits 1. 37, but gives 1. 38 correctly — Leefe not thy lykam, for a Iyer hym techeth. 39. Omitted by Rogers; retained by Crowley. 41. sueth] seeth. seitK\ seeth. But both these readings arc meaningless. 4:3. wisse] wyshe. This is one of the instances where Crowley has proba- bly misunderstood his copy ; to wisse is to teach, instruct. 52. bifalleth~\ belongeth. 74. witterli] wysely. wissed~\ wyshed. See note to 1. 42. 81. kenne is also the reading in Crowley's text. 89. wilneth] wylleth. 93. clame\> ; so spelt also in MS. C. 101. lacchyng] lackyng. This gives a different sense. 103. swerde ; Crowley also has swerd, the singular form. 103. Crowley has — But Christe kyng of kyngis, made knyghtes ten. 107. muryer] merier. 121. {/arte'] garde. stekye~\ stycke. 125. pult ; so in Crowley. 131. troneth] troweth. Probably misread as trouetli. 134. Lereth it pis'] Lerne on thys. 135. doted] dotest. 139. litel ; misprinted tel in Crowley. 140. he ; so in Crowley. Here Tie is to be considered as another spelling of heo, the A.S. form for she. 145. Crowley omits this line. 146. of ' hcuene] for sinne. 149. Cr. has And lerned it Moses, for y e leuiest thing of all. 150. plente] plant. It would seem that plant (also spelt playntc, plaim/r, plant e, ploute) is the reading in Text A, and plente may be considered as a variation of that word. The spelling plentee ( = plenty, fulness) is probably wrong. Love is likened to a plant descending from heaven, growing upon earth, and shooting up again heavenwards, an alkgory representing the In- carnation and Resurrection. CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. I. 152 — II. 12l). 391 152. yeten hisfi/lle] yoten it selue. 157./olke] folke; loue (2). 177. wynne] wyn; worcb (2). 192. Omitted in Crowley's latest issue, but retained in tbe preceding ones. Tbis is an easy test for distinguishing bis third issue from bis second. It nearly agrees with 1. 1S6. 203. graith ; omitted in Crowley's third issue only. Tbis furnishes anotber test. See last note. Passus II. 1. 27. manered"] maried. Obviously wrong. 33. leef] life. 35. lappe] lyppe. 39. mansed] mazed; manzed (2), mauzed (3). 47. worth'] worke. But see Prol. 1. 1S7. 51. boden~\ bounden. 72. feffement] feoffemente. 74. Carta is bere written in tbe margin of tbe Oriel MS. Tbe sidenotc in Crowley runs tbus : — " Maritagium prauum cum feoffeme«to in malo feodo, et de peruersa tenui'a." 87- borghe] borough. Tbis gives tbe right sense. 91. Crowley has tbe same, with Sf the instead of and. In MS. Laud the line is written, " There as wille wolde and wermansbip failletb," which has been corrected by tbe insertion of ne before icohfe, and tbe expunctiou of the word and. But tbe old reading seems more correct ; for the author is speaking of desires and idle thoughts, such as are indulged by those whose appetite is strong, though they are otherwise impotent. 100. Crowley has — For they liuen by luste, that is hir laste ende. 116. weddy ages'] weddiuges. In most cases where MS. Laud contains false readings, the line is marked at the side with a small cross by a cor- rector (probably tbe author) who read over the poem after the scribe bad written it out. Tbe present line is so marked, on account of tbe false reading wendynges. These marks have been of great service, and are of course of authority. Another marked line is 1. 'ill of tbis passus, where r has been omitted in mynstralles. See the description of the Laud MS. in tbe Preface. 118. engendred ; so in Crowley, and clearly right. 121. Tbis is the right place to explain the nature of tbe text furnished by the three MSS. named Bodley 814, Brit. Mus. Additional 10574, and Cotton Caligula A 11. Of these, the first two are so nearly alike that one is merely a duplicate of tbe other. They resemble each other in general appearance, and are almost certainly by the same scribe, and of the same date. They agree word for word, and almost letter for letter, though they often differ considerably from other MSS. They omit tbe same lines, such omissions being rather frequent, and they exhibit similar peculiarities of spelling. Tbe third MS. is of later date, but is probably copied from one of the two former, as it exhibits precisely the same text. So close is the resemblance between the three that I have found it quite unnecessary to collate them all through- 392 CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. II. 121, 124). out, and have therefore selected MS. Bodley 814 for collation, and the read- ings given from it (marked B) may be considered to represent the read- ings of all three. As they may thus be referred to a common origin, the peculiarities of the text they exhibit arc the less remarkable. Tbis text is somewhat of a jumble, and the variations in it are in some places of a spurious character. It begins like Text C, which it follows throughout the Prologue, Passus I., and the first 120 lines of Passus II. From that point it begins to follow the B-text, but its variations are numerous throughout the rest of this Passus, and iu the beginniug of Passus III. These variations seem due to the influence of an A-text ; see note to 1. 172. It then gradually approaches the text of our Laud MS., and in some places follows it very closely. I now give a quotation, corresponding to lines 114 — 123, which will shew how the junction of the C- and B-texts has been effected. From MS. Bodley SI 4, /of. 8. banne tenede hym theologie whan he ' bise talis herde, And seyde to Symonye ' " now sorwe mote bou haue Such a weddyng to worche >at wrabbe my^tte treube ; And er bis weddyng be wroujt woo be 2 bitide ! 4 For mede is moilere amendes was hire dame, Al-bou} fals were hire fadir and fikil 3 touwge hire belsire. Amendis was hire modir by trewe mennys lokyng, And wib-oute hire modir amendis mede may not be weddid. 8 For troupe ply^t hire trewpe ' to wedde on of hire doughters, And god gwuute hit were so so no gile were. And bou hast gyuen hire as gyle tau}te * now god 3eue be sorwe ! For Cyuyle and by silue 4 ' seldom fulfillib 12 That god wolde were ydo wib-oute sum disceyt. be tixtis tellij? not so treube wot be sobe, Dignus est operarius mercede sua ; Worti is be werkman his mede to haue, And bou hast fastnede wib fals fy on by lawes i " 16 Here lines 1 — 13 agree with the C-text very closely; see Whitaker's edition, p. 30. Lines 14—16, on the contrary, belong to the B-text (see 11. 121 — 123 of Pass. II.), and, with the exception of the last, are entirely different from the C-text, which gives in this place an account of the martyrdom of St Lawrence. 124. MS. B (Bodley 814) has — For al is falsnesse and lesyngis • and lecherie j>at tou werkis. The readings of B throughout the rest of this Passus are not worth giving, being almost invariably inferior, and often corrupt. I may instance 1 MS. Calif?, has she. -' MS. Addit. has ye. * jjs. Addit. has./M/A-. 4 MS. Calig. has and syluer. CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. II. 140 — III. 13). 393 as examples the following; \at sore anoien for noyeth in 1. 120 ; feynt of for Jikel in, in 1. 129 ; handlid for ysheiced, in 1. 134; be sctle to for bisitte, in 1. 140 ; also londe-men for bad hem alle be bow,/, in 1. 159, &c. Of these, the reading handlid is borrowed from Text A. 110. Here soure must mean sourly, bitterly ; cf. shot able it bitlere ; Pass, iii. 219. Crowley has sore. 113. floreynes] florences. 149. /aire'] fayre; great (2) and (3). 172. Here MS. B has— Alle ^e officiates and denes as destreris hem di$te, Tor pei shulden bere \>e bischopis and brynge hem at reste. Paulynes peple for pleyntis in \>& constorie, &c. This is evidently borrowed from Text A, Pass. ii. 150—152 ; and indeed, the rest of this Passus in B belongs rather to the A-text than the B-text, which accounts for the insertion after 1. 204 of the two lines— Symonye and Cyuyle " y sende hem to warne, >at holichirciie for hem • worj? harmed for eueremore. {See A. ii. 178.) 185. tome] tyme. But tome, meaning leisure, is the right reading. 1S7. gyed] guyded. This is rather a gloss than a true readiu"-. 198. come] can. Probably misprinted for cam. 208. Crowley has in the margin of the second impression — Dredc maketh the gilty flee — which well expresses the drift of this passage. 215. A good test-line for the three issues by Crowley. The first has — leped awaye than ; the second — leaped away than ; the third — leaped, and away ranne. Rogers has — leaped, and awaye ranne. 222. gaf] gaue hym. But the sense is rather, that they gave men pardon by his means. Passus III. The variations in MS. B are at first rather numerous, and of less value. Throughout lines 1 — 86 the most important have been selected, and are given in the footnotes. It omits 1. 18, in common with Text A, but after this it is little influenced by that text, and approaches MS. Laud more closely. The less important variations in lines 1 — SO arc given here. 1. and namo] nomen B. Cf. Text A. 3. a] to hym a B. can I noiqt] y can not telle B. 5. shal] wole B. 6. hire] to hire B. 7. B omits this line. 12. They] B omits, in] at B. 13. Gen fi Write] Ful gentily B. sommc] Crowley has came. 394 CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. III. 15 — 86). 15. To confbrte] And confortef? B. 17. toil wisse] will vvishc. Cf. note to Pass. i. 42. 18. leue] leefe. 21. B has — Of here goodis ' and here grete 3iftis. 22. Coupes] Copes, copjiis] Copes ; Cups (2) and (3). 25. luiafe \>ei] toke [ci here B. at] of B. 26. B has— Tho come f-ise clerkis to conforte hire Jeanne. 27. be blithe] blij>e to be B. 28. \>e— laste] the while we moune laste. 29. Ful hendely ]>aune ' she hrjte hem \>e same B. 30. y)w] hem. If we read yno, we must suppose this line to form part of Meed's speech. Most MSS. have ywre in 1. 31, though Crowley has her, (like W). Obs. Between 11. 30 and 31, Crowley has an extra line — To begge hem benifices, pluralities to haue. The alliteration of this is defective. 32. leode] clerke. But this spoils the alliteration. 34. clokke] cloke. 36. mellud ; Crowley has the same spelling. 39. yfolwed] Ifolowed ; yfouloed (2); yfouled (3). 4S. tcyndowe] witdow (3). Crowley's//-.^ impression omits ful. 50. siker] Full sikir B. 51 — 63. The four lines in MS. R are evidently imitated from Text A, which see. In the margin of Crowley's text {second impression) we fiud — " The fruites of Popishe penaunce." 53. While ]>e loue of lordis ' leccherie hauntifj B. 55. a — of] frailenes of the. 58. Crowley also inserts the before seuen. 61. glasen] glasen; do glaseu (2). 62. Do] And B. 63. segge — seyn] man shal siegge B. 68. ow$te] au^te B. 69. For-\i I lere] Therfore I lerne. 71. 3*] J»ei B. 72. For 36 B has \>ei, and for ywre reads here, but preserves yure, which is contradictory, heuene] heue« (1) and (2) ; hauew (3). 75. bit] beddith; biddeth (2). Bit is the contracted form of biddeth. 81, 83. buggen] byghe. Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is — " What harme yll vitillers do, & what abuse is in regratkg." 86. be y] bi pe B (which is clearly wrong). If the reader will turn to the specimens of MSS. given in the " Parallel Extracts " (E. E. T. S. 1S66) he will see how closely MSS. Bodley 814 (numbered 3) and Addit. 10574 (num- bered 4) agree. Both have the curious spelling bieggen in 1. 83, and the false CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. III. 97—224). 390 reading hi \>efal certeyne in 1. 80. The latter is copied hi MS. Calig. A. xi (numbered S). Obs. From this point MS. B agrees with our text closely in general, and its variations are given in the footnotes. 97- brenne is also Crowley's reading. 98. Crowley inserts that. Its omission in MS. Laud is an obvious error, and the line is marked as incorrect. 101. ofsent] sent for. 104. Here, as in 1. 36, Mr Wright prints meue\> for mene\>. In MS. W, the word may be read either way ; but see Mene in HalliwelL 107. Crowley rightly inserts the. 112. lat ; omitted in Crowley's later impressions. 120. Ar] Or. All three forms ar, er, or, were in use. 125. lereth] lerneth. To learn often means to teach. 127- All the MSS. (except L) retain 8f or and. Crowley has and. 115. As] As maye. 153. Crowley also has fouleth. 156. haue his forth] be of force, go so ]>ikke] fii so thick ; fly to thick (2) ; fly to think (3). Rogers has — fly to thicke. 161. After this line Crowley's later copies have an extra line — "Bi good reso« y#t is gret ruth, reherse me« what hem liketh." It is not in his first edition, nor is it clear where he found it. ISO. myne half ' elleuene] me halfe a leuen. Upon this Dr Whitaker re- marks — "Thou hast hanged on my hals, i. e. neck, which Crowley, in his ignorance of the lancruaEje of his author, read thus — Thou hast hamnd on me halfe a leven times." Nevertheless, Crowley is right in printing halfe, though he should also have printed my, not me. My halfe = my side, and I have been utterly unable to find any MS. of the B-type with the reading hals. My note to A. iii. 174 contains therefore, I fear, a misstatement as to this matter. 187. Crowley retains it. 193. homeward] vpward. 210. alienes] alientes. 213. renne] runne ; go (2). Crowley also has giftes for yftes, as if the alliteration depended on the initials of giftes, xonge, and go. But we know from Text A that renne is correct. The alliteration follows a rule, according to which each half-line is alliterative within itself. 217. of—maistre] for her maistris. 221. of hem] after. This accounts for the reading aftir mede in the next line, in Crowley's third issue only, where aftir is an erroneous repetition. 224. prenlis] premises. But prentis is also a plural form, like burgeys in 1. 162. 39G CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. III. 227 — IV. 67). 227. The curious spelling Quat$ sometimes occurs in MS. B, but as the line is marked for correctiou iu L, I have inserted the more usual form Quod, which occurs in Crowley. 232. ben] be ; liuen (2). But this makes the line halt. 210. parsueth] preserueth. To the quotation Crowley adds non acciplt ; which should have been non accepit. 214. a] her. This seems a better reading. Perhaps a is a corrupt pro- nunciation of her. 217. seith] sayth ; speaketh (2). This makes the line halt. 252. The common reading of the MSS. is recipiebant, as in Crowley. But the Oriel MS. is right, 275. The spelling shenfullich shews that the d was obscurely pronounced afters. Crowley has shamefully, which is a translation of it. 278. Crowley has — The colour of thys case, ne kepe I not to tell. 281. hem sothes] sothe. 281. happc shut somme] happe shal come. Crowley {second impression) adds a sidenote— " This is no prophecy, but a resonable gathering." 293. Crowley has — Shal no sergeant for his seruice, weare no silke hode. 301. Crowley has — "Moses & Messia;" and in the sidenote {second im- pression) — "Thys is no prophecye, but a truth gathered of the scriptures." 301. Crowley has — " Axe, or yet hachet." 307. pykoys] pykeaxe. 331, 332. The occurrence of victorie in 11. 331, 318, makes it desirable to give the quotation from the Proverbs in full. It is — " Victoriam et honorem adquiret qui dat munera : animam autem aufert accipientium." The last four words are " ]pe taille of ^e tixte," and are quoted below, in 1. 310. 335. herte] well. In 1. 330, Crowley omits lyne, and in the two next lines reads she loked, She shuld. Passus IV. 1. 2. sau^fne] sangtle {sic). 9. my] the. After this line the MSS. seem to have lost a line (1. 10 of the A-text), which Crowley, in his second impression, retains — "Of Mede and of other, and what man shal Mr wedde " — where other should be other mo. 11. \e lered and \e lewede] the learned & the lewd. 13. roioneth] roundeth. Probably round is a corruption of roicn, as sound is of soun. 23. kaireth ; cf. Prol. 1. 29. Crowley has curled in his second impression, but carlelh in his first. 27. for pet] for they. 2S. \e clicker] the Escheker. 31. wynne] get. 57. bereth] stelcth. 62. luff] luskc. 67. wan] wende ; went (2); but note that MS. B has wan. CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. IV. 73— V. 75). 397 73. his] hyr. 94. mengen] meue;? (misprinted for menen). 108. rest] rest ; sit (2). 118. I/yne] hyne ; hynde (2). 124. baiardes] barns. But baiardes is right ; the expense of them should go towards building houses for the poor, and so should the expenses of the hawks and hounds, mentioned in the line following. 131. fynt hi/ »i] fynde it. 144. badde] badde that. 146. wedde] wed; dare wed (2). 151. of — soirie] of y e pore co/nmofi, ne kings soule. 156. falle i/i] I'aile. This variation is due to the faile following. It re- verses the sense, for Waryn only failed in speech when florins were given to bribe him to do so. 160. mansed] manzed. 174. almoste — it] had it nere shewt. 175. Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is — "The lavviers kepc the kinge from hys right." 177. \f I regne any ichile. This is an excellent instance of the anachron- isms that sometimes appear in this version of the poem, owing to its having been composed at different periods. In I. 45 of this Passus, the king and his son are mentioned, i.e. Edward and the Black Prince ; and that line was com- posed about a.d. 1362, as it appears in Text A. We now come to a line, however, in which the king says what he will do, if he reigns any ichile ; and this was therefore written at the time of the accession of Richard II., which took place in June, 1377. It will be observed, accordingly, that this line does not appear in Text A. 1S9. Crowley's text (resembling MS. W as usual) has — " By my cou//ccl cowmune." But this is an inferior reading. 193. This line, which is retained by Crowley, is omitted by Rogers. Passus V, 1. 13 were, not was, in Crowley's text. 28. Stowue] Stowne. 29. wyuen] wynen; sec Crit. Note to A. v. 29. 45. leren] learne. 46. Crowley's sidenote (second in,pression) is — "The suppression of Abbayes. Good comvsell." 49. \>e comune] hys commons. 50. triacle] treacle. 52. gyiie] geue; gauc (2). 67, 6S. Crowley's first impression omits 1. 67; the later issues inserl it after 1. 68, with the false spelling affaynten. 73. Crowley's sidenote (second impression) — "The olde satisfacio* " — is a little obscure; it probably means that the Reformation did nol favour prayers to our Lady or penance. 75. doke] day. But "to drink with the duck" is to drink water. 398 CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. V. 85 — 189). 85. he iede\ Crowley omits. 90. Retained by Crowley, though omitted in MS. W. 10S. baren] bare. 110. Meyne] Elen. 112. liketh myn herte] lykcth mine hert; mine herte akctli (2). 124. ho-so schrape] shraping of. This is a good reading. 125. 3«« redili] Yes redily; This I rcade (2). 126. of] for. 133. listres] listers ; Legisters (2). 139. low] smal ; smoth (2). This shews that low is used to imply whis- pered flatteries and insinuations. 14-3. This can only mean — "And now that parsons have perceived that friars partake of their fees." Crowley has — "And persons haue," &c. — which puts haue in its right place ; but now should not have been omitted. The reading given in the text is supported by Lord Ashburnham's MS. No. 129. See the description of that MS. in the Preface. 144. possessioneres] possessours. 146. That] And. Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is— "A good scholemastcr." 148. Crowley has — " Thus thei speke# of mi spiritualtie, & despise ech other." 154. were] had. suffrc] suffer. 160. worth] was. 162. I-macle] made. Here the /-can be nothing but a prefix, which is occasionally found with the past tense at this period. It was probably intro- duced here metri gratia, as it improves the flow of the verse. Observe that it is retained in MSS. L. 11, and O, but omitted in W, C, and B. 167. ordeiyned] prouided. This seems a better reading, as it preserves the alliteration. 16S. Observe that Crowley has two lines in place of this one, and that they differ from all the MSS. which 1 have collated. If ever the MS. used by Crowley is recovered, it may be known by this test, and by the extra line after iii. 30. lie reads— Lest happeli they had had no grace to hold harlatri in, For they are tide of her tonges, & must al secretes tell Crowley adds (in his second impression) the sidenote— Gregory wold not suf- fer womenne to hear confession. 169. I shonye] I shames; which is almost certainly wrong. 177. vnthende] vnhende ; cf. reading of O. 186, 187. me] hym (in both places), my] his. And surely Crowley's MS. has here a better reading than any of the rest. 189. sire — loked] so sternly hym loked ; so sternely he loked (2). I pre- fer lleriiy to Henry, because it is authorized by all the MSS. of the A-class. Heruy also occurs in C2. CRITICAL NOTES (i'ASS. V. 193 — 310). 399 193. chiueled] shcucred (i. e. shivered). elde] olde. 199. toelihe] welth; welte (2). In MS. L it may be read either as "welche" or "welthe," but the spelling "wel^e" in W decides this point. 212. plaited] plitte; plyt (2); splyt (3). 215. webbe] webster. Though -ster is properly the feminine termination, the distinction was at this period rapidly being lost. 221. hymselue] it selfe. This curious variation seems to indicate that hym- selue refers, not to laboreres, but to peny ale and podyng ale ; cf. next line. 225. my icy/] she. , 228. so the ik~\ sothelick; which is probably an ingenious (yet wrong) correction by Crowley himself. 238. I — were] I toke rifling for. lemed — bokc] neuer red boke. 244. \e crosse] the crosse ; crese (2). 249. I dele] I dele ; Idle (2) (an obvious misprint). 259. Crowley has — That kilth hem if he ca» hem catch, for couet of her skins. 263. lene] leue. This is always a very difficult point ; lene = Germ. leihen, and is transitive, but leue = Germ, erlauben, and can only be followed by a dependent clause, not by an accusative. In nine cases out of ten, when the word in question is preceded by god, we should read leue; but in this instance the use of the accusative grace decides us in favour of lene. Cf. note to Prol. 126. 267- Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is — 111 gotten goodes must be ill spent. 271. ]>ehe — leues] bryght golde if it were. 273. Crowley's second impression has — Or els that I could know it by any kindes wyt. But the first impression omits the line ; and perhaps it is spurious. 283. where] whether. And such is here the meaning 289. Crowley omits the Latin quotation. 296. ^eldest] paist. Both readings spoil the alliteration. Surely Lang- land wrote lenest or lenst ( = lendest). 312. she] he ; (and so in 1. 310). The brewsters were females. The Laud MS. has the correct reading in 1. 310, shewing that he is here a mere slip. 319. cokkeslane. The modern name is Cock Lane, Smithfield. 320. Dawe] Dawe ; Dauie (2). The names arc equivalent. 331. chajfare] chaffer; ware (2). 337. noumpere] vmper. This spoils the alliteration. 338. Crowley's second impression has— For to trye this chaffer, betwexte hem there. But the first edition omits this line, and it is probably spurious, like 1. 273. 346. y-globbcd] vgolped. 400 CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. V. 351 612). 331. vexed] wyped. Cf. Text A, and t lie Critical Note. 357. stumbled] stowbled. The line in L is marked for correction. It may be that all the copies are wrong, and that the right word is ]>rompelde, as in the Vernon MS., Text A. 3G7. yde] we«t. Cf. MS. O. 370. toif] wife; wit (2). The latter is an error, due to the recurrence of the syllable wile in edwite. The A-class MSS. have vn/f. 3SS. Crowley inserts to, and has (in the second impression) the sidenote — Prety vowes. 39S. ro.red] raskled. 399. renke] reuk. 403. But of our lorde or our lady, I lerne nothyng at all. — Or. 413. Crowley omits of so uteres. 434. Crowley inserts "y e ," and for rede has "make." 439. \>ere ligge aurte] ought be; if ought be (2). 410. femgere] ferther. It is clear that Crowley's MS. haAfernyer, which he mistook for fer\>er. 441. Sixty] Syxe. foryte\ forgotten. 442. o/spec/ie] of spence. This reading (where spence = expence) cer- tainly gives better sense. 446. lerne] learning. 452. wolde] wyl. 476. owe is glossed by debeo in L ; Crowley has Jcnowe, as in II. 494. modest] makest. 495, 49S. Side and Secte seem to be the same word. Secle is the Latin form, Side the French. See Sect in Wedgwood, where sectu is shewn to be the Latin for a suit of clothes, and for a suit or action at law. Crowley has suite in the first place, sect in the second, and side again in 1. 504. 514. Crowley has the word nos. 520. Crowley omits wysfe ; and in the next line has blustergnge. 525. icithewi/iides] wythe wandes. 510. dwelleth] wo/mith. And again in 1. 561. 542. pike] poke. A poke is a pouch, and therefore much the same as scrippe. 517. suren Jn/m] suren hym ; sweren (2). In the margin of the second impression Crowley has— The plowman is Truthes seruaunt. 559. hewe] helk. In the black-letter, Ik is strikingly like an MS. ic ; helk is doubtless due to a MS. reading hew. 587. ludfe] haude. llcdfe means side. Cf. note to iii. 180. 5S9. herghe] berch. What a berch is, I know not. Berghe means hill ; the A-tcxt has brok, i. e. a brook. 590. fees] foes. The spelling foes is misleading, and therefore fees may be preferred. Yet foes may stand hrfeos, as poeple does for people ; cf. Pass. i. 7 612. Crowley, in his second impression, has Paradisi porta before per CRITICAL NOTES (PASS. V. 614 — VI. 1C3). 401 Euam ; at any rate, porta must be understood. The word iteriim is inserted from R ; strictly speaking, R has iterwn, &c, omitting patefacta est. But see Political, Religious, and Love Poems, ed. Furnivall, 1SG6 ; p. 230. 614?. go in] come ; contrary to the alliteration. 620. pukketh] poketh ; paketh (3). But in 1. 643, Crowley has pokid. 627. The reading y.ftes in R can be explained. The scribe was no doubt thinking of the seven gifts of the Spirit. 636. seuenc] systers seuen. 649. Two lines in Crowley — I wyll go fecche my boxe, with my brenets [sic] al And also a bull, wyth a Byshops letters. The second issue of the second impression (i. e. the third edition) has brewts, which in both the preceding issues is printed brenets. It also has the strange spelling boxke. 651. bicome] be gon; be gonne (2). Passus VI. 1. who so] if we. 2. Crowley has — That wold we«de with vs ech a fote, & y e wei tel. 6. Crowley has — I woulde wend, &c. 10. Crowley has — And ye se louely ladies, &c, in his second impression. But his first impression omits se. 32. be] the. The reading \e is better than \>i, in my opinion. I take it to be the dat. case of \>ou. Affaite \>e = tame for thyself. 49. Crowley (in his second impression) has — Than thou, but thou do bet, and Hue as thou shoulde Amice, ascende superius. And in the margin — Luke xiiii. But the first impression omits 1. 49, and I fear it is spurious. 68. lese] gle;«e. This is probably a gloss of Crowley's own ; it is correct in as far as it rightly explains lese by glean. In the next line, Crowley has maugre who so bigrudge it ; where bigrudge is his substitution for the old form bigrucche. 73. denote] Benot (3). 96. haue] mind. 118. how] hey. Crowley has (in his third issue only) the sidenote — Jolye workmen. 138, 139. For he, Crowley has ye, in both places, and similarly you for hym in 1. 140. 151. posteles] apostles, powerc of]>e bisschop] bishops power. 156. abostcd] abofted; and bofeted (2), 163. For the reading wolf sky nnes, cf.note to 1. 175 of Pass. II. (A-text) ; see vol. i. p. 141. 26 402 CRITICAL NOTES (VI. 174 — VII. 152). 17 i- houpcd] whouped. In this place, houped — whooped. 196. Crowley has — For bread bake;/ for baierds, &c. 201. aforth] ford. We now say afford. 203. mfe]yard; yarth (3). 206. be to~\ to be. But be to is correct, to done being the gerund. 222. fals] false ; falty (3). This last alteration is probably due to Crowley, who may have missed the construction. It means — "or that any manner of wicked men (have harmed)." 223. hem is also Crowley's reading, in his second impression ; his frst has him, but see the next line. 22S. I retain vindictam, as it is the reading of all the copies, Crowley's included. It should be vindicta. In the next line, Crowley has wilt. 230. biloue] biloue. Bilone \e seems to mean make thyself beloved. Bilow would mean humble thyself. But Langland seems to wish to translate Facite vobis amicos. 239. bete'] bate. To bete is to remedy ; to bate is to abate. 269. afy??gred] a huwgred. Cf. A.S. of-hingrian. 272. calabre] Calabrye. This is nearer to the Latin form Calabria. 274. londe] bond. To "labour with land" is to till the soil. 307. Crowley also has the spelling halpeny, but only in the third impression. 308. borghe] burth ; borough (3). 320. Crowley has — "While hunger gafe hem hier, not one of hem wold chide. 328. Crowley has this side-note, in the third impression — This is no prophecy but a pronostication. I fear this will not quite clear up the difficulty. Tor eight (1. 329) he has hight, and for dawe (1. 331) he has JJauie (cf. V. 320) in his later impressions ; but the first impression has eight and Dawe. Passus VII. 7. myster~\ mistery. It has no connection with mystery, being from the O. Fr. mestier. 42. an helpe] in helth. But an helpe ( = and help them) is right. 62. lyhbyng] lyuynge. lyuen~\ liuiden ; libben (2). 68. or bit] one byt. An ingenious, but unnecessary, alteration. Bit = biddeth, begs. 128, 129. In the first of these lines, for fynt, Crowley has Jindes ; in the second, he has fedes. Fynt is the contracted form of findeth. 130. perkin] Parkin (3). Both are forms of Peterkin. 137. Bice is the usual spelling of Ejiee in MSS. of the fourteenth cen- tury. Crowley has Ecce by mistake, and the same error occurs in most ol the MSS. 152. deuyned] dimned ; demed (3). So also inl. 157. CRITICAL NOTES (vil. 172 VIII. 125). 403 172. Crowley's side-note, in Lis second impression, is — Note howe lie scorneth the auctority of Popes. 179. trietmales] trentals (3). In 1. 1S2, Crowley has trieniales in the later impressions. Ike first edition has trietmales in hoth places. 193. doublefolde. Crowley has strengthened this by printing "an .C. fold," regardless of alliteration. In his first impression, this line is omitted altogether. 196. Obviously distasteful to Crowley, as he deliberately altered it so as to stand thus : — And make Christe our meane, that hath made eme«ds. Colophon. See note to 1. 187 of Pass. VIII. of Text A ; vol. i. p. 118. In order to mark the distinction between the two poems — of " Piers the Plowman," and " Dowel, Dobet, and Dobest " — the more clearly, I have in- troduced the leaf with the title of the second poem. Crowley's heading to the next Passus is — Passus octauus de visione. Et hie iucipit inquisitio prima de dowell. I may here observe that the titles to the Passus in MS. L are generally written twice over ; once by the scribe, in a very fine small hand in the margin, and once by the rubricator in red letters, in the usual place. In the present case, the title of Passus VIII. stands, in the rubric — Passus octavus de visione, & pranus de dowel. But in the margin is the following note by the scribe, which is of more authority — Ps viij //>? de visione, & hie explicit & in[cipit] inq?at \>ow] thou y\ 82. tailende] tayland ; taylyng, as in MS. (2). 96. p?dte] pul. 100. or] and. did] dyd ; arne (2). 102. to] Cr. omits. 125. Crowley has— man or womaw. Either reading gives sense, nor ran we decide from the alliteration. If we read no man, the word man satisfies the alliteration by its treble occurrence ; if we read wommrni, the alliteration 404 CRITICAL NOTES (iX. 3 — llo). is satisfied by the words whether, womman, and wolde. Neither the A-text nor C-text helps us. Passus IX. — Title. Crowley has — Passus nonus de visione. Et primus de dowel. 3. medled~\ medlid ; mingled (2). 16. lerynge~\ lerneing. 20. ke>ide~\ end (2) ; ende (3), wrongly. 29. lysse] blis (an unnecessary change, which spoils the alliteration). 31. schctfte~\ shape (a more modern form). 33. Crowley has — And made Adam lykest to hym selfe one. 38. Ei$te] Eue«. hym] he. 40. lettres in the plural form has a singular sense ; it is evidently copied from the Latin use. In Barbour the two forms are used indifferently. " And amang othir, lettres ar gayn To the byschop off Androww towne, Thai tauld how slayn wes that baroun. The lettir tauld hym all the deid ; &c." The Bruce; Bk. II. 1. 80. 47. his] our. But his is right, as proved by the A-text. 54. he] she. Here he is feminine, answering to the A.S. heo, and signifies she. The reference is to anima, as in the A-text, 1. 44. Cf. Pass. V. 312. 56. he] Cr. omits. Here he is masculine. 57. lat] ledyth; leadith (2); leadeth (3). Lat is here probably a con- tracted form of ledeth. 61. her soule] there souls. But soule is probably used as a translation of anima, and so used in the singular, as in the next line, where Crowley, how- ever, has hir soules. 67. Shulde fynde hem that faute, &c. (Crowley). In the margin of Crowley {second impression) is the note— Wo be to you y' turn the tithes to priuate vse. 73. And] Cr. omits, lere] lerne. 80. In the margin of Crowley (second impression) — Bestowe your tythes as you are bounde to do. 86. net we] wil we not ; wyl not we (2). 90. a taper] a Iaper ; Iapers (2). 91. Crowley has minus. The word is so plainly written in the MSS. that we must hesitate to accept Mr Wright's ingenious suggestion, viz. mimis. 92. \us] so. drat] dredeth (the fuller form) ; see 1. 94. 97. Crowley has vno, as in James ii. 10. 100. spyre] enspired (wrongly). 111. o] one. Referring to Adam. 115. two] Cr. omits. CRITICAL NOTES (iX. 117 — X. 138). 405 117. \>e—is] & in heuen. This reading seems better, though the general authority of the MSS. is against it. 121. wedded] wedded; ioyned (2). In the margin of Crowley (second impression) — Learn to chose the a wyfe. 139. Crowley also has forth ; cf. A-text. 140. eche] euery. 150. The Vulgate has — Numquid colligunt de spinis uvas, aut de tribulis ficus ? 152. wedlokes] wedlocke (2). His first impression omits the whole line. 177. continue'] coutynue ; conteyne (2). 179. likyng] lykynge ; lokyng (2). 181. wylt is Crowley's reading. The latter part of the line varies in the C-text. 182. Cf. Political Poems, ed. Wright, vol. i. p. 159. " Dedita gens scortis morietur fulmine sortis, Scribitur in portis, meretrix est janua mortis." 190. Crowley also has lilceth. 201. and to ymen] vnto nienne. Passus X. 12. ]>e—perre] precious Pirre ; precious Pearles (2). 21. to — clepid] is oft cleped to counsell. 23. witnesseth] wytnesseth ; greatly wytnesseth (2). Cf. C-text. 27. letterure] lecture. 29. to] be to. 34. pilat] Pilate falsely. In margin of Crowley (second impression) — Only diuinitie hath no reward. 42. Lickne] Lyken. 47. yresyue] yeres gyfte ; newyeres gyfte (3). 48. nouthe] nought. But nouthe means now. 52. Atte mete] At the meat ; And they meet (2), wrongly. 61. The remark in the foot-note— that this line is marked for correction in L — is wrong. 70. Crowley inserts hum. 78. is—ywar] is none ware; are none ware (2\ 83. welt—ricchesse] wexeth welthy in ryches. Welt = weldeth ; cf. 1. SS. 89. dure] endure (the modern form). 93. Crowley has houses. 97. Crowley has parler. The word is miswritten paloure in L. 114. in] in ; to (3). But the MSS. have in. ] 29. hanelounes] hanylones ; hanylowes (2). 137. Crowley has as. 138. \>e grounde] therth (put for the erth). 40G CRITICAL NOTES (x. 141 — 303). 141. In margin of Crowley {second impression) — The maner of thew f be in office. 165. symplete] simplicitie. 166. in] in; in his (2). )>e] Cr. omits. 169. Crowley has gret or grete. Yet the Vernon MS. (A-text) has grette, the past tense. 172. Crowley has — And all the vnisons in mnsieke, &c. Vnisons arose from reading musouns as uniso?is. 178. carpentrie] carpentre; carpenters (3), as in A-text. 180. ten] ten; seuen (2). But observe the alliteration. IS 3. Crowley omits this line. 184 lethy] lethy ; the A-text has lewed. 189. seigh] sawe. 190. Crowley has nee, as in Cato. For/«r simile another reading in Calo \%fac simules. 192. Crowley also has go me to. 195. ysme] them ; hede (2), as in MSS. T and V (A-text). 198. hem nedeth] they nede (a modernized idiom). 208. geomesye] geomansye ; cf. A-text. is ginful] so gylfull. 211. fybicches] fybiches ; febichers (2) ; cf. A-text. 212. alkenamye] alkinamie; cf. A-text. 214. sciences ; so in Crowley and A-text. 221. grette] grete ; grate (2) ; both here and in 1. 218. 244. Crowley omits the Latin quotation. 246. \us it] this, willen] wold. 247. fyne icytte] fyue witte ; flue wits (2). 250. boke] boke; holy boke (2). 266. bosarde] bosarde ; bussarde (2), 276. Marke] marke; Mathew (2). This correction was therefore made by Crowley ; Marke is the author's own mistake. 279. mansed] mauzed. Mr Wright prints mausede here, but corrects it to mansede in the note on p. 537. 251. Byttere aboutfe] Bytter aboute ; Bytterly bought (2). 285. made] y' made. 287. Canes] canes ; Canes muti (2), as in the Vulgate. 288. And—worde] And to lacke you w' a word, &c. 289. And] But. 291—303. This is one of those passages for the preservation of which we are much indebted to the Rawlinson MS., which represents the B-text with all its latest additions, as it stood just before it was re-cast so as to be- come the C-text. This passage, originally forming a portion of the A-text (Pass. xi. 201—207) was at first cut out ; but, on second thoughts, the poet decided to retain it. Hence it appears again (slightly varied) in the C-text, but is there transferred to quite a different part of the poem, so as to form a CRITICAL NOTES (x. 306 XI. l). 407 part of Reason's sermon, which in the B-text begins at Pass. v. 13. See p. 57 of this volume. Cf. Whitaker, p. 83. 306. Crowley's marginal note is— "Reade thys." 317. Crowley's marginal note {second impression) is—" The suppression of Abbayes." 325. hanyuel~\ had it; had il (2); had 111 (3). 333. noutf] naught; ought (2), which spoils, the alliteration. 336. Crowley inserts to before huue. 342. preyseden~\ praise. 356. The words leue and lene cannot be distinguished in the MSS. Here leue ■■= believe ; cf. 1. 359. 361. It is also Crowley's reading 362, bakkes] backs (1) and (2) ; bocks (3). 368. It is clear that non mecaberis is the author's own mistake, as it is in nearly all the MSS., both here and in the A-text, xi. 247. See note to I hat line in vol. i. p. 153. In the same way vindictam in the quotation below ought to be vindicta; yet it is written vindictam both in the A-text, and in the B-text elsewhere (1. 204 above). 369. /*] Is ; I (2). 377. wytnesseth~\ manaceth. 378. on no letterure] no letter. 388. now~\ Cr. omits, 398. cathedram~\ so in Crowley, the A-text, and the Vulgate. 401. Cr. has — No wight y' wroght thero« was salf, ne any workman els. 408. adreynteii] he drowned. 409. curatoures~\ curates ; curate (2). 411 — 413. Here again the Rawlinson MS. gives us a passage which re- appears, with alterations, in the C-text (Whitaker, p. 197). 416. Crowley has— And for he bekened to {second impression bekncw on) y' crosse, &c. ; the latter reading is better than Wright's text here. 425. kylle~\ put ; which spoils the alliteration. 426. Cr. retains now, and has §• for wyth {second impression). 431. wel libbynge] wel learned {which seems belter'). 435. lyther~] yl ; against alliterat'on. 441. \>o he seyde'] Cr. omits. 452. ]>e trinitee] the Trinitie ; diuinitie (2). Passus XI. The first line answers to 1. 12 of Pass. xii. of the A-text Cp. 137*). It will be seen that all resemblance between the A and B-texta ceases here. Yet it may be observed that the phrase Audivi archana, &c.| (A-text, xii. 22) is quoted also in the B-text, (xviii. 393). Again, the words caban and crepte (A. xii. 35) are found near together in B. iii. 190. The quotation Omnia probate (A. xii. 50) is introduced in B. iii. 335. The line 408 CRITICAL NOTES (XI. -i — 258). Munyferlys, &c. (A. xii. 5S) occurs elsewhere in both texts (A. prol. 62 ; B. prol. 05). As Hunger is described carrying scraps of bread (A. xii. 68), in a similar manner is Patience described (B. xiii. 216). There is much like- ness between the lines A. xii. 66, 67 and A. v. 5, 6; between A. xii. 88 aud B. xiii. 50 ; and also some resemblance between A. xii. 90 and A. viii. 12 ; and between A. xii. 91 and B. xviii. 321. The poet's encounter with Hunger (A. xii. 60) answers to his subsequent encounter with Need (B. xx. 4). It will be seen from the notes in the ten foregoing Passus that the colla- tion of our text with Crowley's edition yields few results of much interest, and 1 shall therefore, from this point onward, only notice such few variations as really seem worth remarking. 4. It might seem that the word wraith is wrongly repeated in this line ; but the MSS. fully support it ; it means sorrowful vexation rather than anger, such pettishness as causes sleepiness, and can therefore be qualified by the epithet "wynkyng." 20. Por tcil Crowley has wylie wyse. 35. Cr. has — wha« shal tine the crowue ; which is nonsense. 46. Cr. has — and a fifte more ; but in the second impression — or fifty and more. This latter reading is certainly corrupt, aud arose from not under- standing the true reading^e, which means fifth. And afyfte more = and a fifth besides ; so that here we have the first reference to the poet's being forty-five years old, the other reference being in Pass. xii. 3. 71. Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is — Priers did not seke y e bodi but the monie. 77. calekumelynges'] catekinlinges ; catechislinges (2) ; words clearly coined by Crowley himself. 126, 127. The alliteration shows that MS. R is right ; the recurrence of the words with hym before the metrical pause in both lines caused the omis- sion of the words between. 128. Crowley rightly retains him. 130. wot] wyll (rightly). 139. Cr. rightly retains ne ; it is necessary to the sense. 146. lernynge] learnynge; leadynge (2). 154 — 164. Not found anywhere else. 173. The MSS. make no distinction between lene (to give) and leue (to believe) ; but the context decides it ; see, in particular, 1. 190. Crowley rightly has lene in his third impression only ; he also prints leue or lene instead of laitghe vp in 1. 203. 208. Crowley, not perceiving that Langland uses lyf as equivalent to person or man in many passages, alters it to — Therfore lacke no others life, &c. Cf. note to prol. 122. 253. kynde~\ lyfe. This preserves the sense, but not the alliteration. 258. The alliteration shows that segge is certainly right; Cr. has man. CRITICAL NOTES (xi. 283 — XII. 19.?). 409 2S3. take] pai. This preserves the sense, but not the alliteration. 293. Cr. has— Cure than for kenuynge, or knowen for clene beryngj which is altered in the second impression. His sidenote {second impression) is — Priesting was an occupation to lyue by. 309. ha\> — tepe~] I am leapt. 311. Ac in MS. W has a large illuminated iuitial. 319. Crowley rightly has makes. 339. leye\~\ layeth. 372. mi/s~] amise ; amisse (2). 399. I wote — m] do I ken dowel. 404. Cr. has— Thew hadst y u ke«de y' clergi came {second impression can), & kend more bi reson. Passtjs XII. 21. Seide] Sayd ; I saide (2). 57—59. Not in Crowley. 87. I suspect Crowley wished to make this line more suitable for his Protestant readers ; for he prints — For bread of gods body myght not be w/t//out cleargy. 104. Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is — " The holy gost is the autour of bokes." 105. It is to be regretted that this line is absent from MS. TV (and therefore from Mr Wright's edition) ; the lack of it ruins the sense. Neither is it found in Crowley. 118 — 127. This passage is better on the whole than the corresponding one in Whitaker's edition, p. 232. It has three lines more, viz. 11. 120—122. On the other hand Whitaker has an additional line after 1. 127, viz. And do we as David techeth for doute of Gods veniaunce, Nolite tangere, §-c. The passage is not in Crowley. 133. \>e selkouthes'] Seldome ; Selden (2) ; corruptly. 139. Cr. rightly has was, but wrongly substitutes " cou# sell " for " wis- domes." The singular verb substantive with the plural noun is in Lang- land's usual mode. 148. Crowley has ei, as in MS. W. 155. I regard the line interpolated after this line in C as spurious, yet it fulfils the alliteration better than the miserable lines quoted in the foot- notes to Pass, xviii. 257 and 292. 162. Cr. rightly has sikerer. 182. Cr. has — And repenteth not before shrift, & thaw can he lit le tell. 192, 193. The first of these lines is undoubtedly too long, and the read- ing of MS. W. must be adopted in order to preserve the alliteration, and, indeed, in order to make sense. It is probable that it originally ran— 410 CRITICAL NOTES (xil. 253 — XIII. 118). Was, for lie ^clte hym creaunt ' to cryst on the crosse And grace axed of god & knewleched hym gulty — and that the poet afterwards substituted for the last four words the ending — "pat to graunten it is redy " — before proceeding, but omitted to strike out the words rendered superfluous. I believe the right reading to be as in the text, only the words Sf knewleched hym gulty should be struck out, and the metrical pause in 1. 193 placed after creaunt. Crowley has a different and very unsatisfactory reading — Was for he knew Christ on y B cros & knowlegid his sinne, And grace asked of god, & he is euer ready That buxomly.che byddeth it, & hen in wyl to ame»d hem. In the C-text the passage is somewhat varied, and has a patched-up appearance. 253. chiieryng\ chattering. This is doubtless the word wanted. The line is not in the C-text. 257. Cr. has posele or pofete, evidently misprinted for pofeet. 277. Cr. has — Ne creture of Christis likenes, worth salf vnchriste«id. Passu s XIII. 10. shulde helpe quyte] quite part of. 13. curatoures~\ creatures (wrongly). 32. wye'] wyght {which is probably a later substitution for wye). 49. MS. W retains this Hue, as explained in the footnote ; ' Crowley has And sythe he brought vs dryncke, diaperseueraunce. For may dure in 1. 50 Cr. has man endure, and for propre in 1. 51 he has preti. 54, 55. I arrange these lines as in the MSS. Mr Wright regards each long line as a short line (or half-line) ; and, indeed, it is only by laying a stress upon disshe, deme, and dixi that we get alliteration. The lines are un- sat isfactory, and were, probably for that reason, omitted in the C-text. 57. As far as scansion goes, the line ends with orabit ; the words follow- ing are a sort of tag, to be read as prose. 74. glosynge~] glosyngs ; lesings (2) ; leasyngs (3). The sense is much the same. 88. godele~\ gottilen. Cf. Pass. v. 347. 92. Crowley rightly has ne j the reading no in L is probably a mere slip for ne. 107- Cr. has " morsel." The spelling " mussel " indicates a provincial pronunciation of the word. 115. do~\ is do. This word is certainly seems required, but LWCROB all omit it. 118 Crowley's sidenote (second impression) is — Cleargye hath seue# sonnes, y' is the .vii. sciences. He is certainly right. In the text, insert 1 This line also occurs in the C-text. CRITICAL NOTES (xill. 131 — 299). 411 marks of quotation after 1. 118 and before 1. 119, and for "Conscience" in the sidenote, read " Clergy." 131. ayin — speken] gaine saie holi writ. 146. laughe is so spelt in 1. 228 below. 147. wort he] be. But toorthe means rather to become. 152 — 156. These lines, probably meant to be mysterious, are omitted in the C-text. The solution of the riddle is clearly Chanty or Love, exercised with Patience, as appears from the curious passage below (11. 104—171) pre- served in MS. R only. The C-text, as printed by Whitaker, has the follow- ing passage as answering to 11. 164 — 171 : " Ther nis wyght in f>is worlde ' >at wolde J?e lette To have alle londe at >y lykyng • & £e here lord make, And maiste/* of alle here meeble ' and of here moneye after, The kynge and alle f>e comune * and cleregie to \>e a-lowtc As for here lord and ledere ' and lyven as J>ou techest." (p. 251.) I understand 1. 170 to mean — " will give thee all that they can give, as con- sidering thee to be the best guardian (or keeper) of it." 190. Cr. has the reading I have adopted, viz.— the wyll of folke here. 221. Crowley's sidenote {second impression) is — A loiterers lyfe. 259. Here, I doubt not, Crowley has deliberately altered the text, so as to get rid of allusion to the mass. He reads — There may no man make peace, &c. 270. The right reading is thretty, as in the text, for two reasons. Firstly, it preserves the alliteration ; and secondly, John Chichester was mayor from October, 1369, to October, 1370, and at no other time. Crowley's MS. agrees with the Trinity MS. here, as usual ; and therefore has the reading twenty. 283, 284. Cr. has but one line — And none so singuler by hym-selfe, nor so pope holye. The word pope-holy is illustrated by Mr Dyce, in his notes to Skelton, who employs it. Halliwell cites pop-holy, used by Lydgate as a sub- stantive, but it was certainly originally an adjective. 293 — 299. The preservation of this passage, and of the passage in 11. 400 — 409, in the Rawlinson MS. is of much interest. It shews that the poet's first idea was to elaborate the description of Haukyn's faults by these addi- tions, so that the Rawlinson MS. represents, as I have said elsewhere, a copy of the B-text with all the latest additions. But in adding thus to the descrip- tion of Haukyn, the poet made it too long, and he afterwards perceived that he had excellent material here for improving his portraits of the seven deadly sins. He therefore, in the C-text, transferred much of this portion of the B-text to the Passus concerning the Deadly Sins, putting each passage into its right place with due care. In Whitaker's edition (p. 89) we find the following five lines, answering to the first of these two passages, and forming part of the confession of Pride : 412 CRITICAL NOTES (XIII. 374 — XIV. 1 3 1 ) . And komiy[n]gest of my craft * clcrkes ober obere, And strongest up-on my stede " and styvest under gurdell, And lovelokest to loken on • and lykyngest a-bedde, And lykynge of such a lif f>at no lawe preyseb, Prout of my faire fetours " and for ich songe shrille. In like manner the second of these two passages (11. 400 — 409) was made the groundwork of an extension of the confession of Gluttony. I copy the corresponding passage from Whitaker's edition, pp. 108, 109.' To be, God, ich Gloton gulty ich me yelde Of my trespas with tunge ich can nauht telle how ofte, Sworen " by saule and sydes" and " so help me, God al-myghty," W[h]en ^at no nud was meny tyme falsliclie, And over-sopede at my soper " and som tyme at nones, More \>an my kynde ' myghte well defye, And as an hounde bat ete gras ' so gan ich to brake, And spilde bat ich spelide myghte * ich can nouht speke for shame The vylenye of my foule moube and of my foule mawe. It will be seen that the line italicized (which does not occur in Pass. v. 374— 3S0 above) answers to our 1. 404. 374. The insertion of / in this line, and in 1. 385, is justified by the C- text. Cf. Whitaker, p. 101. 400. See note to 1. 293 above. 411. Cr. follows MS. W. Whitaker (p. 113) has— Ys wanne a man mourneb nat for hus mysdedes. I should prefer to read— Whanne he morneth, &c. ; but there is nothing to support it. 437_454. Cf. Whitaker, p. 115. Here Whitaker agrees with the Raw- linson MS. nearly word for word, but in 1. 447 hasfeste for storye, and in 1. 452 love)? for lythed, both of which variations are certainly for the worse. In MS. R, 1. 454 is defective, as it omits the words within brackets. Whitaker has — In a wele good hope for he wroghte so among worthy seyntes. 457. The word lady in MS. W is a singular error, especially as Crowley correctly has laye. Passxjs XIV. 1. Cr. has hole for hool. 18. Cr. retains slial, which is necessary. 89. Cr. omits inliche in his second impression ; h\s first has lik. The mis- reading iliche probably arose from omitting the stroke in Iliche (= iwliche). 120. wrotherhele] ouermuch wo (2). Cf. MS. O. 'J 31. The quotation is inexact; it should end with— in civitate tua ima- 1 Cf. Pass. v. 37 1— 380, in the present volume. CRITICAL NOTES (XIV. 139 — 322). 413 ginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges. The word eorum in R is due to the ipso- rum of the Vulgate. 139. disalowynge~\ disanulli«g. 185. Cr. retains if 188. The misreading Pope (also in Cr.) is most extraordinary. There can be no doubt about pouke being the right reading ; for otherwise the whole passage is nonsense. The sense is— Confession amends us ; but if the Devil (\>e pouke) pleads against this, and would punish us, then He (sc. Christ, or dominus) will show the acquittance of our sins to the Evil One Q>e qued), and so put off the Devil. This acquittance is obtained per passi- onem domini. The whole of this passage is illustrated by the actual dispute between our Lord and Satan concerning the souls of men, as told afterwards in Pass, xviii. 321 — 400. This misreading, pope, is the worst flaw in the Laud MS. The reading of ft is supported by MS. Corpus 201, which has powke. 197. Cr. has wyl ; which is clearly right. 210. Cr. has — & right ofte him y' walketh The hye way to heuenward, ryches hym letteth. But this is inferior. For in 1. 210 means because. 227 — 237. This is again a valuable contribution from MS. R. It agrees with Whitaker (p. 261), with the following exceptions. In I. 227, for loulich and loueliche Whitaker has loueliche and huh. L. 22S runs — " That mete oj^er moneye * of straunge men mote begge." In 1. 230, Whitaker omits tie and no. In 1. 231, for to gode Whitaker has of good. In 1. 231, for tchetes, Whitaker has whitel. And 11. 236 and 237 form in Whitaker but one line — So is he nevere more ful murye " so meschief hym folwef>. 270. a persone~\ parson. And such is, I suppose, the meaning of pcrsoue here. 286. Cr. has syt in his first, sytteth in his second impression. Sit is the contracted form. 305. I need hardly say that Juvenal wrote Cantabit vacuus. Nearly all the MSS. (and Crowley) read paupertas. I adopt pauper from MS. O, be- cause it scans, and because it comes nearer to the true reading vacuus. 316. Cr. has busines ladde, as in MS. W. This error arose from not per- ceiving the sense. The words Seynt austyn merely give the name of the lettred man parenthetically. Line 316 then means — Poverty is a blessed life, free from business {absque solicitudine). It is, however, obscure, and so the poet, in the C-text, put it more clearly thus. I quote from Whitaker, p. 271. Thus leryde me a lerede man for oure Lordes love, Seint Austyn, That pure poverte and patience ' was a louh lyvynge in erthe, A blessid lyf whit-oute busynesse bote oncliche for \>e soule ; Absque solicitudine felicitas. 322. Mr Wright need not have inserted no after to do. It is not author- 'o' 41-4 CRITICAL NOTES (XV. 5 — 419). ized by any MS. All depends on the sense of harde, which here means miserable, wretched. To live and to continue to sin is both wretched and perilous ; and yet, while we live, we are sure to sin ; for " synne suweth vs euere." Passus XV. 5. Cr. retains me. 54. Cr. also has opprimitur ; but the Vulgate has opprimetur. 71. Cr. has — Better beleue where many ; altered to to leaue were many in the second impression. The word byleue in the text must be taken to mean to leave alone. 73. burgeouneth~\ budde. This is an ingenious modernization, as it pre- serves the sense and metre. 111. whitlymed] whittimed (sic); whitlimed w'out (2). 113. bele paroles'] Belopolis; Belperolis (2); Belperopis (3). 151. Lene and leue are alike in the MSS. The sense is — lend where they believe, &c. 171. Crowley omits the latter half of this line, and the former half of the next, owing to the repetition of the word ricchesse. 176. For aues, a word which Crowley doubtless objected to, he in- geniously substitutes Pilie, thus adding a fourth initial p, contrary to Lang- land's usual custom. 183. speke] speake. Perhaps speJce means to speak to, address ; but I greatly prefer the reading seche of the Rawlinson MS., which is supported by the C-text, of which several MSS. read secheth. 264. " The Legend of sayntes, beleue it if ye luste;" Crowley's sidenote, second impression. 302. " A lessor for them that take benifices at wicked me« ha;;des ; " Crowley's sidenote, second impression. 329. Robeth = give robes to. The commoner reading robbeth makes non- sense of the passage. 339. Cr. has — And mani prisoner by his praier, he pulith from paine. Prisone in Old English frequently means a prisoner, as well as a prison. 356. "All is out of frame ; " Crowley's sidenote, second impression. 364. Cr. reads " thelemeat." It will be noted that the reading in R — clement — satisfies the alliteration. But who was Clement ? Whitaker has \>e clymat, which is surely better. 367. Not in Crowley ; but found in C-text MSS. 373. decres] degrees. But the MSS. have decres or decrees. 387. in o persone~] one god. 403. Cr. corruptly has — That liued tho there and liue« yet, leuing on his lawes. 428. Cr. has rauenour for baneonre, which is of course wrong. 449. Cr. has the sidenote, in his second impression, — Tyll the child be instructed in Christ it is but as a wildc beaste. CRITICAL NOTES (XV. 464 — XVI. 47). 415 464—477. For this curious passage (not in Crowley) we are indebted solely to MS. R. I suspect that whistlynge is wrongly repeated in 1. 472, and I propose to read techyng. 482. I have no doubt that the quotation " Ecce," #c, is rightly introduced here ; it occurs in the Psalm commencing Memento, domine, David. 483. After predicate Crowley adds euangelium. 487. Willen, to wish for, does not generally take an accusative after it ; the transitive form is wilnen (A. S. wilnian). 505. stanf] standes. Crowley's sidenote is— How ocuetise {second im- pression couetise) of y" cleargy wyll destroy the church. 507. golde] Cr. omits, in his third issue only. 526. dymes] demes ; decimis (2), probably misprinted for decimas. 539—556. Not in Crowley. The passage occurs in Whitaker, p. 300, with only slight variations. Lines 539 — 546 are nearly the same in Whitaker; the rest runs thus — Meny seint sitthe suffrede deb al-soo, For to enferme be faithe ful wyde-where' deyden, In Inde and in Alisaundrie in Ermanye, in Spayne, And fro mysbyleve ' meny man turnede. In savacion of mannys saule Seynt Thomas of Cauntelbury Among unkynde cristene " in holy churche was sleye, And alle holy churche " honourede for bat deyinge. He is a forbuseir to alle busshopes • and a bryjthe myrour, And sovereynliche to alle suche ' bat of Surrye bereb name, &c. 559. Romanye] Rome. 564—567. and nedy—gostly fode. I believe the MSS. ought all to have retained this passage, and that the omission of it was by a clerical error, owing to the repetition of the words gostly fode. In 1. 5CA,folke preserves the alliteration, whilst in 1. 567, gyue is alliterated with gostly. 568. For Ozias, Crowley boldly substitutes Malachias in his second im- pression, thus correcting the author's mistake. See 1. 565. 572. Cr. has — And lewes liue;/ in lelli loue, &c. 576. Cr. has — And on that lawe they leue yet. In both these places, lyuen is another spelling of leuen, and signifies believe, not live. Passus XVI. 11. saulee] salue. In MS. L, it looks like sonic, altered to saulee. See Sowel in Halliwell. 15. herder'] herbor. It is the Lat. herbarium, not the English harbour. 44. rouges'] roundes. 47. I think the mark over the u in many MSS. shows repugnal to be the word meant. The word repurgatut could not be cut down to the form given in the MSS. The sense seems to be that he who sins with the consent of his 1 Misprinted./VMV/i7e vdhafe. * Misprinted forbiisur, and explained \>y furbishcr (% 41G CRITICAL NOTES (XVI. 56 — XVII. 83). own free will does not strive against sin as he should. Cf. " Nondum enim usque ad sanguinem restitistis, adversus peccatum rcpugnantes ;" Heb. xii. 4. 56-91. Omitted not only in C and B, but in MSS. Addit. 10574, and Calig. A xi., as explained iu the Preface. 69. Crowley has cayleway. 86, 87. Cr. has— of that apple he caught ; He hit oft at him, hit if it might. This is a very corrupt rendering of the passage. 96. Crowley has song or fonge. Fonde is absurdly wrong, and the occur- rence of such a reading is probably due to the use of fondeth in 1. 40 above. 107. Cr. has — if any daunger fell (3) j where daunger should, of course, be peril, as in his former issues. 110. The MSS. have medicus, medici, medico. I prefer medlcus, as in the Vulgate. The reading infirmls is justified by MSS. O and C^ ; also LWCB have in, obviously intended for infirmls. In MS. R, we find m. h., i. e. male habendum, as in the Vulgate. 112. Crowley retains it. 121. Crowley has — quod I. This is obviously an error, as seen by the context, and due to confusion of ike with ich. 125. fisshes] two fishes ; as in MS. VV. 157. wors~\ work ; worcke (2). 205. aller] olde. Probably Crowley's MS. had alder. 211. Cr. has Mighty. This seems at first a better reading, but the mean- ing probably is — Matrimony, that multiplies the earth, is (or signifies) might; i. e. the Might of the Trinity, as exemplified in the Person of the Father ; see 11. 1S4, 192. Thus, the Father is Matrimony or Might, the Son is Widow- hood or Sothfastness (1. 186). 270 — 273. The C-text agrees with the Laud MS. here rather than with MS. R. Passus XVII. 7, 8. MS. R has— And when it is aseled so Sathanas power schal last no lenger, And Jjus my \ethz meneth. This is evidently wrongly arranged ; 1. 7 should (according to this version) end with power, and the rest of the sentence should form 1. 8. 10. a patent] Cr. omits, in his second impression. 14. Ben ; Cr. reads Be. It is not certain that the reading Is is wrong ; for Langland often uses the singular verb substantive with plural nouns. Thus, in 1. 11, the two best MSS. read icas. 29. He] He ; I (2). his] his ; mi (2). Cf. MS. O. 74. The point after haue in MSS. C and O intimates a pause, such as we now denote by a comma. 77. Cr. has — And said who so spewd more, I make it good hereaftir. 83. Cr. has the sidenote {second impression) — Pierce profereth Christ to CRITICAL NOTES (XVII. 9C XVIII. 79). -j | 7 become his serua//t. This is again an instance of the common niistak which identifies Piers with the author. " Pierce " is Christ liimself. 96. worth~\ Cr. omits, in his third issue. 102. outlawes] an outlaw (2). lotyeth~\ loutith. 117. lettre telletli] lore teacheth. Crowley's MS. probably had "Ire" which he took to be an error for lore. 122, 123. Crowley agrees with the text. 121. Crowley also reads — whether shal I. 159. Cr. has— Wythin hem thre, the wyde worlde holden. 169. fourmen] former ; frame;; (2). 176—178. Cr. omits the passage preserved in MS. R, and reads -Ami to vufold the folden fiste, at the fingers wyll. The line following 1. 175 in MS. B is certainly spurious. 1S1. herte] hurte. This spelling looks better, as it at once suggests the right sense. 1SS. In MS. L the second word is written like elicehe, but the i lias no stroke above, and it is more probably the first stroke of a u, the second stroke being accidentally omitted. Cr. has cratche. 189. ypersshed means pierced; Crowley has perished iu the first, but pershed in the later issues ; the reading y-perished is corrupt, and does not make good sense. 191. to~schullen\ to shullcn ; to swolen (:2). 198. Cr. rightly has in spirit urn sanctum. 230. Cr. rightly has — and to no other ; thus preserving the word no, which MS. W omits. 258. Cr. has world. 291. Cr. has— And am sory that I so the saynt spiritc agylt. 323. Cr. retains in. 330. Cr. has — y* freilty is made, in his second impression. The right reading is it made (as in his first impression), which signifies caused it, as in many other passages. 337. Cr. retains ben, printed "be." 347. Cr. wrongly has — All maner of mercy, and of forgiuenes. Passus XVIII. 6. of-rawite\ of raught; of taught (2). The curious reading in the text is supported by MSS. W, 11, and others. 35. Cr. has — And forbeat and downe bringe, bale death for euer. 41. If the scribe of MS. B had not falsely written peple instead of t< , he would not have had to make up and insert the additional line here cited. 58. prisoun] prisoner doth. Crowlej ; robablj did not know that prii in Old English meant a prisoner as well as a pr . I le might have spared his correction. 79. Crowley's sidenote (second impression) is — lie citith a lye out of the Legend aim. 27 418 CRITICAL NOTES (XVIII. 86— XIX. 148). 86. Cr. has — & vnsparrid bis eic 109. Cr. has — Whan Christ come of her kingdom y c croun shuld sease ; afterwards altered to — Whan Christ come, her ki//gdome & croune shuld cease. This latter is also a good reading. In the C-text, the line is altered. 117. softly] worthely. 122. wonder'] riieruell. 123. rowed'] raucd ; renned (2). The word rowed is in LWCOBY. Cf. C-tcxt. 149. reproueth] rcpugneth ; repungneth (3). 158. fordj/d] did. The line is" altered in the C-text. 189. Here Crowley differs from MS. W, and has the same reading as in the text. 228. Crowley's pertinent sidenote (second impression) is — Bokes be bolde. 238. tendeden] tindeden. 24G. al biquashte] al to quassed. 281. I seised] he seased. 282. Me] leaue. 293. Here Cr. adds, in his later issues only — Out of our postyc, and leden hem hence. This lino is not in the C-text, and does not seem to be alliterative. 29S. dones] done. 310, 311. The two half-lines rightly retained in R were probably accident- ally omitted in other MSS. owing to confusion between the words lesynges and lesi/nge. 361. browc ' brouhe] brewed, brouke; brewed, broke (2); brued, broke (3). 407. nebula ; so in Crowley and in all the MSS. I have consulted. It is certainly the author's mistake. Perhaps he meant nubila. 423. Cr. retains "Loue," omitted in MS. W. 120. kalote] Collet. Passus XIX. This Passus and the next stand very much the same in both B- and C-text s. 11. The reading should certainly be is if, as in Crowley's second impression and the C-text. 18. Cr. has — Anon as men named, this highe name of Iesus. 38. baptiste is the right reading, as in the C-text. Line 40 explains that the allusion is to the baptism of Christ by John. Cr. has baptime. 47. Cr. also lias wer 72. m rcg] mede (which is wrong). 79. ritfwimesse] rightuousnes. reuth] Truthe. 90. Cr. has «wat— after'] he neuer stode after. 110. he] she. It must be remembered that he is sometimes used for she in Early English, for fortune is feminine in Fass. xi. 60. 133. iugged] rustled. 420 CRITICAL NOTES (XX. 134 — 38l). 134. Cr. has — will take this apcw ame#dme«t; — vvel take this on ame«d- me«te (3). 135. Cr. omits in haste (3). 147. reli/ed] leled ; relyed (2) ; rayled (3). 152. hieghnesse] heauynes. Evideutly corrupt. 201. biset/e] byseye ; besette (2). The latter is therefore Crowley's own emendation. Cf. C-text. 221. Crowley's sidenote — Woulde god there were no such priestes in englande (2). 233. Crowley's sidenote — Curates oughte to haue a competent lyuyng certayne (2). 259. Cr. has— Or they wil no treasure hem pay, trauaile they neuer so sore. 271. heef] bad. Evidently Crowley's own gloss. 283. Crowley's sidenote — Thei that went to y e Fryers to shrift wer like santuary men (2). 288. Cr. has — gyue the fryers. In MS. L the word ysue was at first omitted. Afterwards the word \e was altered to \>eue, which is clearly in- tended for yeue, owing to the similarity of \>eue and yeue. There is no doubt about the reading. 297. Of] To. tyterers in] tutelers in; tutelers (2). 308. Crowley retains in before the sege. 322. Crowley's sidenote — Nother patron nor bishop regardeth his dutye (2). 365. Crowley's sidenote — The olde maner of eares shrifte made siuners negligent (2). 368. Cr. omits wykked. 381. nede] no nede. But no should clearly be omitted. 421 appMbtj:. A SHOET GLOSSAEY TO "PIERS THE PLOWMAN." [MS. Ccanb. Univ. Lib. LI. 4. 14 ; fol. 170a. 1 ] Freyne Aske Eape hie. wente spedyly. Lo 4 Carpe talke. Clutche .... scratche Preynte Quaue shake, or tremble quake 8 Thole suffre Hoved stode abode Cheve Thryve Tyne [read Tynt] . loste 12 Fordo distroye Wyn or Wen . . . Goo Frete Taste Tynde light 16 Louke withdraw, lose j5ole Open, entre. suffre Besquatt .... broke Affrounte .... 20 Auntre Ventre 1 This is a glossary to the particular copy of the B-text which is contained in the same MS., viz. No. XTX in my list. •122 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 r>2 56 APPENDIX Rome . . . goo. passe Swynke Labour Rytte Lake . . playe Courbe . . knele downe Appende . appertaigne Steke . . . . . Shytt Thyrle . . perced Comsid . . spake Fonge . . take Vnderfonge vndtrtake Latch . . . catch or take Nyinnie . . . take Wysse . . . . tell or teach e Yeme . . . guyde or rule Worthe . . is worthy, com happen or befall to Lythe . . . . . here Byd . . . . . praye. aske Bekenne . . Broke . . . Hote . . . Hale . . . . . drawe Pylte . . . thruste or caste Nempne call or name Shende blame Welde Segge . . . . . Man Blasen Mechell . . . . bygncs Alther . . . . . Elder lollynge . . Rapeliche . quickly Wightliche . }eme . . heede Lorcll lyers Liode . persono APrEXDIX. 123 Spar lie he . . . . Stalworthe Skyll Reason 60 Loyall Smache Glede Glowynge 64 Kyse Gierke .... Darknes Smolder . . . smoke Doel or doule Sorowe 68 Palcot Bale . . . sorow Kene sharpe Witterly . well 72 Felly . . Ferly Leeme . . Merkenes . mervaile brightnes darkenes 76 Maynpe>-no?/r Queyntyse . Gobelyii Lusarde crafte. sotcltie deule 80 ThraUe . . Crokke . Verne . Shene . bonde pott bright, clere 84 Gresly . Boorne . Tofte ... Loby ferefull Ryver. w&\ n livll. mountayne 88 Renable Bie .... Hals . . Hoove . a color or cheyne Hele Eobe. Coyfe 92 Lere Countenaunrc. chere 424: APPENDIX. [also on fol. 169ft, we Jim/] Rapely quickly Endaunte .... [and on fol. 170ft] 95 Lewte. The following index, in which these words are referred to hy the numbers, will shew on what pages of the MS. the words occur, where they are to be found in this edition, and in what instances the ex- planations are incorrect. It will he seen that the seventeenth and eighteenth Passus especially attracted the glossarist. 1. Fol. 5; i. 58. 2. In the first sense, fol. 16 ; iv. 7. In the second sense, fol. 84ft ; xvii. 79 ; where the MS. has rapede. 3. Probably with reference to fol. 83ft; xvii. 20. 4. Fol. 856; xvii. 135. 5. Fol. 86 ; xvii. 188. The explanation is wrong ; it merely means to clutch. 6. Fol. 89; xviii. 21. It means winked. 7. Fol. 896; xviii. 61. 8. Fol. 89ft; xviii. 71. 9. Fol. 90 ; xviii. 83. 10. Fol. 90; xviii. 104. 11. MS. has tynt,M. 90ft; xviii. 140. 12. Fol. 91 ; xviii. 157. 13. Probably an erroneous allusion to wynde, fol. 91 ; xviii. 174. 14. Fol. 91ft; xviii. 194. It means ate. 15. An allusion to tentedyn, fol. 92 ; xviii. 238. 16. Fol. 92ft ; xviii. 243. It means lock up, hide. 17. Fol. 92ft; xviii. 247. The meaning suffer is right ; the other two are wrong. 18. Fol. 92ft ; xviii. 246. Be-squate is the reading of this MS., and is corrupt. 19. Fol. 102 ; xx. 5. It means to accost rudely. 20. Fol. 104; xx. 174. 21. Fcl. 104ft; xx. 211. 22. Fol. 1ft; prol. 55. 23. Fol. 3; prol. 171. A better spelling is rit ; it is a contracted form of rirleth. 24. Fol. 3 ; prol. 172. 25. Fol. 5 ; i. 79. 26. Fol. 5ft; i. 98. 27. Fol. 6 ; i. 121. The MS. wrongly has stekfe, miswritten for stekye. It means to stick fast, remain closed. The explanation shytt, i. e. to shut, is not far wrong. 28. Fol. 6ft; i. 172. The MS. has pirUd, i. e. pierced ; this accounts for the explanation given. 29. Fol. 12 ; iii. 103. Comsid means commenced, began; but the phrase comsid to telle is equivalent to spake, as explained. 30. Fol. 27 ; v. 566. 31. Fol. 5 ; i. 76. The MS. has vndirf'onge, i. e. undertook. 32. Fol. 29ft ; vi. 68 (see the footnote). 33.' Fol. 42ft ; x. 60. 34. Fol. 4ft ; i. 42. 35. Fol. 37ft ; viii. 52. More strictly, to take care of, govern. 36. In the first sense, fol. 42 ; x. 17 ; in the second sense, fol. 43ft; x. 128. 37. Fol. 37ft; viii. 66. 38. Occurs often. 39. Fol. 37ft; viii. 59. It means commend in. 40. Fol. 38; viii. 87. Here broke is part of the word to-broke, meaning broken in pieces. 41. Fol. 38 ; viii. 93 ; it means to command. 42. Fol. 38 ; viii. 95. 43. Fol. 38 ; viii. 96. 44. Fol. 4ft ; i. 21 (and elsewhere). 45. Occurs often. 46. Fol. 42 ; x. 29, where the MS. has welden, i. e. APPENDIX. 425 wield, possess. Also fol. 43; x. 83, where the MS. Las welt, over which the glossarist has written weldeth. 47. Fol. 816; xvi. 178. 48. Fol. 82 ; xvi. 179. It means blazon or device. 49. Fol. 82 • xvi. 182, where the MS. has mechell (i. e. greatness) with a stroke' through the 11. 50. Fol. 82 ; xvi. 205. The MS. lias atyer, another form of oiler, meaning of all. 51. Fol. 83; xvi. 269. It means lying about lazily. 52. Fol. 83 ; xvi. 273. 53. Fol. 83 ; xvi. 275. It means nimbly, hence quickly. 54. Fol. 836; xvii. 12. 55. Fol.' 84; xvii. 44, where the MS. lias as well lorellis as Mies; hut lorellis means vagabonds or untrustworthy persons. 56. Fol. 8 ! xvii. 63. 57. Fol. 846; xvii. 81. The MS. actually has sparliche, an error for sjKicliche, i. e. quickly. 58. Fol. 846 ; xvii. 96. It means vigorous. 59. Fol. 86; xvii. 195. 60. Fol. 866; xvii. 209 (see the footnote). 61. Fol. 866; xvii. 213 (see the footnote). 62, 63. Fol. 866; xvii. 217 ; where the MS. has glovyynge glede, i.e. a glowing ember. 64. Fol. 866; xvii. 219 (see the footnote) 65. Fol. 87 ; xvii. 240. 66. Fol. 88 ; xvii. 323. 67. Fol. 886 ; xvii. 336. The MS. has doell, with stroke through 11. 68. Fol. 89 ; xviii. 25. The MS. actually has Palcot, a mistake for Paltoc or Paltoch, a kind of doublet. 69. Fol. 89 ; xviii. 35. 70. Fol. 89 ; xviii. 47. 71. Fol. 896 ; xviii. 66. It means rather truly, certainly. 72. Fol. 90; xviii. 92. It means fiercely. 73. Fol. 90; xviii. 110 74. Fol. 906; xviii. 124. 75. Fol. 906; xviii. 136. 76. Fol. 916; xviii. 183. It means a surety. 77. Fol. 926; xviii. 272. 78. Fol. 93; xviii. 290. 79. Fol. 936; xviii. 335. The old spelling of lizard. 80. Fol. 956; xix. 33. 81. Fol. 99; xix. 275. 82. Fol. 104; xx. 158. It means eager, full of desire. 83. Fol. 946; xviii. 409. 84. Fol. 95 ; xviii. 43l". 85.' Fol. 1 ; prol. 8. 86. Fol. 1 ; prol. 14. It rather means a cleared space on a rising ground. 87. Fol. 16; prol. 55. It means a looby, a lubberly fellow. 88. Fol. 3; prol. 158. A contracted form of resonable, talkative. 89. Fol. 3; prol. 161. The MS. has byes. 90. Fol. 3; prol. 170. It means necl: The interpretation liele (heel) is erroneous 91. Fol. 4; prol. 210. The MS. has the pi. hooves. 92. Fol. 4 ; i. 3. 93. Fol 84 ; xvii. 49 : cf. no. 52. 94. Not found. 95. Fol. 51 ; xi. 140. It means loyalty, fidelity, faithful observance of the I I have only to add that, in making these references, I have bei n guided by the lines drawn under the harder words in the MS. Many more words are underlined than are here enumerated ; and as words are underlined nearly throughout the poem, it is clear that the glossarist carefully read it through. It may be observed further that some of these words occur in groups, and the order of these shews that he read the latter part and the prologue at least twice. Thus the group of words 3 to 21 belong to the last four Pa >sus : the group 426 APPENDIX. 22 to 28 to the Prologue and Passus L The group 37 to 43 belong to the latter part of Passus VIII. Then again, the group 47 to 84 belong to the last five Passus ; but the group 85 to 92 to the Prologue and Passus L, like the second group. The handwriting of these glosses is of about the date of the reign of Henry the Eighth ; and hence it is even possible that they were written by no other than Robert Crowley. TEMPORARY NOTICE. This second volume contains the poem in its second shape, and does not greatly differ from the text as printed by Mr Wright, hut is printed from a different MS. and contains more than 170 additional lines. The variations of Mr Wright's text from the present one are denoted in the footnotes by the letter W. The old text printed by Crowley also exhibits the poem in this second form. Numerous notes and a full glossary to the first seven Passus in this volume will be found in my smaller edition of "Piers the Plowman," lately published in the Clarendon Press Series. For notes and a glossary to the whole poem, consult Mr Wright's edition. Vol. III. will contain the poem in its latest form, and Vol. IV. will contain notes and a glossary to all three texts. The pages numbered 137* to 144* belong to Vol I., and should be inserted between pages 13G and 137 of that volume. w. w. s. Cambi-idffe; Nov. 15, 1869. 34? 8 305 De Return*!! com REG ONAL "*"*".£* 951388 SOUTHERN REG» rk .L t 17 1388 Z^^S^SSSX THE LIBRARY tTMTVTTttQITV r f A T TPTWWfA 3 1158 00248 514 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBF .ITY AA 000 346 917 8