fol. 35r (cont.)I
Passus sextus de visione vt supra

This were a wikkede wey . but who-so hadde a gyde
That wolde folwen vs ech a foot . þus þis folk hem mened

Quod Perkyn þe Plowman . by Seint Peter of Rome
W.6.4KD.6.4
I haue an half acre to erie . by þe heiȝe weye
Hadde I eryed þis half acre . and sowen it after
I wolde wende wiþ yow . and þe wey teche

This were a long lettyng . quod a lady in a Scleyre
W.6.8KD.6.8
What sholde we wommen . werche þe while

Somme shul sowe þe sak quod Piers . for shedyng of þe whete
And ye louely ladies . wiþ youre longe fyngres
That ye haue silk and Sandel . to sowe whan tyme is
W.6.12KD.6.12
Chesibles for Chapeleyns . chirches to honoure

Wyues and widewes . wolle and flex spynneþ
Makeþ cloþ I counseille yow . and kenneþ so youre douȝtres
The nedy and þe naked . nymeþ hede how þei liggeþ
W.6.16KD.6.16
And casteþ hem cloþes . for so comaundeþ truþe
For I shal lenen hem liflode . but if þe lond faille
Flessh and breed boþe . to riche and to poore
As longe as I lyue . for þe lordes loue of heuene
W.6.20KD.6.19
And alle manere of men . þat þoruȝ mete and drynke libbeþ
Helpeþ hym to werche wiȝtliche . þat wynneþ youre foode
fol. 35vI
By crist quod a knyȝt þoo . he kenneþ vs þe beste
Ac on þe teme trewely . tauȝt was I neuere
W.6.24KD.6.23
But kenne me quod þe knyȝt . and by crist I wole assaye

By Seint Poul quod Perkyn . ye profre yow so faire
That I shal swynke and swete . and sowe for vs boþe
And oþere labours do for þi loue . al my lif-tyme
W.6.28KD.6.27
In couenaunt þat þow kepe . holy kirke and my-selue
Fro wastours and fro wikked men . þat þis world destruyeþ
And go hunte hardiliche . to hares and to foxes
To bores and to brokkes . þat breken doun myne hegges
W.6.32KD.6.31
And soW.6.32: W alone reads so. Other B manuscripts have go. affaite þi faucons . wilde foweles to kille
For swiche comeþ to my croft . and croppeþ my whete

Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne . comsed þise wordes
By my power Piers quod he . I pliȝte þee my trouþe
W.6.36KD.6.35
To fulfille þis forward . þouȝ I fiȝte sholde
Als longe as I lyue . I shal þee mayntene

Ye and yet a point quod Piers . I preye yow of moore
Loke ye tene no tenaunt . but truþe wole assente
W.6.40KD.6.39
And þouȝ ye mowe amercy hem . lat mercy be taxour
And mekenesse þi maister . maugree Medes chekes
And þouȝ pouere men profre yow . presentes and ȝiftes
Nyme it noȝt an auenture . ye mowe it noȝt deserue
W.6.44KD.6.43
For þow shalt yelde it ayein . at one yeres tymeW.6.44: W alone reads tyme. Other B manuscripts have ende.
In a ful perilous place . Purgatorie it hatte

And mysbede noȝt þi bonde-men . þe bettre may þow spede
Thouȝ he be þyn vnderlyng here . wel may happe in heuene
W.6.48KD.6.47
That he worþ worþier set . and wiþ moore blisse
Amice ascende superius
For in Charnel at chirche . cherles ben yuel to knowe
Or a knyȝt from a knaue þere . knowe þis in þyn herte
fol. 36rI
W.6.52KD.6.50
And þat þow be trewe of þi tonge . and tales þat þow hatie           W.6.52:nota
But if þei ben of wisdom or of wit . þi werkmen to chaste
Hold wiþ none harlotes . ne here noȝt hir tales           W.6.54:nota
And namely at þe mete . swiche men eschuwe           W.6.55:nota
W.6.56KD.6.54
For it ben þe deueles disours . I do þe to vnderstonde           W.6.56:nota

I assente by Seint Iame . seide þe knyȝt þanne
For to werche by þi wordes . þe while my lif dureþ

And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn . in pilgrymes wise
W.6.60KD.6.58
And wende wiþ yow I wile . til we fynde truþe
And caste on my cloþes . yclouted and hole
My cokeres and my coffes . for cold of my nailes
And hange myn hoper at myn hals . in stede of a Scryppe
W.6.64KD.6.62
A busshel of bred-corn . brynge me þer-Inne
For I wol sowe it my-self . and siþenes wol I wende
To pilgrymage as palmeres doon . pardon for to haue
And who-so helpeþ me to erie . and sowen here er I wende
W.6.68KD.6.66
Shal haue leue by oure lord . to lese here in heruest
And make hem murie þer-myd . maugree who-so bigruccheþ it
And alle kynne crafty men . þat konne lyuen in truþe
I shal fynden hem fode . þat feiþfulliche libbeþ

W.6.72KD.6.70
Saue IaggeW.6.72: W alone reads Iagge. Other B manuscripts have Iakke. þe Iogelour . and Ionette of þe Stuwes
And danyel þe dees pleyere . and Denote þe baude
And frere þe faitour . and folk of hireW.6.74: W alone reads hire. Other B manuscripts have his. ordre
And Robyn þe Ribaudour . for hise rusty wordes
W.6.76KD.6.74
Truþe tolde me ones . and bad me telle it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium . I sholde noȝt dele wiþ hem
For holy chirche is hote of hem . no tiþe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
W.6.80KD.6.77
They ben ascaped good auenture . god hem amende

Dame werch whan tyme is . Piers wif hiȝte
fol. 36vI
His douȝter hiȝte do riȝt so . or þi dame shal þee bete
His sone hiȝte Suffre þi Souereyns . to hauen hir wille
W.6.84KD.6.81
Deme hem noȝt for if þow doost . þow shalt it deere abugge
Lat god yworþe wiþ al . for so his word techeþ
For now I am old and hoor . and haue of myn owene
To penaunce and to pilgrimage . I wol passe wiþ þise oþere

W.6.88KD.6.85
For-þi I wole er I wende . do write my biqueste
In dei nomine amen . I make it my-selue
He shal haue my soule . þat best haþ deserued it
And fro þe fend it defende . for so I bileue
W.6.92KD.6.89
Til I come to hise acountes . as my Credo me telleþ
To haue a relees and a remission . on þat rental I leue

The kirke shal haue my caroyne . and kepe my bones
For of my corn and catel . she craued þe tiþe
W.6.96KD.6.93
I paide it fulW.6.96: W alone reads it ful. M has him ful, and most other B manuscripts have it hym. prestly . for peril of my soule
For-þi is he holden I hope . to haue me in his masse
And mengen in his memorie . amonges alle cristene

My wif shal haue of þat I wan . wiþ truþe and namoore
W.6.100KD.6.97
And dele among my douȝtres . and my deere children
For þouȝ I deye to-day . my dettes are quyte
I bar hom þat I borwed . er I to bedde yede

And wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt . by þe Rode of Lukes
W.6.104KD.6.101
I wol worshipe þer-wiþ . truþe by my lyue
And ben his pilgrym atte plow . for pouere mennes sake
My plowfoot shal be my pikstaf . and picche atwo þe rotes
And helpe my cultour to kerue . and clense þe furwes

W.6.108KD.6.105
Now is Perkyn and hise pilgrimes . to þe plow faren
To erie þis half acre . holpen hym manye
Dikeres and Delueres . digged vp þe balkes
fol. 37rI
Ther-wiþ was Perkyn apayed . and preised hem faste

W.6.112KD.6.109
Oþere werkmen þer were . þat wroȝten ful yerne
Ech man in his manere . made hym-self to doone
And somme to plese Perkyn . piked vp þe wedes

At heiȝ prime Piers . leet þe plowȝ stonde
W.6.116KD.6.113
To ouersen hem hym-self . and who-so best wroȝte
He sholde be hired þer-after . whan heruest tyme come

And þanne seten somme . and songen atte Nale
And holpen ere þisW.6.119: W alone reads þis. Other B manuscripts have his. half acre . wiþ how trolly lolly

W.6.120KD.6.117
Now by þe peril of my soule quod Piers . al in pure tene
But ye arise þe raþer . and rape yow to werche
Shal no greyn þat groweþ . glade yow at nede
And þouȝ ye deye for doel . þe deuel haue þat reccheþ

W.6.124KD.6.121
Tho were faitours afered . and feyned hem blynde
Somme leide hir legges aliry . as swiche losels konneþ
And made hir mone to Piers . and preide hym of grace
For we haue no lymes to laboure with . lord ygraced be þe
W.6.128KD.6.125
Ac we preie for yow Piers . and for youre plowȝ boþe
That god of his grace . youre greyn multiplie
And yelde yow for youre Almesse . þat ye ȝyue vs here
For we may noȝt swynke ne swete . swich siknesse vs eyleþ

W.6.132KD.6.129
If it be sooþ quod Piers þat ye seyn . I shal it soone aspie
Ye ben wastours I woot wel . and truþe woot þe soþe
And I am his olde hyne . and hiȝte hym to warne
Whiche þei were in þis world . hise werkmen apeired
W.6.136KD.6.133
Ye wasten þat men wynnen . wiþ trauaille and wiþ tene
Ac truþe shal teche yow . his teme to dryue
Or ye shul eten barly breed . and of þe broke drynke
fol. 37vI
But if he be blynd or brokelegged . or bolted wiþ Irens
W.6.140KD.6.137
He shal ete whete breed . and drynke wiþ my-selue
Til god of his goodnesse . amendement hym sende
Ac ye myȝte trauaille as truþe wolde . and take mete and hyre
To kepe kyen in þe feld . þe corn fro þe beestes
W.6.144KD.6.141
Diken or deluen . or dyngen vp-on sheues
Or helpe make morter . or bere Muk a-feld

In lecherie and in losengerie  ye lyuen and in Sleuþe
And al is þoruȝ suffraunce . þat vengeaunce yow ne takeþ

W.6.148KD.6.145
Ac Ancres and heremites . þat eten noȝt but at Nones
And namoore er þe morwe . myn almesse shul þei haue
And of catel to kepe hem wiþ . þat han Cloistres and chirches

Ac Robert Renaboute . shal noȝt haue of myne
W.6.152KD.6.149
Ne Postles but þei preche konne . and haue power of þe bisshop
Thei shul haue payn and potage . and make hem-self ateseat ese
W.6.154: A much later hand has written nota in the left margin. For it is an vnresonable Religion . þat haþ riȝt noȝt of certein

And þanne gan wastour to wraþen hym . and wolde haue yfouȝte
W.6.156KD.6.153
And to Piers þe Plowman . he profrede his gloue
A Bretoner a braggere . abosteda bostedW.6.157: a, "he." Piers als
And bad hym go pissen with his plowȝ . forpynede sherewe
Wiltow or neltow . we wol haue oure wille
W.6.160KD.6.157
Of þi flour and of þi flessh . fecche whanne vs likeþ
And maken vs murye þer-myde . maugree þi chekes

Thanne Piers þe Plowman . pleyned hym to þe knyȝte
To kepen hym as couenaunt was . fro cursede sherewes
W.6.164KD.6.161
And fro þise wastours wolueskynnes . þat makeþ þe world deere
For þo wasten and wynnen noȝt . and þat ilke while
Worþ neuere plentee among þe peple . þe while my plowȝ liggeþ
fol. 38rI
Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne . as his kynde wolde
W.6.168KD.6.165
Warnede wastour . and wissed hym bettre
Or þow shalt abigge by þe lawe . by þe ordre þat I bere

I was noȝt wont to werche quod wastour . and now wol I noȝt bigynne
And leet liȝt of þe lawe . and lasse of þe knyȝte
W.6.172KD.6.169
And sette Piers at a pese . and his plowȝ boþe
And manaced Piers and his men . if þei mette eftsoone

Now by þe peril of my soule quod Piers . I shal apeire yow alle
And houped after hunger . þat herde hym at þe firste
W.6.176KD.6.173
Awreke me of þise wastours quod he . þat þis world shendeþ

Hunger in haste þoo . hente wastour by þe wombeW.6.177: W alone reads wombe. Other B manuscripts have mawe.
And wrong hym so by þe wombe . þat boþe hise eiȝen watrede

He buffetted þe Bretoner . aboute þe chekes
W.6.180KD.6.177
That he loked lik a lanterne . al his lif after
He bette hem so boþe . he brast ner hire guttes
Ne hadde Piers wiþ a pese loof . preyed hunger to cesse
They hadde be doluen . ne deme þow noon ooþer

W.6.184KD.6.181
Suffre hem lyue he seide . and lat hem ete wiþ hogges
Or ellis benes orW.6.185: W alone reads or. Other B manuscripts have and. bren . ybaken togideres
Or ellis melk and mene ale . þus preied Piers for hem

Faitours for fere her-of . flowen in-to Bernes
W.6.188KD.6.184
And flapten on wiþ flailes . fro morwe til euen
That hunger was noȝt so hardy . on hem for to loke
For a potful of peses . þat Piers hadde ymaked

An heep of heremytes . henten hem spades
W.6.192KD.6.188
And kitten hir copes . and courtepies hem maked
fol. 38vI
And wente as werkmen . wiþ spades and wiþ shoueles
And doluen and dikeden . to dryue awey hunger

Blynde and bedreden . were bootned a þousand
W.6.196KD.6.192
That seten to begge siluer . soone were þei heeled
For þat was bake for bayard . was boote for many hungry
And many a beggere for benes . buxum was to swynke
And ech a pouere man wel apaied . to haue pesen for his hyre
W.6.200KD.6.196
And what Piers preide hem to do . as prest as a Sperhauk
And þer-of was Piers proud . and putte hem to werke
And yaf hem mete as he myȝte aforþe . and mesurable hyre

Thanne hadde Piers pite . and preide hunger to wende
W.6.204KD.6.200
Hoom vn-to his owene yerd . and holden hym þere
For I am wel awroke . of wastours þoruȝ þy myȝte
Ac I preie þee er þow passe . quod Piers to hunger
Of beggeris and of bidderis . what best be to doone
W.6.208KD.6.204
For I woot wel be þow went . þei wol werche ful ille
For meschief it makeþ . þei be so meke nouþe
And for defaute of hire foode . þis folk is at my wille

Thei are my blody breþeren quod Piers . for god bouȝte vs alle
W.6.212KD.6.208
Truþe tauȝte me ones . to louen hem echone
And to helpen hem of alle þyng . ay as hem nedeþ
And now wolde I wite of þee . what were þe beste
And how I myȝte amaistren hem . and make hem to werche

W.6.216KD.6.212
Here now quod hunger . and hoold it for a wisdom .
Bolde beggeris and bigge . þat mowe hir breed biswynke
Wiþ houndes breed and horse-breed . hoold vp hir hertes
Abate hem wiþ benes . for bollynge of hir wombes
W.6.220KD.6.216
And if þe gomes grucche . bidde hem go swynke
And he shal soupe swetter . whan he it haþ deserued
fol. 39rI
And if þow fynde any freke . þat Fortune haþ apeired
Or any manere false men . fonde þow swiche to knowe
W.6.224KD.6.220
Conforte hym wiþ þi catel . for cristes loue of heuene
Loue hem and lene hem . so lawe of god techeþ
Alter alterius onera portate

And alle manere of men . þat þow myȝt aspie
W.6.228KD.6.223
That nedy ben and nouȝty . help hem wiþ þi goodes
Loue hem and lakke hem noȝt . lat god take þe vengeaunce
Theiȝ þei doon yuele . lat god yworþe
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam

W.6.232KD.6.227
And if þow wilt be gracious to god . do as þe gospel techeþ
And biloue þee amonges lewed men . so shaltow lacche grace
Facite vosW.6.234: W alone reads vos. Other B manuscripts have vobis. amicos de mammona iniquitatis

I wolde noȝt greue god quod Piers . for al þe good on grounde
W.6.236KD.6.230
Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist . seide Piers þanne

Ye I bihote þee quod hunger . or ellis þe bible lieþ
Go to Genesis þe geaunt . þe engendrour of vs alle
In sudore and swynk . þow shalt þi mete tilie
W.6.240KD.6.234
And laboure for þi liflode . and so oure lord hiȝte
And Sapience seiþ þe same . I seiȝ it in þe bible
Piger pro frigore . no feeld nolde tilie
And þer-fore he shal begge and bidde . and no man bete his hunger

W.6.244KD.6.238
Mathew wiþ mannes face . mouþed þise wordes
That seruus nequam hadde a MnamW.6.245: The gloss .id est. A besaunt is written above Mnam in a smaller script but by the main hand. The red box around Mnam was drawn subsequently and left incomplete at the top. A similar gloss appears in HmLM. C. David Benson and Lynne S. Blanchfield, The Manuscripts of Piers Plowman: the B-version (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1997), 162, mistakenly offer to correct Kane-Donaldson's Mnam to amam. . and for he wolde noȝt chaffare
He hadde maugree of his maister . euere-moore after
And bynam hym his Mnam . for he ne wolde werche
W.6.248KD.6.242
And yaf þat Mnam to hym . þat ten Mnames hadde
And wiþ þat he seide . þat holy chirche it herde
He þat haþ shal haue . and helpe þere it nedeþ           W.6.250:nota
fol. 39vI
And he þat noȝt haþ shal noȝt haue . and no man hym helpe           W.6.251:nota
W.6.252KD.6.246
And þat he weneþ wel to haue . I wole it hym bireue
Kynde wit wolde . þat ech a wiȝt wroȝte
Or in dikynge or in deluynge . or trauaillynge in preieres
Contemplatif lif or Actif lif . crist wolde þei wroȝte
W.6.256KD.6.250
The Sauter seiþ in þe psalme . of Beati omnes
The freke þat fedeþ hym-self . wiþ his feiþful labour
He is blessed by þe book . in body and in soule
Labores manuum tuarum &c

W.6.260KD.6.253
Yet I preie yow quod Piers . par charite and ye konne
Any leef of lechecraft . lere it me my deere
For some of my seruauntz . and my-self boþe
Of al a wike werche noȝt . so oure wombe akeþ

W.6.264KD.6.257
I woot wel quod hunger . what siknesse yow eyleþ
Ye han manged ouer-muche . and þat makeþ yow grone
Ac I hote þee quod hunger . as þow þyn hele wilnest
That þow drynke no day . er þow dyne som-whatW.6.267-275: These nine lines are marked in the right margin by marks where notae usually appear, but these marks do not even suggest an <n>.           W.6.267:nota
W.6.268KD.6.261
Ete noȝt I hote þee . er hunger þee take           W.6.268:nota
And sende þee of his Sauce . to sauore wiþ þi lippes           W.6.269:nota
And keep som til soper tyme . and sitte noȝt to longe           W.6.270:nota
And rys vp er Appetit . haue eten his fille           W.6.271:nota
W.6.272KD.6.265
Lat noȝt sire Surfet . sitten at þi borde           W.6.272:nota
Leue hym noȝt for he is lecherous . and likerous of tunge           W.6.273:nota
And after many maner metes . his mawe is afyngred           W.6.274:nota

W.6.275: A scribe has drawn a rough pointing hand in the left margin. And if þow diete þee þus . I dar legge myne eris           W.6.275:nota
W.6.276KD.6.269
That Phisik shal hise furred hodes . for his fode selle
And his cloke of Calabre . wiþ alle þe knappes of golde
And be fayn by my feiþ . his Phisik to lete
And lerne to laboure wiþ lond . for liflode is swete           W.6.279:nota
W.6.280KD.6.273
For murþereris are manye leches . lord hem amende
They do men deye þoruȝ hir drynkes . er destynee it wolde
fol. 40rI
By Seint Poul quod Piers . þise arn profitable wordes
Wend now hunger whan þow wolt . þat wel be þow euere
W.6.284KD.6.276
For þis is a louely lesson . lord it þee foryelde

Bihote god quod hunger . hennes ne wole I wende
Til I haue dyned bi þis day . and ydronke boþe

I haue no peny quod Piers . pulettes to bugge
W.6.288KD.6.281
Ne neiþer gees ne grys . but two grene cheses
A fewe cruddes and creme . and an hauer cake
And two loues of benes and bran . ybake for my fauntes
And yet I seye by my soule . I haue no salt bacon
W.6.292KD.6.285
Ne no cokeney by crist . coloppes for to maken

Ac I haue percile and porettes . and manye cole plauntes
And ek a cow and a calf . and a cart mare           W.6.294:nota
To drawe a-feld my donge . þe while þe droȝte lasteþ
W.6.296KD.6.289
And by þis liflode we mote lyue . til lammesse tyme
And by þat I hope to haue . heruest in my crofte
And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner . as me deere likeþ

Al þe pouere peple þo . pescoddes fetten
W.6.300KD.6.293
Benes and baken apples . þei broȝte in hir lappes
Chibolles and Cheruelles . and ripe chiries manye
And profrede Piers þis present . to plese wiþ hunger

Al hunger eet in haste . and axed after moore
W.6.304KD.6.297
Thanne pouere folk for fere . fedden hunger yerne
Wiþ grene poret and pesen . to poisone hym þei þoȝte
By þat it neȝed neer heruest . & newe corn cam to chepyng
Thanne was folk fayn . and fedde hunger wiþ þe beste
W.6.308KD.6.301
Wiþ good Ale as Gloton taȝte . and garte hunger go slepe

And þo wolde wastour noȝt werche . but wandren aboute
fol. 40vI
Ne no beggere ete breed . þat benes Inne were
But of Coket and cler-matyn . or ellis of clene whete
W.6.312KD.6.305
Ne noon halfpeny ale . in none wise drynke
But of þe beste and of þe brunneste . þat in Burgh is to selle

Laborers þat haue no land . to lyue on but hire handesW.6.314-321: All the lines in this line-group are marked in the right margin with nota in a darker ink of the same attenuated form that appears above in ll. 267-75.           W.6.314:nota
Deyned noȝt to dyne a-day . nyȝt-olde wortes           W.6.315:nota
W.6.316KD.6.309
May no peny-ale hem paie . ne no pece of bacoun           W.6.316:nota
But if it be fressh flessh ouþer fissh : fryed ouþer ybake           W.6.317:nota
And þat chaud and plus chaud . for chillynge of hir mawe           W.6.318:nota
And but if he be heiȝliche hyred . ellis wole he chide           W.6.319:nota
W.6.320KD.6.313
And þat he was werkman wroȝt . waille þe tyme           W.6.320:nota
Ayeins Catons counseil . comseþ he to Iangle           W.6.321:nota

Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento

He greueþ hym ageyn god . and gruccheþ ageyn Reson
W.6.324KD.6.317
And þanne corseþ he þe kyng . and al his counseil after
Swiche lawes to loke . laborers to greue
Ac whiles hunger was hir maister . þer wolde noon of hem chide
Ne stryuen ayeins his statut . so sterneliche he loked

W.6.328KD.6.321
Ac I warne yow werkmen . wynneþ whil ye mowe
For hunger hiderward . hasteþ hym faste
He shal awake wiþ water . wastours to chaste
Er fyue be fulfilled . swich famyn shal aryse
W.6.332KD.6.325
Thoruȝ flodes and þoruȝ foule wedres . fruytes shul faille
And so seide Saturne . and sente yow to warne

W.6.334: A scribe has drawn a rough pointing hand in the left margin. Whan ye se þe sonne amys . and two monkes heddes
And a mayde haue þe maistrie . and multiplie by eiȝte
W.6.336KD.6.329
Thanne shal deeþ wiþ-drawe . and derþe be Iustice           W.6.336:nota
And Dawe þe dykere . deye for hunger
But god of his goodnesse . graunte vs a trewe           W.6.338:nota
Truþe herde telle
MED