The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L)

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L) – Passus 19William LanglandEdited by Hoyt N. Duggan and Ralph HannaAssociate Editors: Patricia R. Bart, M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. FarleyTechnical Editors: Daniel V. Pitti and Jonathan Rodney Graduate Research Assistants Heather Blatt, Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Nancy Renwick Clendenon, Carri Cregar, Paul Fyfe, Paul Gaffney, Matthew Gibson, Bethany Mabee, Stephen C. Martin, Chloe Smith, Timothy L. Stinson, and Keicy Tolbert. Computer Consultants and ProgrammersShayne Brandon, Nathaniel Garson, Matthew S. Gibson, Kirk V. Hastings, Janice McCoy, Susan Munson, David Seaman, and John Unsworth.Published for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN: 184384026X

Commercially available:

Published in the United Kingdom by Boydell and Brewer for The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET

Manufactured in the United Kingdom

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

2004

SEENET A.6

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud misc. 581 (S. C. 987)

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud misc. 581 (S. C. 987)

Attribute Valuesbrbrown inkabanglicana bastardaititaliclcLombard Capo[number]ornamented capital, N lines highrbrubricatedtrtouched in redtxtexturaulunderlinedurunderlined in redgrgreen inkblblue ink

LatinFrenchGerman2003 Editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created and structure reorganized. passus xixus & explicit dobet & incipit dobestPassus xixusVndevicesimust ThusL.19.1: A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. I awaked & wrote · what I had dremed And diȝte me derely · & dede me to cherche To here holy þe masse · & to be houseled after In myddes of þe masse · þo men ȝede to offrynge I fel eftsones a-slepe · & sodeynly me mette That Pieres þe plowman · was paynted al blody And come in with a crosse · bifor þe comune peple And riȝte lyke in alle lymes · to owre lorde ihesu And þanne called I conscience · to kenne me þe sothe Is þis ihesus þe iuster quod I · þat iuwes did to deth Or it is Pieres þe plowman · who paynted hym so rede Quod conscience & kneled þo · þise aren Pieres armes His coloures & his cotearmure · ac he þat cometh so blody Is cryst with his crosse · conqueroure of crystene ¶ Why calle ȝe hym cryst quod I · sithenes iuwes calle hym ihesus Patriarkes & prophetes · prophecyed bifore Þat alkyn creatures · shulden knelen & bowen Anon as men nempned · þe name of god Ihesu Ergo is no name · to þe name of ihesus Ne none so nedeful to nempne · by nyȝte ne by daye For alle derke deuelles · aren adradde to heren it And synful aren solaced · & saued bi þat name And ȝe callen hym cryst · for what cause telleth me Is cryst more of myȝte · & more worthy name Þan ihesu or ihesus · þat al owre ioye come of ¶ Thow knowest wel quod conscience · and þow konne resoun That knyȝte kynge conqueroure · may be o persone To be called a kniȝte is faire · for men shal knele to hym To be called a Kynge is fairer · for he may knyȝtes make Ac to be conquerour called · þat cometh of special grace And of hardynesse of herte · & of hendenesse To make lordes of laddes · of londe þat he wynneth And fre men foule thralles · þat folweth nouȝt his lawes ¶ The iuwes þat were gentil men · ihesu þei dispised Bothe his lore & his lawe · now ar þei lowe cherlis As wyde as þe worlde is wonyeth · þere none But vnder tribut & taillage · as tykes & cherles And þo þat bicome crysten · by conseille of þe baptisteL.19.38: L alone reads baptiste; other B manuscripts have baptisme. Aren frankeleynes fre men · þorw fullyng þat þei toke And gentel men with ihesu · for Ihesus was yfolled And vppon caluarye on crosse · ycrouned kynge of iewes ¶ It bicometh to a Kynge · to kepe and to defende And conquerour of conquest · his lawes & his large And so ded Ihesus þe iewes · he iustified & tauȝte hem Þe lawe of lyf · that last shal euere And fended fram foule yueles · feueres & fluxes and fro fendes þat in hem wasL.19.47: LF alone read was; other B manuscripts have some form of were. & fals bileueL.19.47: This line is written in the right margin by the original scribe. A cross with a punctus in each quadrant appears in both margins as a signe de renvoie for the supplied line. Þo was he ihesus of iewes called · gentel prophete And kynge of her kyngdome · & croune bar of þornes ¶ And þo conquered he on crosse · as conquerour noble Myȝt no deth hym fordo · ne adown brynge That he ne aros & regned · and rauysshed helle And þo was he conquerour called · of quikke & of ded For he ȝaf Adam & Eue · and other mo blisse Þat longe hadde leyne bifore · as lucyferes cherles ¶ And sith he ȝaf largely · alle his lele lyges Places in paradys · at her partynge hennes He may wel be called conquerour · & þat is cryst to mene ¶ Ac þe cause þat he cometh þus · with crosse of his passioun Is to wissen vs þere-wyth · þat whan þat we ben tempted Þer-with to fyȝte & fenden vs · fro fallyng in-to synne And se bi his sorwe · þat who-so loueth ioye To penaunce & to pouerte he moste putten hym-seluen And moche wo in þis worlde · willen & suffren ¶ Ac to carpe more of cryst · and how he come to þat name Faithly forto speke · his firste name was ihesus Tho he was borne in bethleem as þe boke telleth And cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungeles Reuerenced hym faire · with richesse of erthe Angeles out of heuene · come knelyng & songe Gloria in excelsis deo &c ¶ Kynges come after · kneled & offred Mirre & moche golde · with-outen mercy askynge Or any kynnes catel · but knowlechyng hym soeuereigne Bothe of sonde sonne & see · & sithenes þei went In-to her kyngene kyth · by conseille of angeles And there was þat worde fulfilled · þe which þow of speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu For alle þe angeles of heuene · at hi.s burth kneled And al þe witte of þe worlde · was in þo þre kynges Resoun & riȝtfulnesseL.19.81: LBC alone read riȝtfulnesse; all other manuscripts have Rightwisnesse. · & reuth þei offred Wherfore & whi · wyse men þat tyme Maistres & lettred men · Magy hem calledX ¶ That o kynge cam with resoun · keuered vnder senseL.19.84-86: A drypoint <X> appears in the left margin. Þe secounde kynge sitthe · sothliche offred Riȝtwisnesse vnder red golde resouns felawe Golde is likned to leute · þat last shal euere And resoun to riche golde · to riȝte & to treuthe The þridde kynge þo cam · knelyng to ihesu And presented hym with pitee · apierynge by myrre For mirre is mercy to mene · & mylde speche of tonge Thre yliche honest þinges · wasL.19.92: LF alone read was; other B manuscripts have some form of were. offred þus at ones Þorw þre kynne kynges · knelynge to ihesu ¶ Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz · owre lorde prynce ihesus Was neyther kynge ne conquerour · til he gan to wexe In þe manere of a man · & þat by moche sleight As it bicometh a conquerour · to konne many sleightes And many wyles & witte · þat wil ben a leder 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 fauȝte faste · & fleigh otherwhile And some-tyme he gaf good · & graunted hele bothe Lyf & lyme · as hym lyste he wrought As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed ihesu Tyl he had alle hem · þat he fore bledde ¶ In his iuuente þis ihesus · atte iuwen feste Water in-to wyn tourned · as holy writ telleth And þere bigan god · of his grace to dowel For wyn is lykned to lawe · & lyf of holynesse And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt her enemys And cryst conseilleth þus · & comaundeth bothe Bothe to lered & to lewed · to louye owre enemys So atte feste firste as I bifore tolde Bygan god of his grace & goodnesse to dowel And þo was he cleped & called nouȝt holy cryst but Ihesu A fauntfyn ful of witte · filius marie ¶ For bifor his moder marie · made he þat wonder Þat she furste & formest · ferme shulde bilieue That he þorw grace was gete · & of no gome elles He wrouȝt þat bi no witte · but þorw worde one After þe kynde þat he come of · þere comsed he dowel And whan he was woxen more · in his moder absence He made lame to lepe · & ȝaue liȝte to blynde And fedde with two fisshes · & with fyue loues · Sore afyngred folke · mo þan fyue thousande Þus he conforted carful · & cauȝte a gretter name Þe whiche was dobet · where þat he went For defe þorw his doynges to here · & dombe speke he made And alle he heled & halpe · þat hym of grace asked And þo was he called in contre of þe comune peple For þe dedes þat he did · fili dauid ihesus For dauid was douȝtiest · of dedes in his tyme The berdes þo songe · Saul interfecit mille · et dauid decem milia · For-þi þe contre þere ihesu cam · called hym fili dauid And nempned hym of nazereth · & no man so worthi To be kaisere or kynge · of þe kyngedome of iuda Ne ouer iuwes iustice · as ihesus was hem þouȝte ¶ Where-of caiphas hadde enuye · & other of þe iewes And forto doun hym to deth · day & nyȝte þei casten Kulleden hym on crosse-wyse · at caluarie on fryday And sithen buryden his body · & beden þat men sholde Kepen it fro niȝt-comeres · with knyȝtes yarmed For no frendes shulde hym fecche · for prophetes hem tolde Þat þat blessed body · of burieles shulde rise And gone in-to galile · and gladen his apostles And his moder Marie · þus men bifore demed ¶ The knyȝtes þat kepten it · biknewe it hem-seluen Þat angeles & archangeles · ar þe day spronge Come knelynge to þe corps · & songen cristus resurgens Verrey man bifor hem alle · & forth with hem he ȝede ¶ The iewes preyed hem pees · & bisouȝte þe knyȝtes Telle þe comune þat þere cam · a compaignye of his aposteles And bywicched hem as þei woke · & awey stolen it ¶ Ac Marie Magdeleyne · mette hym bi þe wey Goynge toward galile · in godhed & manhed And lyues & lokynge · & she aloude cryde In eche a compaignye þere she cam · cristus resurgens Þus cam it out þat cryst ouer-cam · rekeuered & lyued Sic oportet cristum pati & intrare &c · For þat wommen witeth · may nouȝte wel be conseille ¶ Peter parceyued al þis · & pursued after Bothe iames & Iohan · Ihesu for to seke Tadde & ten mo · with Thomas of ynde And as alle þise wise wyes · weren togideres In an hous al bishette · & her dore ybarred Cryst cam in & al closed · bothe dore & ȝates To peter & to his aposteles · and seyde pax vobis And toke Thomas by þe hande · and tauȝte hym to grope And fele with his fyngres · his flesshelich herteL.19.169: The scribe appears to have failed to skip a line for the strophe break and scraped the text. ¶ Thomas touched it · & with his tonge seydeL.19.170: We have characterized this word as an addition, though it is clearly the original scribe's hand. The <d> is somewhat extravagantly flourished, and a word-initial long <s> is not common in his hand. Deus meus & dominus meus Thow art my lorde · I bileue · god lorde ihesu Þow deydest & deth þoledest · and deme shalt vs alle And now art lyuynge & lokynge · & laste shalt euere ¶ Crist carped þanne · and curteislich seyde Thomas for þow trowest þis · & trewliche bileuest it Blessed mote þow be · & be shalt for euere And blessed mote þei alle be · in body & in soule That neuere shal se me in siȝte · as þow doste nouthe And lellich bileuen al þis · I loue hem & blesse hem Beati qui non viderunt &c · ¶ And whan þis dede was done · dobest he tauȝte And ȝaf Pieres power · and pardoun he graunted To alle manere men · mercy & forȝyfnes Hym myȝte men to assoille · of alle manere synnes In couenant þat þei come · & knewleche to paye To pieres pardon þe plowman · redde quod debes ¶ Thus hath pieres powere · be his pardoun payed+ To bynde & toL.19.189: LC2 alone read to. vnbynde · bothe here & ellesL.19.189: LF alone — R is absent here — read elles, which probably explains the corrector's <+> to the right of and slightly higher than this line. Other B manuscripts have ellis-where. It is equally possible that the corrector's mark was intended to call attention to the repeated to of the a-verse or to both differences from beta. And assoille men of alle synnes · saue of dette one ¶ Anone after an heigh · vp in-to heuene He went & wonyeth þere · & wil come atte laste And wilL.19.193: LG alone have wil. rewarde hym riȝte wel · þat reddit quod debet Payeth parfitly as pure trewthe wolde And what persone payeth it nouȝt · punysshen he þinketh And demen hem at domes-daye · bothe quikke & ded Þe gode to þe godhede · & to grete ioye And wikkeL.19.198: L alone reads wikke; all other B manuscripts have wikkede. to wonye · in wo with-outen ende Þus conscience of crist · & of þe crosse carped And conseilled me to knele þer-to · & þanne come me þouȝte One spiritus paraclitus · to Pieres & to his felawes In lyknesse of a liȝtnynge · he lyȝte on hem alle And made hem konne & knowe · alkyn langages L.19.204: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ I wondred what þat was · & wagged conscience And was afered of the lyȝte · for in fyres lyknesseL.19.205: A few characters, no longer legible, are erased in the right margin. Spiritus paraclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle ¶ Quod concscience & kneled · þis is crystes messager And cometh fro þe grete god · & grace is his name Knele now quod conscience · & if þow canst synge Welcome hym & worshipe hym · with veni creator spiritus ¶ Thanne songe I þat songe · and so did many hundreth And cryden with conscience · help vs god of grace And þanne bigan grace · to go with piers plowman And conseilled hym & conscience · þe comune to sompne For I wil dele to-daye · & dyuyde grace To alkynnes creatures · þat kanL.19.216: LF alone read kan; most other B manuscripts have han. Note that R is not present here. her fyue wittes Tresore to lyue by · to her lyues ende And wepne to fyȝte with · þat wil neure faille For antecryst & his · al þe worlde shal greue And acombre þe conscience · but if cryst þe helpe ¶ And fals prophetes fele · flatereres & glosers Shullen come & be curatoures · ouer kynges & erlis And pryde shal be pope · prynce of holycherche Coueytyse & vnkyndenesse · cardinales hym to lede For-þi quod grace er I go · I wil gyue ȝow tresore And wepne to fiȝte with · whan antecryst ȝow assailleth And gaf eche man a grace · to gye with hym-seluen That ydelnesse encombre hym nouȝt · envye ne pryde Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c · ¶ Some he ȝaf wytte · with wordes to shewe Witte to wynne her lyflode with · as þe worlde asketh As prechoures & prestes & prentyce of lawe Þei lelly to lyue · by laboure of tonge And bi witte to wissen other · as grace hem wolde teche ¶ And some he kenned crafte · & kunnynge of syȝte With sellyng & buggynge · her bylyf to wynne And some he lered to laboure · a lele lyf & a trewe And somme he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche & to thecche To wynne with her lyflode · by lore of his techynge And some to dyuyne & diuide · noumbres to kenne And some to compas craftily · & coloures to make And some to se & to saye · what shulde bifalle Bothe of wel & of wo · telle it or it felle As Astronomyenes þorw astronomye · & philosophres wyse ¶ And some to ryde & to recoeureL.19.245: LF read recoeure; most other B manuscripts have recouere. Cf. L.17.69 for similar alpha and L agreement. For the spelling, see the Linguistic Description, § III.2.1.2.25. · þat vnriȝtfully was wonne He wissed hem wynne it aȝeyne · þorw wightnesse of handes ¶ And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluyles lawes And some he lered to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes In pouerte & in penaunce · to preye for alle crystene And alle he lered to be lele · & eche a crafte loue other And forbad hem alle debate · þat none were amonge hem Thowgh some be clenner þan somme · ȝe se wel quod grace+ Þat he þat vseth þe fairest crafte · to þe foulest I couth haue put hymL.19.253: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, suggesting that the scribe initially omitted couth haue put hym. Those words appear in ink darker than the rest of the line. Þinketh alle quod grace · þat grace cometh of my ȝifte Loke þat none lakke other · but loueth alle as bretheren ¶ And who þat moste maistries can · be myldest of berynge And crouneth conscience kynge · & maketh crafte ȝowre stuward And after craftes conseille · clotheth ȝow & fede For I make Pieres þe plowman · my procuratour & my reve And Regystrere to receyue · redde quod debes My prowor & my plowman · Piers shal ben on erthe And for to tulye treuthe · a teme shal he haue ¶ Grace gaue Piers a teme · foure gret oxen Þat on was Luke a large beste · and a lowe-chered And marke & mathew þe þrydde · myghty bestes bothe And ioigned to hem one Iohan · most gentil of alle Þe prys nete of Piers plow · passyng alle other ¶ And grace gaue pieres · of his goodnesse foure stottis Al þat his oxen eryed · þey to harwe after On hyȝte Austyne · & ambrose an other Gregori þe grete clerke · & Ierome þe gode Þise foure þe feithe to teche · folweth pieres teme And harwed in an handwhile · al holy scripture Wyth two harwes þat þei hadde · an olde & a newe IdestId est vetus testamentum & nouum ¶ And grace gaue greynes · þe cardynales vertues And sewe it in mannes soule · & sithen he tolde her names Spiritus prudencie · þe firste seed hyȝte And who-so eet þat · ymagyne he shulde Ar he did any dede · deuyse wel þe ende And lerned men a ladel bugge · with a longe stele Þat cast for to kepe a crokke · to saue þe fatte abouen ¶ The secounde seed hiȝte spiritus temperancie He þat ete of þat seed · hadde suche a kynde Shulde neuere mete ne mochel drynke · make hym to swelle Ne sholde no scorner ne scolde · oute of skyl hym brynge Ne wynnynge ne welthe · of wordeliche ricchesse Waste worde of ydelnesse · ne wykked speche meue Shulde no curyous clothe · comen on hys rugge Ne no mete in his mouth · þat maister Iohan spiced ¶ The thridde seed þat Pieres sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis And who-so eet of þat seed hardy was eure To suffre al þat god sent · sykenesse & angres Myȝte no lesyngeL.19.294: L alone reads lesynge; other B manuscripts have lesynges. ne lyere · ne losse of worldely catel Maken hym for any mournynge · þat he nas merye in soule And bolde & abydynge · bismeres to suffre And playeth al with pacyence · & parce michi domine And couered hym vnder conseille · of catoun þe wyse Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique ¶ The fierthe seed þat pieres sewe · was spiritus iusticie And he þat eet of þat seed · shulde be euere trewe With god & nouȝt agast · but of gyle one For gyle goth so pryuely · þat good faith other-while May nouȝte ben aspyed · for spiritus iusticie ¶ Spiritus iusticie · spareth nouȝte to spille Hem þat ben gulty · & forto correcte Þe Kynge ȝif he falle · in gylte or in trespasse For counteth he no kynges wratthe · whan he in courte sitteth To demen as a domes-man · adradde was he neure Noither of duke ne of deth · þat he ne dede þeL.19.310: LF alone have þe; other B manuscripts omit it. Note that R is not present here. lawe For present or for preyere · or any prynces lettres He dede equite to alle · euene-forth his powere ¶ Thise foure sedes pieres sewe · and sitthe he did hem harwe Wyth olde lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe Amonge þe foure vertues · and vices destroye ¶ For comunelich in contrees · kammokes & wedes Fouleth þe fruite in þe felde · þere þei growe togyderes And so don vices · vertues worthy Quod Piers harweth alle þat kunneth kynde witte · bi conseille of þis doctours And tulyeth after her techynge · þe cardinale vertues ¶ Aȝeines þi greynes quod grace · bigynneth for to ripe Ordeigne þe an hous quodL.19.322: LCr1,2M have quod; all other B witnesses omit it. Piers · to herberwe in þi cornes ¶ By god grace quod Piers · ȝe moten gyue tymbre And ordeyne þat hous · ar ȝe hennes wende ¶ And grace gaue hym þe crosse · with þe croune of þornes That cryst vpon caluarye · for mankynde on pyned And of his baptesme & blode · þat he bledde on Rode He made a maner morter · & mercy it hiȝte And þere-with grace bigan · to make a good foundement And watteled it and walled it · with his peynes & his passioun And of al holywrit · he made a rofe after And called þat hous vnite · holicherche on englisshe And whan þis dede was done · grace deuised A carte hyȝte cristendome · to carye pieres sheues And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricioun & confessioun And made presthode haywarde · þe while hym-self went As wyde as þe worlde is · with pieres to tulye treuthe ¶ Now is Pieres to þe plow · & pruyde it aspyde And gadered hym a grete oest · to greuen he þinketh Conscience and al crystene · and cardinale vertues Blowe hem doune & breke hem · & bite atwo þe mores And sent forth surquydous · his seriaunt of armes And his spye spille-loue · one speke yuel byhynde Þise two come to conscience · and to crystene peple And tolde hem tydynges · þat tyne þei shulde þe sedes That Pieres þere hadde ysowen · þe cardynal vertues And Pieres berne worth broke · & þei þat ben in vnite Shulle come out · & conscience  & ȝowre two caples Confessioun & contricioun · and ȝowre carte þe byleue Shal be coloured so queyntly · and keuered vnder owre sophistrie+ Þat consciounconsci[ence]L.19.351: The corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the scribe's conscioun for conscience. shal nouȝte  knowe by contricioun Ne by confessioun  who is cristene or hethen Ne no maner marchaunt · þat with moneye deleth Where he wynne wyth riȝte · with wronge or with vsure ¶ With suche coloures & queyntise  cometh pryde yarmed With þe lorde þat lyueth after · þe luste of his body To wasten on welfare · and on wykked kepynge Al þe worlde in a while · þorw owre witte quod pruyde ¶ Quod conscience to alle crystene þo · my conseille is to wende Hastiliche in-to vnyte · & holde we vs þere And preye we þat a pees were · in Piers berne þe plowman For witterly I wote wel · we beth nouȝte of strengthe To gone agayne pryde · but grace were with vs ¶ And þanne cam kynde wytte · conscience to teche And cryde & comaunded · al crystene peple For to deluen a dyche · depe aboute vnite+ That holycherche stode in vnite · as it a pylepyle [were]L.19.367: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's omission of were after pyle, attested by all other B manuscripts. ¶ Conscience comaunded þo · al crystene to delue And make a muche mote · þat myȝte ben a strengthe To helpe holycherche · & hem þat it kepeth ¶ Thanne alkyn crystene · saue comune wommen Repenteden & refused synne · saue they one And fals men flateres · vsureres and theues Lyeres and questmongeres · þat were forsworen ofte Wytynge and willefully · with þe falseL.19.375: The <s> of false is unclear because of scuffing. helden And for syluer were forswore · sothely þei wist it ¶ Þere nas no crystene creature · þat kynde witte hadde Saue schrewes one · suche as I spak of That he ne halpe a quantite · holynesse to wexe Somme þorw bedes byddynge · and some þorw pylgrymage And other pryue penaunce · and some þorw penyes delynge ¶ And þanne welled water · for wikked werkes Egerlich ernynge · out of mennes eyen Clennesse of þe comune · & clerkes clene lyuynge Made vnite holicherche · in holynesse to stonde I care nouȝte quod conscience · þough pryde come nouthe Þe lorde of luste shal be letted · al þis lente I hope Comeþ quod conscience · ȝe cristene and dyneth Þat han laboured lelly · al þis lente tyme Here is bred yblessed · and goddes body þer-vnder Grace þorw goddes worde · gaue Pieres power Myȝtes to maken it · & men to ete it after In helpe of her hele · onys in a moneth Or as ofte as þey hadden nede · þo þat hadde ypayed To pieres pardoun þe plowman · redde quod debes ¶ How quod al þe comune · þow conseillest vs to ȝelde Al þat we owen any wyȝte · ar we go to housel ¶ That is my conseille quod conscience & cardynale vertues Þat vche man forȝyue other · and þat wyl þe pater noster Et dimitte nobis debita nostra · &c · And so to ben assoilled · & sithen ben houseled ¶ Ȝe bawe quod a brewere · I wil nouȝt be reuled Bi ihesu for al ȝowre ianglynge · with spiritus iusticie Ne after conscience by cryste · whil I can selle Bothe dregges & draffe · and drawe it at on hole Þikke ale and þinne ale · for þat is my kynde And nouȝte hakke after holynesse · holde þi tonge conscience Of spiritus iusticie · þow spekest moche an ydel ¶ Caytyue quod conscience · cursed wrecche Vnblessed artow brewere · but if þe god helpe But þow lyue by lore · of spiritus iusticie Þe chief seed þat Pieres sewe · ysaued worstow neure But conscience þe comune fede · and cardynale vertues Leue it wel þei ben loste · bothe lyf & soule ¶ Thanne is manyL.19.415: L alone omits a after many. man ylost quod a lewed vycory I am a curatour of holykyrke · and come neure in my tyme Man to me þat me couth telle · of cardinale vertues Or þat acounted conscience · at a cokkes fether or an hennes I knewe neure cardynal · þat he ne cam fro þe pope And we clerkes whan þey come · for her comunes payeth For her pelure and her palfreyes mete · & piloures þat hem folweth Þe comune clamat cotidie · eche a man to other Þe contre is þe curseder · þat cardynales come Inne And þere they ligge and lenge moste · lecherye þere regneth For-þi quod þis vicori · be verrey god I wolde That no cardynal come · amonge þe comune peple But in her holynesse · holden hem stille At Auynoun amonge þe iuwes · cum sancto sanctus eris &c Or in Rome as here rule wole · þe reliques to kepe And þow conscience in kynges courte · & shuldest neure come þennes And grace þat þow gredest so of : gyour of alle clerkes And Pieres with his newe plow · & eke with his olde Emperour of al þe worlde · þat alle men were cristene ¶ Inparfyt is þat pope · þat alL.19.434: LB alone omit þe before peple. peple shulde helpe And sendeth hem þat sleeth suche · as he shulde saue And wel worth piers þe plowman · þat ~~pur~~suethL.19.436: L alone reads sueth; all other B manuscripts have pursueþ, the probably original reading here with <pur-> erased. god in doyng Qui pluit super iustos · & iniustos at ones And sent þe sonne to saue · a cursed mannes tilthe As bryȝte as to þe best man · & to þe beste woman Riȝte so Pieres þe plowman · peyneth hym to tulye As wel for a wastour · & wenches of þe stuwes As for hym-self & his seruauntz · saue he is firste yserued And trauailleth & tulyeth · for a tretour also sore As for a trewe tydy man · al tymes ylyke And worshiped be he þat wrouȝte al · bothe good & wykke And suffreth þat synful be · til some-tyme þat þei repente And god amende þe pope · þat pileth holykirke And cleymeth bifor þe kynge · to be keper ouer crystene And counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben · culled & robbed And fynt folke to fyȝte · and cristene blode to spille Aȝeyne þe olde lawe & newe lawe · as Luke þer-of witnesseth Non occides michi vindictam &c It semeth · by so  hym-self hadd his wille That he ne reccheth riȝte nouȝte · of al þe remenaunte And cryst of his curteisye · þe cardinales saue And tourne her witte to wisdome · & to wele of soule For þe comune quod þis curatour counten ful litel Þe conseille of conscience · or cardinale vertues But if þei soweL.19.459: L alone reads sowe; most other B manuscripts have some form of seiȝe. as by syȝte · somwhat to wynnynge Of gyle ne of gabbynge · gyue þei neuere tale For spiritus prudencie · amonge þe peple is gyle And alle þo faire vertues · as vyces þei semeth Eche man sotileth a sleight · synne forto hyde And coloureth it for a kunnynge · and a clene lyuynge ¶ Thanne loughe þere a lorde · & by þis liȝte sayde I halde it ryȝte & resoun · of my reue to take Al þat myne auditour or elles my stuwarde Conseilleth me by her acounte · & my clerkes wrytynge ¶ With spiritus intellectus · they seke þe reues rolles+ And with spiritus fortitudinis · fecchefecche [it]L.19.470: The corrector's <+> in the right margin notes L's omission of it after fecche, attested by other B manuscripts. I wole ¶ And þanne come þere a kynge · & bi his croune seyde I am Kynge with croune · þe comune to reule And holykirke & clergye · fro cursed men to defende And if me lakketh to lyue by · þe lawe wil I take it Þere I may hastlokest it haue · for I am hed of lawe For ȝe ben but membres · & I aboue alle And sith I am ȝowre aller hed · I am ȝowre aller hele And holycherche chief help · & chiftaigne of þe comune And what I take of ȝow two · I take it atte techynge Of spiritus iusticie for I · iugge ȝow alle So I may baldely be houseled · for I borwe neuere Ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde asketh ¶ In condicioun quod conscience · þat þow konne defende And rule þi rewme in resoun · riȝt wel & in treuth Take þow may in resoun as þi lawe asketh Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad depre..dandum Þe vyker hadde fer home · & faire toke his leue And I awakned þere-with · & wrote as me mette