fol. 98v (cont.)I
passus xxus et primus de dobeste

Passus xxusvicesimusM.20.0: The guide to the rubricator in the left margin has been erased, though passus xxus et primus de dobeste is still legible under ultra-violet.

t
THanne as I wente by þe wey . whan I was þus awaked
Heuy chered I ȝyede . and elenge in herte
I ne wiste where to ete . ne at what place
M.20.4KD.20.4
And it neiȝed neiȝe þe noon . and with nede I mette .
That afrounted me foule . and faitour me called
Kanstow nouȝt excuse the . as dede þe kynge and oþere
That þow took to þi bylyliueM.20.7: The reading of a number of manuscripts, including Cr, is bileue, yet it seems clear that it is a <y> and not an <e> that has been erased here. . to cloþes and to sustenaunce
M.20.8KD.20.8
As by techinge and by tellynge . of spiritus temperancie .
And þow nome nomoreno more . þanne nede þe tauȝte
And nede haþ no lawe . ne neuere shal falle in dette
For þre þinges he takeþ . his lif for to saue
M.20.12KD.20.12
That is mete whanne men hym werneth . and he no moneye weldeþ .
Ne wight noon wol ben his borwe . ne wedde haþ non to legge
And he cauȝte in þat cas . and come þerto by sleightesM.20.14: M's sleightes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts except have the singular.
He synneþ nouȝt sothely . þat so wynneþ his fode
M.20.16KD.20.16
And þouȝ he camM.20.16: M shares the reading cam with Cr; other B manuscripts have come or comeþ. so to a cloþe . and kan..ne no bettre cheuysaunce .
Nede a-noon riȝt . nymeþ him vnder maymprise
And if hym lust for to lape . þe lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at .eche aM.10.19: M's altered reading agrees with YC2. As at M.19.399, the added a is written over the erased <-e>. diche er he for th......urste deye..de
M.20.20KD.20.20
So nede at grete nede . may nymen as for his owene
With-outen conseille of conscience . ...orM.20.21: M's original reading, concealed by the revision or, is likely to have been and, shared with G. cardynale vertues
So þat he suwe and saue . Spiritus temperancie
For is no vertue by fer . to Spiritus temperancie
M.20.24KD.20.24
Neyther Spiritus iusticie . ne Spiritus fortitudinis
For Spiritus fortitudinis . forfeteþ ful ofte
He shal do more þan mesure . many tyme and ofte
And bete men ouer bittre . and somme of hem to lytul
M.20.28KD.20.28
And greueth men gretter . þanne go.od faith it wolde
And Spiritus iusticie . shal iuggen wol he nel he .
fol. 99rI
passus xxus
After þe kynges conseille . and þe Comune like
And Spiritus prudencie . in many a point shal faille
M.20.32KD.20.32
Of þat he weneþ wolde falle . if his wit ne were
Wenynge is no wysdome . ne wyses ymagynacioun
Homo proponit deus disponit . and gouerneþ alle goode vertues
Ac nede is nexte hym . for a-non he meketh hymM.20.35: M's addition of hym brings it into agreement with Cr.
M.20.36KD.20.36
And as lowe as a lombe . for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ
Wise men forsooke wele . for þei wolde be nedy .
And woneden in wildernesse . and wolden not be ryche
And god al his grete ioye . goostly he lefte
M.20.40KD.20.41
And cam and took mankynde . and bycome nedy
So nedy he was as seith þe book . in many sondry places .
That he saide in his sorwe . on þe selue Roode
Boþe fox and fo....wl . may flee . andM.20.43: M's syntax agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts supply and before crepe rather than before to. to hole crepe
M.20.44KD.20.45
And þe Fissh haþ fynne . to flete with to reste
There nede haþ ynome me . þat I moot nede abide
And suffre sorwes ful soure . þat shul to ioy tourne
For-þi be nouȝt abasshed . to byde and to be nedy
M.20.48KD.20.49
Sith he þat wrouȝte al þe world . was willefulliche nedy .
Ne neuere noon so nedy . ne porere deyde .
Whanne nede hadde vndurnome meM.20.50: M's original reading without me agreed with OR. þus . a-noon I fell on slepe
And mette ful merueillousliche . þat in mann.es ..kkenesseformeM.20.51: M's original reading must have been likkenesse (for the spelling cf. 19.202, 205), a reading not shared by any B or C manuscripts.
M.20.52KD.20.53
Antecriste cam þanne . and al þe crop of treuþe .
Turned it vpso-doun . and ouer-tilte þe Roote
And fals springe and sprede . and spede mennus nedes
In .eche a countre þere he cam . he kutte a-way treuþeM.20.55: The text of a-way treuþe is damaged as a result of staining and/or erasure.
M.20.56KD.20.57
And gerte gile growe þere . as he a god were
Freres folwed þat fende . ...?...?...for he gaf hem copesM.20.57: Presumably the erasure is the anticipated b-verse of M.20.58. There are no variants at this point.
And religiouse reuerenced hym . and rongen hire belles
And al þe couent forþ cam . to welcome þat tyraunt
M.20.60KD.20.61
And alle hise as wel as hym . saue onelyche fooles
W..hiche foles were wel leuere . to deye þanne to lyue
Lengere . sith lenton . was so rebuked
And a fals feend antecrist . ouer alle folk regned .
M.20.64KD.20.65
And þat were mylde men and holy . þat no meschief dredden .
Deffieden alle falsnesse . and folke þat it vsed .
And what kyng þat hem conforted . knowynge hem any while
fol. 99vI
Thei cursed and hire counseille . were it clerk or lewede
M.20.68KD.20.69
Antecrist hadde þus soone . hundredes at his baner
And pride it bar . boldely aboute .
With a lord þat lyueth after . þeM.20.70: M's þe agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts omit the word. likynge of his body
That cam aȝein conscience . þat keper was and gyour
M.20.72KD.20.73
Ouer kynde Cristene . and cardynale vertues
I counseille quod conscienceM.20.73: M's conscience agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts follow the word with þo or ye. . comeþ with me foolesM.20.73: M's fooles agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read ye/you fooles.
In-to vnite hollyy churche . and holde we vs þere
And crye we to kynde . þat he come and defende vs
M.20.76KD.20.77
Fooles from þise feendes lymes . for Piers loue þe plowman
And crye we to al þe comune . þat þei come to vnite
And þere abyde and bykere a.yein . Beliales children
Kynde conscience þo herde . and com out of þe planetes
M.20.80KD.20.81
And sente forth his Forreours . feueres and fluxes
Koughes and cardiacles . crampes and tothaches
Rewmes and radegoundes . and roynouse scalles
Biles and bocches . and bren.nynge agues
M.20.84KD.20.85
Frensyes and foule .yueles . foragers of kynde
Hadde y-prikked and prayed . polles of þe p.eple
That largeliche a legion . loren hire lif aftersooneM.20.86: M's original reading after was not attested in other B manuscripts.
There was harrow and helpe . here comeþ kynde
M.20.88KD.20.89
With deth þat is dredful . to vndoon vs alle
The lord þat lyued aftur lust . tho aloud cryde
After confort a kniȝt . to come and bere his baner
Alarme alarme quod þat lord . .eche lif kepe his owne
M.20.92KD.20.93
And þanne mette þise men . hireorM.20.92: M's original reading hire, as in the next line, is paralleled by Cr's their. Other B manuscripts have er. This is a rare example of M moving away from a Cr reading, but the revising hand is crude and late. See also the note to M.20.101. mynstrales myȝte pipe
And hireorM.20.93: M's original reading hire is shared with Cot (also corrected) and paralleled by Cr's their. See note to previous line. Other B manuscripts have er. heraudes of armes . had descryued lord.es .
Elde þe hore he was . in þe vauntwarde
And bar þe baner bifore deþ . by riȝt he it cleymed .
M.20.96KD.20.97
Kynde cam after . with many kene soores
As pokkes and pestilences . and muche p.eple shente
So kynde þoruȝ corupciouns . kulled ful manye .
fol. 100rI
passus xxus
Deth cam dryuynge after . and al to dust passhed
M.20.100KD.20.101
Kynges and kaysers . knyghtesM.20.100: M's kaysers knyghtes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order. . and popes
Lered ne lewede . he neM.20.101: In erasing ne M again departs from a Cr reading. Cf. notes to M.20.92-93. leet no man stonde
That he hit euene . þat euere stoodM.20.102: M's stood agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have stired. aftur
Many a louely lady . and lemmans of knyghtes
M.20.104KD.20.105
Swoneden and sweltenM.20.104: M's swelten agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts have the past tense. . for sorwe of deþes dyntes
Conscience of his curtesye . to kynde he bisouȝte
To cesse and suffre . and se where þei wolde
Leue pride priuely . and be parfite cristene
M.20.108KD.20.109
And kynde cessed þo . to se þe p.eple amende
Fortune gan flateren þanne . þo fewe þat weren alyue
And by-highte hem longe lif . and leccherye he sente
Amonges alle manere men . wedded and vnwedded
M.20.112KD.20.113
. & gadred a grete hoost : al again conscience
This leccherye leide on . with a laughynge chiere
And with aM.20.114: Only MCr read a. pryue speche . and peintede wordus
And armed hym in ydelnesse . and in heighe berynge
M.20.116KD.20.117
He bar a bowe in his hand . and many blody arrwes
Weren fetherde wiþ faire biheste . and many a fals treuþe
Wiþ his vntydy tales . he tened ful ofte
Conscience and his compaignye . of holy churche þe techers
M.20.120KD.20.121
Thanne come coueitise . and caste how he miȝte
Ouercome conscience . and cardynale vertues
And armede hym in auarice . and hungriliche lyuede .
His wep..ene was al wyles . to wynnen and to hiden
M.20.124KD.20.125
With glosynges and with gabbynges . he giled þe p.eple .
Symonye him sente . to assaille conscience
And preched to þe p.eple . and prelates þei madenM.20.126: All B manuscripts except MCr read hem maden.
To holden with antecrist . hire temperaltees to sauen
M.20.128KD.20.129
And come to þe kynges conseill . as a kene baroun
And kneled to conscience . in court afore hem alle
And garte goode feithe flee . and fals to abide
And boldliche bar adoun . with many a bright noble
M.20.132KD.20.133
Muche of þe wit and wisdome . of westmuynstre halle
He iugged til a Iustice . and iusted in his ere
cor
fol. 100vI
M.20.134: The decoration to the left of the first letter resembles a paraph, but is presumably not intended as one.And ouertilte al his .......treuthe . with take þis vp amendement
And to þe arches in haste . he ȝyede anoon aft.er
M.20.136KD.20.137
And turned cyuyle in-to symonye . and sith he took þe officiale
# the mantell off Mynever
For a man.ytel of Menyuer . he made lele matrimoigne
Departen er deth cam . and diuorse shapte
Allas quod conscience þoM.20.139: M's þo agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have and cryde þo. . wolde crist of his grace
M.20.140KD.20.141
That coueityse were aM.20.140: Only MCr read a. cristene . þat is so kene fiȝtherM.20.140: M's reading of fiȝther agrees with G. All other B manuscripts read a fightere, except for RF which read to fiȝte.
And bolde and bidynge . while his bagge lasteþ .
And þanne loughe lif . and leet dagge hise cloþes .
And armed hym in haste . in harlotes wordes
M.20.144KD.20.145
And h.eld holynesse a iape . and heendnesse a wastour
And leet leautee a cherle . and lyer a freman
Conscience and counseille . he counted it a foly
Thus relyed lyf . for a litel fortune
M.20.148KD.20.149
And priked forth with pride . praised he no vertue
He careþ nouȝt how kynde slowe . and shal come at þe laste
And kulle alle erþely creaturesM.20.150: M's original reading creature agreed with YLR. All other B manuscripts attest the plural. . saue conscience oone .
Lyf l...eep a-side . and cauȝteM.20.151: M shares the reading cauȝte with Cr1; other B manuscripts have lauȝte. hym a lemman .
M.20.152KD.20.153
Hele and I quod he . and heynesse of herte
Shal do þe nouȝt drede . neyther deþ ne elde
And tor forȝete deþM.20.154: M shares the reading deþ only with Cr1. Other B manuscripts read sorwe. . and ...yeue nouȝt of synne
This liked lif . and his lemman fortune
M.20.156KD.20.157
And geten in hire glorie . a gadlynge at þe ..laste
Oon þat muche wo wrouȝte . slewþe was his name
Slewþe wexe ...?...wounndurM.20.158: The correction was orginally written woundur and has been corrected a second time. ȝyerne . and soone was of age
And wedded on wanhope . a wenche of þe stewes .
M.20.160KD.20.161
Hire sire was a Sisour / þat neuere swor treuþe
# Tom twotonge
Oon thomme twotonge . atteinte ofM.20.161: M shares the reading of with Cr1; other B manuscripts have at; F reads in. .eche a queste .
This sleuþe was war of werre . and a slynge made
mordonM.20.163: See Introduction, I.11 "Provenance."
And þrewe drede of despair . a dozeyne myle a-boute
M.20.164KD.20.165
For care conscience þo . cryed vpon elde
And bade hym fonde to fiȝte . and afere wanhope .
And ....elde hente gode hope . and hastliche he shifte hym .
fol. 101rI
passus xxus
And wayued a-way wannehope . and with lif he fiȝteth
M.20.168KD.20.169
And lif fleighe for feere . to phisyke aftur helpe
And bysouȝte hym of his socour . and of his salue hadde .
And gaf hym gold good woon . þat gladed his herte
And þei geuen hym agayn . a glasen howue
M.20.172KD.20.173
Lyf leued þat lechecrafte . lette shuolde elde
# contra phisicos
And dryuen awey deth . with Dyas and dragges 
And elde auntered hym on lyf . and at þe laste he huytte
A phisicien with a furred hood . þat he fel in þeM.20.175: M's original reading was shared by O. M's addition of þe brings it into agreement with CrYC2CB. Others have a. pallesye
M.20.176KD.20.177
And þere deied þat doctour . er three daies after
Now I see saide lif . þat surgienrye ne phisike
May nouȝt a myte auaille . to medle aȝyein elde
And in hope of his hele . good herte he hente
M.20.180KD.20.181
And rood so to Reuel . a ryche place and a murye
The compaignye of confort . men cleped it suom-tyme
And elde ananoon after me . and ouer myn hed ȝyede
And made me balled by-fore . and bare on þe crouvne
M.20.184KD.20.185
So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed . it wol be seene euere
Sire .yuele y-tauȝt Elde quod I . vnhiende go wiþ þe
Siþ whanne was þe weye . ouer menn.es hedes
X
Haddest þow ben hende quod I . þow woldest haue asked leue
M.20.188KD.20.189
ȜeYe leue lordeyn quod he . and layde on me with age
And huytte me vnder þe .eere . vnnethe may ich heere
He buffeted me a-boute þe mouthe . and beet out my ....eteth
And gyued me in goutes . I may not goo at large
M.20.192KD.20.193
And of þe wo þat I was ynne . .my wyf hadde reuthe
And whisshede ful wityt.erly . þat I were in heuene
For þe lyme þat she loued me fore . and leef was to feele
On nyȝtes namely . whan we naked were
M.20.196KD.20.197
I ne myȝte in no manere . maken it at hire wille
So Elde and she soþly . hadden it forbeten ..M.20.197: M's original reading was probably close to that of Cr, which has had beaten it. The alteration brings M into agreement with most B manuscripts.
And as I sat in þis sorwe . I seighe kynde passed
And deþ drouȝe neere me . for drede gan I quake
M.20.200KD.20.201
And cryde to k.ynde . out of care me brynge
Loo Elde þe hoore . haþ me by-seye .
A-wreke me if ȝyowre wille be . for I wolde ben henn..es
fol. 101vI
If þow wolte been y-wroken . weende in-to vnitee
M.20.204KD.20.205
And holde þe þere euere / til I seende for þe
And loke þow konne somme crafte . er þow come þennes .
Counseille me kynde quod I . what crafte is beste to lerne
Lerne to loue quod kynde . and leue of alle oþur
M.20.208KD.20.209
How shal .I. come to catel so . to cloþe me and toM.20.208: The erasure of to brings M into agreement with HmGF. fede .
And þow loue lelly quod he . lakke shal þe neuere
Mete ne worldly wede . whil þi lif lasteth .
And þere by conseille of kynde . I comsed to rome
M.20.212KD.20.213
Thoruȝ contricioun and confessioun . til I come to vnite .
And þere was conscience Conestable . cristene to saue
And biseged soþly with seuen grete gyauntes
That with Antecrist helden . harde aȝyein conscience
M.20.216KD.20.217
Slewþe wasM.20.216: M's was agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wiþ. his slynge . and anM.20.216: M's original reading of and without an agreed with Cr1,3YCBoR. The other B manuscripts read an but no others have and an. harde assaut made
Proude preestes come with hym . mo þan a þousand
In paltokes and piked shoes . and pissers longe knyues
Comen aȝyein conscience . with coueityse þei h.elden
# the prest off Irlond
M.20.220KD.20.221
By marie quod a mansed preest . of þe marche of Irlond
I counte namore conscience . by so I cacche siluer
Thanne I do to drynke . a draughte of gode ale .
And so saiden sixty . of þe same countre
M.20.224KD.20.225
And shoten aȝyein with sho..et . many a shef of othes
And broode hoked arwes . godes herte and his nailes
And haddene almoost vnyte . and holynesse a-downe
Conscience cryed helpe clergye . orellesor elles I falle
M.20.228KD.20.229
Thoruȝ inparfite preestes . and prelates of holy churche
bene vales consciencia
Freres herden hym crye . and comen hym to helpen
Ac for þei koude nouȝt wel hire crafte . conscience forsook hem .
Nede neighed þo neer . and conscience he toolde
M.20.232KD.20.233
That þey come for coueityse . to haue cure of soules
fol. 102rI
passus xxus
And for þei arn pouere parauenture . for patrimoigne hem failledM.20.233: M alone among B manuscripts attests the past tense of the verb. Other B manuscripts attest the present.
#
TheiM.20.234: M's Thei agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have They wol. flatere to fare wel . folk þat ben riche
And sithe þei chosen chele . and cheitif pouerte .
M.20.236KD.20.237
Lat hem chewe as þei chosen . and charge hem with no cure .
     .id est. sepiusM.20.237: This gloss on lomer also appears in L.
For lomer he lyeþ . þat liflode moot begge
#
Thanne he þat laboureþ for liflode . and leueþ it beggers
And sith Freres forsooke . þe felicitee of þeM.20.239: M's original reading þe was also attested in CrG. erþe .
M.20.240KD.20.241
Lat hem be as beggers . or lyue by angeles foode .
Conscience of þis conseille þo . comsed to laughe
And curteislich conforted hem . and called in alle Freres .
And saide sires soþly . welcome be ȝye alle
M.20.244KD.20.245
To vnite and holychurche . ac oþingeo þinge I ȝyow praie
Holdeþ ȝyow in vnite . and haueþ noon enuye
To lered ne to lewed . but lyueth aftur ȝyoure rule
And I wol be ȝyowre borwe . ȝye shul haue breed .. & clothes
M.20.248KD.20.249
And oþere necessaries y-nowe . ȝyow shal no þinge faille
With þat ȝye leue logyke . and l.erneþ toM.20.249: M's to agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have for to. lo...uye
For loue lafteM.20.250: It is possible that lafte has been altered from loste, the reading of CrBmCot. þei lordshipe . boþe lond and scole
Frere Fraunceys . and Domynyk . for loue to ben holy
M.20.252KD.20.253
And if ȝye coueiteþ cure . kynde wil ȝyow teche
That in mesure god made . alle manere þinges
And sette it at a certein . and at a siker nombre
And nempned names newe . and nombred þe sterres
M.20.256KD.20.256α
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum . & omnibus eis & cetera .
Kynges and knyghtes . þat kepen and defenden
Han officers vnder hem . and .ech of hem aM.20.258: M's original reading without a was shared by CrGYC2CLR. certeyn
And if þei wage men to werre . þei wryte hem in nombre
M.20.260KD.20.260
WolOr þei wilM.20.260: M's revised reading Or þei wil is shared only with Cr. Most B manuscripts have Wol, which was M's original reading, but F has Ellys will and B has And þerfore wollen. no tresour hem paye . trauaille þei neuere so soore
Alle oþur in bataille . ben holden bribours
Pilours and pikehernois . in eche a place a-cursed
Monkes and monyales . and alle men of Religioun
M.20.264KD.20.265
Hire ordre and hire rule woldeM.20.264: M's wolde agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wole or wel. . to han a certein nombre
Of lered and of lewed . þe lawe wol and axeth .
A certein for a certein . saue oonly of freres .
For-þi quod conscience by crist . kynde wit me telleþ .
fol. 102vI
M.20.268KD.20.269
It is wikked to wage ȝyow . ȝye wexe out of nombre
Heuene haþ euene nombre . and helle is with-oute nombre
For-þi I wolde wittuerly . þat ȝye were in þeM.20.270: The erasure of þe brings M into agreement with O and most C manuscripts. RegistresM.20.270: M's original plural agreed with Cr.
And ȝyowre nombre vndur notaries signe . and neither mo ne lasse
M.20.272KD.20.273
Enuye herde þis and badM.20.272: The addition of bad brings M into agreement with Cr. Most other B manuscripts read heet. . Freres go to scole
And l.erne logyke and lawe . and eke contemplacioun
And preche men of plato . and proue it by Seneca
That alle þinges vndur heuene . ouȝten to ben in comune
M.20.276KD.20.277
And ȝyet he lieþ as I leue . þat to þe lewed so precheþ .
For god made menM.20.277: M's men agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have to men. / a lawe / . and Moyses it tauȝte
Non concupisces rem proximi tui .
#
And .yuele is þis y-holde . in parisshes of Inglonde
M.20.280KD.20.281
For persones and parissh preestes . þat shulde þe p.eple shriue
Ben curatours called . to knowe and to hele
Alle þat ben hire parisshenes . penaunce to enioigne
And sholden ben ashamed in hire shrifte . ac shame makeþ hem wende
M.20.284KD.20.285
And fleen to þe Freres . as fals folk to westmuynstre
Þat borweþ and bereþ þider . and þanne biddeþ freendes
ȜYerne of forȝyeuenesse . or lenger ȝyeres loone
Ac whil he is in westmuynstre . he wol be bifore
M.20.288KD.20.289
And maken hym merie . with oþur mennues goodes
And so it fareþ with muche folke . þat to þe Freres shryueþ
As sisours and Executours . þei wol ȝyeue þe Freres
A parcel to pray for hem . and make hem-selue murye
M.20.292KD.20.292.1
With þe residue and þe rem.enaunt . þat oþer men byswonke
And suffre þe dede in dette . to þe day of dome .
Enuye herfore . hated conscience .
And Freres to philosophye . he fonde hem to scole
X
M.20.296KD.20.296
The while coueitise and vnkyndnesse . conscience assailled
In vnite holy churche . conscience helde hym
And made pees porter . to pynne þe ȝyates
Of alle tale-tellers . and titerers in ydel
M.20.300KD.20.300
Ypocrysye and he . an hard assaut þei made
.Ypocrisye at þe ȝyate . harde gan to fighte
And wounded wel wikkedly . many wise techeres
fol. 103rI
passus xxus
That with conscience acorded . and cardynale vertues
M.20.304KD.20.304
Conscience called a leche . þat koude wel shryue
GToM.20.305: M's original reading Go agreed with HmCrYOLR; the altered reading agrees with C2CBF; W's To go attests both readings. salue þo þat seke ben . andM.20.305: M's original reading without and agreed with GYOC2CBL. þoruȝ synne y-wounded
Shrifte shoop sharpe salue . and made men do penaunce
For hire misdedes . þat þei wrouȝte hadden
M.20.308KD.20.308
And þat Piers were paied . Redde quod debes
Somme liked nouȝt þis leche . and lettres þei senten
If any surgyen wh..ere þe segge . þat softer coude plastre
# syr leff to live in lecherye
Sire lief to lyue in leccherie . lay þere and groned
M.20.312KD.20.312
For fastynge of a Fryday . he ferde as he wolde deye
There is a surgien in þis .....segge .M.20.313: In place of M's altered reading segge ("man"), all other B manuscripts except Hm have sege ("place"). Confusion was perhaps prompted by M.20.310 above. þat softe kan handle
And more of phisik he canM.20.314: M's he can agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have be fer. F has he can be feer. . & fairer he plastereþ
nota
Oon Frere flaterer . is phisicien and surgien
M.20.316KD.20.316
Quod contricion to conscience . do hym come to vnite
For here is many a man . hurte þoruȝ ypocrisie .
We haue no nede quod conscience . I woot no bettre leche
Thanne person or parissh preest . penitauncer or bisshop
.id est. papa
M.20.320KD.20.320
Saue Piers þe plowman . þat haþ power ouer hem alle
And indulgence .......may do . but if dette lette it
I may wel suffre saide conscience . syn ȝye desiren
That Frere flaterere be fet . and phisike ȝyow syke
M.20.324KD.20.324
The Frere hereof herde . and hiede ful faste
To a lord for a lettre . leue to haue to curen
As a curatour he were . and cam with hise lettres .
Baldly to þe Bisshop . and his brief hadde
M.20.328KD.20.328
In countrees þere he come iiynneM.20.328: The first two minims have been corrected by converting them to a <y>. See Introduction III.1. . confessiouns to here
And cam þere conscience was . and knokked at þe ȝyate
Pees vnpynned it . was porter of vnite
And in haste asked . what is wille were
M.20.332KD.20.332
I faith quod þis Frere . for profit and for helthe
Carpe I wolde with contricioun . and þerfore I come .I.M.20.333: M's original word order agreed with C2Cr. hider
fol. 103vI
He is seek saide pees . and so is many a-noþerM.20.334: M's is many a-noþer agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have are manye oþer.
Ipocrysie haþ hurte hym . ful harde is if he coeuere
M.20.336KD.20.336
I am a surgien seyde þe segge . and salues can make
Conscience knoweþ me wel . and what I kan do boþe
I pray þe quod pees þo . er þow passe ferther
What h......ightest /M.20.339: M's altered reading hightest is shared only with Cr. Other B manuscripts have hattest. þow I pray þe . hele nouȝt þiny name
M.20.340KD.20.340
Cert..es seide his felawe . sire Penetrans domos
ȜeYe go þi gate quod pees . by god for al þi phisik
But þow konne somme crafte . þow comest not here-inne
I knewe such oon ones . nouȝt eighte wyntreer passed
M.20.344KD.20.344
Come in þus ycoped . at a courte where I dwelled
And was my lordes leche . and my ladyes boþe
And at þe laste þis lymitour . þo my lord was oute
He salued so oure wymmen . til some weren with childe
M.20.348KD.20.348
Heende speche heet pees . opene þe ȝyates
Lat in þe frere and his felawe . and make hem faire chere
He may see and here . so it may bifalle
That lif þoruȝ his loore . shal leue coueityse
M.20.352KD.20.352
And be ...?...adrad of deth . and withdrawe hym from pride
And acorde with conscience . and kisse hire either other
Thus þoruȝ heende speche . entred þe frere .
And come in to conscience . and curtey...?... him gretsely hym grete
M.20.356KD.20.356
Thow art welcome quod conscience . kanstthowkanst thow hele þe seke
Here is contricioun quod conscience . my cosyn y-wounded
Conforte hym quod conscience . and take keep to his soores
The plastres of þe person . and poudres biten to soore .
M.20.360KD.20.360
He let hem ligge ouer-longe . and loth is to chaungen hem .
From lentounenn to lentounennM.20.361: In both instances, the second vowel lentoun has been altered from <o> to <e>. . he let his plastres biten .
That is ouer-longe quod þis lymytour . I leue I shal amenden it
And gooth and gropeþ contricioun . and gaf hym a plastre
M.20.364KD.20.364
Of a pryuie paiement . and I shal praye for ȝyow
fol. 104rI
passus xxus
For alle þat ȝye ben holden to . alle my lif-tyme
And make ȝyow my lady . in massesM.20.366: M's masses agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have the singular. and in matyns
As freres of oure fraternite . for a litel siluer
M.20.368KD.20.368
Thus he gooth and gadereþ . and gloseþ þere he shryueþ
Til contricioun hadde clene forȝyeten . to crye and to wepe
And wake for hise werkesM.20.370: M's werkes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wikked werkes. . as he was wont to doone
For conforte of his confessour . contricioun he loste
M.20.372KD.20.372
That is þe souereigneste salue . for alle kynne synnes
Sleuwthe seighe þat . and so d.ide pryde
And come with a kene wille . conscience to assaille
Conscience cryede efte . and bad clergye helpe hym
M.20.376KD.20.376
And also contricioun . for to kepe þe ȝate .
He lyth and dremeþ . saide pees  and so do many oþere
The Frere with his phisik . þis folk haþ en-chaunted
And plastred hem so esely . þei drede no synne .
M.20.380KD.20.380
By crist quod conscience þo . I wol bycome a pilgryme
And walken as wide . as al þe world lasteth
To seke piers þe plowman . þat p...ryde may destruye
And þat freres hade a fyndynge . þat for nede flateren
M.20.384KD.20.384
And contrepledeth me conscience . now kynde me auenge
And sende me hap and hele  til I haue piers þe plowman
And sith he gradde after grace . til I gan a-wake
Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman M.20.386: This form of explicit occurs also in B manuscripts CC2GLOWY.
Penna precor siste  quoniam liber explicit iste M.20.386: The Colophons de manuscrits occidentaux des origines au XVIe siècle (Fribourg, 1965-) lists four other manuscripts, two in Britain, two on the continent, that include this explicit.
Explicit iste liber . qui obsecro transeat liberM.20.386: The third explicit, in a different hand, is also found as the first line of the explicit to Gower's Confessio Amantis, as was pointed out to us by George Shuffleton. See Siân Echard, "Last Words: Latin at the End of the Confessio Amantis" in Interstices: Studies in Middle English and Anglo-Latin Texts in Honour of A. G. Rigg, ed. Richard Firth Green and Linne R. Mooney (Toronto, 2004) pp. 99-121. This includes an appendix listing the witnesses to the explicit. It is likely that the scribe of this third explicit in M took the line from a Gower manuscript, and therefore that he had London connections.
MED