M.20 – PPEA

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.

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M.20.1KD.20.1THanne as I wente by þe wey . whan I was þus awaked
                  
M.20.2KD.20.2Heuy chered I ȝyede . and elenge in herte
                  
M.20.3KD.20.3I ne wiste where to ete . ne at what place
M.20.4KD.20.4And it neiȝed neiȝe þe noon . and with nede I mette . 
M.20.5KD.20.5That afrounted me foule . and faitour me called
M.20.6KD.20.6Kanstow nouȝt excuse the . as dede þe kynge and oþere
                  
M.20.7KD.20.7That 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.20.8As by techinge and by tellynge . of spiritus temperancie .
M.20.9KD.20.9And þow nome nomoreno more . þanne — nede þe tauȝte
                  
M.20.10KD.20.10And nede haþ no lawe . ne neuere shal falle in dette
M.20.11KD.20.11For þre þinges he takeþ . his lif for to saue
M.20.12KD.20.12That is mete whanne men hym werneth . and he no moneye weldeþ . 
M.20.13KD.20.13Ne wight noon wol ben his borwe . ne wedde — haþ non to legge
                  
M.20.14KD.20.14And 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.
M.20.15KD.20.15He synneþ nouȝt sothely . þat so wynneþ his fode
M.20.16KD.20.16And 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 . 
                  
M.20.17KD.20.17Nede a-noon riȝt . nymeþ him vnder maymprise
                  
M.20.18KD.20.18And if hym lust for to lape . þe lawe of kynde wolde
M.20.19KD.20.19That 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.20.20So nede at grete nede . may nymen as for his owene
M.20.21KD.20.21With-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
                  
M.20.22KD.20.22So þat he suwe and saue . Spiritus temperancie

M.20.23KD.20.23For is no vertue by fer . to Spiritus temperancie
M.20.24KD.20.24Neyther Spiritus iusticie . ne Spiritus fortitudinis
M.20.25KD.20.25For Spiritus fortitudinis . forfeteþ ful ofte
                  
M.20.26KD.20.26He shal do more þan mesure . many tyme and ofte
M.20.27KD.20.27And bete men ouer bittre . and somme of hem to lytul
                  
M.20.28KD.20.28And greueth men gretter . þanne — go.od faith it wolde
                  

M.20.29KD.20.29And Spiritus iusticie . shal iuggen wol he nel he . 
                  
fol. 99rI
passus xxus
M.20.30KD.20.30After þe kynges conseille . and þe Comune like
M.20.31KD.20.31And Spiritus prudencie . in many a point shal faille
                  
M.20.32KD.20.32Of þat he weneþ wolde falle . if his wit ne were
M.20.33KD.20.33Wenynge is no wysdome . ne wyses ymagynacioun
M.20.34KD.20.33α-34Homo proponit deus disponit  . and gouerneþ alle goode vertues
                  
M.20.35KD.20.35Ac 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.20.36And as lowe as a lombe . for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ
                  
M.20.37KD.20.38Wise men forsooke wele . for þei wolde be nedy . 
M.20.38KD.20.39And woneden in wildernesse . and wolden not be ryche

M.20.39KD.20.40And god al his grete ioye . goostly he lefte
M.20.40KD.20.41And cam and took mankynde . and bycome nedy
                  
M.20.41KD.20.42So nedy he was as seith þe book . in many sondry places . 
M.20.42KD.20.43That he saide in his sorwe . on þe selue Roode
M.20.43KD.20.44Boþe 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.20.45And þe Fissh haþ fynne . to flete with to reste
M.20.45KD.20.46There nede haþ ynome me . þat I moot nede abide
                  
M.20.46KD.20.47And suffre sorwes ful soure . þat shul to ioy tourne
M.20.47KD.20.48For-þi be nouȝt abasshed . to byde and to be nedy
                  
M.20.48KD.20.49Sith he þat wrouȝte al þe world . was willefulliche nedy . 
M.20.49KD.20.50Ne neuere noon so nedy . ne porere deyde . 
                  

M.20.50KD.20.51Whanne nede hadde vndurnome meM.20.50: M's original reading without me agreed with OR. þus . a-noon I fell on slepe
                  
M.20.51KD.20.52And 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.20.53Antecriste cam þanne . and al þe crop of treuþe . 
                  
M.20.53KD.20.54Turned it vpso-doun . and ouer-tilte þe Roote
                  
M.20.54KD.20.55And fals springe and sprede . and spede mennus nedes
                  
M.20.55KD.20.56In .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.20.57And gerte gile growe þere . as he a god were
M.20.57KD.20.58Freres 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.
M.20.58KD.20.59And religiouse reuerenced hym . and rongen hire belles
                  
M.20.59KD.20.60And al þe couent forþ cam . to welcome þat tyraunt
M.20.60KD.20.61And alle hise as wel as hym . saue onelyche fooles
M.20.61KD.20.62W..hiche foles were wel leuere . to deye þanne — to lyue
                  
M.20.62KD.20.63Lengere . sith lenton . was so rebuked
M.20.63KD.20.64And a fals feend antecrist . ouer alle folk regned . 
M.20.64KD.20.65And þat were mylde men and holy . þat no meschief dredden . 
M.20.65KD.20.66Deffieden alle falsnesse . and folke þat it vsed . 
                  
M.20.66KD.20.67And what kyng þat hem conforted . knowynge hem any while
fol. 99vI
M.20.67KD.20.68Thei cursed and hire counseille . were it clerk or lewede

M.20.68KD.20.69Antecrist hadde þus soone . hundredes at his baner
M.20.69KD.20.70And pride it bar . boldely aboute . 
M.20.70KD.20.71With a lord þat lyueth after . þeM.20.70: M's þe agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts omit the word. likynge of his body
                  
M.20.71KD.20.72That cam aȝein conscience . þat keper was and gyour
M.20.72KD.20.73Ouer kynde Cristene . and cardynale vertues

M.20.73KD.20.74I 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.
M.20.74KD.20.75In-to vnite hollyy churche . and holde we vs þere
                  
M.20.75KD.20.76And crye we to kynde . þat he come and defende vs
M.20.76KD.20.77Fooles from þise feendes lymes . for Piers loue þe plowman
M.20.77KD.20.78And crye we to al þe comune . þat þei come to vnite
M.20.78KD.20.79And þere abyde and bykere a.yein . Beliales children
                  

M.20.79KD.20.80Kynde conscience þo herde . and com out of þe planetes
M.20.80KD.20.81And sente forth his Forreours . feueres and fluxes
M.20.81KD.20.82Koughes and cardiacles . crampes and tothaches
M.20.82KD.20.83Rewmes and radegoundes . and roynouse scalles
M.20.83KD.20.84Biles and bocches . and bren.nynge agues
                  
M.20.84KD.20.85Frensyes and foule .yueles . foragers of kynde
                  
M.20.85KD.20.86Hadde y-prikked and prayed . polles of þe p.eple
                  
M.20.86KD.20.87That 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

M.20.89KD.20.90The lord þat lyued aftur lust . tho aloud cryde
M.20.90KD.20.91After confort a kniȝt . to come and bere his baner
M.20.91KD.20.92Alarme 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 .

M.20.94KD.20.95Elde þe hore he was . in þe vauntwarde
M.20.95KD.20.96And bar þe baner bifore deþ . by riȝt he it cleymed . 
M.20.96KD.20.97Kynde cam after . with many kene soores
M.20.97KD.20.98As pokkes and pestilences . and muche p.eple shente
                  
M.20.98KD.20.99So kynde þoruȝ corupciouns . kulled ful manye . 
fol. 100rI
passus xxus
M.20.99KD.20.100Deth cam dryuynge after . and al to dust passhed
M.20.100KD.20.101Kynges and kaysers . knyghtesM.20.100: M's kaysers knyghtes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order. . and popes
                  
M.20.101KD.20.102Lered ne lewede . he ne —M.20.101: In erasing ne M again departs from a Cr reading. Cf. notes to M.20.92-93. leet no man stonde
                  
M.20.102KD.20.103That he hit euene . þat euere stoodM.20.102: M's stood agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have stired. aftur
                  
M.20.103KD.20.104Many a louely lady . and lemmans of knyghtes
M.20.104KD.20.105Swoneden and sweltenM.20.104: M's swelten agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts have the past tense. . for sorwe of deþes dyntes
                  

M.20.105KD.20.106Conscience of his curtesye . to kynde he bisouȝte
M.20.106KD.20.107To cesse and suffre . and se where þei wolde
M.20.107KD.20.108Leue pride priuely . and be parfite cristene
                  

M.20.108KD.20.109And kynde cessed þo . to se þe p.eple amende
                  
M.20.109KD.20.110Fortune gan flateren þanne . þo fewe þat weren alyue
M.20.110KD.20.111And by-highte hem longe lif . and leccherye he sente
                  
M.20.111KD.20.112Amonges alle manere men . wedded and vnwedded
M.20.112KD.20.113. &  gadred a grete hoost : al again conscience
                  

M.20.113KD.20.114This leccherye leide on . with a laughynge chiere
M.20.114KD.20.115And with aM.20.114: Only MCr read a. pryue speche . and peintede wordus
                  
M.20.115KD.20.116And armed hym in ydelnesse . and in heighe berynge
M.20.116KD.20.117He bar a bowe in his hand . and many blody arrwes
                  
M.20.117KD.20.118Weren fetherde wiþ faire biheste . and many a fals treuþe
                  
M.20.118KD.20.119Wiþ his vntydy tales . he tened ful ofte
M.20.119KD.20.120Conscience and his compaignye . of holy churche þe techers

M.20.120KD.20.121Thanne come coueitise . and caste how he miȝte
                  
M.20.121KD.20.122Ouercome conscience . and cardynale vertues
M.20.122KD.20.123And armede hym in auarice . and hungriliche lyuede . 
M.20.123KD.20.124His wep..ene was al wyles . to wynnen and to hiden
                  
M.20.124KD.20.125With glosynges and with gabbynges . he giled þe p.eple . 
                  
M.20.125KD.20.126Symonye him sente . to assaille conscience
M.20.126KD.20.127And preched to þe p.eple . and prelates þei madenM.20.126: All B manuscripts except MCr read hem maden.
M.20.127KD.20.128To holden with antecrist . hire temperaltees to sauen
                  
M.20.128KD.20.129And come to þe kynges conseill . as a kene baroun
                  
M.20.129KD.20.130And kneled to conscience . in court afore hem alle
M.20.130KD.20.131And garte goode feithe flee . and fals to abide
                  
M.20.131KD.20.132And boldliche bar adoun . with many a bright noble
M.20.132KD.20.133Muche of þe wit and wisdome . of westmuynstre halle
                  
M.20.133KD.20.134He iugged til a Iustice . and iusted in his ere
cor
fol. 100vI
M.20.134KD.20.135M.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
                  
M.20.135KD.20.136And to þe arches in haste . he ȝyede anoon aft.er
M.20.136KD.20.137And turned cyuyle in-to symonye . and sith he took þe officiale
# the mantell off Mynever
M.20.137KD.20.138For a man.ytel of Menyuer . he made lele matrimoigne
                  
M.20.138KD.20.139Departen er deth cam . and diuorse shapte
                  

M.20.139KD.20.140Allas 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.20.141That 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.
M.20.141KD.20.142And bolde and bidynge . while his bagge lasteþ . 
                  

M.20.142KD.20.143And þanne loughe lif . and leet dagge hise cloþes . 
                  
M.20.143KD.20.144And armed hym in haste . in harlotes wordes
M.20.144KD.20.145And h.eld holynesse a iape . and heendnesse a wastour
                  
M.20.145KD.20.146And leet leautee a cherle . and lyer a freman
M.20.146KD.20.147Conscience and counseille . he counted it a foly
                  

M.20.147KD.20.148Thus relyed lyf . for a litel fortune
M.20.148KD.20.149And priked forth with pride . praised he no vertue
M.20.149KD.20.150He careþ nouȝt how kynde slowe . and shal come at þe laste
                  
M.20.150KD.20.151And kulle alle erþely creaturesM.20.150: M's original reading creature agreed with YLR. All other B manuscripts attest the plural. . saue conscience oone . 
                  
M.20.151KD.20.152Lyf 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.20.153Hele and I quod he . and heynesse of herte
M.20.153KD.20.154Shal do þe nouȝt drede . neyther deþ ne elde
                  
M.20.154KD.20.155And tor forȝete deþM.20.154: M shares the reading deþ only with Cr1. Other B manuscripts read sorwe. . and ...yeue nouȝt of synne
                  

M.20.155KD.20.156This liked lif . and his lemman fortune
M.20.156KD.20.157And geten in hire glorie . a gadlynge at þe ..laste
                  
M.20.157KD.20.158Oon þat muche wo wrouȝte . slewþe was his name
M.20.158KD.20.159Slewþe wexe ...?...wounn—durM.20.158: The correction was orginally written woundur and has been corrected a second time. ȝyerne . and soone was of age
                  
M.20.159KD.20.160And wedded on wanhope . a wenche of þe stewes . 
M.20.160KD.20.161Hire sire was a Sisour / þat neuere swor treuþe
# Tom twotonge
M.20.161KD.20.162Oon 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 .

M.20.166KD.20.167And ....elde hente gode hope . and hastliche he shifte hym . 
                  
fol. 101rI
passus xxus
M.20.167KD.20.168And wayued a-way wanne—hope . and with lif he fiȝteth
                  
M.20.168KD.20.169And lif fleighe for feere . to phisyke aftur helpe
                  
M.20.169KD.20.170And bysouȝte hym of his socour . and of his salue hadde . 
M.20.170KD.20.171And gaf hym gold good woon . þat gladed his herte
M.20.171KD.20.172And þei geuen hym agayn . a glasen howue
M.20.172KD.20.173Lyf leued þat lechecrafte . lette shuolde elde
                  
# contra phisicos
M.20.173KD.20.174And dryuen awey deth . with Dyas and dragges 
                  
M.20.174KD.20.175And elde auntered hym on lyf . and at þe laste he huytte
                  
M.20.175KD.20.176A 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.20.177And þere deied þat doctour . er three daies after
M.20.177KD.20.178Now I see saide lif . þat surgienrye ne phisike
M.20.178KD.20.179May nouȝt a myte auaille . to medle aȝyein elde
                  
M.20.179KD.20.180And in hope of his hele . good herte he hente
M.20.180KD.20.181And rood so to Reuel . a ryche place and a murye
M.20.181KD.20.182The compaignye of confort . men cleped it suom-tyme
                  
M.20.182KD.20.183And elde ananoon after me . and ouer myn hed ȝyede
                  
M.20.183KD.20.184And made me balled by-fore . and bare on þe crouvne
                  
M.20.184KD.20.185So 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

Haddest þow ben hende quod I . þow woldest haue asked leue

M.20.188KD.20.189ȜeYe leue lordeyn quod he . and layde on me with age
                  
M.20.189KD.20.190And huytte me vnder þe .eere . vnnethe may ich heere
                  
M.20.190KD.20.191He buffeted me a-boute þe mouthe . and beet out my ....eteth
M.20.191KD.20.192And gyued me in goutes . I may not goo at large
M.20.192KD.20.193And of þe wo þat I was ynne . .my wyf hadde reuthe
                  
M.20.193KD.20.194And whisshede ful wityt.erly . þat I were in heuene
                  
M.20.194KD.20.195For þe lyme þat she loued me fore . and leef was to feele
M.20.195KD.20.196On nyȝtes namely . whan we naked were
M.20.196KD.20.197I ne myȝte in no manere . maken it at hire wille
M.20.197KD.20.198So 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.

M.20.198KD.20.199And as I sat in þis sorwe . I seighe kynde passed
                  
M.20.199KD.20.200And deþ drouȝe neere me . for drede gan I quake
                  
M.20.200KD.20.201And cryde to k.ynde . out of care me brynge
                  
M.20.201KD.20.202Loo Elde þe hoore . haþ me by-seiȝye . 
                  
M.20.202KD.20.203A-wreke me if ȝyowre wille be . for I wolde ben henn..es
fol. 101vI
M.20.203KD.20.204If þow wolte been y-wroken . weende in-to vnitee
                  
M.20.204KD.20.205And holde þe þere euere / til I seende for þe
M.20.205KD.20.206And 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 to —M.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 .

M.20.211KD.20.212And þere by conseille of kynde . I comsed to rome
                  
M.20.212KD.20.213Thoruȝ contricioun and confessioun . til I come to vnite . 
                  
M.20.213KD.20.214And þere was conscience Conestable . cristene to saue
M.20.214KD.20.215And biseged soþly with seuen grete gyauntes
                  
M.20.215KD.20.216That with Antecrist helden . harde aȝyein conscience

M.20.216KD.20.217Slewþe 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
                  
M.20.217KD.20.218Proude preestes come with hym . mo þan a þousand
M.20.218KD.20.219In paltokes and piked shoes . and pissers longe knyues
M.20.219KD.20.220Comen aȝyein conscience . with coueityse þei h.elden
                  

# the prest off Irlond
M.20.220KD.20.221By marie quod a mansed preest . of þe marche of Irlond
M.20.221KD.20.222I counte namore conscience . by so I cacche siluer
M.20.222KD.20.223Thanne — I do to drynke . a draughte of gode ale . 
                  
M.20.223KD.20.224And so saiden sixty . of þe same countre
M.20.224KD.20.225And shoten aȝyein with sho..et . many a shef of othes
                  
M.20.225KD.20.226And broode hoked arwes . godes herte and his nailes
M.20.226KD.20.227And 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 .

M.20.241KD.20.242Conscience of þis conseille þo . comsed to laughe
M.20.242KD.20.243And curteislich conforted hem . and called in alle Freres . 
M.20.243KD.20.244And saide sires soþly . welcome be ȝye alle
                  
M.20.244KD.20.245To vnite and holychurche . ac oþingeo þinge I ȝyow praie
                  
M.20.245KD.20.246Holdeþ ȝyow in vnite . and haueþ noon enuye
                  
M.20.246KD.20.247To lered ne to lewed . but lyueth aftur ȝyoure rule
                  
M.20.247KD.20.248And I wol be ȝyowre borwe . ȝye shul haue breed .. &  clothes
                  
M.20.248KD.20.249And oþere necessaries y-nowe . ȝyow shal no þinge faille
                  
M.20.249KD.20.250With þat ȝye leue logyke . and l.erneþ toM.20.249: M's to agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have for to. lo...uye
M.20.250KD.20.251For loue lafteM.20.250: It is possible that lafte has been altered from loste, the reading of CrBmCot. þei lordshipe . boþe lond and scole
                  
M.20.251KD.20.252Frere Fraunceys . and Domynyk . for loue to ben holy

M.20.252KD.20.253And if ȝye coueiteþ cure . kynde wil ȝyow teche
                  
M.20.253KD.20.254That in mesure god made . alle manere þinges
                  
M.20.254KD.20.255And sette it at a certein . and at a siker nombre
M.20.255KD.20.256And nempned names newe . and nombred þe sterres
M.20.256KD.20.256αQui numerat multitudinem stellarum . & omnibus eis & cetera .

M.20.257KD.20.257Kynges and knyghtes . þat kepen and defenden
M.20.258KD.20.258Han officers vnder hem . and .ech of hem aM.20.258: M's original reading without a was shared by CrGYC2CLR. certeyn
                  
M.20.259KD.20.259And if þei wage men to werre . þei wryte hem in nombre
M.20.260KD.20.260WolOr 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
                  
M.20.261KD.20.262Alle oþur in bataille . ben holden bribours
M.20.262KD.20.263Pilours and pikehernois . in eche a place a-cursed
                  

M.20.263KD.20.264Monkes and monyales . and alle men of Religioun
M.20.264KD.20.265Hire 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
                  
M.20.265KD.20.266Of lered and of lewed . þe lawe wol and axeth . 
M.20.266KD.20.267A certein for a certein . saue oonly of freres . 
M.20.267KD.20.268For-þi quod conscience by crist . kynde wit me telleþ . 
                  
fol. 102vI
M.20.268KD.20.269It is wikked to wage ȝyow . ȝye wexe out of nombre
                  
M.20.269KD.20.270Heuene haþ euene nombre . and helle is with-oute nombre
                  
M.20.270KD.20.271For-þi I wolde wittuerly . þat ȝye were in þe —M.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.
M.20.271KD.20.272And ȝyowre nombre vndur notaries signe . and neither mo ne lasse
                  

M.20.272KD.20.273Enuye 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
                  
M.20.273KD.20.274And l.erne logyke and lawe . and eke contemplacioun
                  
M.20.274KD.20.275And preche men of plato . and proue it by Seneca
M.20.275KD.20.276That alle þinges vndur heuene . ouȝten to ben in comune

M.20.276KD.20.277And ȝyet he lieþ as I leue . þat to þe lewed so precheþ . 
                  
M.20.277KD.20.278For god made menM.20.277: M's men agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have to men. / a lawe / . and Moyses it tauȝte
                  
M.20.278KD.20.279Non concupisces rem proximi tui .
#
M.20.279KD.20.280And .yuele is þis y-holde . in parisshes of Inglonde
M.20.280KD.20.281For persones and parissh preestes . þat shulde þe p.eple shriue
                  
M.20.281KD.20.282Ben curatours called . to knowe and to hele
                  
M.20.282KD.20.283Alle þat ben hire parisshenes . penaunce to enioigne
M.20.283KD.20.284And sholden ben ashamed in hire shrifte . ac shame makeþ hem wende
M.20.284KD.20.285And fleen to þe Freres . as fals folk to westmuynstre
                  
M.20.285KD.20.286Þat borweþ and bereþ þider . and þanne biddeþ freendes
M.20.286KD.20.287ȜYerne of forȝyeuenesse . or lenger ȝyeres loone
                  

M.20.287KD.20.288Ac whil he is in westmuynstre . he wol be bifore
                  
M.20.288KD.20.289And maken hym merie . with oþur mennues goodes
                  
M.20.289KD.20.290And so it fareþ with muche folke . þat to þe Freres shryueþ
                  
M.20.290KD.20.291As sisours and Executours . þei wol ȝyeue þe Freres
                  
M.20.291KD.20.292A parcel to pray for hem . and make hem-selue murye
                  
M.20.292KD.20.292.1With þe residue and þe rem.enaunt . þat oþer men byswonke
                  
M.20.293KD.20.293And suffre þe dede in dette . to þe day of dome .

M.20.294KD.20.294Enuye herfore . hated conscience . 
M.20.295KD.20.295And Freres to philosophye . he fonde hem to scole
                  
X
M.20.296KD.20.296The while coueitise and vnkyndnesse . conscience assailled
                  
M.20.297KD.20.297In vnite holy churche . conscience helde hym
                  
M.20.298KD.20.298And made pees porter . to pynne þe ȝyates
                  
M.20.299KD.20.299Of alle tale-tellers . and titerers in ydel
                  
M.20.300KD.20.300Ypocrysye and he . an hard assaut þei made
M.20.301KD.20.301.Ypocrisye at þe ȝyate . harde gan to fighte
                  
M.20.302KD.20.302And wounded wel wikkedly . many wise techeres
fol. 103rI
passus xxus
M.20.303KD.20.303That with conscience acorded . and cardynale vertues
M.20.304KD.20.304Conscience called a leche . þat koude wel shryue
M.20.305KD.20.305GToM.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
                  
M.20.306KD.20.306Shrifte shoop sharpe salue . and made men do penaunce
M.20.307KD.20.307For hire misdedes . þat þei wrouȝte hadden
                  
M.20.308KD.20.308And 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 .

M.20.318KD.20.318We haue no nede quod conscience . I woot no bettre leche
M.20.319KD.20.319Thanne person or parissh preest . penitauncer or bisshop
                  
.id est. papa
                  
M.20.320KD.20.320Saue Piers þe plowman . þat haþ power ouer hem alle
M.20.321KD.20.321And indulgence .......may do . but if dette lette it
                  
M.20.322KD.20.322I may wel suffre saide conscience . syn ȝye desiren
                  
M.20.323KD.20.323That Frere flaterere be fet . and phisike ȝyow syke

M.20.324KD.20.324The Frere hereof herde . and hiede ful faste
M.20.325KD.20.325To a lord for a lettre . leue to haue to curen
                  
M.20.326KD.20.326As a curatour he were . and cam with hise lettres . 
                  
M.20.327KD.20.327Baldly to þe Bisshop . and his brief hadde
M.20.328KD.20.328In 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
                  
M.20.329KD.20.329And 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

M.20.341KD.20.341ȜeYe go þi gate quod pees . by god for al þi phisik
                  
M.20.342KD.20.342But þow konne somme crafte . þow comest not here-inne
                  
M.20.343KD.20.343I knewe such oon ones . nouȝt eighte wyntreer passed
                  
M.20.344KD.20.344Come in þus ycoped . at a courte where I dwelled
                  
M.20.345KD.20.345And was my lordes leche . and my ladyes boþe
M.20.346KD.20.346And at þe laste þis lymitour . þo my lord was oute
M.20.347KD.20.347He salued so oure wymmen . til some weren with childe

M.20.348KD.20.348Heende speche heet pees . opene þe ȝyates
                  
M.20.349KD.20.349Lat in þe frere and his felawe . and make hem faire chere
                  
M.20.350KD.20.350He may see and here . so it may bifalle
M.20.351KD.20.351That lif þoruȝ his loore . shal leue coueityse
                  
M.20.352KD.20.352And be ...?...adrad of deth . and withdrawe hym from pride
                  
M.20.353KD.20.353And 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.20.356Thow art welcome quod conscience . kanstthowkanst thow hele þe seke
                  
M.20.357KD.20.357Here is contricioun quod conscience . my cosyn y-wounded
                  
M.20.358KD.20.358Conforte hym quod conscience . and take keep to his soores
M.20.359KD.20.359The plastres of þe person . and poudres biten to soore . 
                  
M.20.360KD.20.360He let hem ligge ouer-longe . and loth is to chaungen hem . 
                  
M.20.361KD.20.361From 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.20.368Thus he gooth and gadereþ . and gloseþ þere he shryueþ
M.20.369KD.20.369Til contricioun hadde clene forȝyeten . to crye and to wepe
                  
M.20.370KD.20.370And wake for hise werkesM.20.370: M's werkes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wikked werkes. . as he was wont to doone
                  
M.20.371KD.20.371For conforte of his confessour . contricioun he loste
                  
M.20.372KD.20.372That is þe souereigneste salue . for alle kynne synnes

M.20.373KD.20.373Sleuwthe seighe þat . and so d.ide pryde
                  
M.20.374KD.20.374And come with a kene wille . conscience to assaille
M.20.375KD.20.375Conscience cryede efte . and bad clergye helpe hym
                  
M.20.376KD.20.376And also contricioun . for to kepe þe ȝate . 

M.20.377KD.20.377He lyth and dremeþ . saide pees  and so do many oþere
M.20.378KD.20.378The Frere with his phisik . þis folk haþ en-chaunted
                  
M.20.379KD.20.379And plastred hem so esely . þei drede no synne . 

M.20.380KD.20.380By crist quod conscience þo . I wol bycome a pilgryme
M.20.381KD.20.381And walken as wide . as al þe world lasteth
M.20.382KD.20.382To seke piers þe plowman . þat p...ryde may destruye
                  
M.20.383KD.20.383And þat freres hade a fyndynge . þat for nede flateren
M.20.384KD.20.384And contrepledeth me conscience . now kynde me auenge
M.20.385KD.20.385And sende me hap and hele  til I haue piers þe plowman
M.20.386KD.20.386And 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.