Passus vice-
simus.O.20.000: The heading is divided after vice-, so that it appears as two lines.
O.20.1KD.20.1ÞAnne as I wente bi þe weye whanne I was þus awaked
O.20.2KD.20.2Heuy chered I ȝede & elenge in herte
O.20.3KD.20.3I ne wiste where to ete ne at what place
O.20.4KD.20.4And it neyȝhede neer þe noone & wiþ nede I mette
O.20.5KD.20.5Þat frountede
O.20.5: O alone has the form frountede in place of afrounted. me ful
O.20.5: O alone has ful in place of wel or omission. foule & fayto
ur me callede
O.20.6KD.20.6Kanst þou not excuse þee as dide þe kyng & oþere
O.20.7KD.20.7Þat þou toke to þi bilyue to cloþes & to sustenaunce
O.20.8KD.20.8And bi techyng & tellyng of spiritus temporancie
O.20.9KD.20.9And þou nome no more þan nede þe tauȝte
O.20.10KD.20.10And nede haþ no lawe ne neuere schal falle in dette
O.20.11KD.20.11For þre þingys he takiþ his lijf for to saue
O.20.12KD.20.12Þat is mete whanne men hym warnen & he no money weldiþ
O.20.13KD.20.13Ne wiȝt noon . wole be his borwe ne wedde haþ noon to legge
O.20.14KD.20.14And he cauȝte in þat caas & come þerto bi sleyȝt
O.20.15KD.20.15He synneþ not soþeli þat so wynneþ his fode
O.20.16KD.20.16And þouȝ he come so to a cloþ & can no better cheuysaunce
O.20.17KD.20.17Nede anoon-riȝt nymeþ hym vndir meinprise
O.20.18KD.20.18And if hym liste to lape þe lawe of kynde wolde
O.20.19KD.20.19Þat he drunke at iche diche er he for þirst deyede
O.20.20KD.20.20So nede at greet nede may nyme as for his owne
O.20.21KD.20.21Wiþ-outen counceyl of concience or cardynal vertues
O.20.22KD.20.22So þat he sue & saue spiritus temperancie
O.20.23KD.20.23For is no vertue bi fer to spiritus temporancie
O.20.24KD.20.24Neiþer spiritus iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis
O.20.25KD.20.25For spiritus fortitudinis forfeteþ ful ofte
O.20.26KD.20.26He schal do more þan mesure many tyme & ofte
O.20.27KD.20.27And bete men ful
O.20.27: O alone has ful in place of ouer. bitterli
e & su
mme of hem to litel
O.20.28KD.20.28And greue men gretter þan good feiþ wolde
O.20.29KD.20.29And
spiritus iusticie schal iuggen wole he or
O.20.29: OC2 alone have he or in place of he or or alone. nyle he
O.20.30KD.20.30After þe kyngys counceyl & þe comune like
O.20.31KD.20.31And spiritus prudencie in many a poynt schal fayle
O.20.32KD.20.32Of þat he weneþ wolde falle if his witt ne were
O.20.33KD.20.33Wenyng is no wisdam ne wise ymagynacioun
O.20.34KD.20.33α-34Homo proponit & deus disponit & gouerneþ alle goode vertues
O.20.35KD.20.35Ac nede is next hym for anoon he mekeþ
O.20.36KD.20.36And as lowe as a loomb for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ
O.20.37KD.20.38Wise men forsoken wel for þei wolden be nedy
O.20.38KD.20.39And woneden in wildernesse & wolden not be riche
O.20.39KD.20.40And god al his greet ioye goostliche he lefte
O.20.40KD.20.41And cam & toke mankynde & becam nedy
O.20.41KD.20.42So nedy he was as seiþ þe book in many sundri places
O.20.42KD.20.43Þat he seyde in his sorwe on þe self rode
O.20.43KD.20.44Boþe fox & foul mowen flee to hole & crepe
O.20.44KD.20.45And þe fisch haþ fynne to flete wiþ to reste
O.20.45KD.20.46Þer nede haþ ynomen
O.20.45: O alone has ynomen; most B manuscripts have ynome. me þ
at I mote nede abide
O.20.46KD.20.47And suffre sorwes ful soure þat schul to ioye turne
O.20.47KD.20.48For-þi beþ not abassched to bidde & to be nedy
O.20.48KD.20.49Siþ he þat wrouȝte al þe world was wilfullich nedy
O.20.49KD.20.50Ne neu
ere noon so nedy ne also
O.20.49: Only O has ne also; most B manuscripts have ne alone. porer deyede
O.20.50KD.20.51Wha
nne
nede hadde vndirnomen
O.20.50: O alone has vndirnomen; most B manuscripts have vndernome.O.20.50: OR alone lack me before þus.þus anoon I fel a
-slepe
O.20.51KD.20.52And mette ful merueylousliche þat in mannes foorme
O.20.52KD.20.53Antecrist cam þanne & al þe croppe of truþe
Ieronimus super illud Danielis . 12 . Beatus qui
expectat & peruenit vsque ad
dies . 1335 . Beatus inquit qui
interfecto antichristo . dies supra
numerum
perfinitum . 45 . prestolatur quibus
& dominus saluator in sua
magestate venturus estO.20.53-60: The Latin lines appear in a column in the right margin, parallel to ll. 53-60 of the text. The passage is taken almost verbatim
from Saint Jerome's commentary on Daniel 12.12; see Commentariorum in Danielem, Libri III (IV), S. Hieronymi Presbyteri Opera, Pars I,5, ed. Francisci Glorie, Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 75A (Turnhout: Brepols, 1964): [IV].xii.12, pp. 943-44.
O.20.53KD.20.54Turnede it vp-so-doun & ouer-tilte þe rote
O.20.54KD.20.55And fals spronge & spredde & spedde mennys nedis
O.20.55KD.20.56In iche a cuntre þere hoh[e] coome he cutte awey truþe
O.20.56KD.20.57And gerte gyle growe þere as he a god were
.
Freres .O.20.57: The marginal Freres is surrounded by the long Latin gloss beginning opposite l. 52.
O.20.57KD.20.58Freres foleweden þat feend for he gaf hem copes
O.20.58KD.20.59And religious reuerencede hym & rongen her bellis
O.20.59KD.20.60And al þe couent forþ cam to welcome þat tyraunt
O.20.60KD.20.61And alle hise as wel as hym saue oneli fooles
O.20.61KD.20.62Whiche fooles weren wel leuere to deye þan to lyue
O.20.62KD.20.63Lenger þan lenten to be so rebuked
O.20.63KD.20.64And a fals freend
O.20.63: GYOC2 alone have freend in place of fend. antec
rist ou
ere alle folk regnede
O.20.64KD.20.65And þat weren
O.20.64: O alone has weren; most B manuscripts have were. mylde men & holy þat no mescheef dredden
O.20.65KD.20.66Diffieden al falsnesse & folk þat it vsede
O.20.66KD.20.67And what kyng þat hem counfortede knowynge hem any while
O.20.67KD.20.68Þei curseden
O.20.67: O alone has curseden in place of cursed. & her cou
nceyl were it clerk or lewed
O.20.68KD.20.69Antecrist hadde þus soone hundredis at his banere
O.20.69KD.20.70And pride it bare booldeliche abouten
O.20.69: O alone has abouten; most B manuscripts have aboute.
O.20.70KD.20.71Wiþ a lord þat lyueþ aft
er
lust &O.20.71: O alone includes lust.þe likyng of body
O.20.71KD.20.72Þat cam aȝeyn concience þat keper was & guyour
O.20.72KD.20.73Ouer kynde cristene & cardynal vertues
O.20.73KD.20.74I counceyle quod concience þoo comeþ wiþ me ȝe foles
O.20.74KD.20.75In-to vnite holi chirche & holde we vs þere
O.20.75KD.20.76And crie we to kynde þat he come & defende vs
O.20.76KD.20.77Foles . fro þe feendis lymes for peers loue þe plowman
O.20.77KD.20.78And crye we to al þe comune þat þei come to vnite
O.20.78KD.20.79And þere abide & bikere aȝeyns belialis children
O.20.79KD.20.80Kynde . concience þoo herde & come out of þe planetis
O.20.80KD.20.81And sente forþ hise forreouris feueres & fluxes
O.20.81KD.20.82Cowȝhes & cardiacles crampes & toþ-aches
O.20.82KD.20.83Rewmes & radegoundes & ruynouse scalles
O.20.83KD.20.84Biles & bocches & brennynge agues
O.20.84KD.20.85Frenesies & foule yuelis forragers of kynde
O.20.85KD.20.86Hadde priked & preyd polles of þe peple
O.20.86KD.20.87Þat largeli a legioun loren her lijf soone
O.20.87KD.20.88Þer was harrow & help heer comeþ kynde
O.20.88KD.20.89Wiþ deþ þat is dredeful to vndo vs alle
O.20.89KD.20.90Þe lord þat lyuede after lust þoo a-lowde cryede
O.20.90KD.20.91After counfort . a knyȝt to come & bere his baneer
O.20.91KD.20.92A-larme alarme quod þat lord iche lijf kepe his owne
O.20.92KD.20.93And þanne metten þeise men er mynystrales myȝten pipe
O.20.93KD.20.94And er heraudes of armes hadden discryued lordis
O.20.94KD.20.97Kynde kam after wiþ many kene sores
O.20.95KD.20.98As pokkes & pestelences þat
O.20.96: O alone has þat in place of and. myche peple schente
O.20.96KD.20.99So kynde þoruȝ corrupciouns killede ful many
O.20.97KD.20.100Deþ cam dryuynge after & al to dust passchede
O.20.98KD.20.101Kyngys & knyȝtis kaysers & popis
O.20.99KD.20.102Lered ne lewed he leete no man stonde
O.20.100KD.20.103Þat he ne
O.20.100: YOC2Cot alone include ne. hitte euene þat neu
ere
O.20.100: CrO alone have neuere in place of euere. sterede after
O.20.101KD.20.104Many a louely lady & lemmans of knyȝtis
O.20.102KD.20.105Swownede
n & sweltede
nO.20.102: O alone has swelteden; most B manuscripts have swelted. for sorwe of deþes dyntis
O.20.103KD.20.106Concience of his curteysie to kynde he besouȝte
O.20.104KD.20.107To cece & suffre & see wher þei wolden
O.20.104: O alone has wolden in place of wolde.
O.20.105KD.20.108Leue pride pryueyli & be parfiȝt cristene
O.20.106KD.20.109And kynde cecede þoo to see þe peple amende
O.20.107KD.20.110Fortune gan flatere þanne þoo fewe þat were on lyue
O.20.108KD.20.111And bihiȝte hem longe lijf & leccherie he sente
O.20.109KD.20.112Amongys al manere men wedded & vnweddid
O.20.110KD.20.113And gaderede a greet hoost al a-gyn concience
O.20.111KD.20.114Þis leccherie leyde on wiþ a lawynge chere
O.20.112KD.20.115And wiþ pryue speche & peynted wordis
O.20.113KD.20.116And armede hym in ydelnesse & in hye beryng
O.20.114KD.20.117He bare a bowe in his hand & many blody arewes
O.20.115KD.20.118Weren feþered wiþ fayre bihest & many a false truþe
O.20.116KD.20.119Wiþ hise vntidy talis he tenede ful ofte
O.20.117KD.20.120Concience & his company of holi chirche þe techers
O.20.118KD.20.121Þanne cam coueytise & caste how he myȝte
O.20.119KD.20.122Ouercome concience & cardynal vertues
O.20.120KD.20.123And armede hym in auarice & hungriliche lyuede
O.20.121KD.20.124His wepene was alle whyles to wynne & to hyde
O.20.121: O alone has hyde; most B manuscripts have hiden.
O.20.122KD.20.125Wiþ glosyngys & gabbyng
es to bigyle
O.20.122: O alone has the infinitive form in place of the preterite. þe peple
O.20.123KD.20.126Symonye hym sente to assayle concience
O.20.124KD.20.127And p
recheden
O.20.124: O alone has precheden in place of preched. to þe peple & p
relates þei hem maden
O.20.125KD.20.128To holden wiþ antecrist her temperaltees to saue
O.20.126KD.20.129And coomen to þe kyngys counceyl as a kene baroun
O.20.127KD.20.130And kneleden
O.20.127: O alone has kneleden in place of kneled. to concience in court afore he
m alle
O.20.128KD.20.131And gerte good feiþ flee & fals to abide
O.20.129KD.20.132And boldliche bare adoun wiþ many a bryȝt noble
O.20.130KD.20.133Miche of þe witt & wisdam of westmynystre halle
O.20.131KD.20.134He iuggede til a iustise & iustede in his ere
O.20.132KD.20.135And ouer-tilte al his truþe wiþ take þis vp amendement
O.20.133KD.20.136And to þe arches in haast he ȝede anoon after
O.20.134KD.20.137And turnede cyuyle in-to symonye & siþ he toke þe official
O.20.135KD.20.138For a mantel of menyuere he made lele matrimonye
O.20.136KD.20.139Departe
O.20.136: O alone has Departe; most B manuscripts have Departen. . er deþ cam & dyuorce schapte
O.20.137KD.20.140Allas quod concience & cryede þoo wolde crist of his grace
O.20.138KD.20.141Þat coueytise were cristen þat is so kene a fiȝter
O.20.139KD.20.142And boold & abidynge whyle his bagge lasteþ
O.20.140KD.20.143And þanne lowȝ lijf & leete dagge hise cloþes
O.20.141KD.20.144And armede hym in haast in harlottes wordis
O.20.142KD.20.145And helde holynesse . a iape & heendenesse a wastour
O.20.143KD.20.146And leete lewte a cherl & lyer . a fre man
O.20.144KD.20.147Concience & counceyl he countede it folye
O.20.145KD.20.148Þus relyede lijf for a litil fortune
O.20.146KD.20.149And prikede forþ wiþ pride preyseþ he no vertu
O.20.147KD.20.150He careþ not how kynde slowȝ & schal come at þe laste
O.20.148KD.20.151And kille alle erþeli creaturis saue concience one
O.20.149KD.20.152Lijf leepe a-syde & lauȝte hym a lemman
O.20.150KD.20.153Hele & I quod he & hynesse of herte
O.20.151KD.20.154Schal do þee not drede neiþer deþ ne eelde
O.20.152KD.20.155But
O.20.152: OF alone have But in place of And. to forȝete sorwe and gyue nouȝt of synne
O.20.153KD.20.156Þis likede lijf & his lemman fortune
O.20.154KD.20.157And geten in her glorie a gedelyng at þe laste
O.20.155KD.20.158Oon þat myche woo wrouȝte sleuþe was his name
O.20.156KD.20.159Sleuþe wexe wondir ȝerne & soone was of age
O.20.157KD.20.160And weddede oon wanhope a wenche of þe stues
O.20.158KD.20.161Hir sire was a sisour þat neuere swore truþe
O.20.159KD.20.162Oon tomme two-tunge ateynt at iche a quest
O.20.160KD.20.163Þis sleuþe wexe werre &
O.20.160: O alone has two instances of werre &, apparently as the result of dittography. However, because the line makes sense as it stands (if werre is understood as meaning "worse"), it may possibly be the result of deliberate scribal intervention. werre & a slynge made
O.20.161KD.20.164And þrewe drede &
O.20.161: O alone has &; all other beta witnesses have of. dispeyr a doseyne myle aboute
O.20.162KD.20.165For care concience þoo criede vp-on eelde
O.20.163KD.20.166And bade hym fonde to fiȝte & afere wanhope
O.20.164KD.20.167And eelde hente good hope & hastiliche
O.20.164: O alone lacks he before schifte. schifte hym
O.20.165KD.20.168And wayuede awey wanhope & wiþ lijf he fiȝteþ
O.20.166KD.20.169And lijf fleyȝ for feer to phisik after help
O.20.167KD.20.170And bisouȝte hym of socour & of his salue hadde
O.20.168KD.20.171And gaue hym gold good woon þat gladede his herte
O.20.169KD.20.172And þei ȝyuen
O.20.169: OC2 alone have ȝyuen; variants include gyue (C), gafen (BmBo), gaue (CrCotF), and gyuen (WHmGYLMR). hym aȝeyn a glasen howue
O.20.170KD.20.173Lijf leuede þat leche-craft lette schulde eelde
O.20.171KD.20.174And dryue awey deþ wiþ dias & draggas
O.20.172KD.20.175And eelde auntrede hym on lijf & at þe laste he hitte
O.20.173KD.20.176A phisicien wiþ a furred hood þ
at he fel in
O.20.173: O alone lacks an article before palsye. palsye
O.20.174KD.20.177And þere deyede þat doctour er þre dayes after
O.20.175KD.20.178Now I see seyde lijf þat surgerie ne phisik
O.20.176KD.20.179May not a myte avayle to medele aȝeyns eelde
O.20.177KD.20.180And in hope of his hele good hope
O.20.177: O alone has hope in place of herte. he hente
O.20.178KD.20.181And rode so to reuel a riche place & a myrie
O.20.179KD.20.182Þe companye of court men clepeden it sum-tyme
O.20.180KD.20.183And eelde anoon after me & ou
er myn hed he
O.20.180: O alone includes he; most B manuscripts include no pronoun. ȝede
O.20.181KD.20.184And made me balled bifore & bare on þe crowne
O.20.182KD.20.185So harde ȝhe ȝede ouer myn hed it wole be seene euere
O.20.183KD.20.186Sire yuele ytauȝt . eelde quod I vnheende go wiþ þee
O.20.184KD.20.187Siþ wha
nne was þi
O.20.184: GOC2 alone have þi in place of þe. weye ou
er mennes hedis
O.20.185KD.20.188Haddest þou been heende quod I þou woldest haue asked leue
O.20.186KD.20.189Ȝhe . leue lordyng quod he & leyde on me wiþ age
O.20.187KD.20.190And hitte me vndir þe ere vnneþe may ich here
O.20.188KD.20.191He buffetede me aboute þe mouþe & bette me on þe teeþ
O.20.189KD.20.192And gyede
O.20.189: OC2 alone have gyede; most B manuscripts have gyued. me in goutis I may not goo at large
O.20.190KD.20.193And of þe woo þat I was Inne my wijf hadd reuþe
O.20.191KD.20.194And wisschede ful witterli þat I were in heuene
O.20.192KD.20.195For þe lyme þat she louede me fore & leef was to fele
O.20.193KD.20.196On nyȝtes nameli wha
nne sche
O.20.193: O alone has sche in place of we. naked were
O.20.194KD.20.197I ne myȝte in no manere make it at hir wille
O.20.195KD.20.198So eelde & sche soþeli hadden it forbeten
O.20.196KD.20.199And as I satte in þis sorwe I seyȝ how kynde passede
O.20.197KD.20.200And deþ drowȝ nyȝ me for drede gan I quake
O.20.198KD.20.201And criede to kynde out of care me brynge
O.20.199KD.20.202Loo eelde þe hoore haþ me beseye
O.20.199: This and the following eleven lines are written around a very large keyhole-shaped tear in the vellum, at about the center
of the leaf.
O.20.200KD.20.203A-wreke me if ȝoure wille be for I wolde be hennys
O.20.201KD.20.204If þou wolt be ywroken wende in-to vnite
O.20.202KD.20.205And holde þee þere euere til I sende for þee
O.20.203KD.20.206And loke þou cunne sum craft or þou come þennes
O.20.204KD.20.207Counceyle me kynde quod I what craft is best to lerne
O.20.205KD.20.208Lerne to loue quod kynde & leue of . alle oþere
O.20.206KD.20.209How schal I come to catel so to cloþe me & to fede
O.20.207KD.20.210And þou loue lelli quod he lakke schal þee neuere
O.20.208KD.20.211Mete ne worldli wede whyle þi lijf lasteþ
O.20.209KD.20.212And þere bi counceyl of kynde I comsede to roome
O.20.210KD.20.213Þoruȝ contricioun & confessioun til I coome to vnite
O.20.211KD.20.214And þ
ere was concience cunstable cristene for
O.20.211: O alone includes for before to. to saue
O.20.212KD.20.215And bisegede soþeli wiþ seuene grete geauntes
O.20.213KD.20.216Þat wiþ antecrist helden harde aȝens concience
O.20.214KD.20.217Sleuþe wiþ his slynge an harde assaute made
O.20.215KD.20.218Proude preestis coomen wiþ hym moo þan a þousande
O.20.216KD.20.219In paltokis & piked schoos & pissers longe knyues
O.20.217KD.20.220Coomen aȝens concience wiþ coueytise þei helden
O.20.218KD.20.221Bi marie quod a mansed preest of þe marche of irloond
O.20.219KD.20.222I counte no more bi
O.20.219: OB alone include bi. concience bi so I cacche syluer
O.20.220KD.20.223Þan I do to drynke a drauȝt of good ale
O.20.221KD.20.224And so seyden sixti of þe same cuntre
O.20.222KD.20.225And schoten aȝeyn hym wiþ schotte with many scheef of oþes
O.20.223KD.20.226And brode hoked arwes goddis herte & hise nayles
O.20.224KD.20.227And hadden almost vnite & holynesse adoun
O.20.225KD.20.228Concience criede . helpe clergye or ellis I falle
O.20.226KD.20.229Þoruȝ imparfiȝt preestis & prelatis of holi chirche
O.20.227KD.20.230Freris herden hym crye & coomen . hym to helpe
O.20.228KD.20.231And for þei couþen
O.20.228: O alone has couþen in place of kouþe.not wel her craft concience forsoke hem
O.20.229KD.20.232Nede neyȝhede þoo neer & concience he tolde
O.20.230KD.20.233Þat þei coomen
O.20.230: O alone has coomen; most B manuscripts have come. for coueytise to haue cure of soules
O.20.231KD.20.234And for þei arn pore paraunter for patrimoyne hem fayleþ
O.20.232KD.20.235Þei wolen flatere to fare wel folk þat been riche
O.20.233KD.20.236And seyen
O.20.233: GO alone have seyen; most B manuscripts have siþen. þei chosen chele & chaytijf pouert
O.20.234KD.20.237Latte hem chewe as þei chosen & charge hem wiþ no cure
O.20.235KD.20.238For lomer he lijþ þat lijflode mote bigge
O.20.235: GO alone have bygge; most B manuscripts have begge.
O.20.236KD.20.239Þan he þat laboureþ for lijflode & leneþ it to
O.20.236: O alone includes to. begg
ers
O.20.237KD.20.240And siþen freris forsoken
O.20.237: O alone has forsoken in place of forsoke. þe felicite of erþe
freris
Freris .O.20.238: The first of these additions appears in the extreme left margin, the other in the left margin just opposite the line. Lines
238-250 are written around a very large keyhole-shaped tear in the vellum, at about the center of the leaf, which existed
at the time of copying.
O.20.238KD.20.241Latte hem be as beggers or lyue bi aungelis fode
O.20.239KD.20.242Concience of þis counceyl þoo comsede forto lawȝhe
O.20.240KD.20.243And curteysliche counfortede hem & callede in alle freris
O.20.241KD.20.244And seyde sires soþeli welcome be ȝe alle
O.20.242KD.20.245To vnite
O.20.242: O alone lacks and before holi. holi chirche ac oo þing I ȝow preye
O.20.243KD.20.246Holdeþ ȝow in vnite & haueþ noon envie
O.20.244KD.20.247To lered ne to lewed but lyueþ after ȝoure rule
O.20.245KD.20.248And I wole be ȝoure borwe ȝe schul haue breed & cloþes
O.20.246KD.20.249And oþere necessaries ynowe ȝe schul no þing fayle
O.20.247KD.20.250Wiþ þat ȝe leue logyke & lerne for to louye
O.20.248KD.20.251O.20.238-248: This and the preceding ten lines are written around the same keyhole-shaped tear in the manuscript described at O.20.199.For loue laften
O.20.248: O alone has ynomen; variants include þerof lofte (Bo), þerof loste (BmCot), lost (Cr), þei (GC2), and lafte (WHmYCLMRF). þei lordschipe boþe lond & scole
O.20.249KD.20.252Freres fraunceys & domynyk for loue to be holy
O.20.250KD.20.253And if ȝe coueyte cure kynde wole ȝow teche
O.20.251KD.20.254Þat in mesure god made alle manere þingys
O.20.252KD.20.255And sette it at a certeyn & at a siker noumbre
O.20.253KD.20.256And nempnede names newe & noumbrede þe preestis
O.20.254KD.20.256αQui numerat multiudinem stellarumO.20.254: OR alone lack et omnibus eis after stellarum. & ceteraO.20.255: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after numerat and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.
O.20.255KD.20.257Kyngys & knyȝtis þat kepen & defenden
O.20.256KD.20.258Han officeris vndir hem & of
O.20.256: O alone has & of in place of and or of alone. iche of hem a certeyn
O.20.257KD.20.259And if þei wage men to werre þei writen hem in noumbre
O.20.258KD.20.260Wole no tresourerer hem paye traueyle þei neuere so sore
O.20.259KD.20.262Alle oþ
ere in batayle been yholden brokouris
O.20.259: O alone has brokouris; most B manuscripts have Brybours.
O.20.260KD.20.263Pilouris & pikeharneys in iche a place a-cursid
O.20.261KD.20.264Monkes & monyalis & alle men of religioun
O.20.262KD.20.265Her ordre & her rule wole to haue a certeyn nowmbre
O.20.263KD.20.266Of lewed & of lered þe lawe it
O.20.263: OHm alone include it. wole & askeþ
O.20.264KD.20.267A certeyn for a certeyn saue onliche of freris
O.20.265KD.20.268For-þi quod concience bi crist kynde witt me telleþ
O.20.266KD.20.269It is wikked to wage ȝow ȝe waxen out of nowmbre
O.20.267KD.20.270Euene
O.20.267: Although the MED lists Euene as a form of the word Heaven, this is the only occurrence of the form in this manuscript, and O is the only B manuscript in which the form occurs in this line. haþ euene nowmbre & helle is wiþ
-oute nowmbre
O.20.268KD.20.271For
-þi I wolde witterli þ
at ȝe weren in
O.20.268: OM alone among beta witnesses lack þe before registre; in M it has been erased. registre
O.20.269KD.20.272And ȝoure nowmbre vndir notaries sygne & neiþer mo ne lasse
O.20.270KD.20.273Enuye herde þis . & leete
O.20.270: O alone has leete; most B manuscripts have heet. freris . go to scole
O.20.271KD.20.274And lerne logyk & lawe & eke constellac
iou
nO.20.271: O alone has constellacioun in place of contemplacion.
O.20.272KD.20.275And preche men of plato & preue it bi seneca
O.20.273KD.20.276Þat alle þing
ys vndir heuene ouȝten
O.20.273: OF alone lack to before be. be in comune
O.20.274KD.20.277And ȝit he lieþ as I leue þat to þe lewed so precheþ
O.20.275KD.20.278For god made to men a lawe & moyses it tauȝte
O.20.276KD.20.279Non concupscesconcup[i]sces rem proximi tui & ceteraO.20.277: This line is written in the right margin.
O.20.277KD.20.280And yuele is þis yholden
O.20.277: O alone has yholden; variants include holde (Cr), to hold (G), ȝolden (B), and yholde (WHmYC2LMRF). in p
arissches of englond
O.20.278KD.20.281For persounys & parisch preestis þat schulden þe peple schryue
O.20.279KD.20.282Been curatouris called to knowe & to hele
O.20.280KD.20.283Alle þat been her parischenes penaunce to enioyne
O.20.281KD.20.284And schulden be a-schamed in her schrifte ac schame makeþ hem wende
O.20.282KD.20.285And flee to þe freris as false folk to westmynyster
O.20.283KD.20.286Þat borwen & beren þidir & þanne bidden frendis
O.20.284KD.20.287Ȝerne of forȝyuenesse or lenger ȝeris lone
O.20.285KD.20.288Ac whyle he is in westmynyster he wole be bifore
O.20.286KD.20.289And make hym myrie wiþ oþere mennys goodis
O.20.287KD.20.290And so it fareþ bi
O.20.287: HmYO alone have bi in place of with. myche folk þat to þe freris he
mO.20.287: WOF alone include hem. schryuen
O.20.288KD.20.291As sisouris & exsecutouris þei wolen
O.20.288: O alone has wolen; all other beta witnesses have wol. ȝyue þe freris
O.20.289KD.20.292A p
arcel to preye for hem & make hem
-selue
nO.20.289: O alone has hem-seluen; all other beta witnesses have hemself. myrie
O.20.290KD.20.292.1Wiþ þe residue & þe remenaunt þat oþere men biswonken
O.20.291KD.20.293And suffre þe dede in dette to þe day of doom
O.20.292KD.20.294Enuye her-fore hatede concience
O.20.293KD.20.295And freris to philosophie he fonde
O.20.293: O alone lacks a word between fonde and to; most B manuscripts have hem. to scole
O.20.294KD.20.296Þe while coueytise & vnkyndenesse concience assayleden
O.20.294: O alone has the form assayleden in place of assaillede.
O.20.295KD.20.297In vnite holi chirche concience helde hym
O.20.296KD.20.298And made pees porter to pynne þe ȝates
O.20.297KD.20.299For
O.20.297: O alone has introductory For; most B manuscripts have Of. alle tale
- telleris & titerers in ydel
O.20.298KD.20.300Ypocrisie & he an harde saute þei maden
O.20.299KD.20.301Ypocrisie at þe ȝate harde gan to fiȝte
O.20.300KD.20.302And woundede wel wikkidli many wise techeris
O.20.301KD.20.303Þat wiþ concience acordede & cardynal vertues
O.20.302KD.20.304Concience callede a leche þat wel couþe schryue
O.20.303KD.20.305Go salue þoo þat seke been þoruȝ synne &
O.20.303: O alone includes & before woundid. woundid
O.20.304KD.20.306Schrifte schope scharpe salue & made men do penaunce
O.20.305KD.20.307For her mysdedis þat þei wrouȝten
O.20.305: O alone has wrouȝten in place of wroȝt. hadde
O.20.306KD.20.308And þat peers were payed redde quod debes
O.20.307KD.20.309Summe likeden not þis leche & letteres þei senten
O.20.308KD.20.310If any surgien were þe segge þat softer couþe playstre
O.20.309KD.20.311Sire leef to lyue in lecherie lay þere & gronede
O.20.310KD.20.312F..or fastyng of a friday he ferde as he wolde deye
O.20.311KD.20.313Þer is a surgien in þis þisþis sege þat softe can handele
O.20.312KD.20.314And more of phisik bi fer & fayrer he playstreþ
O.20.313KD.20.315Oon frere flaterer is phisicien & surgien
O.20.314KD.20.316Quod contricioun to concience do hym come to vnite
O.20.315KD.20.317For heer is many a man hirt þoruȝ ypocrisie
O.20.316KD.20.318We han no nede quod concience I woot no better leche
O.20.317KD.20.319Þan persoun or parisch preest penytauncer or bisschop
O.20.318KD.20.320Saue peers þe plowman þat haþ power ouer hem alle
O.20.319KD.20.321And indulgence may do but if dette lette it
O.20.320KD.20.322I may wel suffre seyde concience siþ ȝe desiren
O.20.321KD.20.323Þat frere flaterer be fet & phisike ȝow seke
O.20.322KD.20.324Þe frere her-of . herde & hyede hym faste
O.20.323KD.20.325To a lord for a letter leue to haue cure
O.20.324KD.20.326And as a curatour he were & cam wiþ hise lettres
O.20.325KD.20.327Booldli to þe bisschop & his breef hadde
O.20.326KD.20.328In cuntrees þ
er he coome inne confessiou
nO.20.326: CrO alone have the singular form. to here
O.20.327KD.20.329And cam þer concience was & knokkede at þe ȝate
O.20.328KD.20.330Pees vnpynnede it was porter of vnite
O.20.329KD.20.331And in hast askede what his wille were
O.20.330KD.20.332In feiþ quod þis frere for p
rofiȝt & for hele
O.20.330: O alone has the form hele; most B manuscripts have helþe.
O.20.331KD.20.333Carpe I wolde wiþ contricioun & þerfore cam I hider
O.20.332KD.20.334He is seek seyde pees & so arn many oþere
O.20.333KD.20.335Ypocrisie haþ hirt hem ful hard is if þei keuere
O.20.334KD.20.336I am a surgien seyde þe segge & salues can make
O.20.335KD.20.337Concience knoweþ me wel & what I kan do boþe
O.20.336KD.20.338I preye þee quod pees þoo er þou passe forþer
O.20.337KD.20.339What hattest þou I preye þee hele not þi name
O.20.338KD.20.340Certis felaw seyde
O.20.338: O alone has felaw seyde in place of seide; all manuscripts except OF have felaw as subject and place it in final position in the a-verse. he sire
penetrans domos
O.20.339KD.20.341Ȝhe go þi gate quod pees bi god . for al þi phisik
O.20.340KD.20.342But þou kunne sum craft þou comest not heer-inne
O.20.341KD.20.343I knewe swich oon ones not eyȝte wynter passed
O.20.342KD.20.344Coome in . þus y-coped at a court þere I dwelte
O.20.343KD.20.345And was my lady
O.20.343: O alone has lady; most B manuscripts have lordes. leche & my lordis boþe
O.20.344KD.20.346And at þe last þis lymytour þo my lord was oute
O.20.345KD.20.347He saluede so oure wommen til summe were wiþ childe
O.20.346KD.20.348Heende speche heete pees to opene þe ȝates
O.20.347KD.20.349Latte in þe frere & his felaw & make hem fayre chere
O.20.348KD.20.350He may see & here so it may be-falle
O.20.349KD.20.351Þat lijf þoruȝ his lore schal leue coueytise
O.20.350KD.20.352And be adrad of deþ & wiþdrawe hym fro pride
O.20.351KD.20.353And a-corde wiþ concience & kisse her eiþer oþer
O.20.352KD.20.354Þus þoruȝ heende speche entrede þe frere
O.20.353KD.20.355And cam in . to concience & curteysli hym grette
O.20.354KD.20.356Þou art welcome quod concience canst þou hele þe seke
O.20.355KD.20.357Heer is contricioun quod concience my cosyn ywounded
O.20.356KD.20.358Counforte hym quod concience & take keep to hise sores
O.20.357KD.20.359Þe playstres of þe persoun & poudres biten to sore
O.20.358KD.20.360He leete hem ligge ouer-longe & loþ is to chaunge hem
O.20.359KD.20.361Fro lenten to lenten he latte hise playstres byte
. Frere confessour .O.20.360: A flourish appears centered beneath the marginal addition.
O.20.360KD.20.362Þat is ouer-longe quod þis lymytour I leue I schal amende it
O.20.361KD.20.363And gooþ & gropeþ contricioun & gaue hym a playstre
O.20.362KD.20.364Of a pryue payement & I schal preye for ȝow
O.20.363KD.20.365And for alle þat ȝe been holden to al my lijf-tyme
O.20.364KD.20.366And make ȝow . my lady in messe & in matynes
O.20.365KD.20.367As frere
O.20.365: WHmO alone have the singular form frere in place of the plural, although Y has suster. of oure frat
ernyte for a litil syluer
O.20.366KD.20.368Þus he gooþ & gadereþ & gloseþ þere he schryueþ
O.20.367KD.20.369Til contricioun hadde clene forȝeten to crie & to wepe
O.20.368KD.20.370And wake for hise wikkede werkis as he was wont to done
O.20.369KD.20.371For counfort of his confessour contricioun he lafte
O.20.370KD.20.372Þat is þe sou
ereynest salue of
O.20.370: O alone has of in place of for. alle kyn synnes
O.20.371KD.20.373Sleuþe þa
nne saw
O.20.371: O alone has þanne saw; most B manuscripts have seigh. þat & also
O.20.371: O alone has also in place of so. dide pride
O.20.372KD.20.374And cam wiþ a kene wille concience to assayle
O.20.373KD.20.375Concience crience criede efte & bade clergye helpe
O.20.374KD.20.376And also contricioun for to kepe þe ȝate
O.20.375KD.20.377He lijþ & dremeþ seyde pees & so doon many oþere
O.20.376KD.20.378Þe frere wiþ his phisik þeise
O.20.376: YOC2 alone have the plural form. folk haþ enchauntid
O.20.377KD.20.379And playstred hem so esily þei dreden no synne
O.20.378KD.20.380Bi crist quod concience þoo I wole bicome a pilgryme
O.20.379KD.20.381And walken as wyde as þe werld lasteþ
O.20.380KD.20.382To seke peers þe plowman þat pride may distruye
O.20.381KD.20.383And þat freres hadden a fyndyng þat for nede flateren
O.20.382KD.20.384And counterpleden me concience now kynde me auenge
O.20.383KD.20.385And sende me happe & hele til I haue peers þe plowman
O.20.384KD.20.386And siþ he gradde after grace til I gan awake
O.20.384: This line is followed by six ticks.
ExplicitO.20.385: The initial capital of the word Explicit is heavily ornamented and outlined in red. hic dialogus petri plowmanO.20.385: This line is underlined both above and below in red. Small red ticks appear between each of the preceding words and after
plowman. LauderisO.20.385: The initial capital of Lauderis is ornamented and outlined in red. christe quia finitur liber isteO.20.385: Small red ticks appear between each of the preceding words; three ticks in black appear at the end of the line.O.20.385: The word finit, written unevenly in a large, crude hand, appears centered in the bottom margin about three vertical spaces below the final
trailer.