The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 13and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's Form of Living – Passus 13William LanglandEdited by Thorlac Turville-Petre and Hoyt N. DugganAssociate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. FarleyGraduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, Stephen C. Martin, and John Ivor Carlson.Computer Consultants and ProgrammersOludotun Akinola, Karen Dietz, Susan Gants, Kirk V. Hastings, Susan Munson, Beth Nowviskie, Daniel Pitti, John Price-Wilkin, Thornton Staples, and John
Unsworth.University of Michigan Press
Ann Arbor, Mich.
ISBN: 0-472-00275-9
Commercially available:
copyright 2000, by SEENET
2000 Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17
late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17
Attribute Valuesbrown inkanglicana bastardaitalicLombard Capornamented capital, N lines highrubricatedtouched in redtexturaunderlinedunderlined in redgreen inkblue ink
LatinFrenchGerman2000
cataloger
Jackie Shieh
New header created
Passus .vijus.septimus de visione vt supraTReuþe herde telle her-of . and to Piers he sente To maken his teme . and tilien þe erþe And purchaced hym a pardoun . a pena & a culpa For hym and for hise heires . for euere-moore after And bad hym holde hym at home . and erien hise leyes And alle þat holpen hym to erye . to sette or to sowe Or any ooþer mestier . þat myȝte Piers auaille Pardon wiþ Piers Plowman . truþe haþ ygraunted¶ Kynges and knyȝtes . þat kepen holy chirche And riȝtfully in Remes . rulen þe peple Han pardon þoruȝ purgatorie . to passen ful liȝtly Wiþ Patriarkes and prophetes . in paradis to be felawe¶ Bysshopes yblessed . if þei ben as þei sholde Legistres of boþe lawes . þe lewed þer-wiþ to preche And in as muche as þei mowe . amenden alle synfulle Arn peres wiþ þe Apostles . þis pardon Piers sheweþ And at þe day of dome . at þe heiȝe deys sitte¶Marchauntz in þe margyne . hadde manye yeres Ac noon A pena & a culpa . þe pope nolde hem graunte For þei holde noȝt hir halidayes . as holy chirche techeþ And for þei swere by hir soule . and so god moste hem helpe Ayein clene Conscience . hir catel to selle¶ Ac vnder his secret seel . truþe sente hem a lettre That þei sholde buggen boldely . þat hem best liked And siþenes selle it ayein . and saue þe wynnyng And amende Mesondieux þer-myd . and myseise folk helpe And wikkede weyes . wightly amende And do boote to brugges . þat tobroke were Marien maydenes . or maken hem Nonnes Pouere peple and prisons . fynden hem hir foode¶ And sette Scolers to scole . or to som oþere craftes Releue Religion . and renten hem bettre And I shal sende yow my-selue . Seint Michel myn Archangel That no deuel shal yow dere . ne fere yow in youre deying And witen yow fro wanhope . if ye wol þus werche And sende youre soules in saufte . to my Seintes in Ioye¶ Thanne were Marchauntz murie . manye wepten for ioye And preiseden Piers þe Plowman . þat purchaced þis bulle¶ Men of lawe leest pardon hadde . þat pleteden for Mede For þe Sauter saueþ hem noȝt . swiche as take ȝiftes And nameliche of Innocentz . þat noon yuel ne konneþSuper innocentem munera non accipies¶ Pledours sholde peynen hem . to plede for swiche and helpe Princes and prelates . sholde paie for hire trauailleA Regibus & principibus erit merces eorum¶ Ac many a Iustice and Iurour . wolde for Iohan do moore Than pro dei pietate . leue þow noon ooþer¶ Ac he þat spendeþ his speche . and spekeþ for þe pouere W.7.48:nota That is Innocent and nedy . and no man apeireþ W.7.49:nota Conforteþ hym in þat caas . wiþ-outen coueitise of ȝiftes W.7.50:nota And sheweþ lawe for oure lordes loue . as he it haþ ylerned W.7.51:nota Shal no deuel at his deeþ-day . deren hym a myte That he ne worþ saaf and his soule . þe Sauter bereþ witnesse¶Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo¶ Ac to bugge water ne wynd . ne wit ne fir þe ferþe Thise foure þe fader of heuene . made to þis foold in commune Thise ben truþes tresores . trewe folk to helpe That neuere shul wexe ne wanye . wiþ-outen god hym-selue¶ Whan þei drawen on to deye . and Indulgences wolde haue Hir pardon is ful petit . at hir partyng hennes That any Mede of mene men . for hir motyng takeþ Ye legistres and lawieres . holdeþ þis for truþe That if þat I lye . Mathew is to blame For he bad me make yow þis . and þis prouerbe me toldeQuodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines . facite eisW.7.65:nota¶ Alle libbynge laborers . þat lyuen wiþ hir hondesW.7.66-69: A vertical pen mark appears at the end of this line and the three following lines, which we take to represent nota.W.7.66:nota That treweliche taken . and treweliche wynnen W.7.67:nota And lyuen in loue and in lawe . for hir lowe hertes W.7.68:nota Haueþ þe same absolucion . þat sent was to Piers W.7.69:nota¶ Beggeres ne bidderes . ne beþ noȝt in þe bulle But if þe suggestion be sooþ . þat shapeþ hem to begge For he þat beggeþ or bit . but if he haue nede W.7.72:nota He is fals wiþ þe feend . and defraudeþ þe nedy W.7.73:nota And also he bigileþ þe gyuere . ageynes his wille For if he wiste he were noȝt nedy . he wolde ȝyue þat anoþer That were moore nedy þan he . so þe nedieste sholde be holpe Caton kenneþ me þus . and þe clerc of storiesCui des videto . is Catons techyng W.7.78:nota¶ And in þe stories he techeþ . to bistowe þyn almesseSit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui desW.7.80: The nota appears inside the box to the right of the line.¶ Ac Gregory was a good man . and bad vs gyuen alle W.7.81:nota That askeþ for his loue . þat vs al leneþ W.7.82:notaNon eligas cui miseriaris nefortene forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipereW.7.83: The end of the box is cropped in the right margin, though no text appears to have been lost.Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeasW.7.84:nota¶ For wite ye neuere who is worþi . ac god woot who haþ nede W.7.85:nota In hym þat takeþ is þe trecherie . if any treson walke W.7.86:nota For he þat yeueþ yeldeþ . and yarkeþ hym to reste And he þat biddeþ borweþ . and bryngeþ hym-self in dette For beggeres borwen euere-mo . and hir borgh is god almyȝty To yelden hem þat yeueþ hem . and yet vsure moore¶Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensamvt ego veniam cum vsuris exigere¶ For-þi biddeþ noȝt ye beggeres . but if ye haue gret nede For who-so haþ to buggen hym breed . þe book bereþ witnesse He haþ ynouȝ þat haþ breed ynouȝ . þouȝ he haue noȝt ellis¶Satis diues est qui non indiget paneW.7.95:nota¶ Lat vsage be youre solas . of seintes lyues redyng The book banneþ beggerie . and blameþ hem in þis manere¶Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictumnene[c]W.7.98: W alone reads ne. Other B manuscripts have nec. semen eius &c¶ For ye lyue in no loue . ne no lawe holde Manye of yow ne wedde noȝt . þe womman þat ye wiþ deele But as wilde bestes with wehee . worþen vppe and werchen And bryngen forþ barnes . þat bastardes men calleþ Or þe bak or som boon . he brekeþ in his youþe And siþþe goon faiten with youre fauntes . for euere-moore after Ther is moore mysshapen peple . amonges þise beggeres W.7.105:nota Than of alle manere men . þat on þis moolde walkeþ W.7.106:nota And þei þat lyue þus hir lif . mowe loþe þe tyme W.7.107:nota That euere þei were men wroȝt . whan þei shal hennes fare W.7.108:nota Ac olde men and hore . þat helplees ben of strengþe And wommen wiþ childe . þat werche ne mowe Blynde and bedreden . and broken hire membres That taken þise myschiefs mekeliche . as Mesels and oþere Han as pleyn pardon . as þe Plowman hym-selue For loue of hir lowe hertes . oure lord haþ hem graunted Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie . here on þis erþe¶ Piers quod a preest þoo . þi pardon moste I rede For I wol construe ech clause . and kenne it þee on englissh¶ And Piers at his preiere . þe pardon vnfoldeþ And I bihynde hem boþe . biheld al þe bulle And in two lynes it lay . and noȝt a leef moore And was writen riȝt þus . in witnesse of truþe¶Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternamW.7.122:notaQui vero mala in ignem eternumW.7.123: To the right of this line is a smudged scribble.W.7.123:nota¶ Peter quod þe preest þoo . I kan no pardon fynde But dowel and haue wel . and god shal haue þi soule W.7.125:nota And do yuel and haue yuel . hope þow noon ooþer W.7.126:nota But after þi deeþ-day . þe deuel shal haue þi soule W.7.127:nota¶ And Piers for pure tene . pulled it atweyne And seide Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortisW.7.129:notanon timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es¶ I shal cessen of my sowyng quod Piers . & swynke noȝt so harde Ne aboute my bely ioye . so bisy be namoore Of preieres and of penaunce . my plouȝ shal ben her-after And wepen whan I sholde slepe . þouȝ whete breed me faille¶ The prophete his payn eet . in penaunce and in sorwe¶ By þat þe Sauter seith . so dide othere manye That loueþ god lelly . his liflode is ful esy¶Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocteW.7.137:nota¶ And but if luc lye . he lereþ vs by foweles We sholde noȝt be to bisy . aboute þe worldes blisseNe soliciti sitis he seiþ in þe gospel And sheweþ vs by ensamples . vs-selue to wisse The foweles in þe feld . who fynt hem mete at wynter W.7.142:nota Haue þei no gerner to go to . but god fynt hem alle W.7.143:nota¶ What quod þe preest to Perkyn . Peter as me þynkeþ Thow art lettred alitela litel . who lerned þee on boke¶ Abstynence þe Abbesse quod Piers . myn /a/. b/. c ./ me tauȝte And Conscience cam afterward . and kenned me muche moore¶ Were þow a preest quod he . þou myȝtest preche where þou sholdest As diuinour in diuinite . wiþ Dixit insipiens to þi teme¶ Lewed lorel quod Piers . litel lokestow on þe bible On Salomons sawes . selden þow biholdestEcce derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c¶ The preest and Perkyn . opposeden eiþer ooþer And I þoruȝ hir wordes awook . and waited aboute And seiȝ þe sonne in þe South . sitte þat tyme Metelees and moneilees . on Maluerne hulles Musynge on þis metels . and my wey ich yedeMAny tyme þis metels . haþ maked me to studie Of þat I seiȝ slepynge . if it so be myȝteAnd also for Piers þe Plowman . ful pencif in herte And which a pardon Piers hadde . al þe peple to conforte And how þe preest inpugned it . wiþ two propre wordes Ac I haue no sauour in Songewarie . for I se it ofte faille Caton and Canonistres . counseillen vs to leue To sette sadnesse in Songewarie . for sompnia ne cures¶ Ac for þe book bible . bereþ witnesse How Daniel diuined . þe dreem of a kyng That was Nabugodonosor . nempned of clerkes¶Daniel . seide sire kyng . þi dremels bitokneþ That vnkouþe knyȝtes shul come . þi kyngdom to cleyme Amonges lower lordes . þi lond shal be departed And as Daniel diuined . in dede it fel after The kyng lees his lordshipe . and lower men it hadde¶ And Ioseph mette merueillously . how þe moone and þe sonne And þe elleuene sterres . hailsed hym alle¶ Thanne Iacob iugged . Iosephes sweueneBeau fitz quod his fader . for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones . seche þee for nede¶ It bifel as his fader seide . in Pharaoes tyme That Ioseph was Iustice . Egipte to loke It bifel as his fader tolde . hise frendes þere hym souȝte And al þis makeþ me . on þis metels to þynke¶ And how þe preest preued . no pardon to dowel And demed þat dowel . Indulgences passed Biennals and triennals . and Bisshopes lettres And how dowel at þe day of dome . is digneliche vnderfongen And passeþ al þe pardon . of Seint Petres cherche¶Now haþ þe pope power . pardon to graunte þe peple Wiþ-outen any penaunce . to passen in-to heuene This is oure bileue . as lettred men vs techeþ¶Quodcumque ligaueris super terram . erit ligatum & in celis &c¶ And so I leue leelly . lordes forbode ellis That pardon and penaunce . and preieres doon saue Soules þat haue synned . seuen siþes dedly Ac to truste to þise triennals . trewely me þynkeþ Is noȝt so siker for þe soule . certes as is dowel¶ For-þi I rede yow renkes . þat riche ben on þis erþe Vp-on trust of youre tresor . triennals to haue Be ye neuer þe bolder . to breke þe .x.ten hestes And namely ye maistres . Meires and Iugges That haue þe welþe of þis world . and for wise men ben holden To purchace yow pardon . and þe popes bulles At þe dredful dome . whan dede shulle rise And comen alle tofore crist . acountes to yelde How þow laddest þi lif here . and hise lawes keptest And how þow didest day by day . þe doom wole reherce A poke-ful of pardon þere . ne prouincials lettres Theiȝ ye be founde in þe fraternite . of alle þe foure ordres And haue Indulgences double-fold . but if dowel yow helpe I sette youre patentes and youre pardon . at one pies hele¶ For-þi I counseille alle cristene . to crie god mercy . And Marie his moder . be oure meene bitwene That god gyue vs grace here . er we go hennes Swiche werkes to werche . while we ben here That after oure deeþ-day . dowel reherce At þe day of dome . we dide as he hiȝtePassusviijusoctauus de visione & primus deDowelThus yrobed in russet . I romed aboute Al a somer seson . for to seke dowel And frayned ful ofte . of folk þat I mette If any wiȝt wiste . wher dowel was at Inne And what man he myȝte be . of many man I asked¶ Was neuere wiȝt as I wente . þat me wisse kouþe Where þis leode lenged . lasse ne moore Til it bifel on a Friday . two freres I mette Maistres of þe Menours . men of grete witte I hailsed hem hendely . as I hadde y-lerned And preide hem par charite . er þei passed ferþer If þei knewe any contree . or costes as þei wente Where þat dowel dwelleþ . dooþ me to witene For þei be men of þis moolde . þat moost wide walken And knowen contrees and courtes . and many kynnes places Boþe princes paleises . and pouere mennes cotes And dowel and doyuele . wher þei dwelle boþe¶ Amonges vs quod þe Menours . þat man is dwellynge And euere haþ as I hope . and euere shal her-after¶Contra quod I as a clerc . and comsed to disputen And seide hem sooþly . Sepcies in die cadit IustusW.8.21:nota¶ Seuene siþes seiþ þe book . synneþ þe rightfulle And who-so synneþ I seide . dooþ yuele as me þynkeþ And dowel and doyuele . mowe noȝt dwelle togideresErgo he nys noȝt alwey . amonges yow freres He is ouþerwhile ellis-where . to wisse þe peple¶ I shal seye þee my sone . seide þe frere þanne How seuen siþes þe sadde man . on a day synneþ By a forbisne quod þe frere . I shal þee faire shewe Lat brynge a man in a boot . amydde þe brode watre W.8.30:nota The wynd and þe water . and þe boot waggyng W.8.31:nota Makeþ þe man many a tyme . to falle and to stonde W.8.32:nota For stonde he neuer so stif . he stumbleþ if he meue W.8.33:nota Ac yet is he saaf and sound . and so hym bihoueþ W.8.34:nota For if he ne arise þe raþer . and rauȝte to þe steere W.8.35:nota The wynd wolde wiþ þe water . þe boot ouer-þrowe W.8.36:nota And þanne were his lif lost . þoruȝ lachesse of hym-selue W.8.37:nota¶ And þus it falleþ quod þe frere . by folk here on erþe W.8.38:nota The water is likned to þe world . þat wanyeþ and wexeþ W.8.39:nota The goodes of þis grounde arn lik . to þe grete wawes W.8.40:nota That as wyndes and wedres . walkeþ aboute W.8.41:nota The boot is likned to oure body . þat brotel is of kynde W.8.42:nota That þoruȝ þe fend and þe flessh . and þe frele worlde W.8.43:nota Synneþ þe sadde man . a day seuen siþes W.8.44:nota¶ Ac dedly synne doþ he noȝt . for dowel hym kepeþ And þat is charite þe champion . chief help ayein synne For he strengþeþ menW.8.47: W alone reads men; other B manuscripts have man. to stonde . and steereþ mannes soule And þouȝ þe body bowe . as boot dooþ in þe watre W.8.48:nota Ay is þi soule saaf . but if þow wole þi-selueW.8.49:W alone reads þow wole þi-selue; most other B manuscripts read thiself woll, although CrS have thou wylt thyselfe and M has þou þiseluen wole.W.8.49:nota Do a deedly synne . and drenche so þi soule God wole suffre wel þi sleuþe . if þi-self likeþ For he yaf þee a yeresȝyue . to yeme wel þi-selue W.8.52:nota And þat is wit and free wil . to euery wiȝt a porcion W.8.53:nota To fleynge foweles . to fisshes and to beestes W.8.54:nota Ac man haþ moost þer-of . and moost is to blame W.8.55:nota But if he werche wel þer-wiþ . as dowel hym techeþ W.8.56:nota¶ I haue no kynde knowyng quod I . to conceyuen alle youre wordes Ac if I may lyue and loke . I shal go lerne bettre¶ I bikenne þee crist quod he . þat on cros deydeAnd I seide þe same . saue yow fro myschaunce And ȝyue yow grace on þis grounde . goode men to worþeANd þus I wente wide-wher . walkyng myn one By a wilde wildernesse . and by a wodes side Blisse of þe briddes . brouȝte me aslepe W.8.64:nota And vnder a lynde vp-on a launde . lened I a stounde To lyþe þe layes . þo louely foweles made Murþe of hire mouþes . made me þer to slepleslepeW.8.67:nota The merueillouseste metels . mette me þanne That euer dremed wiȝt . in world as I wene¶ A muche man as me þouȝte . and lik to my-selue Cam and called me . by my kynde name¶ What artow quod I þo . þat þow my name knowest¶ That þow woost wel quod he . and no wiȝt bettre¶ Woot I what þow art . þouȝt seide he þanne I haue sued þee þis seuen yeer . seye þow me no raþer¶ Artow þouȝt quod I þoo . þow koudest me wisse Where þat dowel dwelleþ . and do me þat to knowe¶ Dowel and dobet . and dobest þe þridde quod he W.8.78:nota Arn þre faire vertues . and ben noȝt fer to fynde W.8.79:nota Who-so is trewe of his tunge . and of his two handes W.8.80:nota And þoruȝ his labour . or þoruȝ his land . his liflode wynneþ W.8.81:nota And is trusty of his tailende . takeþ but his owene W.8.82:nota And is noȝt dronkelewe ne dedeynous . dowel hym folweþ W.8.83:nota¶ Dobet dooþ riȝt þus . ac he dooþ muche moore He is as lowe as a lomb . and louelich of speche W.8.85:nota¶ And helpeþ alle men . after þat hem nedeþ The bagges and þe bigirdles . he haþ to-broke hem alle That þe Erl Auarous . heeld and hise heires And þus wiþ Mammonaes moneie . he haþ maad hym frendes And is ronne to Religion . and haþ rendred þe bible And precheþ to þe peple . Seint Poules wordes¶Libenter suffertis insipientes . cum sitis ipsi sapientes¶ And suffreþ þe vnwise . wiþ yow for to libbe W.8.93:nota And wiþ glad wille dooþ hem good . for so god yow hoteþ¶ Dobest is aboue boþe . and bereþ a bisshopes crosse Is hoked on þat oon ende . to halie men fro helle A pik is on þat potente . to putte adown þe wikked That waiten any wikkednesse . dowel to tene And dowel and dobet . amonges hem han ordeyned To crowne oon to be kyng . to rulen hem boþe That if dowel or dobet . dide ayein dobest Thanne shal þe kyng come . and casten hem in Irens And but if dobest bede for hem . þei to be þer for euere¶ Thus dowel and dobet . and dobest þe þridde Crouned oon to be kyng . to kepen hem alle And to rule þe Reme . by hire þre wittes And noon ooþer wise . but as þei þre assented¶ I þonked þoȝt þo . þat he me þus tauȝte Ac yet sauoreþ me noȝt þi seying . I coueite to lerne How dowel . dobet . and dobest . doon among þe peple¶ But wit konne wisse þee quod þoȝt . where þo þre dwelle Ellis woot I noon þat kan . þat now is alyue¶ Thoȝt and I þus . þre daies we yeden Disputyng vp-on dowel . day after ooþer And er we were war . wiþ wit gonne we mete He was long and lene . lik to noon ooþer Was no pride on his apparaille . ne pouerte neiþer W.8.117:nota Sad of his semblaunt . and of softe chere W.8.118:nota I dorste meue no matere . to maken hym to Iangle But as I bad þoȝt þoo . be mene bitwene And pute forþ som purpos . to preuen hise wittes What was Dowel fro dobet . and dobest from hem boþe¶ Thanne þoȝt in þat tyme . seide þise wordes Where dowel . dobet . and dobest ben in londe Here is wil wolde wite . if wit koude teche hym And wheiþer he be man or womman . þis man fayn wolde aspie And werchen as þei þre wolde . thus is his ententePassus xiijusterciodecimus &cAnd I awaked þer-wiþ . witlees nerhande And as a freke þat fre were . forþ gan I walke In manere of a mendynaunt . many a yer after And of þis metyng many tyme . muche þouȝt I hadde¶ First how Fortune me failed . at my mooste nede And how þat Elde manaced me . myȝte we euere mete And how þat freres folwede . folk þat was riche And folk þat was pouere . at litel pris þei sette And no corps in hir kirkȝerd . nor in hir kirk was buryed But quik he biqueþe auȝt . toW.13.10: W alone reads to; CrF read or; G reads or helpe; other manuscripts have or sholde helpe. quyte wiþW.13.10: W alone reads wiþ, omitted by other manuscripts. hir dettes And how þis Coueitise ouer-com . clerkes and preestes And how þat lewed men ben lad . but oure lord hem helpe Thoruȝ vnkonnynge curatours . to incurable peynes¶ And how þat ymaginatif . in dremels me tolde Of kynde and of his konnynge . and how curteis he is to bestes And how louynge he is to briddesW.13.16: W alone reads briddes; other manuscripts have bestes. . on londe and on watreleneþ he no lif Leneþ he no lif . lasse ne moore The creatures þat crepen . of kynde ben engendred And siþen how ymaginatif seide . vix saluabitur And whan he hadde seid so . how sodeynliche he passed¶ I lay doun longe in þis þoȝt . and at þe laste I slepte And as crist wolde þer com Conscience . to conforte me þat tyme And bad me come to his court . wiþ clergie sholde I dyne And for Conscience of Clergie spak . I com wel þe raþer And þere I seiȝ a maister . what man he was I nyste That lowe louted . and loueliche to scripture¶ Conscience knew hym wel . and welcomed hym faire Thei wesshen and wipeden . and wenten to þe dyner And Pacience in þe Paleis stood . in pilgrymes cloþes And preyde mete par charite . for a pouere heremyte¶ Conscience called hym In . and curteisliche seide Wel-come wye go and wassh . þow shalt sitte soone¶ This maister was maad sitte . as for þe mooste worþi And þanne clergie and Conscience . and Pacience cam after¶ Pacience and I . were put to be macches And seten bi oure-selue . at þe side borde¶ Conscience called after mete . and þanne cam Scripture And serued hem þus soone . of sondry metes manye Of Austyn of Ambrose . and of þe foure EuaungelistesEdentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt¶ Ac þis maister norW.13.41: W alone reads nor; most other manuscripts have ne. his man . no maner flessh eten Ac þei eten mete of moore cost . mortrews and potages Of þat men myswonne . þei made hem wel ateseat ese Ac hir sauce was ouer-sour . and vnsauourly grounde In a morter Post mortem . of many a bitter peyne But if þei synge for þo soules . and wepe salte teris¶Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effun-deritis . ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis¶ Conscience ful curteisly þo . comaunded Scripture Bifore Pacience breed to brynge . and me þat was his macche He sette a sour loof toforn vs . and seide Agite penitenciam And siþþe he brouȝte vs drynke . Dia perseuerans As longe quod I as I lyue . and lycame may dure Here is propre seruice quod Pacience . þer fareþ no Prince bettre¶ And þanne he brouȝte vs forþ . a mees of ooþer mete . of Miserere mei deus And he brouȝte vs of Beati quorum . of Beatus virres makyngEt quorum tecta sunt peccata . in a dissh Of derne shrifte . Dixi & confitebor tibi Bryng pacience som pitaunce . pryueliche quod Conscience¶ And þanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce . Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno And Conscience conforted vs . and carped vs murye talesCor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies¶ Pacience was proud . of þat propre seruice And made hym murþe wiþ his mete . ac I mornede euere For þis doctour on þe heiȝe dees . drank wyn so fasteVe vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum¶ He eet manye sondry metes . mortrews and puddynges Wombe cloutes and wilde brawen . and egges yfryed wiþ grece¶ Thanne seide I to my-self so . pacience it herde It is noȝt foure dayes þat þis freke . bifore þe deen of Poules Preched of penaunces . þat Poul þe Apostle suffredeIn fame & frigore . and flappes of scourges¶Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c¶ Ac o word þei ouerhuppen . at ech a tyme þat þei preche That Poul in his Pistle . to al þe peple toldePericulum est in falsis fratribus¶ Holi writ bit men be war . I wol noȝt write it here In englissh on auenture . it sholde be reherced to ofte And greue þer-wiþ goode men . ac gramariens shul redderedeW.13.78: W alone reads redde; other manuscripts have rede.¶Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat . quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus¶ Ac I wiste neuere freke þat as a frere yede . bifore men on englissh Taken it for his teme . and telle it wiþ-outen glosyng They prechen þat penaunce is . profitable to þe soule And what meschief and male-ese . crist for man þolede¶ Ac þis goddes gloton quod I . wiþ hise grete chekes Haþ no pite on vs pouere . he parfourneþ yuele That he precheþ he preueþ noȝt . to Pacience I tolde And wisshed ful witterly . wiþ wille ful egre That disshes and doublers . bifore þis ilke doctour Were molten leed in his mawe . and Mahoun amyddes I shal Iangle to þis Iurdan . wiþ his Iuste wombe To telle me what penaunce is . of which he preched raþer¶ Pacience parceyued what I þouȝte . and wynked on me to be stille And seide þow shalt see þus soone . whan he may namoore He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche . and puffe at ech awordea worde And þanne shullen hise guttes goþele . and he shal galpen after For now he haþ dronken so depe . he wole deuyne sooneAnd preuen it by hir Pocalips . and passion of Seint Auereys That neiþer bacon ne braun . blancmanger ne mortrews Is neiþer fissh nor flessh . but fode for a penaunt And þanne shal he testifie of þe Trinite . and take his felawe to witnesse What he fond in a frayel . after a freres lyuyng And but he first lyue be lesyng . leue me neuere after And þanne is tyme to take . and to appose þis doctour Of dowel and dobet . and if dowelW.13.104: W alone reads dowel; other manuscripts have dobest. be any penaunce¶ And I sat stille as Pacience seide . and þus soone þis doctour As rody as a Rose . rubbede hise chekes Coughed and carped . and Conscience hym herde And tolde hym of a Trinite . and toward vs he loked¶ What is dowel sire doctour quod I . is itW.13.109: W alone reads it; RF read dobest; other manuscripts have dowel. any penaunce¶ Dowel quod þis doctour . and took þe cuppe and drank Is do noon yuel to þyn euencristen . nouȝt by þi power¶ By þis day sire doctour quod I . þanne be ye noȝt in dowel For ye han harmed vs two . in þat ye eten þe puddyng Mortrews and ooþer mete . and we no morsel hadde And if ye fare so in youre Fermerye . ferly me þynkeþ But cheeste be þer charite sholde be . and yonge children dorste pleyne I wolde permute my penaunce with youre . for I am in point to dowel¶ Thanne Conscience curteisly . a contenaunce made And preynte vp-on pacience . to preie me to be stille And seide hym-self sire doctour . and it be youre wille What is dowel and dobet . ye dyuynours knoweþ¶ Dowel quod þis doctour . do as clerkes techeþ And dobet is he þat techeþ . and trauailleþ to teche oþere And dobest doþ hym-self so . as he seiþ and precheþQui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum¶ Now þow Clergie quod Conscience . carpest what is dowel I haue seuene sones he seide . seruen in a Castel Ther þe lord of lif wonyeþ . to leren what is dowel Til I se þo seuene . and my-self acorde I am vnhardy quod he . to any wiȝt to preuen it For oon Piers þe Plowman . haþ impugned vs alle And set alle sciences at a sop . saue loue one And no text ne takeþ . to mayntene his cause But Dilige deum . and Domine quis habitabit And seiþ þat dowel and dobet . arn two Infinites Whiche Infinites wiþ a feiþ . fynden out dobest Which shal saue mannes soule . þus seiþ Piers þe Plowman¶ I kan noȝt her-on quod Conscience . ac I knowe wel Piers He wol noȝt ayein holy writ speken . I dar wel vndertake Thanne passe we ouer til Piers come . and preue þis in dede Pacience haþ be in many place . and paraunter mouþed That no clerk ne kan . as crist bereþ witnessePacientes vincunt &c¶ Ac youre preiere quod Pacience þo . so no man displese hymDisce quod he doce .dilige inimicosDisce and dowel . doce and dobetDilige and dobest . þus tauȝte me ones A lemman þat I louede . loue was hir name Wiþ wordes and wiþ werkes quod she . and wil of þyn herte Thow loue leelly þi soule . al þi lif-tyme And so þow lere þe to louye . for oureW.13.151: W alone reads oure; other manuscripts have þe. lordes loue of heuene Thyn enemy in alle wise . euene-forþ wiþ þi-selue Cast coles on his heed . of alle kynde speche Boþe wiþ werkes and with wordes . fonde his loue to wynne And leye on hym þus with loue . til he lauȝe on þeAnd but he bowe for þis betyng . blynd mote he worþe¶ Ac for to fare þus wiþ þi frend . folie it were For he þat loueþ þee leelly . litel of þyne coueiteþ Kynde loue coueiteþ noȝt . no catel but speche Wiþ half a laumpe lyne in latyn . Ex vi transicionis I bere þer-Inne aboute . faste ybounde dowel In a signe of þe Saterday . þat sette first þe kalender And al þe wit of þe wodnesday . of þe nexte wike after The myddel of þe Moone . as þe nyghtW.13.164: The reading nyght is shared with BCHm. Other manuscripts have myght. of boþe And her-with am I wel-come . þer I haue it wiþ me¶ Vndo it . lat þis doctour deme . if dowel be þer-Inne For by hym þat me made . myȝte neuere pouerte Misese ne meschief . ne noW.13.168: W alone reads no, which is omitted by other manuscripts. man wiþ his tonge Coold ne care . ne compaignye of þeues Ne neiþer hete ne hayl . ne noon helle pouke NeW.13.171: W alone reads Ne; other manuscripts have Ne neiþer. fuyr ne flood . ne feere of þyn enemy Tene þee any tyme . and þow take it wiþ þeCaritas nichil timet &c¶ It is but a dido quod þis doctour . a disours tale Al þe wit of þis world . and wiȝt mennes strengþe Kan noȝt conformen a pees . bitwenebitwene [þe pope]W.13.176: W alone omits þe pope after bitwene. and hise enemys Ne bitwene two cristene kynges . kan no wiȝt pees make Profitable to eiþer peple . and putte þe table fro hym And took Clergie and Conscience . to conseil as it were That Pacience þow most passe . for pilgrymes konne wel lye¶ Ac Conscience carped loude . and curteisliche seide Frendes fareþ wel . and faire spak to clergie For I wol go wiþ þis gome . if god wol yeue me grace And be Pilgrym wiþ pacience . til I haue preued moore¶ What quod Clergie to Conscience . ar ye coueitous nouþe After yeresȝeues or ȝiftes . or yernen to rede redels I shal brynge yow a bible . a book of þe olde lawe And lere yow if yow like . þe leeste point to knowe That Pacience þe pilgrym . parfitly knew neuere¶ Nay by crist quod Conscience to Clergie . god þee foryelde For al þat Pacience me profreþ . proud am I litel Ac þe wil of þe wye . and þe wil of folk here Haþ meued my mood . to moorne for my synnes The goode wil of a wight . was neuere bouȝt to þe fulle For þer nys no tresour ...?...for-soþeW.13.195: W alone reads for-soþe, which is apparently written over an erasure; other manuscripts have þerto. . to a trewe wille¶ Hadde noȝt Maudeleyne moore . for a box of salue Than zacheus for he seide . dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus And þe poore widewe . for a peire of mytes Than alle þo þat offrede . in-to Gazophilacium¶ Thus curteisliche Conscience . congeyed first þe frere And siþen softeliche he seide . in clergies ere Me were leuere by oure lord . and I lyue sholde Haue pacience parfitliche . þan half þi pak of bokes¶ Clergie of Conscience . no congie wolde take But seide ful sobreliche . þow shalt se þe tyme Whan þow art wery of-walkedW.13.206: W alone reads of-walked; most other manuscripts have forwalked. . wille me to counseille¶ That is sooþ quod Conscience . so me god helpe If Pacience be oure partyngfelawepartyng felawe . and pryue with vs boþe Ther nys wo in þis world . þat we ne sholde amende And conformen kynges to pees . and alle kynnes londes Sarsens and Surre . and so forþ alle þe Iewes Turne in-to þe trewe feiþ . and in-til oon bileue¶ That is sooþ quod Clergie . I se what þow menest I shal dwelle as I do . my deuoir to shewe And confermen fauntekyns . and ooþer folk ylered Til Pacience haue preued þee . and parfit þee maked¶ Conscience þo wiþ Pacience passed . pilgrymes as it were Thanne hadde Pacience as pilgrymes han . in his poke vitailles Sobretee and symple speche . and sooþfast bileue To conforte hym and Conscience . if þei come in place There vnkyndenesse and coueitise is . hungry contrees boþe¶ And as þeþe[i]W.13.222: W alone reads þe; other manuscripts have þei. wente by þe weye . of dowel þei carped Thei mette wiþ a Mynstral . as me þo þouȝte Pacience apposed hym first . and preyde he sholde hem telle To Conscience what craft he kouþe . and to what contree he wolde¶ I am a Mynstralle quod þat man . my name is Actiua vita Al ydelnesse ich hatie . for of Actif is my name A wafrer wol ye wite . and serue manye lordes And fewe robes I fonge . or furrede gownes Couþe I lye to do men lauȝe . þanne lacchen I sholde Ouþer mantel or moneie . amonges lordes or Mynstrals Ac for I kan neiþer taboure ne trompe . ne telle no gestes Farten ne fiþelen . at festes ne harpen Iape ne Iogele . ne gentilliche pipe Ne neiþer saille ne saute . ne synge wiþ þe gyterne I haue no goode giftes . of þise grete lordes For no breed þat I brynge forþ . saue a benyson on þe sonday Whan þe preest preieþ þe peple . hir Pater noster to bidde For Piers þe Plowman . and þat hym profit waiten And þat am I Actif . þat ydelnesse hatie For alle trewe trauaillours . and tiliers of þe erþe Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse . I fynde hem wiþ my wafres¶ Beggeris and bidderis . of my breed crauen Faitours and freres . and folk wiþ brode crounes I fynde payn for þe pope . and prouendre for his palfrey And I hadde neuere of hym . haue god my trouþe Neiþer prouendre ne personage . yet of popes ȝifte Saue a pardon wiþ a peis of leed . and two polles amyddes Hadde ich a clerc þat couþe write . I wolde caste hym a bille That he sente me vnder his seel . a salue for þe pestilence And þat his blessynge and hise bulles . bocches myȝte destruye¶In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt And þanne wolde I be prest to þe peple . paast for to make And buxom and busy . aboute breed and drynke For hym and for alle hise . founde I þat his pardoun Miȝte lechen a man . as I bileue it sholde For siþ he haþ þe power . þat Peter hym-self hadde He haþ þe pot wiþ þe salue . sooþly as me þynkeþ¶Argentum & aurum non est michi . quod autem habeo tibi do . in nomine domini surge & ambulaW.13.259: The page is cropped after <amb>. Other manuscripts have ambula or ambula &c.¶ Ac if myȝt of myracle hym faille . it is for men ben noȝt worþi To haue þe grace of god . and no gilt ofW.13.261: W alone reads of; other manuscripts have of þe. pope For may no blessynge doon vs boote . but if we wile amende Ne mannes masse make pees . among cristene peple Til pride be pureliche for-do . and þoruȝ payn defaute For er I haue breed of mele . ofte moot I swete And er þe commune haue corn ynouȝ . many a cold morwenyng So er my wafres be ywroȝt . muche wo I þolye¶ Al Londoun I leue . likeþ wel my wafres And louren whan þei lakken hem . it is noȝt longe ypassed There was a careful commune . whan no cart com to towne Wiþ breed fro Stratford . þo gonnen beggeris wepeW.13.271: In the right margin a sixteenth-century hand adds Stratford. A. I. Doyle noted it "is very like" that of the antiquarian John Stow in the introduction to Kane and Donaldson's B text (p. 14). The same hand supplied the same marginal note at R.13.278 as well as the date "1350" in the margin beside W.13.274.¶And werkmen were agast alitea liteW.13.272: W alone reads alite; other manuscripts have a litel. . þis wole be þouȝt longe In þe date of oure driȝte . in a drye Aprille A thousand and þre hundred . twies twenty and tenW.13.274: A later hand has written 1350 in the left margin. See the note to W.13.271 above. My wafres þere were gesene . whan Chichestre was Maire¶ I took good kepe by crist . and Conscience boþe Of haukyn þe Actif man . and how he was ycloþed He hadde a cote of cristendom . as holy kirke bileueþ Ac it was moled in many places . wiþ manye sondry plottes Of pride here a plot . and þere a plot of vnbuxom speche Of scornyng and of scoffyng . and of vnskilful berynge As in apparaille and in porte . proud amonges þe peple Ooþer-wise þan he hymW.13.283: W alone reads hym, which is omitted by other manuscripts. haþ . wiþ herte or siȝte shewynge Hym willyng þat alle men wende . he were þat he is noȝt For-why he bosteþ and braggeþ . wiþ manye bolde oþes And inobedient to ben vndernome . of any lif lyuynge And noon so singuler by hym-self . ne so pomp-holyW.13.287: WHmL read pomp; other manuscripts have pope or poppe. Yhabited as an heremyte . an ordre by hym-selue Religion saunz rule . orW.13.289: W alone reads or; other manuscripts have and. resonable obedience Lakkynge lettrede men . and lewed men boþe In likynge of lele lif . and a liere in soule Wiþ Inwit and wiþ outwit . ymagynen and studie As best for his body be . to haue a badde name And entremetten hym ouerW.13.294: An otiose curl appears over the <r>. al . þer he haþ noȝt to doone Willynge þat men wende . his wit were þe beste And if he gyueþ ouȝt to pouere gomes . telle what he deleþ Pouere of possession in purs . and in cofre boþe And as a lyoun on to loke . and lordlich of speche Boldest of beggeris . a bostere þat noȝt haþ In towne and in Tauernes . tales to telle And segge þyng þat he neuere seiȝ . and for soþe sweren it Of dedes þat he neuere dide . demen and bosten And of werkes þat he wel dide . witnesse . and siggen Lo if ye leue me noȝt . or þat I lye wenenAskeþ at hym or at hym . and he yow kan telle What I suffrede and seiȝ . and som-tymes hadde And what I kouþe and knew . and what kyn I com of Al he wolde þat men wiste . of werkes and of wordes Which myȝte plese þe peple . and preisen hym-selue¶Si hominibus placerem . christi seruus non essemEt alibi / Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire¶ By crist quod Conscience þo . þi beste cote Haukyn Haþ manye moles and spottes . it moste ben ywasshe¶ Ye who-so toke hede quod haukyn . bihynde and bifore What on bak and what on body half . and by þe two sides Men sholde fynde manye frounces . and manye foule plottes¶ And he torned hym as tyd . and þanne took I hede It was fouler bi fele fold . þan it first semed It was bidropped wiþ wraþe . and wikkede wille Wiþ enuye and yuel speche . entisynge to fighte Lyinge and laughynge . and leue tonge to chide Al þat he wiste wikked . by any wight tellen it And blame men bihynde hir bak . and bidden hem meschaunce And þat he wiste by wille . tellen it watte And þat watte wiste . wille wiste it after And made of frendes foes . þoruȝ a fals tonge Or wiþ myȝt or withW.13.327: W alone reads or with; G reads or; other manuscripts have of. mouþ . or þoruȝ mennes strengþe Auenge me fele tymes . oþer frete my-selue Wiþ-Inne as a shepsteres shere . y-sherewed manm[e]nW.13.329: W alone reads man; other manuscripts have men. and cursed¶Cuius malediccione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolorW.13.330: A word beginning dol is cropped in W; half the manuscripts have dolor, the others end the quotation with sub lingua eius &c.Et alibi: Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte . et lingua eorum gladius acutusW.13.331: A word beginning with <a> is cropped in W; most other manuscripts have acutus, but others abbreviate the quotation.¶ Ther is no lif þat me loueþ . lastynge any whileFor tales þat I telle . no man trusteþ to me And whan I may noȝt haue þe maistrie . swich malencolie I take That I cacche þe crampe . and þe Cardiacle som-tyme Or an Ague in swich an Angre . and som-tyme a Feuere That takeþ me al a twelue-monþe . til þat I despise Lechecraft of oure lord . and leue on a wicche And seye þat no clerc ne kan . ne crist as I leue To þe SoutereofSouthwerk . or of Shordych dame Emme And seye þat no goddes word . gaf me neuere boote But þoruȝ a charme hadde I chaunce . and my chief heele¶ I waitede wisloker . and þanne was it soilled Wiþ likynge of lecherie . as by lokynge of his eiȝe For ech a maide þat he mette . he made hire a signe Semynge to synneward . and som-tyme he gan taste Aboute þe mouþ or byneþe . bigynneþ to grope Til eiþeres wille wexeþ kene . and to þe werke yeden As wel in fastyng-dayes and Fridaies . asW.13.349: W alone reads as; other manuscripts have &. forboden nyȝtes And as wel in lente as out of lente . alle tymes yliche Swiche werkes with hem . were neuere out of seson Til þei myȝte namoore . and þanne murye tales And how þat lecchours louye . laughen and Iapen And of hir harlotrye and horedom . in hir elde tellen¶ Thanne Pacience parceyued . of pointes of þis cote That wereW.13.356: W alone reads That were; other manuscripts have Was. colomy þoruȝ coueitise . and vnkynde desiryng Moore to good þan to god . þe gome his loue caste And ymagynede how . he it myȝte haue Wiþ false mesures and met . and wiþ fals witnesse Lened for loue of þe wed . and looþ to do truþe And awaited . þoruȝ which wey to bigile And menged his marchaundise . and made a good moustre The worste with-Inne was . a greet wit I let it And if my Neghebore hadde any hyne . or any beest ellis¶ Moore profitable þan myn . manye sleiȝtes I made How I myȝte haue it . al my wit I caste And but I it hadde by ooþer wey . at þe laste I stale it Or pryueliche his purs shook . andW.13.368: W alone reads and; other manuscripts omit it. vnpikede hise lokes Or by nyȝte or by daye . aboute was ich euere Thoruȝ gile to gaderen . þe good þat ich haue¶ If I yede to þe Plowȝ . I pynched so narwe That a foot lond or a forow . fecchen I wolde Of my nexte Neghebore . andW.13.373: W alone reads and; other manuscripts omit it. nymen of his erþe And if I repe ouer-reche . or yaf hem reed þat ropen To seise to me wiþ hir sikel . þat I ne sew neuere¶ And who-so borwed of me . abouȝte þe tyme Wiþ presentes pryuely . or paide som certeyn So he woldeW.13.378: W alone reads he wolde; F has wheyþer he wolde; most other manuscripts have wolde he. or noȝt wolde . wynnen I wolde And boþe to kiþ and to kyn . vnkynde of þat ich hadde¶ And who-so cheped my chaffare . chiden I wolde But he profrede to paie . a peny or tweyne Moore þan it was worþ . and yet wolde I swere That it coste me muche moore . and soW.13.383: W alone reads and so; OC2B read &; other manuscripts replace with I or omit. swoor manye oþes¶ On haly-daies at holy chirche . whan ich herde masse Hadde I neuere wille woot god . witterly to biseche Mercy for my mysdedes . þat I ne moorned moore For losse of good leue me . þan for my likames giltes As if I hadde dedly synne doon . I dredde noȝt þat so soore As whan I lened and leued it lost . or longe er it were paied So if I kidde any kyndenesse . myn euencristen to helpe Vp-on a cruwel coueitise . myn herte gan hange¶ And if I sente ouer see . my seruauntz to Brugges Or in-to Pruce-lond my Prentis . my profit to waiten¶ To marchaunden wiþ moneie . and maken hire eschaunges Miȝte neuere me conforte . in þe mene while Neiþer masse ne matynes . ne none maner siȝtes Ne neuere penaunce parfournede . ne Pater noster seide That my mynde ne was moore . on my good in a doute Than in þe grace of god . and hise grete helpesVbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum¶ Whiche ben þe braunches . þat bryngen a man to sleuþe He þat moorneþ noȝt for hise mysdedes . ne makeþ no sorwe And penaunce þat þe preest enioyneþ . parfourneþ yuele Dooþ noon almesseW.13.404: W alone reads almesse; other manuscripts have almesdede. . dred hym of no synne Lyueþ ayein þe bileue . and no lawe holdeþ Ech day is haly-day with hym . or an heiȝ ferye And if he auȝt wole here . it is an harlotes tonge Whan men carpen of crist . or of clennesse of soules He wexeþ wroþ and wol noȝt here . but wordes of murþe Penaunce of pouere men . and þe passion of Seintes He hateþ to here þer-of . and alle þat it telleþ Thise ben þe braunches beþ war . þat bryngen a man to wanhope¶ Ye lordes and ladies . and legates of holy chirche That fedeþ fooles sages . flatereris and lieris And han likynge to liþen hem . to do yow to lauȝeVe vobis qui ridetis &c And ȝyueþ hem mete and mede . and pouere men refuse In youre deeþ-deyinge . I drede me ful soore Lest þo þre maner men . to muche sorwe yow bryngeConsencientes & agentes pari pena punientur¶ Patriarkes and prophetes . and prechours of goddes wordes Sauen þoruȝ hir sermons . mannes soule fro helle Riȝt so flatereris and fooles . arn þe fendes disciples To entice men þoruȝ hir tales . to synne and to harlotrie Ac clerkes þat knowen holy writ . sholde kenne lordes What Dauid seiþ of swiche men . as þe Sauter telleþ¶Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniquaW.13.427: The final letter of iniqua is partially cropped in W. HmY read iniqua &c.¶ Sholde noon harlot haue audience . in halle norW.13.428: W alone reads nor; other manuscripts have ne. in Chambre Ther wise men were . witnesseþ goddes wordes Ne no mysproud man . amonges lordes ben allowed¶ Ac flateres and fooles . þoruȝ hir foule wordes Leden þo þat louen hem . to Luciferis feste Wiþ turpiloquio a ladylayW.13.433: W alone reads lady; other manuscripts have lay. of sorwe . and luciferis fiþele Thus haukyn þe Actif man . hadde ysoiled his cote Til conscience acouped hym þer-of . in a curteis manere Why he ne hadde whasshenW.13.436: WG read whasshen; most other manuscripts have wasshen. it . or wiped it wiþ a brusshe