W.4 – PPEA

<lg>

<l> <hi><hi>C</hi></hi>Esseþ seiþ þe kyng . I suffre yow no lenger</l>

<l> Ye shul sauȝtne for<seg>-</seg>soþe . and serue me boþe</l>

<l> Kis hire quod þe kyng . <hi>Conscience</hi> I hote</l>

<lg>

W.4.4KD.4.4

<l> <hi>N</hi>ay by crist quod <hi>Conscience</hi> . congeye me er for eu<expan>er</expan>e<note>W.4.4: W alone reads <hi>er for euere</hi>. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>for euere</hi> or <hi>raþer</hi>.</note></l>

<l> But Reson rede me þer<seg>-</seg>to . raþer wol I deye</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And I comaunde þee quod þe kyng . to <hi>Conscience</hi> þanne</l>

<l> Rape þee to ryde . and Reson þow fecche</l>

W.4.8KD.4.8

<l> Comaunde hym þ<expan>a</expan>t he come . my counseil to here</l>

<l> For he shal rule my Reaume . and rede me þe beste</l>

<l> And acounte wiþ þee <hi>Conscience</hi> . so me crist helpe</l>

<l> How þow lernest þe peple . þe lered and þe lewed</l>

<lg>

W.4.12KD.4.13

<l> <hi>¶</hi> I am fayn of þat foreward . seide þe freke þanne</l>

<l> And ryt riȝt to Reson . and rouneþ in his ere</l>

<l> And seide as þe kyng bad . and siþen took his leue</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> I shal arraye me to ryde quod Reson . reste þee <orig>awhile</orig><reg>a while</reg></l>

W.4.16KD.4.17

<l> And called Caton his knaue . curteis of speche</l>

<l> And also Tomme trewe tonge . tel me no tales</l>

<l> Ne lesynge to lauȝen of . for I loued hem neu<expan>er</expan>e</l>

<l> And set my Sadel vp<seg>-</seg>on suffre . til I se my tyme</l>

W.4.20KD.4.21

<l> And lat warroke hym wel . wiþ witty wordes gerþes</l>

<l> And hange on hym þe heuy brydel . to holde his heed lowe</l>

<l> For he wol make wehee . twies er he be þere</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Thanne <hi>Conscience</hi> vp<seg>-</seg>on his capul . carieþ forþ faste</l>

W.4.24KD.4.25

<l> And Reson wiþ hym ryt . rownynge togideres</l>

<l> Whiche Maistries Mede . makeþ on þis erþe</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Oon waryn wisdom . and witty his feere</l>

<l> Folwed hym faste . for þei hadde to doone</l>

W.4.28KD.4.29

<l> In thescheker and in þe Chauncerye . to ben descharged of þynges</l>

<l> And riden faste for Reson sholde . rede hem þe beste</l>

<l> For to saue hem for siluer . from shame and from harmes</l>

<l> And Conscience knew hem wel . þei loued coueitise</l>

W.4.32KD.4.33

<l> And bad Reson ryde faste . and recche of hir neiþer</l>

<l> Ther are wiles in hire wordes . and w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> Mede þei dwelleþ</l>

<l> Ther<seg>-</seg>as wraþe and wranglynge is . þer wynne þei siluer <note>W.4.34:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

<l> Ac where is loue and leautee . þei wol noȝt come þere <note>W.4.35:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

<lb/>

W.4.36KD.4.36α

<l> <hi><foreign><hi><hi>C</hi>ontricio & infelicitas in viis eor<expan>um</expan> &c</hi></foreign></hi></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Thei ne yeueþ noȝt of god . one goose wynge</l>

<l> <hi><foreign><hi><hi>N</hi>on est timor dei ante oculos eor<expan>um</expan> &c</hi></foreign></hi></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> For woot god þei wolde do moore . for a dozeyne chiknes <note>W.4.39:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

W.4.40KD.4.38.1

<l> Or as manye capons . or for a Seem of Otes</l>

<l> Than for þe loue of oure lord . or alle hise leeue Seintes</l>

<l> For<seg>-</seg>þi Reson lat hem ride . þo riche by hem<seg>-</seg>selue</l>

<l> For <hi>Conscience</hi> knoweþ hem noȝt . ne crist as I trowe</l>

W.4.44KD.4.42

<l> And þanne Reson rood faste . þe riȝte heiȝe gate</l>

<l> As <hi>Conscience</hi> hym kenned . til þei come to þe kynge</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Curteisly þe kyng þanne . com ayeins Reson</l>

<l> And bitwene hym<seg>-</seg>self and his sone . sette hym on benche</l>

W.4.48KD.4.46

<l> And wordeden wel wisely . a gret while togideres</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And þanne com pees in<seg>-</seg>to p<expan>ar</expan>lement . and putte forþ a bille</l>

<l> How wrong ayeins his wille . hadde his wif taken</l>

<l> And how he rauysshede Rose . Reignaldes looue</l>

W.4.52KD.4.50

<l> And Margrete of hir maydenhede . maugree hire chekes</l>

<l> Boþe my gees and my grys . hise gadelynges feccheþ</l>

<l> I dar noȝt for fere of hem . fiȝte ne chide</l>

<l> He borwed of me bayard . he brouȝte hym hom neu<expan>er</expan>e</l>

W.4.56KD.4.54

<l> Ne no ferþyng þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>fore . for ouȝt I koude plede</l>

<l> He maynteneþ hise men . to murþere myne hewen</l>

<l> Forstalleþ my feires . and fiȝteþ in my Chepyng</l>

<l> And brekeþ vp my bernes dore . and bereþ awey my whete</l>

W.4.60KD.4.58

<l> And takeþ me but a taille . for ten quarters of Otes</l>

<l> And yet he beteþ me þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>to . and lyþ by my mayde</l>

<l> I am noȝt hardy for hym . vnneþe to loke</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> The kyng knew he seide sooþ . for <hi>Conscience</hi> hym tolde</l>

W.4.64KD.4.62

<l> That wrong was a wikked luft . and wroȝte muche sorwe</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Wrong was afered þanne . and wisdom he souȝte</l>

<l> To maken pees w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> hise pens . and profred hym manye</l>

<l> And seide<note>W.4.67: A mark of punctuation looking like the top part of a punctus elevatus appears here.</note> hadde I loue of my lord þe kyng . litel wolde I recche</l>

W.4.68KD.4.66

<l> Theiȝ pees and his power . pleyned hym euere</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Tho wente Wisdom . and sire waryn þe witty</l>

<l> For þ<expan>a</expan>t wrong hadde ywroȝt . so wikked a dede</l>

<l> And warnede wrong þo . w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> swich a wis tale</l>

W.4.72KD.4.70

<l> Who<seg>-</seg>so wercheþ by wille . wraþe makeþ ofte <note>W.4.72:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

<l> I seye it by my<seg>-</seg>self . þow shalt it wel fynde</l>

<l> But if Mede it make . þi meschief is vppe</l>

<l> For boþe þi lif and þi lond . lyþ in his grace</l>

<lg>

W.4.76KD.4.74

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Thanne wowede wrong . wisdom ful yerne</l>

<l> To maken pees wiþ his pens . handy<seg>-</seg>dandy payed</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Wisdom and wit þanne . wenten togidres</l>

<l> And token Mede myd hem . mercy to wynne</l>

<lg>

W.4.80KD.4.78

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Pees putte forþ his heed . and his panne blody</l>

<l> Wiþ<seg>-</seg>outen gilt god it woot . gat I þis scaþe</l>

<l> Conscience and þe co<expan>m</expan>mune . knowen þe soþe</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Ac wisdom and wit . were aboute faste</l>

W.4.84KD.4.82

<l> To ou<expan>er</expan>comen þe kyng . wiþ catel if þei myȝte</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> The kyng swor by crist . and by his crowne boþe</l>

<l> That wrong for hise werkes . sholde wo þolie</l>

<l> And comaundede a Constable . to casten hym in Irens</l>

W.4.88KD.4.86

<l> And lete hym noȝt þise seuen yer . seen his feet ones</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> God woot quod wisdom . þat were noȝt þe beste</l>

<l> And he amendes mowe make . lat maynprise hym haue</l>

<l> And be borȝ for his bale . and buggen hym boote</l>

W.4.92KD.4.90

<l> And so amenden þat is mysdo . and eu<expan>er</expan>e<seg>-</seg>moore þe bettre <note>W.4.92:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Wit acorded þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>wiþ . and seide þe same</l>

<l> Bettre is þ<expan>a</expan>t boote . bale adoun brynge</l>

<l> Than bale be ybet . and boote neuer þe bettre</l>

<lg>

W.4.96KD.4.94

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And þanne gan Mede to mengen hire . and m<expan>er</expan>cy she bisouȝte</l>

<l> And p<expan>ro</expan>frede Pees a p<expan>re</expan>sent . al of pure golde</l>

<l> Haue þis man of me quod she . to amenden þi scaþe</l>

<l> For I wol wage for wrong . he wol do so namoore</l>

<lg>

W.4.100KD.4.98

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Pitously Pees þanne . preyde to þe kynge</l>

<l> To haue mercy on þat man . þat mysdide hym so ofte</l>

<l> For he haþ waged me wel . as wisdom hym tauȝte</l>

<l> And I forgyue hym þat gilt . wiþ a good wille</l>

W.4.104KD.4.102

<l> So þ<expan>a</expan>t þe kyng assente . I kan seye no bettre</l>

<l> For Mede haþ me amendes maad . I may namoore axe <note>W.4.105:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Nay quod þe kyng þo . so me crist helpe</l>

<l> Wrong wendeþ noȝt so awey . erst wole I wite moore <note>W.4.107: The <add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add> appears to the left of the line.</note></l>

W.4.108KD.4.106

<l> For lope he so liȝtly . lauȝen he wolde</l>

<l> And eft þe bolder<expan>e</expan> be . to bete myne hewen</l>

<l> But Reson haue ruþe on hym . he shal reste in my stokkes</l>

<l> And þat as longe as he lyueþ . but lowenesse hym borwe</l>

<lg>

W.4.112KD.4.110

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Som men radde Reson þo . to haue ruþe on þat shrewe</l>

<l> And for to counseille þe kyng . and <hi>Conscience</hi> after</l>

<l> That Mede moste be maynp<expan>er</expan>no<expan>ur</expan> . Reson þei bisouȝte</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Reed me noȝt quod Reson . no ruþe to haue <note>W.4.115:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

W.4.116KD.4.114

<l> Til lordes and ladies . louen alle truþe</l>

<l> And haten alle harlotrie . to heren or to mouþen it</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Til p<expan>er</expan>nelles p<expan>ur</expan>fill<expan>e</expan> . be put in hire hucche</l>

<l> And childrene cherissynge . be chastynge wiþ yerdes</l>

W.4.120KD.4.118

<l> And harlottes holynesse . be holden for an hyne</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Til clerkene coueitise be . to cloþe þe pou<expan>er</expan>e and fede</l>

<l> And Religiouse Romeris . <foreign><hi>Recordare</hi></foreign> in hir cloistres</l>

<l> As Seynt Beneyt hem bad . Bernard and Fraunceis</l>

W.4.124KD.4.122

<l> And til p<expan>re</expan>chours p<expan>re</expan>chynge . be preued on hem<seg>-</seg>selue</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Til þe kynges counseil . be þe co<expan>m</expan>mune p<expan>ro</expan>fit</l>

<l> Til Bisshopes Bayardes . ben beggeris Chaumbres</l>

<l> Hire haukes and hire houndes . help to pou<expan>er</expan>e Religious</l>

<lg>

W.4.128KD.4.126

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And til Seint Iames be souȝt . þ<expan>er</expan>e I shal assigne<note>W.4.128-129: The bottom part of the leaf is discolored and there is some bleedthrough, especially over these last two lines.</note></l>

<l> That no man go to Galis . but if he go for euere</l>

<l> <hi>A</hi>nd alle Rome renneres . for Robberes biyonde</l>

<l> Bere no siluer ouer see . þat signe of kyng sheweþ</l>

W.4.132KD.4.130

<l> Neiþ<expan>er</expan> g<expan>ra</expan>ue ne vng<expan>ra</expan>ue . gold neiþ<expan>er</expan> siluer</l>

<l> Vp<seg>-</seg>on forfeture of þat fee . who<seg>-</seg>so fynt it at <hi><hi>D</hi>ouere</hi></l>

<l> But if it be Marchaunt or his man . or Messager wiþ l<expan>ett</expan>res</l>

<l> P<expan>ro</expan>uysour or preest . or penaunt for hise synnes</l>

<lg>

W.4.136KD.4.134

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And yet quod Reson by þe Rode . I shal no ruþe haue</l>

<l> While Mede haþ þe maistrie . in þis moot halle</l>

<l> Ac I may shewe ensamples . as I se ouþ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>while</l>

W.4.140KD.4.138

<l> That I were kyng w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> coroune . to kepen a Reaume</l>

<l> Sholde neu<expan>er</expan>e wrong in þis world . þ<expan>a</expan>t I wite myȝte</l>

<l> Ben vnpunysshed in my power . for p<expan>er</expan>il of my soule</l>

<l> Ne gete my g<expan>ra</expan>ce for giftes . so me god saue</l>

W.4.144KD.4.142

<l> Ne for no Mede haue m<expan>er</expan>cy . but mekenesse it make</l>

<l> For <hi><foreign><hi><hi>N</hi>ullum malum</hi></foreign></hi> . þe man . mette wiþ <hi><foreign><hi>inpunitum</hi></foreign></hi> <note>W.4.145: The <add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add> appears to the left of the line.</note></l>

<l> And bad <hi><foreign><hi>Nullum bonum .</hi></foreign></hi> be <hi><foreign><hi>irremuneratum</hi></foreign></hi> <note>W.4.146: The <add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add> appears to the left of the line.</note></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Lat youre Confesso<expan>ur</expan> sire kyng . construe þis vnglosed</l>

W.4.148KD.4.146

<l> And if ye werchen it in werk . I wedde myne eris<note>W.4.148: A scribe has drawn a <add><hi><figure><figDesc>pointing hand</figDesc></figure></hi></add> in the right margin.</note></l>

<l> That lawe shal ben a laborer . and lede afeld donge</l>

<l> And loue shal lede þi lond . as þe leef likeþ</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Clerkes þat were Confesso<expan>ur</expan>s . coupled hem togideres</l>

W.4.152KD.4.150

<l> Al to construe þis clause . and for þe kynges p<expan>ro</expan>fit</l>

<l> Ac noȝt for confort of þe co<expan>m</expan>mune . ne for þe kynges soule</l>

<l> For I seiȝ Mede in þe moot halle . on men of lawe wynke</l>

<l> And þei lauȝynge lope to hire . and lefte Reson manye</l>

W.4.156KD.4.154

<l> Waryn wisdom . wynked vp<seg>-</seg>on Mede</l>

<l> And seide madame I am your<expan>e</expan> man . what so my mouþ Iangle</l>

<l> I falle in floryns quod þat freke . and faile speche ofte<note>W.4.158-159: The bottom two lines are affected by bleedthrough.</note></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Alle riȝtfulle recordede . þ<expan>a</expan>t Reson truþe tolde</l>

W.4.160KD.4.158

<l> And wit acorded þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>wiþ . and comendede hise wordes</l>

<l> And þe mooste peple in þe halle . and manye of þe grete</l>

<l> And leten Mekenesse a maister . and Mede a mansed sherewe</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Loue leet of hire liȝt . and leaute yet lasse</l>

W.4.164KD.4.162

<l> And seiden it so heiȝe . þ<expan>a</expan>t al þe halle it herde</l>

<l> Who<seg>-</seg>so wilneþ hire to wif . for welþe of hire goodes <note>W.4.165: The <add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add> appears to the left of the line.</note></l>

<l> But he be knowe for a Cokewold . kut of my nose <note>W.4.166: The <add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add> appears to the left of the line.</note></l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Mede mornede þo . and made heuy chere</l>

W.4.168KD.4.166

<l> For þe mooste co<expan>m</expan>mune of þat court . called hire an hore</l>

<l> Ac a Sisour and a Somono<expan>ur</expan> . sued hire faste</l>

<l> And a Sherreues clerk . bisherewed al þe route</l>

<l> For ofte haue I quod he . holpen yow at þe barre</l>

W.4.172KD.4.170

<l> And yet yeue ye me neu<expan>er</expan>e . þe worþ of a risshe</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> The kyng callede <hi>Conscience</hi> . and afterward Reson</l>

<l> And recordede þ<expan>a</expan>t Reson . hadde riȝtfully shewed</l>

<l> And modiliche vp<seg>-</seg>on Mede . wiþ myȝt þe kyng loked</l>

W.4.176KD.4.174

<l> And gan wexe wroþ w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> lawe . for Mede almoost hadde shent it</l>

<l> And seide þoruȝ lawe as I leue . I lese manye eschetes</l>

<l> Mede ouer<seg>-</seg>maistreþ lawe . and muche truþe letteþ <note>W.4.178:<add><foreign>n<expan>ota</expan></foreign></add></note></l>

<l> Ac Reson shal rekene wiþ yow . if I regne any while</l>

W.4.180KD.4.178

<l> And deme yow bi þis day . as ye han deserued</l>

<l> Mede shal noȝt maynprise yow . by þe marie of heuene</l>

<l> I wole haue leaute in lawe . and lete be al youre ianglyng</l>

<l> And as moost folk witnesseþ wel . wrong shal be demed</l>

<lg>

W.4.184KD.4.182

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Quod <hi>Conscience</hi> to þe kyng . but þe co<expan>m</expan>mune wole assente</l>

<l> It is ful hard by myn heed . her<seg>-</seg>too . to brynge it</l>

<l> Alle youre lige leodes . to lede þus euene</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> By hym þat rauȝte on þe Rode . quod Reson to þe kynge</l>

W.4.188KD.4.186

<l> But if I rule þus youre Reaume . rende out my guttes</l>

<l> If ye bidden buxomnesse . be of myn assent</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And I assente seiþ þe kyng . by Seinte Marie my lady</l>

<l> By my counseil co<expan>m</expan>mune . of clerkes and of Erles</l>

W.4.192KD.4.190

<l> Ac redily Reson . þow shalt noȝt ride fro me</l>

<l> For as longe as I lyue . lete þee I nelle</l>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> I am al redy quod Reson . to reste wiþ yow eu<expan>er</expan>e</l>

<l> So Conscience be of oure counseil . I kepe no bettre</l>

<lg>

W.4.196KD.4.194

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And I graunte quod þe kyng . goddes forbode ellis<note>W.4.196: W alone reads <hi>ellis</hi>. Other <hi>B</hi> witnesses read <hi>it faile</hi>.</note></l>

<l> Als longe as oure lyf lasteþ . lyue we togideres</l>

</lg>