The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Prologueand Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – PrologueWilliam LanglandEdited by Thorlac Turville-Petre and Hoyt N. DugganAssociate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. Farley Graduate 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 Values brown ink anglicana bastarda italic Lombard Cap ornamented capital, N lines high rubricated touched in red textura underlined underlined in red green ink blue ink

LatinFrenchGerman2000 cataloger Jackie Shieh New header created IN a somer seson . whan softe was þe sonne . I shoop me in-to shroudes . as I a sheep weere . In habite as an heremite . vnholy of werkes . Wente wide in þis world . wondres to here . Ac on a May morwenynge . on Maluerne hilles . Me bifel a ferly . of Fairye me þoȝte . I was wery for-wandred . and wente me to reste . Vnder a brood bank . by a bournes syde . And as I lay and lenede . and loked on þe watres . I slombred in-to a slepyng . it sweyed so murye . Thanne gan I meten . a merueillous sweuene . That I was in a wildernesse . wiste I neuere where . And as I biheeld in-to þe Eest . anheiȝan heiȝ to þe sonne . I seiȝ a tour on a toft . trieliche ymaked . A deep dale byneþe . a dongeon þer-Inne . Wiþ depe diches and derke . and dredfulle of siȝte . A fair feeld ful of folk . fond I þer bitwene . Of alle manere of men . þe meene and þe riche . Werchynge and wandrynge . as þe world askeþ .W.P.19: In the right margin running into the dark stain on the right-hand edge, a later fifteenth-century scribe has written names which are partly legible. They appear to read Ry vont vont John rich Rychard. Kane and Donaldson report bond John Rychard. Some putten hem to þe plouȝ . pleiden ful selde .W.P.20-27: Staining and rubbing on the left edge make the first half-dozen letters very faint, but the readings are secure. In settynge and sowynge . swonken ful harde . And wonnen þat wastours . with glotonye destruyeþ . And somme putten hem to pride . apparailed hem þer-after . In contenaunce of cloþynge . comenW.P.24: The scribe has supplied in a darker ink pride in the space under comen. degised . In preieres and penaunces . putten hem manye . Al for þe loue of oure lord . lyueden ful streyte . In hope to haue after . heuene-riche blisse . As Ancres and heremites . þat holden hem in hire selles And coueiten noȝt in contree . to carien aboute For no likerous liflode . hire likame to plese And somme chosen chaffare . þei cheueden þe bettre As it semeþ to oure siȝt . þat swiche men þryueþ And somme murþes to make . as Mynstralles konne And geten gold with hire glee . synnelees I leeue Ac Iaperes and Iangeleres . Iudas children Feynen hem fantasies . and fooles hem makeþ And han hire wit at wille . to werken if þei wolde That Poul precheþ of hem . I wolW.P.38: W alone reads wol; FGH have wyll, and the remaining B witnesses have nel or nyl. nat preue it here ButW.P.39: W alone has But. All other B manuscripts omit it. . Qui loquitur turpiloquium . is luciferes hyne Bidderes and beggeres . faste aboute yede Wiþ hire belies and hire bagges . of breed ful ycrammed Faiteden for hire foode . fouȝten at þe ale In glotonye god woot . go þei to bedde And risen wiþ ribaudie . þo Roberdes knaues Sleep and sory sleuþe . seweþ hem euere Pilgrymes and Palmeres . pliȝten hem togidere For to seken Seint Iame . and Seintes at Rome They wenten forþ in hire wey . wiþ many wise tales And hadden leue to lyen . al hire lif after I seiȝ somme þat seiden . þei hadde ysouȝt Seintes To ech a tale þat þei tolde . hire tonge was tempred to lye Moore þan to seye sooþ . it semed bi hire speche Heremytes on an heep . with hoked staues .W.P.53: Words at the foot of the page in a different hand appear to read And heppyd stanys, prompted by the last words on the page and perhaps misreading staues as stanes. Wenten to walsyngham . and hire wenches after Grete lobies and longe . þat loþe were to swynke Cloþed hem in copes . to ben knowen from oþere And shopen hem heremytes . hire ese to haue I fond þere Freres . alle þe foure ordres Prechynge þe peple . for profit of hem-selue Glosed þe gospel . as hem good liked For coueitise of copes . construwed it as þei wolde ManyeW.P.62: The last two letters are covered by a stain, but they are legible. of þise maistre freres . nowW.P.62: W alone reads now. GYC2CLM read mowe. cloþen hem at likyng For hire moneie and hire marchaundize . marchen togideres For siþ charite haþ ben chapman . and chief to shryue lordes Manye ferlies han fallen . in a fewe yeres But holy chirche and hij . holde bettre togidres The mooste meschief on Molde . is mountynge wel faste Ther preched a pardoner . as he a preest were Brouȝte forþ a bulle . wiþ many Bisshopes seles And seide þat hym-self myȝte . assoillen hem alle Of falshede of fastynge . of Auowes ybroken Lewed men leued itW.P.72: W alone reads it. Other beta witnesses have hym. wel . and liked hise wordes Comen vp knelynge . to kissen hise bulles He bonched hem with his breuet . and blered hire eiȝen And rauȝte with his Rageman . rynges and broches Thus þei gyuen hire gold . glotons to kepe And leneþW.P.77: The reading could as well be leueþ. it swiche Losels . as leccherie haunten Were þe Bisshop yblessed . and worþ boþe hise eris His seel sholde noȝt be sent . to deceyue þe peple Ac it is noȝt by þe bisshop . þat þe boy precheþ For þe parisshe preest and þe pardoner . parten þe siluer That þe poraille of þe parisshe sholde haue . if þei ne were Persons and parisshe preestes . pleyned hem to þe Bisshop That hire parisshes weren pouere . siþ þe pestilence tyme To haue a licence and leue . at London to dwelle And syngen þer for symonie . for siluer is swete Bisshopes and Bachelers . boþe maistres and doctours That han cure vnder crist . and crownynge in tokene And signe þat þei sholden . shryuen hire parisshens Prechen and praye for hem . and þe pouere fede Liggen at Londoun . in Lenten and ellis Somme seruen þe kyng . and his siluer tellen In Cheker and in Chauncelrie . chalangen hise dettes Of wardes and of wardemotes . weyues and streyves And somme seruen as seruauntz . lordes and ladies And in stede of Stywardes . sitten and demen Hire messe & hire matyns . and many of hire houresW.P.97: A smudge, possibly a punctus, appears at the end of the line. Arn doon vndeuoutliche . drede is at þe laste Lest crist in Consistorie . acorse ful manye I parceyued of þe power . þat Peter hadde to kepe To bynden and vnbynden . as þe book telleþ How he it lefte wiþ loue . as oure lord hiȝte Amonges foure vertues . þe beste of alle vertues That Cardinals ben called . and closynge yates There is cristW.P.105: W alone reads is crist. Other beta witnesses have crist is. in his kyngdom . to close and to shette And to opene it to hem . and heuene blisse shewe Ac of þe Cardinals at court . þat kauȝte of þat name And power presumed in hem . a pope to make To han þat power þat Peter hadde . impugnen I nelle For in loue and in lettrure . þe eleccion bilongeþ For-þi I kan & kan nauȝt . of court speke moore Thanne kam þer a kyng . knyȝthod hym ladde Might of þe communes . made hym to regne And þanne cam kynde wit . and clerkes he made For to counseillen þe kyng . and þe commune saue The kyng and knyȝthod . and clergie boþe Casten þat þe commune . sholde hem-self fynde The commune contreued . of kynde wit craftes And for profit of al þe peple . Plowmen ordeyned To tilie and to trauaille . as trewe lif askeþ The kyng . and þe commune . and kynde wit þe þridde Shopen lawe and leaute . ech man to knowe his owene Thanne loked vp a lunatik . a leene þyng wiþ-alle And knelynge to þe kyng . clergially he seide Crist kepe þee sire kyng . and þi kyngryche And lene þee lede þi lond . so leaute þee louye And for þi riȝtful rulyng . be rewarded in heuene And siþen in þe Eyr anheiȝan heiȝ . an Aungel of heuene Lowed to speke in latyn . for lewed men ne koude Iangle ne Iugge . þat Iustifie hem sholde But suffren and seruen . for-þi seide þe Aungel Sum Rex sum princeps . neutrum fortasse deinceps . O qui iura regis . christi specialia regis . Hoc quod agas melius . iustus es . esto pius . Nudum ius a te . vestiri vult pietate Qualia vis metere . talia grana sere Si ius nudatur . nudo de iure metatur SiW.P.138: The reading is obviously Si, but a crease in the manuscript makes the <i> illegible. seritur pietas . de pietate metas Thanne greued hym a Goliardeis . a gloton of wordes And to þe Aungel anheiȝan heiȝ . answerde afterW.P.140: The apparent punctus at the end of the line is probably the final stroke of <r>. Dum rex a regere . dicatur nomen habere Nomen habet sine re . nisi studet iura tenere Thanne gan al þe commune . crye in vers of latyn To þe kynges counseil . construe who-so wolde Precepta Regis . sunt nobis vincula legis Wiþ þat ran þer a route . of Ratons atonesat ones And smale mees mydW.P.147: W alone reads myd. Other B witnesses have with. hem . mo þan a þousand And comen to a counseil . for þe commune profit For a cat of a contree . cam whan hym liked And ouerleep hem liȝtliche . and lauȝte hem at his wille And pleide wiþ hem perillousli . and possed aboute For doute of diuerse dredes . we dar noȝt wel loke And if we grucche of his gamen . he wol greuen vs alle Cracchen vs or clawen vs . and in hise clouches holde That vs loþeþ þe lif . er he late vs passe Miȝte we wiþ any wit . his wille wiþ-stonde We myȝte be lordes o-lofte . and lyuen at oure ese A Raton of renoun . moost renable of tonge Seide for a souereyn . help to hym-selue I haue yseyen segges quod he . in þe Cite of Londoun Beren beiȝes ful briȝte . abouten hire nekkes And somme colers of crafty werk . vncoupled þei wenten Boþe in wareyne and in waast . where hem-self liked And ouþer while þei arn ellis-where . as I here telle Were þer a belle on hire beiȝe . by Iesu as me þynkeþ Men myȝte witen wher þei wente . and awey renne And riȝt so quod þat Raton . Reson me sheweþW.P.167: The scribe wrote his usual form of <þ> but put a dot above it as though it were a <y>. To bugge a belle of bras . or of briȝt siluer And knytten it on a coler . for oure commune profitW.P.169: Following this line all B manuscripts except WHmCr1G read: And hangen it vp on þe cattes hals . thanne here we mowen (as in L). Wher he ryt or rest . or renneþ to pleye And if hym list for to laike . þanne loke we mowen And peeren in his presence . þe while hym pleye likeþ And if hym wraþeþ be war . and his wey shonye Al þis route of Ratons . to þis reson þei assented Ac þo þe belle was ybrouȝt . and on þe beiȝe hanged Ther ne was Raton in al þe route . for al þe Reaume of Fraunce That dorste haue bounden þe belle . aboute þe cattes nekke Ne hangen it aboute þe cattes hals . al Engelond to wynne AlleW.P.179: W alone reads Alle. Other B manuscripts have And. helden hem vnhardy . and hir counseil feble And leten hire labour lost . and al hire longe studie A Mous þat muche good . kouþe as me þouȝte Strook forþ sternely . and stood bifore hem alle And to þe route of Ratons . reherced þise wordes Thouȝ we killen þe cat . yet sholde þer come anoþer To cacchen vs & al oure kynde . þouȝ we cropen vnder benches For-þi I counseille al þe commune . to late þe cat worþe And be we neuere boldeW.P.187: W alone reads bolde. Other beta witnesses have so bolde. . þe belle hym to shewe For I herde my sire seyn . is seuen yeer y-passed Ther þe cat is a kitoun . þe court is ful elenge That witnesseþ holy writ . who-so wole it rede Ve terre vbi puer Rex est &c For may no renk þer reste haue . for Ratons by nyȝte The while he caccheþ conynges . he coueiteþ noȝt youreW.P.193: W alone reads youre. Other B manuscripts have oure. caroyne But fedeþ hym al wiþ venyson . defame we hym neuere For bettre is a litel los . þan a long sorweW.P.195: The phrase a feyrse, perhaps meaning "a verse, proverb," is written in the right margin in a later hand as again at W.1.38 and W.1.86. It presumably draws attention to the proverbial nature of the line. The maze among vs alle . þeiȝ we mysse a sherewe For many mennes malt . we mees wolde destruyeW.P.197: A crease runs down the center of the leaf, obscuring some characters in the facsimile which are legible in the manuscript. And also ye route of Ratons . rende mennes cloþes Nere þe cat of þat court . þat kan yow ouer-lepe For hadde ye rattes youre wille . ye kouþe noȝt rule yow-selue I seye for me quod þe Mous . I se so muchel after Shal neuere þe cat ne þe kiton . by my counseil be greued ThoruȝW.P.203: W alone reads Thoruȝ. Other B manuscripts have Ne. carpynge of þis coler . þat costed me neuere And þouȝ it hadde costned me catel . biknowen it I nolde But suffren as hym-self wolde . to doon as hym likeþ Coupled and vncoupled . to cacche what þei mowe For-þi ech a wis wiȝt I warne . wite wel his owene What þis metels bymeneþ . ye men þat ben murye Deuyne ye . for I ne dar . by deere god in heuene Yet houed þer an hundred . in howues of selk Sergeantz it bisemed . þat serueden at þe barre Pleteden for penyes . and poundes þe lawe And noȝt for loue of oure lord . vnlose hire lippes ones Thow myȝtest bettre meete myst . on Maluerne hilles Than gete a mom of hire mouþ . til moneie be shewed Barons and Burgeises . and bonde-men als I seiȝ in þis assemblee . as ye shul here after Baksteres and Brewesteres . and Bochiers manye Wollen webbesters . and weueres of lynnen Taillours and Tynkers . and Tollers in Markettes Masons and Mynours . and many oþere craftes Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers . lopen forþ somme As dykeres and delueres . þat doon hire dedes ille And dryueþ forþ þe longe day . with Dieu saue dame Emme Cokes and hire knaues . cryden hote pies hote Goode gees and grys . gowego we dyne gowego we Tauerners vntil hem . trewelyW.P.227: W alone reads trewely. Other B manuscripts omit it. tolden þe same Whit wyn of Oseye . and reed wyn of Gascoigne Of þe Ryn and of þe Rochel . þe roost to defieW.P.229: Following this line all B manuscripts except WYF read: Al þis seiȝ I slepyng . and seuene sythes more (as in L).Passus .vijus.septimus de visione vt supra TReuþe 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 konneþ Super innocentem munera non accipies Pledours sholde peynen hem . to plede for swiche and helpe Princes and prelates . sholde paie for hire trauaille A 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 tolde Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines . facite eis           W.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 stories Cui des videto . is Catons techyng           W.7.78:nota And in þe stories he techeþ . to bistowe þyn almesse Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des           W.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:nota Non 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 placeas           W.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 mensam vt 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 pane           W.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 derelictum nene[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 eternam           W.7.122:nota Qui 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 mortis           W.7.129:nota non 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 nocte           W.7.137:nota And but if luc lye . he lereþ vs by foweles We sholde noȝt be to bisy . aboute þe worldes blisse Ne 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 biholdest Ecce 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 yede MAny tyme þis metels . haþ maked me to studie Of þat I seiȝ slepynge . if it so be myȝte And 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 sweuene Beau 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 hiȝtePassus viijusoctauus de visione & primus de Dowel Thus 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 Iustus           W.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 togideres Ergo 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 deyde And I seide þe same . saue yow fro myschaunce And ȝyue yow grace on þis grounde . goode men to worþe ANd 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 slepleslepe           W.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 entente