The vision of pierce Plowman nowe the second time imprinted by Roberte Crowlye dwellynge in Elye rentes in Holburne whereunto are added certayne notes and cotations in the mergyne, geuyng light to the reader. And in the begynning is set a brefe summe of all the principal matters spoken of in the boke. And as the boke is deuided into twenty partes called Passus: so is the summary diuided, for euery parte hys summarie, rehearsynge the matters spoken of in euery parte. euen in suche order as they stande there.

IN a somer season , when set was the sunne I shope me into shroubs , as I a shepe were In habite as an harmet , vnholy of werkes Went wyde in thys world , wonders to here And on a May morning , on Maluerne hilles Me befell a ferly , of fayry me thought , I was wery of wandering , and went me to rest Vnder a brode banke by a bourne side And as I lay and leanid , and lokid on the water I slombred into a sleping , it swyzed so merye . Than gan I to meten , a meruelouse swiuen That I was in a wildernes , I wyst neuer where . As I beheld into th easte , on highe to the sunne I saw a tower on a toft , trychlych ymaked A depe dale beneth , a dungeon therin Wyth depe diches and darcke , and dreaful of syght A fayre felde ful of folke , found I there betwene Of all maner men , the meane and the ryche Werking and wandring , as the world asketh Some put hem to the ploughe , pleiden full selde In setting and sowing , swonken ful harde And wonnen that wasters , wyth glotony destroyen And some put hem to pryd , appareled therafter In countinaunce of clothyng , commenly disgisid In praiers and penaunce , putten hem many In hope to haue after , heauentich blisse And for the loue of our lorde , liuyden full hard As Ankers and Hermets , that hold hem in her selles And coueten nought in contrei , to carien aboute For no liquerous liuelod , her likam to please And some chosen chaffer , they cheueden the better As it semith to our sight , that such do thriuen And some mirthes to make , as minstrels cunneth And getten gold with her glee , sinles I leue As Iapers and Ianglers Iudas chyldren Fayneth hem fantasies , Common Iestas . and foles hem maketh And han her wyt at wyl , to werke if they should That Paule precheth of hem I nil not preue it here Qu● loqiurut turpiloqutum &c. Is Lucifers knaue Bydders and beggers , fast aboute yede Wyth hyr bealies & hyr bagges , of bread ful crammed Faitenden for her fode , foughten at the ale In glotony Godwote , gone they to bedde And rise with rebaudry , as Rebertes knaues Slepe and sory slouth , sueeth hem euer Pylgraimes & Palmers , Pylgrymes . plight hem togethers For to seke . S. Iames , and saintes at Rome They went forth their waye , wyth many wyse tales And had leue to lye all her life after . I see some that sayd , they had sought sayntes To eche a tale that they told , her tong was tempred to lye More then to say soth , it semed by her speche . Hermets on a heape , Hermes . wyth hoked staues Wenten to Walsingham , & her wenches after . Great loubies and longe , that loth were to swinke Clothed hem in copes , to be knowen from other And shopen hem hermets , her ease to haue , Friers . I found there fryres , all the four orders Preached to the people , for profite of them selues Glosed the gospel , as hem good lyked For couetouse of copes , construe it as they wold Many of these master f●iers , might cloth hem at liking For her money & her marchaundise marchen togithers . For sith cheritie was chap man , & chefe to shryue lords Many ferleis haue fallen , in fewe yeres , But holy church and they , hold better togither The most mischiefe on mould , is mountinge well fast There preached a pardoner , as he a priest were Brought forth a bull with many bishops seales And sayd that him selfe , Pardonars . might absoyle hem all Of falsehod and of fasting , and of vowes broken . Lewde men leued him well : and liked his wordes Commen vp kneling , to kisse hys bulles He bouched hem with his breuet , and blered her eyes And raught with hys ragman , both ringes & broches Thus they giue their gold , g●otons to kepe And leneth it to such losels , as lichery haunteth Were the bishop blessed , and worth both his eares His seale shold not be sent , to deceyue the people And it is nought by the bishop , that the boy preacheth For the parish priest & the pardoner , part the siluer . That the pouerti of the parish , should haue if they ne were Persons & her priestes : pleyned hem to the bishop That her parishes were pore , sithen the pestilence time To haue a licence and leaue , at London to dwel To sing there for Simony for siluer is swete , Bishops and Bachelers , both masters and doctors That haue cure vnder Christ , and crowning in token And signe that they should shriue her parishinges Preach and pray for hem , and the poore fede , Lye at London , in lenten and elles Some seruen the kyng and his siluer tellen In chekec and in chauncery , chalenge his dettes . Of wardes & warmottes of wayues and st●●ues : And some seruen as seraūes , to lords and to ladies And in stede of stewerdes , sit and demen . Her masses and her mattens , and many of her hours Are done vndeuoutly , drede is at the laste Lest Christ in consistory , accursse full many I perceyued of the powre , that Peter had to kepe To binden and vnbinden , as the boke telleth : Howe he left it wyth loue , as our lorde hyght Amonges foure vertuis , the best of al vertues That Cardinalles bene called , and closing yates There Christ is in kyngdome , to close and to shit And to open it to hem , and heuens blys shewe And of Cardinals at court , that caught of that name And powre presumid , in hem a Pope to make To haue that power that Peter had , impugne Inel For in loue and in lecture , the election belongeth Forthy I can , and cannot , of court speake more . Then came ther a king , knighthode hym led : Myght of the commons , made hym to raygne And than came kind wit , and clerkes he made For to councel the king , and the commons saue The kyng and knighthode , and clergy boeth Casten that the commons , shold hem selues fynd The commons contriued , of kind wyt craftes And for profit of al the people plowmen ordeyned To tyll and to trauel , as true lyfe asketh . The king and the commons , and kind wit the thyrde Shopen law & leauti , euery man to know his owne . Then lokid vp a Lunatike , a leaue thing with al And knelyng to the kyng , clergially he sayd Christ kepe the syr king , and thy king riche And leue the lede thy loud , so lenty the loueth And for thy rightfull rulyng , be rewarded in heauen And sithen in the ayre on height , an aungel of heauen Lowde to speake in laten , for lewde men ne could Iangle ne iudge , that iustifie hem shoulde But suffren and seruen , forthy sayde the angell . Sum Rex , sum Princeps , neutrum fortasse demceps . O qui Iura regis , Christi specialia regis , Hoc quo agas melius , Iustus es , esto Pius . Nudum Ius a te , vestiri vult Pietate . Qualia vis metere , talia gra●a sere . Si Ius undatur , undo de Iure metatur Si seritur Pietas , de Pietate metas . Than greued hym a Goliardes a gloten of wordes And to the angell , on hygh answered after Dum Rex a regere , dicatur nomen habere , Nomen habet sine re , uisistudet Iura tenere . Than gan all the commons crye , in versis of latine To the kynges counsel , construe who so would . Precepta Regis , sunt nobis vincula Legis , With that ranne there a route , of rattons at once And small mise wyth hem , The tal● of the ra●●tons . mo than a thousande And commen to counsel , for the common profite . For a Catte of a courte , came whan hym lyked And ouerleapte hem lyghtly , & cought hem at his wil And played wyth hem perilously , and possed about For doubt of diuerse dreades , wee dare not wel loke And if we grutch at hys game , he will greuen vs all Scratchynge vs & clawyng vs , & in his clawes hold That we loth the lyfe , or he let vs passe . Myght we wyth any wyt , hys wyll wythstand We might be lordes aloft , and lyue at ease . A rotton of renowne , most renable of tonge Sayd for a souerayne , helpe to hym selfe , I haue sene segges quod he , in the City of London Beare byghes full bryght , aboute theyr neckes And some colers of crafty werke , vncoupted thei went Both in waren and in wast , where hem leue lyketh And other while they are els where , as I here tell Were ther a bel on her bight , bi Iesu as me thinketh , Men might wyt where they went , and away runne And right so ꝙ that ratton , reason me sheweth To bugge a vel of brasse , or of bright siluer And knyt on his coller , for our commen profit And hangen it aboute the cattes halfe , then here wee . Whether he rit or rest , or runne to pleye And if him list for to lake , than loke we might moune And pere in his presens , the while him play lyketh And if he wrath , beware , and his way shonne . Al this rout of rattons , to this reason they assented And tho the bel was bought & on the byght hanged There ne was ratten in al the rowte , for al the realme of Fraunce That durst bind the bel about the ca●s nek Ne hang it about the cats halfe , all England to wyn And held hem vnhardy , and her cowncell feble And let her labour lost , and al her long study . A mouse that much good coud , as me thought Stroke furth sternly , and stode before him al And to the rowte of rattons , rehersed these wordes Though we kil this cat , yet shuld ther come an other To catch vs & al our kind , though we crepe vnder ●enches And be we neuer so bold the bel him to shewe For I heard my sier say , seuen yere passed Wher the Cat is a kitling , the court is full clen●e That witnesseth holy writing , who so will it read * * Omnium doctisumorum suffragio dicuntur Hec de lassiuis , fatuis , aut ineptis principibus , non de etate tenellis Quasi dicat , vbi rex puerilis est . Ve terre , vbi puet rex est . For may no reuke there rest haue , for rattons bi night The whil he catcheth comes , he couetith not our carien But fedeth him with venison , defame we him neuer Eccles. x. For better is a little losse , than a longe sorowe . The maze amonge vs all , though we mysse a shrewe For many mens mait , we myse woulde destroye And also ye route of cattons , rend mens clothes Ner the catte of that courte , that can vs ouerleape For had you rats your wyll , you could not rule yourselfe I saye for me , ꝙ the mouse , I se so mekel after Shal nether the cat ne the kitling , bi mi councel be greuid Ne carpyng of thys coler , that costed me neuer And though it had cost me catel , be knowne it I nold But suffer as him selfe woulde , to done as him liketh Coupled and vncoupled , to catch what they may . Forthy ech a wise wyght I warne , wit wel hys own What thys metels by meaneth , ye men that be merye Diuine ye for I dare not , by deare God of heauen . Yet houed there an hundred , in hownes of sylke Sergeantes it besemed that seruen at the barre Pieten for penies , and poundes , the lawe . Sergiants of the lawe And not for the loue of our lord , vnclosē her lips once Thou mightest better mete the mist , on maluerne hils Than get a mumme of her mouth , til money be shewed I sawe Bishops bolde , Byshops and Bachilers of diuine Become clarckes of accountes , the kyng for to serue Arche deakens and deanes , that dignities haue To preache to the people , and pore men to fede Ben lope to London by leaue of her bishop And ben clarkes of the kinges benche , the contrey to shend Barons and burgesis , and bonde men also I see in thys assemble , as ye shall heare after . Bakesters and bruesters , and bouchers many Wollen websters , and weuers of lynnen Taylers and tinkers , and tollers in markets Masons and minors , and many other crafts Of all kinne lybbing laborers , lopen forth some As dikers and deluers , that done their dedes yl And driue forth the long day with dieu vous saue dame Eme Cokes and her knaues criden hote pyes hote Good geese and gris , goo we dine goo we Tauerners vntil them , told the same Whyt wine of Osay , and red wyne of Gascoyone Of the renne and of the rochel , the roste to defye Thys sawe I sleping , and seuen sythes more .

¶ Passus primus de visione WHat this mountein bemeineth , & the merk dale And the feld full of folk , I shal you faire shew A louely lady of lere , in linnen iclothed Came downe from a castel , & called me fair And said sonne slepest thou , seest thou this people ? How busy they be , al about the mase The tour The most part of this puple , the passeth on this earth Haue they worship in this worlde , they wil no better Of other heauen then here , hold they no tale I was afrayde of her face , though she fayre were And sayd mercy madame , what is this to meane ? The toure vpon the toft , trueth is therein And woulde that ye wrought , as his word teacheth For he is father of fayth , and former of you al Both with fel and with face , and gaue you fyue wyttis For to worship him ther with , the while you bene here Of wollen of lynnen , and of liuelode at nede In mesurable maner to make you at ease And comma unded of his curtesy , in commen thre thynges Arne none nedful but tho , and nempen hem I think And reken hem by reason , reherse ye hem after . That one is vesture , from cheyle to saue And meate at meale , for disease of thy selfe And drinke whan thou driest , & do nought out of reason That thou worth the worse , whan thou worke shouldest . For Loth in his dayes , for liking of drinke Did with his doughters , Loth that the Deuill lyketh Delited in drinke , as the deuell wolde And lechery him laught , and lay by hem both , And al he wite the wine , that wicked dede Inebriamus eum vino , dormiamusque cum eo , Gen. xix . vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen . Through wiue & women , ther was Loth accombred And ther gat in glotony , girles that were cherels Forthy , dred delectable drinke , & thou shalt do the better Measure is medicine , though you michel yerne It is not al for the goste , that the gutte asketh Leue not thy likam , for a lyer him teacheth That is the wretched worlde , wold the betray For the fende and the flesh , foloweth the togithers This & that seyth thy soule , and seeth it in thine herte . And for thou shouldest beware , I wish the the best . Madame mercy ꝙ I , me lyketh wel your wordes And the mony of this moulde , that men so fast holdeth Tel me to whom madame that treasure appendeth . Go to the gospel ꝙ she , that god sayd him selfe . Tho the people him apposed , with a peny in the temple Whether they shuld therwith , worship the kinge Cesar And god asketh hem , of whom speaketh the letter And the ymage i like , that therin standeth Cesars they sayd , we sene here wel echone Redde Cessari , quod god , that Cesary belongeth Et que sunt dei deo , or els ye done yll For rightful reason , Luke . xx . should rule you all And kind wit be warden your wealth to kepe And tutor of your treasure , and take you at nede For husbandry and he , holden togither . Than I frayned her fayre , for him that me made Dungion That dungeon in the dale , that dredeful is of syght What may it bemeane , madame I you byseche . That is the castell of care , who so commeth therin May banne that be borne was , to body or to soule , Therin wonneth a wight , that wrong is I hote Cayne Father of falsehead , and founded it him selfe Adam and Eue , he egged to yll , Iudas Councelled Cayne , to kil his brother Iudas he iaped , with Iewes siluer And sithen on an elder , hanged him after He is lettar of loue , and lyeth hem all That trust in his treasure , betraieth he soneste Than had I wonder in my wit , what woman it were That suche wise wordes , of holy write shewed And I asked her on the height name , or she thence yede What she were wisely , that wished me so fayre . Holy church I am ꝙ she , thou oughtest me to know I vnderfenge the fyrst , and the fayth taught Thou broughtest me borowes , my byddings to fulfyl And to loue me lelly , that while the lyfe dureth Than I courbed on my knees , and cried her of grace And prayed her pituosly , pray for my sinnes And also kenne me kindly , on Christ to beleue That I might worke his wil , that wrought me to man Truth is the beste treasure . Teach me to no treasure , but tell me this ilke How I may saue my soule , that saynt art holden , When all treasures are tried ꝙ she , truth is the beste I do it on Deus Charitas to deme the sothe It is as dere worth a drury , as dere God hym selfe , Who is true of his tonge , and telleth no other And doth the worckes therwith , and willeth no man yll He is a god by the gospel , a grounde and a lofte And lyke to our Lord , by saynt Lukes wordes . The clarkes that knowe thys , should kenne it about For christen and vnchristen , claymeth it echone Kynges and knyghtes , should kepe it by reason Ryden and rapen downe , Knygtes office . in realmes aboute And taken traungressours , and tye hem fast Tyll trueth termined , her trespate to the ende And that is the profession a partly , the appendeth to knights And not to faste one Friday , in fiue score wynter But hold with him & with hir , that wolden all truth And neuer leue hem for loue , ne for lakyng of syluer . For Dauid in his dayes , dubbed knightes And did hem swere on her swerde , Dauid to serue truth euer And who so passed the poynt , was apostata in the order . But Christe kyng of kynges , made knyghtes ten , Cherubyn and Seraphyn , suche seuen and another . And gaue hem myght in his maiestie , the mirier hem thought And ouer hys meane meiny , made hem archangels Taught by the trinitie , Trueth to knowe To be buxume at his bidding , he bade hem noughtels Lucifer with legions , learned it in heauen But for he brake buxumnes , his blysse can he tine And fell from that felowshyp , in a fendes lykenes Into a depe darcke hell , to dwell there for euer And moo thousandes with hym , than man could numbre Loppen out with Lucifer , in lothlyche forme For these leueden vpon him , that lyed on thys maner Ponam pedem in aquilone , et similis ero altissimo . Esai . xiiii And al the hoped it might be so , no heuen might hem hold But fel out in findes likenes , nine dayes togither Tyl god of his goodnes , gan stable and stint And garde the heuen to sticke , and stonde in quiet When the wicked went out , in wonder wyse they fel Some in ayre some in earth , and some in hell depe . And Lucifer lowest lieth , yet of hem al For pride that he pult out , his payne had no end And al that worke with wrong , wend they shal After their death day , and dwell with that shrewe And tho that work wel , as holy write telleth And ende as I ere sayd , in trueh that is the beaste May be siker that their soules , shal wende to heauen There truth is in trinitie , and troweth hem al , Forthy I say as I sayd ere , by syght of these textes , Whan all treasures are tried , Truth is the greatest treasure , truth is the best Lerne on this lewde men , for letterd men it knoweth That truth is treasure , the triedest on earth . I haue no kind knowing ꝙ I , ye mote me ken better By what craft in my crops , it comseth & where . Thou dotest daffe , quod she dul are thy wittis To tel latin thou learnedst leode in thy youth . Heu mihi , qui a ste rilem duxi , vitam iuuenilem . It is a kind knowing ꝙ he , that knoweth in thy herte For to loue the lord , leuer then thy selfe . No deadly sinne to do , dye though thou shouldest . This I trowe be trueth , who can teach the better , Loke thou suffer him to say , and sith lerne it after For trueth telleth that loue , is triacle for synne May no sinne be on him sene , that vseth that spice And al his works he wrought , with loue as him list And lerned it Moses , for the leuiest thing of al And also the plant of peace most precious of vertues For heauen might not hold it , it was so heuy of hym selfe Till it had of the earth , yoten it selue And whan it had of this fold , flesh and bloud taken Was neuer leafe vpon linde , lighter thereafter And portatiue & persante , as the poynt of a nedle That might none armour it let , ne none heigh walles Forthy loue is the leader , of the lords loue of heauen And a meane as the maire is , betwene the king & the commons Right so is loue a leader , & the law shapeth Vpon man for his misdedes , the mercement he taxeth And for to know it kindly , it comith by might And in the hert there is the head , and the hight wyl For of kind knowing in hert , ther a might beginneth . And that falleth to the father , that formid you al He lokid on vs with loue , and let his sone dye Mekely for our misdeds , to amend vs all : And yet wold he hem no woo , that wrought him the payne But mekely with mouth , mercy he besought To haue pitie on that people , that pained him to deth Here might you se in example , in selfe one That he was mightful and meke , the mercy can graunt . To hem that hanged on height him , & his hert thirled Forthie I red you Rich , haue ruth on the pore Though ye be mighty to mote , be meke in your workes For the same mesure that ye mete , amis other els Ye shall be weine ther with , whan ye wenden hence Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis , remetietur vobis . For though ye be true of your tong , Mar. iiii . & trulieh worch And as chast as a child , that in church wepeth But if ye loue lelie , and leue the pore Such good as god you sent , godliche parte You haue no more merite , in masse nor in houres Than Malkin of her maydēhead , that no man desireth ▪ For Iames the Ientle , Iudged in his bokes That fayth without the feate , is right nothing worth And as deade as dore tree , but if the dedes followe Iacob . ii . Fides sine operibus mortna est . Forthi chastitie without charitie , worthi cheines in hell : It is as lewde as a lampe , that no light is in Many chaplens ar chast , and charitie is awaye Ar no men auarisiouser than they , when they be auaunced Vnkind to their kinne , and to al christen Chewen theyre charitie , and chiden after more Many curatours kepe hem , cleane of her bodies They be accumbred with couetise , thei can not do it from them So harde hath auarice , hasped them togithers And that is no truth of the trinitie , but tricheri of hel And lerning to lewde men , the latter for to dele Forthy these wordes be writen in the gospell Luke vi . Date et dabitur vobis . for I dele you all . That is the locke of loue , that letteth out my grace To comforten the carefull accombred with synne Loue is leche of lyfe , and nexe our lord selfe And also the gate , that goeth into heauen Forthy I say as I sayd er , by the textes Whan all treasures be tried , truth is the best So haue I told you what truth is , that no tresur is better I may no lunger leng ye with , now loke ye our lord

Passus secundus de visione YEt I corbed on miknes , & tryed her of grace And seid merci madam , for maris loue of heuen That bare the blisful barne , that bought vs on the Ken me bi some craft , to know the fals. rode Loke apon thy lefte halfe , and lo where he stondeth Both false and fauel , and her feeris many I loked on my left halfe , as the lady me taught And was ware of a woman , worthylich clothed Purfiled with pelure , the finest vpon erthe Crowned with a crowne , the king hath no better Fetislych her fingers , were fretted with gold wier And there on redde rubies , as redde as any glede And diamonds of derest price , & double maner saphirs Orientales and Ewages , venemis to destroye Hyr robe was full rich , of red scarlet engrayned With rybandes of red gold , and of rich stones Her array me rauished , suche riches saw I neuer . I had wonder what she was . & whose wife she were . What is this woman ꝙ I , so worthyly attyred ? That is mede the maid quod she , hath noied me ful oft And lacked my lemman , that leautie is ihote And bylow her to lordes , that lawes haue to kepen In the popes palaice , she is preuy as my selfe But sothenes wold not so , for she is a bastarde For false was her father , that hath a fickell toung , And neuer soth sayd , sithen he came to earth And mede is maried after him , right as kinde askith . Qualis pater talis filius , bona arbor bonum fructum facit . Mar. iiii I ought be hier then she : I came of a better My father the great God is : and ground of all grace One God without beginning , & I his good daughter And hath geuen me mercy , to mary with my selfe And what man be mercifull , and lelly me loueth Shal be my lorde and I his lyfe , in the hygh heauen And what man taketh mede , my head dare I lay That he shall lease for her loue , a lyppe of Charitatis How construeth Dauid the king , of men the take mede ? And men on thys mould , that mainteneth truth And howe ye should saue your selfe , the psalter bereth : Psa. xv . Do mine , quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c. And nowe worth this Mede , maried vnto a mauzed witnes To one Fals fikell tonge , a fendes bezet Fauel by his faire speach , hath this folk enchaunted shrewe And al is lyers ledyng , that she is thus wedded The morow was made , the maydens brydale And there might thou wit if thou wilt , which they been all That longen to that lordshyp , the lesse and the more Know hem there if thou canst , & kepe thou thy tonge . And lake hem not but let hem worch , til leauty be iustice . And haue powr to punish hem than put forth thi reason For I beken the Christ ꝙ she , & his cleane mother And let no conscience accombre the , for couetise of mede , Thus lefte me that Ladye , lyggynge a slepe And howe mede was maried , in metals me thought That al the ryche reteinaunce , the rayneth with the false Were bounden to the brydale , on boeth two sydes Of all maner of men , the meane and the ryche To mary the maide , was many a man assembled As of knyghtes & of clarks , & other commune people . As sisours and somoners , shryues and their clarkes . Bedelles and bayliffes , and brokers of chaffer Forgoers and vitellers , and aduocates of th arches I can not reken the route , that can about Mede . And Simony and Ciny●e , and Sisours of couries Were most priuie with mede , of any men me thought And fauel was the first , that fet her out of boure And as a broker brought her , to be with false enioyned Whan Simony and Ciuyl , see hyr both wyl They assented for syluer , to say as both wolde Than lept Lyer forth , Meedes charter . and sayd lo here a Charter That gile with his great othes , gaue hem togyders And prayed Ciuill to see , and Simony to reade it , Than Simony & Ciuil , stonden forth both togyther And vnfold the feoffement , that False hath ymade And thus begyneth these gomes , to gredēful heyght Sciant presentes et futuri . Maritagium pranum cum feoffemēto in malo feodo , et de peruersa tenu●a . &c. Witteth & wytnesseth , al that wonneth apon this earth That Mede is maried , more for hir goodes Than for any vertue or fayrenes , or any fre kynd Falsenes is fayne of hyr , for he woteth hyr ryche And Fauell with hys ficle speach , feffeth hir by this charter To be princes in prid , & pouerty to dispise To backebite and to bosten & , to beare false wytnes . To scorne and to scoulde , and slander to make Vnbuxome and bold , to breake the ten hestes And the Erledome of Enuy , and wrath togythers With the Chastilet of Cheest , and chatteringe out of reason The county of couetise , & al the costes about That is vsury and Auarise , all I hem graunt In bargaines & brocages , with al the borough of thefte , And all the lordshyp of lechery , in length & in brede As in works & in wordes , & in waytinges with eyes And in weddes & wishinges , & wyth idle thoughtes . There as wyl would , & the workemanshyp fayleth . Glotony he gaue hem eke , and great othes togyther And all day to drinke , at diuers tabernes . And there to iangle & to iape , & iudge her euen christen And in fastynge dayes to frete , ere full tyme were And than to sytte and soupe , tyll slepe hem assayle And brede forth as borough swyne , & bedden hem easely Tyll Slouthe and slepe , slyken her sydes And than Manhope to awaken hem so , with no wil to amend For they liuen by luste , that is her last end And they to haue and to hold , and hir heyres after A dwellynge with the deuill , and damned be for euer With al the appertinaūcis of purgatory , into the pain of hell Yeldynge for thys thynge , at one yeres ende , Theyr soules to Sathan , to suffer with him paynes And with hym to wonne in wo , whyle god is in heauen In wytnes of whyche thyng , Wronge was the first And Pierce the pardoner , of Paulinus doctrine Bette the bedle , of Buckyngham shyre Raynolde the reue , of Rutlande soken Munde the mylner , with manye mo other In the date of the deuyll , thys dede I enseale By syght of syr Simony , and Ciuils leaue The true preacher . Than tened hym Theology , whan he this tale heard And sayd to Ciuill , nowe sorow myght you haue Such weddynges to worch , to wrath wyth Truthe And ere thys weddinge be wrought , wo the betyde For Mede is mulier , of amendes engendred And God grauntethe , to gyue Mede to Truthe And thou hast giuen hir to a gilor , now god gyue the sorow Thy te●te telleth the not so , Trueth woote the sothe . For Dignus est opetatius . Luke x. Who it is that shameth holy church . hys hyre to haue And thou haste fastned hir to False , fye on thy lawe For all by leasynge thou lyuest , & lecherous works Simonye and thy selfe , shenden holye church The notaries and ye , no ye the people Ye shal abye it both , by God that made me Well ye wit wernardes , but if your wyt fayle That False is faythles , and fykil in his werkes And was a bastard borne , of Belsabu vs kynne And Mede is a mulier , a mayden of good And might kisse the kynge , for cosin if shewold . Therfore worke by wysdome , and by my wyt also And leade hir to London , there it is shewed If any lawe wil loke , they liggen togither And though iustices iudge hir , to be ioyned to False Yet beware of wedding , for wytty is truth And conscience is of his counsel , & knoweth you echone And if he find you in default , and with false hold It shal be set your soules , ful sore at the last Here to assented Cyull , and Simony ne wolde Til he had siluer , for his seruice , & also the notaries Than fet Fauell forth , florences inowe And bade gyle go gyue , Brybes golde about And namely to the Notaries , that hem none fayle And feffe False wytnes with florences inowe For they may Mede amaistry , and maken at my wil. Tho this gold was geuen , great was the thankyng To False and to Fauell , for her great giftes And come to conforten , fro care the False And sithen saide certes syr , ceasen shall we neuer Til mede be weddid thy wife , through wits of vs all For we haue Mede amastrid , with our mery speach . That she graunted to gone , with a good wyl To London to loke , if the lawe wolde Iudge you ioyntlye , in ioye for euer Than was Falsenes fayne , and Fauell as blyth , And letten sommon al seges , in shyers about And bad hem al to be bowne , beggers and other To wend with him to westminster , to witnes this dede . What horses thei yt●ed wyth mede had And than caried they forth caples , to cary hem thither . And Fauel setforth then , foles in owe And set mede vpon a Shireue , shode al newe And False sate on a Sisour , that softlych troted And Fauell on a slatterrer , feetly attired Tho had Notaries none , anoied they were For Simony and Ciuil , should on their fete gange And than swore Simony , and Ciuyll both That somners should be sadled , & serue hem echone . And let apparel these prouisors , in palfreis wise Sir Simony him selfe , shal syt on their backes Deanes , and subdeanes , draw you togither Archedecons and officials , and al your regesters Let saddle hem with siluer , our sinne to suffer As aduoutry and diuorces , and derne vsury To beare bishops about , abrode in visiting Paulinus primus , for pleyntis in consistory Shal serue my selfe , that Ciuill is inempned And cartsaddle the comisary , our carte shall he leade , And fetche vs vitayles , at fornicatores And maketh of Lier a long cart , to lede al these other As friers and faytours , that on their fete runnen , And thus False and Fauel , faren forth together And Mede in the mides , and al these men after . I haue no tyme to tel , the taile that here foloweth Of many maner men , that on thys mould lybbeth Trueth maketh haste to the kynge . And gyle was foregoer , and guided hem all Sothenes seeth hem well , and sayth but litle And pricked his palfrey , and passed hem all : And came to the kinges court , & Consciente it tolde And Conscience to the king , carped it after . Now by Christ ꝙ the king , and I catch might Fals or Fauell , or any of their feeris I wold be worken of tho wreches , that worken this yll And done hem hang by the hals , & al that hem meinteyneth Shal neuer man on this mold , mainprise the leaste But right as the law wol loke , let fall on hem all And commaunded a constable , that can at the first To attache tho tyrauntes , for any thynge I hote And fetter fast Falsenes , for any kinnes giftes And girde of Gyles head , and let him go no ferther And if ye latche Lyer , let hym not escapte , Or he be put on the pillery , for any prayers I hote And bring mede to me , in maugre them all , Drede at the dore stode , and the dome harde How the king commaunded , Drede maketh the gilty flee . Constables & Sergeantes Falsenes and his feloshyp , to fetter and to binden Than drede went wightely and warned the Fals , And bad him fle for feare , and his fellowes al. Falsenes for feare then , fledde to the friers And Gyle dothe him to go , agast for to dye And marchauntis meten with him , & made hym to byde And shytte him in her shoppes , to shewen her ware Appareled him as a prentise , the people to serue . Lyghtlye Lyer leaped , and away ranne Lurkynge through lanes , tolugged of many . He was no where welcome , fore his many tales Ouer all thonted , False can lack no maister and I hote trusse Tyl Pardoners had pety , and pulled him into house . They wash him & wipe him , & wounden him in clouts And sent hym with seales , on sondayes to churches And gaue him pardon for pence , pound meale aboute Than loured leches , and letters they sent That he should wonne with hem , waters to loke Spicers speken with him , to spye their ware For he coud of ther craft , & knew many gommes And minstrels and messengers , met with him once And held him halfe a yere , and a leuen dayes Fryres with fayre spech , fet him thence And for knowing of commers , coped him as a frier And he hath leaue to leape out , as oft as hem lyketh And welcome whan he wyl , & wonneth with them ofte All fledden for feare , and flooen into hernes Saue mede the mayde , no mo durst abyde And truely to tell , she trembled for drede And eke wept and wrong , when she was atached

Passus textius de visione . The king wi●● now of Mede whom she loueth be● . NOwe is mede the mayd , & no mo of hem all , with Bedels & balifs , brough before the kinge The king called a clerk , can I not his name . To take mede the mayd , & make her at ease I shal assaye her my selfe , and sothelych appose What man of this mold , that her were leuest And if she worke by wyt , and my wyl follow I wol forgeue hir this gylt , so me God helpe Curtesy the clerke than , as the king hight Toke mede by the middle , & brought her into chambre , And there was mirth and minstrelsy , Mede to please They that wonne in westminster , worshiped her al Gentlie with Ioye , the Iustices came Busked hem to the bower , there the brid dwelled To comfort her kindlye , by clergies leaue And sayd morne not Mede , ne make ye no sorow For we will wish the king , and thy waye shape To be weddid at thy will , and where the leefe liketh . For all conscience cast and craft , as I trowe . Mildlie Mede than , mercied them all Of her great goodnes , and gaue hem echone Copes of cleane gold , and Cups of siluer Rynges with rubies , and riches many The lest man of their menie , a moton of gold . Than laugh they leeue , these lord is at mede . With that comon clarkes , to comfort her the same And bidden her be blith , for we be thine owne For to worke thy wyll , the whyle we moune last Hendliche she than , bihight them the same To louen hem lellie , and lordes to make To begge hem benefices , pluralities to haue And in consistory at court , do call her names Shall no lewdnes let , the clearke that I loue That he ne worth first auaunced , for I am beknowen Ther cunning clarkes , sholen cloke behynde . Than came ther a confessor , copid as a Frier To mede the mayd , he mellud thes wordes And sayd full softly , in shrift as it were Though lewd men & lerned men , had lien by the both And falsenes had yfouled the , all this fifty wynter I shal assoyle the my selfe , for a seme of whete , And also be thy bedman , and beare wel thy message . Amongest knightes & clerks , conscience to turne Then Mede for her myssedes , to that man kneled And shroue her of her shroudnes , shameles I trowe Told him a tale , and toke him a noble For to be her bedman , and her broker also Than he assoyled her sone and sithen he sayde We haue a witdow in working , wil set vs ful high . Woldest thou glase that gable , & graue therin thi name Seker shoulde thy soule be , heauen to haue . Wyst I that quod the woman , I would not spare The fruites of Popishe penaunce . For to be your frende Fryer , and fayle you neuer Whyle you loue Lordes , that lechery haunten And lake not Ladyes , that loue well the same . It is fraylenes of the fleshe , ye fynde it in bokes And a course of kynde , whereof we commen al Who so may escape the slaunder , the scath is sone amended It is synne of the seuen , sonest released Haue mercy quod mede , of men that it haunten And I shal couer your kyrke , your cloisture do maken Walles do whyten , and wyndowes do glasen Do paynten and portraye , and pay for the makyng That euery segge shal say , I am sister of your house . And god to all good folke , suche grauyng defend To wryte in wyndowes , of her well deades On auenter pryd be painted ther , & pomp of the worlde For Christ knoweth thy conscience , & thy kind wyll : And thy cost and thy couetise , & who thi catel ought Therfore I learne you lordes , leaue such worckes To wryten in wyndowes , of your well dedes Or to greddē after goddesmen , whan ye delen doles Math. vi . On auenter you haue your hire here , & your hauen also . Nesciat sinistra tua quid facit dextra Lette not thy lefte halfe , late ne rathe Wytte what thou worckeste , wyth thy right syde For thus biddeth the gospel , good men done her almes . The mayors office Mayres and masters , that meanes be betwene The Kynge and the common , to kepe the lawes To punyshe on pylaries , and pynnynge stoles Brusters and bakesters , bouchers and cokes . For these ar men on this mold , What harme y● vitiliers do & what abuse is in regrat●g . the most harme worketh To the pore people , that percell meale byghe For they poysen the people , priuely and oft They richen through regratry , & ●en●es hem bighen , With that the pore people , should put in her wombes For toke they all truely , they timbred not so hygh Ne bought no burgages , be ye full certen . And Mede the mayd , the Mayre hath besought Of all such Sellers , siluer to take Or presentes without pence , as peces of syluer Kinges or other riches , the regrators to mainteine For my loue ꝙ that Lady , loue hem echone And suffer hem to sel , some deale agaynst reason . Salomon the sage , a sermon he made For amend Mayres , and men that kepe lawes And tolde hem this teme , that I tel thinke . I guis deuorabit tabernacula cotum , Iob. xv . qui libenter accipiunt muuera . Among these lettred leodes this laten is to meane That fyre shal fall , and brenne all to blo ashes The houses and homes , of hem that des●●eth Giftes or yeres gyfts , bicause of her offices . The king from the counsel came , & called after mede , And sent for her a swyth , with sergeantes many That brought her to boure , with blys & with ioye Curtesly the king than , comsed to tell To mede the mayd , melleth these wordes . Vnwittely woman , wrought hast thou ofte And wurse wroughtest ● neuer , than tho thou fals toke But I forgeue the that gilt , and graunt the my grace Hence to thy death daye do so no more . I haue knight conscience , came late from beyonde If he willeth the to wyfe , wilt thou him haue ? Yea lord ꝙ that ladie , God for bydels , But I be wholy at your hest , hang me sone . And than was Conscience called , to come and appeare Before the king and his counsell , as clerkes & other Knelinge Conscience , to the kinge louted To wyt what his wil were , and what he do shoulde . Wilt thou wedde this woman ꝙ the kynge , if I wil assent ? For she is fayne of thy felowship , for to be thy make Conscience forsaketh Mede for hir euyll condition . Quod conscience to the king , Christ it me for bydde Or I wed such a wyfe , woo me betyde For she is frayle of her fayth , fykell of her speche And maketh men misdo , many score tymes Trust of her treasure , betrayeth ful many Wyues and widowes , wantones she teacheth And learneth hem lechery , that loue her giftes Your father she felled , through false byhest And hath poysened Popes , and peyred holy churche Is not a better band , by him that me made Betwene heuen and hell , in earth though men sought For she is tykel of her tayle , taylewise of her tonge As commen as a carte way , to ech a knaue that walketh To monkes and to minstrels : to mesels in hedges Sisours and somnours , such men her prayseth Shriues of shires , were shent if she were not For she doth men lese her land , and her lyfe both . She letteth passe prisoners , and payeth for them ofte And geueth the Gailors , gold and grotes togethers To vnfetteren the false , fle where him lyketh And taketh the true by the top , and tyeth hem fast And hangeth hem for hatred , that harme did neuer To be cursed in consistory , she counteth not a beane For she copith the commissarie , and coteth hys clarkes She is assoyled as sone , as herselfe lyketh And may nigh as moch do , in a month one As may your secret Seale , in sixscore dayes For she is preuy with the pope , prouisors it knoweth For sir Simonie and her selfe , sealeth the bulles She blesseth the bishops , though they be lewde Prouendreth persons , and priestes mainteineth To haue lemmans and lottebies , all her lyue dayes And bringeth forth barnes , agayne forbode lawes There she is well with the king , woo is the Realme For she is fauorable to false , and fouleth truth oft Bi Iesus with her Iwels , your Iustices she shendith And lyeth ageyne the lawes , and letteth hem the ga●e That fayth mai not be of force , her florens fly to thick She leadeth the law as her liste , & louedaies maketh And doth men lese through her loue , the law might wyn The maze of a meane man , though he more her euer Lawe is so lordleche , and loth to make ende Withouten prsentes or pence , she pleaseth ful few Bi good reson the is gret ruth , reherse men what hem liketh Barons and burgesies , she bringeth in sorowe And al the common in care , that couetith lyse in trueth For Clergie and couetis , she coupleth togither This is the life of that lady , now lord giue her sorow And al that mainteineth her men , meschaunce hem betide For pore men mai haue no powr , to plain hem when they smarte Such master is mede , among men of good , Than morned Mede , and mened her to the kinge To haue space to speke , spede if she might The king graunted her grace : with a good wyll Excuse the if thou canst : I can no more sayne For conscience accuseth the : Mede hath leue t● speake to congayne the for euer Naye lord quod that lady : leue him the wurse Whan ye witteh witterly , where the wrong lyeth There that mischiefe is great , mede may helpe . And thou knowest conscience , I came not to chyde Ne depraue thy person , with a proud herte Wel thou wotest warnard , but if thou wilt gabbe Thou hast hanged on me , halfe a leuen times And also griped my gold , giue it wher the liked And why thou wrathest the nowe , wonder me thinketh Yet I may as I might , menske the with giftes And mainteine thy manhod , more then thou knowest And thou hast famed me foule , before the king here For killed I neuer no king , ne councelled therafter Ne did as thou demest , I do it on the kinge Mede reherseth what she hath done In Normandy was he not , noyed for my sake And thou thy selfe sothely , shamedst him ofte Crope into a Chabane , for colde of thy nayles Wendest that winter , wold haue lasted euer And dredest to be deade , for a dym cloude And hydest vpward , for hunger of thy wombe . Without pitie pylore , pore men thou robbedst And bare hyr bras at thy backe , to Calleis to sell There I last with my lorde , his life for to saue . I made his man mery and mourning let I batred hem on her backe , and bolded her hertes I dyd hem hoppe for hope , to haue me at will Had I bene mershall of his men , by Mary of heauen I durst haue layd my lyfe , and no lesse wed He should haue be lord of that lande , in length & bredth And also king of that kyth , his kynne for to helpe The lest brol of his bloud , a barons pere . Cowardly thou conscience , councelledst him thens To leuen his lordship , for a lytle syluer That is the richest realme , that rayne ouer houeth . It becometh to a kynge , that kepeth a realme To gyue mede to men , that mekely him serueth To aliantes and to al men , Mede telleth how neadful she is to all men . to honerne hem with giftes Mede maketh him beloued , and for a man holden . Emperours and Erles , and all maner of Lordes For gyftes haue yonge men , to go and to ryde The Pope & al the prelates , presentes vnderfoggen And medeth men hem selues , to maintein her lawes . Seruauntes for their seruice , we se well the sothe Taken mede for hyr maistrys , as they may accorde . Beggers for their biddynge , bidden me Mede Mynstrels for theyr myrth , Mede they aske . The kyng hath mede of his men , to make peace in land Men that teachen chyldren , crauen after mede . Priestes that preachen the people to good , asken mede And masse pence and her meat , at the meale tyme . All kynne craftes men , crauen Mede for her prentises Marchauntes and mede , muste nedes go togythers No wyght as I wene , withouten mede may lyue . Quod the king to Conscience , by Christ as me thinketh Mede is well worthy , the maistrye to haue . Nay ꝙ Conscience to the king , & kneled on the earth There are .ii. maner of Medes , Conscience telleth the king of .ii maner of Medes . my lord with your leue That one god of hys grace , graunteth in his blysse To hem that well worchen , whyle they liuen here The prophet precheth thereof , & put it in the psalter . Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo . &c. Psal. xv . Lord who shal wonne in thy wonnes , & with thi holy saynts Or resten in thi holy hils ? this asketh Dauid . And Dauid assoyleth it him selfe , as the psalter telleth . Qui ingreditur sine macula , et operatur iusticiam . They that entren of one coloure , and of one will And haue wrought worckes , with right & with reason And he that vseth not , the life of vsurye And enfourmeth pore men , and preserueth trueth Psal. xv . Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram Et munera super innocentem non accipit . And al that helpe the innocent , and holden with the rightfull Without Mede doth hem good , & the truth helpeth Suche maner men my Lorde , shal haue the first mede Of god at her greate nede , whan they gone hence Ther is an other mede mesureles , that masters desireth To maintaine misdoers , mede they take . And therof speaketh the psalter , in a psalmes ende . In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt Psa. xxvi Dextera eorum , repleta est muneribus . And he that grypeth hir golde , so me god helpe Shall abye it bytter , or the boke lyeth Priestes and persons , that pleasynges desieren That taken mede and money , for masses that they singe Taken her mede here , as Mathew vs teacheth Mat. vi . Amen amen , recipiebant mercedem suam . That labourers and pore folke , taken of her maisters It is no maner mede , but a measurable hyre In marchaundice is no mede , I may it well auowe It is a permutation apertly , a peniworth for another And reddest thou neuer Regum , thou recraed mede Whan the vengeaunce fel on Saule , & on hys chyldren God sent to Saule , by Samuell the prophete That Agag of Amelec , and all hys people after Shoulde dye for a dede , that done had her elders Therfore said Samuel to Saul , god him self hoteth The be buxume at his bidding , his wil to fullfill Wend to Amelec with thine host , & what thou findest there slea it Burnes and Beastes , brenne hem to death Wydowes and wyues , women and children Mouable & vnmouable , and al that thou might find Brenne it beare not awaye , be it neuer so ryche For mede nor for money , loke thou distroye it Spyll it and spare it not , thou shalt spede the better And for he coueted her cattell , and the kinge spared For bare him & his beasts both , as the bible witnesseth Otherwyse than he was , warned of the prophet God sayd to Samuel , that Saule should dye And his sede for that synne , shamefully ende Such a mischiefe mede made , Saule the king to haue That god hated him foreuer , & all his heyres after The colour of thys case , ne kepe I not to tell On auenture it noyed men , no ende wyll I make For so is this world wont , with hem that haue power That who so sayeth sothe , is sonest iblamed I Conscience know this , for kind wit , This is no prophecy , but a resonable gathering . me it taught That reason shall rayne , and realmes gouerne And right as Agag had , happe shall come Samuell shall slea him , and Saule shall be blamed And Dauid shall be diademed , & daunten hem all And one christen kinge , kepe hem echeone Shall no more mede be maistry , as she is nowe And loue and lownes , and leauty togythers Shall be maisters on molde , Truthe to saue And who so trespaceth against truth , or taketh again his wil Leauty shal done hym lawe , & no life els Shal no sergeant for his seruice , wear no silk howne Ne no Pelure in his cloke , for pleadynge at the barre Mede of misdoers , maketh many Lordes , ●●●ouer lords lowes , ruleth the realmes 〈◊〉 ●nd loue shall come yet , and conscience togither Thys is no prophecye , but a 〈◊〉 a●hered of the scriptures . And make of lawe a labourer , such loue shall aryse And such a peace among the people , & a perfite truth , That Iewes shal wene in their wyt , & waxe wonders glad That Moses & Messia , be come into this erth And haue wonder in her hertes , that men be so true . All that beareth bastarde , brode swerde or launce Axe , or yet hatchet , or any weapon els Shal be demed to deth , but if he do it smithy . Esai . ii . Into sicle or into sythe , to share or to culter . Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres . Euery man to play with a plow , pikeaxe , or spade , Spynne or spread dong , or spil him selfe with s●oughe , Priestes or persons , with placebo to hunte And dynge apon Dauid , euery day tyl euen Hunting or hauking , if any of them vse Hys boast of benifice , worth by nome him after Shal neither king ne knight , constable ne mayre Ouerleade the common , ne to the court sōmone Ne put hem in panel , to done hem plight her truth But after the dede is done , one dome shal rewarde Mercy or no mercy , as truth wil accord . Kinges courte , common courte , consistorye and chapter Al shal be but one court , and one Baron by iustice Than worth true tong , a tidy man the tened me neuer Battels shall none be , ne no man beare weapon And what smith that any smithed , be smitten therwith to death Esai . ii . Non leuable gens contra gentem gladium , &c. And or this fortune fall , find men shal the werste By syx sunnes and a shyp , and halfe a shefe of arowes ▪ And the mydle of a mone , shal make the Iewes to turne , And Sarasines for that sight shall syng Gloria in excelsis Deo For Makometh and Mede , mishape shal that tyme For Melius est bonum nomen quam diuitie multe Also wroth as the wind , Pro. xxii . waxe Mede in a while I can latine ꝙ she , clerkes wote the sothe Se what Solomon sayth , in Sapience bokes That he that geueth giftes , the victory winneth And most worship hath therwith , as holy write telleth . Honorem acquiret , qui dat munera . I leue wel Lady ꝙ conscience , That scripture shold be read whole . i. Tess. v. that latine be true And thou art like a lady : that rad a lesson once Was Omnia , probate and that pleased her well For that was no longer , at the leaues ende Had she loked that other half , and the leaf turned She shuld haue found fel wordes folowing therafter Quod bonum est tenete . Trueth that texte made And so fared ye Madame , ye coude no more finde Tho you loked on Sapience , sitting in your study This text that ye haue told , were good for lords And you failed a cunning clerk , that coud the leaf haue turned And if ye seke Sapience oft , find ye shall the followeth . A full teneful text , to hem that take mede And that is , Animam autem aufert accipientium . &c. And that is the taile of the text : of that that ye shewed That though we win worship , & wyth mede haue victory The soule that the sond taketh , by so much is bounde .

Passus quartus de visione CEase sayed the kinge , I suffer you no longer Ye shal sangtle forsoth , & serue me both Kysse hyr quod the king , conscience I hote Conscience wil haue reasons aduice . Nay by Christ quod Conscience , congay me rather But Reason reade me thereto , rather wyl I dye . And I commaund you ꝙ the kyng , to Conscience than Rape the to ride , and Reason thou fetch Commaund him that he come , my counsell to heare For he shall rule the realme , and reade me the beste Of Mede and of other , and what man shall hir wed And accoūten with the Conscience , so me Christ helpe How thou lernest the people , the learned & the lewde . I am fayne of that forward , sayd the freke than And ryt right to Reason , & rowndeth in his eare And sayd as the kinge bade , and sythe toke his leaue . I shal aray me to ryde quod Reason , reste the awhile And called Caton his knaue : curtise of speache And also Thomme true tonge , tell me no tales Reason rydeth on sufferance . Ne leasyng to laughen of , for I loued hem neuer And set my saddle apon Sufferaunce , till I se my tyme And let waroken it wel , with wytty wordes girthes And hang on him the heauy bridle , to hold his heade lowe For he wil make we●e , twise er he come ther Than Conscience apon his caple caried forth fast And reason with him rit , rownynge togithers Waren wysdome & wittye folowed Reason Whych maistris Mede , maketh on this earth One Waren wysedome , and Wytty his fere Folowed hym faste , for they had to done In the Escheker & at the chauncerye , to be discharged of things And riden fast , for Reson shold read hem the best For to saue hem for siluer , from shame and from harmes . And Conscience knew hem wel , they loued couetise And bade Reason ride fast , and reck of hem nether Ther be wiles in her words , & with mede they dwell : Ther as wrath & wrangeling is , there get they siluer And wher is loue & leauty , they wil not come there . Contricio et infelicitas in v●is corum . Psa. xiii . &c , They ne giue not of God , one goose winge . Non est timor domini ante oculos eorum . Psa. xiii . &c. For God wot they wil do more , for a doson chikins Or as many copons , or for a seame of Otes Than for loue of our lord , or al his leue sayntes . Therfore reason let hem tide , the rich by hem selfe For Conscience knoweth hem not , ne Chryst as I trowe . And than Reason rode fast , the right hie ga●e And Conscience him kenned , tyl they came to the kyng , Curtesly the kynge than , came agaynst Reason And betwene him selfe and his sone , set hym on bench And wordeden wel wisely , a great whyle togythers . And than came Peace into parliment , Peace complayneth vpon wrong & put forth a byll How Wronge agaynst hys wyll , had his wife taken : And how he rauyshed Rose , Rainoldes loue And Margaret of her maydenhed , maugre hir cheeks Both my geese and my gris , his gadlinges fetcheth , I dare not for feare of hym , fight ne chide He borowed my bayard , & brought hym neuer home Ne no fertinge therfore , for ought I could pleade He maynteineth his men , to murther myne ewen For stalleth my fayres , & fyghteth in my chepyng . And breketh vp my berne dores , & stealeth away my wheat And taketh me but a tayl , for .x. quarter othes Yet he beateth me therto , and lieth by my mayd I am not hardy for him , vnneth to loke The king knew he said soth , for Conscience him told That Wrong was a wicked luske , & wrought much sorow Wrong was afraid then : & wisdom he sought To make peace with his pence , and proferd him manye And sayde , had I loue of the kyng : lytle wold I reche If Wrong myght optayne the king is fauour , he passeth for no more , Though Peace and his power , playned hem euer Tho went Wisdome , and sir Warren the wittye For that Wronge had wrought , so wycked a dede And warnyd Wrong tho , with such a tale . Who so worketh by wyll , wrathe maketh oft I saye it by my selfe , you shall it well finde But if Mede it make , thy mischyefe is vp For both thy lyfe and thy londe , lyeth in hir grace . Than wowed Wronge , wysedome full yerne To make his peace with his pence , handy dandy payed Wisedome and Wyt than , went both togythers And toke Mede midde hem , mercy to wynne . Peace put forth hys heade , and his pan bloudy Wythouten gylt god wot , gate I thys scath Conscience and the commune , knowen the sothe And wisedome and wyt weren about faste To ouercome the Kynge , with cattell if they might : The kinge swore by Christ , and by his crowne both That wronge for hys workes , should wo thorowly Wrong is committed to prison , And commaunded a constable , to cast him in yrous And let him not these seuen yeres , se hys fete once God wot quod Wisedome , that were not the beste And he amendes might make , let main price hym haue And be borowe for his bale , and byggen him boote . And so amend that is misdo , & euermore the better Wytte accorded therewith , and sayde the same Better is that bote , bale adowne brynge Than bale be ibeate , and bote neuer the better Than gan Mede to meuen her , & mercy she besought And profred Peace a present , all of pure golde Haue thys man of me quod she to amend thy scath For I wyll wage for Wronge , he will do so no more Pituouslye Peace than , prayed to the kinge To haue mercy on the man , that misdyd him so ofte For he hath waged me wel , Mede stoppeth Peaces mouth as wisdome him taught And I forgiue him that gylte , wyth a good wyll So that the kinge assent , I can say no better . For mede hath me amends made , I may no more aske Naye quod the kynge tho , so Christe me helpe Wronge wendeth not so away , erst I will wyt more For lope he so lightly , laughen he woulde And eft be the bolder , to beate mine hewen But Reason haue ruth on him , he shal sit in my stocks And that as longe as he liueth , but lownes him borow Some men rad Reason tho , haue ruth on that shrewe And to councel the kynge , and conscience after That mede might be meinperner , Reson thei bisought Rede me nought ꝙ Reason , no ruthe to haue Tyll Lordes and ladyes , loue all Trueth And haten all harlotrye , Reasons aduice in the punyshynge of Wronge . to heare or to mouth it Tyll Pernels purfill , be putte in hir hutche And childerns cherishing , be chastisinge with yardes And harlotes holynes , be holden for an hynde Tyl clarkes couetise , be to clothe the pore and fede And religious Romers , recordars in her cloysters As saint Benet hem bade , Bernard and Francis And tyll preachers preaching , be preued on hem selfe Till the kynges counsell , be the common profite Tyll bishops barnes , be beggers chambers Her haukes & her houndes , helpe to pore religious And til saint Iames be soughte , there I shall asigne That no man go to Galice , but if he go for euer And all Rome runners , for robbers of beyond Bare no siluer ouer sea , that signe of kyng sheweth Neyther grauen nor vngrauen : gold neither syluer Apon forfeture of that fee , who so find it at Douer But if he be merchant or his man : or messenger with letters Prouisor or priest : or penant for hys synnes And yet ꝙ Reason by the roode : I shall no ruthe haue While Mede hath the masterie : in this mouth hal And I may shew examples , as I se other whyle I saye it by my selfe quod he : and it so were That I were a kyng with crowne , to kepe a realme Should neuer wronge in this world : that I wyt might Be vnpunished in my power : for peril of my soule Ne get my grace for gyftes , so me God saue Ne for no Mede haue mercie but if mekenes it made Mat. xvi , For Nullum malum the man mette with Impunitum And badde that Nullum bonum be Irremuneratum Let thy confessour syr king , construe this vnglozed And if ye worken it in werke : I dare wed mine eares That law shal be a labourer : and leade a felde dounge And loue shall leade the land , as the leefe lyketh . Law shal lead afeld dunge . Clerks that were Confessours , coupled hem togithers Al to construe this clause , for the Kinges profit And not for the confort of the pore comon : ne kinges soule For I se Mede in the mouth hal : on men of law wink And they laughing lope to her : and left reason many Waren wisedome , winked apon Mede And sayd madam I am your man : what so mi mouth iangleth I fayle florens ꝙ the freke , & fail speche oft : Al rightfull recorden , that Reason trueth tolde And wit accordid therwith , and commendid his words And the most people in the hal : & manye of the greate And letten mekenes a master , & mede a manzed shrew . Loue lett of her light : and leautie yet lasse And sayd it so highe : that all the hall it herde Who so wilneth her to wyfe : for welth of her goods But he be knowen for a cokeolde , cut of my nose . Mede mourned sore tho , and made heauy chere For the most common of that court , called hir an hore And a Sisoure and a somnour . sued hir faste And a shriues clarke , beshrewed all the route For ofte haue I quod he , holpen you at the barre And yet gaue ye me neuer , the worth of a ryshe . The kynge called Conscience , and afterwarde Reason And recorded that Reason , had rightfully shewed And Moodlych apon Mede , with might the king loked And gan waxe wroth with law , The lawiers kepe the kinge from hys right , for mede had it nere shent And said , by your law as I leue , I lese may eschets Mede oueremastreth lawe , and muche trueth letteth And Reason shal reken with you , if I raigne anye whyle And deme you by this daye , as ye haue deserued Mede shal not maynprise you , by Mary of heauen , I wil haue Leauty in law , & let be your ianglyng And as most folk witnesseth , Wrong shal be demed . Quod Conscience to the kyng , but the common wil assent It is full harde by myne heade , here to to brynge it All your lege lordes , to leden thus euen . By hym that raught on the rode , ꝙ Reason to the king But if I rule this your realme , Reason taketh vpon hym to rule the realme . rente out my guts If ye bidden buxumnes , be of myne assente . And I assent sayd the kyng , by , S. Mary my ladye By my counsell commune , of clarkes & of erles And reddily reason , thou shalt not ride from me For as longe as I lyue , leaue the I nell I am ready quod Reason , to rest with you euer So Conscience be of our counsell , I kepe no better And I graunt quod the king , god forbid it faile As long as our liues lasteth , lyue we togyther

Passus quintus de visione , THe Kyng and his knights , to the kirke wente To here mattens of the day , and the masse after Than waked I of my wiking , & wo was with al That I ne had slept sadder , & sighen more And er I had faren a furlong , Fentise me hente That I ne might farder a fote , for defaut of slepinge And far softly adoune , and sayd my beleue And so I babled on mi beads , thei brought me aslep And than I saw much more , then I before of tolde For I se the field full of folke , that I before of sayde And howe reason gan araien him , al the realme to prech And with a Cros afore the king , comsed thus to techen He preued that this pestylences : were for pure synne And the south westorne wind , Pestylences come for sinne , on satterday at euen Was partly for pure prid , and for no poynt els . Piries and plumtres , were puffed to th earth In ensample tho segges , ye shuld done the better Beches and brode okes , were blowen to the grounde Turned vpwardes the tayles , in tokening of dred That dedly synne erdomes day , shall fordone hem al Of this matter I might , mamelie full long And I shall saye as I sawe , so me god helpe How partly before the people , reason began to prech He bad wast or go worke , that he best coude And win his was●ing , with some maner craft He prayed Pernell her putfyles to let And kepe it in her cofer , for cattel at her nede Tomme Stowne he taught , to taken two staues And fech Felicie home , frome the winen ●ine And he warried Wat his wife was to blame That hirked was worth half a marke , & his hod not worth a grot And he had Bet , cut a bow or twain And beate Beton therwith , One correction muste be had but if she wil werke And then he charged chapmen , to chasten hir children Let no winninge hem forwany , whyle they be yonge Ne for no poust of pestilence , please hem not out of reson My syer sayd to me , and so did my dame , That the leuer chyld , the more lore behoueth And Salomon sayd the same , that Sapience made , Qui parcit virge , Pro .xiii. odit filium The Englysh of thys latine , who so wyll know Who so spareth the spring , spylleth hys chyldrene And sithen he prayed prelates , and priestes togither That ye preach to the people , preue on your selfe And do it in dede , it shall driue you to good , If ye liue as ye learne vs , we shal leue you the better . And sithen he radde religion , her rule to holde Lest the king and his councel , The suppression of Abbayes . Good counsell . your commons apere And be stuardes of your stedes , tyl ye be ruled better . And sithen he councelled the king , his commons to loue It is thy tresure if treson ne were , & treacle at thi nede And sithen he praied the Pope , haue pity on holy church And ere he gaue any grace , gouerne first him selfe . And ye the haue lawes to kepe , let trueth be your couetyse More then gold or giftes , if ye wyll god please For who so contrarieth truth , he teleth in the gospel , That god knoweth hem not , ne no saynt in heauen . Mat xxv . Amen dico vobis , nescio vos . And ye that seke saynt Iames , True pilgrimage . & sayntes at Rome Seke saynt truth , for he may saue you all , Qui cum patre et filio that fayre hem befal , That sueth my sermon , and thus sayd Reason . Than ranne Repentaunce , and reherced his ●eme And gart Wyll wepe , water with his eyen Pernell proude herte , plate hir to the earth And lay along or she loked , and lord mercy cryed And behyght to him , that vs al made She shoulde vnsow her serke , and set theron here Shal neuer high hert me hent : but hold me low To affaynten her flesh , that firrce was to synne , And suffer me to be missayd , and so dyd I neuer But now wyll I meke me , and mercy beseche For al this I haue hated in my hart . Lechour . The olde satisfacion Than Lechoure sayd alas , & on our lady he cried , To make mercy for his misdedes , bitwene god & his soule With that he shold the saturday , for seuen yere after Drynke but myd the daye , and dyne but once Enuye . Enuy with heuy herte , asked after shrifte And carefully Mea culpa , he comsed to shew And was as pale as a pellet , in the palsey he semed And clothed in Caurymaury , I can it not disceiue , In kyrtel and curtepy , and a knife by hys syde Of a friers frocke , were the foresleues And as a leke that hath lyed long in the sunne So loked he with leane chekes , louring foule His body was to bole for wrath , that he bote his lippes And wringing with that first , to wreke him self he thought , With workes or with wordes , whan he se his tyme Ech word that he warped , was of an edders tonge Of chyding and of chalenging , was his chief liuelode With backbiting & bismer , & bearing false wytnes This was al his curtesy , wher that euer he shewed him I wold be shriuen ꝙ this shrew , if I for shame durst . I wold be gladder by god , that Gyb had mischaunce Enuious worckes . Than if I had won this weke , a wey of Essexe chese I haue a neighbour nye me , I haue noyed hym ofte , And lowen on him to lords , to don him lose his siluer And make his frend be his foe , through my false tong His grace and his good happes , greueth me fulsore Betwene many and many , I make debate oft That both lyfe and lyme , is lost through my spech . And when I mete him in market , that I most hate I halse him hendlech , as I his frende were For he is doughtier then I , I dare do none other , And had I mastry and might , god wot my wyll And whan I come to the kirke , & shuld knele to the rode And pray for the people , as the priest teacheth For pilgrimes & for palmers , & for al the people after Than I cry on my knees , thou Christ geue him sorow That bare away my bole , and my broke shete Away from the aulter , then turne I mine eyen And behold how Elen , hath a new coate I wysh that it were mine , with al the webbe after And at mens lesing I laugh , that mine herteaketh And for ther winning I wepe , and wele the tyme And deme that they do yll , though I do well worse Who so vndermineth me herof , I hate him deadly after I wold that eche a wight , were my knaue For who so hath more then I , the angreth me sore . And thus I lyue loueles , like a lyther dogge That all my body bolneth , for bytter of my gall I might not eaten many yeres : as a man ought For enuy and euell wyll , is euell to defye May no suger ne no swetethynge , swage the swelling Ne no Diapenidion , driue it from my harte Nether shrift nether shame , but shraping of mi maw This I reade ꝙ repentaunce , & rede him to the best Sorow for synnes , saluacion is of soules . Se how● Enuy repenteth . A am sory quod that segge , I am but selde other And the maketh methus megre , for I ne may me veng Amonges Burgesis haue I be , dwellyng at London And gard backbiting be a broker , to blame mens ware Whan he sold and I not , than was I ready To lye & lour on my neyghbour , & to lak his chaffer I wil amend this if I may , through myght of god almighty Now awaketh Wrath , Wrath. with two white eien And niueling with the nose , and his necke hanginge . I am Wrath quod he , I was sometyme a Fryer And the couentes gardiner , for to graften Impes On Limitours and Legisters , lesynges I imped Til they bear leaues of smoth speach , lords to please And sithen they blosomed abrod , in bour to hear shrift And now is fallen therof a frute , the folke han wel leuer Shew her shrifts to hem , than shriue hem to her persons And persons haue perceiued , the friers part with hem These possessours preach , and depraue Friers And Friers findeth hem in defaut , as folk bear wytnes And whan thei prech the people , in many places aboute I Wrath walke with hem , A good scholemaster . and wish hem of my bokes Thus thei speken of mi spiritualtie , & despiseech other Tyl they be both beggers , & by my spiritualty lib been Or els al rich and riden about , I Wrath rest neuer That I ne most folow this wicked folke , for such is my grace I haue an aunt to Nun , Nunnes . & an Abbes both Her had leuer swone or swelt , than suffer any paine I haue bene coke in her kitchen , and hir couent serued Many monethes with hem , & with Monkes both I was the Priores potager , and other pore ladyes And made hem Iowts of iangling , the dame I one was a bastarde And dame Clarence a knightes daughter , a cokolde was hir sire . And dame Pernel a prests file , priores was she neuer For she had child in chery time , al our chapter it wyste Of wicked wordes ( I Wrath ) her wortes made Tyll thou liest and thou liest , lopen out at once And eyther hyt other , vnder the cheke Had they had kniues bi Christ , ether had killed other Saint Gregory was a good pope , Gregory wold not suffer wo menne to hear confession . & had a good forewit That no priores were prieste , for the he prouided Lest haply they had had no grace , to hold harlatry in For they are ●icle of hir tonges , & must al secretes tell . Among monkes I might be , and many times ishamen For they be many fell frekes , my fetis to espie Both Prior and subprior , and our Pater abbas And if I tell anye tales , they taken hem togithers And do me faste frydaies , to breade and to water I am chalenged in Chapter house , as I a child were And balaced on the bare arse , and no breach betwene Therfore haue I no likynge , with tho leodes to wonne I eate there vnhende fishe , and feble ale dryncke Other while whan wine cometh , & I drinck it at euen I haue a fluxe of a foule mouth , well fiue daies after Al the wickednes that I wot , by anye of our brethren I knoth it in our cloyster , that all our couent wot it Now repent the ꝙ Repentaunce , and reherse thou neuer Councel that thou knowest , by countenaunce ne by sight . And drincke not ouer delicately , ne to depe neither That thy wil bicause therof , to Wrath myght turne Esto sobrius he saide , and assoyled him after And bade hym wil to wepe , hys wickenes to amend . And than came Couetis , can I him not discriue So hungerly and hollowe : Couetits . so sternely he loked He was vittle browed , and baberlypped also Wyth two blered eyen , as a blinde hagge And as a lethren purse , lolled his chekes Well syder then his chyn they sheuered for olde And as a bound man of his bacon , his berd was bidrauled With a hode on his heade , The image of couetise . & a lousy hatte aboue And in a tauny teberd , of twelue winter age Al totorne and baudye , and full of lyce crepinge But if that a louse , could haue lopen the better She had not walkt on the welte , so was it thredbare I haue bene couetice quod this caytife , I beknowe it here For sometyme I serued , Symme at style And was his prentice plight , his profyt to wate Fyrst I lerned to lye , a leafe other twayne Wyckedly to wey , was my first lesson To Wy and to Winchester , I went to the fayre With mani maner merchandise , as mi master me hight Ne had the grace of gyle , igo amongest my chaffer . It had bene vnsolde this seuen yere , so me God helpe Than draue I me among drapers , my donet to lerne To draw the lyser a long , the longer it semed Among the rich rayes : I rendred a lesson To broch hem with a pacnedel , & spiyt hem to gythers , And put hem in a presse , and pynnen them therin Tylten yardes or twelue , had tolled out . xiii My wyfe was a webster , and wolloncloth made She spake to spinsters to spynen it oute And the pound that she payd by , passed a quartern more Than mine owne auncer , who so weyed trueth I bought her berly malte , she brewed it to sell Penyale and puddingale , she poured togithers For labourars and low folke , that lay by it selfe . The best ale lay in my bour , or els in my chambre And who so bummed therof , bought it thereafter . A gallon for a grote , god wote no lesse And yet it came in cupemele , this craft she vsed . Rose the Regrater , was hir right name She hath holden huksterye , all her life time And I swere now sothelich , that sinne wold I let And neuer wickedly wey , ne wicked chaffer vse But wend to Walsingham , and my wyfe also . And byd the rode of brōholme , bring me out of dette Repentest thou euer ( quod repentaunce ) or restitucion madest ? Yes once I was he●berd ꝙ he , with an hepe of chapmen . The restitution that nowe is vsed . I rose when they were at rest , & rifled their males . That was not restitucion , ꝙ repentance but robers theft Thou hadst ben better worthy , to be hanged therfore Than for al that , thou hast here shewed . I toke rifling for restitucion ꝙ he , for I neuer red boke I can no french in fayth , but of the fer ende of Norfolke Vsed thou euer vsury ꝙ repentance , in al thy lyfe tyme ? Nay sothely he sayd , saue in my youth I lerned amonge Lumberdes , and Iewes a lesson To wey pence with a payes , and pare the heuyest And lene it for loue of crese , to laye a wed and lesen it , Such dedes I did write , if he his day broke I haue mo maners bi rerages , than through , Miseriatur & commodat I haue lent lords & ladies , my chaffer And ben her broker after , and bought it my selfe Eschaunges and cheuisauncis , with suche chaffer Idle And lend folke that lese wyll , a lyp at euery noble And with lumbardes letters , I lade gold to Rome And toke it by tale here , and told hem there lesse Lendest thou euer lords , for loue of her maintenaunce ? Yea I haue lent lords , that loued me neuer after And hath made mani a knight , both mercer & draper That payd not for his prētishod , one paire of glouis Hast thou pitte on pore men , that must nedes borowe ? I haue as much pitie on the pore , as pedler hath of cats That kylth hem if he can hem catch , for couet of her skins Art thou mālich emong thineibours , of thimete & drinke ? I am holden quod he as hinde , as is hound in kitchin Amongest my neibours namely , such a name I haue God leue that neuer ꝙ repentaunce , but thou repent that rather Grace on this ground , thy good wel to byset Ne thine heyres after that , haue ioye of that thou wynnest To thine executors wel biset , Ill gotten goodes muslebe il spent , the siluer that thou hem leuest . And that was wonne with wrong , with wicked men be dispendid For wer I frier of the house , ther good feith & chariti is I nold cope vs wyth thy cattel , ne our kirke amende . Ne haue a peny to my pittaunce , so god my soul helpe For the best boke in oure house , bryght golde if it were And I wist witterly thou were suche as thou tellest . Or els that I could know it by any kindes wyt Seruuses alterius cum fercula pinguia queris . pane tuo potius vescere liber eris . Thou art an vnkind creature , I can the not assoyle Tyl thou make restitucion , and rekening with them all , And syth that reason rolle it , in the regester of heauen That thou hast made eche man good , I maye that not assoile Forgette not that the last date wil surely come . Psal. li Non dimit tur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum . For all that haue of thy good , haue God my trouth Bene holden at the heygh dome , to help the to restitute Who so leueth not this be soth , loke in the psalter clause In Miserere mei deus whether I meane truth Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti . & . &c. Psal. xvii Shal neuer workman in this world , thriue with that thou wineste Cum sancto sanctus eris . Construe me that in english Than waxt that shrew in wanhope , & wold hang him selfe Ne had repentance that rather , True repentaunce hath hope of mercy . recomforted him in this maner Haue merci in thy mind , & with mouth besech it For Gods mercy is more , than al his other workes And al wikidnes in the world , the man mai work or think Is no more , to the mercy of God , than in the sea a glied . O muis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei Est quasi scintilla , in medio maris . Therfore haue thou mercy in mind , & merchandice leue it For thou hast no good ground , to get ther with wastell But if it were with thy tong , or els with thy two handes For the good that thou hast gotten , began all with falshead And as long as thou liuest with it , thou pa●st not but borowst And if thou wit neuer to which , ne to whom to restore Beare it to the byshope , and byd him of hys grace Biset it hym selfe , The Byshop shall answere for many as best is for thy soule For he shall answere for the , at the heygh dome For that & for many mo , that man shal gyue a rekening What he learned you in lente , leue you none other And lente you of our lordes good , to kepe you from sin Nowe biginneth Gloton , for to go to shrifte And carieth him to the kirkeward , his coppe to shew And Beton the bruster , bade him god morrow And asked him with that , whetherward he would To holy kirke saide he , for to heare masse And sithen I would be shryuen , and sinne no more I haue goodale goship said he , gloton wold thou assai Haste thou ought in thy purse , any hote spices ? I haue pepper & pienes ꝙ he , & a pound of garlyke And a ferding worth of fenel sede , for fasting daies Than goeth Glotton in , and greate othes after Cisse the souteres , sate on the bench Common drunkerds Wat the warner , and hys wyfe boeth Tymme the tyncker , and tweyne of hys prentises Hycke the Hackeney man , and Hughe the nedler Clarise of cockelane , and the clarke of the churche Dauie the diker , and a dosen other . Syr Pierce of Prydy , and Pernell of Flaunders A Ribiboure , a ratener , a rakier of chepe A Roper , a redinge kinge , and Rose the disheresse Godfray of garlike hyue , and Gryffin the walshe And vpholders an heape , earely by the morrowe Geuen Gloton with glad cheare , good ale to hansell Clemente the Cobler , caste of hys cloke And at the newe fayre , he nempned it to sel Hycke the hackeney man , hytte hys hode after And bade Bete the butcher , be on hys syde There were chapmen ichose , thys wa●e to praise Who so hath the hode , should haue amends of the cloke Two risen vp in ●ape , and rouned togythers And praysed these penyworthes , apart by them selfe They could not by their conscience , accorden in truth Tyl Roben the roper , arose by the South And named him for an vmpere , that no debate nere For to trye this chaffer , betwexte hem there Hycke the Hosteler , hadde the cloke In couenaunte that Clement , shoulde the cup fyll And haue Hickes hode the hosteler , & holden him serued And who so repented rathest , should arise after And greten sir Gloton , wyth a gallon of ale There was laughyng & louring , & let go the cuppe And so sytten they to euensong , and songen other while Tyll Gloton had igalped , a gallon and a gill His guttes began to gothlen , as two gredy sowes He pissed a pottell in , a Pater noster while And blew his round rewet , at his rudge bones end That al that harde that horne , helde her nose after And wished it had bene wyped , with a wyspe of firses He might neyther stepe nor stand , or he a staffe had And than gan he to go , like a glemans bytch Sometyme a syde , The descripsion of a drunken man . and sometyme a rere As who so layeth lynes , for to latche foules And whan he drough to the dore , them dimned his eyen He stombled on the threshold , and threwe to the earth Clement the cobler , cought him by the myddle For to lyft hym alofte , and laide him on his knees And Gloton was a great churle , and a grime in lifting And kought vp a caudel , in Clementes lappe There is none so hongry hounde , in Herforte shere Durst lap of the leuings , so vnlouely they smaught● With al the wo of thys world , hys wyfe & hys wench Bare hym home to his bede , and brought him therin And after al this excesse , he had an accidie That he slept saturday & sonday , tyll sunne went to rest Than waked he of hys wynking , & wyped hys eyes The first word that he warped was , wher is the bole ? His wit gan edwite him tho , how wickedly he liued And Repentaunce right tho , rebuked him that tyme . As with words & workes , thou wroughtest yl in thy lyfe Shriue the & be ashamed therof , & shewe it with mougth . I Gloton quod the gome , giltye me yelde That I haue trespaced with tong , I can not tel how oft Sworne gods soule , so god me helpe & holidome There no nede was , nyne hundred tymes And ouer se me at my soupe , and sometyme at nones That I Gloton gyrte vp , ere I had gone a mile . And I spilt that might be spared , & spent on some hungry Ouer delicatli on fasting daies , dronk and eaten both And sat suntime so long ther , that I slept & eate at once For loue of tales in taberns , to drink the more I dined And hied to the meat er none , whan fasting daies were . This shoyng shrift ꝙ repentaunce , shall be merit to the And than gan gloten grete , and great dole make For his lewde lyfe , that he lyued had Prety vowes . And vowed to fast , for honger and for thurste Shal neuer fishe on fryday , diffien in my wombe Tyl abstinence myne aunt , haue gyuen me leue And yet haue I hated her , al my lyfe tyme Than came Sloth al beslaberd , with two slimy eyne I must sit sayde the Segge , or els I must nedes nap I maye not stond ne stoupe , ne with out mi stole knele Were I brought a bed , but if my talende it made Shuld no ringing do me rise , or I were ripe to dine He began Benedicite with a belke , and hys brest knoked And raskled and rored , and rut at the laste . Awake reuke quod repentance , & rape that to shrift . If I shulde dye by thys daye , me lyste not to loke I can not perfitli my Pater nost , as the priest it singith , But I can rimes of Robēhod , & Randall of Chester But of our lorde or our lady , I lerne nothyng at all . I haue made vowes xl . & forgotten them on the morow I performed neuer penaunce , as the preist me hyght Ne right sorie for my sinnis , yet was I neuer And if I byd any beades , but if it be of wrathe That I tel with my toung , is two mile from my herte I am occupied euery daye , holy daye , and other With Idle tales at the ale , & other whyle in churches Gods paine & his passion , ful selde thynke I theron I visited neuer feblemen , ne fettred folke in pyttes I haue leuer here an harlotry , or a somers game Or leasinges to laughe at , and bilye my neighbours Then all that euer marke made , Math , Ihon , & Lucas . And vigiles and fastynge dayes , al these let I passe And lye in bedde in lent , & mi lemman in mine armes . Tyl mattens & masse be done , & than go I to the friers Come I to Ite missa est I holde me serued , I am not shryuen sometyme , but if sickenes it make Not twyse in two yere , and than vp gesse I shriue me I haue ben priest & person , passynge thyrty winter Yet can I nether solfe ne singe , ne saintes liues read But I can find in a fielde , or in a furlong an ha●e Better than in Beatus ●ir or in Beati omnes . Construe one clause , and ken it to my parishens I can holde loue daies , and heare a reues rekening And in Cannon & in decretals , I can not read a line If I bugge and borow ought , but if it be tayled I forget it as sone , and if men me it aske Syxe sithes or seuen , I forsake it wyth othes And thus tene I true men , ten hundred tymes And my seruauntes salary , sometymes is behynde Ruth is to hear the rekning , whan we shal make account So with wicked wil & with wrath , my workmen I paye If anye man do me benifite , or helpe me at nede I am vnkind against his curtesi , & can not vnderstand it For I haue & haue had , somdeal haukes maners I am not lured with loue , but if ought be vnder the thōb That kindnes that myne euen christen , kid me ferther Syxe sythes I Slouth , haue forgotten it syth In spech & in sparing of spence , I spilt many a tyme Both fleshe and fishe and many other vitailes Both bread and ale , butter , mylke and chese . For slouthed in my seruice , tyl it myght serue no man I ranne aboute in youth , and gaue me not to learning And euer sith haue ben a beggar , for my foule slouth Hon mihi quia steril●m duxi , vitam iuuenilem . Repentist thou ꝙ Repentaunce , & right with he swoned Tyll Vigilate , An admonition to beware of dispair in repentaunce the veile , fet water at hys eyes And flapte it on hys face , and faste on hym cryed And sayed ware the , for wanhope wyl the batraye I am sorye for my synnes , saye to thy selfe And beate thy selfe on the brest , byd god of grace For is no gilte here so great , but that his goodnes is more Than sate Slouth vp , & seyned hym Swyth And made a vowe tofore god , for his foule Slouth Shal no sonday be thys seuen yere , but sikenes it let That I ne shal do me or day , to the dere church And heare matteus and masse , as I a monke were Shall no ale after meate , holde me thence Tyll I haue euensong hearde , I behote to the rode And yet woll I yelde agayne , if I so much haue All that I wickedly wanne , sithen I wytte had And thoughe my liuelode lacke , letten I nell That eche man ne shall haue hys , or I hence wende And with the residue and the remnaunte , by the rode of Chester I shall seke Trueth erste , or I see Rome Robert the robber , on Reddite loked And for there was not wherof , he wept swith sore And yet the sinfull shrewe , sayde to hym selfe Christe that on Caluery , vpon the crosse didest Tho Dismas my brother besought you of grace And haddest mercy on that man , for Memento sake So rue on thys robber , that Reddere ne haueth Ne neuer wene to wynne , with craft that I knowe But for thy mikle mercye , mitigation I besech Ne dampe me not at domisday , for that I did yll What befell of this felowe , I can not fayre shewe Well I wote he wept faste , water wyth hys eyen And knowleged hys gilte , to Christe yet eft sones That Penitentia hys pycke , he shoulde polish newe And leape with him ouer lande , all his life tyme For he had layne by Latro Lucifers aunte And than had Repentaunce ruth , & rad hem al to knele For I shall besech for al sinful , our sauiour of grace To amend vs of our misdedes , & do mercy to vs al Now god ꝙ he , that of thy goodnes , gan the world make And of nought madest ought , & man most like thi lelf And sithen suffcedest for sinne , a sickenes to vs al And al for the best as I leue , what euer the boke telleth O felir culpa O necessarium peccatum Ade . For through the synne thy sonne , sent was to the earth And became man of a maide , mankind to saue And makest thy selfe with thy sonne , and vs sinful ilyche . Genes. i. i. Io. iiii . Faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram . Et alibi . Qui manet in charitate , in deo manet , et deus in eo . And syth with thy selfe sonne , in our sute dyedest On good Friday for mans sake , at ful tyme of the daye There thy selfe ne thy sonne , no sorow in death feled But in our sect was the sorow , & thy sonne it ladde , Captiuam duxit captiuitatem . Ephe. iiii . The sunne for sorow thereof , lost light for a tyme At midday when most light is , and mealtyme of saints Feddest with thy fresh blud , our forfathers in darknes Populus qui ambulat in tenebris , vidit lucem magnam And by the lyght that leaped out of the , Lucifer was blent And blew all thy blessed , into the blisse of Paradise The thyrde daye after , thou yedesie into our sute A sinful Mary the sawe , ere saint Mary thy dame And all to solace synful , thou suffredest it soner . Mat. ix . Non veni vocare iustos , sed peccatores ad penitentiam And al the Marke made , Mathew Iohn & Lucas Of thy doubty dedes , were done in our armes . Iohn . i. Verbum caro factum est , et habitauit in nobis . And by so much me semeth , the sikerer we maye Bydde and beseche , if it be thy wyll That art our father & our brother , be mercifull to vs And haue ruth on these ribaudes , that repent hem selues sore That euer they wrathed the , in this world in worde , thought , and dede . Then hent Hope an horne of Deus tu conuersus viuificabis nos And blew it with Beati quotum remisse sunt iniquitates . That all Sayntes in heauen , songen at once Homines et iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti , misericordiam tuam deus . Psal , 36. A thousande of men tho , throngen togythers Criden vp warde to Christe , and to his cleane mother To haue Grace to go with hem , Truth to seken . And there was none so wise , the way thyther could But blustering forth as beastes , ouer banckes & hils Tyll late was and longe , ere they a leode mette Appareled as a paynime , in pylgraimes wyse He bare a burden bounden , wyth a brode lyfte In a wythe wandes wyse , wounden aboute A bole and a bagge , he bare by hys side An hundred amples , on his hatte sette Signes of Sinai , and shelles of Galice And mady a crouch on his cloke , & keyes of Rome And the vernicle before , for men should knowe And se by hys signes , whom he so sought hadde . Thys folke trained hym fyrst , from whence he came From Snai he seid , and from our Lords sepulchre . In Bethlem and in Babilon , I haue bene in both , In Ermonie and Alexander , and many other placis . Ye maye see by my signis , that be set in my hatte That I haue walked full wyde , in wette and in drye And sought many good Seints , for my soulis helpe Knoweste thou not a crossent , that men call truth ? Coudst thou not wish vs the way , where the wight wonnith Naye so me God helpe , seyd that gome than I sawe neuer Palmer , with poke nor with scrippe Aske after him ere , tyll nowe in this place . Peter , quod a plowman , and put forth his heade I knowe him as kyndly , The plowman is Truthes seruaunt . as clerke doeth his boke Conscience and kynd witte , kenned me to his place , And dyd me sweren sykerly , to serue him for euer Both to sowe and to set , the whyle I swinke myght . I haue ben his folower , al thys fifty wynter Boeth so wen his seed and sued hys beastes Wythin and wythoute , I wayted his profite . I dyke and delue , and do that truth hoteth Sometyme I sowe , and sometyme I thresh In Tailars and tinkers craft , what truth can deuise I weue and I wynde , and do what truth hoteth For though I sey it my self , I serue hym to paye . Iche haue myne hyre well , and other whyles more . He is prestiste payar that pore men knoweth , Hene with halt none helk his hire , that he ne hath it at euen He is as lowe as a lambe , and louely of spech . And if ye wyll wytt where he wonnith : I shall wyshe you witterly , the hye waye to his place Yea leue Piers ꝙ these pilgrimes , & proferd him hyre For to wend with hem , to Truethes dwellynge place Nay by my soule health ꝙ Piers , & gan for to swere I nolde fang a ferthinge , for saynt Thomas shryne Truth wold loue me the lesse , longtime therfore after And if ye wil to wend wel , this is the way thyther Ye must go thorow mekenes , both men and wiues Til ye come into conscience , the Christ wit the soth That ye louen our lord God , How Piers teacheth the waye to trueth . leuest of all thynges And that your neighbours next , in no wyse appeire Other wyse than thou woldist , he wrought to thy selfe And so bowith forth bi a broke , beeth buxom of speach Tyll you finden a forde , your fathers ye honoureth Honora patrem et matrem . &c. Exod. xx . Wade in that water , and washe you wel there And you shall leape the lighter , all your lyfe after And so shalt thou se swere not , but if it be for nede And namely on idle , the name of god almyghty Than shalt thou come bi a croft , but come thou not therin That croft hight couet not , mens cattel nor her wines Ne none of her seruantes , that noyen hem might Loke ye breke no bows ther , but if thei be your own Two stockes ther standen , and flynte you not there They hight stele not ne sle not , stricke forth by both And leaue hem on the left hand , & loke not therafter And holde well thy holy daye , heighe till euen Than shalt thou blēsh at a berch , bear no false witnes He is frithed in wyth Florens , and other foes many Loke thou pluck no plant ther , for perals of thi soule Than shal ye se Saysoth , so it be to done In no maner els not , for no mans biddynge Than shalt thou come to a court , as clere as the sunne The mote is of mercie , that maner abowte And al the walles bene of wyt , to holden wil oute And kerneled wyth christendome , mankinde to saue Botrased with beleue so , or thou beest not saued And al the houses bene hiled , hales and chambres With no lead but with loue , & low spech as brethern The brydge is of bidewel , the better may thou spede Euery piller is of pennaunce , of praiers of saynts Of almes deds are the hokes , that the gates hangen on Grace hyght the Gatewarde , Truth● Portar a good man forsoth His man hight Amend you , for many men him knoweth Telleth hym this token , that truth wyt the soth I performed the penaunce , that the priest me enioined And am full sort for my sinnes , & so shal I euer When I thinke theron , though I were a pope Beddeth amende you meken hym , tyl his master once To wayne vp the wyket , that the woman shute Tho Adam and Eue , eaten apples vnrosted Paradisi porta per Euam cutictis clausa est , et per vitginem Mariam patefacta est . For he hath the key & the clicket , though the King slept And if grace graunt to the , to come in this wyse Thou shalt see in thie selfe , Truth sit in thyne herte In a cheyre of charitie , as thou a chylde were To suffer hym and sey not , agaynst thy Siers wyl And beware than of Wrath , that is a weked shrewe He hath Euuye to him , that in thy hert sitteth And paketh forth pride , to praise thy selfe The boldnes of the benefites , maketh the blinde than And than wast thou dryuen out as dewe , & the dore closed Keyed and clyketted , to kepe the with oute Happilye an hundred winter , er thou eft entre Thus mightest thou lesen his loue , to let well by the selfe And neuer happely eft enter , but grace if thou haue And there are seuen sisterne , that seruen Trueth euer And are porters to the posterus , Truthes maidens that to the place belong That one of hem hight Abstinence , Humilitie an other Chartie and Chastitie , bene the chiefe maidens there Pacience and Peace , do muche people helpe Largenes the Ladye , letteth in full manye She hath holpen an hundred out of the deuils pinfold And who is sibbe to these seuen , so me god helpe He is wondersly welcome , and faire vnderfoggen And but ye be sibbe , to some of these sisters seuen It is ful hard bi my head ꝙ Piers , for any of you al To get in gong at any gate ther , but grace be the more Now by Christ ꝙ a cutpurse them , I haue no kin there Nor I ꝙ an apeward , by ought that I can knowe Wyt God quod a wafrester , wist I this for soth Shuld I neuer furder a fote , for any friers preaching Yis quod Piers the plow man , & poked hem all to good Mercy is a mayden there , hath might ouer hem all And she is syb be to al synfull , and her sonne also And through the helpe of hem two , hope ye none other Thou might get grace therby , so thou go bytyme Bi. s . Paul ꝙ a pardoner , on auenture I be not knowen there I wil go fetch my boxke , with my breuets al And also a bull , wyth a Byshops letters . By Christ ꝙ a common woman , thy company wyl I folow Thou shalt saye I am thy sister , I ne wotte whether they be gonne .

Passus sextus de visione : THis were a wicked way , but if we had a gide That wold wend with vs ech a fote , & the way tell Quod perkin the plowman , vi . s . Peter of rome I haue an halfe acre to erie , by the highe waye Had I eryed thys halfe acre , and sowen it after I woulde wende wyth you , How Peers assigneth women to worke . and the waye teache This were a longe lettynge , ꝙ a lady in a Skleire What should we women worke , in the meane while Some shal sowe the sacke ꝙ Piers , for shedyng of the wheate And ye se louely ladies , with your long fingers That ye haue silke and sandell , to sowe whan tyme is Chesibles for chaplaynes , churches to honour Wyues and wyddowes , wole and flaxe spinneth Make cloth I counsell you , & ken so your doughters The nedy and the naked , nimith hede howe they liggen And caste hem clothes , for so commaundeth truth For I shall lene hem liuelode , but if the lande fayle Fleshe and breade boeth , to ryche and to pore As longe as I liue , for the lordes loue of heauen And al maner of men , that throgh meate & dringe libbeth Help him to worke wightlye , that winneth your fode By Christ quod a knight tho , he kenneth vs the beste And on the teme truely , taught was I neuer And ken me quod the knyght , & by Christ I wyll assaye . By saint Paule quod Perken , ye profer me fayre That I shall swynke and swete , Pierce prayeth a knight to helpe to kepe holy church . & sowe for vs boeth And other labours do for thy loue , all my lyfe tyme In couenaunt that thou kepe , holy kirke and my selfe From wastours & from wicked men , that this world destroyeth And go hunt hardely , to hares and to Foxes To dores & to brocks , the breken adowne my hedges And go affayte the Fawcons , wylde fowles to kyll For such cometh to my croft , and cropeth mi whet● Curtessy the knyght then , comsed these wordes By my power Pers quod he , I plyght the my trouth To fulfill thys forwarde , though I fyght should As longe as I lyue , I shal the mayntayne Pierce councelleth the knyghte wisely Yea and yet a poynt quod Piers , I pray you of more Loke ye tene no tenaunt , but truthe wol assent And though ye mai amarcye hem , let merci be taxour And mekenes thie master , manger Medes chekes And though pore men proffre you , presentes and gyfts Nym it not on a venture , ye maye it not deserue For ye shal yelden it agayne , at one yers ende In a ful parilous place , Purgatory it high And misved not thi bond men , the better might thou spede Though he be thi vnderling here , wel it may happen That he were worthelier set , & with more blis in heuen Than thou , but thou do bet , and liue as thou shoulde Amice asccude superius . Luke xiiii For in charnel & in churche , cherls be ful euel to know Or a knight from a knaue there , know this in thi hert And that thou be true of thy tonge , & tales that thou hate But if thei be of wisdom or wit , thy workmen to chasten Holde wyth no harlots , ne here not her tales And namelie at thy meate , suche meneschew For it be the deuills dyssours , I do the to vnderstonde I assent be sainte Iame , the knyght said than For to work bi thy wordes , the while my lyfe endureth And I shal aparel me quod Parken , in pilgremes wise And wend wyth you I wyl , tyl we finde truthe And cast on my clothes , clouted and hole Micokers and mi cuffes , for colde on my nailes And hang mi hoper at mi hals , in slede of a scripe A bushel of bread corne , bring me therein For I wil sowe it my selfe , and sith will I wend To pilgrimages as palmers do , pardon for to haue And whoso helpeth me to erye , and sower I wende Shal haue leaue by our lord , to glene here in heruest And maken hem mery thermid , maugre who so grudge it And all kinne crafty men , that can liue in truth I shall fynde hem fode , that faythfully lybbeth Saue Iake the iudgeler , and Ienet of the stewes And Daniel the displeyer , and Benot the baude And Fryer faytoure , and folke of hys order And Robin the ribauder , for hys rustye wordes Trueth tolde me it once , and bade me tel it after . Deleantur de libro viuentium . I should not deale with hem For holye church is hote , Psal. 69. of hem no tythes to take Quia cum tustis non scribantur . They be escaped good auenture , Pierces wife God hem amend Dame werche whan tyme is , Pierce wife hyght His daughtir high do right so , or thi dame shal the bete His sonne hight Suffer thy souerains , to haue her wil Deme hem not for if thou doest , thou shalt it dere abye Let God worcke withall , for so his word teacheth For now I am old and hore , and haue of mene owne To penaunce & to pilgrimage , I wil pas with thes other Therfore I wil er I wend , do write my bequest , How Piers maketh hys testament , In dei nomine amen , I make it my selfe He shall haue my soule , that best hath deserued it And from the fende it defend , for so I beleue Tyll I come to my countes , as my Crede me telleth To haue a release and a remission , on that rental I leue The kyrke shal haue my carren , and kepe my bones For of my corne and cattell , she craued my tythes I payed it him prestly , for the perell of my soule Therfore is he holden I hope , to mind me in his mas And mengen in hys memori , among all christen My wife shal haue of that I wan , with Truth & no more , And deale among my doughters , and mi dear children For though I bye to day , my dettes are quite I bare home that I borrowed , or I to bedde yede And with the residue & the remnaunt by the rode of Lukes I will worshyp therwith , Truthe by my life And been hys Pilgraime at the plowe , for pore mens sake Mi plow fote shal be mi pikstaf , & pitch ato the tootes And helpe my culter to kerne , and clense the forowes . Nowe is Perkin & hys pilgraymes , to the plow faren To erie this halfe acre , helpen him many Dikers and deluers , dygged vp the balkes Therwith was Perkin apaied , & praysed hem faste Other workemen ther were , that wrought ful yerne Euery man in his maner , made hym selfe to done And some to please Perkin , picked vp the wedes . At high prime Pierce , let the plow stonde . To ouer se hem him selfe , and who so best wroughte He shoulde be hyred therafter , whan heruest time came And than satten some , and songe at the nale , Iolye workmen And holpen erie his halfe acre , with hey trolly lolly Now by the peril of mi soule ꝙ Pierce , all in pure tene . But ye arise the rather , and rape you to werke Shal no graine that groweth , glad you atende And though ye dye for dole , the deuyll haue that retche . Tho were faytors aferd , and feyned hem blind Some layde her legges a lyrye , as such losels can And made her mone to Pierce , & prayed him of grace For we haue no lims to labour with lord , graced be ye And we pray for you Pierce , & for your plowe both That god of his grace , your grayne multiply And yelde you for your almes , that you geue vs here For we can nether swink ne swet , such siknes vs ailith If it be soth ꝙ Pierce that ye sayne , Lerne to answere counterfaite beggers I shall it sone espye Ye be wasters I wote well , and trueth wot the sothe And I am his old hine , and hight him to warne Which thei wer in this world , his workmen apeared Ye wast the men winnen , with trauayle and wyth tene And truth shall teach you , his teme to dryue Or ye shall eat barly bread , and of the broke drinke . but if ye be blind or broken leggid , or bolted with irons Ye shall eate wheat bread , and drinke wyth my selfe Tyl God of his goodnes , amendement you sende , And ye myght trauel as trueth wold , & take meate & hyre To kepe kine in the field , the corne from the beasts Dyken or deluen , or dingine vpon sheues Or helpe make morter , or beare mucke a fielde In licherie and in losengery ye , lyue and in slouth And al is through sufferaunce , that vengeaunce you ne taketh And Ankers and hermits , the eate but at nones And no more or morow , my almes shal not they haue And catell to kepe hem with , that haue cloysters and churches And Robert runabout , shal not haue of myne Ne apostles but thei prech can , & haue bishopes power They shal haue pane & potage , & make her self at ease No reasonable religion , hath right nought of certen . And than gan a wastoure to wrath him , & wolde haue fought And to Piers the plomā , he proferd his gloue A britoner a bragger , The wastour will fight and bofeted Pierce also And bad him go pysse with his plow , forpyned shrewe Wilt thou or nilt thou , we wyll haue our wyll Of thy flour and of thy flesh , fetch when vs lyketh , And maken vs mery there myd , maugre thy chekes Pierce playneth to the knight . Than Pierce the plowman , plained him to the knyght To kepe him as couenaunt was , fro cursed shrewes And from these wastors wolueskins , that make the worlde dere For tho wasten & win nought , & that ilke while Worth neuer plenty among the paple , the while my plowe liggeth Curtesly the knight than , as his kind wolde Warned wastour , and wished him the better , Or thou shalt abie by the lawe , by th order that I beare . I was not wonte to worke ꝙ wastour , & now I nill begyn And let light of the law , & lesse of the knight , And set Pierce at a pese , and his plow both And manaced Piers and his men , if they met eft sone Pierce prcied honger to reueng hym . Now bi the peril of mi soul ꝙ piers , I shal apeir you al And whouped after hunger , that heard him at the first . A wreke me of these waftours ꝙ he , the this world shendeth Hunger in hast tho , hent wastour by the maw And wrong him so bi the wombe , that both his eien watered He buffeted the breton , about the chekes , That he loked lyke a lanterne , al his life after He beate hem so both , he brake nere her guttes Ne had Pierce wyth a pese lof , prayed hunger to cease They had bene doluen , ne deme thou none other Faytours worke for fear of honger Suffre hem liue he sayd , & let hem eate with hogges , Or els beanes and branne , i baken togethers Or els milke or meane ale , thus prayed Pierce for hem . Faitours for feare therof , flowen into barnes And flapped on with flailes , from morow till euen That hunger was not so hardy , on hem for to loke . For a potte full of pese , that Pierse had ymaked An heape of Heremites , henten hem spades And kit her copes , and courtebies hem made And wenten as workemen with , spades & with shouels And doluen and diggen , to driue away hunger , What nede can do . Blind and bedridden , were botened a thousand That sitten to begge siluer , sone were they healed For bred baken for baierds , was bote for mani hongri And mani beggers for beanes , buxum wer to swink And ech pore man wel apayed , to haue pesen for his hire And what Pierce praied hem to do , as preste as a hauk And therof was Pierce proude , & put hem to worke And gaue hem meat as he migh ford , & reasonable hire Than had Pierce pity , & prayd hunger to wende , Home vnto his owne yarth , and holden him there For I am wel a wroke of wasters , by thi might now And I pray the er thou passe , quod Pierce to honger Of beggers and bidders , what best to be done ? For I wote wel be thou went , they wil worch ful yll For mischefe it maketh , they be so meke nowe And for defaut of her fode , this folke is at my wyl . They ar mi bloudy brether ꝙ pierce , for god bought vs al Truth taught me once , to loue hem eche one And helpen hem of all thing , aye as hem nedeth And now wold I wit of the , what were the best And how I might mastren hem , & make hem work . How begers maye be made to worke . Heare now quod hunger , and holde it for wysedome , Bold beggers & bygge , that may her bread swinke With hounds bread & horsebread , hold vp her hartes Abate hem wyth beanes , for bollinge of her wombe And if the gommes grutch then , bid hem go swynke And he shall soupe sweter , when he hath it deserued And if thou find any freke , the fortune hath apaired Or any maner falty man , fond thou such to knowe Confort hem with thy cattell , for Chrystes loue of heuen Loue hem , and lene hem , for so the law teacheth Gal vi a. Alter alterius onera portate And all maner of men , that thou myght espye , That nedy ben and noughty , help hem of thy goods Loue & lacke hem nought , lest god take the vengeaunce Though they do euyll , let god worche Mihi vindictam , er ego distribuam , Hebr. xii . Rom. xii . De. xxxii . Luk. xvi . If thou wilt be gracious to go , do as the gospel techeth And byloue the among low men , so shalte thou latch grace . Facite vobis amicos de maminone iniquitatis , I nold greue god ꝙ Pierce , for al the good on ground Myght I synles do as thou sayst , said Pierce then Yea I behote the ꝙ hunger , or els the bible lyeth . Go to Genesis the gyant , the engendrour of vs all . In Sudore and in swynke , thou shalt thy meattilye And labour for thy lyuelode , for so our lord hyght And Sapience sayth the same , I sawe it in the bible Piger pre frigore , no fyelde woulde tilye , Prou xx . The slouthfull suffer honger Mat xxv And therfore he shall begge & byd , & no man bate his hunger Mathew with mans face , mouthed these words That Seruus nequam had a mnam , & for he nold chaffer He had inaugre of his maister , for euermore after And biname hym hys Mnam , for he ne wold worch And gafe that Mnam to hym , that ten Mnams had And with that he sayd , that holy kirke it hearde He that hath shall haue , and helpe there it nedeth And he thou hath not shall not haue , ne no man him helpe And that he weneth well to haue , I will it him bereue Kynde wyt woulde , that ech a wyght wrought . Or in digging or in deluing , or trauaile of prayers Contemplatiue life , or actiue life , Christe wold they worught The psalter saith in the psalmes of beati omnes , The freke that fedeth him selfe , with hys faythful laboure He is blessed by the boke in body and in soule . Lobores manuum tuarum , Psal. 128 How● piers prayeth hunge● to teach● him a 〈◊〉 crafte for him and for hys seruauntes quoniam manducabis Yet I pray you ꝙ Pierce , pur charitie & ye can Any leefe leche craft , lere it me my deare For some of my seruants , and mi selfe both Of al a weke worke not , so our wombe aketh I wote wel ꝙ hunger , what sikenes the ayleth , Ye haue manged ouer muche , & that maketh you grone And I hote the ꝙ hunger , as thou thy hele wilneste , That thou drinke no day , ere thou dine some what , Eate not I hote the , ere hunger , the taketh And send the of his sauce , to sauour with thy lyppes , And kepe some tyl souper time , and syt not to longe , And ryse vp ere appetite , haue eaten his fyll : Let not syr Surfyte , syt at thy borde , Leue him not for he is licherous , & lycorous of tonge And after many maner of meat , his maw is a hungred And if thou diet the thus , I dare lay my eares That Phisike shal his furred hode , for his fode sell , And his cloke of Calabrie , wyth al the knaps of golde And be fayne by my fayth , his phisike to let And learne to labour with hond , for lyuelode is swete For murtherers are many leches , lorde hem amende , They do men dye by their drinks , yer destinie it wold By. S. Paule ꝙ Pierce , these are profetable wordes Wend now hunger when thou wylt , the wel be thou euer For this is a louely lesson , the lord it the foryelde , By hote god quod honger , hence ne wil I wend Til I haue dined by this day , and dronken both I haue no peny ꝙ Pierce , polettes for to bye Ne neither gose ne grys , but two grene chesis , A fewe curdes and creame , and an hauer cake . And two loues of beanes & dran , bake for my folke , And yet I say by my soule , I haue no salt bacon Ne no cokeny by Christ , colopes for to make And I haue percely and porets , & many cole plantes , And eke a cowe and a calfe , and a cart mare To draw a field my dung , the while the draught lasteth . And by this lyuelod , I must lyue to Lammas tyme By that I hope to haue , haruest in my crofte And then I maye dight thy dinner , as me dere liketh And al the pore people tho , pescoddes fetten , Beanes and baken apples , they brought in her lappis Pore folk fede hunger . Chiboles and chernell , and rype cheries many And proferd Piers the present , to please wyth hys hunger All hunger eate in hast , and asked after more Than pore folke for feare , fedde hunger yerne With grene poret & pesen , to poysen him thei thought By that it neghed to haruest , new corne came to cheping Than was folke fayne , and fedde hunger with the beste With good ale as Gloton taught , & gart hunger to slepe And tho wold waster no work , but wandren aboute , Ne no begger eate bread , that beanes in were But of Coket and Clermatine , or els of cleane wheat Ne no halpeny ale , in no wyse drinke But of best & of that brownest , that in borough is to sell Laborers that haue no land to liue on , but her handes Deyned to dyne a daye , wyth nyght old wortes May no penyale hem paye , ne no pece of bacon But if it be fresh flesh , other fysh fryed other bakte And that chāud , or plus chaud , for chilling of her maw Prouender pricketh them And but if he be highly hiered , els will he chyde And that he was workeman wrought , waile the tyme Agaynst Cafons counsel , comseth he to iangle , Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento He greu●●h him against god , Cato , & grutcheth agayn reson And than curseth he the king , and all hys counsel after Such lawes to loke , labourers to greue . While hunger gafe hem hier , not one of hem wold chide . Ne striuen against his statute , so sternely he loked And I warne you workemen , win while ye may For hunger hither ward , hasteth him selfe He shall awake with water , wastours to chast . Ere fiue yere be fulfilled , such famine shall arise Through floudes and foule weder , This is no prophecy but a pronostication fruite shal fayle And so sayd Saturne and sent you to warne . And when ye se the sunne amisse , & two monkes heades And a maid haue the maistry , and multiply by hight . Than shal death withdraw , and derth be iustyce And Dauie the dyker , shall dye for hunger But if God of his goodnes graunt vs a treue

Passus septimus de visione . TRuth hearde tell herof , and to Pierce sente . To taken his teme , and tilen the earth And purchased a pardone A pena et a culpa For hym & for his heyres , Piercis Paxdon . for euermore after And bade him hold him at home , and erye his laies And all that helpe him to erye , to sette , and to sowe Or any other mistery , that might Pierce auayle : Pardon with Pierce plowman , Truth hath graunted , Knightes and kinges , that kepeth holy kyrke , And rightfully in realmes , ruleth the people Haue pardon through purgatorie , to passe ful lightli Wyth patriarks & prophets , in Paradice to be felow Byshops iblessed , if they bene as they should , Legisters of both lawes , the lewd therwith to preach , And in asmuch as they may , amend al synful Are peers with th apostles , such pardon Pierce sheweth And at the day of dome , at the high deyse to syt Marchauntes in the mergen , had many yeres And none Apena et culpa , the Pope wyl hem graunt For they hold not her holidaies , as holy kirk teacheth And for they swere by her soul , & so god must hem help Agayn cleane conscience her cattell to sell What merchauntes shuld do . And vnder his secret seale , truth sent hem a letter That they shuld bugge boldely , that them best lyked And sythen sell it agayne , and saue the winning And amend mesōdiux , ther mede , & misease folk help And wycked waies , wightely amende And do boote to bridges , that to broke were Marien maydens , or maken hem Nunnes . Pore people and prisonars , finden hem her fode And set scholers to schole , or to some other craftes Releue religion , and renten hem better . And I shall send you my selfe , s . Mihel mine afchāhel That no deuel shal you dere , ne fere you in your doing And witten you from wanhope , if ye wil this worke And send your soules in safety , to my saynts in Ioye Than were marchaunts mery , many wept for Ioy And praised pierce the plowman that purchased the bul Men of law lest pardon had , that pleden for mede For the psalter saueth hem not , suche as taken gyftes Psal. xv . Men of law shold take nought but their fee . And namely of Innocentes , that no euil ne canneth . Super innocentem munera non accipies . Pleders shuld peine hem to plead , for such in health Princes and prelates should pay for her trauell , A regibus et principibus erit merces corum And mani a Iustice and Iurour would for Iohn do more Than for Dei pietate , Law●ars shold take no money leue you no other And he that spendeth his speche , & speaketh for the pore That is innocent & nedy , and no man appeyreth Conforteth him in that case , without couetise of giftes , And spekith law for our lords loue , as he hath lerned Shal no deuil at his deathes daye , dearn hym a mite That he ne worth false & his soule , the psalter beareth witnes Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo ? Psal. xv . And to bug water ne wind , ne wit , ne fire the fourth These four the father of heuen made , to this fold in commen These be Truthes treasures , truefolk to help That neuer shall wexe ne wane , without God him selfe . Whan they drawen on to die , & indulgence wold haue Their pardon is full petit , at their partyng hence That any mede of meane men , for their mooting take Ye Legisters and lawyers , hold thys for Truthe That if I lye ▪ Mathewe is to blame , For he bade me tell you this , & this prouerbe me told Quod cumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines facite eis . Al lyuynge laborers , Luke . vi . that libben wyth her handes That truly taken , and truly wynnen , And liuen in loue and in law , for their lowe hertes Haueth the same absolution that sent was to Pierce Beggers & bidders , Of giuing of almes . ne be not in the bulle But if the suggestion be south , that shapeth hem to begge For he that beggeth one byt , but if he haue nede He is false wyth the fende , and defraudeth the nedy And also he begileth the gyuer , agaynst his wyll For if he were not nedy , he would giue that to an other , That were more nedy than he , so the nedest shuld be holpen Caton kenneth me thus , & the clerke of Stories Cui des dideto , is Catons teachinge And in the stories , he teacheth to bestow your almes Sit elimosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des And Gregory was a good man , Gregorie & bade vs geuen all That asketh for his loue , that vs al leneth Non eligas cui miserearis , ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere . Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeas . For ye wyt not who is worthy , & god wot the nedie . In him that taketh is the trechery , if any treson walke For he that geueth yeldeth , and yarketh him to rest And he the biddeth boroweth , & brigeth him selfe in det For beggers borowen euer , & their borow is god almighty To yeld hem that geueth hem , & yet vsurie more Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam , vt ego veniens meum cum vsuris exigerem ? Luke xix Therfore bid not ye begers , but if ye haue great nede For he that hath to bug hi bread , the bow bereth wytnes He hath inough that hath bred , though he haue nought els Satis diues est qui non indiget pane Let vsage be your solace of saintes lyues readynge The boke banneth begeri , & blameth hem in this maner Iunior fui et iam senui , et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem . Psal. 37 For ye lyue in no loue , ne no lawe holde Mani of you ye wed not , the women that ye wyth deale But as wild beasts wyth wehe , worthen vp & worchen And bringen forth barnes , that bastardes men callen . Or the backe or some bone , he breaketh in his youth : And sithe gone faiten with your fauntes , for euer after There is more mishappe puple , among these beggers Than of al maner of men that on thys molde walketh And they that lyue thus her lyfe , may loth the tyme That euer they were men wrought , whan thei shal hence fare And olde men & hore , that helples be of strength And women wyth chylde , Patiente pouertie . that worke ne may Blynde and bedriden , and broke their membres That taken the mischeues mekely , as mesels & other Haue as plaine pardon as the plowman hym selfe For loue of her low hertes , our lorde hath hem graunted Their penaunce & their purgatory , here on this earth Pierce quod a priest tho , thy pardon must I reade For I wyl construe ech a clause , & ken it the in englishe And Pierce at his prayer , his pardon vnfolded And I behinden hem both , beheld all the bulle All in two lines it laye , and not a leefe more And was wrytten ryght thus , in witnes of Truthe , Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam etexnam . Qui vero mala in ignem eternam . Mat. xxv Peter quoth the prieste tho , I can no pardon fynde But dowel and haue wel , & god shall haue thy soule And do Ill and haue Ill , hope thou none other But after thy deathes day , the deuil shal haue thi soule And Pierce for pure tene , pulled it in twayne . And sayde . Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis Non timebo malum quoniam , tu mecum es . Psal. xxiii I shal cease of my sowyng quod Pierce , & swinke not so harde Ne about my bealy ioy , so busy be no more Of prayers & of penaunce , my plowe shall be hereafter And wepe when I shold slepe , though whete bread me faile The prophet his paine ate , in penaunce , & sorow By that the psalter sayeth , so dyd other manye That loueth god lelly , his liuelode is full easy , Fuerunt mihi sachrime mee , panes die ac nocte . And but if Luke lye , Psal. lii . he learneth vs by fowles We shoulde not be busye , aboute the worldes blysse Math. vi . Ne soliciti sitis he sayth in the gospell And sheweth in examples our selues to wishe The foules in the field , who findeth hem meate in winter Haue they no garner to go to , but god fedes hem all : What ꝙ the priest to Parkin , Peter as me thinketh Thou art lettered a litle who learned the on boke ? Abstinence the Abbes ꝙ Pierce , mine . a.b.c. me taught And conscience came afterward , & kenned me much more . Were thou a priest ꝙ he , A blynd . priestes taunt thou might preach wher that should As diuinor in diuinitie with Dirit insipiens to thy teme . Lewd Lorel ꝙ Pierce , litle lokest thou on the bible On Salomons sawes , seldome thou beholdest . Ecce derisiones et iurgia cum eis ne crescant . The priest and Perkin , Pro. xxii . apposed either other And I through her wordes awoke , & wayted about And sawe the sunne , in the south sit that time Meatelesse and moneilesse , on Maluerne hylles Musinge on these metales , and my waye ich yede . Many tymes these metals , hath made me study Of that I se slepynge , if that so be myght And also for Pierce the plowman , full pensife in herte And what a pardon Pierce had , al the people to conforte And howe the priest impungned it , with .ii. propre wordes And I haue no sauery in songwary , for I seit oft faile Caton and canonisters , counsell vs to leaue To set sadnes in songwary , for Somnia ne cures And for the byble boke beareth wytnes Howe Daniell demed , How Daniel demed the dreames of Nabuchodonosor . the dreames of a kinge That was Nabugodonosor , named of clarkes Daniel sayde sir kynge , thy dreames betoken That vnkought knights shall come , thi kingdome to clayme Amongest lower Lordes , thy land shall be departed And as Daniel demed , in dede it fell after The kyng lost his lordship , and lower men it had And Ioseph met marueilously , Of the dreames of Ioseph howe the mone and the sunne And the. xi starres , halsed him all Than Iacob iudged , Iosephes swyuen Beau fitz quod hys father , for defante we shall I my selfe and my sonnes , seche the for nede It befell as hys father sayde , in Pharaos tyme That Ioseph was iustice , Egypte to loken It befel as his father tolde , his frends ther him sought And all this maketh me , on this metals to thinke And howe the prieste preued , no pardon to do wel And demed that dowel , in dulgence passed Biennales and triennales , and byshops letters And how dowel at the day of dome , is dignely vnderfongen And passed al the pardon , Note howe hescorneth the auctority of Popes Math. vi . of . s . Peters church Now hath the pope power , pardon to graunt the people Wythout any penaunce , to passe into heauen This is our beliefe , as lettered men do vs teach Quod cumque ligaueritis super terram , erit ligatum et in celis And so leue lellye Lordes , forbode els That pardon and penaunce , & prayers done saue Soules that haue sinned , seuen sythes deadly And to truste to these trentals , truely me thinketh Is not so siker for the soule , as to do well Therfore I red you reukes , that rich be on this earth Apon truste of treasure , trientales to haue Be ye neuer the holder , to breake the ten hestes And namely ye maisters , mayres and iudges That haue the welth of this world , , & for wise men be holden To purchase you pardons , & the popes buls At the dreadfull dome , whan the dead shall arise And commen all tofore Christ , accountes for to yede How thou leadest thi lyfe here , and his lawes kepest And how thou didest day by day , the dome wil reherse A poke full of pardon there , ne prouinciall letters Though ye be founden in the fraternitie , of the .iiii. orders And haue indulgence an . C. fold , but if do wel you help I beset your patentes & your pardons , at a pies he le Therfore I counsell all christen , to crye god mercy And make Christe our meane , that hath made emēds That and gyue vs grace here , or we go hence Such wockes to worke , while we ben here That after our deathes daye , dowel rehearse At the day of dome , we did as he hyght .

Passus octauus de visione . Et hic incipit inquisitio prima de dowell . THus robed in russet , I romed aboute All a Somer season , for to seke dowell And freyned full oft , of folke that I mette If ani wight wiste , wher dowel was at inne And what man he might be , of many man I asked Was neuer wight as I went , that me wysh could Where this ladde lenged , lesse or more . Tyll it befell on a Fryday , two Fryers I mette Maisters of the Minours , men of greate wytte I halsed hem hendelye , as I had learned And prayed hem for charitie , or they passed further If they knewe any courte , or contrye as they went Where that do well dwelleth , do me to wytte For they be men on this mould , that most wide walkē And knowen contries & courtes , & many kinnes places Both princes palaces , and pore mens cotes And dowel & do euil , where they dwel both . Amongest vs ꝙ the minours , that man is dwellinge And euer hath as I hope , and euer shall hereafter , Contra quod I , as a clarke , and cumsed to of sputen And sayde hym sothly , Septies in die cadit iustus . Prou. 24. Seuen sythes sayeth the boke , synneth the rightfull . And who so synneth I saye , doth euel as me thinketh And do wel and doeuyl , may not dwel togither , Ergo he is not alwaye , among you Fryers He is other whyle els where , to wyshen the people . I shall say the my sonne , sayed the Frier than , Howe seuen sithes the sadde man , on a day synneth . By a forbisue quod the Frier , I shall the faire shewe Let bryng a man in a bote , amyd the brode water The wynde and the water , and the bote waggyng Make a man many tyme , to fall and to stande For stand he neuer so stiffe , he stumbleth if he moue And yet is he safe and sound , and so hym behoueth , For if he ne arise the rather , and raght to the stere , The wind would with the water , the boote ouerthrow And than were his life lost , through latches of him self And thus it falleth quod the Frier , bi folk here on erth The water is likned to the world , that waneth & wexeth The goodes of this world , ar likned to the gret waues That was wynds and wethers , walken about . The boote is likened to our body , the brytil is of kynd That through the fleshe , and the frayle worlde Synneth the sadde man , a day seuen tymes And deadly synne doeth he not , for do wel him kepeth And that is charitie the champion , chiefe helpe againe sinne For he strengtheth man to stand , & stirreth mans soule And thoughe thy body bowe , as bote doth in water , Aye is thy soule safe , but if thou wylt thy selfe Do a deadlye sinne , and drenche so thy soule His opinion of frewyll . God wyll suffer wel thy slouth , if thy selfe lyketh For he gafe the two yeresgifts , to teme well thy selfe And that is Witte & Frewil , to euery wight a portion To flyinge foules , to fishes , and to beastes And man hath moste therof , and most is to blame But if he worth wel therwith , as dowel hym teacheth . I haue no kind knoyng ꝙ I , to conceyue all your wordes And if I may liue & loke , I shall go learne better I bikenne the Christ , that on the crosse dyed And I said the same , saue you from mischaunce And giue you grace on this ground good men to worth And thus I went wide , wher walking mine one By a wyde weldernes , and by a woddes syde Blisse of the birdes brought me on slepe , And vnder a lynde on a land , lened I a stounde To lyth the layes , tho louely fowles made Myrthe of her mouthes , made me there to slepe The maruelousest metelles , mette me than That euer dremed wyght , in world as I wene . A much man as me thought , and like to my selfe Came and called me , by my kinde name What art thou quoth I tho , thou that my name knoweste That thou wottest wel quoth he , and no wight better Wot I what thou art ? Thought sayd he than , I haue sued the this seuen yeres , se thou me no rather ? Art thou Thought ꝙ I tho , thou couldest me wishe Wher the Dowel dwelleth , & do me that to knowe Dowel , & Dobetter , & Dobest the thirde , quod he Are thre fayre vertues , and be not farre to finde . Who so is true of hys tonge , & of his two handes And through his labor or his lond , his liuelod winneth And is trusty of his taylyng , taketh but his owne And is no drunklewe ne de digious , dowel him foloweth Dobet doth ryght thus , & he doth much more He is as lowe as a lambe , and louely of speache And helpeth all men , after that hem nedeth The bagges & the bigirdles , he hath to brok hem all , That the Erle Auarous , helde and hys heyres And thus with māmōs mony , he hath made him frendes And is runne to religion , and hath rendred the Bible And preacheth to the people , saynte Paules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientis cum siits ipsi sapintes . ii . Cor. xi . And suffereth the vnwyse , wyth you for to lyue And with glad wil doeth hem good , for so god you hoteth Dobest is aboue boeth , and beareth a bishops crosse Is hoked on that one ende , to halye men from hell A pyke is on the potent , to pull downe the wycked That wayten anye wyckednes , do well to tene And dowell and dobet , amongest hem haue ordeyned To crowne one to be kynge , to rule hem boeth That if dowell and dobet , arne agaynste dobeste Than shall the kynge come , and caste hem in yrons And but if do best byd for hem , they be there for euer Thus dowell and dobet , and dobeste the thyrd Crowned one to be kynge , to kepen hem all And to rule the realme , by her thre wyttes And none other wise , but as they thre assented , I thanked Thought tho , that he me thus taught And yet sauoreth me not thy suging , I couet to lerne How dowel dobest & do better , done among the people But wyt can wysh the ꝙ thought , wher tho .iii. dwell Els wot I none that can tell , that nowe is alyue . Thought and I thus , thre dayes we yeden Disputynge vpon dowell , daye after other And ere we were ware , with wyt gan we mete Wyt wyll haue none excesse . He was longe and leane , lyke to none other Was no pryde on hys apparell , ne pouerty nether Sadde of hys semblaunce , and of soft chere I durste not moue no matter , to make hym to iangle But as I bade thought tho , be meane betwene And pur forth some purpose , to preuen his wyts What was dowel fro dobet , & dobest from hem both Than thought in that tyme , sayd these wordes Whether dowel dobet , and dobest ben in land Here is wyl wold wyt , if Wit could teach him And whether he be man or woman , this man faine wold espy And worch as they thre wold , this is his entent

Passus nonus de visione . Et primus de dowell . HEre dowel dwelleth ꝙ wit , not a day hence In a castel that kind made , of four kins things Of earth & ayre is it mad , mingled togithers Wyth wind & with water , witterly enioyned Kynde hath closed therin , craftely withall A Lemman that he loueth , lyke to him selfe Anima she hyght , and Enuye her hateth A proude pricker of Fraunce , Princeps huius mundi Dowel is keper of the soule . And woulde wynne her away , with wiles & he myghte And kind knoweth thys well , & kepeth her the better And dothe her with sir dowel , is duke of thys marches Dobet is her damosell , sir dowels daughter To serue this lady lelly , both late and rathe . Dobest is aboue boeth , a byshops pere That he byd moote be do , he ruleth hem all Anima that lady , is led by his lerning . And the constable of the castell , that kepeth all the watche , In wytte hath fyue sonnes . Is a wyse knight withall , sir In wyt he hight And hath fyue fayre sonnes , by his fyrst wyfe Syr Seewell and Saywel , and hearwell the ende Syr worchwel with thy hand , a wight man of strength And syr Godfray gowell , great lordes forsoth These fyue bene set , to saue this lady Anima Tyl kind come or send , to saue her for euer What kins thing is kind ꝙ I , canst thou me tell ? Kynd ꝙ wytte is a creator , of all kinnis thinges Father and former of all , that euer was makyd And that is the great god , that gynning had neuer Lorde of lyfe and of light , of blys and of payne Angels and all thing , arne at his wyl , And man is him moste like , of marke and of shape , For through the word that he spake , Ps. xxxiii wexen forth bestes Dirit et facta sunt . And made Adam , likest to him selfe one And Eue of his ribbe bone , wythout any meane For he was singuler him selfe , and sayde faciamus As who saye more must hereto , Goddes myghte must help his word . then my worde one My myght must helpe , now with my speche Euen as a lord shuld make leters , & he lackid perchmē Though he could write neuer so wel , if he had no pen The letters for al his lordship , I leue wer neuer imaked And so it semeth by him , as the bible tellith . There he sayde . Dirit et facta sunt , He must worch wyth his worde , and hys wyt shewe And in this maner was man made , by might of God almighty Wyth his word & his workmanship , and with life to last And thus god gaue him a goste , of the godhed of heuen And of his great grace , graunted him blysse And that is life that aye shall last , to al our linage after And that is the castell the kynde made , Caro it hight And is as much to meane , as man with a soule And that he wrought with work , & with word both Through might of the maiesty , man was imaked In wyt and all wyts , closed bene therin For loue of the ladie Anima that life is nempned Ouer all in mans body , she walketh and wandreth And in the herte is her home , and hir most rest And Inwit is in the head , and to the herte loketh What Anima is leef or loth , he leadeth hyr at his wil For after the grace of god , the greatest is Inwyt Much wo worth the man that misruleth his Inwytte And that bene glotons glob beris , her god is her wombe Phili. iii. Quorum deus benter est . For seruen they Sathan , their soules shal he haue They liue in sinfull lyfe here , hir soules is like the deuil And all that liuen good life , are like to God almighty i. Io. iiii . Qui manet in charitate , in deo manet . Alas that drink shall for do , that god dere boughte And doth god forsake him , that he shope to his likenes ? Mat. xxv Amen dico vobis , nescio vos . Et alibi Et dimisi eos secundum desiderata corum . Fooles that fauten Inwyt , I find that holy church Wo be to you that turn the tithes to priuate vse . Shuld findē hem that fauten , & fatherles children And wydowes that haue nought , wherwith to win hem her foode Hande men and maydens that helples were All these lacke In wyt , and lore behoueth . Of thys matter I might , make a long tale And finden fell wytnesses , amonge the four doctors That I lye not on that I learne the , Luke bereth witnes Godfathers & godmothers , that sene her god children At misease and at mischiefe , and moune hem amende Shal haue penaunce in purgatorye , but they hem help For more belongeth to the litle barne , or he the law know Than nempning of a name , and he neuer the wyser Should no christen creature , crye at the gate Ne fayle paine ne potage , Bestowe your tythes as you are bounde to do . & prelats did as they shulde A Iewe wol not see a Iew , go iangling for defaut For al the mouables on this mold , & he amend it might Alas the a christen creature , shal be vnkynd to an other Sythen Iewes that we iudge , Iudas felowes Eche of hem helpe other of that that hem nedeth Why wil not we christen , of Christs good be as kynd As Iewes that be our lores men , shame to vs all . The Commune for hir vnkindnes I drede me shal abie Bishops shal be blamed , for beggers sake He is worse then Iudas , that geueth Iapers syluer , And biddeth the begger go , for his broken clothes . Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium Christi minus distribuit . Et alibi , Perniciosus dispensator est qui res pauperum Christi in utiliter consumit . He doeth not wel that doeth so , ne dredith God of might He loueth not Salomons sawes that sapience taught Initium Sapientie timor domini . Eccle. i. That dredeth god he doeth wel , the dredith him for loue And not for drede of vengeaunce , doth therfore the bet He doeth best that withdraweth him , by day & by night To spyl any speche , or any , space of tyme . Qui offendit in vno , Iaco. ii . in omnibus est reus Lesyng of time , truth wotes the sothe Is moste hated apon earth , of hem that be in heauen And sithen to spyll sheach , that enspired is of grace And gods gleman , and a game of heauen , Wold neuer the faythful father , his fydle were vntemperd Ne his gleman a gadlinge , a goer to tauerne , To all true tidy men , that trauell desyren Our lord loueth hem & lente ( lowd other styll ) Grace to go to hem , and agone her lyfelode Inquirentes autem dominum , non minuentur omni bono . Psa. 34. Mariage is praised True weddid liuing folke , in this world is do well , For they moote worke and win , & the world susteyne For of her kind they come , that confessoures be nempned Kynges and knightes , Caysers and cherles Maydens and martires , out of one man come The wyfe was made the way , to helpe to worch And thus was wedlocke iwrought with a meane person First by the fathers wyll and the frendes counsell , And sithen by the assent of hem self , as thei might accorde And thus was wedlocke iwrought , & god him self it made In earth & in heuen , him selfe was the wytnes And false folke faythtles , theues and lyers , Wastours and wretches , out of wedloke I trowe Conceiued ben in yll time , as Cayne was of Eue , Of such sinfull shrewes , the psalter maketh mynde Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem , Psal. vii . And al that come of that Cayne : come to euell ende For god sent to Sem , and sayd by an aungell Learn to chose the a wyfe . Thine issue in thine issue , I wyl that they be ioyned , And not thy kind in Caines kind , coupled nor spoused Yet Sem agayne the sound , of our sauioure of heauen Caines kind and his kind , coupled togithers Til god wrothed for her workes , & such a word sayd That I made man , now it me forthynketh , Penitet me , fecisse hominem , And came to Noe anone , Gene. v● and bade him not let Swythe go shape a shyp , of shydes and of bordes Thy selfe , & thy sons thre , & sithen your wyues Buske you to that bote , and byde you therin , Tyl forty dayes be fulfilled , that the floud haue iwashed Cleane away the cursed bloud , that Cayne hath made , Brastes that nowe ben , shall banne the tyme That euer that cursed Cayne , came on thys earth All shall dye for hys dedes , by dales and by downes And the fowles that flowe forth , wyth other beastes Except onely , of euerye kynde a couple , That in thy shingled shyppe , shall be isaued Here bought the barne , the belsyres gyltes And all for her forefathers , fareden the worse The gospell is here agayne , in one degre I finde , Filiuns non portabit iniquitatem patris , Eze , xviii Et pater non portabit iniquitatem filii . And I fynde if the father , be false and a shrewe That som deale the sonne , shall haue the syrs tutches Impe on an elderne , and if thyne apple be swete Much maruayle me thynketh , and more of a shrewe That bryngeth forth any barne , but if it be the same And haue a sauour after the syre , seld seest thou other Nunquam colligitur de spinis vua , nec de tribulis ficus . Luke . vi . And thus through cursed Caine , came care apon earth And al for they wrought , wedlocke ayenst gods wyl Forthy haue they inaugre of her mariges , that mary so her children For some as I see , now soth for to tell For couetise of cattell , vnkindlich be wedded And carefull conception , cometh of suche mariages As befell of the folke , that I before tolde For good shold wed good , though they no good had Ioh. xiiii I am Via et veritas , sayth Christe , I maye auaunce all It is an vncomely couple , by Christ as me thinketh To geue a yonge wenche , to an olde feble Or wedden any wyddowe for wealth of her goodes That shall neuer barne heare , but if it be in armes Many a pair sithen the pestilence , hath plight hem togyther The frute that they brynge forth , are foule wordes In ielousye ioyeles , The frutes of wicked mariage . and ianglen a bed Haue thei no children but chests , & clapping them betwen And though thei do hem to dōmow , but if the deuil help To follow after the fliche , fetche they it neuer And but they both be forsworne that , bacon thei tyne Forthy I councell al christen , couer not to beweddid For couetis of cattell , ne of kinred ryche And maydens and maydens , matche you togythers Wydowes and wydowes worche the same For no landes but for loue , loke ye be wedded And than get ye the grace of god , & good inough to liue with And euery man seculer , that may not conteyne Wisely goo wed , and ware him from synne For lecherie in lokyng , is lyme yarde of hell Whyles thou art yonge , and thy wheapon kene Wreke the with wyueyng , if thou wilt be excused Dum sis vir fortis , ne des tua robora scortis Scribitur in portis meretrir est Ianua mortis - Whan ye haue wyued , be ware and werch in tyme The maryed couple muste kepe themselues cleane . Not as Adam & Eue , whan Cayne was Ingendred For in one time truly betwene , man and woman Ne shuld no bourd on bed be , but if they both were cleane Both of lyfe & of soule , and in perfit charytie That ylke derne dede , do no man ne shoulde And if they lead thus their life , it liketh god almighty For he made wedlocke fyrste , and hym selfe saide Bonum est vt vnusquisque vrorem suam habeat propter fornicationem . i. Cori. vii And they the other gates been geten , Bastards . for gedlings ben hold As falce folke , fūdlinges , faytours and liers Vngratious to get good , or loue of the people Wandren and walien , what they catche maye A gayne dowel they do euyl , & the deuyll serue , And after their deathes daye , shall dwel with the same But god gyue hem grace here , hem selues to amende . Do well my frende is to done , as lawes teachen To loue thy frende and thy foe , leue me the is do bet . To geue vnto menne both , yonge and olde To healen and to helpen , is do best of all , And do well is to dreade god , and do bette to suffer And so cometh do best of both , & bringeth adowne the modie And the is wycked will , the many work shendeth And dryueth awaye dowell , through deadly sinnes .

Passus decimus de visione , Et secundus de dowell . THan had Wit a wyfe , was hote dame study , Wyttes wyfe That leue was of lere , and of liche boeth She was wōderli wroght wit me so teched And al staryng dame study farnely sayde Wel art thou wyse ꝙ she to wyt , any wysdomes to tell To Flatterers or to foles , that frentyke be of wyttes And blamed him and banned him , & bade him be styl Wyth suche wyse wordes , to wyshe any sottes And sayde , Noli mittere man Margaryre Pearles , Amonge hogges , that haue hawes at wyll . They do but driuel theron , drate were him leuer , Than al precious Pearles that in Paradice waxeth . I saye it by such quoth she , the shew it by her works That hem were leuer land , By theit workes know them and lordshyp on earth Or rychs or rentes , and rest at her wyll Than al the soth sawes , that Solomon sayde euer Wysedome and wytte , nowe is not worth a kerse But if it be carded with couetis , as clothers kembe her woule Who so can contryue deceites , & conspyre wrongs And lead forth a loue daye , to let wyth truth He that such craftes can , is oft cleped to counsel They lead Lords wyth leasing es , and belieth truth Iob the gentle in his gestes , greatly wytnesseth That wycked men welden , the wealth of this world And the they be lordes of ech lond , the out of law lyueth Psal. xxii Quare impevruunt , be ne est omnibus qui preuaricantur et inique agunt . The Psalter sayeth the same , by such as done euyl . Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuitias Psal. xi Lo sayth holy lecture , which lordes be these shrewes Thilke that god geueth most , lest good they dealeth And most vnkind be to the commen , that most catel weldeth . Psal. xi Que perfecisti destrurerunt , iustus au tem . &c. Harlots for her harlotrye , maye haue of her goodes And iapers and iudgelers , and iangelers of iestes And he that hath holy wryte , aye in his mouth And can tell of Tobie , and of the twelue Apostles Or preachen of the penaunce , Only diuinitie hath no reward the Pilate falsely wrought To Iesu the gentle , that Iewes to drawe : Lyttle is he loued , that suche a lesson sheweth Or daunten or drawe forth , I do it on god him selfe But tho that faine hem foles , and with faiting lyueth Agayne the lawe of our lorde , and lien on hem selfe Spitten and spuen , and speake foule wordes Drynken and driuelen , and do men for to gape Lyken men , & lye on hem , that leueth hem no gyftes They can no more minstrelsy , ne musyke men to glad Than Mundie the milner , of Multa fecit deus Ne were hir vyle harlotry , haue god my trouth Shoulde neuer kynge ne knight , ne canon of Poules Gyue hem to her new yeres gyfte , gyfte of a grote , And myrth & minstrelsy , All men loue bandrye , amongest men is nought Lechery , losenchery , and losols tales , Glotony and great othes , this mirthe they loueth , And if thei carpen of Christ , these clerkes & these lewd . And they meet in her mirth , whan minstrels ben styll Than telleth they of the trinitie , a tale or twaine And bringeth forth a blade reason , & taken Bernard to witnes And put forth a presumption , to preue that soth Thus they dreuell at her dayse , the dretie to scorne And gnawen god with hyr gorge , whan her guts fallen And the carfull may crye , and carpen at the gate Both a fyngerd and a furste , and for chel quake Is none to nymen hem nere , his noye to amend But hunten hym as a hounde , & hoten hym go hence , Litle loueth he that Lorde , that lent hym all the blysse , That thus parteth , with the pore , apercel whan him nedeth Ne were mercy in mean men , more than in rich Mendynauntes meatles , myght go to bedde . God is much in the gorge , of these greate maisters , And amonges meane men , his mercy & hys worckes And so sayeth the psalter , Psal. 3● . I haue sene it oft Ecce audiuimus eum in effrata , inueniemus cum in campis silue . Clarkes and other kinnes men , carpen of god fast And haue him much in the mouth , & meane men in hert Friers and saytors , haue fouden such questions To plese wyth the proud men , sith the pestilence time And preachen at . S. Paules , for pure enui of clarks That folke is not firmed in the faythe , ne free of her gooddes Ne sory for her synnes , so is pryde waxen , In relygion , & in al the teame , amongest rich & pore That prayers haue no powre , the pestilence to lette And yet the wretches of this worlde , are none ware by other Ne for dreade of the death , withdraw not her prid Ne ben plentuous to the pore , as pure charitie wold But in gaines & i glotony , forglotē her goodes hem selfe And breketh not to the begger , as the boke teacheth . Frange esurienti panem tuum . Esai . lviii &c. And the more he wynneth , & wexeth welthy in ryches And lordeth in landes , the lesse good he dealeth To bie telleth you not so , take hede ye ryche Howe the byble boke , of hym beareth wytnes Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue Si autem eriguum , Tobi. iiii illud impertiri stude libenter Who so hath much spend manly , so meaneth Tobie And who so lytle weldeth , rule hym thereafter , For we haue no letter of our lyfe , how long it shal endure Suche lessons lordes , shoulde loue to heare And how he myght most meyny , manlych fynde Not to fare as a fideler , or a frier to seke feastes Homely at other mens houses , and haten her owne . Elenge is the hal , euery day in the weke There the Lorde ne the lady , lyketh not to sytte Nowe hath eche ryche a rule , to eaten by hem felfe In a priui parler , for poore mens sake Or in chambre wyth a chymney , and leaue the chiefe hal That was made for meales , men to feate in And all to spare to spende , that spyll shall an other I haue heard heigh men , eatynge at the table Carpen as they clarkes were , of Christ & of his might And leiden saut vpon the father , that formed vs al And carpen againe clarkes , crad bed wordes Why would our sauiour suffer , such a worme in his blisse That begiled the woman , & the man after Through wich wiles & wordes , they went to Hel And al her sede for her synne , the same death suffered Here lieth your lore , these lordes beginneth to dispute Of the ye clackes vs kenneth , of Christ by the gospel . Filias non port abit iniquitatem patris . Eze. xviii Why should we that now be , for the works of Adam Roten and torente , reasone would it neuer Vuusquispue portabit onus suum Such motiues thei moue , Galat. bi these masters in her glory And make men to misbeleue , that musē on her words Imaginatiue here afterward , shall answere to your purpose Austen to such arguers , telleth this teme . Nou plus sapere , quam oporter Wylneth neuer to wytte , Rom. xii . whye that God woulde Suffer Sathan , hys sede to begyle , And beleue lelly , in the loore of holy kyrke And praye hym of pardon , and penaunce in thy lyfe And for hys muche mercy , to amende you here For who the wylneth to wyt . the waies of god almight I would hys eye were in his ars , & his finger after That euer wylneth to wytte , why that god would Suffer Sathan , hys sede to begyle Or Iudas to the Iewes , Iesu betraye Al was as thou woudest lord , worshyp be thou And al worth as thou wold , what so we dispate And tho the vse these hanylowes , to bliddē mens witte What is do wel fro dobet , nowe defe mote he worthe Sith he wylneth to wit , which they be both But it he lyue in the life , that longeth to dowel For I dare be his bold borow , that dobet wil he neuer Though do best draw on hym , day after other And whan thou wytte was ware , what dame studie told He became so confuse , he cunneth not loke And as dome as death , and drew him arere And for no carping I cold after , ne kneling to th erth I myght get no grayne , of his great wyttis But al laughynge he louted , and loked apon study In sygne that I shulde , The maner of them the be in office . besechen hyr of grace And when I was ware of his wil , to his wife I loutid And sayde mercie madame , your man shal I worth As longe as I liue , both late and rathe For to worchen your wil , the whyle mi life endureth With the that ye ken me kindly , to know what is dowel For thi mekenes man ꝙ she , & for thi milde spech I shal ken the to my cosen , that clergye is hoten He hath weddyd a wyfe , within these syx moneths Is syb to the seued artes , Scripture is hyr name They two as I hope , after my teachinge Shal wishen the dowel , I dare vnder take Than wes I as fayne , as foule of fayr morow And glader then the gleman , that golde hath to gyfte And asked hir the high way , where that clergi , dwelt And tel me some token ꝙ I , for tyme is that I wend Aske the hygh waye quod she , hence to suffre Both wel and wee , if that thou wyllt learne And ryde forthe by riches , and rest thou not therin For if thou couplest the therwith to clergie commest thou neuer And also the lycores lande that lechery hight Leaue it on thy left half , a large mile and more , Tyll thou come to a courte , kepe well thy tonge From leasinges & lyther speach , & licorus drinckes Than shalt thou se so brietie , and simplicitie of speache That ech wight be in his wyll , hys wytte to shewe And thus shalt thou come to cleargye , that can mani thinges Saye hym thys signe , I sette him to schole And that I grete wel his wife , Studye teacheth , al things for I wrot her many bokes And set her to Sapience , & to the psalter glose Logike I learned her , and manye other lawes And all the vnisons in musicke , I made her to knowe Plato the poete , I put him firste to boke Aristotle and other moe , to argue I taught Grammer for gyrles , I garde first to wryte And beat hem with a bales , but if they would learne Of all kinnes craftes , I contriued tooles Of carpenters of caruers , and compassed Masons And lerned hem leuel and line , though I loke dimme And Theologie hath tened me , seuen score times The more I muse therin , the mistier it semeth And the deper I deuyne , the darker me it thynketh A full lethye thynge it were , if that loue nere And for it leet best by loue , I loue it the better For there as loue is Leader , ne lacketh neuer grace Loke thou loue lellie , if the liketh Dowell For Dobet and Dobest , bene of loues kynne In other science it sayth , I sawe it in Caton Qui similat verbis , Cato . nec corde est fidus amicus tu quoque fac simile , sic ars deluditur arte . Who so gloseth as Gylours done , go me to the same And so shalt thou false folcke , and faiethles begyle Thys is Catons kenning , to clerckes that he lernethe And Theologye teacheth not so , who so taketh hede He kenneth the contrary , agayne Catones wordes For he biddeth vs be as brethren , & bid for our enmies And loue hem that lye on vs , & lende hem whan they nede And do good agayne euyl god him selfe hoteth Galat. vi ●um tempus habemur operemus bonum ad omnes , O arime autem ad domesticos fidoi . Pauie preached the people , that perfitenes loued To do good for gods loue , and gyue men that asken And namely to such , that sueth out beleue And aly vs lacke or lye , our Lord techeth vs to loue And not to greue hem the greue vs , god him self forbade it Mihi vindictam , et ego distribuam . Therefore loke thou loue , as long as thu durest For is no science vnder the sunne , so souerain for thy soule And astronomi is a harde thinge and euil for to know Geometrie and geomansye , so gylfull of speache The vaniti of science Who so thinkith worch with tho two , thriueth but late For Sorcerie is the souerainst boke , that to science belongith Ye ar ther febichers in forcers , of fel mens makyng Experimentes of alkinamie , the people to deceiuen Yf thou thynke to do wel , dele therwyth neuer Al these sciences I me selfe , soteled & ordeined And founded him formest , folke to disceyue Tel Clargy these tokens , and scripture after To councel the kyndlye , to knowen what is dowel . I sayde graund mercy madame , & mekely her grate And went wightlie awaye , withoute more letinge And til I came to clergie I coulde neuer stinte And grate well the good man as study me taught And afterwarde the wyfe , and worshypped hem both And tolde hem the tekeres , that me taught were Was neuer g●m on this ground sith god mad the world Fayrer vnderfongen , ne frendlier at ease Than my selfe sothly , sone so he wyste That I was of wittes house , and with his wife dame Studye I sayd to hem sothly , the sent was I thither Do well and Dobet , and Dobest to learne It is commen life ꝙ Cleargy , on holy church to beleue With all the articles of the faith , that falleth to be knowen And that is to beleue lelly , both learned and leude On the greate God , that gynnynge had neuer And on the sothfast Sonne , that saued mankinde From the deadly death and from the deuyls power Through the helpe of the holy goste , that which gost is of both Thre persons , and not in plurell numbre For all is but one god , and ech is god hym selfe Deus pater , Deus filius , Deus spiritus sanetus God the father god the sonne , god the holy gost of both Maker of mankynde , and of beastes bothe Austen the olde , hereof made bokes And him selfe ordeined , to saue vs in beleue . Who was his auctour all the foure euangelistes And Christ cleped him selfe so , the Euangelists beareth witnes Al the clarks vnder Christ , ne could this assoile But this belongith to beleue , to lewed the wold do well For had neuer froke fiue wits , the faith to dyspute Ne man had no merite , myght it be preued . Fides non habet meritum , vbi humana ratio prebet experimentum . Than is do bet to suffer , for thy soules sake All that the holy boke byt , by holye kirkes teachinge And that is man by thy might , for mercies sake Loke thou worke it in work , that thy word sheweth Such as thou semest in sight , be in assaye found , Appare quoe es , vel esto quod appares . And let no bodye be , by thy bearinge beglied But be suche in thy soule , as thou semest with out Than is dobest to be bolde , to blame the gylty Sithen thou seest thy selfe , as in soule cleane And blame thou neuer body , and that be blame worthy Si culpare velis , culpabilis esse cauebis Dogma tuum sordet , cum te tua culpa remordet . God in the gospell , greuouslye repreueth Al that lacken any life , and lackes haue hem selfe Luke . vi . Quid consider as festucam inoculo fratris tui , trabem in orulo tuo . &c. Whi meuest that thi mode , for a more in thi brothers eie Sithen a beame in thin owne , blindeth thy selfe Elice primo trabem in oculo tuo . Whych letteth the to loke , lesse or more I reade ech a blinde bussarde , do boote to him selfe For Abbots & for priers , and for all maner prelates As persons & parish priests , the preach should & teach All maner men , to amend , by hir might Thys text was tolde you , to beware ere ye taught That ye were such as ye sayde , to salue with other For gods word wold not be lost , for that worcheth euer If it auailed not the commen , it might auaile your selfe And it semeth now sothly , to the worlds sight That gods word worketh not , on lerned ne on lewd But in such maner , as Mathew meneth in the gospel Dum cecus ducit cecum , ambo in foueam cadunt . Math xv . Agaynst lewed oriestes Lewed men may liken you thus , that the beame lieth in your eye And the festue is fallen , for your defaut In all maner of men , through mauzed priestes The bible beareth witnes , that al the folke of Israell Vytterly bought the giltes , of two had priestes Offyn and Finces , for her couetyse Arch adei myshapped , and Eli brake hys necke For thi ye correctors claw here , & correct first your self And then mai ye safely sai , as Dauid thou made the psalter . Existimasti inique quod cro tui similis , arguam te , Psalm. l. et statuam contra faciem tuam . Then shal burel clarks be bashed , you to blame or greue And carpen not as they carpe nowe , & cal you domme Canes muti non valentes satrare . Esaie . l●● And to lacke you with a word , your workmanshyp to let boundes But be prester at your praier , them for a pound of no bils And all for your holines , haue you this in hert In schole there is skorke , but if a clarke wyll learne And great loue & liking , for ech of hem loueth other And nowe is religion a rider , a romer by streate A leader of loue dayes , Reade thys and a loude begger A pricker on a palfrey , from Maner to Maner An heape of houndes at his arse , as he a lorde were And but if hys knaue knele , that shall his cope bryng He loured on him & asked , who taught him curtesye Litle had lords to done , to giue landes from her heirs To religious that haue no ruth , if it raine on her altares In many places ther they persons be , bi hem self at ease Of the pore haue they no pity , and that is her charitie And they letten hem as lordes , her landes lye so brod And there shall come a king , The suppression of Abbayes . and confesse you religious And beate you as the bible telleth , for breking of your rule And amende moniales , monkes , and chanons And put hem to her penaunce , Ad pristinum statum ite And barons with erles , beat hem through , Beatus virs teching That her barnes claimen , & blame you foule Hii in curribus , et hii in equis ipsi obligati sunt . &c. Psal. xxii And than friers in hee fecytor , shall fynd a key Of Constantynes cofers , in which is the catel That Gregories god chyldren , had Ill dispended The Abbot of Abington And than shal the Abot of Abington , & al his issue for euer Haue a knocke of a kynge , and incurable the wound That this worth soth seke ye , that oft ouer se the bible Esa. xiiii . Quomodo cessauit eractor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum timpi orum virgam dominātiū , cedētiū plaga insanabili And ere that kinge come , Cayne shall awake And Dowel shal ding hem down , & distroi his might Then is Dowel & dobet ꝙ I , dominus & kinghthod High degre helpeth nothinge to heauenwarde . I wyll not skorne quod scripture , but if seriuiners lie Kynghode ne knyghthode , by ought I can a waite Helpeth not to heauen warde , one heres ende Ne ryches ryght naught ne ryaltie of lordes Paule preuith it impossible , rich men to haue heauen Solomon sayth also , that siluer is worst to loue . Nihil iniquitus quam amare pecuniam . And Caton kenneth vs to coueten it naught , but as nede teacheth Dilige deuarium sed parce dilige formam And patriarkes and prophets , and poets bothe Wryten to wyshe vs , to wyll no ryches And praise pouerti with paciēre , th apostils bear witnes That they haue heritage in heuen , and by true right Ther rich men no right may claim , but of ruth & grate Contra quod I , by Christ that can I repreue And preuen it by Peter , and by Paul bothe That ben baptised be saued , be he ryche or pore . That is in extremis quod Scripture , among saracens & Iewes They mow be sauyd so , & that is our beleue That an vnchrysten in that case , may christen an heathen And for his lely beleue , whan he the lyfe tyneth Haue the heritage of heauen , as any man christen And christen men withoute more , mai not come to hauen For the Christ for christen men died , & confirmed the lawe , That who so would and willeth , with Christ to arilse Si cum Christo surreristis : &c. He shoulde loue and leue , Col iii. and the lawe fulfyll That is loue thy lorde god , leuest aboue al thyng , And after all christen creatures , in commen ech man other . And thus him longeth to loue , that leueth to be saued And but we do thus in dede , ere the day of dome , It shall besitten vs full sore , the syluer that we kepe And our bocks the moteatē been , & se beggers go naked Or delite vs in wine & wild foule , & wot ani in defaute For euery christen creature , shoulde be kinde to other , And sithen heathen to helpe , in hope of amendment God hoteth boeth hyght & lowe , that no man hurte other And sayth slea not the semblable is , to mine owne likenes But if I send the some token and saye , Non necaberis I slea not but suffer , and all for the beste For I shall punyshe hem in purgatorye , or in the pyt of hel Euerye man for his misdedes , but if mercy it let , Thys is alonge lesson ꝙ I , and litle I the wyser Where do well is or dobet , darkely ye shewen , Many tales ye tell , that Theology lerneth , And that I man made was , and my name entred In the legend of lyfe , longe ere I were , Or els wrytten for some wyckednes , as holye wryte manaceth Nemo ascendit ad celum , nisi qui de celo descendit , Ioh. iii I leue it wel bi our lord quod I , and no letter better For Solomon the sage , that Sapience taught God gaue hym grace of wyt , and al his goods after He demed wel and wysely as , holy wrytte telleth . Aristotle and he , who wyshed men better ? Masters that of gods mercy , teachen men & preachen Of her words they wish vs , for wissest as in her time And al holy kyrke , holdeth hem both dampned And if I shold worke , bi her works , to wyn me heuen That for her workes and wyt , wonneth in payne Than wrought I vnwysely , what so euer ye preach And of felle wytty in fayth , lytle farly I haue Though her gost be vngracious , god for to please For many men on this molde , more setten her hertes , In good than in god , therfore hem grace fayleth At hyr moste mischiefe , whan they shall lyfe lette , As Solemon did & such other , the shewed greate wyts And her workes as holi wryte saith , were euer the contrarye Therfore wyse witted men , & wel lettred clarkes As they say hem selues , selde done therafter . Supra cathedram Moysi . Math. 23. &c. And I wene it worthes of manye , as was in Noes tyme Thei that made Noe a shippe were vnsaued Tho he shoope that ship , of shides & of bordes No wight the wroght theron was salfe , ne ani workman els But birdes and beasses , and the blessed Noe , And hys wyfe wyth his sonnes , & also her wyues , Of wights that it wrought , was none of hem saued God leue it fare not so by folke , that the fayth teacheth , Of holy kirke the hat borowe is , & gods house to saue And shilden vs from shame therin , as Noes ship did beasts And men that made it , amyd that stood he drowned The Culor of thys clause , curate is to meane , That ben carpenters , holy kirke to make , for Christes owne beasts Psalm. 36 Homines et iumenta saluabis domine On good Fryday I finde , a felon was saued , That had liued all hys life , with leasinge & with thefte , And for he beknew on the crosse , & to Christ shroue him He was souer saued , The the● was saued before any of the prophets than saint Iohn the Baptiste And or Adam or Isai , or any of the prophetis . That had lyen wyth Lucifer , many longe yeres , A robber was raunsomed , rather than they all , Withouten any penaunce of purgatory , to perpetual blisse Than Mari Magdelen , what woman did worse ? Or who worse than Dauid , that Vrias death conspired Or Paul the Apostle , that no pity had , Muche christen kynde , to put to death And now be these as souereins , & sayntes in heauen Tho the wrought wickedlest , in worlde tho they were And tho that wisely worden , and written many bokes Of wit & of wysedome , with dampted soules wonneth , That Solomon saith I trow be soth , Eccles. ix & certen of vs al Sunt iusti atque sapientes , et opera eorum in manu dei sunt There are witty & wellearned , & her workes ben hid In the handes of almighty god , and he wot the sothe Wherfore a man worth alowed ther , & his lelie works Or else for his yll wil , and for enuy of herte , And be alowed as he liued , for by yl , men know god For how wist men what is white , if al thig blak were And who wer a goodman , but if ther wer some shrew Therfore lyue we forth , with other men , I leue few ben good For Qant oportet vient emplace , il nyad que pati . And he that may all amend , haue mercy on vs all For thou sothist word that euer god said , was Nemo bonus Cleargye tho of christes mouthe , commended was litle , For he sayd to saint Peter , and to such as he loued . Cum steteritis ante reges et precides . &c. Mat. vi Though ye come before kinges , & clarke , of the lawe , Be not abashed , for I shall be in your mouthes And giue you wit & wil , and cunning to conclude Hem al that agaynst you , of christendome disputen Dauid maketh mention , he spake amongest kinges And might no king ouercome him , as bicūning spech But wyt and wisedome , wan neuer the maistrye Whan man was at mischiefe , without the more grace The douties doctour , and diumour of diuinitie Was Austen the old , and heighest of the foure Sayd thus in a sermon , I se it written once . Ecce ipsi idiote rapiunt celum , vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur . And is to meane to Englishe men , to more and to lesse Are none rather rauished , from the right beleue Than are these cunning clarkes , that can many bokes Ne none souer saued , ne sadder of beleue Than plowmen and pastors , & pore commen laborers Sowters and shepeherds , & such lewed Iuties Percen wyth a Pater noster , the palaice of heauen And passen Purgatori penaūceles , at her hence parting Into the blisse of Paradice , for her pure beleue That vnperfitelye here knew , and eke liued Yea men knowe clarkes , that cursed the tyme That euer they could or knew more than Credo in deum And principalli her Pater noster . mani a person hath wyshed I se examples my selfe , & so maye many other That seruauntes the seruen lordes , seldom fal in artrages But tho that kepe the lordes catell , clarkes & reues , Ryght so lewde men , and of lytle knowynge , Selde fall they so foule , and so ferre in synne , As clarkes of holy church , the kepe Christes treasure , The which is mans soule to saue , as god saith in the go spell Math. xx Ite vos in vineam meam .

Passus vndecimus de visione . THan Scripture scorned me , & askile loked And lacked me in latine , & light by me she set And sayd , Multi multa sciunt , et seipsos nesciunt , Tho wept I for wo , & wrath of hir speache . And in a wynkinge wrath , wexed I aslepe . And marueylous metals , mette me than That I was rauished right there , & fortune me set And into the land of Longing , alone she me brought In a mirrour hight Midle earth , she made me to loke Sithen she said to me , here mightest thou se wonders And know that thou couetist , & come therto peraduenture Than had Fortune folowing her , two fair damosels Concupiscentia carnis , The d●●●sels of 〈◊〉 Fortun● men called the elder mayde And Couetis of eyes , called was the tother Pryde of perfite liuynge , pursued hem both And bade me for my countenaunce , account cleargy light Concupiscentia carnis , colled me about the necke And said thou art yong & yemp , & haste yeares inowe For to liue longe , and Ladyes to loue And in this myrrour thou might se , mirthes ful many That leaden the wily wise , to liking al thy life time The seconde sayde the same , I shal sue thy wyll Tyll thou be a lorde and haue land , let the I nell That I ne shal folow thi felowship , if Fortune it like He shall finde me hys frende , quod Fortune therafter The freke that foloweth my wil , failed neuer blysse . Than was ther one that hight Eld , that heauy was of chere Man quod he if I mete with the , by Mary of heauen Thou shalt finde Fortune the fayle , Age . at thy most nede And Concupiscentia carnis cleane theforsake Bitterly shalt thou banne hem , both day and nyght Couetise of eye , that euer thou hyr knewe And prid of perfite liuing , to much perell the brynge The counsel of Reebles Yea rech the not ꝙ rechles , & stode forth in raged cloths Folow forth the Fortune wol , thou hast wel far til Eld A man may stoupe time inough , whan Eld shal tine thy crowne Homo proponit quam a poete , & Plato he hight And Deus disponit , quoth he , let god do his wyll If Truth do witnes it is wel done , fortune to folow Concupiscentia carnis , ne Couetis of eyes Ne shall greue the greatly , ne but thou wilt begyle the. Yea fare wel Phip quam Fanteltie , & forth gan me draw Till Concupiscentia carnis , accorded all my workes Alas Eighe quod Elde , and holines both That wyt shall turne to wrechednes , for will to haue his liking Couetise of eyes , conforted me anone after And folowed me forty winter , or fifty and more That of dowell ne do bet , no deinty me thought I had no liking ne no luste , of hem ought to know Couetise of eies , came after in my mind Than dowell or dobet , amonge my deades all Couetise of eyes , conforted me oft And sayd haue no conscience , how thou come to good Go confesse the to some Frier , & shew hym thy sinnes For while Fortune is thy frend Friers wil the loue And fetche the to their fraternitie , and for the beseche To her Prior prouincial , a pardon to haue And pray for the pole by pole , if thou be pecuniosus . Sed pena pecuniaria non sufficit , pro spiritualibus delictis By wishing of this wench I wrought , hir words wer so swete Til I forgate youth , & yarne into Elde And than was Fortune my foe , for al her faire behest And pouertie pursued me , and and put me lowe And tho found I the Frier aferde , and flytting bothe Agaynste our fyrste forwarde , for I sayde I nolde Be buried at her house , but at my paryshe church For I heard once , how conscience it tolde That kind wold men be buried , ther thei were christēid Or where that he wer parishen , that ther he shold be grauen And for I sayd thus to Friers , a fole they me helden And loued me the lesse , for my lely speache And yet I cried on my confessour , that helde him self cunnig By mi fayth , Friers did not seke that bodi but the monie , frier ꝙ I ye farē like these wowers That wed none wedows , but for to weld her goods Ryght so by the rode , rought you neuer Where my body were buried , by so ye had my siluer I haue much maruaile of you , & so hath many other Why your couent coueteth , to confesse and burye Rather then to baptise barnes , that be catechislinges Baptisynge and buriynge , both be neadfull And much more meritorie me thinketh , it is to baptise For a baptised man may , as these maisters telleth Through contrition come to the high heuen , sola contricione And barne without baptisme , may not be saued Nisi quis renatus fuerit , loke ye lettred men , Iohn . iii. wher I lye or do not And leauti loked on me , & I loured after Wherfore lourest thou ꝙ leauty , & loked on me hard If I durste ꝙ I amongeste men , these metels auowe Yes bi Peter & bi Poule ꝙ he , & toke hem both to wytnes Non oderis fratres in corde tuo secrete . Leuit. xii sed publice argue illos . They will aledge also quod I , & by the gospel preuen Nolite iudicare quemquam . Rom. ii . And wherof seruith law ꝙ Leautie , if no life vndertoke it Falsenes ne flatterye , for some what th apostle sayd . Non odoris fratrem , & in the psalter also , saith Dauid the prophet . Psal. 115. Eristimasti inique , quod ero tui similis . It is lefull for lewde men , to say the sothe If hem liketh and luste , ech a lawe it graunteth Except persons and priestes , & prelates of holy kirke It falleth not for that folke , no tales to tell Thoughe the tale were true , and it touched synne Thing that al the worlde wot , wherfore shouldest thou spare And reden it in Rethorike , to arate deadly sinne And be neuermore first , the defaute to blame Though thou se I● , say it not first , be sory it nere amendid No thyng that is pryuie , publishe thou it neuer Neyther for loue laude it not , ne lacke it for enuy Parum lauda vitupera percius He sayeth soth ꝙ scripture tho , & skipte vp & preached And the matter that she meaned , if lewde men it knewe The lesse as I leue , louen it they would . This was her theme , & hir text , I toke ful good hede Math. xx and .xxii Multi to a mangery , and to the meate were sūpted Whan the people were plener come , the orpter vnpend the gate And plucked in Pauci , priuily , & let the remnaunt go And for tene of her text , trembled my herte And in a were gan I wexe , & wyth my selfe to dispute Whether I were chose or not , on holy kirke I thoght That vnderfonged me at the font , for one of gods chosen For Christe cleped vs al , come if we woulde Saracyns & Scismatikes , and so he did the Iewes Esai . lv . O bos omnes sitientes venite . &c. And badde hem sonke for sinne , safely at hys breast And dryncke bote for bale , brooke it who so myght Than may all christen come quod I , & claime her enter By the bloude that he bought vs with , & through baptisme after Qui crediderit , Mat xvi . et baptisatus fuerit For though a christen man coueted , his christendome to rente Ryghtfullye to reney , no reason it woulde , For may no cherle charter make , ne hys catell sell Wythout leaue of his Lord , no lawe wyll it graunt And he may runne in arerages , and runne so from home And as a reneyed kayeyfe , recheles runnen aboute And reason shall reken wyth him , & cast him in arerage And put him after in a prison , in purgatory to brenne For his arerages rewarden hym there , tyll domes day But if contrition wyll come , and crye by hys lyue Mercy for his mysdeades , with mouth or wyth hert That is so the sayde scrypture , maye no synne lette Mercy all amende , and mekenes hyr felowe For thei been as our bokes telleth , aboue gods werks Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius . Psal. 4. Yea bawe for bookes ꝙ one , was broken out of hel , I Troianus a true knight , toke wytnes at a pope Howe I was dead , & dampned to dwell in paine For an vnchristen creature , clerkes witten the sothe That al the clargi vnder Christ , ne might me cratch from hel But only loue & leauty , & my lawful domes Gregory wyst wel that , and wylned to my soule Saluation for sothnes , that he se in my workes And after that he wepte , & wylned me were graunted Grace without any bedebydding , his bone was vnderfogē And I saued as ye se , without synging of masses By loue and by leadynge , of my lyuyng in trueth Brought me from bitter paine , ther no bidding might Lo ye lords what leuty did , bi an emperour of Rome That was an vnchristen creature , as clarkes finde in Gregorie Not throught praier of a pope , but for his pure truth Was the sarazin saued , as . s . Gregory beareth witnes Wel oughten lords the laws kepe , that lesson hold in mynde And on Troianus truth to think , & do truth to the puple Lawe without loue quod Troianus , ley there a beane Or any science vnder the sunne , the seuen artes and al But they be learned for our lords loue , lost is thi time For no cause to catch syluer by , or be called a master But all for loue of our lord , & the bet to loue the people For saynt Iohn sayd it , and soth are hys wordes . i. Ioh. iii Qui non diligit , manet in morte . Who so euer loueth me not , liueth in death diyng And that all maner of men , enemies and frendes Loue eyther other , and lene hem as hem selfe Who so leneth not he leueth not , god wot the sothe And cūmaūdeth ech creature , to conforme him to loue And souerainely the pore people , & her enemies after For hem that haten vs , is our merite to loue And pore people to please , her praiers may vs helpe Christe was pore And our ioye , and our health , Iesu Christe of heauen In a pore mans apparayle , pursued vs after And loked on vs in hyr likenes , & that with louely chere To know vs by our kynd hert , & casting of oure eien Whether we loue the lords here , before the lord of blisse And exciteth vs by the euangelie , that whan we make feasts We should not clepen our kinne therto , ne no kynnes ryche Luk. xiiii Cum facitis conuiuia , nolite inuitare amicos . And call the careful thereto , the croked & the pore . For your frendes wil feden you , & found you to quite Your festing & your fayr gift , ech frend quiteth so other And for the pore I shal pay , & wel quite her trauayle That geue hem meat or monie , and loue hem for mi sake For the best ben some rych , & some beggers & pore For we al are Christes creatures , & of his cofers rich And brethren as of one bloud , as wel begers as Erles For on Calueri of christis blud , christendome gan spring And bloudy brethren we became thee , of one bodi woo As Quasi modo geniti , and gentlimen eche one No begger nor no boy among vs , Ioh. viii . but if sinne it make Qui facit peccatum , seruus est peccati , In the olde lawe , as holy letter telleth Mennes sonnes , menne called vs ech one Of Adames issue and Eue , aye till god man dyed And after his resurreccion , redemptor was his name And we his brethren by him bought , both rich & pore Forthy loue we as leue brethren , & ech man lene other And of the ech man may forbare , amend ther it nedeth And euerye man helpe other , for hence shal we al Alter alterius onera portate . Galat , v● And be we not vnkind of our catel , ne of our cunning For wot no man how nie it is , to be binome from both Therfore lacke no others life , though he more latine know Ne vndernime not fowle , for is non without faut For what euer clarkes carpe , of christendome or els Christ to a commen woman said , in commune at the feast That Fides sua should saue hir , & saluem hir of al sinnes Then is beleue a lelly helpe , aboue logyke or lawe Of logyke or lawe in Legend a sanctorum , Is litle alowaunce made , but if beleue hem helpe For it is ouer longe or logyke , any lesson assoyle And lawe is loth to loue , but if he lacke siluer Boeth logike and law , that loueth not to lye I counsell all christen , cleaue not theron to sore For some words I find writ , were of fayths teaching That saued sinful men , saint Iohn bereth witnes Mat. vii . Eadem mensura qua mensi fucritis remetretur vobis . Therfore learne we the law of loue , as out lord taught And as saynt Gregory sayd , for mans soules health . Melius scrutari scelera nostra , quam naturas retum . Why I meane thys matter , is moste for the pore For in her likenes our Lorde , oft hath bene knowen , Wytnes in Paske weke , when he yede to Emaus Cleophas ne knew him not , that he Christ were For his pore apparell , and pilgrames wedes Tyll he blessed and brake , the bread that they eaten So by these works , they wist that he was Iesus And bi clothing they knew him not , ne by carping of tong And all was in example , to vs sinfull here That we shoulde be lowe , and louely of speach And apparel vs not proudly , for pilgrimes are we al And in the apparel of a pore man , & pilgrimes lykenes Many tymes god hath ben met , among nedy people There neuer segge him see , in sette of the rych S. Iohn & other saintes , were sene in pore clothynge And as pore pilgrymes , prayden mens goodes Iesu Christ on a Iews daughter light , gentle though she were Was a pore maid , & on a pore man wedded Martha on Mary Magdalen , an hudge playnet she made And to our sauiour selfe , sayd these words Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare ? Luk. xi . And hastely God answerd , and eithers wyl folowed Both Marthaas & Maries , as Mat. bereth witnes And pouertie god put before and praysed that better Maria optimam partem elegit que non . &c. And al the wise that euer were , by ought I can espye Praysen pouerty for best lyfe , if patience folowe And both better & blesseder , by many fold than riches And thoughe it be sour to suffer , yet after cometh swet As on a walnutte wythout , is a bytter barke And after that bitter barke , be the shell awaye Is a kernell of conforte , lyfe to restore So is after pouertye and penaunce , patiently taken For it maketh a man to haue mind in god , & a gret wil To wepe and to wel bid , wherof waxeth mercy Of whych Christ is a kernel , to confort the soule And well siker he slepeth , the man that is pore And lesse he dreadeth death , and darke to be robbed Than he that is right rych , reason bereth wytnes Pauper ego ludo , dum tu diues meditaris . All though Solomon sayth , as folke seth n the bible Diuitias uec paupertates . Wiser than Solomon was , Prou. xx● bereth wytnes & taught That perfite pouertye was no possession to haue And lif most liking to god , as Luke bereth witnes Si vis perfectus esse , vade et vende . &c. And is to meane to men , Mat. xix . that on thys moulde liuen Who so wil be pure perfite , muste possessions forsake Or sell it as sayeth the boke , and the siluer deale To begers that gone & beg , & bidden good for gods loue For failed neuer man meate , that mightful god serued As Dauid saith in the psalter , to such as bene in wyll . To serue god goodlich , ne greth hem in penaunce Nihil impossiblie volenti . Ne lacketh neuer liuelode , linnen ne wollen . Inqui rentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono If priestes were perfite , Psal. 34. they would no siluer take For masses ne for mattens , ne her meates of vsurers Ne nether kirtle ne cote , though thi for cold shold die And they hir deuour did , as Dauid saith in the psalter . Psa. xliii Iudica me deus , et decerne causam meam . Spera in deo speketh of prists , the haue no spending siluer Than if they trauel truly , & trusten in god almighty Hem should lacke no liuelode , nether wollen nor linen And the title they toke orders bi , telleth thei be aduanced Than nede not you to take siluer , for masses that ye singe For he the tok you your title , shold paie you your wage Or the bishop that blessed you , if that ye be worthye For made neuer kig a knight , but he had catel to spend As befell for a knight , or found him for hys strength It is a carefull knight , & of a kaytife kynges makyng That hath no land ne linage rich , ne good loos of his handes The same I saye forsoth , by al suche priestes That haue neither cunning ne kinne , but a crowne one And a title a tale of nought , to liue by at his mischiefe Priesting was an occupation . to lyue by He hath more beleue I leue , to latch by hys crowne Cure than for kenning , or knowyng , or for clene bering I haue wonder why , and wherfore the bishop Maketh such priestes , that lewed men betrayen A charter is chalengeable , before achiefe Iustice If false latine be in that letter , the law it impungeth Or painted pentrelniarie , or percell ouerskipped The gome the gloseth so chartes , for a goki is holden So it is a goky by god , that in hys gospel fayleth Or in masse or mattens , maketh any defaute Qui offendit in buo , in omnibus est reus Iacob . ii . Also in the psalter , sayth Dauid to ouerskippes Psalite deo nostro psalite , quoniam rex terre deus Israel , Psa. xlvii psalite sapienter . The bishope shall be blamed , before god as I leue That crowneth such gods knights , that can not sapienter Synge ne psalme read , ne say a masse of the daye And neuer nether is blamles , the bishop or the chaplen For euer ether is indited , & that is ignorantia Non excusat episcopos , necidiotes priestes This loking on lewe priestes , I am leapt from pouerti Which I praise , her patience is more perfit than riches And much more in meting thus , with me gan one disput And slepyng I se all thys , and sythen came kynd And named me by my name , and bad me nimen hede . Nature teacheth man And through the wonders of this worlde , wyt to take And on a mountain the mydle erth hight , as me though I was fette forth , by ensamples to know Through ech a creature & kynd , my creatour to loue . I se the sunne & the sea , and the sonde after And wher that brydes & beastes by her makes they yeden Wyld wormes in woodes , & wonderful fowles Wyth fleked ferthers , and of fell colours Man and hys make , I myght bothe behold Pouertye and plenty , both peace and warre Blysse and bale bothe , I se al at once And howe men toke mede , and mercye refused Reason I see sothlye , sewen all beastes In eatyng & drynkyng , & in engendryng of kynde And after course of conception , none toke kepe of other As whan they had ryden in rote tyme , right anone after Males draw hem to males , on morninge bi hem selfe And in eueninges also the males ben from the females There ne was cowe ne cowekinde , the conceiued had That wold a bellow after boles , ne bore after sowe Both horse and houndes , & all other beastes Medled not wyth her makes , that with fole were Byrdes I behelde , that in bushes made nestes Had neuer wryghte wytte , to worke the leste I had wonder at whome , and where the Pie learned To lygge the stickes in whiche , she layeth & breadeth Nis wryght as I wene , coulde worch hir nest to pay If ani mason made a mold therto , much wonder it were And yet me marueiled more , howe many other birds Hydden and hylden , her egges ful derne In maryes and mores , for men should hem not fynd And hydden her egges , whan they therfro went , For feare of other fowles , and for wylde beastes And some treden her markes , and on trees breden And broughten forth hyr byrds so , all aboue the ground And some byrds at the byl , through brething conceyued And some cauked I toke kepe , howe pecocks breaden Much marueyled me , what master they had And who taught hem , on trees to tymbren so hyghe That neither barne ne beast , maye hyr byrdes rechen And sithen I loked on the sea , & so forth apon the starres Many selkougthes I see , be not to se nowe I see floures , in the frythe , and her fayre colours And how among the grene grasse , growed so many huis And some soure , & some swete , selkougth me thought Of her kindes & of her colours , to carpen it wer to long And that most meued me , and my mode chaunged That reason rewarded , and ruled al beastes Saue man and hys make , manye tyme and ofte No reason hem folowed , and than I rebuked Reason and right , tyl hym selfe I sayde I haue wonder of the quod I , that wyttye art holden Whi thou ne suiste man & his make , that no myffeat hem folow And reason arated me , and sayd retche the neuer Why I suffer or not suffer , thy selfe hast not to do Amende that it if thou myght , for my tyme is to abide Suffraunce is a suffrain vertue , and a swifte vengeaunce Who suffreth more than god ꝙ he , no gome as I leue He might amend in a minut while , al that amisse standeth And he suffreth for some mans good , & so is our better The wyse and the wytty , wrote thus in the byble De re que te non molestat , noli certare . Eccle. xi . For be a man fayre or foule , it falleth not for to lacke The shampe ne the shape , that god shope hym selfe For al that he did was wel do , as holy write witnesseth Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat , et crant valde bona . And bade euery creature , Gene. . i. in hys kynde encrease All to myrthe with man , that most worth holye In foundynge of the fleshe , and of the fende bothe For man was made of such a matter , he mai not well a start That ne sontime him bited , to folowen his kind Caton accordeth ther with , Nemo sine crimine viuit . Tho caught I colour anone , & consed to be , ashamed And a waked therewyth , wo was me than That I in metelis ne myght , more haue knowen And than sayde I to my selfe , and chyde that tyme Now do I ken dowel ꝙ I , by dere god as me thinke And as I cast vp my eyen , one loked on me & asked Of me what thyng it were I wysh , syr I sayd . To se much and suffer more , certes quod I , is dowel Haddest thou suffred he saide , slepyng tho thou were Then hadst the kende that Clergy can , & kend more by reson For reson wold haue rehearsed the , right as cleargi said And for thy inter mitting , here art thou forsake . Philosophus esses , si tacuisses . &c. Adam whyle he spake not , had paradise at wyl But whan he man blid about meat , & ētermittid to know The wisedome & the wyt of god , he was put from blis And ryght so fared reson with the , thou with thy rude spech Lokedst & losedst , thyng that longed not to be done Tho had he no lyking , for to learne the more Pryd now & presumption , peraduenture wol me appele That cleargie thy company , ne kepeth not to shew Shal neuer chalengyng ne chidyng , chast a man so sone As shal shame and shenden hym , & shape hym to amend Shame is the best remedye for dronkardes . For let a dronken daffe , in a dyke fal Let hym ligge loke not on hym , tyl hym lyst to aryse For though reson rebuked him than , it wer but pure sin And when nede nimeth hym vp , for doubt lest he sterue And shame shraketh hys clothes , & hys skyn washeth Than wot the dronken daffe , wherfore he is to blame . Ye sayen sothe quod I , iche haue isene it ofte . There smiteth nought so smarte , ne smelleth so soure . As shame ther he she with him , for ech man hym shōith Why ye wish me thus ꝙ I , was for I rebuked reason Certes ꝙ he that is sothe , and shope him for to walke And I arose vpright with that , and folowed hym after And prayed hym of hys curtesye , to tel me hys name

Passus duodecimus de visione . I Am Imaginatiue quod he , idle was I neuer Though I sit bi mi selfe , in sikenes & in helth I haue folowed the in fayth , thys .xlv. wynter And oftimes haue meued the , to think on thine end And how fel ferniers are faren , & so few to comen And of thy wild wantonnes , tho thou yong were To amende it in thi middle age , lest might the fayled In thyne olde Elde , that euil can suffer Pouertye or penaunce , or prayer bydde Si non in prima vigilia , nec in secunda Amend the while thou may , thou hast ben warnd oft With pousties of pestilences , with pouerty and with angers And wyth these bitter baleises , god beateth his deare childrene Quem diligo castigo . Apoc. iii. And Dauid in the psalter sayth , of such the loueth Iesus Virga tua et baculus tuus , Psa. xxiii ipsa ne consolati sunt Although thou strike with thy staffe , with stycke or with yarde It is our mirth as for me , to amend my soule And thou medlist with makings , & mightst go sai thi psalter And bid for hem the giue the bread , for ther are bokes inow To tel me what do wel is , & do bet do best both And prechers to preuen what it is , of many a peir friers Ise wel he said the soth , & some what me to excuse I saide Caton conforted hys sonne , that clarke thoughe he were To solace him som time , as I do whan I make Interpone tuis , interdum gaudia curis And of holy men I heard ꝙ I , howe they other while Pleyden , the perfitter to be in many places . Holy m● vsed recreation . And if there were anye wyght , that would me tell What were do well and do bet , and do best at the last Woulde I neuer do worke , but wende to holy kirke And there bid my beades , but whan I eate or slepe Paule in his pistle quod he , preueth what is dowell Fides spes charitas , maior horum . i. Cor. xiii &c. Fayeth hope and charitie , and all been good And sauen men sondry tymes , & none so sone as charitye For he doeth wel withouten dout , that doth as leuti techeth That is if thou be man maryed , thy make thou loue And lyue forth as lawe wyll , whyle you lyuen both Right so if thou be religious , ren thou neuer further To Rome ne Roch mad or , but as thy rule teacheth And hold the vnder obedience , the high waye is to heauen And if thou be maiden to mary , & might wel continue Seke neuer no saynt further , for thy soules health For what made Lucifer , to lese the hygh heuen ? Or Solomon his sapience , or Sampson his strength ? Iob the Iewe his ioye , deare he it bought ? Aristotle and other mo , Hypocrates and Virgil ? Alexander that all wanne , elengelych ended Catell and kinde wyt , was combraunce to hem all Felice hyr fayrenes , fell hem all to sclaunder And Rosamonde right so , rufully to beleue The beauty of hyr body , in badnes she dispended Of many such I may read , of men and women That wyse wordes wold shew , and work the contrary Sunt homines nequam , bene de virtute loquentes . And ryche reukes ryght so , gaderen and sparen And tho men that they most haten , minister it at the last And for they suffren and se , so many nedye folkes Luke . vi . And loue not as our lord byd , lesen her soules . Date et dabitur vobis . And ryches right so , but if the rote be true And grace is a graffe therof , tho greuaunces to abate And grace ne groweth , not , but amonges lowe Patience and pouertie , the place is there it groweth And in lelly liuynge men , and in lyfe holye And through the gift of the holy gost , as the gospel telleth Iohn . iii. Spiritus vbi vult spirat . Cleargy and kinde wyt , cometh of sight & teaching As the boke bereth wytnes , to barnes the can read . Quod scimus loquimur , quod vidimus testamur . Of quod scimus , cometh cleargy , & cunnyng of heauen And of quod vidimus , cometh kinde wit of sight of diuerse people And grace a gyfte of god , & of great loue springeth Knew neuer clark how it comth , ne kind wit the waies Nescit aliquis vnde venit , Ioh. iii. True clergy is mercifull . aut quo uadit And yet is cleargy tocommend , and kinde wit bothe And namly clergy for christys loue , that of clergy is rote For Moses witnesseth the god wrote , the puple to wish In th old law as the letter telleth , that was the law of Iues That what woman wer taken in auoutri , rich or pore With stones men should strike her , & stone her to death A woman as we finden , was gilty that death And Christ of his curtesy , through cleargy hir saued And through caracts that Christe wrote , the Iewes knew hem selfe Giltier as afore god , & greater in sinne Than the woman that ther was , & went away for shame The cleargy that there was , consorted the woman Holy kyrk knoweth this , the christs writing saued hir So cleargy is confort , to creatures that repenten And to mansede men , mischiefe at her ende For bread of gods bodi , myght not be without cleargy The which bread is , both boote to the rightful And death and dampnation , to hem that dye euil . And christis caracts confortid , & both culpable shewid The woman that the Iews brought , the Iesus thought to saue . Nolite iudicare , et non iudicabimini . Right so gods body brethren , Luke . vi . but it be worthely take Dānith vs at the dai of dome , as the caracis did the Iuis Therfore I counsel the for christes sake , clergy that thou loue For kinde wit is of his kin , & nigh cosins both , To our Lord leue me , therfore loue hem I read For both ben as myrours , to amend our defautes And leaders for lewde men , and for lettred both Therfore lacke thou neuer logyke , lawe ne hys customes Ne counterplede clarkes , I counsell the for euer For as a man maye not see , that misseth his eyne No more can no clark , but if he caught it fyrst bi boks Although men made bokes , god was the maister The holy gost is the autour of bokes And . s . spirit the samplare , & said what men shold wryte Ryght so leadeth letture , lewde men to reason And as a blind man in battel , bereth weapon to fight And hath no happe with his axe , hys enemy to hytte No more can a kind witty man , but clarkes him teach Come for all his kind wit , to christendome & be saued Which is the cofer of Christes tresure , & clarks kepe the kayes To vnlock it at her liking , & to the lewde puple Gyue mercy for her misdeades , if men wil it aske Buxomely and beningly , and bidden it of grace Archa dei in the olde lawe , Leuites it kepten Had neuer lewd man leaue , to liggen hand on that cheste But he were priest or priestes sonne , patriarke or prophet For cleargy is keper , vnder Christe of heauen Was ther neuer knight , but cleargy him made And kinde wyt commeth , of all kyndes syghtes Of birde & of beastes , of tastes of truth & of deceits Lyuers aforne vs , vseden to make Selden that they sene , her sones for to teach And helden it an high science , her wyttes to know And through her science sothli , was neuer no soul saued Ne brought by her bokes , to blysse ne to ioye , For al her kind knowings , come but of diuerse sights Patriarkes and prophetes , repreuedē hir science And sayde her words ne her counsell , was but foly As to the Cleargy of Christ , counted it but a trifle . Sapientia huius mundi , stulticia est apud deum . For the hyghe holy gost , heauen shal to cleaue , And loue shall lepen out after , into thys low earth And cleannes shall catche it , & clarkes shall it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem . Luke . ●● . He speakith nought ther of rich men , ne of right wytty Ne of lordes that were lewde men , but of the hyeste lettred Abant Magi ab oriente . If anie fryer wer found ther , Math. i● I giue you fiue shillings Ne in no beggers cote , was that barne borne But in burgers place , in Bethleem the beste . Sed non erat ci locus in diuersorio , et pauper non habet diuersorium . To pastours and to poets , Luke . ii . appeared the angell And bad hem go to Bethleem , gods birth to honour And songen a song of solace , Gloria in excelsis deo . Clarkes knewe it wel , & commen wyth her presentes And dyd homage honorabli , to hym that was almighty Why I haue tolde al thys , I toke ful good hed Howe thou cōtriuedest Cleargie with crabbed words How that lewde men lyght lucker , than lettred wer saued Than clarkes or kinde witted men , of christen people And thou saydest soth of some , & se in what maner . Take two stronge men , Two me●● caste into Lemmes . and in Temes cast hem And both naked as a nedle , ther non sikerer than other The one hath cunnynge , and can swymme and dyue The other is lewd of that labour , lerned neuer to swym Which trowest thou of those two , in Temese is most in dred He the neuer diuid , ne nought can of swymmyng Or the swymer that is safe , be so hym selfe lyke ? There hys felow flete forth , as the flowd liketh And is in dread to drench , that neuer did swymme ? That swymme can not I sayd , it semeth to my wyts Ryght so quod the reuke , Reason sheweth That he that knoweth clergy , can souer arise Out of synne and he be safe , thoughe he synne oft If hym lyketh and luste , than anye lewde lelly For if the clarke be cunning , he knoweth what is sinne And howe contricion without confession , conforteth the soule As thou seest in the psalter , in psalmes one or twayne How contricion is commended , for it catcheth away sinne Psal. 32. Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates , et quorum recta sunt . &c. And this conforteth ech a clarke , & couereth hi from wanhope In which floode the fend , foundeth a man hardest There the lewde lieth still , and loketh after lente And repenteth not before shrifte , & than can he litle tell And as his sores man learneth hi , beleueth & troweth And that is person & parish prest , & peraduenture he is Vncunning to lerne lewd men , as Luke beareth witnes Luke . vi . Dum cecus ducit cecum . &c. Wo was him marked , that wade must with the lewde Well maye the barne hem blesse , that him to boke set That liueing after letture , saueth hi both life & soule Dominus pars hereditatis mee , is a mery verse That hath taken from Tibunre .xx. stronge theues Ther leud theues be lolled vp , loke how thei be saued The thef the had gods grace on good friday , as thou spak Was for he knew Christ on the cros , & knowleged his synne And grace asked of god , & he is euer ready That buxomlych byddeth it , & been in will to amend hem And though the thefe had heauen , he had no hie blisse As saint Iohn & other saynts , that deserued had better Right as if a man giue me meat , & set me amid the flore I haue meat more than inough , & not so much worship As thei the sit at side tables , or with soueraignes of the hal But sit as a begger bourdles , bi my selfe on that ground So it fareth by the felon , that on good friday was saued He sitteth neither with saint Iohn , Simon ne Iude Ne with maidens , ne with martirs , confessours ne widows But by hym selfe as a solayne , and serued vpon erth For he that is once a thiefe , is euermore in daunger And as lawe lyketh , to lyue or dye De peccato propitiato noli osse sine meta . And forto seruen a saynt , and such a thefe togythers It were neyther resonne right , to reward hem both ilike And as Troianus the true knight , dwelt not so dep in hel But our lord had hi lightly out , so leue I the thef be in heuen For he is in the lowest heuen , if our bileue be true And well losellych he lolleth ther , by law of holi kyrke Qui reddit vnicuique iurta opera sua . Mat. xvi . And why the one thefe on the cros , creant gan him yelde Rather than the other thef , though thou wouldest appose All the clarkes vnder Christ , ne could the skil assoyle . Quare placuit ? quia voluit . And so I saye by the , that sekest after the wayes And reasonest reason , a rebukinge as it were And of the floures in the frith , and of her fayre hewes Wherof they catch hir coloures , so faire & so bright And wollest of birds & beasts , & hir breding to know Why some be alow & some aloft , thy lyking it were And of the stons & of the sters , thou studiest as I leue How euery beast & byrd , Onli god knoweth the causes of thyngs hath so her wyttes Cleargy nekynde wytte , ne knew neuer the cause And kind knoweth the cause him selfe , no creature else He is the Pies patron , and putte it in hir eare That there the thornes it thickest , to build & bread And kind keneth the Pecoke , to canken in such a kind And kenned Adam to know his priuie membres And taught him and Eue , to heale hem with leaues Lewed men mani times , masters they apposen Why Adam ne hilled not first , his mouth that eat the apple Rather than his likam alowe , lewde axen thus clarkes . Kynd knoweth why he did so , and no clarkes els And of byrdes and of beastes , men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes , as tellen the poetes And that the fayrest foule , foulest engendreth And feblst fowle of flight is , the flyeth or swymmeth Rych men be compared to the Pecocke . And the Pecock & the pehen , proud rich men they betoken For the Pecok & men pursue him , he may not fly high For the trailynge of his tayle , ouertake is he sone And hys fleshe is foule fleshe , and his fete both And vnlouely of leden , and layeth for to heare Right so the rych , if he hys ryches kepe And deleth it not til hys deths day , the taile of al sorow Right as the pense in the pecock , paineth him in his flight So is possession paine of pence , and of nobles To al hem that it holdeth , tyl her taile be plucked And though the rych repent than , and birue the tyme That euer he gathered so great , & gaue therof so litle Thoughe he cry to Christ than , with keene wyll I leue . His leden be in our lords eare , lyke a pies chattering And whan his carion shall come , in caue to be buried I leue it flowme full fowle , the folde all about And all the other there it lyeth , enuenimed through his By the posere is vnderstand , as I haue lerned in Auenet Executors , false frendes , that fulfyll not hys wyll That was written & thei witnes , to werk al the it wold And thus the poet preueth , the the pecock for fethers is reuerenced Right so the rych , by reson of hys goods The larke that is a lesse fowle , is more louely of leadene And wyll away of wyng , swyfter than the pecocke And of fleshe by fell folde , fatter and sweter To lowe lyueinge men , is resembled the larke Aristotle the greate clarke , suche tales he telleth Thus he likeneth in hys logyke , the lest foule out And whether he be safe or not , the soth wot no clergy Ne of Sortes ne of Solomon , no Scripture can tel And god is so good I hope , that sith he gaue hem wits To wishen vs waies ther with that wishen vs to be saued And the better for her bokes , to bidden we be holden That god of his grace , gyue her soules reste For lettred menne were lewd yet , ne were lore of her bokes And these clarkes ꝙ I tho , that on Christ leuen Seithen in her sermons , the nether Sarasins ne Iewes Ne creature of christes liknes , worth safe vnchristēid Contra quod Imaginatiue tho , & comsed for to loure And said Saluabitur vir iustus in die iudicii . i. Pet. iiii Ergo saluabitur quod he , and said no more latine Troianus was a true kinght , Troianus & toke neuer christendone And he is safe sayth the boke , and his soule in heauen For ther is fulling in font , & falling in blud shedinge And through fire is fullynge , that is firme beleue Aduenit ignis diuinus non combutens sed illuminans . &c. And truth that trespaced neuer , ne transuersed agaist his law But liuith as the teacheth , & leueth ther be no beter And if ther were , he would amend , and in such wil dye Ne would neuer true god , but trueth were alowed And were it worth or worth not , the belefe of it is gret And an hope hanging therin , Psa. xxiii to haue mede for his truth For Deus dicitur , quasi dans vitam eternam sais , hoc est fidelibus Et alibi , si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis : The glose graunteth apon the verse , a grete mede to truth And wit & wisdome ꝙ the wight , was sontime treasure To kep with a commune , no cattell was hold better And much mirthe & manhode , & right with that he vanyshed

Passus .xiii. de visioue : ANd I awaked there with , wities nere hand And as a freke that tre were , forth gan I walke In maner of a mēdinaunt , many a yere after And of this meting mani time , much thoght I had Fyrst how Fortune me failed , at my most ned And howe that Elde manaced me , might we euer meten And how the Fryers folowed , folke that was ryche And folke that was pore , at litle price they set And no cors in hir kyrkeyard , nor kirke was buried But quik he bequeth hem oght , or quit part of hir dets And howe that couetise euercame , clarkes & priestes And how that lewde men be ladde , but our lord hem help Through vucunning creatures , to incurable paines And how that imaginatiue , in dreames me tolde Of kind & of his cunning , & how curtise he is to beasts And how louing he is to beasts , on lande & on water Leaueth he no lyfe , lesse ne more . The creatures that crepen , of kinde they be engendred And sithen how imaginatiue sayde , Vix saluabitur iustus . And when he had sayd so , how sodenly he passed I laye longe in thys thoughte , and at the last I slepte And as Christ wold conscience came , to confort me that time And bade me come to his curt , with clargy shold I dine And for conscience of clergy spake , I came wel the rather And ther I se a master , what man he was I nist That lowe he lowted , and louelye to scripture Conscience knew him wel , and welcomed him fayre They washen and wypen , and went to the dyner And patience in the palaice , stode in pilgrimes clothes And prayed meate for charitie , for a pore hermite Conscience called him in , and curteslie sayde Welcome wyght go and washe , thou shalt sit sone Thys maister was made sit , as for the most worthy And than Cleargy & Conscience , & Patience came after Patience and I , were put to be matches And sitten by our selues , at the side bourde Conscience called after meate , & than came scripture And serued hem thus sone , of sondry meates many Of Austen of Ambrose , and of the four Euangelistes . Edentes et bibentes : que apud illos sunt . Luke . x , And this maister & his man , no maner fleshe eaten And they ate meate of more cost , mortreulx & potage Of that men miswonne , they made hem well at ease And their sauce was ouer sour , and vnsauerly ground In a morter Post mortem , of many bytter paynes But if they singe for tho soules , and wepe salt teares Vos qui peccata hominum commeditis , nisi pro eis lachrimas et orationes effunderitis , ea que in delitus comeditis , in tormentis euometis . Conscience full curteslye tho , commaunded scripture Before patience bread to bring , & me that was his match He set a sour lofe before vs & sayde , Agite penitentiam , And sithe he brought vs drincke , diaperseueraunce As longe quod I as I lyue , and likam man endure . Here is preti seruice ꝙ Patience , no price can fare better Then brought he forth a mes of meat , of Miserere mei And he brought vs of Beati quorum , of Beatus virs makynge Et quorum tectasunt peccata in a dyshe Of dernes shrifte Dixi , and Confitebor tibi , Psal , 23 , Bryng Patience some pitaunce priuily ꝙ Conscience Psa. 32 And than had Patience a pittaunce , Pro hac orabit ad te . &c And Conscience conforted vs , and carped vs mery tales Psal. li. Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies Patience was proude , of that propre seruice And made hi merye with his meat , & I mourned euer For this doctour on the hie deise , drancke wine so faste . Esai . v. Ve vobis qui potentes estis , ad bibendum vinum . He eate many sondrye meates , mortrix & puddinges Wombe be clouts & wild drawne , & egs fried with grese Than sayde I to my selfe , so Patience it harde It is not four daies that this freke , before the deane of poules Preched of penaunce , that Poul th apostle suffred In fame et frigore , and flappes of scourges ii . Cor. xi . Ter Cesus sum et a Iudeis quinquies quadragintes . And one word they ouerhipped , at ech time that they preach That Poule in his pistle , to al the puple told Periculum est , in falsis fratribus . Holy wryte bid men beware , I wyl not write it here In English on auenture , it should be rehearsed to oft And greue ther with good men , & gramarians sholde read Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat , quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus . ii . Th. iii And I wist neuer freke , that as a frier yead before men in english Take it for her theme , & tel it without leasyngs They preach that penaunce , is profitable to the soule And what mischefe & male ease , Christ for man tholed And this gods glotton quod I , with hys great chekes Hath no pitye on vs pore , he perfourmeth euyll That he preacheth he preueth not , to Patience I told And wyshed full wytterlye , wyth wyl full eger That dyshes and doublers , before this ilke doctoure Were molten leade in his mawe , & Mahound amidst I shall iangle to this Iurdan , with his iuste wombe To tel me what penaunce is , of which he preched rath Patience perceiued what I thought , & winked on me And said thou shalt se this sone , A good deuine . when he may no more He shal haue a penaunce in his paunch , & pufatech word And then shal his guts gottilen , & he shal gulpen after For now he hath droncke so depe , he woll diuine sone And preuen it by hir pocalips , & passion of . S. Auarice That nether bacon ne brawne , blacke manger ne mortreulx Is neither fysh ne flesh , but fode for a penaūt And then shal he testify of the trinitie , & take his felow to witnes What he found in a fraile , after a friers liuyng And but he first liue by leasinges , leue me neuer after And than is tyme to take , and to appose thys doctour Of dowel and of dobet , and if dobest be any penaunce And I sate stil as Patience said , & thus sone this doctoure As ruddye as a rose , rubbed hys chekes Coughed and carped , and Conscience hym heard And told hem of the Trinitie , and towarde vs he loked What is dowel sir doctor ꝙ I , is dowel ani penaunce Dowel quod this doctour , & toke the cup & drancke Is do no euill to thine euenchristen , not to thy power By this daye syr doctour ꝙ I then , ye be not in dowel For ye haue harmed vs two , in that ye haue eaten the puddyng Mortreulx & other meate , & we no morsel had And if ye fare so in your farmarye , ferly me thynketh But chest be ther chariti shold be , & children durst plein I wold permute mi penaunce with you , for I am in poit to do wel Then●onscience curtesly a countenaunce made And preynt apon Patience , to praye me to be styll And sayde hym selfe syr doctoure , and it be your wyll What is dowell and dobet , ye diuinours knowe Dowell quod thys doctoure , is do as clarkes teache And dobet is he the teacheth , & traueleth to teath other And do beste doth him selfe so , as he sayth & precheth Math. v. Cleargye hath seuen sonnes , that is the. vii sciences . Qui facit et docuerit , magnus vocabitur in regno celorum Now the Conscience ꝙ Cleargy , carpest what is dowel I haue seuen sonnes he sayd , seruen in a castell Ther the lord of life wonneth , to learne what is dowel Tyll I see the seuen , and my selfe accorden I am vnhardy quod he , to any wyght to preue it For one Pierce the Ploughman , hath impungned vs al And set al sciences at a Soupe , saue loue onelye And no text ne taketh , to maintayne hys cause But Dilige deum , And Domine quis habitabit Psa. xv . And sayeth that dowell and dobet , are two infinites Which infinites with fayeth , fynde out dobest Which shal saue mans soul , thus saith Pierce plowman I can not here one ꝙ Conscience , & I know wel Pierce He wil not gainsaie holi writ , I dare wel vndertake Than passe we ouer til Pierce come , & preue it in dede Patience hath ben in mani places , & peraduenture mouthed That no clark ne can , as Christ beareth witnes Patientes vincunt . And your praier ꝙ Pacience tho , so no man displese him Disce quod he , Doce and Dilige inimicos . Disce and dowell , Doce and dobet , Dilige and do beste thus taught me once . Alemman that I loued , loue was hyr name With wordes & with workes ꝙ she , & wil of thy hert Thou loue lelly thy soule , al thy lyfe tyme And so thou learne the to loue , for the lordes loue of heuen Thyne enimies in al wyse , euen forth with thy selfe Cast coles on hys heade , and all kynde of speache Both with works & with words , found hys loue to wyn And lay on hym thus with loue , tyl he laughe on the And but he bowe for this bearing , blind might he be And for to fare thus with thy frynde , folye it were For he that loueth the lellye , lytle of thyne coueteth Kynde loue coueteth not no cattel , but speache Wyth halfe a lampeline in latine Ex vi transitionis . I bare therin aboute , faste bounde Dowell In a sygne of the saturday , that set first the Kalender And al the wyt of the wenisday , of the next weke after The middle of the mone , is the myght of bothe And ther with I am welcome , there I haue it with me Vnder it let thys doctour deme , if dowel be ther i For by him that me made , myght neuer pouerty Mysease ne michiefe , ne man wyth hys tonge Colde ne care , ne company of theues Ne nether heate ne hayle , ne none helle Powke Ne neyther fyre ne floude , ne feare of thyne enemie Tene the any time , and thou take it wyth the Charitas nihil timet . i. Cor. xi It is but a Dido quod thys doctour , a disertes tale All the wyt of thys world , and wight mens strenght Can not confirme a peace , betwene the pope & his enimes Ne betwene .ii. christen kings , can no wight peace make Profitable to either people , & put the table from hym And toke cleargy and conscience , to counsel as it were That patience tho must passe , for pilgrimes can wel lie And Conscience carped loude , and curteslye sayd Frendes fare wel , and fayre spake to Cleargy For I wyl go with this gomme , Cleargye is loth the Conscience should go with patience if god wil giue me grace And be pilgraime with Patience til I haue preued more What ꝙ cleargy to conscience , are ye couetouse no we ? After yeresegyft or gyftes , or yernen to read riddels ? I shal brynge you a byble , a boke of the olde lawe And learne you if you lyke , the least poynt to know That Patience the pylgryme , perfitlye knewe neuer Nay by Christ ꝙ Conscience to Cleargy , god the for yeld For al that Patience me profereth , proude am I little And the wyll of the wye , and the wyll of folke here Hath meued my mode , to mourne for my sinnes The good wyll of a wyght , was neuer bought to the full For there is no treasure therto , to a true wyll Luke . xix . Had not Magdalen more , for a boxe of salue Than zecheus for he said , Dimidium bonorum meorsi do pau peribus . And the pore wydowe , for a payr of mites Luke . xxi . Than all tho that offred into Gaz ophilacium ? Thus curteslye Conscience , congied fyrst the fryer And sythen softlye he sayd , in Cleargies eare Me were leuer by our lord , and I lyue shoulde Haue Patience perfecli , then halfe thy pack of bokes Patience passeth a packe of bokes Cleargy of Conscience , no congy would take But sayd full soberlye , thou shalt se the tyme Whan thou arte werye for walking , will me to counsel That is sothe sayd Conscience , so me god helpe If Patience be our parting felow , & preuie with vs both There nis wo in this world , that we ne should amend And confirmen kynges to peace , and al kinnes londes Sarazens & Surrey , & so forth al the Iewes Turne into the true fayth , and into one beleue That is soth ꝙ Cleargye , I se what thou meaneste I shal dwell as I do , my deuour to shewen And confyrmen fauntekyns , and other folke learned Till Patience haue preued the , and perfect the maked Conscience tho with patience , passed pilgrimes as it were Than had patience as pilgrimes haue , in his poke vital Sobrietie and simple speach , and sothfast beleue . To confort him and Conscience , if they come in place There vnkindenes & couetise is , hungry contryes both And as they went by the way , of dowell they carped They mette wyth a minstrell , A loiterers lyfe as me tho thought Patience posed him fyrste , and praied he should tell To conscience what craft he could , & whether he would I am a minstrel quod that man , mi name is Actiua vita All idle I hate , for of actyue is my name A waferer wyll ye wytte , and serue many Lordes And fewe robes I fonge , or furred gownes Could I lye to do men laugh , than lachen I ne shold Other mantill or money , amonges Lordes minstrels And for I can neither taber ne trumpe , ne tel no gestes Farten ne fisten at feastes , ne harpen Iape ne iuggele , ne gentyllye pype Ne neither saylen ne saute , ne synge to the gytterne I haue no good giftes , of these greate Lordes For no bred that I bring forth , saue a benison on the sunday Whan the priest praieth the people , the Pater no. to saye For Pierce the plowman , and that him profit waiten And that am I actiue , that idlenes hate For al true traueilers , and tyllers of the earth From Mighelmas to Mighelmas , I fynd hem with my wafers Beggers and bidders , of my bread crauen Faytours and Friers and folke wyth brode crownes I find pane for the Pope , & prouender for his palfrey And I had neuer of him , haue god my trueth Nether prouender ne parsonage , yet of the Popes gift Saue a pardon with a piece of leade , & two poles amids Had I a clarke that could write , I would cast him a bil That he sente me vnder his seale , a salue for the pestilence And that his blessing & his buls , botches might destroy Mar. xvi . In nomine meo demonia eiicient , et super egros manus imponent , et bene habebunt And than wold I be prest , to the puple paast to make And buxome and busie , about bread and drynke For him and for all his , found I that his pardon Myght lechen a man , as I beleue it shoulde For sith he hath the power , that Peter had him selfe . He hath the pot wyth the salue , truly as me thinketh . Argentum et aurum non est mihi , quod habeo tibi do . In nomine domini surge et ambula . Act. iii. And if might of miracle him faile , it is for men be not worth To haue grace of god , & no gilt of the Pope For may no blessing done vs bote , but if we wil amend There may no man make peace , among christen people Til pride be purely fordo , & through payne de faute For ere I haue breade , a meale of mote I swete And ere the commen haue corne inough , mani cold morning So ere my wafars ben wrought , much wo I t holy All London I leue , liketh well my wafers And loure whan they lacke hem , it is not long passed Ther was a careful common , when no cart came to town With bread from Stratford , tho gan beggers wepe And workmen were agast a litle , this wol be thought longe A deare yere , In date of our dryght , in a drye Apriell A thousande and thre hundred , twyse twenty & ten My wafers ther wer geisen , whan Chicester was Mair I toke good kepe bi Christ , and Conscience both Of Hankyn the actyue man , and how he was clothed He had a cote of christendome , as holy kirke beleueth And it was moled in mani places with mani sondri plots Of prid here a plotte , & ther a plot of vnbuxome spech Of scorning & of scoffinge , & of vnskilful bearinge . As in apparel & in porte , proude amonge the puple Other wise then he hath with hert , Hypocrisye . or sight shewinge Him willyng that al men wend , he were that he is not For why , he bosteth & braggeth , with many bold othes And is vnobedient to be vndernome , of any lyfe liuing And none so singuler by him selfe , nor so pope holy In habite as an hermet , an order by hym selfe Religion sans rule , and vnreasonable obedience Lacked lettred men , and lewde men bothe In lykinge of lely lyfe , and a lyer in Soule With inwyt and outwyt , imaginen and studie As best for hys body be , to haue a bad name And entermeten hym ouer all , there he hath not to do Wylnynge that men wend , hys witte were the beste And if he giue ought to pore goms , tel what he delith Pore of possession in purse , and in cofer both And as a Lyon on to loke , and Lordly of speach Boldest of beggers , a boster that nought hath In towne and in tauernes , tales to tell And saye thyng that he neuer se , and forsoth swere it Of dedes that he neuer dyd , domen and bosten And of warkes that he wel dyd , wytnes and siggen Loe if ye leue me not , or that I lye wenen Aske at hym or at hym , and he the can tell What I suffred and see , and sometimes had And what I could and knew , & what kin I came of Al he would that men wyste of werkes and of wordes Whyche myght please the people , Gala , i. & prayse himselfe Si hominibus placerem Christi seruus non essem , Et alibi . Nemo potest duobus dominis scruire . By Christ quod Conscience tho , thi best cote Hankyn Hath many moles and spottes , it must be washed Yea , who so toke hede ꝙ Hankyn , bihinde & bifore What on back & what on body halfe , & bi the two sides Hankins garmente is foule . Men should find many frownces , & many foule plots And he turned him as Tit , and than toke I hede It was fowler by fell folde , then it fyrste semed It was bydropped with wrathe , and wycked wyll Wyth Enuy and euyll speache , entysynge to fyght Lyinge and laughynge , and leaf tonge to chyde All that he wyste wycked by anye wyght , tellen it And blame men behind her back , & bidden hem mischaunce And that he wyst by Wyll , tellen it to Watte And that Watte wyst , Wyll wyste it after And made of frendes foes , through a false tonge Or wyth might of mouth , or through mans strength Auenge me fell tymes , other feete my selfe Psal. x. Within as a shepsters shere , I shrewed men & cursed Cuius maledictione os plenum est , et amaritudine , sublingua eius labor et dolor . et alibi . Filii hominum dentes eorum arma et sagitte , et lingua eorum gladius acutus . There is no lyfe that me loueth , lasting any whyle For tales that I tel , no man trusteth to me And whan I may not haue the maistry , such melancholie I take That I catch the crampe , the cardiacle somtyme Or an ague in suche an anger , and sometyme a feuer That taketh me al a twelue moneth , til the I despice Lechcrafte of our lorde , and leue of a witche And say that no clarke ne can , ne Christ as I leue To the sortry of Southwarke , or of short dyeth dame Eme And seg that no gods word gaue me neuer bote But throughe a charme had I chaunce , & mani chiefe heale I wayted wisloker , and than was it soyled Wyth lykyng of lechery , as by lokinge of his eyght For ech amaid that he met , he made hir to sygne Semyng to synnewarde , and sometime he gan taste About the mouth or beneth , begynneth to groppe Tyll eythers will waxeth kene , & to the werke yeden As wel in fastingdaies & frydayes , Yonge lechour old baude . & for boden nightes And as well in lent as out of lent , all tymes ylyke Such werkes wyth hem , were neuer out of season Tyll they myght no more , and then merye tales And howe that lechours loueth , laughen and iapen And of her harlotrye and horedome , The spottes of Haukins cote . in her age tellen Than Patience perceyued , of poyntes of thys cote Was culmy throughe couetise , & vnkinde desierynge More to good than to god , the gomme his loue caste And imagined howe he it might haue , With false mesures and mete , and with false weightes Leued for loue of the wedde , and loth to do trouth And awayte by whych waye , he myght begyle And menged his machandise , & made a good mastry The worst within was , a greate wytte I leete it And if my neighbour had any hynde , or any beast els More profitable then myne , many sleyghtes I made Howe I myght haue it , all my witte I caste And but if I had by other waye , at last I stole it Or priuilye his purse shoke , vnpiked hys lockes Or by night or by daye , aboute was iche euer Through gyle to gadren , the goodes that ich haue If I yede to the ploughe , I pynched so narrow That a fote lande or a surrowe , fetchen I would Of my nexte neighboure , nimen of hys earth And if I reape ouer reachen , or gaue hem read the repen And cese to me with hir sycle , that I fowed neuer And who so borowed of me , about the tyme Wyth presentes priuelye , or paye some certayne So would he or would he not , wynnen I would And both to kith & to kynne , vnkind of that ich had The Image of a worldling And who so cheped my chaffer , chiden I would But he profered to pay , a peny or twayne More than it was worth , and yet would I swere That it coste me much more , sware many othes In holy dayes at holy kirke , whan ich hard masse Hadde I neuer wyll wot god , witterly to besech Mercy of my misdeades , that I ne mourned sore For losse of good leue me , than for my lykam giltes And if I had deadly synne done , I dred not that so sore As when I lended & leued it lost , or long ere it wer paied So if I kidde any kindnes , mine euēchristen to helpe Apon a cruell couetise , mine herte gan hange And if I sente ouer sea , my seruauntes to Bryges Or into Prucelande my prentice , my profite to waiten To marchaūden with mony , & make her exchaunges Myght neuer me conforten , in the meane whyle Neyther masse ne mattens , ne no maner syghtes Ne neither penaunce performed , ne Pater nost. sayde That my minde ne was more , on mi good in a doubt Than in the grace of god , and in hys greate helpe Math. vi Vbi the saurus tuus , ibi et cor tuum . Whych ben the braunches , that brynge a man to slouth He the mournith not for his misse , ne maketh no sorow And penaunce that the prest inioyneth , perfourmeth ill Doth no almesdedes , dreade hym of no synne Lyueth agayne the beleue , and no lawe holdeth Eche day is holy daye with hym , or an hyghe fery And if he ought wyll heare , it is an harlots tonge When men carpen of Christ , or of clennes of soules He waxeth wroth & wil not here , but words of mirth Penaunce and pore men , and the passion of sayntes He hateth to heare therof , and all that he telleth These been braunches beware , that bringeth a man to wan . hope The lords & thou ladies , and legates of holy kirk That feden foles sages , flatterers and lyers And haue liking to lithen hem , to do you to laugh . Ve vobis qui ridetis . &c. Luke . vi . And giue hem meat & mede , and pore men to refuse In your death diynge , I feare me full sore Lest tho thre maner of men , to much sorow you bring Consentientes et agentes pari pena punientur . Patriarkes & prophetes , and prechers of gods word Sauen throughe her sermons , mans soule from hell Right so flatterers & foles , arne the fendes disciples To entise men through hir tales , to sinne & harlotrye And clarkes that knowen holy write , shold ken lords What Dauid said of such men , as the psalter telleth Non habitabit in medio domus mee , Psal. C● qui facit superbiam et qui loquitur iniqua . Should no harlot haue audience , in hall ne in chambre There wysemen were , witnessen gods wordes Ne no misproud man , among lordes be alowed And flatterers and foles , through her lewde wordes Leden tho that loue hem , to Lucifers feaste Wyth Turpiloquio . a laye of sorowe , & Lucifers fidle Thus Hankyn the actiue man , had soyled hys cote Til Conscience acouped him therof , in a curteis maner Why he had ne washed it , or wyped it wyth a brushe

Passus .xiiii. de visione . I Haue but one hole hattir quod Hankin , I am the lesse to blame Thoughe it be soyled and felde cleane , I slepe therin on nightes , And also I haue an huswife , hewen and chyldren Luk. xiiii Vxoxem duxi et ideo non possum venire . That wollen bymollen it manye tymes , maugry my chekes , Hankins cote wyll not be cleane . It hath bene laued in lente , and out of lent bothe With the soupe of sickenes , that seketh wonders depe . And with the losse of cattell , lothe for to agyle God or anye good man , by ought that I wyste And was shryuen of a priest , that gafe me for my sins To penaunce Patience , and pore men to fede Al for couetise of mi christendome , in clennes to kepe it And could I neuer by Christ , kepe it cleane an houre That I ne soyled it with sight , or with some idle speach Or through worke or word , or wil of my herte That I ne slober it foule , from morrowe till euen And I shall ken the quod Conscience , of contricion to make That shal claw thy cote , of al kindes of filth Cordis contricio . &c. Dowel shall washe it and wringe it , throughe a wyse confessoure . Oris confessio . Dobet shal beat it & bōke it , as bryght as any scarlet And engrauen it with good wil , & gods grace to amende the And sithen send the to satisfaction , for to sowne it after Satisfactio dobesse . Shal neuer chest bymollen it , ne mought after bite it Ne fende ne false man , defoulen it in thy lyfe Shall no heraulde ne harper , haue a fayrer garment Than Hankin the actiue man , & thou do bi my teaching Ne no minstrell be more worth , among pore & ryche Than Hankins wife shew ●●ere● , with his actiua vita And I shal puruey the paast & patience though no plow And floure to fede folke withal , as best be for the soule Though neuer greue growed , ne grape apon vyne All that liued and loked , liuelode would I fynd And that inough shal none faile , of thing that hem nedeth We should not be to busye , about our liuelode Ne soliciti sitis . &c. Volucres celi deus pascit . Mat. vi . &c. patientes vincunt . Than laughed Hankin a litle , and lightly gan swere Who so leueth you by our lord , I leue not he be bleste No ꝙ Conscience patiently , God geueth not lyfe , but he prouideth fode , and out of his poke hent Vytayles of greate vertues , for all maner beastes And said lo here liuelode inough , if our beliefe be true For lent neuer was life , but lyuelode were shapen Whereof or wherfore , or wherby to lyue Fyrste the wylde worme , vnder wete earth Fishe to liue in the floude , and in the fire the creket The kurlew bi kind of hem , are clenest flesh of birdes And beastes by grase & by grene , and by grene rotes In meaninge that all men , might the same do Liue through lelly beleue , & loue as god wytnesseth Quodcumque petieritis a patre in nomine meo . &c: Et alibi Non solo pane viuit homo , sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei . And I loked what liuelod it was , that patience so praised And it was a piece of the Pater nost. Fiat voluntas tua . Haue Hankin ꝙ Patience , & eat this whan thou hungrest Or whan thou clumsest for colde , or clyngest for drye Shall neuer giues the greue , ne great lordes wrath Prison ne paine , for Patientes vincunt , By so that thou be sober , of sight and of tonge In eating and in handelyng , and in all thy fiue wyts Darst thou neuer care for corne , nelinē cloth ne wolen Ne for drinke ne deaths dread , but dye as god liketh Or through honger or through heat , at his wil be it For if thou liue after hys lore , the shorter life the better Si quis amat Christum , mundum non diligit istum . For through his breath beasts waxed , & abrode yeden Dixit et facta sunt . Ergo through hys breath , may men & beastes liuen . As holy wryte witnesseth , whan men se in her graces Aperis tu manum tuam et imples omne animal benedictione It is found that forti winter , folk liued without tilling Forty yeres without tyllage . And out of the flint spronge the floud , that folk and beastes dronke And in Helies tyme , heauen was closed That no raine ne ronne , thus reade men in bokes That many wynter men lyued , & no meate ne tiliden Seuen slept as sayth the boke , seuen hundred wynter And lyued without lyuelode , and at the last they woken If men liuid as mesure wold , shold no more be defaut Lacke of measure is cause of scarcitie . Amonge christen creatures , if christes words be true And vnkindnes Caristiā . maketh amonge christen puple And ouer plenty maketh pryd , amonges pore & rych Therfor mesure is so mich worth , it can not be to dere For the mischife & the mischaunce amongs men of Sodom Wext throughe plenty of pane , and of pure Slouth . O ciositas et habundantia panis , peccatum turpissimum nutriuit . For they measured not hem selfe , of that they ate & dranke They dyd deadlye synne , that the deuyll liked . So vengeaunce fell apon hem , for her vyle synnes They sonken into hell , the cityes eche one Therfore mesure we vs wel , & make faith our feltron And through faith cometh contricion , conscience wot wel Whych driueth away deadly syn , & doth it to veniall And though a man might not speke , contrition might saue And bring his soule to blish , by so the faith were witnes That while he liued he beleued , in the law of holy kirke Ergo contrition , fayth & conscience , is kindly dowel And surgeons for dedli sin , when shrift of mouth faileth And shrift of mouth more worthy is , if man be contrite For shrift of mouth sleeth sinne , be it neuer so deadlye Per confessionem to a prieste , peccata occiduntur , Ther contricion doth driue downe , into veniall synne And Dauid saith in the psalter , Psal. 32. Satisfaction kylleth sinne Et quorum recta sunt peccata And satisfaction seketh out the rote , and both sleeth and voydeth . And as it neuer had been , to nought bringeth dedly syn That eft it is not sene no sore , but semith a wound helid Wher wonnith chariti ꝙ Hankin , I wist neuer in mi life Man that with him spake , as wide as I haue passed That perfite trouth & pore hert is , & Patient of tong There is charitie that chiefe chamberer , for god him selfe Wher patient porti ꝙ Hākin , be mor plesant to our dright Than riches rightfully wonne , & resonably dispended ? Yea Quis est ille quod Patience , quicke laudabimus eum Though men read of riches , right to the worlds end I wist neuer reuke the rych was , the whan he reken should When he drough to his dethes day , that hene dred him sore And that at the rekening in arerage fel , rather than out of dette Ther the pore dare pleate , & preue by pure reason To haue alowaunce of his lord , bi the law he it claimeth Ioy that neuer ioy had , of ryghtful iudge he asketh And seeth so birds and beastes , that no blis ne knoweth And wild wormes in wods , bi winters hem greueth And maketh hem welnigh meke , & mylde for defaut And after thou sendest hem somer , that is her soueraine ioye And blyshe to hem that bene , both wylde and tame Then may beggers as beastes , after bote waiten Neuer treature was with out ioye here and hence to . That al her life haue liued , in langour and in defaut But god sent hem sometyme , some maner ioye Or here or els where , kynde would it neuer For to ouermuch wo was he wrought , that neuer was ioy shapen Angels that in hel now been , had ioy sometyme And Diues in deyntis liued , and in Douce vie Right so reason sheweth , that the men that were rich And her makes also , liued hir lyues in myrthe And god is of a wonderous wil , by that kind wit sheweth To giue mani man mercimony , ere he it hath deserued Right so fareth god by some rich , ruth me it thinketh For they haue her hire here , and heauen as it were And great liking to liue , without labour of the bodye And when he dyeth is disalowed , as Dauid said in the psalter Psal. 76. Dormierunt , et nihil inuenerunt . And in an other stede also , Velunt sompnum surgentium . domine . In ciuitate tua , et ad nichillum rediges . Alas that ryches shall reue , and robbe mans soule From the loue of our Lorde at hys laste ende Newen that haue her hire before , are euermore nedye And selde dieth he out of det , that dineth or he deserue it And tyll he haue done hys deuour , & his dayes iorney For whan a workman hath wrought , them men say the soth What he were worthy for his worke , & what he hath deserued And not to fig before for dred of disanulling So I say by you rich , it semeth not that ye should Haue heauen in your here beyng , and heuen hereafter Right as a seruant taketh his salari before , & sith wold claime more As he that none had , & hath hire at the last It may not be ye rych men , or Mathew on god lyeth . Mat. xix . De delictis ad delicias , difficile est transite . And if ye ryche haue ruthe , and rewarde well the pore And lyke as law teacheth , done leauty to hem al Christ of hys curtesy , shal confort you at the laste And reward you al double riches , The rych that be mercyfull shal haue heauen . the ruful hert haue And as an hyne that had hys hyre , ere he begane When he hath done his deuour wel men do him ouirboūt Giue him a tote aboue his couenaunt , right so Christe geueth heuen Both to rich & not rich , that rufully liueth And al that done her deuour wel , han double hire for hir trauel Here forgiuenes for her sins , & heuen blis after And it is but seld sene , as by saynts bokes That god rewarded double rest , to any rych man For much myrth is among rych , as in meat & clothes And much myrth in May , is amongest wyld beasts And so forth the while somer lasteth , her solace dureth And beggers aboute midsomer , breadles thei soupe And yet is winter for hem worse , for wetshod thei gang A furst sore , and a fyngred , and fowle rebuked And rated of ryche men , that ruth is to heare Now Lorde send hem somer , and some maner ioye Heuen after her hence goyng , that here haue such defaute For all mightest thou haue made , none meaner than other And lyke wytty and wyse , if the well had lyked And saue ruth of these rich men , that reward not thi prisoners Of the good that thou hem giuest , ingrati been mani And god of thy goodnes , giue hem grace to amend For mai no derth hem deare , drough ne were he gieue Ne nether heate ne haile , haue they her health Of that they wyl and would , wanteth hem not here And pore puple thi prisoners lord , in the pit of mischef Confort the creaturs , that much care sufferen Through derth & through drough , al her dayes here Wo in winter tymes , for wantynge of clothes And in somer tyme selde , soupen to the full Conforte thy careful , Christe in thy ryches For how thou confortest al creatures , clarkes bereth witnes Esai . xlv . Conuertimini ad me , et salui eritis Thus in general of gentryes Iesu Christ sayde To robbers and to reuers , to rich and to pore Thou taughtest hem in the trinitie , to take baptisme And be cleane through the christening , of al kins sinnes And if vs fell through foly , to fal in synne after Confession and knowledging , and crauing thy mercy Shold amend vs as many sithes , as man wold desyre And if the Pope would plede here againe , and punish vs in conscience He should take the acquitaunce as quycke and to the A christen mans patente . queed shew it , Pateat . &c. per passionem domini And put of so the pouke , and preuen vs vnder borow And the parchmin of the Patente , of pouerty be must And of pure patience , and perfect beleue Of pompe and of pryde , the parcemyn declareth And principalitie of al people , but thei be pore of hert Els is al idle , and all that euer we wryten Pater noster and penaunce , & pylgrimages to Rome But our spenses and spending , sprynge of true wyll Els is all our labour loste , lo howe men wryteth In fenestres at the Fryers , if false be the fundament Therfore christen shold be in commen rych , none couetise for him selfe For seuen sinnes that ther be , assailē vs euer The fend foloweth hem al , and foundeth hem to help And with riches that rybaunde , he rathest men begileth For there that ryches raygneth , reuerence foloweth And that is pleasant to pryde , in pore and in ryche And the rych is reuerenced , by reason of his ryches And the pore is put behynd , & peraduenture can more Of wyt and of wisedome , that farre away is better Than ryches or rialtye , and rather hard in heuen For the rich hath much to reken , & right ofte him the walketh The hye way to heuenward , ryches him letteth It a possibile diuiti . &c. There the pore preiseth before the rich , Apo. xiiii with a pake at his rygge Opera enim illorum sequntur illos , Bataūtly , as beggers done , & boldly he craueth For hys pouerty and his patience , a pertual blysse . Beati pauperis , Luke . v● quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum And pride in riches raigneth , rather than in pouertye Erst in the master or in the man , some mantion he haueth And in pouerty there patience is , pride hath no might Ne none of the seuen synnes , syt ne may there longe For the pore is aye preste , to please the ryche And buxome at hys byddynge , for hys broke loues And buxomnes and bost , are euermore at warre And either hateth other , in al maner workes If wrath wrestle with the pore , he hath the worse ende And if they both pleyne , the pore is but feble And if he chyde or chatter , hym cheueth the worse And if couetise catch the pore , they mai not come togithers And by the neke nameli , ther non mai hent other For men knowen well that couetouse is of kene wyll And hath hands and armes , of a longe length Pouerttis but a petit thing , apperith not to his nauel And louelike was yet neuer bitwen , the long & the short Though auarice wole angry the pore , he hath but litle might For poreti hath but pokis , to put in his good Ther auarice hath almaries , and iron bounde cofers And whether be lighter to breake , & lasse bost maketh A beggers bagge , than an yron bound cofer Lecherye and glotony raigne not much in pouertye . Lechery loueth him not , for he geueth but litle siluer Ne doth hym not dine delecatlye , ne drynke wyne oft A straw for the Stewes , it stode not I trowe Had thei nothing but of poremen , her house stode vntild And though swuth sue pouerti , & serue not god to pay Myschiefe is his master , and maketh him to thyncke That god is his greatest helpe , and no gome els And he hys saruaunt as he sayth , and of his fute both And whether he be or not , he beareth the sygne of pouerty And in the secte our sauyoure , saued al mankind Therfore al pouertie that patient is , may claime and asken After her endyng here , heuenlyche blysse . Much hardier mai he aske , that here might haue his wil Wylfull pouertye . In londe and in lorshyp , and in lyking of body And for gods loue leueth al , and liueth as a begger And as a mayd for mans loue , hir mother forsaketh Hyr father and all hyr frendes , & foloweth hyr make Much more is the loue of hym , that such one taketh Than a maiden is , that is maried through brocage As by assent of sundry parties , and siluer to bete More for couetous of good , than kinde loue of both So it fareth by eche parson , that possession for saketh And put hym to be patiente , and pouerty weddeth Such is sybbe to god him selfe , and so ●●●chis saintes Haue god mitrougth ꝙ Hankin , ye praise f●st pouerty What is pouerty with Patience , ꝙ he properly to mene● Paupertas quod Patience , est odibile bonum Remotio curarum , possessio siue calumpnia , Ponum dei , Sanitatis mater , Absque solicitudine semita , Sapientie tēperatrir , negotium sine dalimo , incerta fortuna , absque solicitudine felicitas . I can not cōstine al this ꝙ Hankin , ye must ken this in english In engish ꝙ patience , it is wel hard to expound And some deale I shall say it , by so thou vnderstande Pouerty is the first poynt , that pride most hateth Than it is good by good skyll , al that agasteth pride Right & cōtticion is a confortable thing , Conscience wot it well And sorowe of him selfe , & solace to the soule So pouertye properlye , The p●●●se of p●uerty penaunce and ioye Is the bodyes pure , spirituall leche . Ergo Paupertas est odibile bonum . And contrition conforteth , & Cura anima animarum , the seconde Selde sitteth pouertye , the sothe to declare Or as iustice to iudge men , enioyned is no pore Ne to be mayre aboue men , ne minister vnder kinges Selde is any pore put , to punishe anye people . Remotio curarum , Ergo pouertie & pore men , perfourmen the commaundementes Nolite iudicate quemquam , the thyrde Selde is any pore man ryche , of vnrightful heritage Wineth he not with false weight ne with vnseled mesures Ne boroweth of his neighbors , but that he mai wel pai Possessio sine calampnia . The fourth is a fortune , that florisheth the soule Wyth sobrietie from all synne , and also yet more It afayteth the fleshe , from soles full manye A collaterall conforte , Christes owne gyfe , Donum dei . The fift is mother of helth , a frende in all fondynges And for the la●●de 〈◊〉 lech , alemman of al clennes . Sanitatis 〈◊〉 The sixt is a path of peace , ye through the paas of Alton Pouerty myghe passe , wont peryll of robbing For there that pouertie passeth , peace foloweth after And euer the lesse that he bereth , the hardier he is of herte Therfore saith Seneca , Paupertas est absque solicitudine And an hardi man of hert , among an heape of of theues Cantabat paupertas , coram latrone biatore . The .vii. is well of wisdome , & few wordes sheweth Therfore Lords alow hym little , or listen to his reason For he tempereth his tong to truthward , & no treasure coueteth Sapiencie temperatrix . The eyght is a lellye labourer , and loth to take more Than he well deserueth , in somer or in wynter And if he chaffreth he chargeth no losse , may he charitie winne Negocium sine damno . Patience fedeth pouertye . The nynth is swete to the soule , no suger is sweter For Pacience is pane , for pouertye hym selfe And sobrity swete drincke , and good lethe in sycknes Thus learned me a lettered man , for our lords loue of heuen S. Austen a blessed life , without busines ledde For body and for soule , Absque solicitudine felicitas . Now god that al good geueth , graunt his soule reste That this first wrote to wissen men what pouerti was Alas ꝙ Hankin that actiue man tho , the after mi christendom I ne had be dead and doluel , for dowels sake So hard it is for Hankin to liue , & to do no synne Synne sueth vs euer quod he , and sory gan wepe And wept water with his eyen , & wayled the tyme That euer he did dede , that deare God dispeased Sworned and sobbed , and syghed full ofte That euer he had londe , lord shynne lesse or more Or maistrye ouer anye man , moe then of hym selfe I were not worthy wot god ꝙ Hankin , to weare any clothes He nether shyrt ne shoo , saue for shame oneli To couer my caroen quod he , and cried mercy fast And wepte and wayled , and therwyth I waked .

Passus .xv. de dowel , et incipit dobet . ANd after my waking , it was wonders long Ere I could kindly know , what was dowel And so my witte wexe & wained , til I a folewer And some lacked mi self , alowed it few And letten me for a lorell , and loth to reuerencen Lordes or ladyes , or any life els As persons in pelure , wyth pendantes of siluer To sergeauntes ne to suche , sayde I not once God loke you lordes , ne louted fayre That folke helden me a f●le , & in that folie I raigned Tyl reason had ruth on me , & rocked me a slepe Tyll I se as it sorcerye were a sotle thynge wythall One wythouten tong or teth , told me whither I shold And wherof he came and of what kynne , I coniured hym at the laste If he were Christes creature , anone me to tellen I am christes creature ꝙ he , & christen in many a place In christes court I know well , & of his kin a party Is neither Peter the porter , ne Poule with hys faucheon That will defend me the dore , ding I neuer so late At midnight , at middaye , my voyce is so knowe That ech a creature of his court , welcometh me fair . What ar ye called ꝙ I in that court , among christs puple The whils I quicken the cours ꝙ he , Diuers● offices of the soule , callid am I Anima And whan I wil and woulde , Animus iche hight And for that I can and knowe , called am I Mens And when I make mone to god , Memoria is mi name And when I deme domes , & do as trueth teacheth Than is Rasio my ryght name , reason in Englishe And when I fele that folke tellith , mi first name is sensus And that is wyt and wisdome , the well of all craftes And when I chalenge or chalenge not , chepe or refuse Than am I conscience called , gods clerke & his notary And when I loue lelly , our lord and al other : Than is Leli loue my name , and in latin Amor And when I flee from the flesh , and forsake the carion Than am I spirite specheles , spiritus than iche hyte Austin and Isodorus , eyther of them bothe Named me thus to name , now thou might chese How thou couetist to cal me , now thou knowst al mi names Anima pro diuersis actionibus , diuersa nomina sortitur , dum viuificat corpus , anima est , dum vult animus est , dum scit mens est , dum recolit me noria est , dum iudicat ratio est , dum sentit sensus est , dum amat amor est , dum negat , vel consentit , x est , dum spirat spiritus est . Ye bene as a byshop quod I , all bourding that tyme For bishops iblessed , Bishops haue many names they beare many names Presal and Pontifex , and metro politanus And other names an hepe , Episcopus and Pastor . That is soth sayd he , now I sethy wyll Thou woldest know & ken , the cause of al their names And of mine if thou mightest , me thinke by thi speach Yea sir I sayde , by so no man were greued All the sciences vnder sunne , and all the suttel crafte I wold I knew and coud , kindly in mine herte Than arte thou imperfit ꝙ he , and one of prids knightes For such a lust and liking , Lucyfer fel from heauen ●sal . xiiii Ponam pedem in aquilone , et similis ero altissimo . It were agaynst kind quod he , and kinnes reason That anye creature shuld kenne all , except Christ one Agayne suche Solomon speaketh , & dispiseth her wis And saith Sicut qui mel comedet multum , non est ei bonum . Pro. xxv . Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria That is to mean to english men , that mowen speke & hear The man that much honie eateth , his maw is englemed And the more that a man , of good matter heareth But he do therfore , it doeth him double scathe Beatus est sayeth saint Barnarde , qui scripturam legit . Et verba vertit in opera , fully to hys power Couetise to kenne , and to knowe science Putte out of Paradise , Adam and Eue. Scientie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloria spoliauit . And right as honi is euel to defy , & englimeth the maw Right so he that through reason , wold that rote knowe Of God & of his great mights , hys graces it letteth For in the liking lyeth a prid , and likames couetyse Against Christs counsel , and al clerkes teaching That is . Non plus sapere quam oportet , Rom. xii . Friers & fel other masters , that to the lewd men preachen Mouen matters inmesurable , to tel of the Trynytie That oftimes the lewd people , of their beliefe douten Better to leaue were many docters , Prechers dutye . such teching And tel men of x. commaundements , & touchē the seuen synis And of the branches that budde of them , & bringen men to Hell And how that folke in folies , mispend theyr fiue wittes As wel friers as other folke , folish spenen In housing in hatering , & in to high clergie shewing More for pompe them for pure charitie , the peple wote the soth That I lye not so , for lords they pleasen And reuerencen the rich , the rather for their siluer . Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia . Et alibi , Psal. 117. vt quid diligitis vanitatem et queritis mendatium ? Go to the glose of the verse , ye greate Clarkes If I lye on you to mi lewed wit , lead me to brenning For as it semeth ye forsake , no mans almes Of vsurers of whores , of auarous chapmen And louten to these lordes , that maye lene you nobles , Again your rule and religion , I take record at Iesus Mat. xx . That said to his disciples Ne sitis personatum acceptores Of thys matter I might , make a longe byble And of curats of christen peple , as clerks bear witnes I shal tellen it for truths sake , take hede who so lykith As holines & honesty , out of holy church spredith , Through lelly leuing men , that Gods lawe teachen Ryght so out of holy church , al euels spredith Ther imperfit presthode is , Prechers muste do as they preach prechers and techers I se it by ensample , in sommer time on trees There some bowes bene leaued , and some beat none There is a mischefe in the more , of such maner bowes Right so of parsons & priests , & prechers of holy kyrke That are roote of the right fayth , to rule the people And there the rote is rotten , reason wote the soth Sall neuer floure ne fruite , ne fayre lefe be grene Therfore wold ye letred men , leaue that lechert of clothing And be kind as befel for clarkes , & curteis of Christs goodes True of your tonge , and of your tayle both And hate to heare harlotrye , and not to vnderfonge Tythes but of true thinge , tilied or chaffered Lothe were lewde men , but they your lore folowed And amenden hem that misdone , more for your ensamples Then to preach and proue it not , hypocrisie it semeth For hypocrisie in latine , is likened to a dunghyll That were beshewed with snowe , and snakes within Or to a wal that were whitlimed without , & foule within Ryght so m●nye priestes , preachers and prelates Are enblaunched with Belperopis , & wyth clothes also And your works & your words , therunder are ful vnlouely Iohn Chrisostome of clarks spekth & priests Sicat de templo omne bonum progreditur sic de templo omne masum procedit . Si sacerdotium incorruptum fuerit : Chrysostomus tota sloret ecclesia . Si autem corruptum fuerit : omnium fides marci dae● . Si sacerdotrū fuerit in peccatis : tot●s populus conuertetat a● peccatum . Sicat cum videris arborem pa●dam et marridam intelliges quod vicium hader , in radice : Ita cum videris populum in disciplinatum et irreligiosum , sine dubio sacerdotium eius non est samum . If lewde men wist , what this laten meaneth And who was mine auctour , much wonder me thinke But if mani prists bear for hir bastards & her brochis A payre of bedes in their hands , & a boke vnder their arme Sir Iohn & sir Ieffery , hath a girdle of siluer A baselard or a ballocke knife , with bottons ouergilt And a portus that shuld be his plow , Place vo to synge Had he neuer seruice to saue siluer therto , seith it with idle wil Alas ye lewd men , much lese ye on priests And a thing that wickedly is won , Euil gotten euyl spent & with false sleights Wold neuer wit of witty God , but wickid men it had The which ar priests imperfit , & prechers after siluer That with gile is gotten , vngraciously is spended Executors & sodemes , samoners & their lemmans , So harlots and hoores , are holpen with such goods And Gods folks for defaute therof , for farē & spill Curatours of holy kyrke , as clerkes that ben auarous Lightly that they leauen , losels it habbeth Or dieth intestat , and the bishop entreth And makith mirth thermidde , and his men bothe And siggen he was an nigard , that no good might spare To frend ne to fremid , the fende haue his soule For a wretched house he hyled , all his lyfe time And that he sparid and bisperid , spende we in mirth By learned and by lewde , that loth is to spend Thus gone their goods , be the gost faren And for good men God wot , great dole men maken And be meaneth good meatgeuers , & in mind haueth In prayers , and in penaunce , and in perfit charitie . What is charitie ꝙ I tho ? A childish thing he sayd . Mata . 18 , Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli non intrabitis regnum celorum Wythout fauteltie or tolie , fre liberall will , Wher shuld men finde such a frind , with so fre a hert ? I haue lyued in londe ꝙ I , my name is long Wyll And founde I neuer full charitie , before ne behynde Men be merciable to mendinauntes , and to pore And wollen lene there they leue , lelly to be payed Chariti that Poul praisith best , Rom. xiii most plesing to our God Is Non inflatur , non est ambitiosa , non querit que sua sunt . I se neuer such a man , so god me helpe That he ne wold aske after hys , & other whyle couet Thynge that neded hym not , & nyme it if he myght , Clarkes kenne me that Christ , is in all places And I se hi neuer sothly , but as mi selfe in a myrror In enigmate , i. Cor. xiii tunc farie ad faciem . And so I trowe trulye , by that men sell of charitie It is not champions syght , ne chaffer as I trowe Charitie ꝙ he chaffreth not , ne chalengeth ne craueth As proude of a peny , as of a pounde of golde And is as glade , of a gowne of graye russet As of a tunicle of tars , or of tried scarlet He is glad with all glade , and good to all wicked And leueth and loueth , all that our lorde made Curseth no creature , ne he can beare no wrath Ne no likynge hath to lye , ne laughe men to skorne All that men same he lete it soth , & in solace taketh And all maner mischiefe , in mildnes he suffeeth Coueteth he no earthly good , but heauen lich blisse Hath he any rentes or ryches , ne retcheth he neuer For a frend that findeth him , faileth hym neuer at nede Fiat voluntas tua , fyndeth hym euermore And if he soupe , he eateth but a soupe of Spera in deo , He can portrey wel the Pater noster , Goyn●● on pilgrimage & paint it with pytye And other while he is wonne , to wead on pilgimage Ther pore men & prisoners liggen , her pardon to haue Though he bear hem no bread , he beareth sweter fode Loueth hem as our Lord bade , & loketh how they fare And when he is wery of the worke , than woll he sometyme Labour in lauendrye , well the length of a myle And yarne into youth , and yepely speake Pryde with all th appertenaunces , pake hem togithers And boken hem at his breste , and beate hem cleane And liggen on longe , wyth Laboraui in gemitu meo , And with warne water at hys eyen , washen hem after And than he syngeth , whan he doeth so And sometyme sayeth wepynge Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies Bi Christ I wold I knew him ꝙ I , Psal. ii no creature leuer Wythout the helpe of Pierce plow man quod he , hys person seest thou neuer . Where clarkes know him ꝙ I , that kepen holy kyrke ? Clarks haue no knowing ꝙ he , but vi works & word And Pierce the plowman , perceiueth more depely What is the wil & wherfore that many wyght suffreth Et vidit cogitationes eorum . Luke . ●● For there are ful proude herted men , patient of tong And buxome as of beringe , to burgesis & to lordes And to pore people , haue pepper in the nose And as a Lyon he loketh , there men lacke his works Former are veggers & bidders , bedemen as it were Loken as lambren , and semen liue holye , And it is more to haue her meat , with such a easi maner Then for penaunce or perfitnes , that pouert that such taketh Therfore by colour ne by cleargy , know shalt thou neuer Nether through works or words , but through will one And that knoweth no clarke , ne creature on earth But Pierce the plowman Petrus id est Christus For he is not with lesels , ne with landlippers hermets Ne with ancres there a boxe hangeth , al such they faiten Fye on Faytors , and Infautores suos , For charitie is gods champion , Of charitie . & as a good child hende And the meriest of mouth , at meate where he setteth The loue that lieth in his hert , maketh him light of spech And is compaignable and confortatiue , as Christ byd him selfe Nolite fieri sicut hypocrite tristes . For I haue sene him in sylke , Mat. vi . & sometime in russet Both in graye and in gryse , and in a gylt harneys And as gladly he it gaue , to gommes that it neded Edmunde and Edward , eyther were kynges And famies set , for charitye hem folowed I haue sene charitie also syngyng and reding Ryding and runnyng , in ragged weedes And bydden as beggers , behelde I hym neuer And in ryche robes , rachest he walketh Called and Crimised , and his crowne shauen And in a Fryers froke , he was found once And it is ferne ago , in saynt Frances time In that seet syth , to selde hath he be knowen Riche men he recommendeth , & of their robes taketh That withouten wiles , ledeth her lyues Beatus est diues qui. &c. In kings court he cometh oft , ther the counsel is true And if couetis be of counsell , What company charitie haunteth , he wil not come therin In court amonges tapers , he commeth not but selde For brauling & backbiting , and bearing false wytnes In the cōsistori before the comissari , he cometh not ful oft For their law dureth ouerlong , but if they lachē siluer And matrimony for money , maken and vnmaken And that conscience and Christ , hath knite fast They vndone it vnworthely , the docters of law And I ne lacke no lyue , but lorde amend vs all And geue vs grace good God , charitie to folowe For who so might mete with him such maners him aileth Neither he blameth ne banneth , bosteth ne prayseth Lacketh he ne loseth , ne loketh vp sterne Craueth ne couetith , ne crieth after more In pace in idipsum dormiam et requiescam . The most liuelode he liuith by , Psal. xii● , is loue in gods passion Nether he biddeth ne beggeth , ne boroweth to yelde , Misdoth he no man , ne with his mouth greueth Amongest christen men , this mildnes shuld last In al maner angers , haue this in herte That though he suffered all this , God sufferid for vs more In example we shuld do so , & taken no vengeaunce Of our foes that done vs falsenes , that is our fathers will For wel may eueri man wit , if god had wold him selfe Shuld neuer Iudas ne Iew , haue Iesu done on rode Ne haue martrid Peter ne Paule , ne in prison holden And he suffred in example , that we shulde suffre also And said to such that suffre wold , that Patientes vincunt Verbi gracia , quod he , and verye examples many The Legend of say rites , beleue it if ye luste . In Legenda sanctorum , the lyfe of holye sayntes What penaunce and pouertye , & passion they suffred In honger in heate , in all maner angers Antonye and Egedye , and other holye fathers Wendynge in wyldernes , amonge wyld beastes Monkes and mendinauntes , men by hem selfe In spekes and spelunkes , seldom speken togyders And neyther Antony nor Egedi , ne hermite that tyme Of Lyons ne of Leopardes , no lyuelode to take But of fowles that flyeth , this finden men in bokes Excepte that Egedi , after an hynde cried And throughe the milke of that mylde beast , the man was susteyned . And day by day had neuer nought , his honger to slake But selde & sundry tymes , as sayth the boke & teacheth Antonye eche a daye , aboute none time Had a byrd that brought hym bread , that he by liued And though the gome had a gest , God found hem both Poule primus heremita , had proroked hym selfe That no man myght him se , for mosse and for leaues Fowles hem fedde , fell wynters wythall Tyll he founded Fryers , of Austens order Poule after hys preachinge , paniers he made And wonne wyth his hands , that hys wombe neded Peter fyshed for hys fode , and hys felowe Andrewe Some they sold & some they soth , & so thei liued both And also Mary magdalen , by moores liued & dewes And most through deuotion , & mind of god almighty I shoulde not these seuen dayes , seggen hem all That liued thus for our lords loue , many long yeres And ther ne was Lyon ne Leopard , that on lands went Neyther bear ne bore , ne other beastes wilde That ne fell to their fete , & fawned with their tales And if they could haue carped , by Christ as I trowe They wold haue fed that folke , before wyld fowles And God sent them foode by foules , & by no fierse bestes In meanyng that meke thinge , mild thinge shuld fede As who say religious , A leson for them that take be●●tices at wycked men hande . ryghtfull men should fynde And lawfull men to lyfe holy men , lyuelode bryng And than would Lordes and ladies , be loth to a gilte And to take of her tenauntes , more than truth would Found they that Friers would , forsake her almes And bidden hem beare it , there it was borowed For we bene gods foles , and abiden alwaye Tyll byrdes brynge vs , that we shoulde liue by For had ye potage & pane inough , & peniale to drinke And a mes there a mid , of one maner kynde Ye had right inough ye religious , so your rule me told Nunquid ( dicit Iob ) rugit Onager cum herbam habuerit . Aut mugiet bos , cum ante plenum presepe steterit . Iob. v● . Brutorum animalium natura te cōdēpnat , quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficit , ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua . If lewde men knew this laten , thei wold loke whom they geue And aduice hem before , a fiue dayes or syxe Ere they amortised to monkes , or chanons her rents Alas Lordes and Ladies , lewde counsel haue ye To gyue from your heyres , that your elders you left And gyue it to bydde for you , to such as ben ryche And ben founden and fedde eke , to bydde for other Who perfourmeth this prophecy , of the people that nowe liueth ? Dispersit dedit pauperibus . Psal. iii If any people performe the text , it are these pore friers For that they begge about , in building they spende it And on hem selfe some , and such as been her labourers And of hem that haue not they take , & geueth hem that hath And clarkes & knightes , and communers that ben rych Fell of you fareth , as if I a foreste hadde That were full of fayre trees , and I found a caste Howe I myght mo therein , amonge hem sette Ryght so ye ryche , ye robbe that ben ryche And helpeth hem that helpe you , & geueth there no nede is As who so fylleth a tunne , of a freshe ryuer Caste water into temes . And went forth with that water , to woke with Camise Ryghte so ye ryche , ye robbe and feede Hem that haue as ye haue , hem ye make at ease And religious that rych ben , shold rather fest begers Then Burgesis that rych bene , as the boke telleth . Quia sacrilegium est tes pauperum non pauperibus dare Item peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare Item Monache , si indiges et accipis potius das quam accipis Si autem non indiges et accipis , rapis . Porro non Indiget Monachus , si habeat quod nature sufficit . Therfore I counsel al christen , to confirme hem to charitie For charitie without chalengyng , vnchargeth the soule And mani prisoners bi his praier , he pulleth from paine And there is a defaut in the folke , that the fayth kepeth Wherfore folke is the febler , and not firme of beleue As in Lushburth is a luther alay , yet loketh like sterling The marke of the money is good , & the metel feble So fareth it bi some folke now , they haue a fair spech Crowne and christendome , the kings marke of heuen And the metel that is mans soule , with sinne is foule alaied Both lettred and lewde , ben arayed now with synne That no lyfe loueth other , ne oure Lorde as it semeth For by war & wicked works , & weders vnseasonable Wether wyshyppers , and wyttye clarkes also Haue no beleue to the list , ne to the lore of Philosophers Astronomers all daye , in her arte faylen That whilome warned before , what shold fall after Shipmen & shepeheardes , that with shyp & shepe wenten Wyshen by the welken , what shoulde betide As of weders and wyndes , Al is our of frame they warned men oft Tyllers that tylled the earth , tolde her maisters By the seede that they sewe , what they sell myghte And what to leaue & what to lyue by , the land was so true Now faileth the folk of the floud , & of the land both Sepeheardes and shypmen , and so do these tyllers Nether they canneth ne knoweth , one cours before another Astronomers also , are at her wyttes ende Of that was calculed of th elemēt , the contrary they fynd Grammer the ground of al , begileth now the children For it is non of these new clarks , who so nimeth hede Not one among an hundred , that an auter can construe Ne read a letter in ani langage , but in latine or english Go nowe to any degree , and but if gyle be maister And flatterer his felow , vnder hym to fourmen Mache wonder me thynketh , amonge vs all Doctours of degrees , and of diuinitie maisters That shoulde kenne and knowe , all kynnes cleargye And answer to argumentes , and also to a Quod libet . I dare not say it for shame , if suche were apposed They should fayle of hir philosophy , & phisike both Therfore I am afrayed , of folke of holye kyrke Lest thei ouerhipē as other done , in officis & in hours And if they ouerhip as I hope not , our belefe suffreth As clarkes in Corpus Christi feast , singen and readen That Sola fides sufficit , to saue wyth lewde people And so may Saracines be saued , scribes and Iewes Alas than but oure lores men , lyued as they serue vs And for her liuyng the lewde men be , the lother god agylt For Saracines haue somwhat , seming to our beleue For they loue and beleue , one god almyghtye And we lerned and lewed , in one god beleue . The beginnyng of Mahomets law And one Mahomet a man , in misbeleue brought Saracines of Surrey , and se in what maner . At the first he was christen , & for he might not be pope Into Surrey he sought , & throughe hys sottle wyts Daunted a doue , and daye and nyght her fed The corne that she cropped , he cast in his eare And if he among the puple preched , or in places come Than woulde the Culuer come , to the clarkes eare Mening as after meat , thus Mahomet her enchaunted Than did folk fal on knees , for he swore in his preching That the Culuer that came so , came from god of heuen As messenger to Mahomet , men for to teach And thus through wyles of his wyt , & a whit doue Mahomet in misbeleue , men and women brought That liued tho ther and lyuen yet , leuing on his lawes And sith our sauiour suffred , the Saracenes so begiled Through a christen clarke , accursed in hys soule For dread of death , I dare not tell truth How englishe clarkes a Culuer fede , the couetise hyte And ben manered of Mahomet , that no man vseth truth Ancres and hermets , monkes and friers Peren to Apostles , through her perfit liuynge Wold neuer the faithfull father , that his ministers shold Of tyrantes that teneth true men , take any almes But done as Anthony did , Dominike & Frauncis Benet and Barnarde , the which hem first taught To lyue by litle & in low houses , by lelly mens almes Grasse should grow and be grene , through her good liuing And folkes shold find that ben in diuers sikenes The better for her byddynges , in bodye and in soule Their prayers & their penaunces , to peace shold bryng All that ben at debate , and bedmen were true . Petite et accipietis . &c. Luke . ●● . Salte saueth cattell , sayeth these wyues . Vos estis sal terre . Math. ●● . The heades of holye churche , and they holy were Christe calleth hem salte , for Christen soules . Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur . For freshe fleshe other fyshe , when it salt fayleth It is vnsauerye forsothe , sodde or baked So is mans soule sothly , that seeth no good exemple Of hem of holy kyrke , that the hygh waye should teache And be gyde and go before , as a good rauenour And harden hem that behind ben , & giue hem good euidence A leuen holye men , all the world turned Into lellye beleue , The Apostles turned al the worlde to the fayth , the lyghtloker me thyncketh Should al maner of men , we haue so many maisters Priestes and preachers , and a Pope aboue That Gods salte should be , to saue mans soule All was Heathennes sometyme , England & Wales Tyll Gregory gard clarkes , to go here and preach Austen at Canturburye , christened the kynge And bi miracles as men mai rede , al the marsh he turnid To Christ and to christendome , & crosse to honour And fulled folke faste , and the fayeth taught More through myracles , than through much preching As wel through workes , as through his holi words And sayd hem what fullinge , and faith was to meane Cloth that cometh from the weuyng , is not comely to wear Til it be fulled vnder fote , or in fulling stocks Washen well with water , and with tasels cratched Touked and teynted , and vnder taylors hand And so it fareth by a barne , that borne is of a wombe Tyll the chyld be instructed in Christ it is but as a wilde beaste Til it be christned in christs name , confirmed of bishop It is hethen as to heuēward , & helples to the soule Hethen is to meane , after heath and vntilled earth As in wilde wildernes , waxeth wilde beastes Rude and vnreasonable , runnyng without cropers Ye menen wel how Mathew sayth , how a man made a feaste He fed hem with no venison , ne fesauntes baked But with fowls that from him nold , but folowed his whistlynge Math. xx Ecce altilia mea , et omnia parata sunt . And with calues fleshe he fedde , the folke that he loued The calfe betokeneth clennes , in hem that kepeth lawes For as the cow through kind milke , the calfe nourisheth til an oxe So loue & leauty , lelly men susteyneth And maydens and mylde men , mercy desieren . Ryght as the cowe calfe , coueteth swete milke So done rightfull men , mercye and trueth And who so that excuseth hem , that ar persons & priestes That heneds of holy kyrke been , that haue her wil here Without trauel the tith deale , that true men biswinkē Thei wold wroth for I write this , & to witnes take Both Mathew & Marke , and Memento domine dauid What pope or prelat now , performeth the christ hight Ire in vniuersum mundum , et predicate euangelium . Mat. xvi Alas that men so longe , on Makometh should beleue So many prelates to preache , as the Pope maketh Of Nazareth of Niniue , of Nepthalim & Damasco That they ne went as Christ wysheth , sithen they wyl haue name To be pastour and preache , the passion of Iesus And as hem selfe sayde , so to lyue and dye . Bonus pastor animam suam ponit . &c. Iohn . x. And sayde it in saluation , to Saracines and other For christen and vnchristen , Christ sayde to preachers Ite vos in vineam meam . Math. xx And syth that these Saracines , scribes and Iewes Haue a lyppe of oure beleue , the lyghlier me thynketh They should turne who so traueiled , to teach hem of the trinitye Querite et inuenietis . Mat. vii &c. It is ruth to reade , howe ryghtwyse men lyued Howe they defowled her fleshe , forsoke her owne wil Farre fro kyth and from kynne ill clothed yeden Badlye bedded , no boke but Conscience . Ne no ryches but the rode , to reioyce hem therin Absit vos gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri . &c. Galat. vi And tho was plenty and peace , among pore and rych And nowe is ruth to read , how the redde noble Is reuerenced ere the rode , How couetise of the cleargy wyll destroy the church . & receiued for the worthier Then Christes crosse , that ouercame death & deadly syn And nowe is warre and wo , and who so why asketh For couetise after crosse , the crowne standes in golde Boeth ryche and religious , that rode they honoure That in grotes is grauen , and in nobles For couetous of that crosse , men of holye kyrke Shal turne as templars did , the time approcheth nere Wyt ye not ye wyse men , howe tho men honored More treasure then trouth , I dare not tell the soth Reason and ryghtfull dome , the religious demed Ryght so you clarkes , for your couetise ere longe Shal they deme Dos ecclesie , and your pride depose . De posuit potentes de sede . Luke . ● . &c. If knyghthode and kyndwyt , An admonicion to the cleargy & commune by conscience to gyther loue lelly , leueth it well ye byshoppes The lordshyps of landes , for euer shall ye lese And lyue as Louitiei , as our Lorde you teacheth Per primitias et decimas . &c. Whan Constantyne of curtesy , Deut. 18. Nume . v. holy kyrke dowed With landes , and leades , lordshyps and rentes An angell men harden on hyghe at Rome crye Dos ecclesie , thys day hath dronke venyme And they that haue Peters power , are poysoned al A medicine muste therto , that may amend prelates That should praye for peace , possession hem letteth Take her landes ye lordes , A medicyne for the Cleargye & let hem lyue by decimus If possession be poyson , and imperfit hem make Good were it to discharge hem , for holy kyrke sake And purge hem of poyson , ere more peryl fal . If priesthode were perfect , the people should amende That contrarien Christes law , & christendome despise For al Paynymes prayeth , and perfectly beleueth In the holy great god , and his grace they asken And make her mone to Makomet , her message to she we Thus in fayth lyue that folke , & in a false meane And that is ruth of ryghtfull men , that in realme wonneth And a peril of the Pope , and prelates that he maketh That bear bishops names , of Bethlem , & of Babilon That hip about in Englande , to hallow mens aulters And crepen among curatours , confessen againe the law Nolite mittere falcem , in messem alienam . Mani a man for christes loue , Bishops . dutye . was martyred in Rome Ere any christendome was knowne ther , or any crosse honored Eueri bishop that bereth cros , bi the he is holden Through his prouince to passe , & to his puple to shew Tellen hem and teachen hem , on the trinitie to beleue And feden hem with gostly fode , & gyue there it neadeth . In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum . Esai . iii. Et ideo nolite , constituere me regem . Malachias sayth for suche , as sycke be and feble . Inferte omnes decimas in horreum meum , Mal. iii. vt sit cibus in domo mea . And we christian creatures , that on the crosse beleuen Are fyrme in the fayeth , god forbode els And haue clarkes to kepe vs therin , & hem the come after And Iues liuen in lelly loue , our lord wrote it him selfe In stone for it stedfast was , and stande shal euer Dilige deum et prorimum , is perfite Iewes lawe And toke it to Moyses to teach men , til Messias came And on that lawe they leue yet , and leten it the best And yet knewe they Christ , that christendome taught For a perfite prophete , that muche people saued Of selkougth sores , they sawe it ofte Both of miracles & meruels , & howe he men feasted Wyth two fishes & fiue loues , fyue thousande people And by the mangerye men might se , the Messias he semed And when he lift vp Lazar , that layed was in graue And vnder stone & stanke , with styfe voyce him called . Lazare veni foras . Iohn . xi . Dyd hym ryse and roome , right before the Iewes And they sayd and swore , with sorcery he wrought And studyed to destroye him , and stroyed hem selues And throughe his patience , her powre to naughte he broughte . Vincunt patientes . Daniell of her doynge , diuined and sayde . Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat , cessabit vnctio bestra . And wenen the wretches , the he were pseudo propheta And that hys lore be leasynges , and lacken it all And hopen that he be to come , that shall hem releue Moses eft or Messie , her maisters yet diuineth And Phariseis and Sarasins , Scribes & Grekes Are folke of one fayth , the father god they honouren And sithen that the Sarasines , and also the Iewes Konne the fyrste clause of our beleue Credo in deum Prelates of christen prouincis , shold preue if thei might To learne hem litle & litle , Et in Iesum christum filium , Tyl they could speake and spel , Et in spiritum sanctum And reade it and record it with remissionem peccatorum . Carnis resurrectionem et vitam eternam amen .

Passus .xvi. et primus de dobet . NOwe fayre fal you ꝙ I tho , for youre fayre shewyng : For Hankins loue the actyue manne , euer I shall you loue . And yet I am in a were , what charitie is to meane It is a full tried tree quod he , truly to tell Mercy is the moore therof , the middle stocke is ruth The leaues ben lelly wordes , A discription of charitie . the lawe of holy kirke The blossomes ben buxome speach , & vening loking Patience hight the pure tre , and pure simple of hert And so through god & good men , groweth the frute charitie I wold trauel ꝙ I this tre to se .xx. C. myle And to haue my fyl of the frute , forsake all other salue Lorde ꝙ I if any wight wit , whither out it groweth It groweth in a garden ꝙ he , the god made him selfe . Amids mans bodye , the moore is of that stocke Herte hyght the herboure , that it in groweth And Liberum arbitrium , hath the land to farme Vnder Piers the plowman , to picke it & to wede it Pierce the Plowman ꝙ I tho , & al for pure ioye That I hard nempe hys name , an on I swoned after And lay longe in a loue dreame , & at last me thought That Pierce the Plowman , all the place me shewed And vade me to totre on the tree , on toppe & on rote With .iii. piles was it vnderpight , I perceiued it sone Pierce ꝙ I , I praye the , why stond these piles here ? For wyndes , wylt thou wyt ꝙ he , to wyten it from falling Cum reciderit iustus , non collidetur , quia dominus supponit manum suam . Psal. 37. In blowing rune bite the flours , but if thes piles help The world is a wicked wind , to hem that wil trouth Couetise comith of the wind , & crepith among the leues And forfretith nigh the fruit , through mani faire sights Than with the first pile , I pale him down , the is Potentia Dei Patris The flesh is a fel wynde & in flouryng tyme Through liking and lustes , so loud ginneth to blow That it nourisheth nye sightes , & sometime words And wicked workes thereof , wormes of synne And forbyteth the blosomes , euen to the bare leaues Than set I to the seconde pyle , Sapientia dei patris . That is the passion and the power , of our prince Iesu Through prayers & throughe penaunce , gods passion in mynde I saue it til I se it ripen , & some dele fruted And than fondeth the fend , my frute to destroye Wyth al the wyles that he can , & waggeth the rote And casteth vp the crompe , vnkynde neyghbours Backbyters breake the chest , brawlers & chiders And leyth a ladder therto , of lesynges are the roundes And fetch away my flours , sontime afore both myne eies And Liberum arbitrium , letteth hem sometime , That is leuetenaunt to lokē it wel , bileaue of my self Vidiatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remitterur . Hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repurgatur And whan the fend & the flesh , Mat. xii . forth with the world Manacen behinde me , Pierces ●efence my fruite for to fetche Than liberum arbitrium , latcheth the first plante And palleth adoune the pouke , purely through grace And helpe of the holy ghost , & thus haue I the mastrie Now fayre fall you Piers ꝙ I , so fayre ye descriuen The power of these postes , and their propre might And I haue thought a threwe , of thes thre poles In what wood thei wopen , & where that they growed For all are they a lyke long , none lesse than other And to mimid as me thinketh , on a more thei growed And of one greatnes , and grene of greyne they semen That is so the quod Pierce , so it maye befall I shall tell the as tyte , what thys tree hyght The grounde there it groweth , goodnes it hyght And I haue told the what hight the tre , The tre & the frutes thereof . the trinity it meaneth And egerly he loked on me , & therfore I spared To aske him any more therfore , & bade him ful fayre To descriue the frute , that so fayre hangeth Here nowe beneth quod he tho , if I nede had Matrimonye I maye name , a moyst fruite wythall Then continence is here the crop , as caile way bastard Then beareth the crop kind fruite , and clennest of all Maydenhode angels pere , and rathest wyll be rype And swete without swellynge , soure worth it neuer I prayed Pierce to pull downe , an apple if he would And suffer me to assaye , what sauour it had And Piers cast to the crop , & than comsed it to crye And wagged widowhead , and it wept after And when it meued Matrimony , it made a full noyse I had ruth when Piers ragged , it grad of ruthfullye For euer as they dropped downe , the deuel was ready And gathered them altogyther , both great and small Adam and Abraham , and Esai the prophete Sampson Samuell , and saynt Iohn Baptist Bare hem forth boldlye , no bodye him let And made of holy men hys hoorde , In limbo inferm . There is darckenes and dread , and the deuyll maister And Pierce of pure tene , of that apple caught He hytte ofte at hym , hytte if he myght Filius , by the fathers wyll , & frenes of Spiritus sancti , To go rob that ragman , & reue the fruite from hym And speake Spiritus sanctus , in Gabriels mouth To a maid that hight Mary , a meke thinge wythall That one Iesu a iustice sonne , must tōken in her wombe Tyll Plenitudo temporis , full ye commen were That Pierces fruite floured , and fyll to rype And Iesus shold iust therfore , by iudgement of armes Whether shold fonge the fruite , the fende or him selfe The mayde myldelye tho , the messenger greted Add sayde hendelye to hym , lo me his handmayden For to worke hys wyll , wythout any synne . Ecce ancilla domini , fiat mihi . Luke . ● . &c. And in the wombe of the wench , was he fortye wekes Tyll he wext a faunt through hir flesh , & of fyghtyng could To haue fought with the fend , ere ful time came And Pierce the Plowman , perceyued plener time And learned him lechcrafte , hys lyfe for to saue That woundid with his enmy , he might warish him selfe And did him assay his surgery , on hem that sick were Tyll he was perfite practiser , if any daunger fell And soughte oute the sycke and synfull boeth And salued sycke and synfull , doth blynde and croked And commen women conuerted , and to good turned Non est sanis opus medico . &c. Both mesels and mute , and in the menison bloudye Ofte he healed suche , he ne helde it for no maistrye Saue tho he healed Lazar , that had laye in graue Iohn . xi . Quatriduanas , Quelte quycke did hym wake And as he made the mastrye , Messus cepit esse . And wept water wyth his eyen , ther seighen it many Some that the syght syghen , sayde that tyme That he was leche of lyfe , and lorde of hyghe heuen Iewes iangled there agayne , and iudged lawes And said he wrought through witchcraft , & with the deuils might Ioh. viii Demonium habes . Then are ye cherls quod I , and your children both And Satan your sauiour , your selfe now ye wytnes For I haue saued your selfe saith Christ , & your sons after Your bodies , your beastes , & blind men holpen And fedde you with two fyshes , and with fiue loues And left baskets ful of broken meat , bear awai that wold And missayd the Iewes manly , & manaced hem to beat And knocked on hem with a cord , & cast downe hir stals That in churche chafferden , or chaunge den any money And sayde it in syght of hem all , so that all hearden I shall ouerturne thys temple , and downe throwe And in three dayes after , edifye it newe And make it as much or more , in all maner poyntes As euer it was and as wyde , & therfore I hote you Of prayers and of perfitnes , thys place that ye call . Mat. xxi . Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur . Enuye and euyll wyll , was in the Iewes They casten & contriueden , to kil him when they might Eche day after other , her tyme they awayted Tyll it befell on a Fridaye , a lyttle before paske The thursedaye before , there he made hys maundye Syttynge at the supper , he sayde these wordes I am solde throughe one of you , he shall the tyme rue That euer he his sauiour sold , for syluer or els . Iudas iangled theragaynst , and Iesus him tolde It was him selfe sothlye , and sayde Iudicis , Than went forth that wicked man , The maner of Iudas ●●trayng 〈◊〉 vsed & with the Iewes met And told them a token , howe to knowe Iesus And whyche token to thys daye , to muche is vsed That is kissing & fayre countenaunce , and vnkynd wil And so was wyth Iudas tho , that Iesus betraied Aue rav by quod that ribaude , & ryght to him he yede And kyst hym to be caught therby , killed of the Iewes Then Iesus to Iudas , and to the Iewes sayd Falsenes I fynde , in thy fayre speache And gile in thy glad chere , and gall in thy laughynge Thou shalte be mirroure to manye , men to deceyue And thy worke & wickednes , shal worth vpon thi selfe . Necesse est vt veniant scandala , Mat. ●● . ve tamen homini illi per quem scandalum venit . Thoughe I by treason , be at your owne wyl Suffer myne apostles , in peace and in paise gauge On a thursedaye in the sterns , thus was he take Throughe Iudas and Iewes , Iesus was his name That on the Friday folowynge , for mankindes sake Iusted in Ierusalem , a ioye to vs all On crosse vpon caluerye , Christe toke the battel Against death & the deuil , destroyed both her mights Dyed and death fordyd , and daye of nyght made And I awaked therwyth , and wyped myne eyen And after Pierce the plowman , pried and stared Eastwarde and westwarde , I wayted after fast And yede forth as an Idiote , in countrey to espye After Pierce the Ploweman , many a place I sought And than met I wyth a man , on Mydlenten sondaye As hore as an Hauthorne , and Abraham he hyght I frayned him firste , from whence he came And from whence he were , & whither that he thought I am Fayth quod that freke , it falleth not to lye And of Abrahams house , an heraude of armes I seke after a segge , that I see once A full bolde bachiler , I knowe hym by hys blasen What beareth that burne ꝙ I tho , so blishe the betide A discription of the trinitiei . Thre leodes on a lyth , none lenger then other Of one mikell and one myght , in measure & in lengthe That one doth all doth , and eche doth by hys owne The first hath might & maiestie , maker of al thynges Pater is his propre name , a person by hym selfe The seconde of that syre is , sothfastnes Filius Warden of that wyt hath , was euer without gynninge . The thirde hyght the holy gost , a person by him selfe The lyght of all that lyfe hath , on land and on water Confortour of creatures , of hym cometh all blyshe So thre belongeth for a lord , that lordshyp claymeth Myght , and a mene , to knowe hys myght Of him & of his seruaunt , and what they suffer boeth So God that gynnynge had neuer , but tho him good thought Sent forth his sonne , as for seruaunt the time To occupye hym here , tyll issue were spronge That is children of charity , & holy kyrke the mother Patriarkes & prophetes , & apostles were the children And Christ and christendome , and christen holy kyrke In meanynge that man must , in one God beleue And there him liked & loued , in .iii. persons him shewed Wedlocke and widowhead , with virginitie nempned In to kenninge of the trinitie , was out of man taken Adam our olde father , Eue was of him selfe And the issue that they had , it was of hem both And either is others ioye , in thre sondrye parsones And in heauen and in earth , one singuler name And thus is mankynd or manhode , of matrimony sprong And betokeneth the trinitie , and true beleue . Myghty is matrymonye , and multyplieth the earth And betokeneth truly , tell if I durste Hym that firste formed al , father of heauen The sonne if I durst saye , resembleth wel the wydowe Deus meus deus meus , vt quid dereliquisti me . Psal. xxii That is creator was creature , to know what was both As wydow without wedlocke , was neuer yet se No more might god be man , but if he mother had So widowe without wedlocke , may not wel stonde Ne matrimony without moylerie , is not much to praise Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel . Thus in thre persons , is parfitly manhode That is man and his make , and moiler children And is not but gender of generation , bifore Iesu Christ So is the father forth with the sonne , & fre wil of hem both Spiritus procedens a patre et filio . Whiche is the holy goste of all , and al is but one god Thus in a somer I him se , as I sate in my porche I rose vp and reuerenced him , & right faire him grete Thre men to my sight , I made well at ease Washt her fete & wyped hem , & afterward they eaten Calues fleshe & cake bread , & knewe what I thought Ful true tokens betwene vs been , to tell whan me liketh Fyrst he fonded me , whether I loued better Him or Isaac myne heire , which he hight me to kill He wyst my wyll by hym , he woll me it alowe I am full syker in soule therof , and my sonne boeth Abraham is circumcised . I circumcised my sonne , sithen for hys sake My selfe and my meyny , and all that male were Bled bloud for the lordes loue , & hope to blysse the tyme Mine affiaunce and my fayth , is ferme in this beleue For him selfe behyght to me , & to myne issue both Londe and lordeshyppe , and life wythout ende To me and to myne issue , more yet he me graunted Mercy of our mysdedes , many tymes as we aske , Quam olim Abrahe promisisti , et semini eius . And syth he sent me to sey , I sholde do sacrifice And done him worship with breade , & wyth wine boeth And called me fote of hys faith , his folke for to saue And defend hem from the fende , folke that on me leued Thus haue I ben his Heraude , here and in hell And conforted many a careful , that after his comming waiten And thus I seke him he said , for I heare say late Of a barn that bapsid hym , I. Baptyst was hys name That to patriarkes & to prophetes , & to other people in darknes Said that he se here , that should saue vs al. Iohn . i. Ecce agnus dei . &c. I had wonder of his words , and of his wyde clothes For in his bosome he bare a thing , that he blessed euer And I loked in hys lappe , a Lazare lay therin Among patriarkes and prophetes , pleyinge togiders What awaitest thou ꝙ he , & what wouldest thou haue I would wit ꝙ I tho , what is in your lappe Lo quod he and let me se , lord mercy I said This is a present of mich price , what price shal it haue It is a precyous present ꝙ he , & the pouk hath it atachid And me thermid ꝙ that man , there may no wed me quite Ne no barne be our borow , ne bring vs from his danger Out of the powkes pinfold , no mainprice mai vs fetch Tyl he come that I carpe of , Christ is hys name That shal deliuer vs some day , out of the deuyls powr And better wed for vs ligge , than we be all worthy That is life for life , or lygge thus euer Lollinge in my lappe , til such a lorde vs fetche Alas I said that sinne , so long shall lette The myght of gods mercy , that might vs wel amend I wept for his wordes , with that I saw an other Rapelich renne forth , the ryght way he went I frained hym firste , from whence he came And what he hight , & whether he wold , & wightly he tolde

Passus . xvii . de visione . I Am Spes ꝙ he , and spye after a knyght That toke me a mandement , vpon that mont Synai To rule al realmes with , I beare the wryte here It is ensealed I said , maye men se the letters ? Nay he sayd I seke him that hath the seale to kepe And that is crosse & christendome , & Christ theron to hang And when it is ensealed so , I wot wel the soth Than Lucifers Lordeshyp , shall last no lenger Let vs se the letters ꝙ I , we myght the lawe knowe Than pulled he forth , a pyece of a hard roche Wherin were written these words , on this wyse iglosed Dilige deum , et proximum . &c. Mat. xxii This the text truly , I toke full good yeme The glose was glorious , written with a gylt penne . In hiis duobus mandatis , tota lex peudet et prophete . Be here al the Lordes lawes ꝙ I , yea leue me he said And who so worcheth after this write , I wyl vndertake Shall neuer deuil him dere , ne death in soule greue For thoughe I saye it my selfe , I haue saued with thys charme Of men & women , mani score thousandes He saith sothe said this heraude , I haue it found oft Lo here in my lappe , that leued on that charme Iosue and Iudith , and Iudas Machabeus Yea and .vi. thousand beside forth , that ben not sene here Your wordes are wonderful ꝙ I tho , which of you is truest ? And lelest to leue on , for life and for soule Abraham sayth , that he se wholy the trinitie Abraham saw thre distincte persons in trinity Thre persons in percels , ech departable from other And all thre but one god , thus Abraham me taught And hath saued that beleued so , & sory for her sinnes . I can not suggest , ●●nme , and some are in mi lappe What neded it than , a newe law to beginne ? Sith the first sufficeth , to a saluasion and blysse And now commeth Spes , & speaketh that hath espied the law And telleth not of the triniti , that toke him his letters To beleue and loue , in our Lorde almyghty . And sith right as my selfe , so loue al the people The gome the goth with a staffe , he semeth in greater heal Than he that goth with two slaues , to syght of vs al And ryght so by the rode , reason me sheweth It is lighter to lewd men , one lesson to knowe Than for to teach hem two , & to hard to learne the leste It is full harde for any man , on Abraham beleue And well awaye worse yet , for to loue a shrewe It is lighter to leue , in thre louely persons Than for to loue and leue , as wel lorels as lelly Go thy gate quod I to Spes , for so me god helpe Tho that learne thy lawe wel , litle while vsen it And as we wenten in the way , thus wording togithers Than sewe a Samaritan , syttynge on a mule Rydynge well rapelye , the ryght waye we yeden Cumming from a contrye , men call Iericho To a Iustis at Ierusalem , he chaseth away fast Both the heraude and hope , The man wounded of theues and he met at once Where a man was wounded , and wyth theues taken He myght neither steppe ne stand , ne stirre fote ne hand Ne helpe him self sothly , for Semiuife he semed And as naked as a nedle , & no helpe about him Fayth had first syght of him , and he fle a syde And would not nyghen him , by nine landes length Hope came hipping after , that had so bosted Howe he with Moses maundement , had many men holpen And whan he hadde sight of the segge , a side he gan hym draw Dredfully by this day , as duck doth from faucon And so sone this Samaritan , had sight of this leode He light downe of liard , ladde him in his hand And to the wye he went , his woundes to beholde And perceiued by his pulse , he was in perill to dye And but he had recouer the rather , that rise should he neuer With wine & with oyle , hys woundes he washed Enbaumid him & bound his hed , & in his lap him laid And lad him so forth on liard , to Ler Christi , a graunge Well syxe myles or seuen , besyde the newe market Herberde hym at an hostrye , and to the hostler called And said haue kepe this man , til I come from the iustis And lo here siluer he sayd , for salue for hys woundes And he toke him two pence , for liuelode as it were And said who so spend more , I make it good heraftir For I may not let ꝙ that leode , & liarde he bestrideth And raped hym to Ierusalem , the right way to ryde Fayth folowed after fast , and fonded to meten hym And Spes spaklich hym sped , spede if he myght To ouertake him & talke to him , er he to towne come And whan I se this I soiorned not , but shope me to rem And sewed that Samaritan , that was so ful of pity And graunted him to be his grome , gramercy he said And thy frend and thy felow , thou fyndest me at nede Pierce profereth Christ to be come his seruant And I thanked hym tho , and sythe . I hym tolde How that fayth fle away , and Spes his felow both For sight of the sorowful man , the robbed was with theues Haue hem excused ꝙ he , her helpe may lyttle auayle Ma●●● medicine on molde , the man to heale bryng Neither faith ne fine hope , so festred be his woundes Wythout the bloude of a barne , bore of a mayden And he bathed in that bloud , baptised as it were Than plastered wyth penaunce , & passion of that baby He should stand and step , and stalworth he neuer Tyll he haue eaten all the barne , & his bloud dronken For went neuer wye in thys world through the wyldernes That he ne was robbed or rifled , rode he or yede Saue Fayth and his felowe Spes , and my selfe And thy selfe nowe , and stich as suen our worckes For an outlaw in the woode , & vnder bancke louteth And maye eche man se , and good marke take Who is behynde & who before , & who so been on horse For he halt him hardier on horse , then him that is on fote For he seeth me that am Samaritan , sue faith & his felow On my caple that hyght Caro , of mankynd I toke it He was vnhardy that harlot , and hyd hym in inferno And ere thys daye thre dayes , I dare vndertaken That he worthe fettred that felon , fast wyth chaynes And neuer eft greue gome , that goeth thys ilke gate And then shal faith be foster here , & in thys frith walke And kennen out commen men , that knowen not the contry Whych is the way that I went , & wher forth to Ierusalem And Hope the hostylers man , shal be ther the mālyeth in healing And al the feble & faint be , the faith may not tech Hope shall leade hem forth with loue , as his lore teach And hostell hem & heale , through holy kirkes beleue Tyll I haue salue for al sycke , Of Christes resurrection . & than shall I returne And come agayne by thys contrye , & conforten all sycke That craueth it or coueteth it , and crieth therafter For the barne was borne in Bethlem , that with his blode shal saue Al the liuen in fayth , & folowen his fewlowes teching A swete sir sayd I tho , whether shal I beleue As Fayth and his felow , enfourmed me both In thre persons departable , that perpetual wer euer And all thre but one god , thus Abraham me taught And hope afterward , he bade me to loue One god wyth all my good , and al gomes after Loue hem lyke my selfe , and our lord aboue al. After Abraham quod he , that heraud of armes Set fast thy faythe , and fyrme beleue And as hope hyghe the , I bote the that thou loue Thyne euen christen euermore , euen forth with thy selfe And if conscience carpe ther againe , or kind wyt other Or heritikes with argumentes , thine hande thou him shew For god is after an hand , The triniti lyke an hande here nowe and knowe it The father was first as a fyst , with one fynger foldyng Tyll hym loued and lust , to vnlosen hys fynger And put it forth as with a paum , to what place it shuld The paume is pureli the hand , & proferith forth the figers To minister & to make , the might of hand knowen And betokeneth truly , tell who so lyketh The holy goste of heauen , he is as the pawme The fyngers that free be , to folde , and to serue Betokeneth sothly the sonne , the sent was to the earth That touched and tasted , at teachynge of the pawne Saynte Marye a mayde , and mankind laught . Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto . The father is then as a fyst , wyth fyngers to touch Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum . 〈◊〉 . ●ii . All that the pawme perceyueth , profitable to fele Than are they all but one , as it a hande were And thre sundrye syghtes , in one shewynge The pawme , for he putteth out fingers & fist both Ryght so reddilye , reason it sheweth Howe he that is holye gost , syre and sonne preueth And as the hande holdes harde , and all thynges fast Through four figers & a thombe , forth with the pawme Right so the father & the sonne , & . s . spirite the thyrde Wythin hem three , the wyde worlde holden Boeth the welken and the wynde , water and earth Heauen and hell , and all that therein is Thus it is , nedeth no man trowe none other That thre thynges belongeth , in our lorde of heauen And ar Serples by hem selfe , a sunder were they neuer No more than my hand , may moue without my fyngers And as my fyst is full hande , folden togythers So is the father a full God , former and maker . Tu fabricator omnium . &c. The Trinitye lyke an hand . And al the myght myd him is , in making of al things The fyngers framē a full hand , to purtrey & to paynten Caruynge and compassinge , is craft of the fingers Ryght so is the sonne , the science of the father And full god as is the father , no febler nor no better The paume that is puteli the hand , hath power by him self Other wise than the wrethen fist , or workmanshyp of fingers For the pawme hath power , to put out all the ioyntes And to vnfold the folden fist , at the fingers wyll So is the holy goste god , neither greater ne lesse Than is the syre and the sonne , & in the same myght And al thre but one god , as is mi hand & mi fingers Vnfolden or folden , my fest and my pawme Al is but one hande , howe so euer I turne it And who so is hurte on the hande , euen in the middes He may receyue ryght nought , reason it sheweth For the fingers that folde should , and the fist make For payne of the pawme , power hem fayleth To cratche or to claw , to clype or to holde Were the middle of my hand , maymed or pershed I should receiue ryght nought , of that I reach might And though my thombe & my fingers , boeth were to swolen And the middle of my hand , without malease In many kinnes maners , I might my selfe helpe Both moue and amend , though al my fingers oke By thys skyll me thinketh , I se an euidence That who so sinneth in the . s . Spirite , assoyled worth he neuer Nether here ne else where , as I heare tell . Qui peccat in spiritum sanctum . &c. For he the pricketh god as in the pawme , Mat. xii . Qui peccat in spi For god the father is as a fist , the sonne is as a finger The holy gost of heauen , is as it were the pawme And who so sineth in . s . spirite , it semeth that he greueth God that he grypeth with , & would hys grace quentch And to a torche or a tapoure , the trinitie is lykened As waxe and a weeke , were twined togither And than a fyre flaming , forth out of both And as waxe and weeke , and hote fyre togyther Fostren forth a flame , and a fayre laye . So done the syre and the sonne , & also Spiritus sanctus , The holy gost shew to by similituds Fostren forth amonges folke , loue and beleue And all kynne christen , clenseth of synnes And as thou feest sometyme , sodenlye a torche The blasse therof blowen out , yet burneth the weke Wythout ley or lyght , that the matche burneth So is the holy gost god , and grace wythout mercye To all vnkynde creatures , that couet to destroye Lellye loue or lyfe , that our Lorde shapte And as glowing gleden , gladeth not these workmen That waken and worken , in wynter nyghtes As doth a kex or a candel , that caught hath fyre & blaseth No more doth sirene sonne , ne saynt spirite togythers Graunte no grace , ne forgeuenes of synnes Tyll the holye gost gynne , to glowe and to blase So that the holy goste gloweth , but as a glede Tyl that lellye loue , lygge on hym and blowe And than flameth he as fyre , on father and on Filius And melteth her might into mercye , as men may se in wynter Isicles & eues , through heat of the sunne Melt in a minute whyle , to mist and to water So grace of the holy gost , the great myght of the trinitye Melteth mercy to merciable , and to no other And as waxe without more , and a warme glede Wyll brennen and blasen , all togythers And solacen hem that may see , that sytre in darcknes So the father forgeueth folke , that haue mild hertes That rufullye repenten , and restitution make In as muche as they maye , amende and paye And if it suffice not for a seth , that in such wyll dyeth Mercy for his mekenes , woll make good the remnaunt And as the weke and fyre , wyl make a warme flame For to myrthe men wyth , that in merke sytten So will Christe of his curtesy , & men crye hym mercy Boeth forgeue and forgette , and yet bydde for vs To the father of heauen , forgyuenes to haue And new fyre at the flynte , four hundred wynter But thou haue to we to take it with , tinder or broches All thy labour is loste , and thy longe trauell For maye no fyre flambe make , fayle it hys kynde So is the holy gost god , and grace wythout mercye . To all vnkind creatures , Christ him selfe witnesseth . Amen dico vobis , nescio vos . Mat. xxv Be vnkind to thine euenchristen , & al that the canst bydde Deale and do penaunce , daye and nyght euer And purchase al the pardon , of Pampilon and Rome Add indulgences inowe , & be vngrateful to thy kynne The holy gost heareth the not , ne help may the by reason For vnkindnes quencheth him , that he can not shyne Ne brenne ne blasse cleare , for blowing of vnkindnes Poule the Apostle , proueth , i. Cor. xiii whether I lye Si linguis hominum loquar . &c. Forthy beware ye wyse men , that with the world dele That rych ben & reason knoweth , rule wel your selues Be not vnkynde I counsell you , to your euen christen For many of you rych men , by my soule men telleth Ye brenne but ye blase not , that is a blynde beacon Non omnis qui dicit domine domine , intrabit . &c. Mat. vii . Diues died dampned , for his vnkindnes Of his meat and of his money to men , that it neded Eche a ryche I rede , regarde at him take And giue your good to that god , that grace of ryseth For they that be vnkynde to his , hope I none other But they dwell there Diues is , daye without ende Thus is vnkindnes the contrary , that quencheth as it were The grace of the holy gost , gods owne kynde For that kind doth , vnkind fordoth , as done these cursed theues Vnkind christen men , for couetise & enuye Sleeth a man for his mouables , with mouth or with hands For that the holi gost hath to kepe , tho harlots destroyeth The whych is life & loue , the leye of mans body A good man is like a torche or a tapoure . For euery maner good man , may be likened to a torch Or els to a tapour , to reuerence the trinitie And who the murdreth a good man , me thinketh by my in wyt He fordoth the leuest lighte , that our lord loueth And yet in many moe maners , men offend the holy gost And this is the worst wyse , that any wyght myght Sinne against . s . Spirite , assenten to destroyen For couetise any kynnes thyng , the Christ dere bought Howe myght he aske mercy , or any mercy hym helpe That wycked and wylfullye , would mercy amentyce Innocence is next god , & night and day cryeth Vengeaunce vengeaunce , forgyuen be it neuer That shent vs & shed our bloud , forshapt vs as it wer Apoca. vi Vindica domine sanguinem nostrum . Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce , very charitie asketh And sith holy kyrke and charitie , chargeth this so sore Leue I neuer that our lorde wil loue , that charitye lacketh Ne haue pitye for any praier , there that he pleynyth I pose I had sinned so , and shoulde nowe dye And am sory that I dyd so , the saynt spirite agylt Confesseme and crye his grace , god that all made And mildly his mercy aske , might I not be saued ? Yes sayd the Samaritan , so well thou might repent That right witnes bi repentaunce , to ruth might turne And it is but seldome sene , the sothnes bereth witnes Any creature that is culpable , before a kinges iustice Be rausomed before his repentaunce , ther al reason him damneth For ther the party pursueth , the plee is so hudge That the kinge may do no mercy , til both men accord And eyther haue equitie , as holy write telleth Nunquam dimittitur peccatum . &c. Thus it fareth by such folke , that falsely al her liues Euil lyue and letten not , tyll life hem forsake Good hope that helpe should , to wanhope turneth Not of the no unpower of god , that he ne is mightful To amend all that amise is , and his mercy greater Than all our wycked workes , as holy wryte telleth . Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius . And er rightousnes to ruth turn , Psal. ●●● . some restitution behoueth His sorow is satisfaction , for him that may not pay Thre thinges there be , Thre thinges dryue a man out of hys house . that done a man by strength . For to flye his owne house , as holy wryte sheweth That one is a wycked wife , that wyl not be chastised Her fere flyeth from her , for feare of her tonge And if his house be vnhiled , and raine on his head He seketh all aboute , tyll he slepe drye And whan smolke and smoulder , smight in his syght It doth him worse than his wyfe , or wete to slepe For smolke and smoulder , smyteth in hys eyen Tyl he be bleard or blind , or hoorse in the throte Cougheth and curseth , that Christ gyue hem sorow That shold bring in better wood , or blow it til it bren These thre that I tell of , ben thus to vnderstande The wife is our wicked flesh , that wyl not be chasted For kynd cleueth on him euer , to contrary the soule And thoughe it fall it fynt skiles , that freilty is made And that is lyghtly forgeuen , and forgetten both To man that mercy asketh , and amend thynketh The raine that raigneth , there we reste shoulde By sykenes and sorowes , that we suffren oft As Poule the apostle , to the people taught ii . Cor. xii Virtus infirmitate perficitur . And though that men make , muche dole in her anger And been impacient in her penaunce , pure reason knoweth That they haue cause to contrary , bi kind of her siknes And lyghtly our Lord , at her lyues end Hath merci on such men , that so euil may suffer And the smolke & the smolder , that smyte in our eien That is couetise & vnkindnes that quencheth gods mercy For vnkindnes is the contrary , of al kinnes reason For there nis sicke ne sorye , ne none so much wretch That he ne may loue if him like , & leue of his herte Good wyl and good word , boeth wishen and willen Al maner of mercy , and of forgiuenes And loue hem like him selfe , and his life amend I may no lenger let quod he , and lyard he pricked And went away as wynd , & therwyth I waked .

Passus . xviii . de visione . WOlward & wetshode , went I forth after As a rechles reuke , that of no wo retcheth And yede forth like a lorel , al my lyfe tyme Til I waxt wery of the world , & willed efte to slepe And lened me to a lenten , & longe tyme I slepte And of christes passion & penaunce , the people of taught Rest me ther and rut fast , tyll Ramis palmarum , Of gerles and of Gloria laus , grealye me dreamed And howe Osanna by Organye , olde folke songen One semblable to the Samaritan , & sōdeale to Piers the plowman Barefote on an asse backe , boteles came prickynge Without spore or speare , spackly he loked As is the kind of a knyght , that commeth to be dubbed To get him gilt spores , and galoches couped Than was fayth in a fenester , and cried O fili Dauid , As doth an heraud of armes , whan auentrous commeth to iustis Old Iewes of Ierusalem , for ioy they sōgen Benedictus qui venit in nomine demini . Mat. xxi . Than I frained at fayth , what all that fare bymente Who should iuste in Ierusalem , Iesus he sayde And fetch that the fend claimeth , Pyerce frute the plowman Is Piers in this place quod I , & he preint on me This Iesus of his gentry , wil iust in Pierces armes In his helme & in his herbergeon , Humana natura . That Christ be not knowne here , for consūmatus deus In Pyerce paltock the plowman , this pryker shal ride For no dinte shal him dere , as in Deitate patris , Who shall iuste with Iesus ꝙ I , Iewes or scribes ? Nay quod he the fould fende , & false dome & death . Death sayth he shall for do , and adowne brynge All that lyueth or loketh , in londe or in water Lyfe sayth that he liueth , and layeth his lyfe to wed That for all that death can do , within thre dayes To walke & fetch from the fend , Pierce fruit the plowman And laye it there him liketh , and Lucifer bind And for to beat and downe bring , bale death for euer O Mors , ero mors tua . Than came Pilate with mich puple , Sedens pro tribunali . Ozce . xiii To se how douty deth shold do , & deme her brothers right The Iews & iustices , agayne Iesu they were And all the court on him cried , Crucifige sharpe Tho put him forth a pylour , before Pylate and said This Iesus apon Iewes temple , iaped & dispised To for do it on one daye , and in thre dayes after Edifie it eft newe , here he standes that saide it And yet make it as muche , in al maner of poyntes Both as longe and as large , by loft and by grounde Crucifige quod a catchpole , I warrant him a witche Iohn . xix Tolle Tolle quod another , and toke of kent thornes And began of kene thornes , a garlande to make And set it sore on his head ; and sayde in enuy Aue Rabbi sayd that rybaude , and threw redes at him Nailed him wyth thre nailes , naked on the rode And poyson on a pole , they put vp to his lyppes And bydde him drynke his dethes euil , his daies wer done And if that thou sotle be , helpe nowe they selfe If thou be Christ & kinges sonne , come downe of the rode Than shold we leue that life the loueth , & wol not let the dye Consūmatum est , ꝙ Christe , and comseth for to swonne Pitiously and pale , as a prisoner doth that dieth The Lord of life & of light tho , laied his eies togither The day for dread wythdrew , & darck became the sonne The wall wagged and clefte , & all the world quaued Dead men for that dine , came out of depe graues And told why that tempest , so longe time endured For a bitter battel , the dead body said Lyfe & deth in this darknes , here one fordoth the other Shal no wight wit witterly , who shal haue maistry Eresō day about sunne rising , & sanke with that tyl earth Some saide that he was gods sonne , the so fayre dyed Mar. xv Vere filius dei erat iste And some said he was a witch , good is that we assaie Whether he be dead or not dead , down er he be taken Two theues also , tholed death that tyme Besides Christ apon a crosse , so was the common lawe A catchpole came forth , and cragged both the legges And the armes after , of eyther of tho theues And was no boye so bolde , gods body to touch For he was knight & kings sonne , kinde forgaue that time That no harlot were so hardy , to lay hand apon him And there came forth a knight , with a kene spere ground Hight Longis as the letter telth , He citeth a lye out of the Legendauri . & long had lost his sight Before Pilate and other puple , in the place he houed Maugre hys manye teath , he was made that tyme To take his speare in his hande , & iusten wyth Iesus For al thei wer vnhardy , that houed on horse or stode To touche or to tast hym , or taken downe of rode But this blinde bachyler , bare him through the hert The blud sprang doune by the spere , & vnspared his eyen Then fel the knyght vpon his knees , & cried him mercy Against my wyll it was Lorde , to wound you so sore He syghed and sayde , fore it me for thinketh For the dede that I haue done , I do me in your grace Haue on me ruth rightful Iesu , & right with that he wept Than gan Fayeth fellye , the false Iewes despise Called hem caytifes , accursed for euer For thys foule villanye , vengeaunce to you all To do the blind beat him bound , it was a boyes counsel Cursed Caytifes , knyghthode was it neuer To misdo a deade bodye , by daye nor by nyght The gre yet hath he gotten● for al his greate wounde For your champion c●●ualer , chiefe knight of you all Yelde him recreant , renning ryght at Iesus wyll For be this darcknes ido , hys death worth auenged And ye lurdens haue lost , for life shal haue the mastry And your franches that fre was , fallen is in thraldome And ye Cherles & your children , chiuen shall you neuer Ne haue Lordeshyppe in lande , ne no lande tyll The lord accurseth vsurers But all bareyne be , and vsurye vsen Whyche is lyfe that our Lorde , in all lawes accurseth Now your good daies ar done , as Dani. prophecied Whan Christ come , her kingdome & croune shuld cease Dani. ix . Cum venerit sanctus sanctorum , tunc cessabit vnctio vestra . What for feare of the farlye , and of the false Iewes I drowe me in that darkenes , to Descendit ad inferna . And there I sawe sothlye , Secundum scripturas , Out of the west cost , a wenche as me thought Came walkynge in the waye , to helward she loked Mercye hyght that mayde , a meke thynge wythall A ful benyngne byrde , and boxome of speach Hyr syster as it semed , came worthelye walkynge Euen out of the east , and westwarde she loked A full comelye creature , Trueth she hyght . For the vertue that her folowed , afered was she neuer When these maydens mette , mercye and trueth Eyther asked other , of thys greate meruayle Of the dyn and of the darcknes , & how the day renned And what a syght and a leme , laye before hell I haue farly of this fare , in fayth sayd truth And am wendinge to wit , what this wonder meaneth Haue no meruayle quod mercy , myrthe it betokeneth A mayde that hight Marye , and mother without feling Of any kynnes creature , conceiued through speach And grace of the holye gost , we●t greate wyth chylde Without wembe into this world , she brought hym And that my tale be true , I take God to wytnes Syth this barne was borne , be thyrty wynter paste Which died & death tholed , this day about myddaye And that is cause of this clipse , the closed now the sunne In meaning that man shal , from merkenes be drawen The which this light & this leem , shal Lucifer ablind For Patriarks & Prophets , haue preached it often That man shall man saue , through a maydens helpe And that was tyne throughe tree , tree shal it wynne And that death downe brought , death shall releue That thou tellest quod truth , is but a tale of waltrot For Adam and Eue , Abraham and other Patriarkes and Prophetes , that in payne lyggen Leue thou neuer that yon lyght , hem may aloft bring Ne haue hem out of hell , hold thy tonge mercy It is but a trifle that thou tellest , I truth wote the soth For that is once in hell , out commeth he neuer Iob the prophet patriarke , repungneth thy sawes . Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio . Iob. vii . Than mercy full mekelye , mouthed these wordes Through experience ꝙ she , I hope I shall be saued For venine for doth venine , & that I proue by reason For of all venimes , foulest is the Scorpion May no medicine helpe the place , there he styngeth Tyll he be deade and do therto , the euil he destroyeth The first venime moyst , Poyson expelleth poyson , through venime of him selfe So shall thys death for do , I dare my lyfe lygge Al that death did fyrst , throughe the deuils entisynge And as throughe gyle , man was begiled So shall grace that began , make a good sleyght . Ars vt artem falleret . Nowe suffer we sayde truth , I se as me thynketh Out of the nyppe of the north , not full farre hence Ryghtwisenes come rennynge , reste we the whyle For he wotteth more then we , he was ere we both That is soth sayd mercye , and I se here by south Where peace cometh playinge , in patience clothed Loue hath coueted hir longe , leue I none other But he sent hir some letter , what this light bemeneth That ouerhoueth hell thus , she vs shall tell Whan peace in patience clothed , thus aproched nygh hem twain Rightfulnes hir reuerenced , for hir rich clothing And prayed peace to tel her , to what place she would And in her gaye garment , whom she grete thought The talke betwene Iustice &c Peace . My wyl is to wend ꝙ she , and to welcome hem all That many a day myght not se , for merknes of synne Adam and Eue , and other moe in hell Moses and many moe , mercy shall haue And I shall daunce the reto , do thou so syster For Iesus iusteth well , ioye begynneth to dawe . Psal. xxx . Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus , et ad matutinum leticia . Loue that is my lemman , suche letters me sent That mercy my syster and I , mankynd shoulde saue And that god hath forgeuen , & graunted me peace & mercy To be mans meinpernour , for euermore after Lo here the patent quod Peace , In pace in idipsum , And that this dede shall dure , Dormiam et requiescam . What rauest thou ꝙ rightwisenes , or the art right dronke Leuest thou that yon lyght , vnlocke might hell And saue mans soule ? sister wene it neuer At the begynnynge God gaue the dome him selfe That Adam and Eue , and all that hem sewed Shoulde dye downe ryght , and dwell in payne after If that they touched a tree , and the fruite eaten Adam afterwarde , agaynste his defence Frete of that fruite , and forsoke as it were The loue of our Lorde , and his lore boeth And folowed that the fende taught , & hys felowes wyll Agaynst reason & rightwis●es , record thus with truth That their payne be perpetuall , & no prayer than help Therfore let them cheue as they chose , & chide we not sisters For it is boteles bale , the byt that they eaten . And I shal proue ꝙ peace , theyr payne must haue end And we into weale , must wende at last For had thei wyst of no wo , weale had thei not know For no wight wotes what weale is , Contrar●es are knowen bi t●● contrarie that neuer wo suffred Ne what is whote hungre , that neuer had defaut If no night nere , no man as I leue Should wyte witerly , what day is to meane Should neuer ryght rychman , the liueth in rest and ease Wyte what wo is , ne were the death of kinde So God that began all , of his good wyll Became man of a mayd , mankinde to saue And suffer to be sold , to se the sorow of dyinge The which vnknytteth all care , and comsing is of rest For tyl modicum met with hym , I may it well avowe Wote no wight as I wene , what is inough to mean Therfore God of his goodnes , the first gome Adam Set him in solace and in souereine myrth , And syth he suffred him sinne , sorowe to fele To wyt what weale was , kyndly to knowe it And after God auentred him selfe , & toke Adams kynd To wyt what he had suffred , in thre sundry places Both in heauen and in earth , and to hel he thinketh To wyt what al wo is , that wote of all ioye So it shal fare by thys folke , their foly & their synne Shal lerne hem what langor is , & lyfe wythout end Wote no wyght what warre is , ther the peace reineth Ne what is witerly weale , till welaweye hym teache Bokes be bolde . Than was there a wight , wyth two brode eyen Boke hyght that beaupier , a bolde man of speach By gods body , quod thys boke , I wil bear witnes That tho this barne was borne , there blased a starre That al the wisemen of thys world , in one wit accorden That suche a barne was borne , in Bethlems citye That mans soule shoulde saue , and synne destroye And al the elementes saith the boke , hereof bereth witnes That he was god the al wroght , the welken first shewed Tho that were in heauen , tooken Stella cometa , And tinde den hir as a torche , to reuerence hys byrth The light folowed the lorde , into the lowe earth The water witnessed he was god , for that he went on it Peter the apostle perceiued his gate And as he went on the water , wel him knew and said Mat. xiiii Iube me venire ad te super aquas . And lo how the sunne gan lacke , her light in her selfe When she see him suffer , that sunne and sea made The earth for heeuines , that he would suffer Quaked as quycke thing , and al to quassed the roch Lo hell myght not holde , but opened tho God tholed And let out Simons sonnes , to se him hang on rode And now shal Lucifer leue it , though him loth thinke For Gygas the gyant , with a gynne engined To brake and to beate downe , that bene agayne Iesus And I boke wolbe brente , but Iesus rise to lyue In al mightes of man , and his mother glad And conforten al hys kynne , & out of care brynge And all the Iewes ioye , vnioyne and vnloken And but if thei reuerence his rode , and his resurrection And bileue on a newe law , be lost life and soule . Suffer we sayd Truth , I heare and I se both Howe a spirite speaked to hell , & byd vnspar the gates Attollite porta . &c. Ps. xxiiii . A voyce lowde in that light , to Lucifer sayd Princes in this place , vnpinneth and vnlocketh For here commeth with crowne , that king is of glorye Than sighed Sathan , and sayde to hem all Such a light agaynste our leaue , Lazar out fette Care and combraunce , is commen to vs all If this kinge come in , mankind wil he fetch And lead it there him liketh , and lightly me bind Patriarkes and prophetes , haue parled hereof longe That suche a Lorde & a light , shoulde lead hem al hence Listeneth quod Lucifer , for I this lorde knowe Both this Lorde & this light , is long ago I knew it May no death him deare , ne no deuiles quentise And wher he wil is his wai , & warne him of the perels If he reue me of my ryght , he robbeth me bi mastrye For by right and by reason , the reukes that ben here Body and soule be mine , both good and euill For him selfe saide , Lucifer reasone●● the mate●● that syre is of heauen If Adam eate the appel , all shoulde dye And dwel wyth vs deuels , this threatenyng he made And he that sothnes is , said these wordes And sithen he seased , seuen hundred wynter I leue that lawe nill not , leaue him the least . That is sothe quod Satan , but I me sore dreade For thou gate hem with gile , and his garden brake And in semblaunce of a serpent , sate apon the apple tre And eggedest hem to eate , Eue by hyr name And toldst hir a tale , of treason were thy wordes And so thou haddest hem oute , and hider at the last It is not graithlye gayten , there gyle is the rote For God wil not be begiled ꝙ Gobelyn , ne iaped We haue no true title to hem , for bi treson wer thei damned Certes I dread ꝙ this deuill , lest trueth wil hem fetch Out of our postye , and leaden hem hence These .xxx. winter as I wene , he hath gone & preched I haue assayled him with sinne , and sometime asked Wher he were god or gods son , he gaue me short answer And thus he hath trolid forth , this .xxxii. witer And when I see it was so , sleapynge I went To warne Pilatus wife , what done man was Iesus For Iewes hated him , and haue done him to death Pilates wyfe . I wolde haue lengthed his life , for I leued if he died That his soule should suffer , no synne in his syght For the body while it on bones yede , about was euer To saue man from synne , if hym selfe woulde And now I se wher a soul cometh hitherward sailig With glory and with great light , god it is I wote well I red we flee quod he , faste all hence For vs were better not be , than abide his syght For thy leasynges Lucifer , loste is all our praye Fyrste throughe the we fell , from heauen so hye For we beleued on thy lesings , ilorne we haue Adam And all our Lordshyp I leue , on land and on water Luke . xii . Nunc princeps huius mundi , eiicietur foras . Eft the lyght bade vnlocke , and Lucifer answered What lorde art thou quod Lucifer , Quis est iste ? Ker glorie , the lyght soone sayde , And lord of might and of mayne , & al maner vertues Dominus virtutum . Dukes of this dimme place , anone vndo these gates That Christ may come in , the kynges sonne of heauen And with that breath hell brake , with belials barres For anye wye or warde , wyde open the gates Patriarkes and prophetes , Populus in tenebris Songen saynt Iohns songe , Ecce agnus dei Lucifer loke ne might , so lyght hym ablent And tho that our lorde loued , into his light he laught And sayd to Satan , lo here my soule to amendes For all sinfull soules , to saue tho that ben worthy Mine they be and of me , I mai the better hem claime Although reason recorde , and myght of my selfe That if they ate the apple , all shoulde dye I behyght them not here , hell for euer For the dede that they dyd , thy disceyte it made Wyth gyle thou hem gote , agaynste all reason For in my palace Paradice , in parson of an addre Falsely thou fettest there , thynge that I loued Thus lyke a lysard , wyth a Ladyes visage Thefely thou me robbeste , the olde lawe graunteth That gilers be begyled , and that is good reason Dentem pro dente , et oculum pro oculo . Deut. ● Soule for soul . Ergo soule shal soule quite , and synne to synne wende And all that man hath misdo , I may well amend Membre for membre , in the olde lawe was amends And life for life also , and by that lawe I clayme it Adam and al his issue , at my wyll hereafter And that death in hem fordid , my death shall releue And both quicken & quite , that queint was thorow sinne And that grace gile destroyeth , good fayth it asketh So leue I not Lucifer , againe the lawe I fetch hem But by ryght and by reason , raunsome here my liges Non beni soluere legem , sed adimplere . Mat. ●● Thou fettedste mine in my place , against all reason Falsely and felonly , good fayth me it taught To recouer hem by raunsome , and by no reason els . So that throughe gile thou gate , throughe grace it is wonne Thou Lucifer in lykenes of a luther edder Gatiste by gyle , tho that God loued And in lykenes of a leode , that Lorde am of heauen Graciously thy gyle haue quite , go gile agaynst gyle And as Adam and all , throughe a tree dyed Adam & althrough a tree , should turne againe to life And gile is gyled , and in hys gyle fallen . Psal. vii . Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit . Nowe begynneth thy gile , agayne the to turne And my grace to growe aye , greater and wyder The bitternes that thou hast brued , broke it thy selfe Thou art doctor of death , drynke that thou madeste For I that am Lord of life , loue is my drynke And for that drynke to daye , I dyed apon earth If ought so me thristeth , yet for mans soules sake May no drynke me moyst , ne my thryste stake Tyll the vendage fall , in the vale of Iosaphat That I drinke right ripe must , Resurrectio mortuoruns And then shal I come as a kynge , crowned with angels And haue out of hell , all mens soules Fendes and fende kynnes , before me shall stande And bene at my biddynge , whersoeuer me lyketh And to be merciable to man , that my kynd it asketh For we ben brethren of bloud , but not of baptisme al And al that been my hole brethren , in bloude & baptisme Shal not be damned to death , that is wythout ende . Psai . li. Tibi soli peccaui . &c. It is not vsed in earth , to hangen a felon Ofter than once , though he were a traytoure And if the kyng of that kingdome , come in that tyme There the felon thole should , death other else The law would haue geue him life , if he loked on him And I that am king of kinges , shall on such a tyme come There dome to the death , damneth all wycked And if lawe wyll I looke on hem , it lyeth in my grace Whether they dye or dye not , for that they dyd yll Be it any thynge , about the boldnes of their synnes I do mercy through rightwi●nes , & al mi words true And though holy write will , that I be wroke of hem thai did euyl Nullum malum impunitum . &c. They shold be clensed clearly , & washen of her sinnes In my pryson Purgatory , tyll Parce it hote And mi mercy shal be shewed , to many of my brethren For bloud may suffer bloude , both honger and colde And bloud may not se bloud blede , but him rewe . Audiui arcana verba , qui non licet homini loqui . ii . Cor. ●●● And my rightuousnes and right , shall rule al hell And mercye all mankynde , before me in heauen For I were an vnkinde kynge , but I my kynde helpe And namely at such a nede , ther nedes helpe behoueth Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo . Psal. ●●● Thus by law ꝙ this Lord , leade I wyll from hence Tho that me loued , and leued in my comminge And for thy leasing Lucifer , that thou liedst to Eue Thou shalt a bye it better , & bound hym wyth chaynes Astaroth and all the route , hidde hem in hernes They durst not loken on our lord , the boldest of hem al But letten him lead forth what him liked , & let what him lyste Many hundred of angels , harpen & sange . Culpat caro , purgat caro , regnat deus dei caro . Than pyped Peace , of poesye a note . Clarior est solito post marima nebula phebus , post inimicitlas After sharpe shoures ꝙ peace , moste sheene is the sunne Is no weader warmer , than after watery cloudes Ne no loue leuer , no better frendes Than after warre & wo , whan loue & peace be masters Was neuer war in this world , ne wickednes so kene That ne loue and him luste , to laughyng ne brought And Peace throughe patience , all peryl stopped . Truse quod Trueth , thou tellest vs soth by Iesus Clype we in couenaunt , and ech of vs kisse other And let no people quod Peace , perceiue that we chid For impossible is nothynge , to hym that is almighty Thou saist soth ꝙ rightuousnes , & reuerently him kissed Peace and peace here , Per omnia secula seculorum . Psai . 85. Misericordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi . Iusticia et par osculate sunt . Truth trumped tho , and song Te deum laudamus . And than luted Loue , in a loude note . Psal. 133. Ecce quam bonum , et quam iocundum . &c. Tyll the day dawed , these damsels daunced That men rang to the resurrection , & right with the I waked And called Kit my wyfe , and Colet my daughter Aryse and reuerence , Gods resurrection And crepe to the crosse on knees , & kisse it for a Iewell For Gods blessed bodye , it bare for oure bote And it afereth the fende , for suche is the might Maye no gryslye goste glyde , there it shadoweth

Passus .xix. de visione . THus I waked , & wrote what I had dremed And dight me dearly , and dyd me to kyrke To here holy the masse , & to be housled after In mids of the masse , men went to offeringe I fell efte sones a slepe , and sodaynely me mette That Pierce the plowman , was painted all bloudye And came in with a crosse , before the commen people And ryght lyke in all lymmes , to our lorde Iesus Than called I Conscience , to kenne me the soth Is this Iesu the iuster ꝙ I , that Iewes did to death Or is it Pierce Plowman , who paynted him so red ? Quod Conscience & kneled tho , Pier●● cote armour . these are Piers armes His colour & cote armour , & he that cometh so blouddye Is Christ with his crosse , conqueroure of christendome Why cal ye him Christ ꝙ I , sith Iewes cal him Iesus Patriarkes and prophetes , prophecied before That all kinnes creatures , shoulde knele and bowe Anone as men named , thys hyghe name of Iesus Ergo is no name , to the name of Iesus Ne none so nedeful to name , by nyght nor by day For all the darcke deuils , are a dreade to heare it And synfull are solaced , and saued by that name And ye call hym Christ , for what cause tell me Is Christ more of myght , and more worthy name Than Iesu or Iesus , that all our ioye came of ? Thou knowest well quod conscience , and thou can reason That knyght , kynge , conquerour , may be one person To be called a knight is fair , for men shal knele to him To be called king is fayrer , for he mai knights make And to be conqueror called , that cometh of special grace And of hardines of hert , and of hendines both To make Lordes or ladies , of lande that he wynneth And fre men foule thrales , that folowe not his lawes The Iewes that were gentilmen , Iesu they despised Both his lore & his law , now are they low cherles As wide as the world is , wonneth none therin But vnder tribute or tallage , as tikes and cherles And tho that became christen , by counsell of the baptisme Christe crowned kynge . Are frankelens fremen , through fullynge that they toke And gentilmen wyth Iesu , for Iesus was ifulled And apon Caluery on crosse , crowned king of Iewes It becommeth to a king , to kepe and to defende As conqueroure of conqueste , his lawes & hys large And so did Iesus the Iewes , he iustified & taught hem The lawe of life , that laste shall euer And defende from foule euiles , feuers and fluxes And from fendes that in them were , & false beleue Tho was he Iesus of Iewes , called gentle prophete And king of her kingdome , & crowne bare of thorns And tho conquered he on crosse , as conquerour noble Might no death him fordo , ne adowne bryng That he naroos and raygned and rauished hell , And tho was he conquerour called , of quick & of dead For he gaue Adam and Eue , and othermoe blyssed That longe had layne before , as Lucifers cherles And sythen he gaue largelye , all hys lelly lieges Places in paradice , at her partinge hence He may wel be called conqueror , & that is Christ to mene And the cause that he cometh thus , with crosse of passion Is to wishen vs therwith , that when that we be tempted Therw ᵗ to fight & fend vs , from fallyng into sinne And se by hys sorowe , that who so loueth ioye To penaunce and to pouerty , he must put him selfe And much wo in thys world , willen and suffren And for to carpe more of Christ , & how he came to the name Faithly to speake , his first name was Iesus Tho he was borne in Bethlem , as the boke telleth And came to take mankinde , kynges and angels Reuerenced him faire , wyth ryches of this earth Angels out of heauen came , knelinge and songe Gloria in excelsis deo . The gyftes that the iii. kyng● offered . Kynges commen after , knelinge and offred , Myrre and much golde , wythout mede askinge Or ani kins catel , but knowledging him soueraigne Both of sonde , sunne , and sea , & sithen they wenten Into their kingdome kyth , by counsel of angels And ther was the word fulfilled , the which thou of spake . Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur , in hec nomine Iesu . Phili. ii For al the angels of heauen , at hys byrth kneled And all the wyt of the worlde , was in tho thre kinges Reason & rightuousnes , and ●uthe they offered Wherfore and why , wyse men that tyme Maisters and lettred men , Magi hem called . That one kinge came with reason , couered vndersence The second kynge sothly , sithens he offered Ryghtuousnes vnder redde golde , reasons felowe Golde is likened to leauty , that last shall euer And reason to ryche golde , to ryght and to truth . The thyrd kynge tho , came knelyng to Iesu And presented hym wyth pitye , apperynge to mirre For myrre is mercy to meane , & mild speach of tong Thre in like honest things , were offred thus at once Throughe thre kinne kinges , knelinge to Iesus And for al these precious presents , our lord prince Iesus Was nether king ne conqueror , til he gan to w●xe In the maner of a man , and that by much sleght As becommeth a conquerour , to konne many slightes And many willes and wytte , that woll be a leader And so did Iesus in those daies , who so had time to tell it Somtime he suffred , & somtyme he hid him And somtime he fought fast , and fle other while And somtime he gaue good , & graunted heale both Lyfe and lyme , as he lyste he wrought As kinde is of a conquerour , so comsed Iesu Tyll he hadde all them , that he for bledde In his inuente , this Iesus at the Iewen feast Christ worketh miracles Water into wyne turned , as holy wryte telleth And there began God of his grace to dowel For wine is likened to lawe , and life of holines And law lacked tho , for men loued not her enmies And Christ counceleth thus , & commaundeth also Both to lerned & to lewde , to loue our enemies So at the feaste fi●ste , as I before sayde Began god of his grace , & of his goodnes to dowell And tho was he cleped & called not only Christ but Iesu A faunt fine ful of wytte , Filius Marie , Before his mother Mary , made he that wonder That she firste and formoste , ferme should beleue That he through grace was get , & no gome els He wrought that by no wit , but by word onely After the kynd that he came of , there consed he to dowell And when he was wexen more , in his mothers absence He made lame to leape , and gaue light to blynd And fedde with two fyshes , and wyth fyue loues Sore afingered folke , mo than fyue thousande Thus he conforted the carefull , and caught a greate name The which was dober , wher that we went For defe through his doings to hear , & domb to speake he made And al he heled & helpt , that him of grace asked And tho was he called in contry , of the common people For the dedes that he did . Fili Dauid Iesus . For Dauid was doutiest of dedes in hys time The birds tho song Saul interfecit mille . ● . Ke● . 1● & Dauid . x. mi. Therfore the contry ther Iesu came , called him fili Dauid And named him of Nazareth , & no man so worthy To be Cayser or kynge , of the kyngdome of Iuda Ne ouer Iewes iustice , as Iesu was hem thought Wherof Cayphas had enuy , & other of the Iewes And for to do hym to death , day & nyght they casten Kylled hym on crossewyse , at caluery on a Frydaye And sithen buried his body , & beden that men should Kepe it from night commers , with knyght armed For no frendes shold him fetch , for prophets hem tolde That , that blessed bodye , of buriels should aryse And gone into Galile , and gladden his apostles And his mother marye , thus men before demed The knightes that kept it , beknewe it hem selues That angels and archangels , ere the day spronge Came kneling to the corps & song , Christus resurgens , Verye man before hem all , & forth with hem he yede The Iewes prayden peace , & besoughte the knyghtes Tel the commen , that ther came a companye of his apostles And bewiched hem as they woken , & away stollen him And Marye Magdalen , met hym by the waye Goynge toward Galile , in godhead and manhead A lyue and lokynge , and she a lowde cryed In eche a company there she came , Christus resurgens , Thus came it out the Christ ouercame , recouered , and lyued Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare . Luke . 24 Why Christ appeared fyrste to a woman . For that women wytteth , may not well be counsell Peter perceyued this , and pursued after Both Iames and Iohn , Iesu for to seke Thade and ten moe , wyth Thomas of Inde And as these wise wyes , weren togythers In an house al be shette , and the dores barred Christe came in and all closed , both dores and gates To Peter and to his apostles , saide Pax vobis , And toke Thomas bi the hand , & taught him to grope And fele wyth his fingers , his fleshye herte Thomas Didimus Iohn . xx Thomas touched it , and with his tonge sayde . Dominus m●us , et deus meus . Thou art my Lord I beleue , god lorde Iesu Thou diedst and death tholedst , and deme shall vs all And now art liuing and lokynge , & last shalt euer Christe carped than , and curteslye sayde Thomas for thou trowest it , and trulye beleuest it Blessed might thou be , and be shalt for euer And blessed might they all be , in body and in soule That neuer shall se me , in syght as thou dost nowe And lelly beleue all this , I loue hem and blesse hem . Iohn . xx Beati qui non viderunt . &c. And when this dede was done , Dobest he taught And gaue Pierce power , and pardon he graunted To all maner of men , mercye and forgiuenes Hym might to assoyle men , of all maner of synnes In couenaunt that they come , and knowledge to paye Pierces pardon is pay that yu●weste . To Pierces pardon the plowman , Redde quod debes , Thus hath Pierce power , be his pardon payed To binde and vnbind , both here and els where And assoylen men of all synnes , saue of dette onelye Anone after , an hyghe into heauen He went and wonneth there , and wil come at laste And reward him right well , that Reddit quod debet . And payeth perfitelye , as pure trueth woulde And what person payeth it not , punyshe he thynketh And demen hem at domes day , both quicke & deade The good to the Godheade , and to greate ioye The wicked to wonne , in wo without ende . Thus Conscience of Christ , and of the crosse carped And counceled me to knele , & than came as me thought One Spiritus paracletus , The holy Goste . to Pierce and to his felowes In lykenes of a lyghteninge , he lyght vpon hem all And made hem kon and knowe , all kynne languages I wondered what that was , and wagged Conscience And was aferde of the lyght , for in fyers lykenes Spiritus paracletus , ouer sprede hem all Quod Conscience & kneled , this is Christes messenger And cometh from the great god , and grace is hys name Knele now quod Conscience , and if thou can synge Welcome him & worship him , with Veni creator spiri . Than sange I that songe , and so did many hundred And cried with Conscience , helpe vs god of grace Than began grace , to go with Pierce plowman And counseled him & Conscience , the commune to summon For I wyll deale to daye , and deuide grace To all kinne creatures , that han her fyne wyttes Treasure to lyue by , to her lyues ende And weapen to fyght wyth , that shal neuer fayle For Antichriste and his , all the world shall greue And accumbre the conscience , but if Christe helpe And false prophetes , fell flatterers and glosers Shal come & be curatours , ouer kynges & Erles And pryde shal be Pope , and prince of holy kyrke Couetise and vnkyndenes , cardinalles hem to leade Therfore ꝙ grace ere I go , I wil geue you treasure And wepon to fight with , whan Antichrist you assayleth And giue eche man grace , to guide with hym selfe That idlenes encumbre him not , enuye nor pryde . Diuisiones graciarum sunt . To some he gaue witte , with wordes to shew The gyftes of the holy gost . Wyt to wyn her liuelode with , as the world asketh As preachers and priestes , and prentises of lawe They lellye to lyue , by laboure of tonge And by wit to wishen other , as grace hem wold teach And some he kenned craftie , and cunnynge of syght With selling and bigging , their liuelodes to wynne And learned some to labour , a lelly lyfe and a true And some he taught to tilly , dytch and to hedge To wyn with their liuelode , by lore of his teachinge Some to diuine and deuide , numbres to kenne And some to se and to saye , what shoulde befall Astronomers . Boeth of well and of woe , tyll it or it fell As astronomers by astronomie , & philosophers wise And some to ride & recouer , the vnrightfully was w●n He wished hem wi● it againe , through wightnes of hand And fetch it from false men , with soule euyll lawes And some he learned to liue , in longynge to be hence In pouerty and in penaunce , to praye for all christen And al he learned to be ●elly , and ech a craft loue other And forbade hem al debate , that none were amonge hem Though some be cleaner then some , ye se wel ꝙ grace That men of the fayrest craft , to the foulist I coulde haue put Thinke al ꝙ grace , that grace cometh of my gift Loke that none lacke other , but loue all as brethren And who the most masteries can , the mildest of beryng And crown conscience king , & make craft your steward And after craftes counsell , cloth you and fede Pierces offices . For I make Pierce plowman , my procuratour & my reue And register to receiue , Redde quod debes , My prouisor & my plowman , Pierce shal be on earth And for to tell trueth , a teme shall he haue Grace gaue Pierce a t●me , foure greate oxen , That one was Luke , Pierce Plowemannes oxe . 1. a large beast & a low chered And Mark & Mathew the third , mighty blasts both And ioyned to hem one Iohn , most gentle of al The price net of Pierces plow , and passing al other And grace gaue pierce , of hys goodnes four stottes Al that his oxen cried , they to harrowe it after One hyght Austen , and Ambrose an other Gregory the greate clarke , and Ierome the good These four the faith to teach , foloweth Pierces teme And harowed in an hande while , all holy scripture With two harowes that they had , an old & a newe . Id est vetus testamentum et nouum . And Grace gaue graines , the cardinall vertues And sew it in mans soule , & sithen told her names Spiritus prudencie , the firste sede hyght And who so eateth that , The sede the Pierce soweth . ymagen he shoulde Ere he did anye dede , deuise well the ende And learned men a ladie bugge , wyth a longe stele , That caste for to kepe a croke , to saue the fat aboue The seconde sede hyght , Spiritus temperantie He that eate of that sede , had suche a kynd Shuld neuer meat ne much drink , make him to swell Ne shoulde no scorner ne skolde , oute of skyll hym bringe Ne wynning ne wealth , of worldly riches Waste worde of ydlenes , ne wicked speach moue Should no curious cloth , come on hys rygge Ne no meate in his mouth , the master Iohn spiced . The third sede the piers sew was , Spiritus fortitudinis And who so eate of that sede , hardye was euer To suffer all that God sente , sickenes or angers Myght no leasinges ne lier , ne losse of worldly cattel Make him for any mourning , that he has mery in soule And bolde and abidinge bismeres to suffer And playeth al with patience , and Parce mihi domine And couereth him vnder counsel , of Caton the wyse Esto forti animo , cum sis damnatus inique . The fourth sede the Pierce s●w , was spiritus iusticie And he that eateth of that sede , shal be euer true With god and not agaiste , but of gile one For Gile goth so priuelie , the good fayth other while May not be espied , fro spiritus iusticie . Spiritus iusticie , spareth not to spil , Iustyce leaueth no sinne vnpunished . Them that been gyltye , and for to correct The kynge if he fall in gylte or in trespace For counteth he no kings wrath , when he court sitteth To demen as a demes man , adrad was he neuer Neither of Duke ne of death , that he ne dyd lawe For presentes ne for prayers , or ani princes letters He did equitie to all , euen forth to his power These four sedes piers sewe , & sith he did hem hard we With th elde lawe and newe , that loue myght wexe Amonge the four vertues , and vices to destroy For communely in contries , cammokes & wedes Fouleth the frute in the feld , ther they grow togiders And so done vices , vertues worthy And Piers harroweth al , the konneth kind witte By counsel of thefe doctours And tilleth after her teachinge , the cardinall vertues Againe these graines ꝙ grace , groneth for to ripe Ordeine the an house Piets , to hather in the corne By god Grace quod Piets , ye moote giue timbre And ordayne that house , or ye hence winde And Grace gaue him the crosse , with the crown of thorns That Christ apon caluery , for mankynde on pined And of his baptisme and bloud , The foundation of the church . that he bled on rode He made a maner mortare , and mercy it hight And therwyth grace began , to make a good fundament And walled it & watled it , with his paines & his passion And of al holy wryte , he made a roufe after And called that house vnytye , holy churche in englysh And whan this dede was done , grace deuised A carte hight christendome , to cary Pierces sheues And gaue him caples to his carte , contrition & confession And made pryesthode hayward , whyle him selfe went As wyde as the world is , with Pierce to tilly truth . Nowe is Pierce to the plowe , Pride enuieth the church . and pryde it spied And gadered him a greate host , to greue hym he thinketh Conscience & all christen , and cardinall vertues Blow hem downe & breake hem , & bite at wo the mores And sent forth Surquidous , his sargeant of armes And his spye spyll loue , one speake euil behynd These two comen to conscyence , and to chrysten people And tolde hem tidinges , that tine thei sholde the sedes That Pierce there had sowne , the cardinal vertues And Pierce barne were broken , & they that be in vnytye Should come out , & conscyence and your two caples Confession and contrition , and your cart the beleue Shal be colored so queintly , & couered vnder our sophistry That conscience shall not know , by contrition Ne by confession , who is christen ne heathen Ne no maner marchant , that with mony dealeth Whether he wyn with ryght , or with wronge , or with vsery With such colour and queintise , commeth prid armed Wyth the lorde that liueth , after the luste of his body To wasten on welfare , and on wicked kepynge All the worlde in a while , through our wit ꝙ Pryde Quod conscience to al christen tho , my counsel is to wend The way to withstand pryde . Hastely into vnytie , and holde we vs there And pray we the a peace wer , in Pierces barne the plow man For witterly I wot wel , that we be not of strength To gone agayne pryde , but grace were with vs And than came kinde wytte , conscience to teache And cried and commaunded , to al christen people For to deluen and digge , depe aboute vnitye That holy kyrke stode in vnitie , as it a pyle were Conscience commaunded tho , all christen to doluen And maken a much mote , that might be a strength To helpe holy kyrke , and hem that it kepeth Than al kynne christen , saue commen women Who thei be that neuer repent . Repented and refused sinne , saue they onely And false men flatterers , vsurers and theues Lyers and questmongers , that were forsworne oft Wyttingly and wilfully , wyth the false holden And for syluer were forsworne , sothly they wist it There nas no christen creature , that kind wit had Saue shrewes onely , suche as I speake of That he ne holpe a quantitie , holines to waxe Some by bedes bidinge , and some by pilgrimage . And other priui paines , & some through pens delinge And than welled water , for wicked workes Egrely renynge , out of mens eyen Clennes of the commune , and clarkes cleane liuinge Made vnitie holy kirke , in holynes to stande I care not quod Conscience , though pride come now The lord of lust shall be letted , al this lent I hope Come quod Conscience , ye christen and dyne That haue laboured lelly , all thys lent tyme Here is bread blessed , and gods body therunder Grace through Gods worde , gaue Pierce power And myght to make it , and men to eate it after In helpe of their heale , once in a moneth Or as oft as they had nede , tho that had payed To Pierces pardon the plowman , Redde quod debts , How quod all the common , thou councelest vs to yelde All that we owe any wight , ere we go to housell That is my counsell ꝙ conscience , & cardinal vertues That eche man forgeue other , & that will the Pa. no. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra . Math. vi &c. And so to be assoyled , and sithen houseled Yea bawe quod a bruer , What lucre maye dooe . I wyll not be ruled By Iesus for your ianglynge , with Spiritus iusticie Ne after Conscience by Christe , while I can sell Both dragges and draffe , and draw it at one hole Thycke ale and thine ale , for that is my kynde And not hacke after holines , hold thy tong Conscience Of Spiritus iusticie , thou speakest muche on idle Caytife quod Conscience , cursed wretche Vnblessed arte thou bruer , but if the God helpe But if thou lyue by lore , of Spiritus iusticie , The chiefe sede that Pierce sewe , saued worth neuer But Conscience the commune fede , & cardinall vertues Leue well they be loste , both lyfe and soule Than is manye a man loste , quod a lewde vicory I am a curator of holy kirke , A blinde curate . & came neuer in my time Men to me that coulde tell , of cardinall vertues Or that counted Conscience , at a cockes fether or an hens I ne knew neuer cardinall , that he ne come fro the Pope And we clarks when they come , for her commens payen For her pelures & palfreis meate , & pilors the hem folow The commune Clamat quotidie , ech a man to other The praise of cardinals . The contrey is the curseder , that Cardinals commen in And there they lyg & leng , most lechery there raigneth Therfore quod this vicory , by very god I would That no cardinal ne come , among the commen people But in her holines , helden hem styll At Auion among the Iewes , Cum sancto sanctus eris . Or in Rome as their rule will , the relikes to kepe And thou Conscience in kynges court , and shouldest neuer come thense . And Grace that thou gredest so of , gider of al clarkes And Pierce with hys new plow , & eke wyth hys olde Emperour of al the world , that al men were christen Imperfite is the Pope , that al the world shold helpe Pierce foloweth the example of God Math. v. And sendeth hem that sleeth , such as he should haue And well worth Pierce plowman , that pursueth god in doinge Qui pluit super iustos et iniustos attonce And sent the sonne to saue , a cursed mans tylth As bryght as to the best man , or the best woman Ryght so Pierce the plowman , peyneth him to tyll As wel for a wastor , and wenches of the stewes As for him selfe & his seruaunts , saue he is fyrst serued And traueileth and tilleth , for a traytour also sore As for the true tidye men , all tymes ylyke And worshiped be he the wrought al , both good & yll And suffreth the sinfull be , tyll sometyme that they repent Of the Pope And God amend the pope , that pylleth holy kyrke And claymeth before the kinge , to be kept of christen And counteth not though christen , be killed & robbed And fynde folke to fyght , and christen folke to spill Agayne th old law & new law , as Paule therof witnesseth . Hebru . x. Non occides mihi vindictam . &c. It semeth by so him selfe hadde his wyll That he ne retcheth ryght nought , of all the rēnaunte And Christ of his curtesy , mend the cardinals frame And turne her wyt to wisedome , & weale of her soule For the commune ꝙ this curatour , counten full lyttle The counsell of Conscience , or cardinall vertues But if they se as by syght , somewhat to wynning Of gyle ne of gabynge , gyue thou neuer tale For Spiritus prudentie , amonge the puple is gyle And all the foule vices , as vertues they semen Eche man sutteleth a slyght , synne for to hyde And colereth it with cunning , and a cleane liuynge Then laught there a Lorde , Of land-lorde● . and by the lyght sayde I holde it ryght and reason , of my reeue to take All that myne auditours , or els my stewarde Counceleth me by their account , & by clarkes writing Wyth Spiritus intellectus , they seke the reues roles And with Spiritus fortitudinis , fetchen it I wyll And than came ther a kyng , and by his crowne sayd I am a kinge with crowne , Of kings the commune to rule And holy kyrke and cleargy , from cursed men to defend And if me lacketh to liue , by the law wil I take it Ther I mai most hastly it haue , for I am head of law For ye be but membres , and I aboue all And sith I am your allerhed , I am your allerhele And holy kyrkes chefe helpe , & chefest am of the common And what I take of you two , I take it of the techinge Of Spiritus iusticie , for I iudge you all So may I boldly be houseled , for I borow neuer Ne craue of my commune , but as my kynd asketh In condition quod conscience , that thou can defend And rule thy realme by reason , as ryght wyll & truth Take thou might in reason , as the lawe asketh Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum sed non ad depredandum . The vycar had farre home , and fayre toke his leaue And I awaked therwith , and wrought as me met .

Passus . xx . et primus de dobest . THan I went by the way , whan I was thus awaked Heauy chered I yede , and eleng in hert I ne wist wher to eate , ne at what place And it nighed nie the none , and with nede I mee That afrowned me foule , and faytour me called Canst thou not excuse the , as dyd the kynge and other That thou toke to thy beleue , to clothes & to sustinaunce As by teaching and by telling , of spiritus temperancie , And thou nome no more , then nede the taught And nede hath no lawe , ne neuer shall fall in dette For three thynges he taketh , his life for to saue That is meat when men him warn , & he no moni weldeth Ne wight that wil be his borow , & hath no wed to ligg What liberti nede geueth . And he caught in that case , & came therto by sleights He synneth not sothlye , that so winneth his fode And though he can so to a cloth , & can no beter cheuisance Nede anone right , winneth him vnder maynprice And if him list for to lape , the lawe of kinde would That he dronke at eche ditche , ere he for thyrst died So nede at great nede , may nimen as for his owne Without counsell of Conscience , or cardinall vertues So that he sewe and serue , Spiritus temperancie , For is no vertue by fer , to Spiritus temperancie , Neither spiritus iusticie , ne spiritus fortitudinis Temperaunce is the chiefe vertue . For spiritus fortitudinis , forfeteth full ofte He shall do more then measure , many a time and oft And beate men ouer bitter , and some of hem to lyttle And greue men greater , then good fayth it would And Spiritus iusticie shal iudge , wyl he nyll he After the kynges counsel , and the commen lyke And spiritus prudencie , in many points shal fayle Of that he weneth wold faile , if his witte ne were Wening is no wisdome , ne wyse ymaginacyon Homo proponit , deus disponet & gouerneth al good vertues And nede is next him , for anon he maketh him And as low as a lambe , for lacking of that hym endeth Wise men forsoke weale , for they wold be nedye And weneden in wyldernes , and would not be riche And God al his great ioye , gostly he left And came and toke mankind , and became nedy So nedy he was as sayth the boke , in many sondry places That he sayd in his sorow , on the selfe rode Both foxe and foule mayste , and to hole crepe And the fyshe hath fyn , to flete with to rest There nede hath innomed me , the I muste nedes abide And suffre sorowes ful soure , that shall to ioye turne Therfore be nought a bashed , to bide and to be nedy Syth he the wrought all the world , was wilfully nedy Ne neuer none so nedy , ne pore died Whan nede had vndone me , thus anon I fell a slepe And met full maruelously , in a mans forme Antichrist came than , and al the croppe of trueth Turned vpsidoune , and ouer tilt the rote And false sprange and spred , and sped mens nedes In ech a contrey ther he came , he cut away trueth And gart gile growe there , as he a God were Friers folowed that fende , Who receyued Antichriste fyrste . for he gaue hem copes And religious reuerenced him , and range theyr belles And al the couent furth came , to welcome that tyrant And all his as well as him , saue onely fooles Whiche foles were wel leuer , to dye than to liue Lenger then Leten , to be so rebuked And a false fende Antechriste , ouer all folke raygned How Antichriste doth seduce many good men And that were myld men & holy men , that no myschyefe dred Defieden all falsenes , and folcke that it vsed And what kyng that hem conforted , knowyng hem any while They cursed & her counsell , were it clarkes or lewde Antichrist had thus sone , hundredes at his banner And prid it bare boldly , about where he yede With a Lord that liueth , after the likinge of his body That came agayne Conscience , the keper was & gydour Ouer kynde christen , and cardinall vertues I counsell quod Conscience , come with mefoles Into vnytye holy church , and holde we vs there And cry we to kind , that he come and defende vs Foles from these fendes lims , for Piers loue the plowman And cry we to all the commune , that they come to vnytie And ther abide and biker , against Belials children Kynd Conscience tho heard , & came out of the planets And sent forth his forriours , feuers and fluxes Coughes and cardiacles , crampes and toth aches Reumes and radgondes , and raynous scalles Byles and botches , and burnynge agues Freneses and foule euill , foragers of kynde Hadden pricked and praied , polles of the people That largely a legion , losten their liues sone There was harow and helpe , here commeth kinde A greate signe of infidelity Wyth death that is dreadeful , to vndone vs all The lorde that lyueth after lust , tho aloude cried After confort a knight , to come and beare his banner A larme a larme quod the Lord , ech lyfe kepe hys own And than met these men , theyr minstrels myght pype And their heraudes of armes , had descriued Lordes Age the hoore , he was in the vawwarde And bare the banner before death , by right he it claimed Kynde came after , with manye kene sores As pockes and pestilences , and much puple shent So kinde through corruptions , The maner of goddes visitation . killed ful many Death came driuynge after , and all to dust pashed Kynges and Kaysers , knyghtes and Popes Learned ne lewed , he ne let no man stande That he hitte euen , he neuer stode after Many a louelye Ladye , and lemmans of knightes Swoned and swelted , for sorow of deathes dintes Conscience of hys curtesye , to kynd he besought To cease and suffer , and se wher they woulde Leaue pryde priuelye , and be perfite christen And kynde ceased tho , to se the people amende Fortune gan flatteren then , The maner of men when plages cease tho fewe that were a lyue And hight hem longe life , and lechery she sent Amonge all maner of men , wedded and vnwedded And gathered a greate hoste , all against Conscience This Lecherye layed on , with a laughing chere And with a priuye speach , and painted wordes And armed him in idlenes , and in highe bearynge He bare a bow in his hand , & many blouddy arrowes Were fethered with fair behest , & many a false truth Wyth hys vntidye tales , he tened full often Conscience & his company , of holy kyrke the teachers Than came Couetise , and caste howe he might Ouercome Conscience , and cardinall vertues And armed him in auaryce , and hongrichly liued His wepen was all wiles , to winnen and to hiden With glosinges & with gabbinges , he gyled the people Couetise and Simony make prelates . Simony him seme , to assayle Conscience And preached to the people , and prelates they maden To hold with antichriste , their temporalties to saue And came to kynges counsell , as a kene baren And kneled to Conscience , in court before hem all And garde good fayth flee , and false to abide And boldly bare adowne , with many a bryght noble Much of the wit and wisedome , of Westminster hall He iusteled to a Iustice , and iusted in his eare And ouertilt al his truth , wel take this on amendmente And to the arches , he yede anone after And turned ciuile into simony , & sith he toke th official For a mantil of miniuer , he made lelly matrimonye Departed ere death came , and deuorse shaped Alas ꝙ Conscience tho , would Christ of his grace That couetise were a christen , that is so kene a fyghter And bolde and abidinge , while his bagge lasteth And then laught life , and let dagge his clothes And armed him in haste , in harlottes wordes And held holines a iape , and hendnes a waster And lete leautye a cherle , and lyer a freman Conscience and counsell , he counted it folye Thus rayled lyfe , for a lyttle fortune And pricked forth wyth pryde , praysed he no vertue He careth not how kind slow , & shall come at last And kyl al earthely creatures , saue conscyence onelye Life lept asyde , and laught him a lemman Health and I ꝙ he , and heauynes of herte Shall do the no dreade , neyther death ne Elde Lyfe and Fortune beget Slouth . And to forget sorow , and giue nought of sinne Thys liked lyfe , and his lemman fortune And gat in their glory , a gadlinge at the last One that much wo wrought , slouth was hys name Slouth wexe wonder yerne , and sone was of age And wedded one wanhope , Slouthe marieth dispayre a wench of the stewes Hyr syre was a sysor , that neuer swore trueth One Tomme two tong , atteint of ech a quest This Slouth was ware of warre , and a flyng made And threw dread of dispayre , adozen myles about For care conscience tho , cried apon age And bad him fond to fight , and afere wanhope And age hent good hope , and hastely he shyfte him And wamed away wanhop , & wyth lyfe he fighteth And lyfe fleeth for feare , to phisike after helpe And besought him of his succour , & of his salue had And gaue hym gold good wonne , the gladded hys hert And they gaue him agayne , a glasen howne Lyfe leued that lechecraft , let shold Elde And dryue awaye death , wyth dias and dragges And Elde auentred him on lyfe , and at laste he hyt A phisician with a furred hode , Age killeth boeth Phisician & Surgi● that he fel in the palsy And ther died that docter , er thre dayes after Now I see said life , that surgery ne phisike May not a myte auayle , to medle agayne Elde And in hope of his heale , good hert he hente And rode so to reuel , a rych place and a mery The company of courte , m●n cleped it sometyme And Elde anone after , and ouer my head he yede And made me bald before , and bare on my crowne So harde he yede ouer my head , that it wil be sene euer Syr euel taught Elde ꝙ I , vnheende go wyth she Sith when was the way , ouer mens heades ? Haddest thou bene hend ꝙ I , thou wold haue asked leue Yea leaue lurden ꝙ he , and layde on me with age And hit me vnder the eare , vnneth may ich heare He buffeted me about the mouth , and bet out mi teth And gyued me in goutes , I may not go at large And of the wo that I was in , my wyfe had ruth And wished full witterly , that I were in heauen For the lyme that she loued me for , & leef was to feele On nights namely , when we naked were I ne might in no maner , make it at hyr wyl So Elde and she sothely , had forbeaten it And as I satte in this sorow , I se kinde passed And death drewe nere me , for dread gan I quake And cryed to kinde , out of care me brynge Lo Elde the hore , hath me besette A wreke me if your wil be , for I would be hence If thou wold be wroken , wend into vnitye And hold the there euer , tyll I sende for the And loke thou konne some craft , ere thou come thence Nature wolde we shoulde learne to loue . Counsell me kynd ꝙ I , what craft is best to learne Learne to loue ꝙ kinde , and leaue of al other Howe shall I come to cattel so , to cloth me & to fode ? And thou loue lelly ꝙ he , lack shal thou neuer Meat ne worldly wede , whyle thy lyfe lasteth . And there by counsell of kinde , I comsed to runne Through contricyon & cofession , till I came to vnytye And ther was conscience constable , christen to saue The seuen capitall sinnes besieged conscience . And beseged sothelie , wyth seuen great Gyantes That with antichrist holden , hard agayn conscience Sloth was his slyng , and hard assawte made Proude priests come wyth hym , mo then a thowsand In paltokes and piked shoes , and pissers long kniues Comen agayne conscience , with coueryse they helden By Mary ꝙ a mansed priest , of the march of Ireland I count no more conscience , Woulde god there were no such priestes in englande . by so I catch siluer Than I do to drinke , a draught of good ale And so sayde sixty , of the same contrey And shotten agayne with shote , many a shefe of othes And brode hoked arowes , Gods hert and his nailes And had almost vnity , and holynes adowne Conscience cryed helpe cleargye , or els I fall Through imperfite priests , & prelates of holi church Fryes heard hym cry , and came him to helpe And for they could not wel her craft , conscience hem for soke Nede neighed tho nere , and conscience he told That they came for couetise , Curates oughte to haue a competent lyuyng certayne to haue cure of soule And for thei are pore perauenter , for patrimony hem failith They flatter to fare well , folke that bene ryche , And syth they chosen chele , and cheitif pouertie Let them chewe as they chosen , & charge them with no cure For Lomer he lyeth , that lyue lode muste begge Then he that laboureth for liuelod , & leueth it begers And sith fryers forsoke , the filicitie of the earth Let them be as beggers , or liue by Angels foode Conscience of this counsell tho , comsed to laugh And curtesly comforted him , and called in al fryers And sayd syrs sothely , welcome be you al To vnitye and holy church , one thing I you praye Hold you in vnitye , and haue no enuy To learned menne to leude , but lyue after youre rule And I will be your borow , ye shall haue bred & cloth And other necessaryes ynow , ye shall nothynge fayle Wyth that ye leaue lodgike , and learne to loue For loue lost the lordshyp , both land and schole Fryer Fraunces and dominyke , for loue to be holy And if ye couet cure , kynd wyl you teache . That in measure God made , al maner thinges And set hem at a certen , and a seker nombre And nempned names newe , and numbred the sterrs Psal. 147 Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum & omnibus . &c. Kynges and knyghtes , that kepen and defenden Haue officers vnder hem , and eche of hem certen And if they wage men to war , they write hem in nombre Or they wyl no treasure hem pay , trauaile they neuer so sore For all other in battel , bene holden brybors Pylors and pikeharneis , in eche a place accursed Monkes and moniales , and al men of relygion Their order & their rule wold , to haue a certen nombre Of lerned and of lewde , the lawe wyll and asked A certen for a certen , saue onely of Fryers The Fryers are without numbre Therfore ꝙ conscience by Christ , kinde witte me telleth It is wickid to wage you , ye wexe without nombre Heauen hath euen nombre , & hell is without numbre Therefore I wold witterly , the ye were in the registers And your nombre vnder notaries signe , & neither mo ne lesse Enuy hard this , and bad fryers go to schole And lerne logike and lawe , and eke contemplacion And preach men of Plato , and priue it by Seneca That all thinges vnder heauen , ought to be in commune And yet he lyeth as I leue , that to the lewde so precheth For God made men a law , and Moses it taught Exod. xx . Non concuptsces rem prorimi tu● . And euel is this hold , in parishes of England For persons & paryshe priestes , that shold the peple shriue Bene Curatours called , to knowe and to heale All that bene their parishers , penaunce to enioyne And shuld be ashamd in theyr shryft , that hem wend maketh And flee to the Fryers , as false folke to Westmynster That boroweth & bereth thither , Thei that went to the Fryers is shri●t wer like santuary men . & then biddeth frends Yerne of forgiuenes , or lenger yeres loue And while he is in Westminster , he will be before And make him mery , with other mens goodes And so it fareth with much folke , that to fryers shriueth As sisours & executours , they will giue the fryers A percel to pray for hem , and make hem selfe mery With the residue & the remnaunt , the other men beswonken And suffer the dead in det , to the daye of dome Enuye therfore hated Conscience , And Fryers to philosophy , he founde hem to schole The while couetise & vnkindnes , Conscience assayled In vnitie holye kyrke , Conscience helde him And made peace porter , to pynne the gates To all tale tellers , and tutelers idle Hypocrisye and he , and harde assaulte they made Hypocrisye at the gate , harde gan to fyght And wounded wel wickedly , many wyse teachers That with Conscience accorded , Hipocris● woundeth preachers and cardinal vertues Conscience called a leche , that coulde well shryue Go salue tho the syck ben , and through synne wounded Shrift shope sharpe salue , and made hem do penaunce For her misdedes , that they wrought hadde And that Pierce were payde , Redde quod debes . Some liked not this leche , and letters they sent If any surgeon were in the sege , that softer could plaster Sir life to lyue in lecherye , laye there and groned For fastynge of a Friday , he fared as he would dye There is a surgeon in this sege , that softe can handle And more of phisike he can , and fayrer he plastereth One Fryer flatterer , is phisician and surgeon Quod contricion to conscience , do him come to vnitie For here is many a man hurt through Hypocrisse , We haue no nede ꝙ Conscience , I wot no better lech Than Person or parishe prieste , penitauncer or bishop Saue Pyerce the plowman , that hath power ouer hem al And indulgence may do , but if that dette let it I may wel suffer quod conscience , seing ye desieren That Fryer flatterer be fet , and phisike you seke The Fryer here of harde , and hied full faste Nother patron nor bishop , regardeth his dutye To a lorde for a letter , leaue to haue curen As a curatour he were , and came with hys letters Boldely to the byshop , and his briefe had In contryes there he came in , confession to here And came ther Conscience was , & knocked at the gate Peace vnpinnen it , was porter of vnitye And in haste asked , what hys wyll were In fayth quod this Frier , for profit and for health Carpe I wold with contrytion , & therfore I came hither He is sicke sayde Peace , and so is many an other Hypocrisie hath hurt him , ful hard is he to couer I am a surgion sayde the segge , and salues can make Conscyence knoweth me wel , and what I can do both I praye the quod Peace tho , ere thou passe further What hightest thou I pray the , heyle not thy name Certes sayd thys felowe , syr Penetrans domos . Go thy gates quod Peace , by god for al thy phisicke But thou kenne some craft , thou commest not herein I knewe such one once , not eyght winters passed Came in thus coped , at a courte wher I dwelled And was my lordes leche , and my ladies both And at laste this limitour , tho my lord was out He salued so out women , tyll some were with childe . Heende speach haete Peace , to open the gats Let in the fryer and his felow , & make hym fair there He may se and here , so it may befall That lyfe throught his lore , shal leaue couetise And be a drade of death , and with drawe him from prid And accord with conscience , and kisse either other Thus through hende speach , entred the fryer And came to Conscience , and curtesly him grete Thou art welcome ꝙ Conscience , canst thou hele the sick ? Here is contricion quod conscience , my cosin wounded Confort hym quod conscience , & take kepe to hys sores The plasters of the person , and pouders beaten to sore He letteth hem lygge ouer long , & ioth is to chaung hem From lenten to lenten , his plasters byten . That is ouerlong ꝙ thys Limitor , I leue I shal amend it And goth & geopeth contricion , & gaue him a plaster Of a pryuy payment , & I shall praye for you And for all that ye bene holden to all my lyfe longe And make you my Ladye , The olde maner of cares shr●fre made synners negligent in masses and in mattens As Fryers of our fraternitie , for a litle siluer Thus he goth & gadereth , & gloseth ther he shriueth Til contricion had cleane forgoten , to crye & to wepe And wake for his works , as he was wont to do For confort of his confessour , Contricion he lost That is the souereynest salue , for al kinnes sinnes Slouthe see that , and so dyd pride And commen wyth a kene wyll , conscience to assayle Conscience cryed oute , and bade cleargy helpe him And also contricion , for to kepe the gate Helleth & dreameth said Peace , & so doth mani other The fryer with his phisike , this folke hath enchaunted And plastred hem so easely , they dread no synne By Christ ꝙ Conscience tho , I wol become a pylgrime And walken as wyde , as the worlde lasteth To seke Pierce the plowman , that pryd mai destroy And that Friers had a findinge the for no nede flatteren And cōtrepledeth me Conscience , now kynde me aueng And send me hap & heale , til I haue Pyers the plowman And syth he grad after grace , til I gan awake .

Finis .