Cf. E. E. T. S. 54, p. 139.
Quod [Quod ausgeschrieben] Perkyn þe ploughman: "be seint Peter of Rome, [folio 35a]
I haue an half acre to ere: by þe hey wey.
Had I erred þis half acre: and sowed affter,
I wold wend wiþ ȝou: and þe hey way tech."
"Þat were a long lettyng": quod a lady in a schare, [Sk. skleire]
What schuld we women: worch in þe whiles?"
"I pray ȝou for ȝour profite": quod Peres to þe ladyes,
"Þat sum sow þe sake: ffor schedyng of þe whete;
And þe [Sk. ȝe] worthy women: wiþ ȝour long fyngers
Þat ȝe on silk an [so Ms.] on sendel: sew, whan tyme is,
Chesebles for chapelens: churches to honour.
Wyffes and wodowes: wol and flex spynnen;
Consciens consaileþ ȝou: cloþe for to make,
For profite of þe pore: and plesaunce of ȝour silfen.
For y schal lene hem liflod: but þe lond faile,
As long as I lyue: for þe lordis loue of heuene.
And al maner men: þat by þe mold susteyneþ,
Helpeþ hem to worch witterly: þat wynnen ȝour fode." [folio 35b]
"By Cryst", quod a kneȝth þo: "he kenneþ vs þe beste,
