The vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman, together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, secundum Wit et Resoun, by William Langland (about 1362-1393 A. D.)

Richard the redeles.

Page 469, C-text

[Prologus.] [
In these foot-notes, the reader will find the rejected readings of the MS., corrections in which have been but very sparingly made.
Besides these, all the more impor|tant parallel passages from the "Vision" are cited, with proper references. Thus, at l. 12, a quota|tion is given from l. 261 of Passus iv. of the C-text, as denoted by C. 4. 261. The C-text has been chosen for refer|ence (where possible) because the reader has it in his hand, and has only to turn back till he finds the passage cited.
]

                    
                      And as I passid in my preiere · þer prestis were at messe, [folio 107b] 
                    
                      In a blessid borugh · þat bristow is named,
                    
                      In a temple of þe trinite · þe toune euen amyddis,
                    
                      That cristis chirche is cleped · amonge þe comune peple,
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Sodeynly þer sourdid · selcouþe þingis,
                    
                      A grett wondir to wyse men · as it well myȝth,
                    
                      And dowtes ffor to deme · ffor drede comynge after.
                    
                      So sore were þe sawis · of bothe two sidis,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Of Richard þat Regned · so Riche and so noble,
                    
                      That whyle he werrid be west · on þe wilde yrisshe, [whyle; MS. wyle.] 
                    
                      Henrri was entrid · on the est half,
                    
                      Whom all þe londe loued · in lengþe and in brede, [Cf. He had be lord of þat londe · in lengthe and in brede; C. 4. 261.] 
                      Line 12 
                    
                      And ros with him rapely · to riȝtyn his wronge, [Cf. Two rysen rapliche · and rounede to-geders; C. 7. 383. For ros, the MS. has rosse.] 
                    
                      ffor he shullde hem serue · of þe same after.

Page 470, C-text

                    
                      Thus tales me troblid · ffor þey trewe were, [were; MS. where.] 
                    
                      And amarride my mynde rith moche · and my wittis eke:
                      Line 16 
                    
                      ffor it passid my parceit · and my preifis also,
                    
                      How so wondirffull werkis · wolde haue an ende.
                    
                      But in sothe whan þey sembled · some dede repente,
                    
                      As knowyn is in cumpas · of Cristen londis,
                      Line 20 
                    
                      That rewthe was, if reson · ne had reffourmed
                    
                      The myssecheff & þe mysserule · þat men þo in endurid. [endurid; no doubt a corruption of durede, the true old form.] 
                    
                      I had pete of his passion · þat prince was of Walis,
                    
                      And eke oure crouned kynge · till crist woll no lenger;
                    
                      And as a lord to his liage · þouȝ I lite hade,
                      Line 25 
                    
                      All myn hoole herte was his · while he in helthe regnid.
                    
                      And ffor I wuste not witterly · what shulde ffall, [wuste; MS. wost; but see Pass. i. ll. 49 and 64, below.] 
                    
                      Whedir god wolde ȝeue him grace · sone to amende,
                    
                      To be oure gioure aȝeyn · or graunte it anoþer,
                      Line 29 
                    
                      This made me to muse · many tyme and ofte, [Cf. Musynge on þis meteles · a myle-wey ich ȝeode.
And meny tymes this me|teles · made me to studie; C. 10. 296.
] 
                    
                      For to written him a writte · to wissen him better,
                    
                      And to meuve him of mysserewle · his mynde to reffresshe,
                      Line 32 
                    
                      ffor to preise þe prynce · þat paradise made,
                    
                      To ffullfill him with ffeith · and ffortune aboue,
                    
                      And not to grucchen a grott · aȝeine godis sonde, [Cf. On god, whenne me greued ouht · and grucched of hus sonde; C. 7. 111.] 
                    
                      But mekely to suffre · what so him sente were.
                      Line 36 
                    
                      And ȝif him list to loke · a leef oþer tweyne, [folio 108]  [Cf. First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne; B. 5. 203.] 
                    
                      That made is to mende him · of his myssededis,
                    
                      And to kepe him in confforte · in crist and nouȝt ellis,

Page 471, C-text

                    
                      I wolde be gladde þat his gost · myȝte glade be my wordis,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      And grame if it greued him · be god þat me bouȝte!
                    
                      Ther nys no gouernour on þe grounde · ne sholde gye him þe better—
                    
                      And euery Cristen kyng · þat ony [croune] bereth, [croune; MS. grounde, an ob|vious error, copied from l. 42.] 
                    
                      So he were lerned on þe langage · my lyff durst I wedde— [Cf. Ich dorst haue leid my lyue · and no lasse wedde; C. 4. 260.] 
                      Line 44 
                    
                      Ȝif he waite well þe wordis, and so werche þerafter;
                    
                      ffor all is tresour of þe trinite · þat turneth men to gode. [Cf. Ther treuthe is, þe trone · þat trinite ynne sitteþ . . Than treuthe & trewe loue · ys no tresour bettere; C. 2. 134—136.] 
                    
                      And as my body & my beste · ou[ȝ]te to be my liegis,
                    
                      So rithffully be reson · my rede shulde also, [Cf. —bi Reson, And Rihtful|iche, &c.; A. 1. 92, 93; also, For ryhtfulliche reson; C. 2. 50.] 
                      Line 48 
                    
                      ffor to conceill, and I couthe · my kyng and þe lordis; [couthe; MS. couȝthe.] 
                    
                      And þer-ffor I ffondyd · with all my ffyue wyttis [For ffondyd, MS. had ffordyd, but it has been altered to ffondyd. Mr Wright prints ffordyd, but see B. 15. 327; and cf. C. 2. 15.] 
                    
                      To traueile on þis tretis · to teche men þer-after
                    
                      To be war of wylffulnesse · lest wondris arise.
                      Line 52 
                    
                      And if it happe to ȝoure honde · beholde þe book onys,
                    
                      And redeth on him redely · rewis an hundrid,
                    
                      And if ȝe sauere sum dell · se it fforth ouere, [Cf. ȝut sauereþ me nat þi sawe; C. 11. 107.] 
                    
                      ffor reson is no repreff · be the rode of chester! [Cf. bi þe Rode of chestre; B. 5. 467.] 
                      Line 56 
                    
                      And if ȝe ffynde ffables · or ffoly þer amonge,
                    
                      Or ony ffantasie yffeyned · þat no ffrute is in,
                    
                      Lete ȝoure conceill corette it · and clerkis to-gedyr,
                    
                      And amende þat ys amysse · and make it more better:
                      Line 60 
                    
                      ffor ȝit it is secrette · and so it shall lenger,

Page 472, C-text

                    
                      Tyll wyser wittis · han waytid it ouere,
                    
                      That it be lore laweffull · and lusty to here.
                    
                      ffor witterly, my will is · þat it well liked
                      Line 64 
                    
                      Ȝou and all ȝouris · and yonge men leueste,
                    
                      To be-nyme hem her noyes · þat neweth hem ofte.
                    
                      ffor and þey mvse þeron · to þe myddwardis,
                      Line 67 
                    
                      They shall [fynde] ffele ffawtis · ffoure score and odde, [The word fynde has obviously been omitted here; it is not in the MS.] 
                    
                      That yough[th]e weneth alwey · þat it be witte euere.
                    
                      And thouȝ þat elde opyn it · oþer-while amonge,
                    
                      And poure on it preuyly · and preue it well after,
                    
                      And constrewe ich clause · with þe culorum, [Cf. þe culorum of þis clause; A. 3. 264; C. 12. 248.] 
                      Line 72 
                    
                      It shulde not apeire hem a peere · a prynce þouȝ he were,
                    
                      Ne harme noþer hurte · þe hyghest of þe rewme,
                    
                      But to holde him in hele · and helpe all his ffrendis. [folio 108b] 
                    
                      And if ony word write be · þat wrothe make myghte
                    
                      My souereyne, þat suget · I shulde to be,
                      Line 77 
                    
                      I put me in his power · and preie him, of grace, [Cf. Thenne knelede ich on my knees and criede hure of grace,
And preide hure pytously; C. 2. 76, 77.
] 
                    
                      To take þe entent of my trouþe · þat thouȝte non ylle.
                    
                      ffor to wrath no wyght · be my wyll neuere,
                      Line 80 
                    
                      As my soule be saff · ffrom synne at myn ende.
                    
                      Þe story is of non estate · þat stryuen with her lustus,
                    
                      But þo þat ffolwyn her fflessh · and here ffrelle þouȝtis;
                    
                      So if my conceyll be clere · I can saie no more,
                      Line 84 
                    
                      But ho be greued in his gost · gouerne him better,
                    
                      And blame not þe berne · þat the book made,
                    
                      But þe wickyd will · and þe werkis after.

Page 473, C-text

[Passus Primus.] [Pass. i. 4. y-lyfte; so in MS. Mr Wright prints y-lyste.]

                    
                      Now, Richard þe redeles · reweth on ȝou self,
                    
                      Þat lawelesse leddyn ȝoure lyf · and ȝoure peple oþe;
                    
                      ffor þoru þe wyles and wronge · and wast in ȝoure tyme,
                    
                      Ȝe were lyghtlich y-lyfte · ffrom þat ȝou leef þouȝte,
                      Line 4 
                    
                      And ffrom ȝoure willffull werkis · ȝoure will was chaungid,
                    
                      And rafte was ȝoure riott · and rest, ffor ȝoure daiez
                    
                      Weren wikkid þoru ȝoure cursid counceill · ȝoure karis weren newed,
                    
                      And coueitise hath crasid · ȝoure croune ffor euere!Radix omnium malorum cupiditas.
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Of alegeaunce now lerneth · a lesson oþer tweyne [Cf. Furst I leornede to lyȝe · a lessun or tweyne; A. 5. 117.] 
                    
                      Wher-by it standith · and stablithe moste—
                    
                      By drede, or be dyntis · or domes vntrewe, [drede; MS. dride, but altered to drede.] 
                    
                      Or by creaunce of coyne · ffor castes of gile,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      By pillynge of ȝoure peple · ȝoure prynces to plese;
                    
                      Or þat ȝoure wylle were wrouȝte · þouȝ wisdom it nolde;—
                    
                      Or be tallage of ȝoure townes · without ony werre, [townes; MS. towunes or townnes.] 
                    
                      By rewthles routus · þat ryffled euere, [routus; MS. routus, altered to routes, unnecessarily.] 
                      Line 16 
                    
                      By preysinge of polaxis · þat no pete hadde, [Cf. Or Poule þe apostle · þat no pitec hadde; B. 10. 424; C. 12. 268.] 
                    
                      Or be dette ffor þi dees · deme as þou ffyndist;

Page 474, C-text

Or be ledinge of lawe · with loue well ytemprid. [Cf. And ledeþ þe lawe as hure lust · and louedayes makeþ; C. 4. 196.]

                    
                      Though þis be derklich endited · ffor a dull nolle,
                    
                      Miche nede is it not · to mwse þer-on,
                      Line 21 
                    
                      ffor as mad as I am · þouȝ I litill kunne,
                    
                      I cowde it discryue · in a ffewe wordys; [folio 109] 
                    
                      ffor legiance without loue · litill þinge availith. [Cf. Lawe with-outen loue · leye þere a bene! B. 11. 165.] 
                      Line 24 
                    
                      But graceles gostis · gylours of hem-self, [gostis; so in MS.; printed gestis by Mr Wright.] 
                    
                      That neuere had harnesse · ne hayle schouris,
                    
                      But walwed in her willis · ffor-weyned in here youthe; [Cf. And lete no wynnynge for|wene hem · þe while þei ben ȝonge; C. 6. 138.] 
                    
                      Þey sawe no manere siȝth · saff solas and ese,
                      Line 28 
                    
                      And cowde no mysse amende · whan mysscheff was vp, [Cf. þi myschief is vppe; B. 4. 72.] 
                    
                      But sorwed ffor her lustus · of lordsch[i]pe þey hadde, [lustus; altered to lustes in MS.] 
                    
                      And neuere ffor her trespas · oo tere wolde þey lete!
                    
                      Ȝe come to ȝoure kyngdom · er ȝe ȝoure-self knewe,
                      Line 32 
                    
                      Crouned with a croune · þat kyng vnder heuene
                    
                      Miȝte not a better · haue bouȝte, as I trowe;
                    
                      So ffull was it ffilled · with vertuous stones,
                    
                      With perlis of pris · to punnysshe þe wrongis,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      With rubies rede · þe riȝth for to deme, [33—37. Cf. And coroned with a corone · þe kynge hath no betere; . . . And þer-on rede rubies · and oþer riche stones; C. 3. 11, 13.] 
                    
                      With gemmes and Iuellis · Ioyned to-gedir,
                    
                      And pees amonge þe peple · ffor peyne of þi lawis.
                    
                      It was ffull goodeliche ygraue · with gold al aboute; [aboute; MS. abouȝte, both here and in ii. 2, 15, and 102. Cf. gold al a-boute; C. 3. 158.] 
                    
                      The braunchis aboue · boren grett charge;
                      Line 41 
                    
                      With diamauntis derne · y-doutid of all [Cf. And diamantz of derrest pris · and double manere safferes; B. 2. 13; see the whole passage. y|doutid; written y-douutid in MS.; so in l. 46 the MS. has Y-pouudride.] 
                    
                      That wrou[ȝ]te ony wrake · within or withoute;

Page 475, C-text

                    
                      With lewte and loue · yloke to þi peeris, [Cf. Ac loue and louhnesse · and leaute to-gederes; C. 4. 447.] 
                      Line 44 
                    
                      And sapheris swete · þat souȝte all wrongis, [Cf. And diamantz of derrest pris · and double manere safferes; B. 2. 13; see the whole passage. y|doutid; written y-douutid in MS.; so in l. 46 the MS. has Y-pouudride.] 
                    
                      Ypoudride wyth pete · þer it be ouȝte, [See note to l. 42, above.] 
                    
                      And traylid with trouþe · and treste al aboute;
                    
                      ffor ony cristen kynge · a croune well ymakyd.
                      Line 48

                    
                      But where þis croune bicome · a clerk were þat wuste; [Cf. I ne wot where þei bicome; B. 5. 651.] 
                    
                      But so as I can · declare it I thenke,
                    
                      And nempne no name; · but þo þat nest were, [nest; MS. nest or neft. Mr Wright prints neft, but leaves it un|explained, there being no such word; nest is nighest.] 
                    
                      ffull preuyly þey pluckud · þy power awey,
                      Line 52 
                    
                      And reden with realte · ȝoure rewme þoru-oute, [reden; so in MS., though afterwards altered to ryden. Yet reden may stand, as it occurs in the Lansdowne MS. of Chaucer; Prol. l. 825. See also C. 2. 91.] 
                    
                      And as tyrauntis, of tiliers · token what hem liste,
                    
                      And paide hem on her pannes · whan her penyes lacked. [Cf. the account of how "Pees" came by his "panne blody;" C. 5. 74.] 
                      Line 55 
                    
                      ffor non of ȝoure peple · durste pleyne of here wrongis, [Cf. For pore men der nat pleyne · ne here pleinte shewe; C. 4. 214; see the whole passage.] 
                    
                      ffor drede of ȝoure dukys · & of here double harmes.
                    
                      Men myȝtten as well haue huntyd · an hare with a tabre, [folio 109b] 
                    
                      As aske ony mendis · ffor þat þei mysdede,
                    
                      Or of ony of her men · þouȝ men wulde plete,
                      Line 60 
                    
                      ffor all was ffelawis and ffelawschepe · þat ȝe with fferde,
                    
                      And no soule persone · to punnyshe þe wrongis;
                    
                      And þat maddid þi men · as þei nede muste.
                    
                      ffor wo, þey ne wuste · to whom ffor to pleyne.
                      Line 64 
                    
                      ffor, as it is said · by elderne dawis,
                    
                      'Þer gromes and the goodmen · beth all eliche grette,
                    
                      Woll wo beth þe wones · and all þat woneth þer-in!'

Page 476, C-text

                    
                      Þey ladde ȝou with loue · þat ȝoure lawe dradde,
                      Line 68 
                    
                      To deme ȝoure dukys myssdedis · so derne þei were.
                    
                      Thus was ȝoure croune crasid · till he was cast newe,
                    
                      Þoru partinge of ȝoure powere · to ȝoure paragals.
                    
                      Thus lacchide þey with laughinge · and lourid longe after, [Cf. Þere was laughyng and louryng; B. 5. 344.] 
                      Line 72 
                    
                      But ffrist sawe they it not · ne youre-self noþer;
                    
                      ffor all was wisliche ywrouȝte · as ȝoure witte demed,
                    
                      And no ffautis y-ffounde · till ffortune aperid. [fautis; MS. fauutis.] 
                      Line 75 
                    
                      But had ȝoure croune be kepte · þat comons it wiste,
                    
                      Þer nadde morder ne mysscheff · be amonge þe grette. [nadde; glossed in the MS. by had nat.] 
                    
                      Thus ȝoure cautell to the comoune · hath combred ȝou all, [cautell; glossed in the MS. by crafte.] 
                    
                      That, but if god helpe · ȝoure heruest is ynne.
                    
                      Wyteth it not ȝoure counceill · but wyteth it more ȝoure-self, [Wyteth; misspelt Wytteth (alt. to Wyteth) the first time, and wyteh the second time, in the MS.] 
                      Line 80 
                    
                      The ffortune þat ffallyn is · to ffeitheles peple;
                    
                      And wayte well my wordis · and wrappe hem to|gedir,
                    
                      And constrwe [þoru] clergie · þe clause in þin herte, [The word þoru (= through) must be supplied; cf. Clerkus þat were confessours · couplede hem to|gederes To construe this clause; C. 5. 146, 147.] 
                    
                      Of maters þat I thenke · to meve ffor the best [Cf. I dorste meue no matere; C. 11. 118.] 
                      Line 84 
                    
                      ffor kyngis and kayseris · comynge here-after. [Kayseris; badly spelt Kayse|ceris in the MS., with the gloss lordes, rulers; cf. Kynges and knyghtes · caysers and popes; C. 23. 101.] 
                    
                      Whane ȝe were sette in ȝoure se · as a sir aughte, [sir; glossed in the MS. by lorde.] 
                    
                      Ther Carpinge comynliche · of conceill arisith,
                    
                      The cheuyteyns cheef · þat ȝe chesse euere,
                      Line 88 
                    
                      Weren all to yonge of ȝeris · to yeme swyche a rewme; [yeme; glossed in the MS. by guyde or rule.]

Page 477, C-text

                    
                      Oþer hobbis ȝe hadden · of hurlewaynis kynne,
                    
                      Reffusynge the reule · of realles kynde. [folio 110] 
                    
                      And whane ȝoure counceill I-knewe · ȝe come so at ones,
                      Line 92 
                    
                      ffor to leue on her lore · and be led be hem,
                    
                      ffor drede þat they had · of demynge þer-after,
                    
                      And ffor curinge of hem-self · cried on ȝou euere, [curinge; MS. somewhat indis|tinct. Mr. Wright prints caringe.] 
                    
                      ffor to hente hele · of her owen greues,
                      Line 96 
                    
                      More þan ffor wurschepe · þat þey to ȝou owed,
                    
                      Þey made ȝou to leue · þat regne ȝe ne myȝte, [myȝte; MS. myste.] 
                    
                      Withoute busshinge adoune · of all ȝoure best ffrendis,
                    
                      Be a ffals colour · her caris to wayve,
                      Line 100 
                    
                      And to holde hem in hele · if it happe myȝte.
                    
                      ffor trostiþ rith treuly · and in no tale better,
                    
                      All þat þey moued · or mynged in þat mater, [þat; Mr. Wright prints the.] 
                      Line 103 
                    
                      Was to be sure of hem-self · and siris to ben y-callid;
                    
                      ffor þat was all her werchinge · in worde and in dede.
                    
                      But had ȝe do duly · and as a duke oughte,
                    
                      Þe ffrist þat ȝou fformed · to þat ffals dede,
                    
                      He shulde have hadde hongynge · on hie on þe fforckis,
                      Line 108 
                    
                      Þouȝ ȝoure brother y-born · had be þe same.
                    
                      Than wolde oþer boynardis · haue ben abasshyd,
                    
                      To haue meved ȝou to ony maters · þat myss[c]heff had ben ynne. [maters; printed mals by Mr Wright, owing to the indistinctness of the mark of contraction; but see l. 84, above; and also l. 103.] 
                    
                      But ffor ȝe cleued to knavis · In þis cas I avowe,
                      Line 112 
                    
                      Þat boldid þi burnes · to belde vppon sorowe, [burnes; glossed by barons in the MS.] 
                    
                      And stirid ȝou stouttely · till ȝe stombled all.

Page 478, C-text

Passus secundus. [Pass. ii. 2. aboute; MS. abouȝte; cf. note above to i. 40. So also in l. 15.]

                    
                      But moche now me merueilith · and well may I in sothe,
                    
                      Of ȝoure large leuerey · to leodis aboute,
                    
                      That ȝe so goodliche ȝaf · but if gile letted,
                    
                      As hertis y-heedyd · and hornyd of kynde, [As; misprinted And by Mr Wright.] 
                      Line 4 
                    
                      So ryff as þey ronne · ȝoure rewme þoru-oute, [ronne; printed roune by Mr Wright.] 
                    
                      That non at ȝoure nede · ȝoure name wolde nempne
                    
                      In ffersnesse ne in ffoltheed · but ffaste ffle away-ward,
                    
                      And some stode astonyed · and stared ffor drede,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      ffor eye of the Egle · þat oure helpe brouȝte. [brouȝte; written brouute in the MS.] 
                    
                      And also in sothe · þe seson was paste
                    
                      ffor hertis y-heedid · so hy and so noble
                    
                      To make ony myrthe · ffor mowtynge þat nyghed.
                      Line 12 
                    
                      That bawtid ȝoure bestis · of here bolde chere; [folio 110b] 
                    
                      Þey seuerid and sondrid · ffor somere hem ffaylid,
                    
                      And fflowen in-to fforest · and ffeldis aboute,
                    
                      All þe hoole herde · þat helde so to-gedir; [to- in to-gedir is supplied in the MS. in a later hand.] 
                      Line 16 
                    
                      But ȝet þey had hornes · half a ȝere after. [a is supplied in the MS. in a later hand; cf. "half a ȝere" in C. 3. 238.] 
                    
                      Now liste me to lerne · ho me lere coude,
                    
                      What kynnes conceyll · þat þe kyng had,
                    
                      Or meued him most · to merke his liegis,
                      Line 20 
                    
                      Or serue hem with signes · þat swarmed so thikke

Page 479, C-text

                    
                      Þoru-oute his lond · in lengþe and in brede, [See Prol. l. 12.] 
                    
                      Þat ho so had hobblid · þoru holtes and tounes,
                    
                      Or y-passid þe patthis · þer the prynce dwellyd,
                      Line 24 
                    
                      Of hertis or hyndis · on hassellis brestis, [Of; MS. Or (wrongly).] 
                    
                      Or some lordis leuere · þat þe lawe stried,
                    
                      He shulde haue y-mette · mo þan y-nowe.
                      Line 27 
                    
                      ffor þey acombrede þe contre · and many curse seruid, [seruid; glossed deserved in the MS.; correctly.] 
                    
                      And carped to þe comounes · with þe kyngys mouþe,
                    
                      Or with þe lordis · þer þey be-lefte were,
                    
                      That no renke shulde rise · reson to schewe.
                    
                      Þey plucked the plomayle · ffrom þe pore skynnes,
                      Line 32 
                    
                      And schewed her signes · ffor men shulde drede
                    
                      To axe ony mendis · ffor her mys-dedis.
                    
                      Thus leuerez ouere-loked · ȝoure liegis ichone; [ichone; MS. ichonne.] 
                    
                      ffor þo þat had hertis · on hie on her brestis
                      Line 36 
                    
                      ffor the more partie · I may well avowe, [Cf. ich may it wel avowe; C. 4. 315.] 
                    
                      Þey bare hem the bolder · ffor her gay broches,
                    
                      And busshid with her brestis · and bare adoune the pouere,
                    
                      Lieges þat loued ȝou þe lesse · ffor her yuell dedis.
                      Line 40 
                    
                      So, trouthe to telle · as toune men said,
                    
                      ffor on þat ȝe merkyd · ȝe myssed ten schore
                    
                      Of homeliche hertis · þat þe harme hente.
                    
                      Thane was it ffoly · in ffeith, as me thynketh,
                      Line 44 
                    
                      To sette siluer in signes · þat of nouȝt serued. [Cf. Bere no suluer ouer see · þat kynges sygne sheweþ; C. 5. 126.] 
                    
                      I not what ȝou eylid · but if it ese were; [Cf. Ich wot wel, quath hunger · what syknesse ȝow aileþ; C. 9. 271.] 
                    
                      ffor ffrist at ȝoure anoyntynge · alle were ȝoure owene,
                    
                      Bothe hertis and hyndis · and helde of non oþer; [folio 111] 
                      Line 48 
                    
                      No lede of ȝoure lond · but as a liege aughte,
                    
                      Tyl ȝe, of ȝoure dulnesse · deseueraunce made, [Tyl; MS. Ty, altered to Tyl.]

Page 480, C-text

                    
                      Þoru ȝoure side signes · þat shente all þe browet,
                    
                      And cast adoun þe crokk · þe Colys amyd.Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur; luce xj o. c o. [Cf. Þat cast for to kele a crokke · and saue þe fatte aboue; C. 20. 280.] 
                      Line 52 
                    
                      Ȝit am I lewde · and litill good schewe,
                    
                      To coueyte knowliche · of kyngis wittis,
                    
                      Or wilne to witte · how was þe mevynge,
                    
                      That [ladde] ȝou to lykynge · ȝoure liegis to merke, [Here ladde seems required.] 
                      Line 56 
                    
                      Þat loued ȝou full lelly · or leuerez beganne, [MS. begynne, altered to beganne. Cf. And to loue me lelly; B. 1. 78.] 
                    
                      And as redy to ride · or renne at ȝoure heste, [Cf. ȝemen · to rennen and to ryde; C. 4. 271.] 
                    
                      As wyghte myghte wilne · wonnynge vppon erthe,
                    
                      Tyll leuerez hem lette · and lordyns wrongis,
                      Line 60 
                    
                      As ȝoure-self ffonde well · whane ffortune ȝou ffolwyd. [ffolwyd; the word ffayled is written above, and is perhaps a better reading.] 
                    
                      ffor whan ȝe list to lene · to ȝoure owen lymmes,
                    
                      Þey were so ffeble and ffeynte · ffor ffaute of ȝoure lawe, [faute; spelt fauȝte in the MS.] 
                    
                      And so ffeble and wayke · wexe in þe hammes,
                      Line 64 
                    
                      Þat þey had no myghte · to amende ȝoure greues,
                    
                      Ne to bere byrthen · ȝoure banere to helpe.
                    
                      But it longith to no liegeman · his lord to anoye,
                    
                      Noþer in werk ne in word · but if his witt ffayle. [Cf. As in workes and in wordes; C. 3. 94.] 
                      Line 68 
                    
                      "No, redely," quod reson · "þat reule I alowe; [Cf. Forþy, reson, redelyche; C. 5. 184.] 
                    
                      Displese not þi demer · in dede ne in wordis,
                    
                      But if þe liste ffor to lede · þi lyf in dissese.
                    
                      But ȝif god haue grauntyd þe · grace ffor to knowe
                      Line 72 
                    
                      Ony manere mysscheff · þat myȝtte be amendyd,
                    
                      Schewe þat to þi souereyne · to schelde him ffrom harmes;
                    
                      ffor, and he be blessid · þe better þe be-tydyth
                    
                      In tyme ffor to telle him · ffor þi trewe herte."

                      Line 76

Page 481, C-text

                    
                      Line 76 
                    
                      Now, ffor to telle trouthe · þus þan me thynketh,
                    
                      That no manere meyntenour · shulde merkis bere,
                    
                      Ne haue lordis leuere · þe lawe to apeire,
                    
                      Neiþer bragger ne boster · ffor no bremme wordis, [Cf.—braggynge · abosted, &c.; C. 9. 152.] 
                      Line 80 
                    
                      But ho so had kunnynge · and conscience bothe,
                    
                      To stonde vnstombled · and stronge in his wittis, [folio 111b]  [Cf. to stomble, yf he stande; C. 11. 35.] 
                    
                      Lele in his leuynge · leuyd be his owen,
                    
                      Þat no manere mede · shulde make him wrye,
                      Line 84 
                    
                      ffor to trien a trouthe · be-twynne two sidis,
                    
                      And lette ffor no lordschep · þe lawe to susteyne,
                    
                      Whane þe pore pleyned · that put were to wrongis.
                    
                      And I were of conceill · by crist þat me bouȝte,
                      Line 88 
                    
                      He shuld haue a signe · and sum-what be ȝere,
                    
                      ffor to kepe his contre · in quiete and in reste.
                    
                      This were a good grounde · so me god helpe!
                    
                      And a trewe tente · to take and to ȝeue,
                      Line 92 
                    
                      And ony lord of this londe · þat leuerez vsith. [And; read To or For?] 
                    
                      But how the gayes han y-gon · god wotte þe sothe [A d is written over g in gayes, as if to alter it to dayes; but the alliteration requires gayes; see Note.] 
                    
                      Amonge myȝtfull men · alle these many ȝeris;
                    
                      And, whedir þe grounde of ȝifte · were good oþer ille, [ȝifte; printed ȝiste by Mr Wright.] 
                      Line 96 
                    
                      Trouthe haþe determyned · þe tente to þe ende, [Cf. Til trewþe hadde ytermenyd · here trespas to þe ende; C. 2. 93.] 
                    
                      And reson hath rehersid · þe resceyte of all.
                    
                      Ȝit, I trowe, ȝoure entente · at þe ffrist tyme,
                    
                      Was, as I wene, ȝif I well thenke · in multitude of peple,
                      Line 100 
                    
                      That ȝe were þe more myȝtier · ffor the many signes
                    
                      Þat ȝe and ȝoure seruauntis · aboute so thikke sowid; [aboute; badly spelt abouȝte in the MS. sowid; glossed by shewed in the MS.; wrongly.] 
                    
                      And þat þey were more tristi · and trewer þan oþer,
                    
                      To loue ȝou ffor þe leuere · þat legeaunce stroied;

                      Line 104

Page 482, C-text

                    
                      Line 104 
                    
                      Or ellis ffor a skylle · þat skathed ȝoure-self,
                      Line 105 
                    
                      Þat comounes of contre · in costis aboute [in; Mr Wright prints and, but MS. has had altered to in. For aboute, the MS. has the false spelling abouȝte. Cf. Yf þei knew eny countreie · oþer costes aboute; C. 11. 12.] 
                    
                      Sholde knowe be hir quentise · þat þe kyng loued hem
                    
                      ffor her priuy prynte · passinge anoþer.
                      Line 108 
                    
                      Ȝif þat was ȝoure purpos · it passith my wittis
                    
                      To deme discrecioun · of ȝoure well-doynge!
                    
                      Þus were ȝe disceyued · þoru ȝoure duble hertis,
                    
                      Þat neuere weren to truste · so god saue my soule!
                    
                      But had þe good greehonde · be not agreued,
                      Line 113 
                    
                      But cherischid as a cheffeteyne · and cheff of ȝoure lese,
                    
                      Ȝe hadde had hertis ynowe at ȝoure wille · to go and to ride.
                    
                      And also in serteyne · þe soþe ffor to telle,
                      Line 116 
                    
                      I wondir not hyly · þouȝ heed-dere þou ffailid; [folio 112] 
                    
                      ffor litill on ȝoure lyf · þe list ffor to rewe
                    
                      On rascaile þat rorid · with ribbis so lene,
                    
                      ffor ffaute of her ffode · þat fflater[er]is stelen, [ffaute; misspelt ffauȝte in the MS., as in l. 63.] 
                      Line 120 
                    
                      And euere with here wylis & wast · ofte þey hem anoyed,
                    
                      Þat pouerte hem prickid · ffull preuyliche to pleyne,
                    
                      But where, þey ne wyste · ne ho it wolde amende!
                    
                      Þus ȝe derid hem vnduly · with droppis of anger,
                      Line 124 
                    
                      And stonyed hem with stormes · þat stynted neuere,
                    
                      But plucked and pulled hem · anon to þe skynnes,
                    
                      Þat the ffresinge ffrost · ffreted to here hertis.
                    
                      So whanne ȝoure hauntelere dere · were all ytakyn, [were; MS. where, badly; see were in ll. 101, 103.] 
                    
                      Was non of þe rasskayle · aredy ffull growe,
                      Line 129 
                    
                      To bere ony bremme heed · as a best aughte,
                    
                      So wyntris wedir · hem wessh with þe snowis,
                    
                      With many derke mystis · þat maddid her eyne.

                      Line 132

Page 483, C-text

                    
                      Line 132 
                    
                      ffor well mowe ȝe wyttyn · & so mowe we all,
                    
                      Þat harde is þe somer · þer sonne schyneth neuere.
                    
                      Ȝe ffostrid and ffodid · a ffewe of þe best,
                      Line 135 
                    
                      And leyde on hem lordschipe · aleyne vppon oþer,
                    
                      And bereued þe raskall · þat rith wolde þei hadde,
                    
                      And knewe not þe caris · ne cursis þat walkyd;
                      Line 138 
                    
                      But mesure is a meri mene · þouȝ men moche yerne:—Deus exaudit clamorem pauperum, et iudicat Causam eorum; dauid in psalmis. [Mesure is medcyne · þouȝ þow moche ȝerne; B. 1. 35; C. 2. 33.] 
                    
                      Þus be þe rotus · ȝoure raskall endurid,
                      Line 140 
                    
                      Tyll þe blessid bredd · brodid his wyngis,
                    
                      To couere hem ffrom colde · as his kynde wolde. [Cf. as hus kynde wolde; C. 4. 129; and 9. 161.] 
                    
                      Rith as þe hous-hennes · vppon londe hacchen,
                    
                      And cherichen her chekonys · ffro chele of þe wynter, [cherichen; glossed cherissheth. chele; glossed colde.] 
                    
                      Ryth so þe hende Egle · þe heyere of hem all, [heyere; MS. Eyere; but see iii. 74.] 
                      Line 145 
                    
                      Hasteth him in heruest · to houyn his bryddis,
                    
                      And besieth him besely · to breden hem ffeedrin,
                    
                      Tyll her ffre ffedris · be ffulliche y-pynned,
                      Line 148 
                    
                      Þat þey heue wynge at her wyll · to wonne vppon hille,
                    
                      ffor venym on þe valeye · hadde ffoule with hem ffare,
                    
                      Tyll trouthe þe triacle · telde somme her sothes. [Cf. For treuthe telleþ þat loue · ys tryacle for synne; C. 2. 147.] 
                    
                      Thus baterid þis bred · on busshes aboute, [aboute; MS. abouȝte. So also in ll. 157, 182, 186.] 
                      Line 152 
                    
                      And gaderid gomes on grene · þer as þey walkyd, [folio 112b] 
                    
                      Þat all þe schroff and schroup · sondrid ffrom oþer.
                    
                      He mellid so þe matall · with þe hand-molde,
                      Line 155 
                    
                      That [þey] lost [of þeir] lemes · þe leuest þat þey had. [Supply þey and of þeir. They lost the liefest of their limbs; i. e. their heads.] 
                    
                      Thus ffoulyd this ffaukyn · on ffyldis aboute,
                    
                      And cauȝte of the kytes · a cartfull at ones, [kytes; MS. kuyttis, with kytes written above; see l. 161.]

Page 484, C-text

                    
                      That rentis and robis · with raveyn euere lauȝte. [raveyn; so I read it. Mr Wright prints rabeyn, as it may also be read. lauȝte; glossed caught.] 
                    
                      Ȝit was not þe ffawcon · ffull ffed at his likynge,
                      Line 160 
                    
                      ffor it cam him not of kynde · kytes to loue.
                    
                      Than bated he boldeliche · as a brid wolde,
                    
                      To plewme on his pray · þe pol ffro þe nekk;
                    
                      But þe blernyed boynard · þat his bagg stall,
                      Line 164 
                    
                      Where purraile-is pulter · was pynnyd ffull ofte,
                    
                      Made þe ffawcon to ffloter · and fflussh ffor anger,
                    
                      That þe boy hadd be bounde · þat þe bagge kepte.
                    
                      But sone þer-after · in a schorte tyme,
                      Line 168 
                    
                      As ffortune ffolwith · ech ffode till his ende,
                    
                      This lorell þat ladde · þis loby awey [ladde; MS. hadde; but ob|serve the alliteration and the sense.] 
                    
                      Ouere ffrithe and fforde · ffor his ffals dedis,
                    
                      Lyghte on þe lordschepe · þat to þe brid longid,
                      Line 172 
                    
                      And was ffelliche ylauȝte · and luggid ffull ylle,
                    
                      And brouȝte to þe brydd · and his blames rehersid
                    
                      Preuyly at þe parlement · amonge all þe peple.
                    
                      Thus hawkyd þis Egle · and houed aboue,
                      Line 176 
                    
                      Þat, as god wolde · þat gouerneth all þingis,
                    
                      Ther nas kyte ne krowe · þat kareyne hantid,
                    
                      Þat he ne with his lynage · ne louyd ffull sone.
                    
                      ffor wher so þey fferde · be ffryth or be wones, [wones; Mr Wright prints woves, but in his glossary says "qu. wones." Cf. Lorde, who shal wonye in þi wones? B. 3. 234. And see Pass. iii. 220, below.] 
                      Line 180 
                    
                      Was non of hem all · þat him hide myȝth,
                    
                      But cam with him a reclayme · ffro costis aboute,
                    
                      And ffell with her ffetheris · fflat vppon þe erthe, [Cf. platte hure to þe erthe; C. 7. 3.] 
                    
                      As madde of her mynde · and mercy be-souȝte,
                      Line 184 
                    
                      Þey myȝte not aschonne · þe sorowe þey had serued. [serued; glossed deserved.] 
                    
                      So lymed leues · were leyde all aboute,
                    
                      And panteris preuyliche · pight vppon þe grounde, [Here follow the catchwords—With grennes of good here.]

Page 485, C-text

                    
                      With grennes of good heere · þat god him-self made, [folio 113]  [grennes; glossed greyhoundes. This is entirely wrong; for a gren is a gin or snare; and "a gren of good heere" is a snare made of fine hair. Observe the context.] 
                    
                      Þat where so þey walkid · þey waltrid dounwardis;
                      Line 189 
                    
                      And euere houed þe Egle · on hie on þe skyes,
                    
                      And kenned clerliche · as his kynde axith, [Cf. riȝte as kynde axeth; B. 2. 27.] 
                    
                      Alle þe preuy poyntis · þat þe pies wrouȝth.

                      Line 192

Page 486, C-text

Passus Tercius. [Pass. iii. 9. Cf. Þe moste myschif on molde · Mounteþ vp faste; C. 1. 65.]

                    
                      Now leue we þis beu brid · till I restore,
                    
                      ffor mater þat my mynde · is meued in now,
                    
                      That whi þe hie hertis · her hele so mysside,
                    
                      Þat pasture axid · rith to here pure wombis;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      I wolle schewe as I sawe · till I se better,
                    
                      And if I walke out of the wey · I wolle me repente.
                    
                      Now herkeneth, hende men · how þat me thynkyth,
                    
                      Sauynge souereynes · and sages avise,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Þat þe moste myscheff · vppon molde on
                    
                      Is demed þe dede · y-do aȝeins kynde.
                    
                      Ȝit clereth þis clause · no þinge my wittis,
                    
                      With-out more mater · what it mene wolde.
                      Line 12 
                    
                      I mene of þe hertis · þat hautesse of ȝeris,
                    
                      Þat pasture prikkyth · and her preuy age;
                    
                      Whan þey han hoblid on þe holte · an hundrid of ȝeris,
                    
                      That þey ffeblen in ffleissh · in ffelle, and in bones,
                      Line 16 
                    
                      Her kynde is to keuere · if þey cacche myȝth
                    
                      Adders þat harmen · alle hende bestis; [harmen; MS armen, with h supplied above the line.] 
                    
                      Þoru busschis and bromes · þis beste, of his kynde,
                    
                      Secheth and sercheth · þo schrewed wormes,
                      Line 20 
                    
                      Þat steleth on þe stedis · to stynge hem to deth;
                    
                      And whanne it happeth þe herte · to hente þe edder,
                    
                      He putyth him to peyne · as his pray asketh, [Cf. as þe worlde askeþ; C. 1. 21.] 
                    
                      And ffedith him on þe venym · his ffelle to anewe,

                      Line 24

Page 487, C-text

                    
                      Line 24 
                    
                      To leue at more lykynge · a longe tyme after. [Cf. a longe tyme after; C. 8. 203.] 
                    
                      This is clergie, hir kynde · coltis nat to greue, [nat is supplied above the line; it is clearly wanted.] 
                    
                      Ne to hurlle with haras · no hors well atamed, [no; MS. ne.] 
                    
                      Ne to stryue with swan · þouȝ it sholle werre,
                      Line 28 
                    
                      Ne to bayten on the bere · ne bynde him noþer,
                    
                      Ne to wilne to woo · þat were hem ny sibbe,
                    
                      Ne to liste ffor to loke · þat her alie bledde;
                    
                      This was aȝeins kynde · as clerkis me tolde:Propter ingratitudinem liber homo reuocatur in seruitutem, ut in stimulo compunccionis, et in lege Ciuili. [homo; MS. ho; Mr Wright prints hic, wrongly; see the Preface. seruitutem; MS. seruititem, by a mere slip.] 
                      Line 32 
                    
                      And þerffor þe hertis · here hele so myssid, [folio 113b] 
                    
                      And myȝte nat passe þe poynte · of her prime age. [Cf. Whoso passeþ þat poynt; C. 2. 98.] 
                    
                      Now constrew ho so kunne · I can saie no more,
                    
                      But ffare I wolle to þe ffowle · þat I beffore tolde.
                      Line 36

                    
                      Off all billid breddis · þat þe bough spareth,
                    
                      Þe propirte of partriche · to preise me lustiþ,
                    
                      Þat in þe somer seson · whane sittinge nyeth, [Cf. In a somer sesoun; C. l. 1.] 
                    
                      Þat ich ffoule with his ffere · ffolwith his kynde,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      Þis brid be a bank · bildith his nest, [Cf. Briddes I bihelde · þat in buskes made nestes; B. ll. 336; and compare the whole passage in B. ll. 318—353 with the context.] 
                    
                      And heipeth his eiren · and hetith hem after. [eiren; MS. heires, which is obviously a blunder; for see l. 50, below. Heires = heirs; but ciren = eggs.] 
                    
                      And whane þe dame hath ydo · þat to þe dede longith,
                    
                      And hopith ffor to hacche · or heruest begynne,
                      Line 44 
                    
                      Thanne cometh þer a congioun · with a grey cote,
                    
                      As not of his nolle · as he þe nest made,
                    
                      Anoþer proud partriche · and precyth to þe nest,
                    
                      And preuylich pirith · till þe dame passe,
                      Line 48 
                    
                      And sesith on hir sete · with hir softe plumes, [sete; MS. Cete, altered to sete.]

Page 488, C-text

                    
                      And houeth þe eyren · þat þe hue laide,
                    
                      And with hir corps keuereth hem · till þat þey kenne,
                    
                      And ffostrith and ffodith · till ffedris schewe,
                      Line 52 
                    
                      And cotis of kynde · hem keuere all aboute. [aboute; MS. abouȝte.] 
                    
                      But as sone as þey styffe · and þat þey steppe kunne,
                    
                      Þan cometh and crieth · her owen kynde dame,
                    
                      And þey ffolwith þe vois · at þe ffrist note,
                      Line 56 
                    
                      And leueth þe lurker · þat hem er ladde,
                    
                      ffor þe schrewe schrapid · to selde ffor her wombis,
                    
                      Þat her lendys were lene · and leued with hunger. [leued; altered to lyued.] 
                    
                      But þan þe dewe dame · dineth hem swythe,
                      Line 60 
                    
                      And ffostrith hem fforthe · till þey ffle kunne.
                    
                      "What is þis to mene, man?" · maiste þou axe, [Cf. what is þis to mene; B. 1. 11.] 
                    
                      "ffor it is derklich endited · ffor a dull panne;
                    
                      Wherffore I wilne · ȝif it þi will were,
                      Line 64 
                    
                      Þe partriche propurtes · by whom þat þou menest?"
                    
                      A! hicke heuyheed! · hard is þi nolle
                    
                      To cacche ony kunnynge · but cautell bigynne!
                    
                      Herdist þou not with eeris · how þat I er tellde,
                      Line 68 
                    
                      How þe egle in þe est · entrid his owene, [folio 114] 
                    
                      And cried and clepid · after his owen kynde briddis,
                    
                      Þat weren anoyed in his nest · and norished ffull ille,
                    
                      And well ny yworewid · with a wronge leder?
                      Line 72 
                    
                      But þe nedy nestlingis · whan þey þe note herde
                    
                      Of þe hende Egle · þe heyer of hem all, [hende; MS. ende, altered to hende.] 
                    
                      Þei busked ffro þe busches · and breris þat hem noyed,
                    
                      And burnisched her beekis · and bent to-him-wardis,
                    
                      And ffolowid him ffersly · to ffighte ffor þe wrongis;
                    
                      Þey bablid with her billis · how þei bete were, [Cf. And so I babeled on my bedes; B. 5. 8.] 
                      Line 78 
                    
                      And tenyd with twiggis · two and twenty ȝeris.
                    
                      Thus lafte þey þe leder · þat hem wrong ladde,
                    
                      And tymed no twynte · but tolled her cornes,

                      Line 81

Page 489, C-text

                    
                      Line 81 
                    
                      And gaderid þe grotus · with gyle, as I trowe.
                    
                      Þan ffolwid þey her ffre ffader · as good ffeith wolde,
                    
                      That he hem ffede shulde · and ffostre fforther,
                      Line 84 
                    
                      And bringe hem out of bondage · þat þey were brouȝth inne.
                    
                      Thanne sighed þe swymmers · ffor the swan ffailid, [In the margin is written—"ye Swan."] 
                    
                      And ffolwid þis ffaucoun · þoru ffeldus and tounes,
                    
                      With many ffaire ffowle · þouȝ þey ffeynte were, [ffowle; MS. ffoole, with ffowle written above.] 
                      Line 88 
                    
                      And heuy ffor þe hurte · þat þe hors hadde. [hurte; MS. hirte, with u above the i. In the margin—"ye Horse."] 
                    
                      Ȝit þey fferkyd hem fforth · as ffaste as þey myȝte,
                    
                      To haue þe Egles helpe · of harme þat þey hadde;
                    
                      ffor he was heed of hem all · and hieste of kynde,
                      Line 92 
                    
                      To kepe þe Croune · as cronecle tellith.
                    
                      He blythid þe beere · and his bond braste, [bond; MS. broud or brond; Mr Wright prints broud, but surely it is merely bond, misspelt brond owing to the influence of the following word braste. In the margin — "The Beare."] 
                    
                      And lete him go at large · to lepe where he wolde.
                    
                      But þo all þe berlingis · brast out at ones,
                      Line 96 
                    
                      As ffayne as þe ffoule · þat fflieth on þe skyes [As fayne as; MS. As fayne was; but I venture on the correction on the strength of the parallel passage — Þanne was I also fayne · as foule of faire morwe; B. 10. 153; C. 12. 103.] 
                    
                      Þat bosse was vnbounde · and brouȝte to his owene. [brouȝte; MS. brouute.] 
                    
                      Þey gaderid hem to-gedir · on a grette route, [route; MS. rouȝte.] 
                    
                      To helpe þe heeris · þat had many wrongis;
                      Line 100 
                    
                      Þey gaglide fforth on þe grene · ffor þey greued were,
                    
                      Þat her ffrendis were ffalle · þoru ffelouns castis.
                    
                      They mornyd ffor þe morthir · of manffull knyȝtis,
                    
                      That many a styff storme · with-stode ffor þe comunes; [folio 114b] 
                    
                      Þe[y] monside þe marchall · ffor his myssedede, [monside; MS. monside or mouside. Mr Wright prints mouside, but does not explain it; monside (i. e. cursed) is only another spelling of mansed, which see in C. 3. 41.] 
                      Line 105 
                    
                      Þat euell coude his Craft · whan he cloþed þe stede. [cloþed; so in MS. Mr Wright prints cloped, which he ex|plains by clipped.]

Page 490, C-text

                    
                      And euere as þey ffolwide · þis ffaucoun aboute, [aboute; MS. abouȝte.] 
                    
                      At iche mevinge ffotte · venyaunce þey asked
                      Line 108 
                    
                      On all þat assentid · to þat synfull dede.

                    
                      A rere now to Richard · and reste here awhile,
                    
                      ffor a preuy poynt · þat persith my wittis.
                    
                      Of ffautis I ffynde · þat ffrist dede engendre [fautis; MS. fauutis.] 
                      Line 112 
                    
                      Cursidnesse and combraunce · amonge þe yonge lordis,
                    
                      And þe wikkid werchinge · þat walmed in her daies,
                    
                      And ȝit woll here-after · but wisdome it lette.
                    
                      That were a lord of lond · þat lawe hathe in honde,
                    
                      Þat to lyghtliche leueth · or lewte apere,
                      Line 117 
                    
                      Þe tale of a trifflour · in turmentours wede,
                    
                      That neuere reed good rewle · ne resons bookis!
                    
                      ffor ben þey rayed arith · þey recchith no fforther,
                      Line 120 
                    
                      But studieth all in stroutynge · and stireth amys euere; [stroutynge; MS. strouutynge, here and in l. 134; but see l. 189, and Chaucer, C. T. 3315.] 
                    
                      ffor all his witte in his wede · ys wrappid ffor sothe,
                    
                      More þan in mater to amende · þe peple þat ben mys-led.
                    
                      ffor I say ffor my-self · and schewe, as me thynchith, [Cf. Ich seye it for my-selue; C. 5. 134. thynchith; MS. thynthith; but this writing of c like t is common enough.] 
                    
                      That ho is riall of his ray · that light reede him ffol|with;
                      Line 125 
                    
                      Ȝit swiche ffresshe ffoodis · beth ffeet in-to chambris, [Cf. and brouȝte hir in-to chaumbre; B. 3. 10.] 
                    
                      And ffor her dignesse endauntid · of dullisshe nollis,
                    
                      And, if þou well waite · of no wight ellis:Qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt: in Euangelio.
                      Line 128 
                    
                      Þan waite mo wayes · how þe while turneth
                    
                      With gyuleris, Ioyffull · ffor here gery Iaces,
                    
                      And ffor her wedis so wyde · wise beth y-holde;
                      Line 131 
                    
                      Þey casteth hem to creaunce · þe courte ffor to plese,
                    
                      And hopen to be hied · in hast, yif þey myȝthe,
                    
                      Þoru swiche stif stroutynge · þat stroyeth þe rewme;

Page 491, C-text

                    
                      But here wey is all wronge · þer wisdom is ynned,
                    
                      [For] þey lepith als lygh[t]ly · at þe longe goynge, [For; MS. But, wrongly re|peated.] 
                      Line 136 
                    
                      Out of þe domes carte · as he þat þroff neuere.
                    
                      ffor þey kepeth no coyne · þat cometh to here hondis, [folio 115] 
                    
                      But chaunchyth it ffor cheynes · þat in chepe hangith,
                    
                      And settith all her siluer · in semitis and hornes, [semitis; or seimtis, or seitu|tis; indistinct and uncertain.] 
                      Line 140 
                    
                      And ffor-doth þe coyne · and many oþer craftis,
                    
                      And makeþ þe peple ffor pens lac · in pointe ffor to wepe; [peple; miswritten pephe.] 
                    
                      And ȝit þey beth ytake fforth · and her tale leued,
                    
                      And ffor her newe nysete · nexte to þe lordis.
                      Line 144 
                    
                      Now, be þe lawe of lydfford · in londe [&] in water [&; MS. ne, which seems to have been written over an erasure; & is better.] 
                    
                      Þilke lewde ladde · ouȝte euyll to þryue,
                    
                      Þat hongith on his hippis · more þan he wynneth,
                    
                      And douteth no dette · so dukis hem preise, [douteth; MS. douȝteth.] 
                      Line 148 
                    
                      But beggith and borwith · of burgeis in tounes
                    
                      ffurris of ffoyne · and oþer ffelle-ware, [ware; misspelt whare in MS.] 
                    
                      And not þe better of a bene · þouȝ þey boru euere.
                    
                      And, but if þe slevis · slide on þe erthe,
                      Line 152 
                    
                      Þei woll be wroth as þe wynde · and warie hem þat it made; [Cf. As wroth as þe wynd; C. 4. 486.] 
                    
                      And [but] ȝif it were elbowis · adoun to the helis, [Supply but; as in l. 152.] 
                    
                      Or passinge þe knee · it was not acounted.
                    
                      And if pernell preisid · þe plytis bihynde, [Cf. He preide purnele · here porfil to leue; C. 6. 129. Observe that felice is mentioned only three lines lower down, in C. 6. 132; whilst she is mentioned here also, four lines lower. plytis; glossed by pleytes.] 
                      Line 156 
                    
                      The costis were acountid · paye whan he myȝth.
                    
                      Þe leesinge so likyde · ladies and oþer,
                    
                      That þey Ioied of þe Iette · and gyside hem þer-vnder;
                    
                      And if ffelice ffonde ony ffaute · þenne of þe makynge,

Page 492, C-text

                    
                      Yt was y-sent sone · to shape of þe newe.
                      Line 161 
                    
                      But now þer is a gyse · þe queyntest of all
                    
                      A wondir coriouse crafte · y-come now of late,
                    
                      That men clepith kerving · þe cloþe all to pecis,
                      Line 164 
                    
                      Þat seuene goode sowers · sixe wekes after
                    
                      Moun not sett þe seemes · ne sewe hem aȝeyn.
                    
                      But þer is a proffit in þat pride · þat I preise euere, [a proffit: MS. aprffith (sic), with a profett written above it.] 
                    
                      ffor þei ffor þe pesinge paieth · pens ten duble
                      Line 168 
                    
                      That þe cloþe costened · þe craft is so dere.
                    
                      Now if I sothe shall saie · and shonne side tales,
                    
                      Þer is as moche good witte · in swyche gomes nollis,
                    
                      As þou shuldist mete of a myst · ffro morwe tyll euen! [Cf. Þow myȝt bet mete þe myst; C. l. 163.] 
                    
                      Ȝit blame I no burne · to be, as him ouȝte, [folio 115b] 
                      Line 173 
                    
                      In comliche cloþinge · as his statt axith;
                    
                      But to ledyn her lust · all here lyff-daies
                    
                      In quentise of cloþinge · ffor to queme sir pride, [Cf. In cuntinaunce of cloþinge · queinteliche de-gyset; A. pr. 24.] 
                      Line 176 
                    
                      And euere-more stroutynge · and no store kepe,
                    
                      And iche day a newe deuyse · it dullith my wittis
                    
                      Þat ony lord of a lond · shulde leue swiche þingis,
                    
                      Or clepe to his conceill · swiche manere cotis,
                      Line 180 
                    
                      That loueth more her lustis · þan þe lore of oure lord.
                    
                      And if a lord his leuere · lyste ffor to ȝeue, [leuere; MS. leuere, altered to lyuerey. It is a trisyllable word.] 
                    
                      Ther may no gome ffor goodnesse · gette þer-of but lite,
                    
                      ffor curtesie, ffor comlynesse · ne ffor his kynde herte,
                    
                      But rather ffor his rancour · and rennynge ouere peple,
                    
                      ffor braggynge and ffor bostynge · and beringe vppon oilles,
                      Line 186 
                    
                      ffor cursidnes of conscience · and comynge to þe assises.
                    
                      This makyth men mysdo · more þan ouȝte ellis, [Cf. And makeþ men mys-do meny score tymes; C. 4. 159.] 
                    
                      And to stroute and to stare · and stryue aȝeyn vertu.
                    
                      So [be] clergie, þe cause · comsith in grette,
                      Line 190 
                    
                      Of all manere mysscheff · þat men here vsyn.

Page 493, C-text

                    
                      ffor wolde þey blame þe burnes · þat brouȝte newe gysis,
                      Line 192 
                    
                      And dryue out þe dagges · and all þe duche cotis, [Cf. let dagge hus cloþes; C. 23. 143.] 
                    
                      And sette hem a-side · and scorte of hem telle, [scorte; so in MS.; glossed by scorne.] 
                    
                      And lete hem pleye in þe porche · and presse non ynnere,
                    
                      Ne no proude peniles · with his peynte sleve;
                      Line 196 
                    
                      And eke repreue robbers · and riffleris of peple,
                    
                      fflater[er]is and ffals men · þat no ffeith vseth,
                    
                      And alle deabolik doeris · dispise hem ichone,
                    
                      And coile out þe knyȝtys · þat knowe well hem-self,
                    
                      Þat were sad of her sawis · and suffre well coude, [coude; MS. couude. So also in l. 219.] 
                      Line 201 
                    
                      And had traueilid in her tyme · and temprid hem-self,
                    
                      And cherliche cheriche hem · as cheff in þe halle,
                    
                      ffor to ordeyne officeris · and all oþer thyngis;
                      Line 204 
                    
                      Men shuld wete in a while · þat þe world wolde amende,
                    
                      So vertue wolde fflowe · whan vicis were ebbid.
                    
                      But now to þe mater · þat I be-ffore meved, [folio 116] 
                    
                      Of þe gomes so gay · þat grace hadde affendid,
                      Line 208 
                    
                      And how stille þat steddeffaste stode · amonge þis reccheles peple,
                    
                      Þat had awilled his wyll · as wisdom him taughte:
                    
                      ffor he drough him to an herne · at þe halle ende,
                    
                      Well homelich yhelid · in an holsume gyse,
                      Line 212 
                    
                      Not ouerelonge, but ordeyned · in þe olde schappe,
                    
                      With grette browis y-bente · and a berde eke,
                    
                      And y-wounde in his wedis · as þe wedir axith;
                    
                      He wondrid in his wittis · as he well myȝthe, [well; MS. will, altered to well.] 
                      Line 216 
                    
                      Þat þe hie housinge · herborowe ne myghte [housinge; MS. houusinge.] 
                    
                      Halfdell þe houshould · but hales hem helped;
                    
                      But ffor crafte þat he coude · caste þenne or be-þenke,
                    
                      He myȝte not wonne in þe wones · ffor witt þat he vsid; [Cf. Lorde, who shal wonye in þi wones; B. 3. 234.]

Page 494, C-text

                    
                      But, aroutyd ffor his ray · and rebuked ofte, [aroutyd; MS. arouutyd.] 
                      Line 221 
                    
                      He had leue of þe lord · and of ladies alle,
                    
                      ffor his good gouernaunce · to go or he drank!
                    
                      Þer was non of þe mene · þat þey ne merueilid moche,
                    
                      How he cam to þe courte · and was not y-knowe;
                      Line 225 
                    
                      But als sone as þey wiste · þat witt was his name,
                    
                      And þat þe kyng knewe him not · ne non of his knyȝtis,
                    
                      He was halowid and y-huntid · and y-hote trusse, [Cf. Ouer-al houted out · and yhote trusse; C. 3. 228. For y-hote, MS. has y-hotte, with the gloss bydden above it.] 
                      Line 228 
                    
                      And his dwellinge ydemed · a bowe-drawte ffrom hem,
                    
                      And ich man y-charchid · to schoppe at his croune,
                    
                      Ȝif he nyhed hem ony nere · þan þey had him nempned.
                    
                      Þe portir with his pikis · þo put him vttere,
                      Line 232 
                    
                      And warned him þe wickett · while þe wacche durid:
                    
                      "Lete sle him!" quod þe sleues · þat slode vppon þe erthe,
                    
                      And alle þe berdles burnes · bayed on him euere,
                    
                      And schorned him, ffor his slaueyn · was of þe olde schappe.
                      Line 236 
                    
                      Þus malaperte was myȝtffull · and maister of hous,
                    
                      And euere wandrid wisdom · without þe ȝatis.
                    
                      "By him þat wrouȝte þis world!" · quod wisdom in wrath,
                    
                      "But ȝif ȝe woll sumtyme · I walke in amonge ȝou,
                    
                      I shall fforbede ȝou burnes · þe best on þis erthe, [folio 116b]  [burnes; MS. burnesse, which is merely a bad spelling of the same word. Other instances of confusion between the endings -es and -esse are occasionally found in the MS. Thus we have rosse for ros in Prol. 13.] 
                      Line 241 
                    
                      Þat is, gouernance of gettinge · and grace þat him ffollwith;
                    
                      ffor these two trewly · twynned ȝet neuere."
                    
                      And so it ffell on hem, in ffeith · ffor ffautis þat þey vsid, [ffautis; MS. ffauȝtis.] 
                      Line 244 
                    
                      Þat her grace was a-goo · ffor grucchinge chere,

Page 495, C-text

                    
                      ffor þe wronge þat þey wrouȝte · to wisdom affore.
                    
                      ffor tristith, als trewly · as tyllinge us helpeth,
                    
                      Þat iche rewme vndir roff · of þe reyne-bowe [Cf. þe richest rewme · þat reyne ouer houeth; B. 3. 207.] 
                      Line 248 
                    
                      Sholde stable and stonde · be þese þre degres: [Cf. gan stable and stynte; B. l. 120.] 
                    
                      By gouernaunce of grete · and of good age; [Before l. 250 is prefixed the figure 1; before l. 251, the figure 2; and before l. 253, the figure 3. These refer to the "thre degres," viz. 1. Oratores (here Counsellors); 2. Bella|tores (Warriors); and 3. Laboratores (Labourers); according to the old threefold division. In l. 253, be = by.] 
                    
                      By styffnesse and strengthe · of steeris well y-yokyd,
                    
                      Þat beth myȝthffull men · of þe mydill age;
                      Line 252 
                    
                      And be laboreris of lond · þat lyfflode ne ffayle. [Cf. And lerne to labore with londe · lest lyflode hym faile; C. 9. 295.] 
                    
                      Thanne wolde [right dome] reule · if reson were amongis us, [We must supply right dome, i. e. just judgment, or some such words. In the margin is written—"Agaynste yonnge Counsaylours."] 
                    
                      That ich leode lokide · what longid to his age,
                    
                      And neuere ffor to passe more · oo poynt fforþer,
                      Line 256 
                    
                      To vsurpe þe service · þat to sages bilongith,
                    
                      To be-come conselleris · er þey kunne rede,
                    
                      In schenshepe of souereynes · and shame at þe last.
                    
                      ffor it ffallith as well to ffodis · of xxiiij ȝeris, [The abbreviation xxiiij is to be read four and twenty, not twenty|four. Cf. l. 79, above.] 
                      Line 260 
                    
                      Or yonge men of yistirday · to ȝeue good redis,
                    
                      As be-cometh a kow · to hoppe in a cage!
                    
                      It is not vnknowen · to kunnynge leodis,
                    
                      That rewlers of rewmes · around all þe erthe
                      Line 264 
                    
                      Were not yffoundid · at þe ffrist tyme
                    
                      To leue al at likynge · and lust of þe world,
                    
                      But to laboure on þe lawe · as lewde men on plowes,
                    
                      And to merke meyntenourz · with maces ichonne,
                      Line 268 
                    
                      And to strie strouters · þat sterede aȝeine rithis,
                    
                      And alle þe myssedoers · þat þey myȝte ffynde,
                    
                      To put hem in preson · a peere þouȝ he were;

Page 496, C-text

                    
                      And [not] to rewle as reremys · and rest on þe daies,
                    
                      And spende of þe spicerie · more þan it nedid,
                      Line 273 
                    
                      Bothe wexe and wyn · in wast all aboute, [aboute; MS. abouȝte.] 
                    
                      With deyntes y-doublid · and daunsinge to pipis,
                    
                      In myrthe with moppis · myrrours of synne.
                      Line 276 
                    
                      Ȝit fforbede I no burne · to be blithe sum while;
                    
                      But all thinge hath tyme · ffor to tempre glees: [folio 117] 
                    
                      ffor caste all þe countis · þat þe kyng holdith,
                    
                      And loke how þese lordis · loggen hem-self,
                      Line 280 
                    
                      And euere shall þou ffynde · as ffer as þou walkiste,
                    
                      That wisdom and ouere-wacche · wonneth ffer asundre; [That; MS. What, probably by mistake. In the margin is "nota, nota, nota" in the same hand-writing as the text; another hand has added —"Over-watchynge."] 
                    
                      But whane þe gouernaunce goth þus · with þo þe hous gie shulde,
                    
                      And letith lyghte of þe lawe · and lesse of þe peple, [Cf. And let lyght of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyght; C. 9. 165.] 
                    
                      And herkeneth all to honour · and to ese eke,
                      Line 285 
                    
                      And þat ich wyght with his witte · waite on him euere,
                    
                      To do hem reuerence aright · þouȝ þe rigge brest,
                    
                      Þis warmnesse in welth · with wy vppon erthe [wy; glossed by man; cor|rectly. So also in l. 297.] 
                      Line 288 
                    
                      Myȝte not longe dure · as doctourz us tellith.
                    
                      ffor ho so þus leued · his lyff to the ende, [leued; MS. leued, altered to lyved.] 
                    
                      Euere wrappid in welle · and with no wo mette,
                    
                      Myȝte seie þat he sawe · þat seie was neuere,
                      Line 292 
                    
                      Þat heuene were vnhonge · out of þe hookis,
                    
                      And were boun at his bidding · ȝif it be myȝte!
                    
                      But clerkis kne[w] I non ȝete · þat so coude rede [knew; MS. kne. coude; MS. couude.] 
                    
                      In bokis y-bounde · þouȝ ȝe brouȝte alle
                      Line 296 
                    
                      Þat ony wy welldith · wonnynge vppon erthe;
                    
                      ffor in well and in woo · þe werld euere turneth,
                    
                      Ȝit þer is kew-kaw · þouȝ he come late, [In the margin—"kew kaw;" to which substantive he obviously refers.]

Page 497, C-text

                    
                      A new þing þat noyeth · nedy men and oþer,
                      Line 300 
                    
                      Whanne realles remeveth · and ridith þoru tounes,
                    
                      And carieth ouere contre · þer comunes dwelleth,
                    
                      To preson þe pillourz · þat ouere þe pore renneth;
                    
                      For þat were euene in her weye · if þey well ride.
                      Line 304 
                    
                      But ȝit þer is a ffoule ffaute · þat I ffynde ofte; [ffaute; MS. ffauȝte.] 
                    
                      Þey prien affter presentis · or pleyntis ben y-clepid, [In the margin—"Takynge of presentes."] 
                    
                      And abateth all þe billis · of þo þat nouȝth bringith;
                    
                      And ho so grucche or grone · aȝeins her grette willes,
                    
                      May lese her lyff lyghtly · and no lesse weddis. [Cf. Ich dorst haue leid my lyue · and no lasse wedde; C. 4. 260.] 
                      Line 309 
                    
                      Thus is the lawe louyd · þoru myȝhty lordis willys, [In the margin—"maynten|aunce."] 
                    
                      Þat meyneteyne myssdoers · more þan oþer peple. [Cf. To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þei take; B. 3. 246.] 
                    
                      ffor mayntenaunce many day · well more is þe reuthe!
                    
                      Hath y-had mo men · at mete and at melis,
                      Line 313 
                    
                      Þan ony ·cristen kynge · þat ȝe knewe euere; [folio 117b] 
                    
                      ffor, as reson and rith · rehersid to me ones,
                    
                      Tho ben men of this molde · þat most harme worchen. [Cf. For þise aren men on þis molde · þat moste harme worcheth; B. 3. 80.] 
                    
                      ffor chyders of chester · were chose many daies [were; MS. where.] 
                      Line 317 
                    
                      To ben of conceill ffor causis · þat in þe court hangid,
                    
                      And pledid pipoudris · alle manere pleyntis.
                    
                      Þey cared ffor no coyffes · þat men of court vsyn,
                      Line 320 
                    
                      But meved many maters · þat man neuer thouȝte,
                    
                      And ffeyned ffalshed · till þey a ffyne had,
                    
                      And knewe no manere cause · as comunes tolde.
                    
                      Þei had non oþer signe · to schewe þe lawe
                      Line 324 
                    
                      But a preuy pallette · her pannes to kepe,
                    
                      To hille here lewde heed · in stede of an houe. [houe. Mr Wright prints hone, but does not explain it. See "houes of silke" in C. l. 159.] 
                    
                      They constrewed quarellis · to quenche þe peple,
                    
                      And pletid with pollaxis · and poyntis of swerdis,

                      Line 328

Page 498, C-text

                    
                      Line 328 
                    
                      And at the dome-ȝeuynge · drowe out þe bladis,
                    
                      And lente men leuere · of her longe battis. [leuere; MS. leuere, altered to leuerey. It is a trisyllable word, equivalent here to delivery, in the sense of delivering a blow; see l. 182.] 
                    
                      They lacked alle vertues · þat a Iuge shulde haue;
                    
                      ffor, er a tale were ytolde · þey wolde trie þe harmes,
                    
                      Without ony answere · but ho his lyf hatid.
                      Line 333 
                    
                      And ho so pleyned to þe prince · þat pees shulde kepe,
                    
                      Of these mystirmen · medlers of wrongis,
                    
                      He was lyghtliche y-lauȝte · and y-luggyd of many, [lyghliche in MS. Cf. Lor|kynge þorw lones · to-logged of menye; C. 3. 226.] 
                    
                      And y-Mummyd on þe mouthe · and manaced to þe deth.
                      Line 337 
                    
                      They leid on þi leigis, Richard · lasshis y-now,
                    
                      And drede neuere a dele · þe dome of þe lawe.
                    
                      Þer nas Rial of þe rewme · þat hem durste rebuke,
                    
                      Ne Iuge, ne Iustice · þat Iewis durste hem deme
                      Line 341 
                    
                      ffor oute þat þei toke · or trespassid to þe peple.
                    
                      This was a wondir world · ho so well lokyd,
                    
                      Þat gromes ouere-grewe · so many grette maistris;
                      Line 344 
                    
                      ffor þis was þe rewle in þis rewme · while þey here regnyd.
                    
                      Þouȝ I satte seuenenyght · and slepte ffull selde,
                    
                      [I miȝte not reche redili · to rekene þe nombre] [A line lost; supplied by guess.] 
                    
                      Of many mo wrongis · þan I write coude; [coude; MS. Couude.] 
                      Line 348 
                    
                      ffor selde were þe sergiauntis · souȝte ffor to plete, [MS. serigauntis.] 
                    
                      Or ony prentise of courte · preied of his wittis, [folio 118] 
                    
                      Þe while þe degonys domes · weren so endauntid. [degonys; MS. dogonys; see l. 362, below.] 
                    
                      Tille oure sire in his see · aboue þe vijne sterris, [Cf. by the seuen sterres; C. 18. 98.] 
                      Line 352 
                    
                      Sawe þe many mysscheuys · þat þese men dede,
                    
                      And no mendis ymade · but menteyned euere [menteyned; MS. menteyne it, absurdly.] 
                    
                      Of him þat was hiest · y-holde for to kepe

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                      His liegis in lawe · and so her loue gette.
                      Line 356 
                    
                      He sente ffor his seruantis · þat sembled many,
                    
                      Of baronys and baccheleris · with many briȝth helmes,
                    
                      With þe comunes [of] þe contres · þey cam all at ones;
                    
                      And as a duke douȝty · in dedis of armes,
                      Line 360 
                    
                      In full reall aray · he rood vppon hem euere,
                    
                      Tyll degon and dobyn · þat mennys doris brastyn,
                    
                      And were y-dubbid of a duke · ffor her while domes,
                    
                      Awakyd ffor wecchis · and wast þat þey vsid, [MS. wrongly inserts And at the beginning of this line.] 
                      Line 364 
                    
                      And ffor her breme blastis · buffettis henten.
                    
                      Þan gan it to calme · and clere all aboute, [aboute; MS. abouȝte.] 
                    
                      Þat iche man myȝte · ho so mynde hadde,
                    
                      Se, be þe sonne · þat so briȝte schewed,
                      Line 368 
                    
                      Þe mone at þe mydday · meve, and þe sterris,
                    
                      ffolwinge ffelouns · ffor her ffalse dedis,
                    
                      Devourours of vetaile · þat ffouȝten er þei paide.

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Passus quartus. [Pass. iv. 4. ffautis; MS. ffauȝtis.]

                    
                      For where was euere ony cristen kynge · þat ȝe euere knewe,
                    
                      Þat helde swiche an household · be þe half-delle
                    
                      As Richard in þis rewme · þoru myserule of oþer,
                    
                      Þat alle his ffynys ffor ffautis · ne his ffee ffermes,
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Ne ffor-ffeyturis ffele · þat ffelle in his daies,
                    
                      Ne þe nownagis · þat newed him euere,
                    
                      As marche and moubray · and many mo oþer,
                    
                      Ne alle þe issues of court · þat to þe kyng longid,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Ne sellynge, þat sowkid · siluer rith ffaste,
                    
                      Ne alle the prophete of þe lond · þat the prince owed,
                    
                      Whane þe countis were caste · with þe custum of wullus,
                    
                      Myȝte not areche · ne his rent noþer,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      To paie þe pore peple · þat his puruyours toke,
                    
                      Withoute preiere at a parlement · a poundage biside, [folio 118b] 
                    
                      And a fifteneth · and a dyme eke,
                    
                      And with-all þe custum of þe cloþe · þat cometh to ffayres?
                      Line 16 
                    
                      And ȝet, ne had creaunce Icome · at þe last ende,
                    
                      With þe comunes curse · þat cleued on hem euere,
                    
                      Þey had be drawe to þe deuyll · ffor dette þat þey owed.
                    
                      And whanne þe reot and þe reeuell · þe rent þus passid,
                      Line 20 
                    
                      And no þing y-lafte · but þe bare baggis,

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                      Þan ffelle it afforse · to ffille hem aȝeyne,
                    
                      And ffeyned sum ffolie · þat ffailid hem neuer,
                    
                      And cast it be colis · with her conceill at euene,
                      Line 24 
                    
                      To haue preuy parlement · for profit of hem-self, [profit. The spelling in the MS. is indeed odd, being pproffitt.] 
                    
                      And lete write writtis · all in wex closid,
                    
                      ffor peeris and prelatis · þat þei apere shuld,
                    
                      And sente side sondis · to schreuys aboute, [aboute; MS. abouȝte.] 
                      Line 28 
                    
                      To chese swiche cheualleris · as þe charge wold,
                    
                      To schewe ffor þe schire · in company with þe grete.
                    
                      And whanne it drowe to þe day · of þe dede-doynge,
                    
                      Þat souereynes were semblid · and þe schire-knyȝtis,
                    
                      Than, as her fforme is, ffrist · þey begynne to declare
                    
                      Þe cause of her comynge · and þan þe kyngis will.
                    
                      Comliche a clerk þan · comsid þe wordis, [Cf. Corteysliche þe knyȝt þen · comsede þese wordes; C. 9. 32.] 
                    
                      And pronouncid þe poyntis · aparte to hem alle,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      And meved ffor mony · more than ffor out ellis,
                    
                      In glosinge of grette · lest greyues arise.
                    
                      And whanne þe tale was tolde · anon to þe ende,
                    
                      A-morwe thei must, affore mete · mete to-gedir,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      Þe knyȝtis of þe comunete · and carpe of þe maters,
                    
                      With Citiseyns of shiris · y-sent ffor þe same,
                    
                      To reherse þe articlis · and graunte all her askynge.
                    
                      But ȝit ffor þe manere · to make men blynde,
                      Line 44 
                    
                      Somme argued aȝein rith · þen a good while,
                    
                      And said, "we beth seruantis · and sallery ffongen, [MS. sallere, altered to sallery, with the gloss wages. The word meant is salarye, for which see C. 8. 39. ffongen; glossed by taken.] 
                    
                      And y-sent ffro þe shiris · to shewe what hem greueth,
                    
                      And to parle ffor her prophete · and passe no fferthere, [folio 119]  [parle; glossed by speake.] 
                      Line 48 
                    
                      And to graunte of her gold · to þe grett wattis
                    
                      By no manere wronge way · but if werre were;
                    
                      And if we ben ffals · to þo us here ffyndyth,
                    
                      Euyll be we worthy · to welden oure hire."

                      Line 52

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                      Line 52 
                    
                      Þan satte summe · as siphre doth in awgrym,
                    
                      Þat noteth a place · and no þing availith;
                    
                      And some had ysoupid · with Symond ouere euen,
                    
                      And schewed ffor þe shire · and here schew lost;
                      Line 56 
                    
                      And somme were tituleris · and to þe kyng wente,
                    
                      And fformed him of foos · þat good ffrendis weren,
                    
                      Þat bablid ffor þe best · and no blame serued
                    
                      Of kynge ne conceyll · ne of þe comunes noþer,
                      Line 60 
                    
                      Ho so toke good kepe · to þe culorum. [For culorum, see C. 4. 436.] 
                    
                      And somme slombrid and slepte · and said but a lite;
                    
                      And somme mafflid with þe mouþ · and nyst what þey mente;
                    
                      And somme had hire · and helde þer-with euere,
                      Line 64 
                    
                      And wolde no fforther affoot · ffor ffer of her maistris; [Cf. That I ne myȝte ferther a-foot; B. 5. 6.] 
                    
                      And some were so soleyne · and sad of her wittis,
                    
                      Þat er they come to þe clos · acombrid þey were,
                    
                      Þat þei þe conclucioun þan · constrewe ne couþe,
                      Line 68 
                    
                      No burne of þe benche · of borowe noþer ellis,
                    
                      So blynde and so ballid · and bare was þe reson. [Cf. And brynge forth ballede resones; C. 12. 38.] 
                    
                      And somme were so ffers · at þe ffrist come,
                    
                      Þat they bente on a bonet · and bare a topte saile [bonet; bouet in Mr Wright's edition. It is the name of a small sail. See l. 81, below.] 
                      Line 72 
                    
                      Affor þe wynde ffresshely · to make a good ffare.
                    
                      Þan lay þe lordis a-lee · with laste and with charge,
                    
                      And bare aboute þe barge · and blamed þe maister, [aboute; MS. abouȝte.] 
                    
                      Þat knewe not þe kynde cours · þat to þe crafte longid,
                      Line 76 
                    
                      And warned him wisely · of þe wedir-side.
                    
                      Thanne þe maste in þe myddis · at þe monþe ende,
                    
                      Bowid ffor brestynge · and brouȝte hem to lond;
                    
                      ffor ne had þei striked a strake · and sterid hem þe better,
                      Line 80 
                    
                      And abated a bonet · or þe blast come,

Page 503, C-text

                    
                      Þey had be þrowe ouere þe borde · backewarde ichonne.
                    
                      And some were acombrid · with þe conceill be-ffore, [folio 119b] 
                    
                      And wiste well y-now · how it sholde ende,
                      Line 84 
                    
                      Or some of þe semble · shulde repente.
                    
                      Some helde with þe mo · how it euere wente,
                    
                      And somme dede rith so · and wolld go no fforþer.
                    
                      Some parled as perte · as prouyd well after,
                      Line 88 
                    
                      And clappid more ffor þe coyne · þat þe kyng oweth hem [oweth; MS. owen, an obvious error for oweth or owed; the true past tense, however, would be ouȝte.] 
                    
                      Thanne ffor comfforte of þe comyne · þat her cost paied,
                    
                      And were be-hote hansell · if þey helpe wold
                    
                      To be seruyd sekirly · of þe same siluere.
                      Line 92 
                    
                      And some dradde dukis · and do-well ffor-soke; [The poem terminates abruptly with the eleventh line on fol. 119 b. The rest of the page is blank.]

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Richard the redeles.

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[Passus Primus.] [Pass. i. 4. y-lyfte; so in MS. Mr Wright prints y-lyste.]

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Passus secundus. [Pass. ii. 2. aboute; MS. abouȝte; cf. note above to i. 40. So also in l. 15.]

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Passus Tercius. [Pass. iii. 9. Cf. Þe moste myschif on molde · Mounteþ vp faste; C. 1. 65.]

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Passus quartus. [Pass. iv. 4. ffautis; MS. ffauȝtis.]

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