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.)

PASSUS V.

[TITLE. Passus Quintus O; Passus quintus de visione LCB; to which W adds vt supra; and R adds petri plowman, vt supra.] Passus quintus de Visione.

The kyng and his knightes · to the kirke wente [A page 52] To here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after. Þanne waked I of my wynkynge · and wo was with-alle, [waked] awaked RB. was] C om.] Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and yseiȝen more. [sleped] slept W. yseiȝen] yseien B; I-sye O.] Line 4 Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge · feyntise me hente, [Ac] And C. fourlonge] furlong W; forlong CO; furȝlonge R. feyn|tise] a feyntise O.] That I ne myȝte ferther a-foot · for defaute of slepynge; And sat softly adown · and seide my bileue, [sat] sette me B.] And so I babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe. [so I] R om. on] vppon R; of O. þei] til þei B.] ¶ And þanne saw I moche more · þan I bifore tolde, [moche] myche O; mykile C. tolde] of tolde W.] Line 9 For I say þe felde ful of folke · þat I bifore of seyde, [say] seiȝ W; sey C; saw O; sauȝ B.] And how resoun gan arrayen hym · alle þe reume to preche, And with a crosse afor þe kynge · comsed þus to techen. [with] O om. afor] bifore C.] Line 12 ¶ He preued þat þise pestilences · [were] for pure synne, [preued] preueþ O. pestilences] pestilence C. [were W] was LCROB; but were seems required.] And þe southwest wynde · on saterday at euene [southwest] south westrene W. wynde] wijnd O. on] vppon a B. euene] eue C.]

Was pertliche for pure pryde · and for no poynt elles. [A page 53] [pure] R om.] Piries and plomtrees · were puffed to þe erthe, Line 16 In ensample, ȝe segges · ȝe shulden do þe bettere. [ȝe segges] þat ȝe segges (printed that the segges) W. ȝe shulden] sholden W; shulden B.] Beches and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde, Torned vpward her tailles · in tokenynge of drede, [tailles] taile R. in tokenynge] to kenynge R.] Þat dedly synne at domesday · shal fordon hem alle. Line 20 ¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · mamely ful longe, [mamely] mamelen W; mamly B.] Ac I shal seye as I saw · so me god helpe! [Ac] And C. saw] sauȝ WB.] How pertly afor þe poeple · resoun gan to preche. [pertly] apertly B. gan] bigan WB; gand C.] ¶ He bad wastoure go worche · what he best couthe, Line 24 And wynnen his wastyng · with somme manere crafte. [crafte] craftys R.] ¶ And preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete, [And] He W. peronelle] Per|nele WR.] And kepe it in hir cofre · for catel at hire nede. [folio 17b] [hir] CB om.] ¶ Thomme stowue he tauȝte · to take two staues, [stowue] Stowue C; stouue R; Stowe O; of stowue B; Stowue or Stowne (printed Stowne) W. staues] stones R.] Line 28 And fecche [felice] home · fro þe wyuen pyne. [[felice WCROB] filice L. fro þe] fram R. wyuen] wyuen or wynen LWCO; wyuene or wynene RB. See note to Text A; p. 144.] ¶ He warned watt · his wyf was to blame, [He] And O.] Þat hire hed was worth halue a marke · his hode nouȝte worth a grote. [þat] For W. halue a] half a C; half WROB. his] & his W; & is B. hode] hed C; B om. worth (2)] R om.] And bad bette kut · a bow other tweyne, [bow] bouȝ W; bowghe C. other] outher W; or C. tweyne] tweye WR; tweyen O.] Line 32 And bete betoun þer-with · but if she wolde worche. [if] C om. she] heo R.] And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten her chil|deren; [chasten] chastiȝen W; chasti|sen O; chaste R.] Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þei be ȝonge, [hem] R om. forweny] for|wanye WB; for-wanyen R. whil] þe while R.]

Ne for no pouste of pestilence · plese hem nouȝte out of resoun. [pouste] poustee W.] Line 36 ¶ "My syre seyde so to me · and so did my dame, Þat þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoueth, And Salamon seide þe same · þat Sapience made,

Qui parcit virge, odit filium.

Þe Englich of þis latyn is · who-so wil it knowe, Line 40 Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spilleth his children." [sprynge] ȝerde B. spilleth] he spilleth R. children] child B.] ¶ And sithen he preyed prelatȝ · and prestes to-gideres, [A page 54] [preyed] prechede W; proued R.] "Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple · preue it on ȝowre-seluen, [ȝowre-seluen] yowselue WR.] And doth it in dede · it shal drawe ȝow to good; Line 44 If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs · we shal leue ȝow þe bettere." [lyuen] leuen WC. leren] lerne R.] ¶ And sithen he radde Religioun · here reule to holde— "Leste þe kynge and his conseille · ȝowre comunes ap|payre, And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruled bettre." [stuwardes] stywardes WOB; stiwardes CR.] Line 48 ¶ And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þe comune to louye, [þe (2)] his W. comune] comunes O.] "It is þi tresore, if tresoun ne were · and triacle at þi nede." [tresore—were] trewe tresor W. ne] R om.] And sithen he prayed þe pope · haue pite on holi|cherche, [pope] erased in R. on] of C.] And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-selue. Line 52 ¶ "And ȝe that han lawes to kepe · late treuthe be ȝowre coueytise, More þan golde or other gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese; [or other] ouþer W; & oþer O. ȝe] he O.] For who-so contrarieth treuthe · he telleth in þe gospel, [who-so] who B. telleth] telth R.]

That god knoweth hym nouȝte · ne no seynte of heuene,

Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.

[hym] hem R. Amen] Amen amen C.] ¶ And ȝe þat seke seynte James · and seintes of Rome, Line 57 Seketh seynt treuthe · for he may saue ȝow alle; Qui cum patre & filio · þat feire hem bifalle Þat suweth my sermon;" · and þus seyde resoun. [suweth] seweth W; suen O; sueth R; suwes C. resoun] O adds Amen.] Thanne ran repentance · and reherced his teme, [and] O om. teme] tyme C.] Line 61 And gert wille to wepe · water with his eyen. [folio 18] [eyen] eiȝen WB; eyȝes R; yen O. Superbia. This is here written in the margin of LWCO. Further on, we find the other titles, Luxuria, Inuidia, &c.]

SUPERBIA.

¶ Peronelle proude-herte · platte hir to þe erthe, [Peronelle] Pernele WR.] And lay longe ar she loked · and "lorde, mercy!" cryed, [she] he R. cryed] he criede R.] Line 64 And byhiȝte to hym · þat vs alle made, [byhiȝte] bisouȝte CB. to] vn|to O.] She shulde vnsowen hir serke · and sette þere an heyre [heyre] haire RB.] To affaiten hire flesshe · þat fierce was to synne: [fierce] fiers W; fers RO; feerse C; firs B.] "Shal neuere heiȝe herte me hente · but holde me lowe, [holde] holde I wole W.] Line 68 And suffre to be myssayde— · and so did I neuere. But now wil I meke me · and mercy biseche, [wil I] I wole W.] For al þis I haue · hated in myne herte." [al] R om. hated] I-hated R; hauntid B.]

LUXURIA.

¶ Þanne lecchoure seyde "allas!" · and on owre lady he cryed, [A page 55] Line 72 To make mercy for his mis-dedes · bitwene god and his soule,

With þat he shulde þe saterday · seuene ȝere þere-after, [þe saterday] on þe day R.] Drynke but myd þe doke · and dyne but ones. [myd] with CR. Inuidia. O has Envie.]

INUIDIA.

¶ Enuye with heuy herte · asked after scrifte, Line 76 And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to shewe. He was as pale as a pelet · in þe palsye he semed, [as pale] also pale B. þe] O om. palsye] palacye C.] And clothed in a caurimaury · I couthe it nouȝte dis|creue; [clothed] cluted R. cauri|maury] kaurymaury W; Caurymaury CB; taurimauri (!) R. couthe] coude R. discreue] discryue WCOB; de|scriue R.] In kirtel and kourteby · and a knyf bi his syde, [kourteby] courtepy W; curteby R: curtepy B.] Line 80 Of a freres frokke · were þe forsleues. [þe] his R. forsleues] fore sleues WR.] And as a leke hadde yleye · longe in þe sonne, [leke] leek þat W. yleye] y|leyen C.] So loked he with lene chekes · lourynge foule. ¶ His body was to-bolle for wratthe · þat he bote his lippes, [to-bolle] to-bollen WCO; to|bolne B. bote] boot W; bot R.] Line 84 And wryngynge he ȝede with þe fiste · to wreke hym|self he þouȝte [wryngynge—ȝede] wryngȝed R. þe] his O. fiste] fust W; fuyst B.] With werkes or with wordes · whan he seighe his tyme. [seighe] seyȝ R; say B; saw O.] Eche a worde þat he warpe · was of an Addres tonge, [of] B om. an Addres] an addre R; a neddres W.] Of chydynge and of chalangynge · was his chief lyflode, [and] O om.] With bakbitynge and bismer · and beryng of fals wit|nesse; Line 89 Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hym. [W omits. euere] C om.] ¶ "I wolde ben yshryue," quod þis schrewe · "and I for shame durst; [yshryue] schryuen O. schrewe] sherewe W.] I wolde be gladder, bi god · þat gybbe had meschaunce,

Than þouȝe I had þis woke ywonne · a weye of essex chese. [woke] wouke W; wike B.] Line 93 ¶ I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyed hym ofte, [A page 56] [neyȝe] by W; nyȝ OB. en|nuyed] anoyed W; enuyed CRO; ennyed B.] And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluer, And made his frendes ben his foon · thorw my false tonge; [made] also R.] Line 96 His grace and his good happes · greueth me ful sore. [greueth] greuen WOB; greues C.] Bitwene many and many · I make debate ofte, Þat bothe lyf and lyme · is lost þorw my speche. And whan I mete him in market · þat I moste hate, [hate] hatye R.] Line 100 I hailse hym hendeliche · as I his frende were; [folio 18b] [hailse] haile B. his] is C.] For he is douȝtier þan I · I dar do non other. Ac hadde I maystrye and myȝte · god wote my wille! [Ac] And C.] ¶ And whan I come to þe kirke · and sholde knele to þe Rode, [kirke] cherche R. to (2)] to|for O.] Line 104 And preye for þe pople · as þe prest techeth, For pilgrimes and for palmers · for alle þe poeple after, [and for] and B.] Þanne I crye on my knees · þat cryste ȝif hem sorwe Þat bar[en] awey my bolle · and my broke schete. [baren] so in OB; beren W; bare RC; bar L. broke] broken OB.] Line 108 ¶ Awey fro þe auter þanne · turne I myn eyghen, [A page 57] [eyghen] eyȝes R; yen O.] And biholde how Eleyne · hath a newe cote; [how] W om. Eleyne] heleyne R; Elyne C. hath] has C.] I wisshe þanne it were myne · and al þe webbe after. [þe] C om. webbe] web WRO; weeb B.] ¶ And of mennes lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte; [mennes] his R. liketh] werkes C; akiþ B. þat—herte] þat myn herte akeþ O.] Line 112 And for her wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme, [And] Ac R. her] his R.]

¶ And deme þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse; [þat] men þat R. hij] þei WO; huy B.] Who-so vndernymeth me here-of · I hate hym dedly after. [here-of] herof (printed hero) W.] I wolde þat vche a wyght · were my knaue, [I] And I O. vche a] ech a W; Ilk a C. my] my owne O.] Line 116 For who-so hath more þan I · þat angreth me sore. And þus I lyue louelees · lyke a luther dogge, [luther] lyther CR; liþer B.] That al my body bolneth · for bitter of my galle. [bitter] bytterhed B. of] in R.] ¶ I myȝte nouȝte eet many ȝeres · as a man ouȝte, Line 120 For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to defye; [defye] diffye CO; diffie B.] May no sugre ne swete þinge · asswage my swellynge, [sugre] sucre RB; sugure C.] Ne no diapenidion · dryue it fro myne herte, [diapenidion] diapendioun CB. Ne—diapenidion] For no diapendion may B.] Ne noyther schrifte ne shame · but ho-so schrape my mawe?" [Ne] B om. noyther] neiþer WOB; nouþer C. ne] no R. schrape] schape O.] Line 124 ¶ "Ȝus, redili," quod repentaunce · and radde hym to þe beste, [ȝus] ȝis WR; þis CB; þis (corrected to ȝis) O. redili] rede I O. and] has C; haþ B.] "Sorwe of synnes · is sauacioun of soules." [sauacioun] saluacion C.] ¶ "I am sori," quod þat segge · "I am but selde other, [A page 58] [þat] þe B.] And þat maketh me þus megre · for I ne may me venge. [venge] avenge O.] Line 128 Amonges Burgeyses haue I be · dwellynge At Londoun, [Burgeyses] burgeis C; burgeys R.] And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure · to blame mennes ware. [gert] gart W; grete C; gret B. bakbitinge] bagbytyng R.] Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redy [redy] a-redy R.] To lye and to loure on my neighbore · and to lakke his chaffare. [lye] lee C. to lakke] lakke CB. chaffare] ware R.] Line 132

Line 132 I wil amende þis, ȝif I may · þorw myȝte of god almyȝty." [wil] wolde C. þorw] by CB; bi O. myȝte] my (!) C. þorw—of] by dere B.] Line 133

IRA.

¶ Now awaketh wratthe · with two whyte eyen, And nyuelynge with þe nose · and his nekke hangynge. [nyuelynge] neuelynge W; sneuelyng C; sneueling B. þe] his CB. hangynge] hyngyng CB.] ¶ "I am wrath," quod he · "I was sum tyme a frere, And þe couentes Gardyner · for to graffe ympes; [folio 19] [þe] O om. couentes] couent R.] Line 137 On limitoures and listres · lesynges I ymped, [listres] listers C; legistreris O.] Tyl þei bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese, And sithen þei blosmed obrode · in boure to here shriftes. [blosmed] blesmed (so mis|written) C. obrode] abrode CO; a|brood W; R om.] Line 140 And now is fallen þer-of a frute · þat folke han wel leuere [frute] fruyt WCROB. han] haue R. wel] C om.] Schewen her schriftes to hem · þan shryue hem to her persones. [shryue hem] shryuen C.] ¶ And now persones [han] parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem, [persones han] L omits han; but we find persons han W; han per|sones COB; haue persones R. The reading in W alone gives the right sense. parceyued] aperceyued R.] Þise possessioneres preche · and depraue freres, [depraue] dempne C.] Line 144 And freres fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes, [freres] R om.] That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many place aboute, [place] places WRO.] I, wrath, walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes. [walke] walkes C. hem] The first time R has hym, but the second time hem.] Þus þei speken of spiritualte · þat eyther despiseth other, [of] of my WR. eyther] aiþer C.] Line 148

Line 148 Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben, [my] R om.] Or elles alle riche · and riden aboute. [B omits. alle] al W.] Line 150 I, wrath, rest neuere · þat I ne moste folwe [moste] muste OB; mot R.] This wykked folke · for suche is my grace. ¶ I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesse bothe, [an aunte] a naunte R. and an] & O. bothe] R om.] Hir were leuere swowe or swelte · þan [suffre] any peyne. [were] hadde W. þan] or O. [suffre WCRB] L has the unusual spelling soeffre.] Line 154 I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued Many monthes with hem · and with monkes bothe. [bothe] alse R.] I was þe priouresses potagere · and other poure ladyes, [priouresses] Prioresse WCO. poure] pouere WC; pouer R; pore OB.] And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Iohanne was a bastard, [And—of] I made hir wortes with CB; And made hem iowtes wiþ O. Iohanne] Iohane W; Iohan C; ione R.] And dame Clarice a kniȝtes douȝter · ac a kokewolde was hire syre, [ac] and COB.] And dame Peronelle a prestes file · Priouresse worth she neuere, [Peronelle] Pernele W; peronel RO. she] heo R.] Line 160 For she had childe in chirityme · al owre chapitere it wiste. [she] heo R. chirityme] chirie|tyme WO. chapitere] Chapitre WOB.] ¶ Of wykked wordes I, wrath · here wortes I-made, [I-made] made WCB.] Til 'þow lixte' and 'þow lixte' · lopen oute at ones, And eyther hitte other · vnder þe cheke; [eyther] aither C.] Line 164 Hadde þei had knyues, bi cryst · her eyther had killed other. [Hadde] Ha C. her eyther] eiþer COB.] ¶ Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope · and had a gode forwit, Þat no priouresse were prest · for þat he ordeigned. [prest] preest WO.]

Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste day · þei can so yuel hele conseille. [ben] be CR. infamis] so in LCRO, and in W (though printed in|fames); but infames in B. þe—day] O om. so—hele] ille holde CB. hele] holde O.] Line 168 ¶ Amonge monkes I miȝte be · ac many tyme I shonye; [ac] and CR. shonye] shonye it W.] For þere ben many felle frekis · my feres to aspye, [feres] feeris W; fieres C.] Bothe Prioure an supprioure · and owre pater abbas; [an] and WCROB.] And if I telle any tales · þei taken hem togyderes, Line 172 And do me faste frydayes · to bred and to water, [do] doon W.] And am chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were, [am] ȝeet am R. chapitelhous] Chapitre hous WCB.] And baleised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene; [ers] ars B; hers (altered to bak) R. and] B om.] For-þi haue I no lykyng · with þo leodes to wonye. [O omits. þo] B om. leodes] ledes R; leedis B.] Line 176 I ete there vnthende fisshe · and fieble ale drynke; [folio 19b] [vnthende] vnheende O. fieble] feble WROB.] Ac other while, whan wyn cometh · whan I drynke wyn at eue, [Ac] And C. cometh] come C. whan (2)] þanne W; and COB. wyn (2)] wel R; it COB.] I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe · wel fyue dayes after. [I] And W.] Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote · bi any of owre bretheren, [wote] woot WO; wot B. bretheren] brether C; breþere B.] Line 180 I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owre couent wote it." [couth] kiþe B; couþe (glossed by make knowe) O. owre (2)] þe COB; R om. wote] woot WCO; wot RB.] ¶ "Now repent þe," quod Repentaunce · "and reherce þow neure Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi riȝte; [riȝte] syȝt O; speche R.] Line 183 And drynke nouȝte ouer delicatly · ne to depe noyther, [nouȝte] nat W; nauȝt R; not OB. noyther] neiþer WOB; neyther R; nowþer C.] Þat þi wille bi cause þer-of · to wrath myȝte torne. [bi] be CROB.]

Esto sobrius," he seyde · and assoilled me after, [and] and so he R.] Line 186 And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende.

AUARICIA.

¶ And þanne cam coueytise · can I hym nouȝte descryue, [Auaricia] Descripcio Avaritie R. can I] I can RO. nouȝte] naȝt W; noȝt B; not O.] Line 188 So hungriliche and holwe · sire [Heruy] hym loked. [[Heruy WOB] Henri L; henry CR.] He was bitelbrowed · and baberlipped also, [bitelbrowed] bytter browid B. also] boþe CB.] With two blered eyghen · as a blynde hagge; And as a letheren purs · lolled his chekes, Line 192 Wel sydder þan his chyn · þei chiueled for elde; [sydder] sidder WC; siddere B. chiueled] ryueleden (corrected to chyueleden) O; cheuerid B.] And as a bondman of his bacoun · his berde was bidraueled. With an hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue, [an] his R.] And in a tauny tabarde · of twelue wynter age, [twelue] twelf WC.] Line 196 Al totorne and baudy · and ful of lys crepynge; [totorne] to torn (printed so torn) W.] But if þat a lous couthe · haue lopen þe bettre, [þat] R om. haue] han W. haue lopen] lepe R.] She sholde nouȝte haue walked on þat welche · so was it thredebare. [haue] han W. on þat welche] on þat welþe W; on þat welsch R; there CB; þeron O. In R the line begins, He ne schulde nouȝt walke on þat welsch.] ¶ "I haue ben coueytouse," quod þis caityue · "I bi|knowe it here; [coueytouse] couettise C. I—here] y knew hit neuere B.] Line 200 For some tyme I serued · Symme atte Stile, [atte] at þe RO.] And was his prentis ypliȝte · his profit to wayte. [profit] prophete (!) C.] First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne, [leef] so in LWCROB. other] ouþer WC.] Wikkedlich to weye · was my furst lessoun. Line 204

Line 204 To Wy and to Wynchestre · I went to þe faire, With many manere marchandise · as my Maistre me hiȝte; [marchandise] merchandises COB.] Line 206 Ne had þe grace of gyle · ygo amonge my ware, [had] hadde WROB. ygo] go C; goo B. amonge] amonges W. ware] chaffare WCOB.] It had be vnsolde þis seuene ȝere · so me god helpe! [be] so in LR; ben WCB; been O.] ¶ Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes · my donet to lerne, [A page 59] [amonges] among WCOB.] Line 209 To drawe þe lyser alonge · þe lenger it semed; [lyser] liser WCB; lesere O.] Amonge þe riche rayes · I rendred a lessoun, [rayes] rayeres R.] To broche hem with a [pak-]nedle · and plaited hem togyderes, [[pak-nedle WCO] packenedle B; bat-nedle L; batnedel R. See Text A. plaited] playte W; plyghted C; plytyd B.] Line 212 And put hem in a presse · and pyn[n]ed hem þerinne, [pynned] so in CB; pyned LR; pynnede O; pyne W.] Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · [hadde] tolled out threttene. [[hadde WOCB] LR om.] ¶ My wyf was a webbe · and wollen cloth made; She spak to spynnesteres · to spynnen it oute. [She] Heo R. spynnesteres] a spinnester R.] Line 216 Ac þe pounde þat she payed by · poised a quarteroun more, [Ac] And C. þat] O om. poised] peised WR; weyed CO. quarteroun] quartron W; quaterone C; quartroun O; quarter R. B has, Ac for þe pound she paied · al-þouȝ hit weyed a quar|troun more.] Than myne owne auncere · who-so weyȝed treuthe. [folio 20] [auncere] aunser COB.] ¶ I bouȝte hir barly malte · she brewe it to selle, [malte] R om.] Peny ale and podyng ale · she poured togideres [podyng] puddyng WCR; pud|yng O. she] heo R.] Line 220 For laboreres and for low folke; · þat lay by hym|selue. [for] COB om.] ¶ The best ale lay in my boure · or in my bedchambre, [ale] of alle R. my bed|chambre] bedde chambre C.] And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝte it þer-after, [B omits. bouȝte] he bouȝt CRO.]

A galoun for a grote · god wote, [no] lesse; [[no] so in WCROB; L has na.] Line 224 And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsed. [it] C om. cupmel] cuppemele WB; coppemele R; copmele C. vsed] vseth R.] Rose þe regratere · was hir riȝte name; [was] is R.] She hath holden hokkerye · al hire lyf tyme. [hokkerye] hukkerye W; hukrie O.] ¶ Ac I swere now, so the ik · þat synne wil I lete, [Ac] And C. so] also B. the ik] thee ik W; theich R; thehi C; þeik B.] Line 228 And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikke chaffare vse, [A page 60] But wenden to Walsyngham · and my wyf als, And bidde þe Rode of bromeholme · brynge me oute of dette." [bromeholme] Bromholm WCOB. of dette] dette C.] ¶ "Repente[de]stow þe euere," quod repentance · "ne restitucioun madest?" [Repentedestow] Repentedes|tow W; Repentedest þow R; Re|pentestow LC; Repentist þow OB. þe] WCRO om.; B retains. ne] or WCO.] Line 232 ¶ "Ȝus, ones I was herberwed," quod he · "with an hep of chapmen, [ȝus] ȝis WCOB. herberwed] y|herberwed W; herberd C; sobrid (!) B.] I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifled here males." [roos] aros B. arest] at reste B. yrifled] riflede WCOB; Irifled R.] ¶ "That was no restitucioun," quod repentance · "but a robberes thefte, Þow haddest [be] better worthy · be hanged þerfore [[be C] LR om.; be þe W; been O; ben B. be] to be O.] Þan for al þat · þat þow hast here shewed." [C has, thanne for al þat thow haste · here now yshewed; OB the same, but O has schewid for yshewed. LWR agree.] Line 237 ¶ "I wende ryflynge were restitucioun," quod he · "for I lerned neuere rede on boke, [for] COB om. lerned] lerid B. rede] COB om.] And I can no frenche in feith · but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke." [þe ferthest] ferrest C. nor|folke] Northfolk WC.] ¶ "Vsedestow euere vsurie," quod repentaunce · "in alle þi lyf tyme?" [Vsedestow] Vsedist þow OB. euere] O om.] Line 240

Line 240 ¶ "Nay, sothly," he seyde · "saue in my ȝouthe. [ȝouthe] ȝougþe B.] I lerned amonge lumbardes · and iewes a lessoun, [and—lessoun] a lessoun, and of iewes R.] To wey pens with a peys · and pare þe heuyest, [pens] pans R. peys] pays C.] And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it; Line 244 Suche dedes I did wryte · ȝif he his day breke. [breke] broke RB; brook O.] I haue mo maneres þorw rerages · þan þorw miseretur & comodat. [maneres] manoirs W. como|dat] so in LCROB; also comodat in W (though printed commodat).] ¶ I haue lent lordes · and ladyes my chaffare, [lent] Ilente R.] And ben her brocour after · and bouȝte it my-self. [bouȝte] brouȝt (!) R.] Line 248 Eschaunges and cheuesances · with suche chaffare I dele, [chaffare] chaffares R.] And lene folke þat lese wol · a lyppe at euery noble. And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde golde to Rome, And toke it by taille here · and tolde hem þere lasse." [taille] tale W. hem] O om.] "Len[t]estow euere lordes · for loue of her maynten|aunce?" [folio 20b] [Lentestow W] Lenestow L; Lenedest þow R; Lendestow C; Lent|ist þou OB.] Line 253 ¶ "Ȝe, I haue lent lordes · loued me neuere after, [lordes] to lordes W. loued] þat loueden O; louede þei B.] And haue ymade many a knyȝte · bothe mercere & drapere, [ymade] maad C; made B. a] CR om.] Þat payed neuere for his prentishode · nouȝte a peire gloues." [his] hir CB. peire] paire of C.] Line 256 ¶ "Hastow pite on pore men · þat mote nedes borwe?" [Hastow] Hast þou O.] ¶ "I haue as moche pite of pore men · as pedlere hath of cattes, [as moche] as mikile C; also muche B. of—men] of hem CB; on hem O. pedlere] þe pedlere R.] Þat wolde kille hem, yf he cacche hem myȝte · for coueitise of here skynnes." [yf] and R. cacche hem] COB om. for—of] forto haue CB.]

¶ "Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores · of þi mete and drynke?" [Artow] Art þow ROB. þi mete and] met and of CB.] Line 260 ¶ "I am holden," quod he, "as hende · as hounde is in kychyne, [COB place as hende before quod he. is in] in his R.] Amonges my neighbores, namelich · such a name ich haue." ¶ "Now god leue neure," quod repentance · "but þow repent þe rather, [Now] O om. leue] leue þee or lene þee W. neure] CB om.] Þe grace on þis grounde · þi good wel to bisette, Line 264 Ne þine ysue after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest, [ysue] vssue R; heires WCB; eyres O.] Ne þi excecutours wel bisett · þe siluer þat þow hem leuest; [wel] COB om. þe] þi O.] And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be despended. [be] B om.] For were I frere of þat hous · þere gode faith and charite is, Line 268 I nolde cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrke amende, [nolde] wolde nouȝt R. kyrke] cherche R.] Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of þyne, bi my soule hele, [of—hele] so god my soule saue W. hele] CB om.] For þe best boke in owre hous · þeiȝe brent golde were þe leues, [brent] brend RB.] And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow [tellest,] [[tellest WCROB] telleth L; but the line is marked for correction.] [Or elles þat I kouþe knowe it · by any kynnes wise.] [LWRO omit this line, but it is found in CBC₂, and in Crowley's text, which has kindes wyt for kynnes wise. I quote it from C.] Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris, [cum] dum W.] Line 274 Pane tuo pocius · vescere, liber eris. [pocius] pocius (printed potius) W.] ¶ Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can þe nouȝte as|soille, [þe nouȝte] nouȝt þe CB.] Line 276

Line 276 Til þow make restitucioun · and rekne with hem alle, [R inserts quod repentance after restitucioun.] And sithen þat resoun rolle it · in þe regystre of heuene, [it] þe C; B om.] That þow hast made vche man good · I may þe nouȝte assoille;

Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur abla|tum, &c.

[assoille] saue R. donec] nisi R. ablatum] oblatum WCB.] Line 279 ¶ For alle þat [haue] of þi good · haue god my trouthe! [[haue C] hauen B; han WO; hath LR.] [Ben] holden at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe to restitue. [[Ben WCOB] Is LR. holden] haldynge R. to (2)] R om.] And who so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þe sauter glose, [nouȝte þis be] this be nouȝt CB. þe] a R.] Line 282 In miserere mei deus · where I mene treuthe,

Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, &c.

[After &c. follows, in R only, the curious line, þere is no laborere wolde leue with hem · þat knoweth peres þe plowman.] ¶ Shal neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest; [Shal] For schal R.] Line 284 Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me þat on englische." [construe—englische] C om. me þat] me þis W; þou me þat B.] ¶ Thanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged him-self, [þat] þe R. him-self] hym W.] Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted hym in þis manere, [folio 21] [reconforted] conforted R. hym] CB om.] "Haue mercye in þi mynde · and with þi mouth biseche it, Line 288 For goddes mercye is more · þan alle hise other werkes;

Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, &c.

[LOR preserve, WCB omit, the Latin quotation. eius] domini R.] ¶ And al þe wikkednesse in þis worlde · þat man myȝte worche or thynke, [þe] O om. in] of O. þis] C om. worche] do COB.] Ne is no more to þe mercye of god · þan in þe see a glede;

Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei, est [quasi] sintilla in medio maris.

[Ne is] Nis WCOB. [quasi WCORB] L om. sintilla] so in W (though printed scintilla).] ¶ For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde · and marchandise, leue it, Line 292 For þow hast no good grounde · to gete þe with a wastel, But if it were with thi tonge · or ellis with þi two hondes. For þe good þat þow hast geten · bigan al with false|hede, [bigan] hit began B.] And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nouȝte, but borwest. Line 296 ¶ And if þow wite neuere to whiche · ne whom to restitue, [wite] wost COB. restitue] restitute R; make restitucioun B.] Bere it to þe bisschop · and bidde hym of his grace, Bisette it hym-selue · as best is for þi soule. For he shal answere for þe · at þe heygh dome, Line 300 For þe and for many mo · þat man shal ȝif a reken|ynge. [for] COB om.] What he lerned ȝow in lente · leue þow none other, And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synne." [

Corruptly made into two lines in COB.

And what he lente yow of his goode · to wite yow fro synne,

For he sholde helpe yow · of oure lordes goode C.

]

GULA.

¶ Now bigynneth glotoun · for to go to schrifte, [GULA] LWCOC₂.] Line 304 And kaires hym to-kirke-ward · his coupe to schewe. [kaires] karieþ WB. kirke] cherche R. coupe] culpe B.] ¶ Ac Beton þe brewestere · bad hym good morwe, [Ac] And W; An C.] And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde. [axed] asked WR. of] at W. hym] B om. whiderward] whider B.] ¶ "To holi cherche," quod he · "forto here masse, [cherche] kirke O. forto] to CB.] Line 308

Line 308 And sithen I wil be shryuen · and synne namore." ¶ "I haue gode ale, gossib," quod she · "glotown, wiltow assaye?" [wiltow] woltow W; wilt þou OB.] "Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices?" [purs] purs, quod he W.] ¶ "I haue peper and piones," quod [s]he · "and a pounde of garlike, [piones] pionus C; pioyne R; greynes B. she] so in W; sche OR; he LCB; see l. 310.] Line 312 A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed · for fastyngdayes." [A] And a W.] ¶ Þanne goth glotoun in · and grete othes after; Cesse þe souteresse · sat on þe benche, [souteresse] sowestere B.] Watte þe warner · and his wyf bothe, [warner] waryner B.] Line 316 Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyne of his prentis, [Tymme] Symme CRB. prentis] prentices WCO; prentys R; prentiȝ B.] Hikke þe hakeneyman · and hughe þe nedeler, [A page 61] [hughe] howe R; hue O.] Clarice of cokkeslane · and þe clerke of þe cherche, [cokkeslane] cockislane B. þe clerke] clerc C.] Dawe þe dykere · and a dozeine other; [R transposes these lines.] Line 320 Sire Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres, [folio 21b] [R transposes these lines.] [Sire] And sire R. Pridie] Pride C. Peronelle] Pernele W.] A ribibour, a ratonere · a rakyer of chepe, [rakyer] Raker COB.] A ropere, a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheres, [redyngkyng] Rydyngkyng C. dissheres] disshere B; dyssheres douȝter R.] Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfin þe walshe, [garlekehithe] garlek-hethe R. gryfin] grifyth R.] Line 324 And vpholderes an hepe · erly bi þe morwe [erly] herly R.] Geuen glotoun with glad chere · good ale to hansel. [Geuen] Gyuen C. glad] good COB.] ¶ Clement þe cobelere · cast of his cloke, And atte new faire · he nempned it to selle; [atte] at þe WCOB; to þe R. he] R om.] Line 328 Hikke þe hakeneyman · hitte his hood after, And badde bette þe bochere · ben on his side. [ben] to ben R.] Þere were chapmen y-chose · þis chaffare to preise; [were] R. om. y-chose] chosen CB.]

Who-so haueth þe hood · shuld haue amendes of þe cloke. [Who-so] That whoso W. haueth] haue CB; hadde WO. shuld] shul CR. haue] han W.] Line 332 ¶ Two risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres, [Two] þo R. vp] R om.] And preised þese penyworthes · apart bi hem-selue; [þese] þe R.] Þei couth nouȝte bi her conscience · acorden in treuthe, Tyl Robyn þe ropere · arose bi þe southe, [bi] R om (!).] Line 336 And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate nere, [A page 62] [noumpere] nounpere W; noun|pier C. nere] were R.] [For to trye þis chaffare · bitwixen hem þre.] [From O; also in CBC₂; LWR omit. Crowley has the line, but puts there for þre.] ¶ Hikke þe hostellere · hadde þe cloke, In couenaunte þat Clement · shulde þe cuppe fille, Line 340 And haue Hikkes hode hostellere · and holde hym yserued; [yserued] serued CB.] And who-so repented rathest · shulde arise after, [who-so] who þat COB. rathest] rather COB.] And grete sire glotoun · with a galoun ale. [sire] wele C; wel B; wel sire O.] ¶ Þere was laughyng and louryng · and "let go þe cuppe," Line 344 And seten so til euensonge · and songen vmwhile, [seten so] sitten so R; so setyn þey C; so þei seten B; so seten O. songen] syngen R. vmwhile] vmb|while R; oþer while O.] Tyl glotoun had y-globbed · a galoun an a Iille. [y-globbed] y-glubbed W; glubbed O; globed C; swelwid B. an] and WCROB. Iille] gille WCROB.] His guttis gunne to [gothely] · as two gredy sowes; [gunne] gonne R; bigonne WC; bigune O. [gothely C] gurle, corrected to gotheli O; goþelen W; grouly B; godly LR; but in L, the line is marked for correction. Crowley prints gothlen. gredy] guedy R.] He pissed a potel · in a pater-noster while, [potel] potel and more B.] Line 348 And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bon ende, [And] He R. ruwet] rowet R; rewet C; ruet B. rigge-bon] rigges boun C; ruggebones W; rigges|bones R; rigge-bonys O; riegbones B.] That alle þat herde þat horne · held her nose after, [þat herde] R om. nose] noses W.] And wissheden it had be wexed · with a wispe of firses. [wexed] waxed COB. wispe] wips R.]

¶ He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · er he his staffe hadde; [ne] no C.] Line 352 And þanne gan he go · liche a glewmannes bicche, [go] to goo B. glewmannes] glemannes W; glwemannes (sic) R.] Somme tyme aside · and somme tyme arrere, [A page 63] [arrere] arere WCRB; a rere O.] As who-so leyth lynes · forto lacche foules. [lynes] lymȝerdis B. lacche] kacche B.] ¶ And whan he drowgh to þe dore · þanne dymmed his eighen, [And] Ac R. eighen] eyȝes R.] Line 356 He [stumbled] on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe. [[stumbled WCO] stomlid B; trembled L; tremled R. thresshe|wolde] þreiswald B; þresshfold W. an] and W &c. threwe] throwe C; ouerþrew B.] Clement þe cobelere · cauȝte hym bi þe myddel, For to lifte hym alofte · and leyde him on his knowes; [hym] C om. knowes] knowes, altered to knees C; knees O.] Ac glotoun was a gret cherle · and a grym in þe lift|ynge, [a grym] grym O; heuy B.] Line 360 And coughed vp a caudel · in clementis lappe; [folio 22] [coughed] cowede R; kowid B.] Is non so hungri hounde · in Hertford schire Durst lape of þe leuynges · so vnlouely þei smauȝte. [þe] þat WCOB. leuynges] leuyng R. þei smauȝte] hit smacchid B.] ¶ With al þe wo of þis worlde · his wyf and his wenche Line 364 Baren hym home to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer|inne. [home] R om.] And after al þis excesse · he had an accidie, Þat he slepe saterday and sonday · til sonne ȝede to reste. [slepe] sleep WB. ȝede to] wente to O; took CB.] Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen; Line 368 Þe fyrste worde þat he warpe · was, "where is þe bolle?" [þe (1)] C om.]

His [wif] gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued, [[wif WO] witte LRB; wit C. Cf. Text A.] And repentance riȝte so · rebuked hym þat tyme: [so] þoo so O.] ¶ "As þow with wordes and werkes · hast wrouȝte yuel in þi lyue, [yuel] ille COB.] Line 372 Shryue þe and be shamed þer-of · and shewe it with þi mouth." [shamed] a-schamed OR. þi] COB om.] ¶ "I, glotoun," quod þe gome · "gylti me ȝelde, [gome] grom W; goome C.] Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte, [þat] Of þat R.] Sworen 'goddes soule' · and 'so god me help and halidom,' [soule] soule and his sydes R. god—help] help me god R; me god helpe W. and halidom] at þe holy dom B; W om.] Line 376 Þere no nede ne was · nyne hundreth tymes; [ne] W om. hundreth] hundred WC; hundrid OB.] ¶ And ouer-seye me at my sopere · and some tyme at nones, [ouer-seye] ouerseyen W. at my] atte C; at þe B.] Þat I glotoun girt it vp · er I hadde gone a myle, [it] COB om.] And y-spilte þat myȝte be spared · and spended on somme hungrie; [And] And (printed An) W. y-spilte] spilt COB. spended] spend R. on somme] vppon þe B.] Line 380 Ouerdelicatly on fastyng dayes · drunken and eten bothe, And sat some tyme so longe þere · þat I slepe and ete at ones. [þat I] and R. slepe] sleep W; sleped C; slep R; slepte O. at] al at B.] For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more, I dyned, [to drynke] and for drynke W; to ete R.] And hyed to þe mete er none · whan fastyng dayes were." [hyed] hiȝed me B.] Line 384

Line 384 ¶ "This shewyng shrifte," quod repentance · "shal be meryte to þe." [shrifte] of shryfte B. meryte] mercy CB.] ¶ And þanne gan glotoun grete · and gret doel to make [þanne] C om. grete] to grete RB. gret] muche R. to make] made O.] For his lither lyf · þat he lyued hadde, [lither] luþer W.] Line 387 And avowed [to] fast— · "for hunger or for thurst [A page 64] [[to WCOB] LR om. avowed to] made his avow to B; vowede to O. thurst] thruste C.] Shal neuere fisshe on þe fryday · defien in my wombe, [þe] WCO om. Shal—defien] þat neuere fisch on þe Friday · diffie shal B.] Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue; [haue ȝiue] hath Iȝeue R.] And ȝit haue I hated hir · al my lyf tyme."

ACCIDIA.

¶ Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slymy eiȝen, [Accidia] LWC; ROB om. come] cam WCOB. bislabered] by|slobred R. slymy eiȝen] slymed eyȝes R.] Line 392 "I most sitte," seyde þe segge · "or elles shulde I nappe; [shulde I] I schulde OB.] I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele. [a] R om.] Were I brouȝte abedde · but if my taille-ende it made, Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · ar I were rype to dyne." [ryngynge] þyng B. ar] er WCB; ere R; or O.] Line 396 He bygan benedicite with a bolke · and his brest knocked, [his] is C; on his B.] And roxed and rored · and rutte atte laste. [roxed] raxed W; roskid B. atte] at þe WO; al out atte B.] "What! awake, renke!" quod repentance · "and rape þe to shrifte." [folio 22b] [What] COB om. renke] and þenk B.] ¶ "If I shulde deye bi þis day · me liste nouȝte to loke; [If] Al-þouȝ B. day] day quod he R. liste] lest R.] Line 400

Line 400 I can nouȝte perfitly my pater-noster · as þe prest it syngeth, [it] COB om.] But I can rymes of Robyn hood · and Randolf erle of Chestre, Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady · þe leste þat euere was made. [Ac] And C. of (2)] CO om. euere—made] þat is made COB.] ¶ I haue made vowes fourty · and for-ȝete hem on þe morne; [vowes] auowes W. fourty] fifty COB. on þe] al at CB; or R; on O. morne] morwe WCRO; morwen B.] Line 404 I parfourned neure penaunce · as þe prest me hiȝte, [parfourned] performed B.] Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝet was I neuere. [Ne] For B. synnes] synne CB.] And ȝif I bidde any bedes · but if it be in wrath, Þat I telle with my tonge · is two myle fro myne herte. I am occupied eche day · haliday and other, [occupied] ocuped R.] Line 409 With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherches; [atte ale] at þe Ale WCRO; at þe nale B. in cherches] in cherche R; at chirche W.] Goddes peyne and his passioun · ful selde þynke I þere-on. [þere-on] on CO; on it W.] ¶ I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettered folke in puttes, [fieble] feble WOB; seke R. puttes] pittes COB.] Line 412 I haue leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres, [haue] hadde R. a] C om. somer game] somer gamen B.] Or lesynges to laughe at · and belye my neighbore, [lesynges] lesynge W. at] of R. neighbore] neȝebores WCOB.] Þan al þat euere Marke made · Mathew, John, & lucas. [þan] R om (!). lucas] luk B.] And vigilies and fastyng dayes · alle þise late I passe, [late I] I late R.] And ligge abedde in lenten · an my lemman in myn armes, Line 417 Tyl matynes and masse be do · and þanne go to þe freres; [and þanne] þan C.]

Come I to ite, missa est · I holde me yserued. [yserued] serued COB.] I nam nouȝte shryuen some tyme · but if sekenesse it make, [if] COB om.] Line 420 Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere · and þanne vp gesse I schryue me. [schryue] miswritten shcryue in L. me] C om.] ¶ I haue be prest and parsoun · passynge thretti wynter, [thretti] twenty B. wynter] yere COB.] Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede, [ȝete] And yet W. solfe] solf B; solue R; solue (printed solne) W.] But I can fynde in a felde · or in a fourlonge an hare, Better þan in beatus vir · or in beati omnes Line 425 Construe oon clause wel · and kenne it to my paroch|ienes. [oon—wel] it clausemel R; me þis clause wel B. my] þi (!) B. parochienes] parisshens WCOB.] I can holde louedayes · and here a Reues rekenynge, [and] or R.] Ac in canoun ne in þe decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne. [CB om. ne in þe] nor in W; ne O.] Line 428 ¶ Ȝif I bigge and borwe it · but ȝif it be ytailled, [it (1)] auȝt W. ȝif (2)] B om. ytailled] tailled COB.] I forȝete it as ȝerne · and ȝif men me it axe [as] also B. ȝerne] soone O. axe] aske R.] Sixe sithes or seuene · I forsake it with othes, And þus tene I trewe men · ten hundreth tymes. [tene I] I tene RB. hundreth] hundred WOB.] Line 432 ¶ And my seruauntz some tyme · her salarye is bihynde, Reuthe is to here [þe] rekenynge · whan we shal rede acomptes; [is] it is WB. [þe WCOB] LR om.] So with wikked wille and wraththe · my werkmen I paye. ¶ Ȝif any man doth me a benfait · or helpeth me at nede, [doth] do COB. benfait] bien|fait WC; benfeet RO; bienfet B. helpeth] helpe COB.] Line 436

Line 436 I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye · and can nouȝte vnderstonde it; [folio 23] [vnkynde] vnkende R; vn|hende O. aȝein] ayeins W; aȝens O; to CB. his] W om.] Line 437 For I haue and haue hadde · some dele haukes maneres, I nam nouȝte lured with loue · but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe. [nam] am WCB. lured] leired C; lieured B. þere ligge auȝte] auȝt be CB; if ouȝt lye O. þe] R om.] ¶ The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene · kidde me [fernyere], [kidde] kudde R; kydden O. [fernyere WC] ferneȝere RB; ferne ȝer O; farnere L.] Line 440 Sixty sythes I, sleuthe · haue fo[r]ȝete it sith, [sythes] sithe R. forȝete] for|yete W; miswritten forȝete L.] In speche and in sparynge of speche · yspilte many a tyme [of speche] OB om; of speches C. yspilte] I spilt COB; I spelt R. a tyme] tymes CB.] Bothe flesche & fissche · and many other vitailles; [

Boþe flesshe and fisshe · butter, mylk, an chesse,

Boþe brede an ale · and many other vitailles COB. many] myn R.

] Bothe bred and ale · butter, melke, and chese [

Boþe flesshe and fisshe · butter, mylk, an chesse,

Boþe brede an ale · and many other vitailles COB. many] myn R.

] Line 444 Forsleuthed in my seruyse · til it myȝte serue noman. ¶ I ran aboute in ȝouthe · and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne, And euere sith [haue] be beggere · for my foule sleuthe; [[haue C] haue I WO; I haue B; LR omit; but the line is marked for correction in L. Crowley has haue.] Heu michi, [quod] sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem. [[quod RB] quia LWCO; which spoils the scansion.] Line 448 ¶ "Repentestow þe nauȝte?" quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned, [Repentestow] Repentest þou BO; Repentest R; Repentedestow W. þe] WCO om. swowned] swhounede R.] Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eyȝen, [eyȝen] eyȝes R; yen O.] And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym criede, [B transposes these lines.] [it on] water in B. faste] R om.] And seide, "ware þe fram wanhope · wolde þe bitraye. [B transposes these lines.] [fram] fro CB; for WO. wolde] he wolde B.] 'I am sori for my synnes' · sey so to þi-selue, [so] þou B; WCO om.] Line 453 And bete þi-selue on þe breste · and bidde hym of grace; [bete] bette C. þe] þi C. hym] god B.]

For is no gult here so grete · þat his goodnesse nys more." [is] þer is B. no] no (printed ne) W. nys] is CROB.] ¶ Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned hym swithe, [seyned] sayned C; blissid B.] Line 456 And made avowe to-fore god · for his foule sleuthe, [avowe] avow O; awowe C; a vow RB; auow (printed a vow) W.] "Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · but sykenesse it lette, [but—it] but ȝif sekenesse me R.] Þat I ne shal do me er day · to þe dere cherche, [ne] B om.] And heren matines and masse · as I a monke were. Line 460 Shal none ale after mete · holde me þennes, Tyl I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe Rode. And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue, [A page 65] [And—I] What I nam R.] Al þat I wikkedly wan · sithen I wytte hadde. Line 464 ¶ And þough my liflode lakke · leten I nelle, [my] me R.] Þat eche man ne shal haue his · ar I hennes wende: [ne] ROB om.] And with þe residue and þe remenaunt · bi þe Rode of chestre! [with þe] with CO. þe Rode] rode C.] I shal seke treuthe arst · ar I se Rome!" [arst] erst WCOB. ar] er WCROB.] Line 468 ¶ Robert þe robbere · on reddite lokede, [Robert] Roberd WCR.] And for þer was nouȝte wher-of · he wepe swithe sore. [wepe] weped COB; wepte W. sore] O om.] Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe · seyde to hym-selue, [Ac] And C.] "Cryst, þat on caluarye · vppon þe crosse deydest, [on] on þe O.] Line 472 Tho dismas my brother · bisouȝte ȝow of grace, [B omits. dismas] bymas R.] And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake, [on] of CO.] So rewe on þis robbere · þat reddere ne haue, [haue] haþ O.] Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I owe. [folio 23b] [owe] knowe R.] Line 476 But for þi mykel mercy · mitigacioun I biseche; [for] C om. I] O om.]

Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday · for þat I did so ille." [so] O om.] ¶ What bifel of þis feloun · I can nouȝte faire schewe, [feloun] schrewe O.] Wel I wote he wepte faste · water with boþe his eyen, And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones, [R omits. gult] gilt WCO. eftsones] efter soones O.] Line 481 Þat penitencia his pyke · he shulde polsche newe, [A page 66] [polsche] polische O; polissh C; pulsche B.] And lepe with hym ouer londe · al his lyf tyme, [lyf] C om.] For he had leyne bi latro · luciferes aunte. [had] hath R.] Line 484 ¶ And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and redde hem alle to knele, "For I shal biseche for al synful · owre saueoure of grace, To amende vs of owre mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle. ¶ Now god," quod he, "þat of þi goodnesse · gonne þe worlde make, [he] R om. (!) þat] precedes gonne COB. gonne] gunne O; bi|gonne W. make] to make W.] Line 488 And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche to þi-selue, [auȝte] alle þynge B.] And sithen suffredest for to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle, [suffredest] suffrest COB. for to] hym to R; for O; for oure B (which last is clearly wrong here).] And al for þe best, as I bileue · what euere þe boke telleth,

O felix culpa! o necessarium peccatum ade! &c.

[telleth] telle CB. peccatum ade] ade peccatum O.] For þourgh þat synne þi sone · sent was to þis erthe, And bicam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue, Line 493 And madest þi-self with þi sone · and vs synful yliche,

Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitu|dinem nostram;

Et alibi: qui manet in caritate, in deo manet, & deus in eo;

[vs synful] vs silf B; CB omit the quotation, and also ll. 495—497. et similitudinem] WO om. &—eo] O om.] ¶ And sith with þi self sone · in owre sute deydest [þi] þe R. sute] so in O; seute R; secte W. Crowley has sute.] On godefryday for mannes sake · at ful tyme of þe daye, [þe] R om.] Line 496 Þere þi-self ne þi sone · no sorwe in deth feledest; [ne] and R.] But in owre secte was þe sorwe · and þi sone it ladde,

Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.

[þe] þat R. duxit] duxi CB.] ¶ Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝte for a tyme [les] lees W; lese C. syȝte] liȝt W; hys liȝt O. for] of W.] Aboute mydday whan most liȝte is · and mele tyme of seintes; [mele] meke (!) B.] Line 500 Feddest with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derk|nesse,

Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, vidit lucem magnam;

[with] þo with R. fresche blode] Fleisch & þi blood B. ambula|bat] ambulat CB.] And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe · lucifer was blent, [was] it R.] And blewe alle þi blissed · in-to þe blisse of paradise. [blissed] blissed þennes R. þe] þy C.] ¶ Þe thrydde daye after · þow ȝedest in owre sute, [þow] O om. sute] so in WO; suyte CB; seute R.] Line 504 A synful Marie þe seighe · ar seynte Marie þi dame, [A] And COB. þe] þow CB. ar] er WCROB.] And al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were:

Non veni vocare iustos, set peccatores ad peni|tenciam.

[And] CB om. al] O om. set] sed R.] ¶ And al þat Marke hath ymade · mathew, Johan, and lucas, [And] To (!) B.] Of þyne douȝtiest dedes · were don in owre armes. [folio 24] [douȝtiest] douȝty WCOB. were] was W; þat weren B.]

Verbum caro factum est, et habitauit in nobis.

Line 508

Line 508 And bi so moche, me semeth · þe sikerere we mowe [me] it R. sikerere] syker|loker R.] Bydde and biseche · if it be þi wille, [biseche] biseche it CB.] Þat art owre fader and owre brother · be merciable to vs, [to] til CO.] And haue reuthe on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hem here sore, [reuthe] mercy R. here] R om.] Line 512 Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worlde · in worde, þouȝte, or dedes." [wratthed] wraþþeden O; wrathe C. in—worlde] R om. dedes] dede CO.] ¶ Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus, tu conuersus viuificabis [nos,] [[nos] in R only.] And blew it with Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniqui|tates, [blew] he blew R.] Þat alle seyntes in heuene · songen at ones,

Homines & iumenta saluabis, quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, deus, &c.

[þat] Til CB. deus] found in W (but not printed).] Line 516 ¶ A thousand of men þo · thrungen togyderes; Criede vpward to cryst · and to his clene moder [Cricde] Cryeden O.] To haue grace to go with hem · treuthe to seke. [To—go] Grace to god (!) R.] Line 519 ¶ Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe, [A page 67] [C omits. was wyȝte] ne was B.] But blustreden forth as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles, [blustreden] blostereden R; blustrenden (sic) C. forth] for C.] Til late was and longe · þat þei a lede mette, [þat þei] til þey C; til þei wiþ B.] Apparailled as a paynym · in pylgrymes wyse. He bare a burdoun ybounde · with a brode liste, Line 524 In a withewyndes wise · ywounden aboute. [withewyndes] wiþwynde W; wodebyndis B; swithe wyndes CO.] A bolle and a bagge · he bare by his syde; [bolle] bulle R.] An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatt seten, [An] An (printed And) W. hundreth] hundred WROB.] Signes of synay · and shelles of galice; [synay] a sise (!) R.] Line 528

Line 528 And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome, [a] CR om. cruche] crouche WCOB. keyes] þe cayes R.] And þe vernicle bifore · for men shulde knowe, [knowe] I-knowe R.] And se bi his signes · whom he souȝte hadde. [A page 68] [signes] seynes R.] Line 531 ¶ Þis folke frayned hym firste · fro whennes he come? [þis] þeise O. frayned] frey|neden B.] ¶ "Fram synay," he seyde · "and fram owre lordes sepulcre; [Fram] Fro COB (twice). synay] Synay (printed Syny) W.] In bethleem and in babiloyne · I haue ben in bothe, [bethleem] Bedlem COB.] In ermonye, in Alisaundre · in many other places. [ermonye] Armonye W. in Alisaundre] so in W; but printed and Alisaundre. in] and in R.] Ȝe may se bi my signes · þat sitten on myn hatte, Line 536 Þat I haue walked ful wyde · in wete and in drye, And souȝte gode seyntes · for my soules helth." [soules] soule R.] ¶ "Knowestow ouȝte a corseint · þat men calle treuthe? Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth?" [Coudestow] koudest þow ROB. auȝte] CB om. þe] þe riȝte B. wy] wyȝte R; he COB.] Line 540 ¶ "Nay, so me god helpe!" · seide þe gome þanne, [me] mote me B.] "I seygh neuere palmere · with pike ne with scrippe [seygh] ne sauȝ B. scrippe] scrippe wende O.] Axen after hym er · til now in þis place." [Axen] Asken W. til] COB om.] "Peter!" quod a plowman · and put forth his hed, [folio 24b] Line 544 "I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerke doþ his bokes; [bokes] booke COB.] Conscience and kynde witte · kenned me to his place, And deden me suren hym sikerly · to serue hym for euere, [deden] diden W; dide C. suren hym] suren hem R; swere COB.] Bothe to sowe and to sette · þe while I swynke myghte. Line 548 I haue ben his folwar · al þis [fifty] wyntre; [[fifty] WCOB; fourty LR; Crowley has fifty. Cf. Pass. VI. 85.] Bothe ysowen his sede · and sued his bestes, [ysowen] I-sowe R; sowen CB; sewe O. sued] fedde CO; feed B.]

With-Inne and with-outen · wayted his profyt. [A page 69] [wayted] I-wayted R.] I dyke and I delue · I do þat treuthe hoteth; [I do] & do OB. treuthe] he R. hoteth] me hoteþ B.] Line 552 Some tyme I sowe · and some tyme I thresche, In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse, I weue an I wynde · and do what treuthe hoteth. [an] and WCROB. weue—wynde] wynde and wede B. do] I do C. hoteth] me hotiþ B.] ¶ For þouȝe I seye it my-self · I serue hym to paye; Line 556 Ich haue myn huire [of hym] wel · and otherwhiles more; [[of hym R] LWCOB om.] He is þe prestest payer · þat pore men knoweth; He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euen. [He ne] He CROB. non—hyre] no men here huyre R; noon hynen his hire B. þat—euen] þat þei ne haue it anone R.] He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche, Line 560 And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite · where þat he dwelleth, I shal wisse ȝow witterly · þe weye to his place." ¶ "Ȝe, leue Pieres," quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym huire For to wende with hem · to treuthes dwellyng place. [treuthes] treuthe C.] Line 564 ¶ "Nay, bi my soules helth," quod pieres · and gan forto swere, [soules helth] soule CB; soules helþe (printed helpe) W; soule perel R.] "I nolde fange a ferthynge · for seynt Thomas shryne! [fange] fonge RB.] Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse · a longe tyme þere|after! [a] COB om. þere-after] after COB.] Line 567 Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thider, [ȝe] yow W.] [Þat I shal say to yow · and sette yow in þe soþe.] [From C; also in OBC2; LWR and Crowley omit.] ¶ Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse · bothe men and wyues, Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience · þat cryst wite þe sothe, [in-to] to COB.] Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god · leuest of alle þinges, [A page 70] Line 572 And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte · in non wise apeyre

Otherwyse þan þow woldest · he wrouȝte to þi-selue. [þi-selue] þe-selue O.] ¶ And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth-buxum-of|speche, [boweth] bouh R; bowe CB. beth] be R; bees C. of] of þi R.] Tyl ȝe fynden a forth · ȝowre-fadres-honoureth,

Honora patrem & matrem, &c.:

[forth] forthe RB; foorþe O; ford W; forde C. honoureth] ȝe honoure O.] Line 576 Wadeþ in þat water · and wascheth ȝow wel þere, [in] in-to B. þat] O om. wascheth] wasshe WC. þere] þer-Inne W.] And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker · al ȝowre lyf tyme. [þe] C om. liȝtloker] lighter C; liȝtlier OB.] And so shaltow se swere-nouȝte- · but-if-it-be-for-nede| [shaltow] schalt þow R. se] O om. if] B om.] And-namelich-an-ydel- · þe-name-of-god-almyȝti. [an] on W; in OB.] Line 580 ¶ Þanne shaltow come by a crofte · but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne; [þow] COB om.] That crofte hat coueyte-nouȝte- · mennes-catel-ne-her|wyues-, [That] þe R. mennes] men CR. catel] R om (!).] Ne-none-of-her-seruauntes- · þat-noyen-hem-myȝte. [folio 25] [noyen] anoien B.] Line 583 Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne. [ȝe] þow R. ȝowre] on ȝoure R.] ¶ Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere, [stondeth] stonde CB. ac] and C.] They [hatte] stele-nouȝte, ne-slee-nouȝte · stryke forth by bothe; [[hatte CR] hatten OB; hiȝte W; hat L. ne] & W. by bothe] bifore COB.] And leue hem on þi left halfe · and loke nouȝte þere|after; And holde wel þyne haliday · heighe til euen. Line 588 Thanne shaltow blenche at a berghe · bere-no-false|witnesse, [blenche] written more like bleuche in L; blenche W. Cf. Text A. berghe] beruh R; beruȝ O.] He is frithed in with floreines · and other [fees] many; [A page 71] [He] R om. frithed in] florischid wiþ-Inne B. [fees WCRB] foes L; foos O.] Loke þow plukke no plante þere · for peril of þi soule. [þow] ȝe R. þi soule] ȝoure soules R.]

¶ Þanne shal ȝe se sey-soth- · so-it-be-to-done| [se] R om.] Line 592 In-no-manere-ellis-nauȝte- · for-no-mannes-biddynge. [no] none RB; good W.] ¶ Þanne shaltow come to a courte · as clere as þe sonne, Þe mote is of mercy · þe manere aboute, [þe mote] þat moot hit B. of] O om. manere] Manoir W.] Line 595 And alle þe wallis ben of witte · to holden wille oute; [And] CB om.] And kerneled with crystendome · man-kynde to saue, [kerneled] I-carneled R. man|kynde] þat kende R.] Boterased with bileue-so- · or-þow-beest-nouȝte-ysaued. [Boterased] Botrased W; Bi|trased C; I-buterased R; Bretaskid B.] ¶ And alle þe houses ben hiled · halles and chambres, [And] O om. hiled] I-hyled R; helied B. halles] halle B. chambres] chambere C.] Wit[h] no lede, but with loue · and lowe-speche-as-bre|theren. [With] Wit L; but the line is marked for correction.] Line 600 Þe brugge is of bidde-wel- · þe-bette-may-þow-spede; [brugge] brygge COB. may] maist B.] Eche piler is of penaunce · of preyeres to seyntes, [Eche] Ilke C. preyeres] prayer C; preyer O; preiere B.] Of almes dedes ar þe hokes · þat þe gates hangen on. [almes dedes] almeis dede C. þe (1)] þo B. þat] COB om.] ¶ Grace hatte þe gateward · a gode man for sothe, [hatte] hotiþ B.] Line 604 Hys man hatte amende-ȝow · for many man him knoweth; [hatte] hotiþ B. for] R om. man] men WB.] Telleth hym þis tokene · þat treuthe wite þe sothe; 'I parfourned þe penaunce · þe preest me enioyned, [parfourned] parfournied R; performed B. þe (2)] þat þe W.] And am ful sori for my synnes · and so I shal euere, Line 608 Whan I þinke þere-on · þeighe I were a pope.' ¶ Biddeth amende-ȝow meke him · til his maistre ones, [A page 72] To wayne vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette, [wayne] wayne OB; wayne or wayue LRC; waynen or wayuen (printed wayven) W.] Tho Adam and Eue · eten apples vnrosted;

Per euam cun[c]tis clausa est, & per mariam virginem [iterum] patefacta est;

[[iterum] in R only. See note.] Line 612

Line 612 ¶ For he hath þe keye and þe [cliket] · þouȝ þe kynge slepe. [he] scho C. [cliket WCB] clikat LR. þouȝ] þouȝ þat B.] And if grace graunte þe · to go in in þis wise, [in in] in WCROB; but see Text A.] Þow shalt see in þi-selue · treuthe sitte in þine herte, [sitte] W om.] In a cheyne of charyte · as þow a childe were, Line 616 To suffre hym and segge nouȝte · aȝein þi sires wille. [segge] saye C. segge nouȝte] to segge (!) R. þi sires] thy eires C; þyn heiris B.] ¶ Ac bewar þanne of wrath-þe · þat is a wikked shrewe, [Ac] And WC. wrath-þe] Wratthe CB. shrewe] sherewe W.] He hath enuye to hym · þat in þine herte sitteth; [folio 25b] [to] til COB.] And pukketh forþ pruyde · to prayse þi-seluen. [pukketh] pukkes C; pucketh R; poukeþ O; pokeþ WB. forþ] for C; R om.] Line 620 Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes · maketh þe blynde þanne, [bienfetes] benefetes R; bien|faittes CB; beenfetis O. maketk] make C.] And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew · and þe dore closed, [þanne] O om. worstow] worst þou B; worþest þou O. dryuen] dryues C. dew] deuh R; a dew CB. closed] I-closed R.] Kayed and [cliketed] · to kepe þe with-outen; [Kayed] I-cayed R; Keyed WCOB. [cliketed CB] clikated L; cliketted W; I-clycated R.] Happily an hundreth wyntre · ar þow eft entre. [hundreth] hundred WOB. ar] er WCOB.] Line 624 Þus myght þow lesen his loue · to late wel by þi-selue, [myght þow] myȝtist þou O; myȝtestow W; miȝtow R.] And neuere happiliche efte entre · but grace þow haue. [but] til O.] ¶ Ac þere [aren] seuene sustren · þat seruen treuthe euere, [Ac] And WC. [aren R] are W; ar L; been O; ben B; be C; see next line. sustren] sistren O; systers C; ȝiftes (!) R.] And aren porteres of þe posternes · that to þe place longeth. [aren] arn W; been O; ben B; be C. porteres] portes C. of] ouer R. þe (2)] C om.] Line 628 Þat one hat abstenence · and humilite an other, [humilite] vmblete R.] Charite and chastite · ben his chief maydenes,

Pacience and pees · moche poeple þei helpeth, [A page 73] Largenesse þe lady · heo let in ful manye; [heo] he R; she WOB; sho C. in] out (!) O.] Line 632 Heo hath hulpe a þousande oute · of þe deueles pon|folde. [Heo] Sche OB; Sho C. hulpe] so in R.; holpe WCO; holpen B. ponfolde] pondfolde R; punfolde WB; pounfolde C; pynfold O.] ¶ And who is sibbe to þis seuene · so me god helpe! [who] who so CB.] He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen. And but if ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene, [if] if þat R. ȝe] he B.] Line 636 It is ful harde bi myne heued," quod Peres · "for any of ȝow alle To geten ingonge at any gate þere · but grace be þe more." [ingonge] ingong O; Ingange C; in-going WB. any] þe COB.] ¶ "Now, bi cryst," quod a cutpurs · "I haue no kynne þere!" Line 639 "Ne I," quod an apewarde · "bi auȝte þat I knowe!" [Ne] Nor WCB; Nou O. I (2)] I kan W.] ¶ "Wite god," quod a wafrestre · "wist I þis for sothe, [Wite god] God wot B. wa|frestre] waferer OB. for] R om.] Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote · for no freres prechynge." [Shulde] Shul C. freres] frere R.] ¶ "Ȝus," quod Pieres þe plowman · and pukked hem alle to gode, [ȝus] ȝis B; ȝis WC. pukked] poukede O; poked WRB; pute C. hem] the (miswritten for them) C; O om.] Line 643 "Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hem alle; [a] as C. hath] and haþ B. hem] WCOB om.] And she is syb to alle synful · and her sone also; And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two · (hope þow none other), þow myȝte gete grace þere · bi so þow go bityme." [þere bi] þere · bi LO; þere · be R; þere W; þerby CB.] ¶ "By seynt Poule," quod a pardonere · "perauenture I be nouȝte knowe þere, [knowe þere] welcome R.] Line 648

Line 648 I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes · and a bulle with bisshopes lettres!" [go] COB om. fecche] fette B. bisshopes] bisshope C.] "By cryst," quod a comune womman · "þi companye wil I folwe, Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre · I ne wot where þei bicome." Line 651