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THE VISION AND CREED

OF

J

PIEES PLOrGHMAN

EDITED,

FROM A CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT,

WITH A HISTORICAL INTBODCCTION, NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY,

By THOMAS ^YRIGHT, M.A. F.S.A. &c

CorrespoDiliDg Member of the Imperial Institute of France, Academic dee Inscriptions at BeUes-Letties.

IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I.

SSCOA'D AND REVISED EDITION.

LONDON: REEVES AND TURNER, 196 STRAND.

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H A / o o (- o -^ i^ ^ e 0 ^ O

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

^''^''"^"^T is now thirteen years since the first edition

of the following test of this important poem

was published by the late Mr. Pickering,

during which time the study of our old literature and

history has undergone considerable development, and it

is believed that a reprint at a more moderate price

would be acceptable to the public. Holding still the same

opinion which he has always held with regard to the

superior character of the manuscript from which this text

was taken, the editor has done no more than carefully

reprint it, but, in order to make it as useful as he could,

he has revised and made additions to both the Xotes and

the Glossary.

The remarkable poem of The Vision of Piers Ploughman

is not only so interesting a monument of the English

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

language and literature, but it is also so important an illustration of the political history of our country during the fourteenth century, that it deserves to be read far more generally than it has been, and the editor will rejoice sincerely if he should have contributed by this new edition to render it more popular, and place it within the reach of a greater number of readers. Independent of its historical and literary importance, it contains many beau- ties which will fully repay the slight labour required to master its partially obsolete language, and, as one of the purest works in the English tongue as it existed during the century in which it was composed, it is to be hoped that, when the time shall at length arrive when English antiquities and English philology and literary history are at length to be made a part of the studies in our univer- sities and in the higher classes of our schools, the work of the Monk of Malvern, as a link between the poetry and language of the Anglo-Saxon and those of modern England, will be made a prominent text-book.

THOMAS WEIGHT.

14, Sydney Street, Brompton, Nov. 1855.

INTRODUCTIOK

[HE History of the Middle Ages in England, t5^i as in other countries, represents to us a series ^J of great consecutive political movements, co- existent with a similar series of intellectual revolutions in the mass of the people. The vast mental development caused by the universities in the twelfth century led the way for the struggle to obtain religious and political liberty in the thirteenth. The numerous political songs of that period which have escaped the hand of time, and above all the mass of satirical ballads against the Church of Rome, which commonly go under the name of Walter ^lapes, are remarkable monuments of the intel- lectual history of our forefathers. Tliose ballads are written in Latin ; for it was the most learned class of the community which made the first great stand against the encroachments and corruptions of the papacy and the increasing influence of the monks. "NVe know that the struggle alluded to was historically unsuccessful. The baronial wars ended in the entire destruction of the popular leaders; but their cause did not expire at Evesham ; they had laid foundations which no storm could overthrow, not

vi INTRODUCTION.

placed hastily on the uncertain surface of popular favour, but fixed deeply in the public mind. The barons, who had fought so often and so staunchly for the great charter, had lost their power ; even the learning of the universities had faded under the withering grasp of monachism ; but the remembrance of the old contest remained, and what was more, its literature was left, the songs which had spread abroad the principles for which, or against which, English- men had fought, carried them down (a precious legacy) to their posterity. Society itself had undergone an important change ; it was no longer a feudal aristocracy which held the destinies of the country in its iron hand. The plant which had been cut off took root again in another (a heal- thier) soil ; and the intelligence which had lost its force in the higher ranks of society began to spread itself among the commons. Even in the thirteenth century, before the close of the baronial wars, the complaints so vigorously expressed in the Latin songs, had begun, both in England and France, to appear in the language of the people. Many of the satirical poems of Eutebeuf and other con- temporary writers against the monks, are little more than translations of the Latin poems which go under the name of "Walter Mapes.

During the successive reigns of the first three Edwards, the public mind in England was in a state of constant fermentation. On the one hand, the monks, supported by the popish church, had become an incubus upon the country. Their corruptness and immorality were noto- rious : the description of their vices given in the satirical writings of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries exceeds even the bitterest calumnies of the age of Rabelais or the

INTIi OD UCTJOiV. V ii

reports of the commissioners of Henry the Eighth.'^ The populace, held in awe by the imposing appearance of the popish church, and by the religious belief which had been instilled into them from their infancy, Avere opposed to the monks and clergy by a multitude of personal griefs and jealousies : these frequently led to open hostility, and in the chronicles of those days •we read of the slaughter of monks, and the burning of abbeys, by the insurgent towns-people or peasantry. At the same time, while the monks in revenge treated the commons with contempt, there were numerous people who, under the name of Lollards and other such appellations, — led sometimes by the love of mischief and disorder, but more frequently by religious enthusiasm, — whose doctrines were simple and reasonable (although the church would fain have branded them all with the title of heretics), — went abroad among the people preaching not only against the corruptions of the monks, but against the most vital doctrines of the church of Rome, and, as might be expected, they found abundance of listeners. On the other hand, a new politi- cal system, and the embarrassments of a continued series of foreign wars, were adding to the general ferment. In- stead of merely calling together the great feudal barons to lead their retainers to battle, the king was now obliged to appeal more directly to the people ; and at the same time the latter began to feel the weight of taxation, and conse-

1 See the " Apocalypsia Golise " and other pieces in the poems of Walter Hapes : the Order of Fair Ease in the Political Songs, and the Poems of Rutcbcuf ; and. in English, the remarkable "Poem on the Evil Times of Edward II." in Iho appendix to the Political Songs. The Poem entitled the Order of Fair Ease bears some resemblance to the Aibaye de TKeUme of Rabelais.

viii INTR OD UCTION.

quently they began to talk of tlie defects and the corrup- tions of the government, and to raise the cries, which have since so often been heard, against the king's " evil advisers." These cries were justified by many real and great oppressions under which the commons, and more particularly the peasantry, suffered ; and (as the king and aristocracy were too much interested in the continuance of the abuses complained of to be easily induced to agree to an effective remedy), the commons began to feel that their own interests were equally opposed to those of the church, of the aristocracy, and of the crown, and amidst the other popular doctrines none were more loudly or more violently espoused than those of levellers and democrats. These, though comparatively few, aggravated the evil, by affording a pretence for persecution. The history of England during the fourteenth century is a stirring pic- ture ; its dark side is the increasing corruption of the popish church ; its bright side, the general spread of popular intelligence, and the firm stand made by the commons in the defence of their liberties, and in the determination to obtain a redress of grievances.

Under these circumstances appeared Piers Ploughman. It is not to be supposed that all the other classes of society were hostile to the commons. The people, with the char- acteristic attachment of the Anglo-Saxons to the family of their princes, wished to believe that their king was always their friend, when not actuated by the counsels of his " evil advisers ; " - several of the most powerful barons

2 This sentiment was perpetuated in a numerous class of ballads, in which the monarch is represeuteU as thrown iucoguito among the lower classes, as

IXTRODUCTION. ix

stood forward as the champions of popular liberty ; and many of the monks quitted their monasteries to advocate the cause of the reformation. It appears to be generally agreed that a monk was the author of the poem of Piers Ploughman ; but the question, one perhaps but of secondary importance, as to its true "writer, is involved in much ob- scurity.^ Several local allusions and other circumstances

liBtening to their expressions of loyalty and to the tale of their sufTerinfrs. See the "Tale of King Edward and the Shepherd " in Hartshorne's Ancient Metrical TaUi : "The King and the Barker," in Ritson's Piters of Ancient Popular Poetry: "Tlie King and the Miller, " and "King Edward IV. and the Tanner of Tamworth." in Percy's Reliques : &c. The earliest known form of this tale is tho story of Henry II. and the Cistercian Abbot," printed from Giraldus Cambreusia in the Rtlitiuia Antiiiuicr, vol. ii. p. 147.

s It was at It-ast a tradition early in the sixteenth century (for we have no means now of ascertaining whether there were any substantial grounds for the statement), that the author was named Robert Longlande (or Langiande), that he waa bom at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, and that (after receiving his education at Oxford) he became a monk of Malvern. I do not think, with Tyrwhitt and Price, that the name Wil, given in the poem to the dreamer, neces- sarily shows that the writer's name was William ; and still less that the mention of "Kytte my wif " and "Ciilote my doghter " (p. 395 of the present volume), and of the dreamer's having resided at Comh ill. refer to the family and residence of the author of the poem. If he were a monk (as appears probable by his intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures and the Fathers), he would not be married. Sir Frederick Madden discovered a very important entry in a hand of the fifteenth century on the fly-leaf of a manuscript of Piers Ploughman in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, to the following effect—" Memorandum, quod SUicy do Rokayle, pater Willielmi de Langlond, qui Staclus fuit generosus, et mor.ibatur in Schiptone under Whicwode, teneus doniini Le Spenser in comitatu Oxon., qui pr(x<lieltu Willirlmua fecit librum qui vocatttr Peryi Plouahman."— It would perhaps be not impossible to trace the name and history of this Stacy do Rokayle ; but till that be done, I do not think this memorandum ought to bo considered as overthrowing the old tradition relating to Robert Longlande. It may be mentioned as a remarkable specimen of the patriotism of David Buchanan, that he lays claim to the author of Piers Ploughman as a Scotch- man:—"Robertos Langland, natione Scotus, profcssione sacerdos, vir ex obscurig ortus parentibus, plus admodum et ingeniosus et zelo divinse gloriio plenns ; inter monachos Benedictinos educatus in civitate Al>erdonensi, vir aique erat in omni humanioro literatura insigniter doctus, et in medicina admodom

X INTRODUCTION.

seem to prove that it was composed on the borders of Wales, where had originated most of the great political struggles, and we can hardly doubt that its author resided in the neighbourhood of " Malverne hilles." We have less difficulty in ascertaining its date. At IL 1735-1782, we have, without doubt, an allusion to the treaty of Bretigny, in 1360, and to the events which preceded it : in the earlier part of this passage there is an allusion to the sufferings of the English army in the previous winter campaign, to the retreat which followed, and the want of provisions which accompanied it, and to the tempest which they encountered near Chartres (the "dym cloude" of the poem). The " pestilences " mentioned at 1. 2497 were the great plague which happened in 1348-9 (and which had previously been alluded to in the opening of the poem, 1. 168), and that of 1361-2, — the first two of the three great pestilences which devastated our island in the fourteenth century. The south-western wind, mentioned in 1. 2500, occurred on the fifteenth day of January 1362. It is probable that the poem of Piers Ploughman was composed in the latter part of this year, when the effects of the great wind were fresh in people's memory, and when the treaty of Bretigny had become a subject of popular discontent.*

clams, pium opus sermone vulBare scripsit cui iniposuit, || Visionem Petri Aratoris, lib. 1. II Pro conjugio sacerdotum, lib. 1. || Glaruit anno Christi Redemptoris, 1369. Regnante Davide Secundo in Scotia."— Dav. Buchanan, de Scriptoribus Scotis. MS. Bibl. Univ. Edin.

■* We may mention another historical allusion in Piers Ploughman, which peems to involve a chronological difficulty ; the dry April in the mayoralty of John Chichester, 1. 8567. It appears clear that this is an allusion to a remark- able drought iu the year 1351, which answers precisely to a calculation of the

IXTRODUCTIOX. xi

The poem was given to the world under a name which could not fail to draw the attention of the people. Amid the oppressive injustice of the great and the vices of their idle retainers, the corruptions of the clergy, and the dis- honesty which too frequently characterised the dealings of merchants and traders, the simple unsophisticated heart of the ploughman is hold forth as the dwelling of virtue and truth. It was the ploughman, and not the pope with his proud hierarchy, who represented on earth the Saviour who had descended into this world as the son of the car- penter, who had lived a life of humility, who had wandered on foot or ridden on an ass. "While God wandered on earth," says one of the political songs of the beginning of the fourteenth century,^ "what was the reason that he would not ridel" The answer expresses the whole force of the popular sentiment of the age : " because he would not have a retinue of greedy attendants by his side, in the shape of grooms and servants, to insult and oppress the peasantry."

At the period when this poem was first published, England, in common with the rest of Europe, had been struck with a succession of calamities. Little more than twelve years had passed since a terrible pestilence had swept away perhaps not less than one-half of the popula-

date giren in the Uzt, In which all the munnscripts that I hare consulted ap-ee. But the only year in which Chichester is said to hare been mayor was 1368-9 according to some, or 13C!>-70 according to otiiers. Stowe (as quoted In the note on this passage) has altered tlie text of Piers Ploughman to suit the year in which Chichester is known to hare been mayor : yet there can be little doubt (eren from the allusion to the treaty of Bretigny) that the poem itself was com|>osed before tliat date, and therefore the same or another Chichester had probably beeu mayor before. i PoUtical Songs, p. 240.

xii INTRODUCTION.

tion.® The lower classes, ill fed and neglected, perished by thousands, while the higher ranks — the proud and pampered nobility — escaped; "he who was ill nourished with unsubstantial food," says a contemporary writer, *' fell before the slightest breath of the destroyer ; to the poor, death was welcome, for life is to them more cruel than death. But death respected princes, nobles, knights, judges, gentlemen ; of these few die, because their life is one of enjoyment."^ It was the general belief that this fearful visitation had been sent by God as a punishment

6 This terrible calamity was said by the astrologers to have been broiiglit about by an extraordinary conjunction of Saturn with the other planets, which happened scarcely once in a thousand years. An astrologer and physician, who witnessed its effects, Symon de Covino, has left a Latin poem on the subject under the title De Judiclo Solis in Conviviis Saturni, in which he describes Saturn as indulging his malevolence towards the human race by obtaining a judgment against men for their sins. This opinion is alluded to in Piers Plough- man, 1. 1163,

" And so seide Saturne, And sente yow to warne."

The influence of this planet was represented by astrologers as being peculiarly noxious, as is expressed in the following old distich:—

" Jupiter atque Venus boni, Saturnusque malignus, Sol et Mercurius cum Luna sunt mediocrcs."

7 " Qui male pastus erat fragili virtute ciborum, Labitur exiguo percussus flamine cladis; Indeque Saturni vulgus, pauperrima turba. Grata morte cadunt, quia vivere talibus est mors. Post quos lunares pereunt et mercuriales, Et sic debilior succumbit in ordine primo; Post alii tandem pestem sccuutur eamdem. Sed dea principibus et nobilibua, generosis, Militibus, seu judicibus fera Parca pepercit. Karo cadunt tales, quia talibus est data vita Dulcis in hoc mundo, quam gloria laudat inanis."

Symoyi de Covino, in the Bibliothique de I'Ecole dcs Charter, tom. ii. p. 230.

INTRODUCTION. xiii

for the sins which had more particiilarly characterised the higher orders of society ; yet instead of profiting by tlie warning, they became, during the years which followed, prouder, more cruel and oppressive, and more licentious, than before. Anotherpestilence came, which visited the classes that had before escaped, and at the same time a tempest such as had seldom been witnessed seemed to announce the vengeance of heaven. The streets and roads were filled with zealots who preached and prophesied of other misfortunes, to people who had scarcely recovered from the terror of those which were past. At this moment the satirist stepped forth, and laid open with unsparing knife the sins and corruptions which provoked them.

From what has been said, it will be seen that the Latin poems attributed to Walter Mapes, and the Collection of Political Songs, form an introduction to the Vision of Piers Ploughman. It seems clear that the writer was well acquainted with the former, and that he not unfrequently imitates them. The Poem on the Evil Times of Edward II. already alluded to (in the Political Songs) contains within a small compass all his chief points of accusation against the different orders of society. But a new mode of composition had been brought into fashion since tho appearance of tho famous " Koman de la Rose," and the author makes his attacks less directly, under an allegorical clothing. The condition of society is revealed to the writer in a dream, as in the singular poem just mentioned, and as in the still older satire, the AiyocalypsisGolice ; but in Piers Ploughman the allegory follows no systematic plot, it is rather a succession of pictures in which tho

xi V INTR OB UCTION.

allegorical painting sometimes disappears altogether, tlian a ■whole like the Roman de la Rose, and it is on that account less tedious to the modern reader, while the vigorous descriptions, the picturesque ideas, and numerous other beauties of different kinds, cause us to lose sight of the general defects of this class of writings.

Piers Ploughman is, in fact, rather a succession of dreams, than one simple vision. The dreamer, weary of the world, falls asleep beside a stream amid the beautiful scenery of Malvern Hills. In his vision, the people of the world are represented to him by a vast multitude assembled in a fair meadow ; on one side stands the tower of Truth, elevated on a mountain, the right aim of man's pilgrimage, while on the other side is the dungeon of Care, the dwelling place of Wrong. In the first sections (passus) of the poem are pictured the origin of society, the foun- dation and dignity of kingly power, and the separation into diiTerent <^lasses and orders. In the midst of his astonishment at what he sees, a fair lady, the personi- fication of "holy church," approaches, to instruct the dreamer. She explains to him the meaning of the different objects which had presented themselves to his view, and shows by exhortations and examples the merit of content and moderation, the danger of disobedience (exemplified in the story of Lucifer's fall), and the efficacy of love and charity. In the midst of his conversation with his instructor, a lady makes her appearance on the scene. This is lady Mede, the personification of that mistaken object at which so large a portion of mankind direct their aim — the origin of most of the corruptions and evil deeds in the world — not the just remuneration of our actions

INTRODUCTION. xv

•which we look forward to in a future life, but the reward which is sought by those who set all their hopes on the present Holy Church now quits the dreamer, who is left to observe what is taking place amid the crowd in the field. {Passus II.) They all pay their court to lady Mede, who, by the intennediation of Cyvyle, or the law, is betrothed in marriage to Falsehood. The marriage is forbidden by Theology, and Cyvyle agrees to carry the cause to London for judgment, contrary to the desire of Simony. Falsehood and Flattery bribe the lawyers to aid the former in his suit, but their designs are baffled by Conscience, at whose suggestion the king takes the lady into his own custody, and drives away Falsehood and his greedy followers, ^[ede soon finds favour at court {Passus III), and especially with the friars, who are ready to absolve her of all her sins for a proper consideration. The king proposes to marry her to Conscience; who, how- ever, declines the match, and as a reason for his refusal gives a very unfavourable picture of the lady's previous life and private character. Mede defends herself, and accuses Conscience of thwarting and opposing the will and designs of kings and great people. The dispute becoming hot, the king interferes and orders Mede and Conscience to be reconciled and kiss each other. (Passus IV.) This Conscience refuses to do, unless by the advice of Reason ; on whose arrival, Peace comes into the parliament to make his complaint against the cruel oppressions of "Wrong. Wrong is condemned, but Mede and the lawyers attempt to get him off with the payment of a sum of money. The king, however, allows himself to be guided by Reason and Conscience, expresses his dissatisfaction that law is influ-

VOL. I. B

xvi INTRODUCTION.

enced by Mede, and his determination to govern his realm by the counsel of Eeason.

In a second vision (Passus V.), the dreamer is again carried to the "field full of folk," where Reason has taken upon himself the character of a preacher, and, fortified with the king's authority, induces the various classes_of sinners to confess and repent. The personification of the different sins forms perhaps the most remarkable part of the whole poem. The multitude being thus converted from their evil courses, are persuaded by Repentance and Hope to set out on a pilgrimage in search of Truth. In their ignorance of the path which they must follow in this search, they apply to a palmer who had wandered over a large portion of the world in search of different saints ; but they find him as little acquainted with the way as themselves. They are helped out of this dilemma by Piers the Plough- man, who, seeing them terrified by the difliculties of the road, offers to be their guide, if they will wait till he has sown his half acre. (Passus VI.) In the mean time all the pilgrims who have strength and skill, are employed on some useful works, except the knight, who undertakes, in return for the support which he is to derive from the ploughman's labours, to watch and protect him against plunderers and foreign enemies. The peace of the labourers is first disturbed by Waster, who refuses to perform the conditions by which the others are bound : the aid of the knight being found inefficient against this turbulent gen- tleman, the Ploughman is obliged to send for Hunger, who effectually humbles him. This section of the poem is a continued allusion to the effects of the famine and pesti- lence, and a satire upon the luxurious and extravagant life

INTRODUCTION. xvii

of our forefathers in the fourteenth century. (Passus VII.) Truth, liearing of the intentions of Piers the Ploughman to leave his labours in order to serve as a guide to the pilgrims in their journey, sends him a messenger, ex- liorting him to remain at home and continue his labours, and giving him a " pardon " "which was to embrace all those who aided him honestly, by their works, and who should carry on their various avocations in purity of heart. The writer here takes occasion to sneer at the " pardons " of the pope, then so much in vogue ; a priest questions the legitimacy of Piers' bull of pardon, and the alterca- tion between them becomes so loud that the dreamer awakes. The pardon of Piers Ploughman is granted to those who do good works : the dreamer is lost in the speculation on the question as to what the good works are, and he becomes engaged in a new pilgrimage, in search

of a person who has not appeared before, — Do-welh

{Pasms VIII.) All his inquiries after Do-well are fruitless : even the friars, to whom he addresses himself, give but a confused account ; and, weary with wander- ing about, the dreamer is again overtaken by slumber. Thought now appears to him, and recommends him to Wit, who describes to him the residence of Do-well, Do-better, and Do-best, and enumerates their companions and attend- ants. {Passus IX.) The Castle of Do-well is an allego- rical representation of man (the individual), in which lady Anima (the soul) is placed for safety, and guarded by a keeper named Kynde (nature). "With Do-well, the repre- sentative of those who live according to truth in honest wedlock, are contrasted the people who live in lust and wickedness, the descendants of the murderer Cain, who

xviii INTRODUCTION.

was begotten by Adam in an evil hour. (Passus X.) Wit has a wife named lady Study, who is angry that her spouse should lay open his high truths to those who are unini- tiated— it is no better than " throwing pearls to swine, which would rather have hawes." "Wit is daunted by his wife's long lecture, and leaves the dreamer to pursue his own suit. This he does with so much meekness and humility, that the wrath of dame Study is appeased, and she sends him to Clergy, witli a token of recommendation from herself. Clergy receives the pilgrim, and entertains him with a long declamation on the character of Do-well, Do-better, and Do-best, and on the corruptions of the church and the monkish orders, in the course of which is uttered the remarkable prophecy of the king who was to " confess and beat " the monks, and give them an " incur- able knock," which was after less than two centuries so exactly fulfilled in the dissolution of the monasteries. The wanderer confesses himself "little the Aviser"for Clergy's lecture, and by his pertness of reply merits a reproof from Scripture. (Passus XI.) In another vision the dreamer is exposed to the seductions of Fortune, whose two fair damsels, Concupiscentiacarnis and Co- vetousness-of-the Eyes, persuade him to enjoy the present moment, and lead him entirely from his previous pursuit. He is only recalled from his error by the approach of Old Age, and then he falls into the contemplation of a series of subjects, the covetousness of the friars who gave absolu- tion from motives of personal interest, predestination, &c. Then Kynde, or Nature, came and carried him to a moun- tain, which represented the world, and there showed him how all other animals but man followed Eeason ; and

INTRODUCTION. xix

Imaginative came after, and told him that all his present doubt and anxiety had been brought upon him for contend- ing with Keason and suflcring himself to be led astray by Fortune. (Passus XII. ) The whole of the next section of the poem is occupied with a long exhortation by Imagina- tive, concerning God's chastisements, the merits of Charity and Mercy, the greater responsibility before God of those who are learned and cannot sin ignorantly, the difficulty for the rich man to enter heaven.

(Pastitis XIII.) In another vision, Conscience meets with the dreamer, and takes him to dine with Clergy. Patience comes to the feast in beggar's weeds, but is seated in the most honouraljle place at the table. A doctor of the church is of the party, and distinguishes himself by his gluttony ; and by discussing theological questions after dinner. At length Conscience and Patience go on a pil- grimage. In their way they meet with a minstrel, named Activa Vita, or Haukyn the Active-man, with a coat covered with spots of dirt, whom they question on his mode of life. {Passus XI V. ) Haukyn the Active-man, the representative of that class of people who neglect their souls for their Avorldly affairs, excuses the dirtiness of his apparel on the ground that he has none to change, and that he has too many occupations to allow liim time to have it cleaned. Conscience and Patience teach him a method to clean his coat, inform him where charity is to be found, and recommend patient poverty to him, showing him the advantage of poverty over riches. Haukyn's repentance and lamentation for the neglect of his duties awake the dreamer.

(Passus XV.) Amid his anxiety to know something

XX INTRODUCTION.

more certain of Do-well, the dreamer has another \ision, in which Soul appears to him, and enters into a long rela- tion of the corruptions and negligence of the clergy. (Passus XVI.) Soul finally sends him to Piers the Plough- man, who possesses the garden in which the tree of Charity grows, and which is rented under him by Free-will. Piers explains to him the nature of the tree, and of the props which support it ; and shakes down some of the fruit for him. The allegory then changes, and we are introduced to the birtli and passion of the Saviour, as arising out of the fruit of Charity. At this moment the dreamer awakes, and therewith loses sight of Piers the Ploughman; in his anxiety to find Piers, he meets with Faith, in the garb of Abraham, who was in search of God, now incarnate, and who waited for his passion in order to be delivered from hell. (Passtis XVII.) Then comes Spes, or Hope, who also was in search of the knight that was to vanquish the evil one. As they go along the way towards Jerusalem to the "justes," discoursing on the obligations of the old and new law and the abrogation of the former, they meet with a man who had been left helpless by thieves, wounded and naked : Faith and Hope passed by without helping him, but the Samaritan, who was also riding to the "justes," descended from his horse, bound his wounds, and deposited him in an inn at the grange named Lex Christi. The Samaritan gives the dreamer a singular explanation of the mysteries of the Trinity ; and, after having represented to him the heinousness of sins against the different persons, and the necessity of making reparation, he pursues his way to Jerusalem.

{Passus XVIII.) The vision which forms the eighteenth

INTRODUCTION. xxi

section or passus, and in wliich the character of Piers the Ploughman is i Jentitied with that of tlie Saviour, is entirely occupied with an allegorical description of Christ's Passion, and his descent into Hell. {Fasszis XIX.) In the next section the history of Christ's passion and victory, and his figurative representative Piers the Ploughman, is continued. Grace, through Piers the Ploughman, descends ujx)n the people, and lays the foundation of the Church, which is cultivated by Piers with his four oxen (the four Evange- lists). Piers is attacked by Pride, who gathers a great host to assail the Church. Conscience advises the people who follow Piers (the Church), to take shelter in the strong- hold of Unity, and make preparations for their defence. By the counsel of Kind-wit and Conscience they dig a great ditch around Unity. The measures of Surety are embarrassed by the unreasonable opposition of some mem- bers or parts of the community, who oppose Pier's doctrine of restitution — the brewer will not repent of the tricks which he puts on his customers, the vicar adheres to his simony, the lord will continue to oppress his tenants, and the king will not be restrained by his laws. (Pasgus XX.) In the last section of the poem, the dreamer, after having been accosted by Xeed, who preaches on the virtues of temperance, has a vision of Antichrist, who cornea to attack the Castle of Unity. It must be remembered that at this period many people supposed that Antichrist •was already on the earth, and that he was the cause of all the evils with which mankind was then visited, so that this last notion brought the allegory home to people's feelings. The standard-bearer of Antichrist was Pride. Conscience called Kynde, or ^Nature, to his aid, who brought an army

xxii INTRODUCTION.

of diseases and pestilences. Death, one of his chief sol- diers, made terrible havoc. At lencrth Kvnde ceased his ravages ; and a horde of enemies immediatel)' arose against Conscience, such as Fortune, Lechery, Covetousness, Simony. Life, with his mistress Fortune, indulged in all kinds of excess, until ho -was visited by Age and Despair, ■\vlio treated him very roughly. The dreamer, forsaken by Fortune, and participating in the misfortunes of Life, by the advice of Kynde takes shelter with Conscience in the castle of Unity, which is threatened by an army of priests and monks. At length this stronghold is endan- gered by the entrance of Flattery, who is admitted in the disguise of a Physician. Conscience, unable to retain possession, embarks upon another pilgrimage in search of Tiers the Ploughman, and the dreamer awakes. This is the conclusion of the poem. "NVhitaker thought that it should have had a moi-e consoling end ; but it must be ivmembered that the writer of Piers Ploughman designed to jwint the world as it was. and to describe the numerous obstacles which lay in the way of the improvement and amelioration of mankind when he wrote.

While one member of the monastic order was thus contributing by his satirical pen towards producing a re- form among his countrymen, another monk was beirinnins: to pivach in a still bolder manner against the popish sy St em. This was John WycUtfe, imder whom the despised lollaixls became an important sect. This attempt at reli- giotis reformation only formevi put of the great movement of the fourteenth century, which soon afterwards broke out in the popular commotions of the reign of Eichard II. The writer of Piers Ploughman was neither a sower of

IXTRODUCTION. xxiii

sedition, nor one ■who would be characterised by his contem- poraries as a heretic. The doctrines inculcated throughout the book are so far from democratic, that he constantly preaches the Christian doctrine of obedience to rulers. Yet its tendency to debase the great, and to raise the commons in public consideration, must have rendered it popular among the latter : and, although no single im- portant doctrine of the popish religion is attacked, yet the unsparing manner in "which the vices and corruptions of the church are laid open, must have helped in no small degree the cause of the Reformation. Of the ancient popularity of Piers Ploughman we have a proof in the great number of copies which still exist, most of them written in the latter part of the fourteenth century ; and the circumstance that the manuscripts are seldom executed in a superior style of writing, and scarcely ever ornamented with painted initial letters, may perhaps be taken as a proof that they were not written for the higher classes of society. From the time when it was published, the name of Piers Ploughman became a favourite among the popular reformers.^ The earliest instance of the adoption of that

I We bare a rerr mnarfcable proof of the popaluity of Piers Plonghnuui with the lower orden (ubods whom probably pans of it w«re r«peate<i by m<>mor7l, and of iu »» ■■!««<— on the insnrrectiuDS of the peasantrr in the rei^ of Richard IL. in the teditioas letter of John RaU to the commons of Essex, preserred bj ^«M»flK»iii {HitL Anal p. 275>. I am not sare tf " John S<Kep " may not an aUnaion to the openios of the poem : bat the lecond passage, here ^ V«inted in ItaUo. refers eTidentljr to Pasos VL and VIL. and the third is an I to the characters of ]>>-well and Do-best ■John Schep sometime Seint Mary priest of Torke, and now of Colchester, graeteth well John Nameiesse, and Jchn the Miller, and John Carter, and *»iAi<ci^ them that they beware of gnyle in borough, and stand tocher in Gods naae, and biddeth Picr$ Ploxmau got to kU rtrtt, and eiustise well Hob the robber, and take with yoa John Trewman. and all hi* fellows, and no

xxiv INTRODUCTION.

name for another satirical work is found in the Creed of Piers Ploughman, printed also in the present volume, and in which even the form of verse of the Vision is imitated.

In tliis latter poem, Avhicli was undoubtedly written by a Wycliffite, Piers Ploughman is no longer an allegorical personage — lie is the simple representative of the peasant rising up to judge and act for himself — the English sans- culotte of the fourteenth century, if we may be allowed tlie comparison. When it was written, a period of great excitement had passed since the age of Langlande, the reputed author of the Vision — a period characterised by the turbulence of the peasantry — which had witnessed in France the fearful insurrection of the Jacquerie, and in England the rebellion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw.*'

In Piers Ploughman's Creed it is the church simply, and not the state, which is the object of attack. The clergy — and more particularly the monks — are accused of having falsified religion, and of being actuated solely by worldly passions— pride, covetousness, self-love. The writer, placing himself in the position of one who has just learnt the first grounds of religious knowledge, is anxious to find a person capable of instructing him in his creed, and with this object he addresses himself to the different orders of

John Uie Miller liath y-proimd, smal, small, small. Tlie kings sonne of heaven shal pay for all. Beware or ye be woe, know your fri'nde fro your foe. Have ynougli, and say hoe : And dn well and bsMcr. and flee siune, and seeke peace and holde you tlierin, and so biddeth John Trewinan and all his fellowes."

9 The mention of Wycliffe and of Walter Brute and other circumstances, fix the date of Piers Ploughman's Creed with tolerable certainty in tlie latter years of the reign of Richard 11. It was i)robably written very soon after the year 139.3, the d.ate of the persecution of Walter Brute at Hereford ; and from the particular allusion to that person we may perhaps suppose that like the Vision it was written on the Borders of Wales.

INTRODUCTION. xxv

friars. He applies first to the Minorites, ■\vbo abuse the Carmelites, anel pride themselves in their own holiness. Disgusted with their jealousies and self-sufficiency, the inquirer seeks the Preachers, or Dominicans ; amid tlu-ir stately buildings, and under their sleek and well filled skins, he finds the same Avant of Christian charity : their pride drives hira to the order of St. Austin, The Austin Friars, as well as the Carmelites, will only instruct him for money, and, shocked at their covetousness, he continues his wanderings, until at last he meets with a poor Plough- man, in whom he finds the charity and knowledge after which he has been seeking. The Ploughman enters into a bitter attack on the vices of all the four orders of friars : he describes their spirit of persecution, exemplified in the case of "Wycliffe and others, and their simony ; speaks of Wycliffe and Walter Brute as preachers of the truth ; and finishes by teaching the inquirer his simple creed.

The Creed of Piers Ploughman was written by one who approved the opinions of Wycliffe, and it seems to have been carefully proscribed. There does not appear to exist any manuscript older than the first printed edition.

The great popularity of the Vision of Piers Ploughman in the fourteenth century, and its political influence, are proved by another close imitation, which was composed immediately after the capture, and previous to the depo- sition, of king Richard II. Tliis poem also appears to have been proscribed, and we have only a fragment left, which was printed from an unique manuscript for the Camden Society. It also is composed in alliterative verse, and its meaning is rendered obscure by a confused alle- gorical style. It was evidently written towards the Welsh

xxvi INTRODUCTION.

Border, perhaps at Bristol, wliich is mentioned in the opening lines ; and it appears to have been intended as a continuation of, or as a sequel to. Piers Plonghznan, which it immediately follows in the only manuscript in which it is preserved.

Another early poem, of which the Ploughman is the hero, was inserted in the works of Chaucer under the title of the Ploughman's Tale. This, like the Creed, is free from allegory ; and it differs from the others also in being written in rhyme, and not in alliterative verse. The Ploughman's Tale was probably written in the earlier half of the fifteenth century. ^^ It is a coarse attack on the

10 Different circumstances connected with tliis poem (wliich also appears to have been proscribed, for we liave no early manuscript of it) lead me to suppose that it was written in the reign of Henry IV., when tlie burning of heretics came into fasliion, which is alluded to in the following stanza :—

" Were Christ on earth here, eftsoone These would damne him to die : All his hestes they han for-done, And saine his sawes ben heresie : And ayenst his ccimniaundenients they crie, And damne all his to be brende ; For it liketli not hem such losengerie, God almighty hem amend ! "

In another passage, the writer of tliis poem alludes to the Creed of Piers Ploughni.an as though he were the author of it, and as a piece then known to everybody.

"And all such other counterfaitours,

Chanons, canons, and such disguised.

Been Gods enemies and traitours,

His true religion han foule despised.

Oifreres I have told before,

In a making of a Crede ;

And yet I could tell worse and more,

But men would werieu it to rede."

Perhaps, however, the writer only claims the authorship of the Creed in his allegorical character, as the representative of that class of satirical writers who were then attacking the monastic orders.

IXTRODVCTION. xxvii

different orders of the clergy, for their pride, covetousness, and other vices. Its versification has little merit ; and there appears to be no good reason for inserting it among the Canterbury Tales.

The vision of Piers Ploughman appears to have con- tinued to enjoy a wide popularity down to the middle of the fifteenth centur}-. We hear nothing of it from that period to the middle of the sixteenth, when it was printed by the reformers, and received with so much favour, that no less than three editions, or rather three impressions, are said to have been sold in the course of one year. Another edition was printed at the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; and it appears to have been much read in the latter part of the sixteenth century, and even at the begin- ning of the seventeentL The name of Piers Ploughman is not uncommon in the political tracts of that period."

The Poem of Piers Ploughman is peculiarly a national work. It is the most remarkable monument of the public spirit of our forefathers in the middle, or, as they are often termed, dark ages. It is a pure specimen of the

u We vaxj enumerate the followin? as eriecimens of such works published in ttie sirtcentb century. Several similar publications appeared in the centnrr following.

"Pycrs Plowmans Exortation into the lordes, kniiKlits, and bnrgojrsaes of (lie parlyament bouse." 8to. printed by Anthony Scholoker, in the reign of Edward VI.

"Newes from the N'orth. Otherwise called the Conference between Simon Certain, and Pierce Plowm.in, faithfully collected and gathered by T. F. Student." 4ta London, John Allde, 1579.

" Tha Plowmans complaint of sundry wicked livers, and especially of the bad bringing vp of children; written in verse by R. B. printed for Hugh Corne, 1580." 8vo.

" A goodlye Dialogue and dyspntacion between Pyers Ploweman and a Popish Preesi, cOcemynge the Supper of the Lorde." 8vo, without date.

xxviii INTRODUCTION.

English language at a period when it had sustained few of the corruptions which have disfigured it since we have had writers of " Grammars ; " and in it we may study with advantage many of the difficulties of the language which these Avriters have misunderstood. It is, moreover, the finest example left of the kind of versification which was purely English, inasmuch as it had been the only one in use among our Anglo-Saxon progenitors, in common with the other people of the North. To many readers it will be perhaps necessary to explain that rhyming verse was not in use among the Anglo-Saxons. In place of rhyme, they had a system of verse of which the characteristic was a very regular alliteration, so arranged that, in every couplet, there should be two principal words in the first line beginning with the same letter, which letter must also be the initial of the first word on which the stress of the voice falls in the second line. There has, as yet, been dis- covered no system of foot-measure in Anglo-Saxon verse, but the common metre consists apparently in having two rises and two falls of the voice in each line. These characteristics are accurately preserved in the verse of Piers Ploughman ; and the measure appears to be the same, if we make allowance for the change of the slow and impressive pronunciation of the Anglo-Saxon for the quicker pronunciation of Middle English, which therefore required a greater number of syllables to fill up the same space of time.

We can trace the history of alliterative verse in England with tolerable certainty. The Anglo-Normans first brought in rhymes, which they employed in their own poetry. The adoption of this new system into the English

INTRODUCTION. xxix

language was gradual, but it appears to have commenced in the first half of the twelfth century. It was, at first, mixed with alliterative couplets : that is, in the same poem were used sometimes rhyming couplets, which were sud- denly changed for alliterative couplets, and then, after awhile, rhyme was again brought in, and so on. Of this kind of poetry we have four very remarkable examples, the Proverbs of Kin(f Alfred, a poem which was certainly in existence in the first half of the twelfth century ; ^- the Early English Bestiary ;^^ the Poem on the Debate between the Body and the Soid ; " and the grand work of Layamon.^^ The following lines from the Bestiary may serve as a specimen of the manner in which the two systems are intermixed ; they form part of the account of the spider : —

"Sanne renneS ge rapelike, for ge is ai redi, nimeS anon to 5e net, and nimeS hem dere, iitterlike ge hem 6it and here 6anc wurtei5, drepeC and drinkuS hire hlod, doS ge hire non oi5er god, bute fret hire JiUe, and dareS siSen stille."

i3 Printed in the Relvpiia AtUiquce. vol L pp. 170-18S. On the date of this poem, see the Biographia Britanniea LUeraria (by the editor of the present work), Anglo- Saxon period, pp. 393, 396.

u Printed in the AUdfuttehe BUiltfr von Moriz Haupt und Heinrich Hoffmann. ToL ii. pp. 99-120, and in the RelUiuia Aiity[ua. vol. i. pp. 20S-227.

M Discorered in a MS. at Worcester by Sir Thomas Phillipps, who published a small edition of it. In fulio.

u Kdited by Sir Frederick Madden, for the Society of Antiqoariea.

XXX INTRODUCTION.

" Cethegrande is a fis 8e moste ?Jat in water is ; Sat tu wuldes seien get, gef Su it soge wan iijlet,'' etc.

This kind of poetry appears to have been common until the middle of the thirteenth century ; after which period we only find alliteration in songs, not used in simple alliterative couplets, hut mixed up in the same lines with rhyme in an irregular and playful manner.^® But there appears little room for doubting that during the whole of this time the pure alliterative poetry was in use among the lower classes of society ; and its revival towards the middle of the fourteenth century appears to have been a part of the political movement which then took place. In this point of view, the poem of Piers Ploughman becomes still more worthy of attention as a document of contem- porary literar}' history. The old alliterative verse came so much into fashion at this period that it was adopted for the composition of long romances, of which several still remain." The use of this kind of verse was continued in the fifteenth century, and was imitated in Scotland as late as the time of Dunbar, but the later writers were evidently unacquainted with the strict rules of this species of com- position.

The Anglo-Saxons, who used this kind of verse only, wrote their poetry invariably as prose. But the scribe was in the habit of indicating the division of the lines by a dot.

16 Many instances of this will be found in my Specimens of Lyric Poetry, composed in England in the reign of Edward the First (Percy Society Publi- cation).

17 Such as William and the Werivolf, edited by Sir Frederick Madden ; tlie Romance of Jerusalem ; Vatxi oi Alexander ; &c.

IXTRODUCTION. xxxi

Among modem scliolars a question has arisen as to the propriety of printing the alliterative couplet in two short lines, or in one long one. It appears to me that the mode in which the dot is used in the manuscripts decides the question in favour of the short lines. The manner in which the alliterative couplet is intermixed with the rhyming couplet in the poems of the twelfth and thirteenth centu- ries (which also are written in the manuscripts in the same form as prose), seems to me a strong confirmation of this opinion ; at least in these last-mentioned cases, the verse must have been considered as written in short lines. As the scribes quitted the custom of writing poetry in their manuscripts as prose, with the divisions of lines indicated by dots, to adopt that of arranging them in lines as we do at present, these short lines were found very inconvenient because they were obliged either to waste a great deal of parchment, or to write in several narrow columns. To remedy this, they fell perhaps gradually into the custom of writing the two parts of the alliterative couplet in one line, always, however, marking the division by a dot. They followed the same method with the shorter rhyming lines, as is the case with the old English Metrical Romance of Horn in a manuscript in the Harleian Collection, ^s ^\ the alliterative poetry of the fourteenth and fifteenth cen- turies is found written in these long lines, with the dot of

w MS. ITarL 22S3. In this manuscript, anil in several others which I have seen, the rhyming poems in short lines, whether in Knglish, Latin, or French, are arrvigred in this manner ; and I have met with instances in which part of a poem has been arrange<l in this way, and other parts of the same poem have been arranged ill short Unea, to suit the scribe's convenience. I have a strong impression of having met with an early Erglish manuscript in which a fragment of alliterative verse waj written in short couplets.

VOU I. C

xxxii INTRODUCTION.

division in the niiddlc. In the fifteenth century the meaning of this dot appears to have been forgotten, and the system of alHteration so far misunderstood, that the ■writers thought it only necessary to have at least three alliterative words in a long line, without any consideration of their position in the line. I say at least, because they not unfrequently inserted four or five alliterative words in the same line, which would certainly have been considered a defect in the earlier writers. It is my opinion, that a modern editor is wrong in printing the verses of Piers Ploughman in long lines, as they stand in the manuscripts, unless ho profess to give them as a fac-simile of the manuscripts themselves, or he plead the same excuse of convenience from the shape of his book. In either case, he must carefully preserve the dots of separation in the middle of the lines, which are more inconvenient than the length of the lines, because they interfere with the punctua- tion of the modern editor. If. as appears to be the case, these dots are merely marks to indicate the division of the couplet, their purpose is much better served by printing the lines in couplets. The construction of the earlier Anglo-Saxon verse, the analogy of the mixed rhyming and alliterative verses of the semi-Saxon poems, and the use of these dots in the middle of the lines in the manu- scripts of Piers Ploughman, appear to me conrincing proofs that it ought to be printed so. I think moreover that the alliterative verse reads much more harmoniously in the short couplets than in the long lines.

The manuscripts of the Vision of Piers Ploughman are extremely numerous both in public and in private collec- tions. There are at least eight in the British Museum :

IXTIiODUVTIOX.

XXXUl

there are ten or t-welve in the Cambridge Libraries ; and they are not less numerous at Oxford. As might be ex- pected in a popular •work like this, the manuscripts are in general full of variations ; but there are two classes of manuscripts which give two texts that are widely different from each other, those variations commencing even with the first lines of the poem. One of these texts, which was adopted in the early printed editions, is given in the present volumes ; the other text was selected for publication by Dr. Whitaker. The following extract, comprising the first lines of the poem,^^ will show how each text begins, and will enable those who possess manuscripts of Piers Ploughman to ascertain at once to which text they belong : —

Text L

In acomerieaon

Wlutn (ofU wai the cflnne,

I shop me ioto ihroudea

As I « *he«p weere.

In babite as ao heremite

rn'oly of werJies,

Wente wid- in this world

Wf.nders to here,

Ac on a Maj in<:>rweo7ii9B

On Malreme bilies

Me bifel a ferlr.

or fairre me thoght«.

I was werr for-waudred.

And went* me to rerte

Under a bruode bank

Bx a boames ijde.

And as I Ut and lenede.

And loked on tbe watrei,

I slombred into a slepTSg,

It fwejed so marje.

TncT IL

In a somi sexton.

Whan softe was the Sonne,

t shop into shrobbis

As jr shepherde were.

In abit az an ermite

Unholy of wrrkes.

That wente fonbe in the worle

Wondres to bnre.

And sawe menj cellis

And aeleontbe tbyngea.

Ac on a Majr inorwenyng

On Malveme hulles

Me by-fel for to slepe.

For wejrrynesse of wandrynp,

Ajid in a lande as ich lay

Lenede ich and tiepte.

And merreylonsly me mette.

As ich may yow telle.

Al the welibe of this wordle.

And tbe woo botbe.

'> Tact T. is from tbe editton now offered to tbe poblic : by Dr.Whitakex.

7ezf //. from Uiat edited

XXXIV

INTRODUCTION.

Thanne gan I meten

A raerveillous swevene,

That I was in a wildernesse

Wiste 1 iievere wliere ;

And as I bilield in to the eest

An heigh to tlie sonne,

I seigh a tour ou a toft, etc.

Wynkyng as it were

Wytei'ly ich saw hyt,

Of truyth and of triclierye.

Of tresomi and of gyle,

Al ich saw slepyng.

As ich slial yow telle.

Esteward ich hehulde

After the sonne.

And sawe a tour as ich trowede, etc.

Eesides such variations as appear iii the foregoing speci- men, there are in the second text many considerable addi- tions, omissions, and transpositions. It would not bo easy to account for the existence of two texts differing so much ; but it is my impression that the first was the one published by the author, and that the variations were made by some other person, who was perhaps induced by his own poli- tical sentiments to modify passages, and was gradually led on to publish a revision of the whole. It is certain that in some parts of Text II. the strong sentiments or expres- sions of the first text are softened down. We may give as an example of this, the statement of the popular opinion of the origin and purpose of kingly government : —

Te.kt I.

Thannr kani tlier a kyng, Knyghthod hyni ladde. Might of the communes Made hym to regne. And thanne cam kynde wit. And clerkes he made. For t(j counseillen the kyng. And the commune save. The kyng and knyghthod, And clergie hothe, Casten that the commune Sholde hem selffynde. The commune conlreved Of kynde wit craftes.

Te.xt II.

Tlianne cam ther a kyng,

Knyghtod hym ladde.

The meche niyghte of the men

Made hym to regne.

And thanne cam a kynde witte.

And clerkus he made.

And concience and kynde wit.

And knyghthod to-gederes.

Caste that the comune

Sliolde hure comunes fynde.

Kynde wit and the comune

Contrevede alle craftes.

And for most profitable to the puple,

A plouh thei gonne make.

IXTRODUCTIOX. xxxv

And for profit of al the peple Wit leil labour to lyve.

Plowmen ordeyued, Wyl lyre aud loude lasteth.

To tilie and to traraille.

As trewe lif asketh.

Tlie kyng and the comranne.

And kynde wit the thridde,

t'bopcn lawc and leaut«,

£cb man to knowc his owene.

Nobody, I think, can deny that in this instance the doctrine is stated far more distinctly and far more boldly in the first text than in the second. In general the first text is the best, whether we look at the mode in which the sentiments are stated, or at the poetry and language.

As far as I have been able to examine the remaining manuscripts of Piers Ploughman, at London and in the Universities, I think that nearly two-thirds of those which remain are of the fourteenth century ; and the greater number, particularly of those written in the four- teenth century, present what I have distinguished as the first text, that given in the present volumes. I am by no means inclined to coincide in the reasons which led I )r. Whitaker to prefer the second text; if I were disposed to admit, as barely possible (the supposition is quite a gratuitous one), " that the first edition of this work ap- peared when its author was a young man, and that he lived and continued in the habit of transcribing to extreme old age " (Pref)., I cannot agree with an editor in adopting a copy which he believes to be " a faithful representation of the work as it came first from the author," and which not only abounds in words and idioms which he afterwards altered, but which contains also " many original passages which the greater maturity of the author's judgment in- duced him to expunge."

XXX vi INTRODUCTION.

I know only of two manuscripts of the Creed of Piers Ploughman, one in the British Museum (MS. Eeg. 18, B. XVII.), the other in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, both on paper, and written long after the date of the printed editions, from which they appear to have been copied.

The first printed edition of the Vision was that of Eobert Crowley, in 1550; and it was so favourably re- ceived, that there is reason for believing that no less than three editions (or rather three impressions'") were sold in the course of the year. It is clear that Crowley had ob- tained an excellent manuscript ; the printer has changed the orthography at will, and has evidently altered a word at times, but on the whole this printed text differs very little from the one we now publish.

Three years after the appearance of the Vision, another printer, Reynold Wolfe, published the first edition of the Creed, in the same form as Crowley's edition of the Vision.-^

After the stormy reign of Mary was past, in the begin- ning of that of Elizabeth, the call for a new edition, and

80 Tlie title of the second impression is, "The Vision of Pierce Ploughman, nowe the seconde time imprinted by Roberte Crowley, dwellynge in Elye rentes in Holburne. Whereunto are added certayne notes and cotations in the raergyne , gevynge light to the Reader, &c. Imprinted at London by Roberte Crowley, dM'ellyng in Elye rentes in Holburne. Theyereof ourLordM.D.L. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum." 4to, 125 leaves.

21 The title consists merely of the words " Pierce the Ploughman's Crede," upon a tablet in the midst of a wood-cut which had evidently been brought from the continent. A facsimile of the must important part of the. cut is given in Mr Payne Collier's Bibliographical Catalogue of the Library of Lord Francis Egerton, p. 23.5. The coloplion, on a separate leaf, is "Imi)rinted at London. By Reynold Wolfe. Anno Domini M.D.L.IIL" It consists of 16 leaves iu 4to.

INTRODUCTION. xxxvii

perhaps the destruction of many copies of the old one, led the well-known printer Owen Rogers to reprint the Vision and tlie Creed together." The impression was probably large, for it is still by no means a rare book. It was evi- dently much read during the reign of Elizabeth, and is not unfrequently alluded to by the writers of that age.

No other edition of this popular poem appeared, until it was publislied by Dr. "Whitaker, in 1813,-^ from a manu- script then in the possession of Mr. Heber,-* which con- tained the second text, written in a rather broad provincial dialect. This edition was printed in black-letter, in a very large and expensive form. In 1814, a reprint of the old edition of the Creed was published in the same form, as a companion to the Vision. It is not generally known that Dr. "SVhitaker projected an edition of the same text and paraphrase which are given in his 4to edition, in 8vo, with Roman type instead of black-letter. After a few sheets had been composed, the design was abandoned, as it is

2! The title of this edition is, "The Vision of Pierce Plowman, newlye Impryiited after the authoura olde copy, with a brefe suuimary of the priiicipall matters set before every part called Passus. Whcrevnto is also annexed tlie Crede of Pierce Plowman, neuer imprinted with the booke before. ^ Imprynted at London, by Owen Kogers. dwellyng nearc vnto great Saint Bartelraewes gate, at the sygiie of the spred Egle. ^ The yere of our Lord God, a thousand, fyve hundred, thre score and one. The ixi. daye of the Moneth of Februarye. Cum privilegio ad imprimeudum solum." 4to. This edition is not foliated, or paged : and it is remarkable that it is as frequently found without the Creed, as with it. This edition of the Creed is also sometimes found separate.

a Wnitaker's edition bears the following title,— " Visio Willlelmi de Petro Plouhman. Hem Visiones ejusdem de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest. Or, The Visltm of William concerning Piers Plouhman. ami Tlie Visions of the same concerning the Origiu. Progress, and Perfection of Christian Life, 4c. By Thoma* Duuliam Whitaker, LL.D.,*c. 4to. London. Murray, 1«13.

i« This manuscript w,-i3 bought at Heber's sale for the British Museum, where it is classed as Additional MS. Ko. 10,574.

xxxviii INTRODUCTION.

said, in favour of the larger form. A copy of the proof sheets, formerly belonging to Mr. Haslewood, is now in the possession of Sir Frederick Madden. I am told that a rival edition was also begun, but not persevered in.

An attempt at a modernization, or rather a translation, of Piers Ploughman, was made in the earlier yea,rs of the present century, but only a few specimens appear to have been executed. The following lines, which possess some merit (though not very literal or correct), are the modern version the author proposed to give of 11. 2847-2870 of the poem. They were comriiunicated to me by Sir Henry Ellis.

" Next Avarice came ; but how he look'd, to say. Words do I want that rightly shall portray: Like leathern purse his shrivell'd cheeks did shew. Thick lipp'd, with two blear eyes and beetle brow : In a torn threadbare tabard was he clad. Which twelve whole winters now in wear he had ; French scarlet 'twas, its colour well it kept,' So smooth that louse upon its surface crept."

It will be necessary, in conclusion, to say a few words on the edition now offered to the public. Without taking into consideration the inaccuracies and imperfections of "Whitaker's edition, its inconvenient size and high price made it altogether inaccessible to the general reader; and there appeared to be a wish for one in a more convenient and less expensive form. At the same time it was desired that a good text of a work so important for the history of our language and literature should be selected. Dr. Whitaker was not well qualified for this undertaking ; he also laboured under many disadvantages ; he had access to only three manuscripts, and those not very good ones ; and he has not chosen the best text even of those. Unless

IXTRODUCTIOX. xxxix

he had some reason to believe that the book was originally written in a particular dialect, he ought to have given a preference to that among the oldest manuscripts which presents the purest language ; but we cannot allow that manuscript to be chosen on a ground so capricious as " that the orthography and dialect in which it is Avritten approach very near to that semi-Saxon jargon in the midst of which the editor was brought up, and which he continues to hear daily spoken on the confines of Lancashire, and the "West Riding of the county of York." (Pref.) This could not have been the language employed by a monk of Malvern,

The present editor has endeavoured, in the leisure moments which he has been able to snatch from other employments, to supply the deficiency as well, and in as unassuming manner, as he could, lie has chosen for his text a manuscript belonging to the valuable library of Trinity College, Cambridge (where its shelf-mark is B. 15, 1 7), because it appears to him to be the best and oldest manuscript now in existence. It is a fine folio manuscript, on vellum, written in a large hand, undoubtedly contempo- rary with the author of the poem, and in remarkably pure Ilnglish, with ornamented initial letters. His object has been to give the poem as popular a form as is consistent with philological correctness. He has added a few notes which occurred to him in the course of editing the text, and which he hopes may render the meaning and allusions sometimes clearer to the general reader, for whom more especially they are intended. They might have been en- larged and rendered more complete, if he had been master of sufficient leisure to enable him to untertake extensive

xl INTRODUCTION.

researches. But there are allusions, as well as words, in both poems to which it would be difficult at present to give any certain explanation. It has been thought advisable to give in the notes the important variations of the second text, from Dr. Whitaker's edition ; and a few readings are added from a second manuscript in Trinity College Library (R. 3, 14). The editor has hojied to add to the utility of the book by a copious glossary. He has been unwillingly obliged to leave a few words without explanation ; all our early alliterative poetry abounds in difficult words. In this point he has to acknowledge the kind assistance of Sir Frederick Madden, whom no person equals in profound knowledge of English glossography, and than whom no one is more generous to advise and assist those who are in need of his aid. To Sir Henry Ellis, who kindly lent him liis own manuscript notes on Piers Ploughman, the editor also owes his grateful acknowledgments ; and he regrets that at the time he received them the notes were already so far printed as to hinder him from making as much use of them as he could have wished.

London^ June 1, 1842.

THE VISION OF PIERS PLOUGHMAN.

THE VISION OF PIEES PLOUGHMAX.

X a somer sesou "VSTian softe was the soune, I shoop me into shrouJes As I a sheep weere, III habite as an heremite

Unholy of werkes,

"Wente wide in this world

WonJres to liere ;

Ac on a ^lay morwenynge

On Malverne hilles lo

Me bifel a ferly,

Of fairye me thoghte.

I was wery for-wandred,

And wente me to reste

Under a brood bank

By a bournes syde ;

And as I lay and lenede,

And loked on the waties,

I slombred into a slepyng,

It sweyed so murye. 20

2 THE VISION OF

Thanne gan I meten 21

A merveillous swevene, That I was in a ■vvildernesse, Wiste I nevere wliere, And as I biheeld into the eest An heigh to the sonne, I seigh a tour on a toft Trieliche y-maked, A deep dale bynethe, A dongeon therinne, "With depe diches and derke And dredfiille of sighte. 32

A fair feehl ful of folk Fond I ther bitwene, Of alle manere of men, The nieene and the riclie, Werchynge and wandrynge, As the world asketh.

Some putten hem to the plough, Pleiden ful selde, In settynge and sowynge Swonkeu ful harde, And wonnen that wastours 43

With glotonye destruycth.

And somme putten hem to pride, Apparailcd hem therafter, In contenaunce of clothynge Comen degised.

In preires and penaunces Putten hem manye, Al for the love of oure Lord Lyveden ful streyte. In hope to have after Hevene riche blisse ; 54

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 3

As ancres and heremites 55

That holden hem in hire selles, And coveiten noght in coutree To carien aboiite, For no likerous liflode Hire likame to plese.

And somrae cliosen chaffare ; Thei cheveden the bettre, As it semeth to our sight That swiche men thryveth.

And somme murthes to make, As mynstralles konne, ee

And geten gold with hire glee, Giltles, I leeve.

Ac jajieres and jangeleres, Judas children, Feynen hem fantasies, And fooles hem maketh, And han hire wit at wille To werken, if thei wolde. That Poul precheth of hem I wol nat preve it here ; But Qui loquitur turpiloquiinn 77 Is Luciferes hyne.

Bidderes and beggeres

Faste aboute yede,

"With biro belies and hire ba""es

00

Of breed ful y-crammed ;

Faiteden for hire foode,

Foughten at the ale.

In glotonye, God woot,

Go thei to bedde,

And risen with ribaudie,

Tho Roberdes knaves ; 88

4 THE VISION OF

Sleep and sory sleutlie 89

Seweth hem overs.

Pilgrymes and palmeres Pligliten liem togidere, For to seken seint J ame, And seintes at Rome, They wenten forth in hire wey, AVith many wise tales, And hadden leve to lyen Al liire lif after.

I seigh somme that seiden Thei hadde y-sought seintes ; loo To ech a tale that thei tolde Hire tonge was tempred to lye, Moore than to seye sooth. It semed bi hire speche,

Heremytes on an heep With hoked staves Wenten to Walsyngham, And hire wenches after, Grete lobies and longe That lothe were to SAvynke ; Clothed hem in copes, iii

To ben kuowen from othere ; And shopen hem heremytes. Hire ese to have.

I fond there freres, Alle the foure ordres, Prechynge the peple For profit of hemselve ; Glosed the gospel, As hem good liked ; For coveitise of copes, Construwed it as thei wolde. 122

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 5

Many of thise maistre freres 123

Now clothen hem at likyng,

For hire moneie and hire marchaun-

Marchen togideres. [dize

For sith charite hath ben chapman,

And chief to shryve lordes,

Manye ferlies han fallen

In a fewe yeres ;

But holy chirche and hii

Holde bettre togidres,

The mooste meschief on molde

Is mountyngc wel faste. 134

Ther preched a pardoner, As he a preest were ; Broughte forth a bulle "With many bisshopes seles, And seidc that hymself myghte Assoillen hem alle, Of falshede, of fastynge, Of avowes y-broken.

Lewed men leved it wel, And liked hise wordes ; Comen up knelynge 145

To kissen hise bulles. He bouched hem with his brevet, And blered hire eighen, And raughte with his rageman Rynges and broches.

Thus thei gyven hire gold Glotons to kepe, And leveth in swiche losels As leccherie haunten.

Were the bisshope y-blessed, And worth bothe hise eris, ise

VOL. I. D

6 THE VISION OF

His seel sholde noght be sent isr

To deceyve the peple.

Ac it is noglit by the bisshope

That the boy precbeth ;

For the parissbe preest and the par-

Parten the silver, [doner

That the poraille of tlie parissbe

Sholde have, if thei ne were.

Parsons and parissbe preestes Pleyned hem to the bisshope, That hire parisshes weren povere Sitb the pestilence tyme, les

To bave a licence and leve At London to dwelle, And syngen tber for symonie ; For silver is swete.

Bissbopes and bacbelers, Bothe maistres and doctours, That ban cure under Crist, And crownynge in tokene And signe that thei sholden Shryven bire parissbens, Precben and praye for bem, 179 And the povere fede, Liggen at Londone In Lenten and ellis.

Somme serven tbe kyng, And bis silver tellen In cbeker and in chauncelrie, Chalangen bise dettes Of wardes and of wardemotes, Weyves and streyves.

And somme serven as servauntz Lordes and ladies, 190

PIERS PLOUGTIMAX. 7

And in stede of stywardes 191

Sitten and denien ;

Hire messe and hire mat3-ns

And many of hire lioures

Am doon un-devoutliche ;

Drede is at the laste,

Lest Crist in consistorie

A-corse ful manye.

I perceyved of the power

That Peter hadde to kepe,

To bynden and unbynden,

As the book telleth ; 202

How he it lefte with love,

As oure Lord highte, Amonges foure vertues, The beste of alle vertues, That cardinals ben called, And closvnL'e vatos.

There is Crist in his kingdom To close and to shette. And to opene it to hem. And hevene blisse shewe.

Ac of the cardihals at court 213 That kaughte of that name. And power presumed in hem A pope to make.

To han that power that Peter hadde, Impugnen I nelle ; For in love and in lettrure The election bilongeth, For-thi I kan and kan naught Of court sjteke moore.

Thanne kam ther a kyng, Knyghthod hym ladde, 224

8 THE VISION OF

Might of the communes 225

Made hym to regne.

And thanne cam kynde wit, And clerkes he made, For to counseillen the kyng, And the commune save.

The kyng and knyghthod, And clergie hothe, Casten that the commune Sholde hemself fyiide.

The commune contreved Of kynde wit craftes, 236

And for profit of al the peplo Plowmen ordeyned, To tihe and to travaille, As trewe lif asketh.

The kyng and the commune, And kynde wit the thridde, Shopen lawe and leaut^, Ech man to knowe his owene.

Thanne loked up a lunatik, A leene thyng with-alle, And, knelynge to the kyng, 247 Clergially he seide :

" Crist kepe thee, sire kyng ! And thi kyng-ryche, And lene thee lede thi lond, So leaut6 thee lovye, And for thi rightful rulyng Be rewarded in hevene."

And sithen in the eyr an heigh An aungel of hevene Lowed to speke in Latyn, For lewed men ne koude 258

PIEBS PLOUGHMAN. 9

Jangle ne jugge, 259

That justilie hem sholde,

But suffren and serven ;

For-thi seide the aungel :

Sum rex, sudi iirinceps,

Neutrum fortasse deinceps ;

0 qui jura regis

Christi specialia regis,

Hoc quod agas melius,

Jtistus es, esto pius.

Nudum jus a te

Vestiri vult pietate ; 27o

Qualia vis meters,

Talia grana sere.

Si jus nudatur,

Nudo dejure metatur ;

Si seritur lyietas,

De pietate met as.

Thanne greved hym a goliardeis, A gloton of wordes, And to the aungel an heigh Answerde after :

Dum rex a regere 2si

Dicatur nomen habere ; Nomen hahet sine re, Nisi stw let jura tenere.

Thanne gan al the commune Crye in vers of Latyn, To the kynges counseil ; Construe who so wolde : PrcEcepta regis Sunt nobis vincula legis.

"With that ran ther a route Of ratons at ones, 292

10 THE VISION OF

And smale mees myd hem 293

Mo than a thousand,

And comeu to a counseil

For the commune profit ;

For a cat of a contree

Cam whan hym liked,

And overleep hem liglitliche,

And laucjhte hem at his wille,

And pleide with hem perillousli,

And possed aboute.

" For doute of diverse dredes,

We dar noght wel loke ; 304

And if we grucche of his gamen,

He wol greven us alle,

Cracchen us or clawen us,

And in hise douches holde,

That us lotheth the lif

Er he late us passe.

Mighte we with any wit

His Aville withstonde,

We mighte be lordes odofte,

And lyven at oure ese."

A raton of renoun, 315

Moost renable of tonge, Seide for a sovereyn Help to hymselve :

" I have y-seyen segges," quod " In the cite of Londone, [he

Beren beighes ful brighte Abouten hire nekkes, And somme colers of crafty werk ; Uncoui)led thei wenteu Bothe in wareyne and in waast Wliere hemself liked. 326

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 11

And quther while thei am ellis- As I here telle ; [where,

"Were ther a belle on hire beighe, By Jhesu, as me thynketh, Men myghte witen wher theiwente, And awey renne ! "

" And right so," quod that raton, " Reson me sheweth, To bugge a belle of bras, Or of bright silver, And knytten it on a coler For oure commune profit, 338

"Wher he ryt or rest, Or renneth to pleye ; And if hvm list for to laike, Thanne loke we mowen. And peeren in his presence The Avhile him pleye liketh : And, if hym wratheth, be war, And his way shonye."

Al this route of ratons To this reson thei assented. Ac tho the belle was y-brought, 349 And on the beighe hanged, Ther ne was raton in al the route, For al the reaume of Fraunce, That dorste have bounden the belle About the cattes nekke, Xe hangen it aboute the cattes hals, Al Engelond to wynne. Alle helden hem un-hardy, Anil hir counseil feble ; And leten hire labour lost And al hire longe studie. 3«o

12 THE VISION OF

A mous that muche good;,. 36i Kouthe, as me tlioughte, Strook forth sternely, And stood bifore hem alle, And to the route of ratons Eeherced thise wordes :

" Though we killen the cat, Yet sholde ther come another To cacchen us and al oure kynde, Though we cropen under benches. For-thi I counseille al the commune To late the cat worthe ; 372

And be we nevere bolde The belle hym to shewe ; For I herde my sire seyn, Is seven yeer y-passed, Ther the cat is a kitone The court is f ul elenge ; That witnesseth holy writ, Who so wole it rede : V(B ten-ce uhi picer rex est / etc. For may no renk ther rests have For ratons by nyghte ; 383

The while he caccheth conynges, He coveiteth noght youre caroyne. But fedeth hym al with venyson : Defame we hym nevere. For better is a litel los Than a long sorwe, The maze among us alle, Theigh we mysse a sherewe ; For many mennes malt "We mees wolde destruye. And also ye route of ratons 394

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 13

Rende mennes clothes, 395

Nere the cat of that court ' That can yow over-lepe ; For hadde ye rattes youre wille, Ye kouthe noght rule yow selve."

"I seye for me," quod the mous, " I se so muchel after, Shal nevere the cat ne the kiton By my counseil be greved, Thorugh carpynge of this coler That costed me nevere And though it hadde costned me Bi-knowen it I nolde, [catel,

But suffren, as hymself wolde, To doon as hym liketh. Coupled and uncoupled To cacche what thei mowe. For-thi ech a wis wight I warne, "Wite wel his owene."

"What this metels by-meneth, Ye men that ben murye Devyne ye, for I ne dar. By deere God in hevene. 417

Yet hoved ther an hundred In howves of selk, Sergeantz it bi-seraed That serveden at the barre, Pleteden for penyes And poundes the lawe ; And noght for love of our Lord Unclose hire lippes ones. Thow myghtest bettre meete myst On Malverne hilles. Than gete a mom of hire mouth,

14 THE VISION.

Til moneie be shewed, 429

Barons and burgeises, And bonde-men als, I seigh in this assemblee, As ye shul here after : Baksteres and brewesteres, And bochiers manye; Wollen Avebbesters, And weveres of lynnen, Taillours and tynkers, And tollers in niarkettes, Masons and mynours, 440

And many othere craf fces. Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers Lopen forth somme, As dikeres and delveres, That doon hire dedes ille, And dryveth forth the longe day With Dieu save dame Evime.

Cokes and hire knaves Cry den, " Hote pies, bote ! Goode gees and grys ! Gowe, dyne, gowe ! " 451

Taverners until hem Trewely tolden the same, Whit wyn of Oseye, And reed wyn of Gascoigne, Of the Ryn and of the Rochel, The roost to defie. [Al this I saugh slepynge, And seve sithes more.] 459

Passus Primiis de Visione.

;IIAT this mountaigne by- meneth <«o

And the merke dale, And the feld ful of folk, I shal yow faire shewe. A lovely lady of leere,

In lynnen y-clothed,

Cam doun from a castel

And called me faire,

And seide, " Sone, slepestow ?

Sestow this peple,

How bisic thei ben

AUe aboute the maze ? 47i

The mooote partie of this peple

That passe th on this eithe.

Have thei worship in this world,

Thei wilne no bettre ;

Of oother hevene than here

Holde thei no tale."

I was a-fcred of hire face,

Theigh she fair weere,

And seide, " Mercy, madame,

"What is this to meene ? "

" The tour on the toft," quod she,

" Truthe is therinne ; <«

16 THE VISION OF

And wolde that ye wrouglite, 484

As his word techetli !

For he is fader of feith,

And formed yow alle

Bothe with fel and with face,

And yaf yow fyve wittes,

For to worshipe hym therwith,

While that ye hen here.

And therfore he highte the erthe

To helpe yow echone,

Of wolleue, of lynnen,

Of liflode at nede, 495

In mesurable manere

To make yow at ese ;

And comaunded of his curteisie

In commune three thynges,

Are none nedfulle but tho,

And nempne hem I thynke,

And rekene hem by reson ;

Eeherce thow hem after.

" That oon vesture, From cold thee to save ; And mete at meel 506

For mysese of thiselve ; And drynke whan thow driest ; Ac do noght out of reson, That thow worthe the wers Whan thow werche sholdest.

" For Lot in hise lif-dayes, For likynge of drynke, Dide by hise doughtres That the devel liked, Delited hym in drynke As the devel wolde, 517

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 17

And leccheric hym lauglite, sis And lay by hem bothe, And al he witte it the wyn That wikked dede. Inehriamus eum m7W,dormiainusque cum eo, nt servare possimtis de patre nostra semen.

Tliorugli wyn and thorugh -svom- Ther was Loth acombred, [men And there gat in glotonie Gerles tliat were cherles.

" For-thi dred delitable drjoike, And thow shalt do the bettre. 530 Mesure is medicine, Though thow muchel yerne. It is nought al good to the goost That the gut asketh, Xe liflode to thi likame ; For a liere hym techeth, That is the wrecched world Wolde thee bitraye. For the fend and thi flesshe Folwen tcgidere. 540

This and that seeth thi soule, And seith it in thin herte ; And for thow sholdest ben y-war, I wisse thee the beste."

" Madame, mercy ! " quod I, " Me liketh wel youre wordes ; Ac the moneie of this molda That men so faste holdetli, Tel me to whom, madame, That tresour appendeth." 550

" Go to the gospel," quod she.

18 THE VISION OF

" That God seide hymselven ; 552 Tho the poeple hym apposede With a peny in the temple, Wheither thei sholde therwith "Worshipe the kyng Cesar.

"And God asked of hym, Of whom spak the lettre, And the ymage was lik That therinne stondeth.

" ' Cesares,' thei seiden, - 'We seen it wel echone.'

' ' ' Reddite Ccesari,' quod G od, 563 ' That Coesari bifalleth, FA, quce sunt Dei Deo, Or elHs ye don ille ; For rightfully reson Sholde rule yow alle, And kynde wit be wardeyn Youre welthe to kepe, And tutour of youre tresor, And take it yow at nede, For housbondrie and hii Holden togidres." 574

Thanne I frayned hire faire, For hym that me made, " That dongeon in the dale, That dredful is of sighte. What may it be to meene, Madame, I yow biseche 1 "

"That is the castel of Care; Who so comth therinne May banne that he born was. To bodi or to soule. Therinne wonyeth a wight 585

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 19

That "Wrong is y-hote, 586

Fader of falshede,

And founded it hymselve.

Adam and Eve

He egged to ille ;

Counseilled Kaym

To killen his brother ;

Judas he japed

"With Jewen silver,

And sithen on an eller

Hanged hymselve.

He is lettere of love, 5»r

And lieth hem alle

That tnisten on his tresour ;

Bitrayeth he hem sonnest."

Thannehadde I wonder in my wit What womman it weere, That swiche wise wordes Of holy writ shewed ; And asked hire on the heighe name, Er she thennes yede, ^V^lat she were witterly That wisocd me so faire. «08

"Holi chirche I am," quod she, " Thow oughtest me to knowe ; I underfeng thee first, And the feith taughte ; And broughtest me borwes My biddyng to fulfille. And to loven me leelly The whUe thi lif dureth."

Thanne I courbed on my knees, And cried hire of grace ; And preide hire pitously eu

20 THE VISION OF

Preye for my sinnes, 620

And also kenne me kyndely

On Crist to bi-leve,

That I myglite werchen his v/ille

That wrou'hte me to man.

' Teche me to no tresor,

But tel nje this ilke,

Plow I may save my soule,

That seint art y-holden."

""VVhan alle tresors arn tried," " Treuthe is the beste ; [quod she, I do it on Deus caritas, esi

To deme the sothe, It is as dereworthe a drury As deere God hymselven.

"Who is trewe of his tonge, And telleth noon oother, And dooth the werkes therwith, And wihietli no man ille, He is a God by the gospel A-grounde and o-lofte, And y-lik to oure Lord, By seint Lukes wordes. 642

The clerkes tliat knowen this, Sholde kennen it aboute, For cristen and un-cristen Cleymeth it echone.

"Kynges and knyghtes Sholde kepen it by reson, Riden and rappcn doun In reaumes aboute, And taken tnmsgressores, And tyen hem faste, Til treuthe hadde y -termyned 653

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 21

Hire trespas to the enJe. cj4

AuJ that is profession apertli

That apendeth to knyghtes ;

And naught to fasten o friday

In fyve score wynter,

But holden with hyui and with here

That wolden alle truthe,

And nevere leve hem for love

Ne for lacchynge of silver.

For David in hise dayes

Dubbed knyghtes,

And dide hem sweren on hirswerdes

To serven truthe evere ; cm

And who so passed that point

Was ajwstata in the ordre.

" But Crist kyngene kyng Knyglited ten, Ciierubyn and seraphyn, Swiche seveue and otliero And yaf hem myght in liis majestee, The murier hem thoughte, And over his meene meynee Made liem arcliangelo? ; ere

Taughte hem by the Trinitee Treuthe to knowe ; To be buxom at his biddyng, He bad hem nought ellis.

" Lucifer with legions Lerned it in hevene ; But for he brak buxomnesse His blisse gan he tync, And fel fro that felawshipe In a fendi's liknesse, Into a deep derk helle, os7

VOL. I. E

22 THE VISION OF

To dwelle there for evere ; 688

And mo thousandes myd hym Than man kouthe nombre Lopen out with Lucifer In lothliche forme, For thei leveden upon hym That lyed in this manere : Ponampedem in aquilone, et similis ero altisshno. [be so,

"And alle that hoped it myghte Noon hevene myghte hem holde, But fellen out in fendes liknesse 699 Nyne dayes togideres, Til God of his goodnesse Gan stablisse and stynte, And garte the hevene to stekie And stonden in quiete.

" "Whan thise wikkede wenten out, In wonder wise thei fellen ; Somme in the eyr, somme in erthe, And somme in helle depe ; Ac Lucifer lowest lith Yet of hem alle, no

For pride that he putte out. His peyne hath noon ende. And alle that werchen with wrong, "Wende thei shulle, After hir deth day And dwelle with that sherewe.

" And tho that werche wel. As holy writ tolleth, And enden as I er seide In truthe, that is the beste, Mowe be siker that hire soules rai

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 23

Shul wende to hevene, 722

Ther treuthe is in triuitee,

And troneth hem alle.

For-thi I seye, as I seyde er,

V>y sighte of thise textes,

"Whan alle tresors am tried,

Truths is the beste ;

Lereth it thise lewed men,

For lettred men it knoweth,

That treuthe is tresor

The trieste on erthe." [quod I,

"Yet have I no kynde knowyng," " Ye mote kenne me bettre, 734 By what craft in my cors It comseth, and where."

" Thow doted daife," quod she, " DuUe are thi wittes ; To litel Latyn thow lemedest, Leode, in thi youthe." Heu m ich i ! q u ia sterilem duxi vi'fam juvenilem. [she,

" It is a kynde knowyng," quod " That kenneth in thyn herte, ~u For to loven thi Lord Levere than thiselve, No dedly synne to do, Deye theigh thow sholdest ; This I trowe be truths. "Wlio kan teche thee bettre, Loke thow suffre hym to ssys. And sithen lere it after ; For truths telleth tliat love Is triacle of hevene. May no synne be on hym seene, 755

24 THE VISION OF

That useth that spice, 756

And alle hise werkes be wroughte

With love as hyni liste ; [thyng,

Aiid lered it Moyses for the leveste

And moost lik to heveno,

And al so the plentee of pees

Moost precious of vertues ;

For hevene myghte nat holden it,

It \yas so hevy of hymself,

Til it hadde of the erthe

Eteu his filie.

"Andwhanithaddeof thisfold 767 Flesshe and blood taken, Was nevere leef upon lynde Lighter therafter, And portatif and persaunt As the point of a nedle, That myghte noon armure it lette, Ne none heighe walles.

" For-thi is love ledere Of the Lordes folk of hevene. And a meene, as the mair is [mune ; Bitwene the kyng and the corn- Right so is love a ledere, 779 And the law shapeth, Upon man for hise mysdedes The mercyment he taxeth. And for to knowen it kyndely It comseth by myght, And in the herte there is the heed And the heighe welle ; For in kynde knowynge in herte, Ther a myght bigynneth ; And that falleth to the fader 789

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 25

That formed us alle, too

Loked on us with love,

And leet his sone dye

Mekely for oure mysdedes,

To amenden us alle.

And yet wolde he hem no wo

That wroughte hym that peyne,

But mekely with mouthe

Mercy bisoughte,

To have pite of that peple

That peyned hym to dethe.

" There myghtow sen ensample In hymself oone, 802

That he was myghtful and meke, And mercy gan graunto To hem that hengen hym on heigh And his herte thirled.

" For-thi I rede yow, riche, Haveth ruthe of the povere ; Though ye be myghtful to mote, Becth meke in youre werkes, For the same mesures that ye mete, Amys outher ellis, 812

Ye shulle ben weyen therwith "Whan ye wenden hennes. Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remetietur vohis.

" For though ye be trewe of youre And treweliche wynne, [tonge

And as chaste as a child That in chirche wepeth. But if ye loven leelly And lene the povere, Swich good as God yow sent 823

26 THE VISION OF

Goodliche parteth, 824

Ye ne have namoore merite

In masse nor in houres,

Than Malkyn of hire niaydenhede

That no man desireth.

" For James the gentile Jugged in hise bokes, That feith withouten the feet Is right no thyng worthi, And as deed as a dore-tree, But if the dedes folwe. gg^

Fides sine operihus ynortua est, etc. "For-thi chastite withouten charity Worth cheyned in helle ; It is as lewed as a lampe That no light is inne. Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, Ac charity is aweye ; Are no men avarouser than hii Whan thei ben avaunced, Unkynde to hire kyn, And to alle cristene Chewen hire charity, 846

And chiden after moore ; Swiche chastity withouten charity Worth cheyned in helle.

" Manye curatours kepen hem Clene of hire bodies ; Thei ben acombred with coveitise, Thei konne noght doon it from hem, So harde hath avarice Y-hasped hem togideres ; And that is no truthe of the Trinito, But tricherie of helle, a?;

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 27

And lernynge to lewed men 85tj The latter for to deele. For-thi thise wordes Ben writen in the gospel, Date, et dahitur vohis, For I deele yow alle, And that is the lok of love, And leteth out my grace, To conforten the carefuUe A-combred with synne. " Love is leche of lif. And next oure Lord selve, 869

And also the graithe gate That goth into hevene ; For-thi I seye, as I seide Er by the textes, Whan alle tresors ben tried, Treuthe is the beste. "Now have I told thee what truthe That no tresor is bettre ; [is,

I may no lenger lenge thee with, Now loke thee oure Lordc." sro

Paf^sus Sec2i7idiis de Visio/ie, id supra.

^ET I courbed on my knees, And cried hire of grace, And seide, "Mercy, madanie, For Marie love of lievene, That bar tliat blisful barn

That bouglite us on tlie rode,

Kenne me by soni craft ''

To knowe the false."

" Loke up on thi left half,

And lo where he stondeth !

Bothe Fals and Favel,

And hire feeres manye." soi

I loked on my left half.

As the lady me taughte,

And "was war of a womman

Worthiliche y-clothed,

Purfiled with pelure

The fyneste upon erthe,

Y-corouned with a coroune.

The kyng liath noon bettre ;

Fetisliche hire fyngres

Were fretted with gold wyr.

And theron rede rubies

As rede as any gleede, 903

riERS PLOUGHMAN. 29

And diamaunJes of derrest pris, 904 And double manere sapliires, Orientals and ewages, Envenymes to destroyc.

Hire robe was ful riche, Of reed scarlet engreyned, With ribanes of reed gold And of riche stones. Hire array me ravysshed, Swich richesse saugh I nevere ; I hadde wonder what she was, And whos wif she were. 015

" "\Miat is this woraman," quod I, "So worthili atiredl"

" That is Mede the mayde," quod " Hath noyed me ful ofte, [she, And y-lakked -my lemman That Leautee is hoten. And bi-lowen hire to lordes That lawes han to kepe.

" In the popes paleis She is pryvee as niyselve ; But soothnesse wolde noght so, 92fi For she is a bastarde ; For fals was hire fader That hath a fikel tonge, And nevere sooth seide Sithen he com to erthe ; And Mede is manered after hym, Right as kynde asketh Qualis pater talis films. Bonus arbor bonum frucfnini facit.

** I oughte ben hyere than she, I kam of a bettre ; 937

30 THE VISION OF

My fader the grete God is 938

And ground of alle graces,

So God withouten gynnyng,

And I his goode doughter,

And hath yeven me mercy

To marie with myselve,

And what man be merciful

And leelly me love,

Shal be my lord and I his leef

In the heighe lievene.

" And what man taketh Mede, Myn heed dar I legge, 949

That he shal lese for hire love A lappe of caritatis.

" How construeth David the kin^r Of men that taketh Mede, And men of this moolde That maynteneth truths. And how ye shul save j'ourself, The sauter bereth witnesse : Domine, quis habitahit in taberna- culo tuo, etc. [maried

" And now worth this Mede y- Unto a maused sherewe, sei

To oon fals fikel tonge, A fend<^s biyete ; Favel thorugh his faire speche Hatli this folk enchaunted, And al is Lieres ledynge, That she is thus y-wedded.

"To-morwe worth y-maked The maydenes bridale, [wilt.

And there myghtow witen, if thow Whiche thei ben alle an

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 31

That longen to that lorJshipe, sva The lasse and the ruoore. Knowe hem there, if thow kanst, Ami kepe thow thi tonge, And lakke hem noght, but lat hem Till leaut^ be justice, [worthe

And have power to jjunysshe hem, Thanne put forth thi roson. Now I bikenne thee Crist," quod " And his clene moder, [she,

And lat no conscience acombre thee For coveitise of Mede." W3

Thus lefte me that lady Liggynge a-slepe ; And how Mede was y-maried In metels me thoughte, That al the riche retenaunce That regneth with the false, Were boden to the bridale On bothe two sides, Of alle manere of men The meene and the riche ; To marien this mayde 994

Were many men assembled, As of knyghtes and of clerkes, And oother commune peple, As sisours and somonours, Sherreves and hire clerkes, Bedelles and baillifs. And brocours of chaffarc, Forgoers and vitaillers. And advokettes of the arches ; I kan noght rekene the route That, ran aboute Mede. 1005

32 THE VISION OF

Ac Symonie and Cyvylle, looe And sisours of courtes, Were nioost pryvee with Mede Of any men, me thoughte. Ac FavelAvas the firste That fette hire out of boure, And as a brocour broughte hire To be with Fals enjoyned.

Whan Symonye and Cyvylle Seighe hir bothe wille, Thei assented, for silver, To seye as bothe wolde. loiT

Thanne leep Liere forth, and seide, " Lo here a chartre ! " That Gile with hise grete othes Gaf hem togidere. And preide Cyvylle to see, And Symonye to rede it.

Thanne Symonye and Cyvylle Stonden forth bothe. And uufoldeth the fefFement That Fals hath y-maked, And thus bigynnen thise gomes 1028 To greden ful heighe ; Seiant prcesentes et futuri, etc.

Witeth and witnesseth, That wonieth upon this erthe, That Mede is y-maried Moore for hire goodes Than for any vertue or fairnesse, Or any free kynde. Falsnesse is fayn of hire, For he woot hire riche ; And Favel with his fikel speche 1039

1

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 33

Feffeth by this chartre, i040

To bo princes in pride

And poverte to despise,

To bakbite and to bosten,

And bere fals Avitnesse, •

To scome and to scolde,

And sclaundre to make,

Unbuxome and boldo

To breke the ten hestes.

And the erldom of Envye And Wrathe togideres, "With the chastilet of Cheste, 1051 And Chaterynge out of resou.

Tlie countee of Coveitise, And alle the costes aboute, That is Usure and Avarice, Al I hem graunte, In bargaynes and in brocages, "With ai the burglie of Thefte,

And al the lordshipe of Leccherie In lengthe and in brede. As in werkes and in wordes. And in Avaitynges witli eighes, 1062 And in wedes and in wisshynges, And with ydel tlioughtes, Tliere as wil wolde And wcrkmanshipe fayleth.

Glotonye he gaf hem ek, And grete othes togidere, And al day to drynken At diverse tavernes, And there to jangle and jape, And jugge hir even cristen ; And in fastynge dayes to frete 1073

34 THE VISION OF

Er fill tyme were, io74

And thanne to sitten and soupen

Til sleep hem assaille ;

And breden as burghe swyn,

And bedden hem esily,

Til sleuthe and sleep

Sliken hise sydes, [hem so

And thanne wanhope to awaken

With no wil to amende,

Por he leveth be lost,

This is hir laste ende. 1084

And thei to have and to holde, And hire heires after, A dwellynge with the devel, And dampned be for evere, With alle the appurtinaunces of

purgatorie Into tlie pyne of helle,

Yeldynge for this thyng, At one dayes tyme, Hire soules to Sathan, To suffre with hym peynes, 1095 And with hym to wonye with wo While God is in hevene.

In witnesse of which thyng, Wronff was the firste, And Piers the pardoner Of Paulynes doctrine, Bette the bedel Of Bokyngham shire, Eeynald the reve Of Rutland sokene, Maude the millere, And many mo othere. 1107

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 35

In the date of the devel nos

This dede I ensele, By sighte of Sire Symonio And Cyvyles leeve.

Thanne tened hym Tlieologie, Whan he this tale herds ; And seide unto Cyvyle, " Now sorwe mote thow have, Swiche weddynges to werche, To \\Tathe with truthe ; And er this weddynge be wroght, Wo thee bitide ! ui9

" For Mede is muliere Of Amendes engendred, And God graunteth to gyve Mede to Truthe ;

And thow hast gyven hire toagilour; Now God gyve thee sorwe ! Thi text teileth thee noght so, Truthe woot the sothe ; For Dignus est ojperarius His hire to have,

And thow hast fest hire to Fals, 1130 Fy on thi lawe ! For al bi lesynges thow lyvest And lecherouse werkes. Symonye and thiself Shenden holi chirche ; The notaries and ye Noyen the peple ; Ye shul a-biggen it bothe, By God that me made !

*' Wei ye witen, wemardes, But if youre wit faille, ihi

36 THE VISION OF

That Fals is feitlilees iu2

And fikel in hise werkes,

And was a bastarde y-bore

Of Belsabubbes kynne ;

And Mede is muliere,

A maiden of goode,

And myghte kisse the kyng

For cosyn, and she wolde,

" For-thi Avercheth by wisdom, And by wit also ; And ledeth hire to Londone, There it is y-shewed, iisa

If any lawe wol loke Thei ligge togideres ; And thoiigh justices juggen hire To be joyned to Fals, Yet be war of weddynge ; For witty is Truths, And Conscience is of his counseil, And knoweth yow echone, And if he fynde yow in defaute And with the false holde, It shal bi-sitte youre soules 1164 Ful soure at the laste."

Herto assenteth Cyvyle, Ac Symonye ne wolde, Til he hadde silver for his service, And also the notaries.

Thanne fette Favel forth Floryns ynowe, And bad Gile to gyven Gold al aboute, And namely to the notaries That hem noon ne faille, iiTs

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 37

And feffe false witnesses iirc

With flon-ns ynowe, " For thei may Mode a-maistrye, And maken at my wille."

Tho this gold was y-gyve, Gret was the thonkyng To Fals and to Favel For hire faire giftes, And comen to conforten From care the false, And seiden, " Certes, sire, Cessen shul we nevere, ii87

Til !Mede be thi wedded wif Thorugh wittes of us alle ; For we have Mede a-maistried With oure murie speche. That she graunteth to goon, With a good wille, To London, to loken If tlie lawe wolde Juggen yow joyntly In joie for evere."

Thanne was Falsnesse fayn, 1198 And Favel as blithe, And leten somone alle segges In shires aboute, And bad hem alle be bown, Beggers and otliere, To wenden with hera to Westrayn- To witnesse this dede. [stre

Ac thanne cared thei for caples To carien hem thider, And Favel fette forth thanne Foles ynowe, 1209

VOL. I. F

38 THE VISION OF

And sette Mecle upon a sherreve Shoed al newe.

And Fals sat on a sisour, That sof teli trotted ; And Favel on a flaterere Fetisly atired.

Tho hadde notaries none, Anoyed thai were, For Symonye and Cyvylle Sholde on hire feet gange.

Ac thanue swoor Symonye, And Cyvylle bothe, 1221

That somonours sholde be sadeled And serven hem echone, And late apj^araille thise provisours In palfreyes Avise, Sire Symonye hymself Shal sitte upon hir bakkes.

"Denes and southdenes, Drawe yow togideres, Erchdekenes and officials, And alle youre registrers, Lat sadle hem with silver 1232

Oure synne to suffre, As avoutrye and divorses, And derne usurie. To here bisshopes aboute A-brood in visitynge.

" Paulynes pry vees For pleintes in consistorie, Shul serven myself That Cyvyle is nempned.

" And cart-sadle the commissarie, Oure cart shal he lede, 1243

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 39

And fecchen us vitailles. 12-I4

At Fornkatores.

Aiid maketh of Lyere a lang cart To leden alle thise othere, As freres and faitours, That on hire feet rennen."

And thus Fals and Favel Fareth forth togideres, And Mede in the middes, And alle thise men after.

I have no tome to teUe The tail that hire fohved ; 1255

Ac Gj'le was for-goer, And gyed hem alle.

Sothnesse seigh hem ■wel, And seide but litel. And priked his palfrey, And passed hem alle, And com to the kj-nges court, And Conscience it tolde ; And Conscience to the kyng Carped it after. 12C5

" Xow, by Crist," quod the kyng, "And I cacche myghte Fals or Favel, Or any of hise feeris, I wolde be wroken of tho wrecches That wercheth so ille, And doon hem hange by the hals. And alle that hem maynteneth ; Shal nevere man of this molde Meynprise the leeste. But right as the lawe wol loke, Lat faile on hem alle." ma

40 THE VISION OF

And comaunded a constable i278 That com at the firste, To attachen tho tyrauntz, " For any thyng I hote, And fettreth faste Falsnesse, For any kynnes giftes, And girdeth of Gyles heed, And lat hym go no farther ; And if ye lacche Lyere, Lat hym noght ascapen Er he be put on the pillory, For any preyere, I hote ; i^aa

And bryngeth Llede to me Maugree hem alle."

Drede at the dore stood, And the doom herde, And how the kyng comaunded Constables and sergeauntz Falsnesse and his felawshipe To fettren and to bynden.

Thanne Drede wente wyghtliche, And warned the False, And bad hym fie for fere, 1300

And hise felawes alle.

Falsnesse for fere thanne Fleigh to the ffreres, And Gyle dooth hym to go, A-gast for to dye ; Ac marchauntz mettcn with hym And made hym abide, And bi-shetten hym in hire shoppes To shewen hire ware, Apparailed hym as apprentice The peple to serve. isu

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 41

Lightliche Lyere 1312

Let'p awey thanue, Lurkynge thorugh lanes, To-lugged of manye. He was nowher welcome, For his mauye tales, Over al y-honted, And y-hote trusse, Til pardoners hadde pite, And pulled hym into hou?e. They wesshen hym and wiped hym, And wounden hjnn in cloutes, 1323 And senten hym with seles On Sondayes to chirches. And yeven pardoun for pens Pounde-mele aboute.

Thanne lourede leches, And lettres thei sente, That he sholde wonye with hem "Watres to loke.

S^iycers speken with hym, To spien hire ware ; For he kouthe of hir craft, 1334

And knewe manye gommes.

And mynstrales and messagers Mette with hym ones, And helden hym an half-yeer And ellevene dayes.

Freres with fair speche Fetten hym pennes. And for knowynge of comeres Coped hym as a frere ; Ac he hath leve to lepen out. As ofte as hym liketh, 1345

42 THE VISION.

And is welcome whan he wile, 1346 And woneth with hem ofte.

Alle fledden for fere, And flowen into hemes ; Save Mede the mayde, Na-mo dorste abide. Ac trewely to telle, She trembled for drede, And ek wepte and wrong, Wlian she was attached. ^355

Passus Tertius de Visione, ut supra.

2y^(^0"\V is ISIede the mayde, I And na-mo of hem alle, ,|c^ M^ With bedeles and with ^-''^ bailHes Brought bifore the kyncj.

The kyng called a clerk, Kan I noght his name, To take !Mede the maide And maken hire at ese. " I shal assayen hire myself. And soothliche appose, VThat man of this moolde That hire were levest. i367

And if she werche hi wit, And my wil folwe, I wol forgyven hire this gilt, So me God helpe ! "

Curteisly the clerk thanne, As the kyng highte. Took Mede bi the myddel And broghte hire into chambre ; And ther was murthe and mynstral- Mede to plese. [cie,

They that wonyeth in Westmyn- stre "NVorshipeth hire alle, isso

44 THE VISION OF

Gentilliclie with joye ; issi

The justices somme

Busked hem to the hour

Ther the burde dwellede,

To conforten hire kyndely,

By clergies leve ;

And seiden, '• Mourne noght, Made,

Ne make thow no sorwe ;

For we wol wisse the kyng,

And thi wey shape,

To be wedded at thi wille,

And wher thee leef liketh, 1392

For al Consciences cast

Or craft, as I trowe."

Mildely Mede thanne Merciede hem alle Of hire grete goodnesse, And gaf hem echone Coupes of clene gold, And coppes of silver, Rynges with rubies. And richesses manye ; The leeste man of hire meynee 1403 A moton of golde. Than laughto thei leve Thise lordes at INIede.

"With that comen clerkes To conforten hire the same, And beden hire be blithe ; " For we beth thyne owene, For to werche thi wille, The while thow myght laste."

Hendiliche heo thanne Bi-highte hem the same, ui4

piehs ploughman. 45

To loven hem lelly, 1415

And lorJes to make,

And in the consistorie at the court

Do callen hire names ;

" Shal no lewednesse lette

The leode that I lovye,

That he ne worth first avaunced ;

For I am bi-knowen,

There konnynge clerkes

Shul clokke bi-hynde."

Thanne cam ther a confessour, Coped as a ^rere ; 1426

To Mede the mayde He meved thise wordes, And seide ful softely, In shrift as it were, " Theigh lewed men and lered men Hadde leyen by thee bothe, And Falsnesse hadde y-folwed thee Alle thise fifty wynter, I shal assoille thee myself For a seem of whete, And also be thi bedeman, 1437

And here wel thi message Amonges knyghtes and clerkes, Conscience to tome."

Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes To that man kneled, And shrof hire of hire sherewed- Shamelees, I trowe ; [nesse,

Tolde hym a tale, And took hym a noble, For to ben hire bedeman And hire brocour als. i448

46 THE VISION OF

Thanne he assoiled hire soone, And sithen he seide, " We have a wyndow in werchynge Wole sitten us ful Tiye7~' '~ Woldestow glaze that gable And grave therinne thy name, Syker sholde thi soule be Hevene to have."

" Wiste I that," quod that wom- " I wolde noght spare [ruan,

For to be youre frend, frere, And fails yow nevere, um

"While ye love lordes That lecherie haunten, And lakketh noght ladies/ That loven wel the samel It is freletee of flesshe, ' Ye fynden it in bokes, And a cours of kynde Wherof we comen alle. Who may scape sclaundre, The scathe is soone amended ; It is synne of the sevene ^4^.^

Sonnest relessed.

Have mercy," quod Mede, " Of men that it haunteth, And I shal covere youre kirk, Youre cloistre do maken, Wowes do Avhiten, And wyndowes glazen, Do peynten and portraye, And paie for the makynge, That every segge shal seye I am suster of youre house." i482

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 47

Ac God to alle good folk i483 Swich gravynge defendeth, To writen in wyndowes Of hir wel dedes,

An aventure pride be peynted there, And pomp of the world ; Fnrjjj^t l-nn\v<^fVi thi p.nnsnftnne, And tlii kynde wille, And thi cost and tlii coveitise, And who the catel oughte.

For-thi I lere yow, lordes, Leveth swiche werkes ; 14M

To writen in wyndowes Of youre wel dedes, Or to greden after Goddes men Whan ye dele doles, On aventure ye have youre hire here. And youre hevene als. Nesciat sinistra quid facial dextra.

Lat noght thi left half / Late ne rathe "Wite what thow werchest "With thi right syde ; i505

For thus by the gospel Goode men doon hir almesse.

IMaires and maceres, That menes ben bitwene The kyng and the comune To kepe the lawes, To punysshe on pillories And pynynge-stooles, Brewesters and baksters, Bochiers and cokes, For thise are men on this molde isie

48 THE VISION OF

Thcat moost harm wercheth I5i7

To the povere peple

Tliat percel-inele buggen ;

For thei enpoisone the peple

Pryveliche and ofte,

Thei riclien thoriigh regratrie,

And rentes hem biggen,

With that the povere peple

Sholde putte in hire wombe.

For toke thei on trewcly,

Thei tymbred nought so heighe,

ISTe boughte none burgages, i528

Be ye ful certeyne.

Ac Mede the mayde The niair hath Iji-sought Of alle swiche selleris Silver to take, Or presentz Avithouten pens, As pieces of silver, Rynges or oother richesse, The regratiers to mayntene ; " For my love," quod that lady, " Love hem echone, 1539

And suflfre hem to sella Som del ayeins reson."

Salomon the sage A sermon he made, For to amenden maires And men that kepen lawes ; And tolde hem this teme. That I telle thynke, lynis devorahit tabernacula eorum qui libenter acciphmt niunera,

etc. 1550

riERS PLOUGHMAN. 49

Among tliise lettrede leodes issi This Latyn is to mene, That fir shal falle and brenne Al to bloo askes The houses and homes Of hem that desireth Yiftes or yeres-yeves Ey cause of hire offices.

The kyng fro the conseil cam, And called after ^Mede, And of sente hire as swithe "With sergeauntz manye, i562

And broughte hire to boure With blisse and with joye.

Curteisly the kyng thanne Comsed to telle, To Mede the mayde He meveth thise Avordes, " XJuwittily, womman, "Wroght husto-w ofte, Ac worse wroghtestow nevere Than tho thow Fals toke. But I forgyve thee that gilt, 1573 And graunte thee my grace ; Hennes to thi deeth day Do so na-moore.

" I have a knyght Conscience, Cam late fro biyonde ; If he wilneth thee to wif, Wiltow hym have ? "

" Ye, lord," quod that lady, " Lord forbede it ellis ! But I be holly at youre heste, Lat hange me soone." 1534

50 THE VISION OF

And tlianne was Conscience called To come and appere Bifore the kyng and his conseil, As clerkes and othere.

Knelynge Conscience To the kyng louted, To wite what his wille were, And what he do wolde.

"Woltow wedde this womman," " If I wole assente? [quod the kyng, For she is fayn of thi felaweshipe. For to be thi make." isgs

Quod Conscience to the kyng, " Crist it Ine f orbede ! Er I wedde swich a wif, Wo me bitide ! For she is frele of hire feith, Fikel of hire speche, And maketh men mysdo Many score tymes ; Trust of hire tresor Bitrayeth ful manye.

" Wyves and widewes leor

Wantonnes she techeth, And lereth hem lecherie That loveth hire^iftes. Youre fader she felled Thorugh false biheste, And hath enpoisoned popes, And peired holy chirche. Is noght a bettre baude, ■ By hym that me made ! ' Bitwene hevene and helle. In erthe though men soughte. leis

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 51

For she is tikel of hire tail, 1019 And tale-wis of hire tonge ; As commune as a cartwey To ech a knave tliat walketh, To monkes, to mynstrales, To meseles in hedges.

" Sisours and somonoiirs, Swiche men hire preiseth ; Sherreves of sliires "Were shent if she ne were ; For she dooth men lese hire lond And hire lif bothe ; isso

She leteth passe prisoners, ^ And paieth for hem ofte, And gyveth the gailers gold And grotes togidres. To unfettre the fals Fie where hym liketh ; And taketh the trewe bi the topy And tieth hem faste, And hangeth hem for hatrede That harm dide nevere.

" To be corsed in consistorie 1641 She counteth noght a bene ; For she copeth the commissarie. And cotetli hise clerkes. She is assoiled as soone As hireself liketh ; And may neigh as muche do In a monthe one, As youre secret seel In sixe score dayes. For she is pryvee with the pope,J Provisours it knoweth ; ims

52 THE VISION OF

For sire Symonie and hirselve i653 Seleth hire bulles.

" She blesseth thise bisshopes, Theigh thei be lewed ; Provendreth persones, And preestes maynteneth, To have lemmans and lotebies Alle hire lif daies, And bryngeth forth barnes Ayein forbode lawes. Ther she is wel with the kyng, Wo is the reaume ; i6o4

For she is favourable to fals, And de-fouleth truthe ofte,

" By Jhesns ! with hire jeweles Yonrc justices she shendeth, And hth ayein the lawe, And letteth hym the gate, That feith niaynoght have his forth, Hire floryns go so thikke. She ledeth the hxwe as hire list, And love-daies maketh, And doth men lesethorugh hire love, That lawe myghte wynne The maze for a mene man. Though he mote hire evere. Lawe is so lordlich And looth to maken ende, Withouten presentz or pjens She pleseth wel fewe.

" Barons and burt^eises She bryngeth in sorwe, ./

And al the comune in care That coveiten ly ve in truthe ; lese

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 53

For clergie and coveitise 1687

She coupleth toi,'idres.

This is the lif of that lady ;

Xow Lord gyve hire sorwe !

And alle that maynteneth hire men,

Meschaunce hem bitide !

For povere men may have no power

To pleyne hem, though thei smerte.

Swich a maister is Mede

Among men of goode."

Thanne mournede ^Mede, And mened hire to the kynge 1698 To have space to speke, Spede if she myghte.

The kyng graunted hire grace, "With a good wille, " Excuse thee, if thow kanst ; I kan na-moore seggen. For Conscience accuseth thee, -' To congeien thee for evere."

" Kay, lord," quod that lady, " Leveth hym the werse, ^V^lan ye Tviten witterly i709

'\\Tier the wron" lic'treth.

O CO

Ther that meschief is gret, Mede may helpe. And thow knowest. Conscience, I kam noght to chide Xe deprave thi persone, v "With a proud herte. "Wei thow woost, wernarde, But if thow wolt gabbe, Thow hast hanged on myn half Ellevene tymes, 1720

o

54 THE VISION OF

And also griped my gold, v/ I'J'-ii Gyve it Avliere thee liked ; And wlii thow wrathest thee now, "Wonder me thynketh. Yet I may as I myghte Menske thee with giftes. And mayntene tin manhode Moore than thow knowest.

" Ac thow hast famed me foule Bifore the kyng here ; For killed I nevere no kyng/ Ne counselled therafter, 1^32

Ne dide as thow demest I do it on the kynge.

" In Normaudie was he noght Noyed for my sake ; Ac thow thiself soothly Shamedest hym ofte, Crope into a cabane For cold of tin nayles, Wendest that wynter Wolde han y-lasted evere, And dreddest to be ded 1T43

For a dym cloude, And hyedest homward J For hunger of thi wombe.

" "Withouten pite, pilour, Povere men thow robbcdest ; And here hire bras at thi bak To Caleis to selle, \J Ther I lafte with my lord, His lif for to save. I made his men murye, And mournynge lette ; 1754

riERS PLOUGHMAN. 55

I hatred hem on the bak, 1755

And boldede hire hertes,

And dide hem hoppe for hope

To have me at wille.

Hadde I ben marchal of his men,

By !Marie of lievene !

I dorste have leyd my lif,

And no lasse wedde,

He sholde have be lord of that lond /

In lengthe and in brede,

And also kyng of that kith

His kyn for to helpe, vjm

The leeste brol of his blood

A barones piere.

" Cowardly thow, Conscience, Conseiledest hym thennes, To leven his lordshipe For a litel silver, ^ That is the richeste reaume That reyn over-hoveth,

" It bi-cometh to a kyng That kepeth a reaume, To yeve mede to men, irrr

That mekely hym serveth. To aliens and to alle men, To honouren hem with giftes ; Mede maketh hym bi-loved\/ And for a man holden.

** Emperours and erles, And alle mancre lordes. For giftes han yonge men To renne and to ryde.

" The pope and alle the prelates Presentz underfongen, itsb

56 THE VISION OF

And medetli men liemselven i789 To mayntene hir lawes.

"Sergeauntz for hire servvce. We seeth wel the sothe, Taken mede of hir maistres^ As thei mowe acorde.

" Beggeres for hir biddy nge, Bidden men mede.

"Mjnistrales for hir myrthe, Mede thei aske.

"The kyng hath mede of his men, To make pees in londe. isno

" Men that teche children, Craven after mede.

" Preestes that prechen the peple To goode, asken mede, And massepens and hire mete At the meel-tymes.

*' Alle kynne craftes men Craven mede for hir prentices.

" Marchauntz and Mede Mote nede go togideres. ISTo wight, as I wene, isn

Witliouten mede may libbe."

Quod the kyng to Conscience, "By Crist ! as me thynketh, Mede is well worthi The maistrie to have."

" Nay," quod Conscience to the And kneled to the erthe, [kyng, " Ther are two manere of medes, My lord, with youre leve.

*' That oon God of his grace Graunteth in his blisse 1822

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 57

To tho that •wel wercheu, 1823

"VMiile thei ben here ; The prophete precheth therof, And putte it in the Sauter, ^ Domine, quis hahiiahit in iabema- culo tuo 1 [wones,

" Lord, •svho shal wonye in thi And with thyne holy seintes, Or resten in thyne holy hilles ? This asketh David ; And David assoileth it hymself, As the Sauter telleth. is34

Ciui ingreditur sine macula et ope- ratur justitiam.

" Tho that entren of o colour, And of one wille, And han y-wroglit werkes With riglit and -with reson ; And he that useth noght The lyf of usurie, And enformeth povere men, And pursueth truthe. Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad iisuram, et munera super innoc. etc. [cent,

" And alle that helpen the inno- And holden with the rightfulle, Withouten niede doth hem gooel, And the truthe helpeth, Swiche manere men, my lord, Shul have this firste mede Of God at a gret nede, "Whan thei gon hennes. [lees,

" Ther is another mede mesure-

58 THE VISION OF

That maistres desireth, i857

To mayntene mysdoers Mede thei take, And therof seith the Sauter In a salmes ende,

1)1 quorum manihus iniquitates sunt, dextra eorum repleta est munerihus.

"And he that gripeth hir gold, So me God helpe ! Shal abien it bittre, Or the book lieth. ises

" Preestes and persons That plesynge desireth, That taken mede and moneie For masses that thei syngeth, Taken liire mede here, As Mathew us techeth. Amen, Amen, recipiehant mereedem suam.

" That laborers and lowe folk Taken of hire maistres, It is no manere mede, i879

But a mesurable hire.

" Tn marcbauh(Iise is no mede, I may it wel avowe, It is a permutacion apertly, A penyworth for another.

" Ac reddestow nevere Regum ? Thow recrayed Mede, Whi the vengeaunce fel On Saul and on his children ? God sente to Saul Ly Samuel the prophets, isgo

PIERS FLOUGHMAX. 59

Tliat Ajrfig of Amalec, is9i

And al his peple after, Shulden deye for a dede That doon hadde hire eldres.

"For-thi seide Samuel to Saul, ' God hpiiself hoteth Thee be buxom at his biddynge. His "n-il to fulfille ; "Weend to Amalec ^vith thyn oost, And what thow fyndest there sle it, Bumes and beestes Bren hem to dethe, 1902

"Widwes and wyves, Wommen and children, Moebles and un-moebles, And al thow niyght fynde, Bren it, here it noght awey, Be it never so riche. For mede ne for monee, Loke thow destruye it, Spille it and spare it noght, Thow shalt spede the bettre.'

" And for he coveited hir catel, And the kyng spared, Forbar hym and his beestes bothe, As the Bible witnesseth, Oother wise than he was "Warned of the prophete, God seide to Samuel That Saul sholde deye. And al his seed for that synne ShenfuUichc ende. Swich a meschief !^^ede made Saul the kyng to have, 1954

60 THE VISION OF

That God hated hym for evere, 1925 And alle hise heires after.

" The culorum of this cas Kepe I noght to telle, On aventure it noyed men, Koon ende wol I make, For so is this world M^ent With hem that han power, That who so seith hem sothest Is sonnest y-blamed.

" Conscience knowe this, For kynde wit it me tanghte, i936 That Keson shal regne And reaiimes governe, And right as Agag hadde, Happe shul somme, Samuel shal sleen hym, And Saul shal be blamed, And David shal be diademed. And daunten hem alle ; And oon cristene kyng Kepen hem alle,

Shal na-moore Mede 1947

Be maister, as she is nouthe ; Ac love and lowenesse And leautee togideres, Thise shul ben maistres on moolde, Truth e to save. [truth e,

'•And who so trespaseth ayein Or taketh ayein his wille, Leaut6 shal don hym lawe, And no lif ellis ; Shall no sergeaunt for his service Were a silk howve, i958

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 61

Ne no pelure in his cloke 1939

For pledynge at the bane. Mede of mysdoeres ^laketh manve lordes, | And over lordes lawes j Kuleth the reaumes. '

" Ac kynde love shal come yit And conscience tocjideres. And make of lawe a laborea^ Swich love shal arise, And swich a pees among the peple, And a perfit truthe, iuto

That Jewes shul wene in hire wit, And wexen wonder glade. That Moyses or Messie Be come into this erthe, And have wonder in hire hertes That men beth so trewe.

" Alle that beren baselarde. Brood swerd or launce, Ax outher hachet, Or any wepene ellis, Shal be demed to the deeth, i9si But if he do it smythye Into sikel or to sithe, To shaar or to kultour ; Conflahunt (jlcvlios suos in vomeres, etc.

" Ech man to pleyc with a plow, Pykoise or spade, Spynne or sprede donge. Or spille hymself witli sleuthe.

" Preestes and persons With Placebo to hunte, 1992

62 THE VISION OF

And dyngen upon David 1993

Eclie day til eve.

liuntynge or haukynge

If any of hem use,

His boost of his benefice

Worth by-nomen hym after.

Shal neither kyng ne knyght,

Constable ne meire,

Overlede the commune,

Ne to the court sompne,

Ne putte hem in panel

To doon hem plighte hir truthe ;

But after the ded \that is doon

Oou doom shal re\larde,

Mercy or no mercy,

As truthe wole acorde, [court,

"Kynges court and commune Consistorie and chapitle, Al shal be but oon court, And oon baron be justice. Tlianne worth Trewe-tonge a tidy That tened me nevere ; [man,

Batailles shul none be, 2015

Ne no man here wepene ; And what smyth that any smytheth, Be smyte therwith to dethe. Non levdbit gens coJitra gentem gladium, etc.

" And er this fortune falle, Fynde men shul the worste, By sixe ?onnes and a shipe, And half a shef of arwes, And the myddel of a moone, Shal make the Jewes to torne, 2026

PIERS PLOUGiniAX. 63

And Sarzvnes for that sighte 2027 kShul synge Gloria in crcehis, etc. For Makometh and Medo Mys-happe shul that tyme, For melius est honuni nomen quam diiitice ntullfe."

Al so wroth as the wynd Weex Mede in a while, " I kan no Latyn," cjuod she, "Clerkes wite the sothej Se what Salomon seith In Sapience bokes, 2033

That thei that gyven giftes The victorie wynneth, And moost worshipe hadde ther As holy writ telleth : [with

Hoiiorem adquiret qui dat muiicra, etc." [science,

"Leve wel, lady," quod Con- " That thi Latj-n he trewe ; Ac thow art lik a lady That raddo a lesson ones. Was omnia probate, 2049

And that plused hire hcrte ; For that lyne was no leuger At the leves ende. Hadde she loked that oother half, And the leef torned. She sholdehave founden fele wordes Folwynge therafter, Quod honum est tenete ; Truthe that text made. And so ferde ye, madarac, Ye kouthe na-moore fynde, 20<50

64 THE VISION.

Tho ye loked on Sapience 2001

Sittynge in youre studie. This text that ye han told Were good for lordes ; Ac yoAV fayled a konnynge clerk That kouthe the leef han torned. And if ye seche Sapience eft, Fynde shul ye that folweth, A ful tent.'ful text To hem that taketh mede ; And that is anhiiam autem aufert accipientium, etc., wn

And tliat is the ' \il of the text ; Of that that she iLliewed, That theigh we wynue worshipe, And ^yith mede have victorie, The soule that the sonde taketh By so muche is bounde." 207s

vb »*J vb tti V*j

Passus Quarfus de Visione, ut supra.

jP^^ESSETH," seith the kyng, ^ " I suffre yow no lenger ; Ye shul saughtiie for sothe, And serve me bothe. Kis hire," quod the kyng, " Conscience, I hote." [science,

"Xay, by Crist!" quod Con- " Congeye me er for evere, But Reson rede me therto, Rather wol I deye." [the kyng,

"And I comaunde thee," quod To Conscience thanne, " Rape thee to ryde, 2091

And Reson thow fecche ; Comaunde hym that he come My counseil to here, For he shal rule my reaume And rede me the beste. And acounte with thee, Conscience, So me Crist helpe ! How thow lernest the peple, The lered and the lewed."

" I am fayn of that foreward," Seide the freke tlunue, 2102

66 THE VISION OF

And ryt right to Eeson, 2103

And rounetb. in liis ere, And seide as the kyng bad, And sithen took his leve.

" I sbal arraye me to ryde," quod " Reste thee a while." [Reson,

And called Caton his knave, Cartels of speche, And also Tomme Trewe-tonge, — " Tel me no tales, Ne lesynge to laughen of, For I loved hem nevere ; 2114

And set my sadc\upon Suffre, / Til I se my tyme.l ^

And lat warroke hym wel With Avitty-wordes gerthes, And hange on hym the bevy brydel To holde his heed lowe. For he wol make ' wehee ! ' Twies er he be there."

Tlianne Conscience upon his Carieth forth faste, [capul

And Reson with hym ryt, 2125

Rownynge togideres, "Whiche maistries Mede Maketh on this erthe.

Oon Waryn Wisdom, And Witty his [(.-ere, Folwed hym faste, For thei hadde to doone [rye,

In th'escheker and in the chauuce- To ben descharged of thynges ; And riden faste, for Reson sholde Rede hem the beste, 2135

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 67

For to save hem for silver 2137

From shame ami from harmes. And Conscience knew hem wel, Thei loved coveitise ; And bad Reson ryde faste, And recche of hir neither. "Ther are wiles in hire wordes, And with !^[ede thei dwelleth ; Ther as wrathe and wranglynge isj Ther wynne thei silver ; f

Ac where is love and leautee, \ Thei wol noght come there. 2/43 Contritio et infelicitas in viis eorum, etc.

" Thei ne yeveth noght of God One goose wynge. Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorinn, etc.

"For woot God thei wolde do For a dozeyne chicknes, JmOore Or as manyo capons, Or for a seem of otes, Than for the love of oure Lord, 2159 Or alle hise leeve seintes. For-thi Reson lat hem ride, Tho riche by hemselve, For Conscience knoweth hem noght, Ne Crist, as I trowe." And thanne Reson rood faste The righte heighe gate. As Conscience hym kenned, Til thei come to the kynge.

Curteisly the kyng thanne Com ayeins Reson, 21:0

68 THE VISION OF

And bitwene hymself and liis sone Sette hyni on benche ; And wordeden wel wisely A gret while togideres.

And thanne com Pees into par- And putte forth a bille, [lenient, How Wrong ayeins his wille y Hadde his wif taken, And how he ravysshede Eose Reginaldes loove, And Margrete of hir maydenhede Maugree hire chekes. 2182

" Bothe my gees ind my grys Hise gadelynges leccheth, I dar noght for fere of hem Fighte ne chide. He borwed of me Bayard, y He broughte hym horn nevere, Ne no ferthyng therfore, For ought I koude plede. He maynteneth liise men To murthere myne hewen, , Forstalleth my feires, 2193

And fighteth in my chepyng, And breketh up my bernes dore, And bereth awey my whete, And taketh me but a taill6 For ten quarters of otes ; And yet he beteth me therto, /' And lyth by my mayde. I am noght hardy for hym Unnethe to loke."

The kyng knew he Seide sooth, For Conscience hym tolde 2204

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 69

That Wrong was a wikkeJ luft, 2206 -^ And ■\vroghte muche sor\Ye,

"Wrong was afered thanne, And Wisdom he soughte, To maken pees with hise pens ;' ^ And profred \\ym nianye, And seide, "Hadde ilove of my lord Litel wolde I recche, [the kyng, Theigh Pees and his power Pleyued hym evere."

Tho wentc Wisdom \

And sire Waryn the Witty, / 2216 For that Wrong hadde y-wroght So wikked a dede, And warnede Wrong tho With swich a wis tale, " Who so wercheth by wille, Wrathe maketh ofte ; I sey it by myself, Thow slialt it wel fyude ; But if Mede it make, Thi me?cliief is uppe. For bothe thi lif and thi lond 2227 Lyth in his grace."

Thanne wowede Wrong Wisdom ful yerne, To maken pees with his pens,!/ Handy dandy payed.

Wisdom and Wit thanne Wenten togidres, And token Mede myd hem Mercy to wynne.

Pees putte forth his heed, And his panne blody, 2233

70 THE VISION OF

" Witliouten gilt, God it woot, 2239 Gat I this scathe ; Conscience and the commune ■ Knowen the sothe."

Ac Wisdom and "Wit Were aboute faste, To overcomen the kyng . With catcl, if thei myghte.

The kyng swor by Crist, And by his crowne bothe, That Wrong for hise werkes Sholde wo tholie ; 2250

And comaunded"\a constable To casten hym iiJirens, And lete hym noght thise seven yer Seen his feet ones.

" God woot," quod Wisdom, " That were noght the beste ; And he amendes nowe make, Lat maynprise hym have. And be borgh for his bale. And buggen hym boote. And so amenden that is mys-do 2201 And evere moore the bettre."

Wit acorded therwith, And seide the same, " Bettre is that boote Bale a-doun brynge, Than bale be y-bet, And boote never the bettre."

And thanne gan Mode to mengen And mercy she bi-soughte, [hire, And profrede Pees a present Al of pure golde { 2272

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 71

" Have this, man, of me," quod slio, *' To amenden thi scathe, For I wol wage for "Wrong He wol do so na-moore."

Pitously Pees thanne Preyde to the kynge, To have mercy on that man That mys-dide hym so ofte ; " For he hath waged me wel, As "Wisdom hym taughte, And I forgyve liym that gilt With a good wille, 22S4

So that the kyng assente, I kan seye no bettre ; For Mode hath me araendes maad, I may na-moore axe."

" Nay," quod the kyng tho, " So me Crist holpe ! Wrong wendeth noght so a-wey, Erst wole I wite raoore. For' lope he so lightly, Laughen he wolde ; And eft the boldere be 2295

To bete myne hewen ; But Reson have ruthe on hym, He shal resto in my stokkes ; And that as longe as he lyveth, But lownesse hyrn borwe.^

Som men radde Reson tho To have ruthe on that shrewe. And for to counseille the kyng. And Conscience after ; That Mede moste be maynpemour Eeson thei bi-soughte. ssue

72 THE VISION OF

" Eeed me noght," quod Eeson, " No nithe to have, ' Til lordes and ladies

Loven alle truthe, i And haten alle harlotrio, To heren or to niouthen it.

" Til Parnelles purfiUe Be put in hire hucche, f And childrene cherissynge ■> Be chastynge with yerdes, \ And harlottes holynesse ' Be holder for an hyne. 2313

" Til cleAene coveitise be f To clothe the povere and fede, / And religiouse romeris Recordare in hir cloistres, As seynt Beneyt hem bad, Bernard and Fraunceis, And til prechours prechynge Be preved on hemselve.

" Til the kynges counseil Be the commune profit, Til bisshopes bayardes 2329

Ben beggeris chaumbres, Hire haukes and hire houndes Help to povere religious.

" And til seint James be sought There I shal assigne, That no man go to Galis But if he go for evere ; — And alle Kome renneres, For robberes biyonde, Bere no silver over see That signe of kyng sheweth, 2340

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 73

Neither grave ne ungrave, 2341

Gold neither silver,

Upon forfeture of that fee, .

Who so fynt it at Dovere,

But if he be marchauut or liis man,

Or messager with lettres,

Provysour or preest,

Or penaunt for hise synnes.

" And yet," quod Reson, " by the I shal no ruthe have, [Rode !

"While ^[ede liath the maistrie In this nioot-halle. 2352

Ac I may shewe ensamples, As I se outhcr while, I seye it by myself," quod he, " And it so were That I were kyng with coroune To kepen a reaume, Sholde nevere "Wrong in this world. That I witc myghte, Ben unpunysshed in my power, For peril of my soule, Ne gete my grace for giftes, 2363 So me God save ! Ne_ior.no mede have mercy, But mekenesse it make ; For nultum rnaJum the man Alette with inpunitum, And bad nullum honum Be irremuneratum.

" Lat youre confessour, sire kyng. Construe this unglosed ; And if ye werchen it in werk, I wedde myne eris, 2374

74 THE VISION OF

That lawe shal ben a laborer 2375 And lede a-feld donge, And love slial lede thi lond, As the leef liketh."

Clerkes that were confessours Coupled hem togideres, Al to construe this clause, And for the kynges profit, Ac noght for confort of the com- Ne for the kynges soule ; [mune, For I seigh Mede in the moot-halle On mer Q,f lawe wynke, sm

And tliei iaughynge lope to hire, And left Reson manye. Waryn Wisdom Wynked upon Mede, And seide, " Madame, I am youre What so my mouth jangle ; [man, I falle in fioryns," quod that freke, "And faile speche ofte."

Alle rif'htfulle recordede That Reson truthe tolde ; And Wit acorded therwith, 239r And comendede hise wordes. And the mooste peple in the halle, And manye of the grete. And leten Mekenesse a maister, And Mede a mansed sherewe.

Love leet of hire light, And leaute yet lasse, And seiden it so heighe That al the hallo it herde, "Who so wilneth hire to wif, For welthe of hire goodes, 2408

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 75

Eut he be knowe for a cokewold, 249/ Kut of my nose."

Mede mornede the, And made hevy chere, For the mooste commune of that Called hire an hore. [court

Ac a sisour and a somonour Sued hire faste, And a sherreves clerk Bisherewed at the route ; " For ofte have I," quod he, " Ilolpen yow at the barre, 2420 And yet yeve ye me nevere/ The worth of a risshe." /

The kyng callede Conscience, And afterward Reson, And recordede that Reson Hadde rightfully shewed ; And modiliche upon Mede With myght the kyng loked ; And gan wexe wroth with lawe, For Mede almoost hadde shent it ; And seide, " thorugh lawe, as I I lese manye eschetes ; [leve !

Mede overmaistreth lawe, And muche Truthe letteth, Ac Reson slial rekene with yow. If I regne any while. And deme yow bi this day. As ye han deserved. Mede shal noght maynprise yow. By the Marie of hevene ! I wole have leaute in lawe, And lete be al youre janglyng ; 2442

76 THE VISION.

And as moost f oik witnesseth wel, 2443 Wrong shal be denied."

Quod Conscience to the kyng, " But the commune Avole assente, It is ful hard, by myn heed ! Hertoo to brynge it, Alle youre lige leodes To lede thus evcne." [rode ! "

"By hym that raughte on the Quod Eeson to the kynge, " But if I rule thus youre reaume, Rende out my guttes, 2454

If ye biuien buxomnesse Be of myn assent."

" And I assente," seith the kyng, " By seinte Marie my lady ! By my counseil commune, Of clerkes and of cries ; Ac redily, Reson, Thow shalt noght ride fro me,^ For, as longe as I lyve, Lete thee I nelle."

" I am al redy," quod Reson, " To reste with yow evere ; So Conscience be of oure couuseil, I kepe no bettre."

" And I graunte," quod the kyng, " Goddes forbode ellis ! Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, Lyve we togidercs." 2472

\

PassiM Qiiintiis de Visione, ut supra.

(HE kyng and hise knyghtes To the kirke wente, To here matyns of the day And the masse after.

Thanne waked I of my wynkyng,

And wo was withalle,

That I no hadde slept sadder,

And y-seighen moore.

Ac er I hadde faren a furlong,

Feyntise me hento,

That I ne myghte ferther a foot

For defaute of slepynge,

And sat softely a-doun, 24S5

And seide my bileve.

And so I bablede on my bedes,

Thei broughte me a-slepe.

And thanne saugh I muche moore

Than I bifore of tolde,

For I seigh the feld fiil of folk,

That I bifore of seide,

And how Reson gan arayen hym

Al the reaume to preche,

And with a cros afore the kyng

Comsede thus to techen. 249a

78 THE VISION OF

He preved that thise pestilences y "Were for pure synne, And the south-westrene wynd On Saterday at even Was pertliche for pure pride, And for no point ellis ; Pyries and plum-trees Were puffed to the erthe, In ensaumple that the segges Sholden do the bettre ; Beches and brode okes Were blowen to the grounde, 2508 Turned upward hire tailes, In tokenynge of drede That dediy synne er domes-day Shal for-doon hem alle.

Of this matere I myghte Mamelen ful longe ; Ac I shal seye as I saugh, So me God helpe ! How pertly afore the peple Reson bigan to preche.

He bad Wastour go werche, 2519 [/' What he best kouthe, And wynnen his wastyng With som maner crafte.

He preide Pernele , .

Hir purfil to lete, And kepe it in hire cofre For catel at hire node.

Tomme Stowne he taughte ^■''' To take two staves, And fecche Felice hom Fro the wynen pyne. 2530

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 79

He warnede Watte ^ 2531

His wif was to blame,

For liiro heed was worth half marc,

And his hood noght worth a grote ;

And bad Bette kutte

A bough outher tweye,

And bete Beton therwitli,

But if she wolde werchc.

And thanne he chargede chapmen To chastizen hir children, Late no wynuyng hem for-wanye While thei be yonge, 2512

Ne for no poustee of pestilence Plese hem noght out of reson. "My sire seide so to me, And so dide my dame, That the levere child The moore loore bihoveth ; And Salomon seide the same. That Sapience made, Qui 2)arcit virgce, odit filinm. The Englissh of this Latyn is, Who so wole it knowe 2553

Who so spareth the spring, Spilleth hise children."

And sithen he prechede prelates And preestes togideres, " That ye prechen to the peplc, Preve it on yowselve, And dooth it in dede. It shal drawe yow to goode ; If ye leven as ye leren us, We shul leve yow the l)ettre."

And sithen he radde Religion 25ft4

80 THE VISION OF

Hir rule to holdo ; 2505

" Lest the kyng and his conseil l^ Youre comiines apeire,

And be stywardes of youre stedes, Til ye be ruled bettre."

And sithenhe counselled the kyng i His commune to lovye ; " It is till trewe tresor, And tryacle at thy nede."

And sithen he preide the pope ^- Have pit^ on holy chirche,

And er he gyve any grace, 2576

Governe first hymselve.

" And ye that han lawes to kepe, Lat truthe be youre coveitise, Moore than gold outher giftes, If ye wol God plese ; For "who so contrarieth Truthe, He telleth in the gospel, That God knoweth hym noght, Ne no seynt of lievene. Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.

"And ye that seke seynt James, And seyntes of Rome, Seketh seynt Truthe, For he may save yow alle ; Qiii cum iiatre et filio, That faire hem bi-falle That seweth my sermon." And thus seyde Reson.

Thanne ran Repentaunce, And reherced his terae ; And garte Wille to wepe Water with hise eighen. 2598

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 81

Pemele Proud-herte 2599

Platte hire to the erthc, And la}' loiige er she loked, And " Lord, mercy ! " cryde, And bi-highte to hym That us alle made, She sholde unsowen hir serk, And sette there an heyre, To affaiten hire flesshe That fiers vas to syune. *' Shal nevere heigh herte me hente, But holde I wole me lowe aeio

And suffre to be mys-seyd, And so dide I nevere ; And now I wole meke me, And mercy biseche, For al this I have Hated in myn herte."

Thanne Lechour seide, "Alias!"/ And on oure Lady he cryde, To maken mercy for hise mys-dedes Bitwene God and his soule ; With that he sholde the Saterday, Seven yer therafter, Drynke but myd the doke. And dyne but ones.

Envye with hevy herte Asked after shrifte. And carefully mea culpa He comst'd to shewe. He was as pale as a pelet. In the palsy he semed ; And clothed in a kaurymaury, I kouthe it nought discryve, 2632

82 THE VISION OF

In kirtel and courtepy, 2633

And a knyf by his syde ;

Of a freres frokko

Were the fore-sieves ;

And as a leek that hadde y-leye

Longc in the sonne,

So loked he with lene chekes

Lourynge foule.

His hody\yas to-bollen forwrathe, That he boot hise lippes ; [fust, And wryngynge he yede with the To wreke hymself he thoughte 2644 With werkes or with wordes, Wlian he se3'^ghe his tyme. Ech a word that he warpe Was of a neddres tonge ; Of chidynge and of chalangynge Was his cliief liflode, With bakbitynge and bismere, And berynge of fals witnesse.

"I woldeben y-shryve,"quod this "And I for sliame dorste ; [share we, I wolde be gladder, by God ! sess That Gybbe hadde meschaunce. Than though I hadde this wouke y- A weye of Essex chese. [wonne

" I have a neghcbore by me, I have anoyed hym ofto. And lowen on hym to lordes To doon hym lese his silver. And maad his frendes be his foon Thorugh my false tonge ; His grace and his goode happes Greven mo ful soore. sees

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 83

" Bitwene nianye and manye 2667 I make debate ofte, That bothe lif and lyme Is lost thorugh my speche. And whan I mete hym in market That I moost hate, I hailse hym hendely, As I his frend were ; ' For he is doughtier than I, I dar do noon oother : Ac hadde I maistrie and myght, God woot my wille ! 2678

" And whan I come to the kirk, And sholde knele to the roode, And preye for the peple As the preest techeth. For pilgrymes and for palmeres, For al the peple after, Thanne I crye on my knees That Crist gyve hem sorwe, That beren awey my bolle And my broke shete.

"Awey fro the auter thanne 2659 Turne I myne eighen, And bi-holde Eleyne Hath a newe cote ; I wlsshe thanne it were myn,y And al the web after.

"And of mennes lesynge I laughe. That liketh myn herte ; And for hir w}Tinynge I wepe, And waille the tyme ; And deme that thei doon illc, There I do wel werse. 27oo

84 THE VISION OF

Who so under-nymetli me hero 2701

I hate hym cledly after ;

I wolde that ech a wight

"Were my knave,

For who so hath moore than I,

Than angreth me soore. "*'

And thus I lyve love-lees,

Lik a luther dogge ;

That al my body bolneth,

Tor bitter of my galle.

' ' I myghte noght ete many yeres As a man oughte, 2712

For envye and yvel wil Is yvel to defie. May no sugre ne swete thyng Aswage my swellyng? ^e no diapenidion Dryve it fro myn herte 1 Ke neither shrifte ne shame, But who so shrape my mawe?"

" Yis redily," quod Eepentaunce, And radde hym to the beste, " Sorwe of synnes ~ ^ 2723

Is savacion of soules." V

" I am sory," quod that segge, '' I am but selde oother, And that maketh me thus megre, For I ne may me venge.

" Amonges burgeises have I be Dwellyng at Londone, And gart bakbityng be a brocour To blame mennes ware ; Whan he solde and I nought, Thanne was I redy 2734

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 85

To lye and to louro on myneghebore^ And to lakke his chaflare ; I wole amende this, if I may, Thorugh myght of God almyghty."

Xow awaketh Wrathey "With two white eighen ; And nevelynge with the nose, And his nekke hangyng.

" I am Wrathe," quod he, " I was som tyme a frere, And the coventes gafdyner For to graffen impes ; 2746

On lymitours and listres Lesynges I ymped, Til thei beere leves of lowe speche, Lordes to plesc,

And sithen thei blosmede a-brood In boure to here shriftes ; And now is fallen therof a fruyt, That folk ban wel levere Shewen hire shriftes to hem. Than shryve hem to hir persons.

"And now persons ban perceyved That freres parte with hem, Thise possessioners preche And deprave freres. '^

"And freres fyndeth hem in de- As folk bereth witnesse, [faute, That whan thei preche the peple In many places aboute, I Wrathe walke with hem. And wisse hem of my bokes. Thus thei sp<;ken of my spiritualte^' That cither despiseth oother, res

VOL. L I

86 THE VISION OF

Til thei be bothe beggers 2769

And by iny spiritualte libben, Or ellis al riche And ryden aboute. I Wratlie reste nevere, That I ne moste folwe This wikked folk, For swich is my grace.

" I have an aunte to nonne, And an abbesse bothe ; Hir hadde levere swowe or swelte, -^ Than suffre any peyne, 2780

" I have be cook in hir kichene, And the covent served Manye monthes with hem, And with monkes bothe. I was the prioresse potager, And othere povere ladies, And maad hem joutes of janglyng, That dame Johane was a bastard, And dame Clarice a knyghtes dough- Ac a cokewold was hir sire ; [ter, And dame Pernele a preestes fyle, Prioresse worth she nevere, For she hadde child in chirie-tyme, Al our chapitre it wiste.

" Of wikkede Avordes /

I "Wrathe hire wortes made, Til <thow lixt' and 'thow lixt' Lopen out at ones, And either hite oother Under the cheke ; Hadde thei had knyves, by Crist ! Hir either hadde kild oother. 2802 ,

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 87

" Seint Gregory was a good pope, And hadde a good forwit, That no prioresse were preest, For that he ordej-ned ; [tirste day, They hadde thanne ben infames the Thei kan so yvole hele couseil.

"Among moukes I myghte be, Ac many tyme I shonye it ; For there ben manye felle frekes My feeris to aspie, Bothe priour and suppriour And oure pater abbas ; 2814

And if I telle any tales, Thei taken hem togideres, And doon me faste frydayes yy

To breed and to watre, [hous

And am chalanged in the cliapitre As I a child were, And baleised on the bare ers, And no brech bitwene. For-thi have I no likyng With tho leodes to wonye. I ete there unthende fisshe, . 282» And feble ale drynke ; Ac outlier while whan wyn cometh, Thanne I drynke wyn at eve. And have a tlux of a foul mouth. ^Vel fyve dayes after. Al the wikkednesse that I woot By any of oure bretheren, 1 couthe it in oure cloistre. That al oure covent woot it"

*' Nowrepente thee," quod Kepent- *'And reherce thownevere [aunce,

88 THE VISION OF

Coiinseil that tliow knowest 283'r By conteuaunce ne by right ; And drynk nat over delicatly, Ne to depe neither, That thi wille by caxase therof To -wrathe myghte ttirne. Esto sobrius" he seide, And assoiled me after, And bad me wilne to wepe My wikkednesse to amende, -v. And thanne cam Coveitise," Kan I hym naght discryve, 2848 So hungrily and holwe Sire Hervy hym loked. He was bitel-browed, And baber-lipped also, With two blered eighen As a blynd hagge ; And as a letheren purs Lolled hise chekcs, Wei sidder than his chyn Thei chyveled for elde ; And as a bonde-man of his bacon His herd was bi-draveled. With an hood on his heed, A lousy hat above. And in a tawny tabard Of twelf wynter age, Al so torn and baudy, And ful of lys crepyng, Eut if that a lous couthe Han lopen the bettre, [welthe,

She sholde noght ban walked on that So was it thred-bare. mo

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 89

*' I have ben coveitous," quod this " I bi-knowe it here, [caytif,

For som tyme I served Symme-atte-Style, And was his prentice y-plight His profit to vayte.

"First I Icrned to lye, - A leef outher tweyne ; AVikkedly to weye -■■' "Was my iirste lesson ; To AVy and to Wynchestre I wente to the feyre, 2882

Witli many manere marchaundise, As my maister me highte. Ne hadde the grace of gyle y-go Amonges my chaffiire, It hadde ben unsold this seven yer, So me God heipe !

" Thanne drough I me among dra- My donet to lerne, [piers.

To drawe the liser along, The lenger it semed ; Among the riche rayes 2393

I rendred a lesson, .

To broche hem with a pak-nedle, And playte hem togideres, And putte hem in a presse, And pyne hem therinne, Til ten yerdes or twelve Hadde tolled out thrittene.

" My wif was a webbe, And wollen cloth made ; She spak to spynnesteres To spynnen it oute, 2904

90 THE VISION OF

Ac the pound that she paied by 2905 Peised a quatron moore Than myn owene auncer, Who so weyed truthe.

"I bonghte hire barly-malt, > She brew it to sellc, Peny ale and pnddyng ale She poured togideres, For laborers and for lowe folk That lay by hymselve.

" The beste ale lay in my hour, Or in my bed-chambre ; 2916

And who so bummed therof, Eoughte it therafter, A galon for a grote, God woot, no lesse ! And yet it cam in cuppe-mele, This craft my wif used. Rose the Regrater ./

Was hire righte name ; She hath holden hukkerye Al hire lif tyme.

Ac I swcre now, so thee ik ! 2927 That synne wol I lete, And nevere wikkedly weye, Ne wikke chaffare use ; Eut wenden to Walsyngham, And my wif als,

And bidde the Roode of Bromholm Brynge me out of dette."

" Repentedestow evere % " quod Repentaunce, " Or restitucion madest." [quod he,

" Yis, ones I was y-herberwed,"

PIEIiS PLOUGHMAX. 91

' AVith an heep of chapmen, 293s I roos whan thoi wore a-reste And rifleJo hire males."

" That was no restitucion," quod Repentaunce, " But a rohberis thefte ; Thow haddest be the bettre worthi Ben hanged therfore, Than for al that That thow hast here shewed."

" I wende riflvnjre were restitu-

cion," qifocl he, ~ zw?

" For I lerned nevere rede on hoke y

And I kan no Frensshe, in feith,

But of the fertheste ende of Xorth-

folk." [Repentaunce,

" Usedestow evere usurie ? " quod "In al thi lif tyme."

" Xay sothly," he seide, " Save in my youthe I lerned among Lumbardes And Jewes a lesson, To weye pens with a peis, y 2957 And pare the hevyesto, And lene it for love of the cros, To le?ge a wed and lese it. Swiche dedes I dide write, If he his day broke, I have mo manoirs thorugh rerages, Than thorugh miseretur et commo-

" I have lent lordes [dat.

And ladies my chaffare, And ben hire brocour after, And bought it myselve ; 29«8

92 THE VISION OF

Eschaunges and clievysaunces 2969

With swich chatfare I dele,

And lene folk that lese wole

A lippe at every noble,

And with Lximbardes iettres

I ladde gold to Eome,

And took it by tale here,

And tolde hem there lasse." V

" Lentestow evere lordes, For love of hire niayntenaunce ? "

" Ye, I have lent to lordes, Loved me nevere after, 29so

And have y-maad many a knyght Bothe mercer and draper, V

That payed nevere for his prentis- ISToght a peire gloves." [hode

" Hastow pite on povere men. That mote nedes borwe % "

" I have as muche pit6 of povere As pedlere hath of cattes, [men, / That wolde kille hem, if he cacche y

hem myghte. For coveitise of hir skynnes." 2990

" Artow manlich among thi neghebores Of thi mete and drynke ? "

" I am holden," quod he, " as As hound is in kichene, [hende Amonges my neghebores, namely, Swiche a name ich have."

*' Now God lene thee , n«vere," quod Eepentaunce,^ V

" But thow repente the rather. The grace on this grounde 2999

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 93

Till good wel to bi-sette, sooo

Ke thyne heircs after thee

Have joie of that thow -svynnest,

Ne thyne executours wcl bi-sette

The silver that thow hem levest ;

And that "vvas wonne with wrong

"With wikked men be despended.

For were I frere of that hous

Ther good feitli and cliarit^ is,

I nolde cope ns with thi catel, *-'

Ke oure kirk amende,

Ke have a peny to my pitaunce, soil,/

So God my spule save !

For the beste book in oure hous,

Theigh brent gold were the leves,

And I wiste witterly

Thow were swich as thow tellest.

Servus es alterius,

Diim fercula ptJifjuia quarts ;

Pane tuo potius

Vescere, liher eris.

" Thow art an unkynde creature, I kan thee noght assoille, 3022

Til thow make restitucion And rekene with hem alle ; And sithen that Keson roUe it In the regi?tre of hevene. That thow hast maad ech man good, I may thee noght assoile. Non diinittitur peccatum, donee re- stihiatur oblatum.

** For alle that han of thi good, Have God my trouthe ! Ben holden at the heighe doom 3033

94 THE VISION OF

To helpe thee to restitue ; [sooth, And "vvho so leveth noght this be Loke in the Sauter glose, In Miserere mei, Deus, Wher I mene truth e ; Ecce enim veritatem diiexistL etc. Shal nevere werkman in thi^Nivorld Thryve with that thow wynnest. Cum sancto sanctus eris ; Construwe me this on Englisshe."

Thanneweex thatshereweinwan- And wolde han hanged hym; [hope, No hadde Kepentaunce the rather Reconforted hym in tliis manere.

" Have mercy in thi mynde, And with thi mouth hiseche it ; For Goddes mercy is moore Than alle hise othere werkes. Andal the wikkednesse in this world That man myghte werche or thynke, Nis na-moore to the mercy of God, Than in the see a gleede. Omnis iniquitas quantum ad miseri- cordiam Dei, est quasi scirdilla in medio maris.

* ' For- thi have mercy in thy mynde, And marchaundise leve it ; For thow hast no good ground To gote thee with a wastel, But if it were with thi tonge, Or ellis with thi two hondes. For the good that thow hast geten Bigan al with falshede, [with,

And as longe as thow lyvest ther-

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 95

Thow yeldest noglit, but borwest.

"AikI if thow wite nevere to N'e whom to rostitue, [whiche, Ber it to the bisshope, -^ And bid hym of his grace Bi-sctte it hymself, As best is for thi soulc ; For he shal answere for thee At the heighe dome, For thee and for many mo V That man shal yove a rekenyng, What he leraed yow in Lente, 3079 Leve tliow noon oother, And wh at he lente yow of oure Lordes To lette yow fro synne." ^ [good

Now bi-gj-nneth Gloton For to go to slirifte, And karicth hym to kirke-warde His coupe to shewe ; And Beton the brewestere Bad hym good morwe, And asked at hym with that, Whider-ward he wolde. 3090

"To holy chirche," quod he, " For to here masse, And sithen I wole be shryven. And synne na-moore." [slie,

"I have good ale, gossib," quod " Gloton, woltow assaye 1 " [he,

"Hastowoughtinthipurs?" quod " Any bote spices ? " [she,

" I have pepir and piones," quod "And a pound of garleek, And a ferthyng-worth of fenel-seed

96 THE VISION OF

For fastyngc daj^es." 3102

Thanne gotli Glotin in, And grete othes after. Cesse the souteresse Sat on the benche ; Watte the warner, ^ i^^ And his Avif bothe ; Tymme the tynkere, ■, And tweyne of his prentices ; Hikke the hakeney-nian, And Huglie the nediere ; ,' Clarice of Cokkeslane, ' 3ii3

And the clerk of the chirchc ; Dawe the dykere, And a dozeyne othere.

Sire Piers of Pridie, And Pernele of Flaundres ; A ribibour, a ratoner, A rakiere of Chepe, A ropere, a redyng-kyng, And Rose the dyssheres ; Godefray of Garlekhithe, And Griffyn the Walshe ; 3124

And upholderes an heep, Erly by the morwe, Geve Gloton with glad chere Good ale to hanselle.

Clement the Cobelere Caste of his cloke, And at the newe feire He nempned it to selle,

Hikke the hakeney-man Hitte his hood after, And bad Eette the bocher 3135

PIEIiS PLOUGHMAX. 97

Eon on his syilo. 313G

Tlier -were chapmen y-chose This chafiiire to preise, That who so hadde the hood Sholde han amendes of the cloke.

Two risen up in rape, And roiined togideres, And preised thise peny-wortlies A-part by hemselve ; Thei kouthe noght by hir con- Acordcn in truthe, [science

Til Robyn the ropere su:

Aroos by the southe, And nempned hym for a nounpere, That no debat nere.

Hikke the hostiler Hadde the cloko, In covenaunt that Clement Sholde the cuppe fiUe, And have Ilikkes hood hostiler, And hoi den hym y- served. And who so repented rathest Sholde aryse after, 3158

And greten sire Gloton With a galon ale.

There was laughynge and lour- And " lat go tlio cuppe ; " [ynge, And seten so till even-song, And songen umwhile, Til Gloton hadde y-glubbed A galon and a gille. Hise guttes bigonne to gothelen As two gredy sowes ; He pissed a potel 3i69

98 THE VISION OF

In a pater-noster while, siro

And blew his rounde ruwet

At his rugge-bones ende,

That alle that herde that horn

Held hir noses after,

And wisshed it hadde beer;.. waxed

With a wispe of firses.

He niyghte neither steppe ne Er he his staf hadde ; [stonde,

And thanne gan he to go Like a gle-mannes bicche, Som tyme aside, 3isi

And som tyme arere, As who so leith lynes For to lacche foweles.

And Avhan he drough to the dore, Thanne dymmed his eighen ; He stumbled on the thresshfold, And threw to the erthe. Clement the cobelere ^

Kaughte hym by the myddel, For to liften hym o-lofte ; And leyde hym on liis knowes. 3192 Ac Gloton was a gret cherl, And a grym in the liftyng, And koughed up a cawdel In Clenu^ntes lappe ; Is noon so hungry hound In Hertford shire Dorste lape of that levynges, So un-lovely thei sniaughte.

With al the wo of this world, His wif and his wenche Baren hym liom to his bed, 3203

riEIiS PLOUGHMAX. 99

And brouglite liym tliorinne ; 3204

And after al this excesse

He hadde an accidie,

That he sleep Saterday and Sonday,

Til Sonne yede to reste.

Thanne waked he of his wj-nk- And wiped hise eighen ; [y^g,

The fii-ste word that he warpe "Was " where is the bolle ? " ^ His wif gan edwyte hym the, How wikkedly he lyvede ; And Kepentannce right so 3215

Rebuked hym that tynie, "As thow with wordes and werkes Has wroglit yvele in thi lyve, kShryve thee, and be shamed therof, And shewe it witli thi mouthe."

" I Gloton," quod the grom, " Gilty me yelde, [tonge,

That I have trespased with my I kan noght telle how ofto ; Sworen Goddes soule, And so me God helpe ! 3226

There no nede was, Nyne hundred tymes,

"And over-seven me at my soper, And som tyme at nones, That I Gloton girte it up Er I hadde gon a myle, An y-spilt that myghte be spared And spended on som hungry ; Over delicatly on fastyng-dayes Dronken and eten bothe, And sat som tyme so longe there,

100 THE VISION OF

That I sleep and eet at ones. 3238 For love of tales in tavernes And for drynke, tlae moore I dyned; And hyed to the mete er noon, Whan fastyng-days |Were."

"This shewyng I shrift," quod Repentaunce, " Shal be nicryt to the."

And thanne gan Gloton greete, And gret doel to make, For his luther lif

That he ly ved hadde ; 3248

And avowed to faste, " For hunger or for thurste, f Shal nevere fyssh on Fryday \ Defycn in my womhe, /

Til abstinence myn aunte Have gyve me leeve ; And yet have I hated hire Al my lif tyme." [bered,

Thanne cam Sleuthe al bi-sla- With two slymy eighen ; " I moste sitte," seide the seggc, " Or ellis sholde I nappe. I may noght stonde ne stoupe, Ne withoute a stool knele ; Were I brought a-bedde, But if my tail-ende it made, Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse Er I were ripe to dyne." He bigan Benedicite with a bolk, And his brest knokked, And raxed and rored. And rutte at the laste. 3270

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 101

" "Wliat, awake, renk ! " quod Re- pentaunce, " And rape thee to shryfte."

" If I sholde deye bi this day, Me list nought to loke ; I kan noght parfitly my pater-noster, As the preest it syngeth ; But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood, ^ And Randolf erl of Chestre ; [Lady Ac neither of oure Lord ne of oure The leeste that evere was maked.

" I have maad avowes fourty, And foryote hem on the morwe ; I perfournede nevere penaunce As the preest me highte ; Ne right sory for my synnes Yet was I nevere. And if I bidde any bedes, But if it be in wrathe. That I telle with my tonge Is two myle fro myn herte. I am ocupied eche day, Haly-day and oother, 3292

AVith ydel tales at the ale, And outher while at chirche ; Goddes peyne and his passion Ful selde thenke I on it.

" I visited nevere feble men, 2s e fettred folk in puttes ; I have levere here an harlotrye, Or a soraer game of souters, Or lesynge to laughen at And bi-lye my neghebores, Than al that evere Marc made, ssos

VOL. I. K

102 THE VISION OF

Mathew, Johan, and Lucas. 3304 And vigilies and fastyng-dayes, Alle thise late I passe ; And ligge a-bed4e in Lenten, And my lemman in myne armes, Til matyns and masse be do, And thanne go to the freres. Come I to Ite, missa est, I holde me y-served ; I nam noght shryven som tyme, But if siknesse it make, ^

Nought twyes in two yer, 3314

And thanne up gesse I shryve me. '

" I have he preest and parson Passynge thritty wynter, And yet can I neyther solne ne ISTe seintes ly ves rede ; [synge,

But I kan fynden in a feld, Or in a furlang, an hare, ^/ Bettre than in Beatus vir, Or in Beati omnes, Construe oon clause wel And kenne it to my parisshcns. I kan holde love-dayes. And here a reves rekenyng ; Ac in canon nor in decretals I kan noght rede a lyne.

" If I higge and borwe aught, But if it be y-tailed, I foryete it as yerne ; And if men me it axe Sixe sithes or sevene, I forsake it with othes ; And thus tene I trewe men 3337

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 103

Ten hundred tymes. ssss

" And my servauntz som tynie Hir salarie is bi-hynde ; Ruthe it is to here the rekenyng, "WTian we shul rede acountes. So with wikked wil and wrathe, My werkmen I pave.

" If any man dooth me a bienfait, Or helpeth me at nede, I am unkynde ayeins curteisie, And kan nought understounden it ; For I have and have had 334*

Som del haukes raaneres, lam noght lured with love, [thombe, But ther ligge aught under the

" The kyndenesse that myn even Kidde me fernyere, [cristene

Sixty sithes I Sleuthe Have foryete it siththe. In speche and in sparynge of speche Y-spilt many a tyme Bothe flessh and fissh, And manye othere vitailles, sses Both bred and ale, Buttre, melk, and chese, For-sleuthed in my service \ Til it myghte serve no man.

" I ran aboute in youthe, And yaf me nauglit to lerne, And evere siththe liave I be beggere For my foiUe skuthe. Heu midii! quia sterilem vitam duxi juvenilem." [Repentaunce ;

" Repentedestow noght T' quod

104 THE VISION OF

And right with that he swowned,

Til Vigilate the veille

Fette water at hise eighen,

And flatte it on,^i<5 face,

And faste on hym cryde,

And seide, " Ware thee, for Wan-

Wolde thee bi-traye, [hope

' I am scry for my synnes '

Seye to thiselve,

And beet thiself on the brest.

And bidde hym of grace ;

For is ne gilt here so gret 33S3

That his goodnesse nys moore."

Thanne sat Sleuthe up, And seyned hym swithe, And made a vow to-fore God For his foule sleuthe. " Shal no Sonday be this seven But siknesse it lette, That I ne shal do me er day To the deere chirche ; And here matyns and masse, As I a monk were, 3394

Shal noon ale after mete Holde me thennes, Til I have even-song herd, I bi-hote to the roode ! And yet wole I yelde ayein, If I so much have, Al that I wikkedly wan Bithen I wit hadde.

" And though my lifiode lakke, Leten I nelle. That ech man ne shal have his,

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 105

Er I hennes wcnde ; [monaunt, And with tlie residue and the re- Bi the Rode of Chestre ! , I shal sekeu Truthe erst^' Er I se Rome."

Roberd the robbere On Reddite loked, And for ther was noght wherof, He wepte switlie soore ; Ac yet the syufulle sherewe Seide to hymselve, " Crist, that on Calvarie 3417

Upon the cros deidest, Tho Dysnias my brother Bi-soughte yow of grace, And haddest mercy on that man For memento sake, So re we on this robbere </ That reddere ne have, Ne nevere wene to wynne With craft that I owe ; But for thi muchel mercy Mitigacion I bi-seche, 342s

Ne dampne me noght at domes-day For that I dide so ille."

What bi-fel of this feloun I kan noglit faire shcwe ; Wei I woot he wepte faste Water with bothe hise eighen, And knoweliched his gilt To Crist yet eft soones, That Poenetentia his pik He sholde polshe newe, And lepe with hym over lond 3439

106 THE VISION OF

Al his lif tyme, ^'' 3440

For he hadde leyen by Latro Luciferis aiiiite. [ruthe,

And thanne hadde Repentaunce And redde hem alle to knele ; " For I shal hi-seche for alle synfulle^ Our Saveour of grace, To amenden us of oure mysdedes, And do mercy to us alle."

"Now God," quod he, "that of

tin goodnesse Bi-gonne the world to make, 3450 And of naught madest aught, and Moost lik to thiselve, [man

And sithen suffredest for to synne^^/ A siknesse to us alle, And al for the heste, as I hi-leve, / What evere the book telleth. 0 felix culpa ! 0 necessarium pec-

catuni Adce I etc. " For thorugh that synne thi sone Sent was to this erthe. And bicam man of a maide, 346i Mankynde to save : And madest thiself with thi sone And us synfulle y-liche Faciamus Jiominem ad imaginem

7iostram. Et alibi. Qui manet

in caritate, in Deo vianet, et

Deus in eo. " And siththe with thi selve sone In oure secte deidest. On Good-Fryday, for mannes sake, At ful tyme of the daye, 3472

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 107

Ther thiself ne thi soiie 3473

No sorwe in deeth feledest, But in oure secte was the sorwe, And thi sone it ladde. Captivam duxit captivitatem.

*' The Sonne for sorwe therof Lees light of a tyme, Aboute mydday whan moost light is, And nieel-tyme of seintes, Feddest with thi fresshe blood Oure fore-fadres in derknesse. Populus qui amhulabat in teiuh'is, vidit htcem magnam.

" And thorugh the light that lepe Lucifer was blent [out of thee And blewe alle thi blessed Into the blisse of paradys.

" The thridde day after Thow yedest in oure sute, A synful Jlarie the seigh, Er seynte ^larie thi dame ; And al to solace synfuDe Thow suflFredest it so were. 3495 Non veni vocare jiisfos sed pecca- torei ad poenitentiam.

" And al that Marc hath y-maad, Mathew, Johan, and Lucas, Of thyne doughty dedes "Was doon in oure armes. Verbicm caro factum est, et habita- vit in nobis.

" And by so muche me semeth The sikerer we mowe Bidde and bi-seche, ssm

108 THE VISION OF

If it be thi wille, 3507

That art oure fader and oure brother, Be merciable to us, And have ruthe ^n thise ribaudes That repenten hem here soore, That evere thci wrathed thee in this In word, thought, or dedes." [world,

Thanne hent Hope an horn Of Deus, hi conversus vivificahis, And blew it with Beati quorum RemisscB sunt iniquitates, That alio seintes in hevene 35is Songen at ones.

Homines et jumenta salvahis, quem- admodzim midtiplicasti miseri- cordiam tuam. A thousand of men the Thrungen togideres,

Cride upward to Crist,

And to his clone nioder,

To have grace to go with hem

Trutho to seke.

Ac there was wight noon so wys

The wey thider kouthe,

But blustreden forth as beestes

Over bankes and hilles ;

Til late was and longe

That thei a leode mette,

Apparailled as a paynym

In pilgrymes wise.

He bar a burdoun y-bounde

"With a brood liste.

In a withwynde wise

Y-wounden aboute ; 3540

PJEBS PLOUGHMAN. 109

A bolle and a baggo 3541

He bar by bis syJe,

And bundred of ampulles

On his bat seten,

Signes of Synay,

And sbolles of Galice,

And many a crouche on his cloke,

And keyes of Rome,

And the vernycio bi-fore,

For men sholde knowe

And se bi hise signes

"Whom be sought badde. 3552

This folk frayned bym first, Fro whennt'S be come.

" Fram Syny," he seide, '^ *' And fram oure Lordes sepulcre ; In lietblem and in Babiloyne, I have ben in bothe ; In Armonye and Ab'saundre, In manye othere places. Ye may se by my signes, That sitten on myn hatte, That I have walked ful wide 3563 In weet and in drye. And sought goode seintes For my soulea helthe."

" Knowestow aught a corsaint, That men calle Truthe ] Koudestow aught wissen us the way, Wher that wye dwelleth 1 "

" Nay, so me God helpe ! " Seide the gome thanne, ^ •' I seigh nevere palmere. With pyk ne with scrippc, 3574

110 THE VISION OF

Asken after hym er 3575

Til now in this place."

" Peter ! " quod a plowman, And putte fort'^ his hed, ■'

" I knowe hym as kyndely ) As clerk doth hise bokes ; Conscience and kynde wit Kenned me to his place, And dideu me suren hym sikerly To serven hym for evere, Eothe to sowe and to sette, The while I swynke myghte. I have ben his folwere Al this fifty wynter, Bothe y-sowen his seed, And suwed hise beestes, Withinne and withouten Waited his profit. , ^ I dyke and I delve, I do that Truthe hoteth ; Som tyme I sowe, And som tyme I thresshe ; In taiilours craft and tynkeris craft, What Truthe lean devyse, I weve and I wynde. And do what Truthe hoteth, For though I seye it myselfe, I serve hym to paye ; I have myn hire wel. And outhor whiles moore. He is the presteste paiere That povere men knoweth ; He ne withhalt noon hewe his hire. That he ne hath it at even ; seos

riERS PLOUGHMAX. Ill

He is as lowe as a lomb, 3609

And lovelich of speche ; And if ye wilneth to ■\vito Where that he dwelleth, I shal wisse you witterly The wey to his place."

" Ye, leve Piers," quod tliise pil- And profred hym huyre, [grimes, For to wende with hem To Truthes dwellyng-place.

"is" ay, by my soules helpe !"quod And gau for to swere, [Piers,

•* I nolde fange a ferthyng. For seint Thomas shryne ; Truthe wolde love me the lasse A long tvme thorafter ; Ac if yow wilueth to wende wel, This is the wey thider.

" Ye moten go thorugh Meke-^ Both men and wyves, [nesse, (

Til ye come into Conscience, ^ That Crist wite the sothe That ye lovon oure Lord GoJ 363i Levest of allf thynges, And thanne youre neghebores next In none wise apeire, Other wise than thow woldest He WTOughte to thiselve.

"And so boweth forth by a brook,_y Beth-buxom-of-speche, Til he fynden a ford, Youre-fadres-honoureth, Honor a patrem et mat rem, etc. "Wadeth in that water, 3Ma

112 THE VISION OF

And wasslie yow wel therinne, 3643

And ye shul lepe the liglitloker

Al youre lif tyme ;

And so shaltow se Swere-noght,-

But-if-it-be-for-nede,-

And-nanieliche-on-ydel-

Tlie-name-of-God-almyglity. ^

"Tlianne slialtowcome by a croft, But come thow noght therinne \ That croft hatte Coveite-noght- Mennes-catel-ne-hire-wyves,- \''' JSTe-noon-of-hire-servauntz- 3654

That-noyen-hem-myghte ; Loke ye breke no bowes there, But if it be youre owene.

" Two stokkes ther stondeth, Ac stynte ye noght there, Thei highte Stele-noght and Sle- Strik forth by bothe, [noght,

And leve hem on thi lift half, And loke noght therafter, And hold wel thyn hali-day Heighe til even. sees

" Thanne shaltow blenche at a Bere-no-fals-witnesse, [bergh,

He is frythed in with floryns And othere fees manye ; Loke thow plukke no plaunte there, For peril of thi soule ; ^

Thanne shul yc see Seye-sooth,- So-it-be-to-doone,- In-good-manere,-ellis-noght- For-no-mannes-biddyng.

"Thanne shaltow come to a court

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 113

As cler as the sonne ; 3677

The moot is of Mercy ^

The manoir aboute,

And alle the walles ben of "Wit, —

To holden "Wil oute,

And kernelod wit Cristendom,

Mankynde to save,

Botrased with Bileef-so,- —

Or-thow-beest-noght-saved.

" And alle the houses ben hiled,

Halles and chambres,

With no leed but with love, . 3688 And lowe speche as bretheren ; The brugg is of Bidde-wel,- - The-bet-may-thow-spede ; Ech piler is of penaunce. Of preieres to seyntes ; Of almes-dedes are the hokes .- That the gates hangen on.

" Grace hatte the gatewarde, A good man for sothe ; His man hatte Amende-yow, -^ For many men hym knoweth ; 3699 Telleth hym this tokene, That Truthe wite the sothe ; * I perfourned the penaunce That the preest me enjoyned, And am ful sory for my synnes. And so I shal evere, "Whan I thynke theron, Theigh I were a pope.'

"BiddethAmende-yowmekchym Til his maister ones, To wayven up the wiket 37io

114 THE VISION OF

That tlie womman slaette, 3711

Tho Adam and Eve Eten apples un-rosted. Per Evcmi cm ''"'s clausa est, et per Mariam vvrrjinem patefada est,

" For he hath the keye and the Though the kyng slepe. [cliket, And if grace graunte thee To go in this wise, Thow shalt see in thiselve Truthe in thyn herte, In a chcyne of charite 3T22

As thow a child were, To sulfren hyni and segge noght Ayein thi sires wille.

" And be war thanne of Wrathe- That is a wikked sherewe ; [thee. He hath cnvye to hym That in thyn herte sitteth, And poketh forth pride To preise thiselven. The holdnesse of tlii bienfetes Makcth thee blynd thanne ; 3V33 And thanne worstow dryven out as And the dore closed, [dew.

Keyed and cliketted, To kepo thee withouten ; Happily an hundred wynter Er thow (.'it entre. Thus mgyhtestow lescn his love, To lete wel by thiselve, And ncverc happily eft entre, But grace thow have.

"And ther are seven sustren 3744

FIEES PLOUGHMAN. 115

That serven Truthe evere, 3745

And am porters of the posternes That to the place longeth.

" That con hatte Abstinence, And Humility another ; Charite and Chastite Ben hise chief maydenes ; Pacience and Pees Muche peple thei hclpeth ; Largenesse the lady, She let in ful manye, Heo hath holpe a tliousand out Of the develes punfolde ; And who is sib to thise sevene, So me God helpe ! He is w'onderly welcome, And faire underfongen. And but if ye be sibbe To some of thise sevene, [Piers, It ie ful hard, by myn heed!" quod , " For any of yow alle .'

To geten in-going at any gate there. But gi-ace be the moore." stct

" Now by Crist ! " quod a kutte- " I have no kyn there." [purs, /

" Nor I," quod an ape-ward, "^

" By aught that I kan knowe." " Wite God ! " quod a wafrestere, " "Wiste I this for sothe, Sholde I nevere ferther a foot. For no f re res prechyng."

" Yis," quod Piers the Plowman, And poked hem alle to goode, " Mercy is a maiden there sns

116 THE VISION.

Hath myght over alle ; 3779

And she is sib to alle synfulle,

And hire sone also,

And thorugh t^^e help of hem two

Hope thow noon oother,

Thow myght gete grace there,

So thow go bi-tyme."

"Bi seintPoul!" quod a pardoner,

"Peraventure I be noght knowe

there ; [vettes,

I wol go fecche my box with my bre-

And a bulla with bisshopes lettres."

" By Crist ! " quod a commune womman, " Thi compaignie wol I folwe ; Thow shalt seye I am thi sustcr, I ne woot where thei bicome." 3793

^B>4^-^

Passus Sexius de Visione, ut supra.

\ HIS were a wikkede wey, But who so hadde a gyde, That Avolde folwen us ech a foot ; " Thus this folke hem mened.

Quod Perkyn the Plowman, " By seiut Peter of Rome ! I liave an half acre to erie By the lieighe weye ; Hadde I cryed this half acre, And sowen it after, I wolde wende with yow, And the wey teche." 3305

"This were a long lettyn^," Quod a lady in scleyre, " What sholde we wommen "Werche the while ? " [Piers,

"Sommeshul sowe the sak," quod " For shedyng of the whete ; And ye, lovely ladies, With youre longe fyngres, That ye have silk and sandel To sowe, whan tyme is ; Chesibles for chapeleyns, Chirches to honoure.

VOL. I. L

3817

118 THE VISION OF

" Wyves and Avidewes, ssis

"WoUe and flex spynneth ; Maketh cloth, I counseille yow, And kennetL "o youre doughtres ; The nedy and the naked, Nymeth hade how thei liggeth, And casteth hem clothes, For so comaundeth Truthe. For I shal leven hem liflode, But if the lond faille, Flesshe and breed bothe To riche and to poore, 3S29

As long as I lyve. For the Lordes love of hevene ; And alle nianere of men [beth, That thorngh mete and drynke li]> Helpeth hym to werche Avightliche, That wynneth youre foode."

" Ey Crist!" quod a knyght thoo, " He kenneth us the beste ; Ac on the teme, trewely, Taught "was I nevere ; 3840

But kenno me," quod the knyght, " And by Crist I wole assaye ! "

" By seint Poul ! " quod Perkyn, " Ye profro yow so faire. That I shal swynke and swete. And sowe for us bothe. And othere labours do for thi love Al my lif tyme, In covenaunt that thow kepe Holy kirke and myselve Fro wastours and fro wikked men That this world destruyeth. 385i

PIERS PLOUGIIMAX. 119

And go hunte hardiliche 3S52

To hares and to foxes,

To bores and to brokkes

That breken doun myne hegges ;

And so affaite thi faucons

"Wilde foweles to kille ;

For swiche cometh to my croft,

And croppeth my whete."

Curteisly the knyght thanne Comsed thise wordes ; " By my power. Piers ! " quod he, " I plights thee my trouthe, 3*53 To fulfille this forwarde, Though I figlite sholde ; Als longe as I lyve I shal thee mayntene."

"Ye, and yet a point," quod " I preye yow of moore, [Piers, Loke ye tene no tenaunt, But Truthe wole assente ; And though ye mowe amercy hem, Lat mercy be taxour. And mekenessc thi maister, 8874 Maugree Medes chekes. And though povere men profre yow Presentes and giftes, Xyme it noght, an aventure Ye mowe it noght deserve ; For thow shalt yelde it ayein At one yeres tyme, In a ful perilous place, Purgatorie it hatte. [men,

" And mys-bede noght thi bonde- The bettre may thow spede ; sssj

120 THE VISION OF

Though he be thyn underlyng here,

Wei may happe in hevene

That he worth worth' >r set,

And with moore blis-ie.

A7nice, ascende superius.

For in charnel at chirche

Cherles ben yvel to knowe,

Or a knyght from a knave there,

Knowe this in thyn herte.

And that thow be trewe of thi tonge,

And tales tliat thow hatie,

Eut if thei ben of Avisdom or of wit

Thi werkmen to chaste.

Hold with none harlotes,

Ne here noght hir tales,

And namely at tlie mete

Swiche men eschuwe ;

For it ben the develes disours,

I do the to understonde."

" I assente, by seint Jame ! " Seide the knyght thanne, " For to wcrche by thi wordes The while my lif dureth." soos

" And I shal apparaille me," quod " In pilgrymes wise, [Perkyn,

And wende with yow I wile. Til we fynde Truthc ; And caste on my clothes Y-clouted and hole, My cokeres and my cofFes, For cold of my nailes ; /

And hange myn hoper at myn hals In stede of a scryppe. A busshel of bred corn 3919

/■

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 121

Brynge me therinnc ; 3920

For I wol sowe it myself, ^'

Anil sithenes wol I wende

To pilgrymage, as palmeres doon,

Pardon for to have.

Aud who so helpeth me to eriel

And sowen here er I wende, 1

Shal have leve, by oure Lorde !

To lese here in hervest,

And make hem murie thermyd,

Maugree who so bi-gruccheth it.

And alle kynne crafty-men, 3931

That konne lyven in truthe,

I shal fyndeu hem fode.

That feithfulliche libbetL

" Save Jagge the jogelour, And Jonette of the stuwes, 1 And Danyel the dees-pleyere, ' And Denote the baude, And frere the faitour. And folk of hire ordre, And Robyn the ribaudour For hise rusty wordes. 3W2

Truthe tolde me ones, And bad me telle it after, Deleantur de lihro mventium, I sholde noght dele with hem, For holy chirche is bote of hem No tithe to take ; Qui cum justis non scrihantur ; They ben ascaped good aventure, God hem amende ! "

Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is Piers wif highte ; 3953

122 THE VISION OF

His doughter highte Do-riglit-so,- Or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete ; His sone higlite S^Sfre-thi-sove- To-liaven-hir-wiUe,- [reyns-

\ Deme-hem-noght,-for-if-thow-doost,- \__ Thow-slialt-it-deere-abugge. Lat God y-worthe with al, For so his word techeth ; For now I am old and hoor, And have of myn owene, To penaunce and to pilgrimage I wol passe with thise othere. 3965

"For-thi I wole er I wende Do write my biqueste, In Dei nomine, Amei7, I make it myselve ; He shal have my soule, -^

That best hath deserved it ; \ And fro the fend it defende, ' For so 1 bileve, Til I come to hise acountes, As my Credo me telleth, To have a relees and a remission, On that rental I leve.

"The kirke shal have mycaroyne, And kepe my bones ; For of my corn and catel She craved the tithe ; I paide it ful prestly, For peril of my sonle. For-thi is he holden I hope To have me in his masse, And mengen in his memorie Amonges alle cristene. 3987

rums ploughman. 123

" ily wif shal have of that I wan With truthe, and na-moore, And dele among my doughtres, And my deere children ; For though I deye to day, My dettes are quyte ; I bar horn that I borwed, Er I to bcdde yede. [remenaunt,

" And with the residue and the By the Rode of Lukes ! I wol worshipe therwith Truthe by my Ip-e, 3999

And ben his pilgrym atte plow, For povere mennes sake. >^

My plow-foot shall be my pikstaf, And picche a-two the rotes, And hi'lpe my cultour to kerve And dense the furwes."

Now is Perkyn and hise pilgrimo^ To the plow faren ; To erie his half acre Holpen hym raanye ; Dikeres and delveres 4010

Digg(;d up the balkes. Therwith was Perkyn a-payed, And preised hem faste.

Othere werkmen ther were That wroghten f ul yerne ; Ech man in his manere Made hymself to doone, And sommc to plese Perkyn Piked up the wedes.

At heigh prime Piers Lect the plowgh stonde, 4021

124 THE VISION OF

To over-sen hem liymself, 4022

And who so best wroghtte He sholde be hired thereafter, Whan hervest tyme come.

And thanne seten somme, / And songen atte nale, j

And holpen ere this half acre , With " How, trolly lolly."

" Now, by the peril of my soule !" All in pure tene, [quod Piers,

" But ye arise the rather And rape yow to werche, 4033

Shal no greyn that groweth Glade yow at nede, And though ye deye for doel, The devel have that reccheth."

Tho were faitours a-fered, And feyned hem blynde ; Somme leide hir legges a-liry, As swiche losels konneth, And made hir mone to Piers, And preide hym of grace ; " For we have no lymes to laboure Lord, y-graced be the ; [with,

Ac we preie for yow, Piers, And for youre plowgh bothe, That God of his grace Youre greyn multiplie, And yelde yow for youre almesse That ye gyve us here ; For we may noght swynke ne swete, Swich siknesse us eyleth."

"H it be sooth, "quod Piers, "that I shal it soone aspie. [ye seyn,

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 125

Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, 4050

And Truthe woot the sothe ;

And I am his olJe hyne,

And highto hym to ■\varne,

"Whiche thei were in this world

Hise werkmen apoircd.

Ye wasten that men wynnen

With travaille and with tene ;

Ac Truthe shal teche yow

His teme to dryve,

Or ye shul eten barley breed,

And of the broke drynke. 4067

" But if he be blynd- or broke- Or bolted with irons, , [legged. He shall ete whete breed,, And drynke with myselve. Til God of his goodnesse Amendemcnt hym sende. Ac ye myghte travaille, as Truthe And take mete and hyre, [wolde, To kepe kyen in the feld, The corn fro the beestes, L)iken or delren, 4073

Or dyngen upon shaves. Or helpe make morter, Or here muk a-feld.

" In lecherie and in losengerie Ye lyven, and in sleuthe ; And al is thorugh suflfraunce. That vengeaunce yow ne taketh.

"Ac ancres and horeraites That eten noght but at nones, And na-moore er the morwe, Myn almesse shul thei have, 4089

126 THE VISION OF

And of catel to kepe 1 em with, 4090 That han cloistres and chirches.

" Ac Eobert Renaboute Shal noght have of myne, Ne postles, but thei preche konne And have power of the bisshope ; Thei shul have payn and potage, And make hemself at ese, For it is an unreasonable religion That hath right noght of certein."

And thanne gau Wastour to

wrathen hym, 4100

And wolde have y-foughte ;

And to Piers the Plowman

He profrede his glove ;

A bretoner, a braggere,

A-bosted Piers als,

And bad hym go pissen with his

"For-pynede sherewe ! [plowgh,

Wiltow or neltow,

"We wol have oure wille

Of thi flour and of thi ilesshe,

Fecche whanne us liketh ; 4111

And maken us murye thermyde,

Maugree thi chekes."

Thanne Piers the Plowman Pleyned hym to the knyghte, To kepen laym as covenaunt was Fro cursede sherewes, [kynnes

And fro thise wastours wolves- That maketh the world deere ; "For thowasten and wynnen noght, And that ilke while [p^P^^,

Worth nevere plentee among the

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 127

The while my plowgli liggeth." 4123

Curtt'isly the knyght thanne, As his kyiiJo wolde, ^

"Warnede Wastour, And wissed hym bettre, •' Or tliow shalt abigge by tlie lawe, By the ordre that I here ! "

" I was noght wont to werche," quod "Wastour, " And now wol I noght bigynne ; " And leet liglit of the lawe, An JTasse of the knvghte : 4133

And sette Piers at a pese, And his plowgh bothe ; And manaced Piers and his men, If thei mette eft soone. [quod Piers,

" Now, by the peril of my soule !" " I shal apeire yow alle ; " And houped after Hunger, That hcrde hym at the firste, "A-wreke me of thise wastours,"

quod he, "^

" That this world shendeth," 4143

Hunger in haste thoo Hente "Wastour by the wombe, And wrong him so by the wombe. That bothe hise eighen watrede.

He buffeted the bretoner Aboute the chekes, l/

That he loked lik a lanterne Al his lif after. He Ix'tte hem so bothe. He brast ner hire guttes ; Ne hadde Piers with a pese loof 4154

128 THE VISION OF

Preyed Hunger to cesse, / 4155 They hadde be dolven, Ne deme thow noon oother.

" Suffre hem lyve," he seide,, " And lat hem ete with hogges,i Or ellis benes or bren j

Y-baken togideres, Or ellis melk and mene ale ; " Thus preied Piers for hem.

Faitours for fere herof Flowen into bernes, And fiapten on with flailes 4166 Fro morwe til even ; That Hunger was noght so hardy On hem for to loke, For a potf ul of peses That Piers hadde y-maked.

An heep of heremytes Henten hem spades, And kitten hir copes, And courtepies hem maked, And wente as werkmen With spades and with shoveles 4i7r And dolven and dikeden, To dryve awey hunger.

Blynde and bed-reden Were bootned a thousande, That seten to begge silver, Soone were thei heeled ; For that was bake for bayarde, Was boote for many hungry ; And many a beggere for benes Buxum was to swynke ; And eche a povere man wel a-paied

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 129

To have pesen for his hyre, 4is9

Aud ■what Piers preide hem to do,

As prest as a sperhauk ;

And therof was Piers proud,

And putte hem to werke,

And yaf hem mete as he myghte

And mesurable hyre. [aforthe,

Thanne had Piers pit6, And preide Hunger to wende Hoom unto his owene verd. And holden hym there ; " For I am wel a-Avroke 4200

Of wastours, thorugh thy myghte. Ac I preie thee, er thow passe," Quod Piers to Hunger, "Of beggeris and of bidderis "\Maat best be to doone. For I woot "svel, be thow went, Thei wol werche ful ille ; For meschief it maketh Thei be so meke nouthe, And for defaute of hire foode This folk is at my wille. -^ 4211

" Thei are my blody bretheren," quod Piers, " For God boughte us alle., Truthe taughte me ones * To loven hem echone ; And to helpen hem of alle thyng Ay as hem nedeth. And now wolde I wite of thee AVhat were the beste ; And how I myghte a-maistren hem, And make hem to werche." 1221

130 THE VISION OF

" Here now," quod Hunger, 4222 " And hoold it for a wisdom ; Bolde beggeris and bigge Tliat mowe hir breed bi-swynke, "VVithlioundes breed and horse breed Hoold up hir hertes ; A-bate hem with benes, For bollynge of hir wombes ; And if the gomes grucche, Bidde hem go swynke, And he shal soupe swetter Whan he it hath deserved. 4233

" And if thow fynde any freke That fortune hath apeired, Or any manere false men, Fonde thow swiche to knowe ; Conforte hym with thi catel, For Cristes love of hevene ; Love hem and leve hem, So la we of God techeth, Alter alterius onera portare.

" And alle manere of men That thow myght aspie, 4244

That nedy ben and noughty. Help hem with thi goodes ; Love hem and lakke hem noght, Lat God take the vengeaunce ; Theigh thei doon yvele, Lat God y-worthe. Mihi vindictam, et ego retrihuam.

" And if thow wilt be gracious to Do as the gospel techeth, [God, And bi-love thee amonges lewed So shaltow lacche grace ; [men,

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 131

Facite vos amicos de Mammone ini- qidfatis." [Piers,

"I wolde noght greve God," quod " For al the good on grounde. Mighte I synne-lees do as thow Seide Piers thanne. [seist 1 "

"Ye, I bi-hote thee,"quod Hunger, " Or ellis the Bible lieth ; Go to Genesis the geaunt, The engendrour of us alle : III sxidore and swynk Thow shalt thi mete tilie, 4267

And laboure for thi liflode. And so oure Lorde liighte. And Sapience seith the same, I seigh it in the Bible, Piger jyrce frigore No feeld nolde tilie, And therf ore he shal begge andbidde, And no man bete his hunger.

" Mathew with mannes face Mouthed thise wordes. That servus nequam hadde a mnam, And for he wolde noght chaffare, He hadde maugree of his maister Evere moore after, And by-nam hym his mnam, For he ne wolde werche. And yaf that mnam to hym That ten mnames hadde ; And with that he seide. That holy chirche it herde, He that hath shal have And helpe there it nedeth ; 4289

132 THE VISION OF

And he that noght hath shal noght And no man hyni helpe, [have, And that he weneth wel to have I wole it liym bi-reve. Kynde wit wolde That ech a wight wroghte, _ Or in dikynge or in delvyngc, Or travaillynge in preieres ; Contemplatif lif or actif lif Crist wokle thei wroghte. The Sauter seith in the Psalme Of Beati omncs, 4301

The freke that fedeth hymself With his feithful Labour, He is blessed by the book In body and in soule." Labores manuum tuarum, etc.

"Yet I preie yow," quod Piers, " Pa7' cJiarite, and ye konne Any leef of leche-craft, Lere it me, my deere ; For some of my servauntz, And myself bothe, 4312

Of al a wike werche noght, So oure wombe akcth."

" I woot wel," quod Hunger, " What siknesse yow eyleth ; , Ye ban manged over muche, ^ And that maketh yow grone. Ac I bote thee," quod Hunger, " As thow thyn hele wilnest, That thow drynke no day Er thoAY dyne som what. Ete noght, I bote thee, 4323

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 133

Er hunger thee take, 4324

And sende thee of his sauce

To savore with thi lippes ;

And keep som til soper-tyme,

And sitte noght to longe,

And rys up er appetit "^

Have eten his fille.

Lat noght sire Surfet

Sitten at thi horde.

Leve hym ncght, for he is lecherous,

And likerous of tunge,

And after many maner metes 4335

His mawe is a-fvucrred.

" And if thow diete thee thus, I dar legge myne eris, That Phisik shal hise furred hodes For his fode selle, And liis cloke of Calabre, With alle the knappes of golde, \ And be fayn, by my feith ! His phisik to lete, And lerne to luboure with lond, For liflode is swete. 434«

For murthereris are manye leches, Lord hem amende ! [drynkes,

They "dolmen deye thorugh hit Er destynee it wolde." " By seint Poul ! " quod Piers, " Thisc am profitable wordes ! Wend now, Hunger, whan thow That wel be thow evere ! [wolt, For this is a lovely lesson, Lord it thee for-yelde ! "

" Bi-hote God ! " quod Hunger,

VOL. L M

134 THE VISION OF

" Hennes ne wole I wende, 435s Til I have dyned bi tliis day, And y-dronke bothe."

" 1 have no peny," quod Piers, " Pulettes to buEfore, Ne neither gees ne grys, But two grene cheses, A fewe cruddes and crenie, And an haver cake, And two loves of benes and bran Y-bake for my fauntes ; And yet I seye, by my soule ! 4369 I have no salt bacon, Ne no cokeney, by Crist ! Coloppes for to niaken.

" Ac I have percile and porettes, And manye cole plauntes, And ek a cow and a calf. And a cart mare To drawe a-feld my donge. The while the droghte lasteth ; And by this liflode we mote lyve Til Lammesse tyme. 43so

And by that, I hope to have Hervest in my crofte, And thanne may I dighte thi dyner. As me deere liketh."

Al the povere-peple the Pescoddes fetten, Benes and baken apples Thei broghte in hir lappes, Chibolles and chervelles. And ripe chiries manye, And profrede Piers this present 4391

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 135

To plese vrith Hunger. 4392

Al Hunger eet in haste, And axed after nioore. Thanne povere folk, for fere, Fedden Hunger yeme, "With greno poret and pesen. To poisone hym tliei thoghte. By that it neghed neer hervest. And news corn cam to chepyng ; Thanne was folk fayn, And fedde Hunger with the beste, With goode ale, as Gloton taghte, And garte Hunger go slepe.

And tho wolde AVastour noght But wandren aboute, " [werche, Ne no beggere ete breed That benes inne were, But of coket and cler-matyn, Or ellis of clene whete ; Ne noon halfpeny ale In none wise drynke, [neste

But of the beste and of the brun- That in burghc is to selle. 4414

Laborers that have no land To lyve on but hire handes, Deyned noght to dyne a day Nyght^olde wortes ; May no peny ale hem paye, Ke no pece of bacone, But if it be fresshe flessh outher Fryed outher y-bake, [fisshe,

And that chand and plus chaud, For chillynge of hir mawe ; And but if he be heighiiche hyrcd ;

136 THE VISION OF

Ellis wole he chide, 4426

And that he was werkman wroght Waille the tyme, Ayeins Catons counseil Comseth he to jangle. Pmipertatis onus fotienter ;ferre me- mento.

He greveth hym ageyn God, And gruccheth ageyn Reson, And thanne corseth he the kyng, And al his counseil after, Swiche lawes to loke 4437

Laborers to greve. Ac -whiles Hunger was hir maister, Ther wolde noon of hem chide, Ne stryven ayeins his statut, So sterneliche he loked.

Ac I warne yow, werkmen, Wynneth whil ye mowe, For Hunger hiderward Hasteth hym faste. He shal a-wake with water Wastours to chaste ; Er fyve be fulfilled, Swich famyn shai a-ryse, Thorugh flodes and thorugh foule Fruytes shul faille, [wedres

And so seide Saturne, And sente yow to warne.

Whan ye se the sonne a-mys, And two monkes heddes, And a mayde have the maistrie. And multiplie by eighte, Thanne shal death with-drawe, 4459

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 137

And derthe be justice, 4460

And Dawe the dykere

Deye for hunger ;

But God of his goodnesse

Graunte us a trewe. 4404

111^ 'I

Passus Septimus de Visione, id supra.

(^^'-gi^EEUTHE herde telle her Aviy t^y And to Piers he sente, ~^^ * To maken his teme And tilien the erthe,

And pi;rchaced hyni a pardone

A pcena et a culpa,

For hym and for hise heires,

For evere moore after,

And bad hym holde hym at home,

And erien hise leyes.

And alle that holpen hym to erye,

To sette or to sowe,

Or any oother mestier 4477

That myghte Piers availle,

Pardon with Piers Plowman

Truthe hath y-graunted. Kynges and knyghtes,

That kepen holy chirche,

And rightfully in remes

Eulen the peple,

Han pardon thorugh purgatorie

To passen ful lightly,

With patriarkes and prophetes

In paradis to be felawe. 4483

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 139

Bysshopes y-blessed, 4439

If tlu'i ben as thei sholde, Legistres of bothe lawes, The lewod therwith to preche, And in as nniche as thei mowe Amendon alle synfulle, Am peros with the Apostles, This pardon Piers sheweth, And at the day of dome At the heighe deys sitte.

Marchauatz in the margyne Hadde manye yeres, 4500

Ac noon a prena et a culpa The pope nolde hem graunte, For thei holde noght hir hali-dayes As holy chirche techeth, And for thei swere by hir soule, And so God moste hem helpe, Ayein clene Conscience, Hir catel to selle.

Ac under his secret seel Truthe sente hem a lettre, That thei sholde buggen boldely That hem best liked, And sithenes selle it ayein, Aad save the wynnyng, And amende meson-dieux thennyd. And myf^-eise folk helpe, And wikkede weyes "Wightly amende. And do boote to brugges That to-broke were, Marien maydenes, Or maken hem nonnes, 4522

140 THE VISION OF

Povere peple and prisons\/ 4523

Fynden hem hir foode,

And sette scolers to scole,

Or to som othere craftes,

Releve religion,

And renten hem bettre ;

" And I shal sende yow myselve

Seint Michel myn archangel,

That no devel shal yow dere,

Ne fere yow in youre deying.

And witen yow fro wanhope,

If ye wol thus werche, 4534

And sende youre soules in sauft6

To my seintes in joye."

Thanne were marchauntz murie, Manye wepten for joye, And preiseden Piers the Plowman, That purchaced this bulle.

Men of lawe leest pardon hadde, / That pleteden for Mede ; For the Sauter saveth hem noght, Swiche as talvc giftes, And nameliche of innocentz 4545 That noon yvel ne konneth. Super innocentem vmnera non ac- cipies.

Pledours sholde peynen hem To plede for swiche and helpe ; Princes and prelates Sholde paie for hire travaille. A regihus et principihus erit merces eonim,

Ac many a justice and jurour "Wolde for Johan do moore 4556

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 141

Than pro Dei pieiate, 4557

Leve thow noou oother.

Ac he that spenJi'th his speche, And speketh for the povere That is innocent and nedy, And no man apcireth, Conforteth hym in that caas "Withouten coveitise of giftes, And sheweth lawe for oure Lordes As he it hath y-lerncd, [love,

Shal no devel at his deeth day Deren hym a myte, 4568

That he ne worth saaf and his soule, The Sauter bereth witnesse : Domine, quis habitahit in tahema- culo tuo 1 Ac to bugge water, ne wynd, Ne wit, ne fir the ferthe,

Thise foure the fader of hevene

Made to this foold in commune.

Thise ben Truthes tresores

Trewe folk to helpe,

That nevere shul wexe ne wanye,

Withouten God hymselve.

Whan thei draweu on to deye,

And indulgences wolde have,

Hir pardon is ful petit

At hir partyng hennes.

That any mede of mene men

For hir motyng taketh.

Ye legistrcs and lawieres,

Holdeth this for truthe.

That if that I lye,

Mathew is to blame, 4590

142 THE VISION OF

For he bad me make yow this, 4591 And this proverbe me tolde, Quodcunque vultis ut faciant vohis homines, facite eis.

Alle libbynge laborers That lyven with hir hondes,- That treweliche taken, And treweliche wynnen, And lyven in love and in lawe, For hir lowe hertes Haveth the same absolucion That sent was to Piers. 4002

Beg£ceres ne bidderes Ne beth noght in the bulle, But if the suggestion be sooth That shapeth hem to begge. For he that beggeth or bit. But if he have nede, He is fals with the feend, And defraudeth the nedy ; And also he bi-gileth the gyvere, Ageynes his wille ; For if he wiste he were noght nedy, He wolde gyve that another That were moore nedy than he. So the nedieste sholde be holpe. Caton kenneth me thus. And the clerc of stories ; Old des videto, Is Catons techyng.

And in the stories he techeth To bistowe thyn almesse. Sit elemosina tua in manu tua, donee studes cut des. tm

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. U3

Ac Gregory was a good man, 4C.25 And bad us gyven alle That asketli for liis love That us al lenetli.

Non eligas cut miserearis, ne forte prcetereas ilium qui meretur accipere. Quia incei-tum est pro quo Deo magis ])laceas. For wite ye nevere wlio is worthi, Ac God woot who hath nede ; In hym that taketh is the trecherie, If any treson walke. 463c

For he that yeveth, yeldeth, And yaiketh hym to reste ; And he tliat Ijiddeth, bonveth, And bryngeth hymself in dette. For beggeres borwen evere mo, And hir borgh is God almyghty. To yelden hem that yeveth hem. And yet usure moore. Quare non dedisti pecuniam menm wl mensavi, ut ego veiiiam cum iisuris exigere ? 4M7

For-thi biddeth noght, ye beg- But if ye have gret nede ; [geres, For who so hath to buggen hym The book bereth witnesse, [breed, He hath y-nough that hath breed

y-nough, Though he have noght ellis. Satu^ dives est, qui non tndiget pane.

Lat usage be youre solas, Of seintes lyves redyng, The book banneth beggerie, 4657

144 THE VISION OF

AndHamethlieminthismanere : 4658 Junior fui, et jam senui, et non vidi justum derelidum, nee semen ejus, etc. For ye lyve in no love, Ne no lawe liokle ; Manye of yow ne wedde noght The womman that ye with deele, But as Avikle bestes with ' wehee ! ' Wortlien uppe and werchen, And bryngen forth barnes, That bastardes men calleth ; 466S Or the bak or som boon He breketh in his youthe, And siththe goon faiten with youre For evere moore after. [fauntes Ther is moore mys-shapen peple Amonges thise beggeres, Than of alle manere men That on this moolde walketh. And thei that lyve thus hir lif, Mowe lothe the tyme That evere thei were men wroght, Wlian thei shal hennes fare. Ac olde men and hore, Than help-lees ben of strengthe, And womnien with childe That werche ne mowe, Elynde and bed-reden, And broken hire membres, That taken thise myschiefs meke- As mesels and othere, [liche,

Han as pleyn pardon As the plowman hymselve. 469i

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 145

For love of hir lowe hertes, 4692 Oure Lord hath liem graunted Hir penauuce and hir purgatorie Hero on this erthe.

" Piers^" quod jl preest thoo, "Thi pardon moste I rede ; /

For I wol construe ech clause, ' And keiyie it thee on Englisshe."

Aud Piers at his preiere The pardon unfoldeth ; And I by-hynde hem bothe Biheld al the bulle, 4703

And in two lynes it lay, And noght a leef more, And was writen right thus, In witnesse of Truthe : Etqui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam

etemam. Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.

" Peter," quod the preest thoo, " I lean no pardon fynde, But do weT and have wel, And God shal have thi soule, 4714 And do yvel and have yvel, Hope tliow noon oother, But after thi deeth-day The devel shal liave thi soule." And Piers for pure tene Pulled it a-tweyne, And seide Si ainhulavero in medio umbr(e mortis, non fimebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es.

"I shal cessen of my sowyng," quod Piers, 4725

146 THE VISION OF

"And swynkenoglitsoharde, 4720 Ne aboute my bely joye So bisy be na-moore ; Of preieres and of penaunce ) My plough slial ben herafter, y And wepen whan I sliolde slepe, Though whete-breed me faille.

"The pvophete his payn eet In penaunce and in sorwe, By that the Sauter seith, So dide othere manye ; That lovoth God lelly, 4737

His liflode is ful esy. Fuerunt viilii lacrwice meoe xiones die ac node.

" And but if Luc lye, He lereth us by foweles, We sholde noght be to bisy Aboute the worldes blisse ; Ne soliciti sitis, He seith in the Gospel, And sheweth us by ensamjiles Us selve to wisse. 4748

The foweles in the feld, Who fynt hem mete at wynter ? Have thei no gerner to go to, But God fynt hem alle."

" What ! " quod the preest to " Peter ! as me thynketh, [Perkyn, y Thow art lettred a litel : — • Who lerned thee on boke % "

"Abstynence the abbesse," quod "Myn a.b.c. me taughte ; [Piers, And Conscience cam afterward. And keuued me muche moore." 4760

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 147

" "Were thow a preest," quod he, " Thou ■myghtest preche where thou As divinour in divinite, [sholdest, With Dixit iimj^iens to thi teme."

•' Lewed lorel ! " quod Piers, " Litel lokestow on the Bible ; On Salomons sawes Selden thow biholdest : Ejice derisores etjurgia cum eis, ne crescant, etc."

The preest and Perkyn Opposeden either oother. 4772

And I thorugh hir wordes a-wook, And waited aboute, And seigh the sonne in the south Sitte that tynie, Mete-lees and monei-lees On Malverne huUes, Musynge on this metels, And my wey ich yede.

MANY tyme this metels Hath maked me to studie Of that I seigh slepynge, If it so be myghte, And also for Piers the Plowman Ful pencif in herte, And which a pardon Piers hadde Al the peple to conforte, And how the preest impugned it "With two propre wordes. Ac I have no savour in songewarie, For I se it ofte faille ; Caton and canonistres CounseiUen ua to leva 47w

148 THE VISION OF

To sette sadnesse in songewarie, 4795 For sompnia ne cures.

Ac for the book Bible Bereth witnesse How Daniel divined The dreeni of a kyng, That was Nabugodonosor Nempned of clerkes.

Daniel seide, " Sire kyng, Tin dremels bitokneth That unkouthe knyghtes shul come Thi kyngdom to cleyme ; 4806

Amonges lower lordes Thi lond shal be departed/' And as Daniel divined, In dede it fel after ; The kyng lees his lordshipe, And lower men it hadde.

And Joseph mette merveillously How the moone and the sonne And the ellevene sterres Hailsed hym alle,

Thanne Jacob jugged 48i7

Josephes swevene. " Beau fitz," quod his fader, " For defaute we shullen, I myself and my sones, Seche thee for nede."

It bifel as his fader seide, In Pharaoes tyme, That Joseph was justice Egipte to loke ; It bifel as his fader tolde, Hise frendes there hym soughte. And al this maketh me 4829

PIEHS PLOUGHMAN. 149

On this metels to thynke. 4330

And how the preest preved

2s^o pardon to Do-wel,

And deraed that Do-wel

Indulgences passed,

Biennals and triennals,

And bisshopes lettres ;

And how Do-wel at the day of dome

Is digneliche underfongen,

And passeth al the pardon

Of seint Petres cherche.

Kow hath the pope power 4S4i

Pardon to graunte the peple,

^Vithouten any penaunco

To passen into hevene ;

This is oure bileve,

As lettred men us techeth :

Quodcumque Jiqaveris super ter- rain, erit ligatum et in coelis, etc. And so I leve leelly, Lordes forbode ellis ! That pardon and penaunce 4552 And pfeieres doon save Soules that have synned Seven sithes dediy ; Ac to truste to thise triennals, Trewely me thynketh, /

Is noght so siker for the soule, / Certes, as is Do-wel.

For-thi I rede yow, renkes, That riche ben on this erthe. Upon trust of youre tresor Triennals to have, Be ye never the bolder 4904

VOL. I. N

150 THE VISION.

To break e tlie .x. hestes ; 4865

And namely ye maistres, Meires and jugges, That have the welthe of this world And for wise men ben holden, To purchace yow pardon And the popes bulles. At the dredful dome, Whan dede shulle rise, And comen alle to-fore Crist Acountes to yelde, How thow laddest thi lif here, 4876 And hise lawes keptest, And how thow didest day by day. The doom wole reherce. A poke ful of pardon there, Ne provincials lettres, Theigh ye be founde in the f raternite Of alle the foure ordres, And have indulgences double-fold, But if Do-wel yow helpe, I sette youre patentes and youre At one pies hele. [pardon

For-thi I counseille alle Cristene To crie God mercy, And Marie his moder Be oure meene bitwene, That God gyve us grace here, Er we go hennes, Swiche werkes to werche While we ben here, That after oure deeth-day Do-wel reherce At the day of dome, We dide as he highte. 4899

Passus Octavus de Visione, et Primus de Do-wel.

[IIIJS y-robeJ in russet 4900 I romed aboute Al a somer seson For to seke Do-wel ;

And frayned ful ofte

Of folk that I mette,

If any wight wiste

"NVher Do-wel was at inne ;

And what man he myghte be

Of man}- man I asked.

Was nevere wight, as I wente,

That me wisse kouthe m\

\Miere this leode lenged,

Lasse ne moore ;

Til it bi-fel on a Friday

Two freres I mette,

Maistres of the menours,

Men of grete witte.

I hailsed hem hendely,

As I hadde y-lerned,

And preide hem ;x<r charifc,

Er thei passed ferther.

If thei knewe any contree

Or costes, as thei wente, 4923

152 THE VISION OF

•' Where that Do-wel dwelleth 4924

Dooth me to -witene."

For thei be men of this moolde

That moost wide walken,

And knowen contrees and courtes,

And many kynnes places,

Eothe princes paleises

And povere mcnines cotes,

And. Do-wel and Do-yvele

Wher thei dwelle bothe.

"Amonges us," quod the Me- " That man is dAvellynge, [nours, And evere hath, as I hope, And evere slial herafter."

" Contra," quod I as a clerc, And corased to disputen, And seide hem soothly, '■^ Septies in die cadit Justus."

Sovene sithes, seith the book. Synueth the rightfulle ; And who so synneth," I seide, " Dooth y vele, as me thynketh ; And Dc-wel and Do-yvelo 4946

Mowe noght dwelle togideres. Ergo he nys noght alwey Amonges yow freres ; He is outher while ellis where To wisse the peple."

" I shal seye thee, my sone," Seide the frere thanne, " How seven sithes the sadde man On a day synneth ; By a forbisne," quod the frere, " I shal thee faire shewe. 4957

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 153

Lat brynge a man in a boot 4958

AmyJde the brode watre,

The wynd and the water

And the boot waggj'ng

Maketh the man many a tyme

To falle and to stonde ;

For stonde he never so stif,

He stumbleth if he meve,

Ac yet is he saaf and sound,

And so hym bihoveth.

For if he ne arise the rather,

And raughte to the steere, 49C9

The wynd wolde with the water

The boot over throwe ;

And thanne were his lif lost,

Through lachesse of hymselve.

"And thus itfalleth,"quod thefrere,

" By folk here on erthe ;

The water is likned to the world

That wanyeth and wexeth ;

The goodes of this grounde am lik

To the grete wawes,

That as w}'ndes and wedres 4980

"Walketh aboute ;

The boot is likned to oure body

That brotel is of kynde.

That thorugh the fend andtheflesshe

And the frele worlde

Synneth the sadde man

A day seven sithes.

" Ac dedly synne doth he noght, For Do-wel hym kepeth ; And that is charity the champion, Chief help ayein synne ; 4991

154 THE VISION OF

For he strenglieth men to stonde,4992

And steereth mannes soule,

And though the body bowe

As boot dooth in the watre,

Ay is thi soule saaf,

But if tliow wole thiselve

Do a deedly synne,

And drenche so thi soule,

God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe,

If thiself liketh.

For he yaf thee a yeres-gyve,

To yeme v/el thiselve, 5003

And that is wit and free-wil,

To every wight a porcion,

To fleynge foweles.

To fisshes and to beestes ;

Ac man hath nioost therof,

And moost is to blame,

But if he werche wel therwith,

As Do-wel hym teacheth." [quod I,

"I have no kyude knowyng," " To conceyven alle youre wordes ; Ac if I may lyve and loke, sou

I shal go lerne bettre."

" I bikenne thee Crist," quod he, " That on cros deyde ! " And I seide, " The same Save yow fro myschaunce, And gyve yow grace on this grounde Goode men to worthe ! "

AND thus I wente wide wher Walkyng myn one, By a wilde wildernesse, 5024

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 155

And by a wodes side ; soij

Blisse of the briddes

Broughte me a-slepe,

And under a lynde upon a launde

Lened I a stounde,

To lythe the layes

Tho lovely foweles made.

Murthe of hire mouthes

Made me ther to sleple ;

The marveillouseste metels

Mette me thanne

That ever dremed wight soae

In world, as I wene.

A nniche man, as me thoughte, And lik to myselve, Cam and called me By my kynde name.

•' AMiat artow 1 " quod I tho, " That thow my name knowest."

" That tliou woost wel," quod he, "And no wight bettre."

" "Woot I what thow art?" " Thought," seide he thanne ; 5047 "I have sued thee this seven yeer, Seye thow me no rather."

" Artow Thought," quod I thoo, " Thow koudest me wisse, "WTiere that Do-wel dwelleth, And do me that to knowe."

" Do-wel and Do-bet, And Do-best the thridde," quod he, " Arn thre fair vertues. And ben noght fer to fynde. WTie so is trewe of his tunge, soss

156 THE VISION OF

And of his two liandes, 5059

And thorugli his labour, or thorugh His liflode wynneth, [his land, And is trusty of his tailende, Taketh but his owene. And his noght dronklewe ne dedey- Do-wel hyni folweth. [nous,

" Do-bet dooth right thus : Ac he dooth muche nioorej He is as lowe as a lomb, And lovelich of speche, And helpeth alle men 5070

After that hem nedeth. The bagges and the bigirdles, He hath to-broke hem alle, That the erl Avarous Heeld and hise heires. And thus with Mammonaes moneie He hath maad hym frendes. And is ronne to religion, And hath rendred the Bible, And prechcth to the peple Seint Poules wordes : 50si

Lihenter suffertis insipientes, cum sifis 7psi sapicntes.

" And sufireth the unwise With yow for to libbe ; And with gladwille dooth hem good, For so God yow hoteth.

" Do-best is above bothe, And bereth a bisshopes crosse, Is hokcd on that oon ende To halie men fro belle ; A pik is on that potente, 6092

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 157

To putte a-down tlie wikkeil soos

That waiten any wikkednesse

Do-wel to tene.

And ])o-wel and Do-bet

Amonges hem han ordeyned,

To crowne oon to be kyng

To nilen hem bothe ;

That if Do--wel or Do-bet

Dide ayein Do-best,

Thanne shal the kj-ng come

And casten liem in irens,

And but if Do-best bede for hem,

Thai to be ther for evere.

"Thus Do-wel and Do-bet, And Do-best the thridde, Crouned oon to the kyng To kepen hem alle, And to rule the reme By hire thre wittes, And noon oother wise ]>ut as thei thre assented."

I thouked Thoght tho, That he me thus taughte. 5115

" Ac yet savoretli me noght thi sey- I coveite to lerne [ing ;

How Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best Doon among the peple."

"But"\Vitkonnewissethee,"quod " Wher tho thre dwelle, [Thoght, Ellis woot I noon that lean That now is alyve."

Thoght and I thus Thre daies we yeden, Disputyng upon Do-wel 5120

158 THE VISION.

Day after oother ; 5127

And ere we were war,

With Wit gonne we mete.

He was long and lene,

Lik to noon other ;

Was no pride on his apparaille,

'Ne poverte neither ;

Sad of his semblaunt,

And of softe chere.

I dorste meve no matere

To maken hym to jangle,

But as I bad Thoght thoo 5i38

Be mene bitwene,

And piite forth som purpos

To preven hise wittes,

What was Do-wel fro Do-bet,

And Do-best from hem bothe.

Thanne Thoght in that tyme Seide thise wordes : " Where Do-wel, Do-bet, And Do-best ben in londe, Here is Wil wolde wite. If Wit koude teche hym ; Andwheither he be manor womman This man fayn wolde aspie. And werchen as thei thre wolde. Thus is his entente." 5153

Passus Nonus de Visione, ut supra, et Primus de Do-bet.

^»J^IEE Do-wcl dwelleth,"

'^ [quod AVit, 5154

" I^oght a day Lennes, In a castel that Kynde made Of four kynnes thynges ; Of erthe and of eyr it is maad, Medled togideres, With wynd and with water "Witterly enjoyned. Kynde hath closed therinne Craftily withalle A lemnian that he loveth Lik to hymselve ; 5165

Anima she hatte. Ac envye hir liateth, A proud prikere of Fraunce, Princeps hujus mundi, And wolde w}'nne hire awey With wiles, and he niyghto.

" Ac Kynde knoweth this wel, And kepeth hire the bettre, And dooth hire with sire Do-wel, Is due of thise marches.

" Do-bet is hire damyselle, Sire Do-weles doughter, sm

160 THE VISION OF

To serven this lady leelly sirs

Botlie late and rathe.

" Do-best is above bothe, A bisshopes peere ; That he bit moot be do, He ruleth hem alle. Anima, that lady, Is lad by his leryng. Ac the constable of that castel. That kepeth al the wacche, Is a wis knyght withalle, Sire Inwit he hatte, 5189

And bathe fyve faire sones Bi his hrste wyve ; Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel, And Here-wel the hende. Sire "VVerch-wel-with-thyn-hand, A wight man of strengthe, And sire Godefray Go-wel ; Grete lordes, for sothe. Thise fyve ben set To kepe this lady Anima, Til Kynde come or sende d2oo

To saven hire for evere." [quod I,

" What kynnes thyng is Kynde'?" " Kanstow me telle 1 " [tour

"Kynde," quod Wit, "is a crea- Of alle kynnes thynges, Fader and formour Of al that evere was maked ; And that is the grete God That gynnyng hadde nevere, Lord of lif and of light, Of lisse and of peyne. 5211

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 161

Aungeles and alle thyng 6212

Am at his wille ;

Ac man is hym moost lik

Of marc and of shafte ;

For thorugh the word that he spak

Woxen forth beestes.

Dixit et facta sunt.

"And made man likkest To hymself one, And Eve of his ryb-bou, AVithouten any mene, For he was synguler hymself ; 5223 And seide faciamus, As who seith moore moot herto Than my word oone, My myght moot helpe Forth with my speche. Eight as a lord sholde make lettres, And hym lakked parchemyn, Thougli he koude write never so wel, If he hadde no penne, The lettre, for al the lordshipe, I leve were nevere y-maked. 5234

" And so it semeth by hym, As the Bible telleth, There he seide Dixit et facta sunt, He moste werche with his word, And his wit shewe. And in tliis manere was man maad, Thorugh myght of God almighty, With his word and werkmanshipe, And with lif to laste. And thus God gaf hym a goost, Thorugh the godhede of hevenc, 5245

162 THE VISION OF

And of his grete grace 5246

Graunted liym blisse,

And that is lif that ay shal laste

To al his lynage after.

And that is the castel that Kynde

Caro it hatte, [made,

And is as muche to mene

As man with a soule ;

And that he wroghte with werk,

And with word bothe,

Thorgh myght of the magest^

Man was y-maked. 5257

" Inwit and alle wittes Closed ben therinne, For love of the lady Anima, That lif is y-nempned ; Over al in mannes body He walketh and wandreth. And in the herte is hir hoom And hir mooste roste.

"Ac Inwit is in the heed, And to the herte he loketh ; What Anima is leef or looth, 526S He lat hire at his wille ; For after the grace of God, The gretteste is Inwit.

" Muche wo worth that man That mys-ruleth his Inwit ; And that ben glotons glubberes, Hir God is hire wombe. Quorum deus venter est.

" For thei serven Sathan, Hir soules shal he have. That lyven synful lif here, 5279

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 1G3

Hir soule is lich the devil ; 52S0 Aiid alle that lyven good lif Are lik to God almyghty, Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, etc.

" Alas ! that drynke shal for-do That God deere boutrhte. And dooth God forsaken hem That he shoop to his liknesse. A men dico vohis, nescio vos. Et alibi : Et dimisieos secundum desideria eorum. 5291

" Fools that fauten Inwit, I fynde that holy chirche Sholde fyndenhem that hem fauted, And fader-lese children, And widewes that han noght wher- To wynnen hem hir foode, [with Madde men, and maydenes That help-lese were, Alle thise lakken Inwit, And loore bihoveth.

" Of this matere I myghte 5302 Make a long tale, And fynde fele witnesses Among the foure doctours ; And that I lye noght of that I lere Luc bereth witnesse. [thee,

" God-fadres and god-modres. That seen hire god-children At mys-eise and at myschief. And mowe hem amende, Shul have penaunce in purgatorie But thei hem helpe. 5713

164 THE VISION OF

Formoore Lilongeth to the litel barn,

Er he the lawe knowe,

Than nempnynge of a name,

And he never the wiser.

Sholde no cristene creature

Cryen at the yate,

Ne faille payn ne potage,

And prelates dide as thei sholden.

A Jew wolde noght se a Jew

Go janglyng for defaute,

For alle the meljles on this moolde,

And he amende it niyghte. 5325

" Alas ! that a cristene creature

Shal be unkynde til another ;

Syn Jewes, that we jugge

Judas felawes,

Eyther of hem helpeth oother

Of that that hem nedeth.

Whi nel we cristene

Of Cristes good be as kynde

As Jewes, that ben oure lores-men '?

8hame to us alle !

The commune for hir unkyndenesse,

I drecle nie, shul abye.

" Bisshopes shul be blamed

For begfreres sake.

He is wors than Judas,

That gyveth a japer silver,

And biddeth the beggere go,

For his broke clothes.

Proditor est prcelatus cum Juda, qui pcitrimonium Cliristi mimis distribuit. Et alibi: Perni- ciosus disjpensator est, qui res

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 165

pauper urn Christi inutiliier consumit.

" He dooth noght wel that dooth thus, Ne drat noght God almyghty ; He loveth noght Salomons sawes, That sapience taughte. Initiiim mpientue, timor Domini.

"That dredeth God, he dooth wel ; That dredeth him for love, And noght for drede of vengeaunce, Dooth thi-rfore the bettre.

"He dooth best that with-draweth By daye and by nyghte, [hym

To spille any speche Or any space of tyme. Qui ofendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.

" Lesynge of tyme, Truthe woot the sothe, Is moost y-hated upon erthe Of hem that ben in hevene ; And siththe to spille speche, 5369 That spicerie is of grace, And Goddes gle-man, And a game of hevene. "Wolde nevere the feithful fader This fithele were un-tempred, Ne his gle-man a gedelyng, A goere to tavernes.

" To alle trewe tidy men That travaille desiren, Oure Lord loveth hem and lent Loude outher stillo ^^^^

VOL. I. O

166 THE VISION OF

Grace to go to hem, 538i

And of-gon hir liflode. Inquirentes auiem Domimcm non minuenter omni bono.

" Trewe wedded libbynge folk In this world is Do-wel, For thei mote werche and wynne, And the world sustene. For of hir kynde thei com,e That confessours ben nempned, Kynges and knyghtes, Kaysers and cherles, 5392

Maidenes and martires, Out of 0 man come. The wif was maad the weye For to helpe werche ; And thus was wedlok y-wroght With a mene persone, First, by the fadres wille, And the frendes conseille ; And sithenes by assent of hemself, As thei two myghte acorde. And thus was wedlok y-wroght, And God hymself it made In erthe and in hevene, Hymself bereth witnesse.

" Ac f als folk f eyth-lees, Theves and lyeres, Wastours and wrecches, Out of wedlok, I trowe, Conceyved ben in yvel tyme, As Caym was on Eve ; Of swiche synfulle sherewes The Sauter maketh mynde : 5414

PIEBS PLOUGHMAX. 167

Concept t in dolore, et peperit ini- quitatem, etc.

" And alle that come of that Cayni, Come to yvel ende. And God sente to Seem, And seide by an aungel, ' Thyn issue in thyn issue I wol that thei be wedded, And noght thi kynde with Caymes Y-coupled nor y-spoused.'

" Yet some, ayein the sonde Of oure Saveour of hevene, 5426 Caymes kynde and his kynde Coupled togideres, Til God wrathed for hir werkes, And swich a word seide, ' That I makede man It me for-thynketh.' Poenitet me fecuse hominenu

"And com to Xoe anon, And bad hym noglit lette : * Swith go shape a ship Of shides and of hordes ; 5*37

Thyself and thi sones, And sithen youre wyves, Busketh yow to that boot, And bideth ye therinne, Til fourty daies be fulfild. That the flood liave y-wasshen Clene awey the corsed blood That Caym hath y-maked.

" ' Beestes that now ben Shul banne tlie tyme That evere that cursed Caym 544s

168 THE VISION OF

Coom oil this erthe ; 5449

Alle shul deye for hise dedes,

By dales and by hulles,

And the foweles that fleen

Forth with othere beestes,

Excepte oonliche

Of ech kynde a couple,

That in thi shyngled ship

Shul ben y-saved.'

Here a-boucihte the barn

D

The bel-sires giltes, And alle for hir fadres 5460

Thei ferden the werse ; The Gospel is her ayein, In 0 degrd, I fynde : Films non portahit iniquitatem pa- tris, et pater non portdbit ini- quitatem. filii, etc.

" Ac I fynde if the fader Be fals and a sherewe, That som del the sone Shal have the sires tacches.

" Impe on an ellere, 5471

And if thyn appul be swete, Muchel merveille me thvnketh ; And moore of a sherewe That bryngeth forth any barn, But if he be the same, And have a savour after the sire ; Selde sestow oother. Nunquam colligitur de spinis tiva, nee de trihidis ficus.

" And thus thorugh cursed Caym Cam care upon erthe ; sisa

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 169

And al for thei wroghte wedlokes msj

Aycin Goddes wille.

For-thi have thei maugre of hir ma-

That marie so hir children, [riages

For some, as I se now,

Sooth for to telle,

For coveitise of catel

Uu-kyndely ben wedded ;

As careful concepcion

Cometh of swiche mariages,

As bi-fel of the folk

That I bifore of tolde, 5494

Therfore goode sholde wedde goode,

Though thei no good hadde ;

' I am via et Veritas,' seith Crist,

'I may avaunce yow alle.'

" It is an uncomly couple. By Crist ! as me thynketh, To yeven a yong wenche To an old feble, Or wedden any wodcwe For ■welthe of hir goodes, That ncvere shal barn here 5505 But if it be in hir armes. Many a peire, sithen the pestilence, Han plight hem tcgideres, The fruyt that brynge forth Am foule wordes, In jelousie joye-lees, And janglynge on bedde, Have thei no children but cheeste. And clappyng hem bitwene. And though thei do hem to Dun- But if the devel helpe, [mowe,

170 THE VISION OF

To folwen after the flicclie, 5517 Fecche thei it nevere ; And but thi botlie be for-swore, That bacon thei tyne.

" For-thei I counseille alle cristene Coveite noght be wedded For coveitise of catel, Ne of kyn-rede riche ; Ac maidenes and maydenes Macclie yow togideres, Wodewes and wideweres Wercheth the same ; 5528

For no londes, but for love, Loke ye be wedded, And thanne gete ye the grace of God, And good y-nough to lyve with.

" And every maner seculer That may noght continue, Wisely goo wedde, And ware hym fro synne ; For lecherie in likynge Is lyme-yerd of helle. Whiles thoAv art yong, 5539

And thi wepene kene, Wreke thee with wyvyng, If thow Avolt ben excused. Dum sis vir fortis, Ne cles tua rohora scortis ; Scrihitur in partis, Meretrix est janua mortis.

" Whan ye han wyved, beth war And wercheth in tyme ; Noght as Adam and Eve, Whan Caym was engendred, 5550

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 171

For in un-tyme, trewely, 5551

Bitwene man and womnian, Ne sholde no bourde or bedde be ; But if thei bothe were clene Bothe of lif and of soule, And in perfit cliarit^, That ilke derne dede do No man ne sholde. And if thei leden thus hir lif, It liketh God almyghty ; For he made wedlok first, And hymself it seide : 5562

Bonum est ut unusquisqiie uxorem suam Jiabeat, projjter fornica- tionem. [geten

" And thei that other gates ben For gedclynges arn holden, As fals folk fondlynges, Faitours and lieres, Ungracious to gate good Or love of the peple, "Wandren and wasten WTiat thei cacche mowe, 5573

Ayeins Do-wcl thei doon yvel. And the devel serve ; And after hir deeth day Shul dwelle with the same, But God gyve hem grace here Hemself to amende.

" Do-wel my frend is, To doon as lawe techeth ; To love thi frend and thi foo, Leve me, that is Do-bet ; To gyven and to yemen 5584

172 THE VISION.

Botlie yonge and olde, 5585

To helen and to lielpen, Is Do-best of alle.

" And Do-wel is to drede God, And Do-bet to sufFre, And so cometh Do-best of bothe, And bryngetli adoun the mody, And that is wikked wille That many a work shendeth, And dryveth awey Do-wfel Thorugh dedliche synnes." 5595

ii ^.|^

Passtis Decimns de Visione, et Secundus de Do-wel.

HAXXE liadde Wit a wif, Was hote dame Studio, That lene was of lere, And of liclie bothe ;

She was "wonderly wroth

That Wit me thus taughte ;

And al starynge dame Studie

Stemeliche loked. "Wei artowAvis,"quod she to Wit,

" Any wisdomes to telle

To flatereres or to fooles.

That frenetike ben of wittes." ssor

And blamed hym and banned hym.

And bad hym be stille.

With swiche wise wordes

To wissen any sottes.

And seide, " Noli mittere, man,

Margery perles

Among hoggcs, that han

Hawes at wille ;

Thei doon but dryvele theron,

Draf were hem levere

Than al the precious perree

That ia paradis wexeth. sew

174 THE VISION OF

I seye it by swiclie," quod she, 5620

" That sheweth by hir werkes,

That hem were levere lond

And lordshipe on erthe,

Or richesse, or rentes,

And reste at hir wille,

Than alle the sooth sawes

That Salomon seide evere. " Wisdom and wit now

Is noght worth a kerse,

But if it be carded with coveitise,

As clotheres kemben hir wolle. scsi

Who so can contreve deceites

And conspire wronges,

And lede forth a love-day

To lette with truthe,

He that swiche craftes can

To counseil is cleped.

Thei lede lordes with lesynges,

And bi-lieth Truthe. " Job the gentile

In his gestes witnesseth,

That wikked men thei welden 5642

The welthe of this worlde ;

And that thei ben lordes of echalond

That out of lawe libbeth.

Qtiare impii vivimt, hene est omni- bus qui prcevaricantur et inique agunt. " The Sauter seith the same

By swiche that doon ille :

Ecce ipsi peccatores ahundantes in sceculo ohtinuerunt divitias. " Lo ! seith holy lettrure, 5653

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 175

Whiche beth thise sherewes ? 5634 Thilke that God gyveth moost, Leest good thei deletli ; And moost un-kynde to the corn- That moost catel weldeth. [mune Quce perfecisti destruxerunt, Justus autem, etc.

" Harlotes for hir harlotrie May have of hir goodes, And japeris and jogelours, And jangleris of gestes.

" Ac he that hath holy writ 5665 Ay in his mouthe, And kan telle of Tobye, And of twelve apostles, Or prechen of the penaunce That Pilat wikkedly wroghte To Jhesu the gentile, That Jewes to-drowe ; Litel is he loved That swich a lesson sheweth, Or daunted or drawe forth, I do it on God hyiuselve. 5676

"But thoo that feynen hem foolis, And with faityug libbeth, Ayein the lawe of oure Lord, And lyen on hemselve, Spitten and spuen. And speke foule wordes, Drynken and drevelen, And do men fer to gape, Likne men, and lye on hem, Tliat leneth hem no giftes ; Thei konne na-moore mynstralcie

176 THE VISION OF

Ne musik men to glade, 56S8

Than Miinde the millere Of Midta fecit Dens. Ne were hir vile harlotrye, Have God my troiithe ! Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght, Ne chanon of seint Poules, Gyve hem to hir yeres-gyve The gifte of a grote.

" Ac murthe and mynstralcie Amonyes men is nouthe Lecherie, losengerye, 5699

And losels tales, Glotonye and grete othes, This murthe thei lovyeth.

"Ac if thei carpen of Crist, Thise clerkes and thise lewed At mete in hir murthe, Whan mynstrals beth stille, Thanne telleth thei of the Trinite A tale outher tweye. And bryngen forth a balled reson, Ajid taken Bernard to witnesse. And putten forth a presumpcion To preve the sothe. Thus thei dryvele at hir deys The Deitee to knowe, And gnawen God with the gorge, Whanne hir guttes fuUen.

"Ac the carefulle may crie And carpen at the yate, Bothe a-fyngred and a-furst, And for chele quake ; Is ther noon to nyme hym neer,

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 177

His anoy to amende, 5722

But hunten hym as an hound, And hoten hym go thennes. Litel loveth lie that Lord That lont hym al that blisse, Tliat thus partetli with the povere A percell whan hym nedeth. Xe were mercy in meene men Moore than in riche, Mendinauutz mete-lees Myghte go to bedde. God is muche in the gorge srsa Of thise grete maistres, Ac amonges meene men His mercy and hise werkes. And so seith the Sauter, I have seighen it ofte : Ecce audivimus earn in Effrata^in- venimiis earn in campis silvoe.

" Clerkes and othere kymies men Carpen of God faste. And have hym muche in the mouth ; Ac meene men in herte. 57«

" Freres and faitours Han founde swiche questions, To plese with proude men, Syn the pestilence tyme ; And prechen at seint Puules For pure envye of clerkes ; Thatfolkisnoghtfermedinthefeith, Ne free of hire goodes, Ne sory for hire synnes ; So is i)ride woxen, In religion and in al the reme, 5755

178 THE VISION OF

Amonges riche and povere, svse

That preieres have no power

The pestilence to lette.

And yet the wrecches of this world

Is noon y-war by oother ;

Ne for drede of the deeth

With-drawe noght hir pride ;

Ne beth plentevouse to the povere,

As pure charite wolde ;

Eut in gaynesse and in glotonye

For-glutten hir good hemselve,

And breketh noght to the beggere

As the Book techeth :

Frange esurienti panem tuum., etc.

And the nioore he wynneth and welt

Welthes and richesse.

And lordeth in londes,

The lasse good he deleth.

" Tobye telleth yow noght so, Taketh hede, ye riche, How the book Bible Of hym bereth witnesse. Si tibi sit cnpia, abundanter trihue. Si autem exiguum, illud impertiri stude lihenter.

"Who so hath muche, spende So seith Tobye ; [manli.che,

And who so litel weldeth, Eule hym therafter. For we have no lettre of oure lif, How longe it shal dure, Swiche lessons lordes sholde Lovye to here, And how he niyghte moost meynee

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 179

Manliche fynde. 5790

•' Nought to fare as a fithelere or

For to seke festes [a frere,

Homliche at othere mennes houses,

And hatien hir owene.

Elenge is the halle

Ech day in the wike,

Ther the lord ne the lady

Liketh noght to sitte.

Now hath ech riche a rule

To eten by hymselve

In a pryvee parlour, 5301

For povere mennes sake,

Or in a chambre with a chymenee,

And leve the cliief halle

That was maad for meles,

^len to eten inne,

And al to spare to spende

That spiUe shal another.

" I have y-herd heighe men, Etynge at tlie table, Carpen, as thei clerkes were, Of Crist, and of hise myghtes ; 5812 And leyden fautes upon the fader That fomiede us alle. And carpen ayein clerkes Crabbede wordes, "U'hy wolde oure Saveour suffre Swich a worm in his blisse, That bigiled the wommau. And the man after, Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes Thei wente to helle, And al hir seed for hir s^-nne 5523

180 THE VISION OF

The same death suffrede. 5824

" Here lyeth youre lore, Thise lordes gynneth dispute, Of that the clerkes us kenneth Of Crist hy the Gospel : Films non portabit iniquitatem pa- tris, etc.

" Why sholde we that now ben, For the werkes of Adam, Eoten and to-rende 1 Reson wolde it nevere. UnusqniKque portabit omissuum, etc.

" Swiche motyves thei mene, Thise maistres in hir glorie, And maken men in mys-bileve That muse muche on hire wordes, Ymaginatif herafterwarde Shal answere to hir purpos.

" Austyn to swiche argueres Telleth this teme : Non 2^his sapere quam oportet.

" Wilneth nevere to wite Why that God wolde 5846

Suffre Sathan His seed to bigile ; Ac bileveth lelly In the loore of holy chirche, . And preie hym of pardon And penaunce in thi lyve, And for his muche mercy To amende yow here. For alle that wilneth to wite The Aveyes of God almyghty, I Vi^olde his eighe were in his ers,

PIERS rLUUGHMAN. 181

And his fynger after, ssss

That evere wilneth to wite

Why that God wolde

Sufire Sathan

His seed to bigile,

Or Judas to the Jewes

Jhesu bitraye.

Al was as thow woldest,

Lord, y- worshiped be the !

And al worth as thow wolt,

What so we dispute.

" And tho that useth thise hany-

To blende mennes wittes, [Ions

What is Do-wel fro Do-bet, That deef mote lie worthe, Siththe he wilneth to wite Whiehe thei ben botlie, But if he lyve iri tlie lif That longeth to Do-weL For I dar ben his bolde borgh, That du-1)et wole he nevere, Theigh Do-best drawe on hym Day after oother." sggo

And whan that Wit was y-war What dame Studie tolde, He bicom so confus, He kouthe noght loke, And as doumb as deeth, And drough hym arere ; And for no carpyng I kouthe after, Ke knelyng to the grounde, I myghte gete no greyn Of his grete wittes. Lut al laughynge he louted, 5391

VOL. I. p

182 THE VISION OF

And lokecl upon Studie 5892

In signe that I sliolde Bi-sechen hire of grace.

And whan I was war of his wille, To his wif gan I loute, And seide, "Mercy, madame, Youre man shal I worthe As longe as I lyve, Bothe late and rathe, For to werche youre wille The while my lif dureth, "With that ye kenne me kyndely To knowe what is Do-wel."

" For thi mekenesse, man," quod "And for thi mylde speche, [she, I shal kenne thee to my cosyn That Clergie is hoten. He hath wedded a wif Withinne thise sixe monthes, Is sib to seven artz. Scripture is hir name. They two, as I hope, After my techyng, 5914

Shullen wissen thee to Do-wel, I dar it undertake."

Thanne was I al so fayn, As fowel of fair morwe. And gladder than the gle-man That gold hath to gifte ; And asked hire the heighe wey Where that Clergie dwelte, "And tel me som tokene," quod I, " For tyme is that I wende."

"Aske theheighe wey," quod she,

riEIiS PLOUGHMAN. 183

" Hennes to Suffre- 6926

Both-wele-and-wo,

If that thow wolt lerne,

And ryd forth by Richesse,

Ac rest thow noght therinne ;

For if thow couplest thee therwith,

To Clergie comestow nevere.

" And also the likerouse launde That Lecherie hatte, Leve it on thi left half A large mvle or moore, Til thow come to a court, 5937

Kepe-wel-thi-tunge- Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche- And-likerouse-drynkes.

" Thanne shaltow se Sobretee, And Syiupletee-of-speche, That ech wight be in wille Ilis wit thee to shewe ; And thus shaltow come to Clergie, That kan manye thynges.

" Seye hym this signe, I sette hym to scole, 0948

And that I grete wel his wif, For I wroot hire manye bokes, And sette hire to Sapience, And to the Sauter glose ; Logyk I lemed hire, And manye othere lawes, And alle musous in musik I made hire to knowe.

" Plato the poete I putte first to boke, Aristotle and othere mo 5W9

184 THE VISION OF

To argue I taughte. 5960

" Grammer for girles I garte first to write, And bette hem witli a baleys, But if thei wolde lerne,

" Of alle kyiine craftes I contreved tooles, Of carpentrie, of kerveres, And compased masons, And lerned hem level and lyne, Though I loke dymme.

" Ac Theologio hatli tened me Ten score tymes ; The moore I muse therinne The mystier it seemeth, And the depper I devyne The derker me it thynketh. It is no science, for sothe, For to sotile inne ; A ful letlii thyng it were, If that love nere ; Ac for it leteth best bi-love, I love it the bettre. 5982

For there that love is ledere, Ther lakked nevere grace. Loke thow love lelly. If thee liketh Do-wel ; For Do-bet and Do-best Ben of Loves kynne.

" In oother science it seith,

I seigh it in Caton : [amicus,

Qui simulat verbis, nee corcle estjidus

I'u quoque fac simile, sic ars delu-

ditur arte. 5993

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 185

" Who so gloseth as gyloursdoon, Go me to the same ; And so shaltow fals folk And feith-lees bigile. This is Catons kennyng To clerkes that he lereth.

" Ac Theologie techeth noght so, Who so taketh yeme ; He kenneth us the contrarie, Ayein Catons wordes. For he biddeth us be as bretheren, And bidde for our enemys. eo^n

And loven hem that lyen on us, . And lene hem ■\vlian hem nedeth, And do good ayein yvel, God hymself it hoteth. Dam temptis habetnus, operemur boimm adomnes, niaxime autem ad domesticos fidei. Poul preched the peple That perfitnesse lovede, To do good for Goddes love, And gyven men that asked, eois And namely to swiche As suwen oure bileve, And alle that lakketh us, or lyeth, Oure Lord techeth us to lovye. And noght to greven hem that grev- God hymself forbad it, [eth us, Mihi vindidam, et ego retribuam.

" For-thi loke thow lovye, As longe as thow durest ; For is no science under sonne So sovereyn for the soule. 6026

186 THE VISION OF

" Acastrononaye is an liardthyng, Antl yvcl for to knowc ; Geometrie and geomesie, So gynful of speche, Whosothynkethwerchewitlithotwo Tliryvetli ful late, For sorcerie is the sovereyn book That to tho sciences bilongeth.

" Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres Of fele mennes makyng, Experimentz of alkenamye The peple to deceyve ; 6038

If thow thynke to do-wel, Deel therwith nevere.

"Alle thise sciences I myself Sotilede and ordeynede, And founded hem formest Folk to deceyve. Tel Clergie this tokene, And Scripture after, To counseille thee kyndely To knowe Avhat is Do-"wel."

Iseide, "Graunt mercy, madame," And mekely hir grette ; And wente wightly awey Withoute moore lettyng, And til I com to Clergie I koude nevere stynte ; And grette the goode man, As Stud.ie me taughte, And afterwardes the wif. And worshiped hem bothe, And tolde hem the tokenes That me taught were. 6O6O

PIERS rLOUGIIMAN. 187

"Was nevere gome upon this ground,

Sitii God made the worlde,

Fairer under-fongen,

Ke frendlier at ese,

Thau myself, soothly,

Soone so he wiste

Thau I was of Wittes hous,

And with his wif, dame Studie.

I seide to hem soothly That sent was I thider, Do-wel and Do-bet And Do-best to leme. [Clergie,

"It is a commune lyf," quod *• On holy chirche to bileve, "With alle the articles of the feith That falleth to be knowe ; And that is to bileve lelly, Bothe lered and lewed, On the grete God That gynnj-ng hadde nevere. And on the soothfast Sono That saved mankynde Fro the dedly deeth eosa

And devel's power, Thorugh tlie help of the HolyGoost, The which goost is of bothe, Thre persones, ac noght In plurel nombre ; For al is but oon God, And ech is God hymselve. Deusimter, DeusjUius, Deus spiritiis

sandus. God the fader, God the sone, God holy goost of bothe, eow

188 THE VISION OF

Makere of mankynde, 6095

And of beestes botlie.

"Austyn the olde Herof made bokes, And hymself ordeyned To sadde us in bileve. Who was his auctour'? Alle the foure euvangelistes, And Crist cleped hymself so, The euvangelistes bereth witnesse.

" Alle the clerkes under Crist Ne koude this assoille ; 6106

But thus it bi-longeth to bileve To lewed that willen do-wel. For hadde nevere freke fyn wit The feith to dispute, Ne man hadde no merite, Myghte it ben y-preved. Fides 71071 habet 7nerihim, ubi hu- maTia ratio in'cehet experimeii-

tU7U.

"Thanne is Do-bet to suffre For the soules helthe, tiiiT

Al that the book bit Bi holi cherches techyng ; And that is, man, bi thy myght, For mercies sake. Loke thow werche it in werk, That thi word sheweth, Swich as thow semest in sights Be in assay y-founde. Appare quod es, vel esto quod ap- pai'es.

" And lat no body be 6128

riERS PLOUGHMAN. 189

Ey thi beryng bigiled, 6129

But be swich iu thi soiilo As thow semest "withoute.

" Thanne is Do-best to be boold To blame the gilty, Sythenes thow seest thiself As iu soule cleno ; Ac blame thow nevere body, And thow be blame worthy. Si culpare velis, Culpahilis esse cavebis; Dogma tuum sordet, 6i40

Cum te tua culpa remordet.

*' God in the Gospel Grevously reprevetli Alle that lakketh any lif, And lakkes han hemselve. Qui considcroA fesfucam in oculo fratris tui, trahem in oculo hto, etc.

" \Vhy menestow thi mood for a In thi brotheres eighe, [mote

Sithen a beem in thyn oweno 6151 A-blyndeth thiselve. Ef'ice 2}ri7no trahem in oculo tuo,

etc. "Which letteth thee to loke Lasse outher more.

" I rede ech a blynd bosarde Do boote to hymselve, For abbotes and for priours, And for alle manere prelates, As persons and parisshes preestes That preche sholde and teche 6153

190 THE VISION OF

Alle maner men to amenden 6i63 Bi hire myghtes,

" This text was told yow, To ben y-war, er ye taughte, That ye "were swiche as ye seye, So salve with othere ; For Goddesword wolde noght be lost, For that wercheth evere ; If it availled noght the commune, It myghte availle yowselve.

"Ac it semeth now sootbly To the worldes sighte, 6iY4

That Goddes word wercheth noght On lered ne on lewed, But in swich a manere As Marc nieneth in the gospel : Dum emeus ducit ccecum, ambo in foveam cadunt.

"Lewed men may likne yow thus, That the beem lith in youre eighen ; And the festu is fallen For youre defaute. In alle maner men, 6iS5

Thorugh mausede preestes. The Bible beretli witnesse That the folk of Israel Bittre a-boughte the giltes Of two badde preestes, Oflyn and Fynes, For hir coveitise, Archa Dei mys-happed, And Ely brak his nekke. [heron.

"For-thi ye corectours claweth And corecteth first yowselve eiso

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 191

And thanne mowe ye safly seye, 6i97 As David made in the Sauter, Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis, arguam te, et statuaiu contra fac it m tiiavi.

"And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed To blame yow or to greve, And carpen noght as thei carpe now, Ke calle yow doumbe houndes. Canes non valentes latrare. [word, And drede to wrathe yow in any Youre werkmanshipe to lette, And be prester at youre preiere, Than for a pound of nobles. And al for youre holynesse, Have ye this in herte.

" In scole there is scorn, But if a clerk wol lerne, And gret love and iikyng, For ech of hem loveth oother.

"Ac now is Keligion a rydere, A romere aboute, 6218

A ledere of love-dayes, And a lond-buggere, A prikere on a palfrey Fro manere to manere, An heepe of houndes at his ers As he a lor<l were. And but if his knave knele That shal his coppe bry^nge, . He loureth on hym, and asketh hyra Who taughte hym curteisie.

" Litel hadde lordes to doon, 6229

192 THE VISION OF

To gyve lond from hire heires 6230 To religiouse, that han no routhe, Though it reyne on hir auters.

" In many places ther thei ben By hemself at ese [persons,

Of the povere have thei no pit6 ; And that is hir charity. Ac thei leten hem as iordes Hire londes lyen so brode.

" Ac ther shal come a kyng, And confesse yow religiouses, And bete yow as the Bible telleth g24i For brekynge of youre rule ; And amende monyals, Menkes and chanons, And puten to hir penaunce Ad pristinum statwii ire ; And barons with erles beten hem, Thorugh Beatus-virres techyng, That hir barnes daymen And blame yow foule. Hi in cur rib us et hi in equis ipsi oUigati sunt, etc. 6252

" And thanne freres in hir fray- Shul fynden a keye [tour

Of Costantyns cofres, In which is the catel That Gregories god-children Han yvele despended.

" And thanne shal the abbot of Abyngdone, And al his issue for evere, Have a knok of a kyng, And incurable the wounde. 6263

PIEBS PLOUGHMAN. 193

" That this worth sooth, seke ye That ofte over-se the Bible : Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit tributum, contrivit Dominus haculwii impiorum et virgam dominantium ccedentium lAaga insanahili. " Ac er that kyng come, Caym shal awake. Lut Do-wel shaldyngen hym adoun, And destruye his myghte." [quod I, "Thanne is Do-wel and I)o-bet," *^* DominiLS and knyghthode."

" I nel noght scorne," quod " But if scryveynes lye ; [Scripture, Kynghod ne knyghthod, By noght I kan a-wayte, Helpeth noglit to heveue-ward Ooue heris ende ; Ke richesse riglit noght, Ne reautee of lordes, Poul preveth it impossible Riche men to have hevene. 6286 Salomon seith also That silver is worst to lovye : NiJiil iniquius qiiam amare pecu-

niam. And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it Naught but as nede techeth, Dilirje denarium, sed parr^ dilige

formam. And patriarkes and prophetes, And poetes bothe, Writen to wissen us 6297

194 THE VISION OF

To wilne no richesse, 6298

And preiseden povertewith pacience; The apostles bereth witnesse That thei han eritage in hevene, And by trewe rights ; Ther richemen no right may cleyme, But of ruthe and grace."

" Oontm," qiiod I, " by Crist ! That kan I repreve, And preven it by Peter, And by Poul bothe, That is baptized beth saaf, 0309

Be he riclie or povere." [Scripture,

" That is in extremis," quod " Amonges Sarzens and Jewes, They mowen be saved so, And that is oure bileve, That an un-cristene in that caas May cristen an hethen ; And for his lele bileve, Whan he the lif tyneth, Have the heritage of hevene As any man cristene. 0320

" Ac cristene menwithoute moore Maye noght come to hevene ; For that Crist for cristene men Deide and confermed the lawe, Til at who so wolde and wilneth With Crist to arise, Si cum ohristo surexistis, etc. lie sholde lovye and leve, And the lawe fulfille. That is, love thi lord God Levest aboven alle ; essi

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 195

And after, alle cristcne creatures In commune, ech man oother ; And thus bi-longeth to lovye, That leveth be saved. And but we do thus in dede, At the day of dome It slial bi-sitten us ful soure The silver that we kepen ; Andourebakkes that motlie-etenbe, And seen beggeris go naked ; Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel, And wite any in defaute. 0343

For every cristene creature Sholde be kynde til oother, And sithen hethen to helpe, In hope of araendement.

*' God hoteth heighe and lowe Tiiat no man hurte oother ; And seith, *Slee noght that sem- To myn owene liknesse, [blable is But if I sende thee som tokene ; ' And seith * Non vioechaberis. Is slee noglit, but suffre, 6354

And al for the beste ; [torie

For I shal punysshe hem in purga- Or in the put of helle, Ech man for hise mysdedes, But mercy it lette.' "

" npHIS is a long lesson," quod I, -L " And litel am I the wiser ; "Where Do-wel is or Do-bet, Derkliche ye shewen. Manyo tales ye tellen 6364

196 THE VISION OF

That Theologie lerneth ; 6365

And that I man maad was, And my name y-entred In the legende of lif Longe er I were, [nesse.

Or ellis un-wniten for som wikked- As Holy Writ witnesseth : Nemo ascenclit ad caelum, nisi qui de ccelo descendit.

"I leve it wel," quod I, "by onre And on no lettrure bettre. [Lord ! For Salomon the sage, 6376

That Sapience taughte, God gat hym grace of wit, And alle hise goodes after ; He denied wel and wdsely, As Holy Writ telleth. Aristotle and he. Who wissed men bettre 1 Maistres that of Goddes mercy Techen men and prechen. Of hir wordes thei wissen us For Avisest as in hir tyme, 6387

And al holy chirche Holdeth hem bothe y-dampned.

" And if I sholde werche by hir To Wynne me hevene, [werkes

That for hir werkes and wit iSIow wonyeth in pyne, Thanne wroughe I un-wisly, What so evere ye preche,

"Ac of fele witty, in feith, Litel ferly I have, Though hir goost be un-gracious 6398

PIERS PLOUGIIMAX. 197

God for to plese. 6309

For many men on this moolJe

Moore setten liir hertes

In good than in God ;

For-thi hem grace failleth

At hir mooste meschief,

AMian thei shal lif lete.

As Salomon dide, and swiche othere

That shewed grete wittes ;

Ac hir werkes, as holy writ seith,

Were evere the contrarie.

For-thi wise witted men, 64io

And wel y-Iettrede clerkes,

As thei seyen hemself,

Selde doon therafter. Super cathedra Mmjsi, etc.

"Ac I wene it worth of manye, As was in Xoes tyme, Tho he shoop that ships Of shides and of hordes ; Was nevere wrighte saved that

wroghte tlieron, Xe oothir werkman ellis, 6421

But briddes, and beestes, And the blissed Noe, And his wif with hise sones, And also hire wyves ; Of wightes that it wroghte Was noon of hem y-saved.

" God leve it fare noght so hi folk That the feith techeth Of holi chirche, that herberwe is, And Goddes hous to save, And shildenusfromshame therinne,

VOL. L Q

198 THE VISION OF

As Noes ship dide beestes ; 6433 And men that maden it A-mydde the flood a-dreynten. The cnlorum of this clause Curatours is to niene, [make

That ben carpenters holy kirk to For Cristes owene beestes : Homines et jumenta salvahis, Do- mine, etc.

" On Good Friday I fynde A felon was y-saved, That hadde lyved al his lif 6444 With lesynges and with thefte ; And for he beknede to the cros, And to Crist shrof him, He was sonner y-saved Than seint Johan the Baptist ; And or Adam or Ysaye, Or any of the prophetes, That hadde y-leyen with Lucifer Many longe yeres, A robbere was y-raunsoned Rather than thei alle, [torie,

Withouten any penaunce of purga- To j^erpetuel blisse.

" Than Marie Maudeleyne What womman dide werse % Or who worse than David, That Uries deeth conspired ? Or Poul the apostle. That no pite hadde Muche cristene kynde To kille to dethe 1 And now ben thise as sovereyns With seintes in hevene, 6467

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 199

Tho that ^\TOUghte wikkedlokest G46S 111 world tlio thei "were. And tho tliat -wisely wordeden, And writen nianye bokes Of wit and of wisedom, With dampned soules wonye. That Salomon seith,! trowebe sooth And certein of us alle : Sunt jusii atqiie sapientes et opera eorum in manu Dei sunt, etc.

"Ther are witty and wcl libbynge, Ac hire werkes ben y-hudde 6479 In the hondes of alnij-ghty God, And he woot the sothe, "Wherforc anian worth allowed there, And hise lele werkes, Or ellis for his yvel wille, And for envye of licrte, And be allowed as he lyved so ; For by the luthere men knoweth the goode.

"And wlierby wiste men which If alle thyng blak wore ? [were whit. And who were a good man, But if ther were som sherewe ? For-thi lyve we forth with othere

I leve fewe ben goode ; [men. For quant oportet vient en place,

II n'li ad cpie pati.

And he that may al amende, Have mercy on us alle ! For sothest word that ever Godseide Was tho he seide Nemo bonus.

" Clergie tho of Cristes mouth Comcnded was it litel ; 6601

200 THE VISION OF

For he seide to seint Peter, 6502

And to swiche as lie lovede,

Cum steteritis ante reges et prce-

sides, etc. Though ye come bifore kynges And clerkes of the lawe, Beth noght abasshed, For I shal be in youre mouthes, And gyve yow wit and wille, And konnyng to conclude Hem alle that ayeins yow Of Cristendom disputen. 6513

" David maketli mencion, He spak amonges kynges, [hym And myghte no kyng over-comen As by konnynge of speche, But wit and wisedom Wan nevere the maistrie. Whan man was at meschief, Withoute the moore grace.

"The dough tieste doctour And devinour of the Trinitee Was Austyn the olde, 6524

And heighest of the foure, Seide thus in a sermon, I seigh it writen ones : Ucce ipsi idiotcB irapiunt ccdum, uhi nos sapientes in inferno mer- gimur.

" And is to mene to men, Moore ne lesse, Arn none ratlier y-ravysshed Fro the riglite bileve, Than are thise konnynge clerkes That konne manye bokes. esse

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 201

" Ne none sonner saved, 6537 Ne sadder of bileve, Than plowmen and pastours, And othere commune laborers; Souteres and shei^herdes, And othere lewed juttes, Percen with a pater-noster The paleys of hevene, And passen purgatoriepenaunce-lees At her hennes partyng Into the blisse of paradis, For hir pure bileve, cms

That imparfitly here knewe, And ek lyvede.

" Ye men knowe clerkes, That han corsed the tyme [moore That evere thei kouthe or knewe Tlian Credo in Deum i^atrem; And principally hir pater-noster Many a persone hatli wisshed.

" I se ensamples myself, And so may manye othere. That servauntz that serven lordes Selde fallen in areracfe. And tho that kepeu the lordes catel, Clerkes and reves.

" Eight so lewed men, Ajid of litel knowyng, Selden falle thei so foule And so fer in synne, As clerkes of holy chirche That kepen Cristes tresor, The which is mannes soule to save, As God seith in the Gospel : Ite vos in vineam meain.'^ 8671

Passus Undecimus.

(^i^'^^HANNE Scripture scorned '^ ^;^ ^^-^^ a skile tolde, [me,

And lakked me iu Latyn, And light by me she sette, And seide ^' Multi multa sciunt Et seipsos nesckmt"

Tho wepte I for wo And wrathe of hir speche ; And in a wynkynge wrathe Weex I a-slepe. A merveillous metels Mette me thanne, 65S3

That I was ravysshed right there, And Fortune me fette. And into the lond of longynge Allone she me broughte, [erthe And in a mirour that highte middel- She made me to biholde. " Soue," she seide to me, " Here myghtow se wondres, And knowe that thow coveitest, And come therto, peraunter."

Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge Two faire damyseles ; [hire

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 203

Concupxscentia-caniis esor.

Men called tlie elder mayde, And Coveitise-of-eighes Y-called was that oother. Pride-of-pariitdyvj'nge Pursued hem bothe, And bad me for my contenaunce Acounten Clergie lighte. Co nc upiscen tia-ca mis Colled me aboute the nekke, And seide, " Thow art yong and And hast yeres y-nowe [yeepe, For to lyve longe, And ladies to lovye ; And in this mirour thow myght se Myghtes ful manye, That leden thee wole to likynge

Al thi lif tyme."

The secounde seide the same,

" I shal sewe thi wille ;

Til thow be a lord and have lend,

Leten thee I nelle,

That I ne shal folwe thi felawshipe,

If Fortune it like."

" He shal fynde me his frend,"

Quod Fortune therafter ;

•' The freke that fohvede my wille

Failled nevere blisse." [Elde,

Thanne was ther oon that highte

That hevy was of chere ; [thee,

«' Man," quod he, " if I mete with

By Marie of hevene 1

Thowshalt fynde Fortune thee faille

At thi moostc nede, «»

204 . THE VISION OF

And Concupiscentia-carnis 6630

Clene thee forsake.

Eittrely shaltow banne tlianne

Bothe dayes and nyglites

Coveitise-of-eighe,

That evere thow hir knewe,

And Pride-of-parfit-lyvynge

To muche peril thee brynge."

" Ye, recche thee nevere," quod Rechelesnesse, Stood forthe in raggede clothes, " Folwe forth that Fortune wole, 6G4o Thow hast wel fer til Elde ; A man may stoupe tyme y-nogh, Whan he shal tyne the crowne,

'■'• Homo pro2'>onit quod a poete, And Plato he highte, And Dims disponit quod he, Lat God doon his wille. If Truths wol witnesse it be wel do Fortune to folwe, Concupiscentia-carnis, Ne Coveitise-of-eighes, 665i

Ne shal noght greve thee gretly, Ne bigile, butifthowwoltthiselve."

" Ye, fare wel Phippe and Faun- And forth gan me drawe, [teltee," Til Concujnscentia-carnis Acorded alle my werkes.

" Alas ! eighe," quod Elde And Holynessc bothe, [nesse,

That wit shal torne to wrecched- For wil to have his likyng."

Coveitise-of-eighes 6662

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 205

Con fort ed me anoon after, 6663

And fohved me fourty wynter

And a fifte moore,

That of Do--\vel ne Do-bet

Ne deyntee me thoughte.

Ibaddenolikyng,levemeif theelist,

Of hem ought to knowe.

Coveitise-of-eighes 6674

Com ofter in mynde

Than Do-wel or Do-bet,

Among my dedes alle.

Coveitise-of-eighes 6674

Conforted me ofte, And seide, "Have no conscience How thow come to goode. Go confesse thee to som frere, And shewe hym thi synnes ; For whiles Fortune is thi frend Freres wol thee lovye, And fecche thee to bir fratemitee, And for tlie bisoke To hir priour provincial A pardon for to have, 6685

And preien for thee pol by pol, If thow he pecuniosus." Sed poena pecuniar ia non siificitpyro

sjnritualihvs delidis. By wissynge of this wencbe I

"wroughte, Hir wordes were so swete, Til I for-yat youthe, And yarn into elde.

And thanne was Fortune my foo, For al hir faire speche ; eeae

206 THE VISION OF

And poverte pursued me, 6696

Aiid putte me lowe.

And tho fond I the frere a-fered, And flittynge bothe Ayeins oure firste for-warde ; For I seide I nolde Be buried at hire hous, But at my parisshe chirche. For I herde ones How Conscience it tolde, That there a man were cristned Be kynde he sholde be buryed ; Or where he were parisshen, Eight there he sholde be graven. And for I seide thus to freres, A fool thei me helden, And loved me the lasse For my lele speche.

Ac yet I cryde on my confessour, That heeld hymself so konnyng ; \ " By my feith ! frere," quod I,

" Ye faren lik thise woweris That wedde none widwes 6718

\ But for to welden hir goodes.

\ Right so, by the roode !

\ Roughte ye nevere

Wliere my body were buryed, By so ye hadde my silver.

" Icli have muche merveille of yow, And so hath many another, Whi youre covent coveiteth - To confesse and to burye,

"Rather than to baptize barnes ;p hat ben catecumelynges. 6729

\

PIEBS PLOUGHMAN. 207

Baptizynge and buryinge r.730

Bothe beth ful nedef uUe ;

Ac muche moore meritorie,

Me thynketh it is to baptize.

For a baptized man may,

As thise maistres telleth,

Thorugh contricion come

To the heighe hevene.

Sola contritio, etc.

Ac bam withouten bapteme

May noght so be saved.

Nisi quis reiiatiis fuerit. 674i

Loke ye, lettred men,

^Vheither I lye or do noght."

And Lewt^ loked on me,

And I loured after. [Lewtee,

" "WTierfore lourestow 1 " quod And loked on mo harde.

"If I dorste," quod I, "amonges This metels avowe ! " [men

" Yis, by Peter and by Poul ! " quod he, And took hem bothe to witnesse. Non oderis fralres secrete in corde tuo, sed puhlice arjiie illos."

"They wole aleggen also," quod I, " And by the Gospel preven : Nolite judicare quemquam."

" And wherof serveth lawe ? " quod Lewtee, " If no lif undertoke it, Falsnesse ne faiterie, For som what the apostle seide, Non oderis fratrem. 67«i

208 THE VISION OF

And in tlie Sauter also 6V62

Seith David the prophete, Existimadi inique quod ero tui siinilis, etc.

" It is licitum for lewed men To sigge the sothe, If hem liketh and lest, Ech a lawe it graunteth ; Excepte persons and preestes, And prelates of holy chirche, It falleth noght for that folk No tales to telle, 6V73

Though the tale be trewe, And it touche synne.

" Thyug that al the world woot, Wherfore sholdestow spare To reden it in retorik To a-rate dedly synne ? Ac be nevere moore the firste Defaute to blame ; [first,

Though thow se yvel, seye it noght Be sory it nere amended No tliyng that is pryv^, 67S4

Publice thow it nevere ; Neither for love preise it noght, Ne lakke it for envye. Parum Imida, vitupera parcius."

" He seith sooth," quod Scripture tho. And skipte an heigh, and preched. Ac the matere that she meved, If lewed men it knewe. The lasse, as I leve, Lovyen it thai wolde. 6704

PIERS FLOUGHMAN. 209

This was liir teme and hir text, I took fill good hede ; Multi to a mangerie And to the mete were sompned ; And whan the pejijle was pleuer

comen, The porter unpynned the yate, And plukked in Pauci pryveliche, And leet the remenaunt go rome.

Al for tene of hir text Trembled myn herte ; And in a weer gan I wexe, esos And with myself to dispute Wheither I were chosen or noght

chosen. On holi chirclie I thoucrhte. That under-fonged me atte font For oon of Goddes chosene. For Crist cleped us alle, Come if we wolde, Sarzens and scismatikes, And so he dide the Jewes. 0 vos onines sitientes, venite, etc. And bad hem souke for synne Safly at his breste, And drynke boote for bale, Brouke it who so myghte.

"Thanne may alle cristene come," quod r, " And cleyme there entree Ey the blood that he boughte us And thorugh bapteme after, [with Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, etc 6«x

210 THE VISION OF

For though a cristen man coveited His cristendom to reneye, Rightfully to reneye No reson it wolde.

" For may no cherl chartre make, Ne his catel selle, Withouten leve of his lord ; No lawe wol it graunte. Ac he may renne in arerage, And rome so fro home, And as a reneyed caytif Recchelesly rennen aboute. 6838 And Reson shal rekene "with hym, And casten hym in arerage, And putten hym after in a prison In purgatorie to brenne, For hise arerages re warden hym there To the day of dome ; But if Contricion wol come, And crye, by his lyve, Mercy for hise mysdedes, With mouthe and with herte,"

" That is sooth," seide Scripture ; " May no synne lette Mercy al to amende, And mekenesse hir folwe. For thei beth, as oure bokes telleth, Above Goddes werkes." Misericordia ejus super omnia opera ejus.

" Ye, baw for bokes," quod con Was broken out of helle, Highte Trojanus, hadde ben a trewe Took witnesse at a pope, [knyght.

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 211

How he was ded and dampned esei To dwellea in pyue, For an uncristene creature ; " Clerkes wite the sotlie, That al the clergie under Crist Ke niyghte me cracche fro helle, But oonliche love and leautee, And my laweful domes.

" Gregorie wiste this wel, And wilued to my soule Savacion for soothnesse That he seigh in my werkes ; 6872 And after that he wepte, And wilned me were graunted Grace ; withouten any bene biddyng His boone was under-fongen, And I saved, as ye see, Withouten syngynge of masses. By love and by lern}'ng Of my lyvynge, in truths, Broughte me fro bitter peyne Ther no biddpig myghte."

Lo ! ye lordes, what leautee dide By an emperour of Rome, That was an uncristene creature, As clerkes fyndeth in bokes. Nought thorugh preiere of a pope, But for his pure truthe. Was that Sarsen saved. As seint Gregorie bereth witnesse.

Wel oughte ye, lordes, that lawes kepe, This lesson to have in mynde, And on Trojanus truthe to thenke,

212 THE VISION OF

And do trutlie to the peple. 6894 " Lawe, witliouten love," quod Tro- " Ley ther a bene, [janus.

Or any science under sonne, The sevene artz and alle, But thei ben lerned for cure Lordes Lost is al the tyme ; " [love,

For no cause to cacche silver therby, Ne to be called a maister, But al for love of oure Lord, And the bet to love the peple. For seint Johan seide it, 6905

And sothe arn hise vrordes. Qui non diligit, manet in morte.

Who so loveth noght, leve me. He lyveth in deep deyinge ; And that alle manere men, Enemyes and frendes, Love hir eyther oother. And leve hem, as hemselve, Who so leveth noght, he loveth God woot the sothe ! [noght,

Crist comaundeth ech a creature To conformen hym to lovye. And sovereynly the povere peple. And hir enemyes after. For hem that haten us Is oure merite to lovye. And povere peple to plese, Hir preieres maye us helpe. And oure joye and oure heele Jhesu Crist of hevcne In a povere mannes apparaille Pursued us evere ; 6927

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 213

And loketh on us in liir liknesse, And that with lovely chere, To knowen us by oure kynde herte And castynge of oure eighen, "Wlieitlier we love the lordes here Bifore the Lord of blisse ; And exciteth us by the Euvangelie That whan we maken festes, "We sholde noght clepe oure k\Ti Ne none kynnes riche. [therto,

Cum facitis convivia, nolite invitare ami COS. om

" Ac calleth the carefulle therto, The croked and the povere. For youre frendes wol feden yow, And fonde yow to quyte [gifte ; Youre festynge and youre fairs Ech frend quyteth so oother.

"Ac for the povere I shal paie, And pure wel quyte hir travaille, That gyveth hem mete or moueie, Or loveth hem for my sake," For the beste ben som riche, 6950 And some beggeres and povere. For alle are we Cristes creatures, And of his cofres riche. And bretheren as of oo blood, As wel beggeres as erles. For on Calvarie of Cristes blood Cristendom gan sprynge. And blody bretheren wo bicomen Of 0 body y-wonne, [there

As quasi moclo geniti, And gentil-men echone ; 6961

VOL. I. R

214 THE VISION OF

No beggere ne boye anionges us, But if it synne made. Qui facit peccaium, servus est pec- cati.

" In the olde lawe, As holy lettre telleth, Meiines sones Men callen us echone, Of Adanies issue and Eve, Ay til God man deide ; And after his resurexcion ^erZe???^i'o?' was his name, [y-brought, And we hisebrethercn thorugh hym Bothe riche and povere. [ren,

" For-thi love we as leve brethe- And ech man laughe of oother ; And of that ech man may forbere Amende there it nedeth ; And every man helpe oother, For hennes shul we alle. Alter alterius onera portate.

" And be we noght un-kynde of oure catel, Ne of oure konnyng neither. C984 For woot no man how neigh it is To ben y-nome fro bothe. For-thi lakke no lif oother, Though he moore Latyn knowe ; Ne under-nyme noght f oule ; For is noon withoute defaute. For what evere clerkes carpe Of cristendom or ellis, Crist to a commune womman seide, In commune at a feste, ess*

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 215

ThdX fides sua sholde saven hire, And salven hire of syiines.

" Thanne is bileve a lele help, Above logyk or lawe. Of logyk or of lawe In Leijewla Sanctorum Is litel alowaunce maad, But if bileve hem helpe. For it is over longe er logyk Any lesson assoille ; And lawe is looth to lovye, But if he lacche silver. rooe

Bothe logyk and lawe, That loveth noght to lye, I conseille alle cristene Clyve noght theron to soore ; For some wordes I fyude writen, That were of feithes techyng, That saved synful men, As seint Johan bereth witnesse. Eadem mensura qua niemsifueritis, remctietur vobis.

"For-thi leme we the lawe of As oure Lord taughte, [love.

And as seint Gregorie seide For maunes soule helthe : Melius est scrutari scelera nostra, qnam noturas rerum.

*' "Why I meve this matere, Is moost for the povere ; For in hir liknesse oure Lord Ofte hath ben y-knowe. "Witnesse in the Pask wyke "NN'han he yede to Emails ; 7028

216 THE VISION OF

Cleophas ne knew hym noght 7029

That he Crist were,

For his povere apparaille,

And pilgrymes wedes,

Til he Llessede and brak

The breed that thei eten ;

So bi hise werkes thei wisten

That he was Jhesus,

Ac by clothyng thei knewe hym

Ne by carpynge of tunge. [noght,

And al was in ensample

To us synfulle here, 7040

That we sholde be lowe

And loveliche of speclie, [proudly.

And apparaille us noght over

For pilgrymes are we alle.

"And in the apparaille of a povere

And pilgrymes liknesse, [man,

Many tyme God hath ben met

Among nedy peple,

Ther nevere segge hym seigh

In secte of the riche.

" Seint Johan and othere seintes

Were seyen in poore clothyng,

And as povere pilgrymes

Preyed mennes goodes. [lighte, " Jhesu Crist on a Jewes doghter

Gentil womman though she were,

Was a pure povere maide.

And to a povere man y-wedded. " Martha on Marie Maudeleyne

An huge pleynt made.

And to oure Saveour self

Seide thise wordes : VO62

riERS rLOuainiAN. 217

Domine, non est tihi mrce quod soror niea reliquit me solum ministrare. " And hastily God answeide,

And eitheres wille fohved,

Bothe Marthaes and ^Maries,

As Mathew beretli witnesse ;

Ac poverte God putte bifore,

And preised that the bettre.

Maria optimam partem elegit^ qtice non, etc. "And alle the wise that evere were,

3y aught I kau aspye,

Preiseden poverte for best lif,

If pacience it folwed,

And bothe bettre and blesseder

By many fold than richesse.

For though it be sour to sufEre,

Therafter conieth swete ;

As on a walnote withoute

Is a bitter barke,

And after that bitter bark,

Be the shelle aweye, 7085

Is a kernel of confort

Kynde to restore.

"So is after poverte or penaunce

Paciently y-take ;

For it maketh a man to have mynde

In God, and a gret wille

To wepe and to wel bidde,

Wherof wexeth mercy,

Of which Crist is a kernello

To conforte the soule.

And wel sikerer he slepeth, ro96

218 THE VISION OF

The man that is povere, 7097

And. lasse he dredeth deeth, And in derke to ben y-robbed, Than he that is right riche, Eeson bereth witnesse. Pauper ego halo, dum tu dives me- ditaris.

" Al thongh Salomon seide, As folk seeth in the Bible, Divitias vec jycLupertates, etc. Wiser than Salomon was Bereth witnesse and taughte 7i08 That parfit poverte was No possession to have, And lif moost likynge to God, As Luc bereth witnesse : Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende.

" And is to mene to men That on this moolde lyven, Who so wole be pnre parfit Moot possession forsake, Or selle it, as seith the Book, And the silver dele To beggeris that goon and begge And bidden good for Goddes love. For failed nevere man mete That myghtful God serveth, As David seith in the Sauter To swiche that ben in wille To serve God goodliche, ISle greveth hyni no penaunce : Nihil inpossihile vole^iti. Ne lakketh nevere liflode, Lynnen ne wollen. 7i30

riERS PLOUGRMAX 219

Tnquirenfes autem Doniinum non ■minuentur omni bono.

" If preestes ■weren parifite, Thei wolde ne silver take For masses ne for matyns, Noght hit mete of usureres, Ne neither kirtel ne cote, Theigh tliei for cold sholde deye, And thei liir devoir dide, As David seith in the Sautcr : Jiulica me, Deus, et clecer7ie causam meam. 7142

" <Sj9era-i7i-Z)(?(? speketh of preestes That have no spendyng silver, That if thei travaille tniweliche And truste in God almyghty, Hem sholde lakke no liflode, Neyther lynnen ne woUen. And the title that ye take ordres by Telleth ye ben avaunced ; [silver Thanne nedeth yow noght to take For masses that ye syngen. For he that took yow youre title, Sholde take yow youre wages, Or the bisshop that blessed yow. If that ye ben worthi. [knyght,

" For made nevere kyng no But he hadde catel to spende As bifel for a knyght, Or foond hym for his strengthe. It is a careful knyght, And of a caytif kynges makyng, That hath no lond nc lynage riche, Ne good loos of hisc haudes. 71*4

220 THE VISION OF

" The same I segge, for sothe, By alls swiche preestes That han neither konnynge ne kyn, But a crowne one, And a title, a tale of noght, To his liflode at his meschief. He hath moore hileve, as I leve, To lacche through his croune Cure, than for konnyng, Or knowen for clene berynge. I have wonder for why And wherefore the bisshope 7i76 Maketh swiche preestes, That lewed men bitrayen.

" A chartre is chalangeable Bifore a chief justice ; If fals Latyn be in the lettre. The lawe it impugneth, Or peynted parentrelynarie, Or percelles over-skipped ; The gome that gloseth so chartres For a goky is holden.

" So is it a goky, by God ! 7i87 That in his gospel failleth, Or in masse or in matyns Maketh any defaut. Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est

reus. " And also in the Sauter Seith David to over-skipperis, Psallite Deo nostro, 2^saUite, quo-

niam rex ierrce Deus Israel,

psallite sapienter. " The bisshop shal be blamed

riERS PLOUGHMAN. 221

Bifore God, as I leve, [knyghtes That crounetli swichc Goddes That konneth noght sajjienter Synge, ne psalmes rede, Ne scye a masse of the day. And never neither is blame-lees The bisshope ne the chapeleyn ; For hir either is endited, And that is, ujnorantia Nun excusat episcopos Nee idiotes preestes.

" This lokynge on lewed preestes Hath doon me lepe from poverte, The -which I preise ther pacience is Moore perfit than richesse."

AC muche moore in metynge thus "With me gan oon dispute ; And slepynge I seigli al this. And si then cam Kynde, And nempned me by my name, And bad me nymen hede, 7219

And thorugh the wondres of this AVit for to take. [world

And on a mountaigne that myddel- Highte, as me thoughte, [erthe I was fet forth By ensamples to knowe Thorugh ech a creature and kynde My creatour to lovye.

I seigh the sonne and the see, And the sond after ; And where that briddes and beestes

222 THE VISION OF

By liir makes yeden ; 7231

Wilde Avormes in Avodes, And wonderful foweles With fleckede fetlieres And of fele colours.

Man and his make I myghte bothe biholde ; Poverte and plentee ; Bothe pees and werre ; Blisse and bale bothe I seigh al at ones ; And how men token mede, 7242 And mercy refused.

Reson I seigh soothiy Sewen alle beestes, In etynge, in drynkynge, And in engendrynge of kynde ; And after cours of concepcion, Noon took kepe of oother [tyme, As whan thei hadde ryde in rotey Anoon right therafter Males drowen hem to males A-morwenynges by hemselve, 7253 And in evenynges also The males ben fro femelles. Ther ne was cow ne cow-kynde That conceyved hadde, That wolde belwe after boles, Ne boor after sowe ; Bothe hors and houndes, And alio othere beestes, Medled noght with hir makes That with fole were.

Briddes I biheld 7264

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 223

That in buskcs made nestes, 7205

Hadde nevero wyo wit

To werche the leeste.

I hadde wonder at whom

And wher the pye lerned

To legge the stikkes

In whiche she leyeth and bredeth.

Tlier nys wrighto, as I wene,

Sholde werche liir nestes to paye ;

If any mason made a niolde therto,

Muche wonder it were.

Ac vet me merveilled moore, How many otliere briddes Hidden and hileden Hir egges ful derno In mareys and moores, For men sholde hem noght fynde ; And hidden hir egges, Whan thei therfro wente, For fere of othere foweles, And for wilde beestes.

And some troden hir makes, And on trees bredden, 72sr

And broughten forth liir briddes so Al above the grounde ; And some briddes at the bile Thorugh bretliyng conceyved ; And some caukede ; and took kepe How pecokkes bredden. Muche merveilled me What maister hem made, And who taughte hem on trees To tymbre so heighe, Ther neither burn ne beest 7298

224 THE VISION OF

May liir briddes rechen, 7299

And sitlieu I loked upon the see, And so forth upon the sterres ; Manye selkouthes I seigh, Ben noglit to seye noutbe.

I seigh floures in the fryth, And hir faire colours ; And how among the grene gras Growed so manye hewes, And some soure and some swete, Selkouth me thoughte ; Of liir kynde and hir colour 73io To carpe it were to longe.

Ac that moost meved me And my mood chaunged, That Reson rewarded And ruled alle beestes, Save man and his make ; Many tyme and ofte JSTo reson hem folwede. And thanne I rebukede Reson, and right

Til hymselven I seyde : T321

" I have wonder of thee," quod I, " That witty art holden, [make, "Why thow ne sewest man and his That no mysfeet hem folwe."

And Reson a-rated me, And seide, "Recche thee nevere ; Why I suffre or noglit suffre, Thiself hast noght to doone. Amende thow it, if thow myght. For my tyme is to abide. Sulfraunce is a soverayn vertue,

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 225

And a swift vengeance. 7333

"Who suffrede moore than God?" " No gome, as I leeve. [quod lie ; He m yghte amende in a minute while Al that niys-standeth ; Ac he suffreth forsommannesgoode, And so it is oure bettre, The wise and the witty Wroot thus in the Bible : De re quce te non molestat, noli certare.

" For be a man fair or foul, 7344 It falleth noglit for to lakke The shap ne the shaft That God shoop hymselve ; For al that he dide was wel y-do, As holy writ witnesseth : Et vidit Dens cuncta quce fecerat, et erant valde bona.

" And bad every creature In his kynde encreosse ; Al to murthe with man, That moste wo tholie 7355

In fondynge of the flessh, And of the fend bothe. For man was maad of swichamatere, He may noght wel a-sterte That ne som tyme hym bitit To folwen his kynde. Caton a-cordcth therwith, Nemo sine rrimine vivit."

Tho caughte I colour anoon, And comsed to ben ashamed, And awaked therwith. 7366

226 THE VISION OF

Wo was me tlianne, 7307

That I in nietels ne myghte Moore have y-knowen. And thanne seide I to myself, And chidde that tyme, [quod I, "Now I woot what Do-wel is, Ly deere God ! as me thynketh."

And as I caste up myne eighen, Oon loked on me and asked Of me, what thynge it were : " Y-wis, sire," I seide, " To se muche and suffre moore, Cartes," quod I, "is Do-wel."

" Haddestow suffred," he seide, " Slepynge tho thow were, Thow sholdest have knowen that

Clergie kan, And contreved moore thorughreson. For Reson wolde have reherced thee Right as Clergie seide. Ac for thyn entre-metynge, Here artow forsake. Pldlosoplms esses, si tacuisses 7388

" Adam, whiles he spak noght, Hadde paradis at wille ; Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete, And entre-metede to knowe The wisedom and the wit of God, He was put fram blisse.

" Andright so ferde Reson hi thee; Thow with thi rude speche Lakkedest and losedest thyng That longed the noght to doone. Tho hadde he no likyng For to lere the moore. 7400

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 227

" PryJe now and presumpcion "401 Peraveuture wol thee appele, That Clergie thi compaignyo Kepeth noght to suwe. Shal nevere chalangynge nechidynge Chaste a man so scene, As shal shame, and shenden hym. And shape hym to amende. For lat a dronken daffe In a dyk falle,

Lat hym ligge, loke noght on hym, Til hym liste aryse. 7412

For though Eeson rebuked h}Tn It were but pure synne. [thanue, Ac whan nede nymeth hym up For doute lest he sterve, And shame shrapeth hise clothes, And hise shynes wassheth, Thanne woot the dronken daffe "VNTierfore he is to blame."

" Ye siggen sooth," quod I ; '* Ich have y-seyen it ofte, Ther smyt no thyng so smerte, Ne smelleth so soure, As shame, there he sheweth hym ; For every man hym shonyeth. Why ye wisse me thus," quod I, " Was for I rebuked Resou."

" Certes," quod he, " that is sooth ; " And shoop hym for to walken. And I aroos up right Avith that, And fohved hym after, And preyde hym of his curteisie To telle me his name. 7434

Passus Duodecimus, etc. .

AM Ymaginatif," quod he, " Ydel was I nevere,

Thongli I sitte by myself,

In siknesse nor in helthe.

I have f olwed thee, in f eith ! Thise fyve and fourty wynter, And manye tymes have meved thee To thynke on thyn ende, And how fele fernyeres are faren, And so fewe to come ; And of thi wilde wantownesse Tho thow yong were, 7446

To amende it in thi middel age, Lest myght the failled In thyn olde elde, That yvele kan sufFre Poverte or penaunce. Or preyeres to bidde. Si noil in prima vigilia, nee in se- cunda, etc. " Amende thee, while thow myght ; Thow hast ben warned ofte With ponstees of pestilences, "With poverte and Avith angres ; 7458

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 229

And with thise bittre baleises 7459 God beteth his deere children. Quern diliffo, castigo.

" And Uavid in the Sauter seith Of swiche that loveth Jhesus : Virga tua et haculus tuus ipsa me corisolati sunt. [thi staf,

" Al though thow strike me with "With stikke or with yerde, It is but murthe as for me, To amende my soule. [kynges,

And thow medlest thee witli ma- And myghtest go seye thi Sauter, And bidde for hem that gy veth thee For ther are bokes y-knowe [breed, To telle men what Do-wel is, Do-bet and Do-best bothe, And prechours to preven what it is Of many a peire freres."

I seigh wel he seide me sooth ; And som what me to excuse, Seide Caton conforted me his sone, That clerk though he were, 7481 To solacen hym som tyme, As I do whan I make : Interponetuisinterdumgaudiacuris.

"And of holy men I herde," " How thei outlier while [quod I, Pleyden the parfiter, To ben in manye places, Ac if ther were any wight That wolde me telle "What were Do-wel and Do-bet 7492

VOL. I. B

230 THE VISION OF

And Do-best at the laste, 7493

Wolde I nevere do werk, But wende to holi cliirche, And ther bidde my bedes, But whan ich ete or slope."

" Foul in his pistle," quod he, " Preveth Avhat is Do-wel : Fides, spes, caritas, et major Jiorutn,

etc. Feitli, hope, and charity ; And alle ben goode, And saven men sondry tymes ; 7504 Ac noon so soone as charite. For he dooth Avel withouten doute, That dooth as lewt6 techeth ; That is, if thow be man maryed, Thi make thow lovye, And lyve forth as lawe wole, "While ye lyven bothe.

" Eight so if thow be religious, Een thow nevere ferther To Eome ne to Eocheraador, But as thi rule techeth ; 7515

And hold thee under obedience, That heigh wey is to hevene.

"And if thow be maiden to marye, And myght wel continue, Seke thow nevere seint ferther For no soule helthe. For what made Lucifer To lese the heighe hevene ? Or Salomon his sapience, Or Sampson his strengthe ? Job the Jew his joye T526

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 231

i'ul (Jeere a-boughte ; 7&2r

Aristotle and othere mo,

Ypocras and Virgile ;

Alisaundie, that al wan,

Elengliche ended.

Catel and kj'nde wit

Was combrauuce to hem alle.

" Felice hir fairnesse Fel hire al to sclaundre ; And Kosamounde right so, Keufulliche to bileve, The beaute of hir body 753S

In baddenesse she despended. Of manye swiche I may rede, Of men and of womnien, That wise wordes wolde shewe, And werche the contrarie. Sunt homines nequam bene de mrtitte loqU€7ltes.

" And riche renkes right so Gadercu and sparen, And the men that tliei moost haten Mynistren it at the laste. -im

And for thei sutfren and see So manye nedy folkes, Andluvehem noght asoure Lord bit, Thei lesen hir soules. Date et dahitur vohis.

"And richesse right so, But if the roote be trewe. Ac grace is a gras therof Tho grevaunces to abate. Ac grace ne groweth noght Eut amonges lowe ; 75«o

232 THE VISION OF

Pacience and poverte 756i

The place highte tlier it groweth,

And in lele lyvynge men,

And in lif holy,

And thorugh the gifte of the Holy

As the Gospel telleth. [Goost,

Spiritus uhi vult spirat.

" Clergie and kynde wit Cometh of sighte and techyng ; As the book hereth witnesse To burnes that kan rede. Quod scimus loquimur, quod vidimus testamur.

" Of qtwd scimus cometh clergie And konnynge of hevene ; And of quod vidimus cometh kynde Of sighte of diverse peple. [wit, Ac grace is a gifte of God, And of greet love spryngeth ; Knew nevere clerk how it cometh Ne kynde wit the weyes. [forth, Nescit aliquis unde venit, aut quo vadit, etc. 7583

" Ac yet is clergie to comende. And kynde wit bothe ; And namely clergie, for Cristas love That of clergie is roote. For Moyses witnesseth that God For to wisse the peple [wroot

In the'olde lawe, as the lettre telleth, That was the lawe of Jewes, That what womman were in avoutryo Were she riche or poore, [taken, With stones men sholde hir strike,

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 233

And stone hire to dethe. 7595

" A womman, as I fynde, Was gilty of that dede. Ac Crist of his curteisie Thorugh clergie hir saved ; And thorugh caractes that Crist The Jewes knewe hemselve [wroot, Giltier as a-fore God, And gretter in synne, Than the womman that there was, And wenten awey for shame.

" The clergie that there was, Conforted the womman. Holy kirke kuoweth this, That Cristes writyng saved hire. So clergie is confort To creatures that repenten, And to mansede men Meschief at hire ende.

"For Goddes body myghte noght Of breed, withouten clergie ; [ben The which body is bothe Boote to the rightfuUe, reir

And deeth and dampnacion To hem that deyeth yvele, As Cristes caracte coufortede, And bothe coupable shewed, The womman that the Jewes

broughte, That Jhesus thoughte to save. Polite jmlicare, et not judicabimini. Right so Goddes body, bretheren, But if it be worthili taken, Dampneth us at the day of dome,

234 THE VISION OF

As the caractes dide the Jewes.

" For-thi I counseille thee, for Cristes sake, Clergie that thow lovye. For kynde wit is of his kyn, And neighe cosynes bothe To oure Lord, ieve me ; For-thi love hem, I rede. For bothe ben as mirours To amenden oure defautes. And lederes for lowed men And for lettred bothe. 7638

"For-thi lakke thownevere logik, Lawe ne hise custumes ; Ne countreplede clerkes, I counseille thee for evere. For as a man may noght see, That mysseth hise eiglien ; ]S^a-moore kan no clerk, [bokes. Eut if he caughte it iirst thorugh Al though men made bokes, God was the maister, And seint sj^irit the samplarie, 7049 And seide what men sholde write.

"Right so ledeth lettruro Lewod men to reson ; And as a blynd man in bataille Bereth wepne to fighte, And hath noon hap with his ax His enemy to hitte, Ka-moore kan a kynde witted man, But clerkes hym teche, Come for al his kynde wit To cristendom, and be saved. 7660

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 235

"VVTiich is the cofre of Cristes tresor. And clerkes kepe the keyes To unloken it at hir likyng, And to the lewed peple Gyve mercy for hire mysdedes, If men it wolde aske Buxomliche and benigneliche, And bidden it of Grace.

^'Archa Dei in the olde la we Lcvytes it kepten ; Hadde nevere lewed man leve To leggen hond on that cheste, But he were preest or preestes sone, Patriark or prophete. For clergie is kepere Under Crist of hevene. Was ther nevere no knyght, But clergie hym made. Ac kynde wit cometh Of alle kynnes syghtes, Of briddes and of beestes, Of tastes of truthe and of deceites.

" Lyveris to-forn us tsss

Useden to marke For selkouthes that thei seighen, Hir sones for to teche ; And helden it an heigh science Hir wittes to knowe. Ac thorugh hir science soothly "Was nevere no soule y-saved, Ne broght by hir bokes To blisse ne to joye ; For alle hir kynde knowynges Come but of diverse sightes. 76M

236 THE VISION OF

" Patriarkes and prophetes 7695 Repreveden hir science, And seiden hir wordes and hir wis- Nas but a f olye ; [domes

And to the clergie of Crist Counted it but a trufle. Sapientia hujus mundi stuUitia est apud Deum.

" For the heighe Holy Goost Hevene shal to-cleve, And love shall lepen out after Into the lowe erthe ; 7706

And clennesse shal cacchen it, And clerkes shullen it fynde. Pastores loquebmitur ad invicem.

" He speketh there of riche men Ne of right witty, [right noght, Ne of lordes that were lewed men, But of the hyeste lettred oute. Ibant viagi ah oriente.

" If any frere were founde there, I gyve thee fyve shillynges ; Ne in none burgeises cote 7ViT

Was that barn born ; But in a burgeises place Of Bethlem the beste. Sed lion erat ei locus in diversorio, et pauper nan hahet diversorium.

"To pastours and to poetes Appered the aungel. And bad hem go to Bethlem Goddes burthe to honoure ; And songe a song of solas, Gloria in excelsis Deo ! 772s

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 237

" Clerkes knewen it wel, "-i-J And comen with liir presentz, And diden homage honurably To hym that -was almyghty.

" "\\1iy I have tolde al this, I took fill good hade How thow contrariedest Clergie With crabbede "wordes, How that lewde men lightloker Than lettrede Avere saved, Than clerkes or kyude witted men Of cristene peple ; nw

And thow seidest sooth of somme, Ac se in what manere.

" Tak two stronge men. And in Themese cast hem, And bothe naked as a nedle. Her noon sikerer than oother ; That oon hath konnjTige and kan S\v)'mmen and dy ven ; That oother is lewed of that labour, That lerned nevere swymme ; Which trowestow of tho two 7751 That is in moost drede ? He that nevere ne dyved, Xe noght kan of swymmyng 1 Or the swymmere that is saaf By so hymself like, Ther his felawe fleteth forth As the flood liketh, And is in drede to drenche, That nevere dide swymme 1 "

"That swymme kan noght," I " It semeth to my wittes." [seide,

238 THE VISION OF

"Eight so," quod the renk. 7763 " Reson it slieweth, That he that knoweth clergie Kan sonner arise Out of synne, and be saaf, Though he synne ofte, If hym liketh and lest, Than any lewed leelly. For if the clerk be konnynge, He knoweth what is synne, [sion And how contricion withoute conf es- Conforteth the soule ; 7774

As thow seest in the Sauter, In Salmes oon or tweyne. How contricion is comended, For it cacheth awey synne. Beati quorum remissce sunt iniqui- tates, et quorum tecta sunt, etc.

"And this conforteth ech a clerk, And covereth hym fro wanhope. In which flood the fend Fondeth a man hardest. Ther the lewed lith stille, 7785

And loketh after lente, [to shrifte, And hath no contricion er he come And thanne kan he litel telle, But as his lores-man lereth hym Bileveth and troweth ; [preest,

And that is after person or parissh The whiche ben peraventure Unkonnynge to lere lewed men, As Luc bereth witnesse : Dum ccecus ducit caecum^ etc.

" V/o was hym marked 7796

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 239

That wade moot with the lewed !

"Wei may the barn blesse that man

That hym to book sette,

That lyvynge after lettruro

Saveth hym lif auJ soule.

Dominus pars hereditatis mete,

Is a murye verset,

That hath take fro Tyboiime

Twenty stronge theves ;

Ther lewed theves beu lolled up,

Loke how thei be saved.

"Thethef that hadde grace of God On Good-friday, as thow spekcst, "Was for he yald hym creaunt to

Crist on the cros, And knewliched hym gilty, And grace asked of God, That to graunten it is redy To hem that buxomliche biddeth it, And ben in wille to amenden. Ac though that theef hadde hevene, He hadde noon heigh blisse, As seint Johan and othere seintes That deserved hadde bettre.

"Right as som man yeve me mete, And a-mydde the floor sette me, And hadde mete moore than y-

nough, Ac noght so muche worshipe As tho that seten at the syde table, Or with the sovereynes of the halle ; But sete as a beggere bord-lees By myself on the grounds. So it fareth by that felon 7828

240 THE VISION OF

That a Good-friday was saved. 7829

He sit neither with seiut Johan,

Symond ne Jude,

Ne with maydenes ne with martires,

Conf essours ne wydewes ;

But by hymself as a soleyn,

And served on erthe.

For he that is ones a thef

Is evere moore in daunger,

And, as lawe liketh,

To lyve or to deye.

Bepeccato propitiato, noli esse sine

metu. And for to serven a seint And swich a thef togideres, It were neither reson ne right To rewarde hem bothe y-liche.

" And right as Trojanus the trewe Dwelte noght depe in helle, [knyght That oure Lord ne hadde hym lightly So level the thef be in hevene. [out, For he is in the loweste of hevene, If oure bileve be trewe ; nsi

And wel loselly he lolleth there, By the lawe of holy chirche. Qui reddit unicuique juxta opera sua, etc.

" And why that oon theef on the Creaunt hym yald [cros

Kather than that oother theef, Though thow woldest appose, AUe the clerkes under Crist Ne kouthe the skile assoille. Quare jjlacuit, quia voluit. 7862

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 241

"And so I seye by theo vscs That sekest after the whyes, And a-resonedest Reson A rebukynge as it were ; And of the floures in the fryth, And of hire faire hewes, "WTierof thei cacclie hir colours So clere and so brighte ; xind wiliest of briddesandof beestes, And of hir bredyng, to knowe, Why some be a-lough and some a- Thi likyng it were ; [loft,

And of the stones and of the sterres Thow studiest, as I leve ; How evere beest outher brid Hath so breme wittes.

" Clergie ne kynde wit Ke knew nevere the cause ; Ac kynde knoweth the cause hym- And no creature ellis. [self,

He is the pies patron, And putteth it in hir ere There the thorn is thikkest 7885 To buylden and brede. And kynde kenned the pecok To cauken in swich a kynde ; And kenned Adam To knowe his pryv6 membrcs, And taughte hym and Eve To helien hem with leves.

" Lewed men many tymcs Maistres thei apposen, Why Adam ne hiled noght first His mouth that eet the appul, 7896

242 THE VISION OF

Eather than his likame a-logh ; Lewed asken thus clerkes.

" Kynde knoweth whi he dide so, Ac no clerk ellis, Ac of briddes and of beestes Men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes, As telleth the poetes ; And that the faireste fowel Foulest engendreth, And feblest fowel of flight is' That fleeth or swymmeth ; 7908

And that the pecok and the pehen Proude riche men bitokneth ; For the pecok, and men pursue hym, May noght flee heighe, For the trailynge of his tail Overtaken is he soone, And his flessh is foul flessh, And his feet bothe, And un-lovelich of ledene, And looth for to here.

" Eight so the riche, 79i9

If he his richesse kepe, Anddelethitnoght tilhis deeth-day, The tail of alle sorwe Right so as the pennes of the pecok Peyneth hym in his flight. So is possession peyne Of pens and of nobles, To alle hem that it holdeth, Til hir tail be plukked. [tlianne

" And though the riche repente And bi-rewe the tyme 7930

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 243

That evere he gadered so grete, T931

And gaf therof so litol ;

Though he crve to Crist thanne

"Witli kone wil, I \eye,

His Icdene be in oure Lordes ere

Like a pies chiteryng.

And whan his caroyne shal come

In cave to be buryed,

I leve it flawme ful foule

The fokl al aboute,

And alle the othere ther it lith

Envenymeth thorugh his attre.

" IJy the po feet is understande, As I have lerned in Avynet, Executours false frendes That fulfille noght his willc That was writen and thei witnesse To werche right as it wolde. Thus the poete preveth that the pecok For hise fetheres is reverenced, Right so is tlie riclie By reson of hise goodes.

" The larke, that is a hisse fowel, Is moore lovelich of ledene, And wel a wey of wynge Swifter than the pecok, And of flessh by fele fold Fatter and swetter ; To lowe libbynge men The larke is resembled.

"Aristotle the grete clerk Swiche tales he telleth. Thus he likneth in his logik The leeste fowel oute, 7904

244 THE VISION OF

And wheither he be saaf or noght The sothe woot no clergie, [saaf Ne of Sortes ne of Salomon 'So scripture kan telle. Ac God is so good, I hope, That siththe he gaf hem wittes To wissen us weyes therwith That wissen us to be saved, And the bettre for hir bokes To bidden we ben holden, That God for his grace Gyve hir soules reste. 7976

For lettred men were lowed men yet, Ne were loore of hir bokes."

" Alle thise clerkes,"quod I tho, " That in Crist leven, Seyen in hir sermons That neither Sarsens ne Jewes Ne no creature of Cristes liknesse Withouten cristendom worth saved. "

" Contra" quod Ymaginatif thoo, And comsed for to loure ; And seide " Salvahitur 7987

Vix Justus in die judicii. Ergo salvahitur,'" (|uod he, And seide na-moore Latyn.

" Trojanus was a trewe knyght, And took nevere Cristendom, And he is saaf, so seith the book, And his soule in hcvene. For ther is fullynge of font. And fullynge in blood shedyng. And thorugh fir is fullyng, And that is ferme bileve. yggg

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 215

Advenit ignis divinus non comhu-

rens, sed illuminans, etc. "Ac Truthe that trespased

nevere, Ne traversed ayeins his lawe, But lyvcth as his lawe techeth, And leveth ther be no bettre ; And if ther were, he wolde amende, And in swich wille deieth, JN'e wolde nevere trewe god, But truthe were allowed, [worth, And wheither it be worth or noght The bileve is gret of truthe, soio And an hope hangynge therinne To have a mede for his truthe. For Dens dicitur quasi dam vitam

ceternam mis, hoc est fidelilvs.

Et alibi: Si amhulavero in

medio uynbrce mortis. "The glose grau nte th upon that vers A greet mede to Tnithe, And wit and wisdom," quod that wye, " Was som tyme tresor To kepe with a commune, 8021

No catel was holde bettre. And muche murthe and manhod : " And right with that he yanysshed.

VOL. I.

Pctssiis Decimus Tertius, etc.

ND I awaked therwith 8025 Wit-lees ner-hande, And as a f reke that fre were Fortli gan I walke

In nianere of a niendiuaunt

Many a yer after,

And of this metyng many tyme

Muche thought I hadde.

First how Fortune me failed

At my mooste nede ;

And how that Elde manaced me,

Myghte we evere mete ; 8036

And how that freres folwede

Folk that was riche,

And folk that Avas povere

At litel pris thei sette ;

And no corps in hir kirk-yerde

Nor in his kirk was huryed,

But quik he hiquethe aught

To quyte with hir dettes ;

And how this Coveitise over-corn

Clerkes and preestes ;

And how that lewed men hen lad.

But oure Lord hem helpe, mi

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 247

Thorugh un-konnynge curatours, To incurable peynes.

And how that Yniaginatif In dremels me tolde Of Kynde and of his konnynge, And how curteis he is to bestes, And how lovynge he is to briddes On londe and on watre. Leneth he no lif Lasse ne moore. The creatures that crepen Of kynde ben engendred. soeo

And sithen how Yniaginatif seide, Vix salvahitur ; And whan he hadde seid so, How sodeynliche he passed,

I lay doun longe in this thoght, And at the laste I slepte. And as Crist wolde, ther com Con- To conforte me that tyme, [science And bad me come to his court, With Clergie sholde I dyne ; And for Conscience of Clergie spak, I com wel the rather. And there I seigh a maister, What man he was I nyste, That lowe louted And lovelicho to Scripture.

Conscience knew hym wel. And welcomed hym fairc. Thei wesshen and wipeden, And wenten to the dyner. And Pacience in the paleis stood In pilgrymes clothes, 8082

248 THE VISION OF

And preyde mete j^a?* charite soss For a povere heremyte.

Conscience called liym in, And cnrteisliclie seide, " Welcome ! wye ; go and wasshe ; Thow slialt sitte soone."

This maister was maad sitte, As for the mooste worthi. And thanne Clergie and Conscience And Paciencc cam after.

Pacience and I Were put to be macches, 8094

And seten bi oureselve At the side borde.

Conscience called after mete ; And thanne cam Scripture, And served hem thus soone Of sondry metes manye, Of Austyn, of Ambrose, And of the foure Envangelistes, Edentis et hibentis quon apud eos sunt.

Ac this maister nor his man 8105 No maner flesshe eten ; Ac thei eten mete of moore cost, Mortrews and potages Of that men mys-wonne Thei made hem wel at ese. Ac hir sauce Avas over sour, And unsavourly grounde In a morter post mortem Of many a bitter peyne, But if thei syngc for tho soules. And wepe salte teris. sue

PIEIiS PLOUGHMAN. 249

Vos quipeccata hominum covieditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas et ora- tiones effiaideritis, ea quce in deliciis comeditis, in tormentis evomctis. Conscience ful curteisly tho Comaunded Scripture Eifore Pacience breed to brjTio-e And me that was his ruacche. He sette a sour loof to-forn us, And seide, " agite pcenifentiam." "As longe," quod I, "as I lyve, And lycame may dure." '• Here is propre service," quod

Pacience, ** Ther fareth no prince bettre," And thanne he brouglite us forth a mees of oother mete, Of Miserere mei, Deus, [qtcorum, And he broughte us of Beati Of Beatus-virres makyng. Et quorutn tecta sunt peccata in a liisshe, [tibi.

Of derne shrifte Dixi et confitebor " Bryng Pacience som pitauuce," Pryveliche quod Conscience.

And thanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce. Pro hoc orabit ad te omnis sanctus

in tempore oportuno. And Conscience conforted us, And carped us murye tales. Cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despicies. sut

250 THE VISION OF

Pacience was proud 8i47

Of that propre service, And made hym murthe with his Ac I niornede evere, [mete ;

For this doctour on the heighe dees Drank Avyn so faste. VcB vohis qui potentes estis ad bi-

hendum vinum ! He eet manye sondry metes, Mortrews and puddynges, Wombe-cloutes and wilde brawen, And egges y-fryed with grece.

Thanne seide I to myself so Pacience it herde, " It is noght foure dayes that this Bifore the deen of Poules [freke Preched of penaunces That Poid the apostle sufFrede, In fame et frigore And flappes of scourges." Ter ccesus sum, et a Judeis qrdnquies qtiadragenas, etc.

Ac 0 word thei over-huppen At ech a tyme that thei preche, That Poul in his Pistle To al the peple tolde : Periculum est in fcdsis fratrUms.

Holi writ bit men be war, I wol noght write it here In Englisshe, on aventure It sholde be rcherced to ofte. And greve therwith goode men, Ac gramariens shul redde. Unusquisque a fratre se custodiat,

PIERS PLOUGIIMAX. 251

quia, ut dicitur, periculum est

in fahis fratribus. Ac I wiste nevere freke that as a

frere yede Bifore men on Englisshe Taken it for his teme, And telle it "withouten glosyng. They prechen that penaunce is Profitable to the soule, And what meschief and male ese Crist for man tholede.

" Ac this Goddes gloton," quod I, " With hise grete chekes, Hath no pite on us povere, He perfourneth yvele ; That he precheth he preveth noght," To Pacience I tolde, And wisshed ful witterly, "With -wille ful egre, That disshes and doublers Bifore this ilke doctour "Were molten leed in his mawe, And Maiiouu amyddes. 8202

" I shal jangle to this jurdan "With his juste wombe, To telle me what penaunce is, • Of which he preched rather." Pacience perceyved what I

thoughte, And wynked on me to be stille, And seide, "Thow shalt see thus

soone, "WTian he may na-moore, He shal have a penaunce in his

pauuche, am

252 THE VISION OF

And puffe at ech a worde ; 8212

And thanne sliullen his guttes go-

And he shal galpen after. [thele,

For now he hath dronken so depe,

He wole devyne soone,

And preven it by hir Pocalips

And passion of seint Avereys,

That neither bacon ne braun,

Blancm anger ne mortrews,

Is neither fissh nor ilesshe,

But fode for a penaunt [Trinit6,

And thanne shal he testifie of the

And take his felawe to Avitnesse,

What he fond in a frayel,

After a f reres ly vyng ;

And but he first lyve be lesyng,

Leve me ncvere after.

And thanne is tyme to take,

And to appose this doctour

Of Do-wel and Do-bet,

And if Do-wel be any penaunce."

And I sat stille, as Pacience seide, And thus soone this doctour, 8234 As rody as a rose, Rubbede hise chokes. Coughed and carped ; And Conscience hym herde, And tolde hym of a Trinity, And toward us he loked. [quod I,

"What is Do-wel, sire doctour'2" " Is it any penaunce ? "

"Do-wel," quod this doctour. And took the cuppe and drank, "Is do noon yvel to thyn even- cristen 8245

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 253

Nouf:jlit by thi power." [quod I,

" By this day ! sire doctour," " Thaune be yc noght in Uo-wel ; For ye lian harmed us two, In that ye eten the puddyng, ^lortrews and oother mete, And we no morsel hadde. And if ye fare so in youre fermerye, Ferly me thynketh, But cheeste bother charitd sholdebe. And yonge children dorste pleyne, I wolde permute my penaunce with youre, 8257

For I am in point to Do-wel."

Thanne Conscience curteisly A contenaunce made, And preynte upon Pacience To preie me to be stille ; And seide hymself, " Sire doctour. And it be youre wille, What is Do-wel and Do-bet, Ye dyvynours knoweth."

" Do-wel," quod this doctour, *' Do as clerkea techeth ; And Do-bet is he that techeth, And travailleth to teche othere ; And Do-best doth hymself so. As he seith and precheth." Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocco- hitur in regno ccelorum.

"Kow thow, Clergie," quod Con- " Carpest what is Do-wel. [science, I have sevene sones," he seide, " Serven in a castel, 8278

254 THE VISION OF

Ther the lord of lif wonyeth, 8279

To leren what is Do-wel ;

Til I se tho sevene

And myself acorde,

I am uu-hardy," quod he,

"To any wight to preven it.

For oou Piers the Plowman

Hath impugned us alle,

And set alle sciences at a sope,

Save love one ;

And no text ne taketh

To mayntene his cause, 82i)0

But Dilige Deum,

And Domine qiiis hahitahit.

And seith that Do-wel and Do-bet

Am two infinites,

Whiche infinites, with a feith !

Pynden out Do-best,

Which shal save mannes soule ;

Thus seith Piers the Plowman."

" I kan noght heron," quod Con- " Ac I knowe wel Piers ; [science, He wol noght ayein holy writ speken, I dar wel undertake. Tlianne passe we over til Piers come. And preve' this in dede. Pacience hath be in many place. And peraunter mouthed That no clerk ne kan. As Crist bereth witnesse : Patientes vincunt, etc." [tho,

' ' Ac y oure preiere," quod Pacience " So no man displese hym. Disce" quo he, " Z)oce, 83i2

PIEIiS PLOUGHMAN. 355

Dilige inimicos. 83i3

Disce, and Do-wel ; Doce, and Do-bet ; Dilige, and Do-best ; Thus taughte me ones A lemman that I lovede, Love was liir name : [quod she, '• With ■\vordes and with werkes," *' And wil of thyn lierte, Thow love leelly thi soule Al thi lif tyme, And so thow lere the to lovye, For oure Lordes love of hevene, Thyn enemy in alle wise Evene forth with thiselve. Cast coles on his heed Of alle kynde speche, Bothe with werkes and with wordes Fonde his love to wynne ; And leye on him thus with love, Til he laughe on the. And but he bowc for this betyng, Elynd mote he worthe. 8335

"Ac for to fare thus with thi f rend, Folie it were.

For he that loveth thee leelly, Litel of thyne coveiteth. Kynde love coveiteth noght !No catel but speche. With halfe a laumpe lyno, In Latyn, Ex vi transiiionis, I here therinne aboute Faste y-bounde Do-wel, In a sigue of the Saterday 8»4«

256 THE VISION OF

That sette first the kalender, 8347 And al the wit of the Wodnesday Of the nexte wike after, The myddel of the moone, As the nyght of hothe, And herwith am I welcome Ther I have it with me,

" Undo it, lat this doctour deme If Do-wel be therinne. For, by hym that me made ! Myghte nevere poverte Misese ne meschief, 8358

Ne no man with his tonge, Coold ne care, Ne compaignye of theves, Ne neither hete ne hayl, Ne noon helle poiike, Ne fnyr ne flood, Ne feere of thyn enemy, Tene thee any tyme, And thow take it with the. Car if as 7iiliil timet, etc."

" It is but a dido," quod this doc- " A disours tale ; [tour,

Al the Avit of this world, And wight mennes strengthe, Kan noght conformen a pees Bitwene and hise enemys, Ne bitwene two cristene kynges Kan no wight pees make Profitable to either peple ; " And putte the table fro hym, And took Clergie and Conscience To conseil, as it were, ssso

riERS PLOUGHMAN. 257

That Pacience thow most passe, For pilgrymes konne wel l3'c."

Ac Conscience carped louJe, And cuiteisliche seide, " Frendcs, fareth wel ; " And faire spak to Clergie, " For I wol go Avith this gome, If God wol yt've me grace, And be pilgrym vith Pacience, Til I have preved moore."

" AMiat ! " quod Clergie to Con- " Ar ye coveitous noiithe [science, After yeres-geves, or giftes. Or yernen to rede redels ? I shal brynge yow a Bible, A book of the olde lawe, And lere yow, if yow like, The leeste point to knowe. That Pacience the pilgrym Parfitly knew nevere." [science

"Nay, by Crist!" quod Con- To Clergie, " God thee foi-yelde ; For al that Pacience me profreth Proud am I litel. Ac the wil of the Avye, And the wil of folk here, Ilath meved my mood To moorne for my synnos. The goode wil of a wiglit Was nevere bought to the fulle. For ther nys no tresour, for sothe, To a trcwe wille.

"Hadde noght Maudolcyne For a box of salve, [moore

258 THE VISION OF

Than Zacheus for he seide 84i5

Dimidium ho7iorum meorum do

imiqoerihus ? And the poore widewe For a peire of mytes, Than alle tho that offrede Into gazophilacium ? "

Thus curteisliche Conscience Congeyed first the frere, And sithen softeliche he seide In Clergies ere,

" Me were levere, by oure Lord ! And I lyve sholde, Have pacience perfitliche, Than half thi pak of bokes."

Clergie of Conscience No congie wolde take, But seide ful sobreliche, "Thow shalt se the tyme "Whan tliow art wery of-\valked, Wille me to counseille."

"That is sooth," quod Con- " So me God helpe ! [science,

If Pacience be oure partyng felawe. And pryv6 with us bothe, Ther nys wo in this world That we ne sholde amende. And conformen kyngos to pees, And alle kynnes londes 3 Sarsens and Surr6, And so forth alle the Jewes, Turne into the trewe feith, And intil con bileve."

" That is sooth," quod Clergie,

PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 259

" I so wliat thow menest ; 8449

I shal dwelle as I do,

My devoir to sliewc,

And conferraen fauntekyns,

And ootlier folk y-lered,

Til Pacience have preved thee,

And parfit thee maked."

Conscience tho with Pacience Pilgrymes as it were. [passed,

Thanne hadde Pacience, as pil- In his poke vitailles, [grymes han, Sobretee and syniple speche, sioo And soothfast Lileve, To conforte hym and Conscience, If thei come in place There un-ky ndenesse and co veitise is, Hungry contrees bothe.

And as the wente by the weye, Of Do-wel thei carped ; Thei mette with a mynstral. As me tho thoughte. Pacience apposed hym first And preyde he sholde hem telle To Conscience what craft he kouthe. And to what con tree he woldc.

" I am a mynstrall," quod that " My name is Adiva-vita ; [man, Al ydelnesse ich hatie, For of actif is my name ; A wafrer, wol ye wite. And serve manye lordes. And fewe robes I fonge, Or furrcde gownes. Couthe I lye to do men laughe,

260 THE VISION OF

Tlianne lacchen I sholde 8483

Outlier mantel or moneie

Aiiionges lord.es or myustrals.

Ac for I kan neither taboure ne

Ne telle no gestes, [trompe,

Farten ne fitlielen

At festes, ne harpen,

Jape ne jogele,

Ne gentiliiclie pipe,

Ke neither saille ne saute,

Ne synge Avith the gyterne,

I have no gooJe giftes S494

Of thise grete lordes.

For no breed that I brynge forth,

Save a benyson on the Sonday

Whan the preest preieth the peple

liir pater-noster to bidde

For Piers the Plowman,

And that hyni profit waiten ;

And that am I actif.

That ydelnesse hatie ;

For alle trewe travaillours

And tillers of the erthe, 8505

Fro INIighelmesse to Mighelmesse

I fynde hem with my wafres.

" Beggeris and bidderis Of my Ijreed craven, Faitours and f reres, And folk with lirode crounes. I fynde payn for the pope. And provendre for his palfrey ; And I hadde nevere of hym, Have God my trouthe ! Neither provendre ne personage

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 2G1

Yet of popes gifte, 85i7

Save a pardon with a pcis of leed

And two polles amyddes.

Haddo ich a clerc that couthe write,

I wolde caste hym a bille,

That he sente me nnder his seel

A salve for the pestilence,

And that his blessynge and hise

Eocches myghte destruye. [bulles

In nomine meo dcemonia ejicient, et

mper cegros manus imponent, et

bene habebunt. 8528

" And thanne wolde I be prest to

Paast fur to make, [the peple

And buxom and busy

Alioute breed and drynke

For hym and for alle hise,

Founde I tliat his pardon

Mighte lechen a man,

As I bileve it sholde.

For sith he hath the power

That Peter hymself hadde,

He hath the pot with the salve,

Soothly as me thynketh.

Argetitum et aurum non est mihi ;

quod mdem habeo tibi do: in

nomine Domini surge et am-

bula.

"Acif myghtof myraclc hym faille,

It is for men ben noglit worthi

To have the grace of God,

And no gilt of pope.

For may no blessynge doon us boote,

But if we wile amende, ssso

VOL. L U

262 THE VISION OF

Ne mannes masse make pees S55i

Among cristene pcple,

Til pride be pureliche for-do,

And tliorugh payn defaute.

For er I have breed of mele,

Oft moot I swete ; [y-nongh,

And er the commune have corn

Many a cold morwenyng.

So er my wafres be y-wroght,

Muclie wo I tholye.

"At Londone, I leve, Liketh wel my wafres ; 8562

And louren whan thei lakken hem. It is noght long y-passed, There was a careful commixne, Whan no cart com to towne With breed fro Stratforde ; Tho gonnen boggeris wepe, And workmen were agast a lite ; This wole be thought longe. In the date of cure Drighte, In a drye Aprille, A thousand and thre hundred ssrs Twies twenty and ten, My wafres there were gesene Whan Chichestre was maire."

I took good kepe, by Crist ! And Conscience bothe, Of Haukyn the actif man, And how he was y-clothed. He hadde a cote of Cristendom, As holy kirke bileveth ; Ac it was moled in many places With manye sondry plottes ; sssi

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 263

Of pride here a plot, ssss

And there a plot of uubuxorae speche,

Of scomyng and of scoifyng,

And of unskilful borynge,

As in apparaill and in porte

Proud amonges the peple,

Oothcr -wise than he hym hath

"With herte or sighte shewynge.

Hym willyng that alle men wende

He wore that he is noght.

For-why he bosteth and bi-aggeth

"With manye bolde othes, 8596

And inobedient to ben undemorae

Of any lif lyvynge ;

And noon so singuler by hymself,

Ne so pomp holy,

Y-habitcd as an heremyte,

An ordre by hymselve,

Religion saunz rule

Or resonable obedience,

Liikk}Tigo lettrede men

And k-wed men bothe

In likynge of lele lif, 8«07

And a liere in soule,

"With inwit and with outwit

Ymagynen and studio,

As best for his botly be

To have a badde name.

And entremetten hym over al

Ther he hath noght to doone,

"Willynge that men wende

His wit were the besto. [gomes,

And if h<! gyveth ought to povere

Telle what he deleth, mis

264 THE VISION OF

Povere of possession in purs 8619 And in cofre botlie. And ns a lyoun on to loke, And lordlich of speche, Boldest of beggeris, A bostere that noglit hath, In towne and in tavernes Tales to telle, [seigh,

And segge thyng that he nevere And for sothe sweren it, Of dedes that he nevere dide Demen and bosten seso

And of werkes that he wel dide Witnesse, and siggen — " Lo ! if ye leve me noght, Or that I lye wenen, Asketh at hym or at hym, And he yow kan telle What I sufiVede and seigh And som tymes hadde, And what I kouthe and knew, And what kyn I com of." Al he wolde that men wiste 8641 Of werkes and of wordes Which myghte plese the peple, And preisen hymselve. Si liominihns placerem, Christi servus non essem. Et alibi: Nemo potest duobus dominis servire. " By Crist!" quod Conscience tho, " Thi beste cote, Haukyn, Hath manye moles and spottes, It moste ben y-wasshe." 8652

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 2G5

"Ye, who so toke hede," quod " Biliyiule and bifore, [Haukyn, "What on hak and what on body half, And by the two sydes, Men sholde fynde manye frounces, And manye foule plottes."

And he torned hym as tyd, And thanne took I hede, It was fouler bi fele fold Than it first semed. It was bi-dropped with wrathe And wikkede wiUe, 8664

"With envye and yvel speche, Entisynge to fighte, Liynge and laughynge, And leve tonge to chide, Al that he wiste wikked By any wight tellen it, And blame men bihynde hir bak, And bidden hem meschaunce. And that he wiste by Wille Tellen it "Watte,

And that Watte wiste 8675

"Wille wiste it after, And make of frendes foes Thorugh a fals tonge. Or with myght or with mouth. Or thorugh mennes strengthe Avenge me fele tymes. Other frcte myselve Withinne as a shepsteres shcre, Y-sherewed man and cursed. Citjus maledtcttane os plenum est et amaritudine, sub lingua ejus

266 THE VISION OF

labor et dolor. Et alibi : Filii homitium, denies eorum anna et sagittce, et lingua eoruvi gladius acntus. " Ther is no lif that me loveth

Lastynge any while ;

For tales that I telle,

No man trusteth to me.

And whan I may noght have the

Swich malencolie 1 take, [maistrie,

That I cacche the crampe,

And the cardiacle som tyme, 8698

Or an ague in swich an angre,

And som tyme a fevere

That taketh me al a twelve monthe,

Til that I despise

Lechecraft of oure Lord,

And leve on a wicche,

And seye that no clerc ne lean,

Ne Crist, as I leve,

To the soutere of Sonthwerk,

Or of Shordyche dame Emme ;

And seye that no Goddes word

Gaf me nevere boote.

But thorugh a charme hadde I

And my chief heele." [chaunce I waitede wisloker,

And thanne was it soilled

With likynge of lecherie.

As by lokynge of his eighe.

For ech a maide that he mette

He made hire a signe

Semynge to synne-warde.

And some tyme he gan taste 8720

riEBS PLOUGHMAN. 2G7

Aboute the mouth, or bynethe 8721

Bigynnoth to grope,

Til eitheres wille wexeth kene,

And to the werke yeden,

As wel in fastyngdayes andFridaies

As forbodcn nyghtes,

And as wel in Lente as out of Lente,

Alle tymes y-liche.

Swiche -werkes with hem

Were nevere out of seson,

Til thei myghte na-moore ;

And thanne murye tales, 8732

And how tVt lecchours lovye

Laughen and japen.

And of hir harlotrye and boredom

In hir elde tellen.

Thanne Pacience perceyved Of pointes of tliis cote, That were colomy thorugh coveitise And unkynde desiryng ; !Moore to good than to God The gome his love caste, And ymagynede how 8743

He it myghte have With false mesures and met, And with fals witnesse ; Lened for love of the wed. And looth to do truthe ; And awaited thorugh which Wey to bigile.

And menged his marchaundise, And made a good moustre ; " The worste withinne was, A greet wit I let it, 8754

268 THE VISION OF

And if my negheljore hadde any

Or any beest ellis, [hyne.

Moore profitable than myn,

Manye sleightes I made

JIow I myghte have it,

Al my wit I caste.

And but I it hadde by oother wey,

At the laste I stale it ;

Or priveliche his purs shook,

And unpikede hise lokes ;

Or by nyghte or by daye

Aboute was ich evere, 8766

Thorugh gile to gaderen

The good that ich have,

" If I yede to the plowgh, I pynched so narwe, That a foot lond or a forow Fecchen I wolde Of my nexte neghebore. And nymen of his erthe. And if I repe, over-reche, Of yaf hem reed that ropen To seise to me with hir sikel s777 That I ne sew nevere.

"And who so borwed of me, A-boughte the tyme With presentes prively, Or paide som certeyn ; So he wolde or noght wolde, Wynnen I wolde, And bothe to kith and to kyn Unkynde of that ich hadde.

"And who so cheped my chaffare, Chiden I wolde, 8788

PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 269

But ho profrede to paie sTsg

A peny or tweyue

Moore than it was worth ;

And yet wolde I swere

That it coste me niuche moore,

And swoor manye othes.

" On holy daies at holy chirche Whan ich herde masse, Hadde I nevere wille, woot God, Witterly to biseche ^lercy for my mysdedes, That I ne nioorned moore ssoo

Nor losse of good, leve me. Than for my likames giltes. As if I hadde dedly synne doon, I dredde noght that so soore. As when I lened, and leved it lost. Or longe er it wero paied. So if I kidde any kyndenesse !Myn even cristen to helpe, Upon a cruwel coveitise Myn herte gan hange.

" And if I sente over see ssii My servauntz to Brugges, Or into Pruce-lond my prentis, My profit to waiten, To marchaunden with moneie. And maken hire eschaunges, Mighte nevere me conforte. In the mene while Neither masse ne matynes, No none maner sightes ; Ne nevere penaunce perfoumede, Ne pater-noster seide, sra

270 THE VISION OF

That my mynde ne was moore 8823

On my good in a doute,

Than in the grace of God,

And hise grete helpes.

Ubi thesaurus tuus, ihi et cor tmcm.

" Whiche ben the braunches That bryngen a man to sleuthe ? He that moorneth noght for hise Ne maketh no sorwe, [mysdedes, And penaunce that the preest en- Perfonrneth yvele, [joyneth

Dooth noon almesse, sssi

Dred hym of no synne, Lyveth ayein the bileve, And no lawe holdeth, Ech day is holy day with hym, Or an heigh ferye ; And, if he aught wole here, It is an harlotes tonge. Whan men carpen of Crist, Or of clennesse of soules, He wexeth wroth and wol noght here But wordes of murthe ; 8845

Penaunce of povere men, And the passion of seintes, He hateth to here therof. And alle that it telleth. Tliise ben the braunches, beth war, That bryngen a man to wanhope.

"Ye lordes and ladies. And legates of holy chirche, That fedeth fooles sages, Flatereris and lieris. And han likynge to lithen hem

PIERS PLOUamiAX. 271

To do yow to laughe, sssr

VcE fobis qui ride f is, etc. And gyveth hem mete and mede, And povere men refuse ; In youre decth deyinge, I dreJe me ful score Lest tho tlire manner men To muche sonve yow brynge. Consent ientes et ajentes pari poena jninientur.

" Patriarkes and prophetes, And prechours of Goddes wordes, Saven thonigh hir sermons Mannes soule fro helle. Right so flatereris and fooles Arn the fendes disciples To entice men thorugh hir tales To synne and to harlotrie. Ac clerkes, that knowen holy writ, Sholde kenne lordes WTiat David seith of swiche men, As the Sauter telleth, Nonhahitahit in medio damns vieoe, qui facit superhiam, et qui loquitur iniqua.

" Sholde noon harlot have au- In halle nor in chambre, [dience Ther wise men were, "Witnesseth Goddos wordes, Ne no mys-proud man Amonges lordes ben allowed.

" Ac flaterers and fooles Thnrugh hir foule wordes Leden tho that loven hem

272 THE VISION.

To Lnciferis feste, 889i

With Turpiloqiiio, a lady of sorwe,

And. Lnciferis fithele."

Thus Haukj'n tlie actif man

Hadde y-soiled his cote,

Til Conscience acouped hym therof

In a curteis nianere,

Why he ne hadde whasshen it,

Or wiped it with a brusshe. 8899

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBUKGH AND LONDON.

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PR

2C11

V7

1887

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Lsnglenci, William

•'■he vision and creea of Piers Ploughman ?d and rev. ed.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

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