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PIERS THE PLOWMAN
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HENRY FROWDE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE
V PATERNOSTER ROW
(LlarcKkn gress Series
THE VISION OF WILLIAM
CONCERNING
PIERS THE PLOWMAN
BY
WILLIAM LANGLEY
(or LANGLAND)
According to the Version Revised and Enlarged by the Author
about a. d. 1377
edited by the
REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A.
Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Canihri.:.
Kditor oftJte Three-text edition of ' Piers the Plowman: 'Lancelot of the Laik;
* The Romance of Parthenay or Melitsine,'
'William of Palerne,' • Pierce the Ploughman's Credo,' ' Havelok,' &-c.
Author of a Maso-Gothic Glossary, Specimens of English, Grc.
51939S
Third Edition, Bevised
14-/3/5/
iO*forfc
AT THE CLARENDON TRESS
M DCCCLXXIX
[All rights reserved ]
<PR
CONTENTS.
Introduction
Chronological Table ....
Prologue: The Field full of Folk
Passus I : The Vision of Holy-Church
Passus II : Meed and Falsehood
Passus III : Meed and Conscience
Passus IV: Meed and Reason .
Passus V: The Seven Deadly Sins
Passus VI : Piers the Plowman .
Passus VII: The Plowman's Pardon
Critical Notes .
Notes to the Prologue
Notes to Passus I
Notes to Passus II .
Notes to Passus III .
Notes to Passus IV .
Notes to Passus V .
Notes to Passus VI .
Notes to Passus VII
Glossarial Index
Index to the Notes
■
vii
xlviii
r
9
jr.
2 A
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4 3
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79
S7
V*
106
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>53
157
INTRODUCTION.
The title 'Piers Plowman,' or, as I prefer to write it, 'Piers
the Plowman,' is one which has been frequently misconstrued
and misunderstood by many authors, and concerning which many
text-books have blundered inextricably. It is most important
that the reader should have a clear idea of what it means, and as
it is rather a difficult point to explain accurately, I must ask him
to give me his best attention ; and I cannot refrain from adding
the hope that, if he succeeds in mastering the explanation of it,
he will refrain from using the phrase in future in the old slovenly
way.
The difficulty is three-fold, as originating in a three-fold error.
The three mistakes commonly made are these. First, Piers
Plowman is used as though it were the name of an author a ;
secondly, two poems which are quite distinct, and the respective
titles of which are familiarly expressed as The Vision of Piers
Plowman and Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, have been frequently
confounded together ; and thirdly, the name of ' The Vision of
Piers Plowman' is commonly given to what is really the 'Liber de
Petro Plowman,' of which the ' Vision ' forms only about a third
part b. I must ask the reader to bear in mind that, in what I am
now going to say, I make no reference whatever to the Crede,
and do not make any assertion about it till I again expressly
mention it by its full title. Unless this be remembered, our
chance of arriving at the truth is much lessened.
Just as Christian is not the author of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Pro-
gress, but only the subject of it, so Piers the Plowman is not the
author of the Vision, but the subject of it ; he is the personage
"■ This mistake occurs, for instance, in ' Chaucer's England,' vol. ii. p. 230,
by Matthew Browne ; who should have known better.
h It was Crowley who originated this error, but I cfo not see why it need
be perpetuated.
Vlll INTRODUCTION.
seen in a dream, not the dreamer himself. Neither does the
Book describe one continuous dream, but a succession of several;
in some of which Piers is neither seen nor mentioned. Yet
the whole poem is named from him, because he is the most
remarkable figure in the group of allegorical personages who
pass successively before the dreamer's sleeping sight. He is of
more importance than either Lady Holy-church, Lady Meed,
Falsehood, Conscience, Reason, Hunger, or the impersonations
of the Seven Deadly Sins ; for he is the type of a truly honest
manc. But we may dismiss the consideration of his character
for the present.
The true name of the dreamer, the poet, is not certainly known.
The poem has been ascribed to one Langland, whose Christian
name has been variously given as William, Robert, and John.
Yet of the author's Christian name we are sure ; for in nearly all
the numerous MSS. it is invariably given as William, not to
mention that the author frequently calls himself Wille in various
passages. The true surname is more doubtful, but in an able
article in the North British Review (April, 1870), Professor
C. H. Pearson has shewn so clearly that the name must have
been Langley rather than Langland, that we may assume it to
have been so, for the present at least, to save ambiguity. We
have then advanced clearly as far as this, viz. that one William
Langley, during the latter part of the fourteenth century, wrote
an alliterative poem describing a series of dreams, in some of
which he beheld the person whom he calls Piers the Plowman,
after whom the poem (or part of the poem, at least) was named.
Strictly speaking, only a part of the poem was at Jirst named
after Piers. The true title of the latter portion was originally
Vis to ejusdem de Do-nvel, Do-bet, et Do-best, or the Vision of the
same [William] concerning Do-well, Do-better, and Do-best >'
but the two portions were subsequently treated as constituting
one long Book, and the name Liber de Petro Plowman was
conferred upon the whole.
We must next consider the forms in which the whole poem
exists. There are not less than forty-four MSS. of it still extant
c See p. xxviii for the full meaning of the name.
THE THREE TEXTS OF THE POEM. ix
(nearly all of which I have carefully examined at various times,)
and from a comparison of these it is evident that it takes five or
six distinct shapes, of which some are due merely to confusion,
or to the carelessness of the scribes ; still, after all allowances for
such causes of variation have been made, it is clear that three of
the shapes are due to the author himself. It is certain that he
altered, added to, and re-wrote the whole poem, not once only,
but twice. It was the great work of his life, and may have
occupied him, though not continuously, during nearly thirty-
years. Let us call the three forms of the poem, as at different
times composed, the A-text, B-text, and C-text. They differ
widely, and are marked by various peculiarities, and different
dates may be with some accuracy assigned to them. Let us
consider them separately.
The A-text, which is distinguished by peculiar freshness and
vigour, and a rather greater amount of vehemence and rapidity
than either of the others, was certainly composed first, about
a.d. 1362. As compared with the others, it is but a first rough
sketch, and extends to not more than 2567 lines. In it, the
Vision of Piers the Plowman, and the Vision of Do-wel, Do-bet,
and Do-best are kept quite distinct, the former consisting of
a Prologue and 8 Passus (1833 lines), and the latter of a Prologue
and 3 Passus (734 lines). In the Prologue to the former Vision
(which contains but 109 lines) the curious fable of the rats con-
spiring to bell the cat is entirely omitted ; and in the description
of the Seven Deadly Sins, the character of Wrath was, by a
curious oversight, forgotten. The best MSS. of it are the
Vernon MS. at Oxford, MS. Trim Coll. Camb. R. 3. 14, Harl. 875,
Univ. Coll. (Oxford) 45, and MS. Rawl. Poet. 137 in the Bod-
leian Library. Long extracts from the Vernon MS. are given
in 'Specimens of Early English,' Pt. II. ed. Morris and Skeat,
1872. A comparison of these with the corresponding passages
of the present volume will shew more clearly than any detailed
explanation what the A-text is like.
The B-text. The curious ending of the A-text shews clearly
that the author's original intention was to wind up his poem and
have done with it. Not foreseeing the extraordinary popularity
X INTRODUCTION.
which his work was destined to enjoy, he had recourse to the
not uncommon device of killing himself off, in words which may-
be thus modernized —
' And when this work was wrought, ere Will might spy,
Death dealt him a dint, and drove him to the earth,
And he is enclosed under clay; now Christ have his sould!'
And so the matter rested for nearly fifteen years. But
the grief of the whole nation at the death of the Black Prince,
the disquieting political events of 1377 (the last year of
Edward III.), and the dissatisfaction of the commons with the
conduct of the duke of Lancaster, roused our poet as they roused
other men. Then it was that, taking his text from Ecclesi-
asticus x. 16, Vse, term ubi rex pner est, he composed his famous
version of the well-known fable of the rats wishing to bell the
cat, a fable which has never elsewhere been told so well or so
effectively. Then it was that, taking advantage of his now more
extensive acquaintance with Scripture, and his familiarity with
the daily scenes of London life, he re-wrote and added to his
poem till he had trebled the extent of it, and multiplied the
number of his Latin quotations by seven. The additions are,
most of them, exceedingly good, and distinguished by great
freedom and originality of thought ; indeed, we may say that,
upon the whole, the B-text is the best of the three, and the best
suited for giving us a fair idea -of the author's peculiar powers.
It is with the B-text that the present volume is especially con-
cerned, though only a portion of it is here printed. The complete
text comprises the two Visions, viz. of Piers Plowman, and of
Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best ; the former consisting of a Pro-
logue and 7 Passus (as here printed), and the latter of three
Prologues and 10 Passus, viz. a Prologue and 6 Passus of Do-wel,
a Prologue and 3 Passus of Do-bet, and a Prologue and r Passus
of Do-best. But in many (perhaps all) of the MSS. the distinc-
tions between the component parts are not much regarded, and
in some there is no mention of Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best
11 MS. Rawl. Poet. 137, fol. 31. But it is possible that these three lines
(with four more preceding them) were added by one John Butt, whose name
follows just afterwards.
B-TEXT AND C-TEXT. XI
whatever, but the whole is called Liber (but never Visio) de pet re
ploivman, and made to consist of a Prologue and twenty Passus.
Not to go into further details, it is necessary to add that there
are two perfect MSS. of the B-text which are of special ex-
cellence, and do not greatly vary from each other ; from one of
these, MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. B. 15. 17, Mr. Wright printed his
well-known and convenient edition of the whole Book, and upon
the other, MS. Laud 581, our text is based. The reader will
now readily perceive that this volume contains the whole of the
B-text of the Vision of Piers the Plowman, properly so called, but
does not contain the Vision of Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best,
which is appended to it in all the MSS. in order to complete
the 'Liber.' If then, in the notes, I quote from Passus eleven,
for instance, I quote from a Passus which is strictly the third
of Do-ivel, but which is commonly called Passus 11 of Piers the
Plowman, as being a more convenient notation.
Concerning the C-text, I need not say much here. It was
probably not composed till 1390 or even later, or, still more pro-
bably, it contains additions and revisions made at various periods
later than 1380. Throughout these the working of the same
mind is clearly discernible, but there is a tendency to diffuse-
ness and to a love for theological subtleties. It is of still greater
length, containing 10 Passus of Piers the Plowman, 7 Passus of
Do-wel, 4 Passus of Do-bet, and 2 Passus of Do-best; or,
according to the shorter notation, it contains 23 Passus, all
Prologues being ignored in this text only. It may be remarked
that the short poem of Do-best stands almost exactly the same
in both the B and C versions.
Besides this extraordinary work, with its three varying editions,
I have shewn (in my new edition of the C-text for the Early
English Text Society) that we are indebted to the same author
for a remarkable poem written in 1399, which has been twice
printed by Mr. Wright, the more convenient edition being that
published for the Camden Society in 1838 ; and I have again
printed it, as an Appendix to the C-text, with a few corrections.
This poem has no title, and Mr. Wright named it a Poem on
the Deposition of Richard II. This cannot well be accepted,
X INTRODUCTION.
which his work was destined to enjoy, he had recourse to the
not uncommon device of killing himself off, in words which may
be thus modernized —
' And when this work was wrought, ere Will might spy,
Death dealt him a dint, and drove him to the earth,
And he is enclosed under clay; now Christ have his sould!'
And so the matter rested for nearly fifteen years. But
the grief of the whole nation at the death of the Black Prince,
the disquieting political events of 1377 (the last year of
Edward III.), and the dissatisfaction of the commons with the
conduct of the duke of Lancaster, roused our poet as they roused
other men. Then it was that, taking his text from Ecclesi-
asticus x. 16, Vse term ubi rex puer est, he composed his famous
version of the well-known fable of the rats wishing to bell the
cat, a fable which has never elsewhere been told so well or so
effectively. Then it was that, taking advantage of his now more
extensive acquaintance with Scripture, and his familiarity with
the daily scenes of London life, he re-wrote and added to his
poem till he had trebled the extent of it, and multiplied the
number of his Latin quotations by seven. The additions are,
most of them, exceedingly good, and distinguished by great
freedom and originality of thought ; indeed, we may say that,
upon the whole, the B-text is the best of the three, and the best
suited for giving us a fair idea of the author's peculiar powers.
It is with the B-text that the present volume is especially con-
cerned, though only a portion of it is here printed. The complete
text comprises the two Visions, viz. of Piers Plowman, and of
Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best ; the former consisting of a Pro-
logue and 7 Passus (as here printed), and the latter of three
Prologues and 10 Passus, viz. a Prologue and 6 Passus of Do-wel,
a Prologue and 3 Passus of Do-bet, and a Prologue and 1 Passus
of Do-best. But in many (perhaps all) of the MSS. the distinc-
tions between the component parts are not much regarded, and
in some there is no mention of Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best
d MS. Rawl. Poet. 137, fol. 31. But it is possible that these three lines
(with four more preceding them) were added by one John Butt, whose name
follows just afterwards.
B-TEXT AND C-TEXT. XI
whatever, but the whole is called Liber (but never Visio) de petro
plowman, and made to consist of a Prologue and twenty Passus.
Not to go into further details, it is necessary to add that there
are two perfect MSS. of the B-text which are of special ex-
cellence, and do not greatly vary from each other ; from one of
these, MS. Trim Coll. Camb. B. 15. 17, Mr. Wright printed his
well-known and convenient edition of the whole Book, and upon
the other, MS. Laud 581, our text is based. The reader will
now readily perceive that this volume contains the whole of the
B-text of the Vision of Piers the Plowman, properly so called, but
does not contain the Vision of Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best,
which is appended to it in all the MSS. in order to complete
the ' Liber.' If then, in the notes, I quote from Passus eleven,
for instance, I quote from a Passus which is strictly the third
of Do-wel, but which is commonly called Passus 1 1 of Piers the
Plowman, as being a more convenient notation.
Concerning the C-text, I need not say much here. It was
probably not composed till 1390 or even later, or, still more pro-
bably, it contains additions and revisions made at various periods
later than 1380. Throughout these the working of the same
mind is clearly discernible, but there is a tendency to diffuse-
ness and to a love for theological subtleties. It is of still greater
length, containing 10 Passus of Piers the Plowman, 7 Passus of
Do-wel, 4 Passus of Do-bet, and 2 Passus of Do-best; or,
according to the shorter notation, it contains 23 Passus, all
Prologues being ignored in this text only. It may be remarked
that the short poem of Do-best stands almost exactly the same
in both the B and C versions.
Besides this extraordinary work, with its three varying editions,
I have shewn (in my new edition of the C-text for the Early-
English Text Society) that we are indebted to the same author
for a remarkable poem written in 1399, which has been twice
printed by Mr. Wright, the more convenient edition being that
published for the Camden Society in 1838 ; and I have again
printed it, as an Appendix to the C-text, with a few corrections.
This poem has no title, and Mr. Wright named it a Poem on
the Deposition of Richard II. This cannot well be accepted,
Xli INTRODUCTION.
because it is obvious, from internal evidence, that the poem was
written in September, before Richard was deposed, and before
the poet had any but the vaguest expectation that his depo-
sition would take place. I have therefore given it, in my own
reprint, the new title of ' Richard the Redeles ' (i. e. Richard
devoid of counsel), having adopted this expression from the
first line of the first Passus. It is proper to observe that Mr.
Wright has expressed a different opinion concerning the author-
ship of the poem, but he was misled by a marginal note in his
MS. to which he attached some importance6.
The printed editions. The Book concerning Piers the Plowman
has been several times printed. Robert Crowley printed at least
three impressions of it in one year, a.d. 1550; from a copy of
one of which Owen Rogers produced his edition of 1561.
Crowley used a very good MS. of the B-textf, and his edition
is of some value. Rogers's reprint abounds in errors, and is
worthless. Dr. Whitaker printed a C-text MS. in 1813, from
a MS. then belonging to Mr. Heber, but afterwards purchased
by the late Sir T. Phillipps. This edition, though evidently
brought out with much care, is nevertheless disfigured by in-
numerable errors of the editor, who has displayed more zeal
than knowledge. But the MS. which he chose is the best of
its class, and I have therefore reprinted it (with hundreds of
corrections) for the Early English Text Society (1873). Mr.
Wright printed his first edition, from the Trinity B-text MS.,
in 1842, and his second and revised edition of the same in
1856. A complete critical edition of the whole poem, in all its
three forms, from a comparison of all the best MSS., with various
readings in the footnotes, to be followed by a volume containing
full notes, glossary, and indices, is now being published by the
Early English Text Society, and is being edited by myself.
Vol. I., containing the A-text, was published in 1866; Vol. II.,
containing the B-text, appeared in 1869; Vol. III., containing
e See his Edition (Camd. Soc.) p. vi, where ' liber hie ' should have been
printed ' liber homo,' an error which vitiates the whole argument.
f This MS. was probably destroyed. At any rate. It has not yet been found.
It contains a line about S. Gregory in Pass. V (fol. xxiii, 1. 6 of Crowley)
which I cannot find elsewhere.
THE PLOUGHMAN'S CREDE. xiii
the C-tcxt and 'Richard the Redelcs', in 1873 ; and a part of
Vol. IV., containing full notes to all three texts, in 1877. The
text in this volume is taken from Vol. II. The notes will be
found (in a fuller form) in Vol. IV.
This is, perhaps, the best place to say a few last words about
Pierce the Ploughman's Crede. The facts concerning it are these,
viz. that about the year 1394, when the popularity of the ' Liber '
was well established, some writer of unknown name and ot
narrower views, wrote a short poem of 850 lines in alliterative
verse, as a satire against the friars, to which he gave the name of
Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, no doubt with the view of attract-
ing attention. His conception of the Ploughman, however, is very
different. In the ' Book,' the ploughman is a person seen in a
dream, and is the personification of the honest and hardworking
Christian ; but in the ' Crede,' the ploughman is a poor man with
whom the author meets in the flesh, whose merit is that he
knows all the articles of the Creed, of which the friars knew
nothing. The ' Crede ' is written with great asperity, and is a
very remarkable poem in many respects ; but I cannot believe
that Langley can have been very much pleased with the com-
pliment paid him, as it is marked by a lack of charity totally at
variance with the widely charitable views by which many passages
of the Book are distinguished, notwithstanding sharp words else-
where. The confusion between the two poems no doubt arose
from their being in the same metre, and of nearly the same date,
and from the fact that the title of one was borrowed from that of
the other ; and this confusion has been increased by the circum-
stance that they have been three times printed in close contact
with each other, viz. by Owen Rogers in 1561, by Dr. Whitaker
in 18 148, and by Mr. Wright. But this is not the place to enter
into further details concerning it. The reader will find them
fully given in my edition of the ' Crede,' published separately by
the Early English Text Society in 1867. The most interesting
result in connection with this poem is that the author of the
e Dr. Whitaker's edition of the ' Crede ' is not bound up in the same
volume with the ' Vision,' but was published in the same form and style,
at nearly the same time.
XIV INTRODUCTION.
' Crede ' was almost certainly the author of the ' Plowman's Tale,'
which appears in some editions of Chaucer, though it is certainly
not his11. The ' Crede ' may now conveniently be finally dismissed
from our consideration.
THE AUTHOR'S NAME AND LIFE.
The author's Christian name was certainly William, as has been
already said. The oldest evidence for his surname is an entry in
one of the Dublin MSS.in a handwriting of the fifteenth century,
to this effect : ' Memorandum, quod Stacy de Rokayle, pater
Willielmi de Langlond, qui Stacius fuit generosus, et morabatur in
Schiptone under Whicwode, tenens domini le Spenser in comitatu
Oxon., qui praedictus Willielmus fecit librum qui vocatur Perys
Ploughman.' Again, in a MS. belonging to Lord Ashburnham,
is an early note to the effect that ' Robert, or Will/am langland
made pers ploughman.' But I am bound to add that I have dis-
covered a colophon, in three MSS. of the C-text (viz. Digby
102, Douce 104, and Lord Ilchester's MS.), which runs thus —
' Explicit visio Willelmi .W. de Petro le Plowmaw. Et hie incipit
visio eiusdem de Dowel.' This is testimony that is difficult of
explanation ; Professor Morley thinks that W. may stand for
Whicwode, whilst I myself own to a fancy that it may be merely
a title, such as Wigorniensis (i. e. of Worcester). It may serve to
remind us that if we adopt the name of Langley, (which will be
shewn to be more probable than Langland,) we do so chiefly for
convenience. Bale has a short passage concerning our author,
wherein he calls him Robertus Langelande, and says that he was
born at Cleobury Mortimer, in Shropshire. Shipton-under-
Wychwood, mentioned above, is in Oxfordshire, four miles from
Burford, and not at any very great distance from Banbury1.
b Mr. Morley, in his 'English Writers' (vol. ii. 442), cites Mr. Black's
opinion that the composer of the 'Plowman's Tale' was also author of
a poem 'Against Lollardie,' a supposition which appears to me absurd, and
like attributing a tract against reformation to Luther. The reader will
observe, on the other hand, that in the Plowman's Tale we have a second
instance of title-copying by Langley's imitator.
1 It is somewhat curious that the poet, in the C-text, Passus III., 1. Ill,
goes rather out of his way to mention the ' beadle of Banbury,' as if he
had a grudge against him.
THE AUTHOR'S NAME. XV
When these various assertions come to be tested, it is easily,
found that, as Professor Pearson says, ' the only known family of
Langlands has a very distinct history in connection with Somer-
setshire, Devonshire, and Dorsetshire, but never comes to view
in the Midland Counties.' I remember finding the name over
and over again in MS. Wood i, in the Bodleian Library, but
always in connexion with the neighbourhood of East Brent in
Somersetshire. See also MS. Addit. 5937, fol. 54 b, in the British
Museum. But any trace of a Langland family in the Midland
Counties is so entirely absent that the name ought certainly to be
given up; at least such is the conviction that has been forced
upon me, after much hesitation in venturing to disregard the old
MS. notes. On the other hand, there are two places called Lang-
ley, from either of which the poet may have been named. One
is the hamlet of Langley in the very parish of Shipton-under-
Wychwood just mentioned; and there was a family of Langleys
of which Professor Pearson says — ' The Langleys of Oxfordshire
have not yet, we believe, found place in any county history. But
their pedigree is abundantly proveable. They emerge into history
with Thomas de Langley, who gives King John a hundred marks
and a palfrey in 1 2 1 3 to replace Thomas Fitzhugh in the guardian-
ship of Wychwood Forest (Rot. de Fin. 485). From that time the
Langleys, William, Thomas, John, John, and Thomas successively,
were wardens of Wychwood, and owned land in Shipton-under-
Wychwood as early as 1278, and as late as 1362 (Rot. Hundred,
ii. 739 ; Inquis. post Mortem, ii. 252). But the last Thomas died
before the thirty-sixth year of Edward 1 1 1 ., and was succeed ed by
his cousin and heir, Simon Verney (Inqtiis. post Mortem, ii. 252,
290).' This is quite sufficient to connect the name of Langley
with Shipton, but does not quite solve the difficulty, as the poet
probably did not belong to so good a family. The other hamlet
is Langley near Acton Burnel, in Shropshire ; adjoining which is
the hamlet of Ruckley or Rokele, which may be identified with
Rokayle. ' We find in Shropshire,' says Professor Pearson, ' that
younger members of the Burnel family were occasionally known
as Burnels de Langley (Inquis. post Mortem, i. 12, 253); that there
were other Langleys on the estate or in the employ of the Burnel
X vi 1NTR OD UC TION.
family ; and that even the name of Rokeyle may be traced in one
instance with high probability to the Welsh border ( Yearbook of
32 Edw. I.29S) A William de Langley was a tenant of
William Burnel in 1228 (Testa de Nevill, 57). A Robert de
Langley receives fifty marks due to Robert Burnel, afterwards
Chancellor, in 1272 (Exchequer Issues, 87). A Robert de Langley
was instituted clerk of Rokesley chapel some time between 131 1
and 1349 (Eyton's Shropshire, vi. 147). Again, Henry de Rokesley
and Richard de Waleys, whose name indicates a Welshman, both
claimed to descend from Robert Paytevin ; and one of the few
Paytevins who can be traced was a follower of Roger de Mor-
timer, the lord of Cleobury Mortimer (Parliamentary Writs, iv .
1269). Seemingly therefore there were two families, one of
Langley and one of Rokesle, who lived in adjoining hamlets, at-
tached to the same manor, and of whom one was connected witli
the service of the Burnels, the other more remotely with the
Mortimers, as being related to one of their dependants. Here
then we perhaps get a clue to the poet's birth at Cleobury Mor-
timer, which was a possession of the Mortimers (Inqius. post Mor-
tem, i. 190, ii. 224). It remains to explain the connection with
Shipton-under-Wychwood. Edward Burnel (born 1287, d. 13 15 1
married Alicia, daughter of Hugh de Despenser, of whom we only
know that she survived him (Eyton's Shropshire, vi. 135). And a
Hugh de Despenser died in 1 349, seized of the manor of Shipton-
under-Wychwood (Inquis.post Mortem, ii. 160; Kennett's Parochial
Antiquities, ii. 102). Now, whether the poet's ancestor was a
Langley or a Rokesle, it seems easy from what has gone before
to understand why he first held a farm under the Mortimers and
afterwards under the Despensers. In fact, there was a group of
great families connected by birth or position in Shropshire and
Oxfordshire, and a group of small families who were naturally
finked with their fortunes.'— North British Review, April 1870,
p. 244. From all this it seems tolerably clear that, of the ham-
lets named Langley, either the Shropshire one or the Oxfordshire
one may be considered as giving the poet his name, since the
family seems to have removed from one to the other. There is
yet one more consideration that establishes, perhaps, a slight cod-
THE AUTHOR'S NAME. xvii
'icction between Wychwood and Malvern (see Prol. 5). When the
poet talks of his having been ' put to school,' and of his having re-
ceived a clerical education, we may fancy that he may have passed
his early days in one of the priories at Malvern, either at the famous
priory at Great Malvern, or at the lesser one at Little Malvern,
which was considered as ' in one and inseparable body with
the church at Worcester' (Abingdon's Antiquities of Worcester
Cathedral, p. 225). Now the Hugh le Despenser above men-
tioned as dying in 1349, when Langley would be about seventeen
years old, was son of the too famous Hugh le Despenser ' the
younger' (put to death Nov. 29, 1326), who had married Eleanor,
sister and co-heir of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, and by
that marriage had obtained the manor of Malvern, so that
the manors of Malvern and Wychwood were in the hands of the
same lord (see Sir H. Nicolas's Historic Peerage). Slight as all
these traces are, they agree so well together as to render it highly
probable that we are upon the right track. And there is yet one
more point that may be observed, with reference to the poet's
visit to London. This is, that, while the name of Langland does
not appear in London, we do find that of Langley. About a. d.
1386, Adam Langele was a butcher in the parish of St. Nicholas
'in Macellas (sic), infra wardum de Farindonk'; and about
a.d. 1395, we find another notice of a probable relation of the
butcher, namely, ' Robertus Langeleye, alias Robertus Parterick,
capellanus, London', [who possessed] unum messuag' et quatuor
shope in Les Flcsshambles in Parochia Sancti Nicho/«i, unum tene-
mentum in parochia Sancti Nicho/<?i in Veteri Piscaria, et rcdditus
de 6j. exeunt' de quodam tenemento in Staninglane in parochia
Beatas Marie' (Inquis. post Mortem, ii. 90, 194). We may even
theorise yet further, and wonder whether the note that ' Robert
or William made pers ploughman ' may not mean that our author
had a brother named Robert, who may have been supposed to
have assisted him. But we must stop somewhere, and it is best
perhaps to stop here. It is right to add that the above'accounl
is not wholly free from difficulties, but I cannot solve them.
k The Church of St. Nicholas Shambles stood in Bull Head Court, N
gate Street.
b
xviii INTRODUCTION.
For all other particulars, we must trust to allusions made in
the poems themselves ; and if we rely upon these, and arrange
the information they afford us, we may frame a brief sketch of
his life which is quite consistent and which I believe to be true.
I shall therefore assume their credibility, and give the reader
the results, sometimes in the poet's own words.
At the time of writing the B-text of Do-wel, he was forty-five
years of age, and he was therefore born about A. D. 1332, probably
at Cleobury Mortimer. His father and his friends put him to
school (possibly in the monastery at Great Malvern), made a clerk
or scholar of him, and taught him what holy writ meant. In 1 362,
at the age of about thirty, he wrote the A-text of the poem, with-
out any thought of continuing or enlarging it. In this, he refers
to Edward III. and his son the Black Prince, to the murder
of Edward II., to the great pestilences of 1348 and 1361, to the
treaty of Bretigny in 1360, and Edward's wars in Normandy, and
also most particularly to the great storm of wind which took
place on Saturday evening, Jan. 15, 1361-21. This version of
the poem he describes as having been partly composed in May,
whilst wandering on the Malvern Hills, thrice mentioned in the
part rightly called the Vision of Piers the Plowman. In the In-
troduction or Prologue to Do-wel, he describes himself as wan-
dering about all the summer till he met with two Minorite Friars,
with whom he discoursed concerning Do-wel. It was probably
not long after this that he went to reside in London, with which
he already had some acquaintance ; there he lived in Cornhill,
with his wife Kitte and his daughter Calote, for many long years.
In 1377, he began to expand his poem into the B-text, wherein
he alludes to the accession of Richard II. in the words — * 3if L
regne any while' (4. 177), and also explicitly to the dearth in the
dry month of April, 1370, when Chichester was mayor; a dearth
due to the excessive rains in the autumn of 1369. Chichester
was elected in 1369 (probably in October) and was still mayor in
1370. In Riley's Memorials of London, p. 344, he is mentioned
1 That is, the year 1362, which was formerly called 1361, when the year
was supposed hot to begin till March. See, for these allusions, 3. 186, 188 :
4. 45 ; and 5. 14.
THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. xix
as being mayor in that very month of April in that very
in the words—' Afterwards, on the 25th day of April in the year
above-mentioned, it was agreed by John de Chichestre, Mayor,'
&c. It is important to insist upon this, because the MS. fol-
lowed by Mr. Wright, in company with many inferior ones, has
a corrupt reading which turns the words—' A bousande and thre
hondreth ' tweis thretty and ten ' into ' twice twenty and ten,'
occasioning a great difficulty, and misleading many modern
writers and readers, since the same mistake occurs in Crowley's
edition. Fortunately, the Laud MS. 581 and MS. Rawl. Poet. 38
set us right here, and all difficulty now vanishes ; for it is easily
ascertained that Chichester was mayor in 1369-70, and at no
other time, having never been re-elected. Stowe and other old
writers have the right date. In the C-text, written at some time
after 1390, the poet represents himself (apparently) as having left
London, and in the commencement of Passus VI. gives us sever,. 1
particulars concerning himself, wherein he alludes to his own
tallness, saying that he is too ' long ' to stoop low, and has also
some remarks concerning the sons of freemen which imply that
he was himself the son of a franklin or freeman, and born in
lawful wedlock. He wore the clerical tonsure, probably as having
taken minor orders, and earned a precarious living by singing the
placebo, dirige,zn& 'seven psalms' for the good of men's souls;
for, ever since his friends died who had first put him to school,
he had found no kind of life that pleased him except to be in
' these long clothes,' and by help of such (clerical) labour as he
had been bred up to he had contrived not only to live ' in Lon-
don, but upon London ' also. The supposition that he was mar-
ried (as he says he was) may perhaps explain why he never rose
in the church. He has many allusions to his extreme poverty.
Lastly, in the poem of ' Richard the Redeles,' he describes him-
self as being in Bristol in the year 1 599, when he wrote his last
poem. This poem is but short, and in the only MS. wherein it
exists, terminates abruptly in the middle of a page, and it is quite
possible that it was never finished. This is the last trace of him,
and he was th^n probably about sixty-seven years of age, so thai
he may not have long survived the accession of Henry IV. In
b 2
XX ' INTRODUCTION.
personal appearance, he was so tall that he obtained the nickname
of ' Longe Wille,' as he tells us in the line —
' I have lyued in londe,' quod I ■ 'my name is Longe wille™.'
This nickname may be paralleled from Mr. Riley's Memorials
of London, p. 457, where we read of John Edward, 'otherwise
called Longe Jacke,' under the date 1382; and it is to the pur-
pose to observe further, that the poet Gascoigne was commonly
called ' Long George,' from his tallness. In Passus 15 (B-text)
Will says that he was loath to reverence lords or ladies, or persons
dressed in fur, or wearing silver ornaments ; he never would say
' God save you' to Serjeants whom he met, for all of which proud
behaviour, then very uncommon, people looked upon him as a
fool. It requires no great stretch of imagination to picture to
ourselves the tall gaunt figure of Long Will in his long robes and
with his shaven head, striding along Cornhill, saluting no man by
the way, minutely observant of the gay dresses to which he paid
no outward reverence. It ought also to be observed how very
frequent are his allusions to lawyers, to the law-courts at West-
minster, and to legal processes. He has a mock-charter, begin-
ning with the ordinary formula Sciant prxsentes et futuri (see
p. 18), a form of making a will (see p. 70), and in one passage
(B-text, Pass. XI) he speaks with such scorn of a man who draws
up a charter badly, who interlines it or leaves out sentences, or
puts false Latin in it, that I think we may fairly suppose him to
have been conversant with the writing out of legal documents,
and to have eked out his subsistence by the small sums received for
doing so. The various texts of the poem are so consistent, and
the different MSS. agree so well together, that I fully believe he
was his own scribe in the first instance, though we cannot now
point to any MS. as an autograph. Nevertheless, the very neatly
written MS. Laud 581 is so extremely correct as regards the sense,
and is marked for correction on account of such very minute
errors, that we may be sure he must himself have p. rused it n.
Respecting the poem itself there are some excellent remarks
m See Wright's edition, p. 304, where 'quod 7' is printed 'quod he'; an
error which a collation of many MSS. has removed.
n After carefully considering the question from every point, I think it
quite possible that it is indeed an autograph.
REMARKS BY MR. MARSH. XXI
in the works of Mr. Marsh and Dean Milman, which I cannot do
better than transcribe here, in part. But the reader should
consult the books themselves.
In Mr. Marsh's lectures on the Origin and History of the
English Language, 8vo, 1862, p. 296, we read as follows: —
1 Every great popular writer is, in a certain sense, a product of
his country and his age, a reflection of the intellect, the moral
sentiment, and the prevailing social opinions of his time. The
author of Piers Ploughman, no doubt, embodied in a poetic
dress just what millions felt, and perhaps hundreds had uttered
in one fragmentary form or another. His poem as truly ex-
pressed the popular sentiment, on the subjects it discussed, as
did the American Declaration of Independence the national
thought and feeling on the relations between the Colonies and
Great Britain. That remarkable document disclosed no pre-
viously unknown facts, advanced no new political opinions, pro-
claimed no sentiment not warranted by previous manifestations
of popular doctrine and the popular will, employed perhaps even
no new combination of words, in incorporating into one pro-
clamation the general results to which the American head and
heart had arrived. Nevertheless, Jefferson, who drafted it, is as
much entitled to the credit of originality, as he who has best
expressed the passions and emotions of men in the shifting scenes
of the drama or of song.
'The Vision0 of Piers Ploughman thus derives its interest, not
from the absolute novelty of its revelations, but partly from its
literary form, partly from the moral and social bearings of its
subject — the corruptions of the nobility and of the several de-
partments of the government, the vices of the clergy and the
abuses of the church — in short, from its connection with the
actual life and opinion of its time, into which it gives us a clearer
insight than many a laboured history. Its dialect, its tone, and
its poetic dress alike conspired to secure to the Vision a wide
circulation among the commonalty of the realm, and by formu-
lating— to use a favourite word of the day — sentiments almost
universally felt, though but dimly apprehended, it brought them
0 He means the Liber, the whole poem.
XX11 INTRODUCTION.
into distinct consciousness, and thus prepared the English people
for the reception of the seed, which the labours of Wycliffe and
his associates were already sowing among them p . . . .
' The Vision of the Ploughman furnishes abundant evidence of
the familiarity of its author with the Latin Scriptures, the writings
of the fathers, and the commentaries of Romish expositors, but
exhibits very few traces of a knowledge of Romance literature.
Still the proportion of Norman-French words, or at least of
words which, though of Latin origin, are French in form, is quite
as great as in the works of Chaucer % The familiar use of this
mixed vocabulary, in a poem evidently intended for the popular
ear, and composed by a writer who gives no other evidence of an
acquaintance with the literature of France1, would, were other
proof wanting, tend strongly to confirm the opinion I have before
advanced, that a large infusion of French words had been, not
merely introduced into the literature, but incorporated into the
common language of England ; and that only a very small propor-
tion of those employed by the poets were first introduced by them.
' The poem, if not altogether original in conception, is abund-
antly so in treatment. The spirit it breathes, its imag\ fy, the
turn of thought, the style of illustration and argument it employs,
are as remote as possible from the tone of Anglo-Saxon poetry,
but exhibit the characteristic moral and mental traits of the
Englishman, as clearly and unequivocally as the most national
portions of the works of Chaucer or of any other native writer.
' The Vision has little unity of plan, and indeed — considered as
a satire against many individual and not obviously connected
abuses in church and state— it needed none. But its aim and
P In other words, Long Will was certainly a prophet, a speaker-out.
'i The Prologue to Piers the Plowman and the first 420 lines of Chaucer's
Prologue alike contain 88 per cent, of Anglo-Saxon words. See Marsh,
Lectures on English, 1st Series, p. 124. The number of French words in
our author is considerable. It is common to meet with the remark that
Piers the Plowman is singularly free from any admixture of French ; but
the remark is false, as the reader may see for himself.
r He knew something of French, and quotes a couple of French proverbs.
More than this, he appears to have read Le Chastel d'Amour and the poems
of Rutebuef (see note to 5. 594), and a poem on Antichrist by Huon de
Meri {B. 20. 52).
REMARKS BY DEAN MILMAN. xxi'ii
purpose are one. It was not an expostulation with temporal
and spiritual rulers, not an attempt to awaken their consciences
or excite their sympathies, and thus induce them to repent of the
sins and repair the wrongs they had committed ; nor was it an
attack upon the theology of the Church of Rome, or a revolu-
tionary appeal to the passions of the multitude. It was a calm,
allegorical exposition of the corruptions of the state, of the
church, and of social life, designed, not to rouse the people to
violent resistance or bloody vengeance, but to reveal to them the
true causes of the evils under which they were suffering, and to
secure the reformation of those grievous abuses, by a united
exertion of the moral influence which generally accompanies the
possession of superior physical strength.'
In Dean Milman's History of Latin Christianity, vol. vi. p. 536
(ed. 1855), occurs the following excellent passage.
' Before Chaucer, even before Wycliffe, appeared with his rude
satire, his uncouth alliterative verse, his homely sense, and inde-
pendence of thought, the author of Piers Ploughman's Vision s.
This extraordinary manifestation of the religion, of the language,
of the social and political notions, of the English character, of
the condition, of the passions and feelings of rural and provincial
England l, commences, and with Chaucer and Wycliffe completes
the revelation of this transition period, the reign of Edward III.
Throughout its institutions, language, religious sentiment, Teu-
tonism is now holding its first initiatory struggle with Latin
Christianity. In Chaucer is heard a voice from the court, from
the castle, from the city, from universal England. All orders of
society live in his verse, with the truth and originality of indi-
vidual being, yet each a type of every rank, class, every religious
and social condition and pursuit. And there can be no doubt
that his is a voice_of_freedom, of more or less covert hostility to
the hierarchial system, though more playful and with a poet's
genial appreciation of all which was true, healthful, and beautiful
in the old faith. In Wycliffe is heard a voice from the Uni-
s This title is wrong, as has been shewn; he means 'The Book concern-
ing Piers the Plowman.'
* We may certainly say also — of the lower classes in the city of London.
XXIV INTRODUCTION.
versify, from the seat of theology and scholastic philosophy, from
the centre and stronghold of the hierarchy ; a voice of revolt
and defiance, taken up and echoed in the pulpit throughout the
land against the sacerdotal domination. In the Vision of Piers
Ploughman is heard a voice from the wild Malvern Hills, the
voice, it should seem, of an humble parson, or secular priest.
He has passed some years in London, but his home, his heart
is among the poor rural population of central Mercian England.
.... Whoever he was, he wrote in his provincial idiom, in a
rhythm perhaps from the Anglo-Saxon times familiar to the
popular ear ; if it strengthened and deepened that feeling, no
doubt the poem was the expression of a strong and wide-spread
feeling. It is popular in a broader and lower sense than the
mass of vernacular poetry in Germany and England. . . .
' The Visionary is no disciple, no precursor of Wycliffe in his
broader religious views: the Loller of [the author of] Piers
Ploughman is no Lollard; he applies the name as a term of
reproach for a lazy indolent vagrant. The poet is no dreamy
speculative theologian; he acquiesces seemingly with unques-
tioning faith in the Greed and in the usages of the Church. He
is not profane but reverent as to the Virgin and the Saints.
Pilgrimages, penances, oblations on the altar, absolution, he does
not reject, though they are all nought in comparison with holi-
ness and charity ; on Transubstantiation and the Real Presence
and the Sacraments, he is almost silent, but his silence is that of
submission, not of doubt. It is in his intense absorbing moral
feeling that he is beyond his age : with him outward observances
are but hollow shows, mockeries, hypocrisies without the inward
power of religion. It is not so much in his keen cutting satire
on all matters of the Church as his solemn installation of Reason
and Conscience as the guides of the self-directed soul, that he is
breaking the yoke of sacerdotal domination; in his constant
appeal to the plainest, simplest Scriptural truths, as in them-
selves the whole of religion, he is a stern reformer. The sad
serious Satirist, in his contemplation of the world around him,
the wealth of the world and the woe, sees no hope, but in a new
order of things, in which if the hierarchy shall subsist, it shall
REMARKS BY DEAN MILMAN. XXV
subsist in a form, with powers, in a spirit totally opposite to that
which now rules mankind. The mysterious Piers the Plough-
man seems to designate from what quarter that Reformer is to
arise"
' With Wycliffe, with the spiritual Franciscans, Langland
ascribes all the evils, social and religious, of the dreary world
to the wealth of the Clergy, of the Monks, and the still more
incongruous wealth of the Mendicants. With them, he asserts
the right, the duty, the obligation of the temporal Sovereign to
despoil the hierarchy of their corrupting and fatal riches . . .
With the Fraticelli, to him the fatal gift of Constantine was the
doom of true religion ; with them he almost adores poverty, but
it is industrious down-trodden rustic poverty ; not that of the
impostor beggar, common in his days, and denounced as sternly
as by the political economy of our own, still less of the religious
mendicant. Both these are fiercely excluded from his all-em-
bracing charity.
'Langland is Antipapal, yet he can admire an ideal Pope, a
general pacificator, reconciling the Sovereigns of the world to
universal amity. It is the actual Pope, the Pope of Avignon or
of Rome, levying the wealth of the world to slay mankind, who
is the subject of his bitter invective. The Cardinals he de-
nounces with the same indignant scorn; but chiefly the Cardinal
Legate, whom he has seen in England riding in his pride and
pomp, with lewdness, rapacity, merciless extortion, insolence in
his train. Above all, his hatred (it might seem that on this all
honest English indignation was agreed) is agaipstJhe. Mendicant
orders. Of the older monks there is almost total silence. For
St. Benedict, for St. Dominic, for St. Francis he has the pro-
foundest reverence. But it is against their degenerate sons that
he arrays his allegorical Host; the Friars furnish every im-
personated vice, are foes to every virtue : his bitterest satire, his
u A sentence here follows, which is based on a misconception. The pi
'Piers pardon the Ploughman' involves a very curious grammatical construc-
tion (not uncommon in Early English), and signifies ' the p.irdon of (or
given by) Piers the Ploughman.' But Dean iMilman treats it as a proper
name, ' Piers-Pardon-Ploughman,' which it cannot possibly be. Elsewhere
we have ' Piers berne the Plowman,' meaning Piers the Ploughman's barn.
X X VI* INTR OD UC TION.
keenest irony (and these weapons he wields with wonderful
poetic force) are against their dissoluteness, their idleness, their
pride, their rapacity, their arts, their lies, their hypocrisy, their
delicate attire, their dainty feasts, their magnificent buildings,
even their proud learning ; above all their hardness, their pitiless-
ness to the poor, their utter want of charity, which with Lang-
land is the virtue of virtues.
' Against the clergy he is hardly less severe ; he sternly con-
demns their dastardly desertion of their flocks, when during the
great plague they crowded to London to live an idle life ; that
idle life he describes with singular spirit and zest. Yet he seems
to recognise the Priesthooci-as-of Divine institution. Against the
whole host of officials, pardoners, summoners, archdeacons, and
their functionaries ; against lawyers, civil as well as ecclesiastical,
he is everywhere fiercely and contemptuously criminatory.
' His political views are remarkable. He has a notion of a
king ruling in the affections of the people, with Reason for his
chancellor, Conscience for his justiciary. On such a king the
commonalty would cheerfully and amply bestow sufficient revenue
for all the dignity of his office, and the exigencies of the state,
even for his conquests. No doubt that commonalty would first
have absorbed the wealth of the hierarchy. He is not absolutely
superior to that hatred of the French, nor even to the ambition
for the conquest of France engendered by Edward's wars and
his victories. And yet his shrewd common sense cannot but
see the injustice and cruelty of those aggressive and sanguinary
wars.'
After some remarks upon the language and the allegory of the
poem, (some of which require to be slightly modified to make
them absolutely accurate,) and a slight sketch of the general plan
of the poem considered as a whole, Dean Milman sums up the
whole matter in the following just words : —
' The poet who could address such opinions, though wrapt up
in prudent allegory, to the popular ear, to the ear of the
peasantry of England ; the people who could listen with delight
to such strains, were far advanced towards a revolt from Latin
Christianity. Truth, true religion, was not to be found with, it
CHRONOLOGY OF THE POEM. XXV11
was not known by, Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Clergy, Monks,
Friars. It was to be sought by man himself, by the individual
man, by the poorest man, under the sole guidance of Reason,
Conscience, and of the Grace of God, vouchsafed directly, not
through any intermediate human being, or even Sacrament, to
the self-directing soul. If it yet respected all existing doctrines,
it respected them not as resting on traditional or sacerdotal
authority. There is a manifest appeal throughout, an uncon-
scious instaJIatiQiv-of— Scripture alone, as the ultimate judge ;
the test of everything is a moral and purely religious one, its
agreement" with holiness and charity?
It should be remembered that several of the above remarks
apply in particular to the C-text, which Dr. Milman seems
to have examined the most attentively, doubtless because it is
the longest and fullest. There are several points about the
poem which render caution on the reader's part very necessary,
if he would avoid being misled. One is, that the effect of its
double revision has been to introduce occasional anachronisms.
Thus, when the poet speaks of Reason as being set on the bench
between the king and his son, he referred originally to Edward
III. and the Black Prince, as the remark was made in 1362 ; but
when the line was allowed to stand without change in the later
versions, as occurring in a part of the poem which was not very
much altered, the allusion was lost, and it must be taken merely
as a general expression signifying that Reason was placed in a
seat of dignity. Again, the allusion to the accession of Richard
II. in the words '3'if I regne any while' is of less force when
retained in the C-text than when fust composed and inserted in
the B-text. The usual date assigned to the poem, 1362, is very
mi-leading; for all depends upon which form of the poem is in
question. It was in hand and subject to variation during twenty
or thirty years, the date 1362 expressing merely the time of its
commencement. Hence William was, in fact, absolutely con-
temporaneous with Chaucer, and cannot fairly be said to have
preceded him. A comparison between these two great writers
is very instructive ; it is soon perceived that each is, in a great
measure, the supplement of the other, notwithstanding the senti-
XXV111 INTRODUCTION.
ments which they have in common. Chaucer describes the rich
more fully than the poor, and shows us the holiday-making,
cheerful, genial phase of English life ; but Langley pictures the
homely poor in their ill-fed, hard-working condition, battling
against hunger, famine, injustice, oppression, and all the stern
realities and hardships that tried them as gold is tried in the
fire. Chaucer's satire often raises a good-humoured laugh ; but
Langley's is that of a man who is constrained to speak out all
the bitter truth, and it is as earnest as is the cry of an injured man
who appeals to Heaven for vengeance. Each, in his own way, is
equally admirable, and worthy to be honoured by all who prize
highly the English character and our own land. The extreme
earnestness of our author and the obvious truthfulness and blunt
honesty of his character are in themselves attractive, and lend
a value to all he utters, even when he is evolving a theory or
wanders away into abstract questions of theological speculation.
/It is in such a poem as his that we get a real insight into the
inner every-day life of the people, their dress, their diet, their
wages, their strikes, and all the minor details which picture to us
what manner of men they were x.
One very curious variation occurs in the character of Piers the
Plowman himself. In the A-text, he is merely the highest type
of the honest small farmer, whose practical justice and Chris-
tianity are so approved of by truth (who is the same with God
the Father), that he is entrusted with a bull of pardon of more
value than even the Pope's. But towards the conclusion of
the B-text, the poet strikes a higher note, and makes him the
type of the human nature in its highest form of excellence, the
human flesh within whom dwelt the divine soul of Christ our
Saviour. By a sort of parody upon the text in i Cor. x. 4, he
asserts that Petrus est Christus, that Piers is Christ, and he likens
the Saviour to a champion who fights in Piers' armour, that is
to say, in human flesh — bumana natura. When the fact is once
fully perceived that, in a part of the poem, Piers is actually
identified with our Lord and Saviour, the notion of imagining
1 Some of these remarks are repeated from my introduction to the Early
English' Text Society's edition, vol. i. p. iv.
HISTORICAL ALLUSIONS. XX IX
him to have been an old English author stands revealed in all its
complete and irreverent absurdity.
The reader should beware also of being much influenced by
the mention of the Malvern Hills. The name of William of
Malvern has been proposed for the poet, in order to meet the
objection that his surname is not certainly known. In my
opinion, such a name is hardly a fit one, as likely to add to
the numerous misconceptions already current concerning him.
One great merit of the poem is, that it chiefly exhibits London
life and London opinions, which are surely of more interest to us
than those of Worcestershire. He does but mention Malvern
three times, and those three passages may be found within the
compass of the first eight Passus of Text A. But how numerous
are his allusions to London ! He not only speaks of it several
times, but he frequently mentions the law courts of West-
minster; he was familiar with Cornhill, East Cheap, Cock Lane
in Smithfield, Shoreditch, Garlickhithe, Stratford, Tyburn, and
Southwark, all of which he mentions in an ofl-hand manner. He
mentions no river but the Thames, which is with him simply
synonymous with river ; for in one passage he speaks of two men
thrown into the Thames, and in another he says that rich men
are wont to give presents to the rich, which is as superfluous as
if one should fill a tun with water from a fresh river, and then
pour it into the Thames to render it fuller y. To remember the
London origin of a large portion of the poem is the true key to
the right understanding of it.
It is impossible to give here an adequate sketch of that portion
of English history which the poem illustrates, but it is very im-
portant that its close connection with history should be ever
borne in mind. I will merely adduce one instance of this, one
to which Mr. Wright has well drawn attention, and upon which
I would lay even more stress than he has done. I allude to the
>' The words 'to woke with Temese' (see Wright's edition, p. .',15).
seem to mean ' to wet the Ti.ames with.' Woke, left insufficiently explained
by Mr. Wright, seems to mean to wet, to moisten, such appearing to I
sense required in another passage, in C. XV. 25. See my N.>tes to Piers
Plowman (E. E. T. S.), p. 287. However, this is still uncertain, and further
evidence is required.
XXX INTRODUCTION.
rebellion under Wat Tyler. It is most evident that Langland
himself was intensely loyal ; if he would not reverence men whom
he saw going about in rich clothing, he had a most profound re-
verence and even affection for the king. In the Prologue to his
poem upon Richard II., whom he rates soundly and spares not, he
commences with words of most tender and even touching re-
monstrance; it evidently goes to his heart that he should be
compelled by a sense of duty to administer a severe reproof to
' his sovereign, whose subject he ought to be.' He nowhere
recommends or encourages revolutionary ideas, but the contrary,
and he never could have intended his words to have roused the
flame of rebellion. But the outspoken manner of them was just
that which delighted the populace; his exaltation of the plough-
man was gladly seized upon, and his bold words perverted into
watchwords of insurgency. He had but lately elaborated his
second text of the poem, when John Balle, 'the crazy priest of
Kent,' wrote the following remarkable letter to the commons of
Essex. — ' John Schep, som tyme Seynt Marie prest of Jorke, and
nowe of Colchestre, greteth welle Johan Nameles, and Johan the
Mullere, and Johan Cartere, and biddeth hem that thei ware
of gyle of borugh, and stondeth togiddir in Goddis name, and
biddeth Peres Ploitynan go to his werke, and chastise well Hobbe
the robber, and taketh with 3ou Johan Trewman, and all his
felaws, and no mo, and loke scharpe 30U to on heued, and no mo.
Johan the Muller heth ygrownde smal, smal, smal;
The Kyngis sone of hevene shalle paye for alle.
Be ware or ye be wo,
Knoweth 3our frende from 3oure foo,
Haveth ynowe, and seythe 'Hoo';
And do nvelle and bettre, and fleth synne,
And seketh pees, and holde therynne ;
And so biddeth Johan Trewman and alle his felawes.'
For writing which, John Balle was drawn, hung, and quartered,
July 15, 1 38 1, just one month after Wat Tyler had been cut
down by Sir William Walworth. See Thoma: Walsingham
Historia Anglicana, ed. Riley, vol. ii. p. 33. The reader will
remark the mention, not only of Peres P/oivman, but of do-welle
SUMMAR1' OF THE POEM. XX\'i
and bettre ; besides which, the name of Schep (or shepherd) was
probably adopted from the second line of the prologue, and the
name of Trewman was possibly suggested by Langley's Tom me
Trew-tonge (4. 17).
It will probably assist the reader to have before him a general
sketch of one of the forms of the Poem. Taking the B-text
of it, it may be divided, as before explained, into two parts,
viz. Piers the Plowman, properly so called, the whole of which
is here printed, and the Vision of Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best.
The former consists of an Introductory Prologue and Sev
Passus, and can be subdivided into two distinct portions, which
may be called: (1) The Vision of the Field Full of Folk, of
Holy Church, and of Lady Meed, occupying the Prologue and
Passus I-IV; and (2) the Vision of the Seven Deadly Sins
and of Piers the Plowman2, occupying Passus V-VII.
I. Vision of the Field Full of Folk, of Holy Church, and of Lady Meed.
In the Prologue, the author describes how, weary of wandering,
he sits down to rest upon Malvern Hills, and there falls asleep
and dreams. In his vision, the world and its people are repre-
sented to him by a field full of folk, busily engaged in their
avocations. The field was situate between the tower of Truth,
who is God the Father, and the dungeon which is the abode of
evil spirits. In it there were ploughmen and spendthrifts, ancho-
rites, merchants, jesters, beggars, pilgrims, hermits, friars, a
pardoner with his bulls, and priests who deserted their cures.
There was also a king, to whom an angel speaks words of advice.
Then was seen suddenly a rout of rats and mice, conspiring to
bell the cat, from doing which they were dissuaded by a wise
mouse. There were also lawsergeants, burgesses, tradesmen,
labourers, and tavcrners touting for custom.
Passus I. Presently, he sees a lovely lady, of whom he asks
the meaning of the tower. She tells him it is the abode of the
Creator, who provides men with the necessaries of life. The
dungeon is the castle of Care, where lives the Father of False;
z Piers is never once mentioned till we come to Pass. V . =44.
XXXU INTRODUCTION.
He prays the lady to disclose her name, and she tells him she
is Hoiy_Church, and instructs him how great a treasure Truth
is, how Lucifer fell through pride, that faith without works is
dead, and that the way to heaven lies through Love.
Passus II. He asks how he may know Falsehood. She bids
him turn, and see both Falsehood and Flattery (Favel). Looking
aside, he sees, not them alone, but a woman in glorious apparel.
He is told that she is the Lady Meed (i.e. Reward or Bribery),
who is to be married to Falsehood on the morrow. Holy
Church then leaves him. The wedding is arranged, and Simony
and Civil read a deed respecting the property with which False-
hood and Meed are to be endowed. Theology objects to the
marriage, and disputes its legality ; whereupon it is agreed that
all must go to Westminster to have the question decided. All
the parties ride off to London, Meed being mounted upon a
sheriff, and Falsehood upon a ' sisour.' Guile leads the way, and
they soon reach the king's court, who vows that he will punish
Falsehood if he can catch him. Whereupon all run away, except
Meed alone, who is taken prisoner.
Passus III. Lady Meed is now brought before the king.
The justices assure her that all will go well. To seem righteous,
she confesses to a friar and is shriven, offering to glaze a church-
window by way of amendment, immediately after which she
advises mayors and judges to take bribes. The king proposes
that she shall marry Conscience ; but Conscience refuses, and
exposes her faults. She attempts to retaliate and to justify her-
self; but Conscience refutes her arguments, quotes the example
of Saul to show the evil of covetousness, and declares that
Reason shall one day reign upon earth and punish all wrong-
doers. To this is appended a description of the year of jubilee,
and a caution about reading texts in connection with the con-
text, neither of which things appear in the A-text.
Passus IF. Hereupon the king orders Reason to be sent for ;
who comes, accompanied by Wit and Wisdom. At this moment
Peace enters with a complaint against Wrong. Wrong, knowing
the complaint to be true, wins over Wit and Wisdom to his
side, by Meed's help, and offers to buy Peace off with a present.
SUMMARY OF THE POEM. XXX iii
Reason, however, is firm and will shew no pity, but advises the
king to act with strict justice. The king is convinced, and prays
Reason to remain with him for ever afterwards.
II. The Vision of the Seven Deadly Sins, and of Piers the Plowman.
Passus V. Here the dreamer awakes, but not for long ; he soon
falls asleep over his prayers, and has a second dream, wherein
he again sees the field full of folk, and Reason* preaching, to the
assembled people, reminding them that the late tempest and
pestilences were judgments of God. Many are affected by the
sermon, and begin to repent and confess their sins. Of these,
the first is Pride, who makes a vow of humility. The second is
Luxury or Lechery, who vows henceforth only to drink water.
The third is En vyy who confesses his evil thoughts and his
attempts to harm his neighbours. The fourth is Wrath,, a friar,
whose aunt was a nun, and who was both cook and gardener to
a convent, and incited many to quarrel. The fifth, Avarice, who
confesses how he lied, cheated, and lent money upon usury, and
who, not understanding the French word restitution, thought
that it was another term for stealing. The sixth, Gluttony, who
(on his way to church) is tempted into a London ale-house, of
the interior of which the author gives a most life-like picture,
as distinct as a drawing by Hogarth. Glutton also repents and
vows amendment, but not till after he has first become com-
pletely drunk and afterwards felt ashamed of himself. The
seventh is Sloth, a priest who knows rimes about Robin Hood
better than his prayers, and can find a hare in a field more
readily than he can read the lives of the saints. Robert the
robber too repents, and prays for forgiveness, and Repentance
makes supplication for all the penitents15. Then all set out to
seek after Truth, but no one knows the way. Soon they meet
with a palmer, who had sought the shrines of many saints, but
never that of one named Truth. At this juncture Piers the
Plowman for the first time appears, declaring that he knows
* In the'A-text, it is Conscience who preaches.
b In the A-text, Passus VI begins here, at 1. 520 of our text.
XXXIV INTRODUCTION.
Truth well, and will tell them the way, which he then de-
scribes.
Passus VI. The pilgrims still ask for a guide, and Piers says
he will shew them, when he has ploughed his half-acre. Mean-
while, he gives good advice to ladies and to a knight. Before
starting, he makes his will, and then sets all who come to him
to hard work. Many shirk their work, but are reduced to
subordination by the sharp treatment of Hunger. Next follow
some most curious and valuable passages concerning the diet
of the poor, strikes for higher wages, and the discontents engen-
dered by a brief prosperity.
Passus VII. At this time Truth (i.e. God the Father) sends
Piers a bull of pardon, especially intended for kings, knights,
bishops, and the labouring poor, and even for some lawyers
and merchants, in a less degree. A priest disputes the validity
of Piers' pardon, and wants to see it. The dispute between
him and Piers is so violent that the dreamer awakes, and the
poem of Piers the Plowman (properly so called) ends with a
fine peroration on the small value of the pope's pardons, and the
superiority of a righteous life over mere trust in indulgences, at
the Last Great Day.
The poem of Do-ivell is much more discursive, and is far too
full of matter to admit of a brief summary of it ; it contains
many passages of great interest and importance. In one of these
occurs the curious prophecy, that a king would one day come
and beat the religious orders for breaking their rules, and then
should the abbot of Abingdon receive a knock from the king, and
incurable should be the wound ; a passage which excited great
interest in the days of Henry VIII. In another passage is the
reference to the mayoralty of John Chichester. The poem of
Do-bet has a long and most singular prologue, containing, among
other things, a reference to the Mahometan religion and the duty
of Christians to convert the Saracens to the true faith. The
poem itself is on a uniform and settled plan, designed to point
out that Jesus is the only Saviour of men. It seems to me most
admirable, both in conception and execution. We are introduced
to Faith, personated by Abraham, and to Hope, both of whom
SUMMARY OF THE POEM. XXXV
pass by the wounded man who has been stripped by thieves.
But Love, who is the Good Samaritan, and none other than
Jesus in the dress of Piers the Ploughman, alone has compassion
on him and saves his life. With growing power and vividness,
the poem describes the death of Christ, the struggle between
Life and Death and between Light and Darkness, the meeting
together of Truth and Mercy, Righteousness and Peace, whilst
the Saviour rests in the grave ; a triumphant description of the
descent of Christ into hell, and His victory over Satan and Lucifer,
till the poet wakes in ecstacy, with the joyous peal of the bells
ringing in his ears on the morning of Easter day. And I cannot
refrain from adding here my conviction, that there are not many
passages in English poetry which are so sublime in their concep-
tion as this 1 8th Passus. Some of the lines are rudely and quaintly
expressed, but there are also many of great beauty and power,
and which buoyantly express the glorious triumph of Christ.
But alas ! the poem of Do-best reveals how far off the end yet is.
The Saviour leaves earth, and Antichrist descends upon it. The
Church is assailed by many foes, and can scarcely hold her own ;
diseases assail all mankind ; death ' pashes ' to the dust kings and
knights, emperors and popes, and many a lovely lady ; old age
can scarce bear up against despair ; Envy hates Conscience, and
hires flattering friars to salve Conscience with soothing but deadly
remedies, till Conscience, hard beset by Pride and Sloth, cries
out to Contrition to help him ; but Contrition still slumbers,
benumbed by the deadly potions he has drunk. With a last
effort Conscience arouses himself, and seizes his pilgrim's staff,
determined to wander wide over the world till he shall find Piers
the Plowman. And the dreamer awakes in tears.
Dr. Whitaker once suggested that the poem is not perfect,
that it must have been designed to have a more satisfactory
ending, and not one so suggestive of disappointment and gloom.
I am convinced that this opinion is most erroneous; not so much
because all the MSS. have here the word Explicit, as from the
very nature of the case. What other ending can there be ? or
rather, the end is not yet. We may be defeated, yet not cast
down ; we may be dying, and yet live. We are all still pilgrims
C 2
XXXVI INTRODUCTION.
upon earth. That is the truth which the author's mighty genius
would impress upon us in his parting words. Just as the poet
awakes in ecstacy at the end of the poem of Do-bet, where he
dreams of that which has been already accomplished, so here he
wakes in tears, at the thought of how much remains to be done.
So far from ending carelessly, he seems to me to have ceased
speaking at the right moment, and to have managed a very diffi-
cult matter with consummate skill.
METRE OF THE POEM.
The last consideration that requires attention is the form of
the poem, as regards its metre and language.
The metre is that known as al/iterati-ve, the only metre which
in the earliest times was employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry. It
also resembles the older kind of alliterative poetry in being
entirely without rime. Poems thus composed may be printed
cither in short lines or lung ones, as is most convenient. I
have adopted the system of long lines, as Early English poems
in this metre and of this period are invariably written in long
lines in the MSS., except when written continuously, as we write
prose. Every long line is divided into two short lines or half-
lines by a pause, the position of which is marked in the MSS.
by a point (sometimes coloured red), or by a mark resembling
a paragraph mark (5F) or inverted D (q), coloured red and blue
alternately. In some MSS., but these are generally inferior
ones, the mark is entirely omitted. It is also not infrequently
misplaced. In the present volume the position of the pause is
denoted by a raised full-stop, and the reader will find that it
almost invariably points out the right place for a slight rest in
reading, and in very many places is equivalent to a comma in
punctuation. If we employ the term loud syllables to denote
those syllables which are more strongly accented and are of
greater weight and importance, and soft syllables to denote those
having a slighter stress or none at all, we may briefly state the
chief rules of alliterative verse, as employed by our author and
other writers of his time, in the following manner.
METRE OF THE POEM. XXXV11
1. Each half-line contains two or more loud syllables, two being
the usual number. More than two are frequently found in the
first half-line, but rarely in the second.
2. The initial-letters which are common to two or more of
these loud syllables being called the rime-Utters, each line should
have two rune- letters in the first, and one in the second half.
The two former are called sub-letters, the latter the chief-letter.
3. The chief-letter should begin the former of the two loud
syllables in the second half-line. If the line contain only two
rime-letters, it is because one of the sub-letters is dispensed
with.
4. If the chief-letter be a consonant, the sub-letters should be
the same consonant, or a consonant expressing the same sound.
If a vowel, it is sufficient that the sub-letters be also vowels;
they need not be the same, and in practice are generally differ-
ent. If the chief-letter be a combination of consonants, such as
sp, ch, str, and the like, the sub-letters frequently present the
same combination, although the recurrence of the first letter only
would be sufficient.
These rules are easily exemplified by the opening lines of the
prologue.
' In a somer seson ■ whan soft was the Sonne,
I s/r6pe me in s&roudes ' as I a sA6pe were,
In Aabite as an Aeremite " vnAoly of workes,
Went w/yde in bis world ■ «/6ndres to here.
Ac on a May wornynge ' on Afaluerne hiilles
Me by/61 a /erly ■ of ./airy, me thoi^te;
I was w/ery forw/andred ' and went me to reste
\fnder a 6rode fcanke ■ bi a fcornes side,
And as I /ay and Zoned ■ and Joked in be wateres,
I s/ombred in a s/epyng ■ it sweyued so merye.'
Line 1 has s for its rime-letter ; the sub-letters begin somer
and seson; the chief-letter begins soft. The s beginning sontu
may be regarded as superfluous and accidental.
Line 2 shews sb used as a rime-letter. The syllables marked
with a disresis are to be fully sounded, and counted as distinct
syllables. The e at the end of shape merely shows that the pre-
ceding 0 is long, and is not syllabic.
XXXV111 INTRODUCTION.
Line 3 is veryregular ; it reminds us that the nm- in <vnboly is
a mere prefix, and that the true base of the word is holy, begin-
ning with h.
In line 4, the initial Wm Went is superfluous.
In line 5 , two loud syllables, viz. May and the first of mornynge,
come together. This is rare, and not pleasing.
In line 6, by- in byfel is a mere prefix ; and so is for- in for-
ivandred in line 7.
In line 8, the b in bi is unnecessary to the alliteration.
In line 9, if a stress be laid upon as, there will be three loud
syllables in the first half-line.
In line 10, the chief-letter is s, but the sub-letters exhibit the
combination si.
The true swing and rhythm of the lines is very easily caught.
A few variations may be noticed.
(a) The chief-letter may begin the second loud syllable of the
second half-line; as, —
* Vn^ynde to her l<yn ' and to alle cristene;' I. 190.
(Z>) Sometimes there are two rime-letters in the second half-
line, and one in the first. Such lines are rare ; I give an example
from the A-text of the poem, Pass. ii. 1. 1 12 : —
' Tyle he had syluer ■ for his sawes and his selynge.'
(c) The chief-letter is sometimes omitted ; but this is a great
blemish. Thus, in 1. 34 of the Prologue, nearly all the MSS. have
synneles, instead of giltles, which is the reading of MS. R. 3. 14
in Trinity College, Cambridge.
(d) By a bold license, the rime-letter is sometimes found at
the beginning of soft or subordinate syllables, as in the Wordstar,
tvbil, in the lines : —
' panne I /rained hir /aire ■ /or hym )>at hir made;' I. 58.
'And ;c it him to wonye with ivo ' ivh'd god is in heuene;' 2. 106.
(f) It may be noted that k seems to have been sounded before
«; hence kn is alliterated with k, as in Pass. 5. 1. 1. Also, <w seems
to have been sounded before r, so that ivr is alliterated with iv ;
see 3. 182. Both these peculiarities are found in other alliterative
LANGUAGE OF THE POEM. XXXIX
poems. But there is a third peculiarity which is very scarce else-
where, except in Richard the Redeles, viz. the alliteration off
with v, as in Prol. 194, 2. 60, 5. 443. This in itself furnishes an
argument for the common authorship of Richard and Piers the
Plowman.
Some of the above examples certainly tend to shew that
William was not very particular about his metre. He frequently
neglects to observe the strict rules, and evidently considered
metre of less importance than the sense. This remark will
suffice to dismiss the subject, since, for more perfect specimens
of the metre, the poems of the Anglo-Saxon period should be
studied. Of the poems in unrimed alliterative metre which are
most nearly contemporaneous with Piers the Plowman, some of
the principal are William of Palerne, and a fragment of a poem
on Alexander (both edited by myself for the Early English Text
Society in the same volume), Pierce the Ploughman's Crede,
' Richard the Redeles,' Two poems (one upon Cleanness, and
another upon Patience), edited by Mr. Morris for the Early
English Text Society in 1864, The Destruction of Jerusalem, &c.
Eor further information, see my essay on Alliterative Poetry in
vol. iii. of the Percy Folio MS., edited by Hales and Furnivall.
LANGUAGE OF THE POEM.
As regards the language of the poem, the first point is the
dialect. This is certainly of a mixed character, as it exhibits
the plural forms in -en in the indicative mood (which are a mark
of Midland dialect), and also plural forms in -cth (which mark
the Southern). This peculiarity is by no means confined to the
particular MS. here printed, but is the case with most other
MSS. which I have examined. Thus, in Pass. iii. 11. 80, 81, we
find—
' For Jjise aren men on bis molde * pat moste harme worchf/A
To be pore peple ■ pat parcel-mele buggew [buy].'
This mixture of the -etb ending in ivorcheth, and the -en ending
in buggen, occurs in at least six other MSS., and a careful ex-
amination of many MSS. has convinced me that such an admix-
xl INTR OD UC TION.
ture of dialect is an essential mark of the poem, and of the dialect
spoken by its composer. There are many traces of West of
England speech also, and even some of Northern, but the latter
may possibly be rightly considered as common "to both North
and West. The reader will therefore do well to remember that
he has here to deal with a dialect of a peculiarly uncertain cha-
racter, and that he cannot therefore always draw certain con-
clusions. At the same time, the dialect is far from being such as
to cause much difficulty by the introduction of uncommon words.
The language is fairly intelligible after a slight amount of patience
has been bestowed upon the first few hundred lines, and the
occasional occurrence of hard words is chiefly due to the ex-
v traordinary extent of the author's vocabulary.
Dr. Morris well observes, in his Introduction to 'Chaucer's
Prologue,' &c, in the Clarendon Press Series — that the number
of Norman- French words in Chaucer is so great that ' he has
been accused of corrupting the language by a large and un-
necessary admixture of Norman-French terms. But Chaucer,
with few exceptions, employed only such terms as were in use
in the spoken language, and stamped them with the impress of his
genius, so that they became current coin of the literary realm.'
That this remark is true is shewn by the fact that WTilliam does
the very same thing, employing Norman-French words freely
whenever he wishes to do so.
As regards the orthography, it may be remarked that the
scnbe of the Laud MS. seems to have added many final e's where
the rules would not lead us to expect them, and has omitted many
where they seem necessary. This is due, either to carelessness
on his part, or to a peculiar orthographical system, or to the fact
that the dialect is of a mixed character and more uncertain.
The first supposition alone hardly suffices, as most MSS. of the
B-text exhibit like irregularities. The chief points of the gram-
mar are so well explained in the Introduction to Mr. Morris's
Chaucer (Clarendon Press Series), pp. xxxi-xlii, that a very brief
summary of some of them may be sufficient here.
The scribe uses j> to represent th. In a great many cases he
distinguishes between the sound of th in thin, and the sound of
GRAMMATICAL REMARKS. xli
th in thine. He denotes the former by th written at length, as in
precheth, thinketh, and the like, and the latter by b, as in be, bat,
panne, and the like. This is his usual custom ; but there are
several instances of the contrary. He also uses 3, as usual,
with the sound of y at the beginning of a word, as in %e, %oure, and
with the guttural sound of gh in the middle of a word, as in
thoutfe, naWit. He employs very few contractions, all of which
are here denoted by italics. Most of these involve the letter r;
thus a curl above the line, which is really a corruption of the old
form of e, stands for er or re; as in better, prcched0. An ;
above the line means ri, as in crist. A roughly written a means
ra, as in grv?ce. A roughly written -v means rr or ur, as in
honoz^r. A p with a straight stroke through the tail means per
or par, as in p^rsoun, p«rfyt. A p with a curling stroke below
means pro, as in profyt. A straight stroke above a letter means
n or m, as in momrae, mas, where the stroke is over 0 and a
respectively. A few words are written shortly, as Ire for lettre,
coe for commie, qd for quod. When these contractions and
a few others of rare occurrence are mastered, the difficulty of
reading MSS. is not great. To read them correctly in all cases
comes by practice only.
N O U N S d.
Number. The nominative plural ends commonly in -es, as in
shroudes, ivories ; sometimes in s, as in bidders, or in z, as in
diamantz. This z is written exactly like 3, the symbol for y or
gh. For -es, -is is sometimes found, as in ivittis ; and very rarely,
-us, as mfolus. Some few plurals are in -en, as sustren, chylderen.
A few nouns, such as folk, which were originally neuter, have no
termination in the plural. Gees, men, are examples of plurals
formed by vowel-change ; fete and feet are various spellings of
the plural of foot.
Case. The genitive singular ends in -es, sometimes corrupted
c It is only when it occurs after p, that it means re. This is because
' per ' can be denoted otherwise, viz. by drawing a stroke across the tail of
the p.
d These remarks are chiefly copied and adapted from Mi M
Chaucer.
xlii INTRODUCTION.
into -is, as in cattes, cattis ; other endings are very rare. The
genitive plural sometimes ends in -en or -ene, as in clerken, kynge7ie.
Childryn is also a genitive plural. The instances of these more
unusual forms are readily found by help of the references in the
Glossarial Index. Mannus (for mens) occurs once only. The
dative case singular commonly ends in -e, as in to bedd'e.
ADJECTIVES.
The distinction between definite and indefinite adjectives is
difficult to follow, owing to the irregularity of the alliterative
rhythm ; and the scribe, not having much to guide him, may
have been at fault sometimes, and has certainly added many
final -e's after a long vowel, which he never intended to be
pronounced as a separate syllable. He even writes fete iorfeet,
shope for shoop, where there is no doubt about the final e being
silent, and intended to be non-syllabic. Plural adjectives should
end in -<?, and commonly do so, as alle. The reduplication
of a consonant when a syllable is added is worth notice ; thus
alle is the plural of al, just as shullen is the plural of the
auxiliary verb shal. Very rarely, plural adjectives of French
origin end in -es ; I believe that cardinales verities is the sole
instance; cf. the phrase maistres freres*. The comparative of
heigh (high) is herre, the superlative hexte. Adjectives and ad-
verbs ending in -ly sometimes form their comparatives and
superlatives in -loker, -lokest, as lightloker, lightlokest.
PRONOUNS.
The pronouns are the same as in Chaucer ; but, besides sche,
the older form heo is also usedf ; and, besides \>ei, the older form
h*j ih)- These are instances of a confusion or admixture of
dialect. Their is denoted by here, her, or hir ; them by hem. The
dative case is used with impersonal verbs, as me byfel, him likede.
The pronoun thou is often written tow, and at the same time
8 Maistris Iters occurs in Pecock's Repressor, ed. Babington, p. 478.
f The form in Chaucer is sche, and never heo.
GRAMMATICAL REMARKS. xliii
joined to its verb, as seestoiv, seest thou, repentedestoiv, repent -
edst thou. The genitive of who is written ivhas, 2. 18. lrcb a
or eche a is used for each ; which a for what sort of a ; pi. whiche,
what sort of.
VERBS.
It is chiefly here that the Laud MS. (in all other respects
superior to the rest) exhibits irregularities ; several of which,
however, are found also in other good MSS.of the B-class. The
indicative plural ends both in -en and -eth, as geten, conneth ;
a variety which has been already noted. The past tense of weak
verbs, which should end in -ede, commonly ends in -ed only, and
this not only in the singular, but in the plural, as pleyed ; yet
sometimes even the full plural form -eden occurs, as in lyueden.
The student will learn much by contrasting the various endings
in Langley's popular poem (which probably in all its forms ex-
hibited the language rather of the educated poorer classes than
that of the more wealthy), with the more regular endings found
in good MSS. of Chaucer e. I can only point out a few of the
most striking peculiarities, and refer to Dr. Morris's Introduction
to Chaucer, and to his Grammatical Introduction to ' Specimens
of Early English ' for further information, and to his Historical
Outlines of English Accidence for full tables of verbal forms.
The abbreviated forms sit (for sitteth), rit (for rideth), halt (for
holdetb), and the like, occur here as in Ci.aucer. So also bit for
biddeth, rest for resteth,/et for fedetb.
In weak verbs, which should form their past tenses in -de or
-te, the final -e is often dropped. Thus went is used for tvente.
In strong verbs, which should terminate (in the first and third
persons singular of the past tense) in a consonant, we often find
an -e added to lengthen the vowel, as already explained (p. xlii).
Thus / shope is written for I shop or I s hoop. The plural com-
monly has the correct termination -en, as in zuonnen, chosen.
s The Vernon MS., containing many other poems besides Piers the
Plowman, is, upon the whole, tolerably regular in its forms; but this is the
only MS. that is so, and the uniformity is due to the fact that the scribe of it
has turned everything (wherever he could) into the Southern dia.
xliv INTRODUCTION.
In the infinitive mood, some verbs are found with the ending
-ie or -ye, as shonye, stekye, louye • and the final -e is sometimes
dropped, as in craccby. This ending, which the West Midland
and Southern dialects had in common, seldom occurs in Chaucer,
except in a few words like berie, to praise, tilye, to till.
The present participles end in -yng, as lybbyng, worchyng,
wandryng; but the ending -inde occurs occasionally in the MSS.
The prefix y- is frequently found before past participles, and
sometimes even before past tenses ; see Y- in the Glossary.
The anomalous verbs and negative verbs (such as nam for
am not, nelle for will not), adverbs, &c, are much the same as
in Chaucer.
There is one error in syntax which, in more passages than
one, is so well supported by MS. authority, that we can hardly
suppose it not to have been due to the author himself. It is,
that he uses a singular verb with a plural noun, especially the
verb is or was. A clear example is in Pass. v. 99.
Few things are more important than to pay great attention to
the true force of adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions; till
these are mastered, the construction of sentences is left quite
uncertain ; and when a sentence appears difficult, it is often
because such small words have not been understood. Thus
there frequently means where; then =than; thanne = then. Bi
often = with reference to, and of often = by. Vp = upon, •vntil
= unto. Or or ar = ere, before ; als = as ; but = except ; ac = but ;
5//= if ; sithen = since. It is a common error to assign to words,
especially words of this class, the meanings which they have now.
For instance, als is seen to be another form of also, and it is there-
fore supposed to mean also ; but it more commonly has the old
meaning of al so, i. e. just as. The preposition with often has a
very odd position in the sentence; see note to Pass. ii. 31. An
is written for and ; and, conversely, and for an, if.
GENERAL HINTS.
Several mistakes are frequently made by those who are begin-
ning to study Middle English, which are worth mention, in order
to put the student on his guard.
GENERAL HINTS. xlv
i. It is common to disregard the spelling, and look upon it as
lawless. It is true that it was not uniform, but the scribes had a
law nevertheless, for their general object was to represent sounds,
and the spelling is phonetic, not conventional. The variations in
spelling arose from the variety of ways in which sounds can be
represented. Thus /' and y were considered as interchangeable,
and it is a mere chance which is used.
2. The difficulty of Middle English has been much exaggerated.
Though it may take years to become a sound scholar, a very fair
knowledge of it may be picked up in a few weeks, and is of great
utility; for more grammar can thus be learnt in a short time
than by reading any amount of grammatical treatises that ignore
the older forms of the language.
3. Many words are regarded as entirely obsolete which are
nevertheless still preserved in provincial dialects.
4. Old words are often wrongly taken in their modern sense.
Thus, to allow does not mean to permit, but to approve of, the
root being the Latin laudare. Again, to take is supposed always
to mean to receive ; whereas it commonly means to give.
5. Some forget to apply and make the most of such knowledge
as they really possess. Thus, in the phrase ' the quick and the
dead,' every one knows that quick means living. Such knowledge
should be put to good use ; let it be remembered that quick is
almost sure to mean living in Early English, and then it will not
wrongly be supposed to mean quick.
As regards etymology, it may be remembered that many good
dictionaries, such as Richardson's, for instance, are not always to
be trusted. One of the best is Webster's, as revised by Dr.
Mahn, and published by Bell and Daldy. For general informa-
tion, few surpass Dr. Ogilvie's Imperial Dictionary. As to.
derivations, the reader may consult Mahn's Webster, and Wedg-
wood's Dictionary of English Etymology, which is full of illus-
trations and suggestions ; it is from these works that the useful
book called Chambers's Etymological Dictionary is mainly
compiled'1. By far the best (complete) Dictionary of Early
h An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, by myself, is now
being published by the Clarendon Press.
xlvi INTRODUCTION.
English is that by Dr. F. H. Stratmann, which has just reached
(in 1878) a third edition. Above all things, the reader should,
if possible, acquire some knowledge of Anglo-Saxon, or else of
Dutch or German, and should verify words cited from foreign
languages as far as he can. Pocket-dictionaries of French,
German, Dutch, Danish (by Ferrall and Repp), Swedish, Italian
and Spanish (both by Meadows), Welsh (by Spurrell) are very
useful. Actual reference to these teaches more than anything
else can do ; nothing should be taken on trust, but everything
should be examined and verified. To doubt much, and to
examine for oneself, is the best rule for making real progress.
For further remarks on the subject of the study of English,
I may refer the reader to the Introduction to my ' Specimens of
English from 1394 to 1579 ' (Clarendon Press), and to the prin-
ciples laid down in the Introduction to my ' Questions 'for
Examination in English Literature,' published by Messrs. Bell
and Dalcly.
As regards the subject-matter of Piers the Plowman, I subjoin
the names of a few books which I have found especially useful,
nearly all of which are referred to either in the Notes or the
Glossary.
For derivations : — Prompt orium Parvulorum, ed. Way (Camden
Society); Wedgwood's English Etymology; Roquefort, Glossaire
de la Langue Romaine ; Burguy, Grammaire de la Langue d'CEil
(the third volume of which contains an excellent glossary) ;
Bosworth's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary ; Ihre's Glossarium Suio-
Gothicum ; Cleasby and Vigfusson's Icelandic Dictionary; Egils-
son's Icelandic Lexicon ; Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary ; Skeat's
Mceso-Gothic Glossary ; Halliwell's Archaic and Provincial
Dictionary; Nares' Glossary; Morris's Historical Outlines of
English Accidence ; Specimens of English (Clarendon Press
Series) ; Stratmann's Old English Dictionary ; Vernon's Anglo-
Saxon Guide ; Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Reader ; &c, &c.
For subject-matter. Chaucer's works ; the publications of the
Early English Text Society ; Wright's History of Domestic
Manners; Wright's Essays; Warton's History of English Poetry ;
Wright's edition of Piers Ploughman ; Wright's Political Poems;
GENERAL HINTS. xlvii
Wright's Political Songs (Camden Society) ; Wright's edition of
the Deposition of Richard II (Camden Society), or my edition
of Richard the Redeles for the Early English Text Society ;
Lingard's History of England; Liber Albus, ed. H. T. Riley;
Memorials of London, ed. Riley ; Thomie Walsingham His-
toria, ed. Riley; Monumenta Franciscana; Eabyan's Chro-
nicles; Brand's Popular Antiquities; Milman's History of Latin
Christianity ; Rock's Church of Our Fathers ; Cutts's Scenes and
Characters of the Middle Ages; Wyclifs Prose Works, edited
by T. Arnold ; Southey's Book of the Church : Massingberd's
History of the Reformation ; Hook's Church Dictionary ; Timbs'
Nooks and Corners of Old English Life ; Our English Home ;
Hazlitt's Early Popular Poetry ; Chambers's Book of Days ;
Morley's English Writers ; Marsh's Lectures on English ; Craik's
English Literature, &c. Many of the notes from these books
are purposely given as briefly as possible, to save space, and very
much more information will often be found by those who consult
the originals, exact references to which are always given. This
is particularly the case with respect to Chambers's Book of
Days, which is an excellent repertory of popular antiquities;
the reader who actually refers to it will often find whole pages
of information, in the places indicated in the Notes.
I have here endeavoured to point out only the most simple and
obvious sources of information, although a few of these books are
not always easily procurable. There are many others, such as
Matzner's Altenglische Sprachproben, with its excellent Glossary
(at present finished only as far as D), Longman's Life of Edward
III, and the like, which may sometimes be of use, but it is
undesirable to make too long a list J.
' A list of nearly all the books referred to in my Notes to Piers Plowman
as published by the Early English Text Society is given at pp. 492-502 of
Vol. IV. of that work.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
Edward II deposed (3. 126 «■) Jan. 20, 1327.
Edward III begins to reign Jan. 25, 1327.
Edward II murdered (3. 126) Sept. 21, 1327.
Langley born about 1332.
Chaucer born ^^W3-
Coinage of nobles (3. 45) 1343 or 1344.
Battle of Crecy (12. 107) Aug. 26, 1346.
First great pestilence May 31, 1348 to Sept. 29, 1349.
Treaty of Bretigny (3. 188) May 8, 1360.
Second great pestilence Aug. 15, 1 361 to May 3, 1362.
Great storm of wind (5. 14) Saturday, Jan. 15, 1362.
A-text of Piers the Plowman written 13^2-
Third great pestilence July 2 to Sept. 29, 1369.
John Chichester mayor of London (13. 271) . . Oct. 1369 to Oct. 1370.
A fourth pestilence (13. 248) 1375 and 1376.
Death of the Black Prince June 8, 1376.
Jubilee of Edward's accession (3. 297) Feb. 1377.
Death of Edward III June 21, 1377.
Speech of the Duke of Lancaster, in his own vindication . Oct. 13, 1377-
B-text of Piers the Plowman written J377-
Schism of the Popes Sept. 21, 1378.
Wycliffe's translation of the Bible (8. 90) about 1 380.
Wat Tyler's rebellion June 138 1.
Chaucer writes his Canterbury Tales about 1387.
C-text of Piers the Plowman written probably about 1393.
Gower's Con/essio Amantis about 1393.
Richard II taken prisoner Aug. 18, 1 399.
Poem of ' Richard the Redeles' Sept. 1399.
Richard II formally deposed Sept. 30, 1399.
Death of Chaucer 1400.
Probable date of death of Langley about 1400.
» These numbers denote the lines of the poem in which the events
mentioned are referred to.
THE VISION OF WILLIAM
CONCERNING
'PIERS THE PLOWMAN.'
INCIPIT LIBER DE PETRO PLOWMAN.
Prologus.
IN a somer seson ■ whan soft was the sonne,
I shope me in shroudes ■ as I a shepe wc;c,
In habite as an heremite ' vnholy of workes,
Went wyde in )>is world ■ wondres to here.
Ac on a May mornynge • on Maluerne hulles, 5
Me byfel a ferly ' of fairy, me thoujte ;
I was wery forwandred ' and went me to reste
Vnder a brode banke ■ bi a bornes side,
And as I lay and lened ■ and loked in ]>e wateres,
I slombred in a slepyng ■ it sweyued so merye. 10
Thanne gan I to meten ' a merueilouse sweuene,
That I was in a wildernesse ■ wist I neuer where ;
As I bihelde in-to \>e est ; an hiegh to J>e sonne,
I seigh a toure on a toft ■ trielich ymaked ;
A depe dale binethe ' a dongeon {>ere-Inne, 15
With depe dyches & derke • and dredful of sight.
A faire felde ful of folke ■ fonde I there bytwene,
Of alle maner of men • j?e mene and \>e riche,
Worchyng and wandryng ■ as \>e worlde asketh.
b
2 PROLOG US.
Some putten hem to ]>e plow ■ pleyed ful selde, 20
In settyng and in sowyng ■ swonken ful harde,
And wonnen that wastours ■ with glotonye destrayeth.
And some putten hem to pruyde • apparailed hem ]>ere-
after,
In contenau;;ce of clothyng ■ comen disgised.
In prayers and in penance ■ putten hem manye, 25
Al for loue of owre lorde ■ lyuede;/ ful streyte,
In hope forto haue ■ heueneriche blisse ;
As ancres and heremites • that holden hem in here selles,
And coueiten nought in contre ■ to kairen aboute,
For no likerous liflode ■ her lykam to plese. 30
And so;«me chosen chaffare • they cheuen the bettere,
As it semeth to owre sy^t ■ that suche men thryueth ;
And sowme murthes to make ■ as mynstralles conneth,
And geten gold with her£ glee ■ giltles, I leue.
Ac iapers & iangelers ■ Iudas chylderen, 35
Feynen hem fantasies • and foles hem maketh,
And han here witte at wille ■ to worche, jif \>ei sholde ;
That Poule p/vcheth of hem • I nel nought preue it here ;
Qui turpiloquium loquitur ■ is luciferes hyne.
Bidders and beggeres ■ fast aboute jede, 4o
With her belies and her bagges ■ of bred ful ycrammed ;
Fayteden for here fode ■ foi^ten atte ale ;
In glotonye, god it wote ■ gon hij to bedde,
And risen with ribaudye ■ tho roberdes knaues ;
Slepe and sori sleuthe ■ seweth hem eure. 45
Pilgrymes and palmers ■ plijted hem togidere
To seke seynt lames * and seyntes in rome.
Thei went forth in here wey ■ with many wise tales,
And hadden leue to lye ■ al here lyf after.
I seigh sowmie that seiden ■ pei had ysoi^t seyntes : eo
To eche a tale ]>at )>ei tolde ■ here tonge was tezwpred to lye,
THE FIELD FULL OF FOLK. 3
More ])an to sey soth ■ it scmed bi here speche.
Heremites on an heep ■ With hoked staues,
Wenten to Walsvngham ' and her^ wenches after ;
Grete lobyes and longe ■ that loth were to swynke, 5 --
Clotheden hem in copis ■ to ben knowen ham othere ;
And shopen hem heremites ■ here ese to haue.
I fonde }>ere Freris • alle \>e foure ordres,
Preched J>e peple ' for profit of hcm-seluen,
Glosed J>e gospel * as hem good lykcd, 60
For coueitise of copis ■ construed it as pei wolde.
Many of |>is maistres Freris • mowe clothen hem at lykyng,
For here money and marchandise ' marchen togideres.
For sith charite ha|> be chapman ■ and chief to shryue lordes,
Many fcrlis han fallen ■ in a fewe jeris. 65
But holychirche and hij • holde better togideres,
The most myschief on molde ■ is mountyng wel faste.
pere preched a Pardonere ■ as he a prest were,
Brou3te forth a bulle ■ with bishopes seles,
And seide bat hym-self myjte ■ assoilen hem alle 7c
Of falshed of fastyng ' of vowes ybroken.
Lewed men leued hym wel ' and lyked his wordes,
Comen vp knelyng ■ to kissen his bulles;
He bonched hem with his breuct ■ & blered here eyes,
And rau3te with his ragman ■ rynges and broches ; - 75
Thus ]>ey geuen here golde ■ glotones to kepe.
■ ••••••
Were ]>e bischop yblissed * and worth bothe his.eres,
His seel shulde noujt be sent ■ to deceyue ]>e peple.
Ac it is nau3t by }>e bischop ■ pat J>e boy precheth,
For the parisch prest and ]>e pardonere ■ parten ]»e siluer,
That |ie poraille of J>e parisch ; sholde haue, jif J>ei nere.
Persones and parisch prestes ■ pleyned hem to Jie bischop,
pat here parisshes were pore * sith J>e pestilence tyme,
B 2
4 PROLOG US.
To haue a lycence and a leue ■ at London to dwelle, 85
And syngen Jjere for symonye ' for siluer is swete.
Bischopes and bachelers ■ bothe maistres and doctours,
pat han cure vnder criste * and crounyng in tokne
And signe J>at J>ei sholden ■ shryuen here paroschienes,
Prechen and prey for hem ■ and j?e pore fede, 90
Liggen in London • in lenten, an elles.
Sowme seruen j>e kyng • and his siluer tellen,
In cheker and in chancerye . chalengen his dettes
' Of wardes and wardmotes ' weyues and streyues.
And some seruen as seruantz ■ lordes and ladyes, 95
And in stede of stuwardes ' sytten and demen.
Here messe and here matynes " and many of here oures
Arn don vndeuoutlych ; • drede is at ]>e laste
Lest crist in consistorie ■ acorse ful manye.
I parceyued of }>e power • J>at Peter had to kepe, 100
To bynde and to vnbynde • as J?e boke telleth,
How he it left wij> loue ■ as owre lorde hight,
Amonges foure vertues ' J>e best of all vertues,
pat cardinales ben called ' & closyng jatis,
pere crist is in kyngdome " to close and to shutte, 105
And to opne it to hem ■ and heuene blisse shewe.
Ac of }>e cardinales atte Courte " }>at caujt of )>at name,
And power presumed in hem ■ a Pope to make,
To han }>at power bat peter hadde ■ inpugnen I nelle ;
For in loue and letterure ■ }>e elecciou;/ bilongeth, no
For-J)i I can and can naujte \ of courte speke more.
panne come }>ere a kyng • knyjthod hym ladde,
Mi3t of ]>e comunes " made hym to regne,
And }>anne cam kynde wytte ■ and clerkes he made,
For to conseille }>e kyng ■ and \>e comune saue. njj
The kyng and knyjthode * and clergye bothe
Casten }>at J>e commit • shulde hem-self fynde.
THE FIELD FULL OF FOLK. 5
pe comune contreued ■ of kynde witte craftes,
And for profit of alle \>e poeple • plowmen ordeygned,
To tilie and trauaile • as trewe lyf askejj. 120
pe kynge and f>e comune ■ and kynde witte ]>c thridde
Shope lawe & lew te ■ eche man to knowe his owne.
panne loked vpfe lunatik ■ a lene |>ing with-alle,^
And knelyng to ]>e kyng ■ clergealy he seyde ;
' Crist kepe ]>e, sire kyng ■ and |>i kyngriche, 125
And leue }>e lede Ju londe * so leute }>e louye,
And for }>i l^tful rewlyng • be rewarded in heuene ! '
And sithcn in ]>e eyre an hiegh ■ An angel of heuene
Lowed to speke in latyn — ■ for lewed men ne coude
Iangle ne iugge ■ pat iustifie hem shukle, 130
But suffren & semen — ■ for-thi seyde J>e angel,
' Sum Rex, sum Princeps ' neutrum fortasse dcinceps ; —
0 qui iur a regis ' Chris ti specialia regis,
Hoc quod agas melius ' iusius es, eslo pius !
Nudum ius a ie ' vestiri vult pietaie ; 135
Qualia vis meter e ■ ialia grana sere.
Si ius nudatur • nudo de hire metaiur ;
Si seritur pie/as ■ de pie/ate metas ! '
Thanne greued hym a Goliardeys ' a glotouw of wordes,
And to \>e angel an hei3 ■ answered after, 140
1 Dum rex a regere ■ dicatur nomen habere,
Nomen habet sine re ■ nisi studet iur a Inure!
And })anne gan alle J>e comune ' crye in vers of latin,
To |)e kynges conseille ■ construe ho-so wolde —
' Preccpta Regis ' sunt nobis vinculo, legis! 145
Wi]> |>at ran )>ere a route ■ of ratones at ones,
And smale mys myd hem ■ mo J?en a jjousande,
And comen to a conseille ' for here comune profit;
For a cat of a courte • cam whan hym lyked,
And ouerlepe hem lyjtlich ■ and lau^te hew at his wille, 150
6 PROLOG US.
And pleyde wi]? hem perilouslych ■ and possed hem aboute.
1 For doute of dyuerse dredes ■ we dar nou3te wel loke ;
And 3if we grucche of his gamen ■ he wil greue vs alle,
Cracche vs, or clowe vs ■ and in his cloches holde,
That vs lotheth \>e lyf *_or he lete vs passe. 155
Myjjte we wij> any witte ■ his wille withstonde,
We myjte be lordes aloft ■ and lyuen at owre ese.'
A raton of renon ■ most renable of tonge,
Seide for a souereygne ' help to hym-selue ; —
' I haue ysein segges/ quod he • ' in J>e cite of london 160
Beren bi3es ful brijte ■ abouten here nekkes,
And some colers of crafty werk ; • vncoupled }>ei wenden
BoJ?e in wareine & in waste • where hem leue lyketh ;
And otherwhile ]>ei aren elles-where ' as I here telle.
Were J>ere a belle on here bei'3 ■ bi lesu, as me thynketh, 165
Men my3te wite where |?ei went ■ and awei renne !
And ri3t so,' quod J>at ratouw * ' reson me sheweth,
To bugge a belle of brasse ■ or of bri3te syluer,
And knitten on a colen? • for owre commie profit,
And hangen it vp-on J?e cattes hals ■ }>anne here we mowen
Where he ritt or rest ■ or renneth to playe. 171
And 3if him list for to laike ■ J?enne loke we mowen,
And peren in his presence ■ }>er-while hym plaie liketh,
And 31F him wrattheth, be ywar • and his weye shonye.'
Alle j?is route of ratones " to |>is reson }>ei assented. 175
Ac ]>o j>e belle was ybou3t ■ and on ]>e bei3e hanged,
pere ne was ratoun in alle }>e route ■ for alle J>e rewme of
Frauwce,
pat dorst haue ybounden \e belle ■ aboute \>e cattis nekke,
Ne hangen it aboute ]>e cattes hals ■ al Engelonde to wynne ;
And helden hem vnhardy ■ and here conseille feble, 180
And leten here laboure lost • & alle here longe studye.
A mous J>at moche good ■ couthe, as me thoujte,
THE FIELD FULL OF FOLK. 7
Stroke forth sternly ■ and stode biforn hem alle,
And to be route of ratones ■ reherced bese wordes ;
' Thou3 we culled J>e catte ■ 3Ut sholde ]>er come another, 1R5
To cracchy vs and al owre kynde ■ jjouj we crope vnder
benches.
For-bi I conseille alle be commie ■ to lat be catte worthe,
And be we neuer so bolde ■ be belle hym to shewe ;
For I herde my sire seyn ■ is seuene 3ere ypassed,
pere be catte is a kitouw • be courte is ful elyng; 190
pat witnisseth holiwrite ■ who-so wil it rede,
Ve terre vbi puer rex est, fyc.
For may no renke J>ere rest haue ; for ratones bi nyjte ;
pe while he caccheb conynges ' he coueiteth nou3t owre
caroyne,
But fet hym al with venesouw ■ defame we hym neuere.
For better is a litel losse • ban a longe sorwe, 195
pe mase amonge vs alle " ))OU3 we mysse a schrewe.
For many raannw malt ; we mys wolde destruye,
And also 3e route of ratones ■ rende mennes clothes,
Nere J?at cat of )jat courte • ]>at can 30W ouerlepe ;
For had 3c rattes jowre wille ■ 3e couthe nou3t reule 30wre-
selue. 200
I sey for me,' quod ]>e mous • ' I se so mykel after,
Shal neuer J>e cat ne j?e kitou« ■ bi my conseille be greued,
Ne carpyng of Jjis coler • bat costed me neure.
And |iou3 it had coste me catel ■ biknowen it I nolde,
But suffre as hym-self wolde ■ to do as hym liketh, 205
Coupled & vncoupled ■ to cacche what thei mowe.
For-bi vche a wise wijte I warne ■ wite wel his owne.' —
What bis meteles bemeneth ■ 3c men bat be merye,
_Deuine 3c, for I ne dar • bi dere god in heuene !
3it houed bcre an hondreth ■ in houues of selke, 210
Seriauntz it semed ■ bat serueden atte barre,
0 PROLOGUS.
Plededen for penyes * and poundes }>e lawe,
And nou^t for loue of owre lorde ■ vnlese here lippes onis.
pow myjtest better mete J?e myste * on maluerne hulles,
pan gete a mo;;zme of here mouthe ■ but money were
shewed. 215
Barones an burgeis ' and bonde-men als
1 sei^ in }>is assemble • as ^e shul here after.
Baxsteres & brewesteres ■ and bocheres manye,
Wollewebsteres * and weueres of lynnen,
Taillours and tynkeres ■ & tolleres in marketes, 220
Masons and mynoars ' and many other craftes.
Of alkin libbyng laboreres ' lopen forth S07«me,
As dykers & delueres * )>at doth here dedes ille,
And dryuen forth J>e longe day ■ with ' Dieu vous saue, Dame
Emme ! '
Cokes and here knaues • crieden, ' hote pies, hote ! 225
Gode gris and gees ■ gowe dyne, gowe ! '
Tauerners vn-til hem • tolde j>e same,
' White wyn of Oseye • and red wyn of Gascoigne,
Of )>e Ryne and of jje Rochel * )>e roste to defye.' — "
Al jjis seij I slepyng • and seuene sythes more. 230
PASSUS I.
Passus Primus de visione.
WHAT this montaigne bymeneth • and J>e merke dale,
And )>e felde ful of folke ■ I shal jow faire schewe.
A loueli ladi of lere • in lynncn yclothed,
Come down fram a castel ■ and called me faire.
And seide, ' Sone, slepeslow • sestow |>is poeplc, 5
How bisi J)ei ben ■ abouten }>e mase ?
pe moste partie of J>is poeple ■ p>at passeth on }>is erthe,
Haue }>ei worschip in ]ns worlde ' pei wilne no better;
Of other heuene j>an here ■ holde frei no tale.'
I was aferd of her face ■ \€v>, she faire were, 10
And seide, ' mercy, Madame ' what is pis to mene ? '
' pe toure vp ]>e toft,' qztod she • ' treuthe is ^ere-Inne,
And wolde }>at $e wroujte ■ as his worde techeth ;
For he is fader of feith ■ fourmed ;ow alle,
Bothe with fel and with face * and jaf 30W fyue wittis 15
Forto worschip hym |>er-with - )>e while }>at 3c ben here.
And ))erfore he hyjte \>e erthe ■ to help 30W vchone
Of wollen, of lynnen ■ of lyflode at nede,
In mesurable manere " to make 30W at ese ;
And comaunded of his curteisye ■ in comune j^ree )'inges ;
Arne none nedful but \o • and nempne hem I thinke, 21
And rekne hem bi resou/z ■ reherce J>ow hem after.
That one is vesture ■ from chele |>e to saue,
And mete atte mele ■ for myscise of J^i-selue,
IO PASSUS I,
And drynke whan Jjow dryest • ac do noujt out of resouw, 25
That j>ow worth \>e werse ■ whan j)Ow worche shuldest.
For-]>i drede delitable drynke ■ and J>ow shalt do ]>e bettere ;
Mesure is medcyne • JJOU3 ]jow moche jerne. 35
It is naujt al gode to J>e goste • ]>at be gutte axeb,
Ne liflode to |>i likam • bat leef is to ]>i soule.
Leue not pi likam • for a Iyer him techeth,
That is be wrecched worlde ■ wolde be bitraye.
For be fende and bi flesch ■ folweth be to-gidere, 40
This and Jjat sueth bi soule ■ and seith it in bin herte ;
And for bow sholdest ben ywar • I wisse be be beste.'
' Madame, mercy' quod I • ' me liketh wel 30wre wordes,
Ac J>e moneye of Jns molde ■ Jjat men so faste holdeth,
Telle me to whom, Madame • J>at tresore appendeth?' 45
J Go to J>e gospel,' quod she ■ «J>at god seide hym-seluen,
Tho }>e poeple hym apposed ■ wij) a peny in \>e temple,
Whether J»ei shulde )>er-with ■ worschip J>e kyng Sesar.
And god axed of hem ■ of whome spake \>e lettre,
And \>e ymage ilyke ■ >at )>ere-inne stondeth ? 50
" Cesaris," J>ei seide • " we sen hym wel vchone."
" Reddiie cesari," qtiod god • " J>at cesari bifalleth.
Et que sunt dei, deo ' or elles je done ille."
For rijtful reson ■ shulde rewle 30W alle,
And kynde witte be wardeyne ■ jowre wel the to kepe, 55
And tutour of joure tresore ■ and take it 30W at nede ;
For housbonderye & hij • holden togideres.'
panne I frained hir faire ■ for hym ]>at hir made,
« That dongeou« in be dale • J>at dredful is of si^te,
What may it be to mene ■ ma-dame, I 30W biseche ?' 60
' pat is J>e castel of care ■ who so cometh )>erinne
May banne bat he borne was ■ to body or to soule.
perinne wonieth a wi^te ■ )>at wronge is yhote,
THE VISION OF HOLl'-CHURCII. I I
Fader of falshed ■ and founded it hym-selue.
Adam and Eue • he egged to ille, 65
Conseilled caym ■ to kullen his brother ;
Iudas he iaped ■ with iuwen siluer,
And sithen on an eller • honged hym after.
He is letter of loue ■ and lyeth hem alle ;
That trusten on his tresor ■ bitrayeth he sonnest.' 70
Thanne had I wonder in my witt " what womman it were
pat such wise wordes ■ of holy writ shewed ;
And asked hir on \q hieje name • ar heo Jjennes 3eode,
What she were witterli • J>at wissed me so faire ?
' Holicherche I am,' quod she ■ ' j?ow obtest me to knowe,
I vnderfonge }>e firste ■ and )>e feyth taujte, 76
And brou3test me borwes ■ my biddyng to fulfille,
And to loue me lelly ■ )>e while }n lyf dureth.'
Thanne I courbed on my knees " and cryed hir of grace,
And preyed hir pitousely • prey for my synnes, 80
And also kenne me kyndeli ' on criste to bileue,
That I mi3te worchen his wille ■ }>at wroujte me to man ;
' Teche me to no tresore • but telle me j>is ilke,
How I may saue my soule ' }>at seynt art yholden ?'
' Whan alle tresores aren tried,' quod she ■ ' trewthe is
}>e best; 85
I do it on deus cart/as ' to deme ]>e sojje ;
It is as derworth a drewery • as dere god hym-seluen.
Who-so is trewe of his tonge ■ & telleth none other,
And doth J>e werkis per-with ■ and wilneth no man ille,
He is a god bi }>e gospel ' agrounde and aloft, 90
And ylike to owre lorde * bi seynte lukes wordes.
pe clerkes )?at knowcj> pis ' shulde kenne it aboute,
For cristene and vncristne ■ clame}> it vchone.
Kynges & knijtes " shulde kepe it bi resouw,
Riden and rappe down ■ in reumes aboute, 95
12 PASSUS I.
And taken tra?igrcssores • and tyen hem faste,
Til treuthe had ytermyned • her trespas to ]>e ende.
And J>at is ]>e pr<?fessiou« appertly ■ ]>at appendeth for knyjtes,
And noujt to fasten a fryday ■ in fyue score wynter ;
But holden wi}> him & with hir ■ J?at wolden al treuthe, ioo
And neuer leue hem for loue ■ ne for lacchyng of syluer.
For Dauid in his dayes ' dubbed kni3tes,
And did hem swere on here swerde ■ to serue trewthe euere ;
And who-so passed j)at poynte ■ was apostata in )>e ordre.
But criste kingene kynge • kni3ted ten, 105
Cherubyn and seraphin • suche seuene and an othre,
And 3af hem myjte in his maieste • }>e muryer hem Jjoujte ;
And ouer his mene meyne ■ made hem archangeles,
Tau3te hem bi J>e Trinitee ■ treuthe to knowe,
To be buxome at his biddyng ■ he bad hem nou3te elles. no
Lucifer wi}> legiounes ■ lerned it in heuene,
But for he brake buxumnesse ■ his blisse gan he tyne,
And fel fro }>at felawship ■ in a fendes liknes,
In-to a depe derke helle • to dwelle }>ere for eure ;
And mo Jxnvsandes wijj him ' }>an man couthe noumbre 115
Lopen out \vi}> Lucifer ■ in lothelich forme,
For J>ei leueden vpon hym ' }>at lyed in ]>is manere :
Ponam pcdem in aqialotie, et similis ero allissimo.
And alle ]>at hoped it mi3te be so ■ none heuene mi3te hem
holde,
But fellen out in fendes liknesse • nyne dayes togideres,
Til god of his goodnesse ' gan stable and stynte, 120
And garte )>e heuene to stekye ■ and stonden in quiete.
Whan thise wikked went out * wonderwise )>ei fellen,
So7«me in eyre, so/;/me in erthe ■ & so/;mie in helle depe ;
Ac lucifer lowest • lith of hem alle ;
For pryde }>at he pult out • his peyne hath none ende ; 125
And alle ]>at worche with wronge ■ wenden hij shulle
THE VISION OF HOLY-CHURCH. 1 3
After her deth day ■ and dwelle wip pat shrewe.
Ac po pat worche wel * as holiwritt telleth,
And enden, as I ere seide ■ in treuthe, pat is pe best,
Mo we be siker pat her soule ■ shal wende to heuene, 130
per treuthe is in Trinitee " and troneth hem alle.
For-))i I sey, as I seide ere ■ bi si3te of J>ise textis,
Whan alle tresores arne ytried ■ treuthe is pe beste.
Lereth it pis Iewde men ■ for lettred men it knowen,
pat treuthe is tresore • pe triest on erpe.' 135
' 3et haue I no kynde knowing,' quod I * ' 3d mote je kenne
me better,
By what craft in my corps ■ it comseth, and where.'
' pow doted daffe,' quod she * ' dulle arne pi wittes ;
To litel latyn pow lernedest • lede, in pi jouthe ;
Heu michi, quod sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem !
It is a kynde knowyng,' quod she • ' pat kenneth in pine
herte 140
For to louye pi lorde ■ leuer }>an pi-selue ;
No dedly synne to do ■ dey )>ouj }jow sholdest :
This I trowe be treuthe ' who can teche \>e better,
Loke J>o\v suffre hym to sey • and sithen lere it after.
For thus witnesseth his worde * worche |>ow Jjereafter; 145
For trewthe telle)) )>at loue ■ is triacle of heuene ;
May no synne be on him sene ■ pat vseth pat spise,
And alle his werkes he wroujte ' with loue as him liste ;
And lered it Moises for }>e leuest ping ■ and moste like to
heuene,
And also pe plante of pees ■ moste precious of vcrtues. 150
For heuene myjte nou3te holden it ■ it was so heuy of
hym-self,
Tyl it hadde of pe erthe ■ yeten his fylle.
And whan it haued of pis folde " flessh* & blode taken,
Was neuere leef vpon lynde ■ Ujter per-after,
14 PASSUS I.
And portatyf and persant ■ as ]>e poynt of a nedle, 155
That myjte non armure it lette • ne none heij walles.
For-}>i is loue leder • of J)e lordes folke of heuene,
And a mene, as ]?e Maire is ■ bitwene \>e kyng and }>e
comune ;
Rijt so is loue a ledere • and ]>e lawe shapeth,
Vpon man for his mysdedes ■ ]>e merriment he taxeth. 160
And for to knowe it kyndely ■ it comseth bi myght,
And in J>e herte J>ere is }>e heuede ■ and J?e hei3 welle ;
For in kynde knowynge in herte ' J?ere a myjte bigynneth.
And )>at falleth to }>e fader ■ ]>at formed vs alle,
Loked on vs with loue ■ and lete his sone deye 165
Mekely for owre mysdedes ■ to amende vs alle ;
And 3d wolde he hem no woo " ]>at wroujte hym ]>at peyne,
But mekelich with mouthe ■ mercy he bisoujte
To haue pite of ]?at poeple • }>at peyned hym to deth.
Here myjtow see ensamples ■ in hym-selue one, 170
That he was mi^tful & meke ■ and mercy gan graunte
To hem }>at hongen him an heij ■ and his herte girled. •-
For-thi I rede jow riche ■ haueth reuthe of J?e pouere ;
TI10U3 ^e be myjtful to mote ■ beth meke in 30wre werkes.
For j>e same mesures J>at 3c mete ■ amys other elles, 175
3e shullen ben we}en )>er-wylh ■ whan 3e wende hennes;
Eadem mensurU qua mensi fueriiis, remecietur vobis.
For )?ou3 3e be trewe of 30wre tonge ■ and trewliche wynne.
And as chaste as a childe ■ J>at in cherche wepeth,
But if 3e louen lelliche ■ and lene J?e poure,
Such goed as god 30W sent ■ godelich parteth, 180
3e ne haue na more meryte " in masse ne in houres,
pan Malkyn of hire maydenhode ■ J>at no man desireth.
For lames |;e gentil ' iugged in his bokes,
That faith with-oute pe faite ■ is ri3te no )>inge worthi,
And as ded as a dore-tree ■ but 3if \t dedes folwe ; 1S5
THE VISION OF HOLY-CHURCH. 1 5
Fides sine operibus mortua est, §c.
For-thi chastite with-oute charite ■ worth cheyned in helle ;
It is as lewed as a laumpe ■ pat no lijte is Inne.
Many chapcleynes arne chaste ■ ac charite is awey;
Aren no men auarousen? pan hij ■ whan pei ben auaunced ;
Ynkynde to her kyn ■ and to alle cristene, 190
Chewen here charite • and chiden after more.
Such chastite wip-outen charite • worth cheyned in helle !
1 Many curatoures kepen hem • clene of here bodies,
Thei ben acombred wip coueitise • pei konne nou3t don it
fram hem,
So harde hath auarice • yhasped hem togideres. 195
And pat is no treuthe of pe trinite ■ but treccherye of helle,
And lernyng to lewde men ■ pe latter for to dele.
For-pi pis wordes • ben wryten in pe gospel,
Bate 6f dabitur vobis ' for I dele 30W alle.
And pat is pe lokke of loue ' and lateth oute my grace, 200
To conforte pe careful ■ acombred wip synne.
Loue is leche of lyf ■ and nexte owre lorde selue,
And also pe graith gate ■ pat goth in-to heuene ;
For-pi I sey, as I seide * ere by pe textis,
Whan alle tresores ben ytryed ■ treuthe is pe beste. 205
Now haue I tolde J?e what treuthe is ■ pat no tresore is
bettere,
I may no lenger lenge pe with ■ now loke pe owre lorde !' jo;
PASSUS II.
Passus secwidus de visione, vl supra.
YET I courbed on my knees ' and cryed hir of grace,
And seide, ' mercy, Madame ■ for Marie loue of heuene,
That bar }>at blisful barne ■ Jjat boujte vs on \>e Rode,
Kenne me bi so^me crafte • to knowe )>e fals.' i t
' Loke vppon \>i left half ■ and lo where he standeth, 5
Bothe fals and fauel ■ and here feres manye ! '
I loked on my left half ■ as J>e lady me taughte,
And was war of a wowman ■ wortheli yclothed,
Purfiled with pelure ■ J>e finest vpon erthe,
Y-crounede with a corone ■ ]>e kyng hath non better. 10
Fetislich hir fyngres ■ were fretted with golde wyre,
And }>ere-on red rubyes * as red as any glede,
And diamantz of derrest pris ■ and double manere safferes,
Orientates and ewages ■ enuenymes to destroye.
Hire robe was ful riche ■ of red scarlet engreyned, 15
With ribanes of red golde ' and of riche stones ;
Hire arraye me rauysshed ■ suche ricchesse saw I neuere ;
I had wondre what she was * and whas wyf she were.
' What is )>is wowman,' quod I • ' so worthily atired ? '
' That is Mede J>e Mayde, qttod she • ' hath noyed me ful «*
oft, 20
And ylakked my legman ■ J>at lewte is hoten,
And bilowen hire to lordes • |>at lawes han to ke'pe.
In be popis paleys ■ she is pryue as my-self,
MEED AND FALSEHOOD. 1 7
But sothenessc wokle noujt so ' for she is a bastarde.
For fals was hire fader ■ J^at hath a fykel tonge, 25
And neuere sothe seide ■ sithen he come to erthe.
And Mede is manered after hym ■ rijte as kynde axcth ;
Qua/is paler, talis filius ; bona arbor bonum fructum
facil.
I aujte ben herre J?an she ■ I cam of a better.
Mi fader j>e grete god is ■ and grounde of alle graces,
Qi god with-oute gynnynge • & I his gode dorter, 30
And hath joue me mercy ■ to marye with my-self ;
And what man be merciful ■ and lelly me loue,
Schal be my lorde and I his leef ■ in \>e heije heuene.
And what man taketh Mede ■ myne hed dar I legge,
That he shal lese for hir loue ■ a lappe of caritatis. 35
How construeth dauid ]>e kynge " of men }>at taketh Mede,
And men of }>is molde ■ J>at meynteneth treulhe,
And how 3e shal saue jow-self ■ }>e Sauter bereth witnesse,
Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, $-c.
And now worth J>is Mede ymaried • al to a man- 1
schrewe,
To one fals fikel-tonge " a fendes bijete ; 40
Fauel }>orw his faire speche ■ hath jns folke enchauwted,
And al is lyeres ledyng ■ J>at she is }>us ywedded.
To-morwe worth ymade " \>e maydenes bruydale.
And J>ere mijte )>ow wite, if ]>o\v wolt ■ which \>e'\ ben alle
That longeth to }>at lordeship ■ ]>e lasse and J>e more. 45
Knowe hem ]>ere if J>ow canst ' and kepe ]>i tonge,
And lakke hem noujt, but lat hem worth ■ til lewte be iustice,
And haue power* to punyschen hem ; ■ Jianne put forth \n
resou;?.
Now I bikenne J>e criste/ quod she ■ 'and his dene mod
And lat no conscience acombre ]>e • for coueitise ol Mede.' 50
Thus left me ]>at lady ■ liggyng aslepe,
c
1 8 PASS US II.
And how Mede was ymaried ■ in meteles me ]>0U3te ;
pat alle \t riche retenauns ' J?at regneth with J>e false
Were boden to j»e bridale ■ on bothe two sydes,
Of alle maner of men ■ J>e mene and ]>e riche. 55
To marie j>is maydene ■ was many man assembled,
As of knijtes and of clerkis • and other com tint poeple,
'As sysours and sompnours ■ Shireues and here clerkes,
Bedelles and Bailliues ■ and brokoures of chaffare, +
Forgoeres and vitaillers • and vokates of \>e arches ; 60
I can noujt rekene J>e route ■ }>at ran aboute mede.
Ac Symonye and cyuUe • and sisoures of courtes
Were moste pryue with Mede • of any men, me )>0U3te.
Ac fauel was {>e first ■ }>at fette hire out of boure,
And as a brokour brou3te hir ■ to be with fals enioigned. 65
Whan Symonye and cyuile ■ sei3 here beire wille,
Thei assented for siluer • to sei as bothe wolde.
Thanne lepe Iyer forth, and seide • • lo here ! a chartre,
That gyle with his gret othes ■ gaf hem togidere,'
And preide cyuile to se ■ and symonye to rede it. 7c
Thanne Symonye and cyuile ■ stonden forth bothe,
And vnfoldeth J>e feffement ■ }>at fals hath ymaked,
■ And )>us bigynneth j>es gomes • to greden ful hei3 : — ■ !
' Sciant presenles § futuri, fyc.
Witeth and witnesseth ■ bat wonieth vpon };is erthe,
pat Mede is y-maried ■ more for here goodis, 75
pan for ani vertue or fairenesse * or any free kynde.
Falsenesse is faine of hire * for he wote hire riche ;
And fauel with his fikel speche ■ feffeth bi J>is chartre
To be prynces in pryde ■ and pouerte to dispise,
To bakbite, and to bosten ■ and bere fals witnesse, 80
To scorne and to scolde ■ and sclaundere to make,
Vnboxome and bolde ■ to breke \>e ten hestes ; —
And )>e Erldome of enuye ■ and Wratthe togideres,
MEED AND FALSEHOOD. 1 9
With ]>e chastelet of chest • and chateryng-oute-of-resou//,
pe counte of coueitise ■ and alle be costes aboute, 85
That is, vsure and auarice ■ alle I hem graunte,
In bargaines and in brokages ■ with al be borghe of theft.'
• ••••••
' Glotonye he gaf hem eke • and grete othes togydere,
And alday to drynke * at dyuerse tauernes,
And there to iangle and to iape ■ and iugge here euene-
cristenej -
And in fastyng-dayes to frete • ar ful tyme were. 95
And banne to sitten and soupen • til slepe hem assaille ;
Tyl sleuth and slepe ■ slyken his sides ;
And banne wanhope to awake hym so ■ with no wille to
amende,
For he leueth be lost ■ bis is here last ende. 100
And bei to haue and to holde " and here eyres after,
A dwell) ng with be deuel ■ and dampned be for eure,
Wib al be purtenaunces of purgatorie ■ in-to be pyne of helle.
3eldyng for }>is binge ■ at one jeres ende,
Here soules to Sathan ■ to suffre with hym peynes, 105
And with him to wonye with wo ■ whil god is in heuene.'
In witnesse of which bing " wronge was )>e first,
And Pieres be pardonere ■ of paulynes doctrine,
Bette be bedel ; of Bokyngham-shire,
Rainalde be Reue ' of Rotland sokene, no
Munde be Mellere : and many moo other.
'In be date of be deuil ■ bis dede I assele,
Bi si3te of Sire Simonye ■ and cyuyles leue.'
pehne tcned hym theologye ■ whan he bis tale herde, vt
And seide to cjuile ■ ' now sorwe mot bow haue, 1 15
Such weddynges to worche ■ to wratthe with treuthe ;
And ar bis weddyng be wroi^te ■ wo )>e bityde !
c 2
20 PASS US II.
For Mede is moylere • of amendes engendred,
And god graunteth to gyf • Mede to treuthe,
And }>ow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure ■ now god gyf )>e
sorwe ! 120
Thi tixt telleth ]>e nou3t so ■ treuthe wote \>e sothe,
For digitus est operarius ' his hyre to haue,
And Jjow hast fest hire to fals ■ fy on \>i lawe !
For al by lesynges ]>ow lyuest ' and lecherouse werkes,
Symonye and }>i-self * schenden holicherche, 125
pe notaries and jee * noyeth }>e peple,
3e shul abiggen it bothe • bi god pat me made !
Wei je witen, wernardes • but if jowre witte faille,
That fals is faithlees • and fikel in his werkes,
And was a bastarde y-bore • of belsabubbes kynne. 130
And Mede is moylere ■ a mayden of gode,
And my3te kisse )je kynge ■ for cosyn, an she wolde.
For-J>i worcheth bi wisdome ■ and bi witt also,
And ledeth hire to londouw • }>ere lawe is yshewed,
If any lawe wil loke ■ )>ei ligge togederes. 135
And ))OU3 Iustices iugge hir ■ to be ioigned with fals,
3et beth war of weddyng ■ for witty is truthe,
And conscience is of his conseille ■ and knoweth 30W vchone ;
And if he fynde 30W in defaute • and with J?e fals holde,
It shal bisitte 30wre soules ■ ful soure atte laste !'* 140
Here-to assenteth cyuile ■ ac symonye ne wolde,
Tyl he had siluer for his seruise • and also \>e notaries.
Thanne fette fauel forth ■ floreynes ynowe,
And bad gyle to gyue • golde al aboute,
And namelich to ]>e notaries ■ ]>at hem none ne faille, 145
And feffe false-witnes ■ with floreines ynowe ;
' For he may mede amaistrye • and maken at my wille.'
Tho pis golde was gyue ' grete was \>e ponkynge
To fals and to fauel ■ for her faire 3iftes,
MEED AND FALSEHOOD. 21
And comen to conforte • fram care ]>e fals, 150
And seiden, ' certis, sire • cesse shal we neuere
Til Mede be \>i wedded wyf ■ ]>orw wittis of vs alle.
For we haue Mede amaistried ■ with owre mery speche,
That she graunteth to gon ■ with a gode wille,
To Londouw to loke ■ 3if j>at J>e lawe wolde 155
Iugge jow ioyntly • in ioye for euere.'
Thanne was falsenesse fayne ' and fauel as blithe,
And leten sompne alle segges ■ in schires aboute,
And bad hem alle be bown * beggeres and othere,
To wendew wyth hem to Westmynstre ■ to witnesse J?is
i ,. dede. ' _
Ac J;anne cared }>ei for caplus ■ to kairen hem }>ider,
And fauel fette forth }>anne ■ folus ynowe ;
And sette Mede vpon a Schyreue ■ shodde al newe,
And fals sat on a sisoure ■ J>at softlich trotted,
And fauel on a flaterere ■ fetislich atired. 165
Tho haued notaries none • annoyed J>ei were,
For Symonye and cyuile ■ shulde on hire fete gange.
Ac }>anne swore Symonye ■ and cyuile bothe,
That sompnoures shulde be sadled ■ and serue hem vchone,
And lat apparaille )>is prouisoures ■ in palfreis wyse ; — 1 70
' Sire Symonye hym-seluen ' shal sitte vpon here bakkes.
Denes and suddenes ■ drawe jow togideres,
Erchdekenes and officiales ' and alle ^owre Regystreres,
Lat sadel hem with siluer ■ owre synne to suffre,
As auoutrie and deuorses ' and derne vsurye, 175
To bere bischopes aboute ■ abrode in visvtvnge.
Paulynes pryues ' for pleyntes in }>e consistorie,
Shul serue my-self • )>at cyuile is nempned;
And cartesadel }>e comissarie ■ owre carte shal he lede.
And maketh of Iyer a longe carte ■ to lede alle J^ese othere,
22 PASS US IT.
As Freres and faitours ■ }?at on here fete rennen.'
And thus fals and fauel ■ fareth forth togideres,
And Mede in ]>e myddes ■ and alle j>ise men after.
I haue no tome to telle ■ j>e taille )>at hem fohveth, 185
Of many maner man ■ J>at on J»is molde libbeth ;
Ac gyle was forgoer ■ and gyed hem alle.
Sothenesse sei5 hym wel * and seide but a litel,
And priked his palfrey • and passed hem alle,
And come to \>e kynges courte • and conscience it tolde, 190
And conscience to )>e kynge ■ carped it after.
1 Now by cryst,' quod ]>e kynge ' ' and I cacche myjte
Fals or fauel ■ or any of his feres,
I wolde be wroke of J>o wrecches ■ jjat worcheth so ille,
And don hem hange by }>e hals ■ and alle )>at hem meynteneth !
Shal neure man of molde ' meynprise )>e leste, 196
But rijte as )>e lawe wil loke • late falle on hem alle.'
And comanded a constable ■ ]>at come atte furst,
To ' attache \>o tyrauntz ■ for eny thynge, I hote,
And fettereth fast falsenesse ■ for enykynnes 3iftes, 200
And gurdeth of gyles hed ■ and lat hym go no furthere.
And jif $e lacche Iyer • late hym noujt ascapen
Er he be put on \>e pilorye ■ for eny preyere, I hote ;
And bryngeth Mede to me ■ maugre hem alle.'
Drede atte dore stode ■ and ]>e dome herde, 205
And how \>e kynge comaunded ■ constables and smantz,
Falsenesse and his felawschip ■ to fettren an to bynden.
panne drede went \vi3tliche ■ and warned \>e fals,
And bad hym flee for fere • and his felawes alle.
Falsenesse for fere J>anne ■ flei3 to )>e freres, 210
And gyle do)) hym to go ■ agast for to dye.
Ac marchantz mette with hym ■ and made hym abide,
And bishetten hym in here shope • to shewen here ware,
And apparailled hym as a prentice ■ J>e poeple to seme.
MEED AND FALSEHOOD. 23
Li^tlich*? Iyer • lepe awey }>anne, 215
Lorkynge thorw lanes ■ to-lugged of manye.
He was nawhere welcome ■ for his manye tales,
Oner al yhowted • and yhote trusse ;
Tyl pardoneres haued pite ' and pulled hym in-to house.
They wesshen hym and wyped hym ■ and wonden hym in
cloutes, 220
And sente hym with seles ■ on sondayes to cherches,
And gaf pardou/z for pens ■ poundmel aboute.
• *•••••
Spiceres spoke with hym • to spien here ware, 225
For he couth of here craft ■ and knewe many gowmes.
Ac mynstralles and messageres ■ mette with hym ones,
And helden hym an half^ere ■ and elleuenc dayes.
Freres with faire speche ■ fetten hym J>ennes,
And for knowyng of comeres ■ coped hym as a frere. 230
Ac he hath leue to lepe out • as oft as hym liketh,
And is welcome whan he wil • and woneth wyth hem oft.
Alle fledden for fere ' and flowen in-to hemes,
Saue Mede )>e Mayde ' na mo durst abide.
Ac trewli to telle ■ she trembled for drede,
And ek wept and wronge ■ whan she was attached. 236
PASSUS III.
Passus ler litis.
NOW is Mede )>e Mayde ■ and namo of hem alle
With bedellus & wij> bayllyues ■ broujt bifor \>e kyng.
The kyng called a clerke ■ can I nou3t his name,
To take Mede \>e mayde ■ and make hire at ese.
' I shal assaye hir my-self ■ and sothelich appbse 5
What man of j>is molde ■ )>at hire were leueste.
And if she worche bi my witte ■ and my wille folwe,
I wil forgyue hir j>is gilte ■ so me god help !'
Curteysliche )>e clerke }>anne * as ]>e Kyng hight,
Toke Mede bi J>e Middel • and brou3te hir in-to chaumbre, 10
And jjere was myrthe and mynstralcye ' Mede to plese.
They }>at wonyeth in Westmynstre • worschiped hir alle ;
Gentelliche wij) ioye • \>e Iustices somme
Busked hem to ]>e boure ■ jjere J>e birde dwelled,
To conforte hire kyndely ■ by clergise leue, 15
And seiden, ' mourne nought, Mede * ne make jiow no sorwe,
For we wil wisse }>e kynge • and |>i wey shape,
To be wedded at )>i wille ■ and where j>e leue liketh,
For al conscience caste ■ or craft, as I trovve !'
Mildeliche Mede )>anne ■ mercyed hem alle 20
Of Jjeire gret goodnesse ■ and gaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene golde ■ and coppis of siluer,
Rynges with rubies ' and ricchesses manye,
The leste man of here meyne • a motouw of golde.
MEED AND CONSCIENCE. 2',
Thanne lai^te j>ei leue • Jus lordes, at Mede. 25
With that comen clerkis ■ to conforte hir pe same,
And beden hire be blithe ■ ' for we beth J?ine owne,
For to worche |>i wille ■ ]>e while J?ow myjte laste.'
Hendeliche heo Jeanne ' bihight hem ]>e same, •
To 'loue 30W lelli • and lordes to make, .30
And in J?e consistorie atte courte ■ do calle 30wre names ;
Shal no lewdnesse lette ■ f»e leode |?at I louye,
That he ne worth first auanced ■ for I am biknowen
pere konnyng clerkes ' shul clokke bihynde.'
panne come )>ere a confessoure • coped as a Frere, 35
To Mede ]>e mayde ■ he mellud J>is wordes,
And seide ful softly ■ in shrifte as it were,
• • • • • • •
' Thei3 falsenesse haued yfolwed J>e ■ al Jns fyfty wyntre,
I shal assoille \>e my-selue ■ for a seme of whete, 40
And also be \>i bedeman • and bere wel J)i message,
Amonges kni3tes and clerkis • conscience to torne.'
Thanne Mede for here mysdedes ■ to J>at man kneled,
And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse ' shamclees, I trow v,
Tolde hym a tale ■ and toke hym a noble, 45
Forto ben hire bedeman ■ and hire brokour als.
Thanne he assoilled hir sone • and sithen he seyde,
1 We han a wyndowe a wirchyng ■ wil sitten ys ful heigh ;
Woldestow glase J>at gable ■ and graue J>ere-inne ]>i name,
Siker sholde J>i soule be ■ heuene to haue.' 50
' Wist I that,' quod J>at wowman • ' I wolde noujt spare
For to be 30wre frende, frere • and faille 30W neure ;
■ • • • • • •
And I shal keure ;owre kirke • 30wre cloystre do maken, 60
Wowes do whiten ' and wyndowes glasen,
Do peynten and purtraye ' and paye for )>e makynge,
That eury segge shal seyn ' I am sustre of 30\vre hous.'
26 PASS US III.
Ac god to alle good folke ' suche grauynge defendeth,
To writen in wyndowes ■ of here wel dedes, 6;
On auenture pruyde be peynted ]>ere ■ and pompe of \>e
worlde ;
For crist knowe}> )>i conscience " and }>i kynde wille,
And \i coste and Jn coueitise ■ and who j>e catel ou3te.
For-)?i I lere jow, lordes ■ leuej? suche werkes,
To writen in wyndowes ■ of jowire wel dedes, 70
Or to greden after goddis men ■ whan 3c delen doles ;
An auenture %e han jowre hire here ■ and 30ure heuene als ;
Nesciat sinistra quid facial dexlra.
Lat noujte )>i left half ■ late ne rathe,
Wyte what Jiow worchest " with }>i rijt syde ;
For )>us bit )>e gospel • gode men do here almesse. 75
Meires and maceres ' that menes ben bitwene
pe kynge and \>e comune ' to kepe J>e lawes,
To punyschen on pillories • and pynynge-stoles
Brewesteres and bakesteres ■ bocheres and cokes ;
For )>ise aren men on ]>\s molde ■ Jjat moste harme worcheth
To \>e pore peple ■ J>at parcel-mele buggen. 81
For they poysou« )>e peple ■ priueliche and oft,
Thei rychen }>orw regraterye • and rentes hem buggen
With J>at be pore people ■ shulde put in here wombe ;
For toke j>ei on trewly • j?ei tymbred nou3t so heije, 85
Ne bou3te non burgages ■ be 3c ful certeyne.
Ac Mede ))e Mayde ■ pe Maire hath bisoujte,
Of alle suche sellers ■ syluer to take,
Or presentz with-oute pens ■ as peces of siluer,
Ringes or other ricchesse ■ J>e regrateres to maynetene. 90
' For my loue,' quod that lady ■ ' loue hem vchone,
And soffre hem to selle ■ somdele ajeins resoun.'
Salamon ]>e sage ' a sarmouw he made,
For to amende Maires ■ and men |?at kepen lawes,
MEED AND CONSCIENCE. 1~
• 'And tolde hem bis tcme ■ bat I telle thynke ; 95
Ignis deuorabil labernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt
munera, §c.
Amonge bis lettered ledes ■ Jris latyn is to mene,
That fyre shal falle, and brenne ' al to bio askes
The houses and be homes ■ of hem bat desirelh
. 3iftes or jeresjyues • bi-cause of here offices.
The kvnsre fro conseille cam ■ and called after Mede, ioo
J O
n, And ofsent hir alswythe ■ with seriauntes manye,
That broujten hir to bowre ■ with blisse and with ioye.
Curteisliche ]jc kynge Jeanne ' comsed to telle,
To Mede be mayde ■ melleth bise wordes :
' Vn wittily, wo;/zman ! ■ wrou5te hastow oft, 105
Ac worse wroujtestow neure • ban^b_o bow fals toke.
But I forgyue be bat gilte ■ and graunte be my grace ;
Hennes to bi deth day ' do so namore !
I haue a knyjte, conscience ' cam late fro bi3unde ;
3if he wilneth be to wyf ■ wyltOw hym haue?' no
' 3e, lorde,' quod bat lady ■ ' lorde forbede elles ! -
But I be holely at jowre heste ■ lat hange me sone !'
And }>anne was conscience calde ■ to come and appiere
Bifor be Kynge and his conseille ' as clerkes and othere.
Knelynge, conscience • to be kynge louted, 115
To wite what his wille were " and what he do shulde.
' Woltow wedde bis womraan,' quod be kynge ■ ' 3if I wil
assente,
For she is fayne of bi felawship ■ for to be ]>i make?'
Quod conscience to be kynge ■ ' cryst it me forbede !
Ar I wedde suche a wyf • wo me bityde ! 120
For she is frele of hir feith • fykel of here speche,
And maketh men mysdo ■ many score tymes ;
Truste of hire tresore • treietb ful manye.
Wj-ues and widewes ■ wantounes she techeth,
28 PASS US III.
And lereth hem leccherye ■ that loueth hire 3iftes. 125
3owre fadre she felled ; ]>orw fals biheste,
And hath apoysounde popis ■ and peired holicherche.
• ••*••• •
Sisoures and sompnoures • suche men hir preiseth ;
Shireues of shires ■ were shent 3 if she nere ;
For she doj) men lese here londe ■ and here lyf bothe. 135
She leteth passe prisoneres ■ and payeth for hem ofte,
And gyueth \>e gailers golde ■ and grotes togideres,
To vnfettre pe fals ■ fie where hym lyketh;
And take)? ]>e trewe bi )>e toppe ■ and tieth hym faste,
And hangeth hym for hatred ' j>at harme dede neure. 140
To be cursed in consistorie ■ she counteth nou3te a russhe ;
For she copeth J>e comissarie ■ and coteth his clerkis ;
She is assoilled as sone ■ as hir-self liketh,
And may neije as moche do • in a moneth one,
As jowre secret seel ■ in syx score dayes. 145
For she is priue with \>e pope ■ prouisoures it knoweth,
For sire symonye and hir-selue ' seleth hire bulles.
She blesseth Jnse bisshopes ■ ]>ei^e |>ey be lewed,
Prouendreth persones ' and prestes meynteneth,
To haue lemmannes and lotebies ' alle here lif-dayes, 150
And bringen forth barnes • a3ein forbode lawes.
Then? she is wel with \>e kynge ■ wo is j>e rewme,
For she is fauorable to the fals ■ and fouleth trewthe ofte.
Bi ih«us, with here ieweles • 30wre iustices she shendeth,
And lith a3ein }>e lawe ■ and letteth hym j>e gate, 155
That feith may nou3te haue his forth ■ here floreines go so
pikke.
She ledeth J>e lawe as hire list • and louedayes maketh,
And doth men lese |>orw hire loue ■ J>at lawe my3te wynne,
pe mase for a mene man ■ })0U3 he mote hir eure.
Lawe is so lordeliche ■ and loth to make ende, 160
MEED AND CONSCIENCE. H)
With-oute presentz or pens ' she pleseth wel fewe.
Barounes and burgeys ■ she bryngeth in sorwe,
And alle )>e cotnune in kare ■ J>at coueyten lyue in trewthe ;
■ For clergye and coueitise ■ she coupleth togideres.
pis is \>e lyf of that lady ' now lorde jif hir sorwe ! 165
And alle that meynteneth here men ■ meschauncc hem bityde !
For pore men mowe haue no powcre • to pleyne hem j>ou3
J>ei sm^rte ;
Suche a maistre is Mede ■ amonge men of gode.'
Thanne morned Mede " and mened hire to the kynge,
To haue space to speke ■ spede if she myjte. 1 70
The kynge graunted hir grace ■ with a gode wille ;
' Excuse ]>e, jif JJow canst ■ I can namore seggen,
For conscience acuseth ]>e ■ to congey }>e for euere.'
' Nay, lorde,' quod J>at lady ■ ' leueth hym )>e worse,
Whan je wyten witterly ■ where ]>e wronge liggeth; 175
There jjat myschief is grete ■ Mede may helpe.
And J'ow knowest, conscience " I cam noujt to chide,
Ne depraue ]n p^rsone • with a proude herte.
- Wel J>o\v wost, wernard ' but jif }>ow wolt gabbe,
pow hast hanged on myne half ' elleuene tymes, 180
And also griped my golde ■ gyue it where \>e liked ;
And whi Jjow wratthest ]>e now ■ wonder me thynketh.
3it I may, as I myjte ■ menske ]>e with 3ift.es,
And mayntene [i manhode • more )>an |>ow knoweste.
*luL Ac jjow hast famed me foule ■ bifor \>e Kynge here. 1 85
For kulled I ncuere no kynge • ne conseilled Jjer-after,
Ne dede as \>o\v demest • I do it on pe kynge !
In normandye was he nou3te " noyed for my sake ;
Ac }>ow J>i-self sothely ■ shamedest hym ofte,
Crope in-to a kaban ■ for colde of ]>'\ nailles, 190
Wendest |>at wyntre ■ wolde haue lasted euere,
And draddest to be ded ■ for a dym cloude,
30 PASS US III.
And hiedest homeward ■ for hunger of pi wombe.
Witp-out pite, piloure ■ pore men pow robbedest,
And bere here bras at pi bakke ■ to caleys to selle. 195
There I lafte with my lorde : his lyf for to saue,
I made his men meri • and mornyng lette.
I batered hem on \>e bakke ■ and bolded here hertis,
And dede hem hoppe, for hope ' to haue me at wille.
Had I ben Marschal of his men ■ bi Marie of heuene ! 200
I durst haue leyde my lyf ■ and no lasse wedde,
He shulde haue be lorde of pat londe ■ a lengthe and a brede, *
And also Kyng of J>at kitthe ■ his kynne for to helpe,
pe kste brolje of his blode • a barounes pere !
Cowardliche \>o\x, conscience • conseiledst hym pennes, 205
To leuen his lordeship ■ for a litel siluer,
That is pe richest rewme ■ pat reyne ouer houeth !
It bicometh to a kynge ■ pat kepeth a rewme,
To 3iue Mede to men ■ pat mekelich hym serueth,
To alienes and to alle men ■ to honoure hem with 3iftes; 210
Mede makelh hym biloued • and for a man holden.
Emp<?/-oures and Erlis ■ and al maner^ lordes,
For jiftes, han 3onge men • to renne and to ride.
The pope and alle prelatis * pr^sentz vnderfongen,
And medeth men hem-seluen ■ to meyntene here lawes. 215
Seruau;ztz for her seruise ■ we seth wel pe sothe,
Taken Mede of here maistre ■ as pei mowe acorde.
Beggeres for here biddynge ■ bidden men Mede ;
Mynstralles for here murthe ' mede pei aske.
pe kynge hath mede of his men ■ to make pees in londe ;
Men pat teche chyldren ■ craue of hem mede. 221
Prestis pat precheth pe poeple ■ to gode, asken mede,
And masse-pans and here mete ■ at pe mele tymes.
Alkynnes crafty men • crauen Mede for here prentis ;
Marchauntz and Mede • mote nede go togideres; 225
MEED AND CONSCIENCE. 3 1
No \vi3te, as I wene ■ with-oute Mede may libbe.'
Quod J>e kynge to conscience ■ ' bi criste ! as me thynketh,
Mede is wel worthi • |;e maistrye to haue ! '
' Nay/ qwcd conscience to ]>e Kynge ■ and kneled to Jje
erthe,
' There aren two manere of Medes ■ my lorde, with jowre
leue. 230
pat one, god of his grace • graunteth, in his blisse,
To ]>o }>at wel worchen • whil Jjei ben here.
The prcphete precheth }>er-of • and put it in )>e sautere,
Domine, quis habitabit in labtrnaculo tuo r
"Lorde, who shal wonye in \\ wones ■ and with )>ine holi
seyntes,
Or resten on )>i holy hilles ? " ■ }>is asketh dauid ; 235
And dauyd assoileth it hym-self ' as }>e sauter telleth,
Qui ingrcditur sine macula, Sf operator iusiiciam,
" Tho \zx entren of o colour ■ and of on wille,
And han wroujte werkis ■ with rijte and with reson ;
And he Jjat ne vseth naujte ■ ]>e lyf of vsurye,
And enfourmeth pore men ■ and pursueth treuthe ; 240
Qui pecuniam suam non dcdil ad vsuram, $• munera
super innocentem, §c;
And alle jjat helpeth \t innocent ■ and halt with ]>e rijtful,
With-oute mede doth hem gode ■ and J>e trewthe helpeth " —
Suche manere men, my lorde ■ shal haue J>is furst Mede
Of god, at a grete nede • whan j;ei gone hennes.
There is an-other Mede mesurelees " J?at maistres desireth ;
To meyntene mysdoers ■ Mede j>ei take ; 246
And J>ere-of seith ]>e sauter ■ in a salmes ende,
/;/ quorum manibus iniquitales sunt, d&Xlera eorum
repleta est muneribus ;
And he )>at gripeth her golde ' so me god helpe I
Shal abie it bittere ■ or j>e boke lyeth !
3 a PASS US III.
2;o
Prestes and p^rsones ■ }>at plesynge desireth,
That taketh Mede and moneie ■ for messes ]>at }>ei syngeth,
Taketh here mede here ■ as Mathew vs techeth ;
Amen, amen, receperunt mer cedent suam.
That laboreres and lowe folke • taketh of her maistres,
It is no manere Mede • but a mesurable hire.
In marchandise is no mede ■ I may it wel a-vowe ; 255
It is a p^rmutaciou« apertly • a penyworth for an othre.
Ac reddestow neuere Regiun ■ )>ow recrayed Mede,
Whi J>e veniaunce fel ■ on Saul and on his children ?
God sent to Saul • bi Samuel J>e prophete,
pat agag? of amaleb? ■ and al his peple aftre 260
Shulde deye for a dede ■ J>at done had here eldres.
" For-J>i," seid Samuel to Saul ■ " god hym-self hoteth
The be boxome at his biddynge ■ his wille to fulfille :
Wende to amalec with ]>yn oste ■ and what Jjow fyndest )>ere,
slee it;
Biernes and bestes ' brenne hem to ded ; 265
Wydwes and wyues ' woramen and children,
Moebles and vnmoebles ■ and al )>at Jjow my5te fynde,
Brenne it, bere it noujte awey • be it neuere so riche
For mede ne for moneie ; ■ loke ]>ow destruye it,
Spille it and spare it nou3te ■ \o\v shalt spede \>e bettere." 270
And for he coueyted her catel ■ and ]>e kynge spared,
Forbare hym and his bestes bothe ■ as \>e bible witnesseth,
Otherwyse J>an he was • warned of J>e pr^phete,
God seide to Samuel • )>at Saul shulde deye,
And al his sede for ]>at synne ■ shenfullich ende. 275
Such a myschief Mede ■ made Saul jje kynge to haue,
That god hated hym for euere ■ and alle his eyres after.
The cu\omm_ of J>is cas • kepe I noujte to shewe ;
An auenture it noyed men ■ none ende wil I make.
For so is jjis worlde went ■ wij> hem )>at han powers, 280
MEED AND CONSCIENCE. ^
That who-so seyth hem sothes ' is sonnest \ blamed.
I, conscience, knowe Jus ■ for kynde wilt me it tau3te,
pat resouw shal regne ■ and rewmes gouerne ;
And rijte as agag hadde ■ happe shul sozwme.
Samuel shal sleen hym ■ and Saul shal be blamed, 285
And dauid shal be diademed • and daunten hem alle,
And one cristene kynge ■ kepen hem alle.
Shal na more Mede ■ be maistre, as she is nouthe,
Ac loue and lowenesse ■ and lewte togederes,
pise shul be maistres on molde ■ treuthe to saue. 290
And who-so trespasseth ayein treuthe ■ or taketh ajein his
wille,
Leute shal don hym lawe • and no lyf dies.
Shal no striaunt for here s^ruyse ' were a silke howue,
Ne no pelure in his cloke ■ for pledyng atte barre.
Mede of mys-doeres ' maketh many lordes, 295
And ouer lordes lawes ■ reuleth J?e rewmes.
Ac kynde loue shal come jit ■ and conscience togideres,
And make of lawe a laborere ■ suche loue shal arise.
And such a pees amonge ]>e peple ■ and a p*;-fit trewthe,
pat iewes shal wene in here witte • and waxen wonder gl
pat Aloises or. Messie * be come in-to J)is erthe, 301
And haue wonder in here hertis ■ pat men beth so trewe.
Alle }>at bereth baslarde ■ brode swerde or launce,
Axe other hachet ■ or eny wepne ellis,
Shal be demed to }>e deth ■ but if he do it smythye 305
In-to sikul or to sithe ' to schare or to kulter ;
Conflabunt gladios snos in vomer es, Sfc;
Eche man to pleye with a plow ■ pykoys or spade,
Spynne, or sprede donge ■ or spille hym-self with sleuthe.
Prestes and p^rsones ■ with placebo to hunte,
And dyngen vpon dauid ■ eche a day til eue. 31°
Huntynge or haukynge ■ if any of hem vse,
D
34 PASS US III.
His boste of his benefys ■ worth bynome hym after.
Shal neither kynge ne kny3te ■ constable ne Meire
Ouer-lede ]>e comune • ne to J?e courte sompne,
Ne put hem in panel " to don hem pli3te here treuthe, 315
But after ]>e dede J>at is don ■ one dome shal rewarde,
Mercy or no mercy ■ as treuthe wil acorde.
Kynges courte and comune courte ' consistorie and
chapitele,
Al shal be but one courte • and one barou« be iustice ;
Thanne worth trewe-tonge, a tidy man ■ ]>at tened me
neuere. 320
Batailles shal non be ■ ne no man bere wepne,
And what smyth J>at ony smytheth ■ be smyte ]><?r-with to dethe;
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium, §c.
And er jjis fortune falle ■ fynde men shal )>e worste,
By syx sonnes and a schipp^ ■ and half a shef of arwes;
And J>e myddel of a mone • shal make ]>e iewes to tome, 325
And saracenes for J>at si3te ■ shulle synge gloria in ex-
ec his, §c,
For Makomet & Mede ■ myshappe shal )>at tyme ;
For, melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe.'
Also wroth as ]>e wynde ■ wex Mede in a while,
' I can no latyn,' qttod she ■ 'clerkis wote J>e sothe.
Se what Salamon seith ■ in Sapience bokes, 330
That hij J>at 3iueth jiftes " ]>e victorie wynneth,
& moche worschip had jjer-with ■ as holiwryt telleth,
Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, Src?
' I leue wel, lady,' q«#d conscience ■ ' J>at Jn latyne be
trewe ;
Ac jjow art like a lady ■ }>at redde a lessouw ones,
Was, omnia probate • and |>at plesed here herte, 33?
For J>at lyne was no lenger ■ atte leues ende.
Had she loked J»at other half " and ]>e lef torned,
MEED AND CONSCIENCE. 35
She shulde haue founden fele wordis ■ fohvyng Jvr-aftcr,
Quod bonum est tcnefe ; ' treuthe J>at texte made !
And so ferde 3c, madame ! ; 3c couthe namore fynde, 340
Tho 3e loked on sapience ■ sittynge in 30ure studie.
pis tixte J?at 3e han tolde • were gode for lordes,
Ac 30W failled a cunnyng clerke ■ \>at couthe \>e lef haue
torned !
And if 3e seche sapience eft • fynde shal 3c J>at folweth,
A ful teneful tixte • to hem Jjat taketh Mede, 345
And J>at is, animam aulem auferl ■ accipiejilium , $r. :
And J>at is }>e taille of \>e tixte ■ of J>at }>at %e schewcd,
pat, J>ei3e we wynne worschip ■ and wi}> mede haue victorie,
pe soule ]>at )>e sonde taketh ■ bi so moche is bounde.' 349
•
v 2
PASSUS IV.
Passus quartus de visione, vt supra.
'/"""■* ESSETH,' seith J>e kynge ■ ' I suffre 30W no lengere.
V_/ 3e shal saujtne for sothe ■ and serue me bothe.
Kisse hir/ quod )>e kynge ■ ' conscience, I hote.'
' Nay, bi criste,' quod conscience ■ ' congeye me for euere !
But resouw rede me J>er-to • rather wil I deye !' 5
' And I comaunde \>e,' quod ]>e Kynge ■ to conscience }>anne,
' Rape J>e to ride • and resouw J>ow fecche ;
Comaunde hym J?at he come ■ my conseille to here.
For he shal reule my rewme ■ and rede me \>e beste,
And acounte with \>e, conscience ■ so me cryst helpe, 10
How Jjow lernest \>e peple ■ J?e lered and }>e lewede.'
' I am fayne of J>at forwarde ' ■ seyde J>e freke ]>anne,
And ritt ri3te to resouw ■ and rowneth in his ere,
And seide as J>e kynge badde • and sithen toke his leue.
' I shal arraye me to ride/ quod resouz* ■ ' reste J?e a
while ' — 15
And called catouw his knaue • curteise of speche,
And also tomvae trewe-tonge- ■ tell-me-no-tales-
Ne-lesyng-to-law3e-of- * for-I-loued-hem-neuere —
' And sette my sadel vppon suffre- ■ til-I-se-my-tyme,
And lete warrok it wel ■ with witty-wordes gerthes, 20
And hange on hym pe heuy brydel ■ to holde his hed lowe,
For he wil make wehe ■ tweye er he be there/
Thanne conscience vppon his caple ■ kaireth forth faste,
MEED AND REASON. 37
And resouw with hym rit ■ rownynge togideres,
Whiche maistrics Mede ■ maketh on J>is erthe. • 25
One waryn wisdom ■ And witty his fere
Folwed hem faste ■ for ]>e'\ haued to done
In \>e cheker and at j>e chauncerie ■ to be discharged of
Jringes ;
And riden fast, for resou/z * shulde rede hem J>e beste,
For to saue hem, for siluer • fro shame and fram harmes. 30
And conscience knewe hem wel ■ ]>e'i loued coueitise,
And bad resouw ride faste ■ and recche of her noither,
' pere aren wiles in here wordes ' and with Mede ]>c\ dwelleth ;
There as wratthe and wranglyng is ■ ]>eve wynne }>ei siluer ;
Ac J^ere is loue and lewte ■ J>ei wil noujte come J>ere ; 35
Contricio Sf infelicitas in vijs eorum, <yr.
pei ne gyueth noujte of god ■ one gose wynge,
Non csi timor dei ante oculos eorum.
For, wot god, ]>ei wolde do more ■ for a dozeine chickenes,
Or as many capones ■ or for a seem of otes,
pan for loue of owre lorde ■ or alle hise leue seyntes.
For-|>i, resou«, lete hem ride ■ \o riche, bi hem-seluen, 40
For conscience knoweth hem nou3te ■ ne cryst, as I trowe.'
And )>anne resouw rode faste * j>e rijte hei3e gate,
As conscience hym kenned ■ til J?ei come to J?e kynge.
Curteisliche ]>e kynge ))anne ■ come a3ein resou«,
And bitwene hym-self and his sone ■ sette hym on benche. 4;
And wordeden wel wyseli ■ a gret while togideres.
And panne come pees in-to parlement ' and put forth a
bille,
How wronge ajeines his wille ■ had his wyf taken.
' Bothe my gees & my grys ' his gadelynges feccheth ; 5 1
I dar noujte for fere of hym ' fy3te ne chyde.
He borwed of me bayard ' he brou3te hym home neure,
38 PASSUS IV.
Ne no ferthynge J>er-fore ■ for nau3te I couthe plede.
He raeyneteneth his men ■ to morther myne he wen, ' 55
Forstalleth my feyres ■ and fi3teth in my chepynge,
And breketh vp my bernes dore • and bereth aweye my
whete,
And taketh me but a taile ■ for ten quartzes of otes ;
And 3et he bet me )>er-to ■ and lyth bi my Mayde,
I nam noujte hardy for hym ■ vneth to loke.' 60
The kynge knewe he seide sothe ■ for conscience hym
tolde,
pat wronge was a wikked haft ■ and wroujte moche sorwe.
Wronge was afered }>anne ■ and wisdome he soi^te
To make pees with his pens ■ and profered hym manye,
And seide, ' had I loue of my lorde }>e kynge * litel wolde I
recche, 65
Thei3e pees and his power* ■ pleyned hym eure 1 '
po wan wisdome * and sire waryn j>e witty,
For ]>at wronge had ywroujte " so wikked a dede,
And warned wronge J>o * with such a wyse tale ;
1 Who-so worcheth bi wille ■ wratthe maketh ofte ; 70
I seye it bi Jji-self • Jjow shalt it wel fynde.
But if Mede it make • J>i myschief isvppe,
For bothe ]>i lyf and ]>i londe • lyth in his grace.'
Thanne wowed wronge • wisdome ful 3erne,
To make his pees vrftA his pens • handi-dandi payed. 75
Wisdome and witte jjanne ■ wenten togideres,
And toke Mede myd hem • mercy to winne.
Pees put for|> his hed ■ and his panne blody ;
' Wyth-outen gilte, god it wote ' gat I }>is sl>aj>e,
Conscience and J)e comune ■ knowen }>e sothe.' 80
Ac wisdom and witt ' were about faste
To ouercome }>e kyng • with catel, 3if J>ei my3te.
pe kynge swore, bi crist ■ and bi his crowne bothe,
MEED AND REASON. 39
pat wronge for his werkis ' sholde wo poke,
And comaunded a constable ■ to casten hym in yrens, 85
' And late hym novate pis seuene 3ere ■ seen his feet ones.'
' God wot,' quod wysdom • ' pat were nau3te J>e beste ;
And he amendes mowe make ■ late meynprise hym haue ;
And be borwgh for his bale ■ and biggen hym bote,
And so amende pat is mysdo ' and euermore pe bettere.' 90
Witt acorded per-with ■ and seide pe same :
; Bettere is pat bote ■ bale adoun brynge,
))an bale be ybette ■ & bote neuere pe bettere.'
And panne gan Mede to mengen here • and mercy she
bisought,
And profred pees a present • al of pure golde : 95
' Haue pis, man, of me,' quod she ■ ' to amende pi skape,
For I wil wage for wronge ■ he wil do so namore.'
Pitously pees panne ■ prayed to pe kynge
To haue mercy on pat man • pat mys-did hym so ofte :
' For he hath waged me wel ' as wysdome hym tau3te, 100
And I forgyue hym pat gilte ■ with a goode wille,
So pat pe kynge assent ; ■ I can seye no bettere ;
For Mede hath made me amendes ■ I may namore axe.'
' Nay,' quod pe Kynge po • ' so me cryst helpe !
Wronge wendeth noujte so awaye ' arst wil I wite more ; 105
For loupe he so lijtly ' laughen he wolde,
And efte pe balder be ' to bete myne hewen ;
But resou/j haue reuthe on hym ■ he shal rest in my stokkes,
And pat as longe as he lyueth • but lowenesse hym borwe.'
Sowme men redde Resouw po ■ to haue reuthe on pat
schrewe, no
And for to conseille pe kynge ■ and conscience after,
That Mede moste be meynpernour ■ resou;/ pei bisoujte.
' Rede me noujte,' quod resouw • ' no reuthe to haue,
Til lordes and ladies ■ louien alle treuthe,
4° PASS US IV.
And haten al harlotrye ■ to heren it, or to mouthen it; 115
Tyl pernelles purfil • be put in here hucche ;
And childryn cherissyng ■ be chastyng with jerdes ;
And harlotes holynesse ■ be holden for an hyne ;
Til clerken coueitise be ■ to clothe J;e pore and to fede,
And religious romares • recordare in here cloistres, 1 20
As seynt Benet hem bad ■ Bernarde and Frauwceys ;
md til prechoures pr<?chyng ■ be preued on hem-seluen ;
Tyl }>e kynges conseille ■ be }>e comune profyte ;
Tyl bisschopes baiardes ■ ben beggeres chambres,
Here haukes and her houndes ■ helpe to pore Religious; 125
And til seynt lames be sou3te ■ J)ere I shal assigne,
That no man go to Galis • but if he go for euere ;
And alle Rome-renneres • for robberes of byjonde
Bere no siluer ouer see ■ ]?at signe of kynge shewejj,
Noyther graue ne vngraue ■ golde noither siluer, 130
Vppon forfeture of J>at fee ■ who-so fynt hym at Douere,
But if it be marchauwt or his man ■ or messagere with \e//eres,
Prouysoure or prest ■ or penaunt for his synnes.
And jet,' quod resouw, ' bi \>e Rode ■ I shal no reuthe haue,
While Mede hath )>e maistrye ■ in J>is moot-halle. 135
Ac I may shewe ensaumples • as I se other-while ;
I sey it by my-self,' q«od he ■ ' and it so were
That I were kynge with crowne ■ to kepen a Rewme,
Shulde neuere wronge in j>is worlde ■ j>at I wite myjte,
Ben vnpunisshed in my powers • for peril of my soule ! 140
Ne gete my grace for giftes • so me god saue !
Ne for no Mede haue mercy • but mekenesse it make.
For nullum malum \>e man ■ mette with inpunitum,
And badde nullum bonum ■ be irremuneraium.
Late jowre confessoure, sire Kynge ■ construe ]>is vn-
glosed ; M5
And 3if 3e worken it in werke ■ I wedde myne eres,
MEED AND REASON. 4 I
That lawe shal ben a laborcre ■ and lede a-felde donge,
And loue shal lede }>i londe ■ as )>e lief lyketh ! '
Clerkcs J>at were confessoures ■ coupled hem togideres,
Alle to construe J>is clause ■ and for |>e kynges profit, 150
Ac noujte for conforte of J>e comune * ne for Jje kynges soule.
For I sei3e mede in the moot-halle ■ on men of lawe wynke,
And 1'ci lawghyng lope to hire ■ and lafte resouw manye.
Waryn wisdome • wynked vppon Mede,
And seide, ' Madame, I am jowre man ■ what so my mouth
iangleth; 155
I falle in fioreines,' quod J>at freke ■ ' an faile speche ofte.'
Alle ri3tful recorded ■ pat resou;z trcuthe tolde,
And witt acorded j>er-\vith ■ and comended his wordes,
And J>e moste peple in pe halle ■ and manye of ]>e grete,
And leten mekenesse a maistre ' and Mede a mansed
schrewe. 160
Loue lete of hir li3te ' and lewte jit lasse,
And seide it so hei3e ■ pat al }>e halle it herde,
' Who-so wilneth hir to wyf ■ for welth of her godis,
But he be knowe for a koke-wolde ■ kut of my nose 1 '
Mede mourned J»o ' and made heuy chere. 165
Ac a sysoure and a sompnoure • sued hir faste,
And a schireues clerke * byschrewed al \>e route,
' For ofte haue I,' quod he ■ ' holpe 30W atte barre,
And 3U 3eue 3e me neuere ■ ]>Q worthe of a russhe.' 170
The kynge called conscience ■ and afterwardes resoiu/.
And recorded pat resou« ■ had ri3tfullich schewed,
And modilich vppon Mede ■ with myjte ]'e Kynge loked,
And gan wax wrothe with lawe ' for Mode alinoste had shent
it,
And seide, ' )?orw jowre lawe, as I leue ■ I lese many chctes ;
Mede ouer-maistrieth lawe ■ and moche treuthe letteth. 176
42 PASSUS IV.
Ac resouw shal rekene with 50W * jif I regne any while,
And deme 30W, bi Jus day ■ as 3c han deserued.
Mede shal nou3te meynprise 30W • bi ]je Marie of heuene !
I wil haue leute in lawe * and lete be al 30\vre ianglyng, 180
And as moste folke witnesseth wel ■ wronge shal be demed.'
Quod conscience to j>e kynge ■ ' but the comunt wil assent,
It is ful hard, by myn hed • here-to to brynge it,
Alle 30wre lige leodes ' to lede )>us euene.'
' By hym pat rau3te on J>e rode ' ■ quod resouw to J>e kynge,
' But if I reule }>us 30wre rewme ' rende out my ribbes ! 186
3if 3e bidden buxomnes ■ be of myne assente.'
' And I assent,' seith }>e kynge • ' by seynte Marie my lady,
Be my conseille comen ■ of clerkis and of erlis.
Ac redili, resourc • J>ow shalt nou3te ride fro me, 190
For as longe as I lyue ■ lete \>e I nelle.'
' I am aredy,' quod resou?* ■ ' to reste with 30W euere,
So conscience be of owre conseille • I kepe no bettere.'
' And I graunt,' qz^od the kynge • ' goddes forbode it faile !
Als longe as owre lyf lasteth ■ lyue we togideres.' 195
PASSUS V.
Passus quintus de Visione.
THE kyng and his knightes • to the kirke wente
To here matynes of j>e day ■ and J>e masse after,
panne waked I of my wynkynge ' and wo was with-alle,
pat I ne hadde sleped sadder ■ and yseijen more.
Ac er I hadde fareh a fourlonge ■ feyntise me hente, 5
That I ne myjte ferther a-foot • for defaute of slepynge ;
And sat softly adown ■ and seide my bileue,
And so I babeled on my bedes ■ J>ei brou3te me a-slepe.
And Jeanne saw I moche more ■ }>an I bifore tolde,
For I say J?e felde ful of folke • }>at I bifore of seyde, 10
And how resou« gan arrayen hym ■ alle ]>e reume to pr^che,
And with a crosse afor ]>e kynge ■ comsed }>us to techen.
He preued }iat J>ise pestilences ■ were for pure synne,
And J>e southwest wynde ■ on saterday at euene
Was pertliche for pure pryde • and for no poynt elles. 15
Piries and plomtrees ■ were puffed to ]>e erthe,
In ensample, 3e segges ■ $e shulden do ]>e bettere.
Beches and brode okes • were blowen to }>e grounde,
Torned vpward her tallies ' in tokenynge of drede,
pat dedly synne at domesday ■ shal fordon hem alle. 20
Of J)is matere I myjte ' mamely ful longe,
Ac I shal seye as I saw ■ so me god helpe !
How pertly afor J?e poeple ■ resou;/ gan to preche.
He bad wastour^ go worche • what he best couthe,
44 pass us v.
And wynnen his wastyng ■ with so»/me manere crafte. 25
And preyed p^ronelle " her p?/rfyle to lete,
And kepe it in hir cofre " for catel at hire nede.
Thowme stowue he tau3te ■ to take two staues,
And fecche felice home ■ fro j>e wyuen pyne.
He warned watt ■ his wyf was to blame, 3°
pat hire hed was worth halue a marke * his hode noujte worth
a grote.
And bad bette kut * a bow other tweyne,
And bete betouw }>er-with ■ but if she wolde worche.
And }>anne he charged chapmen • to chasten her childeren ;
' Late no wynnynge hem forweny ■ whil \>ei be jone, 35
Ne for no pouste of pestilence ' plese hem noi^te out of
resouw.
My syre seyde so to me ■ and so did my dame,
pat J)e leuere childe ■ )>e more lore bihoueth,
And Salamon seide )>e same • }>at Sapience made,
Qui pare it virge, odit filium.
pe Englich of J>is latyn is ■ who-so wil it knowe, 40
Who-so spareth }>e sprynge ■ spilleth his children.'
And sithen he preyed p/vlatz ■ and prestes to-gideres,
' pat 3e pr^chen to J>e peple ■ preue it on 30\vre-seluen,
And doth it in dede ' it shal drawe 30W to good ;
If ^e lyuen as 3e leren vs ■ we shal leue jow \>e bettere.' 45
And sithen he radde Religiouw • here reule to holde —
' Leste J>e kynge and his conseille • jowre comunes appayre,
And ben stuwardes of 3owre stedes ■ til 3e be ruled bettre.'
And sithen he conseilled \>e kynge ■ J?e comune to louye,
' It is jn tresore, if tresouw ne were ■ and triacle at |>i nede.'
And sithen he prayed j>e pope ; haue pite on holicherche, 51
And er he gyue any grace ' gou^;-ne firste hym-selue.
' And 3e that han lawes to kepe ' late treuthe be jowre
coueytise,
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 4 -
More }>an golJe or other gyftes ■ if je wil god plese ;
For who-so contrarieth treuthe ■ he telleth in \>e gospel, 55
That god knoweth hym nou3te ■ ne no seynte of heuene ;
Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.
And je }>at seke seynte lames • and seintes of Rome,
Seketh seynt treuthe ' for he may saue 30W alle ;
Qui cum patre <y filio ' J>at feire hem bifalle
:^pat suweth my sermon; ' ■ and Jws seyde resouw. 60
Thanne ran repentance ■ and reherced his teme,
And gert wille to wepe ■ water with his even.
SUPERBIA.
Peronelle proude-herte ■ platte hir to J>e erthe,
And lay longe ar she loked ■ and { lorde, mercy ! ' cryed,
And byhijte to hym ■ hat vs alle made, 65
She shulde vnsowen hir serke ■ and sette )>ere an heyre
To afFaiten hire flessh* ■ Jjat fierce was to synne :
' Shal neuere hei:je herte me hente ■ but holde me lowe,
And sufFre to be myssayde — ■ and so did I neuere.
But now wil I meke me ■ and mercy biseche, 70
For al ]>is I haue ■ hated in myne herte.'
LUXURIA.
panne lecchoure seyde ' alias ! ' ■ and on owre lady he
cryed,
To make mercy for his mis-dedes " bitwene god and his
soule,
With J>at he shulde pc saterday ■ seuene 3ere Jjere-after,
Drynke but myd \>e doke ■ and dyne but ones. 75
ENUIDIA.
Enuye with hcuy herte • asked after schrifte,
And carefullich mea culpa • he comsed to she we.
46 PASS US V.
He was as pale as a pelet ■ in J>e palsye he semed,
And clothed in a caurimaury • I couthe it novate discreue ;
In kirtel and kourteby ■ and a knyf bi his syde ; # 80
Of a freres frokke " were ]>e forsleues.
And as a leke hadde yleye ■ longe in |>e sonne,
So loked he with lene chekes ■ lourynge foule.
His body was to-bolle for wratthe ■ J>at he bote his lippes,
And wryngynge he jede with j>e fiste ■ to wreke hym-self he
J>ou3te 85
With werkes or with wordes ■ whan he seighe his tyme.
Eche a worde )>at he warpe ■ was of an Addres tonge,
Of chydynge and of chalangynge ' was his chief lyfiode,
With bakbitynge and bismer ■ and beryng of fals witnesse ;
pis was al his curteisye ■ where }>at euere he shewed hym. 90
' I wolde ben yshryue,' quod J>is schrewe ■ ' and I for shame
durst ;
I wolde be gladder, bi god • J>at gybbe had meschaunce,
Than \>o\i^e I had \>'\s woke ywonne ■ a weye of essex chese.
I haue a neighbore ney3e me ■ I haue ennuyed hym ofte,
And lowen on hym to lordes ■ to don hym lese his siluer, 95
And made his frendes ben his foon ■ thorw my false tonge ;
His grace and his good happes ■ greueth me ful sore.
Bitwene many and many ■ I make debate ofte,
pat bothe lyf and lyme ■ is lost jjorw my speche.
And whan I mete him in market ■ j>at I moste hate, 100
I hailse hym hendeliche ■ as I his frende were ;
For he is dottier J>an I ■ I dar do non other.
Ac hadde I maystrye and my^te ■ god wote my wille !
And whan I come to \>e kirke ' and sholde knele to ]>e
Rode,
And preye for ]>e poeple ■ as }>e prest techeth, 105
For pilgrimes and for palmers ■ for alle J?e poeple after,
panne I crye on my knees ■ ]>at cryste 3if hem sorwe
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 4J
pat baren awey my bolle ■ and my broke schete.
Awey fro )>e auter Jeanne ■ turne I myn e),ghen,
And biholde how Eleyne ■ hath a newe cote ; no
I wisshe }>anne it were myne ■ and al ]>e webbe aftett
And of mennes lesynge I laughe ■ )>at liketh myn herte;
And for her wynnynge I wepe ■ and waille | e tyme,
And deme ]>at hij don ille ■ }>ere I do wel worse ;
Who- so vndernymeth me her<?-of ■ I hate hym dedly after.
I wolde J>at vche a wyght • were my knaue, 1 1 6
For who-so hath more J>an I • J>at angreth me sore.
And jrns I lyue louelees ' lyke a hither dogge,
That al my body bolneth ■ for bitter of my galle.
I my3te noujte eet many 3eres ■ as a man oujte, 120
For enuye and yuel wille ■ is yuel to defye.
May no sugre ne swete ]>inge ■ asswage my swellynge,
Ne no diapeniih'on • dryue it fro myne herte,
Ne noyther schrifte ne shame • but ho-so schrape my mawc ?'
' 3us, redili,' quod repentaunce ■ and radde hym to )>e
beste, 125
' Sorwe of synnes ■ is sauaciou« of soules.'
' I am sori,' quod j>at segge • ' I am but selde other, —
And J)at maketh me }ms megre ■ for I ne may me venge.
Amonges Burgeyses haue I be ■ dwellynge At Londou;/,
And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure ■ to blame mennes ware.
Whan he solde and I nou3te ■ t>anne was I redy 131
To lye and to loure on my neighbore ' and to lakke his
chaffare.
I wil amende )>is, jif I may ' Jjorw my3te of god almy3ty.'
IRA. ,
Now awaketh wratthe ' with two whyte eyen,
And nyuelynge with \>e nose ' and his nekke hangynge. 1. .
' I am wrath,' quod he • ' I was sum-tyme a frere,
48 passus v.
And J>e couentes Gardyner ■ for to graffe ympes ;
On limitoures and listres ■ lesynges I ymped,
Tyl \>ei bere leues of low speche ■ lordes to plese,
And sithen J>ei blosmed obrode ■ in boure to here shriftes.
And now is fallen per-of a frute • pat folke han wel leuen? 141
Schewen her schriftes to hem ■ pan shryue hem to her
p^rsones.
And now persones han parceyued • bat Freres parte with
hem,
pise possessioneres preche ■ and depraue freres, 144
And freres fyndeth hem in defaute ■ as folke bereth witnes,
That whan pei preche pe poeple ■ in many place aboute,
I, wrath, walke with hem ■ and wisse hem of my bokes. '
pus bei speken of sp*W/ualte ■ pat eyther despiseth other,
Til J»ei be bothe beggers ■ and by my spzW/ualte libben,
Or elles alle riche • and riden aboute. 150
I, wrath, rest neuere ■ pat I ne moste folwe
This wykked folke ■ for suche is my grace.
I haue an aunte to nonne ' and an abbesse bothe,
Hir were leuere swowe or swelte ■ pan suffre any peyne.
I haue be cook in hir kichyne ■ and pe couent serued 155
Many monthes with hem ' and with monkes bothe.
I was pe priouresses potagerc ■ and other poure ladyes,
And made hem ioutes of iangelynge ■ pat dame Iohanne was
a bastard,
And dame Clarice a kni3tes dou3ter ■ ac a kokewolde was
hire syre, t£*^
And dame Peronelle a prestes file ■ Priouresse worth she
neuere. 160
Of wykked wordes I, wrath ■ her^ wortes I-made,
Til "pow lixte" and " pow lixte" * lopen oute at ones,
And eyther hitte other ■ vnder pe cheke ; 164
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 49
Hadde pei had knyues, bi cryst ■ her eyther had killed other.
Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope ■ and had a gode forwit,
pat no priouresse were prest ■ for pat he ordeigned.
pei had Jeanne ben in/amis pe firste day ■ pei can so yuel hele
conseille.
Amonge monkes I mijte be " ac many tvme I shonye ;
For pere ben many felle frekis ■ my feres to aspye, **J* 170
Bothe Prioure an suppre'oun? • and owre paler abbas ;
And if I telle any tales ■ pei taken hem togyderes,
And do me faste frydayes ■ to bred and to water,
And am chalanged in pe chapitelhous ' as I a childe were,
For-J)i haue I no lykyng ■ with po Ieodes to wonye. 176
I ete there vnthende fisshe * and fieble ale drynke ;
Ac other while, whan wyn cometh • whan I drynke wyn
at eue,
I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe ■ wel fyue dayes after.
Al pe wikkednesse pat I wote ■ bi any of owre bretheren, 1S0
I couth it in owre cloistre ■ pat al owre couent wote it.'
' Now repent pe,' quod Repentaiuzce • ' and reherce pow
neure
Conseille pat pow cnowest ■ bi contenau«ce ne bi rijte ;
And drynke nou3te ouer delicatly ■ ne to depe noyther,
pat pi wille bi cause p*r-of ■ to wrath my3te tome.
Esto sobrius,' he seyde ■ and assoilled me after,
And bad me wilne to wepe ■ my wikkednesse to amende.
AUARICIA.
And panne cam coueytise ■ can I hym noujte descryue,
So hungriliche and holwe ■ sire IIeru\ hym lokecL
He was bitelbrowed ■ and baberlipped also, iyo
With two blered eyghen • as a blynde hagge ;
And as a letheren purs ■ lolled his chekes,
E
50 PASS US V.
Wei sydder }>an his chyn • J?ei chiueled for elde ;
And as a bondman of his bacou« ■ his berde was bidraueled.
AVith an hode on his hed ■ a lousi hatte aboue, 195
And in a tauny tabarde ■ of twelue wynter age,
Al totorne and baudy * and ful of lys crepynge ;
But if }>at a lous couthe ■ haue lopen J>e bettre,
She sholde nou3te haue walked on ]>at welche ' so was it
thredebare.
' I haue ben coueytouse,' quod J»is caityue ■ ' I biknowe it
here ; 200
For some tyme I serued ■ Symme atte Stile,
And was his prentis yplijte ■ his profit to wayte.
First I lerned to lye ■ a leef other tweyne,
Wikkedlich to weye " was my furst lessou«.
To Wy and to Wynchestre * I went to J>e faire, 205
With many manen? marchandise • as my Maistre me hi3te ;
Ne had J>e grace of gyle ' ygo amonge my ware,
It had be vnsolde f>is seuene 3ere * so me god helpe !
Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes ■ my donet to lerne,
To drawe ]>e lyser alonge ■ J?e lenger it semed ; 210
Amonge J>e riche rayes ■ I rendred a lessouw,
To broche hem with a paknedle • and plaited hem togyderes,
And put hem in a presse ■ and pynned hem |>erinne,
Tyl ten 3erdes or twelue ■ hadde tolled out threttene.
My wyf was a webbe ■ and wollen cloth made; 215
She spak to spynnesteres ■ to spynnen it oute.
Ac }>e pounde J?at she payed by ■ poised a quarteroun more,
Than myne owne auncen? ■ who-so weyjed treuthe.
I bou3te hir barly make ■ she brewe it to selle,
Peny ale and podyng ale • she poured togideres 220
For laboreres and for low folke ; ■ ]>at lay by hym-selue.
The best ale lay in my boure ■ or in my bedchambre,
And who-so buwmed fc-er-of ■ bou3te it ]?er-after,
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 5 1
A galou;z for a grote ■ god wote, no lesse ;
And 3k it cam in cupmel ' jiis crafte my wyf vsed, 22c
Rose }>e regratere ■ was hir ri3te name ;
She hath holden hokkerye ■ al hire lyf tymc.
Ac I swere now, so the ik ■ ]>at synne wil I lete,
And neuere wikkedliche weye * ne wikke chafFare vse,
But wenden to Walsyngham ■ and my wyf als, 23c
And bidde j>e Rode of bromeholmc ' brynge me oute of dette.'
' Repentedestow }>e euere,' quod repentance • ' ne reslitu-
ciouz* madest ? '
'3ns, ones I was herberwed,' quod he ■ ' with an hep of
chapmen,
I roos whan J>ei were arest • and yrifled her* males.'
' That was no restituciou;;,' quod repentance • 'but a
robberes thefte, 235
pow haddest be better worthy • be hanged )>erfore
pan for al J>at ■ J>at J>ow hast here shewed.'
' I wende ryflynge were restituciouw,' quod he ' ' for I
lerned neuere rede on boke,
And I can no frenche in feith ■ but of }>e ferthest ende of
norfolke.'
' Vsedestow euere vsurie,' quod repentauwce ' ' in alle \>i
lyftyme?' 240
' Nay, sothly,' he seyde ■ ' saue in my jouthe.
I lerned amonge lumbardes ; and iewes a lesson?;,
To wey pens with a peys " and pare ]>e heuyest,
And lcne it for loue of \>e crosse ' to legge a wedde and lese
it;
Suche dedes I did wryte ■ jif he his day breke. 245
I haue mo maneres }^orw rerages '• )>an J?orw miseretur $•
comodat.
I haue lent lordes • and ladyes my chaffare,
And ben her brocour after ■ and boi^te it my- self.
E 2
52 PASS US V.
Eschaunges and cheuesances ; with suche chaffare I dele,
And lene folke J>at lese wol ■ a lyppe at euery noble, t 250
And with lumbardes W/res ■ I ladde golde to Rome,
And toke it by taille here ■ and tolde hem }>ere lasse.'
' Lentestow euere lordes ■ for loue of her mayntenaunce ?'
' 3e, I haue lent lordes • loued me neuere after,
And haue ymade many a knyjte " bothe mercere &
drapers, 255
pat payed neuere for his prentishode ■ noujte a peire gloues.'
' Hastow pite on pore men ■ )>at mote nedes borwe ? '
' I haue as moche pite of pore men ■ as pedler<? hath of
cattes,
pat wolde kille hem, yf he cacche hem myjte ■ for coueitise
of hen? skynnes.'
1 Artow manlyche amonge J>i neijbores ■ of J» mete and
drynke?' 260
1 I am holden,' quod he ' as hende ' as hounde is in
kychyne,
Amonges my neighbores, namelich ■ such a name ich haue.'
' Now god lenc neure,' quod repentance ' ' but |>ow repent
]>e rather,
pe grace on }>is grounde * J)i good wel to bisette,
Ne }>ine ysue after J?e " haue ioye of )>at J^ow wynnest, 265
Ne }>i excecutours wel bisett ■ \>e siluer ]?at Jjow hem leuest ;
And \>at was wonne with wronge * with wikked men be
despended.
For were I frere of J?at hous ■ j?ere gode faith and charite is,
I nolde cope vs with \>i catel ' ne owre kyrke amende,
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce * of J>yne, bi my soule
hele, 270
For )>e best boke in owre hous ■ ]>e\^e brent golde were \>q
leues,
And I wyst wytterly ■ J>ow were suche as }>ow tellest,
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 53
Or elles ]>at I koube knowe it ■ by any kynnes wise.
Seruus es alter ins ' cumfcrada pinguid que)- is,
Pane luo pocius ' vescere, liber en's. 275
Thow art an vnkynde creature * I can }>e noujte as-
soille ;
Til bow make restituciouw ■ and rekne with hem alle,
And sithen bat resouw rolle it ■ in }>e regystre of heuene,
That j)Ow hast made vche man good ■ I may be noujte
assoille ;
Non dimiitilur peccatnm, donee restituatur alia! urn, &c.
For alle bat haue of bi good • haue god my trouthe ! 2S0
Ben holden at be heighe dome ■ to helpe be to restitue.
And who so leueth noujte J>is be soth ■ loke in be sauter
glose,
In miserere mei deus ' where I mene treuthe ;
Eece enim veritalem dilexisli, &c.
Shal neuere werkman in bis worlde ■ J>iyue wyth J>at Jjow
wynnest ;
Cum sane to sanctus en's ' construe me J>at on englische.' 285
Thanne wex bat shrewe in wanhope * and walde haue
hanged hiw-self,
Ne hadde repentaunce J?e rather ■ rcconforted hym in }>is
manere,
' Haue mercye in }>i mynde ■ and with ]>i mouth biseche it,
For goddes mercye is more • ]>an alle hise other werkes ;
Jlfisericordia eius super omnia opera eius, &c.
And al }>e wikkednesse in )>is worlde ■ bat man my3te
worche or thynke, 2<>o
Ke is no more to }>e mercye of god ■ J>an in he see a glede ;
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad miser icordiam dei, est quasi
sin/ilia in medio maris.
For-J)i haue mercy in ]>i mynde ' and marchandise, leue it,
For bow hast no good grounde ■ to gcte be with a wastel,
54 pass us v.
But if it were with thi tonge ' or ellis with \\ two hondes.
For \>e good ]>at )>ow hast geten ■ bigan al with falsehede, 295
And as longe as ]>ow lyuest }>er-with ■ )>ow 3eldest novate, but
borwest.
And if J)Ow wite neuere to whiche • ne whom to restitue,
Bere it to Jse bisschop ■ and bidde hym of his grace,
Bisette it hym-selue • as best is for }>i soule.
For he shal answere for J>e • at ]>e heygh dome, 300
For \>e and for many mo ■ }>at man shal 3if a rekenynge,
What he lerned 30W in lente ■ leue \>o\v none other,
And what he lent 30W of owre lordes good ■ to lette 30W fro
synne.'
Now bigynneth glotou/z ' for to go to schrifte,
And kaires hym to-kirke-ward ■ his coupe to schewe. 305
Ac Beton \>e brewestere • bad hym good morwe,
And axed of hym with j>at ■ whiderward he wolde.
' To holi cherche,' quod he • ' forto here masse,
And sithen I wil be shryuen • and synne namore.'
' I haue gode ale, gossib/ quod she ■ ' glotown, wiltow
assaye?' 3'°
' Hastow au3te in J>i purs * any hote spices ? '
' I haue peper and piones,' quod she • ' and a pounde of
garlike,
A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed ■ for fastyngdayes.'
panne goth glotourc in • and grete othes after ;
Cesse ]>e souteresse ■ sat on ]>e benche, 315
Watte j>e warner • and hys wyf bothe,
Tymme ]>e tynkere ' and tweyne of his prentis,
Hikke J>e hakeneyman ■ and hugh^ )>e nedeler,
Clarice of cokkeslane • and \>e clerke of J>e cherche,
Dawe |'e dykere ■ and a dozeine other; 320
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. $$
Sire Piers of Pridie * and Peronelle of Flaundres,
A ribibour, a ratonere • a rakyer of chep<?,
A ropere, a redyngkyng ■ and Rose \>e dissheres, i
Godfrey of garlekehithe • and gryfin \>e walsh*,
And vpholderes an hepe • erly bi ]>e morwe 325
Geuen glotouw with glad chere ' good ale to hansel.
Clement )>e cobelen? • cast of his cloke,
And atte new faire ■ he nempned it to selle ;
Hikke }>e hakeneyman ■ hitte his hood after,
And badde bette ]>e bochere • ben on his side. 330
pere were chapmen y-chose • )>is chaffare to preise ;
Who-so haueth j>e hood ■ shuld haue amendes of }>e cloke.
Two risen vp in rape ■ and rouned togideres,
And preised )>ese peny worthes ■ apart bi hem-selue ;
pei couth nou3te bi her conscience ' acorden in treuthe, 335
Tyl Robyn )?e ropere ' arose bi )>e southe,
And nempned hym for a noumpere * ]>at no debate nere,
For to trye \>'\s chaffare ■ bitwixen hem ]>re.
Hikke )>e hostellere ■ hadde j>e cloke,
In couenaunte [>at Clement ■ shulde j>e cuppe fille, 340
And haue Hikkes hode hostellere • and holde hym yserued ;
And who-so repented rathest ■ shulde arise after,
And grete sire glotouw ■ with a galoiw ale.
pere was laughyng and louryng • and ' let go )>e cuppe,'
And seten so til euensonge ■ and songen vmwhile, 345
Tyl glotou^z had y-globbed ■ a galou« an a Iille.
• •••••■
He myjte neither steppe ne stonde • er he his staffe hadde ;
And Jeanne gan he go ■ liche a glewmannes bicche,
So?«me tyme aside ■ and sowrae tyme arrere,
As who-so leyth lynes ■ forto lacche foules. 355
And whan he drowgh to j^e dore ■ Jjanne dymmed his
eighen,
$6 PASSUS V.
He stumbled on )>e thresshewolde * an threwe to ]>e erthe.
Clement J^e cobeler^ ■ caujte bym bi J>e myddel,
For to lifte hym alofte ■ and leyde him on his knowes ; 359
• ■ • • • • •
With al }>e wo of J?is worlde ■ his wyf and his wenche
Baren hym home to his bedde • and broujte hym ]>erinne.
And after al Jns excesse " he had an accidie, 366
pat he slepe saterday and sonday ■ til sonne 3ede to reste.
panne waked he of his wynkyng ■ and wiped his eyghen ;
pe fyrste worde f>at he warpe * was, ' where is ]>e bolle ? '
His wif gan edwite hym }>o ' how wikkedlich he lyued, 370
And repentance ri3te so ' rebuked hym ]?at tyme :
' As J>ow with wordes and werkes ' hast wrou^te yuel in }>i
lyue,
Shryue }>e and be shamed }>er-of * and shewe it with ]>i mouth.'
' I, glotouw,' quod ]ic gome ■ ' gylti me 3elde,
pat I haue trespassed with my tonge ' I can nou3te telle how
ofte, 375
Sworen ' goddes soule ' ■ and ' so god me help and halidom,'
pere no nede ne was ■ nyne hundreth tymes ;
And ouer-seye me at my soper^ ■ and some tyme at nones,
pat I glotou7/ girt it vp • er I hadde gone a myle,
And y-spilte }>at myjte be spared ' and spended on S07?mie
hungrie ; 380
Ouerdelicatly on fastyng dayes ■ drunken and eten bothe,
And sat some tyme so longe jjere • J>at I slepe and ete at
ones.
For loue of tales, in tau<?rnes ■ to drynke ]?e more, I dyned,
And hyed to )>e mete er none • whan fastyng-dayes were.'
' This shewyng shrifte,' quod repentance ■ ' shal be m^ryte
to J>e.' 385
And Jeanne gan glotouw grete ■ and gret doel to make
For his lither lyf ■ ]>at he lyued hadde,
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 57
And avowed to fast — ■ ' for hunger or for thurst
Shal neuere fisshe on }>e frydav ■ defien in my wombe,
Tyl abstinence myn aunte * haue 3iue me leue ; 390
And 3U haue I hated hir ■ al my lyf tyme.'
V 1 [DIA.
panne come sleuthe al bislabered ■ \\A// two stymy eijen,
, ' I most sitte,' seyde \>e segge • ' or elles shulde I nappe ;
I may nou3te stonde ne stoupe • nc with-oute a stole knele.'
• ■•••••
' What ! awake, renke ! ' quod repentance ■ ' and rape J>e to
shrifte.'
' If I shulde deye bi J>Is day • me liste noujte to loke ; 400
I can nou3te p^rfitly my yaler-noster ' as }>e prest it syngeth,
But I can rymes of Robyn hood • and Randolf erle of
Chestre,
Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady ■ pc leste }>at euere
was made.
I haue made vowes fourty • and for^ete hem on }>e morne ;
I parfourned neure penaunce ■ as \>e prest me hi3te, 405
Ne ryjte sori for my synnes ■ jet was I neuere.
And 3if I bidde any bedes ' but if it be in wrath,
pat I telle with my tonge ■ is two myle fro myne herte.
I am occupied eche day ■ haliday and other,
With ydel tales atte ale ■ and otherwhile in cherches ; 410
Gcddes peyne and his passiou;; ■ ful selde ]>ynke I |jer<?-on.
I visited neuere fieble men ■ ne fettered folke in putt* s,
I haue leuere here an harlotrie ■ or a somer game of soutejres,
Or lesynges to laughe at ' and belye my neighbore,
pan al }>at euere Marke made ■ Mathew, John, & lucas. ^15
And vigilies and fastyng dayes ■ alle pise late I passe,
Tyl matynes and masse be do ■ and )>anne go to Jje freres ;
58 passus v.
Come I to He, missa est • I holde me yserued.
I nam nou3te shryuen some tyme • but if sekenesse it
make, 420
Nou3t tweies in two 3ere " and }>anne vp gesse I schryue me.
I haue be prest and p*rsou# ■ passynge thretti wynter,
3ete can I neither solfe ne synge ' ne seyntes lyues rede ;
But I can fynde in a felde • or in a fourlonge an hare,
Better J>an in beaius vir ' or in beaii omnes 425
Construe oon clause wel ' and kenne it to my parochienes.
I can holde louedayes ■ and here a Reues rekenynge,
Ac in canouw ne in J>e decretales ■ I can noujte rede a lyne.
)if I bigge and borwe it • but 3if it be ytailled,
I fo^ete it as 3erne ■ and 3if men me it axe 430
Sixe sithes or seuene ■ I forsake it with othes,
And }>us tene I trewe men * ten hundreth tymes.
And my seruauntz some tyme ■ her salarye is bihynde,
Reuthe is to here )>e rekenynge ■ whan we shal rede acomptes ;
So with wikked wille and wraththe • my werkmen I paye. 4 35
3if any man doth me a benfait ■ or helpeth me at nede,
I am vnkynde a3ein his curteisye ■ and can noujte vnder-
stonde it ;
For I haue and haue hadde • some dele haukes maneres,
I nam nou3te lured with loue ■ but jjere ligge au3te vnder }>e
thombe.
The kyndenesse ]?at myne euene-cristene • kidde me
fernyere, 44o
Sixty sythes I, sleuthe • haue for3ete it sith,
In speche and in sparynge of speche ■ yspilte many a tyme
Bothe flesche & fissche ■ and many other vitailles ;
Bothe bred and ale ■ butter, melke, and chese
Forsleuthed in my swuyse " til it myjte serue noman. 445
I ran aboute in 30uthe ■ and ;jaf me noi^te to lerne,
And euere sith haue be beggen? ■ for my foule sleuthe ;
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 59
Heu michi, quod ster Hem ' vitam duxi Iuuenilem !'
1 Rcpentestow pe nau3te ?' quod repentance ■ and rijte with
pat he swowned,
Til vigilate pe vejlle • fette water at his ey3en, 450
And flatte it on his face • and faste on hym criede,
And seide, ' ware pe fram wanhope • wolde pe bitraye.
" I am sori for my synnes " ■ sey so to pi-selue,
And bete fri-selue on pe breste ; and bidde hym of grace ;
For is no gult here so grete • pat his goodnesse nys more.'
panne sat sleuthe vp ■ and seyned hym swithe, 456
And made ayowe to-fore god • for his foule sleuthe,
1 Shal no sondaye be pis seuene 3ere ' but sykenesse it lette,
pat I ne shal do me er day • to pe dere cherche,
And heren matines and masse * as I a monke were. 460
Shal none ale after mete * holde me pennes,
Tyl I haue euensonge herde * I behote to pe Rode.
And 3ete wil I 3elde a3ein • if I so moche haue,
Al )>at I wikkedly wan ■ sithen I wytte hadde.
And pough my liflode lakke ' leten I nelle, 465
pat eche man ne shal haue his * ar I hennes wende :
And with pe residue and pe remenaunt • bi pe Rode of
chestre !
I shal seke treuthe arst • ar I se Rome !'
Robert pe robbere ■ on reddite lokede,
And for per was nou3te wher-of " he wepe swithe sore. 470
Ac 3d J>e synful shrewe • seyde to hym-selue,
' Cryst, pat on caluarye • vppon pe crosse deydest,
- Tho dismas my brother ' bisou3te 30W of grace,
And haddest mercy on pat man • for memento sake,
So rewe on pis robbere * pat reddere ne haue, 475
Ne neuere wene to wynne ' with crafte, pat I owe.
But for pi mykel mercy ' mitigaciou« I biseche ;
Ne dampne me nou3te at domesday ■ for pat I did so ille.'
60 PASS US V.
What bifel of }>is felouw ■ I can novate faire schewe,
Wei I wote he wepte faste ■ water with boJ>e his eyen, 4S0
And knowleched his gult ■ to cryst jete eftsones,
pat penikncia his J)yke ■ he shulde polsche newe,
And lepe with hym ouer londe ■ al his lyf tyme.
And ]>anne had repentauwce reuthe ■ and redde hem alle
to knele, 485
' For I shal biseche for al synful ■ owre saueoure of grace,
To amende vs of owre mysdedes ■ and do mercy to vs alle.
Now god,' quod he, {j>at of ]n goodnesse ■ gonne }>e
worlde make,
And of noujte madest aujte * and man moste liche to ]>i-
selue,
And sithen sufTredest for to synne " a sikenesse to vs alle, 490
And al for Jje best, as I bilcue ' what euere \>e boke telleth,
O felix culpa 1 0 necessarium peccatum ade ! §c.
For Jjourgh }>at synne \\ sone ■ sent was to J>is erthe,
And bicam man of a mayde ■ mankynde to saue,
And madest }>i-self with \>\ sone • and vs synful yliche,
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem el simililudinem
nosiram ;
El alibi : qui manet in carilale, in deo manel, S; dens
in eo ;
And sith with ]>i-self sone • in owre sute deydest 495
On godefryday for mannes sake * at ful tyme of \>e daye,
pere J>i-self ne ]>i sone ■ no sorwe in deth feledest ;
But in owre secte was J>e sorwe ■ and ]>i sone it ladde,
Capliuam dux it captiuitalem.
pe sonne for sorwe J>er-of ' les syjte for a tyme
Aboute mydday, whan most li3te is ■ and mele tyme of
seintes ; 500
Feddest with ]>i fresche blode ■ owre forfadres in derknesse,
4,4
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 6 I
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris. vidiilucem magnam ;
And thorw )>e lijte }>at lepe oute of J>e • lucifer was blent,
And blewe alle }>i blissed ' in-to ]>e blisse of paradise.
pe thrydde daye after ■ j>ow jedest in owre sute,
A synful Marie \>e seighe " ar seynte Marie ]>i dame, 505
And al to solace synful ■ |>ow suffredest it so were :
Non veni vocare iuslos, set peccaiores ad penitenciam.
And al j>at Marke hath ymade ■ mathew, Ioh#n, and lucas,
Of |>yne doujtiest dedes • were don in owre armes ;
Verbiim caro factum est, et habitauit in nobis.
And bi so moche, me semeth ■ jjc sikereiv we mowe
Bvdde and biseche * if it be \n wille, 510
pat art owre fader and owre brother ■ be nwciable to vs.
And haue reuthe on pise Ribaudes • pat repente hem here
sore,
pat euere J>ei wratthed ]?e in }>is worlde ■ in worde, poujte, or
dedes.'
panne hent hope an home " of dcus, tu conuersus viuificabis
nos,
And blew it with Beati quorum ■ remisse sunt iniquiiates, 515
pat alle seyntes in heuene " songen at ones,
Hojnifies <£• i amenta sal ua bis, quemadmodum multiplicasti
misericordiam luam, dcus, &c.
A thousand of men \o ■ thrungen togyderes ;
Criede vpward to cryst ■ and to his clene moder,
To haue grace to go with hem ■ treuthe to seke.
Ac pere was wyjte non so wys • \>e wey j>ider couthe, 520
But blustreden forth as bestes ■ ouer bankes and hilles,
Til late was and longe ■ }>at )>ei a lede mette,
Apparailled as a paynym ■ in pylgrymes wyse.
He bare a burdouw ybounde ■ with a brode liste,
In a withewyndes. wise ■ ywounden aboute. 525
A bolle and a bagge ■ he bare by his syde ;
6z PASSUS V.
An hundreth of ampulles • on his hatt seten,
Signes of synay • and shelles of galice ;
And many a cruche on his cloke ■ and keyes of Rome,
And ]>e yernicle bifore • for men shulde knowe, 530
And se bi his signes ■ whom he soujte hadde.
pis folke frayned hym firste • fro whennes he come ?
' Fram synay,' he seyde ■ ' and fram owre lordes sepulcre ;
In bethleem and in babiloyne • I haue ben in bothe,
In ermonye, in Alisaundre ■ in many other places. 535
3e may se bi my signes ■ J>at sitten on myn hatte,
pat I haue walked ful wyde ' in wete and in drye,
And soujte gode seyntes ■ for my soules helth.'
' Knowestow ou3te a corseint ■ }>at men calle treuthe ?
Coudestow aujte wissen vs ]>e weye ■ where J>at wy
dwelleth ? ' 540
' Nay, so me god helpe ! ' ' seide J)e gome J>anne,
' I seygh neuere palmere ■ with pike ne with scrippe
Axen after hym er ■ til now in j>is place.'
' Peter ! ' quod a plowman ■ and put forth his hed,
' I knowe hym as kyndely ■ as clerke do)) his bokes ; 545
Conscience and kynde witte ' kenned me to his place,
And deden me suren hym sikerly ■ to serue hym for euere,
Bothe to sowe and to sette * j>e while I swynke myghte.
I haue ben his folwar • al J)is fifty wyntre ;
Bothe ysowen his sede • and sued his bestes, 550
With-Inne and with-outen ■ wayted his profyt.
I dyke and I delue ' I do }>at treuthe hoteth ;
Some tyme I sowe ■ and some tyme I thresche,
In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte ' what treuthe can
deuyse,
I weue an I wynde * and do what treuthe hoteth. 555
For )x)U3e I seye it my-self ■ I serue hym to paye ;
Ich haue myn huire of hym wel ■ and otherwhiles more ;
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 65
He is pe prestcst payer • pat pore men knoweth ;
"He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre ■ pat he ne hath it at
euen.
He is as low as a lombe ■ and loueliche of speche, 560
And 3IF 5e wilneth to wite • where pat he dwellelh,
I shal wisse 30W witterly • pe weye to his place.'
' 3e, leue Pieres,' quod pis pilgrymes ■ and profered hym
huire
For to wende with hem ■ to treuthes dwellyng place.
' Nay, bi my soules helth,' quod pieres " and gan forte
swere, 565
' I nolde fange a ferthynge ■ for seynt Thomas shryne !
Treuthe wolde Ioue me pe lasse ■ a longe tyme per<?-after !
Ac if je wilneth to wende wel ■ pis is pe weye thider,
pat I shal say to yow ■ and sette yow in pe sope.
3e mote go pourgh mekenesse • bothe men and wyues, 570
Tyl je come in-to conscience • pat cryst wite pe sothe,
pat je louen owre lorde god ■ leuest of alle pinges,
And panne jowre neighbores nexte * in non wise apeyre
Otherwyse pan pow woldest • he wrou3te to pi-selue.
And so boweth forth bi a broke ■ beth-buxum-of-
speche, 575
Tyl 3e fynden a forth " 30wre-fadres-honoureth,
Honor a pair em & ma /rem, &c. :
Wadep in pat water ■ and wascheth 30W wel J^ere,
And 3e shul lepe pe li^tloker ■ al 30wre lyf tyme.
And so shaltow se swere-nou3te- • but-if-it-be-for-nede-
And-namelich-an-vdel- ■ pe-name-of-god-almyjti. 580
panne shaltow come by a crofte ■ but come pow novate
p^re-Inne ;
That crofte hat coueyte-nou3te- • mennes-catel-ne-her-wyues-
Ne-none-of-her-smiauntes- ■ J'at-noyen-hem-my3te.
Loke je breke no bowes pere • but if it be 3owre owne.
64 passus v.
Two stokkes pere stondeth • ac stynte %e nou^te pere, 585
They hatte stele-nou^te, ne-slee-nou3te • stryke forth by
bothe ;
And leue hem on pi left halfe ' and loke nou3te pere-after ;
And holde wel pyne haliday ■ heighe til euen.
Thanne shaltow blenche at a berghg " bere-no-false-witnesse,
He is frithed in wkh floreines ■ and other fees man}- ; 593
Loke pow plukke no plante pere ■ for per'ii of pi soule.
panne shal je se sey-soth- ■ so-it-be-to-done-
In-no-manere-ellis-nau;te- ■ for-no-mannes-biddyng*.
panne shaltow come to a courte • as clere as pe sonne,
pe mote is of mercy ■ pe maner<? aboute, 595
And alle pe wallis ben of witte ■ to holden wille oute ;
And kerneled with crystendome ■ man-kynde to saue,
Boterased with bileue-so- " or-pow-beest-nou3te-ysaued.
And alle pe houses ben hiled ■ halles and chambres,
With no lede, but with loue ■ and lowe-speche-as-bre-
theren. 600
pe brugge is of bidde-wel- ■ ))e-bette-may-})Ow-spede ;
Eche piler is of penaunce ' of preyeres to seyntes,
Of almes-dedes ar J?e hokes • )?at ]>e gates hangen on.
Grace hatte \>e gateward • a gode man for sothe,
Hys man hatte amende-^ow ■ for many man him knoweth ; 605
Telleth hym pis tokene ■ pat treuthe wite pe sothe ;
1 1 parfourned pe penaunce * pe preest me enioyned,
And am ful sori for my synnes • and so I shal euere,
Whan I pinke pere-on • peighe I were a pope.'
Biddeth amende^ow meke him ■ til his maistre ones, 610
To ^ya}'ne vp pe wiket ■ pat pe womman shette,
Tho Adam and Eue • eten apples vnrosted ;
Per euam cunctis clausa esl, & per mariam virginem
iterum paiefacta est ;
For he hath pe keye and pe cliket ■ pou3 pe kynge slepe.
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 6~
And if grace graunte be • to go in in bis wise,
pow shalt see in bi-selue ■ treuthe sitte in }>ine herte, 615
In a cheyne of charyte • as \>o\v a cbilde were,
To suffre hym and segge nou;jte ■ ajein bi sires wille.
Ac bewar banne of wrath- be * bat is a wikked shrewe,
He hath enuye to hym ■ bat in bine herte sitteth ;
And pukketh for)) pruyde ' to prayse bi-seluen. 620
, pe boldnesse of bi bienfetes ' maketh be blynde |)anne,
And banne worstow dryuen oute as dew ■ and be dore closed,
Kayed and cliketed • to kepe be with-outen ;
Happily an hundreth wyntre * ar bow eft entre.
pus myght bow lesen his loue ' to late wel by bi-selue, 625
And neuere happiliche efte entre ■ but grace bow haue.
Ac bere aren seuene sustren • bat seruen treuthe euere,
And aren porteres of be posternes • that to be place longeth.
pat one hat abstenence ■ and humilite an other,
Charite and chastite ■ ben his chief maydenes, 630
Pacience and pees • moche poeple bei helpcth,
Largenesse be lady ■ heo let in ful manye ;
Heo hath hulpe a bousande oute ■ of be deueles ponfolde.
And who is sibbe to bis seuene • so me god helpe !
He is wonderliche welcome ■ and faire vnderfongen. 635
And but if 3c be syb * to summe of bise seuene,
It is ful harde bi myne heued,' quod Peres ■ ' for any of jow
alle
1 To geten ingongc at any gate bere ■ but grace be be more.'
' Now, bi cryst,' quod a cutpurs " ' I haue no kynne bere ! '
' Ne I,' quod an apewarde ■ ' bi aujte pat I knowe !' 640
' Wite god,' quod a wafrestre • ' wist I bis for sothe,
Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote ■ for no frcres p;vchvng('.'
'3us,' quod Pieres be plowman ■ and pukked hem alle to
gode,
' Mercy is a maydene J^ere ' hath myjte ouer hem alle ;
F
66 passus v.
And she is syb to alle synful • and her sone also ; 645
And Jjoru^e ]>e helpe of hem two ■ (hope ]>ow none other),
pow my3te gete grace ]>ere • bi so ]jow go bityme.'
' By seynt Poule,' quod a pardoners • ' p^rauentwre I be
nou3te knowe )>ere,
I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes ■ and a bulle with
bisshopes W/res !'
' By cryst,' quod a comune wo/wman ■ ' J)i companye wil I
folwe,
pow shalt sey I am )>i sustre ■ I ne wot where J>ei_bicome/ 651
PASSUS VI.
Passus Sexius.
< ' I SHIS were a wikked way ■ but who-so hadde a gyde
JL That wolde folwen vs eche a fote ; ' ■ }>us ]>is folke hem
mened.
Quat3 Perkyn |>e plouman ' ' bi seynt Peter of Rome,
I haue an half acre to erye ■ bi Jje height way ;
Hadde I eried ]ris half acre • and sowen it after, 5
I wolde wende with 30W * and ]>e way teche.'
' pis were a longe lettynge ' ■ quod a lady in a sklayre,
' What sholde we wommen ■ worche \>ere- whiles ? '
' So/»me shal sowe ]>e sakke,' qz^od Piers • 'for shedyng of
|)e whete ;
And 3e, louely ladyes ' with joure longe fyngres, 10
pat 3e han silke and sendal ■ to sowe, whan tyme is,
Chesibles for chapelleynes ■ cherches to honoure.
Wyues and wydwes ■ wolle & flex spynneth,
Maketh cloth, I conseille 30W ■ and kenneth so 30\vre
doujtres ;
pe nedy and J>e naked * nymmeth hede how hij liggeth, 15
And casteth hem clothes ■ for so comaundeth treuthe.
For I shal lene hem lyflode " but 31F J>e londe faille,
Flesshe and bred bothe ■ to riche and to pore,
As longe as I lyue • for J>c lordes loue of heuene.
And alle manere of men • pat jjohv mete and drynke
l\bbeth, 20
F 2
(58 passus vi.
Helpith hyrri to worche wljtliche ■ ]?at wynneth jowre fode.'
' Bi crist,' quod a kny^te \o ' 'he kenneth vs ]>e best ;
Ac on \>e teme trewly • tau3te was I neuere.
Ac kenne me,' quod \>e knyjte ■ ' and, bi cryst, I wil assaye!'
'Bi seynt Poule,' quod Perkyn ' '$e profre 30W so faire, 25
pat I shal swynke and swete ■ and sowe for vs bothe,
And ojjer laboures do for ]>i loue • al my lyf-tyme,
In couenauftt )>at ]>ow kepe ■ holikirke and my-selue
Fro wastoures and fro wykked men ■ )?at J>is wo ride struyeth.
And go hunte hardiliche ■ to hares and to foxes, 30
To bores and to brockes ■ j>at breketh adown myne hegges,
And go affaite j>e faucones • wilde foules to kille ;
For suche cometh to my croft ■ and croppeth my whete.'
Curteislich \>e knyjte |>anne ' comsed })ise wordes,
' By my power, Pieres,' quod he • ' I plijte ]>e my treuthe 35
To fulfille }>is forward • \>o\\"$ I 63 te sholde ;
Als longe as I lyue ■ I shal ]>c mayntene.'
' 3e, and 3ft a poynt,' quod Pieres ■ ' I preye 30W of more ;
Loke 3e tene no tenauwt ' but treuthe wil assent.
And ]>owgh 3e mowe amercy hew • late m^rcy be taxoure, 40
And mekenesse \>i mayster ■ maugre medes chekes ;
And jiowgh pore men profre 30W • presentis and jiftis,
Nym it nau3te, an auenture ' 3e mowe it nau3te deserue ;
For ]>o\v shalt jelde it a3ein ■ at one 3eres ende,
In a ful pmllous place • purgatorie it hatte. 45
And mysbede nou3te ]>i bonde-men ' ]>e better may [)Ow
spede ;
powgh he be jjyn vnderlynge here ■ wel may happe in heuene,
pat he worth worthier sette • and with more blisse,
pan })Ow, bot ]>ou do bette ■ And lyue as J>ow shulde ;
A mice, ascende superius.
For in charnel atte chirche * cherles ben vuel to knowe, 50
Or a kni3te fram a knaue }>ere ■ knowe J>is in Jnn herte.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN. 69
And J'at J>ow be trewe of }>i tonge ■ and tales }>at J?ow hatie,
But-if }>ei ben of wisdome or of witte ■ jn werkmen to chaste.
Holde with none harlotes ■ ne here no^te her tales,
And nameliche atte mete • suche men eschue ; 55
For it ben \>e deueles disoures • I do J>e to vnderstande.'
' I assente, bi seynt lame ' ■ seyde J>e knijte Jeanne,
' Forto worche bi }>i wordes ■ }>e while my lyf durcth.'
' And I shal apparaille me,' qz^d Ptrkyn ■ ' in pilgrimes
wise,
And wende with 30W I wil " til we fynde treuthe; 60
And cast on me my clothes " yclouted and hole,
My coheres and my coffes • for colde of my nailles,
And hange myn hoper at myn hals ■ in stede of a scrippe ;
A busshel of bredcorne ■ brynge me ]>er-inne ;
For I wil sowe it my-self ■ and sitthenes wil I wende 65
To pylgrymage as palmers don ■ pardou« forto haue.
Ac who so helpeth me to erie • or sowen here ar I wende,
Shal haue leue, bi owre lorde ■ to lese here in heruest,
And make hem mery ]>ere-mydde ' maugre who-so bigrucch-
eth it.
And alkyn crafty men ■ pat konne lyuen in treuthe, 70
I shal fynden hem fode * ]>at feithfulliche libbeth.
Saue Iakke ]>e iogeloure ■ and Ionet of }>e stues,
And danyel J>e dys-playerc • and denote J>e baude,
And frere }>e faytourc ■ and folke of his ordre,
And Robyn J?e Rybaudour<? ■ for his rusty wordes.
Treuthe tolde me ones • and bad me tellen it after,
Dcleaniur de libra viuentium ' I shulde noujte dele with hem ;
For holicherche is hote of hem ■ no tythe to take,
Quia cum ius/is non scribantur ;
They ben ascaped good auent/zre ■ now god hem amende !'
Dame worche-whan-tyme-is ' Pieres wyf hijte, so
His dou3ter hijte do-ri3hte-so- ■ or-}u-dame-shal-])e-bete,
/0
70 PASSUS VI.
His sone hijte suffre-Jn-souereynes- ■ to-hauen-her-wille-
Deme-hew-noujte-for-if-^ow-doste-'Jjow-shalt-it-dere-abugge,
' Late god y worth with al ■ for so his worde techeth ;
For now I am olde and hore ■ and haue of myn owen, 85
To penaunce and to pilgrimage ■ I wil passe with J>ise other.
For-]>i I wil, or I wende • do wryte my biqueste.
In dei nomine, amen • I make it my-seluen.
He shal haue my soule " J>at best hath yserued it,
And fro ]>e fende it defende ■ for so I bileue, 90
Til I come to his acountes ' as my credo me telleth,
To haue a relees and a remissiouw • on J>at rental, I leue.
pe kirke shal haue my caroigne ■ and kepe my bones ;
For of my come and catel ■ he craued j?e tythe.
I payed it hym p/vstly ■ for p^ril of my soule, 95
For-thy is he holden, I hope • to haue me in his masse,
And mengen in his memorye • amonge alle crystene.
My wyf shal haue of J>at I wan ■ with treuthe and nomore,
And dele amonge my doujtres • and my dere children.
For ]>owgh* I deye to-daye ■ my dettes ar quitte, 100
I bare home |)at I borwed • ar I to bedde jede.
And with ]>e residue and )>e remenaunte • bi {>e Rode of
Lukes !
I wil worschip )>er-with ■ treuthe by my lyue,
And ben his pilgryme atte plow ■ for pore mennes sake.
My plow-fote shal be my pyk-staf • and picche atwo \>e
rotes, 105
And helpe my culter to kerue ' and dense ]>e forwes.'
Now is perkyn and his pilgrymes * to J>e plowe faren ;
To erie J?is halue acre ' holpyn hym manye.
Dikeres & delueres • digged vp \>e balkes ;
pere-with was perkyn apayed ■ and preysed hem faste. i ro
Other werkemen }>ere were ' }>at wroujten ful ^erne,
Eche man in his manere ■ made hym-self to done,
PIERS THE PLOWMAN. 7 1
4
And some to plese perkyn -piked vp J?e wedes.
At heighe pryme peres ■ lete ]>e plowe stonde,
To ouersen hem hym-self; ' and who-so best \vrou3te, 115
He shulde be huyred j>er-after ■ whan herucst-tyme come.
And J>anne seten so;«me ' and songen atte nale,
And hulpen erie his half acre • with 'how! trolli-lolli!'
'Now, bi ]>e peril of my soule!' quod Pieres ■ al in pure
tene,
'But je arise ]>e rather ■ and rape 30W to worche, 120
Shal no greyne }>at groweth ■ glade 30W at nede ;
And j^ough ^e deye for dole ■ ]>e deuel haue |>at reccheth!'
Tho were faitoures aferde ■ and feyned hem blynde,
So/rame leyde here legges aliri • as suche loseles conneth,
And made her mone to pieres * and preyde hym of grace: 12;
'For we haue no lymes to laboure with ■ lorde, y-graced be
5e!
Ac we preye for 30W pieres ■ and for jowre plow bothe,
pat god of his grace ■ jowre grayne multiplye,
And 3elde jow of 30wre almesse ■ j>at je 3iue vs here ;
For we may noujte swynke ne swete * suche sikenesse vs
eyleth.' 130
' If it be soth/ quod pieres, ' J»at 3e seyne ■ I shal it sone
asspye!
3e ben wastoures, I wote wel ■ and treuthe wote Jje sothe!
And I am his olde hyne ■ and hi^te hym to warne
Which Jjei were in J?is worlde ■ his werkemen appeyred.
3e wasten pat men wynnen ■ with trauaille and with
tene, 135
Ac treuthe -shal teche 30W ■ his teme to dryue,
Or 3e shal ete barly bred * and of j?e broke drynke.
But if he be blynde or broke-legged ■ or bolted with yrnes,
He shal ete whete bred * and drynke with my-selue,
Tyl god of his goodnesse ■ amendement hym sende. 140
73 PASSUS VI.
Ac 3e myjte trauaille as treuthe wolde ■ and take mete &
huyre
To kepe kyne in )>e felde ■ )>e corne fro ]>e bestes,
Diken or deluen ■ or dyngen vppon sheues,
Or helpe make morter • or bere mukke a-felde.
In lechery e and in losengerye • ^e lyuen, and in sleuthe, 145
And al is ]>orw suffrance ■ )>at veniauwce 30W ne taketh.
Ac ancres and h<?remytes ■ J>at eten no3t but at nones,
And namore er morwe • myne almesse shul \>ei haue,
And of my catel to cope hem with ■ }>at han cloistres and
cherches.
Ac robert renne-aboute • shal nowjte haue of myne, 150
Ne posteles, but }>ey preche conne ■ and haue power* of ]>e
bisschop ;
They shal haue payne and potage * and make hem-self at
ese,
For it is an vnresonable Religioun ■ }>at hath rijte noujte of
wteyne.'
And }>anne gan a wastour* to wrath hym ■ and wolde haue
yfoujte ,
And to Pieres j^e plowman ■ he profered his gloue; 155
A Brytonert', a braggen? ■ a-bosted pieres als —
• •••••*
' Wiltow or neltow ' we wil haue owre wille,
Of J)i flowre and of J>i flessche ■ fecche whan vs liketh,
And make vs myrie J>er-myde ■ maugre ]>i chekes!' 160
Thanne Pieres ]>e plowman • pleyned hym to ])e kny3te,
To kepe hym, as couenaunte was ■ fram cursed shrewes,
And fro ])is wastoures wolueskynnes ■ J?at maketh ]>e worlde
dere:
' For J)0 waste and wynnen noujte ■ and ]>at ilke while
Worth neuere plente amonge pe poeple ' }w-while my plo\v
liggeth.' 165
PIERS THE PLOWMAN. 73
Curteisly ]>e knyjte }>anne ■ as his kynde wolde,
Warned wastoure ■ and wissed hym bettere,
'Or ]>o\v shalt abugge by J>e lawe ■ by ]>c ordre }>at I bere !'
T was nou3t wont to worche,' quod wastour ■ 'and now wil
I noujt bigynne !' —
And lete lijte of )>e lawe ■ and lasse of Jje kny^te, 1 70
And sette Pieres at a pees ■ and his plow bothe,
And manaced pieres and his men ■ 31F j>ei mette eft sone.
'Now, by }>e p^ril of my soule !' quod pieres • 'I shal
apeyre jow alle!'
And houped after hunger ■ jjat herd hym atte firste:
A-wreke me of }>ise wastoures/ quod he • ' jjat Jus worlde
schendethi' 175
Hunger in haste ]>o • hent wastour bi ]>e mawe,
And wronge hym so bi }>e wombe ■ pat bothe his eyen
wattered ;
He buffeted f>e Britoner • aboute J>e chekes,
pat he loked like a lanterne ' al his lyf after.
He bette hem so bothe ' he barste nere here [ribbes;] 1 ^0
Ne hadde Pieres with a pese-lof ■ preyed hunger to cesse,
They hadde ben doluen bothe ■ ne deme J>ow non other.
' Suffre hem lyue/ he seyde ' 'and lete hem ete with hogges,
Or elles benes and bren ■ ybaken togideres,
Or elles melke and mene ale' • ]>us preyed pieres for hem. 185
Faitoures for fere her-of • flowen in-to bernes,
And flapten on with flayles ■ fram morwe tQ euen,
That hunger was nou3t so hardy ' on hem for to loke,
For a potful of peses • )>at peres hadde ymaked.
An heep of heremites ■ henten hem spades, iyo
And ketten here copes ■ and courtpies hem made,
And wenten as werkemen ■ with spades and with schoueles,
And doluen and dykeden ■ to dryue aweye hunger.
Blynde and bedreden • were botened a j^ousande,
74 PASS US VI.
pat seten to begge syluer • sone were J>ei heled. 195
For }>at was bake for bayarde ■ was bote for many hungry,
And many a beggen? for benes * buxome was to swynke,
And eche a pore man wel apayed • to haue pesen for his
huyre,
And what pieres preyed hem to do ■ as prest as a sperhauke.
And J>ere-of was peres proude • and put hem to werke, 200
And 3af hem mete as he my3te aforth • and mesurable huyre.
panne hadde peres pite ■ and preyed hunger to wende
Home in-to his owne erd^ ■ and holden hym )>ere.
' For I am wel awroke now ■ of wastoures, Jjorw }>i myjte.
Ac I preye )>e, ar Jjow passe' ■ quod Pieres to hunger, 205
'Of beggeres and of bidderes ■ what best be to done?
For I wote wel, be J>ow went ' J>ei wil worche ful ille;
For myschief it maketh ■ ]>ei beth so meke nouthe,
And for defaute of her fode * J?is folke is at my wille.
pey are my blody brethren,' quod pieres • ' for god boujte
vs alle ; 210
Treuthe taujte me ones ■ to louye hem vchone,
And to helpen hem of alle jnnge ■ ay as hem nedeth.
And now wolde I witen of ]>e • what were ]>e best,
And how I my^te amaistrien hem • and make hem to
worche.' 214
'Here now,' quod hunger ■ 'and holde it for a wisdome:
Bolde beggeres and bigge • J>at mowe her bred biswynke,
With houndes bred and hors bred ■ holde vp her hertis,
Abate hem with benes ■ for bollyng of her wombe ;
And jif )>e gomes grucche ■ bidde hem go swynke,
And he shal soupe swettere • whan he it hath deseruid. 220
And if Jjow fynde any freke ■ }>at fortune hath appeyred,
Or any maner fals men ■ fonde J)0w suche to cnowe;
Conforte hem with J?i catel ■ for crystes loue of heuene,
Loue hem and lene hem ■ so lawe of god techeth: —
PIERS THE PLOWMAN. J$
Alter allerius oner a portate.
And alle maner of men ■ pat pow myjte asspye, zae
That nedy ben, and nau^ty ■ helpe hem with pi godis,
Loue hem and lakke hem noujte * late god take pe
veniaunce ;
Theigh pei done yuel ■ late J)0\v god y-\vor}>e : —
Michi v indie ta, <$■ ego reiribuam.
And if pow wilt be graciouse to god ■ do as pe gospel techeth,
And biloue pe amonges low men • so shaltow lacche grace,
Facile vobis amicos de mamona iniquilalis.'
T wolde nou3t greue god,' quod piers ■ 'for al pe good on
grounde; .'31
Mijte I synnelees do as pow seist?' ■ seyde pieres Jeanne.
'3e, I bihote ]>e,' quod hunger ■ 'or ellis pe bible lieth;
Go to Genesis pe gyaunt ■ pe engendroure of vs alle;
"In sudor e and swynke ■ pow shalt pi mete tilye, 235
And laboure for ]>i lyflode" • and so owre lorde hyjte.
And sapience seyth pe same ■ I seigh it in J>e bible;
"Piger pro f rigor e • no felde nolde tilye,
And )>erfore he shal begge and bidde • and no man bete his
hunger."
INIathew with mannes face ' mouthed J;ise wordes, 240
pat seruus neqaam had a nam ■ and for he wolde noujte chaf-
fare,
He had maugre of his maistre • for euermore after;
And binam hym his INlnam ' for he ne wolde worche,
And jaf Jjat 3\Inam to hym ■ J>at ten Mnames hadde,
And with J>at he seyde ■ pat holicherche it herde, 245
"He pat hath shal haue ' and helpe J>ere it nedeth,
And he pat noujt hath, shal noi^t haue ■ and no man hym
helpe;
And pat he weneth wel to haue ■ I wil it hym bireue."
Kynde witt wolde ■ pat eche a wyght wroujte
J 6 PASSUS VI.
Or in dykynge or in deluynge ■ or trauaillynge in preyeres, 250
Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf * cryst wolde men \vr0u3te.
Pe sauter seyth in pe psalme ' of beati omnes,
pe freke pat fedeth hym-self ' with his feythful labours,
He is blessed by pe boke ■ in body and in soule :
Labores manuum iuarum, &c'
'3et I prey 30W,' quod pieres ■ '■par charile, and %e kunne
Eny leef of lechecraft ■ lere it me, my dere. 256
For somme of my smiauntz ■ and my-self bothe
Of al a wyke worche nou3t ■ so owre wombe aketh.'
'I wote wel/ quod hunger • 'what sykenesse 30W eyleth,
3e han maunged ouer-moche ' and pat maketh 30W grone. 260
Ac I hote ]>e,' qzwd hunger " 'as pow pyne hele wilnest,
pat ))Ow drynke no day ■ ar pow dyne somwhat.
Ete nou3te, I hote pe ■ ar hunger pe take,
And sende pe of his sauce ■ to sauoure with pi lippes;
And kepe some tyl sop^r-tyme ' and sitte nou3t to longe, 265
Arise vp ar appetit ■ haue eten his fulle.
Lat nou3t sire surfait • sitten at J>i borde;
Leue him nou3t, for he is lecherous • and likerous of tonge,
And after many manere metes • his maw is afyngred.
And 3if pow diete pe Jms • I dar legge myne eres, 270
pat phisik shal his furred hodes ■ for his fode selle,
And his cloke of calabre ■ with alle J>e knappes of golde,
And be fayne, bi my feith ■ his phisik to lete,
And lerne to laboure with londe ■ for lyflode" -is swete ;
For morthereres aren mony leches * lorde hevi amende! 275
pei do men deye J>orw hew drynkes • ar destine it wolde.'
'By seynt Poule,' q?/od pieres ' 'pise aren profitable
wordis !
Wende now, hunger, whan }>ow wolt ■ pat wel be pow euere!
For pis is a louely lessou;^ • lorde it pe for^elde!'
'By-hote god/ quod hunger ■ 'hennes ne wil I wende, 280
PIERS THE PLOWMAN. 77
Til I haue dyned bi )ns day ' and ydronke bothe.'
' I haue no peny,' quod peres ' ' poletes forto bigge,
Ne neyther gees ne grys ■ but two grenc cheses,
A fewe cruddes and creem ■ and an hauer cake,
And two loues of benes and bran ■ y-bake for my fauntis.
And jet I sey, by my soule ■ I haue no salt bacou;/,
■ Ne no kokcney, bi cryst ■ coloppcs forto maken.
, Ac I haue pcrcW and porettes ■ and many kole-plantes,
And eke a cow and a kalf ■ and a cart-mare
To drawe a-felde my donge ' ]>e while ]>e drought lasteth. 290
And bi J)is lyfiode we mot lyue ■ til lammasse tymc ;
And bi ]>at, I hope to haue ■ heruest in my croft ;
And })anne may I di^te J?i dyner ■ as me dere liketh.'
Alle j;e pore peple )>o ' pesecoddes fetten,
Benes and baken apples ■ J>ei brou3te in her lappes, 295
Chibolles and cheruelles - and ripe chiries manye,
And p/-<?fred peres J>is present • to plese with hunger.
Al hunger eet in hast ■ and axed after more,
panne pore folke for fere • fedde hunger jerne 299
With grene poret and pesen • to poysouw hunger ])ei j>ou3te.
By }>at it neighed nere heruest ■ newe corne cam to chepynge ;
panne was folke fayne ' and fedde hunger with }>e best,
With good ale, as glotou;/ taujte ■ and gerte hunger go slepe.
And po wolde wastour nou3t werche • but wandren aboute,
Ne no begger ete bred • }>at benes Inne were, 305
But of coket or clerematyn ■ or elles of clene whete ;
Ne none halpeny ale ■ in none wise drynke,
But of J>e best and of ]>c brounest ■ J?at in borglu' is to selle.
Laboreres J>at haue no lande ■ to lyue on but her handes,
Deyned nou^t to dyne a-day • nyjt-olde wortes. ,^10
May no peny ale hem paye ■ ne no pece of bakou;/,
But if it be fresch flesch other fische • fryed other bake,
And ]jat chaude or plus chaud • for chiilyng of here mawe.
78 pass us vi.
And but if he be heighlich huyred ' ellis wil he chyde,
And ]>at he was werkman wroujt ■ waille )>e tyme, 315
Ajeines catones conseille ■ comseth he to iangle : —
Pauper tatis onus pacienter ferre memento.
He greueth hym a3eines god ■ and gruccheth ajeines
resou;z,
And }>anne curseth he }>e kynge ' and al his conseille after,
Suche lawes to loke • laboreres to greue.
Ac whiles hunger was] her maister ■ J>ere wolde none of hem
chyde, 320
Ne stryue ajeines his statut ■ so sterneliche he loked.
Ac I warne 30W, werkemen ■ wynneth while $e mowe,
For hunger hiderward ■ hasteth hym faste,
He shal awake with water * wastoures to chaste.
Ar fyue jere be fulfilled ■ suche famyn shal aryse, 325
Thorwgh flodes and }>ourgh foule wederes ■ frutes shul faille,
And so sayde saturne • and sent 50W to warne :
Whan 5e se \>e sonne amys • and two monkes hedes,
And a Mayde haue jje maistrie ■ and multiplie bi eight, :
panne shal deth withdrawe ' and derthe be iustice, 330
And dawe ]>e dyker ' deye for hunger,
But if god of his goodnesse ■ graunt vs a trewe. 332
PASSUS VII.
Passus vij"s- de visione, vt supra.
TREUTHE herde telle her-of • and to peres he sent,
To taken his teme ■ and tulyen pe erthe,
And purchaced hym a pardou« ■ a pena Sf a culpa,
For hym, and for his heires ■ for euermore after.
And bad hym holde hym at home ' and eryen his leyes, 5
And alle pat halpe hym to erie • to sette or to sowe,
Or any other myster • pat myjte pieres auaille,
Pardoun with pieres plowman ■ treuthe hath ygraunted.
Kynges and knyjtes " pat kepen holycherche,
And ryjtfullych in reumes • reulen pe peple, 10
Han pardou;; thourgh p?^rgatorie ■ to passe ful Iyjtly,
With patriarkes and prophetes • in paradise to be felawes.
Bisshopes yblessed ■ jif pei ben as pei shulden,
Legistres of bothe pe lawes ■ pe lewed p^re-with to pr<?che,
And in as moche as pei mowe ■ amende alle synful, 15
Aren peres with pe apostles ■ (pis pardou« Piers sheweth),
And at pe day of dome ■ atte heigh deyse to sytte.
Marchauntz in pe margyne ' hadden many jeres,
Ac none a pena $ a culpa ' pe Pope nolde hem gr^unte,
For pei holde nou3t her halidayes ■ as holicherche techeth, zo
And for pei swere by her soule ■ and 'so god moste hem
helpe/
Ajein clene conscience ■ her catel to selle.
Ac vnder his secret seel ■ treuthe sent hem a l«7/re,
8o PASS US VII.
That |>ey shulde bugge boldely ■ }>at hem best liked,
And sithenes selle it ajein • and saue }>e wynnynge, 25
And amende mesondieux ^re-myde • and myseyse folke
helpe,
And wikked wayes ■ wi3tlich hem amende ;
And do bote to brugges ■ }>at to-broke were,
Marien maydenes ' or maken hem nonnes ;
Pore peple and prisounes ■ fynden hem here fode, 30
And sette scoleres to scole ' or to sozwme other craftes ;
Releue Religious • and renten hem bettere ; —
' And I shal sende 30W my-selue ■ seynt Michel myn arch-
angel,
pat no deuel shal 30W dere ■ ne fere 30W in 30wre deying*,
And witen 30W fro wanhope ■ if 3e wil ]ms worche, 35
And send 30wre sowles in safte • to my seyntes in ioye.'
panne were Marchau»tz mery ' many wepten for ioye,
And preyseden pieres |ie plowman • ]?at parchaced |>is bulle.
Men of lawe lest pardou/2 hadde ■ }>at pleteden for Mede,
For \>e sauter saueth hem nou3te ■ such as taketh 3iftes, 40
And namelich of innocentz • }>at none yuel ne kunneth ;
Super innocentem munera non accipies.
Pledoures shulde peynen hem ■ to plede for such, an helpe,
Prynces and prelates ■ shulde paye for her t/Tzuaille ;
A r eg i bus 6f pryncipibus erit merces eorum.
Ac many a iustice an iuroure ■ wolde for Iohan do more,
pan pro dei pictate • leue ]jow none other ! 45
Ac he }>at spendeth his speche ' and speke|? for ]>e pore
pat is Innocent and nedy ' and no man appeireth,
Conforteth hym in }?at cas ■ with-oute coueytise of 3iftes,
And scheweth lawe for owre lordes loue ■ as he it hath
lerned,
Shal no deuel at his ded-day ■ deren hym a myjte, 50
pat he ne worth sauf and his sowle * J>e sauter bereth witnesse ;
THE PLOWMAN'S PARDON. <S I
Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tun, $r.
Ac to bugge water, ne wynde ' ne witte, ne fyre \>q fierthe,
pise foure \>e fader of heuene ■ made to J?is folde in comune ;
pise ben treuthes tresores ■ trewe folke to helpe,
pat neuere shal wax ne wanye ■ with-oute .god hymselue. 55
Whan J>ei drawen on to deye ■ and Indulgences wolde haue,
Her pardou;/ is ful petit " at her partyng hennes,
, pat any Mede of mene men • for her motvng taketh.
3e legistres and lawyeres • holdeth Jjis for treuthe,
pat, jif J>at I lye ■ Mathew is to blame, 60
For he bad me make 30W J)is ■ and Jris prouerbe me tolde,
Quodcumque vultis vtfaciant vobis homines, facile eis.
Alle lybbyng laboreres ■ }>at lyuen with her hondes,
pat trewlich taken * and trewlich wynnen,
And lyuen in loue and in lawe ■ for her lowe herds,
Haueth Jje same absolucioun * j>at sent was to peres. 65
Beggeres ne bidderes ■ ne beth noujte in J>e bulle,
But if }>e suggestion* be soth ■ pat shapeth hem to begge.
For he J>at beggeth or bit ' but if he haue nede,
He is fals with \>e fende ■ and defraudeth the nedy,
And also he bigileth ]>e gyuere ' ageines his wil. 70
For if he wist he were noujte nedy * he wolde jiue Jiat an
other,
pat were more nedy j?an he ■ so \>e nediest shuld be hulpe.
Catouw kenneth men }>us ■ and be clerke of \>c stories,
Cui des, videto ' is catouwes teclr\ng(-,
And in the stories he techeth ■ to bistowe |>yn almes; 75
Sit elemosina iua in manu tua, donee studes cui des.
Ac Gregori was a gode man ■ and bad vs gyuen alle
pat asketh, for his loue ■ j>at vs alle leneth : —
Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte pretereas ilium qui
nu retur accipere. Quia incertum est pro quo Do
magis placeas.
G
82 PASS US VII.
For wite je neu<?re who is worthi ■ ac god wote who hath
nede,
In hym J>at taketh is J>e treccherye ■ if any tresou/z wawe ;
For he ]>at jiueth, 3eldeth • and 3arketh hym to reste, So
And he )>at biddeth, borweth ■ and bryngeth hym-self in dette.
For beggeres borwen euermo ■ and her borgh* is god almy^ti,
To jelden hem ]>at 3iueth hem * and jet vsure more :
Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam, vt ego
veniens cum vsuris exegissem Mam?
For-Jn biddeth noujt, 3c beggeres • but if 3e haue gret nede;
For who-so hath to buggen hym bred • }>e boke bereth
witnesse, S5
He hath ynough )>at hath bred ynough ■ )>ough he haue nou3t
- elles :
Satis diues est, qui non indi get pane.
Late vsage be 30wre solace • of seyntes lyues redyng^,
pe boke banneth beggarie ■ and blameth hem in }>is manere :
Junior fui, etenim senui; et non vidi iustum dereliction,
nee semen eius que r ens panem.
For 3e lyue in no loue ■ ne no la we holde ; S9
Many of 30W ne wedde nou3t . \>e wowraen )>at 3c with delen,
And bryngeth forth barnes * J>at bastardes men calleth. 92
Or j>e bakke or some bone • he breketh in his jouthe,
And sitthe gon faiten with 30ure fauntes • for euermore after.
pere is moo mysshape peple ' amonge j^ise beggeres, 95
pan of alle maner men ■ J>at on J>is molde walketh ;
And ]?ei J>at lyue }>us her^ lyf ■ mowe lothe }>e tyme,
pat euere he was man \vr0u3t • whan he shal hennes fare.
Ac olde men & hore ■ )>at helplees ben of strengthe,
And women with childe ■ }>at worche ne mowe, joo
Blynde and bedered " and broken her^ membres,
pat taketh ])is myschief mekelych ■ as meseles and othere,
THE PLOWMAN'S PARDON. 83
Han as pleyne pardou// ■ as }>e plowman hym-self;
For loue of her lowe hertis * owre lorde hath hem graunted
Here penaunce and her p//rgatorie ■ here on )>is erthe. ros
1 Picres,' quod a prest J>o * ' J>i pardouw most I rede,
For Iwil construe eche clause ■ and kenne it |>e on englichi.'
And pieres at his preyere ■ jje pardoun vnfoldeth,
And I bihynde hem bothe ' bihelde al }>e bulle.
Al in two lynes it lay ■ and nou^t a leef more, 1 ro
And was writen rijt jms ■ in witnesse of treuthe :
/■'/ qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vilam eternam ;
Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.
■ Peter ! ' quod ]>e prest \o ■ ' I can no pardou;; fynde,
But " dowel, and haue wel ■ and god shal haue ]>i sowle,
And do yuel, and haue yuel ■ hope }>ow non other
But after }u ded-day ■ }>e deuel shal haue Jn sowle ! "' 115
And pieres for pure tene ■ pulled it atweyne,
And seyde, ' si ambulauero, in medio vmbre mostis, non
timcbo mala ; quoniam tu mecum es.
I shal cessen of my sowyng,' quod pieres ' 'and swynk
noi^t so harde,
Ne about my bely-ioye ■ so bisi be namore !
Of preyers and of penaunce ■ my plow shal ben her-after.
And wepen whan I shulde slope ' J'ough whete-bred me
faille. 1 20
pe prophete his payn ete " in penaunce and in sorwe.
By pat jie sauter seith ■ so dede other manye;
pat loueth god lelly ■ his lyflode is ful esy :
Fuerunt micki lacrime mee panes die ac node.
And, but if Luke lye ■ he lereth vs bi foules,
We shulde noujt be to bisy ■ aboute j>e worldes blisse;
Ne soil ic Hi si/is ' he seyth in }>e gos]
And sheweth vs bi ensamples ■ vs selue to wisse.
pe foules on J>e felde ' who fynt hem mete at wynter?
G 2
84 PASS US VII.
Haue Ipei no gernen? to go to ■ but god fynt hem alle/
' What ! ' quod }>e prest to perkyn • ' peter ! as me }>inketh,
pow art lettred a litel ■ who lerned \>e on boke ?' 131
' Abstinence Jje abbesse,' quod pieres • ' myne a. b. c. me
taujte,
And conscience come afterward ' and kenned me moche
more.'
' Were )jow a prest, pieres,' quod he • ' )»ow mijte p/vche
where ]jow sholdest,
As deuynour in deuynyte " with dixit insipiens to \>\ teme.' 135
' Lewed lorel ! ' quod Pieres ■ ' litel lokestow on \>e bible,
On salomones sawes • selden ]>o\v biholdest,
Eice derisores et iurgia cum eis, ne crescant, £fc.'
pe prest and perkyn ■ apposeden eyther other,
And I }>orw here wordes a-woke ■ and waited aboute,
And seighe \>e sonne in j>e south • sitte )>at tyme, 140
Metelees and monelees ■ on Maluerne hulles,
Musyng on jns meteles ; * and my waye ich 5ede.
Many tyme )>is meteles ■ hath maked me to studye
Of )>at I seigh slepyng ■ if it so be myjte,
And also for peres \>e plowman ■ ful pensyf in herte, 145
And which a pardou/z peres hadde • alle J>e peple to conforte,
And how \>e prest impugned it ■ with two propre wordes.
Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie ■ for I se it ofte faille ;
Catouw and canonistres " conseilleth vs to leue
To sette sadnesse in songewarie • for, sompnia ne cures. 150
Ac for pe boke bible ■ bereth witnesse,
How danyel deuyned • \>e dremes of a kynge,
pat was nabugodonosor ■ nempned of clerkis.
Daniel seyde, ' sire Kynge " \>i dremeles bitokneth,
pat vnkouth knyjtes shul come ■ ]>i kyngdom to cleue; 155
Amonges lowere lordes ■ J>i londe shal be departed.'
And as danyel deuyned ■ in dede it felle after,
THE PLOWMAN'S PARDON. N"
pe kynge lese his lordship ■ and lower men it hadde.
And ioseph mette merueillously * how J>e mone and )>e
sonne,
And ]>e elleuene sterres ■ hailsed hym alle. 160
panne Iacob iugged ■ iosephes sweuene :
' Beau filtz', qwod his fader ■ ' for dcfaute we shullen,
I my-self and my sones * seche ]?e for nede.'
It bifel as his fader seyde ■ in pharaoes tyme,
pat ioseph was iustice • egipte to loken, 165
It bifel as his fader tolde • his frendes }>ere hym sou3te.
And al jris maketh me ■ on }>is meteles to Jwnke ;
And how j>e prest preued • no pardou;* to dowel,
And demed J>at dowel ■ indulgences passed,
Biennales and triennales ■ and bisschopes L?//res, 1 70
And how dowel at J>e day of dome ■ is dignelich vnderfongen,
And passeth al \>e pardouw ' of seynt petres cherche.
Now hath \>e pope powers ' pardou// to graunte ]>e peple
With-outen eny penaunce ■ to passen in-to heuene ;
pis is owre bileue ■ as lettered men vs techeth, 175
Quodc unique ligaueris super /err am, erit ligaium el in
celis, $r.
And so I leue lelly * (lordes forbode ellis !)
pat pardouw and penaunce • and preyeres don saue
Soules f>at haue synned ' seuene sithes dedly.
Ac to trust to }>ise triennales ■ trewly me {)inketh,
Is noujt so syker for }>e soule ■ certis, as is dowel. 180
For-J)i I rede 30W, renkes ■ }>at riche ben on J>is erthe,
Vppon trust of 30wre tresoure • triennales to haue,
Be je neuere jje balder ' to breke j>e ten hestes ;
And namelich, 3c maistres ■ mayres and iugges,
pat han \>e welthe of |-is v.-orlde ■ and for wyse men ben
holden, 185
To purchace 30W pardou^ ■ and \>e popis bulles.
86 pass us vu.
At ]>e dredeful dome * whan dede shullen rise,
And comen alle bifor cryst ■ acountis to 5elde,
How Jjow laddest jn lyf here . and his lawes keptest,
And how }>ow dedest day bi day ■ ]>e dome wil reherce ; 19c
A poke ful of pardon J>ere ■ ne prouinciales k//res,
Theigh 3e be founde in j>e fraternete • of alle ]>e foure ordres,
And haue indulgences double-folde ■ but if dowel jow help,
I sette jowre patentes and 30\vre pardouwz ■ at one pies he!e !
For-)>i I conseille alle cristene • to crye god mercy, 195
And Marie his moder ■ be owre mene bitwene,
pat god gyue vs grace here ■ ar we gone hennes,
Suche werkes to werche ■ while we ben here,
pat after owre deth-day • dowel reherce,
At J>e day of dome ■ we dede as he hijte. 230
Explicit visio ivillelmi de petro plowman.
CRITICAL NOTES.
The text is printed exactly as it stands in MS. Laud 5S1, excepting in the
following instances, where improvements have been suggested by a collation
of the text with several other MSS. See note to prol. 39 just below.
Prologue, 1. 20. Here we must read putten, as in I. 23 ; but the Laud
MS. has put in this line.
34. giltles is taken from the text printed by Crowley. The MSS. have
synneles.
39. The words is luciferes hyne are omitted in MS. Laud, but are found
in the MS. in Trinity College, Cambridge, and in many others. I shall in
future denote the Laud MS. by the letter L ; the Trinity College MS. by
T ; MS. Rawlinson Poet. 38, by R ; the Oriel MS. by 6 ; and the Cam-
bridge folio MS. (Dd. I. 17) by C.
41. belies; so in T ; but most MSS., including LCO, read bely. bagges;
L has bagge, but TCO have the plural form.
67. myschief; misspelt mychief in L.
99. consistorie ; so in TCO ; spelt constorie in L.
140. answered; so in CTO ; but LR have the present tense, answeres.
1 may here note that when two or three MSS., as CTO, are mentioned
together, I give the 'spelling of the one which stands^rsr.
147. The form myd (found in MS. T) suits the alliteration ; but L and
others read with.
[51. MSS. LT omit the second hem ; but it occurs in RCO, and should
be retained.
179. L omits it, which is retained in all the other MSS.
186. L has croupe instead of crope, which is the reading in R ; C has
crepe ; T. has cropen.
197. The curious (West-Midland) spelling mannus is found both in L and
R ; other MSS. read marines.
215. money is misspelt monoy in L in this place, but is rightly spelt else-
where in our MS.
224. longe; so in TCO; but L has dere. MSS. of the A-class read
longe.
226. and is miswritten a in L; MS. C has an, which is very com-
88 CRITICAL NOTES.
monly used instead of and, and shews that the final d was frequently not
sounded.
Passus I, 1. 37- The words pat lee/ is to pi soule Leue not pi likatn are
wrongly omitted in LTC ; but they are found in RO, and in MSS. of the
A-class. The omission was clearly due to the repetition of the word likam.
41. sueth ; so in R. The other readings hardly make sense; they are —
seest, L ; seep, TO ; seip in MS. L. 4. 14 in the Cambridge University Library.
Many MSS. of the A-class read schendeth, which means harm. Sueth means
pursue.
81. kenne ; so in TCRO ; L corruptly has kende.
107. muryer ; so in CT. In L it is curiously spelt murger, and in R
murgur.
139. The Latin quotation is evidently a hexameter, and hence quod is
the right reading ; but nearly all the MSS. (including L) have quia. The
reading quod is adopted from a MS. in the Cambridge University Library,
of which the class-mark is Ff. 5. 35.
145. For worche (which occurs in C and O) MS. L rtzdsiuorchelh, which
produces a false concord ; worcheth is plural, but pow is singular.
150. plante. MSS. of the A-class shew this to be the right reading. MS.
L and most others of the B-class have plente.
Passus II, 1. 27. In the Latin quotation, LTO have bonus instead of
bona. The latter occurs in C.
59. Our MS. has chaffre here ; but see Prol. 1. 31.
87. For borghe, the reading in C and R, L has the false spelling borgthe.
Two MSS., T and O, have burghe. Borghe, burgke are various spellings of
the word now spelt borough or burgh.
1 1 6. ueddy/iges ; so in TRO ; L has wetidynges.
118. engendred ; so in TO; LCR read engendretk.
165. fiaterere ; so in TCRO; but L has flatere.
175. deuorses. In both LR we find deuoses, by a curious omission of
the r. C has deuorses, T diuorces, and O deuorces.
227. mynstralles. This is of course right, but MS. L has mynstalles
(omitting r) both here and in a later passage.
Passus III, 1. 17. L omits wil, retained in RT.
48. Instead oifid, as in other MSS., L has wel.
61. whiten; so in C ; spelt whitten in L.
73. ne ; so in TCR ; L has no.
95. thynhe; miswritten thynho in L.
97. brenne ; so in TCO ; preferable to berne in L.
98. L omits pat, retained in other MSS.
107. L. omits pe, found in RTO, in the last two of which it is spelt pee.
127. L omits the second and, found in TRO.
187. L omits it, found in TRO.
227. Quod; so in TCRO; L has Quat}.
CRITICAL NOTES. 89
251. 269. motieie ; so in C ; L has mone.
252. receperunt ; so in O; most MSS. (L included) have recipiebant.
304. other, R ; corruptly spelt or/her in L.
322. smytheth, TO; smyteth in L; *mitkie, R.
337. 338. sAe ; so in TC ; L corruptly has 3«.
Passus IV. After 1. 9 the MSS. of the B-class have lost a line, retained
in the MSS. of the A-class, and in Crowley's printed text. It is —
Of Mede and of other mo • and icliat man thai her xued.
24. rit O ; ryt T ; rydes C ; badly spelt ritte in L.
27. for ]wi ; retained in TO ; L omits.
128. by^onde ; spelt byiende in L.
1 86. ribbes ; so in the Vernon MS. (A-text) ; guttes, L and MSS. of B-class.
Passus V, 1. 13. were ; so in T ; but most MSS. have was.
29. felice ; so in TRCO ; spelt_/z//« in L.
76. schrifte ; L has serif te ; but see 1. 124.
105. poeple ; L has pople here, but poeple in the next line.
10S. baren ; so in O; T has beren ; L has bar.
143. han ; so in T; L omits han, and some MSS. insert it before the
word persones, to the detriment of the sense.
154. suffre ; so in most MSS., but spelt soeffrem L.
1S9. Ileri/y ; so in most MSS., but LCR have Henri or henry.
212. paknedle; so in most MSS., but L has batnedle.
213. pynned. Badly spelt pyned in L.
214. hadde ; omitted in LR, but supplied in other MSS.
224. no; so in other MSS., L has na.
232. Repentedestow ; so in T ; L has Repentestoiu.
236. The first be is omitted in L, by mistake.
253. L has Lenestow, but T has Lentestow.
272. L has tdleth, by mistake; tellest is in TCR.
273. This line is from the Cambridge MS. ; L omits it.
280, 28 1. For the first haue LR have hath, and for Ben they have 7s.
1 follow CTO.
291. L omits quasi, but it is in TCOR.
312. For she, L has he, by a slip. Cf. 1. 3ro.
338. From the Oriel MS. and C ; LTR omit this line.
357. stumbled; so in TCO ; trembled, L ; trended, R.
370. wif; so in TO ; witte, L ; wit, C.
38S. L omits to, which occurs in TCO.
434. L omits ]>e, which occurs in TCO.
440. fernyere ; so in TC ; L has far tier e.
44 1. for$ele ; miswritten/oje/e in L.
447. haue is supplied from C; in TO we find haue I; L omits it.
448. quod ; so in R ; niiswritten quia in L, which spoils the scansion.
514. nos ; not in L ; supplied from R.
yu CRITICAL NOTES.
549. fifty ; so in TCO ; fourty in LR. Cf. Pass. vi. 85.
557- ofhym; supplied from R; LTCO omit.
569. Supplied from C and O ; omitted by LTR.
586. hatte; so in CR ; hi^te, W. L has hat, which is the sing. form.
590. fees; so in TCR ; foes, L ; foos, O.
600. With ; so in TRO ; L. has Wit.
611. wayne. The word may also be read wayue in the MSS.
612. cunctis, C; cuntis, L; only R retains iternm.
613. cliket ; soinTC; LR have clikat.
623. cWteted ; so in C ; spelt clikated in L.
627. arm; so in R ; L has ar.
Passus VI, 1. 6. wolde ; so in TO ; LR have wil.
9. L omits be before sakke ; the other MSS. retain it.
49. This line is from C ; LTRO omit it.
138. or, TCRO ; and, L ; in the first instance.
147. no$t, TCO ; LR omit it.
180. ribbes ; so in the Vernon MS., others have guttes.
206. L omits to; which other MSS. retain.
223. hem; so in RO ; LT have hym.
228. y-zvorthe ; so in T ; LR have the inferior spelling aworthe ; CO have
worthe. For vindicta, all the MSS. have vindictam.
229. will; so in TCO ; L has wil.
230. bilotte; so in TCO ; bilow in L ; byloue in R.
243. L omits hym by mistake.
323. L omits the r in hiderward, by mistake.
325. %ere ; so in E ; \eer in O ; LTC omit it.
Passus VII, 1. 16. \is; so in TCO; LR have \>us.
25. wynnynge ; miswritten wynnyge in L.
76. LR omit the first tua, which TCO retain.
77. In the Latin quotation, for Deo (as in T), LCRO have Deum.
■ 83. In the quotation, exegissem is from CR ; L has exigerem ; TO have
exigere. The last word, illam, is not in the MSS. I have supplied it from
the Vulgate.
88. LTR omit querens panem ; OC retain it.
94. And; miswritten A in L.
115. But; so in TCO ; L and R have ]>at.
137. In the quotation, Eice (the old spelling of Ejice) is from O ; LTRC
wrongly have Ecce.
183. ten ; so in CRO ; LT have x.
1S7. dede ; so in TCR; L has ded.
NOTES.
[The text generally follows MS. Laud Misc. 5Sr, as explained in the
Critical Notes. 1
Title. The English title is a translation of the title found in numerous
MSS., viz. ' Visio Willelmi de Petro Plowman.' The first division of the
poem, or Prologue, is marked by the Latin word Prologi/s in one MS. only :
in most others, it has no heading. In our Laud MS., however, wc find here
' Incipit liber de petro plowman,' nearly obliterated.
1. soft, mild, warm.
2. I shope me, Sec. ; I put myself into clothes, as if I were a shepherd, i.e.
I put on (rough) clothes, so that I looked like a shepherd. Shope, lit. shaped ;
the phrase I shope me generally means I got myself ready, as in he shope hym
for to walken, he got ready to set off walking ; Pass. xi. 1. 404. We know
that shepe here means shepherd, because shepher d is the reading of many MSS.
It more often means sheep, but a few instances of the signification shepherd
occur. Thus, in an old and very rude hexameter which gives the names of
the leaders in Wat Tyler's rebellion, we have
'Jak Chep, Tronche, Jon Wrau, Thorn Myllere, Tyler, Jak Strawe;'
where another reading for Chep is Schep. See Political Poems, ed. Wright,
vol. i. p. 230. This statement has been questioned, but Dr. Morris assures
me he has seen schepe used for shepherd more than once, and so have I ; but
we have both lost the references. Still there need be no doubt about it :
compare the Chaucerian word hvnte in the sense of hunter. So too we find
■pristine used to mean, not a gaol, but a prisoner ; Genesis and Exodus, ed.
Morris, 1. 2044. In the same poem prisuner also occurs, but it means the
gaoler ; 1. 2042. So again message means messenger, in the MSS. of Chaucer's
Man of Lawes Tale, 1. 333. And again, in the Am i< n Riwle, p. 2 1 2. last
line, occurs the remarkable form step, meaning 'a sleeper.' But the most
sure confirmation of the above interpretation is in the fact that, since the first
edition of this work was published, the word has been discovered still exist-
ing in Lincolnshire. Shep for 'shepherd* is given in Mr. Peacock's Glossary
of Words used in Mauley and Corringham. More than this, I have re-
covered one of my lost references. The expression ' A chefy . e.
a shepherd's crook, occurs in Lydgate's ' Chorl and Bird,' as printed in
Ashmole's Theatrum Chemicum, p. 223.
It will be observed, that I have, in relation to the word shope, quoted from
92 NOTES
Passus eleven. Properly speaking, the poem has but seven Passus ; but in all
MSS. of the B-class, it is followed by another poem, entitled Vita Be Dowel,
Do-bet, et Do-best, and the two are taken together so as to form one long
poem, comprising a Prologue and twenty Passus. The name of the whole
work, both parts together, is Liber de petro plowman, as distinct from the
Visio, yet inclusive of it. For the meaning of A-class, B-class, C-class, see
the Preface.
3. In habile as an heremite. The simple shepherd's dress resembled that of
a hermit. Vnkoly ofivorkes. This Dr. Whitaker paraphrases by — ' not like
an anchorite who keeps his cell, but like one of those unholy hermits who
wander about the world to hear and see wonders.' Or it may simply be
supposed to be inserted parenthetically, and to express the author's opinion
of hermits in general ; an opinion which he elsewhere repeats more than
once.
5. May mornynge; readers of Chaucer will remember how fond he is
(like other Early English poets) of the month of May. On a May morning
is nearly equivalent to once upon a time. Malverne hulles ; the poet men-
tions Malvern hills three times, here, at the end of this Prologue, and in
Pass. vii. It may be that the first sketch of the poem was composed in that
locality ; but, at the time when it was re-cast into the shape here printed,
he may have been living in London. At any rate, it is certain that he was
at that time very familiar with London, and we may consider London as
being the real scene of the greater part of the poem. The importance of
this remark will be seen as we advance.
6. A ferly, a wonder. Cf. 'And I will show you ferlies three; ' Sir W.
Scott : Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer. Of fairy, due to fairy contrivance.
See Tyrwhitt's note to 1. 6441 of the Cant. Tales. Me thoughte, it
seemed to me. There is a difference in form between A.S. hit pincft, it
seems (G. es dankt) and A.S. ]>encan, to think (G. denken). Several other
verbs bear a similar construction ; thus, another reading for \ow dryest (Pass.
i. 25) is be drieth, i. e. it drieth thee, thou art dry.
7. Forwandred, tired out by wandering. See Glossary. Went me, turned
me, went ; to wend originally meant to turn. Mr. Hales suggests that me
is here an ethic dative, as it so commonly is in our old dramatists. I do not
think that it is so in this particular passage, but remain of the opinion
that went me is for turned myself. So in Caedmon, ed Thorpe, p. 56, 1. 2S ;
Ancren Riwle, p. 52 ; and the phrase wend thee in a quotation in Halliwell's
Diet. s. v. Diipned. And again, himzelue wende in Spec, of Eng. ed.
Morris and Skeat, Pt. II. p. 105, 1. 226. But the clearest example is in the
Ayenbite of Inwyt, ed. Morris, p. 180 — ' ase J)e wedercoc bet is ope [_upon\
J>e steple, bet him went mid eche winde.' Cf. shope mem 1. 2 ; and see 1. 57.
10. Sweyued so merye, sounded so pleasantly.
11. Meten, to dream ; sweuene, a dream. Another word for a dream is
metels, or meteles. See the Glossary.
TO THE PROLOGUE. 93
13. Bihelde into the est, looked towards the east, on high, towards the sun.
14. Seigh, saw. The tower on the toft is explained (Pass. i. 12) as being
the abode of Truth, i.e. of God the Father; and it may remind us of
Bunyan's Celestial City. Truth's abode is afterwards minutely described
(Pass. v. 594).
15. The dungeon in the deep dale is explained (Pass. i. 61) as being the
castle of Care, or the abode of Falsehood or Lucifer. In the Chester Plays,
ed. Wright, p. 10, the Creator is made to say —
' The worlde, that is bouth voyde and vayne
I forme in the formacion,
With a dongion of darcltenes,
Which never shall have endinge.'
17. Afaire felde. The fair field is the world (Matt. xiii. 38). The
poet's vision survevs heaven, hel!, and the world. Fonde, found.
19. As the worlde aske/h, as the way of the world requires. In many
other places, aske answers to our modern require.
20. Pleyed. It should rather be pleyeden, or at least pleyede, but I have
observed that -ed is constantly used as a plural ending, not only in the Laud
MS., but in many others. In the Oriel MS., the ending -eden is found almost
invariably. Cf. lyueden in 1. 26.
21. Settyng, planting. Stuotden, laboured. Fid, very; used like the
German viel, though etvmologically related to voll.
22. That, that which ; and won that which wasteful men expend in
gluttony.
24. Contenaunce, outward appearance. Disgised, decked out in strange
guise. See a curious passage in Chaucer's Persone's Tale (de superbia) about
the ' strangeness and disgisines ' of precious clothing.
^5. A few MSS. have To instead of In; the sense is the same.
26. Ful streyle, very strictly. Observe that -e is a common adverbial
ending.
27. Heueneriche, of the kingdom of heaven. This is an instance of a
neuter noun forming the genitive case in -e. This genitive in -e is not com-
mon, except in the case of feminine nouns.
28. Ancres, anchorites. The Ancren Riwle, i.e. the Rule of Anchoresses,
is the name of a prose work written in the early part of the thirteenth cen-
tury. The word ancre is both masculine and feminine.
29. Kairen, wander, go up and down. Frequently confused with carien
in the MSS., both here and in other passages.
30. For no, &c, for (the sake of) any luxurious living, to please their
body. Double negatives, like the no here following nought, are vcrv
common.
31. Cheuen, succeed.
34. Giltles. Most MSS. read synneles ; but this is not so suitable for the
alliteration. Langlaiid here speaks of the guiltless or honest minstrels, who
94 NOTES
played instruments merely to gain a livelihood ; but this class of men had a
bad name, and he proceeds to satirize the unscrupulous jesters and slanderers.
The subject of minstrels is very fully treated of in Ritson's Ancient Ro-
mances, vol. i, in Warton's History of English Poetry, Percy's Reliques, &c.
See also Chambers' Book of Days, i. 430. Ritson tells us that the instru-
ments they used were the harp, fiddle, bagpipe, pipe, tabour, cittern, hurdy-
gurdy, bladder (or canister) and string, and, possibly, the Jew's-harp. The
minstrels of King Edward III.'s household played the trumpet, cytole, pipe,
tabret, clarion, and fiddle. When men or women were conveyed to the
pillory, it was common to hire minstrels to Accompany them, no doubt to
call people's attention to them, and to heighten their disgrace. Much is to
be learnt about them from Langland's poem, as he mentions them frequently,
and in Pass. xiii. there is a long description of a minstrel who also gained a
livelihood by selling cakes. Another name for them is gleemen. Jangelers
(chatterers), Jesters (tale-tellers), Japers (jesters), Disours (story-tellers),
Jougleors or Jugglers (joculato?-es), all belong to the same fraternity. Cf.
Pass. ii. 93, 94. See also Tyrwhitt's note on Chaucer, Cant. Tales, II453.
36. Feign fancies for themselves, and make fools of themselves, and (yet)
have their wit at their will, (able) to work if they were obliged. The
sentence is elliptical, and incomplete : we must mentally connect with the
next line by saying — ' as for such fellows, that which Paul preaches about
them, I will not prove it (or adduce it) here ; (else might I be blameworthy
myself, since) he who speaks slander is Lucifer's servant.' The text of
S. Paul which Langland does noi quote is Qui non laborat, Hon manducet
(2 Thess. iii. 10), which is written in the margin of the Oriel MS. The
quotation Qui, &c., is not from S. Paul, nor does Langland say that it is ;
yet it has some resemblance to Eph. v. 4, Col. iii. 8.
40. Yede, went. In a long note in Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, vol. ii.
p. 73 (ed. 1S40), it is argued that yede corresponds to the A.S. eode, went,
and not to ge-eode, which is transitive, and signifies entered. That is, the y
does not here answer to the A.S. prefix ge-, but is the effect of a phonetic
spelling, in the same way as we so often find yale, yerthe, for ale, earth. A
very familiar instance is the A.S. pronoun euw, with its possessive edwer, now
spelt you, your.
41. Her, their. The bag or wallet was the beggar's inseparable com-
panion, and was used for receiving the broken pieces of meat and bread
bestowed upon him as alms. They also always carried a bourdon, or staff.
' That maketh beggares go with bordon and bagges.'
Song of the Husbandman; see Polit. Songs (Camd. Soc. 1839), p. 150.
V crammed, crammed, the y- being the A.S. prefix ge-.
42. Atte, at the. It is also written at the, at then, or atten ; and very fre-
quently atten ale is written atte nale. So also at the nende for at then ende.
Then or ten is the dative of the article ; hence this corruption is generally
found after a preposition. Another similar corruption is the tone, the tother.
TO THE PROLOGUE. 95
from that one, that other ; where the / is the sign of the neuter gender, as in
tha-t, i-t ; compare the Latin d in i-d, quo-d, illu-d. Ale here means an ale-
house, and such is the best interpretation of it in Launce's speech in Two
Gent, of Verona, ii. 5. — ' Thou hast not so much charity in thee as to go to
the ale with a Christian ; ' for only just above Launce says again — ' If thou
wilt, go with me to the ale-house? See Staunton's Shakesp. vol. i. p. .) 1,
43. Hi), they. Written for hy, a variation of hi, just as ij is written for
ii or y in Dutch.
44. Compare
' And ryght as Robertes men • raken [wander'] aboute,
At feires & at ful ales * & fyllen the cuppe.'
Pierce the Plowmans Crede, I. ~i.
' Robartes men, or Robertsmen, were a set of lawless vagabonds, notorious for
their outrages when Piers Plowman was written. The statute of Edw. III.
(an. reg. 5, c. xiv.) specifies " divers manslaughters, felonies, and robberies,
done by people that be called Roberdesmen, Wastours, and drawlacches."
And the statute of Richard II. (an. reg. 7, c. v.) ordains, that the statute of
King Edward concerning Roberdesmen and drawlacches should be rigoroi
observed. Sir Edward Coke (Instit. iii. 197) supposes them to have been
originally the followers of Robin Hood in the reign of Richard I. See
Blackstone's Comm. bk. iv. ch. 17.' — Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, vol. ii.
p. 95, ed. 1840. William of Nassyngton says that they tried the latches
of people's doors, contrived to get into houses, and then extorted money
either by telling some lying tale or playing the bully. See Pass. v. 402. and
the confession of Robert the robber in the same Passus. See also Pass. vi. 1 54.
45. Eure = evre, ever. In early MSS., 11 is frequently written to denote
the v-sound, and conversely words commencing with 11 are frequently written
with v, as vp, vnto. These slight difficulties are easily mastered, and there is
no reason for suppressing them, as is commonly done by editors.
46. Palmers. See note to Pass. v. 1. 523.
47. Seynt James, or Santiago. His shrine at Compostella, in Galicia,
was a famous place of pilgrimage ; see Southey's poem of The Pilgrim to
Compostella. Cf. Pass. iv. 126 ; and Chaucer's Prologue, ed. Morris, 1. 466.
See a good popular account of him in Chambers' Book of Days, ii. I 20
(July 25). A book called The Stacyons of Rome and The Pilgrim's Sea-
voyage (ed. Furnivall, 1867, for the Early English Text Society"), well
illustrates this passage. Rome abounded with shrines at which several
thousands of years of remission from purgatory could be obtained. The
Sea-voyage is a satire upon the inconveniences of the pilgrimage to Com-
postella. One of the questions put to Lord Cobham at his trial was this —
' Holy chirche hath determyned that it is needeful to a crystyn man to go a
pylgrimage to holy placeys, and there specyally to worschype holy relyques
of seyntes, apostlys, martires, confessourys, and alle seyntes approved be the
chirche of Rome. How fele 3e tliys artycle ?' — Fasciculus Zizaniorum, p. 442.
96
NOTES
53. See the chapter on Hermits in Cutts, Scenes and Characters of the
Middle Ages, pp. 93-151. Cf. Pass. vi. 147, 190.
54. Our Lady of Walsingham's shrine was much resorted to: its celebrity
almost Surpassed that of St. Thomas's shrine at Canterbury. In Blomefield's
Norfolk (v. 839) we read that King Henry VIII. walked barefoot from
Barsham to this shrine [no very great distance] and presented Our Lady
with a necklace of great value. He also tells us that the common people
had an idea that the Milky Way pointed towards Walsingham, and they
called it Wahingham-way accordingly. It is remarkable that the Milky
Way is, in Spain, called the road to Santiago ; see Quart. Rev. Oct. 1873 :
p. 464. The obvious reason for the name is that the road was as crowded
with pilgrims as the Milky Way with stars. The Wycliffites opposed such
pilgrimages, and especially that to Walsingham. Ruins of the convent,
with two wells called the ' wishing-wells,' are still to be seen at Old
Walsingham, Norfolk. The monastery was founded for Augustinian or
Black Canons. See Chambers' Book of Days, i. 795, ii. 8, 174.
55. Lcbyes, lubbers. Longe, tall. 'Thergoeth a comen prouerbe : That
he which hath ones ben in an abbey, wyll euer more after be slouthefull ;
for the whiche cause they ben called of many men Abbey loutes or lubbers ; ' A
Supplicacyon for the Beggars, by Simon Fish, ed. Furnivall (E. E. T. S.), p. 15.
56. In Chaucer's Monkes Prologue, the cope is the mark of a 7tionk ; in
Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, it is that of a mendicant friar. In Chaucer's
Prologue, the Frere has a semi-cope. See also 1. 61.
57. And shopen hem, and arrayed themselves as; see 1. 2.
58. The four Orders of mendicant friars are severely satirized in The
Ploughman's Crede ; see notes in my edition on 11. 29, 486. They were the
Carmelites (white friars), Augustines (Austin friars), Jacobins or Dominicans
(black friars), and Minorites (gray friars). They are easily remembered by
WvciifFe's jest upon them. He takes the initial letters C, A, I, M, to form
the word Cairn, which was the usual spelling of Cain at that date, and
declares them to be of Cain's kin. To be of Cam's kin or of Judas' kin (see
1. 35 above), was a proverbial expression equivalent to being children of Satan.
60. To glose is to comment upon. The commentaries often strayed from
and superseded the text. See Chaucer, Sompnoures Tale, 1. 80. As hem
good lyked, as it pleased them well. Lyked is very frequently thus em-
ployed as an impersonal verb. Hem is the dative case. Good is properly
an adjective, but is used here with an adverbial force.
62. maistres Freres, master-friars. The two nominatives plural are in
apposition. At lykyng, at their liking, as they like.
64. ' Since Love has turned pedlar.' This alludes to the money received
by friars for hearing confessions. Besides this, the friars literally resembled
pedlars when they carried about with them knives and pins to give away to
women. See the description of the Frere in Chaucer's Prologue.
66. ' Except Holy Church and they [the friars] hold better together, the
TO THE PROLOGUE. 97
greatest mischief on earth will be increasing verv fast.' The regular friar^
and secular clergy were so far from 'holding together,' that they quarrelled
fiercely as to the right of hearing confessions. See Pass. v. 143.
68. See Chaucer's description of a Pardonere, in his Prologue; the conclu-
sion of the Pardoner's Tale ; and Massingberd's English Reformation, p. 127.
70. Assoilen, absolve.
71. Offahhed of/astyng, of breaking their vows of fasting. The first of
belongs to assoilen.
72. Leived, unlearned; it exactly answers to the modern adj. lay. Letted
hym wel, believed him entirely.
74. lie bonched, &c. ; lit. he banged them with his brevet, and bleared
their eyes. We should now say, he thrust his brevet in their faces. The
word is bonched in Mr. Wright's edition, but my collation of MSS. shews
this to be an error; and, indeed, no such word as bouch exists. To blear
one's eye is a common phrase for to blind, delude, cajole.
' For al thy waityng, blered is thyn ye?
Chaucer's Mane. Tale, 1. 148.
'Wyth fantasme, and fayrve.
Thus sche blerede hys yye.'
Ly Beaus Disconus, 1. 1432; Ritson's Met. Rom. vol. ii.
75. Ragman; properly a catalogue or roll of names ; here applied to the
charter or bull with numerous bishops' seals. But for the explanation of
many of the harder words, the reader must be referred to the Glossary.
78. 'Were the bishop a truly holy man, and worth (i.e. fit to have)
both his ears, his seal would not be sent (to the pardoner, for him) to
deceive the people with.' The expression yblissed, blessed, is used for truly
righteous, as appears more clearly from Pass. vii. I. 13, which see. The
phrase 'worth both his ears' is a satirical expression, signifying that the
person so spoken of is one of some worth, and not like one whose ears and
eyes are of no particular use to him.
80. ' Yet it is not against the bishop that the young fellow preaches ;
for (often) the parish-priest and lie (agree to) divide the silver, which the
poor people would else get.' Sometimes, instead of quarrelling, the priest
and pardoner compounded matters. Chaucer, however, in his Prologue,
1. 704, makes the pardoner more than a match for the parson, and repre-
sents him as cheating both the parish-priest and his flock too. Not by the
bischop might also mean not by the bishop's leave, but the two lines above
shew that the pardoner really obtained such leave. Hence we must con-
sider it as slightly humorous, meaning — ' But you may be sure that it is
never against the bishop (or with reference to the bishop) that he preaches.'
For examples of by in this sense, see I Cor. iv. 4, and Mr. Wright's Bible
Wordbook.
82. "$if\ei nere, if they were not ; i. c. if there were no such people ; if it
were not for them.
H
98
NOTES
83. Pleyned hem, made their complaints ; lit. complained themselves, hem
being here used reflexively. For other examples of pleyne followed by hem,
see the Glossarial Index.
84. Pestilence tyme, time of pestilence ; cf. note to iii. 19. There were
three great pestilences which were long remembered ; we may even count a
fourth. For the dates of the two first, see note to Pass. v. 1. 13 ; the third
lasted from July 2 to Sept. 29, 1369. The first was also called the great
pestilence, and is probably here meant. In Pass. v. 13, Langley speaks of
these pestilences, obviously with reference to the first and second ones. — Cf.
Chaucer, Prol. 442.
85. To have, i. e. and petitioned the bishop that they might have. Cf.
Chaucer, Prologue, where he says of the good parish priest,
' He sette not his benefice to huyre ....
And ran to Londone, unto seynte Ponies,
To seeken him a chaunterie for soules.'
87. The whole of the passage in 11. 87-209 is peculiar to the B-text of
the poem, and is not found in the A-text, or earliest draught. It is of much
interest and importance, and refers entirely to London ; it was probably
inserted here because London has just been mentioned.
88. Crounyng, tonsure. See Mrs. Jameson, Legends of Monastic Orders,
p. xxxii ; Wyclif's Works, ed. Arnold, iii. 447.
91. 'Lie (i.e. lodge, dwell) in London during Lent, and at other times.'
92. Tellen, count. Formerly, the three principal courts of law, the
King's Bench, the Common Pleas, and the Exchequer, had a separate juris-
diction. The Exchequer decided only such cases as related to the collection
of the revenue, and hence the ecclesiastics who held office in it are said here
to challenge, i. e. to claim the King's debts from the various wards or divi-
sions of the city. The wardmote is the court, or meeting, held in each
ward. They also claimed for the King all waifs and strays, i. e. property
without an owner and strayed cattle. But see streyues in the Glossary.
' Summe beth in ofice wid the king, and gaderen tresor to hepe,
And the fraunchise of holi cherche hii laten ligge slepe.'
Political Songs (Camd. Soc. 1839), p. 325.
We read also in the Complaint of the Ploughman (Polit. Poems, i. 325), the
following account of the ' canons seculer : ' —
' They have great prebendes and dere,
Some two or three, and some mo ;
A personage to ben a playing fere,
And yet they serve the King also,
And let to ferme all that fare
To whom that woll most give therefore;' &c.
95. Wycliffe complains in the same strain — ' But our Priests ben so busie
about wordlie [worldly] occupation, that they seemen better Baylifs or
Reues, than ghostlie Priests of Jesu Christ. For what man is so busie about
TO THE PROLOGUE.
99
marchandise, and other wordly doings, as bene Preists that showld bee light
of heauenlie life to al men about them.' — Two Treatises against Friars
ed. James, p. 1 6. And see Wyclif's Works, ed. Arnold, iii. 215, 277,
33?. In Pecock's Repressor, ii. 324, 366, is an answer to the charge
brought by the Wycliffites that some bishops and abbots held courts and
decided causes.
97. Messe, mass; onres, hours, or prayers repeated at stated times of the
day. Cf. Pass. i. 181.
98. Drede is, there is a fear, it is to be feared.
99. Consistorie, also frequently spelt constorie, a church council or
assembly of prelates. It is here used of the Last Great Assembly held by
Christ at the day of Judgment.
102. I. e. Peter deputed the power of the Keys to the four cardinal virtucsj
viz. to Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice. The old English
names are Sleight, Temperance, Strength, and Doom ; see Ayenbite of Inwvt.
p. 1 24, where we read further that — ' Thisc uour uirtues byeth y-cleped
cardinals, uor thet hi byeth hegkest amaug the uirtues, huer-of the yealde
[old] filosofes speke. Vor be thise uour uirtues the man gouerneth himzelue
ine thise wordle, as the apostles gouerneth holy cherche be his cardinals.'
In Pass. xix. "Conscience reproves evildoers by telling them that without the
cardinal virtues they will be lost; whereupon a shameless vicar replies that
if so, many a man will be lost, and that he never knew a 'cardinal' but
such as came from the pope. The same play upon the word occurs here.
So in Shakesp. Hen. VIII, iii. I. 103 —
' Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues !
Dut cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye.'
104. Closyng $a/is, closing gates. This is a sort of translation of the
Latin cardinalis, which is derived from cardo, a hinge. The power of the
keys is, as it were, made for the moment into a power of the hinges.
105. There, Zfc, where Christ reigns. This sense of there should be
carefully observed. Cf. 1. 190.
107. Atte Courte, at the court, sc. of Rome. Cau^t of, received.
111. I can speak more, for I have much I could say about them : el
I cannot speak more, out of reverence, for the power of electing a pope is
a high and holy thing. Such seems to be Langley's meaning.
112. Tyrwhitt supposed that this part of the poem was written aft<
death of the Black Prince, when his son Richard was heir-apparent. Biit
more close investigation shews that the king is really Richard II, and
the date of composition of this portion should rather be 1377 than i;,7<>-
Line 113 is very significant. In many MSS., II, 113 and 195 arc under-
scored as worthy of attention.
114. Kynde wytte (a very common phrase in Langlcy) is what we now
call common sense, i.e. natural intelligence.
117. Hem-self fynde, provide for themselves. Jlem-self is ambiguous. It
H 2
IOO NOTES
may mean that the king and his knights decided that the commons ought to
support them, or that they ought to support themselves. The latter is more
immediately meant ; cf. Chaucer, Nonne Prestes Tale, 1. 9.
1 1 8. Of Icynde witte craftes, handicrafts that could be pursued by help
of common intelligence. Besides the king, knights, clergy, and commons
there was a fifth class, of ploughmen, &c, mere tillers of the soil, who were
looked upon as inferior to the rest. Yet the importance of agriculture
among the crafts was well recognised.
123. I have no doubt that the lunatic is William himself. He is here
expressing his favourite loyal hope that the king may so govern as to be
beloved by all loyal subjects. For the use of lunatic there are three reasons :
(1) it conveys a touch of satire, as though it were a mad thing to hope for ;
(2) a lunatic is privileged to say strange things ; and (3) he expressly declares,
at the beginning of Pass, xv, that people considered him a fool, and that he
raved. This opinion he bitterly adopts. He makes the lunatic, however,
speak clergealy, i. e. like a scholar. The word thing does not neces-
sarily imply contempt ; it merely signifies a creature, a person. Cf.
'For he was a ful dughti thing;' Cursor Mundi, C-text, 1. 8182; ed.
Morris.
1 if). Leue, grant. No two words have been more hopelessly confused
than leue and lene. See Leue in the Glossary. The line means — ' And
grant thee to govern thy land, so that loyalty (i. e. thy lieges) may love
thee.'
12S. The angel descends and begins to speak, but only in Latin, since
common people ought not to be told how to justify themselves ; all who
could not understand Latin or French had best suffer and serve. The angel's
reproof to the king is in Leonine or riming verses, of which the first is
hexameter, and the first four words of it are quoted as from the mouth of
the king himself. The remaining six are alternate hexameters and penta-
meters, and contain the angel's charge to the king. The verses may have
been composed by William himself, and may be thus translated.
(You say) ' I am a king, I am a prince,' (but you will be) neither perhaps
hereafter.
O thou who dost administer the special laws of Christ the King,
That thou mayst do this the better, as you are just, be merciful !
Naked justice requires to be clothed by thee with mercy,
Whatever crops thou wouldst reap, such be sure to sow.
If justice is stripped bare, let it be meted to thee of naked justice;
If mercy is sown, mayest thou reap of mercy!
It may be added, that long pieces of advice to kings are common at this
period of English. Thus, in Gower's Confessio Amantis, lib. vii. is a long
disquisition on politics. Again, there is Occleve's poem, entitled De Re-
gimine Principum. Both these, and many like them, are founded on a
spurious treatise ascribed to Aristotle, and entitled Secretum Secretorum.
TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 01
Gower, like Langley, addresses his advice to Richard II, and with much
freedom. So also Chaucer, in his Balade on Lack of Steadfastness. See
Warton; Hist. E. P. ii. 230; ed. 1S40.
1 39. Goliardeys. ' Un goliardois, Fr. ; Goliardus, or Goliardensis, Lat.
This jovial sect seems to have been so called from Golias, the real or assumed
name of a man of wit, towards the end of the thirteenth century, who wrote
the ApocalvpsisGolix,and other pieces in burlesque Latin rimes, some of which
have been falsely attributed to Walter Map ... In several authors of the
thirteenth century, quoted by Du Cange, the Goliardi are classed with the
joculatores et buff ones' — Tyrwhitt ; note on 1. 562 of Chaucer's Cant. Tales.
But it would appear that Golias is the sole invention of Walter Map, and
that the original ' Golias ' poems are really his. He named his imaginary
Bishop Golias after the Philistine slain by David ; not without some reference,
perhaps, to the O. Fr. goule, Lat. gula, gluttony. Soon after, Goliardus
meant a clerical buffoon ; later still, it meant any jongleur, or any teller of
ribald stories ; in which sense it is used by Chaucer. See Morley's English
Writers, vol. i. p. 5S6. Langley' s Goliardeys is a glutton of words, one
full of long pieces which he could recite; cf. the Latin phrase helluo librarian.
He is here made to quote, in an altered form, two lines which are also found
as under : —
' O rex, si rex es, rege te, vel eris sine re, rex ;
Nomen habes sine re, nisi te recteque regas, rex.'
Political Poems, ed. Wright, i. 278.
Compare also —
' Legem quoque dicimus regis dignitatem
Regere; nam credimus esse legem lucem,
Sine qua concludimus deviare ducem.'
Political Songs (Camd. Soc), p. 1 1 5.
Also —
' Non a regnando rex est, sed iure regendo.'
Political Poems, i. 57.
143. The commons are not supposed to have understood the angel's
advice given in Latin, but they just knew as much as was good for them to
know ; they could say —
' Pretepta regis sunt nobis vincula legis.'
146. This well-known fable, of the rats and mice trying to hang a bell
round the cat's neck, is nowhere so well told as here. Mr. Wright says —
'The fable is found in the old collection, in French verse of the fourteenth
century, entitled Ysopet ; and M. Robert has also printed a Latin metrical
version of the story from a MS. of the same century. La Fontaine has
given it among his fables.' It is a well-known story in Scottish history, that
this fable was narrated by Lord Gray to the conspirators against the fa-
vourites of King James III, when Archibald, Karl of Angus, exclaimed, ' I am
he who will bell the cat;' from which circumstance he obtained the nameol
102 NOTES
Archibald Bell-the-Cat ; see Marmion, note 2 Y. In the present instance,
the rats are the burgesses and more influential men among the commons ;
the mice, those of less importance. The cat can be no other than John of
Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, concerning whom rumours were spread that he
aspired to the royal dignity; this greatly offended the people, who were fond
of Richard for the sake of his father, their beloved Black Prince. The
speech made by the Duke, Oct. 13, 1377' indignantly repelling all such
accusations, is entered on the Parliamentary Rolls, and may be read in
Lingard's History of England, 8vo., 1S25 ; vol. iv. p. 224. Still more
clearly is this shewn by the curious resolution adopted by the insurgents under
Wat Tyler, who ' swore to admit of no king of the name of John,' in order
to express their detestation of the Duke. See Lingard's History of England,
vol. iv. p. 240. But the indignation against him does not seem to have
lasted long ; see Milman, Latin Christianity, vi. 1 1 3.
152. Doute in Old English almost always means/ear, as here. Loke, look
about us ; cf. 1. 172.
153. 'And if we grumble about his play,' &c.
[55, Vs lotheth, it loathes us, i.e. we loathe ; cf. 1. 174. Or, ere.
157. Aloft, on high, above his reach.
158. Reliable, contracted from resonable. Thus, in Myrc's Duties of a
Parish Priest (ed. Peacock, 1868), the Cotton MS. has ' renabulle tonge'
where the Douce MS. has ' resonable.' But it was often regarded as if formed
from the verb renne, to run ; hence it is still used in Norfolk in the form
runnable; i. e. glib, loquacious. In the following it has, apparently, the older
meaning :
' Hir maners might no man amend ;
Of long she was trew and renable.
And of hir semblant soft and stabile.'
Ywaine and Gawaine, 1. 20S; in Ritson's Met. Rom. vol. i. p. IO.
So also renably for reasonably in Chaucer, C. T. 7091. The C-text has
resonable.
159. ' For a sovereign remedy for himself;' i.e. as far as he was him-
self concerned. Ct'.for me, 1. 201.
161. Bighes, necklaces. Colers of crafty werh, collars of skilful work-
manship ; alluding to the gold or metal chains, such as are still worn by
sheriffs, &c.
164. And at other times they are elsewhere, viz. away from London,
living in retirement.
180. 'And thought themselves not daring enough,' &c.
181. Leten, considered, esteemed; cf. Pass. iv. 1. 160.
1S5. Sholde, would ; as in 1. 79 above.
185. To lat the catte worthe, to let the cat be, to let it alone. Worthe
is the A. S. weorSan, to be. When Alexander tamed Bucephalus, we read
that
TO THE PROLOGUE. 103
' Soone hee leapes on-!oft ■ and lete hym worthe
To fare as hym lyst faine ■ in feelde or in towne.'
William of Palerne, &c. ; ed. Skeat, 1867; p. 216.
189. Is seuene %ere ypassed, i. e. seven years have past, seven years ago.
190. The expressive word elyng, elenge, or ellinge, still common in Kent,
includes the- meanings sad and solitary. Henry VIII, in a letter to Anne
Bullen, speaks of ' his ellengness since her departure;' Hearne's edition of
Avesbury, p. 360. The word is used both by Chaucer and Occleve.
191. ' Vae tibi, terra, cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane come-
dunt ;' Ecclesiastes x. 16. In MS. Digby 53 is a note to this effect —
par be child is kinge and be cuerl [churl] is alderman, and be wale
[stranger] biscop, wa bene lede [wo to the people] ; undo versus,
' Ye populo cujus puer est rex, censor agrestis,
Extents antistes ; hii mala multa movent.'
A similar saying is attributed to Beda; (). Eng. Miscellany, ed. Morris,
p. 184. When Robert Crowley reprinted Piers Plowman, in the time of
Edward VI, he added, for obvious reasons, this sidenote : ' Omnium doc-
tissimorum suffragio, dicuntur hec de lassiuis, fatuis, aut iueptis principibus.
non de etate tenellis. Quasi dicat, ubi rex puerilis est.' In this and other
quotations, I follow the peculiar spellings of the originals. The use of e
for <b in Latin words is very common.
192. The wise mouse here suggests that the rats want keeping in order
themselves, and that it is a pity that the true cat (i. e. the king, in this
instance) is only a kitten. Also the cat may sometimes be expected to go
out catchinar rabbits, and meanwhile he will let the rats and mice alone.
' Better a little loss than a long sorrow; (for there would, if the duke died,
be) confusion amongst us all, though we be rid of a tyrant.' Langley uses
the mase to mean confusion, bewilderment; 1. 196 is explanatory of the
'long sorrow' mentioned above. Mysse = lose, be without.
197. 'We mice, the lower order of commons, would eat up many men's
malt, and ye rats, the burgesses, would tear men's clothes, &c.' These lines
are almost prophetical. The rising of the peasantry under Wat Tyler took
place but a short time afterwards, in June, 1 381.
199. ' Were it not for that cat belonging to that court.'
201. Forme, for myself; cf. note to 1. 159. After, afterwards.
202. Observe how the cat (John of Gaunt) is here distinguished from the
kitten (Richard II).
203. Ne carpyng of, nor shall there be any more talking about. S
shal be from the line above. Cos/ed me neure, would never have cost me
anything ; for I would not have subscribed to it.
204. And, even if I had subscribed, I would not own it, but would submit
to let him do as he likes ; both he and the kitten may catch what they can.
209. Detune $e, guess ye the meaning ; I dare not.
210. The rest of the Prologue is found in Text A, as well as in the later
104 NOTES
ones. The law-sergeants are here spoken of. ' Lawyers were originally
priests and of course wore the tonsure; but when the clergy were forbidden
to intermeddle with secular affairs, the lay lawyers continued the practice
of shaving the head, and wore the coif for distinction's sake. It was at first
made of linen, and afterwards of white silk ;' British Costume, p. 126. It
was a sort of skullcap ; Strutt, Manners and Customs, iii. 76. The white
silk hoods are again alluded to in Pass. iii. 1. 293.
212. Pleteden, pleaded. This verb is derived from the O. Fr. plet, a plea,
which is corrupted from the Lat. placitum, an opinion. Hence plead and
please are from the same root. By the statute of 36 Edw. Ill, c. 15
(a.d. 1362), it was enacted that pleadings should henceforward be con-
ducted in English, but recorded in Latin. They were not recorded in
English till the fourth year of George II. The penny was an important
coin in the time of Edward III; but it should be observed that any coin,
such as a florin, could be sometimes called a penny, in which case a half-
penny would mean the half-florin, and a farthing (fourth-ing) the fourth part
of the florin. See note to Pass. ii. I43. There is a satirical poem in praise
of ' Sir Peny,' who was much sought after by all men, including lawyers.
' Sir Peny mai ful mekil availe
To tham that has nede of cownsail,
Als sene is in assise.'
Hazlitt ; Eafly Popular Poetry, i. 165.
213. Vnlese, unloosed, unclosed. Lose was once a strong verb.
214. 'Thou mightest better measure the mist on Malvern hills than get
a mum out of the^r mouth, unless money should be exhibited.' A mum is
anything approaching to a word, a mumble. The whole of this passage is
imitated by Lydgate ;
' Unto the common place [pleas'] I yode thoo,
Where sat one with a sylken hoode ;
I dyd hym reverence, for I ought to do so,
And told my case as well as I coode,
How my goods were defrauded me by falshood.
I gat not a mum of his mouth for my meed,
And for lack of mony, I myght not spede.'
Lydgate's London Lyckpenv ; Specimens of English, i394-i597,ed.Skeat,p.24.
216. An, and. Both spellings are common.
218. Brewesteres, female brewers. 'The trade of brewing was confined
almost wholly to females, and was reckoned among the callings of low
repute.' — Note to Liber Albus, ed. H. T. Riley; p. 307. At p. 312 of the
same we read, 'If any brewer or breivster' &c. Cf. Pass. v. 306.
219. Wollewebsteres, female weavers of linen. But the distinction
between webbe, a male weaver, and webstere, a female weaver, is not always
made. Thus, in Pass. v. 215 we find —
' My wyf was a webbe ' and wollen cloth made.'
TO THE PROLOGUE. IO"
222. ' Qf labourers of every kind there leapt forth some.' For alkin we
sometimes find alle kyn, alle kynne, alles kinnes, and even the odd-looking
form alle skinnes. The full form is alles kyunes, (if every kind. It is in
the genitive case. The word labourers in the Statutes of Edward III is
comprehensive, including masons, bricklayers, tilers, carpenters, ditchers,
diggers, &c. ; Liber Albus, pp. 28S, 635.
224. Dieu vous sane, dame Emine ! God save you, dame Emma ! Evi-
dently the refrain of some low popular song. In another place (B. xiii.
340) Langley speaks of ' dame Emme of Shoreditch,' which was a low
locality.
226. ' Good pigs and geese ! let's go and dine ! ' It was the practice thus
to tout for custom, standing outside the shop-door. In the same way the
tavemers kept crying out, 'White wine! Red wine!'&c. Here again
Lydgate copies from Langley : —
■ Cokes, to me they toke good entent,
Culled me nere, for to dyne ;
And profered me good brede, ale, and wyne . . .
Then I hied me into Est Chepe ;
One cries ribes 0/ befe, and many a pie ;
Pewtar potts they clatteryd on a heape;
Ther was harpe, pipe, and sawtry,' &c.
London Lyckpeny ; MS. Harl. 542.
The above text differs somewhat from the other copy in MS. Harl. 367,
printed in Specimens of English, 1 394-1579, ed. Skeat, pp. 25, 26.
228. White and red wines, chiefly imported from France, were common ;
see Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale. Though Osey is said to come from Portugal
in the first volume of Hackluyt's Voyages, p. 188, yet the name is certainly
a corruption of Alsace. Thus Ausoy is written for Alsace frequently in the
Romance of Partenay, and Roquefort explains the O. Fr. Amsay to mean
Alsatia. It seems to have been a sweet, straw-coloured wine. The wines
of Gascony, of the Rhine, and of Rochelle, need no explanation. The roste
to de/ye, to digest the roast meat. This is well illustrated by the following
;;-.juoted passage : —
'Ye shall have rumney and malmesyne,
Both ypocrasse, and vernage wyne,
Mount rose and wyne of Greke,
Both algrade, and respice eke,
Antioche, and bastarde,
Pyment also, and garnarde,
Wyne of Greke, and muscadell,
Both clare, pyment, and Rochell ;
The reed your stomach to de/ye,
And pottes of Osey set you by.'
Squyr of lowe degre ; Ritson"s Met. Koin. iii. 176.
10(5 NOTES
NOTES TO PASSUS I
Passus, a portion or ' fytte ' of a poem. In an entertainment given to
Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth, a minstrel was to have sung a song, &c.
After singing a portion, he was to have made ' a pauz and a curtezy, for
primus passus,' i. e. to signify that the first part was over. See Ritson's
Met. Rom. vol. i. p. ccxxii. Compare —
' Thus passed is the first pas ' of this pris tale.'
William of Paleme, 1. 161.
I. Bymeneth, signifies.
3. A loueli ladi of lere, i.e. A ladi, loueli of lere, A lady, lovely of
countenance.
5. Sone ; some copies read Wille, the poet's name. Slepestow, sleepest
thou ; sestow, seest thou. The suffix -tu for ]m, thou, is found in A.S.
after the letter /, as in tcealtu = scealt \>u, shalt thou. So here, slepestow =
slepest-tow = slepest thou.
6. Mase, confused medley of people. Cf. note to iii. 159.
8. Haue thei worschip, if they have honour. WUne, desire ; different both
from wille, intend, and wyssche, wish.
9. Holde thei no tale, they keep no account, they regard not.
I I . What is this to mene, what is the meaning of this ; or, how is this
to be explained ? To mene takes the place of A.S. gerund, where to is a
preposition governing the dative case, and mene is for mdnanne, a dative
formed from the infinitive mcenan, to mean. Thus to maenanne is, literally,
for a meaning.
12. Vp, upon. The tower is that mentioned in the Prologue, 1. 14.
Truth is here synonymous with the Father of Faith, i.e. God the Father and
Creator.
15. Fyue wittis, five senses, viz. of hearing, sight, speech, smelling, feeling,
according to the enumeration in Grosteste's Castle of Love. But for speech
we commonly have tasting. In Pass. xiv. 53, is the passage —
' Bi so that thow be sobre ■ of sy3te and of tonge,
In etynge and in handlvnge ■ and in alle thi fyue ivittis.'
Compare Tennyson's Song of the Owl: —
' Alone and warming his five wits,
The white owl in the belfry sits.'
17. Hyghte, commanded. To help yow of, to provide you with.
20. In comune three thinges, three things in common ; these are clothing,
meat, and drink. ' The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing,
and an house to cover shame.' Ecclus. xxix. 21 ; cf. xxxix. 26. Hence, in
Spenser, F. Q. i. x. 37-39, the first three of the seven beadmen supply
lodging, meat, drink, and clothing.
23. From chele, Sec, to keep thee from a chill.
TO PASSUS I. IO/
24. For myseise, as a remedy against disease or discomfort. This curious
use of/or is worth notice. It is sufficiently common; cf. vi. 62.
26. That thoiv worth, so that thou become the worse for it.
35. ' Moderation is a remedy, though thou yearn for much.' The same
line reappears in Richard the Redeles, ii. 139, a poem which I attribute to
Langley : —
' But mesure is a meri mene, Jou} men moche yerne.'
Cf. Deposition of Rich. II. (Camd. Soc), p. 12. 'Mesure is a mery mene'
is quoted as a proverb by Skelton and Heywood. Another form of it is
'Measure is treasure; Dyce's Skelton, ii. 238, 241.
36, 37. This means — Not all which the body desires is good for the soul,
nor is all that is dear to the soul a source of life to the body.
38*. ' Believe not thy body, for a liar — this wretched world — teaches it,
and would betray thee.'
41. ' Both this (the fiend) and that (thy flesh) pursue thy soul, and sug-
gest things to thy heart.'
42. Ywar, wary. This is an instance of the prefix^-, the A.S. ge-, being
prefixed to an adjective. It is the A.S. gewcer, wary, cautious, from which
our aware seems to have been corrupted, though its form would correspond
better to the A.S. on ware, in caution, on guard. I wisse, I teach, is to be
distinguished from the adverb I-wis, certainly, with which it is only too
often confounded ; and both again are different from I loot, I know, and
/ wiste, I knew, which are from the verb to wit.
46. ' Go to the gospel, (and see there) that which God said himself.'
49. 'And God (i.e. Jesus) enquired of them — of whom spake the
superscription.'
50. Ilyl-e, like ; see note to I. 42. The word was is understood before
Ilyle, but is not in the MSS. of the B-text. But it is found in those of the
A-text.
52. ' Et ait illis Jesus : Cuius est imago hsec, et superscripts ? Dicunt ei,
Csesaris. Tunc ait illis: Reddite ergo quae sunt Caesaris, Caesari ; et qua-
sunt Dei, Deo.' Matt. xxii. 20, 21 (Vulgate).
55. Kynde witte, common sense; cf. Prol. 1 14.
56. ' And Common Sense should be preserver of your treasure, and should
bestow it on you in your need.'
57. Housbonderye, economy; as in Shakespeare, Macbeth, ii. I. 5, 'There's
husbandry in heaven,' because no stars were out. The line signifies that
'economy and they (viz. reason and wit) hold well together.' Hi], put for
hy, thev. Holden togideres ; see note to Prol., 1. 66.
58. For hytn, for the sake of Him who made her.
59. The dungeon is that spoken of in Prol., 1. 15.
62. To body, so as to possess a body. Cf. 1. 82, where wrougfite me to
man means wrought me so that I became a man.
108 NOTES
64. And founded it, and he founded it. Here it refers to falsehood, not
to the castle of care ; for, with our author, to found is to originate.
66. Caym, Cain. See note to Prol., 1. 58.
67. Imuen, of Jews. The gen. pi. ending is -en or -ene ; see 1. 105.
68. The idea that Judas hanged himself upon an elder occurs in Shake-
speare, Love's Labour's Lost, v. 2 ; and in Ben Jons in — ' He shall be your
Judas, and you shall be his elder-tree to hang on ; ' Every Man out of Hum.
iv. 4. See Nares. On the other hand, we read that ' the Arbor Juda is
thought to be that whereon Judas hanged himself, and not upon the elder-
tree, as it is vulgarly said ;' Gerrard's Herbal, ed. Johnson, p. 1428 ; quoted
by Brand, Pop. Ant. iii. 283. Mr. Wright points out a passage in Sir John
Maundeville, who sa)'s that the very elder-tree was still in existence when he
visited Jerusalem ; see p. 93 of Halliwell's edition.
69. Letter, stopper, hinderer, destroyer. Lyeth hem, lieth to them.
70. That, Those who.
73. Yeode, or yede, went. See note to Prol., I. 40.
74. Wissed, taught. See note to 1. 42.
76. / vnderfonge ]>e, I received thee, viz. at baptism.
77. Boruies, sureties, viz. the sponsors in baptism.
82. Wroughte me to man, shaped me so that I became a man. There are
other instances of this phrase. Cf. 1. 62.
83. Teche me to, direct me to. Teach is here used in its original sense,
to indicate, point out by a token or sign. This ilke, this same, this very
thing. The word tresore alludes to 1. 45 ; the dreamer now alters his
question.
84. ' Tell me, thou who art considered holy, how may I save my
soul ? '
86. / do it on dens caritas, I appeal to the text God is love (1 John iv. 8)
as my authority. Cf. Pass. iii. 187.
88. None other, nothing else but the truth. The Vernon MS. has
not elles.
90. Bi the gospel, by what the gospel says, according to the gospel. In
the next line we are referred to St. Luke, that is, to the parable of the un-
just steward, where those to whom are to be committed the ' true riches '
are taught to be faithful in that which is least; Luke xvi. 10-13. See also
Luke viii. 21.
93. Christians and heathens alike claim to learn the truth.
96. Trans gressores is marked in the MSS. as a Latin word. Latin words
are strongly underlined, frequently with a red stroke.
98. Appetuleth for, pertains to. Another reading is apendeth to.
99. A Fryday, one single Friday. A Friday generally means on Friday,
but not here. Another reading is 0, i. e. one. Cf. ' all of a size.'
100. Him and hir, i. e. every man and woman ; as in Ch. Man of Lawes
Tale, 460 (Cant. Tales, 4880).
TO PASS US I. 109
102. David, &c. This may refer to I Sam. xxii. 2, to I Chron. xi. 1-3,
or, still more probably, to 1 Chron. xii. 17, 18. When King Horn was
dubbed a knight, as told in the romance of that name, he was girt with a
sword, his spurs were fastened on him, and he was set upon a white steed.
A few lines lower, at 1. 105, we find Christ described as knighting the
angels.
104. An aposlata was one who quitted his order after he had completed
the year of his noviciate. This is very clearly shewn by the following
statement of a novice, —
' Out of the ordre thof I be gone,
Apostala ne am I none,
t Of twelve monethes me wanted one,
And edde days nyen or ten.'
Monumenta Franciscana, p. 606.
The writer of this was one who had been a novice in the order of St. Francis,
but left it to become a Wycliffite. See my preface to Pierce the Ploughman's
Crede, p. xiii.
105. Kyngene kynge, king of kings. The genitive plural in -ene is from
the A. S. ending -ena, as in Witena gemot, meeting of wits (wise men).
Wycliffe says, in speaking of true religion, that — ' Jesu Christ and his Apostles
bene chiefe knights thereof, and after them Holy Martirs and Confessours ' :
Two Treatises against Friers, ed. James, p. 19. So too Chaucer, C. T.,
Group G, 383 (Second Nonnes Tale).
Ten; so in all the MSS., otherwise we should have expected nine; for the
angels were generally distributed into three hierarchies of three orders each :
first, seraphim, cherubim, and thrones ; second, dominions, virtues, and
powers ; third, principalities, archangels, and angels. Langley here enu-
merates the seraphim and cherubim, seven such orders more, and one other.
But the one other is the order over which Lucifer presided, as implied by
1. in. This makes up the ten orders, as having been the original number.
And that this is the true explanation is rendered certain by a passage in
Early English Homilies, ed. Morris, 1S68, p. 219, where the preacher enu-
merates the nine orders, and adds that the tenth order revolted and became
evil; that the elder of the tenth order was called ' leolit berinde' i.e. light-
bearing or Lucifer, who was beautifully formed, but who grew moody and
said that he would sit in the north part of heaven, and be equal to the
Almighty. For this sin he was driven out of heaven with his host. It must
be added, that this tenth order was above, not below, the other nine ; for the
Franciscan Friars used to call themselves the Seraphic Order, having installed
their founder, St. Francis, ' above the Seraphim, upon the throne from which
Lucifer fell.' See Southey's Book of the Church, ed. 1848, p. [82. Speak-
ing of the Chester Mystery of the Fall of Lucifer, Dean Milman says, —
'This drama, performed by the guilds in a provincial city in Englan I, solves
the insoluble problem of the origin of evil through the intense pride of
IIO NOTES
Lucifer. God himself is present on the scene ; the nine Orders remonstrate
against the overweening haughtiness of Lucifer, who, with the devils, is cast
down into the dark dungeon prepared for them.' Hist, of Lat. Christ, vi.
409. See also the Ormulum, i. 34 ; Chambers' Book of Days, i. 635 ;
Mr. Kitchin's note on Spenser's Faerie Queene, i. 12. 39; Warton's Hist.
Eng. Poetry, ed. Hazlitt, iii. 233, note 4, &c. Allusions to this fall of
Lucifer are very common; see the beginning of Chaucer's Monkes Tale;
Wycliffe's Two Treatises, p. 35; Ayenbite of Inwyt.ed. Morris, l86S,p. 182 ;
Genesis and Exodus, ed. Morris, 1865, p. 3 ; Caedmon, ed. Thorpe, p. 18, &c.
See a long note by myself in Notes and Queries, 3rd S. xii. 1 10 ; and cf. note
to !. 118.
107. The muryer, the more pleasant it seemed to them.
118. Ponam pedetn, &c. An inexact quotation from Isaiah xiv. 13, 14:
' In ccelum conscendam, super astra Dei exaltabo solium meum, sedebo in
monte testamenti, in lateribus aquilonis. Ascendam super altitudinem nu-
bium ; similis ero Altissimo.' It is curious that wherever the fall of Lucifer
is mentioned, as in most of the places cited in the note above, there is men-
tion also of Lucifer's sitting in the north. We find it even in Milton, P. L.
v- 755-76o:
' At length into the limits of the north
They came; and Satan to his royal seat,
The palace of great Lucifer? Sec.
So in Skelton's Colin Clout :
' Some say ye sit in trones [thrones]
Like princes aquilonis.'
So in the Anglo-Saxon Version of the Hexameron of St. Basil, ed. Norman,
1849, P* J6. vvhich agrees closely with Isaiah. In Chaucer's Freres Tale,
115, the fiend lives 'in the north contre.' In Text C of Piers Plowman,
Langley inquires why Lucifer chose the north side, but fears he shall offend
Northern men if he says much about it. Yet he hints that the north is the
place for cold and discomfort, and suitable enough for the fallen angel. In
the Icelandic Gylfaginning we find — ' niftr ok norSr liggr Helvegr,' i. e.
' downwards and northwards lieth the way to Hell.'
119. Nyne dayes. So Milton — 'Nine days thev fell'; P. L. vi.
87I.
123. Mr. Wright says — 'In the Master of Oxford's Catechism, written
early in the fifteenth century, and printed in Reliquiae Antiqux, vol.i. p. 231,
we have the following question and answer — C. Where be the anjelles that
God put out of heven, and bycam devilles? M. Som into hell, and som
reyned in the skye, and som in the erth, and som in waters and in wodys.'
This was an easy way of accounting for all classes of fairies, some of whom
were supposed to be not malignant ; for the fallen spirits were supposed to
be not all equally wicked. The Rosicrucians, in like manner, placed the
TO PASSUS I. Ill
sylphs in the air, the gnomes in the earth, the salamanders in the fire, the
nymphs in the water ; and as Pope says, in his Introduction to the Rape of
the Lock — 'The gnomes, or demons of earth, delight in mischief; but
the sylphs, whose habitation is the air, are the best-conditioned creatures
imaginable.'
125. Pult out, put out, put forth, exhibited.
132. The texts are, Reddite Ccesari, I. 52, and Deus cari/as, 1. 86. This
line is repeated at 1. 204. Bi si;te, according to the evidence.
134. Lereth it this lewde men. Teach it to these unlearned men. To lere
is to teach, leme to learn. Lerne sometimes also means to teach, as in prov.
English, but lere is never (I think) to learn in our author, as it is in Chaucer.
This and tkise are both used as plurals of this.
136. Kynde knowing, natural understanding.
137. Craft, power, potentiality. Comseth, commenceth, originates.
139. I have not yet traced the original of this Latin rimed (or Leonine)
hexameter ; it recurs at v. 448.
140. Here the 'kynde knouyng' is identified with conscience. Kenneth,
makes known, makes manifest.
146. Triacle. ' Theriaca, from which treacle is a corruption, is the name
of a nostrum, invented by Andromachus, who was physician to Nero ' ;
Bacon's Advancement of Learning, cd. Wright ; note at p. 296. A full
account of the word is given by Professor Morley, in his Library of Eng.
Literature, part i. p. 21.
147. That spice, that species, that kind of remedy for sin. It refers to
love, which is the theme of the succeeding context.
149. Lered it Moises, taught it Moses ; viz. in Deut. vi. 5, x. 12, &c.
150. l'lante, plant. MSS. of the A-type have plaunte, plante,plonte, &c,
which can only mean plant. Plente (which is another reading) would mean
plenty, fulness. See the Critical Note.
151. //, sc. love; here used of the love of Christ, which heaven could not
contain, till it had ' eaten its fill of the earth,' i. e. participated in the human
nature by Incarnation. When it had taken flesh and blood, it became light
as a linden-leaf, and piercing as a needle.
154. 'As light as leaf on linden' was an old proverb. It occurs in
Chaucer's Clerkes Tale, Group E, 121 1. The leaves of the tree are easil)
stirred by the wind.
160. He, i.e. love. The merciment taxeth, assesses (or imposes) the fine.
Cf. vi. 40, where amercy = fine, and taxoure = assessor. Fines were of fixed
amount ; but amerciaments were arbitrarily imposed.
161. To Ttnowe it kyndely, to understand it by natural reason ; cf. 11. 1 ,".
140. In Pass, ix, near the beginning, there is a description of the castle of
Caro (man's body), which is guarded by the constable Inwit (conscience) ;
and it is said of Inwit and the five senses that —
•In the herte is hir home • and hir moste reste;' 1. 55.
112 NOTES
164. That falleth, &c. That belongs to the Father, i. e. it is God the
Father who implanted Conscience in man's heart.
167. He, sc. God the Son.
170. One, alone; dat. case of on, one, A. S. an.
173. Compare —
' Cogitate, diuites, qui uel quales estis.
Quod in hoc iudicio facere potestis,' &c.
Poems of Walter Map, ed. Wright, p. 53.
176. Eadem. &c. Matthew vii. 2 ; Luke vi. 38. Remecietur is no mis-
print. Some Latin words are not always spelt alike in old MSS. Thus
scintilla is frequently spelt sintilla, as in Pass. v. 291, and commodat is spelt
comodat, as in Pass. v. 246.
177. A clulde, &c. This probably means a babe who is being baptized,
baptism being sometimes accompanied by tears on the part of the infant.
1 79- Lene the poure, lend to the poor. Poure is for povre, more fre-
quently spelt pouere, i.e. povere.
1S2. Malkyn was a proverbial name for an unchaste slattern. It occurs
in Chaucer's Man of Lawes Prologue, 1. 30.
185. For dore-tre some MSS. have dore-nayl. Note that tre is expressly
used here, as elsewhere in Old English, in the sense of wood that is cut
down and dead. So too in the modern axle-tree; so that dore-tre means a
door-post. As dead as a door-nail is still a common proverb, but it is
older even than Langley's poem, as it occurs twice in the alliterative
romance of William of Palerne, written about a.d. 1350. The Vulgate
edition of the Bible has — ' Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita
et fides sine operibus mortua est.' S. Jacob, ii. 26.
186. Worth, shall be. The present is often used for the future in Middle
English, as in Anglo-Saxon. We even find in our Bibles, ' we also go with
thee,' John xxi. 3. This line is repeated below, 1. 192.
187. Dan Michel, in his Ayenbite of Inwyt (ed. Morris, p. 233), says that
virginity without love is as a lamp without oil, and refers to the parable of
the foolish virgins. No doubt Langley also was thinking of that parable.
191. Chewen here charile, &c. They chew up their charity; i.e. they
eat up what they should give away, and then cry out for more. This
striking expression, chewen charile, was copied from Langley by his imitator,
the author of the Ploughman's Crede ; see the Crede, ed. Skeat, 1. 663.
194. Thei ben, i. e. and yet they are.
197. And lernyng, &c. ; and an instruction to unlearned men, to distribute
(alms) all the later, i.e. to put off giving away. For the sense of dele, see
1. 199.
199. Date et ddbitur vobis (S. Luke vi. 38) is the commencement of the
verse already partially quoted above; see 1. 176.
203. Graith gate, direct way. The expression occurs in the History of
Wallace, v. 135,
TO PASS US II. I I 3
'For thair sloith-hund the graith gate till him yeid;'
i.e. their sleuth-hound went straight towards him. Cf. Pass. iv. 42.
204. Repeated from above ; see 11. 132, 133.
J07. Lenge the with, linger with thee. Loke the, guard thee ; i.e. may
our Lord guard thee !
PASSUS II.
5, 6. 'See where he [Falsehood] stands; and not he only, but Favel
[Flattery] also, and their many companions.' Occleve, in his De Regimiue
Principum. ed. Wright, pp. 106. Ill, d> scribes favelle or flattery, and says
— ' In wrong preisyng is all his craft and arte.' Cf. Wiat's 2nd Satire, I. 67,
in Specimens of English, ed. Ske.it.
8. A womman. Here Langley carefully describes the Lady Meed, who
represents both Reward in general, and Bribery in particular ; the various
senses of Meed are explained in iii. 230-256. Female dress at this date was
very extravagant, and we may compare with the text the following remarks in
Lingard's History. ' Her head was encircled with a turban or covered with a
species of mitre of enormous height, from the summit of which ribbons floated
in the air like the streamers from the head of a mast. Her tunic was half of
one colour, and half of another: a zone deeply embroidered, and richly or-
namented with L'old, confined her waist, and from it were suspended in front
two daggers in their respective pouches;' vol. iv. p. 91. This part of Piers
Plowman appears in the early text of 1362, otherwise Langley's description
of Meed would have served admirably for Alice Perrers, who obtained a
grant of Queen Philippa's jewels, and ' employed her influence to impede the
due administration of justice in favour of those who had purchased her pro-
tection;' and against whom the following ordinance was made in 137''):
'Whereas complaint has been brought before the king, that some women
have pursued causes and actions in the king's courts by way of main-
tenance, and for hire and reward, which thing displeases the king, the king
forbids that any woman do it hereafter ; and in particular Alice Perrers,' &"c
See Lingard, iv. 142. Indeed it is very likely that Langley perceived this
likeness in revising his poem, for the description of Meed's clothing is ampli-
fied in the B-text, and he adds the very significant line,
' I had wondre what she was ' and whas wyf she xuere?
How Alice treated King Edward in his last illness is well known. Whitaker
suggests that the Lady Meed is the original of Spenser's Lady Munera ; see
Spenser, F. CL bk. v. c. ii. st. 9.
9. Pelure, fur. The laws about the kinds of furs to be worn by different
ranks were very minute. Furred hoods, in particular, were much in fashion.
14. Enuetiymes to deslroye. It was a common belief that precious stones
could cure diseases, and that they were as antidotes against poisons. Th\i<
' Richard Preston, citizen and grocer, gave to the shrine of St. Erkenwald
I
114 NOTES
his best sapphire stone, for curing of infirmities of the eyes' &c. ; note in
Milman's Lat. Christ, vi. 375 ; where Milman quotes from Dugdale, p. 21.
So also, in the Ancren Riwle, pp. 134-136, ed. Morton, Christ is likened to
the agate which the poison of sin cannot approach.
15. Engreyned, i.e. dyed of a fast colour. See the note in Smith's Student's
Manual of English Literature, by P. Marsh, p. 55. Add to the illustrations
there given the following : — " In crammasyn cled and granyt violat ; ' Gawin
Douglas, in Specimens of English, ed. Skeat, p. 127.
19. What, who. But it implies something more, viz. what sort of a
person. So in Layamon, 1. 13844, ' Ich the wullen cuSen what cnihtes we
bee's,' i. e. 'I will inform thee what knights (what sort of knights) we
are.' This is spoken by Hengist, who then proceeds to describe himself
and his companions fully.
20. Mede, i.e. Meed, or Reward; but here used in a bad sense, as the per-
sonification of Bribery. In the twelfth year of Henry III a common seal was
granted to the city of London, and it was ordered that any one who shewed
reasonable cause should be permitted to use it, ' and that no mede schulde be
take no \jior~] payed of eny man in no manner wyse for the said seall ; ' Chron.
of London, p. 13. It is just in this sense that Langley uses it.
21. Lewte, Loyalty. Langley arrays Love, Loyalty, Soothness, Reason,
Conscience, Wisdom, and Wit on the one side, and Meed (daughter of False),
Wrong, Favel or Flattery, Simony, Civil, Liar, and Guile upon the other-
Wisdom and Wit waver in their allegiance, but are won back again. Lines
27-38 are not in the A-text.
27. As kynde axeth, as nature requires or provides. For bona some MSS.
have bonus, for the sake of euphony, much as in French we have man for
ma before nouns beginning with a vowel.
30. O god, one God. Wright's text has So, but it is a misprint for Oo.
31. To marye tuith myself; we should now arrange the words to marry my-
self ivith. With in Middle English is always near its verb, a puzzling arrange-
ment to a learner. So in the Crede, 'to coueren with our bones,' 1. 116.
So, in 1. 116 below, to wratthe with treuthe means 'to anger Truth with.'
Mercy is here the dowry which Holy Church brings to the man who
espouses her.
38. See Ps. xv. 1 (called xiv. in the Vulgate).
39. Mansed, cursed. The word maused in Mr. Wright's text is a mis-
print, as he explains in a note on p. 537, and in his Glossary.
43. Bruydale, bride-ale or bridal. An ale means a feast merely. There
were leet-ales, scot-ales, church-aies, clerk-ales, bid-ales, and bride-ales. The
bride-ales were so called because the bride brewed some ale for her wedding-
day, which her friends purchased at a high price, by way of assisting her and
amusing themselves at the same time. This led to abuses, and we find in
the court-roll of Hales Owen, in the 15th year of Elizabeth, an order ' that
persons brewing wedding-ale to sell, should not brew above 12 strike of malt
at most.' See Brand's Popular Antiquities, ed. Ellis, ii. 144.
TO PASSUS IT. 115
47. Lat hem worth, Sec. ; let them be, till Loyalty be a justice. Cf. note
to Prologue, 1. 187.
49. I bikenne the criste, I commend thee to Christ ; criste is the dative
case of crist.
50. For, on account of; ' on account of greediness of reward.'
59. Brokoures. In the reign of Edward I. a law was passed that 'no one
shall be broker, but those who are admitted and sworn before the Mayor.'
Liber Albus, ed. Riley, p. 505.
62. In Passus xx. the church is described as assailed by numerous enemies.
One is Simony, who causes good faith to flee away, and falseness to abide,
"and who boldly vanquishes much of the wit and wisdom of Westminster
Hall by the use of many a bright noble. He is also there described as con-
triving divorces. By Cytale is meant one skilled in the civil law.
A sisour was (1) a person deputed to hold assizes; and (2) a juror,
though not quite in the modern sense. See Polit. Songs, ed. Wright. ,
344; Tale of Gamelyn, 1. 871.
65. Brokour is here used in the general sense of a contriver of bargains, a
match-maker. Broltage (1. 87) is a treaty made by an agent.
66. Here beire wille, the will of them both. See Beire in the Glossary.
73. Hei}, loudly ; ' to cry out very loudly,' ' to proclaim aloud.'
74. The form of this mock charter may be compared with that of the
charter whereby the Black Prince was invested, in 1362 (the very year in
which Langley wrote the first version of his poem) with the principality
Acquitaine. It is given at length in Barnes's Life of Edward III.
76. Free kynde, liberal nature, liberality of nature, generosity. Ci.
fredom = liberality, in Chaucer, Prol. 46.
78. Feffeth, grants to them ; lit. enfeoffs, i. e. invests them with a fief or fee.
80. To bakbite, to defame. See note to v. 89.
85. ' The County of Covetousness, and all the coasts around it ; ' where
coasts = borders, neighbouring country. See Matt. viii. 34.
95. Frete, to eat, viz. before the proper time for eating arrived.
98. Here is a sudden change from the plural to the singular; his seems to
refer to Falsehood. In 1. 100 there is a sudden change to the plural again,
since here means their. But other passages show that his and hym may be
used indefinitely, as we now use one's and one.
102. A dwellyng, a habitation; the ace. after holde.
103. In-to {invariably in Lowland Scotch, and occasionally in old English)
has the force of in merely.
104. leldyng, giving up in return. Cf. the phrase 'to yield a crop;'
Cvmb. iv. 2. 180. See Pass. v. 296.
108. Of Paulynes doctrine, of the doctrine (or order) of the Paulines.
■In the same yere [1310] began the order of Paulyns, that is to
Crowched Freres.' — A Chronicle of London (edited in 1S27, and published
by Longmans), p. 43. But Matthew Paris says that the order of Crutched
Friars came into England a.d. 1244. In a poem called the Image ol \ |
1 2
Il6 NOTES
crisie, written about a.d. 1/533, a list is given of orders of ?nonks, which in-
cludes the Paulines, the Antonines, Bernardines, Celestines, &c. The C-text
has, Of Paulynes queste, i. e. of the Paulines' inquest or jury ; observe also
that the word Pattlynes occurs again below, 1. 177, in connection with
ecclesiastical law courts.
109. Bedel. ' The duties of the beadle, in ancient times, lay more on the
farm than in the law-court. ... In many places, the bedelry and the hay-
wardship were held together by one person,' &c. See Nooks and Corners of
English Life, by Timbs; p. 233. The oath of the Bedels is given at p. 272
of the Liber Albus. They were to suffer no persons of ill repute to dwell in
the ward of which they were bedels, to return good men upon inquests, not
to be regrators themselves, nor to suffer things to be sold secretly. And at
p. 289 of the same we find — ' Item, that the bedel have a good horn, and
loudly sounding.' It is remarkable that in Text C, Langley changed
Bokyngham-shire (which may merely have been chosen for the alliteration)
into ' Banbury soken? This may have been an intentional fling at the beadle
of Banbury, with whom he may have quarrelled. For it is to be noted that
Banbury is at no great distance from Shipton-under-Wychwood, where
Langley's father is said to have farmed land.
122. Dignus e t enim operarius mercsde ma ; Luke x. 7.
128. But if might very well have been printed but-if with a hyphen, as
it is here practically one word, with the meaning except.
129. Fikel, treacherous, not changeable; so also in iii. 121. Cf. Havelok,
ed. Skeat, 1. I 2 10.
132. For cosyn, as if she were his cousin. An she wolde, if she wished.
137. Witty is tri't/ie, wise is Truth. It must be remembered that Truth
means God the Father, as in Pass. i. 12.
740. Bi-i/te. sit close to, oppress. Soure, bitterly, lit. sourly ; not sorely ;
cf. note to Selections from Chaucer, ed. Skeat, Group. B, 1. 2012.
143. Floreines, florins; the name of which is derived from the city of
Florence. We read in Fabvan (ed. Ellis, p. 455) under the year 1343 — ' In
this ytre also, kynge Edward made a coyne of fine gold, and named it the
floryne, that is to say, the peny of the value of vis. viiirf., the halfe peny of
the value of iiis. iiiio?., and the farthinge of the value of xxd., which coyne
was ordeyned lor his warris in Fraunce; for the golde thereof was not so fine
as was the noble, which he before in his xiiii. yere of his reygne had causyd
to be coyned.' So in Thomas Walsingham, vol. i. p. 262, ed. Riley. The
value of a noble was also 6s. 8c?. See note to Pass. iii. 45. Both florin
and noble are mentioned by Chaucer.
160. Westmynstre. Langley seems to have been very familiar with the
courts of law at Westminster, as appears from the present and two following
Passus. In Pass, xx, we again find him speaking of the 'false folk' who
repair ' to Westmynstre.' The number of statutes enacted there in the reign
of Edward III is considerable. See Liber Albus, p. 470.
TO PASSUS IT. 117
162. Those who had horses could anticipate others at the court, by
performing the journey more quickly, and they could thus obtain a first
audience and administer a bribe. In a poem on The Evil Times of
Edward II we have —
' Coveytise upon his hors he wole be sone there,
And bringe the bishop silver, and rounen in his ere.'
Polit. Songs (Camd. Soc), p. 326.
Langley, however, supposes sheriffs and sisours to serve for horses, puts
saddles on the sompnours, and turns provisors into palfreys.
1 73_1 75- 'As for archdeacons, &c, cause men to saddle them with silver,
in order that they may permit our sin, whether it be adultery or divorces, or
secret usury.'
177. Paulines pryues. It may be that pryues is here the plural adjective,
agreeing with Paulines, as French adjectives not unfrequently take s in the
1 lur.il. If so, the phrase means ' the confidential Paulines.' Otherwise, it
must mean 'the confidential men of the Paulines' fraternity'; which conies
to much the same thing. The MSS. of the A-class read Paulines peple, i.e.
the people of the Paulines. Cf. note to 1. 10S.
185. Tome, leisure. The adjective loom means empty. Toom tabard
(empty tabard) was a nickname given to the king of Scotland, John Baliol, on
account of his little wit It occurs in Burns' Halloween : ' Because he gat
the toom dish thrice,' &c. In William of Palerne, 1. 377S, the bodies of the
slain in battle are collected and borne
'til the tentis, til thei might haue ■ torn hem to bene.'
And again, in the Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 43, the author says —
' Of his trifuls to telle I haue no tome nowe.'
192. And, if. And is often written for an, if; and conversely, an is often
written for the copulative conjunction and, as in 1. 207. The fact is, that an
and and are two forms of the same word. The use of and in the sense of if
is found in Icelandic, in which the word is spelt enda.
196. Meynprise, furnish bail, be security for. A person arrested for debt
or any other personal action might find mainprise or bail, before the slu
or their clerks thereunto deputed. The person finding bail was called a
viainpernour, lit. a taker by the hand, by metathesis from mainpreneur. See
Liber Albus, p. 177 ; and cf. Pass. iv. 11. SS and 1 12.
200. Enykyn?ies yiftis, gifts of any kind. Enykynnes is the genitive sin-
gular, and is also spelt e/iys hynnys, or even assumes the odd form eny siynnys.
Cf. note to Prol. 222.
203. For eny prey ere, in spite of any prayer. Cf. 1. 230.
205. Dome, sentence, decision. Cf. Chaucer, Prol. 323.
211. Doth kym to go, prepares himself to depart. The compassion shewn
to Guile by merchants, and to Liar by pardoners, grocers, and friars, is a
brilliant touch of satire.
Il8 NOTES
213. Shape. For pictures of London shops, see Chambers' Book of Days,
i- 35o.
218. 'Everywhere hooted at, and bidden to pack off.' Ouer al is here
just like the German -liberal I.
230. For knowyng of comeres, to prevent recognition b}' strangers.
236. Wronge, wrung her hands. Attached, arrested ; but the person
arrested might find sureties for his appearance. Liber Albus, pp. 73, 77.
PASSUS III.
13. Somme must here be considered as partitive, and equivalent to some of
them. I have reason to know that the explanation of somme as ' together,"
given in former editions of this book, is wrong.
19. Conscience caste or craft, Conscience's contrivance or art. ' In O. E.
of the fifteenth century, if the noun ended in a sibilant or was followed by a
word beginning with a sibilant, the possessive sign was dropt ; as, a goose
egg, the river side;' Morris, Hist. Outlines, of Eng. Accidence, p. 102. Cf.
Prol. 1. 84.
22. Coupes, coppis. The MSS. carefully distinguish between the spellings
ot these words, and for the latter some read peces. They must not then
be confused if we can help it. The easiest way of making a distinction
would be by supposing the former to mean coops, hoops, or rings. The
Dutch huiper is a cooper; hiip, a vat; but kuipeti is to bind casks with
hoops. We had, in the description of the Lady Meed, her fingers 'fretted
with gold wire, and thereon red rubies ' ; so here, we might have ' hoops of
gold? and ' rings with rubies' Unfortunately there is no support for this
explanation, and it must be admitted that the poet seems to have been
driven by alliteration into making a distinction v/ithout much apparent dif-
terence, unless custom had established some distinction between the French
coupe and the A. S. cuppa. The phrase 'coupes of golde' occurs in the
Ayenbite of Inwyt, ed. Morris, p. 35, and Dr. Morris explains it by cups,
though there is nothing in the context to render this explanation absolutely
certain. About the word coppis there is no difficulty. It is equivalent to
peces (see 1. 89), and therefore means simply cups. Way, in the Promptorium,
Parvulorum, quotes the following — ' A pece of siluer or of metalle, crater,
crater. — 'Crater, vas vinarium, a pyece or wyne cuppe.' — 'Pece, to drinke
in, iasse. Pece, a cuppe, tasse, hanap' It was cailed pece to distinguish
it from the pot or large flagon.
' A capone rosted broght she sone.
A clene klath, and brede tharone,
And a pot with riche wine,
And a pece to fill it yne.'
Ywaine and Gawin, 1. 757 (Ritson's Met. Rom.i. 3
TO PASSUS III. ! I 9
24. Motoun. ' Ye shall vnderstande that a moton is a coyne vsed in
Fraunce and Brytaygne, and is of value, after the rate of sterlynge money,
upon v s., or thereabout.' — Fabyan's Chronicles, ed. Ellis, p. 46S. It was so
called from its bearing an impression of a lamb ; on the other side was a
figure of St. John the Baptist. — Memorials of London, ed. Riley, p. 2)~ .
25. Laugh te thei leue at, they took leave of. To lacche leue, to take-
leave, is a common phrase. The taking of bribes seems to have been a
common failing with justices at this time. Compare —
' Hoc facit pecunia Qnam omnis fere curia jam duxit in uxorem ;
Sunt justiciarii Quos favor et denarii alliciunt a jure.'
Polit. Songs (Camd. Soc), p. 22;.
In particular, ladies seem to have had great influence :
' Sed si quaedam nobilis Pulcra, vel amabilis,
cum capite cornuto, auro circumvoluto,
Accedat ad judicium, Haec expedit negotium, ore suo muto.'
Ibid. p. 226.
ilso note above, Pass. ii. 8.
31. Do calle, (I will) cause your names to be called over. So also
do peynten, (I will) cause to be painted, in 1. 62 below.
32. Shal no leivdnesse lette, no ignorance shall hinder.
34. ' Where really skilful clerks will limp along behind in the rear.' See
Clokke in Glossary.
35. Frere. The knowing ones went to confession to a friar rather than
to a parish priest. Wycliffe complains of this, saying — ' For commonlie if
there be anie cursed Jurour [swearer], extortioner, or avoutrer [adulter
he will not be shriuen at his owne Curate, but go to a flattering Friar, that
will assoile him falsly, for a little mony by yeare, though he be not in wil to
make restitution, and leaue his cursed sinne.' Two treatises against Friars,
ed. James, 1608 ; p. 53.
45. Toke hym a noble. Tyrwhitt remarks (note to Cant. Tales, 13S52),
that — ' to take, in our old language, is also used for to take to, to give, as in
!• 13334.
He toke me certain gold, I wote it well.'
Whether the noble or florin was first coined, and what was the exact value
of them, seem somewhat doubtful, unless we can depend upon the statement
of Fabyan quoted above, Pass. ii. 143, and upon the following statement of
the same, under the year 1339, — ' ^n tms )'cre a'so tne kynge chaungvd his
coyne, and made the noble & the halfe noble of the value of vi s. viii d..
which at this day is worthe viii s. ix d. or x </., & the halfe noble af;er the
rate, if they kepe the trewe weyght,' &c. There is a similar statement in
A Chronicle of London, p. 57, under the fourteenth year of Edward III.
which seems, as in Fabyan, to signify 1339 ratner than 1340: — "also I
kyng made the coyne of goold : that is for to seyne, the noble, the halu
noble, and the ferihyng.' Walsingham gives the date 1343 for the coin;i
120 NOTES
of florins; but some consider the true date to be 1344. In the English
Cyclopaedia, under the heading Coin, we are told that — ' it is from Edward III
that the series of English gold coins really commences, for no more occurs till
1344, when that prince struck florins. The half and quarter-florin were
struck at the same time. The florin was then to go for six shillings, though
now it would be intrinsically worth nineteen. This coin being inconvenient,
as forming no aliquot part of larger ideal denominations, seems to" have been
withdrawn. None have yet been found, but a few quarter-florins are pre-
served in cabinets, and one half-florin is known. In consequence, in the
same year, the noble was published, of 6 s. 8 d. value, forming half a mark,
then the most general idea! form of money. The obverse represents the
king standing on a vessel, asserting the dominion of the sea. The noble was
also attended by its half and quarter. This coin, sometimes called the rose
noble, together with its divisions, continued the only gold coin, till the
angels of Edward IV, 1 465, and the angeltts or half-angels, were substi-
tuted in their place. Henry V is said to have diminished the noble, still
making it go for its former value. Henry VI restored it to its size, and
caused it to pass for 10 s., under the new name of ryal,' &c. Langley
clearly intimates that florins were by no means scarce, and this seems at
first sight to contradict that which is said above. But the fact is simply,
that most of the florins were coined abroad, chiefly at Florence; and it was
ordered that florins de Escu, and florins of Florence, should be current
along with the sterlings, according to their value. See Ruding's Annals of
the Coinage.
48. A wyndowe. A list of people who glazed windows for a new church
of the Friars Miners is given in Monumenta Franciscana, p. 515. One of
the names of subscribers to the expense is that of Isabella, mother of Edward
III. The practice of glazing windows is satirized also by Langley's imitator
in the Crede, 11. 123-128. It was usual to introduce portraits of the bene-
factors in stained glass. Wil sitten vs, will ' sit ' us very highly ; we should
now say — will stand us in a very high amount, i. e. will cost us a great deal.
67. Thi kynde wille, and /hi coste ; thy natural disposition, and thy expenses.
71. Or to greden after goddis men, or to cry out for God's men, i. e. to
send for the friars. Nesciat sinistra, &c. ; Matt. vi. 3.
75. Bit, biddeth ; so ritt, contracted form of rideth. Pass. iv. 13, where
most MSS. have ryt or rit. and one has ridith; and again halt,iox holdeth,
in I. 241 below. Mr. Wright's edition has by, a misprint for byt.
78. Pillories. Under the xvth year of Edward IV, Fabyan tells us that
— 'this yere this mayer (Robert Basset, Salter] dyd sharp correccion vpon
bakers for makynge of lyght brede, in so moche that he sette dyuerse vpon
the pyllory, .... and a woman named Agnes Deyntie was also there
punysshed for sellyng of false myngyd [mixed] butter.' Lydgate has a
ballad about Fraudulent Millers and Bakers, whose true heritage is the pillory
(MS. Harl. 2255). Pynynge-stoles, stools of punishment, also called clicking-
TO PASS US III. 121
stools. The cucking-stool was a seat* of ignominy ; see Chambers' Book of
Days, i. 211. 'In Scotland, an ale-wife who exhibited bad drink to the
public was put upon the Cock slide, and the ale, like such relics of John
Girder's feast as were totally uneatable (see Biide of Lammermoor). was
given to the poor folk.' It was different from the ducking-stool, which was
a punishment for scolds. See Brand ; Popular Antiquities, iii. 102 (note),
and 103. Brand seems to confound the two. See also a long note in
Hudibras, ed. Bell, vol. i. p. 231. Cf. note to Pass. iv. 126.
81. Parcel-mele, by small parcels, i.e. retail.
83. Regraterye, selling by retail. The wholesale dealer was called an
Engrosser (whence our grocer), because he sold in the gross or great piece.
The retail dealer was called a Regrater or Regrateress ; cf. Pass. v. 226.
The frauds and adulterations of the regraters were a constant source of
annoyance, and were continually being complained of. Compare —
' Si status conspicimus, nullus excusatur :
Quod in shopis venditur, male mensuratur ;
1 Quiiibet perjurio vel fraude lucratur,' &c.
Munumenta Franciscana, ed. Brewer, p. 593.
Engrossers and Regraters are not to cause deaniess of victuals; Riley's Liber
Albus, p. 547. Cotgrave explains O. F. regrateur by ' an huckster; mender,
dresser, scowrer, trimmer up of old things for sale.'
85. Tymbred nought, would not have built.
89. Presentz. Presents made, not in money, but in silver cups, &c.
95. The quotation is not from So'omon, but ijom Job. XV. 34: — 'fire
shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.'
99. ^eres^yues. lit. yeargifts. ' Jeresgive [read Yeresgive~\ is a toll or fine
taken by the king's officers on a person's entering an office ; or rather, a sum
of money or bribe, given to them to connive at extortion or other offence in
him that gives it. (See Chart. Hen. II. ; fourth Chart. Hen. III. ; and ninth
Chart. Hen. III.);' Privilegia Londini, by W. Bohun, of the Middle Temple,
1 7 J.; : qu. in N. and Q. 4 S. iv. 560. This definition j erfectlv suits the pre-
sent passage, but we may fairly assume, from the form of the word, that it
once meant an annual donation, like the modern Christmas-box. It came to
be so troublesome that we find special exemptions from it, as in the follow-
ing : ' Also, that the city of London shall be quit of Brudlol, and Childewite,
and Yeresgive, and Scotale;' Liber Albus, ed Riley, pp. 1 17, [38.
100. The kynge. Richard II had just ascended the throne when this re-
vision of the poem was made, but the description was originally intended for
Kdward III, for whom it is much more suitable. See notes to 11. 126 and
186.
126. Alluding to the deposition and death of Edward II.
137. Grotes, lit. great coins, perhaps because, until they were coined, there-
was no silver coin larger than tl but tl:< name arose in Bremen. ' In
this yere [1349] the kynge caused to be coyued grotes and half grotes,
122 NOTES
whiche lacked of the weyghte of his former coyne, ii. s. vi d. in a H. [libra,
pound] Troy.'— Fabyan, p. 461. The groat should have been equal to four
silver pennies, but was only equal to about three and a half. A drawing of
one may be seen in Knight's Pictorial Hist. England, i. 837.
146. Provisors. A writ summoning one to appear for contempt of the
sovereign was called prtzmiinire, from its first word. ' Numerous statutes
have defined what shall be such a contempt as amounts to a praemunire.
Most of the earlier are directed against provisors, as they were called, or
persons who purchased from Rome provisions for holding abbeys or
priories, &c, before those benefices were vacant (25 Edw. Ill, Stat. 5, c. 22.
Stat. 6), or for exemption from obedience to their proper ordinary (2 Hen. IV,
c. 3) or bulls for exemptions from tithes,' &c. — English Cyclopaedia, s. v.
Praemunire. Langley seems to allude to the purchase of sees in particular,
as he speaks of 'these bishops,' 1. 148.
155. ' And lieth against the law, and hindereth it (in its) way.' Gate =
way, as in i. 203. Forth in 1. 156 signifies passage, means of egress.
157. Louedayes. Days on which extra services were rendered to the lord
in seed-time or harvest were sometimes called boon-days or love-days ; ' but
it more commonly meant a law-day, a day set apart for a leet or manorial
court, a day of final concord and reconciliation : ' as we read in the Coventry
Mysteries :—
' Now is the love-day mad of us foure fyniallv,
Now may we leve in pes as we were wonte.'
' Hock-day was usually set apart for a love-day, law-day, or court-leet.' —
Timbs' Nooks and Corners of English Life, pp. 224, 228. [Hock-day was
the second Tuesday after Easter.] William uses the term again, Pass. v.
1. 427, and it occurs in Chaucer, Prol., 1. 258. It was so called because the
object was the amicable settlement of differences.
159. The mase, &c. ' It is bewilderment for a poor man, though he plead
here ever.' Some MSS. have plede instead of mote ; several omit hir, which
is also spelt hire, here, heer. The verb to hear is also sometimes spelt hire.
Cf. 1. 167.
164. Clergye most frequently means learning, as opposed to lewdness,
ignorance. It probably means so here, as bribery makes clever men
covetous.
174. It is a mark of respect for Meed to address the king in the plural
number, and a mark of familiarity or contempt to address Conscience in the
singular. This distinction is very carefully observed by Chaucer, Langley,
and the author of William of Palerne.
180. Hanged on myne half, hung upon my side, clung to my party. The
word is never here written hah [neck] in MSS. of the B-class, although,
curiously enough, the Vernon MS. has tiekke, probably by mistake.
183. Fit I may, &c. 'Yet I may perhaps, as far as I might have the
power, honour thee with gifts.'
TO PASS US III. 123
1R6. Cf. 1. 126. Meed here repudiates the charge, and appeals to the
king himself (Edward III).
iS^. This alludes to Edward's wars in Normandy, and, in particular, to
the treaty sealed at Rretigny, near Chartres, on the 8th of May, 1360.
Edward renounced his claim to the crown of France, and his claim to Nor-
mandy, Anjou, Touraine, and Maine, and restored all his conquests except
Calais and Guisnes ; but reserved Poitou, Guienne, and the county of
Ponthieu. The dauphin agreed to pay, for the ransom of his father King
John, the sum of 3,000,000 scutes (escus) or crowns of gold. See Lingard.
ijv. 118; Thomas Walsingham, i. 290; Fabyan, p. 471. The sufferings of
the English in their previous retreat from Paris to Bretagne were very great,
and they encountered a most dreadful tempest near Chartres, with violent
wind and heavy hail. Hence the allusions in the text to the cold, to the
lengthening out of winter till May, to the dim cloud, and to the famine from
which the army suffered. ' It is to be noted,' says Stow, ' that the 14 day
of April, and the morrow after Easter Day (1360), King Edward with his
host lav before the city of Paris ; which day was full dark of mist and hail.
and so bitter cold, that many men died on their horsebacks with the cold ;
wherefore unto this day it hath been called the Black Monday.' Meed
suggests that instead of exacting money, Edward should have foregone it, or
even have paid some, to secure to himself the kingdom of France. The
articles agreed to at Bretigny were never fulfilled.
190. For colde, i. e. to keep off the cold. See note to vi. 62.
200. Marschal. ' When the king summoned his military tenants, the earl
constable and earl mareschal held the principal command under the sove-
reign ; but in armies raised by contract, he appointed two or more mareschals,
whose duty it was to array the forces and to direct their movements.' — Lin-
gard, iv. 190.
220. The kynge hath mede, &c. This was a great abuse; the king some-
times accepted a fine from a delinquent who should have been brought
to justice, and who thus obtained the ' king's peace.' Cf. note to Pass. iv.
73-
224. Alfeynnes crafty men, skilled men (craftsmen) of every kind.
230. Here Conscience distinguishes between the two meanings of Meed,
viz. (1) divine reward, shewn by God to well-doers, and (2) corruption or
bribery.
233. This and the two next quotations are from Psalm xv, called Ps. xiv
in the Vulgate.
236. Assoileth it, solves the question.
237. Of 0 colour, of one colour, pure, spotless.
240. The quotation ends — innocentem nan accepit.
241. Halt, holdeth ; cf. bit, biddeth, &c.
247. Ps. xxvi. 10 (xxv. 10 in the Vulgate).
252. Matt. vi. 5. Most MSS. read recipiebant.
124 NOTES
257. Regum, the book of Kings; i.e. the first book, generally called the
first book of Samuel. See 1 Sam. xv.
258. There is no apparent alliteration, but Langely considers v and f to
answer to one another, as in Pass. ii. 60, so that veniaunce rimes to fel ;
whilst in the second half of the verse Saul rimes to children (shildren).
261. See Exod. xvii. 8 for the sin of Amalek.
262, 263. Hoteth the be boxome, bids thee to be obedient.
267. Cf. 'Movable good, as cuppe, or chalice, mytir, bacul, or immovable
good, as hous, feeld, wode ' ; Pecock's Repressor, ii. 386.
279. ' In case it should annoy men, I will make no ending,' i. e. draw no
conclusion.
2S4. Somme, to some; dat. plural.
291. His wille, the will of Truth, i.e. of God.
292. Leute, &c. 'Loyalty and no one else, shall execute the law upon
him.' See Lyf in the Glossary.
293. Silke howue, (white) silk hood. Cf. note to Prol. 1 10.
295. Of mysdoeres, out of misdoers, from amongst misdoers.
296. Ouer lordes lawes, superseding lords' laws.
298. With this line Pass iii., in the A-text, abruptly terminates. The
admirable addition here made was suggested, I feel confident, by the recent
proclamation of a jubilee, in the last year of Edward III (Feb. 1377), pro-
claimed because the king had attained the fiftieth year of his reign. Taking
his cue from this, the poet hopes that the new reign of Richard II, then
just begun, may usher in a new era of perfect peace; but, in 1. 323, he sud-
denly prophesies that certain rather unlikely events will first happen, thus
revealing his fear that no such good time was really at hand. I find this
suggestion confirmed by a similar passage in John of Bridlington's pretended
prophecies, bk. iii. c. viii. ; cf. note to 1. 323.
303. Baslarde. ' Temp. Rich. II, civilians wore swords called baselards
or badelaires. Example ; monument of a civilian, King's Sombourne Church,
Hants, 13S0.' — Godwin's Handbook of English Archaeology, p. 261. ' The
baselard was of two kinds, straight and curved ... By Statute 12 Rich. II,
c. vi, it was provided that — " null servant de husbandrie ou laborer ne ser-
vant de artificer ne de vitailler porte desore enavant baslard, dagger, nespee
[ftor sword^ sur forfaiture dicelle." Priests were strictly inhibited from
wearing this instrument of war, but the rule was constantly broken.' — Note
by Peacock to Myrc's Instructions for Parish Priests (Early English Text
Society). The frequent enactments against the wearing of weapons by
civilians, &c, in the reigns of Edward III and Richard II, show how often
this law was disregarded. See Liber Albus, pp. 335, 554, 555. See also
note to 1. 309, below.
306. See Isaiah ii. 4, quoted in note to 1. 322.
307. Pykoys, a mattock ; now cleverly corrupted to 'pick-axe.'
309. To hunt (not with hounds, but) with placebo means to be diligent
TO PASSUS IV. 125
in singing placebo, i. e. in studying the breviary. In Pass. xv. we find the
author speaking of ploughing with placebo : —
' Sire Johan and sire Geffrey ■ hath a girdel of silver,
A baselard or a ballok-knvf ' with botons over-gilte,
Ac a porthors, that sholde be his plow ■ placibo to sigge,
Hadde he nevere service to save silver therto ■ seith it with ydcl
wille.' Tiers PI. ed. Wright, p. 302 ; or ed. Skeat, B. xv. 1 20.
A laKr spelling of porthors is portous; it means a breviary. The placebo
was the Office for the Dead at Vespers, which began—' Placebo domino in
regione viventium' (Ps, cxvi. 9, or cxv. 9 in the Vulgate). To ' sing placebo'
came to be used in a humorous sense, to signify complaisance. H<.nce the
name Placebo for a flattering character in Chaucer's Marchauntes Tale.
316. After the dede, according to the deed; cf. 'neither reward us after
our iniquities ' in the Litany.
322. Isaiah ii. 4 : ' Et judicabit gentes, et arguet populos multos: et con-
flabunt gladios suos in vonicrcs, et lanceas suas in fa'ces : non levabit gens
contra gentem gladium, nee exercebuntur ultra ad prselium.' Cf. Wyclifs
Works, ed. Arnold, i. 321, 322.
323. Fanciful prophecies were then in vogue ; see those of John of Brid-
lington, in Political Poems, ed. Wright, vol. i. William has another similar
one at the end of Pass. vi. This present one merely vaguely hints at a final
time when Jews and Mahometans shall be converted. Line 325 is easily
explained. The middle of a moon is the full moon, and to turn in M. E.
means to be converted. It means — thoughts upon the Paschal full moon
will convert the Jews. As to the six suns, compare ' three suns' in 3 Hen. VI.,
ii. 1. 25.
327. Prov. xxii. I.
330. The question is not from the book of Wisdom, but from Prov. xxii.
9. Meed quotes only half of it, for which Conscience reproves her, and
quotes the rest, 1. 345. The full verse is — ' Victoriam et honorem acquiret
qui dat munera ; animam autem aufert accipientium.'
333. I hue we I, I well believe, I fully grant.
334. The lady read but half the text. It is — 'Omnia autem probate,
quod bonum est tenete.' I Thess. v. 21.
342. Were gode, would be good.
344. Seche sajience eft, refer to the book of Wisdom [Proverbs] again.
349. Sonde, gift. Conscience here adds the rest of the quotation, which
Meed, less accurate, had omitted.
PASSUS IV.
5. But resoun rede me, unless Reason advise me.
17. Tomrne trewe-tonge ; mentioned before, Pass. iii. 320.
18. Le>yng, leasing, lying, an idle tale to laugh at.
126 NOTES
' Trofels sal i yow nane tell,
Ne lesinges forto ger [make] yow lagh.'
Ywaine and Gawin (Ritson's Met. Rom.), 1. 150.
19. Reason tells his servant Cato (so named, probably, from Dionysius
Cato, whom our author often quotes) to put a saddle upon Patience, and to
restrain Patience further by means of girths and a heavy bridle, as he will be
sure to shew signs of impatience before long. To make wehe is to make
a neighing sound, to neigh, wehe being an imitation of that sound, as in the
Welsh wihi. In the Ayenbite of Inwyt (ed. Morris, 1868, p. 204) is a similar
passage. ' Thanne the bodiliche wyttes byeth ase thet hors thet yernth
wyth-oute bridle zuo thet hit deth falle his lhord. Ac the herte chaste ham
ofhalt mid the bridle of skele ; ' i. e. then the bodily wits are as the horse
that runneth without bridle, so that it causes its lord to fall. But the chaste
heart restrains them with the bridle of discernment.
25. Whiche, what sort of, what kind of; a common meaning of whiche.
31-41. These lines are not in the earliest version (A-text).
34. There as, there where. Contricio, &c. This quotation and the
next are from Ps. xiv. 7 (xiii. 3, Vulgate) : — ' Contritio et infelicitas in
viis eorum, et viam pacis non cognoverunt : non est timor Dei ante oculos
eorum.'
45. His sone, Edward the Black Prince, a great favourite with the people.
He did not leave England to take possession of Acquitaine till Feb. 2, 1363.
Langley having once inserted this in the earliest version of his poem, does
not seem to have thought it worth while to alter it, as he retains the ex-
pression his sone even in his latest version (C-text). Cf. note to 1. 173.
47. Put forth a bille ; in the Vernon MS., put up a bille, which is the
more usual expression, as in Fabyan's Chronicles [1410-11] : — 'The com-
mons of this lande put vp a bylle vnto the kyng,' &c.
48. Wronge is a representative of the oppressive tribe known as the king's
purveyors. The peasantry often complained of them bitterly, accusing them
of taking things by violence ; see note to 1. 58. In the poem of King
Edward and the Shepherd (printed by Hartshorne in his Ancient Metrical
Tales) is the following : —
'I hade catell, now have I non;
Thay take my bestis, and don thaim slon,
And payen but a stick of tre . . . .
Thai take geese, capons and henne,
And alle that ever thei may with renne,
And reves us our catell ....
Thei toke my hennes and my geese,
And my schepe with all the fleese,
And ladde them forth away.'
So in Political Songs (Camd. Soc. 1839), P* ^6 —
'Est vitii signum pro victu solvere lignum.'
TO PASSUS IV. j 27
So in God spede the Plough, printed at the end of Pierce the Ploughman's
Crede, ed. Skeat, 1S67, p. 70: —
1 The kingis puruiours also they come,
To haue whete and otys at the kyngis nede ;
And over that befe and Mutton,
And butter and pulley n \j>oultry], so God me spede!
And to the kyngis court wc moste it lede,
And our payment shalbe a styk of A bough ;
And yet we moste speke faire for drede —
I praye to God, spede wele the plough ! '
55. To maintain was the legal term for to aid and abet in wrongdoing;
cf. Pass. iii. 90, 149.
56. ' Forestalls my (sales at) fairs.' See Forstalleth in the Glossary.
5S. And taketh me, &c. ; and gives me a tally (and nothing else) for ten
quarters of oats; cf. note to iii. 45. The statements in the note to 1. 4S
were often true in two senses ; the peasants were paid (1) by a wooden tally,
and (2) by a beating, as Langley says in the next line. An exchequer
tally was an account of a sum lent to the Government. The tally itself was
a rod of hazel (one of a pair that tallied), with notches on it to indicate the
sum lent. It was not easy to realise this sum afterwards. Cf. Chaucer,
Prol. 570.
72. But if Mede, &c. ; unless Meed arrange matters for you, thy mis-
fortune is aloft. Myschief means, in Middle English, mishap, ill-luck. Vppe
is here an adverb, on high, aloft, in the ascendent.
73. Lyth in his grace. Offenders convicted of great crimes were put in
the king's grace, who could hang them and confiscate their property, unless
he were pleased to shew mercy. Sometimes he was satisfied with exacting
a heavy fine ; see 11. 88, 89.
86. Seuene ^ere, seven years ; a proverbial expression for a long period.
So also in Pass. v. 208.
109. But loiunesse hym borwe, unless submission go bail for him.
1 1 2. Moste be, might be. Meynpernour ; see note to 1. 196 of PaSs. ii. Cf.
' And to prison he goth, he gette[th] no bettir,
Till his maynpernour his areste unfettir,' &c.
Occleve, de Regim. Princip. ed. Wright, p. 86,
115. Harlo'rye, ribaldry, buffoonery, jester's tales.
116. Pernelle or Peronelle (from Petronilla) was a proverbial name for
a gaily dressed bold-faced woman; it would be long before she put away
her finery in a box. May 31 was dedicated to S. Petronilla the Virgin.
She was supposed to be able to cure the quartan ague ; Chambers' Book of
Days, ii. 389. Hucche, a clothes-box; see Our English Home, p. 101.
1 1 7. And childryn, &c. ; and the cherishing of children be, that they be
chastised with rods. To cherish is to cccker, spoil. Ckildryn is the genitive
plural, like clerken in 1. 1 19.
128 NOTES
118. Harlotes, ribalds, jesters, buffoons; it is applied to both sexes, but
much more commonly to males in Early English. Be holden for an hyne,
be considered of small value, i. e. be no longer rare ; see Hyne in the
Glossary. The Harleian MS. 875 reads — be preised fid highe.
120. And religious romares, &c ; and pilgrims stay at home and sing
recordare in their cloisters. Recordare is the first word of a mass for avoid-
ing sudden death, appointed by Pope Clement at Avignon, the recital of
which secured to the hearers 260 days' indulgence. This is best shewn by
the following rubric from the Sarum Missal, 1532; fol. lij. ' Missa pro
mortalitate evitanda, quam dominus papa clemens fecit et constituit in col-
legio, cum omnibus cardinalibus ; et concessit omnibus penitentibus vere
contritis et confessis sequentem missam audientibus .cclx. dies indulgentie.
Et omnes audientes sequentem missam debent portare in manu vnam can-
delam ardentem dum missam audiunt per quinque dies sequentes ; et tenere
earn in manu per totam missam genibus flexis: et eis mors subitanea nocere
pon poterit ; et hoc est certum et approbatum in auinione et in partibus cir-
cumuicinis.' Then follows — ' Officium. Recordare, domine, testamenti tui,
et die angelo percutienti, cesset jam manus tua: vt non desoletur terra: et
ne perdas omnem animam viuam :' &c.
By Clement must be meant Clement V, who removed the papal sec to
Avignon in 1309, and died in 1314. It was he who first made public sa!c
of indulgences in 131 3, and whose decretals and constitutions, known as the
Clementines, were collected and published in 130S.
121. Saint Benedict, founder of the Benedictine order of monks, was born
about a.d. 480, and died about a.d. 542. Saint Bernard, of Cistercium or
Citeaux. near Chalons, better known as S. Bernard of Clairvaux, founded
the order of Cistercians or Bernardines ; he was born a.d. 1091, died 1 153.
St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order of friars or Friars
Minorites, was born 1182, died 1226.
124. ' Till bishops' horses be turned into beggars' chambers;' i.e. till the
money spent by bishops on horses go to furnish rooms for beggars.
126. There I shal assigne, where I (Reason) shall ordain. There is no
need to go to Gallicia, where is the shrine of St. James of Compostella.
See note to Prol. 1. 47, and compare —
■ But, bi seint Jame of Galice, that many man hath souht,
The pilory and the cucking-stol beth i-mad for nouht.'
Political Songs (Camden Soc), p. 34.5.
In the C-text, Reason does assign places to find S. James in ; viz. prisons,
poor cottages, and sick-rooms.
128. Rome-renneres, runners to Rome. ' And all Rome-runners bear no
silver over sea that bears the image of the king, for the sake of enriching
robbers that dwell beyond sea.' Part of the procurator's oath to the Eng-
lish king was — ' that he would not send money out of the k'ngdom without
the royal license.' — Lingard, iv. 205. In 1376, the commons presented a
TO PASSUS V. 129
petition to the king, stating that the taxes paid yearly by them to the pope
amounted to five times the royal revenue. ' In the reign of Henry III, the
Italians who were beneficed here, drew from England more than thrice the
an unit of the king's revenues, fleecing, by means of priests, who were aliens
also, the flock which they never fed.' — Southey ; Book of the Church,
p. 187 (6th ed., 1848). Fabyan says that in 1365, Peter's pence were com-
manded to be no more gathered, but he adds — ' neuerthelesse at this present
tyme [Henry VII.] they be gaderyd in sondry shyres of Englande ; ' p. 477.
143. ' For the man named nullum malum met with one called impunitum,'
1 &c. This is merely a way of introducing the words in italics. The ori-
ginal passage is ' Ipse est iudex iustus ... qui nullum malum praeterit im-
punitum, nullum bonum irremuneratum ' ; Pope Innocent, De Contemptu
Mundi, lib. iii. c. 15.
145. Construe this vnglosed, interpret this without a commentary.
149-156. Not in the earliest version.
156. I falle in, I fall amongst, I meet with. Warin Wisdom used to meet
with a florin (of course by accident), and suddenly find himself unable to plead.
173-182. Not in the earliest version. Observe that in 1. 177 is the
phrase — if I reign any while. This is an obvious allusion to the very recent
accession of Richard II, as is also the story of belling the cat in the Prologue.
The B-text seems to have been written in 1377, whereas the A-text (which
omits the phrase if 1 reign any while) has always (rightly) been supposed
to belong to the year 1362, when Edward was already in the thirty-sixth
year of his long reign.
189. Be my cotueiVe comen, when my council is come. The Trinity MS.
(printed by Mr. Wright} has By my counseil commune, by my common
council ; which is certainly a corrupt reading.
PASSUS V.
3. Then waked I. Here the first vision ends, viz. that of the Field Full
of Folk, Holy Church, and Lady Meed. In 1. 8, the second vision begins
and may be called the Vision of the Seven Deadly Sins, and of Piers
the Plowman. This vision begins with a view of the field before spoken of,
whilst Reason preaches a sermon to the folk there collected.
13. Thise pestilences. There were three (some reckon four) terrible pesti-
lences at this period, which were long remembered, and which proved such
scourges that the land was left partly untitled, so that severe famine ensued.
They took place in 1348 and 1349. 1361 and 1362, and 1369; a fourth
was in 1375 and 1376. The two first are here alluded to. The first of
these is computed to have begun at various dates. Mr. Wright gives an
extract from one of the Cotton MSS., and says that it began May 31, 1348.
Lingard says that it reached Dorchester in August, and London in Sep-
tember, 1348. Fabyan says it began in August, 1348. Sir H. Nicolas, in
K
13°
NOTES
The Chronology of History, p. 345, says May 31, 1349, which is surely the
wrong year. It terminated on the 29th September, 1349. This was the
plague called the black death, which occasioned Boccaccio's Decamerone.
The second pestilence is the one to which Langley more immediately
alludes. It lasted from August 15, 1361, to May 3, 1362. Some records
are dated from the times of these plagues. Allusions to them as God's
punishments for sin are common in the writers of the period.
14. Southwest wynde. Tyrwhitt first pointed out that this is an allusion
to the violent tempest of wind on Jan. 15, 1362, which was a Saturday.
He refers to the mention of it by Thorn, Decern Script, col. 2122 ; by Wal-
singham (see Riley's edition, vol. i. p. 296) ; and by the Continuator of Adam
Murimuth, p. 1 15. The last notice is the most exact. 'A.D. m.ccc.lxii,
xv die Januarii, circa horam vesperarutn, ventus vehemens notus Australis
Africus tanta rabie erupit,' &c. Walsingham calls it nothus Auster Africus.
It is alluded to by many other chroniclers also. Fabyan says, p. 475 — 'In
this xxxvii yere, vpon the daye of seynt Mauryce, or the xv daye of januarii,
blewe so excedynge a wynde that the lyke therof was nat seen many years
passed. This began about euynsong tytne in the South,'' &c. He says it
lasted for five days. We find the same notice again in A Chronicle of
London, p. 65, where it is said to have taken place, in the year 1 361, on
' seynt Maurys day.' This means the same year (viz. 1 361-2), which was
called 1361 during the months of January and February, and 1362 after-
wards ; according to the old reckoning. Fabyan wrongly calls it the day
of St. Maurice ; the 15th of January is the day of St. Maur, a disciple of
St. Bennet. It is noticed again in Hardyng's Chronicles, ed. Ellis, 181 2,
p. 330. Blomefield tells us that it blew down the spire of Norwich Cathedral.
It will be observed that the second great pestilence was prevailing at the
time.
24, 25. Cf. Prol. 22, and the latter part of Pass. vi.
26, 27. Cf. note to Pass. iv. 1 16, and see I. 63 below.
28. Thomme Stowue, &c. A difficult passage. Whitaker has Stone and
wynen, and explains it — ' He taught Thorn. Stone to take two sticks, and
fetch home Felice, his spouse, from drinking wine.' This does not explain
pyne. The MSS. have Stowue, stouue, Stowe, of stowue ; in the unprinted
Trinity MS. the other word is clearly wyuene. Like kyngene, clerken, it is
a genitive plural, and as pyne invariably means punishment, wyuene pyne is
only one more allusion to the women's punishment, the cucking-stool. I
suppose the sentence to mean that Tom Stowe, who had neglected his wife
and let her get into bad ways, or who had allowed her to be punished as
a scold, had much better fetch her home than leave her exposed to public
derision. Such an errand would require a strong arm, and two staves would
be very useful in dispersing the crowd. I do not think it is meant that he
is to beat her, for then one would have sufficed ; nor would Reason give such
bad advice.
TO PASSVS V. 131
30. Watt, the contraction of Water, which was another form of Waller,
and by no means uncommon. ' Nout Willam ne Water;' Ancren Riwle,
p. 340.
3 1 . Hire hed. Nothing so invited satire as the head-dresses of the females.
I Chaucer makes the wife of Bath's to have weighed ten pounds! The hair
was generally enveloped in a caul of network of gold, which fitted close to
both sides of the face. Thus, in the Crede, we read of ' great-headed queans,
with gold by the eyes,' 1. 84.
32. Bette, a male name, as in ii. 109. It is the same as Bat, i. e. Bar-
tholomew.
33. Betoun, evidently Bette's daughter. Cf. 1. 306.
35, 36. ' Let no anxiety for gain cause your children a moral loss, nor
unreasonably indulge them because you fear the power of the pestilence.
Fi>r-weny means to spoil, lit. to for-wean, i. e. to wean amiss. Hence the
A.S. forwened means proud, i.e. spoilt, over-humoured; and in his poem of
Richard the Redeles, Pass. i. 1. 27, our author says of King Richard's courtiers
that they ' walwed in her willis ■ fonveyned in here youthe.' The phrase
forwened child = a spoilt child, occurs also in O. Eng. Homilies, ed. Morris,
2nd Ser. p. 41, where it is opposed to wel-)>eaud child, or well-behaved
child. Lines 36-41 are not in the A-text. At the time when they were
added, both the third and fourth pestilences, viz. of 1369 and 1375, had
taken place. Hence there was additional reason to fear that the anxiety
to rear children would lead to excessive indulgence to them.
38. The latere childe, &c. ; to the dearer child, the more teaching is ne-
cessary. This was a common proverb, as pointed out by Mr. Wright, and
is found in the proverbs of Hendyng, written about 1300 — ' Luef child lore
byhoueth, Quoth Hendyng.' See Specimens of Early English, ed. Morris and
Skeat, pt. ii. p. 36 ; or Reliq. Antiq. i. p. no. So in the poem called How
the Goodwife Taught her Daughter —
'And jif thou loue thin childryn, loke thou holde hem lowe ;
5if any of hem do amys, curse hem nought ne blowe,
But take a smerte rodde, and bete hem alle by rowe,
Til thei crye mercy, and be here gylte aknowe.'
Hazlitt's Early Pop. Poetry, vol. i. p. 191.
The original source is Prov. xiii. 24 — ' Qui parcit virgae, odit filium suum ;
qui autem diliget ilium, instanter erudit.'
43. That ye prechen, that which ye preach. Cf. Pass. iv. 122.
49-56. Not in the A-text. Added, probably, in 1377, as a hint to the
new king. In the latest version (C-text), he further adds some advice to the
commons, not to quarrel amongst themselves. He also, in that version,
lengthens out his advice to the pope ; but the advice to the judges he
omits.
56. Quoted from Matt. xxv. 12.
58. Seynt treuthe, i.e. the Truth of the Divine Nature, formerly spoken of
K 2
132 NOTES
as being God the Father, but here spoken of as being the Holy Ghost. MS.
Harl. 3954 makes Piers Plowman equivalent to Christ, and its last Passus
ends thus — ' Explicit tractus de perys plowman . . . qui cum patre et spiritu
sancto vivit et re gnat per omnia scecula sceculorum. Amen.' If for spiritu
sancto we substitute filio, we have the true Latin ending of Reason's sermon
in full. To it, however, the preacher adds a pious wish for the welfare of
those who follow his advice. Compare —
' And whan this frere had sayd al his entent,
With qui cum patre forth his way he went.'
Chaucer, Somp. Tale, 25.
61. ' Then ran Repentance, and repeated Reason's theme, and made Will
weep water with his eyes.' Will means the author himself, who calls him-
self Will in many other places, in the same off-hand manner.
y^ 62. Superbia. One of the commonest of subjects in old authors is a
description of the Seven Deadly Sins. See Chaucer's Persones Tale, passim ;
an anonymous poem called ' Gyf me lysens to lyue in Ease,' and a poem of
The Mirror of the Periods of Man's Life, both edited for the Early English
Text Society by Mr. Fumivall, the first in Political, Religious, and Love
Poems, p. 215; the second in Hymns to the Virgin and Christ, p. 58. In
these, the opposites of the sins are given, as here enumerated. (1) Superbia,
Pride; opposed to Humilitas, Humility. (2) Luxuria, Lechery; Castitas,
Chastity. (3) Invidia, Envy ; Caritas, Love. (4) Ira, Anger ; Patientia,
Patience. (5) Avaritia, Coveitise or Covetousness ; Eleemosyna, Largeness
or Bounty. (6) Gula, Gluttony ; Abstinentia, Abstinence, Measure, or
Moderation. (7) Accidia, Sloth ; Vigilantia, Business. Our author him-
self supplies names for the opposites, in Pass. v. 11. 629-632 ; but he puts
Pees for the opposite of Anger, and Patience for that of Sloth. Of all the
Seven Sins, Pride is the chief, and the root and spring of the rest. It is
expressed in Shakespeare by ambition : —
'Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition;
By that sin fell the angels.'
Henry VIII, iii. 2, 441.
Cf. note to Pass. i. 105. It is singular that it is the only vice which Langley
personifies by a female. He doubtless does so with particular reference to
extravagance in dress, to repress which a special Statute was passed in 1363.
See Lingard, iv. 91 {note). In the C-text, however, is a long additional
passage, in which the confession of Peronel Proud-heart is supplemented by
that of a male example of Pride. In Pass. xix. Pride is made leader of the
Vices, who attack the Church of Unity.
66. An heyre, a hair shirt. 'She made grete abstynence, and wered the
hayre upon the Wednesday and upon the fryday ' ; Knight de la Tour, ed.
Wright, p. 193.
72. Luxuria. In all the versions of his poem, Langley purposely curtails
his description of this vice. His chief warning is against getting drunk upon
TO PASSUS V. 133
a Saturday, when work was over sooner than on other days, as it was the
eve of Sunday. To drink tvith the duck (1. 75) is to drink water, as a duck
does when she is thirsty.
76. Invidia. The reader should compare the descriptions in Langley with
those iu Dunbar's Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins, and in Spenser's Faerie
Queene, bk. i. canto iv. stanzas 8-35.
77. Mea culpa. The form of confession contained the words — ' Peccavi
nimis cogitatione, locutione, et opere : mea culpa.' See Procter on the
Common Praver. p. 193.
78. A pelet, a pellet, ball used as a war-missile, commonly nude of stone,
whence the present simile.
89. Bakbitynge. ' Bacbitares, ]>e bite'5 oi5re men bihinden,' backbiters
that bite other men behind, i.e. defame them ; Ancren Riwle, p. 86. In the
Rolls of Parliament, at the opening of the Parliament of 2 Richard II, in the
year 1378, we find — ' Q[ sont appellez Bacbyters, sont auxi come chiens qi
mangeont les chars crues,' &c. See Jesse's Anecdotes of the British Dog, v.
2. p. 94.
92. Gybbe, short for Gilbert ; whence Gibbs and Gibson. A Gib~cat means
a male-cat ; we now say a Tom-cat. See Gib-cat in Nares.
94. Eunuyed, annoyed; the Trinity MS. has anoyed. It is not enuyed.
envied, for this would spoil the alliteration.
IOI. ' I salute him courteously, as if I were his friend.'
108. Bolle. The 'bowl' and the 'broken (i.e. torn or ragged) sheet'
were things of no value, but Envy could not refrain from cursing the thief.
The bowl was probably a large wooden one, used to contain scraps of broken
victuals. It was sometimes large enough to contain a baby.
' And at the londes ende laye ' a litell crom-bolle.
And thereon lay a little childe, ■ lapped in cloutes.'
Crede, 1. 437.
1 10. The early version has —
' How Heyne hab a new cote ■ and his wyf another.'
The coat was an article of female as well as of male attire, but the word is
much more often used in the latter sense, to which it is now restricted. Cf.
Solomon's Song, v. 3.
111. Al \e webbe after, and (I wish that) the whole piece of cloth (from
which the coat was cut) were mine too.
112. Of, at. That liketk, that pleases.
1 14. And deme, &c. ' And judge that they do ill, where I do far worse.'
121. Is yuel to defye, are difficult to digest.
122—124. 'Cannot any sugar or sweet thing (be found to) assuage my
swelling, nor any expectorant drive it out of my heart, nor any kind of
penance or shame (relieve me), except some one were (actually) to scrape
my maw?' A forcible way of expressing the question — 'can none but
the most violent measures relieve my moral sickness ? ' Diapenidion answers
134 NOTES
almost exactly to. the modern barley-sugar, being a kind of sweet stuff twisted
into a thread, and used to relieve coughs, &c. The prefix Dia is explained by
Cotgrave as ' a tearme set before medicinall confections, or electuaries, that
were devised by the Greeks.' Hence our author says elsewhere (B. xx. 173)
that Life strove to drive Death away ' with dias and drugs.' The termina-
tion penidion means a little twist (of thread, originally), being a diminutive
of the Greek iri}vr\, thread. This penidion became pvnide in French, and
pennet in English, according to Cotgrave's explanation, who says — ' Penide,
f. a Pennet ; the little wreath of sugar taken in a cold.' This puzzling word
is thus completely explained ; it only remains to add that I am indebted for
the explanation of it to Professor Morley.
127. 'I am sorry; I am but seldom otherwise.' Surely a most clever
rejoinder.
129-187. Not in the earliest version. Observe that Langley now intro-
duces the words dwelling in London.
130. And gert, ' And caused detraction to be made by means of a broker,
to find fault with other men's ware.' That is, he employed brokers to
depreciate his neighbours' goods. Be is the preposition by. The oath of the
brokers, given at p. 273 of the Liber Albus, obliged them not to be them-
selves dealers in the merchandize in which they were brokers, nor to make
any bargain unless they bring buyer and seller together, and lawfully witness
the sale.
134. Ira. Curiously enough, Langley entirely omitted this vice in his
earliest version. Seeing his mistake, he elaborated the character with great
care. He makes Wrath to have been a friar, the nephew of an abbess ; he
was first employed as gardener to the convent, and afterwards as cook in the
kitchen. Langley doubtless refers to the terrible wrath then displayed by
the secular clergy against the friars, and by the friars against them, and even
by one order of friars against another. Compare the description of Ire in
Chaucer, Somp. Tale, 299.
138-150. A slightly difficult, but important passage. It means — ' I
(continually) grafted lying tales upon limilors and lectors, till they bare
leaves of servile speech, to flatter lords with, and afterwards they blossomed
abroad in (my lady's) bower, to hear confessions. And now there is fallen
therefrom a fruit, that folk have much rather shew their schrifts to them
than shrive themselves to their own parsons. And now that the parsons
have found out that friars share (the profits of confession) with them, these
possessionem preach (to the people) and calumniate the friars ; and the friars
(on the other hand) find them to be in fault, as people bear witness, (and
say) that when they preach to the people, in many places about (jt will be
found), that I, i. e. Wrath, go with them, and teach them out of my books.
Thus both parties talk about spiritual power, so that each despises the other,
till either they are both beggars, and live by the spiritual authority which I
give them, or else they are all rich, and ride about (like rich people).
TO PASSUS V. I35
I Wrath never rest from following about this wicked folk — for such is my
grace.' Wrath here insinuates that the quarrel generally terminates in one
of two ways : either the secular clergy turn beggars like the friars, or the
friars obtain wealth enough to buy horses like the secular clergy. The
(juarrel was, as to which should hear confessions.
138. Limilours were members of a convent to whom a certain limited
district was assigned to beg in, in order that, each mendicant having a certain
round to make, no family might be left unsolicited. Bread, bacon, cheese,
logs of wood, &c, were often ready for the limitour when he called. See
Massingberd's Eng. Reformation, p. no; and Chaucer, Prol., 1. 209; and
Somp. Tale, 1. 3. Listres are lectors. This is ascertained by the following
entry in the Promptorium Parvulorum, a.d. 1440. ' Lyysterre [various read-
ings lystyr, lystore, listyr] Lector.' The editor, Mr. Way, says this is ' the
reader, who occupied the second place in the holy orders of the Church.'
By second place is meant second in ascending order. The seven orders,
excluding the bishop, were the ostiary (door-keeper), lector, exorcist, aco-
lytbj sub-deacon, deacon, and presbyter. Some MSS. have legislres, but
this would mean lawyers and would be out of place; cf. Pass. vii. 14.
Mr. Wright guessed listres to mean deceivers, from A.S. list, deceit; and Lye
translates the A.S. lyster by the Latin fautor, one who favours or flatters.
Lister as a proper name is quite a different word, being corrupted from
litster, a dyer.
144. Possessionem; see Chaucer's Sompnoures Tale, 1. 14. Tyrwhitt
says — ' An invidious name for such religious communities as were endowed
with lands. The Mendicant orders professed to live entirely upon alms.'
Mr. Wright says — 'the regular orders of monks, who possessed landed
property and enjoyed rich revenues,' &c. Wycliffe remarks that ' some
receauen dymes and dotations, as don these possessioners, but some forsaken
al such tythes and possessions, as Friers mendicants'; Two Treatises, ed.
James, p. 6. But it is probable that, in the present passage, a possessioner
means one of the beneficed clergy, as the word persones is used as an equi-
valent. And it is worth remarking, that this same explanation will suit the
context in Chaucer's Sompnoures Tale just as well as if we suppose monks
to be intended. Observe, for instance, 1. 19 : —
' Nought for to hold a prest jolif and gay ; '
and, farther on, the friar says, —
'These curates ben ful negligent and slowej*
' This every lewed vicory or parsoun
Can say, how ire engendreth homicide,' &c.
Nothing can give us so clear an idea of a friar as the commencement of this
tale of Chaucer's.
154. Hir were leuere, &c. 'She had rather swoon or die,' &c. Lit.
• it were liefer to her.'
162. I-made is the past tense, which is sometimes, but not often, found
i36
NOTES
with this prefix. Two MSS. read made. Cf. 1. 507. The sense of the line
is — I fed them with wicked words ; lit. I prepared their vegetables with
wicked words. There is a sort of play upon words and worts, as in Shak.,
Merry Wives, i. I. 124.
163. Tkow lixte, thou liest. Cf. Crede, 542.
165. Her eyther, each of them. Other, the other.
166. Seynt Gregorie. ' It appears that some Abbesses did at one time
attempt to hear the confessions of their Nuns, and to exercise some other
smaller parts of the clerical function ; but this practice, I apprehend, was soon
stopped by Gregory IX, who has forbidden it in the strongest terms. — De-
cretal. 1. v. tit. 38. ex.;' Tyrwhitt. Introd. Discourse to Cant. Tales, note 7.
Tyrwhitt gives the Latin text of the Decretal.
167. Were pr est, should be a priest; i. e. should hear confessions.
168. In/amis; so in the MSS. It is put for the nom. plural. Thei
can, &c, ' They can so ill conceal counsel,' ' they can so badly keep their
own counsel.'
172. Thei taken, &c, 'They take counsel together;' they combine to
devise a punishment.
177. Fieble, weak, poor, thin, watery. So in Havelok, 1. 323, a maiden
is ill-treated, and clothed ' mfeble wede,' i.e. in poor or miserable clothing.
184. 'Nor too deeply neither.' This use of neither is still common.
186, 187. Esto sobrius; cf. ' sobrii estote,' 1 Pet. v. 8. Me and my
are evident blunders ; but they seem to have emanated from Langley him-
self, as the six best MSS. all have this reading. It would seem also that
Langley afterwards himself perceived and corrected the blunder, for in trie
C-text or latest version, vii. 168, we find kym instead of me, in both places,
and hits ( = his) instead of my.
189. Skelton has the same name for a covetous man.
' And Haruy Hafter, that well coude picke a male.'
Skelton (ed. Dyce), i. 35.
194. Of —by. ' His beard was beslobbered, as a bondman's is by bacon.'
196. Tabard; see Chaucer's Prol. 20, 541 ; and cf. note above, to ii. 185.
195. Haue lopen \>e bettere, could have been (i.e. were) a particularly
good jumper. Hazlitt, in his Book of Proverbs, p. 216, has — ' If a louse
miss its footing on his coat, 'twill be sure to break its neck.'
203. A leef other tweyne, a leaf or two. Avarice talks of his first lesson
in the next line, and of learning his Donet in 1. 209. So here, still keeping
up the metaphor of reading a book, he learns to lie for a leaf or two, as
much, that is, as would fill a couple of leaves. All ambiguity is removed by
a passage in Richard the Redeles, where the poet [Langley himself, as
I have elsewhere shewn] says that his poem will do the king good if
he will look over a leaf or two of it : — ' jif him list to loke ■ a leef other
tweyne;'' Prol. 1. 37.
205. Wy, Weyhill near Andover in Hampshire, as conjectured by Warton,
TO PASSUS V. 137
in a note too long to quote entire ; see Hist. Eng. Poetry, ii. 55, ed. 1840.
Weyhill fair is still a most famous one to this day, and lasts eight days. The
fair for horses and sheep is on Oct. 10; that for cheese, hops, and general
ware?, on Oct. 11, and the six days following. 'The tolls derived from the
sheepfair form part of the stipend of the rector of Weyhill'; Standard
newspaper, Oct. II, 1 870. Warton says — 'One of the chief of them [the
fairs] seems to have been that of St. Giles's hill or down, near Winchester, to
which our poet here refers .... In the fair, several streets were formed,
assigned to the sale of different commodities ; and called the Drapery, the
Pottery, the Spicery.' &c. Fairs long continued to be the principal marts
for purchasing necessaries in large quantities. Winchester fair is mentioned
temp. Edw. I; see Liber Albus, p. 201.
207. ' The grace (or favour) of guile ' is a satirical expression. We
speak rather of ' the grace of God.'
209. Donet, primer. ' Properly a Grammar, from JElius Dona/us. the '
Grammarian .... Among the books written by bishop Pecock, there is
the Dnnat into Christian religion, and the Folower to the Donat.' — Warton's
Hist. Eng. Poet. ii. 56. See also the note in Dyce's ed. of Skelton, ii. 343.
210. In 1353, statutes were passed regulating the length and breadth of
cloth. Thorn. Walsingham, ed. Riley, i. 277.
211. Rayes, striped cloths. Ray means properly a ray, streak, strife;
but it was common'y used in the above sense. It was enacted — ' that cloths
of ray shall be 28 ells in length, measured by the list [edge], and 5 quarters
in width.' — Liber Albus, p. 63 1. 'A long gown of raye"1 occurs in Lydgate's
London Lyckpeny ; Spec, of Eng., ed Skeat, p. 25.
212. To brocke, &c. ; — 'To pierce them with a packing-needle, and
fasten them together ; and then I put them in a press, and penned them fast
in it,' &c.
215. Webbe. properly a male weaver, webster being the feminine ; but the
rule is not always observed. Observe spynnestres, i.e. female spinners, in
the next line.
217. Ac the pounde, &c. She paid the people whom she employed by
the pound, and used too heavy a weight ; thus cheating them of their dues.
218. Auncere, a Danish steelyard; see the Glossary. In a.d. 1356. we
find ' one balance, called an auncere!1 valued at 1 2d. ; and ' 2 balances, called
an/iceres,' valued at 6s. See Riley's Memorials of London, p. 283.
1 20. Peny-ale is common ale, thin ale, as is certain from its being spoken
of as a most meagre drink, suitable for strict-living friars, in Pass. XV.
Podyng-ale (puddynge-ale in Trin. MS.) was probably named from its being
thick like pudding. Thus in Pass, xix., a fraudulent brewer boasts of draw-
ing thick ale and thin ale out of one hole in a cask. The penny-ale was sold
at a penny a gallon, but the best ale at 4c?. See 1. 224.
221. Hymselue (not hemselue, observe) may refer to the ale; observe
the next line, and note that the use of hym for it was common. The MS.
138
NOTES
from which Crowley printed actually had itselfe. Still, the C-text has
hemselve.
225. In cupmel, by cups at a time. She knew better than to measure it
in a gallon measure.
227. Hokkerye, i.e. the retail trade. A huckster was one who retailed
ale, &c. from door to door. ' Item, that no brewer or brewsler sell any
manner of ale unto any huckster,' &c. — Liber Albus, p. 312.
228. So the ik, so may I thrive, as I hope to prosper.
230. Wahyngham. See note to Prol., 1. 54.
231. Rode of Bromeholme, cross of Bromholm in Norfolk. In A Chro-
nicle of London, p. 10, we find that in 1224 [rather 1223 or 1222], 'the
emperour Baldewyn, which whanne he went to bataile to fyghte with Godes
enemyes, he hadde a croos boren before hym, whiche crosse seynt Eleyne
made of the crosse that Cryst deyde upon ; and there was an Englyssh prest
that tyme with hym that was called Sir Hughe, and he was borne in Nor-
folke, the whicl e prest broughte the same crosse to Bromholm in Norfolke.'
Mr. Wright refers to Matthew Paris (p. 268). He adds — ' In the MS. Chro-
nicle of Barthol. de Cotton, it is recorded at the date 1223 — Eo tempore
Peregrinatio de Bromholm incepit.' Hence Avarice could visit Our Lady of
Walsingham and the piece of the true cross at Bromholm in one journey,
and pray to be brought out of debt by having his cheating tricks forgiven
him. The story of the finding of the True Cross by Helen, mother of Con-
stantine, is well known. There is a drama on the subject by Metastasio,
called Said Elena. Cf. Chaucer, Reves Tale, 366 ; Pardoneres Tale, 489.
232-303. Not in the A-text, and considerably varied in the C-text.
238. He pretends that he thought restitution was the French for robbery.
Norfolk is evidently considered as one of the least refined parts of the island,
being in an out-of-the-way corner. The common proverb — Jack would be
a gentleman if he could speak French — shews that the common people had
much difficulty in learning it. Trevisa fixes the date 1385 as the year, just
before which children began to learn to translate Latin into English instead
of French, as formerly. See Warton. Hist. Eng. Poetry, i. 5.
240. Vsure, usury. ' All usury was prohibited as a sin by the Canon
Law.' — Southey ; Book of the Church, p. 187.
242. Lutnbardes and Jewes. ' A set of Lombards established themselves
here, in connexion with the legates, to advance money upon all sums due to
the Pope, for which they exacted the most exorbitant usury,' &c. — Southey,
as above. Cf. Chaucer, Schipm. Tale, 1. 367. The Jews were constantly
accused of being the offenders, whenever clipped coin was found, which was
very often. Thus in the seventh year of Edward I, 'the viii day of seynt
Martyn, alle the Jewes of Engelond were taken for clippyng of money.' — A
Chron. of London, p. 28.
244. And lene it, &c. ; ' and to lend it for love of the cross, to appoint a
pledge and get rid of the light coin,' in which case // refers to the coin ; or
TO PASS US V. 139
else, ' and to lend it for love of the cross, (for the borrower) to give m .<
pledge and lose it,' where it is the pledge. I think the latter is the meaning,
though the change of the subject of the sentence is awkward. Sir John
Maundevile says that a King of France bought the crown of thorns, spear,
and one of the nails used at the Crucifixion, from the Jews, ' to whom the
Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a great summe of sylvre.' For love of
the cross is a clever pun, as cross refers frequently to the cross on the back
of old coins, and was a slang name for a coin, as in Shakespeare. Cross-
and-pile is the old name for heads and tails. It is clear enough what
; Avarice did : he first clipped coins and then lent them, taking a pledge
which he hoped would not be redeemed. The reading of the C-text helps
us out ; it is —
' And k-nte for loue of the wed ■ pe whiche ich let betere
And more worth pan pe moneye,' &c. C. vii. 243.
I let betere = I set more store by.
246. Compare — -' Jucundus homo, qui miseretur et comtnodat, disponet
sermones suos in judicio.' Ps. cxii. 5 (cxi. 5, Vulgate). Avarice obtained
more manors through his customers being in arrears of payment, than he
could have obtained by practising liberality. Maneres is spelt memoirs in
the Trinity MS.
249. In an ordinance against usurers (38 Edw. Ill) we find that certain
persons exerted themselves to maintain usury — 'which kind of contract, the
more subtly to deceive the people, they call exchange or chevisance, whereas
it might more truly be called mescheaunce (wickedness).' — Liber Albus,
P- 3I9-
261. ' As courteous as a dog in a kitchen.' This alludes to an old ironical
proverb, which appears in French in the form — ' Chen en cosyn [cuisine]
compaiguie ne desire;' in Latin in the form — ' Dura cam's os rodit, sociari
pluribus odit ;' and in Middle English — ' Wil the hund gnajh bon, i-fere neld
he non;' i.e. While the hound gnaws a bone, companions would he none.
See Wright's Essays, i. 149.
263. Lene . . . the grace, lend thee grace. The word is here lene, not
leite, as it is transitive.
j 72. And, if. Line 273 is from the Cambridge MS.
279. ' Nee dimittitur peccatum, nisi restituatur ablatum;' Peter Cantor,
cap. 153 (ed. Migne). Migne adds the reference — ' Reg. 4, jur. in 6, ex
Aug.;' which I do not understand. I find, however — 'Si enim res aliena,
propter quam peccatum est, cum reddi potest, non redditur, non agitur
poenitentia, sed fingitur ; si autem ueraciter agitur, non remittelur peccatum,
?iisi restitua/ar ablatum; sed, ut dixi, cum restitui potest ; ' S. August. Epist.
cliii. sect. 20; Opera, ed. Migne, ii. 662.
283. Ps. Ii. (1. in Vulgate) is called Miserere met Deus from the first
words in it. In verse 6 (8 in Vulgate) we find — •' Ecce enim veritatem
dilexisti : incerta et occulta sapientioe tua; manifestasti mini.'
I40 NOTES
286. Ps. xviii. 25 (xvii. 26, Vulgate). 'Cum sancto sanctus en's, et cum
viro innocente innocens ens.'
289. The Latin quotation is omitted in some MSS. It is not quite exact,
' Suavis Dominus universis : et miserationes ejus super omnia opera ejus.'
Ps. cxliv. 9, Vulgate.
291. There is a parallel passage in Hampole's Pricke of Conscience,
1. 63 1 1 -63 19:—
' For the mercy of God es swa mykel here,
And reches over alle, bathe far and nere,
That alle the syn that a man may do,
It myght sleken, and mare thar-to.
And thar-for says Saynt Auslyn thus,
A gude worde that may comfort us :
Sicut scintilla ignis in medio maris,
ita omnis impietas viri ad misericordiam Dei.
" Als a litel spark of fire," says he,
" In mydward the mykel se,
Right swa alle a mans wykkednes
Un-to the mercy of God es." ' (Ed. Morris, p. 171.)
The nearest passage to this which I have yet found is the following : —
' Tanquam unda misericordiae peccati ignis exstinguitur.'
S. August, in Fs. cxliv. 8 (Vulgate).
293. To gete the with a wastel, to get thee a cake with. See note to
ii. 31 ; and observe Chaucer's use of wastel, Prol. 147.
303. Lent yow of owre lordes good, lent you, of our Lord's wealth; i.e.
spiritual strength to resist temptation.
312. Piones, seeds of the pseony. They were used as a medicine, but some-
times also as a spice, as here. See note in Liber Albus, p. 197.
313. Fastyng dayes. We learn from I. 367 that the circumstances here
described took place on a Friday, a fitting day for Glutton to go to
church and confess. Cf. also 11. 381, 384, 389, 416. The scene
here described with such vivid dramatic power took place, it is evident, in
some large ale-house in London, not very far from Cock Lane, Smithfield
(1. 319), from Cheapside (1. 322), and from Garlickhithe (1. 324). It was
also probably very near a church (1. 319). It is a very curious fact, that
there is absolutely no reason why the ' Boar's Head,' in Eastcheap, im-
mortalized by Shakespeare, should not have been the very tavern here
meant. The Boar's Head is mentioned in a will of the date of Richard II,
it boasted to be the 'chief tavern in London,' and (which is very curious) its
back-windows looked out on to the burial ground of St. Michael's, a church
which is now pulled down, but has given its name to St. Michael's Lane.
The will above mentioned further shews that ' the tenement called the
Boar's Head,' was given to a college of priests, founded by Sir William
Walworth in St. Michael's Church, This is, possibly, the true reason for
TO PASSUS V. I4T
the name of 'the church ' not being given. More than this, Langley lived
at one time in Comhill, which is close by. Glutton may be considered as the
Sir John Falstaff of the scene. See Larwood, Hist, of Signboards, p. 37S.
315. Cesse, i. e. Cis or Cicely, short for Cecilia.
319. Women of ill repute might be put in the pillory; and if so, they
were afterwards to be led ' through Chepe and Newgate, to Cokkeslane,
there to take up their abode.' — Liber Albus, p. 395. Cock Lane, West
Smithfield. has, I believe, been lately rebuilt. The church may have been
St. Michael's ; see note above. If not, it may have been St. Peter's in Corn-
1 hill; see note to 1. 328. In the C-text, Langley adds to the company some
pick-purses, and the hangman of Tyburn.
320. Dawe or Davie is for David. Cf. 'When Dauie Diker diggs and
dallies not;' Gascoigne's Steel Glass, 1078 ; in Specimens of English, p. 322.
Cf. the names Dawson, Dawkea, Dawkins, Dakin (for Dawkin), &c.
321. Flaundres. There were many Flemish women, mostly residing in
Cock Lane, as they were forbidden to lodge in the city ; Memorials of
London, ed. Riley; i. 535.
322. Rakyer of Chepe, a scavenger of West Cheap, or Cheapside. The
word rakyer, evidently meaning a raker or street-sweeper, occurs in a Pro-
clamation made in the thirty-first year of Edw. III. See Riley's Memorials
of London, p. 299, and Liber Albus, p. 289; also p. 23.
324. Garlekhithe is near Vintry Ward. Stow says — 'There is the parish
church of St. James, called at Garlick hithe, or Garlick hive ; for that of old
time, on the bank of the river Thames, near to this church, garlick was
usually sold.' — Survey of London, ed. 1842, p. 93. The next landing-place,
westward, is Queen Hithe.
324. It has been suggested that Griffin is an allusion to the Griffin (Griffin
to the vulgar eye, though Cockatrice in the Heralds' office), which was em-
blazoned on the ancient shield of the principality of Wales. — Notes and
Queries, 3rd S. xii. 513. The Harleian MS. 875 has Griffith, i.e. Griffith,
a common Welsh name.
328. Atte newe /aire, at the new fair. I am told there is a reference here
to an old game called handicapping. It seems that Hikke chose Bette to be
his deputy. Then Bette and one appointed by Clement tried to make a
bargain, but could not settle it till Robyn was called in as umpire ; by whose
decision Clement and Hikke had to abide. But it is clear, from Riley's
Memorials of London (p. 33), that ' The neue Feyre' was another name for
what was afterwards called an ' Evechepynge.' In 1297, a sort of mart
called ' The neue Feyre ' was held in Soper Lane, now Queen Street, Cheap-
side. Later, there were two ' Evechepynges,' one in Cheapside, the other
and principal one in Cornhill ; and they were held at hostelries or taverns.
The passages relating to them are too long for quotation.
353. Gleemen were frequently blind formerly, as now, and were led by
a dog.
142 NOTES
355. ' Like one who lays nets, to catch birds with.'
370. Wif; many MSS. read wit. Either will do ; for in the C-text
(vii. 421) the line is —
' Hus wyf and hys inwit [conscience] ' edwited hym of hus synne.'
402. Robyn Hood. This seems to be the earliest mention of Robin
Hood. The next earliest is in Wyntoun's Scottish Chronicle, written about
a.d. 1420, where Little John is also mentioned. But Mr. Wright thinks
that one of the extant Robin-Hood ballads is really of the date of Edward II.
See his Essays on England in the Middle Ages, ii. 174- Randolf erle of
Chestre is either the Randulph or Randle, earl of Chester, who lived in
Stephen's time, and was earl from a.d. 1 128 to 1 1 53 ; or else his grandson
of the same name, who married no less exalted a personage than Constance,
widow of Geoffrey Plantagenet, and mother of Prince Arthur ; and who was
earl from 11S1 to 1232. Both were .celebrated men, but the latter is the
more likely to be meant, both as being more famous and later in date ; be-
sides which, he was once released from prison by a rabble of minstrels ;
Ritson's Ancient Songs, vol. i. pp vii, xlvi. The lives of these earls are
detailed in an exhaustive manner by Mr. Hales, in the edition of the Percy
Folio MS., J 867. See vol. i. p. 258. Concerning Robin Hood, see also
Chambers' Book of Days, ii. 606, and i. 580. The 'Robin-Hood games'
were held on May 1.
409. And other, and otherwise; cf. an elles, Prol. 91.
413. Somer game of souteres, a summer game played by shoemakers.
A summer game is probably the same as s7/mtnering, a rural sport at Mid-
summer; somer-game occurs in Chaucer, C. T. 6230. See Nares, who
refers to Brand's Pop. Antiq., i. 240 (4to. ed.) ; Strutt's Sports and Pastimes,
p. xxvi, and Mr. Marklands Essay on the Chester Mysteries, in the 3rd vol.
of Malone's Shakespeare, p. 525, ed. Boswell. The great day was on
St. John the Baptist's eve, i. e. June 23, or Mid-summer eve. Nares quotes
an extract about ' May games, wakes, summerings, and rush-bearings.'
Large bonfires were always part of the sport. The following passage also
throws some light upon the matter. ' Why, quoth I, could they caste the
barre and sledge well ? I wyll tell you, syr, quoth hee, you knowe there
hath bene manye games this sommer. I thinke verely, that if some of these
lubbars had bene there, and practised amongest others, I beleue they woulde
have carryed awaye the beste games. For they were so stronge and sturdye,
that I was not able to stande in their handes.' Harman's Caveat, ed.
Furnivall, p. 47. See too the description of the Cotswold games at Whit-
suntide in Chambers' Book of Days, i. 714. The modern name for games
is ' athletic sports.'
416. Late I passe, I let pass, I pay no heed to. Cf. Chaucer, Prol. 175.
419. Ite, missa est; the concluding words of the service of the mass.
From this form of words Missa and Missal are said to be derived.
420. But-if, except; 'except sickness cause it.' See 1. 458.
TO PASSUS V. 143
421. Vp gesse, upon guess, by guess. A fine touch.
423. Solfe, sol-fa. To sol-fa is to practise singing the scale of note*.
Some MSS. read solne. The C-text has solfye; viii. 31.
425. Beatus vir, Ps. i, or cxii. Beati omnes, Ps. cxxviii.
429. But-yf, except; 'except it be scored on a tally.'
439. I.e. unless something eatable is held in the hand.
44S. A Leonine hexameter; I do not know from whom it is quoted.
452. Wolde, who would. This omission of the relative is not uncommon
in Langley.
454. In Hampole's Prick of Conscience, ii. 3398-341 1, the ten things
that destroy venial sins are holy water, alrnsdeeds, fasting, the sacrament,
the Pater Noster, shrift, the bishop's blessing, the priest's blessing, knocking
upon the breast as practised by a meek man, and extreme unction. Bidde
hym of grace, pray to Him for His grace.
458. But sykenesse it lette, unless sickness prevent it.
467. The rode of Chestre, the cross or rood at Chester. Mr. Wright
quotes from Pennant's Tour in Wales (edit. 1778, p. 191), to shew that a
famous cross once stood in a spot formerly known as the Ropd-eye, i.e.
Rood-island, but now known only by the corrupted name of Roodee, and
used as a race-course. There was also at Chester a college of the Holy Cross.
See Chambers' Book of Days, i. 428.
469. Robert. The similarity of the words robber and Robert early gave
rise to a pun, whereby Robert was a common name for a thief. Mr. Wright
quotes from the Political Songs, p. 49, the expression — ' per Robert, robbur
designatur.' See the note to Prol. 1. 44. Reddite ; i. e. the text — ' Reddite
ergo omnibus debita ; ' Rom. xiii. 7.
470. For ther was now$te wher-of, because there was nothing wherewith
to do so; i. e. to make restitution. Of often has the force of with or by.
473. In the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, the name of the penitent
thief is Dimas or Dismas, and that of the other thief, Geslas. Other names
for them are Titus and Dumachus —
' Then on my right and my left side
These thieves shall both be crucified,
And Titus thenceforth shall abide
In Paradise with me.' — Longfellow's Golden Legend.
474. Memento. An allusion to the words of the thief — ' Domine, memento
mei, cum veneris in regnum tuurn.' Luke xxiii. 42.
475. Reddere ne haue, have no money to make restitution with.
476. With crafte, that I owe, by any handicraft, that which I owe. Crafte
is here used in a good sense. Owe is, in Middle English, both to possess and to
owe in the modern sense. To obviate confusion, the scribe of the Laudian
MS. has written debeo over this word, as a gloss.
482. That penitencia, &c, that he would polish his pike, called penitencia,
afresh, and by help of it leap over the land (be a pilgrim) all his life-time.
144 NOTES
A pilgrim always carried a staff, generally with a spike at the end, whence it
was called a pike-staff. A land-leper or land-loper was a vulgar name for a
pilgrim. Thus we find in Cotgrave's French Dictionary — ' Villotier, m. : A
vagabond, land-loper, earth-pianet, continuall gadder from towne to towne.'
The word hym refers to the pike-staff. Cf. 1. 542.
491. Ade, written for Ada, i.e. of Adam. Professor Stubbs has kindly
pointed out to me that this is taken from a passage in the Sarum Missal, viz.
from the Canticle ' Exultet ' sung upon Holy Saturday at the blessing of the
Paschal candle : — ' O certe necessarium Ade peccatum et nostruwz ; quod
Christi morte deletum est. O felix culpa, que talem ac tantum meruit
habere redemptorem.' See Wyclifs Works, ed. Arnold, i. 321, note.
494. ' And madest Thyself, together with Thy Son, and us sinful men
alike.' The sense is clearer than the construction. Cf. 1. 495. The two
Latin quotations are from Gen. i. 26 and I St. John iv. 1 6.
495. Thi self sone, Thy Sou Himself. In oure sute ; here side is the
reading of most MSS., and so also in 1. 504, whilst in 1. 498, the word
is written secte. It makes no difference, since secta (from Lat. sequi) meant,
in mediaeval Latin, either the right of prosecuting an action at law or the
suit or action itself; where suit is from the Fr. suivre, the equivalent of sequi.
And again, secta meant a suit of clothes, which is the meaning here. We
should now say — ' in our flesh? Cf. 1. 50S. See ' Sect ' in Wedgwood's
Etymological Dictionary, which makes it clear that sect is from sequi, not
secare. Secta even means a suite or set of people ; cf. ' and thereupon he
produced his suit ' — Liber Albus, p. 342 ; where the Latin has sec tarn, i. e.
his set of witnesses.
498. Itladde, led it (i. e. the sorrow) captive. See Eph. iv. 8, Ps. Ixviii. 18.
500. Mele-tyme of seintes, meal-time of saints. This seems to refer to
the sacrifice of the mass, when the saints feed upon Christ's body, literally,
according to the Romish belief, spiritually, according to ours. Mass could
be said only between dawn and midday. Midday was, however, not the
usual time for celebration ; it was generally much earlier. See Rock,
Church of our Fathers, iii. pt. 2. 23. The expression must therefore directly
refer to the time of the crucifixion, when Christ's blood was shed upon the
cross. The quotation from Isaiah ix. 2 is explained in the apocryphal
Gospel of Nicodemus with reference to the 'Harrowing of Hell,' i.e. the
descent of Christ into hell to fetch out the souls of the patriarchs. Isaiah is
there introduced as explaining that the moment of fulfilment of this prophecy
has ,arrived. See the whole account, as there narrated.
504. In owre sute, in our suit, i. e. in a human body ; see note to 1. 495,
and cf. 1. 508.
506. Non veni, &c. ; Matt. ix. 13. In MSS. of this date, sed is commonly
spelt set, as here.
507. Ymade, composed, narrated. To make is to compose, especially in
verse ; but here it is applied to prose writings.
TO PASS US V. 14",
508. In owre amies, in our armour, or in arms marked with our device : a
phrase taken from the terms of a tournament. The quotation is from
John i. 1.1.
512. Ribaarfes, ribalds. See a long note in Political Songs, ed Wright,
l$?>9> P- 369. It was chiefly applied to the lowest class of retainers, who
could be relied on to do the lord's dirty work. ' In the household of the
King of France there was a Rex ribaldorum, whose otli e >v,i^ to judge dis-
putes, &c, which might arise among retainers of this class.' And see Du
Cange, s.v. ribaldrts and goliardia. Cf. Pass. vi. 75,
514. llent. seized. In Ps. lxxi. 20, we find ' thou shalt quicken me again,'
but the Vulgate has the past tense instead of the future — ' conversus vivifi-
c;isti me.'
515. Ps. xxxii. (xxxi. in the Vulgate) begins with — ' Beati quorum re-
misuse sunt iniquitates, et quorum tecta sunt peccata.'
516. See Ps. xxxvi. 7 ; in the Vulgate, xxxv. 7.
520. In the A-text, or earliest version of the poem, a new Passus — Passus
vi. — begins here. By this simple test, the MSS. of the A-text may be at
once recognised.
523. This excellent description of a Palmer should be noted. Mr. Wright
aptly draws attention to a similar description in Sir Waller Scott's Marmion,
canto i. st. 23, 27. Instead of quoting these familiar lines, I giveSir Walter
Scott's note — ' A Palmer, opposed to a pilgrim, was one who made it his
sole business to visit different holy shrines ; travelling incessantly, and sub-
sisting by charity : whereas the Pilgrim retired to his usual home and occu-
pations when he had paid his devotions at the particular spot which was the
ct of his pilgrimage.' Bell (in his notes to Chaucer) says that this is a
fanciful notion, copied by Scott from Speght ; the fact being that a palmer
meant a [ ilgrim to the Holy Land, which was, doubtless, the original
tiling. But see the Palmer's speech in the Four P's, by John Heywood ;
also the romance of Sir Isumbras, who went about as a palmer ; and cf.
Chaucer, Prol., 1. 13.
526. The boul and bag were invariably carried ; the former to drink
cf, the latter to hold scraps of meat and bread.
527. The ampulla were little phials, containing holy water or oil. They
were generally made of metal, nearly flat, and stamped with a device de-
noting the shrine whence they were brought. See a drawing of one in Cults,
Scenes and Characters of the Middle Ages, p. 171. On pilgrims' signs, see
Chambers' Book of Days, i. 338; see also the Intnduction to the Tali
Beryn, ed. Furnivall, 171, 175, 191.
528. Galice, Gallicia. This refers to the famous shrine of S.i I
(St. James) at Compostella in Gallicia. Cf. Prol., 1. 47.
529. Cruche, cross. Hence the term Crouched Friars or Crutched Friars.
530. The alliteration is not apparent, but 1 sometimes makes/
alliterative with v. Cf. Chaucer's Prol., 1. 6S5, and see Chambers' Uook
L
146 NOTES
of Davs, i. 100. ' Inter lias feminas una fuit Bernice, sive Veronice, vulgo
Veronica, qui sudarium Christo exhibens, ut faciem sudore et sanguine maden-
tern abstergeret, ab eo illud recepit, cum impressa in illo ejusdem Christi
effigie, ut habet Christiana traditio.' Cornelius a Lapide, in S. Matt, xxvii, 32.
535. Ermonye, Armenia. Alisaundre, Alexandria.
544. Peter! i.e. by St. Peter. This is a very common exclamation, of
which there are several instances. See e. g. Chaucer's House of Fame,
ii. 526, in Morris's edition, where Tyrwhitt's edition has Parde ; also the
Cant. Tales, I. 13144. It possibly originated with the popes, as Innocent III
used to swear by St. Peter; see Southey's Book of the Church, p. 156. As
to the duties of a ploughman, here described in 11. 548-556, we should com-
pare the poem of How the Plowman lerned his Paternoster, printed in Haz-
litt's Early Popular Poetry, vol. i. We there read —
' He coude eke sowe and hoide a plowe,
Bothe dyke, hedge, and mylke a cowe,' &c.
See also Chambers' Book of Days, i. 96. The character of Piers the
Plowman is here introduced for the first time. When all the penitents and
searchers after Truth are at fault, when even a palmer declares he never
heard of any saint of that name, the homely ploughman steps forward, de-
claring that he knows Truth well. It was his own conscience and his native
common sense that led him to this knowledge. We may here take Piers as
the type of Honesty, not without remembering that Langley afterwards
identifies him with the truest of all Teachers of men, our Lord Christ
Jesus.
556. To / aye, lit. to pleasure, i.e. to His satisfaction. By Truth is meant
God the Father. Paye is not here equivalent to pay in the modern sense,
notwithstanding the occurrence of huire (hire) in the next line.
566. For seynt Thomas shryne, for all the wealth on St. Thomas1 shrine at
Canterbury. No shrine could boast more wealth than this of Beket, the
object of the journey of Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims.
572. The way to Truth lies through the ten commandments, most of
which are named below, viz. the fifth in I. 576. the third in 1. 579, the tenth
in 1. 5S2, the e:ghth and sixth in 1. 586, the ninth in 1. 589.
578. Lightloker, lightlier, more lightly. These comparatives in -loker are
not uncommon in Middle English.
579. Swere-noughte, &c. ; swear not unless it be necessary, and, in parti-
cular, (swear not) idly by the name of God Almighty. The whole phrase
forms, in Langley's allegorical language, the name of a place.
589, 590. Bergh, a hill. Frithed in, enclosed by a wood, wooded thickly
round.
594. The description of the way to Truth (II 570-593) is partly imitated
fronf a poem called La Voie de Paradis, by Rutebuef, a French trouvere ;
see the edition by Jubinal, ii. 24-55. Rutebuef, in his turn, imiiated an
earlier poet, named Raoul de Houdaing. The description of Truth's abode
TO PASSUS VI. 147
may have been partly imitated from the French poem Le Chastel d'Amour,
by Bishop Grosteste, translated under the title of the Castle of Love. In
some particulars, it resembles the old English prose treatise known as the
' Abbaye of Saynte Spirite,' or the Abbey of the Holy Ghost ; see Religious
Pieces in Prose and Verse, ed. Perry, 1867 (E. E. T. S.). William's orig
ality is most surprising.; this is one of the few places where there are traces \
of his borrowing from others. See ' Castel off Loue,' ed. Weymouth, pp.
3i, 39-
604. ' The doorkeeper is called Grace.'
612. This Latin quotation is thus Englished in MS. Harl. 7322, fol. 143 : —
' f»e sates of parais " poruth eue weren iloken,
And poruth oure swete ladi ■ Ajein hui beop noupe open.'
Political, Rel. and Love Poems, ed. Furnivall, p. 230.
And in Morris's edition of Chaucer, vol. vi. p. 310, will be found the line —
'Paradise yettis all opin be throu the,'
where the person addressed is the Virgin Mary. The idea seems to have
been taken from St. Jerome; see Migne's edition, vol. xi. coll. 127, 141.
625. To late ivel by thiselue, to think much of thyself; cf. 1. 620.
627. Seitene sustren, seven sisters. To counteract the seven deadly sins,
seven Christian virtues were enumerated by early theologians. Thus, in the
Ayenbite of Inwyt (ed. Morris, p. 159) we find this list. ' Bo;samnesse,
a-ye [against] Prede. Loue, a-ye Enuye. Mildenesse, a-ye Felhede. Prou-
esse, a-ye Slacnesse. Largesse, a-ye Scarsnesse. Chastete, a-ye Lecherie.
Sobrete, a-ye Glotounye.' See note to 1. 62 above, where all the ' se-> ■
sisters' are mentioned except 'Peace,' who takes the place of Business.
63S. But grace be the more, unless mercy be extended.
639. Cutpurs, thief. On cut-purse>, see Chambers' Book of Days, ii. 669.
641. Wile God, God defend us, God protect us, an old oath ; quite dis-
tinct from the expression God wot, God knows. See Witen in the Glossary.
644. Mercy is identified here with the Virgin Mary, as in the quot.i
at 1. 612.
651. Where tlie'i bicome. The modern equivalent phrase is — ' where they
are gone to,' or ' what has become of them.' Cf. the first line of the m
Passus.
PASSUS VI.
2. Ecke a fote, each foot of the way, every step of the way.
4. Erye, to plough. Cf. Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 1. 2S —
' 1 have, God wot, a large feeld to ere.'
9. For shedyrig, to prevent spilling. Ci. note to 1. 62.
19. For the lordes loue of heuene ; for love of the Lord of heaven. Observe
the difference of arrangement. So, in Chaucer, Sq. Tale, 1. 209, the Gri
hors Sinon, is the hors of ' Sinon the Greek. Cf. 1. 223 below.
28. Lord Cobham, speaking of the duties of knights, said — 'They 1
also to preserve God's people from oppressors, tyrants, and thieves ; and to
L 2
148 NOTES
see the Clergy supported, so long as they teach purely, pray rightly, and
minister the sacraments freely.' — Southey's Book of the Church, p. 204. Cf.
Gower, Conf. Amant. iii. 380 (ed. Pauli); Wyclif's Works, ed. Arnold, iii. 206.
40. ' And if you fine any man, let mercy assess the fine ;' i. e. let it be a
light one.
50. Fuel, difficult, hard; so yuel to dffye = hard to digest, in Pass. v.
1. 121. All are equal in the grave.
54. Harlotes, ribalds ; a term generally applied to tellers of loose stories,
whence our author calls them 'the devil's diseurs,' i.e. the devil's storj-
tellers. They held forth in the hall 'attemete,' whilst their employers were
eating. They were men, as said in 1. 55. See Warton's Hist, of Eng. Poet,
i. 68 (ed. 1840).
62. For colde, as a remedy against cold. For very often has this sense
of against. Cf. i. 24, and Chaucer's Sir Thopas, B. 205:.
69. Maugre, &c, ' in spite of any one who gn.mbles about it.'
72. logeloure, juggler ; Lat. jocidator. See Tyrwhitt's note to Chaucer,
C. T. 1. 11453. 'The name of Jogelour was, in a manner, appropriated to
those, who, by sleight of hand and machines, produced such illusions of the
senses as are usually supposed to be elT'ected by enchantment. This species of
jogelour is [also] called a Tregetour.' Cf. Chaucer's House of Fame, iii. 169 —
' There saugh I pleyen jugelours,
Magiciens, and tregetours,' &c.
Tyrwhitt's note is long and full. Se also Ritson, Metrical Romances, i.
p. ccv of Preface, where he insists thai jougleour ought never to be misspelt
jongleur, as is often done. This, however, is a question of date ; jongleur
occurs frequently in later French than that in which we find jongleur ; the
n was inserted, as in langouste from locustum, concombre from cucumerem.
And compare —
' There myghtist thou se these flowtours,
Mynstrales, and eke jogelours,
That wel to synge dide her peyne.'
Romaunt of the Rose, 763.
Jack Juggler is the name of a play, in Dodsiey's Old Plays, ed. Hazlitt,
vol. ii.
77. ' Deleantur de libro viventium, et cum iustis non scribantur,' Ps. lxviii.
29 (Vulgate). The last part of the quotation Langley interprets to mean
that churchmen ought not to receive tithes from such people.
79. They ben ascaped, &c. Dr. Whitaker paraphrases this by — ' they
have escaped payment by good luck' — which is probably right. For auen-
ture the Vernon MS. reads thrift, success.
84. Here Piers again begins speaking. Late god yworth, may God be.
88. Lines 88 — 101 contain Piers' biqueste, i.e. his will. It begins with a
common formula — In dei nomine. He bequeaihs his soul to his Maker, his
body to the church to which he paid tithes, his money to his wife and chil-
TO PASS US VI. 149
dren. Whitaker remarks upon this passage — ' To commit the soul to Him
who made it, was, in the course of a century and a half after this time,
accounted so heretical, that the church would not have kept the testator's
bones. For this very offence, and for omitting the names of the Virgin
M.iry and other saints, as joint legatees, the body of a Mr. Tracy was dug
up out of his grave.' See Trade's will, in Massingberd, Eng. Ref. p. 165 :
also in Chambers' Book of Days, ii. 429.
94. He, i.e. the persona ecclesiae, the parson.
97- Memorye, commemoration of benefactors.
102. For Lukes, MS3. of the A-type have Chestre ; cf. Pass. v. 467.
Lukes is Lucca, formerly also spelt Luca, where there was a famous cross.
105. The definition of plough-foot, as given in Fitzherbert's Boke of
Husbandry, fol. 2 back, is as follows: — ' The plough fote is a lyttell pece of
wodde, with a croked ende set before in a morteys in the ploughe-beame,
sette fast with wedges, to dryue vppe and downe, and it is a stave to order
of what depenes the p'oughe shall go.' In a modern plough, small wheels
take the place of it. I am indebted for this reference to Dr. Morris, who
has kindly contributed many useful hints, much to the improvement of the
present edition of this work.
107. Perkyn, little Piers or Peter; the same as Peterkin. It is merely a
familiar term for Piers in this passage.
1 14. High prime. This expression is copied in a poem by Lydgate, which
is better known, perhaps, than any other of his, named 'The London Lick-
peny : '
' Then to Westmynster gate I presently went,
When the sonn was at hyghe pryme.'
Specimens of English, ed. Skeat, p. 25.
It seems to mean, when prime was ended, and it certainly marks the first
break in the day's work. Prime is commonly explained to mean six in the
morning, but Cotgrave explains it as the first hour of the artificial day (or
day according to the sun) which begins at about 8 in winter, 4 in summer,
and at 6 only at the equinoxes. Again, some explain prime to be the fourth
part of the natural day, viz. from 6 to 9 a.m. always ; see Tyrwhitt's
note, Cant. Tales, 1. 3904. But putting together the various passages where
Chaucer uses the word prime, 1 have shewn, in my edition of Chaucer's
Astrolabe, p. lxii, that the term was commonly used in the sense sugge*'
byr Tyrwhitt, viz. as meaning the period from 6 to 9 a m . ; but, when restricted
to a particular moment, it meant the end of that period, or 9 a.m. only. It
was probably to obviate the vagueness in the use of the word that high prime
is the term employed here ; it doubtless signifies that the period of prime
was ended, or that it was nine o'clock. Perhaps the same thing is expressed
by the term fully prims, in Chiucer's Sir Thopas (Group B/2015); whilst
a little past the hour of nine is denoted by /rime large in the Squyeres Tale,
1. 360. Mr. Dyce says — ' concerning this word see Du Cange's Gloss, in
IjO NOTES
Prima and Horse Canonicas, Tyrwhitt's Gloss, to Canterbury Tales, Sibbald's
Gloss, to Chron. of Scot. Poetry, and Sir F. Madden's Gloss, to Syr Gawayne.'
See also Timbs, Nooks and Corners of English Life, p. 222. It is clear from
II. 115 and 116, that Piers was a 'head harvest-man.' See Knight's Picto-
rial Hist, of England, i. 840 ; and a good article on the duties of a plough-
man in Chambers' Book of Days, i. 96.
117. Atte nale = atten ale or at then ale, i. e. at the ale. In the same way
atten ende (at the end) was afterwards corrupted into at the nende. See
Warton, Hist. E. P., vol. ii. p. 79, note.
118. 'Howl trollilolli ' is the burden of a song, answering nearly to the
modern tol de rol. In Ritson's Ancient Songs, vol. ii. p. 7, is a song, with a
burden of trolly loley occurring at every third line. In the Chester Plays (ed.
Wright, p. 136) when the shepherds sing, we find the direction — ■' Singe troly
loly, troly loe.' Here is meant, that all which some of the men did towards
ploughing the half acre was to sit and sing choruses over their cups.
122. Haue that reccheth, take him who cares. Reccheth = recketh.
123. Feyned hem blynde. Compare — ' AUo Fryers saien, that it is meed-
ful to Ieaue the cou;ma;<deme/it of Christ, of giving of alms to poore feble
men, to poore crooked mew, to poore blinde men, and to bedredden men,
and giue this almes to Hypocrits, that fainen hem holie and needie.' —
Wycliffe ; Two Treatises against Friers, p. 25.
I47. 'The day's work was supposed to be completed at the ninth hour —
three in the afternoon according to our reckoning. This hour was called
high noon, and the meal then taken was called a noonshun or nuncheou.' 1
— Timbs; Nooks and Comers, &c, p. 222. Is is certain that nones
originally meant about three o'clock in the afternoon at the equinoxes,
but it was afterwards shifted so as to mean midday, our modern noon.
See Wedgwood, s. v. Noon. There seem to have been two principal meal-
times, viz. dinner at about nine or ten a.m., and supper at about five or
six p.m. ; cf. 11. 262, 265. See Wright's Hist, of Domestic Manners, p. 155.
But there is here reference to the one meal at twelve o'clock, to which an-
chorites and hermits restricted themselves. In this they adopted the rule for
fasting-days, viz. to have dinner at twelve instead of nine, and no supper.
151. Posteles, apostles, i. e. preachers, probably preaching friars. Not to
be confused with postills, i.e. commentaries, which were things preached.
163. Wolveskynnes, of the kind or nature of a wolf. Cf.
' Thei ben wilde werwolves ■ that wiln the folk robben.'
P. Ploughman's Crede, 1. 459.
164. That ilke while worth, &c, in the meanwhile there will be no abun-
dance, &c. Worth, lit. becomes ; but it is often used as a future. Liggeth,
lies idle.
171. ' And accounted Piers at the value of a pea ; ' i. e. set him at naught.
191. 'And cut their copes, and made them into jackets.' 'They had
also,' says Camden (Remains, p. 234, or p. 196, ed. 1657), 'a gowne called
TO PASSUS VI. 151
a frit, a jacket without sleeves called a haketon, a loose jacket like a tabard,
a short gabbardin called a courtpie, a gorget called a chevesail, lor as yet
they used no bandes about their necke ; a pouche called a gipserj &c.
Strutt, Manners and Customs, ii. 85. It was easier to work in jackets.
196. Bayarde, a common name for a horse, and used by Chaucer. The
passage refers to the custom of giving horses bread to eat, as is still common
on the continent. Cf. 1. 217. A statute of Edward III orders — that horse-
bread be made only of beans and peas, without other mixture. The making
ot horsebread was formerly a regular part of a baker's business. Se Toulmin
Smith's English Gilds, p. 366.
203. Owne erde, native place or country. Cf. A.S. ' on binum earde? in
thine own country ; Luke iv. 23. Not the same word as erthe (earth).
214. Make hem to ivorche. After the pestilence of 1349, there was a
want of labourers. Edward published a proclamation, compelling men and
women, in good health, and under sixty years of age, to work at stated
wages. But it was evaded, and, in harvest-time especially, exorbitant wages
were both demanded and given. See Lingard, Hist. Eng. (3rd ed.) iv. 89,
and Liber Albus, pp. 584, 634.
218. Abate, keep them thin. For bollyug, to prevent swelling; as in
I.62.
224. Lene hem, give to them; lit. lend to them. Alter altering, &c. :
Gal. vi. 2.
226. Naughty, having naught —
' She had an idea from the very sound
That people tvitk naught were naughty?
Hood ; Miss Kilmansegg.
225. Late god yworthe, let God alone; cf. Prol. 187. Michi vindicta,
&c. : Rom. xii. 19. Vindictam is the reading of the MSS. ; the reading of
the Vulgate is vindicta. But the passage is often quoted with the reading
vindictam. See Ancren Riwle, pp. 184, 286.
230. Cf. Luke xvi. 9.
238. ' Propier frigus piger arare noluit ; mendicabit ergo sestate, et non
dabitur illi;' Prov. xx. 4. Sapience means the book of Wisdom ; Langley
frequently refers to the wrong book of the Bible for his quotations.
240. With marines face . An allusion to a common representation of the
evangelists, which likens Matthew to a man (sometimes represented by a
man's face only), Mark to a lion, Luke to a bull, and John to an eagle;
Rev. iv. 7. Sometimes the arrangement varied; see the Onmiluni, ed.
White, vol. i. p. 201.
241. Nam, a mina. It is glossed in the Laud MS. by the words — 'a
besaunt,' which is the word used in Wyclif's version; Luke xix. 16. The
parable occurs both in Matt. xxv. and Luke xix. ; but the use of the word
nam shews that our author was thinking rather of St. Luke's account, where
Ij2 NOTES
the word ^iva is used. In 1. 243 we have the better spelling tnnam. For
the value of a besant, see Ormulum, ed. White, ii. 390.
251. Richard Rolle de Hampole, amongst others, carefully distinguishes
between active life, or bodily service of God. and contemplative life or ghostly
(i.e. spiritual) service. See his prose treatises, ed. Perry (E. E. T. S. 1SG6),
p. 19 ; and see p. xi. of Mr. Perry's preface.
252. ' Beati omnes, qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in viis eius.
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis : beatus es, et bene tibi erit."
Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2 (Vulgate).
269. Afyrtgred, greatly hungry. It is corrupted from the A.S. of-hingrian.
to be very hungry. The word occurs in the Vox and Wolf, in Hazlitt's
Early Popular Poetry, vol. i. p. 58 (also printed in Reliquiae Antiquae, ii. 272,
from MS. Digby 86), where the fox is described as ajingret.
272. Cf.
' And jit ther is another craft that toucheth the clergie,
That ben thise false fisiciens that helpen men to die,' &c.
Polit. Songs (Camd. Soc), p. 333.
See Chaucer's Prologue, 11. 411-444, where the Doctour of Phisik is de-
scribed. A ' cloke of calabre ' means a cloke trimmed with Calabrian fur.
In the Coventry Mysteries, p. 242, we read — ' Here colore splayed, and
furryd with ermyn, calabere, or satan.' A person who wore an amice trim-
med with calabere was himself called a ' calaber amyse,' as appears from an
extract from a Chapter Minute of Christ Church, Dublin, quoted in Todd's
introduction to The Book of Obits, &c. of Christ Church, p. xcii. Cf. Notes
and Queries, 3rd S. vol. xi. It appears that calabre was a grey fur, the belly
of which was black. — Riley, Memorials of London, p. 329.
282. ' In the parish of Hawsted, Suffolk, the allowance of food to the
labourer in harvest was, two herrings per day, milk from the manor dairy to
make cheese, and a loaf of bread, of which fifteen were made from a bushel
of wheat. Messes of potage made their frequent appearance at the rustic
board.' — Knight, Pict. Hist, of England, i. 839.
2S7. We find mention of ' colopys of venyson ' and ' colypes of the wyld
dere' in Hazlitt's Early Pop. Poetry, vol. i. pp. 24, 28. Brand says, ' Slices
of this kind of meat (i.e. salted and dried) are to this day termed collops in
the north, whereas they are called steaks when cut oft" from fresh or unsalted
flesh.' — Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 62..
291. Lammasse, i.e. Loaf -mass, Aug. I. In Anglo-Saxon times, a loaf
was offered on this day, as an offering of first-fruits. See Chambers' Book
of Days, ii. 154.
306. 'Panis de coltet'' is mentioned in a MS. of Jesus Coll Oxford,
1 Arch. i. 29, fol. 268, as being slightly inferior to waste! bread. The
fine kinds of white bread were called simnel bread or pain demaigne
(Chaucer's Sir Thopas, I. 14), wastel bread, coket, clere matyn, and manchet
bread. The common kinds of brown bread were tourte, trete, and bis.
TO PASS US VII. I - 5
Ct. Riley, Memorials of London, p. 644; Chambers' Book of Days, i. inj;
Andrew Boorde's Introduction of Knowledge, ed. Furnivall, pp. 25S-282 ;
and see Coket in the Glossary.
307. Halpeny ale. See note to Pass. v. 220, and cf. 1. 311 below.
314. As to the high wages of labourers, see note to 1. 214 above. The
statutes concerning them are alluded to in 1. 318 below.
316. Dionysius Cato is the name commonly assigned to the author of a
Latin work in four books, entitled Dionysii Catonis Disticha de Moribus ad
Filium. The real author is unknown, but the work may perhaps be referred
^o the fourth century. It was very popular, both in Latin, and in English
and French versions. Langley here quotes part of the 2 1st distich of the
first book, which runs thus : —
' Infantem nudum quum te natura crearit,
Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento.'
324. Water, i. e. floods ; cf. 1. 326.
327. Great disasters were often attributed to the malign influence of the
planet Saturn. Besides this, great foresight was attributed to the god
Saturn. This is very well illustrated by Chaucer's Knightes Tale, 11. 1585
1620. In the A-text (earliest version), the Passus ends with this line.
LI. 328-332 were added afterwards; in them Langley imitates, not per-
haps without ridicule, the mysterious prophecies which were then popular :
<uch as, for instance, the prophecies of John of Bridlington. Lines 32S, 329,
are, of course, inexplicable, but the rest is clear enough. By deth is meant
such a great pestilence as that which earned the name of the Black Death.
The pestilence shall withdraw, Famine shall then be the judge, and Dawe
the ditcher (cf. Pass. v. 320) shall die for hunger, unless God grant us a
truce. As regards famines and dearths, cf. Polit. Songs (Camd. Soc),
P- 399-
PASSUS VII.
I. This Passus is called Passvs Octants in MSS. of the earliest version.
3. A poena et culpa. On this expression see Milman, Hist, of Lat. Chris-
tianity, vi. 254 (note), 2nd edit.; and the note to Wyclifs Works, ed.
Arnold, i. 136. See 1. 19 below, where it means plenary remission.
j 4. Bothe the lawes, \: e. our duty towards God, and towards our neighbours.
1 7. ' To sit at the high dais,' i.e. in a seat of honour.
18. Many yeres, i. e. many years' remission of purgatory.
23. Treuthe, i.e. God the Father, as before. See 1. 33.
26. Mesondieux, put for maisons de dieu, houses of God. A hospital was
called a maison-dieu or masondewe. Halliwell rem. irks that, till within the
last few years, there was an ancient hospital at Newcastle so called. There
was another, I believe, at Ospringe, Kent.
27. Wikked ivayes, bad roads. See Pass. vi. 1.
154 NOTES
31. Sette scoleres to scole. To pay for the education of poor scholars,
especially at Oxford, was justly esteemed an excellent form of charity. Cf.
Chaucer, Prol. 301, 302. In later times, the demand of poor scholars for
money was a tax that fell rather heavily upon the poorer class of farmers.
' Than commeth clerkys of Oxford and make their mone,
To her scole hire they most haue money.'
God Spede the Plough, 75.
33. It was thought that ' unto Michael alone belonged the office of
leading each soul from earth to the judgment-seat of Christ ;' Rock, Church
of our Fathers, iii. 149, and 2IO.
41. ' Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad usuram, et munera super inno-
centem non accepit.' Ps. xiv. 5 (Vulgate). The first verse of the same
Psalm, which in English Bibles is Ps. xv., is quoted below, at 1. 51.
43. I do not know the source of this quotation. It somewhat resembles
Ecclus. xxxviii. 2 — 'A Deo est enim omnis medela, et a rege accipiet
donationem.'
44. Johan is apparently some unscrupulous fellow of middle rank, not John
of Gaunt. In Pass. xxii. 288, it is the name of a cook.
50. 'No devil, at his death-day, shall harm him a mite, so that he may
not be safe, and his soul too.' Worth is here a verb ; the construction is
awkward to express. It was believed that dying men beheld devils all around
them. Cf. Hampole's Prick of Conscience. 11. 2220-2233.
52. 'But to buy water, nor wind, nor wit, nor fire (which is the fourth
thing) is a thing which Holy Writ never permitted.' The words italicised
must be understood ; they occur in the A-text. For tie, i. e. nor, we should
now write or. Wit here takes the place of earth, along with three of the
four elements.
56. Thei, i. e. they who take fees from the poor; see 1. 58.
61. See Matt. vii. 12 ; cf. Luke vi. 31.
62. With, i. e. by means of.
68. Bit; a contracted form of biddeth, i.e. begs.
73. Catoun, Cato. See note to Pass. vi. 316. Prefixed to Cato's Dis-
tiches are some ' Breves sentential,' of which the twenty-third consists only
of the words — Cui des, videto. Mr. Wright says that by the clerk of (he
stories is meant Peter Comestor (died about 1 198), to whom Lydgate, in
his Minor Poems (p. 102, ed. Halliwell) gives the title of maister 0/ story es.
The title clerk 0/ stories refers to the Historia Scholastica, of which Peter
Comestor was the author. The passage referred to is one in which Peter
Comestor abridges the passage in the book of Tobit, iv. 7-1 1. There are
remarks on almsgiving, very similar to this, in the Compendium by Peter
Cantor, who was bishop of Tournay, a.d. 1191 : they may be found at p.
150, vol. 205, of Migne's Patrologiae Cursus Completus. Peter Cantor also
quotes the sentence — cui des, videto. Cf. ' Circumstantial eleemosynarum
hae sunt — quis, quid, quantum, cui, ubi, quando, quare ; ' Alani de Insulis
TO PASS US VII. 155
Summa de Arte Predicatoria, ed. Migne, col. 17=.. ' Idem in beneficio faciam ;
videbo quando dem, cui dem, quemadmodurn, quare;' Seneca, de Benefices,
I. iv. cap. x. 'Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris ; ' P'cclus. xii. 1.
76. Gregory the Great was pope from a.d. 590 to 604. I doubt if the
quotation is really from his works. It seems rather to be from the following.
' Ne eligas cui bene facias. . ,. . Incertum est enim quod opus magis placeat
Deo.' — S. Eusebii Hieronymi Comment, in Ecclesiasten, cap. xi. ; vol. 23,
col. 1 103, of Migne's edition. Instead of 'Gregory,' Langley should have
said 'Jerome.' The four chief ' Latin fathers ' were S. Gregory, S. Jerome,
S. Augustine, and S. Ambrose.
83. See Luke xix. 23.
85. Hath to buggen hym bred, hath (enough) to buy himself bread.
86. This quotation is not from the Bible, but from St. Jerome, Epist. cxxv ;
cd. Migne, i. 1085. A similar statement is that of St. Paul, in Tim. vi. S.
Cf. Prov. of Hendyng, st. 15.
S8. See Ps. xxxvi. 25 (Vulgate).
93. He breketh, one of you breaketh ; he is used quite indefinitely, as in
Chaucer, Kn. Tale, 1 754. That beggars broke their own children's bones
is a fact. In the next line gon=ye go.
98. Henries fare, go hence, depart hence, i.e. die.
102. Myschief, misfortune; as in Chaucer, Prol. 49;,. Meseles, lepers.
ill. ' Et ibunt hi in supplicium sternum ; iusti autem in vitam seternam.'
Matt. xxv. 46.
112. Peter! An exclamation meaning — 'by St. Peter!' Cf. Pass. v.
544, and the note.
116. See Ps. xxii. 4 (Vulgate).
121. His pay n ete, ate his bread; see Psalm xii. 4, xxxiii. 20 (Vulgate).
123. ' He that truly loves God, his sustenance is easily procured.'
126. ' Nolite solliciti esse,' &c; Luke xii. 22. But William was thinking
of the parallel passage — ' ne solliciti sitis,' &c. ; Matt. vi. 25.
128. Fyiit hem mete, finds food for them. Fsnl is a contraction oi fynd-
eth; see 1. 129.
1 .'9. Haue thei, inverted for they have ; or it stands for ' though they
have.'
135. Dixit irt'ipiens, Ps. xiii. I (Vulgate). The priest suggests that Piers
might suitably take for his text — ' The fool hath spoken !'
136. Lorel. Spenser has lewde lorrell in his Sheph. Kal. (July), and the
Glosse interprets it thus — 'Lorrell, a losell.' It is another spelling oHosell,
and both are from the verb to lose. A lorel is a lost man, an abandoned
fellow ; see note on Lorel in the Promptorium Parvulorum. Palgrave has —
' I play the lorell or the loyterer, Je loricarde;' also ' It is a goodly syght
to se a yonge lourdayne play the lorell on this facyon.'
137. Eice is old MS. spelling for Ejice. ' Eice derisorem, et exibit cum
eo iurgium, cessabuntque causae et contumeliae.' Prov. xxii. 10.
156
NOTES.
141. 'Without food or money.' Here is the third and last reference to
Malvern hills, which were mentioned twice in the Prologue.
146. Which a, what sort of a. Such is the usual meaning of which a in
Middle English.
150. ' Somnia ne cures, nam mens humana quod optans,
Dum vigilat, sperat, per somnum cernit id ipsum.'
Dion. Cato ; Distich, ii. 31.
Cf. Chaucer's Nonne Prestes Tale, 1. 120, and Tyrwhitt's note, quoted by
Dr. Morris.
154. See Daniel ii. 39. But Langley seems rather to have been thinking
of the handwriting on the wall, as explained to Belshazzar ; cf. Dan. v. 28.
158. Lese, better spelt lees, i. e. lost ; the old strong past tense of the verb
to lo>e.
159. Gen. xxxvii. 9, 10.
162. Beau filtz, fair son. Some MSS. have Beau fitz. It does not seem,
from the account in Genesis, that Jacob expected Joseph's dream to be ful-
filled, but rather the contrary.
169. The pope allowed the Dominican friars to sell indulgences. Wyclif
declared them to be futile; Works, ed. Arnold, i. 60, iii. 256, 362, 400,
459-
171. Dignelich vnder/ongen, worthily received, held as acceptable.
175. See Matt. xvi. 19.
191. These 'letters provincial' or 'letters of fraternity ' were letters of
indulgence granted by a provincial, or monastic superior of a province.
192. Foure ordres, of friars. See note to Prol. 1. 58.
194. Pies hele, magpie's heel (?) ; a curious expression. But the Cam-
bridge MS. has pese hide, i. e. a pea's hull, a pea-shell, husk 0/ a pea. The
result is much the same ; for in either case it means something of no value.
199, 200. 'That, after our death-day, Do-well may declare, at the day of
doom, that we did as he bade us.'
Here terminates the part of the poem which is strictly termed ' Visio de
petro plowman.' The name of the remaining portion of the B-text is
' Visio de Do-wel, Do-bet, et Do-best, secundum Wit et Resoun,' which
consists of thirteen Passus, commonly numbered viii. to xx.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
The principal contractions used are the following : —
A S. (or S.) = Anglo-Saxon.
Dan. = Danish.
Du. = Dutch.
E. = English.
F. (or Fr.) = French.
G. = German.
Gk. = Greek.
Icel. = Icelandic (Cleasby's Diet.).
It. = Italian.
Lat. = Latin.
M.H.G. = Middle High-German.
M.E. = Middle English. (See particu-
larly Stratmann's O. E. Diction-
Mceso-Goth. (or Go:h.) = Mceso-
Gothic.
O.F. (or O. Fr.) = 01d French.
O.H.G. = 01d High-German.
Prompt. Parv. = Promptorium Parvu-
lorum, ed. Way, Camden Society,
1865.
Roq. = Roquefort's Glossaire.
S. = Anglo-Saxon.
Sc. = Scottish.
Sp. = Spanish.
Suio-Goth. = Ihre's Glossarium Suio-
Gothicum (Old Swedish).
W.= Welsh.
ary.)
The reader is also requested to observe that the contraction v. denotes a
verb in the infinitive mood; pr. s. or pt. s. means the third person singular
of the present or past tense, unless 1 p. (first person) or 2 p. (second person)
is added ; so also pr. jl. means the third person plural of the present tense ;
imp. s. means the second person singular of the imperative mood, &c. Other
contractions, as sb. for substantive,//', for past participle, are readily under-
stood. In the references, I. 99 means Passus i. 1. 99, &c. ; and pr. den
the Prologue.
to buy back, redeem. From this
word (abuy) conies the corruption
abide, as in Milton, P. L. iv. 87.
Ac. conj. S. but.
Accidie, sb. F. sloth, a fit of sloth-
lulness, 5. 366. Ch. Pers. i
Acombre, v. F. to encumber, clog,
.ci load, overwhelm. 2. 50: />/>.
Acombrcd, I. 194. 201.
Acorden, v. F. to agree, 5. 335 :
Acorde, to account, grant. 3. 317 :
pt. s. Acnrded, agreed, 4. 91.
Acorse, pr. s. subj. S. curse, excom-
municate, pr. 99. A.S. corsian, t.>
cuise.
A-day, lit. on the day, 6. 310. It
probably means here "at mo
Adoun. down, 4. 92 ; A-down, 5. 7.
A
A.
A, one, a single, 1. 99. MS. T. haso.
A, contr. form of on, signifying in
or on, 3. 48, 202.
Abate, imp, s. F. reduce, keep
under, 6. 218.
-b-c, i.e. the alphabet, 7. 132.
bie.i'. S. to pay the penalty, atone
for, 3. 249. See Abugge.
Abiggen, the same as Abie, 2.
127.
Abosted, pt. s. defied in a bragging
manner, 6. 156. W. boslio, to
boast, br.tg.
Abouten, prep. S. about, 1. 6.
Abugge, v. S. to pay the penalty,
atone for, 6. 83, 168. A.S. dbyegan,
158
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
from A.S. of-dinie, off the down,
off the hill.
A-felde, lit. on the field, hence, to
the field, 4. 147, 6. 144.
Afered, pp. S. frightened, afraid,
4. 63; Aferde, 6. 123; Aferd,
I. 10.
Affaiten, v. F. to tame, 5. 57.
Affaite be, imp. s. tame for thyself,
6. 32 ; where some MSS. read
ajj-aile [)/,tame thy. O. Fr. afaiter,
to prepare, from Lat. affeclare.
A-foot, on foot, 5. 6.
Afor, prep, before, 5. 12. A.S. on
for an or cEt-foran, before.
Aforth, v. afford, 6. 201. Cf. A.S.
for^ian. to further, aid, assist.
[This is very much against Mr.
Wedgwood's derivation of afford
from Lat. forum. See gefortSian
in O. E. Homilies, ed. Morris, 1st
ser. p. 31, 1. 15 ; and the note upon
, it, p. 30S.]
Afyngred, pp. S. very hungry,
6. 269. It is from the A.S. of-
hingrian, to hunger exceedingly.
Agast, pp. terrified, in fear, 2. 211.
See Aghast in Wedgwood.
Agrounde, on the ground, beneath,
in this world, 1. 60. '
Al a, the whole of a, 6. 25S.
! Aliri, across (?), 6. 124. Or perhaps
' it means — loosely stretched out.
The only instance I have net with
of a similar word is lirylong, in the
Spurious Prologue in Urry's ed. of
Cant. Tales, p. 596, 1. 310 ; 'He
fond hir Hgging lirylong ' (found
her lying lirylong).
Alisaundre, Alexandria, 5. 533.
Alkin, pr. 222; Alkyn, 6. 70. ' Both
contr. from Alkynnes (3.224^, of
every kind. Alkynnes crafty men
= craftsmen of every kind ; it
differs from ' every kind of crafts-
men,' when we have regard to its
grammatical construction.
Almes, sb. S. alms, 7- 75- The full
form is Almesse, 3. 75. Cf. A.S.
celmesse, from Lat. eleemosyna.
which again is from the Greek.
Aloft, on loft, on high, 1. 90.
Als, (1) also, 3. 72 ; (2) as, 4. 195.
Cf. Also = as, 3. 328. From A.S.
eall-swd come all-so, also, als, and
as.
J Alswythe, adv. as quickly as might
be, 3. 101. From als, as, and
swithe, quickly. In William of
Palerne we find both as swi\>e and
ahe siutye, shewing that the first
part of the word is als, not al.
'Amaistrye, v. F. to teach, instruct,
govern, manage, 2. 147 ; Amai-
strien, 6. 214; pp. Amaistried,
2. 153. Amaister, to teach, is
given as a Shropshire word by
Hartshorne. O. Fr. maistrier, to
act as a master.
Amercy, v. F. to amerce, fine, 6. 40.
Amonges, prep. S. amongst, 5. 209,
7- 156. AS. onmang, among.
Ampulles, sb. pi. F. small phials,
5.527. See note. Cf. ' this am-
pulla, or vial,' in Ben Jonson's
The Fox, Act ii. sc. 1.
An, (1) conj. and, 7. 44 ; (2) conj.
if, 2. 132 ; (3) prep, on, as in an
heigh = on high, pr. 13; an auen-
ture, on adventure, in case, 3. 72 ;
an ydel, in an idle manner, 5. 580.
An, one ; An-othre, one other,
another (i.e. a tenth), I. 106.
The line means, ' Cherubin, Sera-
phin, seven more such, and one
other.'
j Ancres, sb. pi. S anchorites, pr. 28,
6. 147. A.S. ancra, an anchorite,
from Gk. avaxwp-qrris.
And, conj. if, 2. 192, 4. 88, 5. 91.
Ictl. enda, if.
Angreth, pr. s. makes angry, 5.
117. O Icel. angra, to vex. Cf.
A. S. ange, vexation, from the
same root as Lat. angor.
jApayed, pp. F. pleased, 6. 110,
' 198. O. Fr. apaier, to appease,
from Lat. pacare.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
].59
Apertly, adv. openly, in an open
manner, evidently, 3. 256. Lat.
apertus, open.
Apewarde, sb. S. a keeper of apes,
5. 640.
Apeyre, v. to injure, 6. 173: 2 p.
pi. si/bj. Apeyre, 5. 573. Cf. F.
empirer, to impair, make worse,
from Lat. peius, worse.
Apoysounde, pp. F. poisoned. ;..
127. MS. T. has enpoisoned; MS.
Bodley S14 has apoisoned. En-
poysened occurs in Allit. Poems,
ed. Morris, B. 242.
Apparaille, v. F. to apparel, 1.
1 70, 6. 59 ; pt.pl. Apparailed, pr.
23; pp. Apparailled, 5. 523. O.F.
aparailler, to make to suit, from
pareil, equal, which from Low
Lat. paricidus, a diminutive of
par.
Appayre, 3 p. pi. pr. subj. injure,
3. 47. See Apeyre.
Appeireth, pr. s. injures, 7. 47 ;
pt. pi. Appeyred, 6. 134; pp. 6.
221. See Apeyre.
Appendsth, pr. s. belongs, I. 45.
From Lat. pendeo.
Appertly, adv. openly, evidently,
1. 9S. See Apertly.
Appiere, v. F. to appear, 3. 113.
Appose, V- F. to put questions to,
3. 5 ; pt. s. ox pi. Apposed, I. 47 ;
pt. pi. Apposeden, disputed, as in
Apposeden eyther other, disputed
one against the other, 7. 138.
Ar, adv. S. ere, before, 1. 73, 3. I 20,
&c. A. S. ar, G. eher, Mceso-
Goth. air, which agrees with the
root of early. Though generally
called an adverb, it is frequently a
conjunction.
Ar, cont. form of Aren, are, 6. ioo.
See Aren.
Arches, sb. pi. used to mean the
Court of Arches, 2. 60. 'The
Court of Arches is an ancient
court of appeal, belonging to the
Archbishop of Canterbury, where-
of the judge is called the Dean
of Arches, because he anciently
held his court in the church of St.
Mary-le-Bow (Sancta Maria de
Arcubus) ; though all the spiritual
courts are now holden at Doctors'
Commons.' (Hook's Church
Diet.)
Aredy,nr//. S ready, 4. 192. Cf. A S.
gertid, read v, which is a fuller form
of rdd, a form not used.
Aren, 3. p.pl.pr. are, pr. 164, 3.
80, 4. 33, 5. 626. See Be.
Arest, at rest ; lit. on rest, 5. 234.
See A, and cf. Aslepe.
Armes, pi. sb. F. coat-armour, 5.
=08. In owe armes = with our de-
vice upon His coat of arms.
Armure, sb. F. armour, 1. 156.
Arne, 3. p. pi. pr. are, 1. 21. See
Aren and Be.
Arraye, sb. F. array, dress, 2. 17.
Arraye, v. F. to set in order ;
hence, Arraye me, prepare my-
self, 4. 15 ; Arrayen hym, prepare
himself, 5. II. O. Fr. arroier.
from sb roi, order, which is from
the same root as A.S. gerdd, ready,
and M.H.G. reiten, Moeso Goth.
raidjan, to set in order.
Arrere, adv. F. backwards. = . 354.
Lat. retro.
Arst. adv. superl. S. erst, first, soon-
est, 4. 103, 5. 46S. See Ar.
Artow, art thou, 5. 260.
Arwes, sb. pi. S. arrows, 3. 323.
A.S. arwe, an arrow.
Ascapen, v. F. to escape. 2. 202 ;
pp. Ascaped, 6. 79. O. F. eschap-
per, Picard escaper. See ecliapt ■
in Brachet.
Askes, sb.pl. S. ashes, 3. 87. A.S.
asce, pi. ascan.
Aske]>, pr. s. S. asks, requires, pr.
19, 1 20. See Axe.
Aslepe, asleep, lit. on sleep. 2. 51,
5-8.
Aspye, v. F. to espy, to spy out. 5.
1 70. Derived from a Teutonic
i6o
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
source; cf. O.H.G. spekon, G.
spdken, to spy, Lat. specere.
Assaye, v. F. lo try, examine, 3. 5,
5. 310: to try, endeavour, 6. 24.
From Lat. exagiinn, a proof;
which from exigere, to examine.
Assele, 1 p. s. pr. F. I seal, 2. 112.
O.F. sael, Lat. sigillum.
Assemble, sb. F. assembly, pr. 217.
Lat. assimulare, from simul, to-
gether ; cf. A.S. saw, samod, to-
gether, whence samnian, to collect.
Assoile, v. F. to absolve, 3. 40 ;
Assoilen, pr. 70 ; Assoille, 5. 276 ;
pt. s. Assoiled, 3. 47 ; Assoilled, 5.
186; pp. Assoiled, 3. 142 ; pr. s.
Assoileth, 3. 236. O.F. assoiler,
absoiller, Lat. absohiere.
Asspye, v. F. to espy, see, 6. 131,
225. See Aspye.
Ass-wage, v. F. to assuage, soothe,
subdue, 5. 122. From O. F. as-
souager, formed from O.F. soef,
Lat. suawis, sweet, soft (Burguy).
At, prep. S. (used where we should
now use of), 3. 25 ; (used for in)
7. 128. At ones, at once, to-
gether, 5. 163.
Attache, v. F. to arrest, apprehend,
2. 199 ; pp. Attached, 2. 236.
Probably from Bret, tack, a nail;
cf. Bret, tacha, to fasten with a
nail ; It. attaccare, to fasten, F.
tack (a small nail).
Atte, at the; as in Atte mele, I.
24 ; Atte dore, 2. 205; Atte stile,
5. 20 f , &c. Cf. note to 6. 117.
Atweyne, in twain, lit. on twain,
7. 116. The A.S. for two is
twegen in the masc, two, in the
feminine. (So G. zween masc ,
zwei fern.) Hence E. twain and
two.
Atwo, in two, 6. 105. See the pre-
ceding word.
Auarousere, pi. adj. F. more ava-
ricious, 1. 189 Lat. auarus.
Auatinced,^/). F. advanced, 1. 1S9,
3. 33. F. avancer, It. avanzare,
from Lat. ab ante, which gives
the It. avanti or avante, before.
Auenture, s&.F. adventure, chance :
hence good auenture = by good
luck, 6. 79. An auenture, in case,
3. 72, 279; 6. 43 ; better written
. On auenture, 3. 66.
Auncere, sb. a kind of weighing
machine, 5. 218. It is spelt aun-
cere, auncer, aunser, auncel, and
aunsel in the MSS. From the de-
scriptions by Cowell (in Halliwell)
and Phillips, it is clearly the steel-
yard commonly known as the
' Danish steelyard,' which has a
fixed weight and a moveable ful-
crum. The derivation is not so
. clear. See the note.
)Auoutrie, sb. F. adultery, 1. 175.
Lat. adulterivm. whence O. F.
avulterie, avouterie.
Auowe, sb. F. vow, 5. 457. Not
derived from F. sb. veu, but from
the vb. avouer. See next word.
Avowe, v. to make oath concerti-
ng' 3- 255 ; pt- s. Avowed, made
a vow, 5. 388. From Low Lat.
aduoare, which from Low Lat.
uolare, to vow ; which from Lat.
uouere.
Auter, sb. F. altar, 5. 109.
Au3te, sb. S. put for something, s.
439 ; everything, 5. 489. Used
adverbially, in the sense of at all,
5- 31 '» 54°- A.S. dwkit, from a,
ever, and iviht, a whit ; cf. O.H.G.
eowiht, from eo or io, ever, and
wiht. See M"au3te.
Au3te, 1 p. s. pt. I ought, 2. 28.
A.S. ic dhte, I owned, possessed,
from dgan, to own. Cf. Mce^o-
Goth. aigan, to own pr. t. ik aih,
I own, pt. t. ik aihta, I owned.
Note that M.E. owe, to possess,
is the mod. E. own. To owe a
debt is to kave to pay it. See
Owe, Owen.
Awreke, imp. s. S. revenge, take
vengeance on, 6. 175; pp. Awroke,
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
]6i
avenged, 6. ■204. A. S. awrecan,
to avenge ; cf. Mceso-Goth. wri.
lean, xurakjan, to persecute, Du.
wreken, G. rdclien, E. wreak.
Axe, v. S. to ask, 4. 102 ; Axen, v.
5- 543 ! /''• N- subJ- Axc- 5- 4'.° ;
pr. s, Axeth, j. 27 ; pt. s. Axed, 1.
49, 5. 307, 6. 298. k.S.dcsian,
dxian, dhsian, dscian, to ask.
Ay, adv. S. aye, ever, 6. 212. A.S.
.'. aa, O.H.G. eo, G.je, ever.
\ A3ein. prep. S. against, 3. 1 ;;. 291 ;
in a direction opposite to ; hmce,
come ajein = came to meet, 4. 44 ;
return forj -?. J37. Spelt Ayein,
3. 291. See Ajeines.
Ajein, adv. S. again, 6. 44, 7. 25.
Ajeines, prep, against, 4. 48, 6.
316, 7. 70; Ajeins 3. 92. A.S.
ongedn, is both arfv. (again) and
/>r£/>. (against). We do not find
ongednes, but we find togednes,
prep, against. Cf. Su. Goth, gen,
against, gena. to go to meet, G.
gegen, against.
Babeled, 1 p. s. pt. I babbled, said
mv prayers in a mumbling manner,
5. S. Du. bubbelen, to chatter ;
Fr. babiller. A word formed from
the repetition of the syllables ba,
ha, by a child. Cf. Mamely.
Baberlipped, adj. having full,
large, thick lips, 5. 190. Cf. Fr.
babines, the lips, Du. babbel, the
mouth. Formed from the sound
ba, made by the lips. See word
above.
' Bachelers, sb. pi. F. novices in the
church, pr. 87. A bacheler is a
I novice, generally in arms or arts.
(From Low Lat. baccalariits, a
cowherd, or man attached to a
baccalaria, or grazing-firm, so
named from Low Lat. bacca, a
cow — Lat. uacca (Brachet). In
like manner the French berger, a
M
shepherd, is the Low Lat. ber-
becarius, from berbex = ueruex, a
sheep.
Bad. See Bidde.
Baiardes, sb.pl. F. horses, 4. 124.
Bayard was a favourite nam
horses, and originally meant a bay-
hone, from Lat. badius, brown,
whence Fr. bai.
Bailliues, sb. pi, F. bailiffs, 2. 59.
Lut. baiulus, a tutor, O. F. baillir,
to take charge of.
Bakbite, v. S. to backbite, slander,
2. 80. Back frequently means in
the wrong direction, as in y\.V..
back-friend, a secret enemy, back-
slide, to slide into error. Cf. Icel.
bakbordi, the left side of a ship.
Bakbitynge, sb. S. slander, 5.
Bake, pp. S. baked, 6. 196 ; Baken,
pp. 6 295.
Bakesteres. See Baxteres.
Balder, adj.comp. S. bolder, 4. 107;
7. 182. A.S. beald. bold, Moeso-
Goth. balthaba, boldly, O.H.G.
bait, bold.
Bale, sb. S. evil, injury, wrong, 4.
89, 92. A. S. beato, torment,
wickedness, Mceso-Goth. balujan,
to torment.
Balkes, sb. pi. S. balks, 6. 109.
' Balk, a ridge of greensward left
bv tl e plough in ploughing, or by
des:gn, between different occu-
pancies in a common field.'
(Halliwell). Cf. A.S. balca, (i)a
heap, ridge; (2) a beam. Icel.
'■■>; a wooden division.
Banne, v. S. to curse. 1. 62 ; pr. s.
Banneth, forbids, prohibits severely,
-. Cf. G. bann, a ban.
Bar, pt. s. bore. See Bere.
Barne, sb. S. a child, 2.3; />/.
Barnes, 3. 151, 7. i|.'. A. S.
beam, Mceso-Goth. barn, Sw.
bam, Sc. bairn. Cf. F. bear.
Earste, pt. s. S. burst, 6. 1 80.
bers'an, to burst, break ; pt. t. ic
beer st, I burst.
i6z
GLOSS ARIAL INDEX.
Baslarde, sb. F. 3. 303. ' The
Baselard was a kind of long
dagger, which was suspended to
the girdle . . . Knighton tells us
that Sir Wm. Walworth put Jack
Straw [? Wat Tyler] to death with
a bassilard.' — Way, in note to
Promptorium Parvulorum. It was
also called a badelaire, which is
perhaps connected with Low Lat.
balteus, a belt, which is also the
root of E. bauldric, bawdric, or
baldrich. See also the note.
Batailles, sb. pi. F. battles, 3. 321.
Batered, I p. s. pt. I battered, I
patted, 3. 198. It is the frequen-
tative of beat, which is repre-
sented both by A.S. bedtan and
F. battre.
Baudy, adj. dirty. 5. 197. W.
baw, dirt, bawaidd, dirty.
Baxteres, sb. pi. S. bakers (pro-
perly female bakers), pr. 218;
Bakesteres, 3. 79. A. S. baicere,
a man who bakes ; baicestre, a
woman who bakes.
Bayarde, sb. F. a horse, 6. 196;
Bayard. 4. 53. See Baiardes.
Bayllyues. sb. pi. F. bailiffs, 3. 2.
See Bailliues.
Be, v. S. to be, pr. 79, &c. ; I p.
pi. pr. we Beth, 3. 27; 2 p. 3e
Ben, 6. 132 ; 3 p. they Ben, 6.
79; Aren, 3. 80; 2 p. s. pr. (in
future sense) Beest, shalt be, 5.
598 ; 3 p. pi. Beth, shall be, 7.
66 ; imp. pi. 1 p. Be we, pr. 188 ;
2 p. Be ?e, 7. 183 ; imp. pi.
(without ye) Beth, 2. 137; pr.
s. subj. Be = if (my council) be,
4. 189; 2 p. Be J)ow = if thou
be, 6. 207 ; pt. s. subj. Were, pr.
165 ; pp. Be, 5. 129, 155. Other
parts of the verb present no
forms worth notice. See "Were.
With A. S. beon, to be, cf. G. ich
bin, I am, Lat. fid, I was, Gk.
(pvvat, to be. With 1 was, cf.
A. S. ic wees, G.ic war, from A.S.
wesan, G. wesen, to be. With we
are, cf. Icel. ver eruni, and Lat.
esse. The three Sanskrit roots are
(1) bhu, (2) vas, (3) as; which
seem to be distinct.
Be, prep. S. by. 5. 130.
Beau filtz, = fair son, 7. 162. Fr.
beau fils.
Beches, sb. pi. S. beech-trees, 5. 18.
The A. S. has both bece and boc.
Bedel, sb. a beadle, apparitor, or
summoner, 2. 109 ; pi. Bedelles,
beadles, officers, 2. 59 ; Bedellus,
3. 2. O. F. bedel, a beadle, F.
bedeau.
Bedeman, sb. S. one who prays for
another, 3. 41, 46. Edie Ochil-
tree, in the ' Antiquary,' was a
King's Bedesman. A. S. gebed, a
prayer, Du. bede.
Bedered, S. bedridden, 7. 101 . MS.
T. has bedreden ; MS. O. has bed-
rede. The latter is nearest to the
A.S. bedredda or bedrida, one who
is bedridden, dom-bed and rida, a
rider ; so that bedridden is an
early corruption of bedride, having
the sense of bedrider. We also
find the spelling Bedreden, 6. 194.
Bedes, sb. pi. S. prayers, 5. 8, 407.
To bid one's beads is, properly
speaking, to pray one's prayers ;
but the name beads was after-
wards transferred to the balls
strung upon a string, by which
the prayers were counted off.
See Bedeman.
Beest, 2 p. s. pr. shalt be, 5. 59S.
The A. S. beon, to be, was most
commonly used in a future sense ;
thus ]>u eart = thou art; hu byst
= thou shalt be.
Behote, 1 p. s. pr. S. I promise,
vow, 5. 462. A.S. behdtan, to
vow ; cf. G. heissen, Du. heeten,
Mceso-Goth. haitan, to name, call.
Beire, gen. pi. of both, 2. 66. It
is a corruption of begra, the gen.
pi. of A. S. bd, both.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
1*3
Bei;, sb. S. an ornament for the
neck, neck-ring, a sort of collar
of bright metal, pr. 165, 176;
pi. Bijes, pr. 161. A.S. beak, a
neck-ring, a crown, any circular
ornament ; prob. from biigan, to
bend, pt. t. ic be<ih.
Belsabubbes, gen. case, -Beelze-
bub's, 2. 130.
Bely, sb. S. belly, pr. 41. MS. T.
has the pi. belies.
Bely-ioye, sb. appetite, delight in
food, lit. belly-joy, 7. 118.
Belye, v. S. to lie against, slander,
5. 414.
Bemeneth,/>r. s. S. means, signifies,
pr. 208. A.S. mdknan, to intend,
G. meinen, Du. meeneti, Lat. tne-
minisse, Sanskrit man, to think,
deem. Cf. Lat. mens, E. mind.
Ben, 3 p. pi. pr. they are, 6. 79,
Observe the curious construction
it 6e« = they are, 6. 56. So in
the A.S. Gospels, ic hit eom, I it
am (It is I), S. John vi. 20.
Benef'ys, sb. F. benefice, 3. 312.
Benes, sb. pi. S. beans, 6. 1S4.
Benfait, sb. F. a benefit, kind deed,
5. 436. F. bienjait, a thing well
done.
Berde, sb. S. beard, 5. 194.
Bere, imp. s. S. bear, carry, 3. 268;
pt. s. Bar, bare, 2. 3 ; Bare, 5. 524;
2 p. s. Bere, didst bear, 3. 195 ;
pt. pi. Baren, 5. 108, 365 ; Bere,
pt.pl. snbj. 5. 139. A.S. beran,
pt.t. icbcer,p\. webceron, pp. boren.
Berghe, sb. S. a hill, 5. 589. A.S.
beorg or beorh, G. and Du. berg.
Cf. Moeso-Goth. bairgan, to hide,
A.S. beorgan, G. and Du. bergen.
Bernes, si. pi. S. barns, 6. [86.
A.S. bcem or bern. The deriva-
tion from bere, barley, and ern, a
place, looks fanciful, but is sus-
tained by the fact th.it the full
forms bere-ern, and ber-ern are
found in the Northumbrian glosses
to Luke xii. 24.
Bernes, gen. sing, barn's, 4. 57.
See the above.
Bestes, sb. pi. F. beasts, 6. 142.
O. Fr. beste, whence F. bete.
Bete, v. S. to beat, 5. 33 ; Bet, pr. -.
(contracted form of betetk) beats,
4. 59 ; pt. s. Bette, beat, 6. 180.
A.S. bedlan, to beat, pr. s. bet, he
beats, pt. t. ic bed!. This is a clear
instance of a strong verb becoin
a weak one at the date of the
Laud MS., for the Vernon MS.
has he beot in this very place.
Bete, v. S. to amend, satisfy, remedy,
6. 239. A. S. bi'lan, to make
better, Du. baten, to avail, profit ;
from the root of boot, better ; cf.
Moeso-Goth. batizo, better, batista,
best ; also Sc. beet, used by Burns.
Beth, (1) we will be, 3. 27; (2)
they shall be, 7. 66; (3) be ye.
2. 137. See Be, Beest.
Beton, {roper name, dim. of Bette,
little Bat, R. 306 ; spelt Betoun,
g. 33. Cf. Kiloun, Ratoun.
Bette, adv. S. better, 5. 601, 6. 4 >
A. S. bet.
Bette, proper name, Bat, 5. 330.
Bi, prep. S. by, 4. 1 34 ; in accord-
ance with,' 4. 70 ; with reference
to, 4. 71. 5. 180 (cf. 1 Cor. iv. 4) ;
By myself, as far as I am con-
cerned, 4. 137; Bi my lyue,
throughout my lifetime, 6. 103;
Bi so, provided that, 5. 647; By
|>at, by that time, 6. 292, 3c I ;
according to that which, 7.1
i'.v f-e bischop (pr. 80) may mean
either with reference to the bishop,
or by the bishop's permission.
Mr. Aldis Wright takes the former
view (Bible Word-book. p.
and, as I believe, with good reason.
See the note.
Bicche, sb. S. bitch, 5. ;,.;;,. A.S.
bicce.
Bicome. pt. /!. 5. 651 : where pei
bicome = where they have_£<
It is also used as a past tense in
M 2
164
GLOSSARIAL IXDEX.
Joseph of Arimathie, ed. Skeat
(E.E.T.S.) 1. 607, in the phrase
' wher the white kniht bicon:.1
i.e. where the white knight had
got to. Cf. A. S. bicuman. Du.
bijliomen, to happen, G. beikom-
men, to reach to.
Bicometh to, pr. s. is suitable For,
becomt- See the preceding
word.
Bidde, v. S. to pray. 5. 231 : to beg,
6. 239 ; 1 p. s. pr. Bidde, pray
(see Bedes), 5. 407 : pr. s. Biddeth,
• begs, 7. Si ; Bit (contracted form
of biddeth), begs, 7. 6S ; bids,
commands. 3. 75 : Bidden, pr. pi.
beg. solicit, 3. 218 ; Bidde. /»;/ . -.
pray, 5. 4:4 ; Biddeth. imp. pi.
beg ye. ask ye. pray ye. 5. 610,
7. S4 ; pt. s. Bad. commanded,
7. :. A. S. biddan, to beg. to
pray, Du. bidden, G. bitten, to
beseech.
Bidders, 56. //. S. beggars, pr. 40 ;
spelt Bidderes. 6. 206 ; 7. 66. See
Bidde.
Biddynge, sb. S. begging, solici-
tation < f alms. 3.21N. See Bidde.
Bidraueled, pp. S. slobbered,
covered with grease, 5. 194.
Cf. A. S. drabbe. dregs ; 'Low G.
drabbelen, to slobber, drabbelbart,
one who dirties his beard in eat-
ing.
Bienfetes, sb. pi. F. (lit. benefits)
good deeds, 5 621. The phrase
means ' presumption arising from
trusting to your own good actions.'
Biermales, sb. pi. F. biennials,
7.170. As trentals means a series
of masses said daily for thirty
days, so I suppo-e biennales to
mean masses said for a space of
two years, and triennales masses
said for three years. They must
have be n expensive luxuries. Cf.
the term annuellere in Chaucer.
Biernes, sb, pi. S. men, 3. 265.
A. S. beorn, a chief, a man.
Bifalle, 3 p. s. pr. subj. S. it may
befall, it may happen (feire being
an adv. = well), 5. 59; pr. s. Bi-
falleth, belongs, 1. 52 : pt, s. Bifel,
happened, 5. 479. 7. 164.
Bifor, Biforn, prep. S. pr. 183,
7. 188. A. S. biforan.
Bigge, Biggen, v. S. to buv. 4. £9,
6. 28: ; 1 p. s. pr. Bigge. I buy,
_-. 4:9. A.S. bicgan, to buy.
Bigileth, pr. s. beguiles, cheats,
7. 70. O.F. guile, from a Teutonic
source ; cf. A. S wile, wiliness.
Bigruccheth, pr. s. begrudges, re-
pines at, murmurs at, 6. 69. O.
Fr. grocer, groucher, to murmur ;
cf. G. grunzen, to grunt.
Bihelde, 1 p. s. pt. S. I beheld,
7. 109.
Biheste, sb. S. promise, 3. 126.
A.S. behces, a promise. Cf. next
word.
Bihight, pt. s. S. promised, 3. 29.
A.S be h dtan, to vow, promise. See
Behote.
Bihote, 1 p. s. pr. S. I promise,
6. 233. See Behote, Bihight.
Bihoueth, pr. s. S. needs, requires,
(not impersonal) 5. 3S. A. S.
behofian, to need.
Bikenne. 1 p. s. pr. S. I commit
(thee to Christ), 2. 49. See
Kenne.
' Biknowen, v. S. to acknowledge,
confess, pr. 204 ; I p. s. pr. Bi-
knowe, 5. 200 ; pp. Biknowen.
acknowledged, well known, favour-
ably received, 3. 33.
Bileue, sb. S. belief, creed. 5. 7. 7
175. Cf. A. S. geledfa. creed.
Bille, .'6. F. a bill, petition. 4. 47.
Mr. Wedgwood rightly con-
nects it with bull, a sealed docu-
ment, from Lat. bulla. Low Lat.
billa, a leaden seal. The diminu-
tive of it is the F. and E. billet.
Biloue (be~l. imp. s. S. makei thyself
beloved, 6. 230; pp. Biloued.bc-
loved, 3. 2ti.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
I 65
Bilowen, pp. S. told lies about, be-
lied, 2. 22. A.S. levgan, to lie,
pt. t. ic leag, pp. logen.
Binam. pt. s. S. took away from,
6. 243. A.S. benitnan, to deprive.
See JNTam.
Biqueste, sb. S. bequest, will, 6. 87.
A.S. becwe^an, to bequeath ; from
citrelSan, to say. Ct\ Quod.
Birde, .•/>. S. lady, 3. 14. Apparently
the same as bride, A.S. 6r>V/ ; see
Burde in Allit. Poems, ed. Morris,
B. 653. Cf. M.E. brid for the
modern word bird.
Bireue, v. S. bereave, take it away
by force. 6 248. A. S. bereiifian,
from redfian, to reave, rob. Cf.
Du bcrooven. from rooven, to rob ;
O. F. rober, Sp. njiar, It. rttbare,
Dan. reive, to rob, Lat. rapere.
Connected also with r/t/e, r//>.
Bisette, v. S. to bestow, .-. 264,
299. A.S. set/an, to set, place.
Cf. O. Fries, bietta, and see
Chaucer, C. T. 329;;, 753,.
Bishetten, pt.pl. S. shut up. 2. 213.
A.S. scillan, to shut up, scitteh, a
bar bolt.
Bisitte, 1/. S. to sit close to, beset,
opptes>, 2. i_)o. AS. bisittan, to
sit near, be-i
Bisi, Bisy, adj. S. busy, 7. 1 1 8. i 25.
Bislabrred, />/>. beslobbered, be-
dabbled, dirty. 5. 392. G. schlab-
bern. E. slabber, clobber, slubber ;
Cf. .s/o/:.
Bismer, st. S. calumny. 5. S9. A S.
bkiih r, reproach ; from bismerian,
to besmear (lit. to cover with fat,
front A. S. snare, fat).
Biswynke, v. S. to obtain by work,
to earn by labour, 6. 216. A S.
noinctm. to toil.
Bit, short for Biddi th. S< e Bidde.
Bitelbrowed, adj. S. with beetling
brows, having | rominent brows,
5. 190. Tlie A.S bitel means the
insect called a beetle, lit. the biter ;
the M.E. adj. bitel means biting,
sharp; hence perhaps the meai
of toothlike, projecting.
Bitter, sb. S. bitterness, 5. 119.
Bittere, adv. S. bitterly, 3. 249.
Bitwixen,/ rep. S. betwixt, amongst,
5. 338. A. S. betiuix, betwux. be-
tween; from tivd, two, twy, doul l< .
Bityme, adv. S. betimes, soon, 5.
647.
Bijes. See Bei3.
Bijete, sb. S. offspring, 2.40. From
bigitan, to obtain; cf. modern I
beget.
Bi;unde, adv. S. beyond, 3. 109.
Blarn ^, to, gerund, to blame. 7. CiO.
Blenche, v. S. to blink, blench :
hence, to flinch at, turn from,
glance or turn aside, 5. 589: Cl.
Du. bliiiken, to glitter, A S blican,
to gliiter Sc. blent, a glance.
Blent, pp. S blinded, 5. 502. A.S.
blriidian, to bl nd.
Blered, />f. s. made dim, blurred ;
blered : ■ 5= cast a mist 1 1
their eves, i.e. deceived thenl, pr.
74. Cf. Bavarian plerren, a blotch,
plerr, a m st bef< re the eye-.
Probably only another spelling of
blurred.
Blered, pp. bleared, sore, inflamed,
k. 191. Perhaps blurred; but Mi
Wedgwood makes 1 ifference be-
tween this word and the preced
one. Cf. Platt-Deutsch blarre,
roar. cry. weep.
Blisful, adj. S. full of happiness
(wh>ch He bestows on others), .
^Blissed, pp. S. rendered haj
fil e,; with bl ss. 5. 503. A
blisiian, to make happy which is
• itt 11. to 1
Blo, nd . S. blue] livid] 3. 07.
Blody, nlated b\
6. 210.
Blos-med, pt. pi. S.
140. A S. blostmian, from
a blossom, b 00m.
Blowen, /■/•. S. blown. 5. Is1.
Blustredeu. //. pi. wandered blind-
1 66
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
]y about, 5. 521. Very rare — but
' blustreden as blynde,' = 'wandered
about like blind people,' occurs in
Alliterative Poems, B. 886; ed.
Morris, 1864.
Bochere, sb. F. a butcher, 5. 330 ;
pi. Bocheres, pr. 218, 3. 79.
Boden, pp. S, bidden, invited, 2. 54.
See Bidde.
Boke, sb. S. book, 7. 85, 88.
Bolded, 1 p. s. pt. S. I emboldened.
3. 198.
Bolle, sb. S. bow], wooden platter,
5. 108, 369, 526. A.S. bolla.
Bollyng, sb. swelling, 6. 218. For
bollyng of her wombe = to prevent
swelling of their bellies, to prevent
their growing too fat. Cf. Dan.
bidne, to swell, bullen, swollen.
See next word.
Bolneth, pr. s. swells, 5. 119. See
the preceding word.
Bolted, pp. S. supported by iron
bands, 6. 138. A. S. bolt, an
arrow ; hence, a bar.
Bonched, pt. s. struck, lit. banged,
pushed, knocked about, pr. 74.
' Bunchon, tundo, trudo.' Prompt.
Parv. ' To bounche or pushhe one ;
he buncheth me and beateth me,
(7 me pousse? Palsgrave. Dan.
v banke, Du. bonken, to knock, rap.
Bondman, sb. S. peasant, 5. 194.
A.S. bo?ida, a husbandman, Suio-
Goth. and Dan. bonde. a peasant ;
from A.S. bhan, Icel. bua, G.
bauen, Du. bouwen, to till, of
which Icel. buandi, bond: was
originally the present participle.
Hence E. boor (from Du. boer) a,
tiller, peasant, husband, the man-
ager of the house. No connec-
tion with to bind.
Bondemen, pi. of Bondman, q. v. ;
pr. 216, 6. 46.
Borde, sb. S. board, table, 6. 267.
Bores, sb. pi. S. boars, 6. 31.
Borghe, sb. S. borough, town, 2.
87, 6. 308.
Borghe, sb. S. pledge, security, 7.
83 ; Borwgh, surety, bail, 4. 89 :
pi. Borwes, I. 77. A.S. bork, Du.
borg, a pledge. Both this word
and the preceding are from A. S.
beorgan, to secure. See Borwe.
Bornes, gen. s. of Borne, sb. S. a
brook, bourn, pr. 8. A.S. burne,
Du. borne, a stream, spring, G.
brunnen. Often confused with F.
borne, a bound, limit, from a quite
different root.
Borwe, v. S. to borrow, 5. 257;
1 p. s. pr. I borrow, or rather, I
promise to psy, 5. 429; pr. s.
Borweth, 7. 81 ; pr. pi. Borwen.
7. 82 ; 1 p. s. pt. Borwed, 6. 101 ;
pt. s. Borwed, 4. 53 ; pr. s. subj.
Borwe, give security for, 4. 109.
See Borghe, a pledge.
Bote, sb. S. boot, remedy, restora-
tion, amendment, 4. 89, 6. 1 96.
7. 28. From the root of better.
Bote, pt. s. bit, 5. 84. A.S. bitan,
pt. t. ic bat.
Botened, pp. S. restored, assisted,
bettered, 6. 194. See Bote, sb.
Boterased, pp. F. buttressed, fur-
nished with buttresses, 5. 598. F.
bouter, to thrust, but.
Boure, sb. S. bower, lady's chamber,
2. 64, 3. 14, 5. 222; Bowre, 3.
102. A. S. bur.
Boujte, pt. s. and pi. bought, 2. 3,
3. 86, 6. 210. See Bigge.
Bow, >fr. S. bough, 5. 32 ; pi.
Bowes, 5. 584.
Boweth, imp. pi. S. bend, turn, 5.
575-
I Bown, adj. ready, 2. 159. Icel.
b&inn, pp. of vb. bua, to prepare.
Now corrupted into bound, as in
' bound for New York.'
Boxome. See Buxome.
Bras, sb. brass, 3. 195 ; i.e. money,
as in Matt. x. 9.
Bredcorne, bread-corn, 6. 64.
Breadcorn is corn to be ground
into breadmeal, for brown bread.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
167
Farmers allow their bailiffs bread-
corn in Lincolnshire, at 40s. per
quarter (Peacock's Line. Glossary).
In this case, Piers uses some of it
for sowing.
Brede, sb. S. breadth, 3. 202.
Breke, v. S. to break, 7. iS$;pr.pl.
Breketh, 6. 31 ; 2 p. pi. pr. sub).
Breke, 5. 584 ; pt. s. si/bj. Breke,
should break, miss, 5. 2.4;.
Bren. sb. F, bran, 6. 184, 2S5. F.
bran, bren, W. bran, a husk.
Brenne, v. S. to bum, 3. 97 ; imp.
s. Brenne, 3. 265 ; pp. Brent,
burnt; i.e. very bright, 5. 271.
Breuet, sb. F. a letter of indulgence,
pr. 74 ; pi. Breuettes, 5. 649. O.
F. brievet, a little letter, from Lat.
breuis. Cf. F. brevet, a commis-
sion, indenture.
Brewestere, sb. S. a female brewer,
5. 306 ; pi. Brewesteres, pr. 218,
3- 79-
Bridale, sb. S. bride-ale (wedding-
feast) now corrupted into bridal,
2. 54; Bruydale, 2. 43.
Britoner, sb. an inhabitant of
Brittany, a Frenchman (a term
of reproach), 6. 1 78.
Brockes, >b. pi. S. badgers, 6. 31.
A. S. broc, Dan. brok; cf. Dan. bro-
get, pie-bald ; W. broc, grizzled.
The badger had two other names,
viz. bausin and grey ; Juliana Ber-
ners, Book of St. Alban's, sig.
D vi.
Broeour, sb. broker, 5. 130, 24S ;
Brokour, 2. 65, 3. 46.
Brokages, sb.pl. F. brocages, com-
missions, 2. 87.
Broke, sb. S. brook, 6. 137. Cf.
A.S. bryce, a fracture.
Broke, pp. S. broken, torn, 5. 10^.
Brolle, sb. a child, brat, 3. 204. It
occurs in P. Ploughman's Crede,
745-
Brugge, sb. S. a bridge, 5. 601 ; pi,
Buigges, 7. 28.
Bruydale. See Bridale.
Brytonere, 6. 156. See Britoner.
Bugge, v. S. to buy, pr. 168, 7. 14:
Buggen, 7. 85 ; pr. pi. Buggen,
3.81.
Bulle, sb. F. a bull, papal rescript,
pr. 69, 7. 107 ;pl. Bulks, 3. I47.
Lat. bulla, a boss, a name given
to the lump of metal which formed
the seal of a bull.
Bummed./i/.s. tasted, 5. 223. Pro-
bably from the sound made by the
lips ; W. bwmp, a hollow sound,
Du. bommen, to sound hollow,
bom, a drum; and E. boom.
Burdoun, sb. F. a stall', 5. 524.
Fr. bourdon, It. bordone.
Burgages, sb. pi. F. lands or tene-
ments in towns, held by a particular
tenure, 3. 86. From F. bourg,
town, and gage, pledge.
Burgeis, Burgeys, sb. pi. F. bur-
gesses, pr. 216, 3. 162 ; less fre-
quently spelt Burgeyses, 5. I 29.
Busked hem, pt. pi. prepared
themselves, got ready to go ;
hence, repaired, went. 3. 14. Icel.
buask, to prepare oneself, reflexive
form of bua, to prepare. See Phil.
Soc. Trans. 1866, p. 83.
But, conj. S. except, 3. 112, 6.
120; But if, except, 3. 305. 5.
420. A S. bate, biitan. Sec Bur
in Wedgwood.
Buxorne, adj. S. obedient, humble,
1. 110,6. 1 y 7 ; Boxome, 3. 263.
A.S. bilksotn, obedient, horn bugan,
to bow.
Buxomnes, 5/). S. obedience, 4.
1S7 ; Buxumnesse, I. 112.
By, By J>at. See Bi.
Bydde, 5. =;io. See Bidde.
Byfel me, happened to me, pr. 6.
See Bifalle.
Byhijte, pt. s. vowed, 5. 65. See
Bihight.
Byhote god, I vow to God, 6.
280. See Behote.
Bymeneth, 1. 1. See Bemeneth.
Bynome, pp. taken away; worth
1 68
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
bvnome hym, shall be taken away
from him, 3. 312. See Binam.
Byschrewed, pt. s. cursed, 4. 16S.
Cf. Du. schreenwen, to shout ;
Ice!, skraf, talk, skrapr, an idle
talker ; but this is uncertain.
C.
Cacch8,f.F.to catch. pr. 206,2.192.
O.F. cachier, F. chasser, It. cac-
ciare. Only a variation of E. chase.
Caityue, sb. F. a wretch, a caitiff,
5 200. From Lat. capliuus,
whence It. caltivo, a captive, F.
f. wretched, poor.
Cake, sb. a loaf (lit. a cake). 6. 284.
In prov. Eng. cake is a loaf.
Calabro, 6. 272. See note.
Caleys, pr. name, Calais, 3. 195.
Cam, pt. s. came, pr. 114. See
Comen.
' Can, 1 p. s. pr. I know. 3. 3. 329,
5. 239. 401 ; Can. pr.s. can, is able
to, pr. 199. A. S. cunnan, to
know, to ken, G. and Du. kennen.
Canoun. sb. .-. 42s. As this is
mentioned with the decretals, it
prc>bably means the canon laiv,
with special reference to that part
of it which had received the as-
sent of our kings : see Canon in
Hook's Church Dictionary. Other-
wise, it must mean the most
solemn part of the service of the
mass, calle I Canon Missce, or the
Canon of the Mass. See Burguy,
and Proctor on the Common
Prayer, p. 319. A S. canon, a
rule, from Lat. canon, Gk. Kavwv.
Canonistres, sb. pi. professors of
the canon-law, men skilled in ec-
clesiastical law, 7. 149.
Caple, sb. a horse, 4. 23 : pi. Caples,
2. 161. O. Icel. kapall, W. ceffyl,
Lat. caballus, a horse.
Cardinales, pi. adj. F. pr. 104. In
M.E. pi. adjectives from the
French sometimes take a final s.
Cared, pt.pl. S. were anxious about,
2. 161.
Carefullich, adv. S. anxiously, sor-
rowfully, 5. 77. A. S. cearu, M.-
, Goth, hara, anxiety.
Caroigne, sb. F. carcase, body, 6.
93. Caroyne, pr. 193. F. cha-
rogne, O. Fr. caroigne, from Lat.
caro, flesh ; now spelt carrion.
Carped, pt. s. said, told, 2. 191.
' Carpyn or talkyn. Fabulor.'
Prompt. Parv.
Carpyng, tb. talking, discussion, pr.
203. It means — nor should there
be any talk about, &c,
Cartesadel, imp. s. harness, 2. 179.
Lit. sad<ile for the cart.
Cas, sb. F. mi>hap, misfortune, 7.
48. Lat. casus.
Caste, sb. contrivance, device ; con-
science caste = conscience's device,
9. From the verb to cast.
Casten, pt. pi. contrived, planned.
pr. 1 1 7. Icel. Itasta, Dan. haste, to
cast.
Catel, sb. F. wealth, goods, pro-
perty, pr. 204. 3. 6S, 271, &c.
O. F. catel, chaptal, Low Lat.
catallum, from Lat. capitale,
which is our modern E. capital.
Thus chattels and capital were
originally identical.
Caurimaury, sb. the name of some
coarse rough material. 5. 79. In
the I'll uglmiaii'sCrede.the plough
man is miserably clad — ' His cote
was of a dome ' that cary was
y-called.' In Skeltou's Elynour
Rummyng. some slatterns are thus
spoken of — 'Some loke strawry,
Some cawry niawty'; 1. 149;
i. e. some look as it covered with
.straws, some appear in coarse
gowns. Halliwell also refers to
Collier's Memoirs of AHeyn, p. 21.
The word is very uncommon.
Certis, adv. F. certainly, assuredly,
2. 151, 7. 1 So. O.F. certes, from
adj. cert, Lat. certns.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
169
Cesse, pr. n. Cis, i. e. Cicely, Ce-
cilia, 5. 315.
Cesse, v. F. to cease, 6. 181 ; Ces-
sen, 7. 117; imp. pi. Cesseth,
cease ye, lea\ e off, 4. 1 .
Chaffare, sb. chaffer, merchandise,
pr. 31, 2. 59, &c. Put for chap-
fare ; so that the first syllable
is the same as in chapman, Cheap-
side, from A.S. ceiip, barter. Cf.
G.kanfen, Du.koopen, \ct\.leaupa,
to buy ; but the original sense
was to barter, i. e. to chop.
Chaffare, v. to bargain, trade, 6.
241 . See above.
Chalangynge, t&. accusation. 5. 88.
Chalengen, pi. pr. F. to challenge,
claim, make a claim for, pr. 93 ;
pp. Chalanged, charged with of-
fences, accused, 5. 174. From
forensic Lat. calumniare, to bring
an action, accuse.
Chapitsls, sb. F. chapter, i. e. an
assembly of the governing body
belonging to a cathedral, 3. 318 ;
Chapitere, 5. 161. F. chapitre,
Lat. capitulum, from caput.
Chapitelhous, sb. chapterhouse, 5.
174-
Chapeleynes, sb. pi. F. chaplains,
1. 188 ; Chapelleynes, 6. 12.
Chapman, sb. S. merchant, trader,
pr. 64 ; / l radesmen,
hucksters, 5. 34, 233, 331. See
Chaffare.
Charnel, sb. F. charnel-house, 6.
60. F. char/tier, from Lat. caro.
Chaste, v. F. to chastise, chasten,
6. 53, ;,-•■ ; Chasten, 5. .',4- F-
c a ier, OV. chastier, Lat. casti-
gate, from castus.
Chastelet, sb. F. little castle. 2. 84.
O.K. chastelet, dimin. of chastcau
or chattel (now . from
Lat. castellum, dimin. of ca-
Chastyng, sb. chastisement, 4.
1 > 7
Chateryng, sb. chattering, idle
talking, 2. 84.
Chaude, adj. F. hot : plus chaud,
more hot, hotter, 6. 313.
Cheker, sb. exchequer, pr. 97,, 4.
28. ' To check an account, in the
sense of ascertaining its correct-
ness, is an expression derived from
the practice of the King's Court of
Exchequer, where accounts were
taken by means of counters upon
a checked cloth.' Wedgwood.
Chele, sb. S. coldness, chilliness. 1
23, A.S. die, cold (sb.)
Chepe, sb. Cheap, i. e. Chcapside
or West Cheap, London. 5. 322.
Chepynge, sb. S. market, 4. .-
301. See Chaffare.
Cherissyng, sb. cherishing, over
great indulgence, 4. 117. F.
ckerir, from Lat. cams.
Cherles, sb. pi. churls, boors, pea-
sants, 6. 50. A. S. ceorl, a man.
a churl ; Du. bare!, a fellow.
Cheruelles. sb. pi. S. chervils, 6.
290. A. S. cerfille, a contraction
of Lat. ch him.
Chesibles, $6. pi. F. chasubles,
6. 12. O.F. chaisuble, casule.
Chest, sb. S. dissension, strife, con-
tention, enmity. 2. 84. A.S. ce<
strife.
Chetes, sb. pi. F. escheats, prop< r.v
reverting to the king. 4. 175.
O.F. escheoir, mod. F. echoir,
to fall to ; in in Lat. cadere, to
fall. The mod. E. cheat is cor-
rupted from esch
Cheuen, pr. pi. F. succeed, thrive,
lit. achievi . pr. 31 . F. chevir, to
compass, manage, from chef, Lat.
capu'.
Cheuesances, sb. pi. F. agree-
ments about the loan of m
negoi i itions, 5 2 1 i. '• chevir.
See Cheuen, and the note.
Chibolles, sb. pi. F. cibols, 6
A cibol is a sort of small onion J
F. ciboule, Lat. ceepulla, from
cape, an onion.
Childryn, gen. pi. children's, 4.
170
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
117; childryn cherissyng — pam-
pering of children.
Cbillyng, sb. S. chilling, 6. 313;
for chilling = against chilling, i.e.
to prevent chilling.
Chiries, sb. pi. cherries, 6. 296.
Lat. cerasus.
Chirityme, sb. cherry-time, time
of gathering cherries, 5. 161.
Chiueled, pt. pi. trembled, 5. 193.
MS. Bodley 814 has cheuerid ;
and certainly to chiuel is only
another form of M. E. chiiier or
chever, our modern shiver. ' Chyue-
ryng as one dothe for colde;'
Palsgrave. Another spelling is
chymer. ' Chymerynge, or chy-
uerynge, or dyderynge. Friguttts.'
Prompt. P.,rv.
Clame]), pr. pi. F. proclaim, pub-
lish, cry aloud, I. 93. Lat. cla-
mare.
Clarice, pr. name, Clarissa, 5. 159,
3I9-
Clerematyn, sb. a kind of fine
white bread, 6. 306. O.F. cler,
clear, Lat. clarus ; the latter part
of the word points to F. matin,
morning, when perhaps it was
most used ; cf. O. F. matinel,
breakfast.
Clergealy. adv. in a clerkly man-
ner, pr. 124.
Clergye, sb. F. the clergy, a body
of clerks, men of letters, pr. I If),
3. 164 ; gen. s. Clergise, 3. 15.
It has reference rather to scho-
larly attainments than to holy
orders.
Clerke, sb. F. a man of learning,
student of letters, 3. 3, 7. 73 : pi.
Clerkes, Clerkis, pr. 114, 7. 153 ;
gen. pi. Clerken, 4. 119. O.F.
clerc, Gk. K\rjpiKos, from KKrjpos.
Cleue, v. S. to cleave, divide.7. 155.
Cliket, sb. a latchkey, 5. 613. In
Shropshire, to clicket is to fasten
as with a link over a staple, and
Hartshorne well points out that it
properly means a latch, although
Chaucer and Langley use it to
mean a latchkey ; see Merchant's
Tale, C. T. 9990. He also shews
that the derivation is quite simple,
though entirely overlooked. It
is simply a Celtic word, and
elided in Welsh still means a
doorlatch. Cf. Suio-Goth. klinka,
a doorbolt.
Cliketed, />/>. fastened with a latch,
or catch, 5. 623. W. cliciedu, to
fasten with a latch, from the elicit-
ing sound. Cf. Du. Mikklakken,
to clash.
Cloches, sb. pi. clutches, pr. 154.
Allied to claw.
Cloke, sb. a cloak, 6. 272.
Clokke, v. F. to limp along lamely,
to hobble, to lag, to be left in the
lurch, 3. 34. F. docker, to limp
(see BracheO, Picard cloquer.
derates, sb. pi. S. clouts, patched
clothes, 2. 220. A.S. clut. a clout.
Clowe, v. S. to claw, clutch, pr.
154. A.S. claiuia?i.
Cnowe, v. S. to know, 6. 222.
Cobelere, sb. cobbler, 5. 327. Cf.
W. cobio, to thump ; also observe
the resemblance between E. botch
and Du. botzen, to strike.
Coffes, sb. pi. cuffs, 6. 62.
Cofre, sb. F. cotter, chest, 5. 27.
O.F. cofre, from Gk. Kutyivos, a
basket.
Cokeres, sb. pi. S. short woollen
socks or stockings without feet,
perhaps worn as gaiters, 6. 62.
A.S. cocer, a sheath, Du. koker, a
sheath, case, quiver.
Coket. sb. a kind of fine white
bread, 6. 306. The finest kind
was simnel bread, paindemaigne,
or sacramental bread ; the next,
wastel bread ; ' nearly resembling
this in price and quality, though
at times somewhat cheaper, was
light bread or pi'ffe, also known as
French bread or cocket ... it
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
171
seems far from improbable that it
was so called from the word cockef,
as meaning a seal, it being a strict
regulation . . . that each loaf [At
all events each loaf below a certain
quality) should bear the impress
of its baker's seal." Chambers.
(See note.) The word cocket, a
seal, occurs in Liber Albus, p. 40.
Cokkeslane, i.e. Cock Lane, Smith-
field, 5. 319.
Colers, sb. pi. F. collars, pr. 162.
Lat. collum, the neck.
Coloppes, >b. pi. collops, 6. 287.
Suio-Goth. kollops. Ihre says —
' Kollops, edulii genus, confectnm
ex carnis segmentis, tudite lignea
probe contusis et maceratis.' Cf.
S\v. klappa, Du. kloppen, to beat.
Comen, v. S. to come, 7. 188 ; pt. s.
Come, pr. 112, 5. 532, &c. ; pt.
pi. Comen, 2. 150; pp. Comen,
4. 189; pt. s. subj. Come, should
come, 6. 116.
Comeres, sb. pi. S. chance-comers,
strangers, 2. 230. Cf. A.S. cuma,
a comer, guest, stranger.
Comissarie, sb. F. 2. 179, 3. 142.
' Commissary, an officer of the
bishop, who exercises spiritual
jurisdiction in places of the dio-
cese so far distant from the epi-
scopal see, that the chancellor
cannot call the people to the
bishop's principal consistory court,
without putting them to incon-
venience.'— Imp. Diet.
Comseth, pr. s. F. commences, be-
gins, 1. 161, &c. ; pt. s. c.'insed,
3. 103, &c. Corrupted from F.
commencer.
Comune, sb. F. the commonalty,
3. 77 > $!■' Comunes, the com-
mons, pr. 113. In 5. 47, Mr.
Wright suggests the meaning com-
mons, i. e. allowances of provision ;
which suits the context.
Comune, adj. F. common, general,
p. 148.
Conforte, v. F. to comfort, I. 201,
2. 150, &c. ; imp. s. Conforte, 6.
223. O.F. conforter, to invigo-
rate, from forth. In Langley, it
seems better explained by comfort
than by strengthen.
Congey, v. to bid farewell to, dis-
miss, 3. 173 ; imp. s. Congeye me,
say farewell to me, 4. 4. O.F.
congier, It. congedare, to dismiss.
Conne, pr. pi. they can, 6. 151.
See Can.
Conneth, pr. pi. they know how
to> Pr- 33» 6. 124. See Can.
Conscience, gen. conscience's, 3.
19.
Conseille, sb. F. council, pr. 148,
3. 114; counsel, pr. 202.
Conseille, 1 p. s. pr. F. I counsel,
pr. 1S7, 7. 195; 2 p. s. pt. Con-
seiledest, 3. 205.
Consistorie, sb. F. consistory, i.e.
the ecclesiastical court of an arch-
bishop, bishop, or commissary, pr.
99, 2. 177, 3. 141, 318. See
Comissarie.
Construe, v. F. to translate, ex-
plain, pr. 144, 5. 426, &c.
Contenaunce. sb. F. outward show,
display, pr. 24 ; favour (as op-
posed to right), 5. 183.
Contrarieth, pr. s. F. acts or speaks
contrary to, 5. ,^5.
Contreued, pt. s. F. contrived, de-
vised, pr. ilS. F. trouver.
Conynges, .-/>. conies, rabbits, pr.
[03, W. cwnyng ; cf. also Du.
konijn, G. kaninchen. These are
nearer to the English than O.F.
connil, It. coniglio, Lat. cuniciilus.
Cope, v. F. to provide a cope for,
5. 296; pr. s. Copeth. 3. 14J.
pt. pi. Coped, 2. 230 ; pp. Coped,
3.35. In the two last pass.;
refers to the dress of a iri.ir in
particular. E, cope, cape.
Copes. Copis. sb. pi. F. copes
(with reference to hermits), pr. 56,
6. 191 ; (with reference to friars)
1/2
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
pr. 61. Not short, like our
modern cape, but a large cloak
reaching down to the feet. F.
chappe, It. cappa. Cf. coping-
stone, cope or vault of heaven.
Du. kap, coping, cap. Allied to
E. cape, cap.
Coppis, tb. pi. F. cups, 3. 22. F.
coupe, It. coppa.
Corps, sb. F. bod)', 1. 137. Lat.
ear pus.
Corseiut, sb. F. a saint, lit. a holy
body, but applied here to a living
saint, 5. 539. Cf. Chaucer's
Dream, 1. 942 ; Morte Arthure,
ed. Biock. 1164.
Coste, sb. F. cost, expense, expen-
diture, 3. 68. O.F. couster, Lat.
constare.
Costed, pt. s. F. cost, pr. 203 ; pp.
Costed, pr. 204.
Costes, ib. pi. F. coasts, regions, 2.
85. Lat. cos/a.
Coteth, pr. s. F. provides with a
coat, 3. 142'. O.F. cote, a tunic.
Coude, pt. /!. S. could, pr. 129.
See Couthe.
Coudostow, 2 p. s. pt. ( = cou.kst
Jpou) couldst thou, 5. 540.
Coueitise, sb. F. covetousness, ava-
rice pr. 61, 3. 68, &c. Provencal
cobeitos, Lat. cupidus, covetous.
The O.F. sometimes wrongly in-
serts an n, as in convoidse, covet-
ousness.
Couent, sb. F. convent, 5. 155;
gen. Couentes, convents, 5. 1
O.F. covent (as in Covent Garden),
Lat. conventtts.
Counte, sb. F. county, 1. 85. F.
comte. from Lat. comes, a conn',
lit. a companion.
Coupe, sb. F. fault, sin, 5. 3-5.
Lat. culpa, whence F. coupable,
E. cijpable.
Coupes, sb. pi. hardly (1) hoops or
rings, but rather (2) cups; 3. 22.
Ste the note.
Coupleth, pr. s. F. couples, links,
fastens, 3. 164; pt. pi. Coupled
hem, joined themselves, 4. 149 ;
pp. Coupled, fastened, held in
with a leash ; coupled and vn-
conpled, whether held in or free,
pr. 206. From Lat. copula.
Courbed, i.p.s.pt.F.l bent, bowed,
knelt, I. 79, 2. 1. Lat. curvare.
Courte, sb. F. courtyard, 5. 594.
Lat. cohors. O.F. cort, It. corle.
Courtpies, tb.pl. pea-jackets, short
coats, 6. 191 . Du. Aort. short, and
pije. coat of a coarse woollen stuff;
also the material itself; whence
pea-)acket. Cf. Mceso-Goth. ga-
paidon, to clothe, paida, a coat.
Couth, 1 p. s. pr. I make known, I
proclaim, 5. 1 Si. A.S. cyiian, to
make known.
Couthe, pt. s. knew, pr. 1S2, 5.
5:0; could, 1. 115; 2 p. pi.
Couthe, ye could, pr. 200, 3. 340.
A.S. cunnin, to know, whence ic
can, I ken, I can, ic c'oe. I km w,
M.E. I coud, now misspelt could.
Cf. Moeso-Goth. kunnan, to know,
ik kau, I can. ik kuntha, I could.
Cracche, Cracchy, v. to scratch,
pr. 154, 186. Cf. Du. krassen,
to scratch.
Craft, Crafte, tb. craft, contrivance,
I. 137, 2. 4, 3. 19; handicraft,
trade, 5. 554; pi. Craftes, em-
ployments, trades, pr. 221, 7. 31.
A.S. craft, skill, faculty, G. hraft,
strength.
Crafty, adj. S. skilful, cunning, well-
executed, pr. 162: alky nnes crafty
men, sk lleii men {craftsmen) of
every kind. 3. 224, 6 70.
Credo, sb. the creed, 6. 91 ; from
the first word in Latin — credo.
Cristene, adj. F. Christian, 3. 287 ;
//. Cristene I. 190, 7. 195.
Croft, Crofte, sb. croft, small en-
closed field, 5. 5S1, 6. 33. A.S.
croft.
Crope, 2 p. s. pt. S. didst creep, 3.
190; ip.pl- subj. we crept, pr.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
173
1 86. A.S. creopan, pt. t. ic credp,
\u credpe, I p. pi. crupon.
Crosse, sb. F. cross, 5. 472. See
the note.
1 Crounyng, sb. the tonsure, lit.
crowning, pr. 88. Lat. corona.
, Crucrie, sb. F. cross, mark of a
*> .1- s
29. Lat. ace. en
whence O.F. crois, cruix, and E.
: Cru'ched Friars.
Cruddes, sb. pi. cirds, 6. 284. \V.
crwd, a round lump.
Culled, 1 /'. pi. subj. killed, pr. 185.
[eel. holla, to hit on the head.
I Culorum, sb. ending, conclusion, 3.
278. Evidently a corruption of
sczculorum, the last word of the
Gloria Pa'ri. It only occurs, I
believe, in 'Piers Plowman' and
in the ' Deposition of Rich. II.'
It has, besides, a stronger force
than conclusion merely, as it signi-
fies the conclusion which gives the
key-no/e to the whole. In the Saturn
Psalter, the first word or words of
the Anthem (with music) and the
music of the seadorum Amen are
given. The latter is denoted only
by its vowels ; so that under the
final musical phrase we find e. u. o.
u. a. e.
Culter, sb. Lat. coulter, 6. 106.
Lat. culter, from colere.
I Cupmel, ;b. S. 5. 225. In cup-
mel = \n portions such as a cup
will hold, in cupfuls. A.S. malum,
in parts, dat. pi. of mad, a fixed
time, a fixed portion. So flocmeel,
by tlocks, gobetmele. by pieces at
a time, &c. in Wycliffe's Bible.
See Parcehnele. Ct. E. piecemeal.
Curatoures, sb. pi. F. guardians,
men who are entrusted with iheir
wards' money, I. 193. ' Curatier,
Curatovr : curateur, tuteur, cour-
tier.'— Roquefort.
Cure, sb. I . a cure of souls, pr. 88.
Lat. cura.
Curteise, adj. F. courteous, 4. 16.
Curteisye, sb. F. courtesy, kindness.
1. 20, 5. 437.
Curteisliche, adj. courteously, 3.
103. 4. 44, &c.
Cutpurs, sb. a cutpurse, thief, 5.
639-
I Daffe, sb. a stupid, a dolt, I. 138.
' Suio-Goth. d'6f, stupid, Moeso-
Goth. daubs, dull, hard of heart.
E. deaf.
Dampne, imp. s. F. condemn, damn,
5. 478 ; pp. Dampned, 2. 102.
Lat. damnare, dampnare.
Dar, 1 p. s. pr. I dare, pr. 209, 6.
270 ; I p. s. pt. Durst, 3. 201 :
pt. s. Dorst, pr. 178. A.S. ic
dear. I dare, ic dorste, I durst ;
Meeso-Goth. ik d'irs, I dare, ik
daursta, I durst, inf. datirsan.
Daunten, v. to daunt, tame, subdue,
3. 2 86. F. dompter; cf. Lat. domare.
Dawe, contr. form of Davy or
David, 5. ;,jo, 6. 331.
Debate, sb. F. strife, discussion, 5.
98, 337. F. debaltre, to contend,
from the same root as beat.
Decretals, s6. pi. 5. 428. A col-
lection of popes' edicts and decrees
of councils, forming a part of the
canon law. Five books of them
were collected by Gregory IX. in
1227; a sixth by Boniface VIII,
in 1297.
Ded, sb. S. death, 3. 265. Mceso-
Goth. dauthus, A.S. dedb, Sw. dod,
Du dnod. G. tod.
Ded-day, sb. S. death-day, 7. 50,
1 15.
Dede, did. See Do.
Dede, adj. pi. the d ad, 7. [87.
Defaute, sb. F. default ; in defaute.
in fault, 2.139, 5- T45! for d'faute,
for want, for lack, for need. 5. 6.
6. 209, 7. iC>2.
I Defendeth, pr. s. F. forbids. 3. 64.
: Defien, v. to be digested, -
! Defye, 5. 121; to digest, pr. 229
174
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
O.F. deffier, to distrust, Lat.Jides.
Hence M.E. defy, to reject, re-
nounce ; alsoto withstand, digest ;
see the last passage cited.
Dele, v. to distribute, divide, share,
6. 99 ; to share money or other
things with others, to give away,
I. 197; 2 p. pi. pr. Delen, 3. 71 ;
v. to have dealings, 6. 77 ; 2p.pl.
pr. Dclen, 7. 90. A.S. deelan, to
divide, from ddl, a portion, deal,
Du. deel, G. iheil.
Dele, sb. S. a part ; some dele, partly,
5- 43*-
Delitable, adj. F. delightful, plea-
sant, nice, 1. 34.
Deluen, v. to dig, 6. 143; 1 p. s.
pr. Delue, 5. 552. A.S. del/an,
Du. del ven.
Delueres, sb. pi. S. diggers, ditchers,
pr. 223, 6. 109.
Deluynge, sb. S. digging, 6. 250.
Deme, v. to deem, think, judge, 1.
86, 4. 178 ; 1 p. s. pr. Deme, 5:
114; 3 p. pi. pr. Demen, pro-
nounce judgment, pr. 96 ; imp. s.
Deme, 6. 83, 182; pt. s. Denied,
decided, 7. 169; pp. Denied, con-
demned, 4. 181. A.S. demon, to
judge, dom, judgment, doom.
Denote, a proper name, 6. 73.
Departed, pp. F. divided, parted,
7. 156. O.F. despartir, Lat. dis-
partiri, from pars.
IDepraue, v. F. to depreciate, revile,
3. 178; pr.pl. 5. 144.
Dere, adv. S. dearly, 6. 293 ; me
dere likelh, it dearly pleases me, I
like best.
Dere, v. to injure, harm, 7. 34 ;
Dtren, 7. 50. A.S. derian, to in-
jure, Du. deren.
Derke, adj. S. dark, pr. 16.
Deme, adj. S. secret, 2. 175.
Derrest, adj. S. dearest, i. e. most
valuable, 2. 13.
Derthe, sb. S. a dearth, 6. 330.
Derworth, adj. precious, 1. 87. A.S.
dtorivurUe, precious, of dear worth.
Deseryrie, v. to describe, 5. 188;
Discreue, 5. 79. O. F. descrivre,
from Lat. scribere.
Despended, pp. spent, 5. 267. O.
F. despendre, Lat. dispendere.
Destruye, v. to destroy, pr. 197;
2 p. s. pr. snbj. 3. 269 ; pr. pi.
Destruyeth, waste, pr. 22. O.F.
destruire.
Deth-day, 7. 199. See Ded-day.
Deuine ^e, imp. pi. explain ye, pr.
209; pt. s. Deuyned. 7.152. O.
F. deviner, Lat. diubiare.
Deuynour, sb. F.e.\pounder,teacher,
7- 135-
Deuorses,.*6. pi. F. divorces, 2. 1 75.
Deye, Dey, v. to die, 1. 142, 3.
261, &c. ; 2 p. pi. pr. subj. Deye,
6.122; ip.s.pt. Deydest, 5. 472.
Suio-Goth. do, Icel. deyja, Sw. do,
Dan. doe, to die.
Deyinge, sb. dying, death-hour, 7.
34-
Deyned, pt. pi. F. deigned, 6. 310.
From Lat. digrnts.
Deyse, sb. dais, high table at the
end of the dining-hall, 7. 17. O.F.
dais, deis, dois, originally a table,
from Lat. discus ; it afterwards
meant a seat of state, a canopy,
or an elevated platform.
Diademed, pp. crowned, 3. 2S6.
Gr. SidSrjfui, a fillet, from detiv,
to bind.
Diamantz, sb. pi. diamonds, 2. 13.
Diapeiiidion, sb. an emollient, ex-
pectorant, 5. 123. The meaning
and derivation are given in the
note to the present edition, which
see.
Did. See Do.
Diete be, 2 p. s. subj. diet thyself,
6. 270. Gk. Siatra, mode of
life.
Dignelich, adv. worthily, honour-
ably, 7. 171. Lat. dignus.
Diken, v. to make ditches or dykes,
6. 143 ; 1 p. s.pr. Dyke, 5. 552 ;
pt. pi. Djkeden, 6. 193.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
/J
I Dikeres, sb. pi. ditchers, 6. 109.
See Dykere.
Dismas, 5. 473. See note.
Discreue. See Descryue.
Disgised, pp. tricked out, pr. 24.
See note. O. F. desguiser, to
change one's clothes; Spa.u. guisar,
to dress meat, from a Teutonic
source; O. H.G. wisa, wise. G.
weise, A. S. wise, Du. wijs, E.
wise, guise.
\ Disoures, sb. pi. story-tellers, ro-
mance-reciters, 6. 56. O.F. diseor,
a taleteller ; cf. F. dire, Lat. dicere.
Dissheres, sb. a female maker, or
retailer, of metal dishes, 5. 323.
'John le Disshere* is mentioned
(a.d. 1304) in Memorials of
London, ed. Riley, p. 54.
Dijte, v. S. dight, prepare, make
ready, 6. 293. A.S. dihtan, to
arrange, from Lat. dictare.
Do, v. to do, to cause, 2 p. s. pr.
Doste, 6. 83 ; 2 p. pi. pr. Done,
*• 53; Pr- pl- Don> 6. 66; pp.
Do, ended, 5. 418. When fol-
lowed by another verb, the latter
is always in the infin. mood, and,
if transitive, apparently receives a
passive signification. Thus, do
maken, I cause to be made, 3.
60 ; do peynten. cause to be
painted, 3. 62 ; don saue, cause
to be saved. 7. 177. Vet it must
be remembered that the second
verb is not really passive, but we
have lost the idiom which enables
a German to say batten lassen, to
cause to be built, and the like.
Hence we rightly translate don
hym lese by cause him to lose, 5.
95, &c. ; do men deye, cause men
to die, 6. 276; / do it on, I
refer it to, I make it depend on,
I. 86, 3. 187. To done (.gerund),
to transact business, 4. 27; to
work, 6. 1 1 2 ; to be done, 6. 206.
Doth hym to go, prepares himself
to go off, 2. 211. Do me, make
my way, 5. 459. Doth, imp. pi.
do ye, 5. 44 Dede, pt. s. did,
3. 140. Dedest, didst, 7. 1 90.
Dede, Deden, pt. pi. 7. 122, 5.
547. Did, caused. 5. 245.
Doel, sb. mourning, lamentation, =;.
386. O. F. doel, dud, Y. deu'il,
Lat. dolium in the cemp. cordo-
lium. Cf. Lat. dolor.
Doke, sb. duck, 5. 75. Cf. Du.
duiker, a div<_r.
Dole, sb. sorrow, grief, 6. 122. See
Doel.
Doluen, pt. pi. delved, dug, 6. 193 ;
pp. Doluen, buried, 6. 182. See
Deluen.
Dorne, sb. doom, sentence, 2. 205 :
judgment, 3. 316. &c. A.S. ddm,
judgment, Gk. Ot/xts.
Domesday, sb. doom's-day, judg-
ment-day, 5. 20, 47S.
] Donet, 5. 209. See note.
Dongeon, Dongeoun, sb. donjon,
pr. 15, 1. 59. The 'donjon' or
keep-tower is the principal tower
in a castle ; in it prisoners often
were confined, whence our dun-
geon. From Low Lat. donatio,
a strong tower, which from Lat.
dominio, rather than from the
Celtic (Gaelic and Irish) dun,
a fortified place. O.F. donjon,
dungon, doignon. a keep-tower.
Dore-tro, sb. S. side post of a door,
or wooden bar of a door, 1.
185.
Dorst. See Dar.
Doted, adj. or pp. simple, foolish,
1. 138. Cf. F. radoter, to dote,
Du. dut, sleep, dotage.
Douere, (r. name, Dover. 4. 1 3 1 .
Doute, sb. fear. pr. 152. O.F. dute.
dottle, fear ; from Lat. dubitare.
Doujter, sb. S. daughter, 2. 30 ;
pi. Dou?tres, 6. 99,
Draddest, 2 p. s. pt. S. didst dread,
didst fear, 3. 192.
1 Dremeles, sb. a dream, 7. 154.
The usual form is drone (cf. 7.
ij6
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
152), but the form dremeles is
imitated from meteles or metels ;
that it is in the singular number
is clear from the passage — ' A
merueillouse meteles' — in Pass. xi.
5, Text B. of the poem. A.S.
dreman, which originally meant
to rejoice, to make a loud sound
like a musical instrument. Cf.
Du. droom, a dream.
Drewery, sb. a favourite, darling,
object of affection, I. 87. O.K.
druerie, affection, love, from drut,
a lover, which from O. H.G.
triuten, to love, cf. G. traut, dear.
See Romaunt of the Rose, 1. 5067.
Drowe, 1 p. s. pf. drew (myself),
went (amongst), 5. 209 ; pt. s.
Drowgh, drew near, 5. 356. AS.
dragan, to drag, draw, pt. t. ic
</r',s, ic drdh.
Dryest, art dry, art thirsty, 1. -■;.
Dryuen forth, i. e. pass, spend,
pr. 220.
Dureth, pr. s. F. endures, lasts,
I. 78, 6. 58. Lat. durare. Cf.
S. Matt. xiii. 21.
Durst. See Dar.
Dyke, Dykeden. See Diken.
Dykere, sb. S. a ditcher, 5. 320;
Dyker, 6. 331 ; //. Dykers, pr.
223. AS. die, a dyke, either a
mound or a ditch.
Dyngen, v. to strike violently, as
with a flail, 6. 143; to keep
pounding away at, 3. 310. Sw.
diinga, Dan. dange, to bang, hit
violently. Cf. Sc. ding.
Dys-playere, sb. diceplayer, 6. 73.
E.
Eche a, every, 3. 310, 6. 249. Cf.
Sc. ilka.
Edwite, v. to rebuke, reprove. 5.
370. A.S edwilan, to reproach,
now corrupted into twit. The
prefix ed- means over agiin, and
has just the force of Lat. re-
ur rea-.
Eet, v. S. to eat, 5. 1 20 ; pt. s. Eet,
«te, 6. 29S.
Eft, adv. again, 3. 344, 5. 624.
A.S. eft, again.
Efte, adv. afterwards, 4. 107, 5.
626. A.S. aft an, afterwards.
Eft -ones, adv. S. soon afterwards,
5. 481 ; Eft sone, 6. 172.
Egged, pt. s. egged 011, incited/
I.- 65. A.S. eggian, to incite;
Icel. eggja, to sharpen, incite,
from egg, an edge. Cf. Chaucer,
C. T. 5262. .
Eigheu, sb. pi. eyne, eyes, 5. 356.
392; Eyghen, 5. 191; Eyen, ;.
62. A.S. edge, pi. edgan.
Ek, conj. eke, moreover, 2. 236 ;
Eke, besides, 2. 92. A.S. edc, G.
audi, Du. 00k.
Elde, sb. old age, 5. 193. A.S.
eldo, yldo, Moeso-Goth. aids, old
age.
Eldres, sb. pi. S. ancestors, 3.
261.
Eleyne, pr. n. 5. no.
Eller, sb. an elder tree, 1. 68. A.S.
ellen, the elder. See note.
Elles, Ellis, adv. S. else, otherwise,
pr. 91, 6. 233, &c. Cf. Lat.
ali-ter.
Elyng, adj. lonelv ; hence, miser-
able, wretched, pr. 190. Cf. A.S.
ellende, exile, G. elend. misery or
miserable. ' His labour to him is
the elengere' i. e. more miserable ;
Occleve, De Regimiue Principum,
ed. Wright, p. 37.
Enfourmeth,/>r.s. instruct s,teaches,
3. 240. O.F. enformer, to in-
struct (Roquefort).
Engreyned, (p. dyed in grain, i. e.
of a fast colour, 2. 15.
Enioyned, pt. s. F. enjoined, ap-
pointed, imposed, 5. (■ 07 ; En-
ioigned, pp. joined, 2. 65. Lat.
iniungere.
Ennuyed, pp. F. annoyed, 5. 94.
F. ennui, Span, enojo, from Lat.
in odio (Brachet).
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
/ i
Ensample, sb. F. example, 5. 17;
pi. Ensamples, Ensaumples, 1. 170,
4. 136. Lat. exemplum.
Enuenymes, sb. pi. F. poisons, 2.
14. Lat. uenennm.
Eny, adj. any, 2. 203.
Enykynnes, of any kind, :. 200.
Er, con), ere, 5. 352. See Ar.
Erchdekenes, sb. pi. archdeacons,
-'• r73-
J Erde, sb. habitation, native place,
home, 6. ;o2. A.S. eard, native
soil.
Ere, adv. S. formerly, I. 129.
Erie, v. to plough, 6. 67, 7. 6 ;
pp. Eried, 6. 5. Meeso-Goih.
arjan, A.S. erian, Icel. «y'« ; cf.
Lat. arare. See ear in the Bible,
Deut. xxi. 4; 1 Sam, viii. 12;
Is. xxx. 24.
Erldome, s&. earldom, 2. 83. A.S.
eor/, Dan.jarl, an earl.
Ermonye, s&. F. Armenia, 5. 533.
Erye, Eryen, 6. 4, 7. 5. See Erie.
Eschaunges, sb. pi. F. exchanges,
r- -49-
Eschue, imp. s. avoid, shun, 6. 55.
F. esquiver, M.H.G. schiuhen, G.
scheuen. to be s#y of, evade.
Ese, sb. F. ease, 1. 19, 6. 152.
Eten, pr. pi. they eat, 6. 147; pt.
s. Ete, 7. 121 ; />/>. Eten, 5. 3S1,
6. 266 ; see also Eot. A.S. etan,
pt. t. ic est, pp. eten.
Euen, sb. evening, 6. 187. A.S.
efen.
IEuene-cristene, sb. fellow-Chris-
tian, 2. 94, 5. 44O. Sw. jiimn-
christen, fellow-Christian. Sw.
jamn, Dan. jcemn, is our E.
even, Shropshire erne.
Euensonge, sb. S. evensong, the
vespers or evening service, 5. 345,
462. The M.E. name for vespers.
Euermo, adv. S. euermore, 7. 82.
See Mo.
Eury i i.e. evry), every, 3. 63.
I Ewages, sb. pi. F. beryls, 2. 14.
O. F. ewe, water, has a derivative
ewage, which signifies sometimes a
right or claim with reference to
water (Roquefort). Here however
it must mean the aqua-marina, a
name given by the jewellers to the
green beryl, with leference to its
colour.
Eyen, sb.pl. eyne, eyes, 5. 480, &c;
Eyghen, 5. 109. See Eighen.
Eyleth, pr. s. troubles, vexes, ails,
6. 130, 259. A.S. eglan, to prick,
to torment, egl, a prick.
Eyre, sb. F. air, pr. 128, 1. 123.
Eyres, sb.pl. heirs, 2. IOI, 3.277.
O. F. eir, hoir, Lat. hceres.
Eyther . . . other, each . . . the
other, 5. 148, 164, 7. 138.
F.
Fader, sb. father, 1. 14; Fadre, 3.
126. A.S. feeder.
Faire, adv. S. fairly well, 1. 2,
6. 25.
Faire, sb. fair, 5. 205, 328. O.F.
foire. feire, Lat. ferice.
Fairy, sb. enchantment, pr. 6. O.K.
faerie, enchantment, fae, a fay,
from Lat. fa.'mn. destiny.
Faite, sb. F. deed, action, 1. 184.
Lat. factum.
Faiten, v. V. to use false pretences.
to beg under false pretence, 7. 94.
See Ik \t word.
Faitoures, sb. pi. lying vagabonds,
who begged money under false
pretences, canting rogues, 6. 123.
186; Faitours, 2. 182. O.F.
faiteor (Lat. factor), a maker :
hence, a pretender, swindler.
Falle, 1 p. s. pr. S. I fall (anion
I light (upon), 4. 156; ip.s.
happen, come to pass, 3. 7,2,,
s. Falleth, belong':, appertains, I.
164 ; pp. Fallen, happened, come
to pass, pr. 65.
Fals. adj. V. used as a proper name,
.the false one, impersonation
of falsehood, 2. 25, 123://. Fals,
false men, 3. 138.
N
178
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
Falshed, Falshede, sb. falsehood,
pr. 71, i. 64; 5. 295.
Famed, pp. F. defamed, slandered,
3. 185. Cf. Lat. fama, often used
to mean scandal,
Fange, v. to take, receive, 5. 566.
A.S. fori, pt. t. ic feng, pp. fan gen,
fongen, G.faken, Du. vangen, to
take, catch. Cf. E./ang.
Fantasies, sb. pi. F. fancies, tricks,
silly inventions, pr. 36. Gk. <pav-
raaia, display, from ipaivu, I shew,
<paai, I shine. M.F.. fantasy, now
corrupted into fancy.
Fare, v. to go, depart, 7. 98 ; pr. pi.
Fareth, go, travel, fare, 2. 183;
pp. Faren, gone, 5. 5. A.S.faran,
to go, G. fahren, Du. varen, to
travel.
I Faucones, sb. pi. F. falcons, 6. 32.
Fauel, sb. the impersonation of
Flattery, Cajolery, or Deceit, 2. 6.
O.F.favele, Lat. fabella, idle dis-
course, from Lat.' fibula. Qaite
distinct from favel ox fauvel, which
means of a yellow colour {G.falb),
and was sometimes used as a name
for a horse, as in the Romance of
Richard Cceur de Lion.
Fauntes, sb. pi. F. children, lit.
infants, of which it is a shortened
form, 7. 94 ; Fauntis, 6. 285.
Fayne, adj. fain, glad, 4. 12,6. 273.
A. S. fcEgen, glad, Mceso-Goth.
faginon, to rejoice.
Fayteden, pt. pi. F. begged in a
dissembling or lying manner, pr.
42. See Faitoures.
Faytoure, sb. 6. 74. See Fai-
toures.
Fecehe, Fecchen, v. to fetch,
take, 2. 180, 5. 29 ; pr. pi. Fec-
cheth, steal. 4. 51. A.S.feccan,
fetian, G. fassen, Du. vatten, to
fetch, seize.
Feffe, v. to fee, retain by means of
fees, 2. 146 ; pr. s. Feffeth, infeoffs,
endowswith property, 2. 78. O.F.
jiefer, from the sb. fief, which is
from a Teutonic source. Mceso-
Goth. faihu, A. S. feok, Sw. fit,
Icel./e, G. vieh, Du. foot, cattle,
property, fee. Cf. Lat. peats.
FefFement, sb. F. enfeoffment, deed
of gift or endowment, 2. 72.
Feire, adv. 5. 59. See Faire.
Fel, sb. skin, i. 15. A.S. and G.
fell, Du. vel.
Felawes, sb. pi. S. associates, com-
panions, 2. 209, 7. 12. led. felagi,
from/e, cattle, property, and lag,
law, society ; so also Suio-Goth.
fcelage, from/te (Sw./a) and laga ;
it thus implies one who possesses
property in partnership with others.
See FefTe.
Felawship, sb. S. fellowship, so-
ciety, companionship, I. 113, 3.
118 ; crew, 2. 207.
Felde, sb. S. field, 1. 2, 6. 142.
A.S. f eld.
Fele, adj. pi. many, numerous, 3.
338. A.S. fela, G. viel, Du. veel.
Feledest, 2 p. s. pt. S. didst feel, 5.
497-
Felice, pr. name, F. Felicia, 5. 29.
Felle, adj. pi. fell, cruel, severe, 5.
170. A.S. fell.
Felle, {rather read Fel), S. pt. s.
happened, 7. 157; pt. pi. Fellen,
fell, 1. 119.
Felled, pt. s. S. felled, i.e. caused to
fall, 3. 126.
Fende, sb. a fiend, 1. 40 ; gen. sing.
Fendes, 2. 40. The Mceso-Goth.
fijan, to hate, has a pres. part.
fijands used as a sb. and meaning
an enemy : so A.S. fedn, to hate,
feond, a fiend.
Fenel-seed, sb. fennel-seed, 5. 313.
' The fruit or, in common language,
the seeds, are carminative, and fre-
quently employed in medicine.' —
Imp. Diet. They were used to put
into drinks, as a spice. Some MSS.
hzvefenkel, which is nearer to the
L,at.finiculion.
Ferde, 2 p. pi. pi, stibj. ye would
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
179
have fared, ye would fare, 3. 340.
See Fare.
Fere, sb. comrade, companion, 4. 26;
pi. Feres, 2. 6, 5. 170. AS. /era,
gefera, one who fares with one, a
travelling companion.
Fere, v. S. to frighten, terrify, 7. 34.
So used by Shakespeare.
Ferly, sb. a wonder, marvel, pr. 6 ;
pi. Ferlis, pr. 65. A'.S. farlic,
sudden, from f<kr, fear, sudden
danger ; Du. vaarlijk, quickly ; G.
gefahrlich, dangerous.
Fernyere, adv. in former years,
formerly, 5. 440. A. S.fyrn, old,
former; O.H.G.flrni. old.
Ferthynge. sb. S. a farthing, 4. 54,
5. 566. Lit. zfourth-ing, fourth
part ; hence it was used for a
quarter of a noble or other gold
coin, but commonly for a quarter
of a penny, as here.
Ferthyngworth, sb. farthing's
worth, small quantity, ,^. 313.
Fest. pp. S. fastened, joined, 2. 123.
[The readings vary : the A-text
MSS. have feffed,festnyd,fastnid ;
the B-tcxt MSS. h a vefest and/as/;
the best form would befestned.~\
Fet, pr. s. S. feeds (a contr. form of
fedetk), pr. 194.
Fetislich. adv. featly, handsomely,
2. 11, 165. Lat. factitius, arti-
ficial, O. F. faictis, well made,
handsome, E./eat.
Fette, pt. s. fetched, produced, 2.
162, 5. 450 ; pt. pi. Fetten, 2. 229,
6. 294. A.S. fetian, pt. X.icfetle.
Fettren, v. S. to fetter, 2. 207 :
imp. pi. Fettereth, 2. 200. A. S.
fetor, a fetter.
Fewe, adj. pi. S. few, 6. 284.
Feyned hem, pt. s. F. feigned
themselves, pretended to be, 6.
1 j 3 ; pr. pi. Feynen hem, feign
for themselves, invent, imagine
for themselves, pr. 36.
Feyntise, sb. F. a faintness, weak-
ness, 5. 5. The O. F. faintise
properly means falseness, and
secondarily cowardice, sluggish-
ness. Lat. fingere. See Wedg-
wood.
Feyres, sb. pi. F. fairs, markets, 4.
56. See Faire.
Fieble, adj. F. feeble, weak, 5. 177.
4 J 2 ; Feble, pr. 180.
Fierthe, adj. S. fourth, 7. 52.
Fikel, adj. treacherous (rather than
changeable), 2. 129; Fykel, 3.
121.
File, sb. F. daughter, 5. 160. Lat.
fllia.
Filtz, sb. F. son, 7. 162. Lat.
filius.
Flapten, pt. pi. flapped, flopgtd.
slapped, worked at threshing, 6.
187. Du. flap, a flap, blow,
stroke.
Flatte,/>/.s. slapped, dashed, 5. 451.
Cf. O.F. flat, flac, a slap, flatir,
flaccer. to dash.
Flaundres, Flanders, 5. 321.
Flayles, .-/>. pi. 6. 187. O.V.flael.
from Lat. flagellum.
Flei;, pt. s. fled. 2. 210. A.S.
fligan, pt. t. ic fleiih.
Flex, sb. flax, 6. 13. A.S. flex.
fleax, Du. vlas.
Floreines, .•■!>. pi. florins. 2. 143, 3.
156, 4. 156. 5. 590. So named
from the town of Florence.
Flowen, pt. pi. S. fled, flew, 2. 233,
6. 1S6. See Flei3.
Folde, sb. S. fold, earth, world, 7.
53-
Foles, sb. pi. F. fools, pr. 26. F.
fou, O.Y.fol, W.jfo/, foolish.
Folus, sb.pl. S. foals, 2. 162. AS.
fola, a colt.
Folwar, sb. S. follower, 5. 549.
Folweu, v. S. to follow, 6. 2.
' Fonde, imp. s. endeavour. 6. 22:.
A.S. / indian, t<> try to find, seek.
Fonde, 1 p. s. pt. S. I found, pr. 1 7,
58-
Foon, >b.pl. foes. 5. 96. A.S. fun,
pi. fa; but A.S. gefdh has the pi.
N 2
i8o
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
gefdhen. The Chaucer MSS. have
/one, foon, and foos.
For, conj. S. because, for the reason
that, 2. 166, 3. 271, 7. 20 ; prep.
against, as a preventive against, I.
24, 3. 190, 6. 9.
For-, in composition, has the senses
(l)fore-, G. vor-, Du. voor-, A.S.
/Jr<?-, {2) for-, (in forbid, &c.) A.S.
_/br-, G. and Du. ver-. The first
implies precedence, the second
abstraction, or completeness ; in
Mceso-Goth. there is some con-
fusion, faur- being used for both,
but fra- only in the latter sense ;
cf. 'E.from. Fore and From are
the nearest intelligible English
equivalents. The ' fore ' words
in Piers Plowman are Forfadres,
Forgoer, Forsleues, Forstalleth,
Forward, and Forwit. The rest
are ' from ' words.
Forbare, pt. s. suffered to live,
spared, 3. 272. A.S.forberan, to
forbear, allow.
Forbede, pr. s. subj. forbid. 3. 1 1 1,
119 ; pp. Forbode, lit. forbidden,
but forbode lazves is incorrectly
used to mean laws that forbid it ;
3. 151. A.S.forbeodan, to forbid,
restrain, Mceso-Goth. faurbiudan,
G. verbieten, Du. verbieden.
Forebode, sb. a forbidding, used in
the phrase goddes forbode or lordes
forbode = it is God's (or the
Lord's) prohibition, 4. 194, 7. 1 76.
A.S. forbad, a forbidding.
Fordon, v. to ' do for,' undo, de-
stroy, 5. 20. A.S. fordon, G.
verthun, Du. verdoen.
Forfadres, sb. pi. S. forefathers, 5.
501.
Forfeture, sb. F. forfeiture, 4. 131.
From Fr. forfaire, to do amiss,
Low Latin forisfacere.
Forgoer, sb. S. foregoer, guide, 2.
187 ; pi. Forgoeres, well explained
by Mr. Wright — ' people whose
business it was to go before the
great lords in their progresses, and
buy up provisions for them ' —
avant-couriers, 2. 60.
Forpyned, pp. pined or wasted to
death, miserable, wretched, 6. 157.
Forsake, 1 p. s. pr. I deny, 5. 431.
A.S.forsacan.
Forsleues, sb. pi. short sleeves
covering the fore-arm, 5. 81.
, Forsleu£hed,/>/>. wasted idly, spoilt
for want of use, 5. 445.
Forstalleth, fr. s. forestalls, 4. 56.
To forestall is to buy or bargain
for corn or other provisions, before
they arrive at the stall or market,
with intent to sell them at higher
prices.
Forth, sb. course, 3. 156; cf. the
phrase — course of justice. Cf. W.
ffordd. a way, passage, Sw. fi'ird,
G. fahrt, a way, journey, Du.
vaard, a canal. From the same
root as fare.
Forth, sb. a ford, 5. 576. A.S.
ford, G.furt, a ford.
Forfi, conj. on that account, there-
fore, pr. 111,3. 69, &c. ; Forthy,
6. 96 : -thy is the ablative or in-
strumental case of the def. article ;
cf. Mceso-Goth. the.
Forwandred, pp. wearied out with
wandering, pr. 7. Cf. G.wandern.
Forward, sb. S. agreement, com-
pact, 6. 36; Forwarde, 4. 12.
A.S. foreweard, from fore and
weard, ward, guard.
Forweny, v. spoil, 5. 35. A.S.
wenian, to wean. See note.
Forwes, sb. pi. furrows, 6. 106.
A. S.furh, Du. voor.
Forwit, sb. S. forewit, foreknow-
ledge, forethought, 5. 166.
Forjelde, pr. s. subj. repay, requite,
6. 279. A.S. geldan, gyldan, to
pay.
For3ete, pp. forgotten, 5. 404.
A.S. forgitan, pt. t. ic forgeat,
PP- forgelen.
Foule, adv. S. foully, 3. 185.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
181
Foules, pi. birds, 5. 355, 6. 32, 7.
128. A.S.fugel, a bird, fowl.
Fortieth, pr. s. S. fouls, runs foul
of, ?,■ I5.V
Fourlonge, sb. S. furlong, furrow,
5- 5- 424-
Fourmed, pt. s. F. formed, 1. 14.
Fou?ten, pt. pi. S. fought, pr. 42.
J Frained, 1 p. s. pt. asked. 1. 58.
1, A. S. fregnan, G. fragen, Du.
vragci. toask ; cf. Lat. precari.
Fram, />r<>/>. S. from, 6. 162.
Frayned, pt. s. asked, 5. 532. See
Frained.
I Freke, sb. a man, 4. 12, 156; pi.
Frckis, 5. 170. A.S. freca, one
who is bold, a hero ; cf. G.frech.
Frele, adj. F. frail, 3. 12 u
/ Frelete, s&. F. frailty, 3. 55.
Frere, sb. F. friar. 3. 55 ; gen. sing.
Freres, 5. Si ; pi. Freres, 2. 182;
Freds, pr. 58. Lat. /rater.
I Frete, v. to eat, 2.95. A.S.fretan,
to fret, devour (Moeso-Goth. /ra-
itan, to eat up, from itan, to eat).
Cf. G.fressen.
Fretted, pp. adorned, 2. 11. A.S.
fretwian, to adorn, fratu, an orna-
, ment.
1 Frithed, pp. surrounded by a forest,
hemmed in with trees, 5. 590.
W. ffridd, a forest.
Fro, prep. S. from, 3. 109, 6. 90.
A.S. fret. fram.
Frutes, sb. pi. F. fruits. 6. 326.
Ful, adv. S. full, very, pr. 20, 6. 45.
Fulle, sb. S. fill, 6. 266.
Furst, adj. S. first, 3. 243.
Fynden, v. S. to find, 7. 30 : pr. s.
Fynt (contr. (mm fyndetk), 4. 131,
7. 128; />/>. Founden, 3. 338.
G.
Gabbe, v. to lie, 3. 179. A.S.
gahhan. to delude. Icel. gabba,
O F. gaber. It. gabbare, to cheat.
Gable, s£>. gable-end of a church,
3. 49. Sw.gafvel, G.giebel, Du.
gevel ; cf. Moeso-Goth. £»'Mn, a
. pinnacle.
Gadelynges, sb. pi. associates, fel-
lows, 4. 51. A.S. gadding, a
companion. In Moeso-Goth. ga-
diliggs means a sister's sun. a
nephew (Col. iv. io).
Gaf, pt. s. gave, 3. 21. See Gyue.
Galice, Gallicia, 5. 528; Galis, 4.
127.
Galle, sb. gall, bile, 5. 119. A.S.
gealla ; cf. Gk. x0^-
Galoun. sb. F. a gallon, 5. 224:
(used without of following), 5.
343-
Gamen, sb. sing, game, play, pr.
153. A.S. gamen, a game.
Gan, pt s. lit. began ; but commonly
used as an auxiliary = did, pr. 143,
I. 112, &c. A.S. ginnan, to
begin.
Gange, v. to go, travel, 2. 167.
A.S. gangan, Moeso-Goth. gaggan
(pronounced gangan), to go.
Garlekehithe.Garlickhithe. 5.324.
Garlike, sb. S. garlic, 5. 3 1 2. A.S.
gar-ledc, from gar, a spear, and
leiic. a leek.
Garte, pt. s. caused, made, I. 121 ;
Gerte, 6. 303; pp. Gert. 5. 130.
Icel. ,«7<V<7, Sw. gora, Sc. gar.
Gascoigne, Gascon v, pr. 228.
Gate, "6. way, road, I. 203: 3. 155 ;
hci5c gate = high road, 4. 42. Sw.
gata. street, G. gas<e.
Gateward, tb.S. gatekeeper, porter,
5. 004.
Gees. See Gose.
Gernere, sb. F. granary, garner.
7. 129. F. greater, from Lat.
granum, a grain.
Gert. See Garte.
Gerthes, sb.pl. girths: witty wordes
gerthes = the girths of wise speech,
4. 20. G. gurt.
Gete, v. S. to get, 4. 141 ; I p. s.pt.
Gat. 4. 79.
Geuen. See Gyue.
i8a
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
Gilte, sb. guilt, offence, 4. 101.
A S. gylt.
Girt, 1 p. s. pt. cast, threw, 5. 379 ;
Probably part of vb. gurde, to
strike (q. v.), which is related to
A.S. gyrd, G. gerte, a rod, switch.
Glade, v. S. to gladden, 6. 121.
Glasen, v. S. to glaze, 3. 61 ; Glase,
3. 49. A S. glees, glass.
Glede, sb. a burning coal, a glow-
ing ember, a spark, 2. 12, 5. 291.
A.S. gled, a hot coal.
Glewmarmes, gen. sing, gleeman's,
5- 353- A-S- gleo, gH™, glee,
music.
Glose, sb. F. a gloss, comment, 5.
282. F. glose; cf. A.S. glesan,
to gloss, explain ; from Lat. glossa,
Gk. yXujcroa, fKwaarjfm ; cf. glos~
sary.
Glosed, pt. pi. commented on, ex-
plained, made glosses on, pr. 60.
Cf. Glose.
Glotoun, sb. glutton, 6. 303 ;
Glotown, 5. 310. pi. Glotones,
pr. 76. F. glouton, Low Lat.
glotonus, Lat. ghito, from glutus,
the throat.
Go slepe = go and sleep, 6. 303 ;
Go swynke = go and work, 6. 219.
Slepe and swynhe are verbs in the
innn. mood.
Gode, sb. S. property, wealth, 2. 131,
3. 168 ; to gode = to good objects,
to good conduct, 3. 222, 5. 643;
Goed, wealth, 1. 180; pi. Godis,
goods, wealth, 4. 163.
Godelich, adv. in a good manner,
kindly, liberally, I. 180. A.S.
godlic, kind.
Goliardeys, sb. F. a buffoon, pr.
139. See the note.
Gome, sb. a man, 5. 541, />J. Gomes,
2. 73, 6. 219. A.S. guma, Mceso-
Goth. guma ; cf. G. brailtigam,
Du. bruidegotn, E. bridegroom.
Gome and groom are related
forms. Cf. Lat. homo.
Gommes, sb. pi. F. gums (used
generally for spices), 2. 226. Gk.
KOfifU.
Gon, v. S. to go, 2. 154 ; pr. pi. pr.
43. 7- 94 ; Gone, I and 3 p. pi.
pr. 7. 197, 3. 244.
Gonne, 2 />. pt. s. begannest, didst
begin, 5. 488. A.S. ginnan, pt. t.
ic gan, 1 p. \u gunne.
Good, 6. 231. See Gode.
Gose, sb. gen. sing, goose's, 4. 36 ;
pi. Gees, 6. 283. A.S. gos, gen.
g6se, pi. ges.
Gossib, sb. gossip, friend, 5. 310.
A.S. godsib, one related in God,
a sponsor in baptism.
Goste, sb. S. the spirit, soul, I. 36.
Goth, pr. s. goes, 5. 314.
Gowe, i.e. Go we, let us go, pr.
226.
Graciouse, adj. F. pleasing, accept-
able, 6. 229.
GrafTe, v. F. to graft, 5. 137. F.
greffcr, from Lat. graphium.
Graith, adj. direct, straight, 1. 203 ;
graith gale, direct road. Ice!.
greidrt ready ; cf. G. gcrade,
direct.
Graue, v. S. to engrave, write, viz.
on a brass beneath the window, 3.
49; pp. Graue, engraved, 4. 130.
Cf. Gk. ypcupeiv.
Grauynge.sfc. S. engraving, writing,
. 3- 64.
! Greden, v. to cry, cry aloud, 2. 73 ;
to greden after = to cry out for,
send for, 3. 71. A.S. grcedan,
to call.
Grete, v. to weep, 5. 386. A. S.
grcetan, Sc. greit.
Greue, v. F. to grieve, vex, pr. 153,
6. 316 ; pr. s. Greueth hym, vexes
himself, becomes angry, 6. 317;
pt. s. Greued hym, grew angry,
pr. 139.
Gripeth, pr. s. clutches, grips, 3.
248 ; pp. Griped, clutched, 3. 1 81.
A.S. gripan, to gripe, grip, grasp,
G. grei/en, Du. grijpen.
Gris, sb. pi. little pigs, pr. 226.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
183
Icel. griss, grlslingr, Sw. gris, a
pig. Cf. E. griskin.
Grote, sb. a groat, 5. 31 ; pi.
Grotes, 3. 137. Du. groot, large.
Gruccheth, pr. s. grudges, mur-
murs, 6. 317; 1 p. pi. pr. subj.
' Grucche, pr. 153; pr. pi. st/bj.
6. 219. O. F. grocer, grockier,
grousser, to grumble. Cf. Gk.
Grys, 4. 51, 6. 283. See Gris.
Gult, sb. S. guilt, 5. 455, 481.
See Gilte.
Gurdeth of, imp. pi. strike off, 2.
201. Cf. A. S. gyrd, a rod.
Gyaunt, sb. F. giant, 6. 234.
Gybbe, short for Gilbert, 5. 92.
Gyed, pt. s. F. guided, 2. 187.
Gyf, />r. s. subj. give, 2. 120.
Gyle, sb. guile, 2. 187, 5. 207.
(Used as a proper name.)
Gyloure, sb. beguiler, deceiver, 2.
120.
Gynnynge, sb. S. beginning, 2. 30.
Gyue, pr. s. subj. give, 7. 197 ; Gyf,
2. 120 ; />r. pi. Geuen, pr. 76, 5,
326 ; Geueth of, give heed to, re-
gard, 4. 36 ; pp. Gyue, 2. 148.
A.S. gifan, G. geben, Du. geven.
See 3iue.
Gyuere, s6. S. giver, donor, 7. 70.
Hadde, />/. s. had ; used nearly in
the sense of experienced, 3. 284.
Hagge, sb. a hag, 5. 191. AS.
hagesse, hiEgtesse, a witch, fury.
Hailse, 1 p. s. pr. I salute, greet,
5. TO] ; pt. pi. Hailsed, made
obeisance to, 7. 160. Sw. helsa.
1 to salute, hail; cf. Sw. "helsa,
health. Not to be confused with
A. S. heal^ian, to embrace, from
heals, the neck.
Hakeneyman, sb. one who lets
out horses for hire, 5. 31 S. F.
haquenee, Sp. hacanea, a hackney,
cf. Du. kakkenei, an ambling
horse.
Half, sb. S. side (lit. half), 2. 5, 3.
73, 180.
Haliday, sb. S. holiday, 5. 588 ;
pi. Halidayes, 7. 20.
Halidom, sb. 5. 376. Cognate
with Icel. helgir ddmar, sacred
relics, relics of saints. The primarv
meaning of ddmr is doom.
Halpe. See Holpyn.
Hals, sb. S. the neck, pr. 170, 2.
[95, 6. 63. G. and Du. hals.
Halt. pr. s. holds (contr. from
holdetk), 3. 241.
Halue, adj. S. half, 5. 31, 6. 10S.
Han, have. See Haue.
Handidandi, sb. forfeit, 4. 75.
Handydandy is a children's game,
played with the hands, v.
which conceals a marble. If
another child guesses which hand
contains the marble, he wins it ;
if he fails, he pays forfeit. See
Halliwell's Diet., and cf. King
Lear, Act iv. Sc. 6.
Hanged, pp. hung, pr. 176, 3. 1S0.
Hansel, sb. a bribe, 5. 326. It
properly means an earnest. A.S.
handsylen, a giving into the hands;
but see Wedgwood. To hansel =
for a bribe or treat.
Happe, v. 10 happen, 3. 284, 6. 47.
O.F. hipper, to snatch; cf. Icel.
hipp, W. hap, luck ; Icel. he/ firm,
fortunate, happy.
Happes, sb. pi. successes, 5. 97.
Icel. happ, W. hap, fortune.
Happily, adv. perhaps, 5. 624 ;
Happiliche, 5. 626.
Hardiliche, adv. boldly, 6. 30,
Harlotes, sb. pi. buffons, tellers
or rib. ild stories (by no means
used in the modern sense), 4. I iS,
6 54. W. herlod, a stripling, lad.
Harlotrie, sb. tale-telling, jesting
talk, buffoonery, 5. 413; Har-
lotrye, 4. 1 15.
Hastow, hast thou, 3. 105.
Hat. pr s. is named, is called, 5.
582,629; Hatte, 5. 604, 6. 4.= :
1 84
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
pi. Hatte, 5. 586. A.S. ha/an,
O. Fris. heta, G. heissen, to call,
name ; also, to have for a name,
be called. Properly, however, it
was a passive form of the verb, as
shewn by Mceso-Goth. haitilh, he
calls, haitada, he is called ; as in —
Thomas, saei haitada Didimus,
Thomas, who is called Didymns,
John xi. 16.
Katie, 2 p. s. subj. thcu hate, 6.
52-
Hatte, sb. S. a hat, 5. 536; Hatt,
5- 527-
Haukes, gen. sing, hawk's, 5. 43S ;
pi. Haukes, 4. 125.
Haukynge, sb. hawking, 3. 31 1.
Haue, v. S. to have ; pr. s. subj.
Haue, 7. 68 ; I p. pr. pi. Han, 3.
48; 2 p. 3. 72, 6. 260; 3/). 7.
II ; pr.pl. Haueth, 7. 65; pr. s.
Hadde (experienced), 3. 284 ;
Haued, 3. 39; pt. pi. Haued, 2.
166, 219; imp.pl. Haueth, I.
■ I7.V
1 Kauer, adj. (or part of compound
sb.) oaten, made of oats, 6. 284. G.
hafer, Du. haver; whence Du.
haverzak, a bag of oats, haver-
sack.
He, pron. used indefinitely, in the
sense one of you, 6. 138, 7. 93.
I He, pr on. fern, she, 1. 140. A.S.
heo, hid. Not uncommon. See
Heo.
Hedes. pi. S. heads, 6. 328.
Hegges, sb. pi. S. hedges, 6. 31.
Heighe, adj. S. high, 6. 4, n 4;
Hei3, 1. 162 ; adv. Heighe, 5.
588 ; Hei3e, 4. 162 ; Heighlich (at
a high price), 6. 314 ; Heij, loudly,
2. 73- Hei3e gale, high road,
4.42.
Hele, sb. S. health, 5. 168 ; soule
kele, soul's health, 5. 270.
Hele, sb. 7. 194. See note.
Hele, v. S. to conceal, 5. 168. A.S.
helan, Du. helen, G. h'allen, Lat.
celare. Cf. E. hell, hole, hull.
Helpith, imp. pi. help ye, 6. 21.
Hem, dat. pi. to them, 3. 345, 6.
16; ace. pi. 7. 27, &c. A.S.
him, heom.
Hem-seluen, themselves, pr. 59,
3- 215-
Hende, adj. courteous, 5. 261.
Dan. and Sw. hiindig, dexterous.
E. handy.
Hendeliche, adv. courteously, 3.
29, 5. 101.
Hennes, adv. hence, 3. 108, 244,
&c.
Hente, v. S. to catch, seize, take
possession of, 5. 68 ; pt. s. Hente,
5. 5; Hent, 6. 176; pt.pl. Hen-
ten, 6. 190. A.S. hentan, to
clutch in the hand, grasp, hunt
after.
Heo, pron. fern, she, I. 73, 3. 29,
5. 632. See He.'
Hep, sb. a heap, a large number, 5.
233 ; Heep, pr. 53. A.S. heap,
G. haufe, Dn. hoop.
Her, their. See Here.
Herberwed, pp. S. harboured,
lodged, 5. 233. A.S. here, an
army, and beorgan, to hide.
Herde, pt. s. S. heard, 2. 205.
Here, pr. S. their, pr. 28, 7. 105;
Her, 7. 105. In the same line also
here = here, adv.
Heremites, sb. pi. Gk. hermits, pr.
28,6. 190; Heremytes, 6. 147.
Hemes, sb. pi. corners, nooks.
hiding-places, 2. 233. A.S. hirtte :
cf. E. horn, Gaelic cearn, a corner.
E. corner, is from Lat. cornu,
Herre, adj. S. higher, 2. 28.
Hertis, sb. pi. S. hearts, 6. 217.
Heruest, sb. S. harvest, a crop, 6.
292.
Heste, sb. behest, commandment.
3. Iiz ; pi. Hestes, 7. 183. A.S.
has, a command. See Hote.
(Heuede, sfc.S. head, 1. 162 ; Heued,
5. 637. A.S. heafod = L2it. caput,
whence F. chef. Head and chief
are the same word.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
1 85
Heuene, gen. sing, of heaven, pr.
106.
Heueneriche, sb. the kingdom of
heaven, pr. 27. A.S. heofon-rice.
Hewe, sb. a servant, 5. 559 ; pi.
Hewen, 4. 55. A.S. hiwan, sb.
pi. domestics.
Heyre, sb. S. hair (i.e. a hair-shirt),
5. 66.
Hiderward,flfrV.hithervvard.6.323.
Hiedest, 2 p. s. pt. didst hie, didst
hasten, 3. 19;,. A.S. higan.
Hight, pt. s. commanded, pr. ro2,
3. q. A.S. hat an, pt. t. ic hit or
ic keht. See Hote.
Hij, pron. pi. they, pr. 43, 5. 1 1 4,
&c. A.S. hi, hig, they.
Hiled, pp. S. covered, roofed, 5.
599. See Hele.
Hitte, pt. s. lit. hit ; hence, cast
down hastily. 5. 329.
Hijte, pt. s. bade, commanded, 5.
206. 7. 200; pp. bidden, 6. 133.
See Hight.
Hi;te, pt. s. was named, 6. 80, 81,
82. See Hat.
Hode, sb. S. a hood, 5. 31, 195;
pi. Hodes, 6. 271.
Hoked, pp. S. provided with a hook
at the upper end. pr. 53.
Hokes, sb. pi. S. hooks, hinges,
5. 603.
Hokkerye, sb. huckstery, retail
dealing, 5. 227. G. hiiker, a
hawker, Sw. hiikare, a cheese-
monger, retail-seller. I doubt the
connection with Icel. okr, G.
toucher, usury ; Lat. augere, to
eke, increase ; Low Lat. auxiatrix,
a huckster, auxionarius, (lit. a
seller by auction) a retail-dealer.
Holde, I p. s. pr. I hold, esteem,
consider, 5. 411); pr. pi. Holde,
I. 9 ; inf. Holde hym, to stay,
7. 5 ; Holden hym, 6. 202 ; pp.
Holden, 4. 118, 5. 261 ; imp. pi.
Holdeth, 7. 59. A.S. healdan.
Hole, adj. full of holes, 6. 61.
Some MSS. read Ihole. Cf. A.S.
holian, to make a hole, geholed,
pierced.
Holely, adv. S. wholly, 3. 112.
Holicherche, sb. holy church, 1.
75. &c. : Holikirke, 6. 28.
Holpyn, pt. pi. S. helped, 6. 108 ;
Halpe, 7. 6; pp. Holpe, 4. 169.
See Hulpen.
Hondes, sb. pi. S. hands, 5. 294.
Hondreth, si.S. a hundred, pr. 210.
Honged hym, pt. s. S. hung him-
self, r. 68; pi. Hongen, hung,
crucified, 1. 172. A.S. hdn, to
hang, crucify.
Hoper, sb. a seed-basket, 6. 63. In
the Oriel MS. it is glossed by
seed-leep. It may be quite un-
connected with the hopper of a
mill, and may be named from the
hoops it is made of; cf. A.S. hup,
a hoop, a twig.
Hore, adj. hoary, 6. 85, 7. 99.
A.S. hdr. hoar, grey-haired.
Ho-so, whoso, pr. 144.
Hostellere, st.an innkeeper, keeper
of a hostelry or hotel. 5. 339. From
1. 329 it appears that the same
man kept horses for hire. From
Lat. hospitale, a hostel, hospes, a
guest. It is now ostler, with a
lower meaning.
Hote, 1 p. s. pr. I command, bid,
2. 199, 6. 261 ; pr. s. Hoteth, 3.
-6j. 5- 555 : pt- s- Hi3te. 5. 206 ;
Hight, pr. 102 ; pp. Hote. 6. 7S.
A.S. hdtan, to bid.
Hoteii, pp. named, 2. 21. See
Hat.
Houeth, pr. s. hovers; oner houe/h
— hovers over, floats over (said of
rain-clouds'! 3. 207 : pt. s. lloued,
hovered about, rocked about (im-
plying slight undulating movement
whilst keeping in one place) pr.
210. W. kojio, hqfian, to hang,
hover. Cf. our phrase to hang
about.
Houped, pt. s. whooped, shouted
after, called loudly, 6. 174. A.S.
i86
GLOSS ARIAL INDEX.
hwepan. wepan, to whoop, weep,
wail ; Moeso-Goth. wopjan, to call
out, crow like a cock.
Houres, sb. pi. ' hours,' or services
for particular times of the day,
I. 181. There were seven, viz.
matins, prime, tierce, sext, nones,
vespers, and compline.
Housbonderye, sb. husbandry,
economy, frugality, I. 57. Icel.
bua, to till, bii, a farm, bondi, a
farmer. A husband means a
master of a house, male house-
. keeper. Sea Bondman.
Houues, sb. pi. coifs, rr. 210. A.S.
hiife, a mitre, tiara, &c.
How, interj. ho ! 6. 1 18.
Eowue, sb. S. a coif, 3. 293. See
Houues.
Hucche, sb. a hutch, an iron-bound
clothes-box once common in bed-
rooms, 4. 116. O.F. huche.
Hulles, sb. pi. S. hills, pr. 5, 214,
7. 141.
Hulpen, pt. pi. S. helped, 6. 118;
//. Hulpe, 5. 633, 7. 72. See
Holpyn.
Hundreth, a hundred, 5. 527.
Huyre, sb. hire, 6. 141 ; Huire, 5.
557. A.S. hyre,G.heuer,Du.huur.
Huyred, pp. hired, 6. 314.
Hyed, 1 p.pt. s. I hied, hastened,
5. 384. See Hiedest.
Hym-self. used for modern itself,
I. 151 ; Hymselue, 5. 221. A.S.
him, ace, and dat. (neuter) of
hit.
Hyne, sb. S. hind, servant, pr. 39,
6. 133 ; for an hyne = as a thing
of small value, 4. 118.
Hyjte, 1. 17, 6. 236. See Hijte.
I, J.
J is written like I in the MSS. ; hence
laltke is for Jakke (Jack), &c.
' Iangelers, sb. pi. tattlers, chatter-
boxes, babblers, pr. 35. ' Jange-
lyng is whan a man spekith to
moche bifor folk, and clappith as
a mille, and taketh no keep [heed]
to what he saith ;' Chaucer, Pers.
Tale, De Superbia. O. Fr. jon-
gleur, a tattler, liar, from jangler,
to lie, jest ; but the root is doubt-
less Teutonic ; cf. Du. janken, to
howl. The O. Fr. jangleur (from
the root of jangle) has been hope-
lessly confused with jougleur (Lat.
joculator) owing to both being
names given to buffoons. See
Iogeloure.
Iangle, v. to chatter, prate, talk
fast, pr. 130, 2. 94, 6. 316; pr.
s. Iangleth, 4. 155.
Ianglyng, sb. prattle, talk, 4. 180.
Iape, vb. to jape, jest, 2. 94 ; pt. s.
laped, befooled, deceived, 1. 67.
F. japper, to yelp, chatter. Cf.
E. gab, gabble, jabber.
Iapers, sb. pi. jesters, fools, pr. 35.
Ieh, pron. 1, 5. 262. See Ik.
Iille, sb. a gill, now used to mean a
quarter of a pint, 5. 346. ' Gylle,
lytylle pot. Gilla, vel gillus, vel
gillungidus.' Prompt. Parv. O.F.
gelle (Roquefort).
Ik. pron. I, 5. 228. A.S. ic.
like. adj. S. same, 1. 83, 6. 164.
Hyke, adj. like, I. 50. A.S.gelic.
I-made, 1 p. s. pt. made, 5. 162.
A.S. gemacian, to make. [The
prefix is the A.S. ge-, often found
before past participles, less often
before preterites and infinitives.]
Infamis, old Lat. pi. for infai?ies,
but probably employed instead of
it by mere mistake, 5. 168.
Ingonge, sb. S. ingoing, ingress, 5.
638. Cf. Sc. gang.
Inne, adv. within, 6. 305. A.S.
innan, adv.
Innoeentz, sb. pi. innocent people,
prob. children, 7. 41.
Inpugnen, v. F. to impugn, pr.
109; pt. s. Impugned, 7. 147.
Iogeloure, sb. F. a buffoon, juggler,
6. 72> Lat. joculator, O. Fr.
jougleur, often written jongleur,
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
187
and confused with 0. Fr. jangleur,
a tattler. See Iangelers.
Ioutes, sb. pi. pottage, 5. [58.
' lowtys, potage. Brassica, juta.'
Prompt. Parv. See Way's note.
Low Lat. juta, jutta ; see Du-
cange.
It ben, i.e. it is, or, they are, 6. 56.
Iugge, v. F. to judge, pr. 130, 2.
94; pt. s. lugged, 7. 161.
Iugges, sb. pi. F. judges, 7. 184.
Iustice, sb. F. a justice, magistrate,
3.319, 7.44.
Iuwen, gen. pi. of the Jews, 1. 67.
K.
Kairen, v. S. to go up and down,
wander (lit. to turn), pr. 29 ; pr.
s. Kaireth, goes, travels, 4. 23;
Kaires hym, turns, betakes him-
self, 5. 305 ; cf. Kairen hem, to
carry themselves, 2. 161. In all
these passages some MSS. read
karien, and there seems to be
some confusion of A.S. cerran.
O. Fris. kera, G. kehren, Du.
keeren, to turn, with F. charier,
E. carry.
Kayed, pp. fastened with a key,
5. 623.
\ Kenne, v. tomake known. 1. 92 ;
to explain. 5. 4 jC, 7. 107; to
teach, I. 81 ; pr. s. Kenneth,
teaches, 6. 22, 7. 73; pt. s.
Kenned, guided, 4. 43; taught,
7. 133; pt. pi. Kenned, guided,
5. 546 ; imp. s. Kenne, teach,
2. 4, 6. 24 ; imp. pi. Kenneth,
teach, 6. 14. Icel. kenna, to
teach, to know; the Mceso-Goth.
has kannjan, to make known,
kunnan, to know.
Kepe, 1 p. s. pr. 1 care, care for,
desire, 3. 278, 4. 193.
Kerneled, pp. F. furnished with
battlements, embattled 5. 597. F.
crenel?, from creneau, a battle-
ment ; Lat. crena, a notch.
Kerue, v. S. to carve, cut, 6. 106.
Ketten, pt. pi. S. cut, 6. 191.
Keure, v. F. to cover, 3. 60.
Kidde, pt. s. exhibited towards,
shewed, 5. 440. A.S. cyc>aii, to
make known, tell, pt. t. ic cy~Sde.
Kingene, gen. pi. of kings, 1. 10.
Kirke, sb. church, 5. 1,6. 93.
Kirtel, sb. a kind of under-jacket,
worn beneath the jacket or
kourleby, 5, So. A /;/// hirtle
was a jacket and petticoat, a
half-kirtle was either one or the
other ; and the word hirtle alone
meant any of the three, according
to the context. A.S. cyrtel, Sw.
kjortel.
Kitoun, sb. a kitten, pr. 190, 202.
Kitthe, sb. region, country, 3. 203.
A.S. cyS, a region.
Knappes, sb. pi. knops, knobs, 6.
27 J A.S. cncep, a knop, button.
Knaue, sb. S. a boy, lad, servant,
4. 16, 5. 116; pi. Knaues, pr. 44,
225.
Knowe, pp. S. known, 5. 64S.
Knowes, sb. pi. S. knees, 5. 359.
Knowing, sb. S. knowledge, 1.
136.
Knowleched, pt. s. acknowledged,
confessed, 5. 481. In Swedish,
some abstract nouns end in -lele,
and lek means sport; in Icel. the
termination is -leikr, also meaning
sport; in A.S. it is -hie, which
means (1) a gift, (2) sport. Hence
we must connect -leche with Mceso-
Goth. laikan, to sport, play, and
consider it distinct from the end-
ings -ly and -like.
Kokeney, sb. 6. 287. This word
seems to have three meanings in
Early English: (I) a cockered or
spoilt child; cf. Ch. Cant. T.i.
4206 ; (2) a little cook or cook's
lad, Lat. coquinator ; and (3) a
little cock or cockerel. The second
seems to be the meaning here, but
the last also makes sense; to
make collops requires both some-
i88
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
1
thing to make them of and some-
body to make them. Even after
perusing Mr. Wright's note, the
note by Halliwell (s. v. Cockney),
the two notes by Way in Prompt.
Parv. (s.v. Coknay and Kokeney),
and Wedgwood's note (s. v. Cock-
ney), I cannot feel satisfied that
the matter is settled. The two
quotations cited by Mr. Wright
are but vague.
Kokewolde, ib. a cuckold, 4. 1 64,
5- 159-
Koleplantes, ib. pi. coleworts, cau-
liflowers, cabbages, &c, 6. 288.
A.S. cawl, Lat. caitlis, G. kohl.
Konne, pr. pi. S. can, know how
to, 6. 70 ; 2 p. pi. subj. Kunne,
know, 6. 255 ; pr. pi. Runneth,
know, 7. 41.
Konning, adj. S. cunning, clever,
3- 34-
Kourteby, ib. 5. 80. See Court-
pies.
Kullen, v. S. to kill, 1. 66 ; pi. s.
1 p. Kulled, 3. 186. See Culled.
Kulter, ib. coulter, 3. 306. The
A.S. culler, E. coulter are simply
borrowed from the Latin.
Kynde, adj. S. natural, innate ;
kynde jcitte = natural intelligence,
pr. 118; common sense, 1. 55.
Kynde, ib. S. kind, pr. 186 ; nature,
natural disposition, 2. 27.
Kyndely, adv. intimately, I. 81,
161, 5. 545; kindly, 3. 15.
Kyne, ib. pi. kine, cows, 6. 142.
Kyngriche, sb. S. kingdom, pr. 125.
Cf. G. kbnigreich.
Kynne, ib. S. kin, kindred, 2. 130.
Kynnes, gen. iing. in phr. any
kynnei, of any kind, 5. 273. See
Alkin.
Kyrke, ib. S. church, 5. 269.
L.
Lacche, v. to catch, 5. 355 ; to
get, acquire, 6. 230 ; 2 p. s. subj.
Lacche, catch, 2. 202 ; pt. s.
Lau3te, pr. 150; pt. pi. Lau3te
leue, took leave, 3. 25. A. S.
Iceccan, gelcECcan = E. c-lutch ; cf.
E. latch.
Lacehyng, ib. S. clutching, receiv-
ing, 1. 101.
Ladde, led. See Lede.
Lafte, left. See Leue (3).
f Lafte, 1. p. i. pt. remained, stayed
behind (iome MSS. have lefte),
3. 196. See Wright's P. Plow-
man, p. 440, 1. 14426, but espe-
cially William of Paierne, ed.
Skeat, 11. 1588, 1858.
Laike, v. to play, sport, pr. 172.
A.S. Idcan, Sw. leka, Mceso-Goth.
laikan, to sport ; E. (slang) to lark.
Lakke, v. to blame, find fault with,
5. 132; pr.pl. 2 p. Lakkeb, 3.
54; imp. i. Lakke, 2. 47, 6. 227.
A.S. leahan, O. Fris. lakia, Du.
laken, to blame.
,Lammasse, Lammas, 6. 291.
Lappe, ib. a portion, 2. 35 ; pi.
Lappes, laps, 6. 295. A3, lappa,
a flap or loose border of a gar-
ment, also the lap ; G. lappen, a
flap, rag, lobe; cf. E.Japjet. lobe,
flap, flabby, lip. See Leef.
Largenesse, sb. bounty, largesse,
5- 632.
Lasse, adj. and adv. S. less, 2. 45,
3. 201, &c.
Lat, Late, let. See Lete.
Late, adv. late, 3. 73 ; comp.
Latter, later, less readily, I. 197.
Laughen, v. S. to laugh, rejoice, 4.
106.
Laujte, caught, took. See Lacche.
Law3e of, v. to laugh at, 4. 18 ;
pres.part. Lawghyng, 4. 153. See
Laughen.
Leche, sb. a leech or physician, 1.
202 ; pi. Leches, 6. 275. A.S.
lace, Mceso-Goth. lekeis.
Lechecraft, sb. medicinal art, 6.
256.
Lede. sb. lead, 5. 600. A.S. lead,
Du. load.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
189
Lede, sb. man. 1. 139, 5. 522 ; pi.
Ledes, 3. 96. A. S. leuda, G.
leute, Du. lieden, people, folks.
Cf. E. lad ; also Low Lat. litus,
leiliis, a sort of peasant-farmer.
Lede, v. S. to lead, guide, govern,
4. 148 ; to draw (a cart), 2. 179 ;
pt. s. I p. Ladde, led, took, carried,
5. 251 ; 2 p. Laddest, didst lead,
7. 189 ; pt. s. Ladde, led (captive),
5. 498 ; itnp.pl. Ledeth, conduct,
2. 134.
Leder, sb. S. leader, governor, 1.
157; Ledere, 1. 159.
Ledyng, sb. S. leading, guidance,
2. 42.
Leef, sb. a bit, piece, small portion,
6. 2=,6, 7. 110 ; cf. 5. 203 ; Lef,
a leaf (of a book), 3. 337 ; gen.
ca.-e, Leues, 3. 336. The idea of
a small flat, flapping substance is
expressed by lap, lappet, leaf; if
the substance is rounded, by lobe,
lip. See Lappe, and note that
another reading for lappe (2. 35)
is lippe. From signifying leaf it
also means a part of a leaf, as in
5. 203, &c. See Lyppe.
Legge, v. S. to lay, 2. 34, 6. 270.
Legistres, sb. pi. legists, advocates,
men skilled in the law, 7. 14, 59.
O.F. legistre.
Lelli, Lelly, adv. F. loyally, faith-
fully, verily, 1 . 78, 3. 30 ; Lelliche,
1. 179.
Lemman, sb. sweetheart, mistress,
lover (used of both sexes), 2.21 ;
pi. Lemmannes, 3. 150. Contr.
from leaf man or lef man ; A.S.
leuf, dear.
Lene, v. to lend, give, 5. 244, 6. 1 7 ;
1 p. s. pr. 5. 250; 2 p. pi. pr. snbj.
1. 179. A.S. Idnan.
Lenge, v. to dwell, linger, tarry, 1.
207. A.S. lengian, to prolong;
from lang, long.
Lenger, adv. S. longer, 1 . 207 ; adj.
C0»!P- 3- 336> 5- 2I°-
Lent, pt. s. gave, 5. 303; Lente-
stow. 2 p. didst thou lend, 5. 253.
See Lene.
Lenten, sb. the season of Lent, pr.
91. A.S. lencten, the spring of the
year.
Leode, sb. S. man, 3. 32 ; pi.
Leodes, 4. 148. See Lede.
Lepe, pt. s. leapt, 2. 68, 5. 502.
A.S. hledpan, pt. t. ic hh.
Lere, sb. face, countenance, 1. 3.
A.S. hle/'ir, the face, a cheek.
Lere, v. to teach, 1 . 144 ; 1 p. s. pr.
3. 69 ; pr. s. Lereth, 3. 125 ; _>/>.
pr. pi. Leren, 5. 45 : pt. s. Lered,
I. 149; imp.pl. Lereth, I. 1 34;
pp. as adj. Lered, instructed,
learned, 4. 11. A.S. Id-ran, G.
lehren. Du. leer en.
Lerned, (1) I p. s. pt. 1 learnt, 5.
203; 2 p. Lernedest, 1.139; (J)
2 p. s. pr. Lernest, teaehest, 4. 1 1 ;
pt. s. Lerned, taught, 5. 302. 7.
137. The latter meaning is more
common in Langley. A.S. leorn-
ian.
Lese, v. to lose, 2. 35, 3. 135, &c. ;
Lcsen, v. to lose, 5, 625 : pt. s,
Lese, 7. 158; better spelt Les, 5.
499. A.S. ledsan, \Ioeso-Goth.
fraliusan, G. verlieren, Du. v-.r-
. liezen.
Lese, v. to glean, 6. 6S. Still in
common use in Shropshire.
Leste, adj. least. 3. 204.
Lesyng, >b. leasing, lying, telling of
idle tales, 4. 18 ; pi. Lesynge>. 2.
124. A.S. lensi!i/g1 lying, from
/('"■•. false, loose, vain.
Lesynge, sb. S. losing, losss. 5.
1 1 2.
Lete, (1) v. to let, permit, all
Lat worbe, to let be, let alone, pr.
187 ; pr. s. Leteth, 3. 136 ; //. s.
Lete, 1 . 163 ; pr. s. subj. Lete. pr.
135 ; imp. s. Lat, 2. 47 : Late. 4.
6. j-'7 : imp. pi. Late, =. 5; ;
(2) to Jeavgj, forego, 4. 191,5. 26.
6. 273 ; Leten, leave •!:.
5- 465! (3) to cause; pt. jl.
190
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
Leten, 2. 158 ; imp. s. Lat, 3. 1 12;
Lete, 4. 20 ; (4) to hold, consider,
_ esteem ; Late wel by, to think
well of, set store by, 5. 625; pi.
s. Lete, 4. 161, 6. 170; pt. pi.
Leten, pr. 181, 4. 160. A.S.
l<klan, G. lassen, Du. laten.
Lette, v. to hinder, prevent, 1 . 1 56,
3. 32 ; to restrain, 5. 303 ; pr. s.
Letteth, 3. 155, 4. 176 ; pr.s.subj.
Lette, 5. 458 ; 1 p. s. pt. Lette,
put a stop to, 3. 197 ; where the
Oriel MS. has letted; cf. Chauc.
C. T. 8265. AS. let/an, Du.
letten, to hinder.
Letter, s6. S. an impeder, preventer,
hinderer, I. 69.
Letterure, sb. knowledge of letters,
learning, pr. 1 10.
Lettred, pp. as adj. lettered, learned,
1. 134, 7. 131.
Lettynge, sb. S. hindrance, 6.
7-
Leue, pr. s. subj. permit, grant, pr.
126, 5. 263 ; 1 p. s. pr. Leue, I
allow, 3- 333- A- s- lyfan, G-
erlauben.
Leue, v. to believe, 5. 45 ; I p. s.
pr. Leue, 6. 92 ; pr. s. Leueth,
2. 101 ; pt.pl. Leueden, 1. 117;
imp. s. Leue, 5. 302 ; imp. pi.
Leueth, 3. 174. Mceso-Goth.
laubjan, G. glauben (for ge-lau-
ben) ; radically the same as the
preceding.
Leue, v. to leave, to let alone,
1. 100, 7. 149 ; imp. s. Leue,
5. 292; imp. pi. Leue}>, 3. 69;
pt.pl. Lafte, left, 4. 153. A.S.
Ickfan, to leave ; cf. G. b-leiben,
to remain.
Leue, sb. S. leave, permission, pr.
85- 3- 15-
Leue, adj. (voc. case) lief, dear, 5.
563 ; pi. 4. 39. The nom. case is
lef; cf. A.S. led/.
Leue, adv. dearly, pr. 163, 3. 18;
compar. Leuer, 1. 141 ; Leuere,
5. 413; superl. Leuest, 5. 572.
Leute, sb. F. loyalty, pr. 126;
Lewte, pr. 122, 2. 21.
Lewdnesse, sb. S. ignorance, 3.
32.
Lewed, Lewde, adj. S. lay, un-
learned, 1. 187, 7. 136; Lewede,
4. 11. E. lewd, but not used in
the modern sense.
Lewte. See Leute.
Leyde, pt. s. S. laid, 5. 359, 6. 1 24 ;
pp. Leyde, 3. 201.
Leyes.sfr. pi. leas, fallow lands, 7. 5.
A.S. leiig.
Libbe, v. to live, 3. 226; pr.pl.
Libben, 5. 149 ; Libbeth, 2. 186 ;
pres. part. Libbyng, pr. 222;
Lybbyng, 7. 62. A.S. lybban.
Liche, adj. S. like, 5. 353. 4S9.
Lief, adv. dearly ; be lief like]) = it
dearly pleases thee, i. e. you like
best, 4. 148. Cf. Leue, adv.
Liflode, sb. means of life, food,
livelihood, diet, pr. 30, I. 37.
A.S. lif-ldde ; from lad, a wav,
modern E. lode. The modern
livelihood has gradually replaced
the old word liflode. See Prompt.
Parv.
Lige, adj. F. liege, 4. 184.
Ligge, 1 p. s. pres. I lie (iaceo), 5.
417; pr. s. Liggeth, 3. 175; pr.
/>/.Liggen,pr.9i ; Liggeth, 6. 15;
pr. s. subj. Ligge. 5. 439 ; pr. pi.
subj. Ligge, 2. 135; pres. part.
Liggyng, 2. 51. A.S. licgan, Du.
liggen.
Likam, sb. body, 1. 37; Lykam,
pr. 30. A.S. lic-hama, from lie,
the body, and hama, covering or
skin. Cf. E. lich-gate and G.
leichnam.
Likerous, adj. lickerish, delicate,
dainty, pr. 30, 6. 268. G. lecker.
Du. lekker, dainty ; cf. A.S. lie-
cera, a glutton.
Liketh, pr. s. impers. it pleases, I.
43, 2. 231, 5. 112, Sec; pt. s.
Lyked, pr. 60, 149. Mceso-Goth.
leikan, to please.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
I9I
Limitoures, sb. pi. friars licensed
to ask alms within a limited dis-
trict, 5. 138.
List, pr. s. impers. it pleases, pr. 172,
3- :57 '■> Pl- s- Liste, 1. 148 ; pt. s.
subj. Liste, it would please, 5. 400.
A.S. lystan, to please; cf. E. list,
lust.
Listres, sb.pl. lectors, 5. 138. See
the note.
Lith, pr. s. lies (iacet), 1. 124.
Lith, pr. s. lies {mentitur), 3. r.55.
Lither, adj. defective, vicious, 5.
387 ; Luther, ill-tempered, 5. 118.
A.S. lySre, bad ; Sw. lyte, a defect,
fault.
Lixte, 2 p. s. pr. liest, tellest lies,
5. 163.
Li3te. adv. S. lightly, 4. 161 ; comp.
Li3tloker, 5. 578.
Lobyes, sb. pi. loobies, lubbers,
Pr- 55-
Loke, v. (1) to look, see, find out,
pr. 172. 2. 155 ; to look up, look
about, 4. 60 ; 2 p. s. pr. Lokestow,
lookcst thou, 7. 136; imp. s.
Loke, 3. 269 ; pt. s. Loked, 6.
321; Lokyd hym, appeared (?),
5. 1S9; (2) Loken, v. to look
after, guard, 7. 165 ; Loke, v. to
enforce, 6. 319 ; pr. s. subj. Loke,
protect, 1. 207 ; ^3) Loke, v. to
look upon, allow, 2. 135. A."S.
lucian.
Lokke, sb. S. lock (of a door), 1.
200 ; cf. 5. 604.
Lolled, pt. s. lolled about, 5. 192.
Lombe, sb. S. a lamb, 5. 560.
Londe, sb. S. land, 3. 135.
Longe, adj. S. tall, pr. 55.
Longeth, pr.pl. belong, 2. 45, 5.
628. Cf. G. gelangen.
Lope, pt. pi. leapt, ran, 4. 153 ;
Lopen, 1 . 116,5. 1 63 ; pp- Lopen,
5. 198. See Lepe.
Lorel, sb. good-for-nothing fellow,
7. 136. Also spelt losel.
Lorkyuge, pres. part, lurking, 2.
216.
Loseles, sb. pi. good-for-nothine
fellows, 6. 124. See Lorel.
Losengerye, sb. flattery, lying, 6.
145. O. F. losanger, to flatter.
lie.
Lotebies, sb. pi. concubines, 3. 150.
Probably from the root of E. lot.
Lothelich, adj. S. loathsome, 1 .
116.
Lotheth, pr. s. impers. it irks,
causes (us) to loathe, pr. 155,
Louedayes, sb. pi. love-days, days
for the settlement of differences
by arbitration, 3. 157, 5. 427.
Loues, sb. pi. S. loaves, 6. 285.
Loupe, pt. s. leapt away, escaped,
4. 106. See Lope.
Loure, v. to look frowningly, 5.
1 32 ; pres. part. Lourynge, 5. 83.
Du. loeren ; cf. Sc. glowre.
Louryng, sb. frowning, scowling.
5- 344-
Louted, pt. s. bowed, made obei-
sance, 3. II 5. AS. hliitan.
Louye, v. to love, 5. 49, 6. 211 ;
pres. s. subj. Louye, pr. 126. A.S.
lujian.
Lowed, pt. s. stooped, pr. 1 29.
Lowen, pp. lied, told lies, 5. 95.
A.S. ledgan, to lie, pp. logen.
Luft, sb. a light, worthless fellow,
4. 62. Spelt /;// in Oriel MS.
Cf. AS. lyft, Du. lucht, air; Du.
luchtig, airy, light, merry, care-
less ; also Old Du. lucht, O. E.
lufte, lifte, left (in sense I ft hand).
Lumbardes, sb. pi. Lombards, 5.
242.
Luther. See Lither.
Lybbyng, 7. 62. See Libbe.
Lyf, sb. ii) life, 1. 202; (2) .1
living person, man, 3. 292.
rare in the latter sense, exo
Langley, who has it frequently,
in the Vita de Dowel, &c. The
Icel. I if has the same double
usage.
Lyflode, sb. 5. 88, 6. 17. See
Liflode.
192
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Lykam. See Likam.
Lyked. See Liketh.
Lyme, sb. S. limb, 5. 99 ; pl.
Lymes, 6. 126.
Lynde, sb. S. linden-tree, I. 154.
Lynnen, sb. linen, pr. 219, I. 18.
Lyppe, sb. a portion, part, 5. 250.
See Lappe.
Lyser, sb. list, selvage, 5. 210. F.
lisiere.
M.
Maceres, sb. pl. mace-bearers,
officers of the courts of justice,
3- /6.
Made. See Make.
Maire, sb. F. a mayor, 3. S7; //.
Maires, 3. 94.
Maistre, sb. F. master, 3. 21 J" ; pi.
Maistres, 7. 184.
Maistrie, sb. F. mastery, dominion,
sway, 6. 329; Maistrye, 3. 228,
4- 135 ; pl- Maistries, 4. 25.
Make, sb. S. mate, 3. 118. A.S.
maca, a mate.
Make, v. S. (1) to compose poetry,
write, 7. 61 ; pp. Made, composed,
5. 403 ; pt. s. Made, wrote, 5.
414; (2) to cause, bring about;
pr. s. subj. Make it, cause it (to be
otherwise), 4. 72, 5. 420; Maketh
it, causes it (to be so), 6. 208;
pp. Maked, made, 7. 143.
Males, sb. pl. bags, wallets, 5. 234.
F. nialle, E. mail-bag.
Mamely, v. to mumble, prate, 5.21.
Cf. Momme.
Manaeed, pt. s. F. menaced, 6. 172.
Manere, sb. F. manor, 5. 595 ; pl.
Maneres, 5. 246.
Maner, Manere, sb. F. manner,
sort, 5. 25, 7. 96. The word of
is generally suppressed after it.
Manered, adj. conditioned, like in
character, 2. 27.
Manliche, adj. S. manly, humane,
charitable, 5. 260.
Mansed, pp. cursed, 2. 39, 4. 160.
A.S. dmdnsumian, to curse. Very
corruptly used ; properly mdnsu-
mian is to join ; amcensumian, to
disjoin, excommunicate ; so that
mansed is short for ama?ised or
dmansumed ; the corruption was
readily brought about by confusion
with A.S. man, wicked.
Marchen, pr. pl. F. march, go,
pr. 63.
Mase, sb. a confused throng, 1.6;
pe mase, a state of confusion, pr.
196, 3. 159. Cf. E. maze.
Masse-pans, sb. pl. pence for say-
ing masses, 3. 223. See Pens.
Maugre, F. in spite of, 2. 204, 6.
69 ; sb. ill will, 6. 242. F. mal
gre; from Lat. male gralum.
Maunged, pp. F. eaten, 6. 260.
Mawe, sb. maw, stomach, 5. 124.
A.S. maga, G. magen.
Mayntenaunce, sb. F. support,
protection, 5. 253.
Mayntene, v. F. to abet, 3. 90,
1S4, 6. 37.
Mede, sb. S. (in a good sense) re-
ward, pay, 3. 217, &c. ; (in a bad
sense) bribery, 2. 131, &c. See
3- 230.
Medeth, pr. pl. pays, 3. 215.
Meke, v. S. to humble, 5. 70.
Melke, sb. milk, 5. 444, 6. 185.
A.S. meolc, Du. melk.
Mellere, sb. S. miller, 2. ill.
Melleth, pr. s. speaks, 3. 104 : pt.
s. Mellud, 3. 36. A.S. m&lan,
mahelian, Icel. mala, to speak.
Mene, sb. F. go-between, mediator,
I. 158, 7. 196; pl. Menes, 3. 76.
F. moyen, Lat. medius.
Mene, adj. mean, common, 3. 596 ;
pl. pr. 18, 2. 55; mene ale, common
ale, 6. 185. A.S. mane, mean,
false, twin, bad ; Mceso-Goth.
gamahis, unclean.
Mene, 1 p. s. pr. I speak, tell, 5.
283; gerund, To mene, to signify,
I. 11, 60. A.S. mdnan, to have
in mind, tell. E. mean, mind;
cf. Lat. mens. See Mengen.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
J93
Mened hire, pr. s, bemoaned her-
self, complained, 3. 169; Mened
hem, complained, 6. 2. A. S.
mcenan, to moan, lament.
Mengen, v. to keep in mind, re-
member, 6. 97. See Mene, v.
Mengen here, v. to complain, 4.
94. See Mened.
Mennes, gen. pi. men's, pr. 19S, 5.
112.
Menske, v. to make a man of, to
honour, 3. 183. Icel. menska,
humanity, virtue, honour. Sc.
mense, good manners ; G. and Du.
tnensck, a man.
Merciable, adj. F. merciful, 5. 511.
Merciment, sb. F. amercement,
fine, 1. 160.
Mercy, sb. F. (your) pardon, 1. 11,
43. 2. 2.
Mercyed, pi. s. F. thanked, 3. 20.
Merke, adj. S. dark, murky, I. I.
Meschaunce, sb. F. mischance, ill
luck, 3. 166, 5. 92.
Meseles, sb. pi. lepers, 7. 102. 0.
F. tnesel, a leper, from Lat. misel-
Ins. dimin. of miser; distinct from
G. masem. the measles.
Mesondieux, pi. sb. hospital*.
7. 26. O. F. maison dieu (for
maison de dieii).
Messageres, pi. sb. F. messengers,
2. 27. From Lat. mitto.
Messe, sb. F. the mass, pr. 97 ; pi.
Messes, 3. 251.
Messie, the Messiah, 3. 301.
Mesurable, adj. F. moderate, fair,
1. 19, 3. 254.
Mete, v. to mete, measure, pr. 214 ;
2 p. pr. pi. 1. 175. A.S. melan.
Metelees, adj. meatless, 7. 141.
Meteles, sb. (commonly in sing.
signification-), a dream. 2. 52, 7.
143. See Meten and Dremeles.
Meten. v. to dream, pr. 11 ; pt. s.
Mette, 7. 159. A.S. matan.
M.ette.pt. pi. S. met, 5. 522.IT 172.
Meyne, sb. F. retinue, household,
1. 10S, 3. 24. O.F. magnie,
mainie (spelt 38 ways). Low Lat.
maisnada, a family ; from Low
Lat. mansi'mata. a household ;
Lat. mature, to dwell.
Meynpernour, sb. F. lit. a taker
by the hand, bail, suretv. 4. 1 1 2.
Used by Occleve, De Regimine
Principum, ed. Wright, p. 86.
Meynprise, sb. F. lit. a taking by
the hand, bail, security, 2. 196,
4. 88.
Meyntene, v. F. to support, abet.
aid in doing wrong. 3. 246 ; pr. s.
and pi. Meynteueth, 3. 149, 166.
Mi-,tful. adj. S. mighty, 1. 171.
Mnani, sb. Gk. a 'mina,' talent, 6.
243 ; pi. Mnames, 6. 244.
Mo, adj. more, 1. II 5. 5. 246:
Moo, 2. 111. A.S. ma.
Moder, sb. S. mother, 7. 196.
Modilich, adv. angrily. 4. 17;,
A.S. mud, moi ><1. passion.
Moebles, sb. pi. F. moveables,
goods, 3. 267.
Molde, sb. S. mould, the earth, 2.
t86, 7. 96.
Momme, sb. the least sound that
can be made, a mum or mumbling
with closed lips, pr. 215. Cf. Gk.
fiV.
Mone, sb. S. moon, 7. 159 ; a luna-
tion, 3. 325.
Mone, sb. S. moan, 6. 125.
Monelees, adj. moneyless, 7. 141.
Moot-halle, sb. a hall of meeting.
court, 4. 135. E. mote.
Morther, v. to murder, 4. 55.
Mceso-Goth. maurthrjan ; cf. E.
mar and Lat. mort-em.
Morthereres, sb. pi. murderers.
6. 275.
Morwe, sb. S. morning, s. 325, 6.
Most. must. See Mot.
Moste. adj. greatest, pr. 07. 1. 7.
Mot, 1 p.pl.pr. (we) must. 6. 291 ;
2 p. Mote, 1. 1;/'. 5. 570 | 3 /'
Mote. 5. 257 ; 1 p. s. pt. Most,
7. 106 ; Moste, =. 151 : pt.s. svbj.
194
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Moste, might, 4. 112. A.S. ic
mot (pres. t.), ic moste (pt. t.), I
must.
Mote, sb. F. a moat, 5. 595. O.F.
mote.
Mote, v. to cite to a law-court,
summon, plead, 1. 174. A.S.
motan, to cite ; cf. E. a moot
point.
Motoun, sb. F. a ' mutton,' gold
coin, 3. 24. See note.
Motyng, sb. S. pleading, 7. 58.
See Mote.
Mouthen, v. to utter, talk about,
4. 115 ; />/. s. Mouthed, 6.
240.
Mowe, Mowen, 1 p. pi. pr. (we)
may. pr. 172. 5. 509 ; 2 p. Mowe,
6. 40 ; 3 p. Mowe, 3.217; 2 p. s.
pt. M\'3te, 3. 28,6. 225 ; Myjtow
(mightest thou), I. 170.
Moylere, sb. a woman, a lady, 2.
118, 131. O.F. moilier, Lat.
nudier.
Muryer, adv. merrier, pleasanter,
1. 107.
Myd. prep, with, 4. 77, 5. 75: A.S.
mid, G. mil, Du. med.
Myddes, adj. as sb. midst, 2. 1S4.
A.S. middes, gen. case of midde,
adj. mid.
Mykel. adj. great, 5. 477 ; much,
pr. 201. A.S. my eel.
Mys, sb. pi. S. mice, pr. 147.
Mysbede, imp, s. injure, misgovern,
6. 46. A. S. misbeodan, to bid
amiss.
Myschief, sb. F. ill success, mishap,
ruin, pr. 67, 4. 72.
Mysdo, v. S. (neut.) to do amiss,
transgress, 3. 122; pt. s. (act.)
Mysdid, injured, 4. 99 ;pp. Mysdo,
4. 90.
Myseise, sb. ill ease, discomfort,
1. 24.
Myseyse, pi. adj. ill at ease,
wretched, "]. 26.
Myshappe, v. to happen amiss, 3.
327-
Myssayde, pp. evil spoken of,
slandered, 5. 69.
Mysshape, pp. as adj. mis-shapen,
7- 95-
Myster, sb. F. employment, occu-
pation, 7. 7. O. F. mestier, Lat.
ministerium, F. metier.
Myste, My3tow. See Mowe.
Myjtful, a<#. powerful, I. 174.
N.
Na, S. no, 1. 181 ; na mo, no more,
3- 1.
Nale ; in />/ir. atte nale = atten ale
(at hen ale), at the ale, 6. 117.
Nam (/or ne am), am not, 5. 420
Nam, 6. 241. See Mnam.
Namelich, adv. S. especially, 7. 41
184. Cf. G. namentlich.
Namore (na more), no more, 3
10S. See Na.
Nau;t, adv. not, pr. 80 ; Noujt
pr. 79.
Nau;te, sb. naught, nothing, 5. 489
A.S. nd wiht, no whit.
Naujty, adj. S. having nothing, very
poor, 6. 226.
Ne, conj. nor, pr. 129, &c. A.S.
ne.
Nedeler, sb. needle-seller, 5. 318.
Nedes, adv. necessarily, 5. 257 ;
Nede, 3. 225. A.S. neddes, nedde,
gen. of nedd, need.
Nedle, sb. S. a needle, I. 155. Cf.
Du. naad, a seam, Lat. nere, to
spin.
Neighed, pt. s. S. nighed, drew
near, 6. 301.
Nei3e, adv. S. nigh, nearly, 3. 144.
Nel (for ne wil), will not, I p. s. pr.
pr. 38 ; Nelle, pr. 109, 4. 191 ;
2 p. Neltow, thou wilt not, 6. 158.
A.S. nyllan (Lat. nolle), pt. t. I p.
ic nelle, 2 p. p/J nelt.
Nempne, v. to name, 1. 21 ; pt. s.
Nempned, 5. 328; pp. Nempned,
2. 178, 7. 153. A.S. nemnan.
Nere (for ne were), were not, pr.
199, 3. 134. Cf. Nam.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
195
Newe, adv. S. anew, 5. 482.
Ney3te, prep. nigh. 5. 94.
Noble, sb. F. a gold coin, worth
6s. 8d., 3. 45, 5. 250.
Noither, conj. S. nor, 1. 130. See
Noyther.
Noither, adj. S. neither, 4. 32 ;
of her ttoither = of neither of
them.
.. Nolde (for ne wolde), would not,
1 /'• *• Pt- 5- 566 ; pt. s. 6. 238.
See Wei.
I Nones, sb. pi. 'nones,' the dinner-
hour, 5. 378, 6. 147. The 'nones,'
originally at about 3 p.m., were
advanced to about 2 p.m., and
afterwards to noon. Haydn (Diet,
of Dates) says 2 p.m. ; and see
note to 6. 147.
Wonnes, sb. pi. F. nuns, 7. 29.
Nought, not, pr. 29.
Noumpere, sb. umpire, 5. 337.
' N{o)wmpere, or ownpere. Ar-
biter, sequester.' — Prompt. Parv.
O. F. nonper, without equal
(Roquefort"). See Tyrwhitt's note
on nompere in Chaucer.
',Nouthe, adv. now, 3. 288, 6. 208.
A.S. nn ! bobc; cf. Prov.
E. now then.
Wou;t, adv. not, 7. 180 ; Nou3te,
6. 130.
Now, adv. now that, 5. 143.
Noyen, i'. to annoy, injure, harm,
5. 583 ; pr. pi. Noyeth, 2. 1 26 ;
pp. Noyed, 3. 188. O.F. nvire,
noire, Lat. nocere.
Noyther, conj. neither, 4. 1 30 ; adv.
5- 184.
Nyni. imp. s. take. 6. 43 ; imp. pi.
Nymmeth, 6. 15. A.S. woman, G.
nehtnen, Du. nemen. Hence E.
~nuvO<.
Nyuelynge. pres. part, sniveling,
5. 135. Cf. neese for sneeze.
Nys. ■/,»• ne is), is not, 5. 455. See
Nam.
Nyst-olde, adj. pi. a night old, not
freshly gathered, 6. 3x0.
O, adj. one, 2. 30, 3. 237 ; On, 3.
Obrode (lit. on broad), abroad, 5.
140. A. S. brad, broad.
Of, prep, for, 2. I, 3. 21, 5. 126,
473, 4S6; by, ;. 153; some of.
6. 98 ; in return for, 6. 129 ; 0/
more, besides, 6. 38.
Ofsent, //. s! sent for, 3. 101. Cf.
La3amon, vol. ii. p. 235.
On, prep, in, 7. 107 ; on auenture,
in ca*e, 3. 66.
One, adv. only, 1. 170. A.S. ana,
only.
Ones, adv. once, 2. 227, 6. 76 :
Onis, pr. 213 ; at ones, at once, 5.
516. A.S. dnes, gen. of an, one.
Or, adv. ere, pr. 155, 6. 87. See
Ar.
Or deigned, ft. s. F. ordained, 5.
167 ; Ordeygned, pr. 119.
Ordre, sb. F. order, rank, 1. 104,
6. 168 ; pi. Ordres (foure), pr. 58.
Orientales, sb. pi. sapphires, 2. 14.
' The precious stones called by
lapidaries Oriental Ruby, Oriental
Topaz, Oriental Amethyst, and
Oriental Emerald, are red, yellow,
violet, and green sapphires, dis-
tinguishable from the other gems
of the same name which have
not the prefix Oriental, by their
greatly superior hardness, and
greater specific gravity.' — English
Cycl. s.v. Adamantine Spar.
Otes, sb. pi. oats, 4. 38. A.S. dta,
an oat.
Other, conj. S. or, 3. 304, &c.
Otherwhiles, adv. at other times,
5. 557 ; Otherwhile, pr. 164.
Ouerlede, v. S. to domineer over.
3- ?-'4-
Ouerlepe, v. S. to leap upon, tyran-
nize over, pr. 199; pt. s. Ouer-
lepe, pr. 150. Cf. Lat. insvllare,
from salcre.
0 2
i 9<5
GL0SSAR1AL INDEX.
Ouermaistrieth, pr. s. overmasters,
4. 176.
Ouersen, v. to oversee, 6. 115;
pp. Ouerseye (me), overseen, i.e.
forgot myself, 5. 378. Halliwell
quotes from Cotgrave — ' almost
drunke, somewhat overseene.'
Oures, sb. pi. F. ' hours ' of the
breviary, pr. 97.
Owe, 1 p. s. pr. I owe (glossed in
the MS. by debeo), 5. 476; pt. s.
Oujte, ought, 5. 120. A.S. cigan,
to own, pt. t. ic nhte ; Mceso-
Goth. aigan, to have, own. E.
owe, own, are two forms of the
same infin., and ought, owed, of
the same pt. t.
P.
Paknedle, sb. a strong needle, such
as is used for sewing up packages,
5. 212.
Paleys, sb. F. palace, 2. 23.
Palfrey, sb. a palfrey, horse, 2. 189.
Low Lat. paraveredus, from vere-
diis, a posthorse ; which has also
given rise to G. pferd. See Diez
and Ducange.
Palmere, sb. F. a palmer, 5. 542 ;
pi. Palmers, pr. 46, 6. 66.
Panel, sb. F. 3. 315. ' The pannel
of a jury is the slip of parchment
on which the names of the jurors
are written.' (Wedgwood.)
Panne, sb. S. the brain-pan, skull,
4.78.
Parcel-mele, adv. by parcels at a
time, retail, 3. 81. The M.E.
ending -mele, by parts, is the A.S.
ending -malum, which is the dat.
pi. of mil, a part. Cf. M. E.jlok-
mele, by flocks, poundmele, by
pounds. See Poundmel.
Pardonere, sb. F. a seller of par-
dons, 2. 108; pi. Pardoneres,
2. 219.
Pare, v. F. to pare, cut down, 5.
243. F. parer, to trim.
Parfourned, 1 p. s. pt. F. per-
formed, 5. 405, 607.
Parosehienes, sb. pl.F. parishioners,
pr. 89 ; Parochienes, 5. 426.
Partie, sb. F. part, 1. 7.
Passynge, i.e. over, above, 5. 422.
Patentes, sb. pi. F. letters of privi-
lege (so called because open to
the inspection of all men), 7. 194.
Paye, sb. pleasure ; to paye = to his
pleasure, so as to please him, 5.
556. (A common phrase.) F.
paye, from Lat. pacare, to satisfy,
It. pa g are.
Paye, v. F. to please, satisfy, 6. 311.
See above.
Payn, sb. F. bread, 7. 121 ; Payne,
6. 152.
Paynym, sb. a pagan, Saracen,
5. 523. Low Lat. paganismus,
whence O.F. paiennisrae, the land
of pagans. Lat. pagus, a village,
Peces, sb. pi. F. cups (lit. pieces).
3. 89. ' Pece, cuppe. Crater?
(Prompt. Parv.)
Pedlere, sb. a pedlar, 5. 258. Also
spelt peddare, peddere, one who
goes about with a ped. i.e. a
basket. See Ped in Halliwell,
and ' Pedde, idem quod pannere,'
in Prompt. Parv.
Pees, sb. F. peace, 1. 150, 3. 220.
Pees, sb. a pea (sing.) 6. 171 : pi.
Pesen, 6. 198; Peses, 6. J89.
A.S. pise, F. pois, W. pys, Lat.
pisum. The A.S. sing, is pise, the
pi. pisan ; the modern form is
corrupt.
Peired, pp. F. impaired, injured, 3.
127. See Apeyre.
Pelet, sb. a pellet, a stone ball,
5. 78. Pellets, used for the old
war-missiles, were large balls of
stone, of course frequently of a
pale-white colour. See Prompt.
Parv., and Ch. Ho. Fame, iii. 553.
Pelure, sb. fur, 2. 9, 3. 294. O.F.
pelure, fur ; Lat. pellis.
Penaunt, sb. F. penitent, 4. 133.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
197
Pens, fb.pl. pence, 2. 222, 3. 161.
Peny, sb. a penny, 1. 47, 6. 282 ;
//. Penyes, pr. 21 2 ; Pens, 2. 222.
Peny-ale, sb. ale sold at a penny a
gallon, small beer, 5. 220. Stow's
Chron. p. 218.
Pereil, sb. parsley, 6. 288. F.
persil, Gk. vtrpoai\ivov.
Pere, ib. F. a peer, equal, 3. 204 ;
pi. Peres, 7. 16. Lat. par.
Peren, v. to appear, pr. 173. O.F.
parer, Lat. par ere.
Perkyn, sb. Pcterkin, little or dear
Piers, 6. 25.
Peronelle, a name, 5. 26 ; gen.
Pernelles, 4. 16. Lat. Petronilla.
St. Petronilla's day was May 31.
Persones, sb.pl. parsons, 3. 149,
5. 142. Mid. Lat. persona ecclesia,
the person of the church in a
parish ; an etymology of which
there is no doubt, though often
needlessly denied.
Pertly, adv. openly, evidently,
5. 23; Pertliche, 5. 15. See
Apertly.
Pesecoddes, sb. pi. peashells, with
the peas in them (peas were often
boiled in the shells), 6. 294. See
Pees. A.S. codd, a bag.
Pese-lof, sb. loaf made from peas,
6. 181.
Pesen, Peses. See Pees.
Peter, interj. by Saint Peter, 5.
544. 7- II2> ]3°-
Petit, adj. F. small, 7. 57.
Peynen hem, v. give themselves
trouble, take pains, 7. 42.
Peynten, v. F. to paint, 3. 62.
Peys, sb. weight, 5. 243. O. F.
peis, F. poids, Lat. pension.
Picche, v. to pierce, peck, pick,
divide with a sharp point, 6. 105.
A.S. and F.pic, a point; E. peak,
pike, pick-axe, peck.
Pies, 7. 194. See the note.
Piked, pt. pi. picked with a sharp
instrument, hoed (as we should
now say), 6. 113. See Picche.
Piloure, sb. F. pillager, robbc
194. O.F. piller, to rob, to peel.
Piones, sb.pl. F. seeds of the peony,
5. 312. Gk. Ttaicuvia.
Piries, sb. pi. F. pear-trees, 5. 1 <>.
Lat. pyrus. (Chaucer.)
Pitaunce, sb. F. pittance, 5. 270.
Platte hire, pt. s. threw herself flat,
5. 63. F. plat, S\v. and G. platt,
flat. "
Plede, v . F. to plead, 7. 42 ; pt.
pi. Plededen, pr. 212; Pleteden,
7- 39-
Pleyne hem, v. F. to complain,
3. 167; pt. s. Pleyned hym, 6.
161 ; pt. pi. Pleyned hem, pr. 83.
Pleyne, adj. F. full, 7. 103.
Pleyntes, sb. pi. F. complaints,
pleas, 2. 1 77-
Plijted, pr. pi. ; plijted hem =
joined (pledged) themselves, pr. 46.
Plomtrees, sb. pi. S. plum-trees,
5- 16.
Plowfote, plough-foot, sb. 0.
105. The plough-foot is part of
a plough, formed like a stalT,
propping up the beam so as to
regulate the depth of the furrows.
In a modern plough, small wheels
are used instead. See the note.
Podyng-ale, sb. a kind of ale, 5.
220. See the note.
Poeple, sb.pl. E. people, 1. 5, 2.
214.
Poised, pt. s. weighed, 5. 217. See
Peys.
Poke, sb. a bag, 7. 191. A.S. pocca,
a pouch.
Poletes, sb.pl. pullets, 6. 282. F.
poulet, from Lat pullus.
Polsche, v. F. to polish, 5. 4S2.
Ponl'olde, sb. a pinfold, 5. 663-.
A.S. pund, a pound, a fold.
Poraille, sb. the poor people, pr.
82. O. F. pouraUle (Roquefort).
Pore, adj. poor, pr. 84, 3. > 1 .
Poret, sb. a kind of leek, <■>. 300;
pi. Porettes, 6. 288. O.F. poret,
F. porreau.
198
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Portatyf, adj. portable, hence
quick, light, I. 155.
Possed, pt. s. pushed, pr. 151. F.
ponsser, Lat. pulsare.
Possessioneres, sb.pl. 5. 144. See
the note.
Posteles, sb. pi. apostles, 6. 151.
[Other passages shew that pos/les
= apostles ; but the reason for its
use here is not clear.]
Potagere, sb. F. a maker of pot-
tage, 5. 157.
Pouere, adj. F. poor, 1. 173.
Poundmel, adv. by pounds at a
time, 2. 222. Cf. Parcelmele.
Pouste, sb. power, 5. 36. O.F.
poeste, Lat. polentas.
Preise, v. F. to appraise, value, 5.
331 ;/>/.s.Preysed, praised, 6. HO;
pi. pi. Preyseden, 7. 38.
Prentis, sb. an apprentice, 5. 202 ;
pi. Prentis, 3. 224, 5. 317. F.
apprentis, a learner, from Lat.
prehendere.
Prentishode, sb. apprenticeship,
5- 256.
Prest, sb. a priest, 7. 112.
Prest, adj. ready, 6. 199. O.F.
prest, F. pret.
Prestest, adj. readiest, 5. 558.
Prestly, adv. quickly, 6. 95.
Preue, v. F. to prove, 5. 43 ; pt. s.
Preued, 7. 1S6 ; pp. Preued, 4.
122.
Pris, sb. F. price, value, 2. 13.
Prisoun.es, sb. pi. F. prisoners, 7.
30 ; Prisoneres, 3. 136. O.F.
prison, a prisoner.
Prouendreth, pr. s. provides for,
provides with prebends, ,3. 149.
' Provendre. fit>nefice ecclesiast-
ique.' (Roquefort.)
Prouinciales, adj. pi. provincial,
7. 191.
Prouisoures, sb. pi. provisors, per-
sons nominated by the Pope to
livings not vacant, 2. 1 70, 3. 146.
Pruyde, sb. S. pride, pr. 23.
Pryue, adj. familiar, 2. 23; pi.
intimate, 2. 63; Pryues, pi. adj.
as sb. secret friends, 2. 177.
Pukketh, pr. s. pokes, pushes, 5.
620; pt. s. Pukked, incited, 5.
64^. Du. polten, to poke.
Pult, pt. s. put, 1.125. Pult for put
is not uncommon.
Purfil. sb. the embroidered or furred
trimming of a dress, 4. 116; Pur-
fyle, 5. 26. F. pourjiler, to work
on an edge, embroider with thread ;
It. Jilo, a line, edge. Hence our
profile.
PurfUed, pp. trimmed (with fur),
2.9.
Purs, sb. a purse, bag, 5. 192, 311.
F. bourse, Gk. pvpaa.
Purteuaunces, sb. pi. F. appur-
tenances, 2. 103.
Purtraye, v. to portray, draw,
3. 62. F. pourtraire, from Lat.
trakere.
Puttes, sb. pi. lit. pits ; hence, dun-
geons, 5. 412. Du. put, Lat.
puteus.
Pyke, sb. a staff with a spike, 5.
482. See Picche.
Pykoys, sb. a pickaxe, 3. 307. O. F.
piquois from pic, a pike.
Pyk-staf, sb. a staff with a spike,
6. 105. See Pyke.
Pyne, sb. pain, 2. 103. A. S. pin,
pain.
Pynned, 1 p. s.pt. fastened, 5. 213.
A. S. pyndan, to shut in, pen in.
Pynynge-stoles, sb. pi. stools of
punishment, 3. 78. See Pyne.
Q.
Quarteroun, sb. a quarter, 5. 217.
See Halliwell.
Q,uat3, (for Quath), pt. s. quoth.
said, 6. 3; Quod, 3. Ill, &c.
A. S. cwe'San, to speak; pr. t. ic
cweiSe, pt. t. ic cu/ce&.
R.
Eadde. See Pede.
Ragman, sb. a papal bull, with many
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
'99
seals of bishops attached, pr. 75.
A ragman or ragman-roll means
a document with a lone; list of
names, or with numerous seals.
See Halliwell, for a long note upon
it; and Dyce's Skelton, ii. 335.
Hence E. rigmarole, which see in
Wedgwood.
Rakyer, sb. a raker, a scavenger,
5, 322. A. S. racian, to rake.
See Liber Albus, p. 34.
Rape J>e, imp. s. make haste, 4. 7,
5. 399 ; 2 p. pl-pr. subj. Rape 30W,
6. 1 20. Icel. krapa, to rush.
Rappe, v. to strike, beat (down),
1 . 95. Sw. rappa, to beat.
Rathe, adv. S. early, soon, 3. 73 ;
comp. Rather, 4. 5, a. 263 ; sup.
Rathest, soonest, 5. 342. A. S.
hra<5e, soon.
Ratonere, sb. a rat-catcher, 5. 322.
Ratoun, sb. a small rat, pr. 167 ;
Raton, pr. 158 ; pi. Ratones, pr.
146. F. raton. The F. -on is often
a diminutive ending, though the
It. -one is commonly augmentative.
Cf. Span, raton, ratona.
Raujte, pt. s. raught, reached, got,
pr. 57 : extended himself, in pass.
sense, was extended, 4. 185. A.S.
rican, to reach, extend, pt. t. ie
rcehte. Cf. Sc. rax.
Rayes, sb. pi. striped cloths, also
called cloths of raye, 5. 211. F.
raie, a stripe, streak, Lat. radius.
Recche, v. S. to reck, care, 4. 65 ;
pr. s. Reccheth, 6. 122.
Reconforted, pp. F. comforted
again, 5. 2S7.
Recorded, pt. pi. gave opinion, 4.
1 57-
Recrayed, pp. recreant, craven, 3.
257. O.F. recroire, to give up
one', faith, to be beaten, whence
O. F. recreu, O. It. ricreduto, pp.
beaten, O. F. recreant, O. It. ricre-
dente, pr. p. a recreant. See Re-
creant in Wedgwood. Recrayed
occurs in Skelton, i. 189.
Rede, v. (1) to advise, 4. 9, 29 ;
1 p. s. pr. Rede, I. 173, 7. 181 ;
imp. s. 4. 113; pt. s. Radde, 5. 46.
125; Redde, instructed, bade, 5.
485: (2) to read, 7. 106; 2 p. s.pt.
Reddestow, readest thou, 3. 257 ;
pt. s. Redde, 3. 334. A.S. rdedan,
to counsel, read ; G. reden. Cf.
A. S. reed, advice, G. rath.
Redyngkyng, sb. one of a class of
feudal retainers, who held their
land by serving their lord on
horseback, 5. 323. They were
also called Rodknightes. A. S.
ridend, one who rides, a chevalier.
rad-cniht, a riding youth, soldier.
Regne, v. F. to reign, 3. 283.
Regratere, sb. one who sells by
retail, 5. 226 ; pi. Regrateres, 3.
90. F. regrattier, It. rigattiere,
a huckster ; cf. Span, regatear, to
wriggle ; also to haggle, sell by
retail.
Regraterye, sb. F. selling bv retail,
3- 83-
Regystreres,s6. F. registrars, 2. 1 73.
Reherce, v. to repeat, declare, 7.
190; imp. s. 5.1S2; //.s.Reherced.
repeated, pr. 184, 5. 6l. O.F.
rehercer, to repeat (Roquefort).
Rekne, v. to reckon up, 1. 22 ; 2 p.
s. pr. subj. 5. 277. A. S. reccan.
to order, direct.
Releue, v. F. to relieve, 7. 32.
Religioun, sb, F. religious orders,
5.46,6.153,7.32.
Renable, adj. loquacious, pr. 158.
Some MSS. have resonable, which
also has the same meaning ; from
F. raison, M. E. reson, which often
means talk. But the Norfolk word
is runnable, evidently (falsely) con-
nected with the verb to run.
Renke, sb. a man, pr. 192, 5. 399 ;
pi. Rinkes, 7. 181. A. S. ri/tc, a
warrior.
Renne, v. to run, pr. 166, 3. 213 ;
pr. pi. Rennen, 2. 182. A.S.rdt-
nan, G. rennen.
20O
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
Renne-aboute, sb. Run-about, 6.
150.
Rental, sb. 6. 92. Properly, a sche-
dule or roll containing an account
of the rents of an estate. A re-
missioun on that rental = a release
from rent as recorded in the
rental.
Renten, v. to fix the prices of
rents, 7. 32. Cf. F. rendre, Lat.
redd ere.
Repentedestow, 2 p. s. pt. repent-
edst thou, 5. 232.
Repentestow ]>e, 2 p. s.pr. repent -
est thou, 5. 449^
Rerages, sb. pi. arrears of debt, 5.
246. Also spelt arerages.
Rest, pr. s. (contr. from restetk),
pr. 171.
Restitue, v. F. to make restitution,
restore, 5. 281.
Retenauns, sb. sing, retinue, 2. 53.
Also spelt retenaunce.
Reue, sb. a reeve, steward, bailiff,
2. no; gen. Reues, 5. 427. A. S.
gerefa.
Reulen, pr. pi. F. rule, 7. 10. Lat.
regula, a rule.
Reumes,s6.//. realms, 7. 10. O.F.
reatime, F. royautne, formed as if
from a Lat. regalimen.
Reuthe, sb. ruth, pity, 1. 173, 4.
108, 5. 434. A.S. hreow, sorrow,
hreowan, to grieve ; Icel. hrygS,
ruth, sorrow.
Rewarde, v. to recompense (whe-
ther good or evil), 3. 316. O. F.
rewarder, from the Teutonic root
of ward or guard.
Rewe, imp. s. have pity, 5. 475.
See Reuthe.
Rewlyng, sb. ruling, pr. 127.
Rewme, sb. realm, pr. 177. See
Reumes.
Reyne, sb. rain, 3. 207. ' Reyne.
Pluvia? (Prompt. Parv.) A.S.,
G. and Du. regen, Mceso-Goth.
rign.
RibaneSj sb. pi. rows forming a
band, either of gold lace or of
precious stones, 2. 16. Cf. Du.
rijgen, to lace, rijgliif, stays,
rijgsnoer, lace, from Du. rij, G.
reih, a row, and band. Hence E.
riband, ribbon.
Ribaudes, sb. pi. F. profligate men.
sinners, 5. 512. See Ribald in
Wedgwood, and note to the line.
Ribaudye, sb. F. ribaldry, sin, pr.
44.
Ribibour, sb. a player on the ribibe
or rebeck, a kind of fiddle; from
the Per;., rubdb ; 5. 322. It is
said to have had three strings, to
have been played with a bow,
and to have been introduced into
Spain by the Moors.
Riechesse, sb. sing. F. riches,
wealth, 2. 17, 3. 90; pi. Ricches-
ses, 3. 23.
Ritt, pr. s. (contr. from ridetk),
rides, 4. 13; is moving about.
running about, pr. 1 71 ; in 4. 24.
we must also read rit, not ritte ;
see Critical Note.
Ri3tful, adj. S. just, pr. 127, 1. 54;
pi. righteous, 4. 157, 3. 241.
Rijtfullich, adv. justly. 4. 172.
Robyn hood, 5. 402.
Rode, sb, the rood, crucifix, 2. 3, 4.
1 34. &c. A. S. rod, a crucifix.
Rolle, pr. s. subj. to enrol, register,
5. 278.
Romares, sb.pl. pilgrims to Rome,
4. 1 20. O. Fr. rotnier, It. romeo,
a pilgrim to Rome.
Rome-renneres, sb. pi. runners to
Rome, 4. 128. See last word.
Roos, 1 p. s. pt. S. rose, 5. 234.
Ropere, sb. a rope-maker, 5. 323.
Roste, sb. roast meat, pr. 229.
Rotes, sb. pi. S. roots, 6. 105.
Rotland, i.e. Rutland, 2. no.
Rouned, pt. pi. whispered, 5. 333 ;
pr. s. Rowneth, 4. 13 ; pres. part.
Rownynge, 4. 24. A. S. runian,
from run, a rune, a mystery.
Route, sb. a troop, company, pr.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
201
146, 4. 168. O. F. route, G. rotte,
a troop; cf. Provenyal rota, tu-
mult.
Rusty, adj. filthy, foul, 6. 75.
Rybaudoure, sb. a teller of loose
tales, 6. 75. See Ribaudes.
Rychen, pr. pi. grow rich, 3. S3.
Ryflynge, sb. plunder, 5. 2 38. Cf.
E. rifle, raffle, Du. rijf, G. raffel,
■* a rake, G. raffen, to seize, sweep
off, O. F. riffler, to snatch.
Rymes, sb. pi. rimes, 5. 402. F.
rime, It. rima, A. S. rim, E. rime
(now misspelt rhyme, through con-
fusion with rhythm).
Ryne, i.e. the Rhine, pr. 229.
S.
Sadder, adv. more soundly (with
reference to sleep), 5. 4. Cf. W.
sad, firm.
Sadnesse, sb. firm faith, confidence,
7. 150. See above.
SafFeres, sb.pl. sapphires, 2. 13.
Safte, sb. F. safety, 7. 36.
Salamon, i. e. Solomon, 3. 330 ;
gen. Salamones, 7. 137. The Lat.
form is Salomo.
Salmes, gen. sing, psalm's, 3. 247.
Sapience, the apocryphal book of
Wisdom, 3. 330.
Saraeenes, sb. pi. Arabians, 3. 325.
Derived from Arab, sharkeyti, i. e.
'Eastern people.' The name&zra-
ceni occurs in Pliny (vi. 7). — Eng.
Cycl.
Sarmoun, sb. F. sermon, 3. 93.
Sauacioun, sb. F. salvation. 5. 1 26.
Sauf, adj. F. safe, 7. 51.
Sauoure, >&. delight, pleasure^. 14S.
O. F. savour, savor, Lat. sapor.
Mr. Wright explains it by ' know-
ledge,' as if from F. savoir, but
this is not borne out by other
passages in Langley, whereas the
meaning given is so. See 6. 264
— to sauoure with thi lippes, to
please thy lips with (by its nice
taste).
Sauter, sb. psalter, 2. 37, 7. 40;
gen. Sauter, 5. 282.
Sau3tne,i>. become reconciled, 4.2.
Ct. A.S. sahtlian, to reconcile, from
saht, peace. The ending -ne
(Moeso-Goth. -nan) gives it a
passive signification.
Sawes, sb. pi. sayings, 7. 137. A. S.
sagu, a tale.
Say, pt. s. 1 p. I saw, 5. 10: spelt
saw in preceding line. See Seigh.
Schendeth, pr. pi. harm, injure,
disgrace, 6. 1 75 ; Schenden, 2.1 25.
A. S. scendan, to disgrace.
Schete, sb. a loose bit of cloth,
such as a skirt of a garment or a
sheet, 5. 1 oS. Mceso-Goth. skauts,
the hem of a garment, A.S. scedt,
the skirt of a garment, a sheet.
Schrape, pr. s. subj. S. scrape, 5.
124.
Schrewe, sb. a shrew, a cursed or
depraved one, a sinner, pr. 196,
4. 1 10. Cf. M. E. schrewe, to be-
shrew, to curse.
Sckyreue, sb. a sheriff, 2. 163.
A. S. scir-genfa, a shire-reeve,
sheriff.
Seche, v. S. to seek, 7. 1 63 ; pt. pi.
Sou3te, 7. 166. See Seketh.
Secte, sb. a suit, applied both to a
suit of clothes and to a sect or
following of people (like our suite).
5. 498. See the note.
Seel, sb. F. a seal, pr. 7S, 3. 145;
pi. Seles, pr. 69.
Seem, sb. S. a horse-load, 4. 38.
' A sack of eight bushels is now
called a seam, which was a horse-
load ; hence, generally, a load, a
burden.' (Bosworth's A.S. Diet.)
Cf. G. saum, a burden, F. sommier,
a sumpter or pack-horse.
Segge, sb. a man, 3. 63, 5. 127.
A. S. secg, a man, Icel. seggr, a
man.
Segge, v. to say, 5. 617. A.S.
secg an.
Sei, v. to say, 2. 67; 2 p. s. pr.
202
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Seist, 6. 232; pt.pl. Seiden, 2.
r5x-
Seigh, pt. s. 1 p. I saw, pr. 50, 6.
237>" Seighe, 7. 140; Sei3, pr.
230; pt. s. Sei3, 2. 188; Seighe,
5- 5°5 > infin. Seen, 4. 86.
Seketh, imp. pi. seek ye, 5. 58.
See Seche.
Selde, adv. seldom, pr. 20, 5. r 2 7 ;
Seiden, 7. 137. A. S. seld, seldan.
Selsth, pr. pi. seal, 3. 147.
Selke, sb. silk, pr. 210. Lat. seri-
cum, Gk. arjpiKov, belonging to
the Seres (Chinese).
Selles, sb. pi. F. cells, pr. 28.
Selue, pron. himself, I. 202. Cf.
G. selbst.
Seme, sb. 3. 40. See Seem.
Sendal, sb. a kind of thin rich silk,
6. 11. F. sendal, It. cendalo. Low
Lat. cendalum.
Seriaunt, sb. F. Serjeant, 3. 293 ;
pi. Seriauntz, pr. 211. Lat. ser-
uiens {ad legem).
Serke, sb. a sark, shirt, shift, 5. 66.
A. S. serce, syrce, Dan. scerk.
Sestovsr, secst thou, 1. 5.
Seten, pt. pi. S. sat, 6. 117, 195.
Seth, 1 p. pi. pr. (we) see, 3. 216.
Sette, 1 p. s. pr. I set, place, reckon,
7. 1 94 ; pt. s. Sette, 6. I 71 ; infin.
Sette, to plant, 7. 6 ; pp. Sette,
placed, 6. 48. A. S. settan.
Seweth, pr. pi. follow, pursue, pr.
45 ; Suweth, 5. 60. O. F. suire,
sevre, Lat. sequi. Cf. E. sue.
Sey, 1 p. s. pr. I say, 6. 286. See
Segge, v.
Seygh, 1 p. s. pt. I saw, 5. 542.
See Seigh.
Seyn, v. to say, pr. 1 89 ; 2 p. pi. pr.
Seyne, 6. 131.
Seynedhym,/>/. s. blessed himself,
15. 456. O. F. seigner, signer, to
make the sign of the cross, Lat.
signare, from signum.
Shaltow, i. e. shalt thou, 5. 579.
Shamedest, 2 p. s. pt. didst bring
shame upon, 3. 1S9.
Shapeth, pr. s. causes, disposes, 7.
67; determines, 1. 159; I p. s. pt.
Shope me, arrayed myself, pr. 2;
pt. pi. Shope, disposed, ordered,
pr. 122; Shopen hem, arrayed
themselves as, made themselves,
pr. 57. A. S. scapan, to shape,
form.
Shedyng, sb. dispersion, scattering ;
forshedyng = to prevent scattering,
6. 9. A. S. sceadan, to disperse.
Shenfullieh, adv. shamefully, 3.
275. The full form is shendfullich,
as written in other MSS. A. S.
scendan, to reproach.
Shendeth, pr. s. corrupts, brings
reproach on, ruins, 3. 1 54 ; pp.
Shent, ruined, 3. 134, 4. 174. See
last word.
Shepe, sb. a shepherd, pr. 2. See
the note.
Shette, pt. s. shut, 5. 611. A. S.
scittan, to shoot a bolt, to lock.
Shireues, sb. pi. 2. 58. See
Schyreue.
Shodde, pp. shod, 2. 163.
Sholdest, Sholde. See Shul.
Shonye,f. to shun, avoid, pr. 174;
I p. s. pr. I get out of the way,
5. 169. A. S. scunian, to shun.
Shope, Shopen. See Shapeth.
Shrewe, sb. the cursed one, Satan,
1. 127; a sinner, 5. 471. See
Schrewe.
Shrewednesse, sb. sin, 3. 44.
Shroudes, sb. pi. garments, rough
outer clothes, pr. 2. A. S. scrud,
a garment, shroud.
Shryue, v. to shrive, confess, pr.
64; Shryuen, pr. 89 ; pt. s. Shroue,
3. 44 ; pp. Shryuen, 5. 309. A. S.
scrifan, Sw. skrifta.
Shull, Shulle, Shullen, 1, 2, and
3 p. pi. pr. shall, 3. 34, 5. 578,
7. 162 ; 2 p. s. pt. subj. Shulde,
shouldest, oughtest, 6. 49 ; pt. pi.
Shulden, should, ought to be, 7.
13. A. S. ic sceal, pi. we sculon,
pt. t. ic sceolde.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
203
Sibbe, adj. akin, related to, 5.
634. A. S. sib, peace, relationship ;
Mceso-Goth. sibja, relationship;
G. sippe, kindred.
Siker, adj. certain, sure, 1. 130,
3. 50. G. sicker, Du. zeker, W.
sicr.
Sikerere, adv. more securely, 5. 509.
Sikerly, adv. with certainty, surely,
5- 547-
Sikul, sb. a sickle, 3. 306. A. S.
sicel, sicol.
Silke, sb. silk, 6. II. See Selke.
Sire, sb. F. father, pr. 189. O. F.
sire, seignenr, from Lat. senior.
Sisoure, sb. a person deputed to
hold assizes, 2. 164; pi. Sisoures,
2. 62, 3. 133. Low Lat. assisarii,
from ad and sedere, to sit.
Sith, Sitthe, Sithen, adv. and
conj. since, pr. 64, 4. 14, 7. 94.
A. S. sltfSa, sffl&an, afterwards,
after that, since; s/S, adv. late;
mo', sb. a turn, a time. Cf. G.
seit, since. See Sithes.
Sithe, sb. a scythe, 3. 306. A. S.
si tie.
Sithenes, adv. afterwards, 7. 25 ;
Sitthenes, 6. 65. See Sith.
Sithes, sb. pi. times, 5. 431 ;
Sythes, 5. 441. A. S. siS, a turn,
time, journey, Mceso-Goth. sinth,
a time, a journey.
Sitten, v. to cost (lit. to sit), 3. 48.
Cf. our phrase, to stand one in a
large sum.
Sklayre, sb. a veil, 6. 7. Cf. G.
schleier, Du. sluijer, Sw. sloja.
Sleen, v. to slay, 3. 285 ; imp. s.
Slee, 3. 264. A. S. sledn, slogan,
G. schlagen, to strike.
Slepe, 1 p. s. pt. I slept. 5. 3S2 ;
2 p. s. pr. Slepestow, 1.5; pp.
Sleped, 5. 4. A. S. slaepan, pt. t.
ic shp.
Sleuth, sb. S. sloth, 2. 98 ; Sleuthe,
pr. 45.
Slombred, 1 p. s. pt. S. I slum-
bered, pr. 10.
Slyken, pr. pi. render sleek, 2. 98.
Halldnrsson gives let 1. slikja, to
polish ; cf. Icel. sleikja, to lick, E.
slick, sleek.
Smerte, pr. pi. subj. smart, suffer.
3. 167. Cf. G. schmerz.
Smythye, v. to forge, 3. 305 ; pr.
s. Smytheth, 3. 32 J. A.S. smifSian,
to forge, smitan, to smite.
Soffre, imp. s. suffer, permit, 3.
92.
Soft, adj. S. mild, warm, pr. I.
Sokene, si.explained by Mr. Wright
as ' a district held by tenure of
socage,' 2. 1 10. Bosworth explains
the Law-Latin word soca as a
' lordship enfranchised by the
king, with the liberty of holding
or keeping a court of his socmen
or socagers, that is, of his tenants,
whose tenure is hence called soca-
gium, in Eng. socage.' See A. S.
si'h- in Bosworth.
Solfe, v.-xo sol-fa, i. e. sing by note,
to call over the notes by their
names, viz. u't, re, mi, sol, fa, &c,
5. 423. Dyce's Skelton. li
Some dele, partly, 5. 438. See
Dele, sb.
Somer-game, sb. a summer-game,
5. 413. See the note.
Somme, adj. pi. some, pr. 31,222;
dat.pl. to some, 3. 284. In 3. 13
it means ' some of them ; ' see
note. Connected with same, and
A. S. sam, together. Sam is the
Greek a^a. Lat. simul; the base of
G. sammeln, Eng. assemble.
Sompue, v. F. to summon, 2. 158,
3. 314. Lat. summoneo.
Sompnoure, sb. F. a summoner or
somtier (an officer who summons
delinquents to appear in an eccle-
siastical court ; now called an ap-
paritor), 4. 167; pi. Sompnoures,
3. 133. See Chaucer's Prologue.
Sonde, sb. 3. 349. Explained as
' a mission, sending,' by Mr.
Wright ; but 1 feci sure that the
204
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
true sense is — that which is sent,
viz. a present ; cf. Dan. sending,
a gift, a present, from sende (A.S.
sendan) to send. In Mid. Eng.
sonde also means a portion of
food sent in a dish, a present of
viands. Observe the context.
Songen, pt. pi. S. sang, 5. 345, 6.
117.
Songewarie, sb. the interpretation
of dreams, or more properly, ob-
servation of dreams, 7. 148, 150.
O. F. songe, Lat. somnium, and
O. F. tvarir, garir, A.S. warian, to
guard, ward, keep.
Sonne, sb. S. the sun, pr. 1, 6. 328.
Sonnest, adv. soonest, 1. 70, 3.
281.
Sori, adj. sorry, miserable, pr. 45.
Soth, adj. S. true, 5, 282, 6. 131,
7.67.
Sothe, sb. S. truth, sooth, 4. 2, 5.
569; pi. Sothes, 3. 281. A.S.
sdtS, truth.
Sothly, adv. S. truly, 5. 241 ;
Sothely, 3. 189; Sothelich, 3. 5.
Sotlmesse, sb. S. truth (used as a
proper name), 2. 24, 188.
Souereygne, adj. F. excellent, pr.
159. O. F. sovrain, from O. F.
sovre, Lat. supra, above.
Souereynes, sb.pl. superiors, lords,
6. 82.
Soule, gen. sing, soul's ; hence
soule hele = soul's health, 5. 270.
Soupen, v. to sup, 2. 96 ; Soupe,
6. 220. F. souper, G. saufen, to
sup, sip. Cf. Icel. saup, soup.
Soure, adv. bitterly, 2. 140. Icel.
siirr, W. sur, G. sauer, Du. zuur.
Souteres, sb. pi. cobblers, shoe-
makers, 5. 413. A. S. sutere,
a shoemaker (Lye), probably
borrowed from Lat. sutor.
This seems more likely than Mr.
Wedgwood's derivation from F.
save tier.
Souteresse, sb. a female shoe-
maker or shoe-seller, 5. 315.
Souste, sought. See Seche.
Sowe, v. S. to sow (seed), 7, 6 ; pp.
Sowen, 6. 5.
Spede, v. to speed, i. e. succeed,
thrive, prosper, 3. 270, 5. 601.
Sperhauke, sb. a sparrow-hawk, 6.
199. A.S. sperhafoc.
Spiceres, sb. pi. sellers of spices,
grocers, 2. 225.
Spices, sb. pi. spices, 5. 311. F.
epice,O.F.espisce, espece, from Lat.
species.
Spille, v. to destroy, ruin, 3, 308;
Spilleth,/>r. s. spoils, 5. 41 ; Spille,
imp. s. destroy, 3. 270. A. S.
spill an, Du. spillen, Sw. spilla, E.
spill, to waste.
Spiritualte, sb. F. spirituality,
spiritual authority or influence,
5. 148, 149.
Sprynge, sb. a switch, springy rod,
5- 41-
Spynnesteres, sb. pi. S. women
engaged in spinning, 5. 216.
Stable, v. to render firm or stable,
to cause to rest, I. 120.
Stede, sb. stead, place, pr. 96, 6.
63; pi. Stedes, places, 5. 48. A. S.
stede.
Stekye, v. to stick fast, remain
closed, 1. 121. A.S. stician, to
pierce, also to stick, adhere ; G.
stecken, Sc. steik.
Sterres, sb. pi. S. stars, 7. 160.
Stile, sb. a stile, 5. 201.
Stokkes, sb. pi. S. the stocks, 4.
108, 5. 585.
Stole, sb. S. a stool, 5. 394.
Stonden, Stonde, v. to stand, 1.
121, 6. 114.
Stories, sb. pi. F. histories, 7. 73.
Streyte, adv. straitly, strictly, pr.
26. O.F. estroit, Lat. strictus.
Streynes, sb. pi. estrays, pr. 94.
Explained by Mr. Wright — 'beasts
which have gone astray ' — in ac-
cordance with the present usual
meaning. But the old meaning
is different, viz. goods which a
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
J05
stranger leaves behind him at
death, and which go to the king
or lord for default of heirs. See
estrahere in Roquefort. O. F.
es.trah.ere, estreyere, &c, from Lat.
extra.
Stroke,/)/, s. moved rapidly, brushed
quickly past the rest and advanced,
pr. 183. A. S. strican, to go, G.
streichen, Du. strijken, to sweep
rapidly over a surface, to graze,
stroke. See Stryke.
Struyeth, pr. pi. destroy, 6. 29.
0. F. deslruire ; cf. It. struggere,
to destroy, waste.
Stryke, imp. s. go quickly, pass
quickly, 5. 586. See Stroke.
Studye, v. F. to study, muse, J.
H3-
Stues, sb. pi. F. stews, 6. 72.
Stuwardes, sb. pi. stewards, pr. 96,
5. 48. A. S. stiward, Icel. sti-
vardr, one whose business it is to
look to the daily work of a farm;
cf. Icel. stjd, domestic occupation,
especially foddering the cattle ;
Icel. stia, a sheep-house, E. sty;
cf. Sw. stia, a pen for geese.
Thus steward is for sty-ward. See
Wedgwood.
Stynte, v. to cease, rest, pause,
1. 120; imp. pi. Stynte, stop,
rest, 5. 585. A. S. stintan, to be
blunt, stunt, blunt. Cf. E. stint,
stunted.
Suddenes, sb. pi. subdeans, 2. 172.
F. sou, under, and M.E. dene, a
dean, F. doyen, Lat. decatius, from
decern.
Sueth, pr. s. follows, pursues, per-
secutes, tempts, 1. 41 ; pp. Sued,
.. followed, driven, 5. 550. F.suivre,
Lat. sequi.
Suffrance, sb. F. long-suffering of
God, 6. 146.
Sufifre, v. to suffer, permit, allow
to exist, 2. 1 74.
Suggestioun, sb. F. reason, occa-
sion, 7. 67.
Supprioure, sb. subprior. 5. 171.
Suren, v. to plight one's troth to.
give security to, 5. 547.
Surfait, sb. surfeit, excess, 6. 267.
F. surfaire, to exceed, to do too
much.
Sustre, sb. S. sister, 3. 63 ; pi.
Sustren, ;. 627.
Sute, sb. F. suit, clothing of human
flesh, 5. 495, 504. See the note.
Suweth, pr.pl. pursue, follow, 5.60.
See Sueth.
Swelte, v. to die, 5. 154. A. S.
sweltan, Mceso-Goth. swiltan, to
die.
Swete, v. S. to sweat, 6. 26, 1 30.
Sweuene, sb. a dream, pr. 11, 7.
161. A.S. swefen.
Sweyued, pt. s. sounded, pr. 10.
A. S. swegan, to sound, swig, a
sound, sound of music ; Mceso-
Goth. swigljon, to play upon a
pipe. Cf. Sc. sough.
.Swithe, adv. very, exceedingly, ;.
456, 470. A. S. swift, strong,
great.
Swonken. See Swynke.
Swowe, v. to swoon, 5. 154. Pro-
bably connected with Mceso-Goth.
gaswogjan, to sigh, A. S. swugan,
to make a sighing noise. See
Sweyued.
Swynke, v. to toil, 6. 26 ; pt. pi.
Swonken, pr. 2 1 . A.S. swincan.
Swynke, sb. S. toil, 6. 235.
Syb, adj. S. akin, 5. 636. See
Sibbe.
Sydder, adj. wider; wel sydder =
even lower, 5. 193. A.S. sid,
ample, broad, wide.
Sykenesse, sb. sickness, 6. 259.
Syker, adj. safe, secure, 7. 1S0. G.
sicher. See Siker.
Symonye, sb. simony, pr. 86, 2.62.
Synl'ul, adj. sinful (men), 7. 15.
Synnelees, adj. sinless, 6.
Sysoure, 4. 167. See Sisoure.
Sythes, pr. 230. See Sithes.
Syjt, sb. S. sight, pr. 32.
206
GLOSS A RIAL INDEX.
Tabarde, sb. F. a loose over-coat,
sometimes sleeveless, sometimes
with loose wide sleeves, open at
the sides, 5. 196/ F. tabarre, Sp.
tabardo.
Taile, sb. a tally, a stick (one of a
pair) on which the amount of
money is notched or scored, 4. 58.
F. tailler, to cut, taille, a tally.
Taille, sb. a tally, 5. 252. See
preceding word. Skelton, ii. 176.
Taille, sb. S. a tail, end, conclusion,
3. 347 ; tail of followers, train, 2.
185; pi. Tailles, roots of trees,
5. 19.
Take, v. S. (1) to take; (2) to give,
I. 56; Taketh,/r. s. gives, 4. 58 ;
Toke, pt. s. gave, 3. 45. The
latter meaning is common, , and
occurs in Chaucer.
Tale, sb. (1) account {holde pei no
tale = take no account), 1.9; (2)
a tale, esp. a lying tale, 2. 1 14,
3. 45. The former is the original
meaning : cf. A. S. talu, a number,
reckoning, G. zahl, a number.
Tauerners, sb. pi. F. keepers of
taverns, pr. 227.
Tauny, adj. tawny, of a dull yellow
colour, 5. 196. F. tanne, tawny,
tanned. Roquefort gives the O.F.
tane, enfume, de couleur rousse.
Taujte, pt. s. S. taught, 3. 282, 6.
211 ; pp. Tau3te, 6. 23.
^Taxoure, sb. an imposer of taxes,
6. 40.
Tellen, pr. pi. count over, reckon
up, pr. 92 ; Tolde, pt. s. told, 3.
45. See Tale.
Teme, (1) sb. a team, 6. 136, 7. 2.
A.S. team, a succession of chil-
dren, a row, a team.
Teme, (2) sb. a theme, statement,
3- 95> 5- 61 ; a subject, 6. 23.
Gk. Oifw., a proposition or case
for discussion.
Tempred, pp. accommodated, pr.
51. Lat. temper are.
Tene, sb. vexation, anger, 6. 119,
7. 116; trouble, worry, 6. 135.
See next word.
Tene, 1 p. s. pr. I vex, worry, in-
jure, 5. 432; pt. s. injured, 3.
320; tened hym = wa.s vexed, 2.
114. A.S. tynan, to vex, teon,
injury.
Teneful, adj. harmful, 3. 345.
panne, adv. then, 6. 34.
pat, put for that which, pr. 38, 3.
84, &c.
pat bat, that which, 3. 347.
pat ilke, that very, 6. 164.
The, 1 p. s. pr. subj. may I thrive,
prosper, 5. 228. A.S. peon, to
thrive, G. ge-deihen, Du. gedijen.
peij, conj. though, 1. 10 ; beije, 3.
148, &c.
pen, than, pr. 347.
pennes, adv. thence, 1. 73, 2. 229.
A.S. panon.
perafter, adv. accordingly, 6. 1 16.
per, pere, adv. where, [. 131, 3.
14, &c. ; There as, there where,
4- 34-
pere-inne, adv. therein, 1. 61.
peremyde, adv. therewith, 7. 26 ;
bermyde, 6. 160 ; }>ereinydde, 6.
69. A.S mid, with.
perfore, adv. for it, on account of
it, 4. 54, 5. 236.
per-while, adv. whilst that, pr. 173,
6. 165 ; Fere-whiles, in the mean-
time, 6. 8.
pider, adv. S. thither, 2. 161.
pikke, adv. S. thickly, often, 3.
156.
pinge, used as pi. things, 6. 212.
pirled, pt. pi. pierced, 1. 172. A.S.
pirlian, to pierce, drill ; pirl, a
hole. Cf. E. drill, thrill.
pis,/>/. these, pr. 62, 2. 170,5.634;
, pise, I. 132.
po, when, pr. 176, I. 47. A.S.
]>d.
po, pi. the, those, 1. 21, 4. 40, &c.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
-07
A.S. ba, pi. of the article, se, sed,
]><et.
polye, v. to suffer, 4. 84. A.S.
polian, to endure; cf. G. and Du.
J u I den.
ponkynge, sb. S. thanking, thanks-
giving, 2. 148.
porw, prep. S. through, by, 2. 41,
6. 20; Thorwgh, 6. 326.
Thou3te, pt. s. it seemed ; me
thouite = it seemed to me, pr. 6,
1S2 ; hem \>ou%te = it seemed to
them. 1. 107.
powgh, pow3, cow/*, though, 6.
36, 40. A.S. \,edh.
Thresche, 1 p. s. pr. 1 thresh, 5.
553. A.S. ]>erscan, G. dreschen.
Thresshewolde, sb. threshold, 5.
357. Lit. the piece of wood
beaten by the feet, from A.S.
wald, wood, and perscan, to thresh,
to beat.
Threttene, thirteen, 5. 214. A.S.
predtyne.
Thretti, thirty, 5. 422. A.S. \>riltig.
Threwe, pt. s. threw himself, fell,
5- 357-
Thridde, third, pr. T 2 1 . A.S. \>ridda.
prungen, pt. pi. thronged, pressed
closely together, 5. 517. A.S.
pringan, to press, G. and Du.
dringen.
Thynketh, pr. s. impers. seems;
me thynketh— it seems to me, pr.
165, 3. 182, 227; 1 p. s. pers.
Th'ynke, I intend, 3. 95. Cf. A.S.
pyncan, G. dun ken, and A.S. pen-
can, G. denken.
Tidy, adj. (lit. timely) orderly,
careful, 3. 320. Du. tijdig, sea-
sonable, G. zeitig, early, ripe.
Til, prep, to, 5. 610. [eel. and Dan.
til, Sw. till.
Tilie, v. to till, cultivate, pr. 120;
Tilye, 6. 238 ; to earn by tilling,
procure, 6. 235. A.S. tilian, Du. /
telen.
Tixt, sb. a text, 2. 1 21 ; Tixte, 3.
342-
To, prep, to ; but often used in very
different senses, as in to body =
so as to have a body, 1. (12; to
w;a« = so as to become a man, 1.
82; after, 6. 30; upon, 5. 17/,;
to «o««e=as a nun, who is a nun,
5. [53; for, 7. 135. A.S. td, to,
for, at.
To, adv. too, 6. 265. A.S. to.
To-, prefix, (1) apart; answering
to G. zer-, O. Fris, to-, te-, O. H.
Germ, za-, ze-, Mceso-Goth. dis-,
Lat. dis-, with the force of in
twain, asunder; examples, to-broke,
to-lugged, to-torne, which see: (2)
exceedingly, a modification of the
former; example, to-bolle : (3)
the prep, to- in composition, as in
A.S. td-gang, approach. Of this
third use there is no example in
Piers the Plowman, except to/ore,
but it is common in German, as in
zugang, approach.
To-bolle, pp. swelled exceedingly,
swelled so as to be ready to split,
5. 84. Dan. bulne, Sw. bulna, to
swell ; Dan. bidlen, swollen, ety-
mologically connected with boil,
ball, bole, bowl, belly, billow; cf.
Lat. bulla, G. bolle. Boiled occurs
in Exod. ix. 31. See To-, jrefix.
To-broke. />/>. broken apart, broken
in pieces, 7. 28. G. zerbrechen,
to break in pieces. See To-,
prefix.
To-fore, prep. S. before, in presence
of. 5. 457. A.S. ti'iforan.
Toft, pr. 14, 1. 12. Here, a slightly
elevated, exposed site; properly,
the Su.-Goth. tomt is a cleared
space, area, or site ; cf. Dan. tomt,
a site, toft, Dan. toft, an enclosed
field near a farmhouse, led. topt,
a farm, area. See Tome.
Togideres, together, 1. 195, 2.83.
Toke, pt. s. gave, 3. 4,; ; loke ]'<•/
on — if they added to their wealth,
3. 85! See Take.
Tokenynge, sb. S. token, 5. 19.
208
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
To-kirke-ward, i.e. towards kirk
or church, 5. 305.
Tolde, 1 p. s. pr. I counted out,
reckoned, 5. 252.
Tolled, pp. 5. 214. Either this
! means counted, in which case it
should be spelt told (which is not
in the MSS.), or rather it is an ex-
ample of the somewhat rare M.E.
verb tolle, tille, tulle, to fondle,
coax, also to draw ; thus tolled
out = drew out, were drawn out
into by coaxing. That this last
is thejjight explanation is rendered
probable by the fact that some
MSS. read tilled. Tulle occurs
in Chaucer. See Ttllen, Tollen,
Tidlen, in Stratmann's Dictionary.
Tolleres, sb. pi. collectors of tolls
or dues, pr. 220.
To-lugged of, pp. pulled about in
various directions by, 2. 216. See
To-, prefix.
Tome, sb. leisure, 2. 185. kel.
tutu, leisure, tvmr, vacant, empty,
Sw. lorn, Sc. loom. See Toft.
Toppe, sb. top, properly, a tuft of
hair on the top of the head. 3. 139.
A.S. top, a tuft at the top of any-
thing ; cf. G. zopf, a pigtail.
Tome, v. F. to turn, i.e. to deprave,
3. 42 ; to be converted, 3. 324 ;
Torned, pt. pi. 5. 19; pp. 3. 337-
Totorne, pp. torn apart, 5. 197.
See To-, prefix.
Toure, sb. F. tower, pr. 14, 1. 12.
Lat. turris, W. twr ; Devonshire
tor, a peaked hill.
Trauaille, sb. F. work, toil, 7. 43.
Trauaille, v. F. to toil, 6. 141.
Treieth, pr. s. betrays, 3. 123.
O.F. trair, Lat. tradere.
Tresore, sb. F. treasure, 1. 45 ; pi.
Tresores, 7. 54. It. tesoro, Gk.
Grjaavpos, from ri6r]p.i.
Trewlich., adv. S. truly, 7. 63.
Triaele, sb. a remedy, healing medi-
cine, 1. 146, 5. 50. Lat. theriacum,
whence O.F. triaele, E. treacle
(like tresor, from thesaurus), Gk.
0rjpia/;a <papp.a.Ka, antidotes against
the bite of poisonous animals,
from Orjp.
Trielieh, adv. choicely, pr. 14. F.
trier, to pick, select.
Triennales, sb. pi. 7. 170, 179.
See Biennales.
Triest, adj. choicest, 1. 135. F.
trier, to select.
Trolli-lolli, 6. 118. See the note.
Troneth., pr. s. enthrones, places
upon thrones, I. 131.
Trowe, 1 p. s. pr. I trow, believe,
think to be true, I. 143, 3. 19.
A.S. treow, true, treuwan, to
think to be true.
Trusse, v. to pack off, 2. 218. Sc.
turss, to take oneself off, F.trous-
ser, to pack, O.F. torser, to pack
up, from Lat. torquere.
Tulyen, v. to till, 7. 2. See
Tilie.
Tutour, sb. warden, keeper, 1. 56.
Lat. tueor, I keep.
Tweye, adv. twice, 4. 22. A.S.
twywa.
Tweyne, adj. twain, two, 5. 32,
203, 317. A.S. twegen, which is
the masculine form, as twd is the
feminine and neuter ; G. zween.
Tymbred, pt. pi. subj. would have
built, 3. 85. A.S. timbrian, to
build, A. S. timber, wood, Du.
timmeren, to build.
Tyne,^. to lose, I. 112. Icel. tyna,
to lose.
Tynkares, gen. sing, tinker's, fj.
554; Tynkeres, //. pr. 220. Cf.
W. tincerdd, a tinker, from tincio
to ring, tinkle.
Tythe, sb. a tithe, 6. 78, 94. A.S.
leuSa, the tenth.
Vche a, each, pr. 207, 5. 116.
Vchone, each one, 1. 51, 2. 138.
Veille, sb. 5. 450. Mr. Wright
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
209
explains it by ' an old woman,'
but I think it means a watcher, a
waker ; just as we confuse the
meanings in English, and say ' a
watch ' for a watcher. O.K. veile,
Lat. uigilia, a vigil, watch. This
is confirmed by the Harleian MS.
875, which reads — ' Vigilate \>e
wakere.'
Venescun, sb. venison, pr. 194.
Properly it means that which is
taken in hunting ; cf. F. venaison,
Lat. uenatio, from tienari, to
hunt.
Venge, v. F. to avenge, 5. 128. Lat.
uindicare.
Veniaunce, sb. F. vengeance, 3.
258.
Vernicle, sb. the vernicle, 5. 530.
A vernicle is a copy of the hand-
kerchief of St. Veronica, on which
the features of Christ were miracu-
lously impressed. See the note.
Vesture, sb. F. clothing, I. 23.
Vigilies, sb. pi. vigils, fasts, 5. 416.
Used by Chaucer.
Vitaillers, sb. pi. victuallers, 2. 60.
Vitailles, sb. pi. victuals, 5. 443.
O.F. vitaille, It. vittnaglia, from
Lat. uiuere.
Vmwhile, adv. for a time, 5. 345.
A.S. ymbe, G. Utn, about, and
hivil, a time. Cf. S. umquhile.
Vnboxome, adj. S. disobedient, 2.
82. See Buxorae.
Vncoupled, pp. unfastened, loose,
pr. 162, 206. See Coupleth.
Vncristne, adj. /(/.unchristian men,
heathers, 1. 93.
Vnderfonge, 1 p. s. pt. I received,
I. 76; Vnderfongen, pr. pi. re-
ceive, 3. 214; pp. Vnderfongen,
7. 171. See Fange.
Vndernymeth, pr. s. reproves, re-
piehends, 5. 115. I cannot find
that Langley uses it anywhere in
the sense of ' to undertake, take
possession of,' given in Mr. Wright's
glossary. ' Vndememe. Reprehen-
do, deprekendo, arguo, redarguo?
Prompt. Parv. See Nym.
Vneth, adv. scarcely, 4. 60. A.S.
edfS, easy.
Vnglosed, pp. without a gloss or
comment, 4. 145. See Glosed.
Vngraue, pp. not engraved, 4. 130.
Vnhardy, adj. not hardy, not bold,
timid, pr. 180.
Vnkouth, adj. strange (lit. un-
known), 7. 155. A.S. c&S, known.
Vnlese, /v. pi. unloosed, unclosed,
pr. 213. A.S. lysan, to loosm.
See Lese.
Vnmoebles, sb. pi. immoveable
property, 3. 267. See Moebles.
Vnsowen, v. to unsew, 5. 66.
Vnthende, adj. small, half-grown,
out-of-season, 5. 177. Cf. A.S.
\>eotide, increasing, growing, power-
ful, from \e6n, to flourish, thrive.
Mr. Wright explains it ' unserved,
without sauce,' which I think
lacks proof. Some MSS. have
vnhende.
Vntil, prep, to, pr. 227.
Vokates, sb. pi. advocates, 2. 60.
Vp, prep, upon, I. 12 ; vp gesse =
upon a guess, by guess, 5. 421.
Vpholderes, sb.pl. sellers of second-
hand clothes and furniture, old-
clothes-men, 5. 325. They were
also called upholdsters, whence
our upholsterer, i.e. a furniture-
broker. Palsgrave has — ' Uphol-
star, fripier? which was once the
nearest French word in significa-
tion. From the vb. to uphold,
to keep up.
Vppe, adv, aloft, 4. 72. A.S. up/e
= aloft, on high.
Vs selue, ourselves, 7. 1 -'7.
Vsedestow, didst thou use, 5. -' |0.
Vsure, ib. F. usury, 5, 240, 7. 83 ;
Vsurye, 2. 175.
"W.
"Wafrestre, sb. a female maker or
seller of wafers, 5. 641.
210
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
"Wage, v. to wager, engage, give
surety, 4. 97 ; Waged, pp. 4. IOO.
Low Lat. uadium, O.F. gage, a
pledge, connected with Mceso-
Goth. wadi, A.S. wed, a pledge.
See Wedde.
"Waited, 1 p. s. pt. looked, 7. 1 39.
O.F. gaiter, to watch.
Walshe, sb. Welshman, 5. 324.
Lit. a foreigner ; A.S. wealh, a
foreigner ; wealhas, foreigners,
Welshmen. Cf. G. walsch, foreign,
Italian.
"Wan, pt. s. went, struggled forward,
4. 67. Some MSS. have wente ;
cf. the Scotch use of win.
"Wanhope, sb. S. despair, 2. 99, 5.
286. Wan- is an A.S. prefix, ex-
pressing lack, want ; from sb.
ivana, deficiency ; cf. E. wane.
"Wanye, vr to wane, 7. 55. A.S.
wanian.
"War, adj. S. aware, 1. 8.
"Wardemotes, sb. pi. meetings of a
ward, pr. 94. Cf. witena gemote,
i.e. meeting of wise men.
Ware ]>e, imp. s. guard thyself, 5.
452. A.S. warian, to be cautious.
Wareine, sb. a warren, pr. 163.
O.F. garene, warene, a place for
keeping animals, from O.F. garer,
to kdep. Cf. warrant, guarantee,
garrison.
Warner, sb. a warrener, keeper of
a warren, 5. 316. See above.
Warpe, pt. s. uttered, 5. 87, 369.
A.S. weorpan, G. werfen, to cast.
Warrok, v. to girt, fasten with
girths, 4. 20. Cf. M.E. warlok,
a fetter, in Prompt. Parv.
Wastel, sb. a cake of bread of fine
flour, 5. 293. O.F. gasleau, gastel,
F. gateau.
Wastoure, sb. F. a waster, waste
ful person, 6. 154; Wastoures, pi
6. 29. Cf. Lat. uastare.
"Watt, Watte, short form of Walter
5-3°>3l6-
Wawe, pr. s. subj. walk, go about
7. 79. Many MSS. have walke.
Cf. A.S. wagian, to wag.
Wax, "Waxen, v. to grow, increase,
7- 55' 3- 3°°- See Wex.
Wayne, v. to lift (up), so as to
open, 5. 611. Apparently to win
up, work up. Dr. Stratmann
prints Wayue, and refers it to
O. Fr. weiver or guesver, which
is our word to waive ; but the
Troybook has Wayne six times,
meaning to raise, lift, wind up.
The MSS. rnay be read either
way.
Wayte, v. F. to watch, look after,
serve, 5. 202 ; Wayted, pp. 5. 551.
See "Waited.
Webbe, ib. a web, thing woven,
5. in. See note.
Webbe, sb. a female weaver, 5. 215.
We find A. S. webbe, a female
weaver, as well as webbestre ; and
webbere for a male weaver.
"Wedde, sb. S. pledge, gage, wager,
3. 201, 5. 244. See "Wage.
Wederes, sb. pi. weathers, storms,
6. 326. A.S. weder.
Wedes, sb. pi. weeds, i. e. clothes,
6. 113. A.S. weed, apparel.
Wehe, sb. a word intended to de-
note by its sound the neighing of
a horse, 4. 22. W. wihi, with
same meaning. Cf. Chaucer, C.T.
4064.
Wei, adv. well; used as an adj. 3.
65, 152 : (2) very, 3. 161 ; wel
worse = much worse, 5. 114.
"Welche, sb. 5. 199. It is perhaps
hardly possible to settle the mean-
ing of this word, respecting which
MSS. differ. The Vernon MS. has
walk, which is intelligible; the
Trin. MS. (Mr. Wright's) has
wel\>e, which Mr. Wright explains
by welt, which is not satisfactory.
The Rawl. MS. has welsch ; but
the best suggestion is in MS. Trin.
R. 3. 15, which has — \at walsske
scarlet, evidently a contemptuous
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
211
expression ; for the M. E. welsh or
walsh means nauseous, disgusting.
Wende, v. to wend, go, 6. 60 ;
Wenden, 2. 160; pr. s. Wendeth,
4. 105 ; pr. pi. Wenden, pr. 162 ;
pi. pi. Wenten, 4. 76 ; pp. Went,
gone, 6. 207 ; turned, changed, 3.
280; imp. s. Wende, go, 3. 264.
A. S. wendan, to go, turn ; pt. t.
ic wende ; E. wend, wenl ; G. wen-
den, to turn.
"Wende. See Wene.
Wene, v. to ween, imagine, think,
3.300: 1 p. s.pt. Wende, I thought,
5. 238 ; 2 p. s. pt. Wendest, thou
didst ween, 3. 191. A. S. wenan
(pt. t. ic wende), G. wiihnen, to
think ; from A. S. wen, thought,
Du. waan.
Wepe, v. S. to weep, 5. 62 ; pt. s.
Wepe, 5. 470; Wepte, 5. 480;
pt. pi. Wepten. 7. 37.
Wepne, sb. S. a weapon, 3. 304.
Werche, 7. 198. See Worche.
"Were, v. S. to wear, 3. 293.
Were, pr. s. and pi. subj. should be,
might be, were, 5. 167, 6. 213,
&c. A. S. wesan, to be.
Wernard, sb. F. a deceiver, liar,
3. 179; pi. Wernardes, 2. 128.
Roquefort has — ' Guernart, trom-
peur ; ' cf. M.E. werne, to deny.
Wesshen, pt. pi. S. washed, 2.
220.
"Weueres, sb. pi. weavers, pr. 219.
Wex, pt. s. waxed, grew, 3. 328,
5. 286. A. S. weaxan, pt. t. ic
v:eox. Cf. G.wachsen, Du.wassen.
"Weye, v. to weigh, 5. 204 ; pt. s.
Wey3ed, 5. 218; pp. Weyen, I.
176. A. S. wegan, to move,
weigh ; cf. E. wag, waggle.
Weye, sb. a wey, a certain weight,
5. 93. A wey of butter or cheese
varies from 2 to 3 cwt. A wey of
Essex cheese was 3 cwt., whilst of
Suffolk cheese it was less, viz. 256
lbs. Arnold's Chron. p. 263. Cf.
the preceding word.
Weyues, sb. pi. waifs, pr. 94. O. F.
gayver, guever, guesver, to waive,
abandon.
Whas, whose, 2. 18.
"Whennes, adv. whence, 5. 532.
Where, conj. whether (a common
contraction), pr. 1 7 1, 5. 283.
Which a, what sort of a, 7. 146;
pi. Whiche, what sort of, 4. 25.
Whiles, adv. whilst, 6. 320. Gen.
case of A. S. hwil, a time.
Wiket, sb. a wicket-gate, a small
gate or shutter made within a large
door, 5. 611. F. guicket, O. F.
guischet, wiket ; W. gwiced.
Wikke, adj. wicked, 5. 229. A. S.
wican, to become weak, decay; G.
weichen, to yield, weich, soft. weak.
Wikked, adj. rotten, bad (because
too soft and yielding), 6. I, "]. 27.
See Wikke.
Wil, pr. s. wishes, 5. 40.
Wilne, v. to desire, 5. 187 ; pr. s.
Wilneth, 4. 163 ; pr. pi. Wilne, 1.
8. A. S. wilnian.
Wiltow, wilt thou, 5. 310: willow
or neltoiv = wilt thou or wilt thou
not, 6. 158.
Wissen, v. to teach, tell, shew, 5.
540; Wisse, 5. 562; 1 /•. s. pr.
Wisse, I.42, 5. 147; pt. s. Wissed,
6. 167. A. S. wissian, wisian, to
guide, shew the way.
"Wist, knew. See next word.
Wite, v. to know, 4. 139, 5. 561 ;
Wyte, 3. 74 ; Witen, to learn, as-
certain, 6. 213; 1 p. s.pt. Wist,
pr. 12 ; Wyst, 5. 272 ; pt. s. Wist,
7. 71 ; pr. s. subj. Wite, 5. 6od ;
imp.pl. Witeth, 2. 74. A.S. witan,
to know, ic wat, I wot, I know, ic
wiste, I knew, witen. known ; Du.
weten, G. wissen. See Wote.
"Witen, v. to preserve, keep, 7. 35;
Wite God. may God defend us. 5.
64 1 . From the same root as the
last ; so Mceso-Goth. witan (pt. t.
ik wissa), to know, and witan
(pt. t. ik tvitaida). to keep, both
r 2
212
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
from the sense of seeing; cf. Lat.
nidere, Gk. t5«tV, elSevai.
"With, prep. S. together with ; also
by, by means of, 3. 2. With ]>a(,
provided that, 5. 74; withal,
moreover, 5. 307. See note to
2. 31.
"Witn-halt, pr. s. withholdeth, 5.
559-
"Witb.ewynd.es, gen. sing, of Withe-
wynde, i. e. the wild convolvulus
or bindweed, 5. 525. A. S. wfiS-
wlnde, convolvulus or bindweed.
' Woodbinde, binde-weede, or ivitk-
ie-winde, because it windes about
other plantes.' — Minsheu.
"Witterly, adv. unmistakeably, with
certainty, clearly, 3. 175, 5. 562.
Cf. Dan. vitterlig, publicly known,
A. S. witodlice, verily.
Wi3te, sb, S. a wight, person, pr.
207, I. 63; Wy3te, 5. 520.
"Wi3tlich.e, adv. nimbly, actively, 2.
20S, 6. 21. Sw. vig, agile.
"Wo, used as adj. woful, 5. 3. Cf. 3.
Woke, sb. week, 5. 93. A. S. wuce,
G. ivoche.
"Wol, pr. s. will, 5. 250 ; Wolde,
1 p. s. pi. would, 3. 51; pt. s.
would, has desired, I. 13, 6. 251.
Woldestow, if thou wouldst, 3. 49.
A. S. ic will, Lat. nolo; pt. t. ic
wolde ; cf. G. wollle.
"Wolle, sb. S. wool, 6. 13.
"Wollen, adj. woollen, 5. 215 ; used
as sb. 1. 18.
"Wollewebsteres, sb. pi. wool-
weavers, pr. 219.
"Wolt, wilt, 2. 44. See "Wol.
"Woltow, wilt thou, 3. 117.
"Wolues-kynnes, of the kin or
nature of wolves, 6. 163.
Wombe, sb. S. the belly, 3. S4, 193.
Sc. wame.
Wonden, pt. pi. S. wound, 2. 220.
Wones, sb. pi. habitations, 3. 234.
See next word.
"Wcmye, v. to dwell, 2. 106; pr. s.
Wonieth, 1. 63; Woneth, 2. 232.
A. S. wunian, G. wohnen, Du.
wonen, to dwell.
"Worehe, i'. S. to work. 6. 120; pr.
pi. Worcheth, 3. 80 ; Worchen, 7.
91; imp. pi. Worcheth, 2. 133;
pt. s. \Vr0u3te, 6. 115; pt. pi.
Wroujten, 6. m; pp. Wrou3t,
created, 7. 98.
"Worthe, v. to be, pr. 187 (see the
note) ; Worth, pr. s. as future,
shall be, I. 186, 2. 43, 3. 33, 5.
160, 6. 165, 7. 51 ; 2 p. Worth,
mayst be, 1. 26. See Y worth.
"Wote, 1 p. s. pr. I wot, I know, 5.
180, 6. 132 ; pr. s. knows, 2. 77,
5. 181, 6. 132; pr. pi. know, 3.
329; Wot god = God knows, 4.
37; god it wote = God knows it,
pr. 43. See Wite.
"Wowed, pt. s. S. wooed, coaxed,
intreated, 4. 74-
"Wowes, sb. pi. walls, 3. 61. A. S.
wdh, a wall.
"Wratthe, v. S. to enrage, 2. 116 ;
2 p. s. pr. Wratthest be, makest
thyself angry, art angry, 3. 182.
"Wreke, v. S. to wreak, avenge,
5. 85 ; pp. Wroke, avenged, 2. 194.
"Wronge, pt. s. wrung, 6. 177;
wrung (her hands), 2. 236. A. S.
wringan, to wring, squeeze, pt. t.
ic wrong.
"Wrou3t,W"rou3ten. SeeWorche.
Wy, sb. a man, 5. 540. A.S. wiga,
a warrior, wig, war.
"Wyght, 5. 116. See "Wi3te.
"Wyke, s&.week, 6. 258. See "Woke.
"Wyltow, wilt thou, 3. no.
"Wyn, sb. S. wine, pr. 228.
"Wynkynge, sb. nodding, slumber,
5. 3; Wynkyng, 5. 368. A.S.
wincian, to nod, wink.
"Wynneth, imp. pi. earn by labour,
6.322. A.S. winnau, to labour, win.
"Wyntre, sb. pi. winters, i. e. years,
3. 39; Wynter, I. 99.
"Wyt'e, "Wyst. See Wite.
Wytte,s6.S. wit, intelligence, pr. 1 14.
PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
- ' 3
Wytterly, 5. 272. See Witterly.
Wyuen, gen. pi. women's, 5. 29 ;
nom. Wyues, women, 5. 57°-
Wyjte, 5. 520. See "Wi;te.
Y.
Y-, prefix, answering to the G. and
A. S. ge-, Goth, ga-, which is
etymologically the same with Gk.
■ye, Skt. gha, ha. It is usually
prefixed to past participles (see
below), but also to past tenses
(see Yrifled, Yspilte), to infini-
tives (see Yworth), and to adjec-
tives (see Yliche, Ywar).
Ybake, baked, 6. 312 ; Ybaken, 6.
184.
Ybette, beaten, 4. 93.
Yblamed, blamed, 3. 2S1.
Yblessed, blessed, 7. 13 ; Yblisscd,
pr. 77.
Ybore, born, 2. 130.
Ybounde, Ybounden, bound, pr.
17S, 5. 524.
Yboujt, bought, pr. 176.
Ybroken, broken, pr. 71.
Ychose, chosen, 5. 331.
Yelothed, clothed, 1. 3, 2. 8.
Yclouted, patched, 6. 61.
Ycrammed, crammed, pr. 41.
Ycrounede, crowned, 2. 10.
Ydel, in phr. an ydel = id\y, in vain,
5- 580.
Ydronke, drunk, 6. 281.
Yeten (y-elen), eaten, 1. 152.
Yfolwed, followed, 3. 39.
Yfoujte, fought, 6. 154.
Yglobbed, gulped down, 5. 346.
Cf. E.gulp, Du. gulpen, to swallow
eagerly, Sw. glupsk, voracious.
Ygo, gone, 5. 207.
Y graced, thanked, 6. 126. Lat.
gratia, thanks. *
Ygraunted, granted, 7. 8.
Yhasped, hasped, fastened as with
a hasp, 1. 195.
Yholden, holdcn, esteemed, 1
Yhote, named, 1. 63; bidden, 1.
218. See Hat and Hote.
Yhowted, hooted at, 2. 218.
Ylakked,blamed,2.2i. SeeLakke.
Yleye, lain, 5. 82.
Yliche, adj. like, alike, 5. 494 (see
I.489); Ylike, 1. 91. A. S. gelic,
like, Goth, galeiks.
Yrnade, made, 2. 43, 5. 255.
Ymaked, made, 2. 72, 6. 189,
Ymaried, married, 2. 39.
Ymped, 1 p. s. pt. I grafted, en-
grafted, 5. 138.
Ympes, sb. pi. shoots grafted in, 5,
137. W.imp.n shoot, scion; A.S.
impart, to engraft.
Ynowe, adv. S. enough, 2. 162.
Ypassed, past, pr. 189.
Ypli;te, pledged, plighted, 5. 20 J.
A. S. pliht, a pledge.
Yrens, sb. pi. irons, 4. 85 ; Ymes,
6. 138.
Yrifled, 1 p. s. pt. rifled, robbed. 5.
234. O. F. riffler, to snatch. Cf.
Lat. rapere.
Ysein, seen, pr. 160; Yseijen,
5. 4.
Yserued, (1) served, suited, $. 341,
419 ; {z 1 deserved, 6. 89, ' I haue
serued j>e deth' = I have deserve d
death ; William of Palerne, 4352,
Yshewed, shewn, declared, 2. i_vt-
Yshryue, shriven, 5. 91.
Ysoujt, sought, pr. 50.
Ysowen, sown, 5, 550.
Yspilte, 1 p. s. pt. wasted, 5. 380;
pp. 5. 442. See Spilte.
Ysue, sb. F. issue, 5. 265.
Ytailled, scored on a tally, 5. 429.
See Taile.
Ytermyned, decided upon, settled
upon determinatelv, T. 97. Spelt
deter mi /it,/ in a parallel passage in
Dep. of Rich. II, p. 1 r , 1. 1 8
(Camden Soc.) ; see P. Plowman,
('-text, p. 481, I. 97.
Ytried, tried, selected, t. 333;
Ytryed, I. 205. See Triest.
Yuel, adv. ill. 5. r.68.
214
GL0SSAR1AL INDEX.
Yuel, adj. ill ; also hard (both in
one line), 5. 121; difficult, 6.
po.
Ywar, adj. wary, cautious, pr. 174,
1. 42. A. S. gewcer, wary.
Ywedded, wedded, 2. 42.
Ywonne, won, 5. 93.
Yworth, v. to be, 6. 84 ; Yworjie,
6. 228. G. werden, A. S. weor'S-
an, Goth, wairthan. See note to
pr. 187.
Ywounden, wound, bound round,
5- 525-
YwroUpte, wrought, done, 4. 68.
3-
3af, pt. s. gave, 1. 15, 6. 201.
Jarketh hym, pt. s. prepares him-
self, gets himself ready, 7- ,s°-
A. S. gearcian, to make ready •
M. E. yare, ready ; cf. E. gear.
Satis, sb. pi. gates, pr. 104.
3e, yea, 3. in, 5. 254, 563, 6. 38,
233. See 3us.
3e, pron. pi. nom. ye, pr. 198 ; ace.
3ow, you, pr. 199.
3ede, 1 p. s. pt. went, 7. 142 ; 2 p.
3edest, 5. 504; /7. ^ede, pr. 40.
A. S. ic eode, used as pt. t. of gdn,
to go ; cf. Goth, ik iddja, pt. t. of
gaggan, to go.
3elde, v. to yield, render, 7. 188;
3elden, 7. 89 ; 2 p. s. pr. ^eldest,
payest, 5. 296 ; pr. s. imp. or subj.
3elde, repay, 6. 129; pres. part.
3eldyng, paying, 2. 104. A. S.
gildan. to pay.
3eode, pt. s. went, 1. 73. See3ede.
3erdes, sb.pl. yards, 5. 214; rods,
4. 117. A. S. gyrd, a staff, rod.
3ere, sb. pi. years, 5. 208, 6. 325 ;
3eres, 7. 18; 3er'S, pr. 65.
3eres-,ynes, sb.pl. year-gifts, annual
presents, 3. 99.
3eme, 2 p. s. subj. yearn for, long for,
1. 35. A.S. geornian.
3erne, adv. eagerly, 4. 74, 6. 299.
A. S. georne, earnestly.
3et, conj. and adv. yet, I. 136; be-
sides, 7. 83. A. S. git, get.
3eue, 2 p. s. pr. ye give, 4. 170;
pr. s. imp. 3if, may he give, 3. 165,
5. 107. See 3iue.
3if, conj. if, pr. 37. A. S. gif.
3iftes, sb. pi. gifts, 3. 99 ; 3iftis, 6.
42. A. S. gift.
3iue, v. to give, 7. 71 ; pr.s. 3iueth,
7. 80; pp. 3iue, 5. 390; 3oue, 2.
31. A. S. gifan, pt. t. ic gcef, pp.
gifen ; G. geben, Du. geven.
3outhe, sb. S. youth, 5. 241, 7. 93.
A. S. geogufi.
3ow-self, pron. ace. pi. yourselves,
2. 38.
3us, adv. yes, 5. 125, 233, 643. It
answers questions that contain or
involve a negative, and is thus
distinguished from the affirmative
particle %e ; it is also of greater
force, and signifies declaration of
opinion, whereas \e merely assents.
3ut, adv. yet, pr. 185.
ADDENDUM.
It has been kindly suggested that the verb to cloiv, meaning (in the
school-slang at Winchester) to box the ears, may explain the verb clowe in
our author. I would rather identify the former word with the prov. E. to
clout. Cf. 'Clowe, to scratch, to beat. "She gev him a clowin."' —
Dickinson's Cumberland Glossary.
INDEX
TO THE
PRINCIPAL SUBJECTS EXPLAINED IN THE NOTES.
For explanations of words, see the preceding Glossarial Index. A few
words are also more particularly explained in the Notes ; these are indicated
in the following Index by being printed in italics. The references are to
the pages of the volume.
A pena et culpa, 1 53.
Alice Perrers, 1 13.
Alles iinnes, 105.
Amerciaments, III.
Ampulla?, 145.
And, an, 117.
Angels, orders of, 109; fallen, 1 10.
Apostata, 109.
Atte, 94, 150.
Basel ard , 1 24.
Beadle, duties of, 1 16.
Beggars' bags, 94.
Benedict, St., 128.
Bernard, St., 12S.
Bolle, 133.
Bretigny, treaty of, 123.
Breivsters, 104.
Bribery, 117, 119.
Bride-ales, 1 1 4.
Brokers, 115, 134.
Bromholm, cross of, 138.
Calabre, 152.
Cardinal virtues, 99.
Castle of Love, 147.
Cato, Dionysius, 126, 153, 154, 156.
Chester, rood of, 143.
Clerk of Stories, 154.
Cock Lane, 140, 141.
Cocket, 152, 153.
Comestor, Peter, 154.
Compostella, 95, 128, 145.
Confessions by abbesses, 136.
Cote, 133.
Cross, meaning of, 139.
Cucking-stool, 1 21.
Diapenidion, 133, 134.
Donet, 137.
Dress, extravagance of, 113, 131.
Dubbing a knight, 109.
Edward III, 123, I 24.
Edward the Black Prince, 1 jf>.
Elder, Judas hanged on an, 108.
Evangelists' symbols, 151.
Evechepyuges, 141.
Fairs, 137.
Fathers, Latin, 155.
Favel, 113.
Florins, 1 16, 1 19, 1 JO.
Francis, St., I 28.
Fraternity, letters of, 156.
Friars, 96, 134; confession to, 119.
Garlick-hithe, 141.
Goliardeys, 101.
Goods moveable, 124.
its. 121.
Him and her, 108.
Hoods, white silk, 104.
Horse-bread, 151.
Hucksters, 138.
Indulgences, 156.
Jews, 138.
John of Gaunt, 102, 103.
Jubilee, [24.
Jugglers, 148.
Kind's peace, 12;,.
Labourers, laws for, 151.
2l6 PRINCIPAL SUBJECTS EXPLAINED IN NOTES.
Lammas, 152.
Law, Courts of, 98.
Lectors, 135.
Life, Active and Contemplative, 152.
Limitors, 134, 135.
Leonine verses, 100.
Lombards, 138.
Lor el, IKK.
Lovedays, 122.
Mainpernour, 117, 127.
Mainprise, 117.
Maison-dieu, 153.
Malkyn, 112.
Malvern hills, 92, 156.
Marshal, 123.
Mea culpa, 133.
Meals, Labourers', 152; Meal-times,
150.
Meed, 114, 123.
Michael, St., 154.
Minstrels, 94.
Motoun, 119.
Mum, 104.
Nicodemus, gospel of, 144.
Nobles, 119, 120.
Noon, 150.
North, Lucifer in the, 110.
Of, syntax of, 147.
Orders of angels, 109.
Osey, 105.
Paeony, seeds of the, 140.
Palmers, 145.
Passus, 106.
Paulines, 1 15.
Penny-ale, 137.
Peny, Sir, 104.
Pernel, 127.
Pestilences, 98, 1 29.
Peter's pence, 1 29.
Pilgrimages, 95.
Pilgrims' signs, 145.
Pillory, 120, 141.
Placebo, 125.
Plough-foot, 149.
Ploughman, duties of a, 146.
Possessionem, 135.
Priests in secular offices, 98.
Prime, I49.
Prophecies, 125, 1 53.
Proverbs : — as courteous as a dog,
&C, 139; as dead as a door-nail,
112; as light as a linden-leaf,
in ; if a louse, &c, 136; mea-
sure is a merry mean, 107; the
dearer child, &c, 131.
Provisors, 122.
Purveyors, I 26.
Qui cum patre, 132.
Randulph of Chester, 142.
Rats and mice, fable of, 101.
Raye, 137.
Recordare, 128.
Regrating, 121.
Reliable, 102.
Richard II, 99, 103, 121, 129.
Roberts-men, 95.
Robin Hood, 142.
Rutebuef, 146.
Santiago, 95, 145.
Saturn, influence of, 153.
Scholars, help to, 154.
Sect, Suit, 144.
Seven years, 127-
Shepe, 91.
Sins, Seven, 132.
Stones, precious, as antidotes, 113.
Summer-games, 142.
Tally, 127.
Thieves, the two, 143.
Tradesmen, London, 105.
Treacle, III.
Tome, 117.
Veronica, St., 146.
Virtues, seven, 147.
Walsingham, 96.
Wehe, 126.
Westminster, courts of law at, 116.
Weyhill fair, 136, 137.
What, 114.
With, syntax of, 114, 140.
Winchester fair, 137.
Wind, great, 130.
Windows, painted, 1 20.
Wines, 105.
Wits, five, 106.
Worthe, 102, 103; Worth, 112;
Yworthe, 151.
Yeargifts, 121.
September 1880.
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Regius Professor of Modern History, Oxford. Library Edition. Three vols.
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Constitutional History from the Earliest Times to the reign of Edward I.
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A Short History of the Norman Conquest. By E. A.
Freeman, M.A. Extra fcap. 8vo. cloth, 2s, 6d.
Genealogical Tables illustrative of Modern History.
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A History of France, down to the year 1793. With
numerous Maps. Plans, and Tables. By G. W. Kitchin, M.A. In 3 vols.
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Selections from the Despatches, Treaties, and other
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College, Bombay. Svo. cloth, il. 4s.
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same Editor. Nearly ready.
A History of the United States of America. By E. J.
Payne. M. A., Fellow of University College, Oxford. /;; the Press.
A Manual ot Ancient History. By George Rawlinson,
M. A., Camden Professor of Ancient History, Oxford. Demy Svo. cloth, 14*.
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A History of Greece. By E. A. Freeman, M.A., formerly
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Italy and her Invaders, a.d. 376-476. By T. Hodgkin,
Fellow of University College, London. Illustrated with Plates and Maps. 2 vols,
demy 8vo. cloth, U, 12s.
IX. LAW.
The Elements of Jurisprudence. By Thomas Erskine
Holland, D.C.L., Chichele Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, and
Fellow of All Souls College, Uxford. Demy8vo cloth, 10s. 6d.
The Institutes of Justinian, edited as a Recension of the
Institutes of Gaius. By the same Editor. Extra fcap. 8vo. cloth, 5*.
Gaii Institutionum Juris Civilis Commentarii Quatuor ;
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Part II. Family Law. 8vo. sewed, is.
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Elements of Law considered with reference to Principles
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International Law. By W. E. Hall, M.A., Barrister-at-Law.
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An Introduction to the History of the Law of Real
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lidition. Crown Svo. cloth, js. 6d.
Principles of the English Law of Contract. By Sir
William K. Anson. Bart., B.C. L., Vinerian Reader of English Law, and Fellow
of All Souls College, Oxford. Crown 8vo. cloth, 9s.
X. MENTAL AND MORAL PHILOSOPHY.
Bacon. Novum Organum. Edited, with Introduction,
N is, etc., by T. Fowler, M.A. 1879. 8vo. cloth, i±s.
Selections from Berkeley. With an Introduction and
Notes. By Alexander Campbell Eraser, LL.D. Second Edition. Crown 8vo.
cloth, 7s. 6d.
The Elements of Deductive Logic, designed mainly for
the use of Junior Students in the Universities. By T. Fowler, M.A. .'
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The Elements of Inductive Logic, designed mainly for
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A Manual of Political Economy, for the use of Schools.
By J. E. Thorold Rogers, M.A. Third Edition. Ext. fcap. Svo. cloth, 4s. Ld.
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Clarendon Press Series.
XI. ART, &c.
A Handbook of Pictorial Art. By R. St. J. Tyrwhitt,
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A Treatise on Harmony. By Sir F. A. Gore Ouseley,
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The Cultivation of the Speaking Voice. By John Hullah.
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XII. MISCELLANEOUS.
Text-Book of Botany, Morphological and Physio-
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Translated by A. W. Bennett, M.A., assisted by W. T. Thiselton Dyer, M.A.
Royal 8vo. half morocco, 31 s. 6d.
A System of Physical Education : Theoretical and Prac-
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cloth. 7 J. 6d.
An Icelandic Prose Reader, with Notes, Grammar, and
Glossary. By Dr. Gudbrand Vigfusson and F. York Powell, M.A. Extra fcap.
8vo. cloth, 10s. 6d.
Dante. Selections from the Inferno. With Introduction
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Tasso. La Gerusalemme Liberata. Cantos I, II. By
the same Editor. Extra fcap. 8vo. cloth, is. 6d.
A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew. By
S. R. Driver, M. A., Fellow of New College. Extra fcap. 8vo. cloth, 6s. 6d.
Outlines of Textual Criticism applied to the New Testa-
ment. By C. E. Hammond, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Exeter College,
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A Handbook of Phonetics, including a Popular Exposition
of the Principles of Spelling Reform. By Henry Sweet, M.A. Extra fcap.
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Tlie Delegates of the Press invite suggestions and advice
from all persons interested in education ; and mill be thankful
for hints, &fc, addressed to the Secretary to the Delecates,
Clarendon Press, Oxford.
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