the letter telleth that was the law of Iues That what womaÌ„ wer takeÌ„ in auoutri rich or pore With stones meÌ„ should strike her stone her to death A woman as we finden was gilty that death And Christ of his curtesy through cleargy hir saued And through caracts that Christe wrote the Iewes knew heÌ„ selfe Giltier as afore god greater in sinne Than the woman that ther was weÌ„t away for shame The cleargy that there was consorted the woman Holy kyrk knoweth this the christs writing saued hir So cleargy is confort to creatures that repenten And to mansede men mischiefe at her ende For bread of gods bodi myght not be wtout cleargy The which bread is both boote to the rightful And death and dampnation to hem that dye euil And christis caracts coÌ„fortid both culpable shewid The womaÌ„ that the Iews brought the Iesus thought to saue Nolite iudicare et non iudicabimini Right so gods body brethreÌ„ Luke vi but it be worthely take DaÌ„nith vs at the dai of dome as the caracis did the Iuis Therfore I couÌ„sel the for christes sake clergy that thou loue For kinde wit is of his kin nigh cosins both To our Lord leue me therfore loue hem I read For both ben as myrours to amend our defautes And leaders for lewde men and for lettred both Therfore lacke thou neuer logyke lawe ne hys customes Ne counterplede clarkes I counsell the for euer For as a man maye not see that misseth his eyne No more caÌ„ no clark but if he caught it fyrst bi boks Although men made bokes god was the maister The holy gost is the autour of bokes And s spirit the saÌ„plare said what meÌ„ shold wryte Ryght so leadeth letture lewde men to reason And as a blind maÌ„ in battel bereth weapoÌ„ to fight And hath no happe with his axe hys enemy to hytte No more can a kind witty maÌ„ but clarkes him teach Come for all his kind wit to christeÌ„dome be saued Which is the cofer of Christes tresure clarks kepe the kayes To vnlock it at her liking to the lewde puple Gyue mercy for her misdeades if men wil it aske Buxomely and beningly and bidden it of grace Archa dei in the olde lawe Leuites it kepten Had neuer lewd man leaue to liggeÌ„ haÌ„d on that cheste But he were priest or priestes soÌ„ne patriarke or prophet For cleargy is keper vnder Christe of heauen Was ther neuer knight but cleargy him made And kinde wyt commeth of all kyndes syghtes Of birde of beastes of tastes of truth of deceits Lyuers aforne vs vseden to make Selden that they sene her sones for to teach And helden it an high science her wyttes to know And through her science sothli was neuer no soul saued Ne brought by her bokes to blysse ne to ioye For al her kind knowings come but of diuerse sights Patriarkes and prophetes repreuedeÌ„ hir science And sayde her words ne her couÌ„sell was but foly As to the Cleargy of Christ couÌ„ted it but a trifle Sapientia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum For the hyghe holy gost heauen shal to cleaue And loue shall lepen out after into thys low earth And cleannes shall catche it clarkes shall it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem Luke â—â— He speakith nought ther of rich meÌ„ ne of right wytty Ne of lordes that were lewde meÌ„ but of the hyeste lettred Abant Magi ab oriente If anie fryer wer fouÌ„d ther Math. iâ— I giue you fiue shillings Ne in no beggers cote was that barne borne But in burgers place in Bethleem the beste Sed noÌ„ erat ci locus in diuersorio et pauper non habet diuersorium To pastours and to poets Luke ii appeared the angell And bad hem go to Bethleem gods birth to honour And songen a soÌ„g of solace Gloria in excelsis deo Clarkes knewe it wel commen wyth her presentes And dyd homage honorabli to hym that was almighty Why I haue tolde al thys I toke ful good hed Howe thou coÌ„triuedest Cleargie with crabbed words How that lewde meÌ„ lyght lucker thaÌ„ lettred wer saued Than clarkes or kinde witted men of christen people And thou saydest soth of some se in what maner Take two stronge men Two meâ—â— caste into Lemmes and in Temes cast hem And both naked as a nedle ther non sikerer thaÌ„ other The one hath cunnynge and can swymme and dyue The other is lewd of that labour lerned neuer to swym Which trowest thou of those two in Temese is most in dred He the neuer diuid ne nought caÌ„ of swymmyng Or the swymer that is safe be so hym selfe lyke There hys felow flete forth as the flowd liketh And is in dread to drench that neuer did swymme That swymme can not I sayd it semeth to my wyts Ryght so quod the reuke Reason sheweth That he that knoweth clergy can souer arise Out of synne and he be safe thoughe he synne oft If hym lyketh and luste than anye lewde lelly For if the clarke be cuÌ„ning he knoweth what is sinne And howe coÌ„tricioÌ„ wtout coÌ„fession coÌ„forteth the soule As thou seest in the psalter in psalmes one or twayne How coÌ„tricioÌ„ is coÌ„mended for it catcheth away sinne Psal 32. Beati quoruÌ„ remisse suÌ„t iniquitates et quoruÌ„ recta sunt c. And this coÌ„forteth ech a clarke couereth hi froÌ„ waÌ„hope In which floode the fend fouÌ„deth a maÌ„ hardest There the lewde lieth still and loketh after lente And repenteth not before shrifte thaÌ„ caÌ„ he litle tell And as his sores maÌ„ learneth hi beleueth troweth And that is persoÌ„ parish prest peradueÌ„ture he is VncuÌ„ning to lerne lewd meÌ„ as Luke beareth witnes Luke vi Dum cecus ducit cecum c. Wo was him marked that wade must with the lewde Well maye the barne hem blesse that him to boke set That liueing after letture saueth hi both life soule Dominê° pars hereditatis mee is a mery verse That hath taken from Tibunre .xx. stronge theues Ther leud theues be lolled vp loke how thei be saued The thef the had gods grace on good friday as thou spak Was for he knew Christ on the cros knowleged his synne And grace asked of god he is euer ready That buxomlych byddeth it beÌ„ in will to ameÌ„d heÌ„ And though the thefe had heauen he had no hie blisse As saint Iohn other saynts that deserued had better Right as if a maÌ„ giue me meat set me amid the flore I haue meat more theÌ„ inough not so much worship As thei the sit at side tables or with soueraignes of the hal But sit as a begger bourdles bi my selfe on that grouÌ„d So it fareth by the feloÌ„ that on good friday was saued He sitteth neither with saint Iohn Simon ne Iude Ne with maideÌ„s ne with martirs coÌ„fessours
a bolde man of speach By gods body quod thys boke I wil bear witnes That tho this barne was borne there blased a starre That al the wisemeÌ„ of thys world in one wit accordeÌ„ That suche a barne was borne in Bethlems citye That mans soule shoulde saue and synne destroye And al the elemeÌ„tes saith the boke hereof bereth witnes That he was god the al wroght the welkeÌ„ first shewed Tho that were in heauen tooken Stella cometa And tinde den hir as a torche to reuerence hys byrth The light folowed the lorde into the lowe earth The water witnessed he was god for that he went on it Peter the apostle perceiued his gate And as he went on the water wel him knew and said Mat. xiiii Iube me venire ad te super aquas And lo how the sunne gan lacke her light in her selfe When she see him suffer that sunne and sea made The earth for heeuines that he would suffer Quaked as quycke thing and al to quassed the roch Lo hell myght not holde but opened tho God tholed And let out Simons sonnes to se him hang on rode And now shal Lucifer leue it though him loth thinke For Gygas the gyant with a gynne engined To brake and to beate downe that bene agayne Iesus And I boke wolbe brente but Iesus rise to lyue In al mightes of man and his mother glad And conforten al hys kynne out of care brynge And all the Iewes ioye vnioyne and vnloken And but if thei reuereÌ„ce his rode and his resurrectioÌ„ And bileue on a newe law be lost life and soule Suffer we sayd Truth I heare and I se both Howe a spirite speaked to hell byd vnspar the gates Attollite porta c. Ps xxiiii A voyce lowde in that light to Lucifer sayd Princes in this place vnpinneth and vnlocketh For here commeth with crowne that king is of glorye Than sighed Sathan and sayde to hem all Such a light agaynste our leaue Lazar out fette Care and combraunce is commen to vs all If this kinge come in mankind wil he fetch And lead it there him liketh and lightly me bind Patriarkes and prophetes haue parled hereof longe That suche a Lorde a light shoulde lead heÌ„ al hence Listeneth quod Lucifer for I this lorde knowe Both this Lorde this light is long ago I knew it May no death him deare ne no deuiles quentise And wher he wil is his wai warne him of the perels If he reue me of my ryght he robbeth me bi mastrye For by right and by reason the reukes that ben here Body and soule be mine both good and euill For him selfe saide Lucifer reasoneâ—â— the mateâ—â— that syre is of heauen If Adam eate the appel all shoulde dye And dwel wyth vs deuels this threatenyng he made And he that sothnes is said these wordes And sithen he seased seuen hundred wynter I leue that lawe nill not leaue him the least That is sothe quod Satan but I me sore dreade For thou gate hem with gile and his garden brake And in semblaunce of a serpent sate apoÌ„ the apple tre And eggedest hem to eate Eue by hyr name And toldst hir a tale of treason were thy wordes And so thou haddest hem oute and hider at the last It is not graithlye gayten there gyle is the rote For God wil not be begiled ê™ Gobelyn ne iaped We haue no true title to heÌ„ for bi tresoÌ„ wer thei daÌ„ned Certes I dread ê™ this deuill lest trueth wil heÌ„ fetch Out of our postye and leaden hem hence These .xxx. winter as I wene he hath gone preched I haue assayled him with sinne and sometime asked Wher he were god or gods son he gaue me short answer And thus he hath trolid forth this .xxxii. witer And when I see it was so sleapynge I went To warne Pilatus wife what done maÌ„ was Iesus For Iewes hated him and haue done him to death Pilates wyfe I wolde haue lengthed his life for I leued if he died That his soule should suffer no synne in his syght For the body while it on bones yede about was euer To saue man from synne if hym selfe woulde And now I se wher a soul cometh hitherward sailig With glory and with great light god it is I wote well I red we flee quod he faste all hence For vs were better not be than abide his syght For thy leasynges Lucifer loste is all our praye Fyrste throughe the we fell from heauen so hye For we beleued on thy lesings ilorne we haue Adam And all our Lordshyp I leue on land and on water Luke xii Nunc princeps huius mundi eiicietur foras Eft the lyght bade vnlocke and Lucifer answered What lorde art thou quod Lucifer Quis est iste Ker glorie the lyght soone sayde And lord of might and of mayne al maner vertues Dominus virtutum Dukes of this dimme place anone vndo these gates That Christ may come in the kynges sonne of heaueÌ„ And with that breath hell brake with belials barres For anye wye or warde wyde open the gates Patriarkes and prophetes Populus in tenebris Songen saynt Iohns songe Ecce agnus dei Lucifer loke ne might so lyght hym ablent And tho that our lorde loued into his light he laught And sayd to Satan lo here my soule to amendes For all sinfull soules to saue tho that ben worthy Mine they be and of me I mai the better hem claime Although reason recorde and myght of my selfe That if they ate the apple all shoulde dye I behyght them not here hell for euer For the dede that they dyd thy disceyte it made Wyth gyle thou hem gote agaynste all reason For in my palace Paradice in parson of an addre Falsely thou fettest there thynge that I loued Thus lyke a lysard wyth a Ladyes visage Thefely thou me robbeste the olde lawe graunteth That gilers be begyled and that is good reason Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo Deut. â— Soule for soul â–ª Ergo soule shal soule quite and synne to synne wende And all that man hath misdo I may well amend Membre for membre in the olde lawe was amends And life for life also and by that lawe I clayme it Adam and al his issue at my wyll hereafter And that death in hem fordid my death shall releue And both quickeÌ„ quite that queint was thorow sinne And that grace gile destroyeth good fayth it asketh So leue I not Lucifer againe the lawe I fetch hem But by ryght and by reason raunsome here my liges Non beni soluere legem sed adimplere Mat. â—â— Thou fettedste mine in my place against all reason Falsely and felonly good fayth me it taught To recouer hem by raunsome and by no reason els So that throughe gile thou gate throughe grace it is wonne Thou Lucifer in lykenes of a luther edder Gatiste by gyle tho that God
loued And in lykenes of a leode that Lorde am of heauen Graciously thy gyle haue quite go gile agaynst gyle And as Adam and all throughe a tree dyed Adam althrough a tree should turne againe to life And gile is gyled and in hys gyle fallen Psal vii Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit Nowe begynneth thy gile agayne the to turne And my grace to growe aye greater and wyder The bitternes that thou hast brued broke it thy selfe Thou art doctor of death drynke that thou madeste For I that am Lord of life loue is my drynke And for that drynke to daye I dyed apon earth If ought so me thristeth yet for mans soules sake May no drynke me moyst ne my thryste stake Tyll the vendage fall in the vale of Iosaphat That I drinke right ripe must Resurrectio mortuoruns And then shal I come as a kynge crowned with angels And haue out of hell all mens soules Fendes and fende kynnes before me shall stande And bene at my biddynge whersoeuer me lyketh And to be merciable to man that my kynd it asketh For we ben brethren of bloud but not of baptisme al And al that beÌ„ my hole brethren in bloude baptisme Shal not be damned to death that is wythout ende Psai li. Tibi soli peccaui c. It is not vsed in earth to hangen a felon Ofter than once though he were a traytoure And if the kyng of that kingdome come in that tyme There the felon thole should death other else The law would haue geue him life if he loked on him And I that am king of kinges shall on such a tyme come There dome to the death daÌ„neth all wycked And if lawe wyll I looke on hem it lyeth in my grace Whether they dye or dye not for that they dyd yll Be it any thynge about the boldnes of their synnes I do mercy through rightwiâ—nes al mi words true And though holy write will that I be wroke of heÌ„ thai did euyl Nullum malum impunitum c. They shold be clensed clearly washen of her sinnes In my pryson Purgatory tyll Parce it hote And mi mercy shal be shewed to many of my brethreÌ„ For bloud may suffer bloude both honger and colde And bloud may not se bloud blede but him rewe Audiui arcana verba qui non licet homini loqui ii Cor. â—â—â— And my rightuousnes and right shall rule al hell And mercye all mankynde before me in heauen For I were an vnkinde kynge but I my kynde helpe And namely at such a nede ther nedes helpe behoueth Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo Psal â—â—â— Thus by law ê™ this Lord leade I wyll from hence Tho that me loued and leued in my comminge And for thy leasing Lucifer that thou liedst to Eue Thou shalt a bye it better bouÌ„d hym wyth chaynes Astaroth and all the route hidde hem in hernes They durst not loken on our lord the boldest of heÌ„ al But letteÌ„ him lead forth what hiÌ„ liked let what him lyste Many hundred of angels harpen sange Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro Than pyped Peace of poesye a note Clarior est solito post marima nebula phebê° post inimicitlas After sharpe shoures ê™ peace moste sheene is the sunne Is no weader warmer than after watery cloudes Ne no loue leuer no better frendes ThaÌ„ after warre wo whaÌ„ loue peace be masters Was neuer war in this world ne wickednes so kene That ne loue and him luste to laughyng ne brought And Peace throughe patience all peryl stopped Truse quod Trueth thou tellest vs soth by Iesus Clype we in couenaunt and ech of vs kisse other And let no people quod Peace perceiue that we chid For impossible is nothynge to hym that is almighty Thou saist soth ê™ rightuousnes reuereÌ„tly hiÌ„ kissed Peace and peace here Per omnia secula seculorum Psai 85. Misericordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia et par osculate sunt Truth trumped tho and song Te deum laudamus And than luted Loue in a loude note Psal 133. Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum c. Tyll the day dawed these damsels daunced That meÌ„ raÌ„g to the resurrection right with the I waked And called Kit my wyfe and Colet my daughter Aryse and reuerence Gods resurrection And crepe to the crosse on knees kisse it for a Iewell For Gods blessed bodye it bare for oure bote And it afereth the fende for suche is the might Maye no gryslye goste glyde there it shadoweth Passus .xix. de visione THus I waked wrote what I had dremed And dight me dearly and dyd me to kyrke To here holy the masse to be housled after In mids of the masse men went to offeringe I fell efte sones a slepe and sodaynely me mette That Pierce the plowman was painted all bloudye And came in with a crosse before the commen people And ryght lyke in all lymmes to our lorde Iesus Than called I Conscience to kenne me the soth Is this Iesu the iuster ê™ I that Iewes did to death Or is it Pierce PlowmaÌ„ who paynted him so red Quod CoÌ„science kneled tho Pierâ—â— cote armour these are Piers armes His colour cote armour he that cometh so blouddye Is Christ with his crosse conqueroure of christendome Why cal ye him Christ ê™ I sith Iewes cal hiÌ„ Iesus Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied before That all kinnes creatures shoulde knele and bowe Anone as men named thys hyghe name of Iesus Ergo is no name to the name of Iesus Ne none so nedeful to name by nyght nor by day For all the darcke deuils are a dreade to heare it And synfull are solaced and saued by that name And ye call hym Christ for what cause tell me Is Christ more of myght and more worthy name Than Iesu or Iesus that all our ioye came of Thou knowest well quod conscience and thou can reasoÌ„ That knyght kynge conquerour may be one person To be called a knight is fair for meÌ„ shal knele to him To be called king is fayrer for he mai knights make And to be conqueror called that cometh of special grace And of hardines of hert and of hendines both To make Lordes or ladies of lande that he wynneth And fre men foule thrales that folowe not his lawes The Iewes that were geÌ„tilmen Iesu they despised Both his lore his law now are they low cherles As wide as the world is wonneth none therin But vnder tribute or tallage as tikes and cherles And tho that became christen by couÌ„sell of the baptisme Christe crowned kynge Are frankelens fremen through fullynge that they toke And gentilmen wyth Iesu for Iesus was ifulled And apoÌ„ Caluery on crosse crowned king of Iewes It becommeth to a king to kepe and to defende As conqueroure of conqueste his lawes hys large And so did
golde And be fayne by my fayth his phisike to let And learne to labour with hond for lyuelode is swete For murtherers are many leches lorde hem amende They do men dye by their drinks yer destinie it wold By. S. Paule ê™ Pierce these are profetable wordes Wend now hunger when thou wylt the wel be thou euer For this is a louely lesson the lord it the foryelde By hote god quod honger hence ne wil I wend Til I haue dined by this day and dronken both I haue no peny ê™ Pierce polettes for to bye Ne neither gose ne grys but two grene chesis A fewe curdes and creame and an hauer cake And two loues of beanes dran bake for my folke And yet I say by my soule I haue no salt bacon Ne no cokeny by Christ colopes for to make And I haue percely and porets many cole plaÌ„tes And eke a cowe and a calfe and a cart mare To draw a field my dung the while the draught lasteth And by this lyuelod I must lyue to Lammas tyme By that I hope to haue haruest in my crofte And then I maye dight thy dinner as me dere liketh And al the pore people tho pescoddes fetten Beanes and bakeÌ„ apples they brought in her lappis Pore folk fede hunger Chiboles and chernell and rype cheries many And proferd Piers the present to please wyth hys huÌ„ger All hunger eate in hast and asked after more Than pore folke for feare fedde hunger yerne With grene poret pesen to poysen him thei thought By that it neghed to haruest new corne came to cheping Than was folke fayne and fedde hunger with the beste With good ale as GlotoÌ„ taught gart huÌ„ger to slepe And tho wold waster no work but wandreÌ„ aboute Ne no begger eate bread that beanes in were But of Coket and Clermatine or els of cleane wheat Ne no halpeny ale in no wyse drinke But of best of that brownest that in borough is to sell Laborers that haue no laÌ„d to liue on but her handes Deyned to dyne a daye wyth nyght old wortes May no penyale hem paye ne no pece of bacon But if it be fresh flesh other fysh fryed other bakte And that chaÌ„ud or plus chaud for chilling of her maw Prouender pricketh them And but if he be highly hiered els will he chyde And that he was workeman wrought waile the tyme Agaynst Cafons counsel comseth he to iangle Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento He greuâ—â—h him against god Cato grutcheth agayn reson And than curseth he the king and all hys counsel after Such lawes to loke labourers to greue While huÌ„ger gafe hem hier not one of heÌ„ wold chide Ne striuen against his statute so sternely he loked And I warne you workemen win while ye may For hunger hither ward hasteth him selfe He shall awake with water wastours to chast Ere fiue yere be fulfilled such famine shall arise Through floudes and foule weder This is no prophecy but a pronostication fruite shal fayle And so sayd Saturne and sent you to warne And wheÌ„ ye se the sunne amisse two moÌ„kes heades And a maid haue the maistry and multiply by hight Than shal death withdraw and derth be iustyce And Dauie the dyker shall dye for hunger But if God of his goodnes graunt vs a treue Passus septimus de visione TRuth hearde tell herof and to Pierce sente To taken his teme and tilen the earth And purchased a pardone A pena et a culpa For hym for his heyres Piercis Paxdon for euermore after And bade him hold him at home and erye his laies And all that helpe him to erye to sette and to sowe Or any other mistery that might Pierce auayle Pardon with Pierce plowman Truth hath graunted Knightes and kinges that kepeth holy kyrke And rightfully in realmes ruleth the people Haue pardon through purgatorie to passe ful lightli Wyth patriarks prophets in Paradice to be felow Byshops iblessed if they bene as they should Legisters of both lawes the lewd therw t to preach And in asmuch as they may amend al synful Are peers with thapostles such pardon Pierce sheweth And at the day of dome at the high deyse to syt Marchauntes in the mergen had many yeres And none Apena et culpa the Pope wyl hem graunt For they hold not her holidaies as holy kirk teacheth And for they swere by her soul so god must heÌ„ help Agayn cleane conscience her cattell to sell What merchauÌ„tes shuld do And vnder his secret seale truth sent hem a letter That they shuld bugge boldely that them best lyked And sythen sell it agayne and saue the winning And amend mesoÌ„diux ther mede misease folk help And wycked waies wightely amende And do boote to bridges that to broke were Marien maydens or maken hem Nunnes Pore people and prisonars finden hem her fode And set scholers to schole or to some other craftes Releue religion and renten hem better And I shall send you my selfe s Mihel mine afchaÌ„hel That no deuel shal you dere ne fere you in your doing And witten you from wanhope if ye wil this worke And send your soules in safety to my saynts in Ioye Than were marchaunts mery many wept for Ioy And praised pierce the plowmaÌ„ that purchased the bul Men of law lest pardon had that pleden for mede For the psalter saueth hem not suche as taken gyftes Psal xv Men of law shold take nought but their fee. And namely of Innocentes that no euil ne caÌ„neth Super innocentem munera non accipies Pleders shuld peine hem to plead for such in health Princes and prelates should pay for her trauell A regibus et principibus erit merces corum And mani a Iustice and Iurour would for Iohn do more Than for Dei pietate Lawâ—ars shold take no money leue you no other And he that spendeth his speche speaketh for the pore That is innocent nedy and no man appeyreth Conforteth him in that case wtout couetise of giftes And spekith law for our lords loue as he hath lerned Shal no deuil at his deathes daye dearn hym a mite That he ne worth false his soule the psalter beareth witnes Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo Psal xv And to bug water ne wind ne wit ne fire the fourth These four the father of heueÌ„ made to this fold in coÌ„men These be Truthes treasures truefolk to help That neuer shall wexe ne wane wtout God him selfe WhaÌ„ they drawen on to die indulgeÌ„ce wold haue Their pardon is full petit at their partyng hence That any mede of meane men for their mooting take Ye Legisters and lawyers hold thys for Truthe That if I lye â–ª Mathewe is to blame For he bade me tell you this this prouerbe me told Quod cumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines facite eis Al lyuynge laborers Luke vi that
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat et crant valde bona And bade euery creature Geue i. in hys kynde encrease All to myrthe with man that most worth holye In foundynge of the fleshe and of the fende bothe For maÌ„ was made of such a matter he mai not well a start That ne soÌ„time him bited to foloweÌ„ his kind Caton accordeth ther with Nemo sine crimine viuit Tho caught I colour anone coÌ„sed to be ashamed And a waked therewyth wo was me than That I in metelis ne myght more haue knowen And than sayde I to my selfe and chyde that tyme Now do I ken dowel ê™ I by dere god as me thinke And as I cast vp my eyen one loked on me asked Of me what thyng it were I wysh syr I sayd To se much and suffer more certes quod I is dowel Haddest thou suffred he saide slepyng tho thou were TheÌ„ hadst the keÌ„de that Clergy can kend more by reson For resoÌ„ wold haue rehearsed the right as cleargi said And for thy inter mitting here art thou forsake Philosophus esses si tacuisses c. Adam whyle he spake not had paradise at wyl But whaÌ„ he maÌ„ blid about meat eÌ„termittid to know The wisedome the wyt of god he was put froÌ„ blis And ryght so fared resoÌ„ with the thou with thy rude spech Lokedst losedst thyng that longed not to be done Tho had he no lyking for to learne the more Pryd now presuÌ„ption peraduenture wol me appele That cleargie thy company ne kepeth not to shew Shal neuer chaleÌ„gyng ne chidyng chast a maÌ„ so sone As shal shame and sheÌ„den hym shape hym to ameÌ„d Shame is the best remedye for dronkardes For let a dronken daffe in a dyke fal Let hym ligge loke not on hym tyl hym lyst to aryse For though resoÌ„ rebuked him thaÌ„ it wer but pure sin And wheÌ„ nede nimeth hym vp for doubt lest he sterue And shame shraketh hys clothes hys skyn washeth ThaÌ„ wot the droÌ„ken daffe wherfore he is to blame Ye sayen sothe quod I iche haue isene it ofte There smiteth nought so smarte ne smelleth so soure As shame ther he she with him for ech maÌ„ hym shoÌ„ith Why ye wish me thus ê™ I was for I rebuked reasoÌ„ Certes ê™ he that is sothe and shope him for to walke And I arose vpright with that and folowed hym after And prayed hym of hys curtesye to tel me hys name Passus duodecimus de visione I Am Imaginatiue quod he idle was I neuer Though I sit bi mi selfe in sikenes in helth I haue folowed the in fayth thys .xlv. wynter And oftimes haue meued the to think on thine end And how fel ferniers are faren so few to comeÌ„ And of thy wild wantoÌ„nes tho thou yong were To amende it in thi middle age lest might the fayled In thyne olde Elde that euil can suffer Pouertye or penaunce or prayer bydde Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda AmeÌ„d the while thou may thou hast ben warnd oft With pousties of pestileÌ„ces with pouerty and with angers And wyth these bitter baleises god beateth his deare childrene Quem diligo castigo Apoc. iii. And Dauid in the psalter sayth of such the loueth Iesus Virga tua et baculus tuus Psa xxiii ipsa ne consolati sunt Although thou strike with thy staffe with stycke or with yarde It is our mirth as for me to ameÌ„d my soule And thou medlist with makiÌ„gs mightst go sai thi psalter And bid for hem the giue the bread for ther are bokes inow To tel me what do wel is do bet do best both And prechers to preuen what it is of many a peir friers Ise wel he said the soth some what me to excuse I saide Caton coÌ„forted hys soÌ„ne that clarke thoughe he were To solace him som time as I do whaÌ„ I make Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis And of holy men I heard ê™ I howe they other while Pleyden the perfitter to be in many places Holy mâ— vsed recreation And if there were anye wyght that would me tell What were do well and do bet and do best at the last Woulde I neuer do worke but wende to holy kirke And there bid my beades but whan I eate or slepe Paule in his pistle quod he preueth what is dowell Fides spes charitas maior horum i. Cor. xiii c. Fayeth hope and charitie and all beÌ„ good And sauen meÌ„ soÌ„dry tymes none so sone as charitye For he doeth wel wtouteÌ„ dout that doth as leuti techeth That is if thou be man maryed thy make thou loue And lyue forth as lawe wyll whyle you lyuen both Right so if thou be religious ren thou neuer further To Rome ne Roch mad or but as thy rule teacheth And hold the vnder obedieÌ„ce the high waye is to heaueÌ„ And if thou be maiden to mary might wel coÌ„tinue Seke neuer no saynt further for thy soules health For what made Lucifer to lese the hygh heuen Or SolomoÌ„ his sapieÌ„ce or Sampson his strength Iob the Iewe his ioye deare he it bought Aristotle and other mo Hypocrates and Virgil Alexander that all wanne elengelych ended Catell and kinde wyt was combraunce to hem all Felice hyr fayrenes fell hem all to sclaunder And Rosamonde right so rufully to beleue The beauty of hyr body in badnes she dispended Of many such I may read of men and women That wyse wordes wold shew and work the coÌ„trary Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes And ryche reukes ryght so gaderen and sparen And tho men that they most haten minister it at the last And for they suffren and se so many nedye folkes Luke vi And loue not as our lord byd lesen her soules Date et dabitur vobis And ryches right so but if the rote be true And grace is a graffe therof tho greuauÌ„ces to abate And grace ne groweth not but amonges lowe Patience and pouertie the place is there it groweth And in lelly liuynge men and in lyfe holye And through the gift of the holy gost as the gospel telleth Iohn iii. Spiritus vbi vult spirat Cleargy and kinde wyt cometh of sight teaching As the boke bereth wytnes to barnes the can read Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur Of quod scimus cometh cleargy cunnyng of heaueÌ„ And of quod vidimus cometh kinde wit of sight of diuerse people And grace a gyfte of god of great loue springeth Knew neuer clark how it comth ne kind wit the waies Nescit aliquis vnde venit Ioh. iii. True clergy is mercifull aut quo uadit And yet is cleargy tocommend and kinde wit bothe And namly clergy for christys loue that of clergy is rote For Moses witnesseth the god wrote the puple to wish In thold law as
Ryght so ye ryche ye robbe that ben ryche And helpeth heÌ„ that helpe you geueth there no nede is As who so fylleth a tunne of a freshe ryuer Caste water into temes And went forth with that water to woke with Camise Ryghte so ye ryche ye robbe and feede Hem that haue as ye haue hem ye make at ease And religious that rych ben shold rather fest begers Then Burgesis that rych bene as the boke telleth Quia sacrilegium est tes pauperum non pauperibus dare Item peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare Item Monache si indiges et accipis potius das quaÌ„ accipis Si autem non indiges et accipis rapis Porro non Indiget Monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit Therfore I couÌ„sel al christeÌ„ to coÌ„firme heÌ„ to charitie For charitie wtout chalengyng vnchargeth the soule And mani prisoners bi his praier he pulleth froÌ„ paine And there is a defaut in the folke that the fayth kepeth Wherfore folke is the febler and not firme of beleue As in Lushburth is a luther alay yet loketh like sterling The marke of the money is good the metel feble So fareth it bi some folke now they haue a fair spech Crowne and christendome the kings marke of heuen And the metel that is mans soule with sinne is foule alaied Both lettred and lewde ben arayed now with synne That no lyfe loueth other ne oure Lorde as it semeth For by war wicked works weders vnseasonable Wether wyshyppers and wyttye clarkes also Haue no beleue to the list ne to the lore of Philosophers Astronomers all daye in her arte faylen That whilome warned before what shold fall after ShipmeÌ„ shepeheardes that with shyp shepe weÌ„ten Wyshen by the welken what shoulde betide As of weders and wyndes Al is our of frame they warned men oft Tyllers that tylled the earth tolde her maisters By the seede that they sewe what they sell myghte And what to leaue what to lyue by the land was so true Now faileth the folk of the floud of the land both Sepeheardes and shypmen and so do these tyllers Nether they caÌ„neth ne knoweth one cours before another Astronomers also are at her wyttes ende Of that was calculed of thelemeÌ„t the coÌ„trary they fynd Grammer the ground of al begileth now the childreÌ„ For it is non of these new clarks who so nimeth hede Not one among an huÌ„dred that an auter caÌ„ construe Ne read a letter in ani laÌ„gage but in latine or english Go nowe to any degree and but if gyle be maister And flatterer his felow vnder hym to fourmen Mache wonder me thynketh amonge vs all Doctours of degrees and of diuinitie maisters That shoulde kenne and knowe all kynnes cleargye And answer to argumentes and also to a Quod libet I dare not say it for shame if suche were apposed They should fayle of hir philosophy phisike both Therfore I am afrayed of folke of holye kyrke Lest thei ouerhipeÌ„ as other done in officis in hours And if they ouerhip as I hope not our belefe suffreth As clarkes in Corpus Christi feast singen and readen That Sola fides sufficit to saue wyth lewde people And so may Saracines be saued scribes and Iewes Alas than but oure lores men lyued as they serue vs And for her liuyng the lewde meÌ„ be the lother god agylt For Saracines haue somwhat seming to our beleue For they loue and beleue one god almyghtye And we lerned and lewed in one god beleue The beginnyng of Mahomets law And one Mahomet a man in misbeleue brought Saracines of Surrey and se in what maner At the first he was christeÌ„ for he might not be pope Into Surrey he sought throughe hys sottle wyts Daunted a doue and daye and nyght her fed The corne that she cropped he cast in his eare And if he among the puple preched or in places come Than woulde the Culuer come to the clarkes eare MeniÌ„g as after meat thus Mahomet her enchauÌ„ted ThaÌ„ did folk fal on knees for he swore in his prechiÌ„g That the Culuer that came so came froÌ„ god of heuen As messenger to Mahomet men for to teach And thus through wyles of his wyt a whit doue Mahomet in misbeleue men and women brought That liued tho ther and lyueÌ„ yet leuing on his lawes And sith our sauiour suffred the Saracenes so begiled Through a christen clarke accursed in hys soule For dread of death I dare not tell truth How englishe clarkes a Culuer fede the couetise hyte And ben manered of Mahomet that no maÌ„ vseth truth Ancres and hermets monkes and friers Peren to Apostles through her perfit liuynge Wold neuer the faithfull father that his ministers shold Of tyrantes that teneth true men take any almes But done as Anthony did Dominike Frauncis Benet and Barnarde the which hem first taught To lyue by litle in low houses by lelly mens almes Grasse should grow and be grene through her good liuing And folkes shold find that ben in diuers sikenes The better for her byddynges in bodye and in soule Their prayers their penauÌ„ces to peace shold bryng All that ben at debate and bedmen were true Petite et accipietis c. Luke â—â— Salte saueth cattell sayeth these wyues Vos estis sal terre Math. â—â— The heades of holye churche and they holy were Christe calleth hem salte for Christen soules Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur For freshe fleshe other fyshe when it salt fayleth It is vnsauerye forsothe sodde or baked So is mans soule sothly that seeth no good exemple Of hem of holy kyrke that the hygh waye should teache And be gyde and go before as a good rauenour And hardeÌ„ hem that behind ben giue heÌ„ good euideÌ„ce A leuen holye men all the world turned Into lellye beleue The Apostles turned al the worlde to the fayth the lyghtloker me thyncketh Should al maner of men we haue so many maisters Priestes and preachers and a Pope aboue That Gods salte should be to saue mans soule All was Heathennes sometyme England Wales Tyll Gregory gard clarkes to go here and preach Austen at Canturburye christened the kynge And bi miracles as meÌ„ mai rede al the marsh he turnid To Christ and to christendome crosse to honour And fulled folke faste and the fayeth taught More through myracles thaÌ„ through much prechiÌ„g As wel through workes as through his holi words And sayd hem what fullinge and faith was to meane Cloth that cometh froÌ„ the weuyng is not comely to wear Til it be fulled vnder fote or in fulling stocks Washen well with water and with tasels cratched Touked and teynted and vnder taylors hand And so it fareth by a barne that borne is of a wombe Tyll the chyld be instructed in Christ it is but as a wilde beaste Til it be christned in christs name coÌ„firmed of
to myne issue both Londe and lordeshyppe and life wythout ende To me and to myne issue more yet he me graunted Mercy of our mysdedes many tymes as we aske Quam olim Abrahe promisisti et semini eius And syth he sent me to sey I sholde do sacrifice And done him worship with breade wyth wine boeth And called me fote of hys faith his folke for to saue And defeÌ„d hem from the fende folke that on me leued Thus haue I ben his Heraude here and in hell And coÌ„forted many a careful that after his coÌ„ming waiten And thus I seke him he said for I heare say late Of a barn that bapsid hym I. Baptyst was hys name That to patriarkes to prophetes to other people in darknes Said that he se here that should saue vs al. Iohn i. Ecce agnus dei c. I had woÌ„der of his words and of his wyde clothes For in his bosome he bare a thing that he blessed euer And I loked in hys lappe a Lazare lay therin Among patriarkes and prophetes pleyinge togiders What awaitest thou ê™ he what wouldest thou haue I would wit ê™ I tho what is in your lappe Lo quod he and let me se lord mercy I said This is a preseÌ„t of mich price what price shal it haue It is a precyous preseÌ„t ê™ he the pouk hath it atachid And me thermid ê™ that man there may no wed me quite Ne no barne be our borow ne bring vs froÌ„ his daÌ„ger Out of the powkes pinfold no mainprice mai vs fetch Tyl he come that I carpe of Christ is hys name That shal deliuer vs some day out of the deuyls powr And better wed for vs ligge thaÌ„ we be all worthy That is life for life or lygge thus euer Lollinge in my lappe til such a lorde vs fetche Alas I said that sinne so long shall lette The myght of gods mercy that might vs wel ameÌ„d I wept for his wordes with that I saw an other Rapelich renne forth the ryght way he went I frained hym firste from whence he came And what he hight whether he wold wightly he tolde Passus xvii de visione I Am Spes ê™ he and spye after a knyght That toke me a maÌ„demeÌ„t vpoÌ„ that moÌ„t Synai To rule al realmes with I beare the wryte here It is ensealed I said maye meÌ„ se the letters Nay he sayd I seke him that hath the seale to kepe And that is crosse christendome Christ theron to haÌ„g And when it is ensealed so I wot wel the soth Than Lucifers Lordeshyp shall last no lenger Let vs se the letters ê™ I we myght the lawe knowe Than pulled he forth a pyece of a hard roche Wherin were written these words on this wyse iglosed Dilige deum et proximum c. Mat. xxii This the text truly I toke full good yeme The glose was glorious written with a gylt penne In hiis duobus mandatis tota lex peudet et prophete Be here al the Lordes lawes ê™ I yea leue me he said And who so worcheth after this write I wyl vndertake Shall neuer deuil him dere ne death in soule greue For thoughe I saye it my selfe I haue saued with thys charme Of men women mani score thousandes He saith sothe said this heraude I haue it found oft Lo here in my lappe that leued on that charme Iosue and Iudith and Iudas Machabeus Yea and .vi. thousand beside forth that ben not sene here Your wordes are woÌ„derful ê™ I tho which of you is truest And lelest to leue on for life and for soule Abraham sayth that he se wholy the trinitie Abraham saw thre distincte persons in trinity Thre persons in percels ech departable from other And all thre but one god thus Abraham me taught And hath saued that beleued so sory for her sinnes I can not suggest â—â—nme and some are in mi lappe What neded it than a newe law to beginne Sith the first sufficeth to a saluasion and blysse And now coÌ„meth Spes speaketh that hath espied the law And telleth not of the triniti that toke him his letters To beleue and loue in our Lorde almyghty And sith right as my selfe so loue al the people The gome the goth with a staffe he semeth in greater heal Than he that goth with two slaues to syght of vs al And ryght so by the rode reason me sheweth It is lighter to lewd men one lesson to knowe Than for to teach heÌ„ two to hard to learne the leste It is full harde for any man on Abraham beleue And well awaye worse yet for to loue a shrewe It is lighter to leue in thre louely persons Than for to loue and leue as wel lorels as lelly Go thy gate quod I to Spes for so me god helpe Tho that learne thy lawe wel litle while vsen it And as we weÌ„ten in the way thus wording togithers Than sewe a Samaritan syttynge on a mule Rydynge well rapelye the ryght waye we yeden Cumming from a contrye men call Iericho To a Iustis at Ierusalem he chaseth away fast Both the heraude and hope The man wounded of theues and he met at once Where a man was wounded and wyth theues takeÌ„ He myght neither steppe ne stand ne stirre fote ne haÌ„d Ne helpe him self sothly for Semiuife he semed And as naked as a nedle no helpe about him Fayth had first syght of him and he fle a syde And would not nyghen him by nine landes length Hope came hipping after that had so bosted Howe he with Moses mauÌ„dement had many meÌ„ holpeÌ„ And whaÌ„ he hadde sight of the segge a side he gan hym draw Dredfully by this day as duck doth froÌ„ faucoÌ„ And so sone this Samaritan had sight of this leode He light downe of liard ladde him in his hand And to the wye he went his woundes to beholde And perceiued by his pulse he was in perill to dye And but he had recouer the rather that rise should he neuer With wine with oyle hys wouÌ„des he washed Enbaumid him bouÌ„d his hed in his lap him laid And lad him so forth on liard to Ler Christi a grauÌ„ge Well syxe myles or seuen besyde the newe market Herberde hym at an hostrye and to the hostler called And said haue kepe this man til I come froÌ„ the iustis And lo here siluer he sayd for salue for hys woundes And he toke him two pence for liuelode as it were And said who so speÌ„d more I make it good heraftir For I may not let ê™ that leode liarde he bestrideth And raped hym to Ierusalem the right way to ryde Fayth folowed after fast and fonded to meten hym And Spes spaklich hym sped spede if he myght To ouertake him talke to him er he to towne come And whaÌ„ I se this I soiorned not but shope me to reÌ„ And sewed that Samaritan that was so
there And cry we to kind that he come and defende vs Foles froÌ„ these feÌ„des lims for Piers loue the plowmaÌ„ And cry we to all the commune that they come to vnytie And ther abide and biker against Belials children Kynd CoÌ„science tho heard came out of the planets And sent forth his forriours feuers and fluxes Coughes and cardiacles crampes and toth aches Reumes and radgondes and raynous scalles Byles and botches and burnynge agues Freneses and foule euill foragers of kynde Hadden pricked and praied polles of the people That largely a legion losten their liues sone There was harow and helpe here commeth kinde A greate signe of infidelity Wyth death that is dreadeful to vndone vs all The lorde that lyueth after lust tho aloude cried After confort a knight to come and beare his banner A larme a larme quod the Lord ech lyfe kepe hys own And than met these men theyr minstrels myght pype And their heraudes of armes had descriued Lordes Age the hoore he was in the vawwarde And bare the baÌ„ner before death by right he it claimed Kynde came after with manye kene sores As pockes and pestilences and much puple shent So kinde through corruptions The maner of goddes visitation killed ful many Death came driuynge after and all to dust pashed Kynges and Kaysers knyghtes and Popes Learned ne lewed he ne let no man stande That he hitte euen he neuer stode after Many a louelye Ladye and lemmans of knightes Swoned and swelted for sorow of deathes dintes Conscience of hys curtesye to kynd he besought To cease and suffer and se wher they woulde Leaue pryde priuelye and be perfite christen And kynde ceased tho to se the people amende Fortune gan flatteren then The maner of meÌ„ when plages cease tho fewe that were a lyue And hight hem longe life and lechery she sent Amonge all maner of men wedded and vnwedded And gathered a greate hoste all against Conscience This Lecherye layed on with a laughing chere And with a priuye speach and painted wordes And armed him in idlenes and in highe bearynge He bare a bow in his haÌ„d many blouddy arrowes Were fethered with fair behest many a false truth Wyth hys vntidye tales he tened full often CoÌ„science his coÌ„pany of holy kyrke the teachers Than came Couetise and caste howe he might Ouercome Conscience and cardinall vertues And armed him in auaryce and hongrichly liued His wepen was all wiles to winnen and to hiden With glosinges with gabbinges he gyled the people Couetise and Simony make prelates Simony him seme to assayle Conscience And preached to the people and prelates they maden To hold with antichriste their temporalties to saue And came to kynges counsell as a kene baren And kneled to Conscience in court before hem all And garde good fayth flee and false to abide And boldly bare adowne with many a bryght noble Much of the wit and wisedome of Westminster hall He iusteled to a Iustice and iusted in his eare And ouertilt al his truth wel take this on ameÌ„dmeÌ„te And to the arches he yede anone after And turned ciuile into simony sith he toke thofficial For a mantil of miniuer he made lelly matrimonye Departed ere death came and deuorse shaped Alas ê™ Conscience tho would Christ of his grace That couetise were a christeÌ„ that is so kene a fyghter And bolde and abidinge while his bagge lasteth And then laught life and let dagge his clothes And armed him in haste in harlottes wordes And held holines a iape and hendnes a waster And lete leautye a cherle and lyer a freman Conscience and counsell he counted it folye Thus rayled lyfe for a lyttle fortune And pricked forth wyth pryde praysed he no vertue He careth not how kind slow shall come at last And kyl al earthely creatures saue conscyence onelye Life lept asyde and laught him a lemman Health and I ê™ he and heauynes of herte Shall do the no dreade neyther death ne Elde Lyfe and Fortune beget Slouth And to forget sorow and giue nought of sinne Thys liked lyfe and his lemman fortune And gat in their glory a gadlinge at the last One that much wo wrought slouth was hys name Slouth wexe wonder yerne and sone was of age And wedded one wanhope Slouthe marieth dispayre a wench of the stewes Hyr syre was a sysor that neuer swore trueth One Tomme two tong atteint of ech a quest This Slouth was ware of warre and a flyng made And threw dread of dispayre adozeÌ„ myles about For care conscience tho cried apon age And bad him fond to fight and afere wanhope And age hent good hope and hastely he shyfte him And wamed away wanhop wyth lyfe he fighteth And lyfe fleeth for feare to phisike after helpe And besought him of his succour of his salue had And gaue hym gold good wonne the gladded hys hert And they gaue him agayne a glasen howne Lyfe leued that lechecraft let shold Elde And dryue awaye death wyth dias and dragges And Elde auentred him on lyfe and at laste he hyt A phisician with a furred hode Age killeth boeth PhisiciaÌ„ Surgiâ— that he fel in the palsy And ther died that docter er thre dayes after Now I see said life that surgery ne phisike May not a myte auayle to medle agayne Elde And in hope of his heale good hert he hente And rode so to reuel a rych place and a mery The company of courte mâ—n cleped it sometyme And Elde anone after and ouer my head he yede And made me bald before and bare on my crowne So harde he yede ouer my head that it wil be sene euer Syr euel taught Elde ê™ I vnheende go wyth she Sith when was the way ouer mens heades Haddest thou bene hend ê™ I thou wold haue asked leue Yea leaue lurden ê™ he and layde on me with age And hit me vnder the eare vnneth may ich heare He buffeted me about the mouth and bet out mi teth And gyued me in goutes I may not go at large And of the wo that I was in my wyfe had ruth And wished full witterly that I were in heauen For the lyme that she loued me for leef was to feele On nights namely when we naked were I ne might in no maner make it at hyr wyl So Elde and she sothely had forbeaten it And as I satte in this sorow I se kinde passed And death drewe nere me for dread gan I quake And cryed to kinde out of care me brynge Lo Elde the hore hath me besette A wreke me if your wil be for I would be hence If thou wold be wroken wend into vnitye And hold the there euer tyll I sende for the And loke thou konne some craft ere thou come thence Nature wolde we shoulde learne to loue Counsell me kynd ê™ I what craft is best to learne Learne to loue ê™ kinde and leaue of al other