<County: Warwickshire>
<Code: L4680>
<MS reference: London, BL Harley 875, Hand A>
<Text: Piers Plowman A>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 1r>JN a somer seson when soft was þe sonne .
J schope me undure a schrowde as j a schepe were
Jn an abyte of an hermyt vnhooly of warkus
J wente wyde in þis worlde wondris to here .
But on a mayes mornynge on maluerne hullis
Me bifel a farly of Feyrye me thoughte
J was wery of wandrynge went me to reste
Vndur a brode banke by a boorne syde .
And as j lay & leoned & loked in þe watres
J slombred in a slepynge it sowned so myrye
þen can j mete a meruelous sweuene
þat j was in a wyldurnes j wiste neuer where
As j byheld in-to þe est an hi3e to þe sonne
J sawe a tour on a tofte wondurly maked
A deop dale bynethen & a dongen þer ynne
With deop diche & darke þt dredeful was of syghte
A feyre feeld ful of folke j fonde þere bitwene
Of alle maner of men þe meene & þe ryche
But somme putten hem to þe plowgh & pleyden but seelde
Jn erynge & sowynge & swonken ful sore
Þat mony of þese waistours in glotonye distroyen
& somme putten hem to pryde & aparayleden hem þer-aftur
Jn quoyntyse of cloþinge þei conen hem disgyse .
Jn prayers & penaunce putten hem many
For þe loue of oure lorde lyueden ful strayte
Jn hope for to haue heuen-riche blysse
<add><different hand> As ancres & Heremytes þt holdt hem in her cellis
Coueit not in cuntre to carien aboute</add>
For no lycorous lyuelode her lycam to plese
And somme chosen chaffare to preue þe bettere
as it semeth in oure sight þat þei so schulden
And somme myrthes to make as mynstrals kunne
þat geten gold wiþ her gleo synles j trowe
But japers & ianglers <exp>ben</exp> judas children
þa feynen hem fantasyes & foolis hem maken
& han witte at her wille to worche <add><different hand>3if þei wolde</add>
<fol. 1v>What poul prechet of hem j dar not sey here
<lat></lat> is lucyfers hyne .
Bydders & beggers faste abowte 3eden
Til her bagges & her balyes weren faste crommed
Fayteden for her foode & foughten at þe naale .
Jn glotonye god wote gon þei to bedde
an rysen vp wiþ rybaudy þese robberdys knaues
Sleep & slewþe seweth hem euere
Pylgrymers & palmers pyghten hem to-gydres
For to seche seynte jame & seyntes at rome
Wenten forthe in her waye with many vayn taales
And hadden leue for to lye al her lyf aftur
Grete loburs & longe þat lothe weren to swynke
Clotheden hem in Copes to be knowen for bretheren
And schopen hem to hermytes her eese for to haue
J fonde there þe freeris alle the foure orders
Prechynge þe pepule for profyt of her wombys
Glosynge þe gospel as hem-silf lyketh
For couetise of coopis construen it ful yuel
For mony of þese maysturs mowen be clothed the better
For money & her marchaundise metten <add><different hand>to-gedyr</add>
Sith Freeris han ben chapmen & cheef to schryue lordys
many farlyes han bifallen in a fewe 3eeris
An but hooly churche bygynne þe better to holde togedre
the moost myscheef upon moolde is mowntynge up <add><different hand>>w<?>l</add> faste
Ther preched a pardener a prest as it were
and browght forth a bulle with bysschopus sealys
and seyd þat hym-silf myght assoylen hem alle
of falsenesse of fastyngus & of vowys broken
These lewyd men leued hym wel & lykeden hi<add><different hand>s speche</add>
& comen vp kneolynge & kysseden his bulles
He <add><different hand>blessud</add> hem wiþ his breuett & bleryd her y3en
and raughte wiþ his ragman ryngus & broches
Thus 3e 3yuen 3oure goodus glotons to helpe .
& leuen hyt<?> to losels þat lechories hawnten
But were þe bisschop blessid & worth bothe hise eares
þei schulden not be so hardy to bigyle so þe peple
Jt is not al by þe bischop þat þe boye precheþ
<add><different hand>but þe</add> persche prest & þe perdyner parten þe syluer
<fol. 2r>þat þe poore of þe perysche schuld haue if þei ne were .
Parsowns & prouenders han playned to her bisschoppus
þat her perischens han ben poore sith pestylence tyme
And han leue & lycence at london to dwelle
to synge þere for symonye for syluer is swete
Ther houed a hondred in howues of sylke
Sariawntis it semed to serue at þe barre
For penyes & for powndis pladden þe lawe
But for þe loue of oure lord not open her <hole in parchment>yppus oonus
For þu my3test bettur mete þe myste on mal<hole>uerne hullus
þan gete a momme of her mouþe tyl money were schewid .
J sawe þer bisschoppus boold & bachylers of dyuyne
bycom clerkes of a-cownte þe kynge for to serue
Archedekens & deenes þat dygnyty han
to preche þe peple & pore men to fede
ben lopen to london by leue of her bisschopus
to become clerkys of þe kyngus benche þe contrey to schende
Barowns & burgeises & bondemen also
J sawe in þat semble as 3e schul seen aftur
Bakers & bochers & brewstars many
Masons & mynours & many oþer craftus
Dichers & deluers þat doon her dedus yuol
and dryuen forth þe longe daye with dieu3 saue dame emme
Cookis & her knaues cryen hoote pyes hoote
good gees & griyse go+we dyne go+we
Tauerners hem tolde þilke same tale
Good wyne of gaskyne & þe wyn of osee
þe ryne & þe rochel þe roost to defy3e
What þis mownteyn bymeneþ & þis deope dale
& eke þis feeld ful of folke I schal 3ou feyre schewe
a louely ˆ <mrg>lady</mrg> of leor~ in lynned y-clothed
Come adowne from þe lofte & clepid me feyre
& seyde sone slepist þou seest þou þis peple
how bysye þat þei ben al abowte þe mase
The moost parte of þe peple þt passeþ vpon erþe
haue þei worschyp of þis world ne kepe þei no bettur
for ofþer heuen þen here is 3yue þei no tale
¶ J was a-ferde of hir face þei3 heo fayr~ were
<fol. 2v>And seyde mercye madame what may þis bymeene
¶ The toure on þe tofte quod heo truthe is þer-ynne
he wolde þat 3e wrow3ten as his word teechithe
For he is fader of feith þat fourmed 3ou alle
bothe wiþ felle & with face & 3aue 3ou fyue wittus
For to worschip hym þer-with þe whyle þt 3e beoþ here .
And þerfore hooteth þe erþe to serue 3ou uchone
of wollen <hole> of lynnen & lyuelode at neode
In a mesu<hole>rable maner to make 3ou at eese
And commaun<hole>deth of his curtasye in comyn þre þingus
her naames beoþ neodeful & nempne hem J þenke
by rule & bi reson reherse hem her aftur
That oon clothynge is from cheele 3ou to saue
þat oþur is mete at mele for myssecheef of þi syluen
Drynke whan þou dryest but do it not oute of resone
þat þou worthe þe wors when þou worche schuldest
For loot in his lyf dayes þorou3 lykynge of drynke
dyde by his dow3tres þat þe deuel lyked
For luste of lykerousnes his lycam to plese
he delyted him in drynke as þe deuol wolde
and lechorye him law3te & he lay by hem bothe . /
And al he wyted it wyn þat wickud dede
Drede delytable drynke <add><different hand>þou</add> schalt do þe bettur
Mesure is medcyne þei3 þou myche 3erne
al is not good to þe goost þat þe body askeþ
ne lyuelode to þe lykam þt leof is to þe soule
leue not þi lykam for lyar hym ledith
þat is þe wicked worlde þee to bytrai
þe fend & þi flesche foloweþ þee togudre
& þat schendeþ þi soule J see it in þi harte
and for þou schuldest ben ywar J wysse þee þe best
¶ A mercye madame quod I me lykeþ wel þi wordys
but þe money in þis molde þat men so faste holden
telle me to wham þat tresoure apendiþ . /
¶ Go to þe gospel qooþ heo þer god seyde hym-seluen
When þe peple hym apposyd wiþ a peny in þe temple
if þei schulden worschyp þerwith Cesar her kynge .
And he axede of hem of whom spake þe letture
& whom þe ymage was lyke þat þer-ynne stondeth . /
<fol. 3r>Cesar þei seyden we seoþ wel uchoone . /
<lat></lat>
3eldeþ to cesar quoþ god þat to cesar apendiþ
& to god his deel or ellys 3e don ylle
For ri3tfullych reson schuld rule 3ou alle
& kynde wytte schulde be wardeyn 3oure welþe to kepe
& toure of 3oure tresoure to take it 3ou at neode
for housbondrye & witte holden to-gydre .
¶ Þan frayned J hir feyre for hym þat hir made
þe dale & þe dongown þat dredeful is of sy3te
what may þat bymeene madame J þee biseche . /
¶ That is þe castel of care quoþ heo who þat comeþ þer-ynne
he may banne þat he was borne to body or to soule
þer-ynne woneþ a wighte þat wronge is y-hote
Fadre of falsenes he fonded hym syluen
Adam & eue he egged to ylle
Caym he cownseyled to kylle his brother
Judas he japed þorogh þe jewes syluer
& on an ellarne tree honged hym aftur .
he is a lettar of loue & byly3eth hem alle
þat trusteþ in her tresoure þat no trewth is ynne
¶ Þan had I wondur in my witte what wommon þis was
þat suche wise wordis of hooly wrytt me schewyde
J halsed hir in þe hi3e name er heo þennys 3ede
what heo were witturly þat tawght me so feyre
¶ Hooly churche J am quoþ heo þou owghtest me to knowe
J þee furst undurfonge & þi feiþ þee tawght
þou brow3test me borowes my byddynge to worche
& to loue me <add><different hand>truly</add> while þi lyf lasted . /

<Tranche 2>

<fol. 7r><line 37> NOwe is mede þe mayden j-nomen of hem alle
wiþ bideles & wiþ bayles & brou3t to þe kynge
þe kynge called a clerke J con not his name .
<fol. 7v>& bade him take <hole> mede þe mayden & make hir at eese
J wole asay hir my-se<hole>lf seyd þe kyng & hir appose
What man in þis moolde þat hir were leouest
And heo worche by my witte & my wille folowe
J wole forgyue hir þis gulte so me god helpe
¶ Curteyselyþe clerk þen as his kynde wolde
toke þe mayden by þe myddel & brou3te hir to chaumbur
þer was myrth & mynstralsye mede wiþ to plese
þei þat wonen at westmynster worscypen hir ychoone
Jentlyche wiþ ioye þe iustice<add><different hand>s</add> wel soone
busked h<add><different hand>e</add>m to þe chaumbur þere þe burde was ynne
cowmfortyd hir kyndely & made hir at eese
& seyd ne mowurne þou not mede ne make þou no sorowe
For we wolen wisse þe kynge & þi waþe schape
for al conscience caste a crafte can we schewe
þat þou schalt haue boþe my3t & maystrye & make what þe likeþ
wiþ þe kynge & þe comyns & þe courte boþe . /
¶ Mekely þen mede mercyed hem alle
of her grete goodnesse 3aue hem <add><different hand>e</add>chone
Coupes of clene golde & peces of syluer
Ryngus wiþ rybyes & rychesses many
þe lest man of her+meyne moton of gold . /
þen lau3ten þei her leue þese lordyngus at mede
¶ wiþ þat come clerkis to coumfort þe same
we biddeþ þee be blythe for we beoþ þine owene
for to worche þi wylle þe while oure lyf lastiþ .
¶ hendely þen heo bihy3t hem þe same
to louen hem truly & lordes hem maken .
In courte & in constrye to tellen her names
þer schal no lewdnes hem lett þe lewdest þat J loue
þat þei ne worþe a-vaunced for J am J-knowe
þere as kunnynge clerkys schul couche byhynde
¶ þen come þer a confessour coped as a frere
to mede þe mayden mekely he lowtid
& seyd ful softly in schryfte as it were
þei3 lered & lewide had leyn by þee boþe
& þei3 falsenes had folowed þee þis fyftene wyntur
J schal asoyle þee my silf for a somme of whete
& eke be þi bawdstrot & bere wel þin erande
a-monge þese courteors & þe comyns conscience te felle . /
<fol. 8r>¶ þen mede for her mysse-deedys to þat man kneled
& schrof <smudge or dot> hir of hir shrewdnes schameles j trowe
heo told hym a tale & toke hym a noble
for to be hir bawde & bere wel hir erand
¶ Þen he asoyled hir sone & siþ to hir seyde
We han a wyndowe in wurchynge wol stonde us ful hy3e
woldest þou glase þe gable & graue þer-ynne þi name
siker schuld þi soule beo heuen forto haue
¶ Wyst J þat quoþ þe woman þer nys wyndow ne awter
þat j schuld mende or make & my name wryte .
þat <exp>alle</exp> men schulden sey þat J were sustur of þe hous
¶ But god to alle good folke suche grauynge defendiþ
And seiþ . <lat></lat>
Late not þi lyfte honde late ne raþe
be war what þi ry3te honde worcheþ or deleþ
so priuely be it parted þat pryde be not seye
nowþer in si3te ne in soule <ill><1 word></ill> god him silf knoweþ
Who is curteys or kynd<?> coueþtous or ellis
for-þi j rede 3ou lordyngus suche lernyngus to leue
to wryte in wyndowis of 3oure wel-deedys
or to grede aftur goddes folk when 3e 3yuen dooles
Jn auntur lest 3e han 3oure hure þerfore here
for of soche men oure sauyoure seiþ in þe gospel . /
<lat></lat>
here forsoþe þei fongon her mede forþ-wiþ
3e meyres & maysters þat beoþ ordeyned meenes
by-twene þe kynge & þe comyns þe lawe forto kepe
to ponysche on pylorþe & on pynynge stoolis
Brewesteres ˆ [&] bakers bochers & Cokes
For þese ben men on molde þat moost harme worchen
to þe pore peple þat al most a-byggen
For þei pylen þe pore pepul priuely & ofte
& waxen ryche regratoures & rentes hem byggen
wiþ þat þe pore peple schuld putt in hor wombes
<add>For if þei token wt trouthe ; þei tymburyd not so hye
ne shulde bye noo burgages be 3e certeyn</add><partly different hand>
¶ but mede þe mayden þe meyre heo <exp>haþ</exp> by-sow3te
of alle suche sellers for to take syluer
or presantes wiþ-oute pans os peces of syluer .
<fol. 8v>Or rynges wiþ rubyes þese regratoures to fauour~
¶ for my loue quoþ þe lady loue hem ychoone
& suffre hem to sylle somdel a3eyn resone
¶ But salamon þe sage a sermon he made
to amende wiþ þise meyres & men þat kepen þe lawes
So þis was his teme þat J telle þenke
<lat></lat>
Amonge þise lewed men þis latyn amounteþ .
þat fyer schal fall & brenn at þe laste
þe houses & þe hoomes of hem þat desyren
to take 3yftes amysse in 3ouþe or in elde
¶ Now beoþ 3e war if 3e wole 3e maysturs of þe lawe
for þe soþe schale be sou3te of 3oure soules so me god helpe
þe suffraunce þat 3e suffre suche wrongus to be wrou3t
while þe chaunce is in 3our~ choyse cheose 3e þe best
¶ Then cam þe kyng from þe counseyle & called aftur mede
& sent aftur hir asswiþe seriawntis hir fette
& brou3ten hir to þe boure þere þe king was ynne
wiþ myrþe & wiþ mynstrasye þei pleseden hir ychoone
Curtesly þe kyng þoo seyde to mede
Certis unwysely wrou3te hast þou ofte
wors wrou3test þou neuer þen <mrg>whan</mrg> þou false toke
but J for3yue þee þis gylte so þou do no more . /
J haue a kny3t hett conscience come late from by3onde
If he wole þee to wyf wolt þou assente
¶ 3ea lord quoþ þe lady god forbede ellis
but J hoolly be at 3oure heest gurd off my nek .
¶ Then was conscience called to come & a-pere
by-fore þe kynge & his counseyl clerkis & oþur
knelynge conscience þen to þe kyng lowted
to wyte what his wille were & what he do schulde
wolt þou wedde þis womman if J wole assent
for heo is fayne of þi felawschype for to be þi make
¶ Nay quoþ conscience to þe kynge crist it me forbede
er J wedde suche a wyf woo me bytyde
For heo is freyle of hir fleische fykul of hir feiþ
heo makeþ men mysse-do mony score tymes
Jn trust of hir tresoure heo teoneþ ful many
wyues & wydowys wantonnes heo techiþ