<County: Warwickshire>
<Code: L4686>
<MS reference: London, BL Cotton Vespasian B.xvi>
<Text: Piers Plowman C>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 6r>JN a somer seson . whan softe was þe sonne
I schop me in-to schrobbes . as i a schepherde were
In an abijt of an ermite . vn+holi of werkes
Wente i forþ in þe world . wondres to here
¶ I saw mani selles . and selcouþe þynges
ac in a mai morewing . on maluerne hulles
me bi-ful to sclepe . for werynesse of walkyng
¶ In a launde as i lai . i lenede a-doun and slepte
merueilous-li i mette . as i schal 3ow telle
Of al þe welþe of þe world . and þe wo boþe
al i si sleping . as i schal 3ow schewe
Wynking as hit were . withturli i sy hit
Of treuþe and of trecheri3e . treson and gile
¶ Estward i lokede . after þe sonne
I saw a tour as i trowede . treuþe was þer-inne .
Westward i bihuld . in a while aftur
and saw a deop dale . deþ as i leue
Wonede in þat wones . and wikkede spirites
¶ A fair feld ful of folc . fond i þer bi-twene
Of al maner of men . þe mene and þe riche
Worching and wandryng . as þe world askeþ
Summe putten hem to plow . and pleieden ful selde
Jn setting and in sowyng . swonke ful harde
And wonnen þat þis wasteres . wiþ gloteni3e destrei3en
¶ Summe putten hem to pride . and a-pereileþ hem þer-after
Jn contenaunce of cloþing . in many kynnes gise
¶ Jn penaunce and preieres . putten hem mani3e
For þe loue of oure lord . liueden ful harde
Jn hope to haue god ende . and heueneriche blisse
As ankeres and ermytes . þat holden hem in selles
þei coueiten nou3t in cuntreis. to karien a-bou3te
For no likeres lijflode . heore likame to plese
¶ And summe chosen chaffare . and preueden þe bettere
As hit semeþ in oure sith . þat swiche men schulde
¶ And summe merþes to make . as munstrales kunne
Willeþ nou3t swynke ne swete . bote swere grete oþes
þei fynden vp fantasious . and foles hem makeþ
And han with at wille . to worchen 3if þei wilde
And þat poul precheþ of hem . preuen hit i my3te
<lat></lat> . is luciferes knaue
¶ Bidderes and beggeres . faste a-boute 3ede
<fol. 6v>Til heore bagges and heore beli . was bretful i-fulled
Faityng for heore fode . and fou3ten at þe ale
Jn gloteny3e god wot . gon þei to bedde
And a-risen vp wiþ ribaudri3e . þes roberdes knaues
Slep and sunful sleuþe . foleweþ hem euere
¶ Pilgrimes and palmeres . pliten hem to-gideres
To seke seynt iame . and seyntes at rome
þei gon forþ in heor wai . wiþ mani wise tales
And han leue to li3e . al heore lif aftur
Ermites on an hep . wiþ hokede staues
Wenten to walsingham . and heor wenches aftur
Large lobies and longe . þat loþe weren to swynke
Cloþed hem in copes . to be i-knowe fro oþere
And maden hem self ermites . heore ese to haue .
¶ þer fond i freres of alle þe foure ordres
Preching þe peple . for profijt of þe wombe
And glosen þe gospel . as hem self lyken
For coueitise of copes . contrariede some doctures
¶ mani3e of þis maisteres . ben meinteinours of freres
For heore monei and heor marchaundise . marchaundeþ to-gider~s
Ac seþþe charite haþ be chapman . and chef to schriue lordes
Many merueiles han i-falle . in a fewe 3eres
Bute holi+chirche and charite . choppe a-doun swiche schriueres
þe moste mischef of þis world . mounteþ vp faste
¶ þer prechede a pardener . as he a prest were
And brou3te forþ a bulle . wiþ bussopes seles
He seide þat he my3te . a-soilen hem alle
Of falsnesse of fastynge . a-vowes to-broke
¶ Lewede men leuede hem wel . and likedein his speche
Comen knelyng . and cusseden his bulles
He blessede hem wiþ his breuet. and blerede heor ey3en
He rau3te wiþ þat rageman . rynges and broches
þus 3e 3euen 3oure gold . glotenes to helpe
And leneþ hit to loreles . þat lecheri3e haunten
¶ Were þe busshop i-blessed . and worþ boþe his eren
His seal ne schulde nou3t be sent . in þe<?> desseid of þe peple.
¶ Ac hit is nou3t be þe busschop . þat þe boy precheþ
Bute þe parcheprest and he . departen þe seluer
þat þe pore in þ parsche scholde haue . hit 3if þei ne were
¶ Persones and parscheprestes . playneþ to þe busschop
þat heore parschones were pore . seþþe pestelens time
<fol. 7r>To haue licence and leue . at london to dwelle
To singe for simony3e . for seluer is swete .
¶ Bushopes and bachelers . maisteres and doctures
þat han cure vnder crist . and ben crouned in tokne
Ben charged wiþ holi+chirche . charite to take
þat is lel loue and lijf . a-mong lered and lewed
þei liggen in londen . in lenten and elles
¶ Summe seruen þe kyng . and his seluer tellen
At þe cheker and in þe chaunsri3e . chalengeþ hise dettes
Of wardes of wardmotes . waynes and straynes
Summe arn as seneschalles . and seruen oþer lordes
Summe in stede of stewardes . sitten and demen
¶ Concience cam to þe kyng . and þe comune hit herde
And seide ydolatri3e 3e suffreþ . in somdri places mani3e
And boxus ben i-set forþ . i-bounde wiþ iren
To vndurtake þe tol . of vntrewe sacrifice
In menyng of miracles . muche wex þer hangeþ
Al þe world wot wel . hit my3te nou3t be trewe
But hit profijte 3ow to pursward . 3e prelates of holi+chirche
þat lewede men in misbileue . liuen and deien
¶ J leue bi oure lord . for loue of 3oure coueitise
þat al þe world be þe wors . as holi+wri3t telleþ
¶ What cheste and meschaunce . come to þe children of israel
Ful on hem þat freo were . þoru to falce prestes
For ophinies sunne . and phinies his broþer~
þei weren discunfited in bataile . and losten <lat>archa dei</lat>
For heore fader si hem synne . and suffrede hem do ille
And nou3t chasted hem þer-of . and nolde nou3t hem rebuke
¶ A-non as hit was told him . þat þe children of israel
Weren discunfited in bataile . and <lat>archa dei</lat> i-lore
And his sones weren i-slayn . a-non he ful for serewe
Fro his chaier þer he sat . and brac his necke on twynne
¶ And al was for uengaunce . he but nou3t his children
And for þei were prestes . and men of holi+chirche
God was þe wroþere . and tok þe raþer veniaunce
For-whi i sei3e 3ow prestes. and men of holi+chirche
þat suffreþ men do sacrifice . and mawmetes honoure
3e schulden ben heore fadres . and teche hem bettere
God schal take veniaunce . on alle swiche fadres
Wel hardere and grettere . on swiche schrewede prestes
þan he dude on ophinies . or phinies or on heore fader
<fol. 7v>For 3oure wickede suffraunce . and 3oure owne synne
3oure masses and 3oure matines . and many of 3oure oures
Arn don undeuoutli . drede is at þe laste
Lest crist in his constori3e . of 3ow a-curce mani3e
¶ J perseyuede þer þe power . þat petur hadde to kepe
To binde and to vnbinde . as þe boc telleþ
How he hit lefte wiþ loue . as oure lord wolde
a-mong foure vertues . most uertuous of uertues
þat cardinales hem calde . and closede þe gates
þer crist is in his kyngdom . to close wiþ heuene.
¶ Ac of cardinales at þe court . han cau3t hem swich a name
And power presument in hem self . a pope to make
To haue power þat petur hadde . repuyne hem i nylle
For in loue and lettrure . liþ þe grete eleccioun
Counturplede hit nou3t quod concience . for holi+chirche sake
¶ þanne cam þer a kyng . knythode him ladde
þe muche my3t of þe men . made him to regne
¶ þer cam kynde+wit . and clerkes he made
Conciense and kynde+wit . and knythode to-gedere
Casten þat þe comune schulde . heore comunes finde
¶ Kynde+wit and þe comune . contreued alle craftes
And for most profijt of þe comune . a plow þei gunne make
Wiþ lel labour~ to liue . while lif and lond lasteþ.
¶ þo kynde wiþ to þe kyng . and to þe comune seide
Crist saue þe sire kyng . and þi kyng+riche
And leue þe lede so þi lond . þat lewte þe loui3e
And for ri3thful reulyng . be rewarded in heuene
¶ Conciense to þe clergi3e . and to þe kyng seide
<lat><6 lines></lat>
¶ Conciense and þe kyng . in-to þe court wenten
Where houeden an hondred . in howues of selk
Sergauns hit semede . þat seruen at þe barre
To plede for penies . and poundes þe lawe
Nou3t for þe loue of oure lord . open heor lippes ones
þow mitest betere mete þe myst . on maluerne hulles
þan gete a mom of here mouþ . til monei be i-schewed

<Tranche 2>

<fol. 14r><line 10>¶ Dred stond þow at þe dore . and þat þe deon herde
What þe kyngus wille was . and withli he wente
And bad fals forte fle . and his feren alle
¶ Falsnesse for fere . fli to þe freres
And gile dude him to go . a-gast forte dei3e
Ac marchaundes metten wiþ him . and him abide made
And schitten him in heor schoppes . to schewen heore ware
And aparailede him as a prentes . þe peple to serue
¶ Lithliche liere . lup awei þenne
Lurkinge in lanes . to-lugged of manye
Ihe ne was nowher welcome . for his mani tales
Ouer-al i-honted out . and i-hote to trusse
¶ Pardeneres hadden pite of him . and pulde him to house
þei wessche him and wipede him . and wounden him in cloutes
And senten him on sondaies . wiþ seales to chirche
And gaf pardon for penes . pound mele abou3te
¶ þo loureden leches . and letteres þei senden
þat liere schulde wone wone wiþ hem . watres to loke
¶ Spiceres to him speke . to aspi3e heore ware
For he can on heore craft . and knowe many gummes
¶ munestrales and massageres . metten wiþ liere ones
And wiþhelden him half 3er . and enleuene daies
¶ Ac freres þorw fair speche . fetten him þennes
For knowing of comeres . þei copede him as a frere
He haþ leue to lepe out . as ofte as him likeþ
He is welcome whan he comeþ . and woneþ wiþ hem ofte
¶ Symoni3e and ciuile . senten to rome
And putten hem þorw a-peles . in þe popes grace
¶ Ac conciense to þe kyng . a-cusede hem boþe
And seide sire kyng bi crist . bote clerkes amende
þi kyngdom þorw heore coueitise . wile out of kynde wende
And holi+chirche þorw hem . worþ i-harmed for euere
<fol. 14v>¶ Alle fledden for fere . and flowen in-to hernes
Saue mede þat maide . ne mo dursten a-bide
Ac truli to telle . sche tremelde for fere
Wrong hure honden and wepte . whan sche was a-tached
<lat>hic incipit quartus passus de uisione</lat>
Now is mede þat maide . no mo of hem alle
Wiþ budelus and bailiues . i-brou3t bi-fore þe kyng
þe kyng clepede a clerk . i can nou3t his name
To take mede þat maide . and make hure at ese
I schal a-saie hure my-self . and softliche apoce
What man of þis world . sche is leuest to haue
¶ And 3if sche worche wijsli . bi wijsmenes consail
J wole for-giue hure alle hure gultes . so me god helpe
¶ Curteisli þe clerk þo . as þe kyng hite
Tok mede bi þe middel . and mildeliche hure brou3te
Jn-to boure wiþ blisse . and bi hure gan sitte
þer was murþe and menestralcie . mede to plece
þat wonen in westmenestre . honouren hure mani3e
Gentelliche wiþ ioi3e . þe iustises summe
Buskede hem to þat borw . þer þat burde dwellede
And comfortede hure as þei coude . bi þe clerkes leue
And seide morne nou3t mede . ne mak þow no serewe
For we wolleþ wisse þe kyng . and þi wai schape
Forte wende at þi wil . where þe leef likeþ
For al conciencies cast . or craft as i trowe
¶ mildeliche mede þo . þankede hem alle
Of heore grete goodnesse . a gaf hem echon
Coupes of clene gold . cuppes of seluer
Rynges wiþ rubies . and oþer riche giftes
þe leste of heore men . a moten of golde
¶ Whan þei hadden i-lau3t leue . at þis ladi mede
þo come clerkes . to comforte hure same
And beden hure be bliþe . for we ben þin owne
forte worche þi wil . while we mowe endure
¶ And mede mildeliche bi-hi3te hem þat same
To loue hem lelliche . and lordes hem make
And purchasse 3ow prouendres . while 3oure penes lasten
And bugge 3ow benefices . pluralite to haue
¶ And in constorie at court . do calle 3oure names
Schal no lewednesse lette . þe clerk þat i loui3e
þat he ne worþ furst a-vaunsed . for i am bi-knowe
<fol. 15r>þere connynge clerkes . schulle clocke bi-hynde
¶ þo cam þer a confessour . i-coped as a frere
To mede þat maide . mildeliche he loutede
þaw lered men and lewed . hadde i-leien bi þe echon
And falshode i-folewed þe . al þis fourti winter
J schal a-soile þe my self . for a sem of whete
And 3ut be þi bedeman . conciense to felle
A-mong kynges and knythtes . and clerkes 3if þe likeþ
¶ þo mede for hure misdedes . to þat man loutede
And schrof hure of hure synnes . schameles i wene
Sche tolde him a tale . and tok him a+noble
Forte ben hure bedeman . and bere wel hure ernde
among knythtes and clerkes . concience to turne
¶ He a-soilede hure sone . and seþþe he seide we hauen
A wyndow in worching . wile stonde us ful hi3e
Wolde 3e glace þe gable . and graue þer-inne 3oure name
Jn masse and in matynes . for mede wolde we singe
Sollempliche and softeliche . as for a sester of oure ordre
Loueliche þat ladi . lauhinge seide
J schal be 3oure frend frere . and faile 3ow neuere
Whiles 3e louen lordes . þat lecheri3e haunten
And lackeþ nou3t ladies . þat louen þe same
¶ Hit nys nou3t bute frelte of fleish . 3e findeþ hit be bokes
And a cours of kynde . wher-of we comen alle
Whose a-schapud þe sclaundre . þe scaþe is sone amendet
Hit is synne of seuene . sennest i relesed
¶ Haueþ merci quod mede . on hem þat hit haunteþ
And i schal keuere <changed from ceuere?> 3oure kyrke . and 3oure cloistre make
Boþe wyndowes and wowes . i wole a-mende and glace
And do peinte and portrei3e . and paie for þe makyng
þat eche sisour schal i-se . i am a soster of 3oures
¶ Ac god to alle goode men . swich grauing defendeþ
To writen in windowes . of eny goode dedes
Leste pride be i-peinted þer . and pomp of þe world
For god knoweþ þi conciense . and þi kynde wil
þi cost and hure coueitise . and who þe catel au3te
For whi leue lordes . leueþ swiche writyng
God in þe gospel . swiche grauyng nou3t a-loweþ
<lat></lat>
¶ Let nou3t þi left+hand . oure lord techeþ
Wite what þow delest . wiþ þi rith+side
<fol. 15v>¶ 3ut mede þat maide . þe meir sche bi-sou3te
Boþe schereues and sergaunt3 . and swiche as lawes kepen
To punissche on pilaries . and in penyng-stoles
As bakers and brueres . bocheres and cokes
For þese men don most harm . to þe mene peple
Rechen þorw regratrie . and rentes hem biggen
Wiþ þat þe pore peple . schulde putte in heore wombe
For token þei treweli . þei stieden nou3t so hi3e
And bou3ten hem no burgages . be þe wel sure
þei han no pite on þe pore peple . þat parcelmele biggen
þaw þei take hem untidi þing . no tresoun þei hit holden
And þaw þei fulle nou3t ful . þat for þe lawe is seled
þei gripen þer-fore as grete . as for þe grete truþe
¶ many sondri serewes . in cites falleþ ofte
Boþe þorw feor and flod . and al þorw fals peple
þat bi-gilen goode men . and greuen hem wrongfulli
þe whiche crien on heore knes . þat crist hem a-uenge
Here on þis erþe . or elles in helle
¶ þat so bi-gileþ hem of heor good . god on hem sendeþ
Feueres or fouler eueles . or feor on heore howses
Moreine or oþer meschaunces . and many tyme hit falleþ
þat jnnocence is i-herd . in heuene a-mong seyntes
þat louten for hem to oure lord . and to oure ladi boþe
To graunte gilours on erþe . grace to a-mende
And to haue heore penaunce on erþe . and nou3t þe peine of helle
¶ þanne falleþ þer feor . on false menes houses
And gode menes for heore gultes . gloweþ on feore after
Al þis we han seyn . þat sum time þorw a brewere
Many burgages han be i-brent . and bodies þer-jnne
And þorw a candel cleuyng . in a cursed place
Ful adoun and furbrente . forþ al þe rewe
¶ For whi meires þat maken fre men . me þynkeþ þei au3ten
Forte speri3e and a-spi3e . for eny speche of seluer
What maner mister . or marchaundise he usede
Ar he were vnderfonge fre . and falawe in oure rolles
¶ Hit is nou3t semeli for soþe . in cite ne in borw toun
þat vsereres and regratours . for eny kynnes 3iftes
Be i-franchised for a fre man . and haue a fals name
¶ Ac mede þe maide . þe meir sche bi- sou3te
Of alle swiche sellers . seluer to take
Or presentes wiþ-oute penes. and oþer priuey3e giftes
<fol. 16r>And haue reuþe on regratours . þat han riche handes
<lat></lat>
¶ Loue hem for my loue . quod þat ladi mede
And suffre hem sum time . to sulle a-geyn þe lawe
¶ Salamon þe sage . a sermoun he made
Jn amendement of meires . and oþere stewardes
And withnesseþ what worþ of hem . þat willen take mede