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diff --git a/43661-0.txt b/43661-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..899cd38 --- /dev/null +++ b/43661-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17468 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43661 *** + +Transcriber's note: A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected: +they are listed at the end of the text. + +In this edition line numbers are displayed on every tenth line--in the +printed work they were synchronised to the pagination, with sometimes only +one number per page. Lines marked = were printed AND COUNTED as two lines. + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). A carat character +is used to denote superscription. A single character, or group enclosed +enclosed in curly brackets, following the carat is superscripted (example: +.xxx.^{ti}). In the main texts of The Vision and The Creed, the numbers of +the original pages are enclosed in curly brackets to facilitate the use of +the glossary. + +Project Gutenberg has the other volume of this work. +Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43660 + + * * * * * + + +Library of Old Authors. + + THE VISION AND CREED + + OF + + PIERS PLOUGHMAN. + + EDITED, + FROM A CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT, + WITH A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION, + NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY, + + BY THOMAS WRIGHT, M.A. F.S.A. &c. + + Corresponding Member of the Imperial Institute of France, + Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + VOL. II. + + _SECOND AND REVISED EDITION._ + + LONDON: + REEVES AND TURNER, 196 STRAND. + 1887. + + * * * * * + +{273} + + _Passus Decimus Quartus, etc._ + + "Ihave but oon hool hater," quod Haukyn; 8900 + "I am the lasse to blame, + Though it be soiled and selde clene: + I slepe therinne o nyghtes. + And also I have an houswif, + Hewen and children,-- + _Uxorem duxi, et ideo non possum venire._-- + That wollen by-molen it many tyme, + Maugree my chekes. + It hath be laved in Lente + And out of Lente bothe, 8910 + With the sope of siknesse, + That seketh wonder depe, + And with the losse of catel, + Looth for to a-gulte + God of any good man, + By aught that I wiste; + And was shryven of the preest + That gaf me for my synnes + To penaunce pacience + And povere men to fede, 8920 + Al for coveitise of my cristendom + In clennesse to kepen it. + {274} + And kouthe I nevere, by Crist! + Kepen it clene an houre, + That I ne soiled it with sighte + Or som ydel speche, + Or thorugh werk, or thorugh word, + Or wille of myn herte, + That I ne flobre it foule + Fro morwe til even." 8930 + + "And I shal kenne thee," quod Conscience, + "Of contricion to make + That shal clawe thi cote + Of alle kynnes filthe. + _Cordis contritio, etc._ + Do-wel shal wasshen and wryngen it + Thorugh a wis confessour. + _Oris confessio, etc._ + Do-bet shal beten it and bouken it + As bright as any scarlet, 8940 + And engreyven it with good wille + And Goddes grace to amende the, + And sithen sende thee to satisfaccion + For to sowen it after. + _Satisfactio Do-best._ + + "Shal nevere cheeste by-molen it, + Ne mothe after biten it, + Ne fend ne fals man + Defoulen it in thi lyve. + Shal noon heraud ne harpour 8950 + Have a fairer garnement + Than Haukyn the actif man, + And thow do by my techyng; + Ne no mynstrall be moore worth + Amonges povere and riche, + Than Haukyns wif the wafrer, + {275} + With his _activa vita_." + + "And I shal purveie thee paast," quod Pacience, + "Though no plough erye, + And flour to fede folk with 8960 + As best be for the soule, + Though nevere greyn growed, + Ne grape upon vyne. + To alle that lyveth and loketh + Liflode wolde I fynde, + And that y-nogh shal noon faille + Of thyng that hem nedeth, + We sholde noght be to bisy + Abouten oure liflode," + _Ne solliciti sitis, etc. Volucres coeli 8970 + Deus pascit, etc. Patientes + vincunt._ + + Thanne laughed Haukyn a litel, + And lightly gan swerye, + "Who so leveth yow, by oure Lord! + I leve noght he be blessed." + + "No," quod Pacience paciently; + And out of his poke hente + Vitailles of grete vertues + For alle manere beestes, 8980 + And seide, "Lo here liflode y-nogh! + If oure bileve be trewe. + For lent nevere was lif, + But liflode were shapen, + Wher-of or wher-fore + Or wher-by to libbe. + + "First the wilde worm + Under weet erthe, + Fissh to lyve in the flood, + {276} + And in the fir the criket, 8990 + The corlew by kynde of the eyr + Moost clennest flessh of briddes, + And bestes by gras and by greyn + And by grene rootes, + In menynge that alle men + Myghte the same + Lyve thorugh leel bileve + And love, as God witnesseth." + _Quodcunque petieritis a patre in + nomine meo, etc. Et alibi: 9000 + Non in solo pane vivit homo, + sed in omni verbo quod procedit + de ore Dei._ + + But I lokede what liflode it was + That Pacience so preisede; + And thanne was it a pece of the pater-noster, + _Fiat voluntas tua._ + + "Have, Haukyn," quod Pacience, + "And et this whan the hungreth, + Or whan thow clomsest for cold, 9010 + Or clyngest for drye; + Shul nevere gyves thee greve, + Ne gret lordes wrathe, + Prison ne peyne; + For _patientes vincunt_. + By so that thow be sobre + Of sighte and of tonge, + In etynge and in handlynge, + And in alle thi fyve wittes, + Darstow nevere care for corn, 9020 + Ne lynnen cloth ne wollen, + Ne for drynke, ne deeth drede, + But deye as God liketh, + {277} + Or thorugh hunger or thorugh hete, + At his wille be it. + For if thow lyve after his loore, + The shorter lif the bettre. + _Si quis amat Christum, + Mundum non diliget istum._ + + "For thorugh his breeth beestes woxen 9030 + And a-brood yeden. + _Dixit et facta sunt, etc._ + _Ergo_ thorugh his breeth mowen + Men and beestes lyven, + As holy writ witnesseth, + Whan men seye hir graces. + _Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples + omne animal benedictione._ + + "It is founden that fourty wynter + Folk lyvede withouten tulying; 9040 + And out of the flynt sprong the flood + That folk and beestes dronken; + And in Elyes tyme + Hevene was y-closed, + That no reyn ne roon; + Thus rede men in bokes 9046 + That many wyntres men lyveden, + And no mete ne tulieden. + + "Sevene slepe, as seith the book, + Sevene hundred wynter, + And lyveden withouten liflode, + And at the laste thei woken. + And if men lyvede as mesure wolde, + Sholde nevere moore be defaute + Amonges cristene creatures, + If Cristes wordes ben trewe. + + "Ac unkyndenesse _caristiam_ maketh 9056 + {278} + Amonges cristen peple; + And over plentee maketh pryde + Amonges poore and riche. + Therfore mesure is muche worth, 9060 + It may noght be to deere; + For the meschief and the meschaunce + Amonges men of Sodome, + Weex thorugh plentee of payn, + And of pure sleuthe. + _Otiositas et abundantia panis peccatum + turpissimum nutrivit._ + For thei mesured noght hemself + Of that thei ete and dronke, + Thei diden dedly synne 9070 + That the devel liked, + So vengeaunce fil upon hem + For hir vile synnes; + Thei sonken into helle, + The citees echone. + + "For-thi mesure we us wel, + And make oure feith oure sheltrom; + And thorugh feith cometh contricion, + Conscience woot wel, + Which dryveth awey dedly synne, 9080 + And dooth it to be venial. + And though a man myghte noght speke, + Contricion myghte hym save, + And brynge his soule to blisse; + For so that feith bere witnesse, + That whiles he lyvede, he bilevede + In the loore of the holy chirche. + _Ergo_ contricion, feith, and conscience + Is kyndeliche Do-wel, + {279} + And surgiens for dedly synnes 9090 + Whan shrift of mouthe failleth. + Ac shrift of mouth moore worthi is, + If man be y-liche contrit; + For shrift of mouthe sleeth synne, + Be it never so dedly. + _Per confessionem_ to a preest + _Peccata occiduntur._ + + "Ther contricion dooth but dryveth it down + Into a venial synne, + As David seith in the Sauter, 9100 + _Et quorum tecta sunt peccata_; + Ac satisfaccion seketh out the roote, + And bothe sleeth and voideth, + An as it nevere hadde y-be + To noghte bryngeth dedly synne, + That it nevere eft is sene ne soor, + But semeth a wounde y-heeled." + + "Where wonyeth Charité?" quod Haukyn, + "I wiste nevere in my lyve + Man that with hym spak, 9110 + As wide as I have passed." + + "Ther parfit truthe and poore herte is, + And pacience of tonge, + Ther is Charité the chief chaumbrere + For God hymselve." + + "Wheither paciente poverte," quod Haukyn, + "Be moore plesaunt to our Drighte + Than richesse rightfulliche wonne, + And resonably despended?" + + "Ye, _quis est ille_?" quod Pacience; 9120 + "Quik _laudabimus eum_. + {280} + Though men rede of richesse + Right to the worldes ende, + I wiste nevere renk that riche was, + That whan he rekene sholde, + Whan he drogh to his deeth day, + That he ne dredde hym soore, + And that at the rekenyng in arrerage fel + Rather than out of dette. + Ther the poore dar plede, 9130 + And preve by pure reson, + To have allowance of his lord, + By the lawe he it cleymeth; + Joye, that nevere joye hadde, + Of rightful jugge he asketh, + And seith 'Lo! briddes and beestes + That no blisse ne knoweth, + And wilde wormes in wodes, + Thorugh wyntres thow hem grevest; + And makest hem wel neigh meke, 9140 + And mylde for defaute; + And after thow sendest hem somer, + That is hir sovereyn joye, + And blisse to alle that ben, + Bothe wilde and tame.' + + "Thanne may beggeris as beestes + After boote waiten, + That al hir lif han lyved + In langour and in defaute, + But God sente hem som tyme 9150 + Som manere joye + Outher here or ellis where, + Kynde wolde it nevere; + For to wrotherhele was he wroght + That nevere was joye shapen. + {281} + Aungeles that in helle now ben + Hadden joye som tyme; + And Dives in the deyntees lyvede, + And in _douce vie_. + Right so reson sheweth 9160 + That the men that were riche, + And hir makes also, + Lyvede hir lif in murthe. + + "Ac God is of wonder wille, + By that kynde wit sheweth, + To gyve many man his mede + Er he it have deserved. + Right so fareth God by some riche, + Ruthe me it thynketh; + For thei han hir hire heer, 9170 + And hevene, as it were, + And greet likynge to lyve + Withouten labour of bodye: + And whan he dyeth, ben disalowed, + As David seith in the Sauter: + _Dormierunt, et nihil invenerunt._ + And in another stede also: + _Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, + in civitate tua, et ad nihilum + rediges, etc._ 9180 + + "Allas! that richesse shal reve + And robbe mannes soule + From the love of oure Lord, + At his laste ende. + + "Hewen, that han hir hire afore, + Arn evere moore nedy; + And selden deyeth he out of dette, + That dyneth er he deserve it, + And til he have doon his devoir + {282} + And his dayes journée. 9190 + For whan a werkman hath wroght, + Than many men se the sothe + What he were worthi for his werk, + And what he hath deserved; + And noght to fonge bifore, + For drede of disalowyng. + + "So I seye by yow riche, + It semeth noght that ye shulle + Have hevene in youre here dwellyng, + And hevene also therafter; 9200 + Right so as a servaunt taketh his salarie bifore, + And siththe wolde clayme moore, + As he that noon hadde, + And hath hire at the laste. + It may noght be, ye riche men, + Or Mathew on God lyeth: + _Væ! deliciis ad delicias difficile est + transire._ + + "Ac if ye riche have ruthe, + And rewarde wel the poore, 9210 + And lyven as lawe techeth, + And doon leauté to hem alle, + Crist of his curteisie + Shal conforte yow at the laste, + And rewarden alle double richesse + That rewful hertes habbeth. + And as an hyne that hadde + His hire er he bigonne, + And whan he hath doon his devoir wel + Men dooth hym oother bountee, 9220 + Gyveth hym a cote above his covenaunt, + {283} + Right so Crist gyveth hevene + Bothe to riche and to noght riche + That rewfulliche libbeth; + And alle that doon hir devoir wel + Han double hire for hir travaille, + Here forgifnesse of hir synnes, + And hevene blisse after. + + "Ac it is but selde y-seien, + As by holy seintes bokes, 9230 + That God rewarded double reste + To any riche wye. + For muche murthe is amonges riche, + As in mete and clothyng; + And muche murthe in May is + Amonges wilde beestes, + And so forth while somer lasteth + Hir solace dureth. + + "Ac beggeris aboute Midsomer + Bred-lees thei slepe. + And yet is wynter for hem worse, + For weet shoed thei gone, + A-furst soore and a-fyngred, + And foule y-rebuked, 9244 + And a-rated of riche men + That ruthe is to here. + Now, Lord, sende hem somer, + And som maner joye, + Hevene after hir hennes goyng, + That here han swich defaute, + For alle myghtestow have maad + Noon mener than oother, + And y-liche witty and wise, + If thee wel hadde liked. + But, Lord, have ruthe on thise riche men, 9254 + {284} + That rewarde noght thi prisoners. + Of the good that thow hem gyvest + _Ingrati_ ben manye; + Ac, God, of thi goodnesse + Gyve hem grace to amende. + For may no derthe be hem deere, 9260 + Droghte ne weet hem greve, + Ne neither hete ne hayll; + Have thei hir heele, + Of that thei wilne and wolde + Wanteth hem noght here. + + "Ac poore peple thi prisoners, + Lord, in the put of meschief, + Conforte tho creatures, + That muche care suffren + Thorugh derthe, thorugh droghte, 9270 + Alle hir dayes here, + Wo in wynter tymes + For wantynge of clothes, + And in somer tyme selde + Soupen to the fulle. + Conforte thi carefulle, + Crist, in thi richesse; + For how thow confortest alle creatures, + Clerkes bereth witnesse: + _Convertimini ad me, et salvi eritis_. 9280 + + "Thus _in genere_ of gentries + Jhesu Crist seide, + To robberis and to reveris, + To riche and to poore, + Thou taughtest hem in the Trinité + To taken bapteme, + And to be clene through that cristnyng + Of alle kynnes synne; + {285} + And if us fille thorugh folie + To falle in synne after, 9290 + Confession and knowlichynge + In cravynge thi mercy, + Shulde amenden us as manye sithes + As man wolde desire. + And if the pope wolde plede ayein, + And punysshe us in conscience, + He sholde take the acquitaunce as quyk, + And to the queed shewen it. + _Pateat, etc. per passionem Domini._ + And putten of so the pouke, 9300 + And preven us under borwe. + Ac the parchemyn of this patente + Of poverte be moste, + And of pure pacience, + And parfit bileve. + + "Of pompe and of pride + The parchemym decourreth, + And principalliche of al the peple, + But thei be poore of herte; + Ellis is al on ydel, 9310 + Al that evere writen + Pater-nostres and penaunce, + And pilgrymages to Rome; + But oure spences and spendynge + Sprynge of a trewe wille, + Ellis is al our labour lost, + Lo! how men writeth + In fenestres at the freres, + If fals be the foundement. + For-thi cristene sholde be in commune riche, 9320 + Noon coveitous for hymselve. + {286} + + "For sevene synnes ther ben, + That assaillen us evere; + The fend folweth hem alle, + And fondeth hem to helpe. + Ac with richesse that ribaud + He rathest men bigileth. + For ther that richesse regneth, + Reverence folweth; + And that is plesaunt to pride, 9330 + In poore and in riche. + And the riche is reverenced + By reson of his richesse, + Ther the poore is put bihynde, + And peraventure kan moore + Of wit and of wisdom, + That fer awey is bettre + Than richesse or reautee, + And rather y-herd in hevene. + For the riche hath muche to rekene; 9340 + And many tyme hym that walketh + The heighe wey to hevene-ward, + Richesse hym letteth,-- + _Ita inpossibile diviti, etc._-- + Ther the poore preesseth bifore the riche, + With a pak at his rugge,-- + _Opera enim illorum sequuntur illos_.-- + Batauntliche, as beggeris doon, + And boldeliche he craveth, + For his poverte and his pacience, 9350 + A perpetuel blisse. + _Beati pauperes, quoniam ipsorum + est regnum cælorum._ + + "And pride in richesse regneth + Rather than in poverte; + {287} + Arst in the master than in the man + Som mansion he haveth. + Ac in poverte, ther pacience is, + Pride hath no myghte, + Ne none of the sevene synnes 9360 + Sitten ne mowe ther longe, + Ne have power in poverte, + If pacience folwe. + For the poore is ay prest + To plese the riche, + And buxom at hise biddynges, + For his broke loves; + And boxomnesse and boost + Arn evere moore at werre, + And either hateth oother 9370 + In alle maner werkes. + + "If wrathe wrastle with the poore, + He hath the worse ende; + And if thei bothe pleyne, + The poore is but feble; + And if he chide or chatre, + Hym cheveth the worse. + + "And if coveitise cacche the poore, + Thei may noght come togideres; + And by the nekke namely 9380 + Hir noon may hente oother. + For men knowen wel that coveitise + Is of kene wille, + And hath hondes and armes + Of ful greet lengthe; + And poverte nys but a petit thyng, + Apereth noght to his navele; + And lovely layk was it nevere + Bitwene the longe and the shorte. + {288} + + "And though avarice wolde angre the poore, 9390 + He hath but litel myghte; + For poverte hath but pokes + To putten in hise goodes, + Ther avarice hath almaries, + And yren bounden cofres. + And wheither be lighter to breke, + And lasse boost maketh, + A beggeris bagge + Than an yren bounde cofre? + + "Lecherie loveth hym noght, 9400 + For he gyveth but litel silver, + Ne dooth hym noght dyne delicatly, + Ne drynke wyn ofte. + A straw for the stuwes! + Thei stoode noght, I trowe, + Hadde thei no thyng but of poore men, + Hir houses stoode untyled. + + "And though sleuthe suwe poverte, + And serve noght God to paie, + Meschief is his maister, 9410 + And maketh hym to thynke + That God is his grettest help, + And no gome ellis; + And he is servaunt, as he seith, + And of his sute bothe; + And wheither he be or be noght, + He bereth the signe of poverte, + And in that secte oure Saveour + Saved al mankynde. + For-thi every poore that pacient is, 9420 + May cleymen and asken + After hir endynge here + {289} + Hevene riche blisse, + + "Muche hardier may he asken, + That here myghte have his wille + In lond and in lordshipe, + And likynge of bodie, + And for Goddes love leveth al, + Any lyveth as a beggere; + And as a mayde for mannes love 9430 + Hire moder forsaketh, + Hir fader and alle hire frendes, + And folweth hir make. + Muche moore is to love + Of hym that swich oon taketh, + Than is that maiden + That is maried thorugh brocage, + As by assent of sondry parties, + And silver to boote, + Moore for coveitise of good 9440 + Than kynde love of bothe. + So it fareth by ech a persone + That possession forsaketh, + And put hym to be pacient. + And poverte weddeth, + The which is sib to God hymself, + And so to hise seintes." + + "Have God my trouthe!" quod Haukyn, + "Ye preise faste poverte, + What is poverte with pacience," quod he; 9450 + "Proprely to mene?" + "_Paupertas_," quod Pacience, "_est + odibile bonum, remotio curarum, + possessio sine calumnia, + donum Dei, sanitatis mater, + {290} + absque sollicitudine semita, + sapientiæ temperatrix, negotium + sine damno, incerta fortuna, + absque sollicitudine + felicitas._" 9460 + + "I kan noght construe al this," quod Haukyn, + "Ye moste kenne me this on Englissh." + + "In Englissh," quod Pacience, + "It is wel hard wel to expounen; + Ac som deel I shal seyen it, + By so thow understonde: + Poverte is the firste point + That pride moost hateth; + Thanne is it good by good skile, + Al that agasteth pride. 9470 + Right as contricion is confortable thyng, + Conscience woot wel, + And a sorwe of hymself, + And a solace to the soule, + So poverte propreliche, + Penaunce and joye, + Is to the body + Pure spiritual helthe. + _Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum._ + And contricion confort, 9480 + And _cura animarum_. + + "Selde sit poverte, + The sothe to declare; + For as justice to jugge men, + Enjoyned is no poore, + Ne to be mair above men + Ne mynystre under kynges; + Selde is any poore y-put + {291} + To punysshen any peple. + _Remotio curarum._ 9490 + _Ergo_ poverte and poore men + Perfournen the comaundement, + _Nolite judicare + Quemquam_ the thridde," + + "Selde is any poore riche, + But of rightful heritage; + Wynneth he noght with wightes false, + Ne with unseled mesures, + Ne borweth of hise neighebores, + But that he may wel paie. 9500 + _Possessio sine calumnia._ + + "The ferthe is a fortune + That florissheth the soule, + With sobretee fram alle synne, + And also yit moore + It afaiteth the flessh + Fram folies ful manye, + A collateral confort, + Cristes owene gifte. + _Donum Dei._ 9510 + + "The fifte is moder of helthe, + A frend in alle fondynges, + And for the land evere a leche, + A lemman of alle clennesse. + _Sanitatis mater._ + + "The sixte is a path of pees, + Ye, thorugh the paas of Aultone + Poverte myghte passe + Withouten peril of robbyng. + For ther that poverte passeth, 9520 + Pees folweth after; + And ever the lasse that he bereth, + {292} + The hardier he is of herte. + For-thi seith Seneca, + _Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita_ = + And an hardy man of herte, + Among an heep of theves. + _Cantabit paupertas coram latrone + viatore._ 9530 + + "The seventhe is welle of wisedom, + And fewe wordes sheweth; + Therfore lordes alloweth hym litel, + Or listneth to his reson, + For he tempreth the tonge to trutheward, + And no tresor coveiteth + _Sapientiæ temperatrix._ + + "The eightethe is a lele labour, + And looth to take moore + Than he may wel deserve, 9540 + In somer or in wynter. + And if he chaffareth, he chargeth no losse, + Mowe he charité wynne. + _Negotium sine damno._ + + "The nynthe is swete to the soule, + No sugre is swetter. + For pacience is payn + For poverte hymselve, + And sobretee swete drynke + And good leche in siknesse. 9550 + Thus lered me a lettred man, + For oure Lordes love of hevene; + Seint Austyn a blessed lif + Withouten bisynesse ladde + For body and for soule, + _Absque sollicitudine felicitas_. + {293} + Now God, that alle good gyveth, + Graunte his soule reste + That this first wroot to wissen men + What poverte was to mene!" 9560 + + "Allas!" quod Haukyn the actif man tho, + "That after my cristendom + I ne hadde be deed and dolven + For Do-welis sake! + So hard it is," quod Haukyn, + "To lyve and to do no synne. + Synne seweth us evere," quod he, + And sory gan wexe, + And wepte water with hise eighen, + And weyled the tyme 9570 + That he evere dide dede + That deere God displesed; + Swound and sobbed + And siked ful ofte, + That evere he hadde lond outher lordshipe, + Lasse other moore, + Or maistrie over any man + Mo than of hymselve. + "I were noght worthi, woot God!" quod Haukyn, + "To werien any clothes, 9580 + Ne neither sherte ne shoon, + Save for shame one + To covere my careyne," quod he; + And cride mercy faste, + And wepte and wailede; + And therwith I awakede. 9586 + + * * * * * + +{294} + + _Passus Decimus Quintus, etc. finit Do-wel, et incipit Do-bet._ + + Ac after my wakynge, 9587 + It was wonder longe + Er I koude kyndely + Knowe what was Do-wel. + And so my wit weex and wanyed, + Til I a fool weere; + And some lakkede my lif, + Allowed it fewe, + And lete me for a lorel, + And looth to reverencen + Lordes or ladies, + Or any lif ellis; + As persons in pelure, + With pendauntz of silver; 9600 + To sergeauntz ne to swiche + Seide I noght ones, + "God loke yow, lordes!" + Ne loutede faire; + That folk helden me a fool, + And in that folie I raved. + Til reson hadde ruthe on me, + And rokked me a-slepe, + Til I seigh, as it sorcerie were, + A sotil thyng withalle; 9610 + {295} + Oon withouten tonge and teeth + Tolde me whider I sholde, + And wherof I cam, and of what kynde; + I conjured hym at the laste, + If he were Cristes creature + Anoon me to tellen. + + "I am Cristes creature," quod he, + "And cristene in many a place, + In Cristes court y-knowe wel, + And of his kyn a party. 9620 + Is neither Peter the porter, + Nor Poul with his fauchon, + That wole defende me the dore, + Dynge I never so late; + At mydnyght, at mydday, + My vois so is knowe, + That ech a creature of his court + Welcometh me faire." + + "What are ye called," quod I, "in that court, + Among Cristes peple?" 9630 + + "The whiles I quikne the cors," quod he, + "Called am I _Anima_; + And whan I wilne and wolde, + _Animus_ ich hatte; + And for that I kan knowe, + Called am I _Mens_; + And whan I make mone to God, + _Memoria_ is my name; + And whan I deme domes, + And do as truthe techeth, 9640 + Thanne is _Ratio_ my righte name, + Reson on Englisshe; + {296} + And whan I feele that folk telleth, + My firste name is _Sensus_, + And that is wit and wisdom, + The welle of alle craftes. + And whan I chalange or chalange noght, + Chepe or refuse, + Thanne am I _Conscience_ y-called, + Goddes clerk and his notarie; 9650 + And whan I love leelly + Oure Lord and alle othere, + Thanne is lele Love my name, + And in Latyn _Amor_; + And whan I flee fro the flesshe, + And forsake the careyne, + Thanne am I a spirit specheless, + _Spiritus_ thanne iche hatte. + Austyn and Ysodorus, + Either of hem bothe, 9660 + Nempnede me thus to name, + And now thow myght chese + How thow coveitest to calle me, + For now thow knowest my names." + _Anima pro diversis actionibus diversa + nomina sortitur; dum + vivificat corpus, anima est; + dum vult, animus est; dum + scit, mens est; dum recolit, + memoria est; dum judicat, 9670 + ratio est; dum sentit, sensus + est; dum amat, amor est; + dum negat vel consentit, conscientia + est; dum spirat, spiritus + est._ + "Ye ben as a bisshope," quod I, + {297} + Al bourdynge that tyme; + "For bisshopes y-blessed, + Thei bereth manye names, + _Præsul_ and _pontifex_, 9680 + And _metropolitanus_, + And othere names an heep, + _Episcopus_ and _pastor_." + + "That is sooth," seide he; + "Now I se thi wille; + Thow woldest knowe and konne + The cause of alle my names, + And of me, if thow myghtest, + Me thynketh by thi speche." + + "Ye, sire," I seide, 9690 + "By so no man were greved, + Alle the sciences under sonne, + And alle the sotile craftes, + I wolde I knewe and kouthe + Kyndely in myn herte." + + "Thanne artow inparfit," quod he, + "And oon of Prides knyghtes; + For swich a lust and likyng + Lucifer fel from hevene." + _Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, et 9700 + similis ero altissimo._ + + "It were ayeins kynde," quod he, + "And alle kynnes reson, + That any creature sholde konne al, + Except Crist oone: + Ayein swiche Salomon speketh, + And despiseth hir wittes, + And seith, _Sicut qui mel comedit + multum, non est ei bonum; sic + qui scrutator est majestatis, 9710 + opprimitur a gloria_. + {298} + + "To Englisshe men this is to mene, + That mowen speke and here, + The man that muche hony eteth, + His mawe it engleymeth; + And the moore that a man + Of good matere hereth, + But he do therafter, + It dooth hym double scathe. + _Beatus est_, seith seint Bernard, 9720 + _Qui scripturas legit, + Et verba vertit in opera_ + Fulliche to his power. + Coveitise to konne + And to knowe sciences, + Putte out of Paradis + Adam and Eve. + _Scientiæ appetitus hominem inmortalitatis + gloria spoliavit._ + + "And right as hony is yvel to defie, 9730 + And engleymeth the mawe; + Right so he that thorugh reson + Wolde the roote knowe + Of God and of hise grete myghtes, + Hise graces it letteth. + For in the likynge lith a pride, + And licames coveitise, + Ayein Cristes counseil + And alle clerkes techynge; + That is _Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere_ = + + "Freres and fele othere maistres, 9742 + That to lewed men prechen, + Ye moeven materes unmesurable + {299} + To tellen of the Trinité, + That ofte tymes the lewed peple + Of hir bileve doute. + Bettre it were to manye doctours + To leven swich techyng, + And tellen men of the ten comaundmentz, 9750 + And touchen the sevene synnes, + And of the braunches that burjoneth of hem, + And bryngen men to helle, + And how that folk in folies + Misspenden hir fyve wittes, + As wel freres as oother folk + Foliliche spenden + In housynge, in haterynge, + And in to heigh clergie shewynge, + Moore for pompe than for pure charité, 9760 + The peple woot the sothe, + That I lye noght, loo! + For lordes ye plesen, + And reverencen the riche + The rather for hir silver + _Confundantur omnes qui adorant + sculptilia. Et alibi: Ut quid + diligitis vanitatem, et quæritis + mendacium._ + + "Gooth to the glose of thise vers, 9770 + Ye grete clerkes; + If I lye on yow to my lewed wit, + Ledeth me to brennyng. + For as it semeth, ye forsaketh + No mannes almesse + Of usurers, of hoores, + {300} + Of avarouse chapmen; + And louten to thise lordes + That mowen lene yow nobles, + Ayein youre rule and religion, 9780 + I take record at Jhesus, + That seide to hise disciples, + _Ne sitis personarum acceptores_. + Of this matere I myghte + Make a long bible! + Ac of curatours of cristen peple, + As clerkes bereth witnesse, + I shal tellen it, for truthes sake, + Take hede who so liketh. + + "As holynesse and honesté 9790 + Out of holy chirche spredeth + Thorugh lele libbynge men + That Goddes lawe techen; + Right so out of holi chirche + Alle yveles spryngeth, + There inparfit preesthode is, + Prechours and techeris. + I se it by ensaunple + In somer tyme on trowes: + Ther some bowes ben leved, 9800 + And some bereth none, + Ther is a meschief in the morre + Of swiche manere bowes. + + "Rightso bi persons and preestes, + And prechours of holi chirche, + That aren roote of the right feith + To rule the peple. + And ther the roote is roten, + Reson woot the sothe, + Shal nevere flour ne fruyt 9810 + {301} + Ne fair leef be greene. + For-thi wolde ye, lettrede, leve + The lecherie of clothyng; + And be kynde, as bifel for clerkes, + And curteise of Cristes goodes, + Trewe of youre tonge, + And of youre tail bothe, + And hatien to here harlotrie; + And noght to underfonge + Tithes, but of trewe thyng, 9820 + Y-tilied or chaffared; + Lothe were lewed men, + But thei youre loore folwede, + And amendeden hem that mysdoon + Moore for youre ensaumples, + Than for to prechen and preven it noght, + Ypocrisie it semeth; + The which in Latyn + Is likned to a dongehill + That were bi-snewed with snow, 9830 + And snakes withinne; + Or to a wal that were whit-lymed, + And were foul withinne; + + "Right so manye preestes, + Prechours and prelates, + Ye aren enblaunched with _bele paroles_, + And with clothes also; + Ac youre werkes and youre wordes ther under, + Aren ful unloveliche. + Johannes Crisostomus 9840 + Of clerkes speketh and preestes; + _Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, + sic de templo omne + malum procedit. Si sacerdotium + {302} + integrum fuerit, tota floret + ecclesia: si autem corruptum + fuerit, omnis fides marcida + est. Si sacerdotium fuerit + in peccatis, totus populus + convertitur ad peccandum. Sicut 9850 + cum videris arborem pallidam + et marcidam, intelligis + quod vitium habet in radice. + Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum + et irreligiosum, sine + dubio sacerdotium ejus non est + sanum._ + + "If lewed men wiste + What this Latyn meneth, + And who was myn auctour, 9860 + Muche wonder me thinketh, + But if many a preest beere, + For hir baselardes and hir broches, + A peire of bedes in hir hand, + And a book under hir arme. + Sire Johan and sire Geffrey + Hath a girdel of silver. + A baselard or a ballok-knyf, + With botons over gilte; + Ac a porthors that sholde be his plow 9870 + _Placebo_ to sigge, + Hadde he nevere service to save silver therto. + Seith it with ydel wille. + + "Allas! ye lewed men, + Muche lese ye on preestes. + Ac thing that wikkedly is wonne, + And with false sleightes, + Wolde nevere the wit of witty God + {303} + But wikkede men it hadde, + The whiche arn preestes inparfite, 9880 + And prechours after silver, + Executours and sodenes, + Somonours and hir lemmannes; + That that with gile was geten, + Ungraciousliche is despended; + So harlotes and hores + Arn holpe with swiche goodes, + And Goddes folk, for defaute therof, + For-faren and spillen. + + "Curatours of holy kirke, 9890 + As clerkes that ben avarouse, + Lightliche that thei leven, + Losels it habbeth, + Or deieth intestate, + And thanne the bisshope entreth + And maketh murthe thermyd, + And hise men bothe, + And seyen he was a nygard + That no good myghte aspare + To frend ne to fremmed, 9900 + The fend have his soule! + For a wrecchede hous held he + Al his lif tyme; + And that he spared and bisperede, + Dispende we in murthe; + By lered, by lewed, + That looth is to despende. + Thus goon hire goodes. + Be the goost faren. + Ac for goode men, God woot! 9910 + Greet doel men maken, + And bymeneth goode mete gyveres, + {304} + And in mynde haveth, + In preieres and in penaunces, + And in parfit charité." + + "What is charité?" quod I tho. + "A childisshe thyng," he seide. + "_Nisi efficiamini parvuli, non intrabitis + in regnum cælorum._ + Withouten fauntelté or folie, 9920 + A fre liberal wille." + + "Where sholde men fynde swich a frend, + With so fre an herte?" + "I have lyved in londe," quod he, + "My name is Longe-wille; + And fond I nevere ful charité + Byfore ne bihynde. + Men beth merciable + To mendinauntz and to poore, + And wollen lene ther thei leve 9930 + Lelly to ben paied. + Ac charité that Poul preiseth best, + And moost plesaunt to oure Lord, + Is _Non inflatur, non est ambitiosa, non + quærit quæ sua sunt, etc_. + + "I seigh nevere swich a man, + So me God helpe! + That he ne wolde aske after his, + And outher while coveite + Thyng that neded hym noght, 9940 + And nyme it, if he myghte. + + "Clerkes kenne me + That Crist is in alle places; + Ac I seigh hym nevere soothly, + But as myself in a mirour: + _In ænigmate tunc facie ad faciem._ + {305} + And so I trowe trewely, + By that men telleth of charité, + It is noght chaumpions fight, + Ne chaffare, as I trowe, 9950 + + "Charité," quod he, "ne chaffareth noght, + Ne chalangeth, ne craveth; + As proud of a peny, + As of a pound of golde; + And is as glad of a gowne + Of a gray russet, + As of a tunycle of Tarse, + Or of trie scarlet. + He is glad with alle glade, + And good til alle wikkede, 9960 + And leveth and loveth alle + That oure Lord made. + Corseth he no creature, + Ne he kan bere no wrathe, + Ne no likynge hath to lye, + Ne laughe men to scorne; + Al that men seyn, he leet it sooth, + And in solace taketh, + And alle manere meschiefs + In myldenesse he suffreth. 9970 + Coveiteth he noon erthely good, + But hevene riche blisse, + Hath he anye rentes or richesse, + Or anye riche frendes. + + "Of rentes nor of richesse + Ne rekketh he nevere; + For a frend that fyndeth hym, + Failed hym nevere at neede. + _Fiat voluntas tua_ + Fynt hym evere moore; 9980 + {306} + And if he soupeth, eteth but a sop + Of _spera in Deo_. + He kan portreye wel the paternoster, + And peynte it with aves; + And outher while he is woned + To wenden on pilgrymages, + Ther poore men and prisons liggeth, + Hir pardon to have. + Though he bere hem no breed, + He bereth hem swetter liflode, 9990 + Loveth hem as oure Lord biddeth, + And loketh how thei fare. + + "And whan he is wery of that werk, + Than wole he som tyme + Labouren in lavendrye + Wel the lengthe of a mile, + And yerne into youthe, + And yepeliche speke + Pride with al the appurtenaunces, + And pakken hem togideres, 10000 + And bouken hem at his brest, + And beten hem clene, + And leggen on longe, + With _laboravi in gemitu meo_; + And with warm water at hise eighen + Wasshen hem after. + And thanne he syngeth whan he doth so, + And som tyme seith wepynge, + _Cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, + non despicies_." 10010 + + "By Crist! I wolde that I knewe hym," quod I, + "No creature levere!" + + "Withouten help of Piers Plowman," quod he, + {307} + "His persone sestow nevere." + + "Wheither clerkes knowen hym," quod I, + "That kepen holi kirke?" + + "Clerkes have no knowyng," quod he, + "But by werkes and by wordes. + Ac Piers the Plowman + Parceyveth moore depper 10020 + What is the wille and wherfore + That many wight suffreth. + _Et vidit Deus cogitationes eorum._ + For ther are ful proude herted men, + Pacient of tonge, + And buxome as of berynge + To burgeises and to lordes, + And to poore peple + Han pepir in the nose, + And as a lyoun he loketh, 10030 + Ther men lakken hise werkes. + + "For ther are beggeris and bidderis, + Bedemen as it were, + Loken as lambren, + And semen ful holy; + Ac it is moore to have hir mete + With swich an esy manere, + Than for penaunce and perfitnesse, + The poverte that swiche taketh. + + "Therfore by colour ne by clergie 10040 + Knowe shaltow nevere, + Neither thorugh wordes ne werkes, + But thorugh wil oone. + And that knoweth no clerk, + Ne creature on erthe, + But Piers the Plowman + {308} + _Petrus, i. Christus._ + For he nys noght in lolleris, + Ne in lond leperis heremytes, + Ne at ancres there a box hangeth, 10050 + Alle swiche thei faiten. + Fy on faitours, + And _in fautores suos_! + For charité is Goddes champion, + And as a good child hende, + And the murieste of mouth + At mete where he sitteth. + The love that lith in his herte + Maketh hym light of speche, + And is compaignable and confortatif, 10060 + As Crist bit hymselve. + _Nolite fieri sicut hypocritæ tristes, etc._ + For I have seyen hym in silk, + And som tyme in russet, + Bothe in grey and in grys, + And in gilt harneis; + And as gladliche he it gaf + To gomes that it neded. + + "Edmond and Edward + Bothe were kynges, 10070 + And seintes y-set, + For charité hem folwede. + + "I have y-seyen charité also + Syngen and reden, + Riden and rennen + In raggede wedes; + Ac biddynge as beggeris + Biheld I hym nevere. + Ac in riche robes + Rathest he walketh, 10080 + {309} + Y-called and y-crymyled, + And his crowne y-shave; + And in a freres frokke + He was y-founden ones, + Ac it is fern ago, + In seint Fraunceis tyme: + In that secte siththe + To selde hath he ben founde. + + "Riche men he recomendeth, + And of hir robes taketh, 10090 + That withouten wiles + Ledeth hir lyves. + _Beatus est dives qui, etc._ + + "In kynges court he cometh ofte, + Ther the counseil is trewe; + Ac if coveitise be of the counseil, + He wolnoght come therinne, + + "In court amonges japeris + He cometh noght but selde, + For braulynge and bakbitynge, 10100 + And berynge of fals witnesse. + + "In the consistorie bifore the commissarie + He cometh noght but ofte; + For hir lawe dureth over longe, + But if thei lacchen silver, + And matrimoyne for moneie + Maken and unmaken; + And that conscience and Crist + Hath y-knyt faste, + Thei undoon it unworthily, 10110 + Tho doctours of lawe. + + "Ac I ne lakke no lif, + But, Lord, amende us alle, + {310} + And gyve us grace, good God, + Charité to folwe. + For who so myghte meete myd hym, + Swiche maneres hym eileth, + Neither he blameth ne banneth, + Bosteth ne preiseth, + Lakketh ne loseth, 10120 + Ne loketh up sterne, + Craveth ne coveiteth, + Ne crieth after moore. + _In pace in idipsum dormiam, etc._ + + "The mooste liflode that he lyveth by, + Is love in Goddes passion; + Neither he biddeth ne beggeth, + Ne borweth to yelde, + Misdooth he no man, + Ne with his mouth greveth. 10130 + + "Amonges cristene men + This myldenesse sholde laste. + In alle manere angres + Have this at herte, + That theigh thei suffrede al this, + God suffrede for us moore, + In ensample we sholde do so, + And take no vengeaunce + Of oure foes that dooth us falsnesse, + That is oure fadres wille. 10140 + + "For wel may every man wite, + If God hadde wold hymselve, + Sholde nevere Judas ne Jew + Have Jhesu doon on roode, + Ne han martired Peter ne Poul, + Ne in prison holden. + Ac he suffrede in ensample + {311} + That we sholde suffren also, + And seide to swiche that suffre wolde, + That _patientes vincunt_. 10150 + + "_Verbi gratia_," quod he, + "And verray ensamples manye, + In _Legenda Sanctorum_, + The lif of holy seintes, + What penaunce and poverte + And passion thei suffrede, + In hunger, in hete, + In alle manere angres. + + "Antony and Egidie, + And othere holy fadres, 10160 + Woneden in wildernesse + Among wilde beestes; + Monkes and mendinauntz, + Men by hemselve, + In spekes and in spelonkes, + Selde speken togideres. + + "Ac neither Antony ne Egidie, + Ne heremyte that tyme, + Of leons ne of leopardes + No liflode ne toke; 10170 + But of foweles that fleeth, + Thus fyndeth men in bokes. + Except that Egidie + After an hynde cride, + And thorugh the mylk of that mylde beest + The man was sustened; + And day bi day hadde he hire noght + His hunger for to slake, + But selden and sondry tymes, + As seith the book and techeth. 10180 + + "Antony a dayes, + {312} + Aboute noon tyme, + Hadde a brid that broughte hym breed, + That he by lyvede; + And though the gome hadde a gest, + God fond hem bothe. + + "Poul _primus heremita_ + Hadde parroked hymselve, + That no man myghte hym se + For mosse and for leves; 10190 + Foweles hym fedde + Fele wyntres withalle, + Til he foundede freres + Of Austynes ordre. + Poul, after his prechyng, + Paniers he made, + And wan with hise hondes + That his wombe neded. + + "Peter fisshed for his foode, + And his felawe Andrew; 10200 + Som thei solde and som thei soden, + And so thei lyved bothe. + + "And also Marie Maudeleyne + By mores lyvede and dewes + Ac moost thorugh devocion + And mynde of God almyghty. + I sholde noght thise seven daies + Siggen hem alle, + That lyveden thus for oure Lordes love + Many longe yeres. 10210 + + "Ac ther ne was leon ne leopard + That on laundes wenten, + Neither bere ne boor, + Ne oother beest wilde, + That ne fil to hir feet, + {313} + And fawned with the taillies; + And if thei kouthe han y-carped, + By Crist! as I trowe, + Thei wolde have y-fed that folk + Bifore wild foweles. 10220 + Ac God sente hem foode by foweles, + And by no fierse beestes, + In menynge that meke thyng + Mylde thyng sholde fede. + + "Ac who seith religiouses + Rightfulle men sholde fede, + And lawefulle men to lif-holy men + Liflode sholde brynge; + And thanne wolde lordes and ladies + Be looth to agulte, 10230 + And to taken of hir tenauntz + Moore than trouthe wolde, + Foulde thei that freres + Wolde forsake hir almesses, + And bidden hem bere it + There it was y-borwed. + For we ben Goddes foweles, + And abiden alwey + Til briddes brynge us + That we sholde lyve by. 10240 + For hadde ye potage and payn y-nogh, + And peny ale to drynke, + And a mees thermyd + Of o maner kynde, + Ye hadde right y-nogh, ye religiouse, + And so youre rule me tolde. + _Nunquam, dicit Job, rugit onager + cum herbam habuerit, aut mugiet + bos cum ante plenum præsepe + {314} + steterit. Brutorum animalium 10250 + natura te condemnat, + quia cum eis pabulum commune + sufficiat, ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua._ + + "If lewed men knewe this Latyn, + Thei wolde loke whom thei yeve, + And avisen hem bifore + A fyve dayes or sixe, + Er thei amortisede to monkes + Or chanons hir rente. + Allas! lordes and ladies, 10260 + Lewed counseil have ye, + To gyve from youre heires + That youre aiels yow lefte, + And gyveth it to bidde for yow + Fo swiche that ben riche, + And ben founded and feffed ek + To bidde for othere. + + "Who perfourneth this prophecie + Of the peple that now libbeth? + _Dispersit, dedit pauperibus._ 10270 + + "If any peple perfourne that text, + It are thise poore freres; + For that thei beggen aboute, + In buyldynge thei spende it, + And on hemself som, + And swiche as ben hir laborers; + And of hem that habbeth thei taken, + And gyveth hem that habbeth. + + "Ac clerkes and knyghtes, + And communers that ben riche, 10280 + Fele of yow fareth + As if I a forest hadde + {315} + That were ful of faire trees, + And I fondede and caste + How I myghte mo therinne + Amonges hem sette. + + "Right so, ye riche, + Ye robeth that ben riche, + And helpeth hem that helpeth yow, + And gyveth ther no nede is. 10290 + As who so filled a toune + Of a fressh ryver, + And wente forth with that water + To woke with Temese; + Right so, ye riche, + Ye robeth and fedeth + Hem that han as ye han, + Hem ye make at ese. + + "Ac religiouse that riche ben, + Sholde rather feeste beggeris 10300 + Than burgeises that riche ben, + As the book techeth. + _Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum + non pauperibus dare. Item: + Peccatoribus dare, est dæmonibus + immolare. Item: Monache, + si indiges et accipis, potius + das quam accipis; si autem + non eges et accipis, rapis. + Porro non indiget monachus, si 10310 + habeat quod naturæ sufficit._ + + "For-thi I counseille alle cristene + To conformen hem to charité, + For charité withouten chalangynge + Unchargeth the soule, + And many a prison fram purgatorie + {316} + Thorugh his preieres he delivereth. + Ac ther is a defaute in the folk + That the feith kepeth; + Wherfore folk is the febler, 10320 + And noght ferm of bileve, + As in lussheburwes is a luther alay, + And yet loketh he lik a sterlyng; + The merk of that monee is good, + Ac the metal is feble. + + "And so it fareth by som folk now, + Thei han a fair speche, + Crowne and cristendom, + The kynges mark of hevene; + Ac the metal, that is mannes soule, 10330 + With synne is foule alayed. + Bothe lettred and lewed + Beth alayed now with synne, + That no lif loveth oother, + Ne oure Lord, as it semeth. + For thorugh werre and wikkede werkes, + And wederes unresonable, + Weder-wise shipmen, + And witty clerkes also, + Han no bileve to the lifte, 10340 + Ne to the loore of philosofres. + + "Astronomiens al day + In hir art faillen, + That whilom warned bifore + What sholde falle after. + + "Shipmen and shepherdes, + That with ship and sheep wenten, + Wisten by the walkne + What sholde bitide, + As of wedres and wyndes 10350 + {317} + Thei warned men ofte. + + "Tilieris, that tiled the erthe, + Tolden hir maistres, + By the seed that thei sewe, + What thei selle myghte, + And what to lene, and what to lyve by, + The lond was so trewe. + + "Now faileth the folk of the flood, + And of the lond bothe, + Shepherdes and shipmen, 10360 + And so do thise tilieris, + Neither thei konneth ne knoweth + Oon cours bifore another. + + "Astronomyens also + Aren at hir wittes ende, + Of that was calculed of the element + The contrarie thei fynde; + Grammer, the ground of al, + Bigileth now children, + For is noon of this newe clerkes, 10370 + Who so nymeth hede, + Naught oon among an hundred + That an auctour kan construwe, + Ne rede a lettre in any langage + But in Latyn or in Englissh. + + "Go now to any degree, + And but if gile be maister, + And flaterere his felawe + Under hym to fourmen, + Muche wonder me thynketh 10380 + Amonges us alle, + Doctours of decrees + And of divinité maistres, + That sholde konne and knowe + {318} + Alle kynnes clergie, + And answere to argumentz, + And also to a _quodlibet_; + I dar noght siggen it for shame, + If swiche were apposed, + Thei sholde faillen of her philosophie, 10390 + And in phisik bothe. + + "Wherfore I am a-fered + Of folk of holy kirke, + Lest thei overhuppen, as oothere doon, + In office and in houres; + And if they overhuppe, as I hope noght, + Oure bileve suffiseth; + As clerkes in Corpus Christi feeste + Syngen and reden, + That _sola fides sufficit_ 10400 + To save with lewed peple; + And so may Sarzens be saved, + Scribes, and Jewes. + + "Allas, thanne! but our looresmen + Lyve as thei leren us, + And for hir lyvynge that lewed men + Be the lother God agulten. + For Sarzens han somwhat + Semynge to oure bileve; + For thei love and bileve 10410 + In o persone almyghty, + And we, lered and lewed, + In oon God almyghty; + And oon Makometh, a man, + In mysbileve broughte + Sarzens of Surree, + And see in what manere. + + "This Makometh was a cristene + {319} + And for he moste noght ben a pope + Into Surrie he soughte, 10420 + And thorugh hise sotile wittes + He daunted a dowve, + And day and nyght hire fedde, + The corn that she croppede + He caste it in his ere; + And if he among the peple preched, + Or in places come, + Thanne wolde the colvere come + To the clerkes ere + Menynge as after mete,-- 10430 + Thus Makometh hire enchauntede; + And dide folk thanne falle on knees, + For he swoor in his prechyng + That the colvere that com so, + Com from God of hevene, + As messager to Makometh, + Men for to teche. + And thus thorugh wiles of his wit, + And a whit dowve, + Makometh in mysbileve 10440 + Men and wommen broughte; + That lyved tho there and lyve yit + Leeven on hise lawes. + + "And siththe oure Saveour suffred, + The Sarzens so bigiled + Thorugh a cristene clerk, + Acorsed in his soule! + For drede of the deeth + I dare noght telle truthe, + How Englisshe clerkes a colvere fede 10450 + That coveitise highte, + And ben manered after Makometh, + {320} + That no man useth trouthe. + + "Ancres and heremytes, + And monkes and freres, + Peeren to the apostles + Thorugh hire parfit lyvynge; + Wolde nevere the feithful fader + That hise ministres sholde + Of tirauntz that teneth trewe men 10460 + Taken any almesse, + But doon as Antony dide, + Dominyk and Fraunceys, + Beneit and Bernard + The whiche hem first taughte + To lyve by litel, and in lowe houses, + By lele mennes almesse. + Grace sholde growe and be grene + Thorugh hir goode lyvynge; + And folkes sholden fare, 10470 + That ben in diverse siknesse, + The bettre for hir biddynges + In body and in soule. + Hir preieres and hir penaunces + To pees sholde brynge + Alle that ben at debaat, + And bedemen were trewe. + _Petite et accipietis, etc._ + Salt saveth the catel, + Siggen thise wives. 10480 + _Vos estis sal terræ, etc._ + The hevedes of holy chirche, + And thei holy were, + Crist calleth hem salt + For cristene soules. + _Et si sal evanuerit in quo salietur, etc._ + {321} + + "For fressh flessh outher fissh, + Whan it salt failleth, + It is unsavory for sothe, + Y-soden or y-bake; 10490 + So is mannes soule, soothly, + That seeth no goode ensamples + Of hem of holi chirche, + That the heighe wey sholde teche, + And be gide, and go bifore, + As a good banyer; + And hardie hem that bihynde ben, + And gyve hem good evidence. + + "Ellevene holy men + Al the world tornede 10500 + Into lele bileve; + The lightloker me thinketh + Sholde all maner men, + We han so manye maistres, + Preestes and prechours, + And a pope above, + That Goddes salt sholde be + To save mannes soule. + + "Al was hethynesse som tyme + Engelond and Walis, 10510 + Til Gregory garte clerkes + To go here and preche; + Austyn at Caunterbury + Cristnede the kyng, + And thorugh miracles, as men now rede, + Al that marche he tornede + To Crist and to cristendom, + And cros to honoure; + And follede folk faste, + And the feith taughte, 10520 + {322} + Moore thorugh miracles + Than thorugh muche prechyng, + As wel thorugh hise werkes + As with hise holy wordes, + And seide hem what fullynge + And feith was to mene. + + "Clooth that cometh fro the wevyng + Is noght comly to were, + Til it be fulled under foot + Or in fullyng stokkes, 10530 + Wasshen wel with water, + And with taseles cracched, + Y-touked and y-teynted, + And under taillours hande; + Right so it fareth by a barn, + That born is of a wombe, + Til it be cristned in Cristes name, + And confermed of the bisshope, + It is hethene as to hevene-ward. + And help-lees to the soule. 10540 + Hethen is to mene after heeth + And untiled erthe, + As in wilde wildernesse + Wexeth wilde beestes, + Rude and unresonable, + Rennynge withouten cropiers. + + "Ye mynnen wel how Mathew seith, + How a man made a feste; + He fedde him with no venyson, + Ne fesauntz y-bake, 10550 + But with foweles that fram hym nolde, + But folwede his whistlyng. + _Ecce altilia mea, et omnia parata sunt._ = + And with calves flessh he fedde + {323} + The folk that he lovede. + + "The calf bitokneth clennesse + In hem that kepeth lawes. + For as the cow thorugh kynde mylk + The calf norisseth til an oxe; 10560 + So love and leauté + Lele men susteneth, + And maidenes and mylde men + Mercy desiren, + Right as the cow calf + Coveiteth melk swete, + So doon rightfulle men + Mercy and truthe. + + "Ac who beth that excuseth hem + That ben persons and preestes, 10570 + That hevedes of holy chirche ben, + That han hir wil here + Withouten travaille the tithe deel + That trewe men biswynken; + Thei wol be wrooth for I write thus, + Ac to witnesse I take + Bothe Mathew and Marc, + And _Memento Domine David_. + + "What pope or prelat now + Perfourneth that Crist highte. 10580 + _Ite in universum mundum et prædicate, etc._ = + + "Allas! that men so longe + On Makometh sholde bileve, + So manye prelates to preche + As the pope maketh, + Of Nazareth, of Nynyve, + Of Neptalym and Damaske, + That thei ne wente as Crist wisseth, + Sithen thei wille have name 10590 + {324} + To be pastours and preche + To lyve and to dye. + _Bonus pastor animam suam ponit, etc._ = + And seide it in salvacion + Of Sarzens and othere, + For cristene and uncristene + Crist seide to prechours: + _Ite vos in vineam meam, etc._ + + "And sith that thise Sarzens, 10600 + Scribes, and Jewes, + Han a lippe of our bileve, + The lightlier me thynketh + Thei sholde turne, who so travailed + To teche hem of the Trinité. + _Quærite et invenietis, etc._ + + "It is ruthe to rede + How rightwise men lyvede, + How thei defouled hir flessh, + Forsoke hir owene wille, 10610 + Fer fro kyth and fro kyn + Yvele y-clothed yeden, + Baddely y-bedded, + No book but conscience, + Ne no richesse but the roode + To rejoisse hem inne. + _Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce + Domini nostri, etc._ + + "And tho was plentee and pees + Amonges poore and riche, 10620 + And now is routhe to rede + How the rede noble + Is reverenced er the roode, + And receyved for worthier + Than Cristes cros, that overcam + {325} + Deeth and dedly synne. + And now is werre and wo; + And who so why asketh, + For coveitise after cros + The croune stant in golde. 10630 + Bothe riche and religious + That roode thei honoure + That in grotes is y-grave + And in gold nobles. + For coveitise of that cros, + Men of holy kirke + Shul torne as templers dide, + The tyme approcheth faste. + + "Wite ye noght, ye wise men, + How tho men honoured 10640 + Moore tresor than trouthe, + I dar noght telle the sothe, + Reson and rightful doom + The religiouse demede. + + "Right so, ye clerkes, + For youre coveitise, er longe, + Shal thei demen _dos ecclesiæ_, + And youre pride depose, + _Deposuit potentes de sede, etc._ + + "If knyghthod and kynde wit 10650 + And the commune by conscience + Togideres love leelly, + Leveth it wel, ye bisshopes, + The lordshipe of youre londes + For evere shul ye lese, + And lyven as _levitici_, + As oure Lord techeth. + _Per primitias et decimas, etc._ + + "Whan Costantyn of curteisie + Holy kirke dowed 10660 + {326} + With londes and ledes, + Lordshipes and rentes, + An aungel men herden + An heigh at Rome crye, + _Dos ecclesiæ_ this day + Hath y-dronke venym, + And tho that han Petres power + Arn apoisoned alle. + + "A medicyne moot therto, + That may amende prelates, 10670 + That sholden preie for the pees, + Possession hem letteth; + Taketh hire landes, ye lordes, + And leteth hem lyve by dymes. + + "If possession be poison, + And inparfite hem make, + Good were to deschargen hem, + For holy chirches sake, + And purgen hem of poison, + Er moore peril falle. 10680 + + "If preesthode were parfit, + The peple sholde amende + That contrarien Cristes lawe, + And cristendom dispise. + For alle paynymes preieth, + And parfitly bileveth + In the holy grete God, + And his grace thei asken, + And make hir mone to Makometh + Hir message to shewe. 10690 + Thus in a feith leve that folk, + And in a fals mene; + And that is routhe for rightful men + That in the reawme wonyen, + {327} + And a peril to the pope, + And prelates that he maketh, + That bere bisshopes names + Of Bethleem and Babiloigne, + That huppe aboute in Engelond + To halwe mennes auteres, 10700 + And crepe amonges curatours, + And confessen ageyn the lawe. + _Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam, etc._ + + "Many man for Cristes love + Was martired in Romayne, + Er any cristendom was knowe there, + Or any cros honoured. + + "Every bisshop that bereth cros, + By that he is holden + Thorugh his province to passe, 10710 + And to his peple to shewe hym, + Tellen hem and techen hem + On the Trinité to bileve, + And feden hem with goostly foode, + And gyve there it nedeth. + _In domo mea non est panis neque + vestimentum, et ideo nolite constituere + me regem._ + + "Ozias seith for swiche + That sike ben and feble, 10720 + _Inferte omnes decimas in horreum + meum, ut sit cibus in domo mea._ + + "Ac we cristene creatures + That on the cros bileven, + Arn ferme as in the feith, + Goddes forbode ellis! + And han clerkes to kepen us therinne, + {328} + And hem that shul come after us. + + "And Jewes lyven in lele lawe, + Oure Lord wroot it hymselve 10730 + In stoon, for it stedefast was, + And stonde sholde evere. + _Dilige Deum et proximum_, + Is parfit Jewen lawe; + And took it Moyses to teche men + Til Messie coome; + And on that lawe thei lyve yit, + And leten it the beste, + And yit knewe thei Crist + That cristendom taughte 10740 + For a parfit prophete + That muche peple savede + Of selkouthe sores, + Thei seighen it ofte, + Bothe of miracles and merveilles, + And how he men festede, + With two fisshes and fyve loves, + Fyve thousand peple; + And by that mangerie men myghte wel se + That Messie he semede, 10750 + And whan he lifte up Lazar, + That leid was in grave, + And under stoon deed and stank, + With stif vois hym callede: + _Lazare, veni foras._ + Dide hym rise and rome, + Right bifore the Jewes. + + "Ac thei seiden and sworen + With sorcerie he wroughte, + And studieden to struyen hym, 10760 + And struyden hemselve; + {329} + And thorugh his pacience, hir power + To pure noght he broughte. + _Patientes vincunt._ + + "Daniel of hire undoynge + Devyned and seide, + _Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat, cessabit + unctio vestra._ + And wenen tho wrecches + That he were _pseudo-propheta_, 10770 + And that his loore be lesynges, + And lakken it alle, + And hopen that he be to come + That shal hem releve, + Moyses eft or Messie + Hir maistres yit devyneth. + + "Ac Pharisees and Sarzens, + Scribes and Jewes, + Arn folk of oon feith, + The fader God thei honouren. 10780 + And sithen that the Sarzens, + And also the Jewes, + Konne the firste clause of oure bileve, + _Credo in Deum patrem omnipotentem_, + Prelates of cristene provinces + Sholde preve, if thei myghte, + To lere hem litlum and litlum + _Et in Jesum Christum filium_, + Til thei kouthe speke and spelle + _Et in Spiritum sanctum_, + And reden it and recorden it + With _remissionem peccatorum, + Carnis resurrectionem, et vitam æternam. Amen._" 10793 + + * * * * * + +{330} + + _Passus Decimus Sextus, etc. et Primus de Do-bet._ + + "Now faire falle yow," quod I tho, 10794 + "For youre faire shewyng; + For Haukyns love, the actif man, + Evere I shal yow lovye! + Ac yit I am in a weer + What charité is to mene." + + "It is a ful trie tree," quod he, 10800 + "Trewely to telle; + Mercy is the more therof, + The myddul stok is ruthe; + The leves ben lele wordes, + The lawe of holy chirche; + The blosmes beth buxom speche, + And benigne lokynge; + Pacience hatte the pure tree, + And pure symple of herte; + And so, thorugh God and thorugh goode men, 10810 + Groweth the fruyt charité." + + "I wolde travaille," quod I, "this tree to se, + Twenty hundred myle; + And for to have my fulle of that fruyt, + {331} + Forsake alle othere saulees. + Lord!" quod I, "if any wight wite + Whider out it groweth." + + "It groweth in a gardyn," quod he, + "That God made hymselve, + Amyddes mannes body, 10820 + The more is of that stokke, + Herte highte the herber + That it inne groweth. + And _liberum arbitrium_ + Hath the lond the ferme + Under Piers the Plowman, + To piken it and to weden it." + + "Piers the Plowman!" quod I tho, + And al for pure joye + That I herde nempne his name, 10830 + Anoon I swowned after, + And lay longe in a lone dreem; + And at the laste, me thoughte + That Piers the Plowman + Al the place me shewed, + And bad me to toten on the tree, + On top and on roote; + With thre piles was it under-pight, + I perceyved it soone. + + "Piers," quod I, "I preie thee, 10840 + Whi stonde thise piles here?" + + "For wyndes, wiltow wite," quod he, + To witen it fro fallyng. + _Cum ceciderit justus, non collidetur, + quia Dominus supponit manum + suam._ + And in blowyng tyme, abite the flowres, + But if thise piles helpe, + {332} + + "The world is a wikked wynd + To hem that willen truthe; 10850 + Coveitise comth of that wynd, + And crepeth among the leves, + And for-freteth neigh the fruyt + Thorugh manye faire sightes; + Thanne with the firste pil I palle hym down, + That is _Potentia Dei_. + + "The flessh is a fel wynd, + And in flouryng tyme + Thorugh likynge and lustes + So loude he gynneth blowe, 10860 + That it norisseth nyce sightes, + And som tyme wordes, + And wikkede werkes therof, + Wormes of synne, + And for-biteth the blosmes + Right to the bare leves. + + "Than sette I to the secounde pil + _Sapientia Dei patris_; + That is the passion and the power + Of oure prince Jhesu. 10870 + Thorugh preieres and thorugh penaunces, + And Goddes passion in mynde, + I save it til I se it ripen + And som del y-fruyted. + + "And thanne fondeth the fend + My fruyt to destruye, + With alle the wiles that he kan; + And waggeth the roote, + And casteth up to the crop + Unkynde neighebores; 10880 + Bakbiteris breke the cheste, + Brawleris and chideris, + {333} + And leith a laddre therto, + Of lesynges are the ronges, + And feccheth awey my floures som tyme + Afore bothe myne eighen. + Ac _liberum arbitrium_ + Letteth hym som tyme, + That is lieutenaunt to loken it wel, + Bi leve of myselve. 10890 + _Videatis qui peccat in spiritum + sanctum nunquam remittetur, + etc. Hoc est idem, qui peccat + per liberum arbitrium non + repurgatur._ + + "Ac whan the fend and the flessh + Forth with the world + Manacen bihynde me + My fruyt for to fecche, + Thanne _liberum arbitrium_ 10900 + Laccheth the firste plante, + And palleth adoun the pouke, + Pureliche thorugh grace + And help of the Holy Goost, + And thus have I the maistrie." + + "Now faire falle yow! Piers," quod I, + "So faire ye discryven + The power of thise postes, + And hire propre myghtes. + Ac I have thoughtes a threve 10910 + Of thise thre piles, + In what wode thei woxen, + And where that thei growed; + For alle are thei aliche longe, + Noon lasse than oother, + And to my mynde, as me thinketh, + {334} + On o more thei growed, + And of o greetnesse, + And grene of greyn thei semen." + + "That is sooth," quod Piers, 10920 + "So it may bifalle; + I shal telle thee as tid + What this tree highte. + The ground there it groweth, + Goodnesse it hatte; + And I have told thee what highte the tree, + The Trinité it meneth." + + And egreliche he loked on me; + And therfore I spared + To asken hym any moore therof, 10930 + And bad hym ful faire + To discryve the fruyt + That so faire hangeth. + + "Heer no bynethe," quod he tho, + "If I nede hadde, + Matrimoyne I may nyme, + A moiste fruyt withalle; + Thanne continence is neer the crop, + As kaylewey bastard, + Thanne bereth the crop kynde fruyt, 10940 + And clennest of alle, + Maidenhode aungeles peeris + And rathest wole be ripe, + And swete withouten swellyng, + Sour worth it nevere." + + I preide Piers tho to pulle a-doun + An appul, and he wolde, + And suffre me to assaien + What savour it hadde. + + And Piers caste to the crop, 10950 + {335} + And thanne comsed it to crye, + And waggede widwehode, + And it wepte after; + And whan it meved matrimoyne, + It made a foul noise. + And I hadde ruthe whan Piers rogged, + It gradde so rufulliche; + For evere as thei dropped a-doun, + The devel was redy + And gadrede hem alle togideres, 10960 + Bothe grete and smale, + Adam and Abraham, + And Ysaye the prophete, + Sampson and Samuel, + And seint Johan the Baptist, + Bar hem forth bodily, + No body hym letted, + And made of holy men his hoord + _In limbo inferni_, + There is derknesse and drede, 10970 + And the devel maister. + + And Piers, for pure tene, + Of that a pil he raughte; + He hitte after hym, + Hitte how it myghte, + _Filius_ by the fader wille, + And frenesse of _Spiritus sancti_, + To go robbe that rageman, + And reve the fruyt fro hym. + + And thanne spak _Spiritus sanctus_ 10980 + In Gabrielis mouthe, + To a maide that highte Marie, + A meke thyng withalle, + That oon Jhesus a justices sone + {336} + Moste jouke in hir chambre, + Til _plenitudo temporis_ + Fully comen were, + That Piers fruyt floured, + And felle to be rype, + And thanne sholde Jhesus juste therfore, 10990 + By juggement of armes, + Wheither sholde fonge the fruyt, + The fend or hymselve. + + The maide myldeliche tho + The messager graunted, + And seide hendeliche to hym, + "Lo me his hand-maiden + For to werchen his wille, + Withouten any synne." + _Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi, etc._ 11000 + + And in the wombe of that wenche + Was he fourty woukes, + Til he weex a faunt thorugh hir flessh, + And of fightyng kouthe, + To have y-foughte with the fend + Er ful tyme come. + And Piers the Plowman + Perceyved plener tyme, + And lered hym lechecraft + His lif for to save, 11010 + That though he were wounded with his enemy, + To warisshen hymselve, + And dide hym assaie his surgenrie + On hem that sike were, + Til he was perfit praktisour, + If any peril fille; + And soughte out the sike + And synfulle bothe, + {337} + And salvede sike and synfulle, + Bothe blynde and crokede, 11020 + And commune wommen convertede, + And to goode turnede. + _Non est sanis opus medicinæ, sed in, etc._ + + Bothe meseles and mute, + And in the menyson blody, + Ofte heeled swiche, + He ne held it for no maistrie, + Save tho he leched Lazar + That hadde y-leye in grave, + _Quatriduanus_ quelt, 11030 + Quyk dide hym walke. + Ac as he made the maistrie, + _Moestus coepit esse_, + And wepte water with hise eighen, + Ther seighen it manye. + Some that the sighte seighen, + Seiden that tyme + That he was leche of lif, + And lord of heigh hevene. + Jewes jangled ther ayein, 11040 + And juggede lawes + And seide he wroghte thorugh wichecraft, + And with the develes myghte. + _Dæmonium habet, etc._ + + Thanne, "are ye cherles," quod ich, + "And youre children bothe, + And Sathan youre saveour, + Ye self now ye witnessen." + "For I have saved yow self," seith Crist, + "And youre sones after, 11050 + Youre bodies, youre beestes, + {338} + And blynde men holpen + And fed yow with two fisshes + And with fyve loves, + And lefte baskettesful of broke mete, + Bere awey who so wolde." + And mys-seide the Jewes manliche + And manaced hem to bete, + And knokked on hem with a corde, + And caste a-doun hir stalles 11060 + That in chirche chaffareden, + Or chaungeden any moneie, + And seide it in sighte of hem alle, + So that alle herden:-- + + "I shal overturne this temple, + And a-doun throwe it, + And in thre daies after + Edifie it new, + And maken it as muche outher moore + In alle manere poyntes 11070 + As evere it was, and as wid; + Wherfore I hote yow, + Of preieres and of perfitnesse + This place that ye callen." + _Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur._ = + + Envye and yvel wil + Was in the Jewes; + Thei casten and contreveden + To kulle hym whan thei myghte, 11080 + Eche day after oother + Hir tyme thei awaiteden; + Til it bifel on a Friday + A litel bifore Pasqe, + The Thursday bifore + {339} + There he made his maundee, + Sittynge at the soper + He seide thise wordes, + "I am sold thorugh oon of yow, + He shal the tyme rewe, 11090 + That evere he his Saveour solde, + For silver or ellis." + + Judas jangled ther ayein; + Ac Jhesus hym tolde, + It was hymself soothly, + And seide _tu dicis_. + + Thanne wente forth that wikked man, + And with the Jewes mette, + And tolde hem a tokne + How to knowe with Jhesus, 11100 + And which tokne to this day + To muche is y-used, + That is kissynge and fair countenaunce, + And unkynde wille. + And so was with Judas tho, + That Jhesus bitrayed: + "_Ave, raby_," quod that ribaud, + And right to hym he yede, + And kiste hym, to be caught therby, + And kulled of the Jewes. 11110 + + Thanne Jhesus to Judas + And to the Jewes seide, + "Falsnesse I fynde + In thi faire speche, + And gile in thi glad chere, + And galle is in thi laughyng; + Thow shalt be myrour + To many men to deceyve, + Ac the worse and the wikkednesse + {340} + Shal worthe upon thiselve. 11120 + _Necesse est ut veniant scandala: + Væ homini illi per quem scandalum + venit!_ + + "Though I bi treson be take + At youre owene wille, + Suffreth myne apostles in pees + And in pays gange." + On a Thursday in thesternesse + Thus was he taken, + Thorugh Judas and Jewes, 11130 + Jhesus was his name, + That on the Friday folwynge + For mankyndes sake + Justed in Jherusalem, + A joye to us alle. + On cros upon Calvarie + Crist took the bataille + Ayeins deeth and the devel, + Destruyed hir botheres myghtes, + Deide and deed for-dide, 11140 + And day of nyght made. + + And I awaked therwith, + And wiped myne eighen, + And after Piers the Plowman + Pried and stared + Est-ward and west-ward, + I waited after faste, + And yede forth as an ydiot + In contree to aspie, + After Piers the Plowman 11150 + Many a place I soughte. + And thanne mette I with a man, + A myd-lenten Sonday, + {341} + As hoor as an hawethorn, + And Abraham he highte. + I frayned hym first + Fram whennes he come, + And of whennes he were, + And whider that he soughte. + + "Iam Feith," quod that freke, 11160 + "It falleth noght to lye, + And of Abrahames hous + An heraud of armes, + And seke after a segge + That I seigh ones, + A ful bold bacheler, + I knew hym by his blasen." + + "What berth that buyrn?" quod I tho, + "So blisse thee bitide!" + + "Thre leodes in oon lyth, 11170 + Noon lenger than oother, + Of oon muchel and myght + In mesure and in lengthe; + That oon dooth, alle dooth, + And ech dooth bi his one. + + "The firste hath myght and majestee, + Makere of alle thynges, + _Pater_ is his propre name, + A persone by hymselve. + + "The secounde of tha sire is 11180 + Sothfastnesse _filius_, + Wardeyn of that wit hath + Was evere withouten gynnyng. + + "The thridde highte the Holi Goost, + A persone by hymselve, + The light of al that lif hath + {342} + A-londe and a-watre, + Confortour of creatures, + Of hym cometh alle blisse. + + "So thre bilongeth for a lord 11190 + That lordshipe cleymeth, + Might and mene + To knowe his owene myghte, + Of hym and of his servaunt, + And what thei suffre bothe. + + "So God that gynnyng hadde nevere, + But tho hym good thoughte, + Sente forth his sone, + As for servaunt that tyme, + To ocupie hym here, 11200 + Til issue were spronge, + That is, children of charité, + And holi chirche the moder; + Patriarkes and prophetes + And apostles were the children, + And Crist and cristendom, + And cristene holy chirche, + In menynge that man moste + On o God bileve. + And there hym likede and lovede, 11210 + In thre persones hym shewede, + And that it may be so and sooth, + Manhode it sheweth, + Wedlok and widwehode, + With virginité y-nempned, + In tokenynge of the Trinité + Was out of man taken. + + "Adam was oure aller fader, + And Eve was of hymselve, + {343} + And the issue that thei hadde 11220 + It was of hem bothe, + And either is otheres joie + In thre sondry persones, + And in hevene and here + Oon singuler name; + And thus is mankynde and manhede + Of matrimoyne y-spronge, + And bitokneth the Trinité + And trewe bileve. + + "Mighty is matrimoyne, 11230 + That multiplieth the erthe, + And bitokneth trewely, + Telle if I dorste, + Hym that first formed al, + The fader of hevene. + + "The sone, if I it dorste seye, + Resembleth wel the widewe. + _Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me!_ = + + "That is, creatour weex creature 11240 + To knowe what was bothe. + As widewe withouten wedlok + Was nevere yit y-seighe; + Na-moore myghte God be man, + But if he moder hadde. + So widewe withouten wedlok + May noght wel stande, + Ne matrimoyne withouten muliere + Is noght muche to preise. + _Maledictus homo qui non reliquit 11250 + semen in Israel! etc._ + + "Thus in thre persones + Is perfitliche manhede; + {344} + That is man and his make + And mulliere children. + And is noght but gendre of a generacion + Bifore Jhesu Crist in hevene; + So is the fader forth with the sone, + And fre wille of bothe. + _Spiritus procedens a patre et filio, etc._ = + Which is the Holy Goost of alle, 11262 + And alle is but o God. + + "Thus in a somer I hym seigh + As I sat in my porche. + I roos up and reverenced hym, + And right faire hym grette, + Thre men to my sighte + I made wel at ese, + Wessh her feet and wiped hem, 11270 + And afterward thei eten + Calves flessh and cake-breed, + And knewe what I thoughte! + Ful trewe toknes bitwene us is, + To telle whan me liketh. + + "First he fonded me + If I lovede bettre + Hym or Ysaak myn heir, + The which he highte me kulle. + He wiste my wille bi hym, 11280 + He wol me it allowe; + I am ful siker in soule therof, + And my sone bothe. + I circumscised my sone + Sithen for his sake, + Myself and my meynee, + And alle that male weere, + {345} + Bledden blood for that Lordes love, + And hope to blisse the tyme. + Myn affiaunce and my feith 11290 + Is ferme in his bileve; + For himself bihighte to me, + And to myn issue bothe, + Lond and lordshipe, + And lif withouten ende; + To me and to myn issue + Moore yet he grauntede, + Mercy for oure mys-dedes, + As many tyme as we asken. + _Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et 11300 + semini ejus._ + + "And siththe he sente me to seye + I sholde do sacrifise, + And doon hym worship with breed + And with wyn bothe; + And called me the foot of his feith, + His folk for to save, + And defende hem fro the fend, + Folk that on me leveden. + + "Thus have I ben his heraud 11310 + Here and in helle, + And conforted many a careful + That after his comynge waiteden. + And thus I seke hym," he seide, + "For I herde seyn late + Of a barn that baptysed hym, + Johan Baptist was his name, + That to patriarkes and to prophetes, + And to oother peple in derknesse, + Seide that he seigh here 11320 + That sholde save us alle." + {346} + _Ecce agnus Dei! etc._ + + I hadde wonder of hise wordes, + And of hise wide clothes; + For in his bosom he bar a thyng + That he blissed evere. + And I loked in his lappe, + A lazar lay therinne + Amonges patriarkes and prophetes + Pleyinge togideres. 11330 + + "What awaitestow?" quod he, + "And what woldestow have?" + + "I wolde wite," quod I tho, + "What is in youre lappe." + + "Loo!" quod he; and leet me see. + "Lord, mercy!" I seide; + "This is a present of muche pris, + What prynce shal it have?" + + "It is a precious present," quod he; + "Ac the pouke it hath attached, 11340 + And me thermyde," quod that man, + "May no wed us quyte, + Ne no buyrn be oure borgh, + Ne brynge us fram his daunger; + Out of the poukes pondfold + No maynprise may us feeche, + Til he come that I carpe of, + Crist is his name. + That shal delivere us som day + Out of the develes power, 11350 + And bettre wed for us legge + Than we ben alle worthi, + That is lif for lif, + Or ligge thus evere + Lollynge in my lappe, + {347} + Til swich a lord us fecche." + + "Allas!" I seide, "that synne + So longe shal lette + The myght of Goddes mercy, + That myghte us alle amende." 11360 + I wepte for hise wordes. + With that saugh I another + Rapeliche renne forth, + The righte wey he wente. + I affrayned hym first + Fram whennes he come, + And what he highte, and whider he wolde; + And wightly he tolde. 11368 + + * * * * * + +{348} + + _Passus Decimus Septimus, etc. et Secundus de Do-bet._ + + "Iam _Spes_," quod he, "aspie 11369 + And spire after a knyght, + That took me a maundement + Upon the mount of Synay, + To rule alle reames with, + I bere the writ here." + + "Is it enseled?" I seide, + "May men see thi lettres?" + + "Nay," he seide, "seke hym + That hath the seel to kepe; + And that is cros and cristendom, + And Crist theron to honge. 11380 + And whan it is enseled so, + I woot wel the sothe, + That Luciferis lordshipe + Laste shal no lenger." + + "Lat se thi lettres," quod I, + "We myghte the lawe knowe." + + Thanne plukkede he forth a patente, + A pece of an hard roche, + Wheron were writen two wordes + On this wise y-glosed. 11390 + _Dilige Deum et proximum tuum._ + + This was the tixte trewely, + {349} + I took ful good yeme; + The glose was gloriously writen, + With a gilt penne. + _In his duobus mandatis tota lex + pendet et prophetia._ + + "Ben here alle thi lordes lawes?" quod I. + "Ye, leve me wel," he seide; + And who so wercheth after this writ, 11400 + I wol undertaken + Shal nevere devel hym dere, + Ne deeth in soule greve. + For, though I seye it myself, + I have saved with this charme, + Of men and of wommen + Many score thousand. + + "Ye seien sooth," seide this heraud; + "I have y-founde it ofte. + Lo! here in my lappe 11410 + That leeved on that charme, + Josue and Judith, + And Judas Macabeus, + Ye, and sixti thousand biside forth, + That ben noght seyen here." + + "Youre wordes arn wonderfulle," quod I tho, + "Which of yow is trewest, + And lelest to leve so, + For lif, and for soule? + Abraham seith 11420 + That he seigh hoolly the Trinité, + Thre persones in parcelles + Departable fro oother, + And alle thre but o god; + {350} + Thus Abraham me taughte, + And hath saved that bileved so, + And sory for hir synnes. + He kan noght siggen the somme, + And some arn in his lappe. + What neded it thanne 11430 + A newe lawe to bigynne, + Sith the firste suffiseth + To savacion and to blisse? + And now cometh _Spes_ and speketh, + That aspied the lawe; + And telleth noght of the Trinité + That took hym hise lettres, + To bileeve and lovye + In o lord almyghty, + And siththe right as myself 11440 + So lovye alle peple. + + "The gome that gooth with o staf, + He semeth in gretter heele + Than he that gooth with two staves, + To sighte of us alle. + + "And right so, bi the roode! + Reson me sheweth + That it is lighter to lewed men + O lesson to knowe, + Than for to techen hem two, 11450 + And to hard to lerne to the leeste + It is ful hard for any man + On Abraham bileve; + And wel awey worse yit + For to love a sherewe. + It is lighter to leeve + In thre lovely persones, + Than for to lovye and leve + {351} + As wel lorels as lele." + + "Go thi gate!" quod I to _Spes_, 11460 + "So me God helpe! + Tho that lernen thi lawe, + Wol litel while usen it." + And as we wenten thus in the wey + Wordynge togideres, + Thanne seighe we a Samaritan + Sittynge on a mule, + Ridynge ful rapely + The righte wey we yeden, + Comynge from a contree 11470 + That men called Jerico, + To a justes in Jerusalem + He chaced awey faste. + Bothe the heraud and Hope + And he mette at ones + Where a man was wounded, + And with theves taken; + He myghte neither steppe ne stande, + Ne stere foot ne handes, + Ne helpe hymself soothly, 11480 + For semy-vif he semed, + And as naked as a nedle, + And noon help aboute hym. + + Feith hadde first sighte of hym; + Ac he fleigh aside, + And nolde noght neghen hym + By nyne londes lengthe. + + Hope cam hippynge after, + That hadde so y-bosted + How he with Moyses maundement 11490 + Hadde many men y-holpe; + Ac whan he hadde sighte of that segge + {352} + Aside he gan hym drawe + Dredfully bi this day, + As doke dooth fram the faucon. + + Ac so soone so the Samaritan + Hadde sighte of this leode, + He lighte a-down of lyard, + And ladde hym in his hande, + And to the wye he wente 11500 + Hise woundes to biholde; + And perceyved bi his pous + He was in peril to dye, + And but he hadde recoverer the rapelier, + That rise sholde he nevere. + With wyn and with oille + Hise woundes he wasshed, + Enbawmed hym and bond his heed, + And in his lappe hym leide, + And ladde hym so forth on lyard 11510 + Te _lex Christi_, a graunge + Wel sixe mile or sevene + Biside the newe market; + Herberwed hym at an hostrie, + And to the hostiler called, + And seide, "Have kepe this man + Til I come fro the justes; + And lo! here silver," he seide, + "For salve to hise woundes." + And he took hym two pens, 11520 + To liflod, as it weere; + And seide, "What he spendeth moore, + I make thee good herafter; + For I may noght lette," quod that leode; + And lyard he bistrideth, + And raped hym to Jerusalem-ward + {353} + The righte wey to ryde. + + Feith folwede after faste, + And fondede to mete hym; + And _Spes_ spakliche hym spedde, 11530 + Spede if he myghte + To overtaken hym and talke to hym, + Er thei to towne coome. + + And whan I seigh this, I sojourned noght, + But shoop me to renne, + And suwed that Samaritan + That was so ful of pité, + And graunted hym to ben his groom. + "Graunt mercy!" he seide; + "Ac thi frend and thi felawe," quod he, 11540 + "Thow fyndest me at nede." + + And I thanked hym tho, + And siththe I hym tolde + How that Feith fleigh awey, + And _Spes_ his felawe bothe, + For sighte of that sorweful man + That robbed was with theves. + + "Have hem excused," quod he, + "Hir help may litel availle; + May no medicyne on molde 11550 + The man to heele brynge, + Neither feith ne fyn hope, + So festred be hise woundes, + Withouten the blood of a barn + Born of a mayde. + And he be bathed in that blood, + Baptised as it were, + And thanne plastred with penaunce + And passion of that baby, + {354} + He sholde stonde and steppe. 11560 + Ac stalworthe worth he nevere. + Til he have eten al the barn, + And his blood y-dronke. + For wente nevere wye in this world + Thorugh that wildernesse, + That he ne was robbed or rifled, + Rood he there or yede, + Save Feith and his felawe, + _Spes_, and myselve, + And thiself now, 11570 + And swiche as suwen oure werkes. + + "For outlawes in the wode + And under bank lotieth, + And mowen ech man see, + And good mark take + Who is bihynde and who bifore, + And who ben on horse + For he halt hym hardier on horse + Than he that is foote. + For he seigh me that am Samaritan 11580 + Suwen Feith and his felawe + On my capul that highte _caro_, + Of mankynde I took it; + He was unhardy that harlot, + And hidde hym _in Inferno_. + Ac er this day thre daies, + I dar undertaken, + That he worth fettred, that feloun, + Faste with cheynes, + And nevere eft greve gome 11590 + That gooth this ilke gate. + + "And thanne shal Feith be forster here, + {355} + And in this fryth walke, + And kennen out comune men + That knowen noght the contree + Which is the wey that I wente, + And wher forth to Jerusalem. + And Hope the hostilers man shal be, + Ther the man lith an helyng; + And alle that feble and feynte be, 11600 + That Feith may noght teche, + Hope shal lede hem forth with love, + As his lettre telleth, + And hostele hem and heele + Thorugh holy chirche bileve, + Til I have salve for alle sike; + And thanne shal I turne, + And come ayein bi this contree, + And conforten alle sike + That craveth it and coveiteth it, 11610 + Or crieth therafter. + For the barn was born in Bethleem, + That with his blood shal save + Alle that lyven in feith + And folwen his felawes techynge." + + "A! swete sire," I seide tho, + "Wher I shal bileve, + As Feith and his felawe + Enformed me bothe, + In thre persones departable, 11620 + That perpetuele were evere, + And alle thre but o God, + Thus Abraham me taughte. + + "And Hope afterward + He bad me to lovye + O God with al my good, + {356} + And alle gomes after, + Lovye hem lik myselve, + Ac oure Lord aboven alle. + + "After Abraham," quod he, 11630 + "That heraud of armes, + Sette fully thi feith + And ferme bileve; + And as Hope highte thee, + I hote that thow lovye + Thyn evene cristene evere moore + Evene forth with thiselve. + And if Conscience carpe ther ayein, + Or kynde wit eyther, + Or eretikes with argumentz 11640 + Thyn hond thow hem shewe; + For God is after an hand, + Y-heer now and knowe it. + + "The fader was first as a fust, + With o fynger foldynge; + Til hym lovede and liste + To unlosen his fynger, + And profre it forth as with a pawme + To what place it sholde, + + "The pawme is purely the hand, 11650 + And profreth forth the fyngres, + To ministren and to make + That myght of hand knoweth; + And bitokneth trewely, + Telle who so liketh, + The Holy Goost of hevene + He is as the pawme. + + "The fyngres that fre ben + To folde and to serve, + Bitoknen soothly the Sone 11660 + {357} + That sent was til erthe, + That touched and tastede + At techynge of the pawme + Seinte Marie a mayde, + And mankynde laughte. + _Qui conceptus est de Spiritu sancto, etc._ = + + "The Fader is pawme as a fust, + With fynger to touche,-- + _Quia omnia traham ad meipsum, etc._ = + Al that the pawme perceyveth 11672 + Profitable to feele. + + "Thus are thei alle but oon, + As it an hand weere, + And thre sondry sightes + In oon shewynge, + The pawme for it putteth forth fyngres, + And the fust bothe; + Right so redily, 11680 + Reson it sheweth + How he that is Holy Goost + Sire and Son preveth. + + "And as the hand halt harde, + And alle thyng faste, + Thorugh foure fyngres and a thombe + Forth with the pawme; + Right so the Fader and the Sone, + And Seint Spirit the thridde, + Al the wide world 11690 + Withinne hem thre holden, + Bothe wolkne and the wynd, + Water and erthe, + Hevene and helle, + {358} + And al that is therinne. + + "Thus it is, nedeth no man + Trowe noon oother, + That thre thynges bilongeth + In oure Lord of Hevene; + And aren serelopes by hemself, 11700 + A-sondry were thei nevere, + Na-moore than myn hand may + Meve withoute my fyngres. + + "And as my fust is ful hand + Y-holden togideres; + So is the Fader a ful God, + Formour and shappere. + _Tu fabricator omnium, etc._ + And al the myght myd hym is + In makynge of thynges. 11710 + The fyngres formen a ful hand + To portreye or peynten, + Kervynge and compasynge, + As craft of the fyngres. + + "Right so is the Sone + The science of the Fader, + And ful God as is the Fader, + No febler ne no bettre. + + "The pawme is pureliche the hand, + And hath power by hymselve, 11720 + Other wise than the writhen fust, + Or werkmanshipe of fyngres. + For he hath power + To putte out alle the joyntes, + And to unfolde the folden fust, + At the fyngres wille. + + "So is the Holy Goost God, + Neither gretter ne lasse. + {359} + Than is the Sire and the Sone, + And in the same myghte. 11730 + And alle are thei but o God; + As is myn hand and my fyngres, + Unfolden or folden, + My fust and my pawne, + Al is but an hand; + Evene in the myddes, + He may receyve right noght, + Reson it sheweth, + For the fyngres that folde sholde + And the fust make, 11740 + For peyne of the pawme, + Power hem failleth + To clucche or to clawe, + To clippe or to holde. + + "Were the myddel of myn hand + Y-maymed or y-perissed, + I sholde receyve right noght + Of that I reche myghte. + + "Ac though my thombe and my fyngres + Bothe were to-shullen, 11750 + And the myddel of myn hand + Withoute _male-ese_, + In many kynnes maneres + I myghte myself helpe, + Bothe mene and amende, + Though alle my fyngres oke. + + "By this skile, me thynketh, + I se an evidence + That who so synneth in the Seint Spirit, + Assoilled worth he nevere, 11760 + Neither here ne ellis where, + As I herde telle. + {360} + _Qui peccat in Spiritu sancto, etc._ + For he priketh God as in the pawme, + That _peccat in Spiritu sancto_. + For God the fader is as a fust, + The Sone is as a fynger, + The Holy Goost of hevene + Is as it were the pawme; + So who so synneth in the Seint Spirit, 11770 + It semeth that he greveth + God, that he grypeth with, + And wolde his grace quenche. + + "And to a torche or a tapur + The Trinité is likned; + As wex and a weke + Were twyned togideres, + And thanne a fir flawmynge + Forth out of bothe; + And as wex and weke 11780 + And hoot fir togideres + Fostren forth a flawmbe + And a fair leye, + So dooth the Sire and the Sone + And also _Spiritus sanctus_, + That alle kynne cristene + Clenseth of synnes + And as thow seest som tyme + Sodeynliche a torche, + The blase therof y-blowe out, 11790 + Yet brenneth the weke + Withouten leye or light + That the macche brenneth; + So is the Holy Goost God, + And grace withoute mercy + To alle unkynde creatures, + {361} + That coveite to destruye + Lele love or lif + That oure Lord shapte. + + "And as glowynge gledes 11800 + Gladeth noght thise werkmen, + That werchen and waken + In wyntres nyghtes, + As dooth a kex or a candle + That caught hath fir and blaseth; + Na-moore dooth Sire ne Sone + Ne Seint Spirit togidres + Graunte no grace + Ne forgifnesse of synnes, + Til the Holy Goost gynne 11810 + To glowe and to blase. + So that the Holy Goost + Gloweth but as a glade, + Til that lele love + Ligge on hym and blowe, + And thanne flawmeth he as fir + On Fader and on _Filius_, + And melteth hire myght into mercy; + As men may se in wyntre + Ysekeles and evesynges 11820 + Thorugh hete of the sonne + Melte in a minut while + To myst and to watre. + + "So grace of the Holy Goost + The greet myght of the Trinité + Melteth to mercy, + To merciable and to othere; + And as wex withouten moore + On a warm glede + Wol brennen and blasen, 11830 + {362} + Be thei togideres, + And solacen hem that mowe se, + That sitten in derknesse. + + "So wol the Fader forgyve + Folk of mylde hertes, + That rufully repenten, + And restitucion make, + In as muche as thei mowen + Amenden and paien; + And if it suffise noght for assetz, 11840 + That in swich a wille deyeth, + Mercy for his mekenesse + Wol maken good the remenaunt. + And as the weke and fir + Wol maken a warm flaumbe, + For to murthen men myd + That in the derke sitten; + So wole Crist of his curteisie, + And men crye hym mercy, + Bothe forgyve and foryete, 11850 + And yit bidde for us + To the Fader of hevene + Forgifnesse to have. + + "Ac hewe fir at a flynt + Foure hundred wynter, + But thow have tow to take it with, + Tonder or broches, + Al thi labour is lost, + And al thi long travaille; + For may no fir flaumbe make, 11860 + Faille it is kynde. + + "So is the Holi Goost God, + And grace withouten mercy + To alle unkynde creatures, + {363} + Crist hymself witnesseth. + _Amen dico vobis, nescio vos, etc._ + + "Be unkynde to thyn evene cristene, + And al that thow kanst bidde, + Delen and do penaunce + Day and nyght evere, 11870 + And purchace al the pardon + Of Pampilon and Rome, + And indulgences y-nowe, + And be _ingratus_ to thi kynde, + The Holy Goost hereth thee noght, + Ne helpe may thee by reson; + For unkyndenesse quencheth hym, + That he kan noght shyne, + Ne brenne ne blase clere + For blowynge of unkyndenesse. 11880 + Poul the apostel + Preveth wheither I lye. + _Si linguis hominum loquar, etc._ + + "For-thi beth war, ye wise men, + That with the world deleth, + That riche ben and reson knoweth, + Ruleth wel youre soule, + Beth noght unkynde, I conseille yow, + To youre evene cristene, + For manye of yow riche men, 11890 + By my soule! men telleth, + Ye brenne, but ye blase noght, + That is a blynd bekene. + _Non omnis qui dicit Domine! Domine! + intrabit, etc._ + + "Dives deyde dampned, + For his unkyndenesse + {364} + Of his mete and of his moneie + To men that it nedede. + Ech a riche I rede 11900 + Reward at hym take, + And gyveth youre good to that God + That grace of ariseth; + For thei that ben unkynde to hise, + Hope I noon oother, + But thei dwelle ther Dives is + Dayes withouten ende. + + "Thus is unkyndenesse the contrarie, + That quencheth, as it were, + The grace of the Holy Goost, 11910 + Goddes owene kynde. + For that kynde dooth, unkynde for-dooth; + As thise corsede theves + Unkynde cristene men, + For coveitise and envye, + Sleeth a man for hise moebles + With mouth or with handes. + For that the Holy Goost hath to kepe, + The harlotes destruyeth, + The which is lif and love, 11920 + The leye of mannes body. + For every manere good man + May be likned to a torche, + Or ellis to a tapur, + To reverence the Trinité; + And who morthereth a good man, + Me thynketh by myn inwit, + He for-dooth the levest light + That oure Lord lovyeth. + + "And yet in manye mo maneres 11930 + Men offenden the Holy Goost. + Ac this is the worste wise + {365} + That any wight myghte + Synnen ayein the Seint Spirit, + Assenten to destruye + For coveitise of any kynnes thyng + That Crist deere boughte, + That wikkedliche and wilfulliche + Wolde mercy aniente. + + "Innocence is next God, 11940 + And nyght and day it crieth, + 'Vengeaunce! vengeaunce! + Forgyve be it nevere + That shente us and shedde oure blood, + For-shapte us, as it were!' + _Vindica sanguinem justorum._ + + "Thus 'Vengeaunce! vengeaunce!' + Verrey Charité asketh. + And sith holy chirche and Charité + Chargeth this so soore, 11950 + Leve I nevere that oure Lord + Wol love that charité lakketh, + Ne have pité for any preiere + Ther that he pleyneth." + + "I pose I hadde synned so, + And sholde now deye; + And now I am sory that I so + The Seint Spirit a-gulte, + Confesse me and crye his grace, + God that al made, 11960 + And myldeliche his mercy aske, + Myghte I noght be saved?" + + "Yis," seide the Samaritan, + "So wel thow myght repente, + That rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce, + To ruthe myghte turne. + Ac it is but selden y-seighe + {366} + Ther soothnesse bereth witnesse, + Any creature that is coupable + Afore a kynges justice, 11970 + Be raunsoned for his repentaunce, + Ther alle reson hym dampneth. + For ther that partie pursueth, + The peple is so huge, + That the kyng may do no mercy + Til bothe men acorde, + And eyther have equité, + As holy writ telleth. + _Nunquam dimittitur peccatum, etc._ + + "Thus it fareth by swich folk 11980 + That falsly al hire lyves + Yvele lyven, and leten noght + Til lif hem forsake. + Good hope, that helpe sholde, + To wanhope torneth, + Noght of the noun power of God, + That he ne is myghtful + To amende al that amys is, + And his mercy gretter + Than alle oure wikkede werkes, 11990 + As holy writ telleth. + _Misericordia ejus super omnia opera ejus._ = + Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruthe torne, + Som restitucion bihoveth. + His sorwe is satisfaccion, + For hym that may noght paie. + + "Thre thynges ther ben + That doon a man by strengthe + For to fleen his owene, 12000 + As holy writ sheweth. + + "That oon is a wikkede wif, + {367} + That wol noght be chastised; + Hir feere fleeth fro hire, + For feere of hir tonge. + + "And if his hous be un-hiled, + And reyne on his bedde, + He seketh and seketh + Til he slepe drye. + + "And whan smoke and smolder 12010 + Smyt in his sighte, + It dooth hym worse than his wif + Or wete to slepe. + For smoke and smolder + Smyteth in hise eighen, + Til he be bler-eighed, or blynd, + And hoors in the throte, + Cogheth, and curseth + That Crist gyve hem sorwe + That sholde brynge in bettre wode, 12020 + Or blowe it til it brende. + + "Thise thre that I telle of + Ben thus to understonde; + The wif is oure wikked flessh, + That wol noght be chastised; + For kynde clyveth on hym evere + To contrarie the soule. + And though it falle, it fynt skiles + That freleté it made, + And that is lightly forgyven 12030 + And forgeten bothe, + To man that mercy asketh, + And amende thenketh. + + "The reyn that reyneth + Ther we reste sholde, + Ben siknesse and sorwes + That we suffren ofte; + {368} + As Poul the apostle + To the people taughte. + _Virtus infirmitate perficitur, etc._ 12040 + + "And though that men make + Muche doel in hir angre, + And ben inpacient in hir penaunce, + Pure reson knoweth + That thei han cause to contrarie + By kynde of hir siknesse; + And lightliche oure Lord + At hir lyves ende + Hath mercy on swiche men, + That so yvele may suffre. 12050 + + "Ac the smoke and the smolder + That smyt in oure eighen, + That is coveitise and unkyndenesse, + That quencheth Goddes mercy. + For unkyndenesse is the contrarie + Of alle kynnes reson. + For ther nys sik ne sory, + Ne noon so muche wrecche, + That he ne may lovye, and hym like, + And lene of his herte 12060 + Good wille and good word, + And wisshen and willen + Alle manere men + Mercy and forgifnesse, + And lovye hem lik hymself, + And his lif amende. + + "I may no lenger lette," quod he; + And lyard he prikede, + And went awey as wynd; + And therwith I awakede. 12070 + + * * * * * + +{369} + + _Passus Decimus Octavus, etc. et Tertius de Do-bet._ + + Wolleward and weet-shoed = + Wente I forth after, 12073 + As a recchelees renk + That of no wo roughte, + And yede forth lik a lorel + Al my lif tyme, + Til I weex wery of the world, + And wilned eft to slepe, + And lened me to a lenten, 12080 + And longe tyme I slepte; + And of Cristes passion and penaunce, + The peple that of raughte, + Reste me there, and rutte faste + Til _ramis palmarum_. + Of gerlis and of _gloria laus_ + Gretly me dremed, + And how _hosanna_ by organye + Olde folk songen. + + Oon semblable to the Samaritan, 12090 + And som deel to Piers the Plowman, + Bare-foot on an asse bak + Boot-les cam prikye, + {370} + Withouten spores other spere, + Spakliche he lokede, + As is the kynde of a knyght + That cometh to be dubbed, + To geten hym gilte spores, + Or galoches y-couped. + + Thanne was Feith in a fenestre, 12100 + And cryde a _fili David_, + As dooth an heraud of armes, + Whan aventrous cometh to justes. + Old Jewes of Jerusalem + For joye thei songen, + _Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini._ = + + Thanne I frayned at Feith, + What al that fare by-mente, + And who sholde juste in Jerusalem. 12110 + "Jhesus," he seide, + "And fecche that the fend claymeth, + Piers fruyt the Plowman." + + "Is Piers in this place?" quod I. + And he preynte on me: + "This Jhesus of his gentries + Wol juste in Piers armes, + In his helm and in his haubergeon, + _Humana natura_; + That Crist be noght bi-knowe here 12120 + For _consummatus Deus_. + In Piers paltok the Plowman + This prikiere shal ryde. + For no dynt shal hym dere, + As _in deitate Patris_." + + "Who shal juste with Jhesus?" quod I, + {371} + "Jewes or scrybes?" + + "Nay," quod he; "The foule fend, + And fals doom and deeth. + Deeth seith he shal for-do 12130 + And a-doun brynge + Al that lyveth and loketh + In londe and in watre. + + "Lif seith that he lieth, + And leieth his lif to wedde, + That for al that deeth kan do + Withinne thre daies + To walke and fecche fro the fend + Piers fruyt the Plowman, + And legge it ther hym liketh, 12140 + And Lucifer bynde, + And for-bete and a-doun brynge + Bale deeth for evere." + _O mors, ero mors tua._ + + Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple, + _Sedens pro tribunali_, + To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do, + And deme hir botheres right. + + The Jewes and the justice + Ayeins Jhesu thei weere, 12150 + And al the court on hym cryde + _Crucifige_ sharpe. + Tho putte hym forth a pilour + Bifore Pilat, and seide, + "This Jhesus of oure Jewes temple + Hath japed and despised, + To for-doon it on o day, + And in thre dayes after + Edifie it eft newe; + {372} + Here he stant that seide it; 12160 + And yit maken it as muche + In alle manere poyntes, + Bothe as long and as large, + Bi lofte and by grounde." + + "_Crucifige!_" quod a cachepol; + "I warrante hym a wicche." + + "_Tolle! tolle!_" quod another, + And took of kene thornes, + And bigan of kene thorn + A garland to make, 12170 + And sette it sore on his heed, + And seide in envye, + "Ave, Raby," quod that rybaud, + And threw reedes at hym, + Nailed hym with thre nailes + Naked on the roode, + And poison on a poole + Thei putte up to hise lippes, + And beden hym drynken his deeth yvel, + Hise daies were y-done, 12180 + "And if that thow sotil be, + Help now thiselve; + If thow be Crist and kynges sone, + Com down of the roode; + Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth, + And wol noght lete thee deye." + + "_Consummatum est_," quod Crist, + And comsede for to swoune + Pitousliche and pale, + As a prison that deieth. 12190 + The lord of lif and of light + Tho leide hise eighen togideres. + {373} + The day for drede withdrough, + And derk bicam the sonne; + The wal waggede and cleef, + And al the world quaved; + Dede men for that dene + Come out of depe graves, + And tolde why that tempeste + So longe tyme durede; 12200 + "For a bitter bataille," + The dede body seide, + "Lif and deeth in this derknesse + Hir oon for-dooth hir oother. + Shal no wight wite witterly + Who shal have the maistrie + Er Sonday aboute sonne risyng;" + And sank with that til erthe. + + Some seide that he was Goddes sone + That so faire deide. 12210 + _Vere filius Dei erat iste._ + And some seide he was a wicche, + "Good is that we assaye + Wher he be deed or noght deed, + Doun er he be taken." + + Two theves also + Tholed deeth that tyme, + Upon a croos besides Crist, + So was the comune lawe. + A cachepol cam forth 12220 + And craked bothe hire legges, + And the armes after + Of either of tho theves. + Ac was no body so boold + Goddes body to touche; + For he was knyght and kynges sone, + {374} + Kynde for-yaf that tyme, + That noon harlot were so hardy + To leyen hond upon hym. + + Ac ther cam forth a knyght, 12230 + With a kene spere y-grounde, + Highte Longeus, as the lettre telleth, + And longe hadde lore his sighte. + Bifore Pilat and oother peple + In the place he hoved; + Maugree his manye teeth, + He was maad that tyme + To take the spere in his hond, + And justen with Jhesus. + For alle thei were unhardy, 12240 + That hoved on horse or stode, + To touchen hym or to tasten hym, + Or taken doun of roode. + But this blynde bacheler + Baar hym thorugh the herte; + The blood sprong doun by the spere, + And unspered the knyghtes eighen. + + Thanne fil the knyght upon knees, + And cryde hym mercy; + "Ayein my wille it was, Lord, 12250 + To wownde yow so soore." + He sighed and seide, + "Soore it me a-thynketh, + For the dede that I have doon + I do me in youre grace. + Have on me ruthe! rightful Jhesu!" + And right with that he wepte. + + Thanne gan Feith felly + The false Jewes despise, + {375} + Callede hem caytyves 12260 + Acorsed for evere; + "For this foule vileynye + Vengeaunce to yow falle! + To do the blynde bete hym y-bounde, + It was a boyes counseille. + Cursede caytif! + Knyghthood was it nevere + To mys-do a deed body + By daye or by nyghte. + The gree yit hath he geten, 12270 + For al his grete wounde. + + "For youre champion chivaler, + Chief knyght of yow alle, + Yilt hym recreaunt rennyng + Right at Jhesus wille. + For be this derknesse y-do, + His deeth worth avenged; + And ye, lurdaynes, han y-lost, + For lif shal have the maistrye; + And youre fraunchise, that fre was, 12280 + Fallen is in thraldom, + And ye, cherles, and youre children + Cheve shulle nevere + To have lordshipe in londe, + Ne no lond tilye, + But al barayne be, + And usurie usen, + Which is lif that oure Lord + In alle lawes acurseth. + Now youre goode dayes arn doon, 12290 + As Daniel prophecied, + Whan Crist cam, of hir kyngdom + The crowne sholde cesse." + {376} + _Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessabit + unctio vestra._ + + What for feere of this ferly, + And of the false Jewes, + I drow me in that derknesse + To _descendit ad inferna_; + And there I saugh soothly 12300 + _Secundum Scripturas_ + Out of the west coste + A wenche, as me thoughte, + Cam walkynge in the wey, + To helle-ward she loked. + Mercy highte that mayde, + A meke thyng withalle, + A ful benigne burde, + And buxom of speche. + + Hir suster, as it semed, 12310 + Cam soothly walkynge. + Evene out of the est, + And west-ward she lokede, + A ful comely creature, + Truthe she highte, + For the vertue that hire folwede + A-fered was she nevere. + + Whan thise maydenes mette, + Mercy and Truthe, + Either asked oother 12320 + Of this grete wonder, + Of the dyn and of the derknesse, + And how the day rowed, + And which a light and a leme + Lay bifore helle. + "Ich have ferly of this fare, + In feith!" seide Truthe, + {377} + "And am wendynge to wite + What this wonder meneth." + + "Have no merveille," quod Mercy, 12330 + "Murth it bitokneth. + A maiden that highte Marie, + And moder withouten felyng + Of any kynnes creature, + Conceyved thorugh speche + And grace of the Holy Goost, + Weex greet with childe, + Withouten wem + Into this world she broghte hym; + And that my tale be trewe, 12340 + I take God to witnesse. + + "Sith this barn was y-bore + Ben .xxx.^{ti} wynter passed, + Which deide and deeth tholed + This day aboute myd-day, + And that is cause of this clips + That closeth now the sonne, + In menynge that man shal + Fro merknesse be drawe, + The while this light and this leme 12350 + Shal Lucifer a-blende. + For patriarkes and prophetes + Han preched herof ofte: + That man shal man save + Thorugh a maydenes helpe; + And that was tynt thorugh tree, + Tree shal it wynne; + And that deeth a-down broughte, + Deeth shal releve." + + "That thow tellest," quod Truthe, 12360 + "Is but a tale of Waltrot. + {378} + For Adam and Eve, + And Abraham, with othere, + Patriarkes and prophetes, + That in peyne liggen, + Leve thow nevere that yon light + Hem a-lofte brynge, + Ne have hem out of helle. + Hold thi tonge, Mercy! + It is but a trufle that thow tellest; 12370 + I, Truthe, woot the sothe. + For he that is ones in helle, + Out cometh he nevere. + Job the prophete patriark + Repreveth thi sawes." + _Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio._ + + Thanne Mercy ful myldely + Mouthed thise wordes, + "Thorugh experience," quod she, + "I hope thei shul be saved. 12380 + For venym for-dooth venym; + And that preve I by reson. + For of alle venymes + Foulest is the scorpion, + May no medicyne helpe + The place ther he styngeth, + Til he be deed, and do therto, + The yvel he destruyeth, + The firste venymousté + Thorugh venym of hymselve. 12390 + + "So shal this deeth for-do, + I dar my lif legge, + Al that deeth for-dide first + Thorugh the develes entisyng; + And right as thorugh gile + {379} + Man was bi-giled, + So shal grace that bi-gan + Make a good sleighte." + _Ars ut artem falleret._ + + "Now suffre we," seide Truthe; 12400 + "I se, as me thynketh, + Out of the nyppe of the north + Noght ful her hennes + Rightwisnesse come rennynge. + Reste we the while; + For he woot moore than we, + He was er we bothe." + + "That is sooth," seide Mercy; + "And I se here by sowthe + Where Pees cometh pleyinge, 12410 + In pacience y-clothed. + Love hath coveited hire longe, + Leve I noon oother, + But he sente hire som lettre, + What this light by-meneth + That over-hoveth helle thus, + She us shal telle." + + When Pees in pacience y-clothed + Approched ner hem tweyne, + Rightwisnesse hire reverenced, 12420 + By hir riche clothyng, + And preide Pees to telle hire + To what place she wolde, + And in hire gaye garnementz + Whom she grete thoughte. + + "My wil is to wende," quod she, + "And welcome hem alle + That many day myghte I noght se + For merknesse of synne, + {380} + Adam and Eve, 12430 + And othere mo in helle; + Moyses and many mo + Mercy shul have, + And I shal daunce therto, + Do thow so, suster, + For Jhesus justede wel, + Joy bigynneth dawe. + _Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, et + ad matutinum lætitia._ + + "Love, that is my lemman, 12440 + Swiche lettres me sente, + That Mercy, my suster, and I + Mankynde sholde save, + And that God hath for-gyven + And graunted me pees and mercy, + To be mannes meynpernour + For evere moore after. + Lo here the patente!" quod Pees, + "_In pace in idipsum._ + And that this dede shal dure, 12450 + _Dormiam et requiescam_." + + "What! ravestow?" quod Rightwisnesse, + "Or thow art right dronke? + Levestow that yond light + Unlouke myghte helle, + And save mannes soule? + Suster, wene it nevere. + For God the bigynnere + Gaf the doom hymselve, + That Adam and Eve, 12460 + And alle that hem suwede, + Sholden deye down righte, + {381} + And dwelle in pyne after, + If that thei touchede a tree, + And the fruyt eten. + + "Adam afterward + Ayeins his defence + Freet of that fruyt, + And forsook, as it weere, + The love of oure Lord 12470 + And his loore bothe, + And folwede that the fend taughte, + And his felawes wille, + Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse, + Recorde thus with truthe, + That hir peyne be perpetuel, + And no preiere hem helpe. + For-thi lat hem chewe as thei chosen, + And chide we noght, sustres; + For it is bote-lees bale, 12480 + The byte that thei eten." + + "And I shal preve," quod Pees, + "Hir peyne moot have ende, + And from wo into wele + Mowe wenden at the laste. + For hadde thei wist of no wo, + Wele hadde the noght knowen. + For no wight woot what wele is, + That nevere wo suffrede; + Ne what is hoot hunger, 12490 + That hadde nevere defaute. + + "If no nyght ne weere, + No man, as I leeve, + Sholde nevere wite witterly + What day is to meene. + Sholde nevere right riche man, + {382} + That lyveth in reste and ese, + Wite what wo is, + Ne were the deeth of kynde. + + "So God, that bigan al 12500 + Of his goode wille, + Bicam man of a mayde + Mankynde to save; + And suffrede to be sold, + To se the sorwe of deying, + The which unknytteth alle care, + And comsynge is of reste. + For til _modicum_ mete with us, + I may it wel avowe, + Woot no wight, as I wene, 12510 + What y-nogh is to mene. + + "For-thi God of his goodnesse + The firste gome Adam + Sette hym in solace, + And in sovereyn murthe; + And siththe he suffred hym synne, + Sorwe to feele, + To wite what wele was + Kyndeliche and knowe it. + And after God auntrede hymself, 12520 + And took Adames kynde, + To wite what he hath suffred + In thre sondry places, + Bothe in hevene and in erthe, + And now til helle he thenketh + To wite what alle wo is, + And what is alle joye. + + "So it shal fare by this folk, + Hir folie and hir synne + Shal lere hem what langour is 12530 + {383} + And lisse withouten ende. + Woot no wight what werre is + Ther that pees regneth, + Ne what is witterly wele + Til weylawey! hym teche." + + Thanne was ther a wight + With two brode eighen, + Book highte that beau-peere, + A bold man of speche; + "By Goddes body!" quod this Book, 12540 + "I wol bere witnesse + That tho this barn was y-bore, + Ther blased a sterre + That alle the wise of this world + In o wit acorden, + That swich a barn was y-bore + In Bethleem the citee, + That mannes soule sholde save, + And synne destroye. + And alle the elementz," quod the Book, 12550 + "Herof beren witnesse, + That he was God that al wroghte, + The wolkne first shewed. + + "Tho that weren in hevene + Token _stella cometa_, + And tendeden it as a torche + To reverencen his burthe; + The light folwede the Lord + Into the lowe erthe. + + "The water witnessed that he was God, 12560 + For he wente on it. + Peter the apostel + Parceyved his gate, + And as he wente on the water, + {384} + Wel hym knew, and seide, + _Jube me venire ad te super aquas._ + + "And lo! how the sonne gan louke + Hire light in hirselve, + Whan she seigh hym suffre, + That sonne and see made. 12570 + + "The erthe for hevynesse + That he wolde suffre, + Quaked as quyk thyng, + And al biquasshed the roche. + + "Lo! helle myghte nat holde, + But opnede tho God tholede, + And leet out Symondes sone + To seen hym hange on roode. + And now shal Lucifer leve it, + Though hym looth thynke; 12580 + For _Gigas_ the geaunt + With a gyn hath engyned + To breke and to bete a-doun + That ben ayeins Jhesus. + And I, Book, wole be brent, + But Jhesus rise to lyve + In alle myghtes of man, + And his moder gladie, + And conforte al his kyn + And out of care brynge, 12590 + And al the Jewene joye + Unjoynen and unlouken, + And but thei reversen his roode, + And his resurexion, + And bileve on a newe lawe, + Be lost lif and soule." + + "Suffre we," seide Truthe; + "I here and see bothe + {385} + How a spirit speketh to helle, + And biddeth unspere the yates." 12600 + _Attolite portas, etc._ + + A vois loude in that light + To Lucifer crieth, + "Prynces of this place, + Unpynneth and unlouketh! + For here cometh with crowne + That kyng is of glorie." + + Thanne sikede Sathan, + And seide to hem alle, + "Swich a light ayeins oure leve 12610 + Lazar out fette; + Care and encombraunce + Is comen to us alle! + If this kyng come in, + Mankynde wole he fecche, + And lede it ther hym liketh, + And lightliche me bynde. + Patriarkes and Prophetes + Han parled herof longe, + That swich a lord and light 12620 + Sholde lede hem alle hennes." + + "Listneth," quod Lucifer, + "For I this lord knowe. + Bothe this lord and this light, + Is longe a-go I knew hym. + May no deeth hym dere, + Ne no develes queyntise; + And where he wole is his wey, + Ac ware hym of the perils. + If he reveth me my right, 12630 + He robbeth me by maistrie; + For by right and by reson + {386} + The renkes that ben here + Body and soule beth myne, + Bothe goode and ille. + For hymself seide, + That sire is of hevene, + If Adam ete the appul, + Alle sholde deye + And dwelle with us develes; 12640 + This thretynge he made. + And he that soothnesse is, + Seide thise wordes. + And sithen I seised + Sevene hundred wynter, + I leeve that lawe nyl noght + Lete hym the leeste." + + "That is sooth," seide Sathan; + "But I me soore drede. + For thow gete hem with gile, 12650 + And his gardyn breke, + And in semblaunce of a serpent + Sete upon the appul-tree, + And eggedest hem to ete, + Eve by hirselve; + And toldest hire a tale, + Of treson were the wordes; + And so thow haddest hem out, + And hider at the laste. + It is noght graithly geten, 12660 + Ther gile is the roote. + For God wol noght be bi-giled," + Quod Gobelyn, "ne by-japed; + We have no trewe title to hem, + For thorugh treson were thei dampned." = + {387} + + "Certes, I drede me," quod the devel, + "Lest Truthe wol hem fecche; + Thise thritty wynter, as I wene, + Hath he gon and preched. 12670 + I have assailled hym with synne, + And som tyme y-asked + Wheither he were God or Goddes sone; + He yaf me short answere. + And thus hath he trolled forth + Thise two and thritty wynter. + And whan I seigh it was so, + Lepynge I wente + To warne Pilates wif + What done man was Jhesus. 12680 + For Jewes hateden hym, + And han doon hym to dethe. + I wolde have lengthed his lif; + For I leved if he deide, + That his soule wolde suffre + No synne in his sighte. + For the body, while it on bones yede, + Aboute was evere + To save men from synne, + If hemself wolde. 12690 + And now I se wher a soule + Cometh hiderward seillynge, + With glorie and with gret light,-- + God it is, I woot wel. + I rede that we fle," quod he, + "Faste alle hennes; + For us were bettre noght be, + Than biden his sighte. + For thi lesynges, Lucifer, + {388} + Lost is al oure praye. 12700 + + "First thorugh the we fellen + Fro hevene so heighe, + For we leved on thi lesynges; + Y-lorn we have Adam, + And al oure lordshipe, I leve, + A-londe and a-watre." + _Nunc princeps hujus mundi ejicietur foras_. + + Eft the light bad unlouke; + And Lucifer answerede, + "What lord artow?" quod Lucifer. 12710 + _Quis est iste?_ + "_Rex Gloriæ_," + The light soone seide, + "And lord of myght and of man, + And alle manere vertues. + _Dominus virtutum_. + Dukes of this dymme place, + Anoon undo thise yates, + That Crist may come in, + The kynges sone of hevene!" 12720 + + And with that breeth helle brak, + With Belialles barres, + For any wye or warde, + Wide opned the yates. + + Patriarkes and prophetes, + _Populus in tenebris_, + Songen seint Johanes song, + _Ecce agnus Dei._ + Lucifer loke ne myghte, + So light hym a-blente. 12730 + + And tho that oure Lord lovede + Into his light he laughte; + And seide to Sathan, + {389} + "Lo! here my soule to amendes + For alle synfulle soules, + To save tho that ben worthi. + Myne thei ben and of me, + I may the bet hem cleyme. + And though Reson recorde + And Right, of myselve, 12740 + That if he ete the appul + Alle sholde deye; + I bi-highte hem noght here + Helle for evere. + For the dede that thei dide, + Thi deceite it made; + With gile thow hem gete, + Ageyn alle reson. + For in my paleis Paradis, + In persone of an addre, 12750 + Falsliche thow fettest + Thyng that I lovede. + + "Thus y-lik a lusard, + With a lady visage, + Thefliche thow me robbedest; + And the olde lawe graunteth + That gilours be bigiled, + And that is good reson. + _Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo._ = + _Ergo_ soule shal soule quyte, 12761 + And synne to synne wende, + And al that man hath mys-do + I, man, wole amende; + Membre for membre + By the olde lawe was amendes, + And lif for lif also, + {390} + And by that lawe I clayme it, + Adam and al his issue + At my wille herafter, 12770 + And that deeth in hem for-dide + My deeth shal releve, + And bothe quykne and quyte + That queynt was thorugh synne. + And that grace gile destruye, + Good feith it asketh. + So leve I noght, Lucifer, + Ayein the lawe I fecche hem; + But by right and by reson + Raunsone here my liges. 12780 + _Non veni solvere legem, sed adimplere._ = + + "Thow fettest myne in my place + Ayeins alle reson, + Falsliche and felonliche; + Good feith me it taughte, + To recovere hem thorugh raunson, + And by no reson ellis. + So that thorugh gile thow gete, + Thorugh grace it is y-wonne. 12790 + Thow Lucifer in liknesse + Of a luther addere + Getest bi gile + Tho that God lovede. + + "And I in liknesse of a leode, + That lord am of hevene, + Graciousliche thi gile have quyt; + Go gile ayein gile. + And as Adam and alle + Thorugh a tree deyden; 12800 + Adam and alle thorugh a tree + {391} + Shul turne ayein to lyve; + And gile is bi-giled, + And in his gile fallen. + _Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit._ + + "Now bi-gynneth thi gile + Ageyn thee to turne, + And my grace to growe + Ay gretter and widder; + That art doctour of deeth, 12810 + Drynk that thow madest. + + "For I that am lord of lif, + Love is my drynke; + And for that drynke to-day + I deide upon erthe. + I faught so, me thursteth yit, + For mannes soule sake; + May no drynke me moiste, + Ne my thurst slake, + Til the vendage falle 12820 + In the vale of Josaphat, + That I drynke right ripe must, + _Resurrectio mortuorum_; + And thanne shal I come as a kyng, + Crouned with aungeles, + And have out of helle + Alle mennes soules. + + "Fendes and fyndekynes + Bifore me shul stande, + And be at my biddyng 12830 + Wher so evere me liketh; + And to be merciable to man + Thanne my kynde asketh. + For we beth bretheren of blood, + But noght in baptisme alle. + {392} + Ac alle that beth myne hole bretheren + In blood and in baptisme. + Shul noght be dampned to the deeth + That is withouten ende. + _Tibi soli peccavi, etc._ 12840 + + "It is noght used in erthe, + To hangen a feloun + Ofter than ones, + Though he were a tretour. + And if the kyng of that kyngdom + Come in that tyme + There feloun thole sholde + Deeth or oother juwise, + Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif, + If he loked on hym. 12850 + And I, that am kyng of kynges, + Shal come swich a tyme + Ther doom to the deeth + Dampneth alle the wikked; + And if lawe wole I loke on hem, + It lith in my grace + Wheither thei deye or deye noght + For that thei diden ille; + Be it any thyng a-bought + The boldnesse of hir synnes, 12860 + I do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse, + And alle my wordes trewe; + And though holy writ wole that I be wroke + Of hem that diden ille,-- + _Nullum malum impunitum, etc._-- + Thei shul be clensed clerliche, + And wasshen of hir synnes, + In my prisone Purgatorie, + {393} + Til _parce_ it hote, + And my mercy shal be shewed 12870 + To manye of my bretheren. + For blood may suffre blood, + Bothe hungry and a-cale; + Ac blood may noght se blood + Blede, but hym rewe. + _Audivi arcana verba quæ non licet + homini loqui._ + + "Ac my rightwisnesse and right + Shul rulen al helle, + And mercy al mankynde 12880 + Bifore me in hevene. + For I were an unkynde kyng, + But I my kynde helpe, + And nameliche at swich a nede. + Ther nedes help bihoveth. + _Non intres in judicium cum servo tuo._ = + + "Thus by lawe," quod oure Lord, + "Lede I wole fro hennes + Tho that me lovede 12890 + And leved in my comynge. + And for thi lesynge, Lucifer, + That thow leighe til Eve, + Thow shalt abyen it bittre;"-- + And bond hym with cheynes. + Astroth and al the route + Hidden hem in hernes; + They dorste noght loke on oure Lord, + The boldeste of hem alle, + But leten hym lede forth whom hym liked, 12900 + And lete whom hym liste. + {394} + + Manye hundred of aungeles + Harpeden and songen, + _Culpat caro, purgat caro, + Regnat Deus Dei caro._ + + Thanne pipede Pees + Of Poesie a note, + _Clarior est solito post maxima nebula Phoebus, = + Post inimicitias, etc._ 12910 + + "After sharpe shoures," quod Pees, + "Moost shene is the sonne; + Is no weder warmer + Than after watry cloudes; + Ne no love levere, + Ne lever frendes, + Than after werre and wo, + Whan Love and Pees ben maistres. + Was nevere werre in this world, + Ne wikkednesse so kene, 12920 + That ne Love, and hym liste, + To laughynge ne broughte, + And pees thorugh pacience + Alle perils stoppeth." + + "Trewes," quod Truthe; + "Thow tellest us sooth, by Jhesus! + Clippe we in covenaunt, + And ech of us clippe oother." + "And leteth no peple," quod Pees, + "Perceyve that we chidde. 12930 + For inpossible is no thyng + To hym that is almyghty." + + "Thow seist sooth," quod Rightwisnesse; + And reverentliche hire kiste. + {395} + "Pees and pees here! + _Per sæcula sæculorum._" + _Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt + sibi, justitia et pax osculatæ sunt._ + + Truthe trumpede tho, + And song _Te Deum laudamus_; 12940 + And thanne lutede, + In a loud note, + _Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum, etc._ + + Til the day dawed + Thise damyseles dauncede, + That men rongen to the resurexion. + And right with that I wakede, + And callede Kytte my wif, + And Calote my doghter; + And bad hem rise and reverence 12950 + Goddes resurexion; + And crepe to the cros on knees, + And kisse it for a juwel, + For Goddes blissede body + It bar for oure boote; + And it a-fereth the fend, + For swich is the myghte, + May no grisly goost + Glide there it walketh. 12959 + + * * * * * + +{396} + + _Passus Decimus Nonus, explicit Do-bet, et incipit Do-best._ + + Thus I awaked and wroot 12960 + What I hadde y-dremed; + And dighte me derely, + And dide me to chirche, + To here holly the masse, + And to be housled after. + + In myddes of the masse, + Tho men yede to offryng, + I fel eft-soones a-slepe; + And sodeynly me mette + That Piers the Plowman 12970 + Was peynted al blody, + And com in with a cros + Bifore the comune peple, + And right lik in alle thynges + To oure Lord Jhesus. + + And thanne called I Conscience, + To kenne me the sothe; + "Is this Jhesus the justere," quod I, + "That Jewes dide to dethe? + Or it is Piers the Plowman. 12980 + Who peynted hym so rede?" + + Quod Conscience, and kneled tho, + "Thise arn Piers armes, + {397} + Hise colours and his cote armure; + Ac he that cometh so blody + Is Crist with his cros, + Conquerour of cristene." + + "Why calle hym Crist," quod I, + "Sithen Jewes calle hym Jhesus? + Patriarkes and prophetes 12990 + Prophecied bifore + That alle kynne creatures + Sholden knelen and bowen, + Anoon as men nempned + The name of God Jhesu. + _Ergo_ is no name + To the name of Jhesus; + Ne noon so nedeful to nempne + By nyghte ne by daye. + For alle derke develes 13000 + Arn a-drad to heren it; + And synfulle aren solaced + And saved by that name. + And ye callen hym Crist; + For what cause telleth me? + Is Crist moore of myght, + And moore worthi name, + Than Jhesu or Jhesus, + That al oure joye com of?" + + "Thow knowest wel," quod Conscience, 13010 + "And thow konne reson, + That knyght, kyng, conquerour, + May be o persone. + To be called a knyght is fair, + For men shul knele to hym; + To be called a kyng is fairer, + {398} + For he may knyghtes make; + Ac to be conquerour called, + That cometh of special grace, + And of hardynesse of herte, 13020 + And of hendenesse, + To make lordes of laddes + Of lond that he wynneth, + And fre men foule thralles + That folwen noght hise lawes. + + "The Jewes that were gentil men, + Jhesus thei despised, + Bothe his loore and his lawe; + Now are thei lowe cherles. + As wide as the world is, 13030 + Noon of hem ther wonyeth + But under tribut and taillage, + As tikes and cherles; + And tho that bicome cristene + Bi counseil of the baptisme, + Aren frankeleyns, free men, + Thorugh fullynge that thei toke, + And gentil men with Jhesu; + For Jhesu was y-fulled, + And upon Calvarie on cros 13040 + Y-crouned kyng of Jewes. + + "It bicometh to a kyng + To kepe and to defende; + And conquerour of conquest + Hise lawes and his large. + And so dide Jhesus the Jewes, + He justified and taughte hem + The lawe of lif, + That laste shal evere; + And defended from foule yveles, 13050 + {399} + Feveres and fluxes, + And from fendes that in hem were, + And false bileve. + Tho was he Jhesus of Jewes called, + Gentile prophete, + And kyng of hir kyngdom, + And croune bar of thornes. + + "And tho conquered he on cros, + As conquerour noble. + Mighte no deeth hym for-do, 13060 + Ne a-doun brynge, + That he naroos and regnede, + And ravysshed helle: + And tho was he conquerour called + Of quyke and of dede. + For he yaf Adam and Eve + And othere mo blisse, + That longe hadde y-leyen bifore + As Luciferis cherles. + + "And sith he yaf largely 13070 + Alle hise lele liges + Places in Paradis, + At hir partynge hennes; + He may wel be called conquerour, + And that is Crist to mene. + + "Ac the cause that he cometh thus + With cros of his passion, + Is to wissen us therwith + That whan that we ben tempted, + Therwith to fighte and defenden us 13080 + Fro fallynge to synne. + And so bi his sorwe, + That who so loveth joye + To penaunce and to poverte + {400} + He moste puten hymselven, + And muche wo in this world + To willen and suffren. + + "Ac to carpe moore of Crist, + And how he com to that name, + Faithly for to speke, 13090 + His firste name was Jhesus; + Tho he was born in Bethleem, + As the book telleth, + And cam to take mankynde, + Kynges and aungeles + Reverenced hym faire + With richesses of erthe, + Aungeles out of hevene + Come knelynge and songe, + _Gloria in excelsis Deo, etc._ 13100 + + "Kynges that come after + Knelede, and offrede + Mirre and muche gold, + Withouten mercy askynge + Or any kynnes catel, + But knowelichynge hym sovereyn + Bothe of lond, sonne, and see, + And sithenes thei wente + Into hir kyngene kith, + By counseil of aungeles. 13110 + And there was that word fulfilled + The which thow of speke. + _Omnia cælestia terrestria flectantur + in hoc nomine Jhesu._ + + "For alle the aungeles of hevene + At his burthe knelede, + And al the wit of the world + Was in tho thre kynges, + {401} + Reson and rightwisnesse + And ruthe thei offrede; 13120 + Wherfore and why + Wise men that tyme, + Maistres and lettred men, + _Magi_ hem callede. + + "That o kyng cam with reson, + Covered under sense. + + "The seconde kyng siththe + Soothliche offrede + Rightwisnesse under reed gold, + Resones felawe. 13130 + For gold is likned to leautee + That laste shal evere. + + "The thridde kyng tho kam + Knelynge to Jhesu, + And presented hym with pitee, + Apperynge by mirre. + For mirre is mercy to mene + And mylde speche of tonge. + + "Thre y-liche honeste thynges + Were offred thus at ones, 13140 + Thorugh thre kynne kynges + Knelynge to Jhesu, + + "Ac for alle thise preciouse presentz, + Oure Lord kyng Jhesus + Was neither kyng ne conquerour, + Til he gan to wexe + In the manere of a man, + And that by muchel sleighte, + As it bi-cometh a conquerour + To konne manye sleightes, 13150 + And manye wiles and wit, + That wole ben a ledere. + {402} + And so dide Jhesu in hise dayes, + Who so hadde tyme to telle it. + + "Som tyme he suffrede, + And som tyme he hidde hym; + And some tyme he faught faste, + And fleigh outher while; + And som tyme he gaf good, + And grauntede heele bothe, 13160 + Lif and lyme, + As hym liste he wroghte. + As kynde is of a conquerour, + So comsede Jhesu, + Til he hadde alle hem + That he for bledde. + + "In his juventee this Jhesus + At Jewene feeste + Water into wyn turnede, + As holy writ telleth. 13170 + And there bigan God + Of his grace to do-wel. + For wyn is likned to lawe + And lif-holynesse, + And lawe lakkede tho, + For men lovede noght hir enemys. + And Crist counseileth thus, + And comaundeth bothe, + To lered and to lewede + To lovyen oure enemys. 13180 + So at the feeste first, + As I bifore tolde, + Bigan God of his grace + And goodnesse to do-wel. + And thanne was he called + Noght holy Crist, but Jhesu, + {403} + A faunt fyn ful of wit, + _Filius Mariæ._ + For bifore his moder Marie + Made he that wonder; 13190 + That she first and formest + Ferme sholde bileve + That he thorugh grace was gete, + And of no gome ellis. + He wroghte that by no wit, + But thorugh word one; + After the kynde that he cam of, + There comsede he do-wel. + + "And whan he woxen was moore, + In his moder absence, 13200 + He made lame to lepe, + And yaf light to blynde, + And fedde with two fisshes, + And with fyve loves, + Sore a fyngred folk + Mo than fyve thousand. + + "Thus he confortede carefulle + And caughte a gretter name, + The which was Do-bet, + Where that he wente, 13210 + For deve thorugh hise doynges to here + And dombe speke he made, + And alle he heeled and halp + That hym of grace askede. + And tho was he called in contré + Of the comune peple, + For the dedes that he dide, + _Fili David, Jhesus._ + For David was doghtiest + Of dedes in his tyme. 13220 + {404} + The burdes tho songe, + _Saul interfecit mille, et David decem millia._ = + + "For-thi the contree ther Jhesu cam + Called hym _fili David_, + And nempned hym of Nazareth, + And no man so worthi + To be kaiser or kyng + Of the kyngdom of Juda, + Ne over Jewes justice, 13230 + As Jhesus was, hem thoughte. + + "Wherof Cayphas hadde envye, + And othere of the Jewes; + And for to doon hym to dethe + Day and nyght thei casten, + Killeden hym on cros wise + At Calvarie on Friday, + And sithen buriede his body, + And beden that men sholde, + Kepen it fro nyght comeris 13240 + With knyghtes y-armed, + For no frendes sholde hym fecche. + For prophetes hem tolde + That that blissede body + Of burieles risen sholde, + And goon into Galilee, + And gladen hise apostles, + And his moder Marie; + Thus men bifore demede. + + "The knyghtes that kepten it 13250 + Bi-knewe it hemselven, + That aungeles and archaungeles + Er the day spronge + Come knelynge to the corps, + {405} + And songen _Christus resurgens_, + Verray men bifore hem alle, + And forth with hem he yede. + + "The Jewes preide hem be pees, + And bi-soughte the knyghtes + Telle the comune that ther cam 13260 + A compaignie of hise apostles, + And bi-wicched hem as thei woke, + And awey stolen it. + + "Ac Marie Maudeleyne + Mette hym by the weye, + Goynge toward Galilee + In godhede and manhede, + And lyves and lokynge, + And she a-loud cride + In ech a compaignie ther she cam, 13270 + _Christus resurgens_. + + "Thus cam it out that Crist over-coom, + Recoverede and lyvede + _Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare, etc._ = + For that that wommen witeth, + May noght wel be counseille. + + "Peter parceyved al this, + And pursued after, + Bothe James and Johan, 13280 + Jhesu for to seke, + Thaddee and ten mo, + With Thomas of Inde. + And as alle thise wise wyes + Weren togideres, + In an hous al bi-shet, + And hir dore y-barred, + Crist cam in, and al closed + {406} + Bothe dore and yates, + To Peter and to thise apostles, 13290 + And seide _pax vobis!_ + And took Thomas by the hand, + And taughte hym to grope, + And feele with hise fyngres + His flesshliche herte. + + "Thomas touched it, + And with his tonge seide, + '_Deus meus et Dominus meus_-- + Thow art my lord, I bi-leve, + My God, lord Jhesu; 13300 + Thow deidest and deeth tholedest, + And deme shalt us alle, + And now art lyvynge and lokynge, + And laste shalt evere.' + + "Crist carpede thanne, + And curteisliche seide, + 'Thomas, for thow trowest this, + And treweliche bi-levest it, + Blessed mote thow be, + And be shalt for evere; 13310 + And blessed mote thei alle be + In body and in soule + That nevere shul se me in sighte, + As thow doost nowthe, + And lelliche bi-leve al this, + I love hem and blesse hem.' + _Beati qui non viderunt, etc._ + + "And whan this dede was doon, + Do-best he taughte, + And yaf Piers power, 13320 + And pardon he grauntede, + To alle maner men + {407} + Mercy and forgifnesse, + Hym myght to assoille + Of alle manere synne, + In covenaunt that thei come + And kneweliched to paie + To Piers pardon the Plowman, + _Redde quod debes._ + + "Thus hath Piers power, 13330 + By his pardon paied, + To bynde and unbynde, + Bothe here and ellis where; + And assoille men of alle synnes, + Save of dette one. + + "Anoon after an heigh + Up into hevene + He wente, and wonyeth there, + And wol come at the laste, + And rewarde hym right wel 13340 + That _reddit quod debet_, + Paieth parfitly, + As pure truthe wolde; + And what persone paieth it nought, + Punysshen he thenketh, + And demen hem at domes day + Bothe quyke and dede. + The goode to the godhede + And to greet joye, + And wikkede to wonye 13350 + In wo withouten ende." + + Thus Conscience of Crist + And of the cros carpede, + And counseiled me to knele therto. + And thanne cam, me thoughte, + Oon _spiritus paraclitus_ + {408} + To Piers and to hise felawes + In liknesse of a lightnynge + He lighte on hem alle, + And made hem konne and knowe 13360 + Alle kynne langages. + I wondred what that was, + And waggede Conscience, + And was a-fered of the light, + For in fires lightnesse + _Spiritus paraclitus_ + Over-spradde hem alle. + + Quod Conscience, and knelede, + "This is Cristes messager, + And cometh fro the grete God, 13370 + And Grace is his name. + Knele now," quod Conscience, + "And if thow kanst synge, + Welcome hym and worshipe hym + With _Veni creator spiritus_." + + Thanne song I that song, + So dide manye hundred, + And cride with Conscience, + "Help us, God of Grace!" + + And thanne bigan Grace 13380 + To go with Piers Plowman, + And counseillede hym and Conscience + The comune to sompne; + "For I wole dele to-day + And gyve divine grace + To alle kynne creatures + That han hir fyve wittes, + Tresour to lyve by + To hir lyves ende, + And wepne to fighte with 13390 + {409} + That wole nevere faille. + For Antecrist and hise + Al the world shul greve, + And acombre thee, Conscience, + But if Crist thee helpe. + + "And false prophetes fele, + Flatereris and gloseris, + Shullen come and be curatours + Over kynges and erles, + And Pride shal be pope, 13400 + Prynce of holy chirche, + Coveitise and unkyndenesse + Cardinals hym to lede; + For-thi," quod Grace, "er I go, + I wol gyve yow tresor, + And wepne to fighte with + Whan Antecrist yow assaileth." + And gaf ech man a grace + To gide with hymselven, + That ydelnesse encombre hym noght, 13410 + Envye ne pride. + _Divisiones gratiarum sunt, etc._ + + Some he yaf wit + With wordes to shewe, + Wit to wynne hir liflode with, + As the world asketh, + As prechours and preestes, + And prentices of lawe, + They lelly to lyve + By labour of tonge, 13420 + And by wit to wissen othere + As grace hem wolde teche. + + And some he kennede craft + And konnynge of sighte, + {410} + With sellynge and buggynge + Hir bilyve to wynne. + + And some he lered to laboure, + A lele lif and a trewe; + And some he taughte to tilie, + To dyche and to thecche, 13430 + To wynne with her liflode + Bi loore of his techynge. + + And some to devyne and divide, + Noumbres to kenne; + And some to compace craftily, + And colours to make; + And some to se and to seye + What sholde bi-falle, + Bothe of wele and of wo, + Telle it er it felle, 13440 + As astronomyens thorugh astronomye, + And philosofres wise. + + And some to ryde, and to recovere + That wrongfully was wonne; + He wissed hem to wynne it ayein + Thorugh wightnesse of handes, + And fecchen it fro false men + With folvyles lawes. + + And some he lered to lyve + In longynge to ben hennes, 13450 + In poverte and in penaunce, + To preie for alle cristene. + And alle he lered to be lele, + And ech a craft love oother; + And forbad hem alle debat, + That noon were among hem. + "Though some be clenner than some, + Ye se wel," quod Grace, + {411} + "That he that useth the faireste craft, + To the fouleste I kouthe have put hym. 13460 + Thynketh alle," quod Grace, + "That grace cometh of my gifte; + Loketh that no man lakke oother, + But loveth alle as bretheren. + + "And who that moost maistries kan + Be myldest of berynge; + And crouneth Conscience kyng, + And maketh Craft youre stiward, + And after Craftes conseil + Clotheth yow and fede. 13470 + For I make Piers the Plowman + My procuratour and my reve, + And registrer to receyve, + _Redde quod debes._ + My prowor and my plowman + Piers shal ben on erthe, + And for to tilie truthe + A teeme shal he have." + + Grace gaf Piers a teeme + Of foure grete oxen. 13480 + That oon was Luk, a large beest, + And a lowe chered; + And Mark, and Mathew the thridde, + Myghty beestes bothe; + And joyned to hem oon Johan, + Moost gentil of alle, + The pris neet of Piers Plow, + Passynge all othere. + + And Grace gaf Piers + Of his goodnesse foure stottes; 13490 + Al that hise oxen eriede, + {412} + Thei to harewen after. + Oon highte Austyn, + And Ambrose another, + Gregori the grete clerk, + And Jerom the goode. + Thise foure the feith to teche + Folweth Piers teme, + And harewede in an hand while + Al holy Scripture, 13500 + With two harewes that thei hadde, + An oold and a newe. + _Id est, vetus testamentum et novum._ + + And Grace gaf greynes, + The cardynal vertues, + And sew hem in mannes soule, + And sithen he tolde hir names. + _Spiritus prudentiæ._ + The firste seed highte; + And who so ete that, 13510 + Ymagynen he sholde + Er he deide any deeth, + Devyse wel the ende; + And lerned men a ladel bugge + With a long stele, + And caste for to kepe a crokke + To save the fatte above. + + The seconde seed highte + _Spiritus temperantiæ._ + He that ete of that seed 13520 + Hadde swich a kynde, + Sholde nevere mete ne muchel drynke + Make hym to swelle, + Ne no scornere ne scolde + Out of skile hym bringe, + {413} + Ne wynnynge ne wele + Of worldliche richesse, + Waste word of ydelnesse + Ne wikked speche moeve; + Sholde no curious clooth 13530 + Comen on his rugge, + Ne no mete in his mouth + That maister Johan spicede. + + The thridde seed that Piers sew + Was _spiritus fortitudinis_. + And who ete that seed, + Hardy was he evere + To suffren al that God sente, + Siknesse and angres; + Mighte no lesynges ne lyere, 13540 + Ne los of worldly catel, + Maken hym for any mournynge + That he nas murie in soule, + And bold and abidynge + Bismares to suffre; + And pleieth al with pacience + And _parce mihi domine_; + And covered hym under conseille + Of Caton the wise: + _Esto forti animo, cum sis dampnatus inique._ = + + The ferthe seed that Piers sew 13552 + Was _spiritus justitiæ_. + And he that ete of that seed, + Sholde be evere trewe, + With God, and naught a-gast, + But of gile one; + For gile gooth so pryvely, + That good feith outher while + {414} + Maye nought ben espied, 13560 + For _spiritus justitiæ_. + + _Spiritus justitiæ._ + Spareth noght to spille + Hem that ben gilty, + And for to correcte + The kyng, if he falle + In gilt or in trespas. + For counteth he no kynges wrathe, + Whan he in court sitteth + To demen as a domesman, 13570 + A-drad was he nevere + Neither of duc ne of deeth, + That he ne dide lawe, + For present or for preiere, + Or any prynces lettres; + He dide equité to alle + Evene forth his power. + + Thise foure sedes Piers sew; + And siththe he dide hem harewe + With olde lawe and newe lawe, 13580 + That love myghte wexe + Among tho foure vertues, + And vices destruye. + For comunliche in contrees + Cammokes and wedes + Foulen the fruyt in the feld, + Ther thei growen togideres; + And so doon vices + Vertues worthi. + + Quod Piers, "Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit, + By conseil of thise doctours; 13591 + And tilieth after hir techynge + {415} + The cardynale vertues." + + "Ayeins thei greynes," quod Grace, + "Bi-gynneth for to ripe, + Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers, + To herberwe inne thi cornes." + + "By God! Grace," quod Piers, + "Ye moten gyve tymber, + And ordeyne that hous, 13600 + Er ye hennes wende." + + And Grace gaf hym the cros, + With the croune of thornes, + That Crist upon Calvarie + For mankynde on pyned, + And of his baptisme and blood + That he bledde on roode + He made a manere morter, + And mercy it highte. + And therwith Grace bi-gan 13610 + To make a good foundement, + And watlede it and walled it + With his peyne and his passion, + And of al holy writ + He made a roof after, + And called that hous _Unitee_, + Holy chirche on Englisshe. + + And whan this dede was doon, + Grace devysede + A cart highte cristendom 13620 + To carie Piers sheves; + And gaf hym caples to his carte, + Contricion and confession; + And made preesthod hayward, + The while hymself wente + As wide as the world is + {416} + With Piers to tilie truthe. + + Now is Piers to the plow; + And Pride it aspide, + And gadered hym a greet oost, 13630 + For to greven he thynketh + Conscience and alle cristene + And cardinale vertues, + Blowe hem doun and breke hem, + And bite a-two the mores; + And sente forth Surquidous, + His sergeaunt of armes, + And his spye Spille-love, + Oon Spek-yvel bihynde. + + Thise two coome to Conscience, 13640 + And to cristen peple, + And tolde hem tidynges, + That tyne thei sholde the sedes + That Piers there hadde y-sowen, + The cardynale vertues; + "And Piers bern worth y-broke, + And thei that ben in _Unitee_ + Shulle come out, and Conscience + And youre two caples, + Confession and Contricion; 13650 + And youre carte the bileeve + Shal be coloured so queyntely, + And covered under sophistrie, + That Conscience shal noght + Knowe by Contricion + Ne by Confession + Who is cristene or hethene; + Ne no manere marchaunt + That with moneie deleth, + Wheither he wynne with right, 13660 + {417} + With wrong, or with usure. + + "With swiche colours and queyntise + Cometh Pride y-armed, + With the lord that lyveth after + The lust of his body, + To wasten on welfare, + And in wikked lyvynge, + Al the world in a while + Thorugh oure wit," quod Pryde. + + Quod Conscience to alle cristene tho, 13670 + "My counseil is to wende + Hastiliche into Unitee, + And holde we us there; + And praye we that a pees weere + In Piers berne the Plowman. + For witterly I woot wel, + We beth noght of strengthe + To goon agayn Pride, + But Grace weere with us." + + And thanne kam Kynde Wit 13680 + Conscience to teche, + And cryde and comaundede + Alle cristene peple + For to delven a dych + Depe aboute Unitee, + That holy chirche stode in Unitee, + As it a pyl weere. + + Conscience comaundede tho + Alle cristene to delve, + And make a muche moot, 13690 + That myghte ben a strengthe + To helpe holy chirche + And hem that it kepeth. + + Thanne alle kynne cristene, + {418} + Save comune wommen, + Repenteden and refused synne, + Save thei one, + And false men, flatereris, + Usurers, and theves, + Lyeris, and queste-mongeres 13700 + That were for-sworen ofte, + Witynge and wilfully + With the false helden, + And for silver were for-swore, + Soothly they wiste it. + + Ther nas no cristene creature + That kynde wit hadde, + Save sherewes one + Swiche as I spak of, + That he ne halp a quantité 13710 + Holynesse to wexe, + Some thorugh bedes biddynge, + And some thorugh pilgrymages + And othere pryvé penaunces, + And somme thorugh penyes delynge. + + And thanne wellede water + For wikkede werkes, + Egreliche ernynge + Out of mennes eighen, + Clennesse out of comune, 13720 + And clerkes clene lyvynge, + Made Unitee holy chirche + In holynesse to stonde. + + "I care noght," quod Conscience, + "Though Pride come nouthe. + The lord of lust shal be letted + Al this lente, I hope. + Cometh," quod Conscience, + {419} + "Ye cristene, and dyneth, + That han laboured lelly 13730 + Al this lenten tyme. + Here is breed y-blessed, + And Goddes body therunder: + Grace, thorugh Goddes word, + Yaf Piers power + And myghtes to maken it, + And men to ete it after + In helpe of hir heele + Ones in a monthe, + Or as ofte as thei hadde nede, 13740 + Tho that hadde y-paied + To Piers pardon the Plowman. + _Redde quod debes._" + + "How?" quod al the comune, + "Thow conseillest us to yelde + Al that we owen any wight, + Er we go to housel?" + + "That is my conseil," quod Conscience, + "And cardinale vertues, + That ech man for-gyve oother, 13750 + And that wol the pater-noster. + _Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, etc._ + And so to ben assoilled, + And siththen ben houseled." + + "Ye, baw!" quod a brewere, + "I wol noght be ruled, + By Jhesu! for al youre janglynge + With _spiritus justitiæ_, + Ne after Conscience, by Crist! + While I kan selle 13760 + Bothe dregges and draf, + And drawe it out at oon hole + {420} + Thikke ale and thynne ale, + For that is my kynde, + And noght hakke after holynesse. + Hold thi tonge, Conscience! + Of _spiritus justitiæ_, + Thow spekest muche on ydel." + + "Caytif!" quod Conscience, + "Cursede wrecche! 13770 + Un-blessed artow, brewere, + But if thee God helpe. + But thow lyve by loore + Of _spiritus justitiæ_, + The chief seed that Piers sew, + Y-saved worstow nevere. + But Conscience the comune fede, + And cardinale vertues, + Leve it wel, thei ben lost, + Bothe lif and soule." 13780 + + "Thanne is many a man lost," + Quod a lewed vicory.-- + "I am a curatour of holy kirke, + And cam nevere in my tyme + Man to me, that me kouthe telle + Of cardinale vertues, + Or that acountede Conscience + At a cokkes fethere or an hennes. + I knew nevere cardynal, + That he ne cam fro the pope; 13790 + And we clerkes, whan thei come, + For hir comunes paieth, + For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete, + And pilours that hem folweth. + + "The comune _clamat cotidie_ + Ech a man til oother, + {421} + The contree is the corseder + That cardinals comme inne; + And ther thei ligge and lenge moost, + Lecherie there regneth. 13800 + + "For-thi," quod this vicory, + "By verray God! I wolde + That no cardynal coome + Among the comune peple; + But in hir holynesse + Helden hem stille + At Avynone among the Jewes,-- + _Cum sancto sanctus eris, etc._-- + Or in Rome, as hir rule wole, + The relikes to kepe; 13810 + And thow, Conscience, in kynges court, + And sholdest nevere come thennes; + And Grace, that thow graddest so of, + Gyour of alle clerkes; + And Piers with his newe plow, + And ek with his olde, + Emperour of al the world, + That alle men were cristene. + + "Inparfit is that pope + That al the world sholde helpe, 13820 + And sendeth swiche that sleeth hem + That he sholde save. + + "And wel worthe Piers the Plowman, + That pursueth God in doynge, + _Qui pluit super justos + Et injustos_ at ones, + And sent the sonne to save + A cursed mannes tilthe, + As brighte as to the beste man, + Or to the beste womman. 13830 + {422} + + "Right so Piers the Plowman + Peyneth hym to tilye + As wel for a wastour + And wenches of the stewes, + As for hymself and his servauntz, + Save he is first y-served; + And travailleth and tilieth + For a tretour also soore + As for a trewe tidy man, + Alle tymes y-like. 13840 + And worshiped be he that wroghte al, + Bothe good and wikke, + And suffreth that synfulle be, + [Tyl som tyme that thei repenten]. + And God amende the pope! + That pileth holy kirke, + And cleymeth bifore the kyng + To be kepere over cristene; + And counteth noght though cristene ben + Killed and robbed; 13850 + And fynt folk to fighte, + And cristen blood to spille, + Ayein the olde lawe and newe lawe, + As Luc therof witnesseth. + _Non occides, mihi vindictam, etc._ + + "It semeth, bi so + Hymself hadde his wille, + That he reccheth right noght + Of al the remenaunt. + And Crist of his curteisie 13860 + The cardinals save, + And torne hir wit to wisdom, + And to welthe of soule! + For the comune," quod this curatour, + {423} + "Counten ful litel + The counseil of Conscience, + Or cardinale vertues. + But if thei seighe, as by sighte, + Som what to wynnyng, + Of gile ne of gabbyng 13870 + Gyve thei nevere tale. + For _spiritus prudentiæ_ + Among the peple is gyle; + And alle tho faire vertues + As vices thei semeth. + Ech man subtileth a sleighte + Synne for to hide, + And coloureth it for a konnynge, + And a clene lyvynge." + + Thanne lough ther a lord, 13880 + And "By this light!" seide, + "I holde it right and reson + Of my reve to take + Al that myn auditour, + Or ellis my styward, + Counseilleth me bi hir acounte + And my clerkes writyng. + With _spiritus intellectus_ + Thei seke the reves rolles; + And with _spiritus fortitudinis_ 13890 + Fecche it I wole after." + + And thanne cam ther a kyng, + And, by his croune! seide, + "I am kyng with croune + The comune to rule, + And holy kirke and clergie + From cursed men to fende; + And if me lakketh to lyve by, + {424} + The lawe wole I take it + Ther I may hastilokest it have. 13900 + For I am heed of lawe; + And ye ben but membres, + And I above alle. + And sith I am youre aller heed, + I am youre aller heele, + And holy chirches chief help, + And chieftayn of the comune; + And what I take of yow two, + I take it at the techynge + Of _spiritus justitiæ_, 13910 + For I jugge yow alle. + So I may boldely be housled, + For I borwe nevere, + Ne crave of my comune, + But as my kynde asketh." + + "In condicion," quod Conscience, + "That thow konne defende + And rule thi reaume in reson, + Right wel and in truthe, + Take thow mayst in reson 13920 + As thi lawe asketh. + _Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum, + sed non ad deprædandum._" + The viker hadde fer hoom, + And faire took his leeve; + And I awakned therwith, + And wroot as me mette. 13927 + + * * * * * + +{425} + + _Passus Vicesimus de Visione, et Primus de Do-best._ + + Thanne as I wente by the wey, 13928 + Whan I was thus awaked, + Hevy-chered I yede, + And elenge in herte; + I ne wiste wher to ete, + Ne at what place, + And it neghed neigh the noon, + And with Nede I mette + That afrounted me foule, + And faitour me called: + "Kanstow noght excuse thee, + As dide the kyng and othere, + That thow toke to thy bilyve, 13940 + To clothes and to sustenaunce; + And by techynge and by tellynge + Of _spiritus temperantiæ_, + And thow nome na-moore + Than nede thee taughte, + And nede he hath no lawe, + Ne nevere shal falle in dette; + For thre thynges he taketh, + His lif for to save. + + "That is mete, whan men hym werneth 13950 + {426} + And he no moneye weldeth, + Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh, + Ne wed hath noon to legge; + And he caughte in that caas, + And come therto by sleighte, + He synneth noght, soothliche, + That so wynneth his foode. + + "And though he come so to a clooth, + And kan no bettre chevyssaunce, + Nede anoon righte 13960 + Nymeth hym under maynprise. + + "And if hym list for to lape, + The lawe of kynde wolde + That he dronke at ech dych, + Er he for thurst deide. + So Nede al gret nede + May nymen, as for his owene, + Withouten counseil of Conscience + Or cardynale vertues, + So that he sewe and save 13970 + _Spiritus temperantiæ_. + + "For is no vertue bi fer + To _spiritus temperantiæ_; + Ne _spiritus justitiæ_ + Ne _spiritus fortitudinis_. + For _spiritus fortitudinis_ + Forfeteth ful ofte. + He shal do moore than mesure + Many tyme and ofte, + And bete men over bittre, 13980 + And some of hem to litel, + And greve men gretter + Than good feith it wolde + {427} + + "And _spiritus justitiæ_ + Shal juggen, wol he nele he, + After the kynges counseil, + And the comune like. + And _spiritus prudentiæ_ + In many a point shal faille + Of that he weneth wolde falle, 13990 + If his wit ne weere. + Wenynge is no wysdom, + Ne wys ymaginacion, + _Homo proponit, et Deus disponit_, + And governeth alle goode vertues; + Ac Nede is next hym, + For anoon he meketh, + And as lowe as a lomb, + For lakkyng of that hym nedeth. + Wise men forsoke wele, 14000 + For thei wolde be nedy, + And woneden in wildernesse, + And wolde noght he riche. + + "And God al his grete joye + Goostliche he lefte, + And cam and took mankynde, + And bi-cam nedy. + So nedy he was, as seith the book, + In manye sondry places, + That he seide in his sorwe 14010 + On the selve roode, + Bothe fox and fowel + May fle to hole and crepe, + And the fissh hath fyn + To flete with to reste, + Ther Nede hath y-nome me + That I moot nede abide + {428} + And suffre sorwes ful soure + That shal to joye torne, + For-thi be noght abasshed 14020 + To bide and to be nedy; + Sith he that wroghte al the world + Was wilfulliche nedy, + Ne nevere noon so nedy + Ne poverer deide." + + Whan Nede hath under-nome me thus, + Anoon I fil a-slepe; + And mette ful merveillously, + That in mannes forme + Antecrist cam thanne, 14030 + And al the crop of Truthe + Torned it up-so-doun, + And over-tilte the roote; + And fals sprynge and sprede, + And spede mennes nedes, + In ech a contree ther he cam + He kutte awey truthe, + And gerte gile growe there, + As he a Good weere. + + Freres folwede that fend, 14040 + For he gaf hem copes; + And religiouse reverenced hym, + And rongen hir belles, + And al the covent forth cam + To welcome that tyraunt, + And alle hise as wel as hym, + Save oonly fooles. + Whiche foolis were wel levere + To deye than to lyve + {429} + Lenger, sith Lenten 14050 + Was so rebuked. + And as a fals fend, Antecrist + Over alle folk regnede, + Save that were mylde men and holye, + That no meschief dradden, + Defyed alle falsnesse + And folk that it usede; + And what kyng that hem conforted, + Knowynge hem any while, + They cursed and hir conseil, 14060 + Were it clerk or lewed. + + Antecrist hadde thus soone + Hundredes at his baner, + And Pride it bar + Boldely aboute, + With a lord that lyveth + After likyng of body, + That kam ayein Conscience, + That kepere was and gyour + Over kynde cristene 14070 + And cardynale vertues. + + "I conseille," quod Conscience tho, + "Cometh with me, ye fooles, + Into Unité holy chirche, + And holde we us there; + And crye we to kynde + That he come and defende us, + Fooles, fro thise fendes lymes, + For Piers love the Plowman; + And crye we to al the comune, 14080 + That thei come to Unitee, + And there abide and bikere + Ayeins Beliales children." + {430} + + Kynde Conscience tho herde, + And cam out of the planetes, + And sente forth his forreyours, + Feveres and fluxes, + Coughes and cardiacles, + Crampes and tooth-aches, + Rewmes and radegundes, 14090 + And roynous scabbes, + Biles and bocches, + And brennynge agues, + Frenesies and foule yveles, + Forageres of kynde, + Hadde y-priked and prayed + Polles of peple, + That largeliche a legion + Loste hir lif soone. + + There was, "Harrow and help! 14100 + Here cometh Kynde, + With Deeth that is dredful + To undo us alle!" + + The lord that lyved after lust + Tho aloud cryde + After Confort, a knyght, + To come and bere his baner; + "_A l'arme! à l'arme!_" quod that lord, + "Ech lif kepe his owene!" + + And thanne mette thise men, 14110 + Er mynstrals myghte pipe, + And er heraudes of armes + Hadden discryved lordes, + Elde the hoore + That was in the vaunt-warde. + And bar the baner bifore Deeth, + Bi right he it cleymede. + {431} + + Kynde cam after, + With many kene soores, + As pokkes and pestilences, 14120 + And muche peple shente; + So Kynde thorugh corrupcions + Kilde ful manye. + + Deeth cam dryvynge after, + And al to duste passhed + Kynges and knyghtes, + Kaysers and popes, + Lered and lewed, + He leet no man stonde + That he hitte evene, 14130 + That evere stired after. + Manye a lovely lady, + And lemmans of knyghtes, + Swowned and swelted + For sorwe of hise dyntes. + + Conscience of his curteisie + To Kynde he bi-soughte + To cesse and suffre, + And see wher thei wolde + Leve Pride pryvely, 14140 + And be parfite cristene. + + And Kynde cessede tho + To se the peple amende. + Fortune gan flatere thanne + Tho fewe that were alyve, + And bi-highte hem long lif, + And Lecherie he sente + Amonges alle manere men, + Wedded and unwedded, + And gaderede a greet hoost 14150 + Al agayn Conscience. + {432} + + This Lecherie leide on + With a janglynge chiere, + And with pryvee speche + And peyntede wordes; + And armede hym in ydelnesse, + And in heigh berynge. + He bar a bowe in his hand, + And manye brode arewes, + Weren fethered with fair bi-heste 14160 + And many a fals truthe. + With hise un-tidy tales + He tened ful ofte. + Conscience and his compaignye, + Of holy chirche the techeris. + + Thanne cam Coveitise, + And caste how he myghte + Overcome Conscience + And cardinale vertues, + And armed hym in avarice, 14170 + And hungriliche lyvede. + His wepne was al wiles + To wynnen and to hiden; + With glosynges and with gabbynges + He giled the peple. + + Symonye hym sente + To assaille Conscience, + And preched to the peple; + And prelates thei hem maden + To holden with Antecrist, 14180 + His temporaltees to save; + And cam to the kynges counseille + As a kene baroun, + And kneled to Conscience + In court afore hem alle, + {433} + And garte good feith flee, + And fals to abide; + And boldeliche bar a-doun, + With many a bright noble, + Muche of the wit and wisdom 14190 + Of Westmynstre Halle. + He jogged to a justice, + And justed in his eere, + And over-tilte al his truthe + With "Tak this up amendement." + + And to the Arches in haste + He yede anoon after, + And tornede cyvyle into symonye, + And siththe he took the official + For a mantel of menever, 14200 + And made lele matrymoyne + Departen er deeth cam, + And devors shapte. + + "Allas!" quod Conscience, and cryde tho, + "Wolde Crist of his grace + That coveitise were cristene! + That is so kene a fightere, + And boold and bidynge + While his bagge lasteth." + + And thanne lough Lyf, 14210 + And leet daggen hise clothes, + And armed hym an haste + With harlotes wordes; + And heeld holynesse a jape, + And hendenesse a wastour; + And leet leautee a cherl, + And lyere a fre man; + Conscience and his counseil + He counted at a flye + {434} + Thus relyede Lif, 14220 + For a litel fortune; + And priketh forth with Pride, + Preiseth he no vertue, + Ne careth noght how Kynde slow, + And shal come at the laste, + And kille alle erthely creatures, + Save Conscience oone. + Lyf lepte aside, + And laughte hym a lemman; + "Heele and I," quod he, 14230 + "And heighnesse of herte, + Shal do thee noght drede + Neither deeth ne elde, + And to forgyte sorwe, + And gyve noght of synne." + + This likede Lif, + And his lemman Fortune; + And geten in hir glorie + A gadelyng at the laste, + Oon that muche wo wroghte, 14240 + Sleuthe was his name. + Sleuthe wax wonder yerne, + And soone was of age, + And wedded oon Wanhope, + A wenche of the stuwes. + Hir sire was a sysour + That nevere swoor truthe, + Oon Tomme Two-tonge, + Atteynt at ech enqueste. + + This Sleuthe was war of werre, 14250 + And a slynge made, + And threw drede of dispair + A dozeyne myle aboute. + {435} + + For care Conscience tho + Cryde upon Elde, + And bad hym fonde to fighte, + And a-fere Wanhope. + + And Elde hente good hope, + And hastiliche he shifte hym, + And wayved awey Wanhope, 14260 + And with Lif he fighteth. + And Lif fleigh for feere + To phisik after helpe, + And bi-soughte hym of socour, + And of his salve he hadde. + He gaf hym gold good woon, + That gladede his herte; + And thei gyven hym ageyn + A glazene howve. + + Lyf leeved that lechecraft 14270 + Lette sholde elde, + And dryven awey deeth + With dyas and drogges. + + And Elde auntred hym on lyf, + And at the laste he hitte + A phisicien with a furred hood, + That he fel in a palsie, + And there dyed that doctour + Er thre dayes after. + + "Now I se," seide Lif, 14280 + "That surgerie ne phisik + May noght a myte availle + To mede ayein Elde." + And in hope of his heele + Good herte he hente, + And rood forth to a revel, + A ryche place and a murye; + {436} + The compaignye of confort + Men cleped it som tyme. + + And Elde anoon after me 14290 + And over myn heed yede; + And made me balled bifore, + And bare on the crowne. + So harde he yede over myn heed, + It wole be sene evere. + + "Sire yvele y-taught, Elde!" quod I, + "Unhende go with the! + Sith whanne was the wey + Over mennes heddes? + Haddestow be hende," quod I, 14300 + "Thow woldest have asked leeve." + + "Ye, leve lurdeyn!" quod he; + And leyde on me with age, + And hitte me under the ere, + Unnethe myghte ich here. + He buffetted me so aboute the mouth, + That out my teeth he bette; + And gyved me in goutes, + I may noght goon at large. + And of the wo that I was inne 14310 + My wif hadde ruthe, + And wisshed ful witterly + That I were in hevene; + For the lyme that she loved me fore, + And leef was to feele,-- + On nyghtes, namely, + Whan we naked weere,-- + I ne myghte in no manere + Maken it at hir wille; + So Elde and she, soothly, 14320 + Hadden it for-beten. + {437} + + And as I seet in this sorwe, + I saugh how Kynde passede; + And Deeth drogh neigh me. + For drede gan I quake, + And cryde to Kynde, + "Out of care me brynge! + Lo! Elde the hoore + Hath me bi-seye. + Awreke me! if youre wille be, 14330 + For I wolde ben hennes." + + "If thow wolt be wroken, + Wend into Unitee, + And hold thee there evere, + Til I sende for thee; + And loke thow konne som craft, + Er thow come thennes." + + "Counseille me, Kynde," quod I, + "What craft is best to lerne." + + "Lerne to love," quod Kynde, 14340 + "And leef of alle othere." + + "How shal I come to catel so, + To clothe me and to feede?" + + "And thow love lelly," quod he, + "Lakke shal thee nevere + Mete ne worldly weede, + While thi lif lasteth." + + And there by conseil of Kynde + I comsed to rome + Thorugh Contricion and Confession, 14350 + Til I cam to Unitee. + And there was Conscience conestable + Cristene to save, + And bisegede soothly + With sevene grete geauntz + {438} + That with Antechrist helden + Harde ayein Conscience. + + Sleuthe with his slynge + An hard assaut he made. + Proude preestes coome with hym 14360 + Mo than a thousand, + In paltokes and pyked shoes, + And pisseris longe knyves, + Coomen ayein Conscience, + With Coveitise thei helden. + + "By Marie!" quod a mansed preest + Of the Marche of Walys, + "I counte na-moore Conscience, + By so I cacche silver, + Than I do to drynke 14370 + A draughte of good ale." + And so seiden sixty + Of the same contree; + And shotten ayein with shot + Many a sheef of othes, + And brode hoked arwes, + Goddes herte and hise nayles; + And hadden almoost Unitee, + And holynesse a-down. + + Conscience cryede, "Helpe, Clergie! 14380 + Or ellis I falle, + Thorugh inparfite preestes + And prelates of holy chirche." + Freres herden hym crye, + And comen hym to helpe; + Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft, + Conscience forsook hem. + + Nede neghede tho neer, + And Conscience he tolde + {439} + That thei come for coveitise 14390 + To have cure of soules; + "And for thei are povere, peraventure, + For patrymoyne thei faille, + They wol flatere and fare wel + With folk that ben riche. + And sithen thei chosen chele + And cheitiftee poverte, + Lat hem chewe as thei chose, + And charge hem with no cure. + For lomere he lyeth, 14400 + That liflode moot begge, + Than he that laboureth for liflode, + And leneth it beggeris. + And sithen freres forsoke + The felicité of erthe, + Lat hem be as beggeris, + Or lyve by aungeles foode." + + Conscience of this counseil tho + Comsede for to laughe, + And curteisliche conforted hem, 14410 + And called in alle freres, + And seide, "Sires, soothly + Welcome be ye alle + To Unitee and holy chirche; + Ac o thyng I yow preye, + Holdeth yow in Unitee, + And haveth noon envye + To lered ne to lewed, + But lyveth after youre reule, + And I wol be youre borugh 14420 + Ye shal have breed and clothes + And othere necessaries y-nowe, + Yow shal no thyng faille, + {440} + With that ye leve logik, + And lerneth for to lovye. + For love lafte thei lordshipe, + Bothe lond and scole, + Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk, + For love to be holye. + + "And if ye coveite cure, 14430 + Kynde wol yow teche + That in mesure God made + Alle manere thynges, + And sette hem at a certein + And a siker nombre, + And nempnede names newe, + And noumbrede the sterres. + _Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum, + et omnibus eis, etc._ + + "Kynges and knyghtes 14440 + That kepen and defenden, + Han officers under hem, + And ech of hem a certein. + And if thei wage men to werre, + Thei write hem in noumbre; + Alle othere in bataille + Ben y-holde brybours, + Pylours and pyke-harneys, + In ech a place y-cursed, + Wol no man tresore hem paie, 14450 + Travaille thei never so soore. + + "Monkes and moniales, + And alle men of religion, + Hir ordre and hir reule wole + To han a certein noumbre, + Of lewed and of lered, + The lawe wole and asketh + {441} + A certein for a certein, + Save oonliche of freres. + + "For thi," quod conscience, "by Crist! 14460 + Kynde wit me telleth + It is wikked to wage yow, + Ye wexen out of noumbre; + Hevene hath evene noumbre, + And helle is withoute noumbre. + For-thi I wolde witterly + That ye were in the registre, + And youre noumbre under notaries signe, + And neither mo ne lasse." + + Envye herde this, 14470 + And heet freres to go to scole + And lerne logyk and lawe, + And ek contemplacion, + And preche men of Plato, + And preve it by Seneca, + That alle thynges under hevene + Oughte to ben in comune. + + And yet he lyeth, as I leve, + That to the lewed so precheth; + For God made to men a lawe, 14480 + And Moyses it taughte. + _Non concupisces rem proximi tui._ + + And yvele in this y-holde + In parisshes of Engelonde; + For persons and parissh-preestes + That sholde the peple shryve, + Ben curatours called, + To knowe and to hele + Alle that ben hir parisshens, + Penaunce to enjoigne; 14490 + And sholden be ashamed in his shrift; + {442} + Ac shame maketh hem wende + And fleen to the freres, + As fals folk to Westmynstre, + That borweth, and bereth it thider, + And thanne biddeth frendes + Yerne of forgifnesse, + Or lenger yeres loone. + Ac while he is in Westmynstre, + He wol be bifore, 14500 + And maken hym murie + With oother mennes goodes. + + And so it fareth with muche folk + That to the freres hem shryveth, + As sisours and executours, + Thei wol gyve the freres + A parcel to preye for hem, + And make hemself murye + With the residue and the remenaunt + That othere men bi-swonke, 14510 + And suffre the dede in dette + To the day of doome. + + Envye herfore + Hatede Conscience; + And freres to philosophie + He fond thanne to scole, + The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse, + Conscience assaillede. + In Unitee holy chirche + Conscience held hym, 14520 + And made Pees porter + To pynne the yates, + Of alle tale-telleris + And titeleris in ydel + {443} + Ypocrisie and he + An hard assaut thei made, + And woundede wel wikkedly + Many a wis techere + That with Conscience acordede + And cardynale vertues. 14530 + + Conscience called a leche, + That koude wel shryve, + To go salve tho that sike ben + And thorugh synne y-wounded + Shrift shoop sharpe salve, + And made men do penaunce + For hir mys-dedes + That thei wroght hadde, + And that Piers were y-payed: + _Redde quod debes._ 14540 + + Some liked noght this leche, + And lettres thei sente, + If any surgien were the segge + That softer koude plastre. + Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherie + Lay there and gronede, + For fastynge of a Frydaye + He ferde as he wolde deye. + + "Ther is a surgien in this sege + That softe kan handle, 14550 + And moore of phisik bi fer + And fairer he plastreth, + Oon frere Flaterere, + Is phisicien and surgien." + + Quod Contricion to Conscience, + "Do hym come to Unitee; + For here is many a man + {444} + Hurt thorugh Ypocrisye." + + "We han no nede," quod Conscience, + "I woot no bettre leche 14560 + Than person or parisshe-preest, + Penitauncer or bisshope, + Save Piers the Plowman, + That hath power over hem alle, + And indulgence may do, + But if dette lette it." + + "I may wel suffre," seide Conscience, + "Syn ye desiren + That frere Flaterere be fet + And phisike yow sike." 14570 + + The frere herof herde + And hiede faste + To a lord for a lettre, + Leve to have to curen, + As a curatour he were; + And cam with hise lettres + Boldely to the bisshope, + And his brief hadde, + In contrees ther he coome + Confessions to here, 14580 + And cam there Conscience was, + And knokked at the yate. + + Pees unpynned it, + Was porter of Unitee, + And in haste askede + What his wille were. + + "In faith!" quod this frere, + "For profit and for helthe + Carpe I wolde with Contricion, + And therfore cam I hider." 14590 + + "He is sik," seide Pees, + {445} + "And so are manye othere. + Ypocrisie hath hurt hem, + Ful hard is if thei kevere." + + "I am a surgien," seide the segge, + "And salves kan make. + Conscience knoweth me wel, + And what I kan do bothe." + + "I praye thee," quod Pees tho, + "Er thow passe ferther, 14600 + What hattestow? I praye thee; + Hele noght thi name." + + "Certes," seide his felawe, + "Sire _Penetrans-domos_." + + "Ye, go thi gate," quod Pees, + "By God! for al thi phisik, + But thow konne som oother craft, + Thow comest nought herinne. + I knew swich oon ones, + Noght eighte wynter hennes, 14610 + Coom in thus y-coped + At a court there I dwelde, + And was my lordes leche, + And my ladies bothe. + And at the laste this lymytour, + Tho my lord was oute, + He salvede so oure wommen + Til some were with childe." + + Hende-speche heet Pees + Open the yates, 14620 + "Lat in the frere and his felawe, + And make hem fair cheere; + He may se and here, + So it may bifalle + That lif thorugh his loore + {446} + Shal leve Coveitise, + And be a-drad of Deeth, + And withdrawe hym fram Pryde, + And acorde with Conscience, + And kisse hir either oother." 14630 + + Thus thorugh Hende-speche + Entred the frere, + And cam in to Conscience, + And curteisly hym grette. + + "Thou art welcome," quod Conscience, + "Kanstow heele the sike? + Here is Contricion," quod Conscience, + "My cosyn, y-wounded. + Conforte hym," quod Conscience, + "And tak kepe to hise soores. 14640 + The plastres of the person + And poudres biten to soore; + He lat hem ligge over longe, + And looth is to chaunge hem; + Fro lenten to lenten + He lat hise plastres bite." + + "That is over longe," quod this lymytour, + "I leve I shal amende it." + And gooth and gropeth Contricion, + And gaf hym a plastre 14650 + Of 'a pryvee paiement, + And I shal praye for yow + For al that ye ben holden to, + Al my lif tyme, + And make yow, my lady, + In masse and in matyns + As frere of oure fraternytee + {447} + For a litel silver.' + + Thus he gooth and gadereth, + And gloseth there he shryveth, 14660 + Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten + To crye and to wepe; + And wake for hise wikked werkes, + As he was wont to doone, + For confort of his confessour + Contricion he lafte, + That is the soverayneste salve + For alle kynne synnes. + + Sleuthe seigh that, + And so dide Pryde, 14670 + And comen with a kene wille + Conscience to assaille. + + Conscience cryed eft, + And bad Clergie helpe hym, + And also Contricion, + For to kepe the yate. + + "He lyth and dremeth," seide Pees, + "And so do manye othere, + The frere with his phisyk + This folk hath enchaunted, 14680 + And plastred hem so esily, + Thei drede no synne." + + "By Crist!" quod Conscience tho, + "I wole bicome a pilgrym, + And walken as wide + As the world lasteth, + To seken Piers the Plowman, + That Pryde may destruye; + And that freres hadde a fyndyng, + That for nede flateren, 14690 + And countrepledeth me, Conscience. + {448} + Now Kynde me avenge, + And sende me hap and heele, + Til I have Piers the Plowman." + And siththe he gradde after Grace, + Til I gan awake. 14696 + + _Explicit hic Dialogus Petri Plowman._ + + * * * * * + + +THE CREED OF PIERS PLOUGHMAN. + + * * * * * + +{451} + +PIERS PLOUGHMAN'S CREED. + + Cros and curteis Christ 1 + This begynnyng spede, + For the faders frendshipe + That fourmed heaven, + And through the special spirit + That sprong of hem tweyne, + And al in one God-hed + Endles dwelleth. + A, and all myn a.b.c. + After have I lerned, 10 + And patred in my pater-noster + Iche poynt after other; + And after al, myne Ave-marie + Almost to the end; + But al my care is to comen, + For I can nought my Crede. + Whan I shall shewen my shrift, + Shent mote I worthen; + The preeste wil me punyche, + And penaunce enjoyne; 20 + The lengthe of a lenton + Flesh moot I leve, + After that Estur is y-come, + And that is hard fare; + {452} + And Wedenesday iche wyke + Withouten flesh-mete. + And also Jesu hymselfe + To the Jewes he saide, + "He that leeveth nought on me, + He leseth the blisse." 30 + Therfor lerne the byleve + Levest me were, + Gif any worldly wight + Wil me [it] couthe; + Other lewed or lered, + That lyveth thereafter + And fulliche folweth the feith, + And feyneth non other; + That no worldeliche wele + Wilneth no tyme, 40 + But liveth in lovyng of God, + And his lawe holdeth; + And for no gettyng of good + Never his God greveth, + But folweth hym the full way, + As he the folke taughte. + But to many maner of men + This matter is asked, + Both to lered and to lewed, + That seyn that they liveden 50 + Hollich on the grete God, + And holden al his hestes. + But by a fraynyng for than + Faileth ther manye. + For first I frayned the freres, + And they me fulle tolden, + That al the fruyt of the fayth + Was in her foure orders; + {453} + And the cofres of Christendom, + And the keie bothen, 60 + And the lock of byleve, + Lieth loken in her hondes, + + Then wennede I to wytten, + And with a whight I mette, + A Minoure in a morwe-tide; + And to this man I saide, + "Sire, for greate Godes love! + The graith thou me tell, + Of what myddel-erde man + Myght I best lerne 70 + My Crede? For I can it nought, + My kare is the more. + And therfore, for Christes love! + Thy counseyl I preie. + A Carm me hath y-covenant, + The nede me to teche; + But for thou knowest Carmes wel, + Thy counsail I aske." + + This Minour loked on me, + And laughyng he sayde, 80 + "Leve christen man, + I leve that thou [art] madde: + Whough shulde thei techen the god, + That con non hemselve? + They ben but jugulers, + And japers of kynde; + Lorels and lechures, + And lemans holden, + Neyther in order ne out, + But unneth lybbeth, 90 + And by-japeth the folk + With gestes of Rome. + {454} + It is but a faynt folke, + Y-founded upon japes. + They maketh hem Maries men, + And so thei men tellen; + And leieth on oure Lady + Many a long tale. + And that wicked folk + Wymmen betraieth, 100 + And begileth hem her good + With glaverynge wordes, + And therwith holden her hous + In harlotes warkes. + And, so save me God! + I hold it greate synne + To gyven hem any good, + Swiche glotones to fynde, + To mayntaynen swiche maner men + That michel good destruieth. 110 + Yet seyn they in her sutiltie + To sottes in townes, + Thei comen out of Carmeli + Christ for to folwen, + And feyneth hem with holynesse, + That yvele hem bisemeth. + Thei lyven more in lecherie, + And lyeth in her tales, + Than suen any good liif; + But lurken in her selles, 120 + And wynnen werdliche good, + And wasten it in synne. + And ghif thei couthen her Crede, + Other on Christ leveden, + Thei weren nought so hardy + Swyche harlotri usen. + {455} + Sikerli I can nought fynden + Who hem first founded; + But the foles foundeden hemselfe + Freres of the Pye, 130 + And maken hem mendynans, + And marre the puple. + But what glut of tho gomes + May any good kachen, + He wyl kepen it hemself, + And cofrene it faste; + And thoigh his felawes fayle good, + For hym he may sterven. + Her monei mai byquest, + And testament maken, 140 + And none obedience bere, + But don as hym luste. + And ryght as Robartes men + Raken aboute + At feyres and at full ales, + And fyllen the cuppe; + And precheth al of pardon, + To plesen the puple. + Her pacience is al pased, + And put out to ferme; 150 + And pride is in her povertie, + That litel is to preisen. + And at the lullyng of oure lady + The wymmen to lyken, + And miracles of mydwyves, + And maken wymmen to wenen + That the lace of oure Lady smok + Lighteth hem of children. + Thei ne prechen nought of Powel, + Ne penaunce for synne; 160 + {456} + But al of merci and mensk, + That Marie may helpen. + With sterne staves and stronge + Thei over lond straketh, + Thider as here lemmans liggeth, + And lurketh in townes, + Grey grete-heded quenes + With gold by the eighen, + And seyne that her sustern thei ben, + That sojurneth aboute. 170 + And thus abouten the gon, + And Godes folke betrayeth. + It is the puple that Powel + Preched of in his tyme; + He seyde of swich folke + That so aboute wente, + Wepyng, I warne you + Of walkers aboute, + It beth enemyes of the cros + That Christ upon tholede. 180 + Swiche slomrers in slepe, + Slaughte in her ende, + And glotonye is her God, + With gloppynge of drynk, + And gladnesse in glees, + And grete joye y-maked. + In the shendyng of swiche + Shal mychel folk lawghe; + Therfore, frend, for thy feith + Fond to don beter; 190 + Leve nought on tho losels, + Put let hem forth pasen, + For thei ben fals in her faith, + And feele mo other." + {457} + + "Alas! frere," quath I tho, + "My purpos is y-failed; + Now is my comfort a-cast. + Canstou no bote, + Wher I myght meten with a man + That myghte me wyssen 200 + For to conne my Crede, + Christ for to folwen?" + + "Certeyn, felawe," quath the frere, + "Withouten any fayle, + Of al men upon mold, + We Minorities most sheweth + The pure aposteles liif, + With penance on erthe, + And suen hem in sanctité, + And sufferen wel harde. 210 + We haunten no tavernes, + Ne hobelen abouten; + At marketes and miracles + We medeleth us never; + We hondlen no moneye, + But monelich faren, + And haven hunger at the mete, + At ich a mel ones. + We haven forsaken the world, + And in wo libbeth, 220 + In penaunce and poverte, + And prechethe the puple + By ensample of oure liif + Soules to helpen; + And in poverte preien + For al oure parteneres, + That gyveth us any good + God to honouren, + {458} + Other bel other book, + Or bred to our foode, 230 + Other catel, other cloth + To coveren with oure bones. + For we buldeth a burwgh, + A brod and a large, + A chirch and a chapitle, + With chaumbers a-lofte; + With wide wyndowes y-wrought, + And walles wel heye, + That mote ben portreid and paint, + And pulched ful clene, 240 + With gay glitering glas + Glowyng as the sunne. + And mightestou amenden us + With moneye of thyn owen, + Thou shouldest knely bifore Christ + In compas of gold, + In the wyde window west-ward + Wel neigh in the myddel, + And saint Fraunceis hymselfe + Shal folden the in his cope, 250 + And present the to the Trinité, + And praye for thy synnes. + Thy name shal noblich ben wryten + And wrought for the nones, + And in remembraunce of the + Y-rad there for evere. + And, brother, be thou nought a-ferd; + Bythenk in thyne herte, + Though thou conne nought thy Crede, + Care thou no-more! 260 + I shal asoilen the, syr, + And setten it on my soule; + {459} + And thou may maken this good, + Thenk thou non other." + + "Sir," I sayde, "in certaine + I shal gon and asaye." + And he set on me his hond, + And asoiled me clene, + And there I parted him fro + Wythouten and peyne; 270 + In covenaunt that I come agayne, + Christ he me be-taught. + + Then saide I to myself, + "Here semeth litel treuthe! + First to blame his brother, + And bakbyten hym foule, + There as curteis Christ + Clerliche saide, + Whow myght thou in thy brothers eighe + A bare mote loken, 280 + And in thyn owen eighe + Nought a beme toten? + See fyrst on thyself, + And sithen on another, + And clense clene thy syght, + And kepe wel thyne eighe, + And for another mannes eighe + Ordeyne after. + And also I see coveitise + Catel to fongen, 290 + That Christ hath clerliche forboden, + And clenliche destrueden; + And sayde to his sueres + For sothe on this wyse, + 'Nought thy neighbors good + Coveyte in no tyme.' + {460} + But charité and chastité + Ben chased out clene. + But Christ seide by her fruit + Men shal hem ful knowen." 300 + Thanne saide I, "certeine, syr, + Thou demest ful trewe." + + Than thought I to frayne the first + Of this foure ordres; + And presed to the Prechoures, + To proven hir wille. + Ich highed to her house, + To herken of more; + And when I came to that court, + I gaped aboute, 310 + Swich a bild bold + Y-buld upon erthe heighte + Say I nought in certeyn + Syththe a long tyme. + I semed opon that hous, + And yerne theron loked, + Whow the pileres weren y-paint, + And pulched ful clene, + And queyntly y-corven + With curious knottes; 320 + With wyndowes wel y-wrought, + Wyde up a-lofte, + And thanne I entred in, + And even forth wente; + And al was walled that wone, + Though it wiid were, + With posternes in privité + To pasen when hem liste; + Orcheyardes and erberes + Evesed wel clene, 330 + {461} + And a curious cros + Craftly entayled, + With tabernacles y-tight + To toten al abouten. + The pris of a plough-lond + Of penies so rounde + To aparaile that pyler + Were pure litel. + Than I munte me forth + The mynstre to knowen, 340 + And awaytede a woon + Wonderly wel y-bild, + With arches on everiche half, + And bellyche y-corven, + With crochetes on corneres, + With knottes of gold, + Wyde wyndowes y-wrought, + Y-wryten ful thikke, + Shynen with shapen sheldes, + To shewen aboute, 350 + With merkes of merchauntes + Y-medeled betwene, + Mo than twentie and two + Twyse y-noumbbred. + Ther is non heraud that hath + Half swich a rolle, + Right as a rageman + Hath rekned hem newe. + Tombes upon tabernacles + Tylde opon lofte, 360 + Housed in hornes, + Harde set abouten, + Of armede alabaustre + Clad for the nones, + {462} + Maad opon marbel + In many manner wyse, + Knyghtes in ther conisante + Clad for the nones; + Alle it semed seyntes + Y-sacred opon erthe; 370 + And lovely ladies y-wrought + Leyen by her sydes + In manye gay garnemens, + That weren gold beten. + Though the tax of ten yere + Were trewely y-gadered, + Nolde it nought maken that hous + Half, as I trowe. + Than cam I to that cloystre, + And gaped abouten, 380 + Whough it was pilered and peynt, + And portreyed wel clene, + Al y-hyled with leed + Lowe to the stones, + And y-paved with poynttyl + Ich point after other; + With cundites of clene tyn + Closed al aboute, + With lavoures of latun + Loveliche y-greithed. 390 + I trowe the gaynage of the ground + In a gret shyre + Nold aparaile that place + Oo poynt tyl other ende. + Thanne was that chapitre house + Wrought as a greet chirche, + Corven and covered; + And queyntelyche entayled, + {463} + With semliche selure + Y-seet on lofte, 400 + As a parlement-hous + Y-peynted aboute. + Thanne ferd I into fraytoure, + And fond there another, + An halle for an hygh kynge + An houshold to holden, + With brode bordes abouten + Y-benched wel clene, + With wyndowes of glaas + Wrought as a chirche 410 + Than walkede I ferrer, + And went al abouten, + And seigh halles full heygh, + And houses ful noble, + Chambres with chymeneys, + And chapeles gaye, + And kychenes for an high kynge + In casteles to holden; + And her dortoure y-dight + With dores ful stronge; 420 + Fermerye and fraitur, + With fele mo houses, + And al strong ston wal + Sterne upon heithe, + With gaye garites and grete, + And iche hole y-glased, + And other houses y-nowe + To herberwe the queene. + And yet thise bilderes wiln beggen + A bagge ful of whete 430 + Of a pure pore man, + That may onethe paye + {464} + Half his rent in a yere, + And half ben byhynde. + + Than turned I ayen, + Whan I hadde all y-toted, + And fond in a freitoure + A frere on a benche, + A greet chorl and a grym, + Growen as a tonne, 440 + With a face so fat + As a ful bleddere + Blowen bretful of breth, + And as a bagge honged + On bothen his chekes, and his chyn + With a chol lollede + So greet as a gos ey, + Growen al of grece; + That al wagged his fleish + As a quick myre. 450 + His cope, that bi-clypped hym, + Wel clene was it folden, + Of double worstede y-dyght + Doun to the hele. + His kyrtel of clene whiit, + Clenlyche y-sewed, + Hit was good y-now of ground + Greyn for to beren. + I haylsede that hirdman, + And hendlich I sayde, 460 + "Gode sire, for Godes love! + Canstou me graith tellen + To any worthely wiight + That wissen me couthe, + Whow I shulde conne my Crede, + Christ for to folwe, + {465} + That levede lelliche hymselfe + And lyvede therafter, + That feynede no falshede, + But fully Chrise suwede? 470 + For sich a certeyn man + Syker wold I trosten, + That he wolde telle me the trewthe, + And turne to non other. + And an Austyn this ender day + Egged me faste, + That he wolde techen me wel, + He plyght me his treuthe, + And seyde me "certeyn, + Syghthen Christ deyed 480 + Oure ordre was euelles + And erst y-founde." + + "First, felawe," quath he, + "Fy on his pilche! + He is but abortiif, + Eked with cloutes, + He holdeth his ordynaunce + With hores and theves, + And purchaseth hem pryvyleges + With penyes so rounde. 490 + It is a pur pardoners craft, + Prove and asay; + For have they thy money, + A moneth therafter + Certes, theigh thou come agen, + He wil the nought knowen. + But, felawe, oure foundement + Was first of the othere, + And we ben founded fulliche + Withouten fayntise, 500 + {466} + And we ben clerkes y-cnowen, + Cunnyng in schole, + Proved in processyon + By processe of lawe. + Of oure order ther beth + Bichopes wel manye, + Seyntes on sundri stedes + That suffreden harde; + And we ben proved the priis + Of popes at Rome, 510 + And of grettest degré, + As godspelles telleth." + + "A! syre," quath I thanne, + "Thou seyst a grete wonder; + Sithen Christ sayd hymselfe + To alle his diciples, + 'Which of you that is most, + Most shal he werche; + And who is goere byforne, + First shal he serven.' 520 + And seyde he saugh Satan + Sytten ful heyghe, + And ful low ben y-leid. + In lyknesse he tolde, + That in povernesse of spyrit + Is spedfullest hele; + And hertes of heyne + Harmeth the soule. + And therefore, frere, farewel; + Here fynd I but pride. 530 + I preise nought thy prechyns, + But as a pur myte." + + And angerich I wandrede + The Austyns to prove, + {467} + And mette with a maistre of tho men, + And meklich I seyde, + "Maistre, for the moder love + That Marie men calleth! + Knowest thou ought there thou comest + A creature on erthe 540 + That coude me my Crede teche, + And trewelich enfourme, + Withouten flateryng fare, + And nothing feyne, + That folweth fulliche the feith, + And non other fables, + Withouten gabinge of glose, + As the godspelles telleth? + A Minoure hath me holly behyght + To helen my soule, 550 + For he seith that her secte + Is sykerest on erthe, + And ben kepers of the keye + That Chrystendom helpeth, + And puriche in poverte + The apostles they suweth." + "Allaas!" quath the frere, + "Almost I madde in mynde, + To sen hough this Minoures + Many men bygyleth. 560 + Sothly somme of tho gomes + Hath more good hymselve + Than ten knyghtes that I knowe, + Of catel in cofres. + In fraytoure they faren best + Of al the foure ordres, + And usun ypocricie + In al that thei werchen, + {468} + And prechen al of perfitnesse; + But loke now, I the prey, 570 + Nought but profre hem in privité + A peny for a masse, + And, but his name be prest, + Put out myn eighe, + Though he had more money hid + Than marchauntes of wolle. + Loke hough this loresmen + Lordes betrayen, + Seyn that they folwen + Fully Fraunceyses rewle, 580 + That in cotinge of his cope + Is more cloth y-folden + Than was in Fraunceis froc + Whan he hem first made. + And yet under that cope + A cote hathe he furred + With foyns, or with fichewes, + Other fyn bevere, + And that is cutted to the kne, + And queyntly y-botend, 590 + Lest any spiritual man + Aspie that gyle. + Fraunceys bad his brethern + Bar-fot to wenden; + Now han they buclede shone, + For blenyng of her heles, + And hosen in harde weder + Y-hamled by the ancle, + And spicerie sprad in her purs + To parten where hem luste. 600 + Lordes loveth hem wel, + For they so lowe crouchen; + {469} + But knowen men her cautel + And her queynte wordes, + Thei wolde worshypen hem + Nought but a litle, + The ymage of ypocricie + Ymped upon fendes. + But, sone, gif thou wilt ben seker, + Seche thou no ferther, 610 + We freres beth the firste, + And founded upon treuthe; + Paule _primus heremita_ + Put us hymselve + Away into wildernesse, + The world to despisen, + And there we lengeden ful long, + And leveden ful harde; + For to alle this freren folke + Weren founden in tounes, 620 + And taughten untrewely, + And that we wel aspiede. + And for chef charyté, + We chargeden us selven + In amendyng of this men, + We maden oure celles + To ben in cytés y-set, + To styghtle the puple, + Prechyng and prayeng + As profetes shoulden. 630 + And so we holden us the hetheved + Of al holy chirche. + We han power of the Pope + Purliche assoylen + Al that helpen oure hous + In helpe of her soules; + {470} + To dispensen hem with + In dedes of synne, + Al that amendeth oure hous + In money other elles, 640 + With corne other catel, + Or clothes to beddes, + Other bedys or broche, + Or breed for our fode. + And gif thou hast any good, + And wilt thyself helpen, + Help us hertelich therwith, + And here I undertake + Thou shalt ben brother of oure hous, + And a book habben 650 + At the nexte chapitre + Clerliche enseled. + And than oure provincial + Hath power to assoylen + Alle sustren and bretheren + That beth of oure ordre. + And though thou conne nought the Crede, + Knele down here, + My soule I sette for thyn, + To asoile the clene, 660 + In covenaunt that thou come ageyne, + And katel us brynge." + And thanne loutede I adoun, + Add he me leve grauntede; + And so I parted hym fro, + And the frere lefte. + + Than seide I to myself, + "Here is no bote; + Here pride is the pater-noster + In preying of synne; 670 + {471} + Her Crede is coveytise:-- + Now can I no ferthere. + Yet wil I fonden forth, + And fraynen the Carmes." + Than toted I into a taverne, + And there I aspyede + Two frere Carmes + With a ful coppe. + There I auntrede me in, + And aisliche I seyde, 680 + "Leve sire, for the Lordes love + That thou on levest! + Lere me to som man + My Crede for to lerne, + That lyveth in lel liif, + And loveth no synne, + And gloseth nought the godspel, + But halt Godes hetes, + And neyther money ne mede + Ne may hym nought letten, 690 + But werchen after Godes word, + Withouten any faile. + A Prechoure y-professed + Hath plight me his trewthe + To techen me trewely; + But wouldest thou me tellen, + For they ben certeyne men, + And syker on to trosten, + I would quiten the thy mede + As my myght were." 700 + + "A trefle," quath he, "trewely! + His treweth is ful litel; + He dynede nought with Dominic, + Sithe Christ deide. + {472} + For with the prynces of pryde + The Prechours dwellen; + They ben so digne as the devel + That droppeth fro heven, + With hartes of heynesse, + Whough halwen the cherches, 710 + And deleth in devynyté + As dogges doth bones. + Thei medeleth with mesages + And mariages of grete; + Thei leeven with lordes + With lesynges y-nowe; + Thei biggeth hem bichopriches + With bagges of gold; + Thei wilneth worchipes:-- + But waite on her dedes. 720 + Harkne at Herdforthe + How that they werchen, + And loke when that they lyven + And leeve as thou fyndest. + They ben counseylours of kynges, + Christ wot the sothe, + Whou thei curreth kynges + And her bak claweth. + God leve hem laden wel + In lyvynge of hevene, 730 + And glose hem nought for her good + To greven her soules. + I pray the, where ben they pryvé + With any pore whightes + That may nought amenden her hous, + Ne amenden hemselven? + They prechen in proud herte, + And preyseth her ordre, + {473} + And werdlich worchype + Wilneth in erthe. 740 + Leeve it wel, lef man, + And men right lokede, + There is more pryvé pryde + In Prechoures hertes, + Than there lefte in Lucifere, + Or he were lowe fallen. + They bene dygne as dich-watere, + That dogges in bayteth. + Lok a ribaut of hem + That can nought wel reden 750 + His Rewel ne his Respondes, + But be pure rote; + Als as he were a connyng clerk, + He casteth the lawes + Nought lowly, but lordly, + And lesynges lyeth. + For right as Minoures + Most hypocrice useth, + Ryght so ben Prechoures proude + Purlyche in herte. 760 + + "But, chrysten creatoure, + We Carmes firste comen, + Even in Elyes tyme, + First of hem alle; + And lyven by oure Lady, + And lelly her serven, + In clene commun liif + Kepen us out of synne; + Nowt proude as Prechoures beth, + But preyen ful stylle. 770 + We couuen on no quentyse, + Christ wot the southe! + {474} + But bisyeth us in oure bedes, + As us best holdeth. + And, therfore, leeve leelman, + Leeve that iche sigge, + A masse of us meene men + Is of more mede, + And passeth alle prayers + Of this proude freres.-- 780 + And thou wilt ghyven us any good, + I wolde ye here graunten + To taken al thy penaunce + In peril of my soule; + And tho thou conne nought thy Crede, + Clene the assoyle, + So that thou mowe amenden oure house + With money other elles, + With som catel, other corn, + Or cuppes of sylvere." 790 + + "Trewely, frere," quath I tho, + "To tellen the the sothe, + There is no peny in my pakke + To payen for my mete. + I have no good, ne no golde, + But go thus abouten, + And travaile ful trewely + To wynnen with my fode. + But woldest thou for Godes love + Lerne me my Crede, 800 + I shulde don for the wil, + Whan I wele hadde." + + "Trewely," quath the frere, + "A fole I the holde:-- + Thou woldest nought wetten thy fote, + And woldest fich kachen. + {475} + Oure pardon and oure preieres + So beth they nought parten, + Oure power lasteth nought so feer, + But we som peny fongen. 810 + + "Fare wel," quath the frere, + "For I mot hethen fonden, + And hyen to an house-wiif + That hath us byquethen + Ten pound in hir testament. + To tellen the sothe, + Ho draweth to the deth-ward; + But yet I am in drede + Leste ho turne hire testament, + And therfore I hyghe 820 + To haven hire to oure hous, + And henten, gif I mighte, + An anuel for myne owen use, + To helpen to clothe." + "Godys forbode!" quath his felawe, + "But ho forth passe + Whil ho is in purpos + With us to departen! + God let hir no lengere lyven! + For letteres ben manye." 830 + + Thanne turnede I me forth, + And talked to myselfe + Of the falshede of this folke, + Whow feythles thei weren. + And as I wente by the way + Wepynge for sorowe, + I seigh a sely man me by, + Opon the plough hongen. + His cote was of a cloute + That cary was y-called; 840 + {476} + His hod was ful of holes, + And his heare oute; + With his knoppede shon + Clouted ful thykke; + His ton toteden out, + As he the lond tredede; + His hosen over-hongen his hok-shynes + On everich a syde, + Al beslomered in fen, + As he the plow folwede. 850 + Tweye myteynes as meter + Maad al of cloutes, + The fyngres weren for-werd, + And ful of fen honged. + This whit waselede in the feen + Almost to the ancle; + Foure rotheren hym byforne, + That feble were worthi; + Men myghte reknen ich a ryb, + So rentful they weren. 860 + His wiif walked hym with, + With a long gode, + In a cuttede cote, + Cutted ful heyghe, + Wrapped in a wynwe shete + To weren hire fro wederes, + Bar-fot on the bare iis, + That the blod folwede. + And at the londes ende lath + A little crom-bolle, 870 + And theron lay a lytel chylde + Lapped in cloutes, + And tweyne of tweie yeres olde + Opon another syde. + {477} + And al they songen o songe, + That sorwe was to heren; + They crieden alle o cry, + A kareful note. + The sely man sighed sore, + And seyde, "Children, beth stille!" 880 + This man lokede opon me, + And leet the plough stonden; + And seyde, "Sely man, + Whi syghest thou so harde? + Gif the lakke liiflode, + Lene the ich wille + Swich good as God hath sent; + Go we, leeve brother." + + I sayde thanne, "Nay, syre, + My sorowe is wel more. 890 + For I can nought my Crede, + I care wel harde; + For I can fynden no man + That fulli byleveth, + To techen me the heyghe weie, + And therfore I wepe. + For I have fonded the freres + Of the foure ordres; + For there I wende have wist, + But now my wit lakketh; 900 + And al myn hope was on hem, + And myn herte also, + But thei ben fulli faithles, + And the fend sueth." + + "A! brother," quath he tho, + "Be ware of tho foles; + For Christ seyde hymself, + 'Of swiche I you warne,' + {478} + And false profetes in the feith + He fulliche hem calde, 910 + _In vestimentis ovium_, + But only withinne + They ben wilde werwolves + That wiln the folke robben. + The fen[d] founded hem first, + The feyth to distrie; + And by his craft thei comen in, + To combren the chirche, + By the covetise of his craft + The curates to helpen. 920 + But nowe they haven an hold, + They harmen ful manye; + They don nought after Dominik, + But dreccheth the puple. + He folwen nought Fraunceis, + But falsliche lybben; + And Austynes rewle + They rekeneth but a fable; + And purchaseth hem privilege + Of popes at Rome. 930 + They coveten confessiones, + To kachen some hyre; + And sepulturus also, + Somme wayten to lacchen; + But other cures of Christen + They coveten nought to have, + But there as wynnynge liith, + He loketh non other." + + "Whough shal I nemne thy name, + That neyghbores the calleth?" 940 + "Peres," quath he, "the pore man, + The Ploughman I hatte." + {479} + + "A! Peres!" quath I tho, + "I pray the thou me telle + More of thise tryflers, + Hou trechurly they libbeth; + For ichon of hem hath tolde me + A tale of that other, + Of her wikked liif, + In werld that he libbeth. 950 + I trowe that some wicked wight + Wroughte this ordres. + Trow ye that gleym of that gest + That Golias is y-cald, + Other els Satan hymself, + Sente hem fro helle, + To combren men with her crafte, + Christendome to shenden." + + "Dere brother," quath Peres, + "The devel is ful queynte, 960 + To encombren holy chirche + He casteth ful harde, + And fluricheth his falsnesse + Opon fele wise, + And fer he casteth to-forn + The folk to dystroye. + + "Of the kynrede of Caym + He cast the freres, + And founded hem on Sarysenes, + Feyned for God. 970 + But they with her falshe faith + Mychel folk shendeth. + Christ calde hem hymself + Kynd ipocrites; + How often he cursed hem, + Wel can I tellen. + {480} + He seide ons hymself + To that sory puple: + 'Who worthe you, wyghtes, + Wel lerned of the lawe!' 980 + Eft he seyde to hem selfe, + 'Wo mote you worthen + That the toumbes of profetes + Bildeth up heighe! + Your faderes for-deden hem, + And to the deth hem broughte.' + Here I touche this two, + Twynnen hem I thenke. + Who wilneth be wiser of lawe + Than lewede freres, 990 + And in multitude of men + But maistres y-called, + And wilneth worship of the werld, + And sytten with heye, + And leveth lovyng of God + And lownesse byhynde, + And in beldyng of toumbes + Thei traveileth grete, + To chargen her chirche flore, + And chaungen it ofte. 1000 + And the fader of the freres + Defouled her soules, + That was the dyggyng devel, + That dreccheth men ofte. + The devel by his dotage + Dissaveth the chirche, + And put in the Prechours, + Y-paynted withouten, + And by his queyntise they comen in + The curates to helpen; 1010 + {481} + But that harmed hem harde, + And halp hem ful littel. + But Austynes ordinaunce + Was on a good treuthe; + And also Dominikes dedes + Weren dernelich y-used; + And Fraunceis founded his folke + Fulliche on treuthe, + Pure parfit prestes + In penaunce to libben, 1020 + In love and in lownesse + And lettynge of pryde, + Grounded on the Godspel, + As God baad hymselve. + But now the glose is so greet + In gladdyng tales, + That turneth up two-fold + Un-teyned upon treuthe, + That they ben cursed of Christ, + I can hem wel prove 1030 + Withouten his blissyng, + Bare beth thei in her werkes. + For Christ seyde hymselfe + To swiche as him folwede: + 'Y-blissed mot they ben + That mene ben in soule;' + And alle power in gost + God hymself blisseth. + Whou fele freres fareth so, + Fayne wolde I knowe, 1040 + Prove hem in proces, + And pynch at her ordre, + And deme hem after that the don, + And dredles, Y leve, + {482} + Thei wiln wexon pure wroth + Wonderliche sone, + And shewen the a sharp wil + In a short tyme + To wiln wilfully wrathe, + And werche therafter. 1050 + Wytnes on Wyclif, + That warned hem with trewthe. + For he in goodnesse of gost + Graythliche hem warned + To wayven her wikednesse + And werkes of synne. + Whou sone this sorimen + Seweden hys soule, + And overal lolled hym + With heritikes werkes! 1060 + And so of the blissyng of God + Thei bereth little mede. + + "Afterward another, + Onliche he blissede + The meke of the myddel-erde + Through myght of his fader. + Fynd foure freres in a flok + That folweth that rewle, + Than have I tynt al my tast, + Touche and assaye. 1070 + Lakke hem a littel wight, + And her liif blamen; + But he lepe up on heigh + In hardenesse of herte, + And nemne the anon nought, + And thy name lakke, + With proude wordes apert + That passeth his rewle, + {483} + Bothe with 'thou leyst,' and 'thou lext,' + In heynesse of soule, 1080 + And turnnen as a tyraunt + That turmenteth hymselve. + A lord were lother + For to leyne a knave, + Thanne swich a begger, + The best in a toun. + Loke now, leve man, + Beth nought thise y-lyke + Fully to the Pharisens, + In fele of these poyntes. 1090 + Al her brad beldyng + Ben belded with synne, + And in worshipe of the world + Here wynnyng they holden; + They shapen her chapolories, + And strecchet hem brode, + And launceth heighe her hemmes + With babelyng in stretes. + They ben y-sewed with whight silke, + And semes ful queynte, 1100 + Y-stongen with stiches + That stareth as sylver. + And but freres ben fyrst y-set + At sopers and at festes, + They wiln ben wonderly wroth + Y-wis, as I trowe; + But they ben at the lordes borde, + Louren they willeth. + He mot bygynne that bord, + A beggere with sorowe; 1110 + And first sitten in se + In her synagoges, + {484} + That beth her heigh helle hous, + Of Caymes kynd. + For though a man in her mynstre + A masse wolde heren, + His sight shal so by set + On sondrye werkes, + The penonnes and the pomels + And poyntes of sheldes 1120 + Withdrawen his devocion, + And dusken his herte. + I likene it to a lim-yerde + To drawen men to helle, + And to worchipe of the fend, + To wraththen the soules. + And also Christ himself seide + To swich ypocrites, + He loveth in marketes ben met + With gretynges of povere, 1130 + And lowynge of lewed men + In Lentenes tyme; + For thei han of bichopes y-bought + With her propre silver + And purchased of penaunce + The puple to asoyle. + But money may maken + Mesure of the peyne; + After that his power is to payen, + His penaunce shal fayle. 1140 + God leve it be a good help + For hele of the soules! + And also this myster men + Ben maysters i-called, + That the gentill Jesus + Generalliche blamed, + {485} + And that poynt to his apostles + Purly defended. + But freres haven forgeten this, + And the fend suweth, 1150 + He that maystri loved, + Lucifer the olde. + Where Fraunceys or Dominik, + Other Austyn ordeynde, + And of this dotardes + Doctur to worthe, + Maysters of divinité + Her matynes to leve, + And cherlich as a cheveteyn + Hys chaumbre to holden, 1160 + With chymené, and chaple, + And chosen whan hem lyste, + And served as a sovereyn, + And as a lord sytten. + Swich a gome Godes wordes + Grysliche gloseth; + I trowe he toucheth nought the text, + But taketh it for a tale. + God forbad to his folk, + And fullyche defendede, 1170 + They shoulden nought stodyen biforne + Ne sturren her wyttes, + But sodenly the same word + With here mouth shewe, + That weren given hem of God, + Thorugh gost of hemselve. + Now mot a frere studyen + And stumlen in tales, + And leven his matynes, + And no masse syngen, 1180 + {486} + And loken hem lesynges + That liketh the puple, + To purchasen hym his purs ful, + To paye for the drynke. + And, brother, when bernes ben ful, + And holy tyme passed, + Thanne comen cursed freres, + And croucheth ful lowe, + A losel, a lymytoure, + Over al the lond lepeth. 1190 + And loke that he leve non hous, + That somwhat he ne laiche; + And there thei gylen hemself, + And Godes word turneth, + Bagges and beggyng + He bad his folke leven, + And only serven hymself, + And his ruwel sechen, + And al that nedly nedeth, + That shulden hem nought lakken. 1200 + Wherto beggen thise men, + And ben nought so feble? + Hem fayleth no furryng, + Ne clothes atte fulle, + But for a lustful liif + In lustes to dwellen; + Withouten any travail + Untrulych libbeth; + Thei beth nought maymed men, + Ne no mete lakketh; 1210 + Thei [ben] clothed in curious cloth, + And clenliche arayed. + It is a lawles liif, + As lordynges usen, + {487} + Nether ordeyned in ordre, + But onethe libbeth. + + "Christ bad blissen + Bodies on erthe + That wepen for wikkednesse + That he byforn wroughte. 1220 + That ben few of tho freres, + For thei ben nere dede, + And put al in pur clath, + With pottes on her hedes; + Thanne he warieth, and wepeth, + And wicheth after heven, + And fyeth on her falshedes + That thei before deden. + And therfore of that blissyng, + Trewely, as I trowe, 1230 + Thei may trussen her part + In a terre powghe. + + "Alle tho blissed beth + That bodyliche hongreth; + That ben the pore penyles, + That han over-passed + The poynt of her pris liif, + In penaunce of werkes, + And mown nought swynken ne sweten, + But ben swith feble, 1240 + Other mayned at meschef, + Or meseles lyke, + And her god is a-gon, + And greveth hem to beggen. + Ther is no frere, in feith, + That fareth in this wyse, + That he may beggen his bred, + His bed is y-greithed + {488} + Under a pot he shall be put + In a pryvye chaumbre, 1250 + That he shal lyven ne last + But lytel whyle after. + Almyghti God and man, + The merciable blessed, + That han mercy on men + That mis-don hem here. + But who so for-gabbed a frere + Y-founden at the stues, + And brought blod of his bodi, + On back or on syde, 1260 + Hym were as good greven + A grete lord of rentes; + He shoulde sonnere ben shryven, + Shortly to tellen, + Though he kilde a comly knyght, + And compasd his mother, + Then a buffet to beden + A beggere frere. + + "The clene hertes Christ + He curteyliche blissed 1270 + That coveten no catel + But Christes fulle blysse, + That leveth fulliche on God, + And lelliche thenketh + On his lore and his lawe, + And lyveth opon trewthe. + Freres han forgetten this, + And folweth another, + That they may henten they holden, + By-hirneth it sone; 1280 + Here hertes ben clen y-hid + In her heighe cloystre, + {489} + As curres from careyne + That is cast in diches. + + "And parfiit Christ + The pesible blissede, + That ben suffrant and sobre, + And susteyne anger. + Asay of her sobernesse, + And thou might y-knowen 1290 + Ther ne is no waspe in this world + That wil folloke styngen, + For stappyng on a too + Of a styncand frere. + For neyther soveren ne seget + Thei ne suffereth never. + Al thei blessyng of God + Beouten thei walken, + For of her suffraunce, for sothe, + Men say but lytel. 1300 + + "Alle that persecution + In pure liif suffren, + They han the beneson of God, + Blissed in erthe. + I pray, parceyve now + The pursut of a frere, + In what mesure of a mekenesse + Thise men deleth. + Byhold upon Water Brut + Whou bisiliche thei pursueden, 1310 + For he seid hem the sothe. + And yet, syre, ferther + Hy may no more marren hem, + But men telleth + That he is an heretik, + And yvele beleveth. + {490} + And precheth it in pulpit + To blenden the puple. + They wolden awyrien that wight + For his wel dedes, 1320 + And so they chewen charité, + As chewen shaf houndes. + And thei pursueth the povere, + And passeth pursutes, + Bothe they wyln and thei wolden + Y-worthen so grete, + To passen any manes myght, + To mortheren the soules; + First to brenne the body + In a bale of fiir, 1330 + And sythen the sely soule slen, + And senden hyre to helle. + And Christ clerly forbad + His christene, and defended, + They shoulden nought after the face + Never the folke demen." + + "Sire," I seide myself, + "Thou semest to blamen. + Why dispisest thou thus + Thise sely pore freres, 1340 + None other men so mychel, + Monkes ne prestes, + Chanons ne charthous + That in chirche serveth? + It semeth that thise sely men + Han somewhat the greved, + Other with word, or with werk, + And therfore thou wilnest + To shenden other shamen hem + With the sharp speche, 1350 + {491} + And bannen holliche, + And her hous greven." + + "I prey the," quath Peres, + "Put that out of thy mynde; + Certeyn for soule hele + I say the this wordes. + I preise nought pocessioneres + But pur lytel; + For falshed of freres + Hath fulliche encombred 1360 + Manye of this maner men, + And maad hem to leven + Her charité and chasteté, + And shosen hem to lustes, + And waxen to werly, + And wayven the trewethe, + And leven the love of her God, + And the werld serven. + But for falshed of freres + I fele in my soule, 1370 + Seyng the synful liif, + That sorweth myn herte, + Hou they ben clothed in cloth + That clennest sheweth, + For angeles and archangeles + Alle they whiit useth, + And al aldremen + That ben _ante thronum_. + Thise toknes haven freres taken; + But I trowe that a fewe 1380 + Folwen fully that cloth, + But falslyche that useth. + For whiit, in trowthe, bytokeneth + Clennes in soule:-- + {492} + Gif he have undernethen whiit, + Thanne he above wereth + Black, that betokeneth + Bale for oure synne, + And mournyng for mis-dede + Of hem that this useth, 1390 + And sorwe for synful liif, + So that cloth asketh. + I trowe there ben nought ten freres + That for synne wepen. + For that liif is her lust, + And therby thei libben, + In fraytour and in fermori + Her fostryng is synne; + It is her mete at ich a mel, + Her most sustinaunce. 1400 + Herkne opon Hildegare + Hou homlich he telleth + How her sustinaunce is synne; + And syker, as I trowe, + Weren her confessiones + Clenly destrued, + Hy shoulde nought beren hem so brag, + Ne belden so heyghe. + For the fallyng of synne + Socoreth the foles, 1410 + And begileth the grete + With glaverynge wordes; + With glosyng of godspels + Thei Godes word turneth, + And passen al the pryvylege + That Peter after used. + The power of the apostles + Thie pasen in speche, + {493} + For to sellen the synnes + For selver other mede. 1420 + And purliche _a poena_ + The puple asoyleth, + And _a culpa_ also, + That they may kachen + Money other money-worth, + And mede to fonge; + And ben at lone and at bode, + As burgeises useth. + Thus they serven Sathanas, + And soules bygyleth, 1430 + Marchaunes of malisones, + Mansede wrecches. + Thei usen russet also + Some of this freres, + That bitokeneth travaile + And treuth upon erthe, + But loke whou this lorels + Laboren the erthe. + But freten the fruyt that the folke + Ful lellich beswynketh; 1440 + With travail of trewe men + Thei tymbren her houses, + And of the curiouse cloth + Her copes they beggen; + And als his gettyng is grete + He shal ben good holden. + And right as dranes doth nought + But drynketh up the huny, + Whan been with her busynes + Han brought it to hepe, 1450 + Right so fareth freres + With folk opon erthe; + {494} + They freten up the firste froyt, + And falsliche lybbeth. + But alle freres eten nought + Y-liche good mete, + But after that his wynnyng is + Is his wel-fare, + And after that he bringeth hom + His bed shal ben graythed, 1460 + And after that his richesse is raught + He shal ben redy served. + But se thiself in thi sight + Whou somme of hem walketh + With clouted shon, + And clothes ful feble, + Wel neigh for-werd, + And the wlon offe; + And his felawe in a frok + Worth swhich fiftene, 1470 + Arayd in rede stone, + And elles were reuthe: + And sexe copes or seven + In his celle hongeth; + Though for fayling of good + His felawe shulde sterve, + He wolde nought lenen hym a peny + His liif for to holden. + I myght tymen tho troiflardes + To toylen with the erthe, 1480 + Tylyen, and trewlich lyven, + And her flesh tempren. + Now mot ich soutere hys sone + Seten to schole, + And ich a beggeres brol + On the book lerne. + {495} + And worth to a writere + And with a lorde dwelle; + Other falsly to a frere + The fend for to serven; 1490 + So of that beggares brol + An abbot shal worthen, + Among the peres of the lond + Prese to sytten, + And lordes sones lowly + To tho losels aloute, + Knyghtes crouketh hem to + And cruccheth ful lowe; + And his syre a soutere + Y-suled in grees, 1500 + His teeth with toylyng of lether + Tatered as a sawe. + Alaas! that lordes of the londe + Leveth swiche wrechen, + And leveth swych lorels + For her lowe wordes. + They shulden maken abbots + Her owen bretheren childre, + Other of som gentil blod, + And so yt best semed, 1510 + And fostre none forytoures, + Ne swich false freres, + To maken fat and fulle + And her flesh combren. + For her kynde were more + To y-clense diches, + Than ben to sopers y-set first, + And served with sylver. + A grete bolle-ful of benen + Were beter in hys wombe, 1520 + {496} + And with the bandes of bakun + His baly for to fillen, + Then pertryches, or plovers, + Or pecokes y-rosted, + And comeren her stomakes + With curiuse drynkes, + That maketh swyche harlotes + Hordom usen, + And with her wikked word + Wymmen bitrayeth. 1530 + God wold her wonyynge + Were in wildernesse, + And fals freres forboden + The fayre ladis chaumbres. + For knewe lordes her craft, + Treuly I trowe, + They shulden nought haunten her house + So holy on nyghtes, + Ne bedden swich brothels + In so brode shetes; 1540 + But sheten her heved in the stre, + To sharpen her wittes; + Ne ben kynges confessours of custom, + Ne the counsel of the rewme knowe. + For Fraunceis founded hem nought + To faren on that wise, + Ne Domynyk dued hem nevere + Swyche drynkers to worthe, + Ne Helye ne Austyn + Swyche liif never used, 1550 + But in povert of spirit + Spended her tyme. + We have seyn ourself + In a short tyme + {497} + Whou freres wolden no flesh + Among the folk usen; + But now the harlotes + Han hyd thilke reule, + And for the love of oure Lord + Han leyd hire in water. 1560 + Wenest thou ther wolde so fele + Swich warlawes worthen? + Ne were werliche wele + And her welfare, + Thei shulden delven and dyken, + And dongen the erthe, + And menemong corn breed + To her mete fongen, + And wortes fleshles wrought, + And water to drynken, 1570 + And werchen and wolward gon, + As we wrecches usen. + An aunter gif ther wolde on, + Among an hol hundred, + Lyven so for Godes love + In tyme of a wyntere." + + "Leve Peres," quath I tho, + "I pray that thou me telle + Whou I may conne my Crede + In Christen byleve." 1580 + + "Leve brother," quath he, + "Hold that I segge, + I wil techen the the trouthe, + And tellen the the sothe.-- 1584 + + THE CREDE. + + "Leve thou in oure Loverd God 1585 + That al the werld wrought, + {498} + Holy heven eke on hey + Holliche he fourmede, + And is almyghti hymself + Over alle his werkes. 1590 + And wrought as his wil was + The werld and the heven; + And on gentil Jesu Christ, + Engendred of hymselven, + His owen onlyche sone, + Lord over all y-knowen, + That was clenlich conceived + Clerli in trewthe + Of the heye Holy Gost, + This is the holy beleve. 1600 + And of the maiden Marye + Man was he born, + Withouten synful seed, + This is fully the byleve. + With thorn y-crouned, crucified, + And on the cros dyede, + And sythen his blessed body + Was in a stone byried, + And descended a-doun + To the derk helle, 1610 + And fet out our formfaderes, + And hy ful fayn weren. + The thyrd day redeliche + Hymself ros fram deeth, + And, on a ston there he stod, + He steigh up to hevene, + And on his fader ryght hand + Redelich he sitteth, + That almyghti God, + Over alle other whyghtes; 1620 + {499} + And is herafter to commen, + Christ all himselven, + To demen the quyke and the dede, + Withouten any doute. + And in the heighe Holy Gost + Holly I beleve; + And generall holy chirche also, + Hold this in the minde; + The communion of sayntes, + For soth I to the sayn; 1630 + And for our great sinnes + Forgivenes for to getten, + And only by Christ + Clenlich to be clensed; + Our bodies again to risen + Right as we been here; + And the liif everlasting + Leve ich to habben. Amen. + + "Although this flatterynge freres + Wyln, for her pryde, 1640 + Disputen of Godes deyté, + As dotardes shulden, + The more the matere is moved + The masedere hi worthen. + Lat the loseles alone, + And leve thou the trewthe; + For these maystres of dyvynité + Many, als I trowe, + Folwen nought fully the feith, + As fele of the lewede. 1650 + Whough may mannes wiit, + Through werk of himselve, + Knowen Christes privité, + {500} + That alle kynde passeth? + It mot ben a man + Of also mek an herte, + That myght with his good liif + The Holy Gost fongen; + And thanne nedeth him nought + Nevere for to studyen; 1660 + He myght no maistre ben cald, + For Christ that defended, + Ne puten no pylion + On his pild pate, + But prechen in parfit liif, + And no pryde usen. + But al that ever I have seyd, + Soth it me semeth; + And al that evere I have wryten + Is soth, as I trowe; 1670 + And for amendyng of thise men + Is most that I write. + God wolde hy wolden ben war, + And werchen the betere! + But for I am a lewed man, + Paraunter I myghte + Passen par adventure, + And in some poynt erren, + I wil nought this matere + Maistrely avowen. 1680 + But gif ich have mys-said, + Mercy ich aske, + And pray al mannere men + This matere amende, + Ich a word by hymself, + And al, gif it nedeth. + God of his grete myght, + {501} + And his good grace, + Save alle freres + That feithfulli lybben! 1690 + And alle tho that ben fals, + Fayre hem amende, + And gyve hem wiit and good wil + Swiche dedes to werch, + That thei may wynnen the liif + That evere shal lesten." + _Amen._ + + * * * * * + + +NOTES AND GLOSSARY + + * * * * * + +NOTES. + +Line 1. Bale, quoting the first two lines, translates them _In æstivo +tempore, cum sol caleret_. The printers of the early editions altered +_softe_ to _set_. + +4, 5. _shroudes ... sheep_. The other text of this poem reads _Yshop into +shrobbis | as y shepherde were_. See the Introduction. + +28. The text represented in Whitaker's edition here differs much from the +other. Our dreamer is there introduced very unadvisedly telling us of this +tower, 'truthe was therynne,' a piece of information which he only learns +afterwards from dame 'Holy Churche:' + + Ich was aferd of hure face, + Thauh hue faire were, + And saide, mercy, madame, + Wat may this be to mene, + _The tour upon toft_, quath hue, + Treuthe ys therynne. + (Passus Secundus, ed. Whit.) + +Where there is an evident reference to the "tour on a toft," which has been +previously mentioned in the more correct text. + +43, 44. Dr. Whitaker, misunderstanding this passage, has printed 'ther' for +'that,' which is in all the MSS. In his gloss, he interprets 'wonnen' by +'to dwell;' and he paraphrases the sentence, 'some destroying themselves by +gluttony and excess,' translating it, I suppose, "And there dwell wasters +whom gluttony destroyeth." The meaning is, the ploughmen worked hard, "and +obtained (wan) that which wasters destroy with their gluttony." The writer +of the second Trin. Coll. MS. seems to have understood the meaning of the +passage, but not the words, and has 'whom that thise wastours.' + +68. I have here to preserve the alliteration, adopted 'giltles,' from the +second Trin. Coll. MS., and one of the printed editions, in place of +'synneles,' which the other MS. has. Though we find instances of +irregularity in the sub-letters (or alliterative letters in the first line) +in Pierce Plowman, the chief letter is not so often neglected. In +Whitaker's text the account of the minstrels is very confused. Here the +minstrels get gold by their song without sin, but the japers and janglers +are condemned as getting their living by what is afterwards called +'turpiloquium,' when they had ability to get it in an honester way. + +88. _Roberdes knaves._ These are the same class of malefactors who are +named _Roberdesmen_ in the Statutes, 5 Ed. III. c. 14. "Et diverses +roberies, homicides, et felonies ont esté faitz eintz ces heures par gentz +qui sont appellez Roberdesmen, Wastours, et Draghelatche, si est acordé et +establi que si homme eit suspecion de mal de nuls tielx, soit-il de jour +soit-il de nuyt, que meintenant soient arestus par les conestables des +villes." This law was confirmed by 7 Ric. II. c. 5, where the word is again +introduced. Whitaker supposes, without any reason, the 'Roberdes knaves' to +be Robin Hood's men. The other Trin. Coll. MS. reads _Robertis knaves_. + +93. _Seint Jame._ St. James of Compostello was a famous resort of pilgrims +in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. An amusing song on the +inconveniences which attended the voyage is printed in the Reliquiæ +Antiquæ, vol. i, p. 2. + +107. _Walsyngham._ The shrine of the Virgin Mary at Walsingham in Norfolk, +also enjoyed an extraordinary celebrity, as a resort of English pilgrims. +It appears that the first complaints of the Wicliffite reformers were +strongly expressed against this pilgrimage. "Lolardi sequaces Johannis +Wiclif ... prædicaverunt peregrinationes non debere fieri, et præcipue apud +Walsingham," etc. Th. Walsingh. p. 340. + +116. The four orders of friars were, of course, the Franciscans, +Augustines, Dominicans, and Carmelites. + +131. These four lines stand thus in Whitaker's text, _Bote holy churche and +charité | choppe a-doun swich shryvers, | the moste myschif of molde | +mounteth up faste._ Whitaker has translated it quite wrong, "May true +charity and church discipline knock down these, the greatest pests on +earth, who are rapidly increasing!" The simple meaning of the passage, as +given by Whitaker, is, "Unless holy church and charity chop down such +shrivers (confessors), the greatest mischief of the world is increasing +fast." The present text affords a better and equally clear meaning, "Unless +holy church and they hold better together, the greatest mischief in the +world is increasing, or gaining ground very fast." + +141. _of falshede of fastynge_, the comma has slipped in by accident. The +meaning is "of breaking fast-days." + +147. _He bunchith hem_, MS. Trin. 2. + +168. _the pestilence tyme._ See further on, the note on l. 2497. The great +plague of 1349 and 1350 had carried off so much people, that hands were +wanting to cultivate the lands in many parishes, and the distress which +followed, with the failure of tithes which naturally accompanied it, drove +the parsons to plead poverty as an excuse for going to London and seeking +other occupations. + +192. Whitaker's text inserts the following passage between this line and +the one following:-- + + Conscience cam and acusede hem, + And the commune herde hit, + And seide, "Ydolatrie ye soffren + In sondrye places menye, + And boxes ben y-set forth + Bounden with yren, + To undertake the tool + Of untrewe sacrifice, + In menynge of miracles + Muche wex hongeth there, + Al the worldle wot wel + Hit myghte nat be trywe. + Ac for it profitith yow to pors-warde, + Ye prelates soffren + That lewede men in mysbylyve + Leven and deien. + Ich lyve wel, by oure Lorde! + For love of youre covetyse, + That al the worlde be the wors; + As holy wryght telleth + What cheste and meschaunce + To children of Israel + Ful on hem that free were, + Thorwe two false preestes. + For the synne of Ophni + And of Finees hus brother, + Thei were disconfit in bataille, + And losten _Archa Dei_, + And fore hure syre sauh hem syngen, + And aoffred hem don ylle, + And noght chasted hem therof, + And wolde noght rebukie hem, + Anon as it was y-told hyme + That the children of Israel + Weren disconfit in bataille, + And _Archa Dei_ y-lore, + And hus sones slayen, + Anon he ful for sorwe + Fro hus chaire thare he sat, + And brak hus necke a-tweyne; + And al was for venjaunce + That he but noght hus children. + And for they were preestes, + And men of holy churche, + God was well wrother, + And toke the rather venjaunce. + For-thei ich seye, ye preestes, + And men of holy churche, + That soffren men do sacrifice + And worsheppen mawmettes, + And ye sholde be here fadres, + And techen hem betere; + God shal take venjaunce + In alle swiche preestes + Wel harder and grettere, + On suche shrewede faderes, + Than ever he dude on Ophni + And Finees, or in here fadere. + For youre shrewede suffraunce, + And youre owen synne, + Youre masse and youre matynes, + And meny of youre houres, etc. + +225. This is the constitutional principle which was universally +acknowledged by our early political writers, and of which some strong +declarations will be found in my "Political Songs" (published by the Camden +Society). The doctrine of "right divine" was certainly not a prevalent one +in the middle ages. + +291. This fable appears to be of middle-age formation, for it is not found +in any of the ancient collections. It does not occur in the fables of +Marie. It is however 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 may be observed that the fable is nowhere +so well told as in Piers Ploughman. (See Robert, Fables Inédites, des +xii^e, xiii^e, et xiv^e siècles, i, pp. 98-101.) The readers of Scottish +history will remember the application of this fable in 1481, by the earl of +Angus (popularly named, from this circumstance, Archibald Bell-the-cat), in +the conspiracy against the royal favourites, which forms an excellent +illustration of our text. + +381. _Væ terræ, etc._ Ecclesiastes, x, 16. "Væ tibi, terra, cujus rex puer +est, et cujus principes mane comedunt." + +423. _and pointeth the lawe._ MS. Trin. 2. + +429. after this line the following are inserted in the second MS. of Trin. +Coll. + + I saugh bisshopis bolde, + And bacheleris of devyn, + Become clerkis of acountis + The king for to serve, + Archideknes and denis, + That dignités haven, + To preche the peple + And pore men to fede, + Ben y-lope to Lundone + Be leve of hire bisshop, + And ben clerkis of the kinges bench + The cuntré to shende. + +438. _Taillours, tanneris, | And tokkeris bothe._ MS. Trin. 2. + +453. The Cottonian MS. Vespas. B. xvi, from which Price has given a long +extract in his edition of Warton, has here "With wyne of Oseye | and wyn of +Gascoyne." Whitaker's reading is "Whit wyn of Oseye and of Gascoyne." Price +observes, in a note, "good wyne of Gaskyne, and the wyne of Osee [is the +reading of MS. Harl. No. 875].--The same hand already noticed has corrected +_wyn_ to _weyte_ (wheat) _of Gascoyne_;--an obvious improvement." I by no +means partake in this opinion: _wine_ of Gascony, and _not wheat_ of +Gascony, is perpetually alluded to in the literature of France and England +from the twelfth to the sixteenth century. The reading of the text now +printed is evidently the original one, which has been corrupted in the +others: the wine more particularly known as Gascon, was a red wine. The +writer of "La Desputoison du Vin et de l'Iaue," says of it-- + + Vin de Gascoigne, sa coulour + N'est pas de petite valour; + Les autres vins fet honnorer. + Quant de soi les veult coulourer: + Force donne, aide, et confort, + Et d'un vin foible, fet. i. fort. + Il a de vin plaine sustance; + Il nourrist sans faire grevance: + Aus testes est bons et au flanc. + Et du rouge y a et du blanc. + (_Jubinal, Nouveau Recueil de Contes, &c._, i. 399.) + +The 'wyn of the Rochel' (vin de la Rochelle) was also a favourite wine.-- + + Rochelle, qui tant a de pris, + Que l'en la va de partout querre; + Chascun si l'enclot et l'enserre, + Car il n'est pas à garçonner, + N'en ne la doit q'aus bons donner;-- + Por les grans seignors l'en salache. + (_ib._ p. 300). + +The "wyn of Oseye" (vin d'Osaie) was a foreign wine, very rare and dear, +and sought up by 'gourmands:' it is mentioned with those of Malvoisia, +Rosetta, and Muscadet. (Depping Réglemens sur les Arts et Métiers de Paris, +p. lxiii.) It is unnecessary to explain what was 'wyn of the Ryn' (Rhine). + +456. _of the Reule | and of the Rochel._ Whitaker. + +458. These two lines, omitted in the MS. from which our text is printed, +have been added from MS. Trin. 2. + +489. _fyve wittes._ The five wits were equivalent to the five _senses_. One +of the characters in the early interlude of The Four Elements, a production +of the earlier part of the sixteenth century, says:-- + + I am callyd Sensuall Apetyte, + All craturs in me delyte; + I comforte the _wyttys fyve_, + The tastyng, smellyng, and herynge, + I refresh the syght and felynge, + To all creaturs alyve. + +Stephen Hawes, in his Pastime of Pleasure (chap. xxiv), belonging to this +same age, refines upon this notion, and talks of five "internall wittes," +answering to the five external wits, or to those which were commonly +understood by that name. + +522. Genesis xix, 32. It is very singular that this story of Lot and his +daughters was the favourite example of the medieval preachers against +drunkenness. + +563. Luke xx, 25. + +595. _on an eller._ It was the prevailing belief during the middle ages, +that the tree on which Judas hanged himself was an elder. Maundevile tells +us that this tree was still in existence, when he visited Jerusalem. "Also +streghte from Natatorie Siloe is an ymage of ston and of olde auncyen werk, +that Absalon leet make; and because thereof, men clepen it the hond of +Absalon. And faste by is yit the _tree of eldre_ that Judas henge himself +upon for despeyr that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lord." The +same notion continued to exist in the age of Shakespeare, and is alluded to +by Shakespeare himself, Ben Jonson, and others. + + _Hol._ What mean you, sir? + + _Boyet._ To make Judas hang himself. + + _Hol._ Begin, sir; you are _my elder_. + + _Biron._ Well followed: _Judas was hang'd on an elder._ + + _Love's Labours Lost_, v, 2. + +681. _Lucifer with legions._ The story of Lucifer's rebellion and fall was +extremely popular in the middle ages, and particularly among the +Anglo-Saxons, who, in the fine poem ascribed to Cædmon, had given it almost +as much detail as Milton had done at a later date. This legend is related +in prose in an Anglo-Saxon tract in MS. Cotton. Vespas. D. xiv, fol. 2. + +682. The second Trin. Col. MS. has, _Leride it in hevene, | and as the +lovelokest | to loke on, aftir oure Lord_. + +697-704. Instead of these lines, we find the following in Whitaker's text: + + Lord, why wolde he tho, + Thulke wrechede Lucifer, + Lepen on a-lofte + In the northe syde, + To sitten in the sonne side + Ther the day roweth, + Ne were it for northerne men, + Anon ich wolde telle: + Ac ich wolle lacke no lyf, + Quath that lady sotthly. + 'Hyt is sykerer by southe, + Ther the sonne regneth, + Than in the north, by meny notes, + No man loyne other. + For theder as the fend flegh, + Hus fote for to sette, + Ther he failede and fuel, + And hus felawes alle. + And helle is ther he is, + And he ther y-bounde, + Evene contrarie suteth Criste, + Cierkus knowen the sothe, + _Dixit Dominus Domino meo, sede a dextris + meis._ + 'Ac of this matere + No more mene ich nelle, + He was in the halyday + After heten wayten, + They care noght thauh it be cold + Knaves wen thei worchen.' + +Whitaker has translated the last four lines of the foregoing extract thus, +"Excepting that hyndes on the holyday look out for warm places, but knaves +(servants) when working hard, are indifferent to cold." + +695. Isaiah xiv, 14. The citation varies a little from the text of the +printed vulgate. + +707. _Somme in the eyr._ The monks in the middle ages endeavoured to +explain the existence of different classes of spirits and fairies, which +the popular creed represented as harmless, or even beneficent creatures, by +supposing that some of the angels who fell with Lucifer were less guilty +than others, and were allowed to occupy the different elements on the earth +instead of being condemned to "the pit." In "The Master of Oxford's +Catechism," written early in the fifteenth century, and printed in the +Reliquiæ Antiquæ, 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." + +815. Mark iv, 24. In qua mensura mensi fueritis, remetietur vobis, et +adjicietur vobis. + +835. Epist. Jac. ii, 17. Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in +semetipsa. + +862. Luke vi, 38. + +901. The second Trin. Col. MS. has-- + + Frettid with rynges, + Of the pureste perreighe + That prince werde evere, + In red scarlet robid + And ribande with gold. + Ther nis no quen queyntere + That quyk is o-lyve, + 'What is this womman,' quod I. + +934. Matth. vii, 17. _bonus_ (for _bona_) is the reading of the MS. Perhaps +it was thought allowable to use the masculine thus before a fem. noun +beginning with _a_, for the sake of euphony, as the French still write _mon +amie_, instead of _ma amie_, and the like. Whitaker's text has here-- + + _Talis pater, talis filius._ + For shal never brere bere + Beries as a vyne, + No on crokyd kene thorne + Kynde fygys wexe. + _Bona arbor bonum fructum facit._ + +The lines which follow differ considerably in the two texts. + +958. Psalm xiv, 1. + +991-994. Instead of these lines, the following are substituted in the +second Trin. Coll. MS.:-- + + Sire Symonye is assent + To asele the chartres, + That Fals and Favel + Be any fyn halden, + And feffe Mede therwith + In mariage for evere. + Ther nas halle ne hous + To herberwe the peple, + That iche feld nas ful + Of folk al aboute. + In myddis a mounteyne + At myd-morewe tide + Was pight up a pavyloun + Proud for the nones, + And ten thousand of tentis + Teldit beside, + Of knightes of cuntrés, + Of comeres aboute, + For sisours, for somonours, etc. + +And the rest, as far as line 1100, differs very much in the two MSS. + +1103. _of Banneburies sokne, | Reynald the reve, | and the redyngkynges +menye, | Munde the mylnere._ Whit. + +1128. Luke x, 7. + +1177. _With floryns ynowe._ Edward III had issued, not very long before the +date of this poem, the first extensive English gold coinage, to which he +gave the Italian name of florins, derived originally from that of the city +of Florence. + +1204. _to Westmynstre_: _i. e._ to the courts of law which were held there. + +1404. _A moton of golde._ A mutton (mouton) was a small French coin of +gold, which bore the stamp of a lamb or sheep. See Ducange, v. _Multo_. + +1501. Matth. vi, 3. + +1523. Regrating, or the buying up of provisions and other things to make +extravagant profits by retailing them, was one of the great sources of +oppression of the poor by the rich in the middle ages, and was a constant +subject of popular complaint. + +1529. Whitaker's text adds here,-- + + Thei have no puteye of the puple + That parcel-mele mote biggen, + Thauh thei take hem untydy thyng, + Thei hold it no treson; + And thauh thei fulle nat ful, + That for lawe y-seelde, + He gripeth therfor as grete + As for the grete treuthe. + + Meny sondry sorwes + In cyté fallen ofte, + Bothe thorw fyur and flod, + And al for false puple, + That bygylen good men, + And greveth hem wrongliche, + The wiche cryen on hure knees + That Christ hem avenge + Here on this erthe, + Other elles on helle, + That so bygyleth hem of here good, + And God on hem sendeth + Feveres, other fouler hyveles, + Other fur on here houses, + Moreyne, other meschaunce. + And menye tyme hit falleth, + That innocence ys y-herde + In hevene amonge seyntes, + That louten for hem to oure Lorde, + And to oure Lady bothe, + To granten gylours on erthe + Grace to amende, + And have here penaunce on pure erthe, + And noght in the pyne of helle. + And thenne falleth the fur + On false menne houses, + And good men for here gultes + Gloweth on fuyr after. + Al thys have we seyen, + That some tyme thorw a brewere + Many burgages y-brent, + And bodyes therynne, + And thorw a candel cloming + In a cursed place, + Fel a-don and for-brende + Forth al the rewe, + For-thy mayres that maken free-men, + Me thynken that thei ouhten + For to spure and aspye, + For eny speche of selver, + What manere mester + Of merchaundise he usede, + Er he were underfonge free + And felawe in youre rolles. + Hit ys nought semly, for soth, + In cyté ne in borw-ton, + That usurers other regratours + For eny kynne geftes, + Be fraunchised for a free-man, + And have fals name. + +1548. Job, xv, 34. + +1611. _Youre fader she felled._ An allusion to the deposition and death of +Edward II. + +1652. Provisors were people who obtained from the pope the reversion of +ecclesiastical dignities, and several severe statutes were made against +them, one well-known one by Edward III. + +1674. _Love-daies._ See further on, the note on l. 5634. + +1735. _In Normandie._ 1750. _To Caleis._ Allusions, no doubt, to recent +events in the wars of Edward III. See the Introduction. + +1769. _Caytiflyche thow, Conscience, | Consailedist the kyng leten | In hus +enemys honde | Ys heritage of Fraunce._ Whit. + +1827. Psalm xiv, 1. + +1835. Ps. xiv, 2. + +1845. Ps. xiv, 5. + +1862. Psalm xxv, 10. + +1875. Matth. vi, 5. + +1885. _Regum._ The reference is to 1 Sam. xv, which in the old Vulgate was +called _primus liber regum_. + +1985, 2019. Isaiah ii, 4. + +2043. Prov. xxii, 9. Victoriam et honorem acquiret qui dat munera; animam +autem aufert accipientium. + +2099. _lernest._ Whitaker's text has _ledest_. + +2149. Psalm xiii, 3. The quotation which follows is from the same verse. + +2171. _his sone._ The Black Prince, who was a great favourite with the +people. + +2175-2186. The variation in Whitaker's text deserves notice. This passage +there stands as follows:-- + + Thenne cam Pees into parlement, + And putte up a bylle. + How that Wrong wilfullich + Hadde hus wif for-leyen; + And how he ravysed Rose, + The riche widewe, by nyghte; + And Margarete of here maidenhod, + As he met hure late. + 'Both my goos, and my grys, + And my gras he taketh, + Ich dar nouht for is felaweshepe, + In faith!' Pees saide, + 'Bere sickerlich eny selver + To seint Gyles doune; + He watteth ful wel, + Wan ich sulfere taketh, + Wat wey ich wende. + Wel yerne he aspieth, + To robbe me and to ryfle me, + Yf ich ride softe. + Yut he is bolde for to borwe, + And baldelich he payeth: + He borwede of me Bayarde,' etc. + +2177. _How Wrong ayeins his wille._ What follows is a true picture of the +oppressions to which the peasantry were frequently subjected by the king's +purveyors, and by others in power. See the Political Songs, pp. 377, 378; +and Hartshorne's Ancient Metrical Tales, pp. 41, 42. + +2197. _taillé_, a tally. See the Political Songs, as above quoted. Whitaker +translates this passage, which stands thus in his edition, + + And taketh me bote a taile + For ten quarters other twelve, + +by, "and for ten or twelve quarters of it repaid me but _a sheep's tail_!" + +2298. _in my stokkes._ In my prison. Prisons were usually furnished with +stocks, in which, instead of fetters, prisoners were set. + +2323. _Beneyt._ St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine order; St. +Bernard, of the order of Cistercians; St. Francis, of the Franciscans. + +2335. _Galis._ Compostello in Galicia. + +2473. _Passus Quintus._ In Whitaker's text, this section, which is called +_Passus Sextus_, is prefaced by the following long exordium, intended as a +satire against the mendicant friars:-- + + Thus ich awaked, God wot! + Wanne ich wonede on Cornhulle, + Kytte and ich in a cote, + Clothede as a lollere: + And a lytel ich let by, + Leyve me, for sothe, + Among lolleres of London, + And lewede heremytes. + For ich made of tho men, + As Reson me tauhte. + For as ich cam by Conscience, + Wit Reson ich mette, + In an hote hervest, + Wenne ich hadde myn hele, + And lymes to labore with, + And lovede wel fare, + And no dede to do + Bote drynke and to slepe, + In hele and in unité, + On me aposede, + Romynge in remembraunce. + Thus Reson me arated: + 'Canstow serven,' he seide, + 'Other syngen in a churche? + Other loke for my cokers? + Other to the carte picche? + Mowe, other mowen, + Other make bond to sheves? + Repe, other be a repe-reyve + And arise erliche? + Other have an horne and be hay-warde, + And liggen out a nyghtes, + And kepe my corn in my croft + From pykers and theeves? + Other shap shoon other clothes? + Other shep other kyne kepe? + Eggen, other harwen, + Other swyne other gees dryve? + Other eny kyne craft + That to the comune nudeth, + Hem that bed-reden be + Bylyve to fynde?' + 'Certes,' ich seyde, + 'And so me God helpe! + Ich am to waik to worche + With sykel other with sythe; + And to long, leyf me, + Lowe for to stoupe, + To worchen as workeman + Eny wyle to dure.' + 'Then havest thow londes to lyve by,' + Quath Reson, 'other lynage ryche + That fynden the thy fode? + For an hydel man thow semest, + A spendour that spende mot, + Other a spille-tyme; + Other beggest thy lyve + Aboute ate menne hatches; + Other faitest upon Fridays + Other feste dayes in churches; + The wiche is lollerene lyf, + That lytel is preysed + Ther ryghtfulnesse rewardeth + Ryght as men deserveth. + _Reddit unicuique juxta opera sua._ + Ether thow ert broke, so may be, + In body other in membre, + Other y-maymed thorow som myshap. + Werby thow myght be excusede.' + 'Wanne ich yong was,' quath ich, + 'Many yer hennes, + My fader and my frendes + Founden me to scole, + Tyl ich wiste wyterliche + Wat holy wryt menede, + And wat is best for the body, + As the bok telleth, + And sykerest for the soule, + By so ich wolle continue. + And yut fond ich never in faith, + Sytthen my frendes deyden, + Lyf that me lyked, + Bote in thes long clothes. + Hyf ich by laboure sholde lyf, + And lyflode deserven, + That labour that ich lerned best + Therwhit lyve ich sholde. + _In eadem vocatione qua vocati estis._ + And ich lyve in Londene + And on Londen bothe. + The lomes that ich laboure with + And lyflode deserve, + Ys paternoster and my prymer, + _Placebo et dirige_, + And my sauter some tyme, + And my sevene psalmes. + Thus ich synge for hure soules + Of suche as me helpen. + And tho that fynden me my fode + Vochen saf, ich trowe, + To be wolcome wan ich come + Other wyle in a monthe, + Now with hym, and now with hure, + And thus gate ich begge + Withoute bagge other botel, + Bote my wombe one. + And also, moreover, + Me thynketh, syre Reson, + Men sholde constreyne + No clerke to knavene werkes. + For by law of Livitici, + That oure Lord ordeynede, + Clerkes that aren crowned + Of kynde understondyng, + Sholde nother swynke ne swete, + Ne swere at enquestes, + Ne fyghte in no vauntwarde, + Ne hus fo greve. + _Nou reddas malum pro malo._ + For it ben aires of hevene, + And alle that ben crounede + And in queer in churches, + Cristes owene mynestres. + _Dominus pars hæreditatis meæ + Et alibi, Clementia non constringit._ + Hit bycometh for clerkus + Crist for to serven; + And knaves uncrounede + To cart and to worche. + For shold no clerk be crouned, + Bote yf he y-come were + Of franklens and freemen + And of folke y-weddede. + Bondmen and bastardes, + And beggers children, + Thuse bylongeth to labour. + And lordes children sholde serven, + Bothe God and good men, + As here degree asketh; + Some to synge masses, + Others sitten and wryte, + Rede and receyve + That Reson oughte spende. + And sith bondemenne barnes + Han be made bisshopes, + And barnes bastardes + Han ben archidekenes; + And sopers and here sones + For selver han be knyghtes, + And lordene sones here laboreres, + And leid here rentes to wedden + For the ryght of the reame, + Ryden ayens oure enemys, + In consort of the comune + And the kynges worshep. + And monkes and moniales. + That mendinauns sholden fynde, + Han mad here kyn knyghtes, + And knyght fees purchase. + Popes and patrones + Povre gentil blod refuseth, + And taken Symondes sonne + Seyntewarie to kepe. + Lyf-holynesse and love + Han ben longe hennes, + And wole, til hit be wered out, + Or otherwise y-chaunged. + For-thy rebuke me ryht nouht, + Reson, ich yow praye; + For in my conscience ich knowe + What Crist wolde that ich wroughte. + Preyers of perfyt man, + And penaunce discret, + Is the levest labour + That oure Lord pleseth. + _Non de solo_, ich seyde, + For sothe _vivit homo, + Nec in pane et pabulo_, + The paternoster witnesseth. + _Fiat voluntas tua_ + Fynt ous alle thynges.' + Quath Conscience, 'By Crist! + Ich can nat see this lyeth. + Ac it semeth nouht perfitnesse + In cyties for to begge, + Bote he be obediencer + To pryour other to mynstre.' + 'That ys soth,' ich seide, + 'And so ich by-knowe + That ich have tynt tyme, + And tyme mys-spended. + And yut ich hope, as he + That ofte haveth chaffarede, + That ay hath lost and lost, + And at the latest hym happeth + He bouhte suche a bargayn + He was the bet evere, + And sette hus lost at a lef + At the laste ende; + Suche a wynnynge hym warth + Thorw wyrdes of his grace. + _Simile est regnum coelorum thesauro + abscondito in agro, etc._ + _Mulier quæ inveniet dragmam, etc._ + So hope ich to have of hym + That his almyghty + A gobet of hus grace, + And bygynne a tyme + That alle tymes of my tyme + To profit shal turne.' + 'Ich rede the,' quath Reson tho, + 'Rathe the to bygynne + The lyf that ys lowable + And leel to the soule.' + 'Ye, and continue,' quath Conscience. + And to the church ich wente. + And to the church gan ich go, + God to honourie, + Byfor the crois on my knees + Knocked ich my brest, + Sykinge for my sennes, + Segginge my paternoster, + Wepyng and wailinge, + Tyl ich was a-slepe + Thenne mete me moche more + Than ich byfor tolde, + Of the mater that ich mete fyrst + On Malverne hulles. + Ich sawe the feld ful of folk + Fram ende to the other; + And Reson revested + Ryght as a pope, + And Conscience his crocer + Byfore the kynge stande. + Reson reverentliche + Byfor all the reame + Prechede and provede + That thuse pestilences + Was for pure synne, etc. + _See_ l. 2497, of the present edition. + +2497. _thise pestilences._--There were three great pestilences in the reign +of Edward III, the terrible effects of which were long fresh in people's +minds, and they were often taken as points from which to date common +events. Two of them had passed at the period when the Visions of Piers +Ploughman are believed to have been written, and are the ones here alluded +to. Of the first, or great pestilence, which lasted from 31 May, 1348, to +29 Sept. 1349, the contemporary chroniclers give a fearful account. In a +register of the Abbey of Gloucester (MS. Cotton. Domit. A. VIII, fol. 124), +we have the following entry:--"Anno Domini m^o.ccc^o.xlviij^o. anno vero +regni regis Edwardi III, post conquestum xxij^o. incepit magna pestilentia +in Anglia, ita quod _vix tertia pars_ hominum remansit." This pestilence, +known as the _black plague_, ravaged most parts of Europe, and is said to +have carried off in general about two-thirds of the people. It was the +pestilence which gave rise to the Decameron of Boccaccio. For an +interesting account of it, see Michelet's Hist. de France, iii, 342-349. +The second pestilence lasted from 15 Aug. 1361, to May 3, 1362, and was +much less severe. The third pestilence raged from 2 July to 29 September, +1369. + +2500. _The south-westrene wynd | on Saterday at even._ Tyrwhitt, in his +Preface to Chaucer, first pointed out the identity of this wind with the +one mentioned by the old chroniclers (Thorn, Decem. Script. col. 2122; +Walsingham, p. 178; the continuator of Adam Murimuth, p. 115), as occurring +on the evening of Jan. 15, 1362. The fifteenth of January in that year was +a Saturday. The following is the account given by Walsingham: "Anno gratiæ +millesimo trecentesimo sexagesimo secundo, qui est annus regni regis +Edwardi a conquestu tertii tricesimus sextus, tenuit rex natale apud +Wyndesor, et quinto decimo die sequente ventus vehemens, nothus auster +affricus, tanta vi erupit, quod flatu suo domos altas, ædificia sublimia, +turres, et campanilia, arbores, et alia quæque durabilia et fortia +violenter prostravit pariter et impegit, in tantum quod residua quæ modo +extant, sunt hactenus infirmiora." The continuator of Murimuth is more +particular as to the time of the day, and in other respects more exact. +"A.D. m. ccc. lxii, xv die Januarii, _circa horam vesperarum_, ventus +vehemens notus australis affricus tanta rabie erupit," etc. + +2529. _And fecche Felis his wyf | Fro wyuene pyne._ MS. Trin. Col. 2. + +2547. This was a very old and very common proverb in England. Thus in the +Proverbs of Hending (Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. i, p. 110):-- + + Ne bue thi child never so duere, + Ant hit wolle unthewes lerne, + Bet hit other whyle; + Mote hit al habben is wille, + Woltou nultou hit wolle spille, + Ant bicome a fule. + _Luef child lore byhoveth_; + Quoth Hendyng. + +The proverb is a little varied in another copy of these "Proverbs," p. 194 +of the same work. There is a German proverb closely resembling it, "Je +lieberes Kind, je schärfere Ruthe." + +2551. Prov. xiii, 24. + +2569. After this line Whitaker's text has inserted a passage, answering +nearly word for word (except in the few first lines) to the passage in our +text, ll. 6218-6274. + +2573. In the same text, the following lines are here added:-- + + 'And also,' quath Reson, + 'Ich rede yow, riche + And comuners, to acorden + In alle kynne treuthe. + Let no kynne consail + Ne covetyze yow departe, + That on wit and on wil + Alle youre wardes kepe. + Lo! in hevene on hy + Was an holy comune, + Til Lucifer the lyere + Leyved that hymselve + Were wittyour and worthiour + Than he that was hus maister. + Hold yow in unité. + And ye that hother wolde + Is cause of alle combraunce + To confounde a reame. + +2586. Matt. xxv, 12. + +2594. Whitaker's _Passus Sextus_ ends with this line. + +2625. Before Envy's confession, and in the place of Lechery, Whitaker's +text introduces the confession of Pride-- + + Ich, Pruyde, patientliche + Penaunce ich aske; + For ich formest and ferst + To fader and to moder + Have y-be unboxome, + Ich beseche God of mercy; + And unboxome y-be, + Nouht abaissed to agulte + God and alle good men, + So gret was myn herte; + Inobedient to holy churche, + And to hem that ther serven, + Demed for hure yvel vices, + And excited othere + Thorw my word and al my wit + Hure yvel workes to shewe; + And scorned hem and othere, + Yf a skyle founde, + Lauhynge al aloude, + For lewede men sholde + Wene that ich were witty + And wyser than anothere; + Scorner and unskilful to hem + That skil shewede, + In all manere manners + My name to be y-knowe, + Semeng a sovereyn on, + Wer so me byfulle + To telle eny tale. + Ich trowede me wiser + To carpen other to counsaile + Than eny, lered other lewede. + Proud of aparail + In porte amonge the puple, + Otherwise than ich have, + Withynne other withoute, + Me wilnede that men wende + Ich were in aveyr + Riche and resonable, + And ryghtful of lyvynge; + Bostynge and braggynge + Wyt meny bolde othes; + Avauntyng upon my veine glorie + For eny undernemynge; + And yut so syngeler by myself + Ne non so pomp holy, + Som tyme on a secte, + Sam tyme on another; + In all kynne covetyse + Contrevede how ich myghte + Be holde for holy, + And hondred sithe by that encheison; + Wilnede that men wende + My werkes were the beste + And konnygest of my craft, + Clerkes other othere, + And strengest upon my stede, + And styvest under gurdell, + And lovelokest to loken on, + And lykyngest a-bedde; + And lykynge of such a lif + That no lawe preyseth; + Proud of my faire fetours; + And for ich songe shrille; + And what ich gaf for Godes love, + To godsybbes ich tolde, + Ther to wene that ich were + Wel holy and wel almesful. + And non so bold begger + To bydden an[d] crave, + Tales to telle + In tavernes and in stretes, + Thyng that nevere was thouhte, + And yut ich swor ich sauh hit, + And lyed on my lykame + And on my lyf bothe. + Of werkes that ich wel dude + Witnesse ich take, + And syggen to such + That sytten me bysyde, + 'Lo! yf ye leyve me nouht, + Other that ye wene ich lye, + Ask of hym other of hure, + And thei conne yow telle + What ich soffrede an[d] seih, + And som tyme hadde, + And what ich knew and couthe, + Of wat kyn ich kam of; + Al ich wolde that men wuste, + When it to pruyde sonede, + As to preised among the puple, + Thauh ich povre semede.' + _Si hominibus placerem, Christi servus + non essem. Nemo potest duobus + dominis servire._ + 'Now God, of hus goodnesse, + Geve the grace to amende!' + Quath Repentaunce ryght with that; + And thenne roos Envye. + +The description of Envy, which follows, is shorter in Whitaker's text, and +differs much from our text. + +2819-2822. The discipline here described seems to have been peculiar to the +chapter-house of the monasteries. Matth. Paris, p. 848, has an anecdote +which illustrates curiously this passage of Piers Ploughman. In speaking of +the turbulent Falcasius de Breuté, who had been warned in a vision to offer +himself to suffer penance in the monastery of St. Albans, in the reign of +Henry III, he says, "Vestibus igitur spoliatus cum suis militibus, +similiter indumentis spoliatis, ferens in manu virgam quam vulgariter +_baleis_ appellamus, et confitens culpam suam, ... a singulis fratribus +disciplinas nuda carne suscepit." + +2846. In the text which Whitaker has printed, the confession of Wrath was +followed by that of Luxury or Lechery. It stands as follows in the copy of +the same text in MS. Cotton. Vespas. B. xvi. (_See_ l. 8713, of our present +text.) + + Thanne seide Lecherie, Alas! + And to oure Ladi criede, + 'Ladi, for thi leve sone, + Loute for me nouthe, + That he have pité on me, putour, + For his pure merci.' + 'With that I schal,' quod that schrewe, + 'Saterdaies, for thi love, + Drynke with the doke, + And dine but ones.' + I, gulti in gost, + To God I me schrive, + As in likyng of lecherige + My licames gultes, + In wordes, in wedes, + In waityng of eyen, + To eche maide that I mette + I made here a sigge, + Semyng to synne-ward, + And summe can I taste + Aboute the mouth, and binethe + Bigon I to grope, + Til bothe oure wil was on, + To werke we yeden, + As wel fastyng daies, + And hi festes eves, + And wel in Lente as out of Lente, + Al tymes i-liche; + Swiche werkes with us + Weren nevere out of seson, + Til we mighten ne more, + Tho hadde we muri tales + Of putrige and of paramours, + And provede thorw speche, + Handelyng, and halsyng, + And also thorw cussyng, + Excityng heither other + To oure elde synne; + Sotilde songes, + And sente out elde baudes + For te wynne to my wil + Wemmen with gile; + Bi sorcerie sum time, + And sum time be maistrie, + I lai bi the lovelokest, + And lovede hem nevere aftur. + Whan I was eld and hor, + And hadde i-lorn that kynde, + I hadde likyng to lige + Of lecherous tales. + Now, lord, for thi lewté, + On lecheres have merci. + +2850. _Sire Hervy._ Whitaker and Price (in Warton) suppose that there is +here a personal allusion, which at the time had become proverbial. + +2874. _Symme at the Style._ Whit. + +2881. _To Wy and to Wynchestre | I wente to the feyre._ Warton (Hist. of +Eng. p. ii, 55, edit. 1840) supposes Wy to be Weyhill, in Hampshire, "where +a famous fair still subsists." In fact it is one of the greatest fairs in +England, lasting ten days. For anecdotes of the celebrity of the great fair +at Winchester in former times, and for some interesting observations on +fairs in general, _see_ Warton, loc. cit. + +2933. _The Roode of Bromholm._ At the Priory of Bromholm, in Norfolk, there +was a celebrated cross, said to be made of fragments of the real cross, and +much resorted to by pilgrims. It was brought from Constantinople to England +in 1223. The history of this cross, and the miracles said to have been +performed by it at Bromholm, are told by Matthew Paris (p. 268). In the MS. +Chronicle of Barthol. de Cotton, it is recorded at the date 1223, "Eo +tempore Peregrinatio de Bromholm incepit." + +2949. _Frensshe ... of Northfolk._ Norfolk, it would appear by this, was +one of the least refined parts of the island. + +3030. In this part of the poem, the smaller variations between the present +text and Whitaker's are very numerous. After this line, the following +passage is inserted:-- + + With false wordes and writes + Ich have wonne my goodes, + And with gyle and glosynge + Gadered that ich have; + Meddled my merchaundise, + And mad a good moustre, + The werst lay withynne, + A gret wit ich let hit. + And yf my neyhgebore had an hyne, + Other eny best ellys, + More profitable than myn, + Ich made meny wentes, + How ich myght have hit + Al my wit ich caste; + And bote ich hadde hit by othes away, + At last ich stal hit, + Other pryvyliche hus pors shok, + Unpiked his lokes. + And yf ich yede to the plouh, + Ich pynchede on hus half acre, + That a fot londe other a forwe + Fetchen ich wolde + Of my neyhgeboris next, + Nymen of hus erthe, + And yf y repe, over reche, + Other gaf hem red that repen + To sese to me with here sykel, + That ich sewe nevere. + In haly dayes at holy churche + Wenne ich hurde messe, + Ich hadde nevere witerlich + To byseche mercy + For my mysdedes, + That ich ne mornede ofter + For lost of good, leyve me, + Then for lycames gultes. + Thauh ich dedliche synne dude, + Ich dradde hit nat so sore + As wenne ich lenede and leyvede hit lost, + Other longe er hit were paied. + And yf [ich] sente over see + My servaunt to Brugges, + Other into Prus my prentys, + My profit to awaite, + To marchaunde with monye + And maken here eshaunge, + Myght nevere man comforty me + In the meyn time, + Neither matyns ne masse, + Ne othere manere syghtes, + And nevere penaunce performede, + Ne paternoster seyde. + That my mynde ne was + More in my goodes, + Than in Godes grace, + And hus grete myghte. + _Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi cor tuum._ + _See_ ll. 8751-8827. + +3039. Psa. l, 8. + +3083. The confessions of the robber and the glutton are reversed in +Whitaker's text, and present many variations. The robber's confession is +there preceded by the following curious lines:-- + + Then was ther a Walishman + That was wonderlich sory, + He hight Yyvan Yeld ageyn; + 'If ich so moche have, + Al that ich wickedlich wan + Setthen ich hit hadde; + And thauh my liflode lache + Leten ich nelle + That ech man shal have hus, + Er ich hennes wende. + For me ys levere in this lif + As a lorel beggen, + Than in lysse to lyve, + And lese lyf and soule.' + +3162. Between this line and the next, MS. Trin. Col. 2, inserts _Bargoynes +and beverechis | Begonne for to arise._ + +3277, 3278. _rymes of Robyn Hood | and Randolf erl of Chestre._ This seems +to be the earliest mention of the ballads of Robin Hood which can now be +found. Ritson was quite mistaken (Robin Hood, Introd. p. xlix) in the +supposed mention of him by the prior of Alnwick, the title of the Latin +song being modern. The passage of Fordun, in which Robin Hood is spoken of, +is probably an interpolation. + +I am not sure that Ritson is right in taking the _Randolf erl of Chester_ +of Piers Ploughman, to be Ranulf de Blundevile: it is quite as probable +that he was the Ranulf of Chester of the days of Stephen, whose turbulent +deeds may have been the subject of popular ballads. Warton (H. E. P. ii, +373), quoting the passage of Piers Ploughman with the word _erl_ omitted, +conceives it to mean Ralph Higden, and imagines the _rymes_ to be the +Chester Mysteries, of which he conjectured that Ralph Higden was the +author. + +3311. _Ite missa est._ The concluding sentence of the service of the Mass. + +3408. _the Rode of Chestre._ There was a celebrated cross or rood at +Chester, which was long an object of great veneration, and even of +pilgrimage, among our Roman Catholic forefathers. "I do not recollect any +thing remarkable (says Mr. Pennant, speaking of Chester) on the outside of +the walls which has been unnoticed, unless it be the Rood-eye, and the +adjacent places."--"The name of this spot is taken from _eye_, its watery +situation, and rood, the cross which stood there, whose base is still to be +seen." Pennant's Tour in Wales, edit. 1778, p. 191. According to Gough's +Camden, the base was still remaining in 1789. + +3410. _Roberd the robbere._ This name is rather curious in conjunction with +the term _Roberdesmen_ mentioned in the note on l. 88. It was no uncommon +practice to give punning names in this way to people or classes of people. +In a Latin song of the reign of Henry III (Political Songs, p. 49), we have +a very curious instance of it, one of the names being, as here, _Robert_:-- + +Competentur per _Robert_, _robbur_ designatur; Robertus excoriat, +extorquet, et minatur.-- Vir quicunque rabidus consors est Roberto. + +Still earlier (12th cent.) a scribe says of one of his brothers, "Secundus +dicebatur _Robertus_, quia a re nomen habuit, _spoliator_ enim diu fuit et +_prædo_." (Polit. Songs, p. 354.) + +3419. _Dysmas._ In middle-age legends, Dismas and Gestas were the names of +the two thieves who were crucified with Christ. The former was the one who +believed in the Saviour, and received a promise of paradise. + +3443. Before this line, Whitaker's text has the following passage:-- + + Ac whiche be the braunches + That bryngeth me to sleuthe, + Ys wanne a man mourneth nat + For hus mysdedes; + The penaunce that the prest enjoyneth + Parfourmeth uvele; + Doth non almys-dedes, + And drat nat of synne: + Lyveth ayens the byleyve, + And no lawe kepeth; + And hath no lykynge to lerne, + Ne of houre Lord hure, + Bote harlotrie other horedom, + Other elles of som wynnyng. + Wan men carpen of Crist + Other of clennesse of soule, + He wext wroth, and wol not huyre + Bote wordes of murthe, + Penaunce and povre men, + The passion of seyntes, + He hateth to huyre therof + And alle that therof carpen. + Thuse beth the braunches, be war, + That bryngeth man to wanhope. + Ye lordes and ladyes, + And legates of holy churche, + That feden fool sages, + Flaterers and lyers, + And han lykynge to lythen hem, + In hope to do yow lawe-- + _Væ! vobis qui ridetis, etc._ + And geveth suche mede an mete, + And povre men refusen; + In youre deth deynge, + Ich drede me sore + Lest tho maner men + To moche sorwe yow brynge. + _Consensientes et agentes pari pæna punientur._ + Patriarkes and prophetes, + Prechours of Godes wordes, + Saven thorgh here sermons + Mannes soule fro helle: + Ryght so flaterers and foles + Aren the fendes procuratores, + Entysen men thorgh here tales + To synne and to harlotrie. + Clerkus that knowen this, + Sholde kennen lordes + What David seide of suche men, + As the Sauter telleth: + _Non habitabit in medio domus meæ qui + facit superbiam, qui loquitur + iniquum._ + Sholde non harlot have audience + In halle ne in chaumbre, + Ther that wys men were. + Whitnesse of Godes wordes; + Nother a mys-prout man + Among lordes alouwed. + Clerkus and knyghtes + Wolcometh kynges mynstrales, + For love of here lordes + Lithen hem at festes: + Muche more, me thenketh, + Riche men auhte + Have beggers byfore hem, + Wiche beth Godes mynstreles, + As he seith hymself, + Seynt Johan berith whittnesse: + _Qui vos spernit, me etiam spernit._ + Therfor ich rede yow, riche, + Reveles when ye maken, + For to solace youre soules, + Suche mynstrales to have, + The povre for a foul sage + Syttynge at thy table, + Whith a lered man to lere the + What oure Lord suffrede, + For to savy thy saule + Fram Satan thyn enemye, + And fitayle the withoute flateryng + Of Good Friday the feste: + And a blynde man for a bordiour, + Other a bed-reden womman + To crye a largesse byfor oure Lord, + Youre good loos to shewe. + Thuse thre manere mynstrales + Maken a man to lauhe; + In hus deth deyng + Thei don hym gret comfort, + That by hus lyfe loveth hem, + And loveth hem to huyre. + Thuse solaceth the soule, + Til hymself be falle + In a wele good hope, for he wroghte so, + Among worthy seyntes, + Ther flaterers and foles + Whith here foule wordes + Leden tho that lithen hem + To Luciferes feste, + With _Turpiloquio_, a lay of sorwe, + And Lucifers fitele, + To perpetual peyne + Other purgatorye as wykke, + For he litheth and loveth + That Godes lawe despiteth. + _Qui histrionibus dat, dæmonibus sacrificat._ + +3466. _qui manet, &c._ Epist. Joan. iv, 16. + +3477. Epist. Paul, ad Ephes. iv, 8. + +3484. Isai. ix, 2. + +3496. Matt. ix, 13. + +3502. John i, 14. + +3520. Psalm xxxv, 8. + +3545. _Signes of Synay, | and shelles of Galice ... keyes of Rome._ It is +perhaps hardly necessary to remark that the articles mentioned here were +borne by the pilgrim to indicate the particular holy sites which he had +visited. The reader will readily call to mind the lines of a modern poet:-- + + The summon'd Palmer came in place, + His sable cowl o'erhung his face; + In his black mantle was he clad, + With _Peter's keys_ in cloth of red + On his broad shoulders wrought; + The _scallop shell_ his cap did deck; + The crucifix around his neck + Was from Loretto brought. + +3622. _Seint Thomas shryne._ St. Thomas of Canterbury. It may not perhaps +be generally known that an interesting description of this shrine, when in +its glory, is given by Erasmus, Colloq. _Peregrinatio Religionis ergo._ + +3713. _eten apples un-rosted._ One of the many specimens of the burlesque +manner in which scripture was frequently quoted in these times. A very +singular passage (but in a tract professedly burlesque) occurs in the +Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. i, p. 83:--"Peter askud Adam a full greyt dowtfull +question, and seyd, 'Adam, Adam, why ete thu the appull unpard?' 'For +sothe,' quod he, 'for y had no wardyns fryde.'" + +3826. _leven_, should be _lenen_. + +3890. Luke xiv, 10. + +3944, 3948. Psalm lxviii, 29. + +3997. _the rode of Lukes._ The second Trin. Col. MS. has _be the rode of +Chestre._ There was a famous cross at Lucca, but whether a part of the real +cross, I have not ascertained. Calvin, in his most able and entertaining +_Admonitio de Reliquiis_, declines undertaking a list of all the places +where pieces of the real cross were shown. "Denique si congesta in acervum +essent omnia quæ reperiri possent, integrum navis onus efficerent: cum +tamen evangelium testificetur ab unico homine ferri potuisse. Quantæ igitur +audaciæ fuit, ligneis frustis sic totum implere orbem, quibus ferendis ne +trecenti quidem homines sufficiant?" _Calvini_, _Opusc._ p. 277. There was +also at Lucca one of the impressions of our Saviour's face on the +handkerchief of Veronica. The peculiar oath of William Rufus was by the +holy face at Lucca. + +4027. _with hey trolly lolly._ MS. Trin. Col. 2. + +4154. In the second Trin. Col. MS. the passage stands as follows:-- + + Ne hadde Peris but a pese lof, + Thei preyede hym beleve, + And with a bene batte + He hadde betwene, + And hitte hunger therwith + Amydde hise lippes, + And blodde in it the bodyward + A bolle ful of growel, + Ne hadde the fisician ferst + Defendite him watir, + To abate the barly bred, + And the benis y-grounde, + Thei hadde be ded be this day, + And dolven al warm. + Faitours for fer, etc. + +4194. _Thei corven here coppes, | and courtepies made._ Whitaker, who +translates it, "They _carved wooden cups_, and made themselves short +cloaks." It ought to be, "They cut their copes to make courtpies (a kind of +short cloaks) of them." + +4242. Paul Epist. ad Galat. vi, 2. + +4251. Scimus enim qui dixit, mihi vindicta, et ego retribuam. Paul. ad Heb. +x, 30; conf. Paul. ad Rom. xii, 19. + +4256. Luke xvi, 9. + +4272. Propter frigus piger arare noluit. Prov. xx, 4. + +4306. Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis, beatus es et bene tibi erit. +Psal. cxxvii, 2. + +4336. _His mawe is alongid._ MS. Trin. Coll. 2. + +4336. Whitaker's text inserts here the following passage, which is curious +as containing the same word, _latchdrawers_, that occurs in Edward's +statute, quoted before in the note to l. 88:-- + + Thenk that Dives for hus delicat lyf + To the devel wente, + And Lazar the lene beggere + That longed after cromes, + And yut had he hem nat, + For ich Hunger culde hym, + And suthe ich sauh hym sute, + As he a syre were, + At alle manere ese + In Abrahame lappe. + An yf you be of power, + Peers, ich the rede, + Alle that greden at thy gate + For Godes love after fede, + Parte wit hem of thy payn, + Of potage and of souel, + Lene hem som of thy loof, + Thauh thu the lesse chewe. + And thauh lyers and latchedrawers, + And lolleres knocke, + Let hem abyde tyl the bord be drawe, + Ac bere hem none cromes, + Tyl al thyn nedy neihebores + Have none y-maked. + +4339. _Phisik ... hise furred hodes ... his cloke of Calabre._ Whitaker +cites, in illustration of the dress of the physician, the costume still +worn by the Doctors of Medicine in the universities. Chaucer gives the +following description of the dress of the "Doctour of Phisike":-- + + In sangwin and in pers he clad was al, + Lyned with taffata, and with sendal. + (Cant. T. Prolog. 441.) + +_Calabre_ appears to have been a kind of fur: a document in Rymer, quoted +by Ducange, speaks of an _indumentum foderatum cum Calabre_. + +4390. _ripe chiries manye._ This passage, joined with the mention of +cherry-time in l. 2794, shows that cherries were a common fruit in the +fourteenth century. "Mr. Gough, in his British Topography, says that +cherries were first brought in by the Romans, but were afterwards lost and +brought in again in the time of Henry VIII, by Richard Harris, the king's +fruiterer; but this is certainly a mistake. When in the New Forest in +Hampshire in the summer of 1808, I saw a great many cherry-trees, +apparently, of much more considerable age than the time of Henry VIII. The +_very old_ trees were universally of the kind called _merries_." H. E. + +4431. Cato, Distich. i, 21:-- + + Infantem nudum quum te natura crearit, + Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento. + +4453. _so seide Saturne._ See the Introduction, p. xii. + +4490. Whitaker's text reads after this line:-- + + Leel and ful of love, + And no lord dreden, + Merciable to meek, + And mylde to the goode, + And bytynge on badde men + Bote yf thei wolde amende, + And dredeth nat for no deth + To distruye by here powere + Lecherie among lordes, + And hure luther custymes, + And sithen lyve as thei lereth men, + Oure lorde Treuthe hem graunteth, + To be peeres to Apostles, &c. + +4525. _sette scolers to scole._ It was common in the _scholastic_ ages for +scholars to wander about gathering money to support them at the +universities. In a poem in MS. Lansdowne, No. 762, the husbandman, +complaining of the many burdens he supports in taxes to the court, payments +to the church, and charitable contributions of different kinds, enumerates +among the latter the alms to scholars:-- + + Than cometh clerkys of Oxford, and mak their mone, + To her scole-hire they most have money. + +4547. Psa. xiv, 5. Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad usuram, et munera super +innocentem non accepit. + +4571. Psa. xiv, 1. + +4593. Matt. vii, 12. Luke vi, 31. + +4618. _the clerc of stories._ Called, elsewhere, _maister of stories_. +These names were given popularly to Peter Comestor, author of the famous +Historia Scolastica, a paraphrase of the Bible history, with abundance of +legendary matter added to it. The title given him by the author of Piers +Ploughman is not uncommon in English treatises of the fourteenth and +fifteenth centuries. Lydgate, Minor Poems, p. 102 (Ed. Halliwell), speaks +of Comestor thus:-- + + _Maister of storyes_, this doctour ful notable, + Holding a chalice here in a sonne cliere. + +4619. _Catons techyng._ "Cui des videto," is the twenty-third of the +"Distichorum Lemmata" of Dionysius Cato. + +4621. Instead of ll. 4621-4658, the following long and curious passage is +substituted in the text adopted by Mr. Whitaker:-- + + Wot no man, as ich wene, + Who is worthy to have. + The most needy aren oure neighebores, + And we nyme good hede; + As prisoners in puttes, + And poore folke in cotes + Charged with children + And chef lordes rente, + That thei spynnynge may spare, + Spynen hit in hous hyre, + Bothe in mylk and in mele. + To maken with papelotes + To aglotye with here gurles + That greden after fode. + Al so hemselve + Suffren muche hunger, + And wo in winter tyme; + With wakyng a-nyghtes + To ryse to the ruel, + To rocke the cradel, + Bothe to karde and to kembe, + To clouten and to wasche, + To rubbe and to rely, + Russhes to pilie, + That reuthe is to rede + Othere in ryme shewe + The wo that theese women + That wonyeth in cotes, + And of meny other men + That muche wo suffren, + Bothe a-fyngrede and a-furst, + To turne the fayre outwarde; + And beth abasshed for to begge, + And wolle nat be y-knowe + What hem needeth att here neihebores + At non and at even. + This Wit wot witerly, + As the world techeth, + What other byhoveth + That hath meny children. + And hath no catel bote hus crafte + To clothy hem and to fede, + And fele to fonge therto, + And fewe pans taketh. + Ther is payn and peny ale, + As for a pytaunce y-take; + Cold flesch and cold fyssh, + For veneson y-bake. + Frydays and fastyng-dayes + Ferthyng worth of muscles + Were a feste for suche a folke, + Other so fele cockes. + Theese were almes to helpe + That han suche charges, + And to comforte suche cotyers, + And crokede men and blynde. + Ac beggers with bagges, the wiche + Brewhouses ben here churches, + Bote thei be blynde other broke, + Other elles syke, + Thauh he falle for defaute, + That faiteth for hus lyflode, + Reicheth nevere, ye ryche, + Thauh suche lorelles sterven; + For all that han here hele + And here eyen syghte, + And lymes to laborye with, + And lolleres lyf usen, + Lyven ayens Godes lawe, + And love of holy churche. + And yut arn ther other beggers, + In hele, as it semeth; + Ac hem wanteth here witt, + Men and women bothe, + The wiche aren lunatik lollers + And leperes aboute, + And mad, as the mone sitt, + More other lasse: + Thei caren for no cold, + Ne counteth of no hete, + And are mevenge after the mone, + Moneyles thei walke, + With a good wil wit-lees, + Meny wyde contreys, + Ryght as Peter dude and Paul, + Save that thei preche nat, + Ne myracles maken; + Ac meny tymes hem happeth + To prophetien of the puple, + Pleyninge, as hit were, + And to oure sight, as hit semeth, + Suththe God hath the myghte + To yeven eche a whit wit, + Welthe, and his hele, + And suffreth suche so gon, + Hit semeth to myn inwitt, + Hit arn as hus aposteles suche puple, + Other as his prevye disciples; + For he sente hem forth selverles, + In a somer garnement, + Withoute bred and bagge, + As the Bok telleth. + _Quando misi vos sine pane et pera._ + Bar fot and bred-les, + Beggeth thei of no man; + And thauh he mete with the meyere + In mydest the strete, + He reverenceth hym ryght nouht + No rather than another. + _Neminem salutaveris per viam_, + Suche manere of men, + Matheu ous techeth, + We sholde have hem to house, + And help hem when thei come. + _Et egenos vagosque induc in domum tuam._ + For hit aren murye mouthede men, + Mynstrales of hevene + And Godes boyes bordiours, + As the Bok telleth. + _Si quis videtur sapiens, fiet stultus ut + sit sapiens._ + And alle manere mynstrales, + Men wot wel the sothe, + To underfonge hem faire + Byfalle for the ryche; + For the lordes love and ladies + That thei with lengen, + Men suffren al that suche seyn, + And in solas taken; + And yut more to suche men + Doth, er thei passe, + Gyven hem gyftes and gold, + For grete lordes sake. + Ryght so, ye riche, + Rather ye sholde, for sothe, + Wolcomen and worsshepen + And with youre goode helpen + Godes mynstrales, and hus messagers, + And hus murye burdiers, + The wiche are lunatik lollares + And leperes aboute. + For under Godes secré seel + Here synnes ben y-keverede. + For thei bereth no bagges, + Ne non botels under clokes, + The wiche is lollaren lyf + And lewede eremytes, + That loken ful louheliche + To lacchen mennes almesse, + In hope to suten at even + By the hote coles, + Unlouke hus legges abrod, + Other lygge at hus ese, + Reste hym and roste hym, + And his ryg turne, + Drynke drue and deepe, + And drawe hym thanne to bedde, + And when hym lyketh and lust + Hus leve ys is to aryse; + When he rysen, rometh out, + And ryght wel aspieth + War he may rathest have a repast, + Other a rounde of bacon, + Sulver other fode-mete + And some tyme bothe, + A loof other alf a loof, + Other a lompe of chese, + And carieth it hom to hus cote, + And cast hym to lyve + In ydelnesse and in ese, + And by others travayle. + And wat frek of thys tolde + Fisketh thus aboute + With a bagge at hus bak, + Abegeneldes wyse, + And can som manere craft, + In cas he wolde hit use. + Thorgh wiche craft he couthe come + To bred and to ale, + And ovar more to an hater + To helye with hus bones, + And lyveth like a lollere, + Godes lawe him dampneth. + Lolleres lyvinge in sleuthe, + And overe lond stryken, + Beeth nat in thys bulle, quath Peers, + Til thei ben amended. + Nother beggars that beggen, + Bote yf thei have neede. + The Bok blameth alle beggerye, + And banneth in this manere: etc. + +4645. Luke xix, 23. + +4659. Ps. xxxvi, 25. Junior fui, etenim senui: et non vidi justum +derelictum, nec semen ejus quærens panem. + +4695. Here again, after many verbal variations from our text, Whitaker's +text adds the following long passage, which is very curious, and well +worthy to be preserved. Whitaker calls it "one of the finest passages in +the whole poem." + + Ac eremites that enhabiten hem + By the heye weyes, + And in borwes among brewesters, + And beggen in churches + Al that holy eremytes + Hateden and despisede, + As rychesses and reverences + And ryche mennes almesse. + These lolleres, latche-draweres, + Lewede eremytes, + Coveyten the contrarie, + As cotyers thei lybben, + For hit beth bote boyes, + Lolleres atten ale, + Of linguage of lettrure + Ne lyf-holy as eremytes + That wonnede wyle in wodes + With beres and lyones. + Some had lyflode of here lynage, + And of no lyf elles; + And some lyvede by here lettrure + And labour of here hondes; + Some had foreynes to frendes, + That hem fode sente; + And bryddes brouhten to some bred, + Werby thei lyveden. + Alle thuse holy eremytes + Were of hye kynne, + Forsoke londe and lordshep + And lykynges of the body; + Ac thuse eremytes, that edefyen + Thus by the hye weyes, + Wylen were workmen, + Webbes and taillours, + And carters knaves + And clerkus without grace, + Heelden hungry hous, + And had much defaute, + Long labour and lyte wynnynge, + And atte laste aspiden + That faitours in frere clothynge + Had fatte chekus; + For-thi lefte thei here laboure, + Theese lewede knaves, + And clothed hem in copes, + Clerkus as hit were. + Other on of som ordre, + Othere elles prophite, + Ayens the lawe he lyveth, + Yf Latyn be trywe: + _Non licet nobis legem voluntate, sed voluntatem + conjungere legi._ + Now kyndeliche, by Crist! + Beth suche callyd lolleres, + As by Englisch of oure eldres, + Of olde menne techynge, + He that lolleth his lame, + Other his leg out of the joynte, + Other meymed in som membre, + For to meschief hit souneth; + And ryght so sothlyche + Suche manere eremytes + Lollen ayen the bylyeve + And lawe of holy churche. + For holy churche hoteth + Alle manere puple + Under obedience to bee, + And buxum to the lawe, + Furst religious of religion + Here ruele to holde, + And under obedience to be + By dayes and by nyghtes, + Lewede men to laborie, + Lordes to honte + In frythes and in forestes + For fox and other bestes + That in wilde wodes ben, + And in wast places, + As wolves that wyrhyeth men, + Wommen, and children, + And upon Sonedayes to cesse, + Godes service to huyre, + Bothe matyns and messe, + And after mete in churches + To huyre here eve song + Every man ouhte. + Thus it bylongeth for lorde, + For lered and lewede, + Eche halyday to huyre + Hollyche the service, + Vigiles and fastyng dayes + Forthere to knowe, + And fulfille tho fastynges + Bote infirmité hit made, + Poverte othere penaunces, + As pilgrymages and travayles. + Under this obedience + Arn we echone. + Who so brekyeth this, be wel war, + Bot yf he repente, + Amenden hym and mercy aske, + And meekliche hym shryve, + Ich drede me, and he deye, + Hit worth for dedlich synne + Acounted byfore Crist, + Bote Conscience excuse hym. + Loke now were theese lolleres + And lewede eremytes, + Yf thei breke thys obedience + That ben so fro churche, + Wher see we hem on Sonedays + The servise to huyre? + As matyns by the morwe + Tyl masse bygynne, + Other Sonedays at eve songe, + See we wol fewe; + Othere labory for our lyflode + As the lawe wolde + Ac at mydday meel tyme + Ich mete with hem ofte, + Conynge in a cope + As he a clerke were, + A bachelor other a beaupere + Best hym bysemeth, + And for the cloth that kevereth hem + Cald his here a frere, + Whassheth and wypeth, + And with the furste suteth. + Ac while he wrought in thys worlde, + And wan hus mete with Treuthe, + He sat atte syd benche + And secounde table, + Com no wyn in hus wombe + Thorw the weke longe, + Nother blankett in hus bed, + Ne white bred byfore hym. + The cause of al thys caitifté + Cometh of meny bisshepes, + That suffren suche sottes + And othere synnes regne. + Certes ho so thurste hit segge, + _Symon quasi dormit._ + _Vigilate_ were fairour, + For thow hast gret charge: + For meny waker wolves + Ben broke into foldes. + Thyne berkeres ben al blynde, + That bryngeth forth thy lambren; + _Disperguntur oves_, thi dogge + Dar nat beerke. + The tarre is untydy + That to thyne sheep bylongeth; + Hure salve ys of _supersedeas_ + In someneres boxes, + Thyne sheep are ner al shabbyd, + The wolf sheteth woolle. + _Sub molli pastore lupus lanam cacat, et + grex incustoditus dilaceratur eo._ + Hoow hurde wher is thyn hounde, + And thyn hardy herte, + For to wyne the wolf + That thy woolle fouleth. + Ich leyve for thy lacchesse + Thow leest meny wederes, + And ful meny fayre flus + Falsliche wasshe. + When thy lord loketh to have + Alowance for hus bestes, + And of the monye thow haddist thermyd, + Hus meable to save, + And the woolle worth weye, + Woo ys the thenne! + _Redde rationem villicationis tuæ_, + Other arerage, ffalle. + Then hyre hurde, as ich hope, + Hath nouht to quyty thy dette, + Ther as mede ne mercy + May nat a myte avayle, + Bote have this for that, + Tho that thow toke + Mercy for mede, + And my lawe breke; + Loke now for thi lacchesse + Whether lawe wol the graunt + Purgatorie for thy paye, + Other perpetuel helle. + For shal no pardone praye for yowe ther, + Nother princes letteres. + +4708. Matth. xxv, 46. Et ibunt hi in supplicium æternum; justi autem in +vitam æternam. + +4721. Psal. xxii, 4. + +4739. Psal. xli, 4. + +4745. Luke xii, 22. Conf. Matth. vi, 25. + +4764. "Dixit insipiens in corde suo, non est Deus," is the commencement of +Psalms xiii. and lii. + +4769. Prov. xxii, 10. Ejice derisorem, et exibit cum eo jurgium, +cessabuntque causæ et contumeliæ. + +4771. _Perkyn_, the diminutive of Peter, or Piers. Formerly the diminutives +of people's names were constantly used as marks of familiarity or +endearment, as Hawkyn or Halkyn for Henry, Tymkyn for Tim or Timothy, +Dawkyn for David, Tomkyn for Thomas, &c. + +4796. Cato, Distich. ii, 31. + + Somnia ne cures, nam mens humana quod optans, + Dum vigilat, sperat, per somnum cernit id ipsum. + +4847. Matth. xvi, 19. + +4941. Prov. xxiv, 16. Septies enim cadet justus, _et resurget_; impii autem +corruent in malum. + +4963. _To falle and to stonde._ I by no means agree with Price's +interpretation of this phrase, or in his preference of the reading _to +falle if he stonde_. (Note on Warton ii, 67.) The motion of the boat causes +the firm man alternately to fall and stand; be he ever so stable, he +stumbles now and then, but his strength is shown in his being able to +recover himself. Such are the moral slips which even the just man cannot +avoid. But if the man in the boat be too weak to arise again and place +himself at the helm, his boat and himself will be lost for want of strength +and guidance. So it is with the wicked man. The completion of the phrase +quoted from Proverbs, as given in the preceding note, shows the justice of +this explanation. + +5014. _if I may lyve and loke._ Price (in Warton) first pointed out the +identity between this expression and the one so common in Homer: it is "one +of those primitive figures which are common to the poetry of every +country." + + [Greek: Outis, emeu zôntos kai epi chthoni derkomenoio,] + [Greek: Soi koilêis para nêusi bareias cheiras epoisei.] + Il. i, 88. + +Whitaker's interpretation is nonsense, "If I have space to live and look in +the book." Other instances of this phrase occur in ll. 12132, 13268, and +13303 of Piers Ploughman. + +5082. 2 Corinth. xi, 19. + +5157. _of four kynnes thynges._ The medieval notion of the manner in which +the elements were mixed together in the formation of the human body, here +alluded to, appears to partake more of Western legend than of Eastern +tradition. In the English verses on Popular Science (given in my "Popular +Treatises of Science written during the Middle Ages," p. 138), we have the +following curious account of the four things forming the body, and the +influence of each:-- + + Man hath of urthe al his bodi, of water he haveth wete, + Of eyr he haveth wynd, of fur he haveth hete. + Ech quic thing of alle this foure, of some hath more other lasse; + Ho so haveth of urthe most, he is slou as an asse; + Of vad colour, of hard hide, boustes forme, and ded strong, + Of moche thoght, of lute speche, of stille grounynge, and wraththe long, + A slough wrecche and ferblet, fast and loth to geve his god, + Sone old, and noght wilful, stable and stedefast of mode. + +And so on with the other elements. This doctrine of the composition of man +from the four elements became a very popular one in the sixteenth century, +when the poets frequently allude to it, as may be seen in the examples +given by Nares (_v._ ELEMENTS). In the _Mirror for Magistrates_ (_King +Forrex_, page 76), it is said:-- + + If we behold the substance of a man, + How he is made of _elements_ by kind, + Of earth, of water, aire, and fire, than + We would full often call unto our mind, + That all our earthly joys we leave behind. + +Massinger (_Renegado_ iii, 2) says:-- + + ----I've heard + Schoolmen affirm, man's body is compos'd + Of _the four elements_. + +In Shakespeare (_Twel. N._ ii, 3), Sir Toby Belch inquires, "Does not our +life consist of _the four elements_?" and Brutus is commended for +possessing these elements properly blended, in which the perfection of a +man's nature was supposed to consist:-- + + His life was gentle; and the _elements_ + So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up + And say to all the world, This _was a man_. + _Jul. Cæs._ v, 5. + +On the other hand, the ill mixing of these elements was supposed to be +accompanied with a corresponding derangement of the intellectual faculties. +Thus, in one of the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, a madman is +addressed:-- + + I prithee, thou _four elements_ ill brew'd + Torment none but thyself: Away, I say, + Thou beast of passion. + _B. and Fl. Nice Valour_, act i, p. 312. + +The more mythic form of this legend gives _eight things_ to the formation +of the body, instead of four. Our earliest notice of this legend in England +occurs in the prose Anglo-Saxon Dialogue between Saturn and Solomon +(Thorpe's Analecta, p. 95):--"Saga me þæt andworc þe Adám wæs of-ge-worht +se ærusta man? Ic þe secge of viii punda ge-wihte. Saga me hwæt hatton +þage? Ic þe secge þæt æroste wæs fóldan pund, of ðam him wæs flesc +ge-worht; oðer wæs fyres pund, þanon him wæs þæt blód reád and hát; þridde +wæs windes pund, þanon him wæs seo æðung ge-seald; feorðe wæs wolcnes pund, +þanon him wæs his módes unstaðelfæstnes ge-seald; fifte wæs gyfe pund, +þanon him wæs ge-seald se fat and geðang; syxste wæs blostnena pund, þanon +him wæs eagena myssenlicnys ge-seald; seofoðe wæs deawes pund, þanon him +becom swat; eahtothe wæs sealtes pund, þanon him wæron þa tearas +sealte."--_Tell me the matter of which Adam the first man was made? I tell +thee, of eight pound-weights. Tell me their names? I tell thee, the first +was a pound of earth, of which his flesh was made; the second was a pound +of fire, from which his blood was red and hot; the third was a pound of +wind, of which breath was given him; the fourth was a pound of cloud, +whereof was given him his instability of mood; the fifth was a pound of +..., whereof was given him fat and sinew; the sixth was a pound of flowers, +whereof was given him diversity of eyes; the seventh was a pound of dew, +whereof he had sweat; the eighth was a pound of salt, whereof he had salt +tears._ This legend was still prevalent in England as late as the fifteenth +century, when we find it among the curious collection of questions (closely +resembling those of Saturn and Solomon just quoted) entitled "Questions +bitwene the Maister of Oxinford and his Scoler" (Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. i, +p. 230),--"_C._ Whereof was Adam made? _M._ Of viij. thingis: the first of +erthe, the second of fire, the iij^{de} of wynde, the iiij^{th} of clowdys, +the v^{th} of aire wherethorough he speketh and thinketh, the vj^{th} of +dewe wherby he sweteth, the vij^{th} of flowres, wherof Adam hath his ien, +the viij^{th} is salte wherof Adam hath salt teres." A similar account is +given in an extract from an old Friesic manuscript communicated to the +Zeitschrift für Deutsches Alterthum, by Dr. James Grimm,--"God scôp thene +êresta meneska, thet was Adam, fon achta wendem; that bênete fon tha stêne, +thet flâsk fon there erthe, thet blôd fon tha wetere, tha herta fon tha +winde, thene togta (l. thochta) fon tha wolken, the(ne) suêt fon tha dawe, +tha lokkar fon tha gerse, tha âgene fon there sunna, and tha blêrem on +thene helga ôm."--_God created the first man, who was Adam, of eight +elements: the bone from the stone, the flesh from the earth, the blood from +the water, the heart from the wind, the thought from the cloud, the sweat +from the dew, the hair from the grass, the eyes from the sun._ + +5169. _a proud prikere of Fraunce._ A proud rider of France. Until the +fifteenth century there appears to have been a strong prejudice among the +lower orders against horsemen: their name was connected with oppressors and +foreigners. Horses appear to have been comparatively little used for riding +among the Anglo-Saxons until they were introduced by the Norman favourites +of Edward the Confessor, in whose reign we read that the Anglo-Saxon +soldiers in Herefordshire were defeated by the Welsh owing to their +awkwardness on horseback, having been unadvisedly mounted by their Norman +commander. The Anglo-Norman barons of the three following centuries, with +their numerous household of knights and attendants who plundered and +oppressed the peasantry and middle classes of society, kept alive the +prejudice alluded to, and we trace it in several popular songs. In a song +of the reign of Edward I (Political Songs, p. 240), we find the following +lines:-- + + Whil God wes on erthe + And wondrede wyde, + Whet wes the resoun + Why he nolde ryde? + For he nolde no grom + To go by ys syde, + Ne grucchyng of no gedelyng + To chaule ne to chyde. + Spedeth ou to spewen, + Ase me doth to spelle; + The fend ou afretie + With fleis ant with felle! + Herkneth hideward, horsmen, + A tidyng ich ou telle, + That ye shulen hongen, + Ant herbarewen in helle! + +5276. Epist. ad. Philippens. iii, 19. + +5283. Epist. Joan. iv, 16. + +5289. Matth. xxv, 12; Psal. lxxx, 13. Et dimisi eos secundum desideria +cordis eorum, ibunt in adventionibus suis. + +5305. _the four doctours._ The four doctors _par excellence_ of the western +church were, I believe, Gregory, Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome. + +5354. Ecclesiast. i, 16. + +5363. Epist. Jacob. ii, 10. Quicunque autem totam legem servaverit, +offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus. + +5412. _as Caym was on Eve._ See further on l. 5549. According to a very +curious legend, which was popular in the middle ages, Cain was born during +the period of penitence and fasting to which our first parents were +condemned for their breach of obedience. + +5415. Psa. vii, 15. Concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem. + +5417. Whitaker's text inserts before this line-- + + Caym, the cursed creature, + Conceyved was in synne; + After that Adam and Eve + Hadden y-synged, + Withoute repentaunce + Of here rechelessnesse, + A rybaud thei engendrede, + And a gome unryghtful; + As an hywe that ereth nat + Auntreth hym to sowe + On a leye lond, + Ayens hus lordes wille, + So was Caym conceyved, + And so ben cursed wrettches + That lycame han ayen the lawe + That oure Lord ordeynede. + +5433. Gen. vi, 7. pænitet enim me fecisse eos. + +5464. Ezech. xviii, 20. + +5470. Whitaker's text adds here:-- + + Westminster lawe, ich wot, + Worcheth the contrarie; + For thauh the fader be a frankelayne, + And for a felon be hanged, + The heritage that the air sholde have + Ys at the kynges wille. + +5479. Matt. vii, 16. + +5497. John xiv, 6. + +5507. _many a peire, sithen the pestilence._ The continuator of William de +Nangis, who gives a detailed account of the effects of the great pestilence +on the Continent, mentions the hasty marriages which followed it, but he +gives quite a different account of their fruitfulness. "Cessante autem +dicta epidimia, pestilentia, et mortalitate, nupserunt viri qui remanserunt +et mulieres ad invicem, conceperunt uxores residuæ per mundum ultra modum, +nulla sterilis efficiebatur, sed prægnantes hinc inde videbantur, et plures +geminos pariebant, et aliquæ tres infantes insimul vivos emittebant." The +writer goes on to observe, "Sed proh dolor! ex hujus renovatione sæculi non +est mundus propter hoc in melius commutatus. Nam homines fuerunt postea +magis avari et tenaces, cum multo plura bona quam antea possiderent; magis +etiam cupidi et per lites, brigas, et rixas, atque per placita, seipsos +conturbantes.... Charitas etiam ab illo tempore refrigescere cæpit valde, +et iniquitas abundavit cum ignorantiis et peccatis; nam pauci inveniebantur +qui scirent aut vellent in domibus, villis, et castris informare pueros in +grammaticalibus rudimentis."--_Contin. G. de Nangis, in Dacherii Spicileg._ +iii, 110 (_ed._ 1723). + +5515. _do hem to Dunmowe._ This is, I believe, the earliest allusion at +present known to the custom of the flitch of bacon at Dunmow, which was +evidently, at that time, a matter of general celebrity. In Chaucer, about +half a century later, the Wife of Bath says of her two old husbands, and of +the way in which she tyrannized over them,-- + + The bacoun was nought fet for hem, I trowe, + That som men fecche in Essex at Donmowe.--_Cant. T._ 5799. + +In a curious religious poem preserved in a manuscript in the Bodleian +Library at Oxford, written about the year 1460, from which some extracts +are printed in the "Reliquiæ Antiquæ," ii, 27-29, we have the following +satirical allusion to this custom:-- + + I can fynde no man now that wille enquere + The parfyte wais unto Dunmow; + For they repent hem within a yere, + And many within a weke, and sonner, men trow; + That cawsith the weis to be rowgh and over-grow, + That no man may fynd path or gap, + The world is turnyd to another shap. + + Befe and moton wylle serve wele enow; + And for to seche so ferre a lytill bakon flyk, + Which hath long hanggid resty and tow + And the wey, I telle you, is comborous and thyk, + And thou might stomble, and take the cryk; + Therfor bide at home, what so ever hap + Tylle the world be turnyd into another shap. + +One or two other allusions to this custom have been found in manuscripts of +the fifteenth century, and in the sixteenth century these allusions become +more numerous. + +5563. 1 Corinth. vii, 1. + +5613. _Margery perles._ A margarite pearl, _perle marguerite_. The Latin +name for a pearl (_margarita_) seems to be the origin of this expression. + +5634. _a love day | to lette with truthe._ Love days (_Dies amoris_) were +days fixed for settling differences by umpire, without having recourse to +law or to violence. The ecclesiastics seem generally to have had the +principal share in the management of these transactions, which throughout +the Visions of Piers Ploughman appear to be censured as the means of +hindering justice and of enriching the clergy. A little further on, +Religion is blamed for being "a ledere of love-dayes." (l. 6219.) In +Chaucer, it is said of the friar:-- + + And over'al, ther eny profyt schulde arise, + Curteys he was, and lowe of servyse. + . . . . . . + And rage he couthe and pleye as a whelpe, + In love-dayes, ther couthe he mochil helpe. + For ther was he not like a cloysterer + With a thredbare cope, as a pore scoler, + But he was like a maister or a pope.--_Cant. T._ 249, 259. + +5646. The quotation is made up from Job xxi, 7; and Jerem. xii, 2. + +5651. Psal. lxxii, 12. + +5659. Psal. x, 4. Quoniam quæ perfecisti, destruxerunt: justus autem quid +fecit? + +5739. Psal. cxxxi, 6. + +5769. Isai. lviii, 7. + +5778. Tob. iv, 9. Si multum tibi fuerit, abundanter tribue; si exiguum tibi +fuerit, etiam exiguum libenter impertiri stude. + +In what follows, Whitaker's text is in parts much more brief than the one +now printed; there are also many transpositions, and other variations, +which are not of sufficient importance to be pointed out more particularly. + +5801. _in a pryvee parlour._ 5803. _in a chambre with a chymenee._ This is +a curious illustration of contemporary manners. The hall was the apartment +in which originally the lord of the household and the male portion of the +family passed nearly all their time when at home, and where they lived in a +manner in public. The chambers were only used for sleeping, and as places +of retirement for the ladies, and had, at first, no fire-places +(_chymenees_), which were added, in course of time, for their comfort. The +parlour was an apartment introduced also at a comparatively late period, +and was, as its name indicates, a place for private conferences or +conversation. As society advanced in refinement, people sought to live less +and less in public, and the heads of the household gradually deserted the +hall, except on special occasions, and lived more in the parlour and in the +"chambre with a chymenee." With the absence of the lord from the hall, its +festive character and indiscriminate hospitality began to diminish; and the +popular agitators declaimed against this as an unmistakeable sign of the +debasement of the times. + +5829. Ezech. xviii, 19. + +5835. Galat. vi, 5. + +5844. Pauli Epist. ad Rom. xii, 3. + +5911. _seven artz._ In the scholastic system of the middle ages, the whole +course of learning was divided into seven arts, which were, grammar, +dialectics, rhetoric, music, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy. They were +included in the following memorial distich:-- + + Gram. loquitur, Dia. vera docet, Rhet. verba colorat, + Mus. canit, Ar. numerat, Geo. ponderat, As. colit astra. + +5963. _a baleys._ See before, the note on l. 2819. + +5990. _Caton._ Distich. lib. i, 26. + +6009. Galat. vi, 10. + +6022. Epist. ad Rom. xii, 19. + +6037. The second Trin. Coll. MS. reads here-- + + Experimentis of Alkenemye + Of Albertis makyng, + Nigromancie and permansie + The pouke to reisen, + Gif thou thenke, etc. + +6146. Matth. vii, 3. + +6179. Matth. xv, 14; Luke vi, 39; Mark (?) + +6186. _mausede._ An error of the press for _mansede_. See the Glossary. + +6191. _Offyn and Fynes_. Ophni and Phinees. See 1 Samuel iv. (in the +Vulgate called 1 Kings). + +6199. Psal. xlix, 21. + +6207. Isai. lvi, 10. + +6217. The text of the Trin. Coll. MS. 2, differs very much from ours in +this part of the poem. Instead of 6217-6277, we have the following lines:-- + + Ac now is Religioun a ridere + And a rennere aboute, + A ledere of ladies, + And a lond biggere; + Poperith on a palfrey + To toune and to toune; + A bidowe or a biselard + He berith be his side; + Godis flessh and his fet + And hise fyve woundis + Arn more in his mynde + Than the memorie of his foundours. + This is the lif of this lordis + That lyven shulde with Do-bet, + And wel awey wers, + And I shulde al telle. + I wende that kinghed and knighthed, + And caiseris with erlis, + Wern Do-wel and Do-bet + And Do-best-of-hem-alle. + For I have seighe it myself, + And siththen red it aftir, + How Crist counseilleth the comune, + And kenneth hem this tale, + _Super cathedram Moisi sederunt principes_ + For-thi I wende that tho wyes + Wern Do-best-of-alle. + I nile not scorne, etc. + +6223. _an heepe of houndes._ "Walter de Suffield, bishop of Norwich, +bequeathed by will his pack of hounds to the king, in 1256. Blomefield's +Norf. ii, 347. See Chaucer's Monke, Prol. v, 165. This was a common topic +of satire. It occurs again fol. xxvii, a [l. 3321, of the present Edition]. +See Chaucer's Testament of Love, page 492, col. ii, Urr. The Archdeacon of +Richmond, on his visitation, comes to the priory of Bridlington in +Yorkshire, in 1216, with ninety-seven horses, twenty dogs, and three hawks. +Dugd. Mon. ii, 65." WARTON. + +6251. Psal. xix, 8. + +6259. _the abbot of Abyngdone._ There was a very ancient and famous abbey +at Abingdon in Berkshire. Geoffrey of Monmouth was abbot there. It was the +house into which the monks, strictly so called, were first introduced in +England, and is, therefore, very properly introduced as the representative +of English monachism. + +6266. Isai. xiv, 4, 5. + +6289. Ecclesiasticus x, 10. + +6291. Catonis Distich. iv, 4. + + Dilige denari, sed parce dilige, formam; + Quem nemo sanctus nec honestus captat ab ære. + +6327. Colos. iii, 1. + +6353. _moechaberis._ A mistake in the original MS. for _necaberis_, as it +is rightly printed in Crowley's edition. + +6372. John iii, 13. + +6414. Matth. xxiii, 2. Super cathedram Moysi sederunt Scribæ et Pharisæi. + +6440. Psal. xxxv, 8. + +6476. Ecclesiastes ix, 1. + +6504. Matth. x, 18. The quotation is not quite literal. + +6528. For _idiotæ irapiunt_, read _idiotæ vi rapiunt_: the error was caused +accidentally in the printing, and has escaped in the present edition. + +6571. Matth. xx, 4. + +6741. John iii, 3. + +6755. Matth. vii, 1. + +6764. Psal. l, 21. + +6815. Isai. lv, 1. + +6825. Mark xvi, 16. + +6831. _may no cherl chartre make._ Such was the law of _vileinage_, then in +existence. There is a curious story illustrative of the condition of the +_cherl_ or peasant, in the Descriptio Norfolciensium, in my Early Mysteries +and other Latin Poems of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries, p. 94. The +'cherl,' vilein, or bondman, could not even be put apprentice without the +licence of the lord of the soil. In the curious poem on the Constitution of +Masonry (14th cent.) published by Mr. Halliwell, the master is particularly +cautioned on this point:-- + + The fowrthe artycul thys moste be, + That the mayster hym wel be-se + That he no bondemon prentys make, + Ny for no covetyse do hym take; + For the lord that he ys bonde to, + May fache the prentes whersever he go. + _Early History of Freemasonry in England_, p. 14. + +6859. _Trojanus._ 6869. _Gregorie._ The legend here alluded to is given +briefly as follows, in the life of St. Gregory in the Golden Legend, fol. +lxxxxvii,-- + +"In the tyme that Trayan themperour regned, and on a tyme as he wente +toward a batayll out of Rome, it happed that in hys waye as he shold ryde a +woman a wydowe came to hym wepyng and sayd: I praye thee, syre, that thou +avenge the deth of one my sone, whyche innocently and wythout cause hath +ben slayn. Themperour answerd: yf I come agayn fro the batayll hool and +sounde, thenne I shall do justyce for the deth of thy sone. Thenne sayd the +wydowe: Syre, and yf thou deye in the bataylle, who shall thenne avenge hys +deth for me? And the wydowe sayd, is it not better that thou do to me +justice, and have the meryte thereof of God, than another have it for thee? +Then had Trayan pyté, and descended fro his horse, and dyde justyce in +avengynge the deth of her sone. On a tyme saynt Gregory went by the marked +of Rome whyche is called the marked of Trayan. And thenne he remembred of +the justyce and other good dedes of Trayan, and how he had ben pyteous and +debonayr, and was moche sorowfull that he had ben a paynem; and he tourned +to the chyrche of saynt Peter waylyng for thorrour of the mescreaunce of +Trayan. Thenne answerd a voys fro God, sayng: I have now herd thy prayer, +and have spared Trayan fro the payne perpetuelly. By thys thus, as somme +saye, the payne perpetuell due to Trayan as a mescreaunt was somme dele +take awaye, but for all that was he not quyte fro the pryson of helle; for +the sowle may well be in helle, and fele ther no payne, by the mercy of +God." + +6907. 1 John iii, 15. + +6938. Luke xiv, 12. + +6964. John viii, 34. + +6981. Galat. vi, 2. + +7015. Matth. vii, 3. + +7063. Luke x, 40. + +7072. Luke x, 42. + +7113. Although our writer quotes the circumstance from Luke xviii, the +words he gives are from Matth. xix, 21. + +7113. In Whitaker's text the following passage is here inserted:-- + + Thus consaileth Crist + In comun ous alle, + 'Ho so coveyteth to come + To my kynriche, + He mot forsake hymself, + Hus suster, and hus brother, + And al that the worlde wolde, + And my wil folwen.' + _Nisi renunciaveritis omnia quæ possidetis, + etc._ + Meny proverbis ich myghte have + Of meny holy seyntes, + To testifie for treuthe + The tale that ich shewe, + And poetes to preoven hit, + Porfirie and Plato, + Aristotle, Ovidius, + And ellevene hundred, + Tullius, Tholomeus, + Ich can nat telle here names, + Preoven pacient poverte + Pryns of alle vertues. + And by greyn that groweth, + God ous alle techeth. + _Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terra, + et mortuum fuit, ipsum solum manet._ + Bot yf that sed that sowen is, + In the sloh sterve, + Shal nevere spir springen up, + Ne spik on strawe curne; + Sholde nevere wete wexe, + Bote wete fyrste deyde; + And other sedes also + In the same wyse, + That ben leide on louh eerthe, + Y-lore as hit were, + And thorw the grete grace of God, + Of greyn ded in erthe + Atte the laste launceth up + Werby lyven alle. + Ac sedes that ben sowen + And mowe suffre wyntres, + Aren tydyor and tower + To mannes by-hofte, + Than seedes that sowen beeth + And mowe nouht with forste, + With wyndes, ne with wederes, + As in wynter tyme, + As lynne-seed, and lik-seed, + And Lente-seedes alle, + Aren nouht so worthy as whete, + Ne so wel mowen + In the feld with the forst, + And hit freese longe. + Ryght so, for sothe, + That suffre may penaunces + Worth alowed of oure Lorde + At here laste ende, + And for here penaunce be preysed, + As for puyre martir, + Other for a confessour y-kud, + That counteth nat a ruysshe + Fere ne famyne, + Ne false menne tonges; + Bote as an hosebonde hopeth + After an hard wynter, + Yf God gyveth hym the lif + To have a good hervest, + So preoveth thees prophetes + That pacientliche suffreth + Myschiefs and myshappes, + And menye tribulacions, + Bytokneth ful triweliche + In tyme comynge after + Murthe for hus mornynge, + And that muche plenté. + For Crist seide to hus seyntes + That for hus sake tholeden + Poverte, penaunces, + Persecution of body, + Angeles in here angre + On this wise hem grate, + _Tristitia vestra vertetur in gaudium._ + Youre sorwe into solas + Shal turne atte laste, + And out of wo into wele + Youre wyrdes shul chaunge. + Ac so redeth of riche, + The revers he may fynde, + How God, as the Godspel telleth, + Geveth hem foul towname, + And that hus gost shal go, + And hus good byleve, + And asketh hym after + Ho shal hit have, + The catel that he kepeth so + In coffres and in hernes, + And ert so loth to lene + Thet leve shalt needes. + _O stulte, ista nocte anima tua egrediatur, + thesauriza et ignorat._ + An unredy reve + Thi residue shal spene, + That menye moththe was ynne + In a mynte while; + Upholderes on the hul + Shullen have hit to selle. + Lo! lo! lordes, lo! + And ladies taketh hede, + Hit lasteth nat longe + That is lycour swete, + Ac pees-coddes and pere-ronettes, + Plomes and chiries, + That lyghtliche launceth up, + Litel wile dureth, + And that that rathest rypeth, + Roteth most sannest. + On fat londe and ful of donge + Foulest wedes groweth, + Right so, for sothe, + Suche that ben bysshopes, + Erles and archdekenes, + And other ryche clerkes. + That chaffaren as chapmen, + And chiden bote thei wynne, + And haven the worlde at here wil + Other wyse to lyve; + Right as weodes wexen + In wose and in dunge, + So of rychesse upon richesse + Arist al vices. + Lo! lond overe-layde + With marle and with donge, + Whete that wexeth theron + Worth lygge ar hit repe; + Right so, for sothe, + For to sigge treuthe, + Over plenté pryde norssheth + Ther poverte destrueth hit. + For how hit evere be y-wonne, + Bote hit be wel dispended, + Worliche wele is wuked thynge + To hym that hit kupeth. + For yf he be feer therfro, + Ful ofte hath he drede + That fals folke fetche away + Felonliche hus godes. + And yut more hit maketh men + Meny time and ofte + To synegen, and to souchen + Soteltees of gyle, + For covetyze of that catel + To culle hem that hit kepeth; + And so is meny men y-morthred + For hus money and goodes; + And tho that duden the dede + Y-dampned therfore after, + And he, for hus harde heldynge, + In helle paraunter; + So covetise of catel + Was combraunce to hem alle. + Lo! how pans purchasede + Faire places, and drede, + That rote is robbers + The richesse withynne. + + [_Passus quartus de Dowel._] + + Ac wel worth Poverte, + For he may walke unrobbede, + Among pilours in pees, + Yf pacience hym folwe, + Oure prynce Jhesu poverte chees, + And hus aposteles alle, + And ay the lenger thei lyveden + The lasse good thei hadde. + _Tanquam nihil habentes, et omnia + possidentes._ + Yut men that of Abraam + And Job were wonder ryche, + And out of numbre tho men + Menye meobles hadden. + Abraam, for al hus good, + Hadde muche teene, + In gret poverte was y-put, + A pryns as hit were + Bynom hym ys housewif + And heeld here hymself, + And Abraam nat hardy + Ones to letten hym, + Ne for brightnesse of here beauté + Here spouse to be byknowe. + And for he suffrede and seide nouht, + Oure Lord sente tokne, + That the kynge cride + To Abraam mercy, + And deliverede hym hus wif, + With muche welthe after. + And also Job the gentel + What joye hadde he on erthe, + How bittere he hit bouhte! + As the book telleth. + And for he songe in hus sorwe, + _Si bona accipimus a Domino_, + Dereworthe dere God, + Do we so _mala_; + Al hus sorwe to solas + Thorgh that songe turnede, + And Job bycam a jolif man, + And al hus joye newe. + Lo how patience in here poverte + Thees patriarkes relevede, + And brouhte hem al above + That in bale rotede, + As greyn that lyth in the greot + And thorgh grace atte laste + Spryngeth up and spredeth, + So spedde the fader Abraam, + And also the gentel Job, + Here joie hath non ende. + Ac leveth nouht, ye lewede men, + That ich lacke richesse, + Thauh ich preise poverte thus, + And preove hit by ensamples, + Worthiour as by holy writ, + And wise philosophers, + Bothe two but goode, + Be ye ful certayn, + And lyves that our Lorde loveth, + And large weyes to hevene. + Ac the povre pacient + Purgatorye passeth + Rathere than the ryche, + Thauh thei renne at ones. + For yf a marchaunt and a messager + Metten to-gederes, + For the parcels of hus paper + And other pryvey dettes, + Wol lette hym as ich leyve + The lengthe of a myle; + The messager doth namore + Bote hus mouth telleth, + Hus lettere and hus ernde sheweth, + And is anon delyvered; + And thauh thei wende by the wey + Tho two to-gederes. + Thauh the messager made hus wey + Amyde the whete, + Wole no wys man wroth be, + Ne hus wed take, + Ys non haiwarde y-hote + Hus wed for to take. + _Necessitas non habet legem._ + Ac yf the marchaunt make hus way + Overe menne cornne, + And the haywarde happe + With hym for to mete, + Other hus hatt, other hus hed, + Other elles hus gloves, + The merchaunt mot for-go, + Other moneys of huse porse, + And yut be lett, as ich leyve, + For the lawe asketh + Marchauns for here merchandise + In meny place to tullen. + Yut thauh thei wenden on wey + As to Wynchestre fayre, + The marchaunt with hus marchaundise + May nat go so swythe + As the messager may, + Ne with so mochel ese. + For that on bereth bote a boxe, + A brevet therynne, + Ther the marchaunt ledeth a male + With meny kynne thynges; + And dredeth to be ded therefore, + And he in derke mete + With robbours and with revers + That riche men despoilen, + Ther the messager is ay murye, + Hus mouthe ful of songes, + And leyveth for hus letters + That no wight wol hym greve. + Ac yut myghte the marchaunt + Thorgh monye and other yeftes + Have hors and hardy men, + Thauh he mette theoves, + Wolde non suche asailen hym + For hem that hym folweth, + As safliche passe as the messager, + And as sone at hus hostel. + Ye, wyten wel, ye wyse men, + What this is to mene. + The marchaunt is no more to mene + Bote men that ben ryche + Aren acountable to Crist + And to the kyng of hevene, + That holden mote the heye weye, + Evene ten hestes, + Bothe lovye and lene, + The leele and the unleele, + And have reuthe, and releve + With hus grete richesse + By hus power alle manere men + In meschief y-falle, + Fynde beggars bred, + Backes for the colde, + Tythen here goodes tryweliche, + A tol as hit semeth + That oure Lord loketh after + Of eche a lyf that wyneth, + Withoute wyles other wrong, + Other wommen atte stuwes, + And yut more, to make pees, + And quyte menne dettes, + Bothe spele and spare + To spene upon the needful, + As Crist self comandeth + To alle Cristene puple. + _Alter alterius onera porta._ + The messager aren the mendinans + That lyveth by menne almesse, + Beth nat y-bounde, as beeth the riche, + To bothe the two lawes, + To lene and to lere, + Ne lentenes to faste, + And other pryvey penaunces + The wiche the preest wol wel, + That the law yeveth leve + Suche lowe folke to be excused, + As none tythes to tythen, + Ne clothe the nakede, + Ne in enquestes to come, + Ne contumax thauh he worthe + Halyday other holy eve + Hus mete to deserve; + For yf he loveth and byleyveth + As the lawe techeth, + _Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, etc._ + Telleth the lord a tale, + As a triwe messager, + And sheweth by seel and suthe by lettere + With wat lord he dwelleth, + Kneweleche hym crystene + And of holy churche byleyve, + Ther is no lawe, as ich leyve, + Wol let hym the gate, + Ther God is gatwarde hymself + And eche a gome knoweth. + The porter of pure reuthe + May parforme the lawe + In that he wilneth and wolde + Ech wight as hemself; + For the wil is as muche worth + Of a wretche beggere + As al that the ryche may reyme + And ryght fulliche dele, + And as much mede + For a myte that he offreth, + As the riche man for al is moneye, + And more, as by the Godspel: + _Amen dico vobis quia hæc vidua paupercula, + etc._ + So that povre pacient + Is parfitest lif of alle, + And alle parfit preestes + To poverte sholde drawe. + +7128. Matth. xvii, 20. + +7131. Psal. xxxiii, 11. + +7141. Psal. xlii, 1. + +7191. James ii, 10. + +7194. _over-skipperis._ Those who skipped over words in reading or chanting +the service of the church. The following distich points out the classes of +defaulters in this respect:-- + + Ecclesiæ tres sunt qui servitium maie fallunt; + Momylers, for-scyppers, ovre-lepers, non bene psallunt. + _Reliq. Antiq._ p. 90. _Poems of Walter Mapes_, p. 148. + +A still more numerous list of such offenders is given in the following +lines from MS. Lansdowne, 762, fol. 101, v^o:-- + + Hii sunt qui Psalmos corrumpunt nequitur almos: + Jangler cum jasper, lepar, galper quoque, draggar, + Momeler, for-skypper, for-reynner, sic et over-leper, + Fragmina verborum Tutivillus colligit horum. + +Tutivillus was the popular name of one of the fiends (see Towneley +Mysteries, pp. 310, 319; Reliq. Antiq. p. 257). According to an old legend, +a hermit walking out met one of the devils bearing a large sack, very full, +under the load of which he seemed to labour. The hermit asked him what he +carried in his sack. He answered that it was filled with the fragments of +words which the clerks had skipped over or mutilated in the performance of +the service, and that he was carrying them to hell to be deposited among +the stores there. + +7195. Psal. xlvi, 7, 8. + +7264. _Briddes I biheld._ A similar sentiment is expressed in the following +parallel passage of a modern poet:-- + + But most of all it wins my admiration + To view the structure of this little work-- + A bird's nest. Mark it well, within, without, + No tool had he that wrought, no knife to cut, + No nail to fix, no bodkin to insert, + No glue to join; his little beak was all: + And yet how neatly finished! What nice hand, + With every implement and means of art, + And twenty years' apprenticeship to boot, + Could make me such another? Fondly then + We boast of excellence, where noblest skill + Instinctive genius foils.--_Hurdis._ + +7342. Ecclesiasticus xi, 9. + +7344. Instead of ll. 7344-7363, Whitaker's text has the following +passage:-- + + 'Ho suffreth more than God?' quath he, + 'No gome, as ich leyve. + He myght amende in a mynt while + Al that amys stondes. + Ac he suffreth, in ensaumple + That we sholde all suffren. + Ys no vertue so feyr + Of value ne of profit, + As ys suffraunce, soveraynliche, + So hit be for Godes love, + And so wittnesseth the wyse, + And wysseth the Frenshe, + _Bele vertue est suffraunce, + Mal dire est petite venjaunce; + Bien dire e bien suffrer + Fait ly suffrable à bien vener._ + For-thi.' quath Reson, 'Ich rede the, + Rewele thi tonge evere; + And er thow lacke eny lyf, + Loke ho is to preise. + For is no creature under Cryst, + That can hymselve make; + And yf cristene creatures + Couthen make hemselve, + Eche lede wolde be lacles, + Leyf thow non othere. + Man was mad of suche matere, + He may nat wel asterte, + That som tymes hym tit + To folwen hus kynde. + Caton acordeth herwith: + _Nemo sine crimine vivit._ + +7347. Genes. i, 31. + +7363. Cato, Distich. i, 5. + + Si vitam inspicias hominum, si denique mores, + Quum culpent alios, nemo sine crimine vivit. + +It may be observed here, that Whitaker, in his note on this passage, has +very much misunderstood Tyrwhitt (in Chaucer, Cant. T. 3227), in making him +the authority for calling the author of the _Disticha de Moribus_ an +obscure French writer. Tyrwhitt says that the mode in which Chaucer spells +his name (Caton) seems to show that the French translation was more read +than the Latin original. The same observation would apply to the present +poem: but I am very doubtful how far it is correct. The Distiches of Cato +were translated into English, French, German, &c., and were extremely +popular. The author of these Distiches, Dionysius Cato, is supposed to have +lived under the Antonines, and has certainly no claim to the title of _an +obscure French writer_. + +7441-7642. Instead of these lines, Whitaker has the following:-- + + And wissede the ful ofte + What Dowel was to mene, + And counsailede the, for Cristes sake, + No creature to bygyle, + Nother to lye nor to lacke, + Ne lere that is defendid, + Ne to spille speche, + As to speke an ydel; + And no tyme to tene, + Ne trywe thyng to teenen; + Lowe the to lyve forth + In the lawe of holy churche, + Thenne dost thow wel, withoute drede, + Ho can do bet no forse. + Clerkes that connen al, ich hope, + Thei con do bettere; + Ac hit suffuseth to be saved, + And to be suche as ich tauhte: + Ac for to lovye and lene, + And lyve wel and byleyve, + Ys y-calid _Caritas_, + Kynde-love in English, + And that is Dobet, yf eny suche be, + A blessed man that helpeth, + And pees be and pacience, + And povre withoute defaute. + _Beatius est dare quam petere._ + As catel and kynde witt + Encombre ful menye, + Woo is hym that hem weldeth, + Bote he hym wel dispeyne. + _Scientes et non facientes variis flagellis + vapulabunt._ + Ac comunliche connynge + And unkynde rychesse, + As lorels to be lordes, + And lewede men techeres, + And holy churche horen help, + Averous and coveytous, + Droweth up Dowel, + And destruyeth Dobest. + Ac grace is a gras therfore + To don hem eft growe; + Ac grace groweth nat, + Til God wil gynne reyne, + And wokie thorwe goode werkes + Wikkede hertes; + Ac er suche a wil wol wexe, + God hymself worcheth, + And send forth seint espirit + To don love sprynge. + _Spiritus ubi vult spirat, etc._ + So grace withoute grace + Of God and of good werkes, + May nat bee, bee thow siker, + Thauh we bid evere. + Cleregie cometh bote of siht, + And kynd witt of sterres, + As to be bore other bygete + In suche constellacion + That wit wexeth therof, + And othere wordes bothe. + _Vultus hujus sæculi sunt subjecti vultibus + coelestibus._ + So grace is a gyfte of God, + And kynde witt a chaunce, + And cleregie and connyng of kynde + Wittes techynge; + And yut is cleregie to comende + Fore Cristes love more, + Than eny connynge of kynde witt, + Bote cleregie hit rewele. + For Moyses wutnesseth that God wrot + In stoon with hus fynger, + Lawe of love owre Lorde wrot, + Long ere Crist were; + And Crist cam and confermede, + And holy-churche made, + And in sond a sygne wrot, + And seide to the Jewes, + 'That seeth hym synneles, + Cesse nat, ich hote, + To stryke with stoon other with staf + This strompett to dethe.' + _Qui vestrum sine peccato est, etc._ + For-thi ich consaily alle Cristene + Cleregie to honoure, etc. + +7453. Luke xii, 38. + +7461. Heb. xii, 6. + +7464. Psalm xxii, 4. + +7470. _makynges._ 7483. _make._--There is a curious analogy between the +Greek and the Teutonic languages in the name given to the poet--the Greek +[Greek: poiêtês] (from [Greek: poiein]), the Anglo-Saxon _scóp_ (from +_sceopan_, to make or create), and the Middle-English _maker_, preserved in +the later Scottish _makkar_ (also applied to a poet), have all the same +signification. In the Neo-Latin tongues a different, though somewhat +analogous, word was used: the French and Anglo-Norman _trouvère_, and the +Provençal _trobador_, signify a finder or inventor. + +7484. Catonis Distich. iii, 5. + +7500. 1 Cor. xiii, 13. Nunc autem manent fides, spes, charitas, tria hæc: +major autem horum est charitas. + +7528, &c. _Aristotle_, _Ypocras_, and _Virgile_.--These three names were +the great representatives of ancient science and literature in the middle +ages. Aristotle represented philosophy, in its most general sense; Virgil +represented literature in general, and more particularly the ancient +writers who formed the _grammar_ course of scholastic learning, whether +verse or prose; Ypocras, or Hippocrates, represented medicine. They are +here introduced to illustrate the fact that men of science and learning, as +well as warriors and rich men, experience the vicissitudes of fortune. + +7534. _Felice._ Perhaps this name is only introduced for the sake of +alliteration. + +7536. _Rosamounde._ I suppose the reference is to "fair Rosamond." + +7554. Luc. vi, 38. + +7567. John iii, 8. + +7572. John iii, 11. + +7582. John iii, 8. + +7600. _thorugh caractes._ It was the popular belief in the middle ages, +that while the Jews were accusing the woman taken in adultery, Christ wrote +with his staff on the ground the sins of the accusers, and that when they +perceived this they dropped their accusation in confusion at finding that +their own guilt was known. See this point curiously illustrated in Mr. +Halliwell's Coventry Mysteries, pp. 220, 221. These are the _characters_ +alluded to in Piers Ploughman. + +7624. Luke vi, 37. + +7701. 1 Cor. iii, 19. + +7709. Luke ii, 15. + +7714. Matth. ii, 1. + +7721. Luke ii, 7. + +7779. Psalm xxxi, 1. + +7795. Luke vi, 39. The ignorance and inefficiency of the parish priests +appear to have become proverbial in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. +In the latter century a canon of Lilleshul in Shropshire, named John Myrk, +or Myrkes, composed an English poem, or rather metrical treatise, on their +duties, which he commences by applying to them this same aphorism of our +Saviour:-- + + God seyth hymself, as wryten we fynde, + That whenne the blynde ledeth the blynde, + Into the dyche they fallen boo, + For they ne sen whare by to go. + So faren prestes now by dawe, + They beth blynde in Goddes lawe, etc. + _MS. Cotton. Claud._ A. II. + +It had previously been applied in the same manner to the parish priests by +the author of a long French poem (apparently written in England in the +fourteenth century) entitled _Le Miroir de l'Ome_ (Speculum Hominis), as +follows:-- + + Dieus dist, et c'est tout verité, + Qe si l'un voegle soit mené + D'un autre voegle, tresbucher + Falt ambedeux en la fossée. + C'est un essample comparé + As fols curetz, qui sanz curer + Ne voient pas le droit sentier, + Dont font les autres forsvoier, + Qui sont après leur trace alé. + Car fol errant ne puet quider, + Ne cil comment nous puet saner, + Qui mesmes est au mort naufré. + _MS. in the possession of Mr. J. Russell Smith._ + +The following picture of the corrupt manners of the parish priests at this +time is extracted from a much longer and more minute censure in the same +poem:-- + + Des fols curetz auci y a, + Qui sur sa cure demourra + Non pour curer, mais q'il sa vie + Endroit le corps plus easera. + Car lors ou il bargaignera + Du seculiere marchandie, + Dont sa richesce multeplie; + Ou il se donne à leccherie, + Du quoy son corps delitera; + Ou il se prent à venerie, + Qant duist chanter sa letanie, + Au bois le goupil huera. + +7802. Psal. xv, 5. We might be led to suppose that this was the "neck +verse" in the time of Piers Ploughman. In later times the text which was +given to read to those who claimed the benefit of clergy is said to have +been the beginning of Psal. lv, _Miserere mei, &c._ + +7840. Eccl. v, 5. + +7846. _Trojanus._ See the note on line 6859. + +7854. Matth. xvi, 27. Filius enim hominis venturus est in gloria Patris sui +cum angelis suis: et tunc reddet unicuique secundum opera ejus. + +7915. _his flessh is foul flessh._ Yet in spite of the "foulness" of its +flesh, the peacock was a very celebrated dish at table. For an account of +the use made of the peacock in feasts, see Le Grand d'Aussy, Histoire de la +Vie privée des Français, tom. i, pp. 299-301, and 361. In the Romance of +Mahomet, 13th century, it is said of Dives-- + + Et dou Riche qui _tant poon + Englouti_ et tant bon poisson, + Tante piéche de venison, + Et but bon vin par grant delit, &c. + _Roman de Mahommet_, l. 301. + +7944. _Avynet._ In the 14th and 15th centuries, as any grammar was called a +_Donet_, because the treatise of Donatus was the main foundation of them +all, so, from Esop and Avienus from whom the materials were taken, any +collection of fables was called an _Avionet_ or an _Esopet_. The title of +one of these collections in a MS. of the Bibl. du Roi at Paris is, +_Compilacio Ysopi alata cum Avionetto, cum quibusdam addicionibus et +moralitatibus_. (_Robert, Fabl. Inéd. Essay_, p. clxv.) Perhaps the +reference in the present case is to the fable of the Peacock who complained +of his voice, the 39th in the collection which M. Robert calls _Ysopet_, in +the morality to which are the following lines:-- + + Les riches conteront + Des biens qu'il aront + En ce siecle conquis. + Cil qui petit ara, + De petit contera + Au Roy de paradis. + Qui vit en povreté, + Sans point d'iniquité, + Moult ara grant richesse + Es cieux, en paradis, + O dieux et ses amis + Seront joyeux et aise. + +7961. Whitaker's text reads here:-- + + Thus Porfirie and Plato, + And poetes menye, + Lykneth in here logyk + The leeste fowel oute; + And whether hii be saf other nat saf + The sothe wot not clergie, + Ne of Sortes ne of Salamon + No scripture can telle, + Wether thei be in helle other in hevene, + Other Aristotle the wise. + +7961. _Aristotle, the grete clerk._ From the eleventh to the sixteenth +centuries the influence of Aristotle's writings in the schools was +all-powerful. It was considered almost an impiety to go against his +authority. He was indeed "the great clerk." + +7967. _Sortes._ I suppose this is an abbreviated form of the name Socrates. +It occurs again in one of the poems printed among the Latin Poetry +attributed to Walter Mapes (Camden Society's Publication), which has the +following lines:-- + + Adest ei bajulus cui nomen Gnato, + Præcedebat logicum gressu fatigato, + Dorso ferens sarcinam ventre tensus lato, + Plenam vestro dogmate, o _Sortes et Plato_. + +7987. 1 Peter iv, 18. + +8015. Psalm xxii, 4. + +8073. _a maister._ This word was generally used in the scholastic ages in a +restricted sense, to signify one who had taken his degrees in the +schools--a master of arts. + +8103. Luke x, 7. + +8133-8137. These are the indications of different Psalms. Psalm li begins +with the words, _Miserere mei, Deus_, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. +The thirty-first Psalm commences with the words, _Beati quorum_ remissæ +sunt iniquitates, _et quorum tecta sunt peccata_. _Beatus vir_, is the +beginning of Psalm i. The fifth verse of Psalm xxxi contains the words +_Dixi: Confitebor_ adversum me injustitiam meam Domino. + +8141. Psalm xxxi, 6. + +8145. Psalm l, 19. + +8153. Isaiah v, 22. + +8155. Whitaker's text has-- + + And ete meny sondry metes, + Mortrews and poddynges, + Braun and blod of the goos, + Bacon and colhopes. + +The second Trin. Coll. MS. has-- + + And sette many sundry metis, + Mortreux and puddynges, + Braun and blood of gees, + Bacoun and colopis. + +8167. 2 Corinth. xi, 24, 25, 27. + +8173, 8180. 2 Cor. xi, 26. + +8202. _Mahoun._ Mahoun was the middle-age name of Mohammed, and in the +popular writers was often taken in the mere sense of an idol or pagan +deity. + +8204. _justly wombe._ MS. Trin. Coll. 2. + +8225. _in a frayel._ Whitaker's text has _in a forel_, which he explains by +"a wicker basket." The second Trin. Coll. MS. has also _in a forell_. +_Forel_ is the Low-Latin _forellus_, a bag, sack, or purse: a _frayel_ +(_fraellum_) was a little wicker basket, such as were used for carrying +figs or grapes. + +8273. Matth. v, 19. + +8292. Psalm xiv, 1. + +8368. 1 John iv, 18. + +8416. Luke xix, 8. + +8418. Luke xxi, 1-4. + +8444. _Surré._ Syria. + +8474. _a mynstrall._ The description of the minstrel given here is very +curious. For a sketch of the character of this profession see Mr. Shaw's +"Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages;" and for more enlarged details +of the history of the craft the reader may consult the Introduction to +Percy's Reliques, and Chappell's History of National Airs. + +8518. _a pardon with a peis of leed._ The papal bulls, &c., had seals of +lead, instead of wax. + +8526. Marc. xvi, 17, 18. + +8541. Acts iii, 6. + +8554. Whitaker's text omits all that follows here to l. 8958 of our text, +entering very abruptly upon the subject there treated. Some of the +intervening matter had already been inserted in other places in Whitaker's +text. See our notes on ll. 2846 and 3030. + +8567. _cart ... with breed fro Stratforde._ Stratford-at-Bow is said to +have been famous in old times for its numerous bakers, who supplied a great +part of the metropolis. Stowe, in his Survey of London, p. 159 (who appears +to have altered the text of Piers Ploughman to suit his own calculation, +for all the manuscripts and printed editions I have collated give "twice +_twenty_ and ten"), observes, "And because I have here before spoken of the +bread carts comming from Stratford at the Bow, ye shall understand that of +olde time the bakers of breade at Stratford were allowed to bring dayly +(except the Sabbaoth and principall feast) diverse long cartes laden with +bread, the same being two ounces in the pennie wheate loafe heavier than +the penny wheate loafe baked in the citie, the same to be solde in Cheape, +three or foure carts standing there, betweene Gutherans lane and Fausters +lane ende, one cart on Cornehill, by the conduit, and one other in Grasse +streete. And I have reade that in the fourth yere of Edward the second, +Richard Reffeham being maior, a baker named John of Stratforde, for making +bread lesser than the assise, was with a fooles whoode on his head, and +loaves of bread about his necke, drawne on a hurdle through the streets of +this citie. Moreover in the 44. of Edward the third, John Chichester being +maior of London, I read in the visions of Pierce Plowman, a booke so +called, as followeth. _There was a careful commune when no cart came to +towne with baked bread from Stratford: tho gan beggers weepe, and workemen +were agast, a little this will be thought long in the date of our Dirte, in +a drie Averell a thousand and three hundred, twise thirtie and ten, &c._ I +reade also in the 20. of Henrie the eight, Sir James Spencer being maior, +six bakers of Stratford were merced in the Guildhall of London, for baking +under the size appoynted. These bakers of Stratford left serving of this +citie, I know not uppon what occasion, about 30 yeares since." + +8572. _a drye Aprill._ This is without doubt the dry season placed by +Fabyan in the year 1351, which, as he describes it, began with the month of +April. The difference of the date arises probably from a different system +of computation. Fabian says, "In the sommer of this xxvii yeare, it was so +drie that it was many yeres after called the drie sommer. For from the +latter ende of March, till the latter ende of Julye, fell lytle rayne or +none, by reason whereof manye inconveniences ensued." + +8576. _Whan Chichestre was maire._ According to Fabyan, John Chichester was +mayor only once, in 1368, 1369, which was the period of the "thirde +mortalytie." The other authorities seem to agree in giving this as the year +of Chichester's mayoralty. He may perhaps have been mayor more than once. +See INTRODUCTION. + +8645. Galat. i, 10. + +8685. Psalm x, 7. + +8707, 8708. The two persons mentioned here (the shoemaker of Southwark and +dame Emma of Shoreditch) were probably eminent sorcerers and +fortune-tellers of the time. + +8769-8778. To understand fully this passage, it must be borne in mind that +the corn lands were not so universally hedged as at present, and that the +portions belonging to different persons were separated only by a narrow +furrow, as is still the case in some of the uninclosed lands in +Cambridgeshire. + +8812. _Brugges._ Bruges was the great mart of continental commerce during +the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. + +8813. _Pruce-lond_--Prussia, which was then the farthest country in the +interior of Europe with which a regular trade was carried on by the English +merchants. + +8827. Matth. vi, 21. + +8858. Luke vi, 25. + +8879. Psalm ci, 7. + +8891. _a lady of sorwe._ The old printed edition has a _laye of sorow_. + +8900. Whitaker has no division here, but continues the previous _passus_, +and omits many lines and has many variations in what follows. + +8903. _I slepe therinne o nyghtes._ This passage is curious, because at the +time the poem was written, it was the custom for all classes of society to +go to bed quite naked, a practice which is said to have been not entirely +laid aside in the sixteenth century. We see constant proofs of this +practice in the illuminations of old manuscripts. The following memorial +lines are written in the margin of a MS. of the thirteenth century:-- + + Ne be thi winpil nevere so jelu ne so stroutende, + Ne thi faire tail so long ne so trailende, + That tu ne schalt at evin al kuttid bilevin, + And tou schalt to bedde gon so nakid as tou were [borin]. + _MS. Cotton. Cleop. C._ VI, fol. 22, r^o. + +In the Roman de la Violette, the old nurse expresses her astonishment that +her young mistress should retain her chemise when she goes to bed:-- + + Et quant elle son lit fait a, + Sa dame apiele, si se couche + Nue en chemise en la couche; + C'onques en trestoute sa vie + La biele, blonde, l'escavie, + Ne volt demostrer sa char nue. + La vielle en est au lit venue, + Puis li a dit: 'Dame, j'esgart + Une chose, se Dex me gart, + Dont je sui molt esmervillie + C'onques ne vous vi despoillie, + Et si vous ai vij. ans gardée; + Molt vous ai souvent esgardée + Que vo chemise ne sachiés!' + _Rom. de la Viol._ l. 577. + +The lady explains her conduct by stating that she has a mark on the breast +which she had promised that no one should ever see. + +8906. Luke xiv, 20. + +8950. _noon heraud ne harpour._ Robes and other garments were among the +most usual gifts bestowed upon minstrels and heralds by the princes and +great barons. See before, ll. 8480, 8481. + +8970. Matth. vi, 25, 26. + +8999. John xiv, 13; xv, 16. Matth. iv, 4. + +9037. Psalm cxliv, 16. + +9039. _fourty wynter._ During the forty years that the children of Israel +wandered in the wilderness, they did not apply themselves to agriculture. + +9049. _Sevene slepe._ The legend of the seven sleepers was remarkably +popular during the middle ages. + +9101. Psalm xxxi. 1. + +9176. Psalm lxxv, 6. + +9178. Psalm lxxii, 20. Whitaker's _Passus sextus de Dowel_ ends with this +quotation. + +9317. Both in the Vision of Piers Ploughman, and in the Creed, there are +frequent expressions of indignation at the extravagant expenditure in +painting the windows of the abbeys and churches. It must not be forgotten +that a little later the same feeling as that exhibited in these satires led +to the destruction of many of the noblest monuments of medieval art. + +9344. Mat. xix, 23, 24. + +9347. Apocal. xiv, 13. + +9352. Matth. v, 3. + +9452. Compare the defence of poverty in Chaucer (Cant. T. 6774):-- + + Juvenal saith of poverte merily: + The poore man, whan he goth by the way, + Beforn the theves he may sing and play. + _Poverte is hateful good_; and, as I gesse, + A ful gret _bringer out of besinesse_; + A _gret amender_ eke _of sapience_, + To him that taketh it in patience. + Poverte is this although it seme elenge, + _Possession that no wight wol challenge._ + Poverte ful often, whan a man is low, + Maketh his God and eke himself to know: + Poverte a spectakel is, as thinketh me, + Thurgh which he may his veray frendes see. + And therfore, sire, sin that I you not greve, + Of my poverte no more me repreve. + +The definition given in Piers Ploughman is taken from the Dialogues of +Secundus, where it is thus expressed:--"Quid est paupertas? Odibile bonum, +sanitatis mater, curarum remotio, absque sollicitudine semita, sapientiæ +reparatrix, negotium sine damno, intractabilis substantia, possessio absque +calumnia, incerta fortuna, sine sollicitudine felicitas." (MS. Reg. 9 A +xiv, fol. 140 v^o.) See also Roger de Hoveden, p. 816, and Vincent de +Beauvais, Spec. Hist. lib. x, c. 71. + +9517. _the paas of Aultone._ Whitaker has _Haultoun_, and says that this +pass is Halton "in Cheshire, formerly infamous to a proverb as a haunt of +robbers." + +9529. _Cantabit, etc._ The author has modified, or the scribes have +corrupted, the well-known line of Juvenal, + + Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator. + +9665. These definitions will be found in Isidore, Etymol. lib. xl, c. 1, +and Different, lib. ii, c. 29. They are repeated by Alcuin, De Anim. Rat. +N. x, p. 149, _Anima_ est, dum vivificat; dum contemplatur, _spiritus_ est; +dum sentit, _sensus_ est; dum sapit, _animus_ est; dum intelligit, _mens_ +est; dum discernit, _ratio_ est; dum consentit, _voluntas_ est; dum +recordatur, _memoria_ est. + +9708. Prov. xxv, 27. + +9740. Epist. ad Rom. xii, 3. + +9751. _the seven synnes._ The seven deadly sins were--pride, anger, envy, +sloth, covetousness, gluttony, and lechery. "Now ben they cleped +chiefetaines, for as moche as they be chiefe, and of hem springen alle +other sinnes. The rote of thise sinnes than is pride, the general rote of +alle harmes. For of this rote springen certain braunches: as, ire, envie, +accidie or slouthe, avarice or coveitise, (to commun understonding) +glotonie, and lecherie: and eche of thise chief sinnes hath his braunches +and his twigges." Chaucer, Persones Tale, p. 40. + +9766. Psal. xcvi, 7; iv, 3. + +9828. _in Latyn._ The monks had collections of comparisons, similitudes, +proverbs, &c., to be introduced in their sermons, and even when preaching +in English they generally quoted them in Latin. This I suppose to be the +meaning of the expression here. + +9918. Matth. xviii, 3. + +9934. 1 Corinth. xiii, 4. + +9946. 1 Corinth, xiii, 12. + +9957. _a tunicle of Tarse._ Tarse was the name given to a kind of silk, +said to have been brought from a country of that name on the borders of +Cathai, or China. Chaucer (Cant. T. l. 2162), describing "the king of +Inde," says-- + + His coote armour was of a cloth of Tars, + Cowched of perlys whyte, round and grete. + +Ducange (v. _Tarsicus_) quotes a visitation of the treasury of St. Paul's, +London, in 1295, where there is mention of Tunica et dalmatica de _panno +Indico Tarsico_ Besantato de auro, and of a Casula de _panno Tarsico_. + +10004. Psal. vi, 7. + +10009. Psal. l, 19. + +10062. Matth. vi, 16. + +10069. _Edmond and Edward._ St. Edmund the martyr, king of East Anglia, and +king Edward the Confessor. + +10124. Psal. iv, 9. + +10159. _Antony and Egidie._ Whitaker has _Antonie and Ersenie_. St. Antony +is well known as the father and patron of monks, and for the persecutions +he underwent from the devil. St. Giles, or Egidius, is said to have been a +Greek, who came to France about the end of the seventh century, and +established himself in a hermitage near the mouth of the Rhone, and +afterwards in the neighbourhood of Nismes. Arsenius was a noble Roman who, +at the end of the fourth century, retired to Egypt to live the life of an +anchoret in the desert. + +10174. _after an hynde cride._ The monkish biographer of St. Giles relates, +that he was for some time nourished with the milk of a hind in the forest, +and that a certain prince discovered his retreat while hunting in his +woods, by pursuing the hind till it took shelter in St. Giles's hermitage. + +10183. _Hadde a bird._ This incident is not found in the common lives of +St. Antony. + +10187. _Poul._ Paul was a Grecian hermit, who lived in the tenth century in +the wilderness of Mount Latrus, and became the founder of one of the +monastic establishments there. He was famous for the rigorous severity of +his life. + +10203. _Marie Maudeleyne._ By Mary Magdalen here is meant probably St. Mary +the Egyptian, who lived in the fifth century, and who, according to the +legend, after having spent her youth in unbridled debauchery, repented in +her twenty-ninth year, and lived during the remainder of her life +(forty-seven years) in the wilderness beyond the Jordan, without seeing one +human being during that time, and sustained only by the precarious food +which she found in the desert. + +10239. Whitaker's text here adds a passage relating to Tobias:-- + + Marie Magdalene + By mores levede and dewes; + Love and leel byleyve + Heeld lyf and soule togedere. + Maria Egyptiaca + Eet in thyrty wynter + Bote thre lytel loves, + And love was her souel. + Ich can nat rekene hem ryght now, + Ne reherce here names, + That lyveden thus for oure Lordes love + Meny longe yeres, + Whitoute borwyng other beggyng, + Other the boke lyeth; + And woneden in wildernesse + Among wilde bestes; + Ac dorst no beste byten hem + By daye ne by nyghte, + Bote myldeliche whan thei metten + Maden louh chere, + And feyre byfore tho men + Fauhnede whith the tayles. + Ac bestes brouhte hem no mete, + Bote onliche the fouweles; + In tokenynge that trywe man + Alle tymes sholde + Fynde honeste men in holy men + And other ryghtful peuple. + For wolde never feithful goud + That freres and monkes token + Lyflode of luther wynnynges + In al here lyf tyme; + As wytnesseth holy writt + Whot Thobie deyde + To is wif, whan he was blynde, + Herde a lambe blete,-- + 'A! wyf, be war,' quath he, + 'What ye have here ynne. + Lord leyve,' quath the lede, + 'No stole thyng be here!' + _Videte ne furtum sit. Et alibi, Melius + est mori quam male vivere._ + This is no more to mene, + Bote men of holy churche + Sholde receyve ryght nauth + Bot that ryght wolde, + And refuse reverences + And raveneres offrynges; + Thenne wolde lordes and ladies + Be loth to agulte, + And to take of here tenaunts + More than treuthe wolde; + And marchauns merciable wolde be, + And men of lawe bothe. + Wold religeouse refuse + Raveneres almesse, + Then Grace sholde growe yut + And grene-leved wexe, + And Charité, that child is now, + Sholde chaufen of hem self, + And comfortye all crystene, + Wold holy churche amende. + Job the parfit patriarch + This proverbe wrot and tauhte, + To makye a man lovye mesure, + That monkes beeth and freeres. + _Nunquam dicit Job, rugiet onager, etc._ + +Throughout this part of the poem, Whitaker's text differs very much in +words and phraseology from the one now printed, but it would take up too +much space to point out all these variations. + +10247. Job vi, 5. + +10270. 2 Corinth, ix, 9. + +10303. These sentences appear to be quotations from the fathers of the +Latin Church. + +10322. _lussheburwes._ A foreign coin, much adulterated, common in England +in the middle of the fourteenth century. Chaucer (C. T. 15445) uses the +word in a very expressive passage:-- + + This maketh that oure wyfes wol assaye + Religious folk, for thay may bettre paye + Of Venus payementes than may we: + God woot! no _lusscheburghes_ paye ye. + +Among the foreign money, mostly of a base quality, which came into this +country in the fourteenth century, the coinage of the counts of Luxemburg, +or, as it was then called, Lusenburg (hence called _lussheburwes_ and +_lusscheburghes_), seems to have been the most abundant, and to have given +most trouble. These coins were the subject of legislation in 1346, 1347, +1348, and 1351; so that the grievance must have been at its greatest height +at the period to which the poem of Piers Ploughman especially belongs. Many +of these coins are preserved, and found in the cabinets of collectors; they +are in general very much like the contemporary English coinage, and might +easily be taken for it, but the metal is very base. + +10368. _Grammer, the ground of al._ In the scholastic learning of the +middle ages, grammar was considered as the first of the seven sciences, and +the foundation-stone of all the rest. See my Essay on Anglo-Saxon +Literature, introductory to vol. i. of the _Biographia Britannica +Literaria_, p. 72. The importance of grammar is thus stated in the _Image +du Monde_ of Gautier de Metz (thirteenth century):-- + + Li primeraine des vij. ars, + Dont or n'est pas seus li quars, + A ichest tans, chou est gramaire, + Sans laquele nus ne vaut gaire + Qui à clergie veut aprendre: + Car petit puet sans li entendre. + Gramaires si est fondemens + De clergie et coumenchemens; + Cou est li porte de science, + Par cui on vient à sapience. + De lettres en gramaire escole + Qui ensegne et forme parole, + Soit en Latin ou en Roumans, + Ou en tous langages palans; + Qui bien saroit toute gramaire, + Toute parole saroit faire. + Par parole fist Dius le monde, + Et sentence est parole monde. + +10398. _Corpus Christi feeste._ Corpus Christi day was a high festival of +the Church of Rome, held annually on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, in +memory, as was said, of the miraculous confirmation of transubstantiation +under pope Urban IV. + +10418. _This Makometh._ This account of Mohammed was the one most popularly +current in the middle ages. According to Hildebert, who wrote a life of the +pseudo-prophet in Latin verse in the twelfth century, Mohammed was a +Christian, skilled in magical arts, who, on the death of the patriarch of +Jerusalem, aspired to succeed him:-- + + Nam male devotus quidam baptismate lotus, + Plenus perfidia vixit in ecclesia. + . . . . . . + Nam cum transisset Pater illius urbis, et isset + In coelum subito corpore disposito, + Tunc exaltari magus hic et pontificari + Affectans avide; se tamen hæc pavide + Dixit facturum, nisi sciret non nociturum + Si præsul fiat, cum Deus hoc cupiat. + +His intrigues being discovered, the emperor drives him away, and in revenge +he goes and founds a new sect. The story of the pigeon (which is not in +Hildebert) is found in Vincent of Beauvais, Spec. Hist. lib. xxiii, c. 40. +This story is said to be founded in truth. Neither of them are found in the +Roman de Mahomet (by Alexander du Pont), written in the thirteenth century, +and edited by MM. Reinaud and Michel, Paris, 1831, 8vo, a work which +contains much information concerning the Christian notions relative to +Mohammed in the middle ages. + +10478. John xvi, 24. + +10481, 10486. Matth. v, 13. + +10499. _Ellevene holy men._ The eleven apostles who remained after the +apostasy of Judas and the crucifixion of their Lord. + +10550. _Ne fesauntz y-bake._ The pheasant was formerly held in the same +honour as the peacock (see before the note on l. 7915), and was served at +table in the same manner. It was considered one of the most precious +dishes. See Le Grand d'Aussy, Hist. de la Vie privée des François, ii, 19. +The Miroir de l'Ome (MS. in the possession of Mr. Russell Smith) says +(punning) of the luxurious prelates of the fourteenth century,-- + + Pour le phesant et le bon vin + Le bien-faisant et le divin + L'evesque laist à nonchalure; + Si quiert la coupe et crusequin, + Ainz que la culpe du cristin + Pour corriger et mettre en cure. + +10553. Matth. xxii, 4. + +10581. Mark xvi, 15. + +10585. _So manye prelates._ 10699. _that huppe aboute in Engelond._ The +pope appointed many titular bishops of foreign sees in which, from the +nature of circumstances, they could not possibly reside, and who therefore +were a burthen upon the church. Some of these prelates appear to have +resorted to England, and to have exercised the episcopal functions, +consecrating churches, &c. The church of Elsfield, in Oxfordshire, was +consecrated by a foreign bishop. (See Kennett's Parochial Antiquities.) + +10593. John x, 11. + +10599. Matth. xx, 4, 7. + +10606. Matth. vii, 7. + +10617. Galat. vi, 14. + +10632. _That roode thei honoure._ A cross was the common mark on the +reverse of our English money at this period, and for a long time previous +to it. The point of satirical wit in this passage of Piers Ploughman +appears to be taken from the old Latin rhymes of the beginning of the +thirteenth century. See the curious poem _De Cruce Denarii_, in Walter +Mapes, p. 223. Another poem in the same volume (p. 38) speaks thus of the +court of Rome:-- + + Nummis in hac curia non est qui non vacet; + _Crux_ placet, rotunditas, et albedo placet. + +10637. _Shul torne as templers dide._ The suppression of the order of the +Templars was at this time fresh in people's memories. It was the general +belief, and not without some foundation, that the Templars had entirely +degenerated from their original sanctity and faithfulness, and that before +the dissolution of the order they were addicted to degrading vices and +superstitions; and they were accused of sacrificing everything else to +their grasping covetousness. + +10659. _Whan Constantyn._ The Christian church began first to be endowed +with wealth and power under the emperor Constantine the Great. + +10649. Luke i, 52. + +10695-10699. Instead of these lines, Whitaker's text has the following:-- + + And bereth name of Neptalym, + Of Nynyve and Damaske. + For when the holy kynge of hevene + Sende hus sone to eerthe, + Meny myracles he wroughte, + Man for to turne, + In ensample that men sholde + See by sad reyson + That men myghte nat be savede + Bote thorw mercy and grace, + And thorw penaunce and passioun, + And parfyght byleyve; + And bycam a man of a mayde, + And _metropolitanus_ + And baptisede an busshoppede + Whit the blode of hus herte, + Alle that wilnede other wolde + Whit inwhight byleyve hit. + Meny seint sitthe + Suffrede deth alsoo, + For to enferme the faithe + Ful wyde where deyden, + In Inde and in Alisaundrie, + In Ermanye, in Spayne; + An fro mysbyleve + Meny man turnede. + In savacion of mannys saule + Seynt Thomas of Cauntelbury + Among unkynde Cristene + In holy churche was sleye, + And alle holy churche + Honourede for that deyinge: + He is a forbusur to alle busshopes, + And a bryghthe myrour, + And sovereynliche to alle suche + That of Surrye bereth name, + And nat in Engelounde to huppe aboute, + And halewen men auters. + +In the remainder of this passus, Whitaker's text differs much from the one +I have printed, but in such a manner that to give here the variations it +would be necessary to reprint the whole. In the remainder of the poem, the +variations are not great or important, being only such as we always find in +different copies of poems which enjoyed considerable popularity. + +10716. Isai. iii, 7. + +10721. Malach. iii, 10. + +10733. Luke x, 27. Diliges Dominum Deum tuum ex toto corde tuo, et ex tota +anima tua, et ex omni mente tua, et proximum tuum sicut teipsum. + +10755. John xi, 43. + +10787. _litlum and litlum_, by little and little, gradually. It is the pure +Anglo-Saxon phrase. In the Anglo-Saxon version of Genesis xl, 10, the Latin +_paulatim_ is rendered by _lytlum and lytlum_. + +10844. Psal. xxxvi, 24. + +10891. Matth. xii, 32. + +11000. Luke i, 38. + +11023. Matth. ix, 12. Mark ii, 17. Luke v, 31. + +11033. Matth. xxvi, 37. + +11044. Matth. xi, 18. + +11075. Matth. xxi, 13. + +11121. Matth. xviii, 7. + +11238. Matth. xxvii, 46, and Mark xv, 34. + +11300. Rom. iv, 13. + +11322. John i, 29 and 36. + +11396. Matth. xx, 40. + +11518, 11520. _lo! here silver ... two pens._ It must be remembered that at +this period the mass of the coinage, including pence, halfpence, and +farthings, was of silver; copper came into use for the smaller coinage at a +later period. Two pence of Edward III would be worth about two shillings of +our modern money. + +11670. John xii, 32. + +11708. _tu fabricator omnium._ This was one of the hymns of the catholic +church. + +11866. Luke xiii, 27. + +11883. 1 Corinth. xiii, 1. + +11894. Matth. vii, 21. + +11998. _Thre thynges._ This proverb is frequently quoted by the satirical +and facetious writers of the middle ages. Thus in Chaucer (C. T. 5860):-- + + Thou saist, that droppyng houses, and eek smoke, + And chydyng wyves, maken men to fle + Out of here oughne hous. + +In the poem entitled Golias de Conjuge non ducenda, in Walter Mapes, p. 83, +the proverb is alluded to in the following words:-- + + Fumus, et mulier, et stillicidia, + Expellunt hominem a domo propria. + +There was an old French proverbial distich to the same effect,-- + + Fumée, pluye, et femme sans raison, + Chassent l'homme de sa maison. + +12040. 2 Corinth. xii, 9. + +12097. _to be dubbed._ These and the following lines contain a continued +allusion to the ceremonies of knighthood and tournaments. + +12106. Psal. cxvii, 26. + +12211. Matth. xxvii, 54. + +12232, 12244. _Longeus ... this blynde bacheler._ This alludes to one of +the many legends which the monks engrafted upon the scripture history. +Longeus is said to have been the name of the soldier who pierced the side +of Christ with his spear; and it is pretended that he was previously blind +from his birth, but that the blood of the Saviour ran down his spear, and a +drop of it touching his eye, he was instantly restored to sight, by which +miracle he was converted. See, in illustration of this subject, Halliwell's +Coventry Mysteries, p. 334; The Towneley Mysteries, p. 321; Jubinal, +Mystères inédits du quinzième Siècle, tom. ii, pp. 254-257; &c. + +12319, 12418, 12420. _Mercy and Truthe, ... Pees ... Rightwisnesse._ +Lydgate seems to have had this passage in his mind, when he described the +four sisters in the following lines at the commencement of one of his poems +(MS. Harl. 2255, fol. 21):-- + + Mercy and Trouthe mette on an hih mounteyn + Briht as the sonne with his beemys cleer, + Pees and Justicia walkyng on the pleyn, + And with foure sustryn, moost goodly of ther cheer, + List nat departe nor severe in no maneer, + Of oon accoord by vertuous encrees, + Joyned in charité, pryncessis moost enteer, + Mercy and Trouthe, Rihtwisnesse and Pees. + +12361. _a tale of Waltrot._ This name, like Wade in Chaucer, appears to +have been that of a hero of romances and tales, or a personage belonging to +the popular superstitions. Perhaps it may be connected with the old German +_Waltschrat_ (_satyrus_, _pilosus_). See Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, p. +270. + +12438. Psal. xxix, 6. + +12566. Matth. xiv, 28. + +12599. _a spirit speketh to helle._ The picture of the "Harrowing of Hell," +which here fol, bears a striking resemblance to the analogous scene in the +old Mysteries, particularly in that edited by Mr. Halliwell under this +title, 8vo, 1840. Compare the play on the same subject in the Towneley +Mysteries, p. 244. + +12601. Psal. xxiii, 7, 9. + +12645, 12669, 12676. _sevene hundred wynter ... thritty wynter ... two and +thritty wynter._ Our Anglo-Saxon forefathers always counted duration of +time by _winters_ and _nights_; for so many years, they said so many +winters, and so many nights for so many days. This form continued long in +popular usage, and still remains in our words _fortnight_ and _se'nnight_. + +12663. _Gobelyn._ Goblin is a name still applied to a devil. It belongs +properly to a being of the old Teutonic popular mythology, a hob-goblin, +the "lubber-fiend" of the poet, and seems to be identical with the German +_kobold_. (See Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, p. 286.) _Gobelin_ occurs as the +name of one of the shepherds in the Mystery of the Nativity, printed by M. +Jubinal in his Mystères inédits, vol. ii, p. 71. It occurs as the name of a +devil in a song of the commencement of the fourteenth century, Political +Songs, p. 238:-- + + Sathanas huere syre + Seyde on is sawe, + Gobelyn made is gerner + Of gromene mawe. + +12679. _to warne Pilates wif._ This is an allusion to a popular legend +prevalent at this time that the devil wished to hinder Christ's +crucifixion, and that he appeared to Pilate's wife in a dream, and caused +her to beseech her husband not to condemn the Saviour. It was founded on +the passage in Matthew xxvii, 19. Sedente autem illo pro tribunali, misit +ad eum uxor ejus, dicens: Nihil tibi et justo illi: multa enim passa sum +hodie per visum propter eum. The most complete illustration of the passage +of Piers Ploughman will be found in Halliwell's Coventry Mysteries, p. 308, +"Pilate's Wife's Dream." + +12691. _And now I se wher a soule | Cometh hiderward seillynge, | With +glorie, &c._ With this beautiful passage may be compared a very similar one +in the Samson Agonistes of Milton:-- + + But who is this, what thing of sea or land? + Female of sex it seems, + That so bedeck'd, ornate and gay, + _Comes this way sailing_ + Like a stately ship + Of Tarsus, bound for th' isles + Of Javan or Gadire, + With all her bravery on, and tackle trim. + +12753. _y-lik a lusard._ In the illuminations of manuscripts representing +the scene of the temptation, the serpent is often figured with legs like a +lizard or crocodile, and a human face. + +12759. Matth. v, 38. + +12781. Matth. v, 17. + +12801. _thorugh a tree._ Some of the medieval legends go still farther, and +pretended that the tree from which the wood of the cross was made was +descended directly from a plant from the tree in Paradise of which Adam and +Eve were tempted to eat the fruit. + +12805. Psal. vii, 16. + +12840. Psal. l, 6. + +12876. 2 Corinth. xii, 4. + +12886. Psal. cxlii, 2. + +12896. _Astroth._ This name, as given to one of the devils, occurs in a +curious list of actors in the Miracle Play of St. Martin, given by M. +Jubinal, in the preface to his Mystères inédits, vol. ii, p. ix. It is +similarly used in the Miracle Play of the Martyrdom of St. Peter and St. +Paul, Jubinal, ib. vol. i, p. 69. In one of the Towneley Mysteries (p. +246), this name is likewise given to one of the devils:-- + + Calle up _Astarot_ and Anaballe, + To gyf us counselle in this case. + +12937. Psal. lxxxiv, 11. + +12943. Psal. cxxxii, 1. + +13222. 1 Sam. xviii, 7. + +13274. Luke xxiv, 46. + +13317. John xx, 29. + +13375. _Veni creator spiritus._ The first line of the hymn at vespers, on +the feast of Pentecost. + +13412. 1 Corinth. xii, 4. + +13550. Cato, Distich. 14, lib. ii:-- + + Esto forti animo cum sis damnatus inique; + Nemo diu gaudet qui judice vincit iniquo. + +13789. _I knew nevere cardynal._ The contributions levied upon the clergy +for the support of the pope's messengers and agents was a frequent subject +of complaint in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. + +13807. _At Avynone among the Jewes._ In the middle ages there was a large +congregation of Jews at Avignon, as in most of the principal cities in the +south of France. In the civil dissensions which disturbed Italy during this +century, the pope was frequently obliged to take shelter at Avignon and +other places within the French territory. + +13825. Matth. v, 45. + +13855. Rom. xii, 19; Hebr. x, 30. + +14142. _Kynde cessede._ The lines which follow contain an allusion to the +dissipation of manners which followed the pestilence. + +14191, 14196. _Westmynstre Halle ... the Arches._ The law courts have been +held at Westminster from the earliest Anglo-Norman times, it being the +king's chief palace. The court of the arches was a very ancient consistory +court of the archbishop of Canterbury, held at Bow church in London, which +was called St. Mary de Arcubus or St. Mary le Bow, from the circumstance of +its having been built on arches. + +14211. _leet daggen hise clothes._ An account of the mode in which the rich +fashionable robes of the dandies of the fourteenth century were dagged, or +cut in slits at the edges and borders, will be found in any work on +costume: it is frequently represented in the contemporary illuminations in +manuscripts. Chaucer, in the "Persones Tale," when treating of pride and of +the "superfluitee of clothing," speaks of "the costlewe furring in hir +gounes, so moche pounsoning of chesel to maken holes, so moche _dagging of +sheres_," &c. And again, "if so be that they wolden yeve swiche pounsoned +and _dagged_ clothing to the povre peple, it is not convenient to were for +hir estate," &c. In the Alliterative Poem on the Deposition of Richard II +(printed for the Camden Society), p. 21, the clergy is blamed for not +preaching against the new fashions in dress:-- + + For wolde they blame the burnes + That broughte newe gysis, + And dryve out _the dagges_ + And alle the Duche cotis. + +Whitaker gives the following singular explanation of this passage:--"_Let +dagge hus clothes_, probably, let them fall to the ground, or divested +himself of them; for warriors are 'succinct' for battle as well as 'for +speed!'" + +14269. _A glazene howve._ I suppose this means that, in return for his +gold, Physic gave him a hood of glass, _i. e._ a very frail protection for +his person. + +14367. _of the Marche of Walys._ Whitaker's text reads, _of the Marche of +Yrelonde_. The clergy of the Welsh border appear, from allusions in other +works, to have been proverbial for their ignorance and irregularity of +life. + +14438. Psal. cxlvi, 4. + +14444. _wage menne to werre._ This is a curious account of the composition +of an army in the fourteenth century. + +14482. Exod. xx, 17. + +14511. _suffre the dede in dette_, _i. e._, The friars persuade people to +leave to them, under pretence of saving their souls, the property which was +due to their creditors, and thus, after their death, their debts remain +unpaid. + +14615, 14617. _this lymytour ... he salvede so oure wommen._ The whole of +this passage, taken with what precedes, is an amusing satire upon the +limitour. Compare the description of the limitour given by Chaucer in the +Canterbury Tales, ll. 208-271, who alludes to his kindness for the women. +The limitour was a friar licensed to visit and beg within certain limits. +His pertinacity and inquisitiveness in visiting, alluded to in the name +given him in Piers Ploughman (Sir Penetrans-domos), is admirably satirized +by Chaucer, in the opening of the "Wif of Bathes Tale:"-- + + In olde dayes of the kyng Arthour, + Of which that Britouns speken gret honour, + Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrie; + The elf-queen, with hir joly compaignye, + Daunced ful oft in many a grene mede. + This was the old oppynyoun, as I rede + I speke of many hundrid yer ago; + But now can no man see noon elves mo. + For now the grete charité and prayeres + Of lymytours and other holy freres, + That sechen every lond and every streem, + As thik as motis in the sonne-beem, + Blesynge halles, chambres, kichenes, and boures, + Citees and burghes, castels hihe, and toures, + Thropes and bernes, shepnes and dayeries, + This makith that ther ben no fayeries: + For ther as wont was to walken an elf, + Ther walkith noon but the lymytour himself, + In undermeles and in morwenynges, + And saith his matyns and his holy thinges, + As he goth in his lymytacioun. + +------ + +NOTES TO THE CREED. + +65. _a Minoure._ These were the Gray or Franciscan Friars, founded at the +beginning of the thirteenth century by St. Francis of Assise. They are +supposed to have come to England in 1224, when they settled, first at +Canterbury, and afterwards at London. + +75. _a Carm._ 95. _Maries men._ The Carmelites, or White Friars, pretended +to be of great antiquity, and were originally established at Mount Carmel, +from whence they were driven by the Saracens about the year 1238. They were +brought into England in 1244, and settled first at Alnwick in +Northumberland, and at Ailesford in Kent. + +About the date (or a little before) of our poem, the Carmelites appear to +have been very active in asserting in a boasting manner the superiority of +their order over the others. An anecdote told by Fuller (History of +Cambridge, p. 113), under the year 1371, affords a curious illustration. +"John Stokes, a Dominican, born at Sudbury, in Suffolk, but studying in +Cambridge, as champion of his order, fell foul on the Carmelites, chiefly +for calling themselves 'The brothers of the Blessed Virgin,' and then by +consequence all knew whose uncle they pretend themselves. He put them to +prove their pedigree by Scripture, how the kindred came in. In brief, Bale +saith, 'he left red notes in the white coats of the Carmelites,' he so +belaboured them with his lashing language. But John Hornby a Carmelite +(born at Boston in Lincolnshire) undertook him, called by Bale Cornutus, by +others Hornet-bee, so stinging his stile. He proved the brothership of his +order to the Virgin Mary by visions, allowed true by the infallible popes, +so that no good Christian durst deny it." + +130. _Freres of the Pye._ The Fratres de Pica, or Friars of the Pye, are +said to have received their name from the circumstance of their wearing +their outer garment black and white like a magpie. Very little is known of +their history. They are said to have had but one house in England. + +143. _Robartes men._ See before the notes on the Vision, ll. 88 and ll. +3410. + +155. _miracles of mydwyves._ The monks had many relics and superstitious +practices to preserve and aid women in childbirth. One of the commissioners +for the suppression of the monasteries mentions among the relics of a house +he had visited, "Mare Magdalens girdell, and yt is wrappyde and coveride +with white, sent also with gret reverence to women traveling:" he had +previously spoken of "oure Lades gyrdell of Bruton, rede silke, wiche is a +solemne reliquie sent to women travelyng wiche shall not miscarie _in +partu_." (MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv, fol. 249.) See the account of a gem, +which had a similar virtue, in Matthew Paris's History of the Abbots of St. +Albans. + +305. _the Prechoures._ The Black Friars, or Dominicans, were founded by St. +Dominic, a Spanish monk of the end of the eleventh century. They were +called Friars Preachers, because their chief duty was to preach and convert +heretics. They came into England in 1221, and had their first houses in +Oxford. + +327. _posternes in privité._ These private posterns are frequently alluded +to in the reports of the Commissioners for the Dissolution of the +Monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. One of them, speaking of the abbey +of Langden, says, "Wheras immediatly descendying fro my horse, I sent +Bartlett your servant, with all my servantes to circumcept the abbay and +surely to kepe _all bake dorres and startyng hoilles_, and I myself went +alone to the abbottes logeying joyning upon the feldes and wode, _evyn lyke +a cony clapper full of startyng hoilles_." (MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv, fol. +127.) Another commissioner (MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv, fol. 35), in a letter +concerning the monks of the Charter-house in London, says, "These +charterhowse monkes wolde be callyde solytary, but to the cloyster dore +ther be above xxiiij. keys in the handes of xxiiij. persons, and hit is +lyke my letters, unprofytable tayles and tydinges and sumtyme perverse +concell commythe and goythe by reason therof. Allso to the buttrey dore +ther be xij. sundrye keys in xij. [mens] handes wherin symythe to be small +husbandrye." + +351. _merkes of merchauntes._ Their ciphers or badges painted in the +windows. For examples, see the note in Warton's History of English Poetry, +vol. ii, p. 98, last edition. + +481. _euelles._ Perhaps for _evel-les_, _i. e._ without evil. + +534. _the Austyns._ The Austin Friars, or Friars Eremites of the order of +St. Augustine, came into England about the year 1250. Before the end of the +fourteenth century they possessed a great number of houses in this island. + +566. _the foure ordres._ The four principal orders of Mendicant Friars. See +note on the Vision, l. 116. + +721. _harkne at Herdforthe._ This appears to be an allusion to some event +which had recently occurred among the Franciscans at Hertford, or at +Hereford: if the latter, perhaps they had been active in the persecution of +Walter Brut. See below, l. 1309. + +745. _than ther lefte in Lucifere._ Than there existed in Lucifer, before +his fall. See before, the note on l. 681 of the Vision. + +771. _couuen_. Probably an error of the old printed edition for _connen_. + +869. _lath._ Perhaps an error of the printer of the first edition for +_lay_. + +911. Matth. vii, 15. + +913. _werwolves._ People who had the power of turning themselves into, or +were turned into, wolves. This fearful superstition, which is very ancient, +was extremely prevalent in the middle ages. In French they were called +_Loup-garous_. The history of a personage of this kind forms the subject of +the Lai de Bisclaveret, by Marie de France. Sir Frederick Madden has +published a very remarkable Early-English metrical romance on the subject +of "William and the Werwolf." See on this superstition Grimm's Deutsche +Mythologie, pp. 620-622. + +954. _Golias._ There is perhaps here an allusion to the famous satire on +the Monkish orders entitled Apocalypsis Goliæ, printed among the poems of +Walter Mapes. + +967. _the kynrede of Caym._ In the popular belief of the middle ages, +hob-goblins and evil spirits (which haunted the wilds and the waters) +literally, and bad men figuratively, were represented as being descended +from the first murderer, Cain. In Old-English poetry, _Caymes kyn_ is a +common epithet for very wicked people. In the Anglo-Saxon romance of +Beowulf, the Grendel is said to be of "Cain's kin." + +1051. _wytnes on Wyclif._ In the persecutions to which Wycliffe was +subjected for his opinions in 1382, his most violent opponents were the +Mendicants. He died in 1384, quietly at his living of Lutterworth. + +1189. _a lymytoure._ See before, the note on l. 14615 of the Vision. + +1178. _stumlen in tales._ An allusion to the idle and superstitious tales +with which the monks filled their sermons, in place of simple and sound +doctrine. + +1309. _Water Brut._ Walter Brut (or Bright) was a native of Herefordshire, +and was prosecuted by the Bishop of Hereford for heresy in 1393. A long +account of his defence will be found in Foxe's Acts and Monuments. + +1401. _Hildegare._ I suppose this refers to St. Hildegardis, a nun who +flourished in the middle of the twelfth century, and who was celebrated +among the Roman Catholics as a prophetess. Her prophecies are not uncommon +in manuscripts, and they have been printed. Those which relate to the +future corruptions in the monkish orders are given in Foxe's Acts and +Monuments, book vi, and in other works. + + * * * * * + +GLOSSARY. + + [The figures in the following Glossary refer to the _page_ of the text. + Words preceded by a +, occur only in the CREED. A.S. and A.N. + distinguish the two different languages of which our own is composed, + Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman.] + + A. + +a, prefixed to verbs of Anglo-Saxon origin, has sometimes a negative, +sometimes an intensative power: before nouns and adjectives it represents +_on_ and _at_, as, a-brood, a-fore (æt-foran), a-rowe (i. e. _on a row_), +a-loft (i. e. _on high_), &c. In words of Anglo-Norman origin, it answers +to the prepositions, _a_, _ab_, _ad_, of the original Latin words + +a (A.N.) 355, _ah!_ (an interjection) + +abidynge (A.S.) 413, _patient_ + +abiggen (A.S.) 35, 127, abien, 58, abugge, 122, abye, 164, abyen, 393, _to +make amends for_, _to atone for_. _pret. s._ aboughte, 168, 190, 231, 268. +_part. past_, abought, 392 + +abite (A.S.) 331, _to bite, nip_ + +a-blende (A.S.) 377, a-blynden, _to blinde, dazzle_. _pret. s._ a-blente, +388 + +abosten (A.N.) 126, _to assault_ + +abouten, aboute (A.S.) _about_ + +a-brood (A.S.) _abroad_ + +ac (A.S.) _but, and_ + +a-cale (A.S.) 393, _cold_. It occurs in the Romance of the Seven Sages +(Weber, p. 59): + + That night he sat wel sore _a-kale_, + And his wif lai warme a-bedde. + +accidie (A.N.) 99, _sloth, a fit of slothfulness_ + +acombren (A.N.) _to embarrass, bring into trouble_ + +acorden (A.N.) _to agree, accord_ + +acorse, acursen (A.S.) 375, _to curse._ acorsed, 375, _accursed_ + +acoupen (A.N.) 272, _to blame, accuse._ (for acoulpen) + +a-drad (A.S.) 397, _afraid_ + +a-drenchen (A.S.) 198, _to drown_ + +afaiten, 291, affaiten 81, 119, (A.N.) _to tame_ + +a-feren (A.S.) 395, 435, _to frighten_, _drive away_. a-fered, 376, +_afraid_, _terrified_ + +affraynen (A.S.) 347, _to ask_, _question_, _interrogate_ + +afore (A.S.) _before_ + +aforthe (A.S.) 129, _to afford_ + +afrounte (A.N.) _to encounter_, _attack_, _accost rudely_. _pret. s._ +afrounted, 425 + +a-fyngred (A.S.) 133, 176, 283, 403, _a-hungered_, _hungry_ + +a-furst (A.S.) 176, 283, _a-thirst_, _thirsty_. The two forms, _a-fyngred_ +and _a-furst_, appear to be characteristic of the dialect of the counties +which lay on the Welsh border. They occur once or twice in MS. Harl. 2253, +which, in my Specimens of Lyric Poetry, I have shown to have been written +in Herefordshire. They also occur in several other manuscripts which may +probably be traced to that part of England. In the Romance of Horn, in the +MS. just mentioned, we have the lines:-- + + Horn set at grounde, + Him thohte he wes y-bounde, + He seide, Quene, so hende, + To me hydeward thou wende. + Thou shench us with the vurste, + The beggares bueth _a-furste_. + +i. e. the beggars are thirsty. Whitaker gives a very remarkable translation +of _a-furst and a-fyngred_, i. e. _frost-bitten, and with aching fingers_. +Ritson has no less inaccurately explained _a-furste_ in the Romance of +Horn, by _at first_: the Cambridge MS. of this Romance, earlier and better +than the MS. Harl., reads:-- + + Thu gef us with the furste, + The beggeres beoth _of thurste_. + +ayein (A.S.) _again_, _in return for_. ayeins, _against_, _towards_ + +a-gulte (A.S.) 273, 313, 318, 365, _to fail in duty towards any one_, +_offend_, _sin against_ + +aiels (A.N.) 314, _forefathers_ + ++aisliche (A.S.) 471, _fearfully_. The Anglo-Saxon _egeslice_ + +aken (A.S.) _to ache_. _pret. pl._ oke, 359 + +al (A.S.) _all_. _pl._ alle, _gen. pl._ alre, aller. oure aller fader, 342, +_the father of us all_. your aller heed, 424, _head of you all_ + +a-leggen (A.N.) 207, _to allege_ + +a-liry (A.S.) 124, _across_, _cross-legged_ + +alkenamye (A.N.) 186, _alchemy_ + +allowen (A.N.) 294, _to allow_, _approve_ + +a-loft (A.S.) 378, _on high_ + +almarie (A.N.) 288, _a cupboard_ + +almesse (A.S.) _alms_ + +a-lough, a-logh (A.S.) 241, 242, _below_ + ++aloute (A.S.) 495, _to salute_ + +als (A.S.) _also_ + +a-maistren, a-maistryen (A.N.) _to overcome_, _be master of_ + +amenden (A.N.) _to make amends for_ + +amercy (A.N.) _to amerce_ + +amortisen (A.N.) 314, _to amortize_, _to give property in mortmain_ + +ampulle (A.N.) 109, _a small vessel containing holy water or oil_ + +an (A.S.) 2, _on_ + +ancres (A.S.) 3, 308, _anachorites, monks who live in solitude_. It is +applied to nuns, in the early English Rule of Nuns. See Reliquiæ Antiquæ, +vol. ii, p. 1 + +and (A.S.) the conjunction, is frequently used in the sense of _if_. and +men crye, 362, _if men cry_ + +aniente (A.N.) 365, _to destroy, annihilate, reduce to nothing_ + +anoon (A.S.) _anon_ + +anoy (A.N.) _annoyance_ + ++anuel (A.N.) 475, _an annuity_: a yearly salary paid to a priest for +keeping an anniversary + +apayen (A.N.) 123, _to satisfy, to please_ + +apeiren (A.N.) 80, 111, 125, 127, 141, _to lessen, diminish, impair_ + +apertli (A.N.) _openly_ + +appenden, apenden (A.N.) 17, _to belong, appertain to_ + +apposen (A.N.) 18, 43, 252, 318, _to raise questions, to object_ + +arate (A.S.) 208, 283, _to rate, scold, correct_ (the A.S. aretan?) + +arayen (A.N.) _to array_ + +arere (A.N.) _backwards, back_ + +arwe, _pl._ arewes (A.S.) 438, _an arrow_ + +arst (A.S.) 287, _first, erst_ + +ascapen (A.N.) _to escape_ + +askes (A.S.) _ashes_ + +asondry (A.S.) 358, _separated_ + +aspare (A.N.) 303, _to spare_ + +aspien (A.N.) to _espy_. _part. s._ aspied, 350 + +assaien, assaie (A.N.) 334, 336, _to assay, try_ + +assetz (A.N.) 362, _assets sufficient to pay the debts or legacies of a +testator_. A law term + +assoille (A.N.) 57, 188, 407, 419, _to assoil, absolve, to explain or +solve_ + +astronomien (Lat.) _an astronomer_ + +a-thynken (A.S.) 374, _to repent_ + +attachen (A.N.) 40, _to attach, indict_ + +atte (A.S.) _at the_. atte nale, 124, _at the ale_, a corruption of the +Saxon, æt þan ale + +attre (A.S.) 243, _poison, venom_ + +a-tweyne (A.S.) _in two_ + +aught (A.S.) _something, anything, everything_ + +auncer (A.N.) 90, _a small vessel or cup_. In Low-Latin it is called +_anceria_. See Ducange, s. v., who quotes from a charter of the date of +1320 the words, Una cum cuppis, _anceriis_, tonis, et aliis utensilibus + +auntren (A.N.) _to venture, adventure_, _pret. s._ auntrede, 382, auntred, +435 + +auter, _pl._ auteres (A.N.) _altar_ + +avarouser (A.N.) _more avaricious_ + +aventrous (A.N.) 370, _adventurers, adventurous persons_ + +aventure (A.N.) _an adventure, an accident_. an aventure, 47, _by +adventure, by chance_ + +avoutrye (A.N.) _adultery_ + +avowen (A.N.) _to make a vow_ + +avowes (A.N.) _vows, promises_ + +awaiten (A.N.) 346, _to watch, wait_. a-wayte, 193, _to see or discover by +watching_ + +awaken (A.S.) _to awake_. _pret. s._ awaked, 396, awakned, 424, a-wook, +147, _part. past_, awaked, 425 + +awreken (A.S.) _to avenge, revenge_. _part. pas._ a-wroke, 129 + ++awyrien (A.S.) 490, _to curse, execrate_ + +axen (A.S.) 71, _to ask_. _pret. s._ asked, 81 + +ay (A.S.) _ever, always_ + + B. + +bakstere (A.S.) 14, 47, _a woman who bakes_ + +bale (A.S.) 70, 209, 381, 371 (?), evil, mischief, punishment + ++bale (A.S.) 490, _a bon-fire_ (_rogus_) + +baleis (A.N.) 184, 229, _a rod_ + +baleisen (A.N.) 87, _to beat with a rod_ + +balled (A.S.) 436, _bald_. _balled reson_, 176, _a bald reason, a bare +argument_ + +ballok-knyf (A.S.) 302, _a knife hung from the girdle_ + +bannen, banne (A.N.) 18, 143, 167, 310, _to ban, curse, banish_. _pret. s._ +banned, 173 + +banyer (A.N.) 321, _a banner-bearer, standard-bearer_ + +barn (A.S.) 353, _a child_ + +baselarde (A.N.) 61, 302, _a kind of large dagger, carried in the girdle_ + +batauntliche (A.N.) 286, _hastily_. Cotgrave gives the Fr. phrase, il +arriva tout batant, _he came very hastily_ + +baude (A.S.) _a bawd_ + +baudy (A.N.) 88, _dirty_, applied to garments. Thus in Chaucer, Cant. T. l +16102:-- + + His overest sloppe it is not worth a mite + As in effect to him, so mote I go. + It is al _baudy_ and to-tore also. + +baw (A.S.) 210, 419, _an interjection of contempt_. Whitaker says that the +word is still used in Lancashire, and that "the verb means _alvum levare_" + +bayard (A.N.) 72, a term for a horse. It means properly a _bay horse_ + +beau-peere (A.N.) 383, _a common title for a monk_. "Beau-pere, titre que +l'on donnoit aux religieux." _Roquef._ + +beche (A.S.) _a beech-tree_ + +bede, _pl._ bedes (A.S.) prayer. Our modern word _beads_ is derived from +this word, because it was by such articles, hung on a cord, that our +forefathers reckoned the number of their prayers + +bedeman (A.S.) 45, _a person who prays for another_ + ++been (A.S.) 493, _bees_ + +beigh (A.S.) _pl._ beighes, _rings, bracelets, collars_ + +bekene (A.S.) 363, _a beacon_ + ++beldyng (A.S.) 483, _building_. belded, 483, _built_ + ++bellyche (A.N.) 461, _fairly_ + +bel-sire (A.N.) 168, _grandfather_, or rather, _an ancestor_ + +belwe (A.S.) 222, _to bellow_ + +ben (A.S.) _to be_. _pres. pl._ arn, aren _or_ ben, we beth, 391, ye aren, +301, they arn, 375. _subj. sing._ weere, 15, 19, 417, _pl._ were. what she +were, 19 + +bene (A.S.) _a bean_, +_pl._ benen (A.S.) 495, _beans_ + ++beneson (A.N.) 489, _blessing_ + ++beouten (A.S.) 489, _without_ + +beren, bere (A.S.) _to bear_. _pr. s._ he berth, 341. _pret. s._ bere, 54, +bar, 28, 109, _pl._ baren, 98. _part. pas._ born, y-bore, 377 + +bergh (A.S.) 112, _a hill, mount_ + +bern (A.S.) 416, _a barn_ + +best, beest, _pl._ beestes (A.N.) _a beast, animal_ + +bet (A.S.) 389, _better_ + +bete (A.S.) 375, _to beat_. _pret. s._ bette, 184, 436. _part. pas._ y-bet + +bete (A.S.) 131, _to amend, heal, abate_. that myghtt not bete my bale (Sir +Amadas, l. 46), _that might not amend my misfortune_. bete his nede (Rom. +of Alexand. l. 5065, in Weber), _to satisfy his need_ + +bettre (A.S.) _better_ + +bi- _or_ be- is a very common prefix to words in our language derived from +the Anglo-Saxon, and has chiefly an intensative power, although it modifies +the meaning in various degrees. Many verbs are no longer known, except in +this compound form. Thus we have:-- + + bi-dravelen (A.S.) 88, _to slobber or slaver on anything_ + + bi-fallen (A.S.) _to befal, happen_. _pr. sing._ bifel + + bi-yete (A.S.) _begetting, offspring_ + + bi-ginnen (A.S.) _to begin_. _pret. s._ bi-gonne, 106 + + bi-heste (A.S.) 50, _a behest, command_ + + bi-hest (A.S.) 432, _a promise_ + + bi-holden (A.S.) _to behold_. _pr. sing._ biheeld + + +bi-hirnen (A.S.) 488 (?) + + bi-hoten (A.S.) _to promise_. _pres. s._ bi-hote, 104. _pret. s._ + bi-highte, 81, 345, 389. bi-hote God, 133, _an exclamation_ + + by-japen (A.S.) 386, 453, _to mock_ + + bi-kennen (A.S.) 31, 154, _to commit to_ + + bi-knowen (A.S.) 13, 45, _to know, recognize, acknowledge_. _pret. s._ + bi-knewe, 404, _part. past_, bi-knowe, 370 + + bi-lien (A.S.) 174, bi-lye, 101, _to calumniate_. _part. past_, + bi-lowen, 29 + + bi-love (A.S.) 184, _false love_ (?) + + bi-loven (A.S.) 130, _to make friends_ (?) + + by-menen (A.S.) _to signify_. _pret. s._ by-mente, 370 + + by-molen (A.S.) 273, 274, _to spot, stain_ + + by-nymen (A.S.) _to take from_. _part. past_, by-nomen, 62 + + bi-quasshen (A.S.) 384, _to crush to pieces_ + + bi-reve (A.S.) 132, _to take from, bereave_ + + bi-rewe (A.S.) 242, _to rue_ + + bi-seken, bi-sechen, 18 (A.S.) _to beseech_. _pret._ bi-soughte. _part. + pas._ bi-sought + + bi-semen (A.S.) _to appear_ + + bi-setten (A.S.) 93, 95, _to place, set_ + + bi-seggen (A.S.) _to reproach, insult_. _part. past_, bi-seye, 437 + + bi-sherewen (A.S.) 75, _to curse_ + + bi-shetten (A.S.) 40, _to shut up_. _part. past_, bi-shet, 405 + + bi-sitten (A.S.) 36, 195, _to beset_ + + +be-slomered, 476, _bedaubed_ + + bi-snewed (A.S.) 301, _snowed over, covered with snow_ + + bi-speren (A.S.) 303, _to lock up_ + + bi-swynken (A.S.) 323, _to labour hard_. _pret. pl._ bi-swonke, 442 + + bi-tiden (A.S.) _to happen to, betide_ + + bi-wicchen (A.S.) 405, _to bewitch_ + +bicche (A.N.) 98, _a bitch_ + +bidden, bidde (A.S.) _to pray, to ask, beg, to require, to order_. _pres. +s._ he bit, 308, 188. _pret. s._ bidde, bad, _pl._ beden, 372, 404. _part. +act._ biddynge. (if he) bede, 157 + +bidder (A.S.) _pl._ bidderes, _an asker, petitioner_ + +biden (A.S.) 387, 428, _to bide, wait_. _part. past_, boden + +bienfait (A.N.) _a benefit_ + +bi-girdle (A.S.) 156, _a bag to hang at the girdle, a purse_ + +bi-hynde (A.S.) _behind_ + +bikere (A.S.) 429, _to skirmish, fight_ + ++bild (A.S.) 460, _a building_ + +bile (A.S.) _a bill_ + +bilyve (A.S.) 410, 425, _food_ + +bynden (A.S.) _to bind_. _pret. s._ bond, 352. _part. pas._ bounden + +bisie (A.S.) _busy_ + +bismere, bismare (A.S.) 82, 413, _infamy, reproach, disgrace_ + +biten, bite (A.S.) 446, _to bite, urge_. _pres. s._ bitit, 225. _pret. s._ +boot, 82 + +byte (A.S.) 381, _a morsel_, _bit_ + +bi-time (A.S.) _betimes_ + +bittre (A.S.) 393, _bitterly_ + +bi-yonde (A.S.) _beyond_: when used indefinitely it signifies _beyond sea_, +_ultra mare_ + +blancmanger (A.N.) 252, _a made dish for the table_. Receipts for cooking +it are given in most of the early tracts on cookery + +bleden (A.S.) _to bleed_. _pret. s._ bledde, 402, 415 + +blenche (A.S.) 112, _to draw back_ + +blende (A.S.) 181, _to blind_. blent, _blinded_ + ++blenying (A.S.) 468, _blistering_ + +bleren (A.S.) _to blear, to make a person's sight dim, impose upon him_. +bler-eighed, 367, _blear-eyed_ + +blisse (A.S.) _joy, happiness_ + +blisful (A.S.) _joyful, full of happiness, blessed_ + +blody (A.S.) 129, 213, _by blood, of or in blood_ + +bloo (A.S.) _blue_ + +blosmen (A.S.) _to blossom_. _pret._ blosmede + +blowen (A.S.) _to blow_. _pret. s._ blewe, _blew_. _part. past_, y-blowe, +360 + +blustren (A.N. ?) 108, _to wander or stray along without any particular +aim_ + +bochier (A.N.) _a butcher_ + ++bode ( ) 493 (?) + +bolden (A.S.) _to encourage, embolden_ + +bole (A.S.) _a bull_ + +bolk (A.S.) 100, _a belching_ + +bolle (A.S.) 83, 99, _a bowl_ + +bollen, bolne (A.S.) _to swell_. _pres. s._ bolneth, 84 + +book, _pl._ bokes (A.S.) _a book_ + +boold (A.S.) 373, _bold_ + +boon (A.S.) _a bone_ + +boor (A.S.) _a boar_ + +boot (A.S.) _a boat_ + +boote (A.S.) 70, 139, 189, 209, 233, 266, _help, reparation, amendment, +restoration, remedy_ + +bootne (A.S.) _to restore, remedy_. _part. pas._ bootned, 128 + +boot-les (A.S.) 369, _without boots_ + +borde (A.S.) _table_. Hence the modern use of the word _board_ when we +speak of "_board and lodging_" + +bord-lees (A.S.) 239, _without table_ + +borgh, 70, 143, 181, 346. borugh, 426, 439, _pl._ borwes, 19 (A.S.) _a +pledge, surety_. _s. in obj. case_, borwe, 285 + +borwen (A.S.) 71, _to give security, or a pledge to release a person or +thing, to bail, to borrow_. _pret. s._ borwed + +bosarde (A.N.) 189, _a worthless or useless fellow_. It is properly the +name of a worthless species of hawk, which is unfit for sporting; and is +thus used in Chaucer's version of the Romance of the Rose, l. 4033:-- + + This have I herde ofte in saying, + That man ne maie for no daunting + Make a sperhawke of _a bosarde_. + +The original is,-- + + Ce oï dire en reprovier, + Que l'en ne puet fere espervier + En nule guise _d'ung busart_. + +bosten (A.S.) _to boast_. _part. past_, y-bosted, 351 + +bote-lees (A.S.) 381, _without remedy_ + +botenen (A.N.) _to button_. +_part. past_, y-botend, 468, _buttoned_ + +bothe (A.S.) _both_. The genitive, botheres, _of both_, occurs. hir +botheres myghtes, 340, _the might of both of them_. hir botheres right, +371, _the right of each of them_. + +botrasen (A.N.) 113, _to make buttresses to a building_ + +bouchen (A.N.) 5, _to stop people's mouths (?)_ + +bouken (A.S.) 274, 306, _to buck (clothes)_ + +bour (A.S.) _a bower, chamber_ + +bourde (A.S.) _a game, joke_ + +bourdynge (A.N.) 297, _jesting_ + +bourn, _g._ bournes (A.S.) _a stream or river_ + +bowe (A.S.) 112, _a bough, branch_ + +bown (A.S.) 37, _ready_ + +boy (A.S.) 6 (?) + +boye (A.S.) 214, _a lad servant_ + +breden (A.S.) _to breed_. _pret. pl._ bredden + +brede (A.S.) _breadth_ + +breed (A.S.) _bread_ + +breeth (A.S.) 388, _breath_ + +breken (A.S.) _to break, tear_. _pret. s._ brak, 388. _part. pas._ +y-broken, broke, y-broke, 416 + +breme (A.S.) 241, _vigorous, fierce, furious_. Chaucer, C. T. l. 1701, +speaking of Arcite and Palamon, says they--"foughten breme, as it were +bolles two," _fought as fiercely as two bulls_. In the Romance of Sir +Amadas (Weber, p. 250) a person is described as coming "lyke a breme bare," +_like a fierce boar_. It appears to be most commonly applied to animals. In +the Towneley Mysteries, p. 197, Anna says to Cayphas, "Be not to breme," +_be not too fierce_ + +brennen, brenne (A.S.) 360, _to burn_. _pret. s._ brende, 367. _part. pas._ +brent + +bresten (A.S.) _to burst_, _pret. s._ brast, 127 + +brevet (A.N.) 5, _a little brief or letter_ + +brewestere (A.S.) 14, 47, _a woman who brews_ + +brid, _pl._ briddes (A.S.) _a bird_ + +bringen (A.S.) _to bring_. _pret. s._ broughte, broghte. _part. past_, +y-brought, broght, 235 + +brocage (A.N.) 33, 289, _a treaty by a broker or agent_. It is particularly +applied to treaties of marriage, brought about in this way. In Chaucer's +Romance of the Rose, l. 6971, Fals Semblant says,-- + + I entremete me of _brocages_. + I maken pece, and mariages. + +So in the Miller's Tale (C.T. 3375), it is said of Absolon, + + He woweth hire by mene and by _brocage_, + And swor he wolde ben hir owne page. + +That is, he wooed her by the agency of another person, whom he employed to +persuade her to agree to his wishes. + +broches (A.N.) _brooches, jewels_. + +broches, 362, _matches_ (?) + +brocour (A.N.) 31, 32, 45, 84, _a seller, broker, maker of bargains_ + +broke (A.S.) _a brook_ + +brok, _pl._ brokkes (A.S.) 119, _an animal of the badger kind_ + +brol (A.S.) 55, 494, 495, _a child, brat_. Reliquiæ Antiquæ, ii, 177:-- + + Whan hi commith to the world, hi doth ham silf sum gode, + Al bot the wrech _brol_ that is of Adamis blode. + +brood (A.S.) _broad_ + +brotel (A.S.) 153, _weak, brittle, unsteady_ + ++brothels (A.S.) 496, _wretches, men of bad life_. In the Coventry +Mysteries (Ed. Halliwell, p. 308), the term is applied to the damned who +suffer punishment in hell:-- + + In bras and in bronston the _brethellys_ be brent, + That wene in this werd my wyl for to werke. + +In another play in the same collection, p. 217, it is applied to the woman +taken in adultery:-- + + Com forthe, thou bysmare and _brothel_ bolde. + +brouke (A.S.) 209, _to enjoy, use, to brook_ + +brugg, _pl._ brugges (A.S.) _a bridge_ + +bruneste (A.S.) _brownest_ + +buggen, bugge (A.S.) 412, _to buy_. _pres. pl._ biggen. _pret._ boughte. +_part. act._ buggynge, 410 + +bummen (A.S. ?) 90, _to taste_ (?) + +burde (A.S.) 44, 404, _a maiden, damsel, lady_ + +burdoun (A.N.) 108, _a staff_ + +burel (A.N.) _a kind of coarse brown woollen cloth_. burel clerkes, 191. +Tyrwhit (Glos. to Chaucer) thinks this means _lay clerks_. In the +Canterbury Tales, l. 7453, the friar says:-- + + And more we se of Goddis secré thinges, + Than _borel folk_, although that thay ben kinges, + We lyve in povert and in abstinence, + And _borel folk_ in riches and dispence. + +The hoste says (l. 15440)-- + + Religioun hath take up al the corn + Of tredyng, and we _burel men_ ben schrympes. + +_Borel folk_ and _borel men_ evidently mean _laymen_ + +burgage (A.N.) 48, _lands or tenements in towns, held by a particular +tenure_ + +burgeise (A.S.) _burgess, inhabitant of a borough_ + +burghe (A.S.) 135, _burgh, town_ + +burghe (A.S.) _castrated_, applied to a hog. burghe swyn, 34, _a barrow +hog_ + +burjonen (A.N.) 299, _to bud, or spring_ + +burn (A.S.) _pl._ burnes, _a man_. buyrn, 341, 346 + ++burwgh (A.S.) 458, _a castle, palace, or large edifice_ + +busk, _pl._ buskes (A.S.) 223, _a bush_ + +busken (A.S.) 44, 167, _to busk, go, to array, prepare_ + +buxom (A.S.) _obedient_. buxomnesse, _obedience_ + + C. K. + +caas (A.N.) _case_ + +cacchen (A.S.) 236, _to catch, take_. _part. past_, caught, 361 + +cachepol (A.S.) 372, 373, _a catchpole_ + +kaiser, kayser (A.S.) 404, _an emperor_ + +cammoke (A.S.) 414, a weed more commonly known by the name of _rest-harrow +(anonis)_ + +kan (A.S.) _can_ + +capul, caple (A.N.) 354, _pl._ caples, 415, 416, _a horse_ (said to be +derived from the Low-Latin _caballus_) + +caractes (A.N.) 233, _characters_ + +cardiacle (Gr.) 266, 430, _a disease affecting the heart_ + +careful (A.S.) _pl._ carefulle, 403, _full of care_ + +carien (A.S.) _to carry_ + +caroyne, careyne (A.N.) _carrion, flesh, a corpse_ + +carpen (A.N.) 356, 400, _to talk, chat, tell_. _part. pas._ y-carped, 313 + ++cary (A.N. ?) 475, _a kind of coarse cloth_ + +casten (A.S.) _to cast_ + +catel (A.N.) 70, 78, 175, 437, _goods, property, treasure, possessions_ + +cauken (A.S. ?) 223, 241, a technical term, applied to birds at their time +of breeding. It is found in the St. Albans Book of Hawking, 1496, sign. A. +i.; "And in the tyme of their (the hawks') love, they calle, and not +_cauke_." + +kaurymaury, 81, _care, trouble_? + ++cautel (A.N.) 469, _a cunning trick_ + +kaylewey ( .) 334 (?) + +kemben (A.S.) 174, _to comb_ + +kene (A.S.) _sharp, earnest_ + +kennen, kenne (A.S.) 355, 396, 410, _to teach_, _pres pl._ konne, 3. +_imperat._ kenne (_teach_), 20. _pret._ kenned, 67, 241, kennede, 409 + +kepen, kepe (A.S.) _to keep, to abstain_, 60. _pret. pl._ kepten, 235, 404. +have kepe this man, 352, _have this man to keep_ + +kernelen (A.N.) 113, _to embattle a building, build the battlements_ + +kerse (A.S.) 174, _cress_ + +kerven (A.S.) _to carve_. +_part. past_, y-corven, 460 + +kerver, 184, _a sculptor_ + +cesse (A.N.) 375, _to end, cease_ + +kevere (A.N.) 445, _to recover_ + +kex (A.S.) 361, _the dried stalk of hemlock_ + +chace (A.N.) 351, _to race, to go fast_ + +chaffare (A.S.) 131, 292, 301, 305, 338, _to deal, traffic, trade_ + +chaffare (A.S.) 3, 31, 85, 268, 305, _merchandise_ + +chalangen (A.N.) _to challenge, claim_. chalangynge, 82. chalanged, 87 + +chapitle (A.N.) _a chapter_ + ++chaple (A.N.) 485, _a chapel_ + +chapman (A.S.) _a merchant, buyer_ + ++chapolories (A.N.) 483, _chapelaries_ + ++charthous (A.N.) 490, _Carthusians_ + +chastilet (A.N.) _a little castle_ + +chatre (A.N.) 287, _to chatter_ + +chauncelrie (A.N.) _chancery_ + +cheke (A.S.) 68, _the cheek_, maugree hire chekes, 68. We have in Chaucer, +_maugré thin eyen_, _maugré hire hed_, &c. See Tyrwhit's Gloss, v. +_Maugre_. One of these instances is exactly analogous to the passage of +Piers Ploughman (C. T. l. 6467):-- + + And happed, al alone as sche was born, + He saugh a mayde walkyng him by-forn, + Of which mayden anoon _maugré hir heed_, + By verray fors byraft hir maydenhed. + +cheker (A.N.) _the exchequer_ + +chele (A.S.) 176, 439, _cold_ + +chepen (A.S.) 296, _to buy_ + +chepyng (A.S.) 68, 135, _market, sale_ + +cherl (A.S.) 210, _pl._ cherles, 337, 375, _a serf, peasant, churl_ + ++cherlich (A.N.) 485, _richly, sumptuously_ + +chervelle (A.S.) 134, _chervil, a plant which was eaten as a pot-herb +(cerefolium)_ + +chese (A.S.) 296, _to choose_ + +cheeste, cheste (A.S.) 33, 169, 253, _dissension, strife, debate_ + +cheve (A.N.) 375, _to compass a thing, to succeed, or bring to an end, to +obtain, adopt_. _pres. s._ cheveth, 287. _pret. pl._ cheveden, 3, chewe, +381, 439. lat hem chewe as thei chosen, _let them take as they choose_ + +chewen (A.N.) 26, 490, _to eschewe_ + +chibolle (A.N.) 134, _a kind of leek_, called in French _ciboule_ + +chicke, _pl._ chicknes, 67 (A.S.) _a chicken_ + +chevysaunce (A.N.) 92, 426, _an agreement for borrowing money_ + +chiden (A.S.) _to chide_ + +child (A.S.) _a child_. _gen. pl._ childrene, 72 + +chymenee (A.N.) 179, _a fire-place_ + +chirie-tyme, 86, _cherry-time_ + +chyvelen (A.S. ?) 88, _to become shrivelled_ + ++chol (A.S.) 464, _the jowl_ + +kidde, _see_ couthen + +kirk (A.S.) _a church_ + +kirtel (A.S.) _a kirtle, frock_ + +kissen (A.S.) 395, _to kiss_. _pret. s._ kiste, 394 + +kith, kyth (A.S.) 55, 324, 400, _relationship, family connection_. to kith +and to kyn, 268, _to family connection and kindred_ + +kitone (A.N.) _kitten, young cat_ + +clawe (A.S.) 274, _to brush, to stroke_ + +clene (A.S.) _pure, clean_. clenner, 410, purer. clennesse, _purity, +cleanness_ + +clepen, clepe (A.S.) _to call_. _pret._ cleped, 436. _part. pas._ cleped, +174 + +clergie (A.N.) _science, clergy_ + +clerk (A.N.) _pl._ clerkes, _gen. pl._ clerkene, 72, _a scholar_ + +cler-matyn (A.N.) 135, _a kind of fine bread_ + +cleven (A.S.) _to split, cleave_ (intransitive). _pret. s._ cleef, 373 + +cleymen (A.N.) 389, _to claim_. _pret. s._ cleymede, 430 + +cliket (A.N.) 114, _a kind of latch key_. cliketten, 114, _to fasten with a +cliket_. Tyrwhit explains the word simply as meaning a key--but in Piers +Ploughman it is put so in immediate apposition with the word key, that it +must have differed from it. In Chaucer, C. T. 9990, et seq. it appears to +be the key of a garden gate:-- + + This freissche May, that I spake of so yore, + In warm wex hath emprynted the _cliket_ + That January bar of the smale wiket, + By which into his gardyn ofte he went; + And Damyan, that knew al hir entent, + The _cliket_ counterfeted prively. + +In a document of the date 1416, quoted by Ducange, v. _Cliquetus_, it is +ordered that, Refectorarius semper teneat hostium refectorii clausum _cum +cliqueto_ + +clyngen (A.S.) 276, _to shrink, wither, pine_. Reliq. Antiquæ, vol. ii, p. +210:-- + + When eld me wol aweld, mi wele is awai; + Eld wol keld, and _cling_ so the clai. + +clippe (A.S.) 359, 394, _to embrace, enfold_ + +clips (A.N. ?) 377, _an eclipse_ + +clyven (A.S.) 367, _to cleave, stick to_ + +clokken (A.N.) 45, _to limp or hobble, to walk lamely_ + +clomsen (A.N.) 276, _to shrink or contract_. A verb used often in the +Wycliffite Bible. In Prompt. Parv. aclomsid. + +clooth (A.S.) _cloth_ + +clouch (A.S.) _pl._ clouches, _a clutch_ + +clouten (A.S.) _to patch, mend_. _part. past_, y-clouted, 120 + +clucche (A.S.) 359, _to clutch, hold_ + +knappe (A.S.) 133, _a knop, a button_ + +knave (A.S.) 14, 66, _a servant lad_ + ++knoppede (A.S.) 476, _full of knobs_ + +knowelichen (A.S.) _to acknowledge_. _pret. s._ kneweliched, 239, 407. +_part. act._ knowelichynge, 400 + +knowes (A.S.) 98, _knees_ + +knowen, knowe (A.S.) 408, _to know_, _pres. pl._ knowen. _pret. s._ knew, +232. _pl._ knewen, 237. _part. pas._ knowen, knowe + +coffe (A.S. ?) 120, _a cuff_ + ++cofrene (A.N.) 455, _to put in a coffer_ + +coghen (A.S.) 367, _to cough_ + +coke (A.S.) _a cook_ + +cokeney (A.N.) 134, _some kind of meager food, probably a young or small +cock, which had little flesh on its bones_. This meaning of the word (which +has been misunderstood) may be gathered from a comparison of the passage in +Piers Ploughman with one in the "Turnament of Tottenham," where the writer +intended to satirize the poorness of the fare:-- + + At that fest were thei servyd in a rich aray, + Every fyve and fyve had _a cokeney_. + +Heywood, in his Proverbs, part i, chap. xi, gives a proverb in which the +word is evidently used in the same sense, and appears to be intentionally +contrasted with a _fat hen_:-- + + --Men say, + He that comth every daie shall have _a cocknaie_, + He that comth now and then, shall have a fat hen; + But I gat not so muche in comyng seelde when, + As a goode hens fether or a poore egshell. + +I think that _cokenay_ in Chaucer is the same word, used metaphorically to +signify a person without worth or courage (C. T. 4205):-- + + And when this jape is tald another day, + I sal be hald a daf, _a cokenay_. + +coker (A.S.) 120, _a short stocking, or glove, a sheath_ + +coket (A.N.) 135, _a kind of fine bread_ + +cokewold (A.N.) 75, _a cuckold_ + +cole (A.N.) 134, _cabbage_ + +coler (A.N.) _a collar_ + +collen (A.N.) 203, _to embrace, put one's arms round a person's neck_, in +French, _accoller_ + +colomy (A. .) 267 (?) + +colvere (A.S.) 319, _a dove, pigeon_ + +come (A.S.) 416, _to come_. _pres. s._ he comth, 18, 332. _pret. s._ cam, +kam, coom, 168, com, 400. _pl._ comen, 438, come, 235, 237, 430, coome, +416, coomen, 438. _subj._, til he coome, 328, er thei coome, 353 + +comsen (A.N.) 23, 24, 49, 77, 81, 119, 136, 152, 244, 372, _to begin, +commence, to endeavour_. _pret. s._ comsede, 402, 403. comsynge, 382 + +comunes (A.N.) 80, 420, _commons, allowance of provision_ + +confus (A.N.) _confused_ + +congeyen, congeien (A.N.) 258, _to give leave, dismiss_ + +congie (A.N.) 258, _leave_ + +konne (A.S.) 401, 408, 437, _to learn, know_. _pres. s._ kan. _pret._ +kouthe, 411, koude. _subj._ in case that thow konne, 424, and thou konne, +397, _if thou know_. _pret. act._ konnyng, 206, _knowing_ + +konnynge (A.S.) 409, _knowledge, science, cunning_ + +contenaunce (A.N.) 2, 203, _appearance, gesture, carriage_ + +contrarien (A.N.) 367, _to go against, vex, oppose_ + +contree (A.N.) _a country_ + +contreve (A.N.) _to contrive_. contreved, _contrived_ + +conying (A.N. ?) _a rabbit_ + +copen (A.N.) 51, _to cover with a cope, like a friar_ + +coppe (A.N.) 44, 191, _a cup, basin_ + +coroune (A.N.) _a crown_ + +corounen (A.N.) _to crown_. _part. p._ y-corouned + +cors (A.N.) 295, _the body_ + +corsaint (A.N.) 109, _a relique, the body of a saint_ + +corsen (A.S.) 305, _to curse_ + +corsede (A.S.) _cursed_. corseder, 421, _more cursed, worse_ + +cost (A.N.) 33, 151, 376, _a side, region_ + +costen (A.N.) _to cost_. _pret. s._ costed, 13. _part. pas._ costned, 13 + +cote (A.S.) 152, _a cottage, cot_ + +coten (A.N.) 51, _to dress in a coat_ + ++cotinge (A.S.) 468, _cutting_ + +coupable (A.N.) 366, _guilty, culpable_ + +coupe (A.N.) 44, 95, _a cup_ + +coupen (A.N.) _to cut out, fashion_ (?) _part. past_, y-couped, 370 + +courben (A.N.) 19, 28, _to bend, stoop_ + +courtepy (A.N.) 82, 128, _a short cloak of coarse cloth_ + +couthen (A.S.) 87, _to make known, discover, publish_. _pret._ kidde, 103, +269 + ++couuen (A.S.) 473, perhaps an error in the old printed text for _connen_ + +coveiten (A.N.) _to covet_ + +covent (A.N.) 428, _a convent_ + +coveren (A.N.) 238, _to recover_ + +cracchen (A.S.) 211, 322, _to scratch_ + +crafte (A.S.) _craft, art_. crafty-men, 121, _artisans_ + +creaunt (A.N.) 239, _believing_ + +crepen (A.S.) _to creep_. _pret. s._ crope, _pl._ cropen + +cryen (A.N.) _to cry_. _pret. s._ cried, cryde, 374, _pl._ cryden, cride + +croft (A.S.) _a small inclosed field, a croft_ + +crokke (A.S.) 412, _a pot, pitcher, vessel of earthenware_ + ++crom-bolle (A.S.) 476, _a crum-bowl_ + +crop (A.S.) 332, 334, _the head or top of a tree or plant_; hence the +expression "root and crop," still in use + +cropiers (A.N.) _the housings on the horse's back_ + +croppen (A.S.) 319, _to eat (said of a bird), to put into its crop or craw_ + +crouche (A.N.) 109, _a cross_. Hence is derived the name of _the Crutched +Friars_ + ++crouken (A.S.) 495, _to bend_ + ++crucchen (A.S.) 495, _to crouch_ + +cruddes (A.S.) _curds_ + +cruwel (A.N.) 269, _cruel_ + +ku, _pl._ kyen (A.S.) 125, _a cow_ + +kulle (A.S.) 344, kille, 434, _to kill_. _pret. s._ kilde, 431. _part. +past_, kulled, 339. to kulle, 338 + +culorum (_Lat._) 60, 198, _the conclusion or moral of a tale_ + +cultour (A.S.) 123, kultour, 61, _a culter, blade_ + +cuppe-mele (A.S.) 90, _cup by cup_ + +kutte, 79 (A.S.) _to cut_. _imperat._ kut, 75. _pret. pl._ kitten, 128 + +kynde (A.S.) _nature, race, kind_ + +kynde (A.S.) _natural_. kyndeliche, 382, _naturally_ + +kyng (A.S.) _pl._ kynges. _gen. pl._ kyngene, 21, 400, _a king_ + +kyng-ryche (A.S.) _a kingdom_ + +kyn, _gen. s._ kynnes (A.S.) 40, _kin, kind_. This word is used in the +genitive case in such phrases as the following: of foure kynnes thynges, +151, _of four kinds of things_. othere kynnes men, 177, _other kinds of +men_. none kynnes riche, 213, _no kind of rich men, or rich men of no +kind_. many kynnes maneres, 359, _many sorts of manners_. any kynnes catel, +400, _any kind of property_ + + D. + +daffe (A.S.) _a fool_ + +daggen (A.S.) 433, _to dag, to cut the edges of the garment in jagged +ornaments, as was the custom at this period_ + +daren (A.S.) _to dare_. _pres. pl._ dar, 10, 280. _pret. s._ and _pl._ +dorste, 11, 42, 253, 393 + +dawe (A.S.) 380, _dawn_. _pret. s._ dawed, 395 + +dawnten (A.N.) 319, _to tame_,--also, _to daunt, to fear_ + +decourren (A.N.) 285, _to discover, lay open, narrate_ + +dedeynous (A.N.) 156, _disdainful_ + +deed (A.S.) _dead_ + +deen (A.N.) _a dean_ + +dees (A.N.) _dice_ + +deef (A.S.) _pl._ deve, 403, _deaf_ + +defende (A.N.) 47, 485, _to forbid, prohibit_ + +defien, defyen, defie (A.N. ?) 84, 100, 141, 298, _to digest_ + +defyen (A.N.) _to defy_. _pret. s._ defyed, 429 + +degised (A.N.) 2, _disguised_ + +deyen (A.S.) _to die_. _pret. s._ deide, 214. to dye, 352 + +deyntee (A.N.) 205, _dainty, niceness, preciousness_ + +deys, dees (A.N.) 139, 250, _the dais, or high table in the hall_ + +deitee (A.N.) _deity, godhead_ + +del, deel (A.S.) _part, portion_. tithe deel, 323, _tenth part_ + +delen, dele, deelen (A.S.) 47, 175, 218, _share, distribute, give, deal_. +_pres._ ye deele, 144 + +deliten (A.N.) _to delight, take pleasure_ + +delitable (A.N.) _delightful, pleasant_ + +delven (A.S.) 417, _to dig, bury_. _pret. pl._ dolven, 128. _part. pas._ +dolven, 128, 293 + +delvere (A.S.) _a digger, delver_ + +demen (A.S.) _to judge_. _pret._ demede + +dene (A.S.) 373, _din, noise_ + +dene (A.N.) _a dean_ + +departable (A.N.) 355, _divisible_ + +depper (A.S.) 307, _deeper_ + +dere (A.S.) 140, 349, 370, _to injure, hurt_ + +derely (A.S.) 396, _expensively, richly_ + +dereworthe (A.S.) _precious, honourable_ + +derk (A.S.) _dark_ + +derne (A.S.) 38, 249, _secret_ + +destruyen, destruye (A.N.) 361, _to destroy_. _pret. s._ destruyed, 340 + +dette (A.N.) _pl._ dettes, _a debt_ + +devoir (A.N.) _duty_ + +devors (A.N.) 433, _divorce_ + +dya (A.N.) 435, _dyachylon_ + +diapenidion, 84, _an electuary_ + +dido (A. .) 256, _a trifle, a trick_ + +dighte (A.S.) 134, _to fit out, make, dispose, dress_. _pret. s._ dighte, +396 + ++digne (A.N.) 472, _worthy_ + +digneliche (A.N.) _worthily, deservedly_ + +dyk, 417 (A.S.) _dych, a ditch_ + +dikere, dykere (A.S.) 96, _a ditch or foss digger, ditcher_ + +dymes (A.N.) 326, _tithes_ + +dymme (A.S.) 388, _dark_. _adv._ dymme, 184, _darkly_ + +dymmen (A.S.) 98, _to become dim or dark_ + +dyngen (A.S.) 62, 125, 193, 295, _to strike, ding, knock_ + +dynt (A.S.) 370, _a blow, knock_ + +disalowed (A.N.) 281, _disallowed, disapproved. disalowyng_, 282, +_disapproving_ + +discryven (A.N.) _to describe_ + +disour (A.N.) _a player at dice_ + +disour (A.N.) 120, _a teller of tales_ + +dyssheres (A.S.) 96, _a female who makes dishes_ + ++distrie (A.N.) 478, _to destroy_ + +doel (A.N.) 100, 124, 368, _grief, lamentation_ + +doughtier (A.S.) 83, _more doughty, more to be feared_. doghtiest, 403, +_bravest_. doghtiliche, 371, _doughtily, bravely_ + +doke (A.S.) 81, 352, _a duck_ + +dole (A.S.) 47, _a share, portion_. Another form of _del_. + +donet (A.N.) 89, _grammar, elements, first principles_, from Donatus. See +note on l. 7944 + +domesman (A.S.) 414, _a judge_ + +dongeon (A.N.) _a fort, the chief tower of a castle_ + +doom, dome (A.S.) _pl._ domes, _judgment_ + +doon (A.S.) _to do_. _pres. sing._ dooth, _pl._ doon, don. _pret. s._ dide, +_pl._ diden, 278, 392, dide, 389. _part. pas._ doon, do. _imperat. pl._ +dooth, 152. to doone, 226, 263 + +dore-tree (A.S.) _a door post_ + ++dortour (A.N.) 463, _a dormitory_ + +doted (A.S.) _foolish, simple_ + +doughtres (A.S.) _daughters_ + +doute (A.N.) _fear, doubt_ + +dowen (A.N.) _to endow_. _pret._ dowed, 325, _endowed_ + +dowve (A.S.) 319, _a dove_ + +draf (A.S.) 173, 419, _dregs, dirt_. Things thrown away as unfit for man's +food, particularly the dust and husks of corn after it has been threshed. +Chaucer's Parson (C. T. l. 17329) says:-- + + Why schuld I sowen _draf_ out of my fest, + Whan I may sowe whete, if that me lest? + ++drane (A.S.) 493, _a drone_ + +drawen (A.S.) _to draw_. _pret. s._ drough, 89, 98. drogh, 280, 437. drow, +376, _pl._ drowen, 222. _part. pas._ drawe, 175 + ++drecchen (A.S.) 478, 480, _to vex, grieve, oppress_ + +drede (A.S.) 434, _to dread, fear_. _pres. s._ he drat, 165. _pret. s._ +dredde, 280. _pl._ dradden, 429. _imperat._ dred, 17 + +dredfully (A.S.) 352, _fearfully, terrified_ + +dregges (A.S.) 419, _dregs_ + +dremels (A.S.) 148, 247, _a dream_ + +drenchen, drenche (A.S.) 154, 237, _to drown_. _pret. pl._ a-dreynten, 198 + +drevelen (A.S.) 175, _to drivel_ + +drye (A.S.) 276, _thirst_ + +drien (A.S.) 16, _to be dry, thirsty_ + +drihte (A.S.) 262, _lord_. drighte, 279 + +drinken (A.S.) _to drink_. _pret. s._ drank, _pl._ dronken, 277, dronke, +278. _part. pas._ dronken, y-dronke, 354 + +dryven (A.S.) _to drive_ + +droghte (A.S.) 134, _a drought, deficiency of wet_ + +dronklewe (A.S.) 156, _drunken, given to drink_. The word occurs in +Chaucer, C. T. l. 7625:-- + + Irous Cambises was eek _dronkelewe_, + And ay delited him to ben a schrewe. + +Again (C. T. l. 12426):-- + + Seneca saith a good word douteles: + He saith he can no difference find, + Betwix a man that is out of his mind, + And a man whiche that is _dronkelew_. + +The word used by Seneca is _ebrius_ + +drury (A.N.) 20, _courtship, gallantry_ + +duc (A.N.) 414, _a duke_. _pl._ dukes, 388 + ++duen (A.N.) 496, _to endue, or endow_ + + E. + +ech (A.S.) _each_. echone (i. e. _each one_) _every one, each_ + +edifie (A.N.) 371, _to build_ + +edwyte (A.S.) 99, _to reproach, blame, upbraid_ + +eest (A.S.) _east_ + +eft (A.S.) 354, 371, _again_ + +eggen (A.S.) 19, 386, _to egg on, urge, incite_ + +egreliche (A.N.) 334, 418, _sourly, bitterly_ + ++ey (A.S.) 464, _an egg_ + +eighe (A.S.) 180, 190, 306, _pl._ eighen, 5, 80, 127, eighes, 33, _the eye_ + +eylen (A.S.) _to ail_ + +eyr (A.N.) _air_ + +elde (A.S.) _old age_ + +elenge (A.S.) 12, 179, 425, _mournful, sorrowful_. elengliche, 231, +_sorrowfully, in trouble_ + +eller (A.S.) 19, ellere, 168, _an elder tree_ + +ellis (A.S.) 6, _else, otherwise, at other times_ + +enbawmen (A.N.) _to embalm_. _pret. s._ enbawmed, 352 + +enblaunchen (A.N.) 301, _to whiten over_ + +engyne (A.N.) 384, _to contrive, lay a plan, catch_ + +engleymen (A.N.) 298, _to beslime_ + +engreyned (A.N.) 29, _powdered_ + +enselen (A.N.) _to put a seal to_ + ++entayled (A.N.) 462, _carved_ + +entre-metten (A.N.) 226, 263, _to intermeddle_ + +envenyme (A.N.) _venom, poison_ + +er (A.S.) _before, formerly_ + +erchdekenes (A.N.) _archdeacons_ + +ere (A.S.) _pl. eris, the ear_ + +erien, erie, erye (A.S.) 117, 138, _to plough_. _pret. pl._ eriede, 411. +_part. past_, eryed, 117 + +eerl. _pl._ erles (A.S.) _an earl_ + +ernynge (A.S.) 418, _running_. _see_ yerne + +ers (A.S.) 87, 180, 191, _the fundament, podex_ + +erst (A.S.) _first, most before_, _superl. of_ er + +eschaunge (A.N.) _exchange_ + +eschetes (A.N.) 75, _escheats_ + +ese (A.N.) _ease_ + +eten, ete (A.S.) 386, _to eat_. _pret. s._ eet, 100, 135, 146, 241, &c. +_pl._ eten, 114, 248, ete, 278. _part. pas._ eten, 354. + ++evelles (A.S.) 465, _without evil_ + +even (A.S.) _equal_. even-cristen, _equal christian, or equal by baptism_; +_fellow-christian_, evene, 76, _evenly, equally_. evene forth, 356, +_equally_ + ++evesed (A.S.) 460, _furnished with eaves_ + +evesynge (A.S.) 361, _the ice which hangs on the eaves of houses_ + +ewage (A.N.) 29, _a kind of precious stone_ + +expounen (A.N.) 290, _to expound, explain_ + + F. + +fader (A.S.) 361, _a father_ + +fayn (A.S.) _fain, glad_ + +faiten (A.N.) 144, 308, _to beg, idle, to flatter_. _pret. pl._ faiteden, +3. faityng, 175, _deceiving_ + +faiterie (A.N.) 207, _flattery, deception_ + +faitour (A.N.) _a deceiver, an idle lazy fellow, a flatterer_ + +faithly (A.N.) 400, _truly, properly_ + +fallen (A.S.) _to fall_. _pres. s._ he falleth. _pret. s._ fel, 280, 297, +fil, 278, 312, 374, fille, 285, 336, _pl._ fellen, felle, 336, 388. _part. +pas._ fallen, 375 + +fals (A.N.) _false, falseness_. falshede, _falsehood_. falsliche, 390, +_falsely_ + +fangen (A.S.) 111, fonge, 282, 336, _to take, take hold of_. _pret. s._ +_under_-feng, 19, _under_-fonged, 209. _part. past_, _under_-fongen, 115, +211 + +faren, fare (A.S.) 197, _to go, fare_. _pret. s._ ferde, 443, _pl._ ferden, +168 _part. past_, faren 77, 123, 228 + +fare (A.S.) 376, _proceeding, manner of going on, fare_ + +fasten (A.S.) _to fast_ + +fauchon (A.N.) 295, _a sword, falchion_ + +faunt (A.N.) 134, 144, 336, 403, _a child, infant_ + +fauntekyn (A.N.) 259, _a young child_ + +faunteltee, fauntelté (A.N.) 204, 304, _childishness_ + +faute, _pl._ fautes (A.N.) 179, _a fault_ + +fauten (A.N.) _to want_. _pret._ fauted, 163 + +favel (A.N.) 28, 30, _deception by flattery, cajolery_ + +feble (A.N.) 355, _feeble, weak_ + +fecchen (A.S.) 39, 385, 410, _to fetch_. _pres. s._ I fecche, thow fettest, +390. _pret. s._ fet, fette, 36, 104, 202, 385. _pl._ fetten, 134. _part. +pas._ fet, 444, fette water at hise eighen, _threw water at his eyes_; to +fetch a thing at another, for, to throw, is an expression still in use + +feden (A.S.) _to feed_ + +fee (A.S.) _property, money, fee_ + +feere (A.S.) 367, _pl._ feeres, feeris, _companion_ + +feere (A.S.) 256, 367, 376, _fear_ + +feet (A.N.) 26, _a deed, fact_ + +feffement (A.N.) 32, _enfeofment_ + +feffen (A.N.) 33, 37, _to infeof, to fee, present_ + +feynen (A.N.) _to feign, dissemble_ + +feyntise (A.S.) 77, _faintness, weakness_ + +feire (A.N.) _a fair_ + +fel (A.S.) _the skin_ + +fele (A.S.) _many_. fele fold, _manyfold_ + +fellen (A.S.) _to fell, kill_ + +felonliche (A.N.) 390, _like a felon, in manner of a felon_ + ++fen (A.S.) 476, _mud, mire_ + +fend (A.S.) _pl._ fendes, _a fiend, devil_. fyndekynes, 391, _little +fiends_ + +fennel-seed (A.S.) 95, _the seed of sweet-fennel was formerly used as a +spice_ + +fenestre (A.N.) 285, 370, _a window_ + +fer (A.S.) _far_ + +fere (A.S.) 140, _to frighten_ + +ferly (A.S.) _pl._ ferlies, _a wonder_, 196, 253, 376 + +ferie (A.N.) 270, _a week-day_ + +ferme (A.N.) 403, _adv._ _firmly_ + +fermed (A.N.) 177, _strengthened_ + +fernyere (A.S.) 103, 228, _in former times_ + +fernmerye (A.N.) 253, _the infirmary_ + ++ferrer (A.S.) 463, _further_ + +ferthe (A.S.) 413, _fourth_ + +festnen (A.S.) _to fasten_. _part. pas._ fest, 35 + +festynge (A.N.) _feasting_ + +festu (A.N.) 190, _a mote in the eye_. (festuca, _Lat._) + +fetisliche, 28, fetisly, 38 (A.N.) _elegantly, neatly, featously_ + +fibicches (A.N. ?) 186 (?) + ++fichewes (A.S.) 468, _a kind of weasel_, called a _fitchet_ in Shropshire + ++fyen (A.N.) 487, _to say, fy!_ The exclamation, _fy!_ was originally one +of disgust, occasioned by anything that stunk, according to the old distich +(MS. Cotton, Cleop. B. ix, fol. 11, v^o. of the thirteenth cent.):-- + + _Phi_, nota _foetoris_, lippus gravis omnibus horis, + Sit _phi_, sit lippus semper procul, ergo Philippus! + +fiers (A.N.) _proud, fierce_ + +fighten (A.S.) _to fight_. _pret. s._ faught, 391, 402. _pl._ foughten. +_part. pas._ y-foughte, 126, 336 + +fyle (A.N.) 86, _a daughter, girl_, apparently used here in the sense of a +_common woman_; as they say now in French, _elle n'est qu'une fille_, she +is no better than a strumpet + +fyn (A.N.) 403, _fine, clever_ + +fynden (A.S.) _to find, to furnish_. _pres. s._ he fynt, 73, 146, 305, 367. +_pret. s._ fond, foond, 219, 304, 312 + +fir (A.S.) 360, _fire_. fuyr, _fire_ + +fithele (A.N.) 272, _to fiddle_. fithele, 165, _a fiddle_ + +flappen (A.S.) _to strike with a flail or with any flat loose weapon_. +_pret. pl._ flapten, 128 + +flatten (A.N.) _to slap_. _pret. s._ flatte, 104 + +flawmbe, flaumbe (A.N.) 360, 362, _a flame_ + +flawme (A.S.) 243, _to emit a fetid exhalation_ (?) + +flawmen (A.N.) 361, _to flame_. flawmynge, 360, _flaming_ + +fle, 40, fleen, 168, 366 (A.S.) _to fly_. _pret. s._ fleigh, 40, 351, 353, +402, 435. _pl._ flowen, 42, 128. fledden, 42 + +fleckede (A.S.) 222, _spotted_ + +flesshe (A.S.) _flesh_ + +fleten (A.S.) 237, _to float, swim involuntarily_ + +flittynge (A.S.) 206, _disputing, flyting_ + +flobre (A.S. ?) 274, _to slobber_ (?) + +florisshe (A.N.) 291, _to adorn_ + +floryn (A.N.) 74, _a florin_ (a gold coin) + ++flurichen (A.N.) 479, _to flourish_ + +fode (A.S.) _food_ + ++foynes (A.N.) 468, _a kind of marten, of which the fur was used for +dresses_ + +fold, foold (A.S.) 24, 141, 243, _the world, the earth_ + +fole (A.S.) _a foal_ + +follede, 321, _baptized_. see _fullen_ + ++folloke (A.S.) 489 (?) + +folvyle (A.N.) 410 (?) + +folwe, folwen (A.S.) 355, _to follow_. _pres. pl._ folwen. _pret. s._ +folwed, folwede, 353. _pl._ folwede, 301. _part. past_, folwed + +folwere (A.S.) _a follower_ + +fonden (A.S.) 238, _to try, tempt, inquire_. _pret. s._ fonded, fondede, +315, 344, 353 + +fondynge (A.S.) 291, _a temptation, undertaking_ + +fongen, _see_ fangen + +foot (A.S.) _a foot_. foote, 354, _on foot_ + +for (A.S.) _for, for that, because_; for-thi, _because, therefore_ + +for-, in composition in verbs derived from the Anglo-Saxon, conveys the +idea of privation or deterioration, and answers to the modern German ver-. +It is preserved in a few words in our language, such as _forbid_, +_forbear_, _forlorn_, &c. The following instances occur in Piers +Ploughman:-- + +for-bete (A.S.) _to beat down, beat to pieces, or to death, beat entirely_. +_part. past_, for-beten, 436 + +for-bode (A.S.) _denial, forbidding_ + +for-biten (A.S.) 332, _to bite to pieces_ + +for-doon, for-do (A.S.) 78, 163, 371, _to undo, ruin_. _pret. s._ for-dide, +340, 390. _part. past_, for-do, 262, for-doon, 371 + +for-faren (A.S.) 303, _to go to ruin, perish, to fare ill_ + +for-freten (A.S.) 332, _to eat to pieces_ + ++for-gabben (A.N.) 488, _to mock_ + +for-yeten (A.S.) 362, _to forget_. _pret. s._ for-yat, 205 + +for-gyven (A.S.) _to forgive_. _pret. s._ 374. _part. pas._ for-gyve, 365 + +for-glutten (A.S.) 178, _to devour, swallow up_ + +for-pynede (A.S.) 126, _pined or starved to death, wasted away, niggardly_. +Chaucer, C. T. l. 1453:-- + + In derknes and orrible and strong prisoun + This seven yeer hath seten Palamon, + _For-pyned_, what for woo and for destresse. + +And C. T. l. 205:-- + + He was not pale as a _for-pyned_ goost. + +In this latter place Tyrwhit seems to interpret it as meaning _tormented_ + +for-shapen (A.S.) _to unmake_. _pret. s._ for-shapte, 365 + +for-sleuthen (A.S.) 103, _to be spoilt from lying idle_ + +for-stallen (A.S.) 68, _to hinder, forestall, stop_ + +for-sweren (A.S.) 170, _to perjure, swear falsely_. _part. pas._ +for-sworen, 418, forsworn + +for-thynken (A.S.) 167, _to repent, beg pardon_ + +for-wandred (A.S.) 1, _worn out with wandering about_ + +for-wanye (A.S.) 79, _to spoil_ + ++for-werd (A.S.) 476, 494, _worn out_ + +for-yelden (A.S.) 133, 257, _to make a return for a thing, repay_ + +forbisne (A.S.) 152, _an example, similitude, parable_ + +forceres (A.N.) 186, _coffers_ + +fore-ward, for-ward, for-warde (A.S.) 65, 119, 206, _a bargain, promise_ + +for-goer (A.S.) 39, _a goer before_ + +for-goers (A.S.) 31, _people whose business it was to go before the great +lords in their progresses, and buy up provisions for them_ + +formest (A.S.) 186, 403, _first, foremost_ + ++formfaderes (A.S.) 498, _first fathers_ + +formour (A.N.) 160, 358, _a creator, maker_ + +forreyour (A.N.) 430, _a scout, forager_ + +forster (A.N.) 354, _a forester_ + ++forytoures, 465, perhaps an error of the press in the old edition for +_fautoures_ + +forwit (A.S.) 87, _prescience, forethought, anticipation_ + +fostren (A.S.) 360, _to foster_ + +foulen (A.S.) 414, _to defoul_ + +fowel (A.S.) _a fowl, bird_ + +fraynen (A.S.) _to ask, inquire, question_. _pret. s._ frayned, 18, 109, +151, 341, 370 + ++fraynyng (A.S.) 452, _questioning_ + +frankeleyn (A.N.) 398, _a large freeholder_, in rank in society classed +with, but after, the _miles_ and _armiger_. See Tyrwhit's note on the +Canterbury Tales, l. 333 + +frayel (A.N.) 252, _a wicker basket_. See note. In the romance of Richard +Coeur de Lion, l. 1547, King Richard says:-- + + Richard aunsweryth, with herte free, + Off froyt there is gret plenté; + Fyggys, raysyns, in _frayel_, + And notes may serve us fol wel. + +fraytour (A.N.) 192, 463, _a refectory_ + +freke (A.S.) 74, 87, 130, 132, 188, 203, 246, 250, 341, _man, fellow_ + +frele (A.N.) _frail_ + +freletee (A.N.) 46, frelete, 367, _frailty_ + +fremmed (A.S.) 303, _strange_ + +frere (A.N.) _a friar, brother_ + +frete (A.S.) 265, _to fret_ + +frete, freten (A.S.) 33, _to eat, devour_. _pret. s._ freet, 381 + +fretien (A.S.) _to adorn_. _part. p._ fretted + +fryth (A.S.) 224, 241, 355, _an inclosed wood_ + +frythed (A.S.) 112, _wooded_ + +frounces (A.N.) 265, _wrinkles_ + +fullen (A.S.) 322, _to full cloth_ + +fullen (A.S.) 176, _to become full_ + +fullen (A.S.) _to baptize_. _pret. s._ follede, 321. _part. past_, +y-fulled, 398 + +fullynge (A.S.) 244, 322, 398, _baptizing, baptism_ + +furwe (A.S.) _a furrow_ + +fust (A.S.) 356, _the fist_ + + G. Y. + +gabben (A.N.) 53, _to joke, trifle, tell tales_. gabbyng (A.N.) 423, +_joking, idle talk_ + +gadelyng (A.S.) 434, gedelyng, 165. _pl._ gedelynges, 171, gadelynges, 68, +_a vagabond_. In Anglo-Saxon the word _gædeling_ means a companion or +associate, apparently without any bad sense. Thus the romance of Beowulf +speaks of the armour of one of the heroes:-- + + þæt Onela for-geaf, + his gædelinges + guð-ge-wædu. + _which Onela had given him, + the war-weeds of his comrade, + the ready implements of war._ + +This, and most of the other similar Anglo-Saxon words, applied to their +heroes and warriors, became degraded under the Anglo-Normans. We may +mention as other examples the words, _fellow_, _renk_, _grom_, _wye_, &c. + ++gaynage (A.N.) 462, _profit_ + +gaynesse (A.N.) 178, _gaiety_ + +galoche (A.N.) 370, _a shoe_. The word occurs in Chaucer + +galpen (A.S.) 252, _to belch_ + +gamen (A.S.) _play_ + +gangen, gange (A.S.) _to go_ + ++garites (A.S.) 463, _garrets_ + +garnementz (A.N.) 379, _garments, ornaments_ + +gare (A.S.) _to make or cause to do a thing_. _pret. s._ garte, 22, 80, +135, 321, gart, 84, gerte, 428 + +gate (A.S.) 67, 171, 383, _way, going_. go thi gate, 351, 445, _go thy +way_. this ilke gate, 354, _this same way_ + +yate (A.S.) 385, 406, _a gate_ + +geaunt (A.N.) 384, _a giant_ + +gentile (A.N.) 26, 174, 175, _gentle, genteel_ + +gentilliche (A.N.) 44, _beautifully, finely, genteelly_ + +gentrie (A.N.) 370, _gentility_ + +gerl (A.S.) _pl._ gerles, girles, gerlis, 17, 184, 369, _youth of either +sex_. In the Coventry Mystery of the Slaughter of the Innocents (p. 181) +one of the knights engaged in the massacre says:-- + + I xall sle scharlys, + And qwenys with therlys, + Here _knave gerlys_ + I xal steke. + Forthe wyl I spede, + To don hem blede, + Thow _gerlys_ grede, + We xul be wreke. + +gerner (A.N.) _a garner_ + +gesene (A.S. ?) 262, _rare, scarce_ + +gesse (A.S.) _a guess_. up gesse, 102, _upon guess, by guess_ + +gest, _pl_. gestes (A.N.) _a deed, history, tale_ + +gest (A.S.) 312, _a guest_ + +geten, gete (A.S.) _to get_. _pres. pl._ geten. _pret. s._ gat, thow gete, +386, 389, 390, getest, 390, _part. past_, geten, 375, gete, 403 + +yiftes (A.S.) 49, _gifts_ + +gyle (A.S.) _guile, deceit_ + +gilour (A.S.) _a deceiver_ + +gyn (A.N.) 384, _a trap, machine, contrivance_ + +gynful (A.N.) 186, _full of tricks or contrivances_ + +gynnen (A.S.) _to begin_. _pret. sing._ gan, 2. _pl._ gonne, 158, gonnen, +262. gynnyng, _beginning_. The preterite is frequently used as an auxiliary +verb to form with others a kind of imperfect or preterite, as, gan drawe, +352, _drew_; gan despise, 374, _despised_ + +gyen (A.N.) 39, _to rule_ + +gyour (A.N.) 421, 429, _a ruler, leader_ + +girden (A.S.) 40, _to cast, strike_. _pret. s._ girte, 99. In the second +Towneley Mystery of the Shepherds, p. 115, Mak says, "If I trespas eft, +_gyrd_ of my heede." + +gyterne (A.N.) 260, a _gittern_, a musical instrument, resembling, or +identical with, the modern guitar + +gyven (A.S.) _to give_. _pres. pl._ gyven. _pret. sing._ gaf, yaf, 387. +_part. past_, yeven, y-gyve, 37 + +gyven (A.S.) 436, _to fetter, bind in gyves_ + ++gladdyng (A.S.) 481, _merry_ (?) + +gladen, 404, gladie, 384 (A.S.) _to gladden, cause joy to_. _pret. s._ +gladede, 435 + ++glaverynge (A.N.) 454, 492, _smooth, slippery, flattering_ + +glazene (A.S.) 435, _made of glass_ (?) See note + +glee (A.S.) _the performance of the minstrel or jongleur_ + +gle-man (A.S.) 98, 165, _a minstrel_ + +glede, glade (A.S.) 94, 361, _a spark, glowing ember_ + ++gleym ( ) 479 (?) + ++gloppynge (A.S.) 456, _sucking in_ + +glosen (A.N.) _to gloss, paraphrase, comment_ + +gloton (A.N.) _a glutton_ + +glotonye (A.N.) _gluttony_ + +glubben (A.S.) _to suck in, gobble up_. _part. pas._ y-glubbed, 97, _sucked +in_. glubbere, 162, _a glutton_ + +gnawen (A.S.) _to gnaw_ + ++gode (A.S.) 476, _a goad_ + +goky (A.S.) 220, _a gawky, clown_ + +goliardeis (A.N.) 9, _one who gains his living by following rich men's +tables, and telling tales and making sport for the guests_. See on this +word the Introduction to the Poems of Walter Mapes. It occurs in Chaucer, +C. T. l. 562 + + He was a jangler and _a golyardeys_, + And that was most of synne and harlotries. + +gome (A.S.) 257, 263, 267, 288, 308, 312, 350, 354, 382, 403, _a man_ + +gomme (A.N.) _gum_ + +goon (A.S.) 37, _to go_. _pres. s._ he gooth, 354. _pl._ gon, goon, 303. +_pret. sing._ wente. _pl._ wenten, 233, 351 + +goost (A.S.) _spirit, ghost_ + +goostliche (A.S.) 427, _spiritually_ + +gorge (A.N.) 176, 177, _the throat, mouth_ + +gos (A.S.) _pl._ gees, _a goose_ + +gothelen (A.S.) 97, 252, _to grumble_ (as is said of the belly) + +gowe (A.S.) 14, _a phrase of invitation, i. e. go we, let us go_ + +graffen (A.N.) 85, _to graft_ + ++graith (A.S.) 453, 464, _the truth_ (?) + +graithe (A.S.) 27, _ready, prepared_ + +graithen (A.S.) _to prepare, make ready_. +_part. pas._ y-greithed, 462, +487. graythed, 494 + +graithly (A.S.) 386. graythliche, 482, _readily, speedily_ + +graunt (A.N.) 353, _great_ + +graven (A.N.) _to engrave_. _part. pas._ grave, 73, _engraved_ + +gravynge (A.N.) _engraving, sculpturing_ + +graven (A.N.) 206, _to put in grave_ + +greden (A.S.) 32, 47, _to cry out, shout, make a noise_. _pret. s._ thow +graddest, 421, he gradde, 335, 448 + +gree (A.N.) 375, _pleasure, will_ + +greete (A.S.) 100, _to lament_ + +greyne (A.N.) 412, 415, _a grain, seed_ + +greten (A.S.) 97, 379, _to greet_. _pret. s._ grette, 186, 344, 446 + +gretter (A.S.) _greater_ + +greven (A.N.) 354, _to grieve_ + +grys (A.S.) 14, 68, 134, _pigs_. See the story of Will _Gris_ in the +Lanercost Chronicle + +grys (A.N.) 308, _a kind of fur_ + ++grysliche (A.S.) 485, _fearfully_ + +grom (A.S.) 99, _a man_: hence the modern groom + +grote (A.N.) 51, _a groat, a coin of the value of four pennies_ + +grucchen, grucche (A.S.) _to grudge_ + + H. + +hailsen (A.S.) _to salute_. _pres. s._ hailse, 83. _pret._ hailsed, 148, +151 + +hayward (A.N.) 415, _a man employed to watch and guard the inclosed fields, +or hays_. An illustration of this word will be found in the passage from +Whitaker's text given in the note on l. 2473 + +hakke (A.S.) 420, _to follow, run after, cut along after_ + +half (A.S.) _half, side_ + +halie (A.S.) 156, _to hawl_ + +hals (A.S.) _the neck_ + +halwe (A.S.) 327, _to hallow, consecrate, make holy_ + +hamlen (A.S.) +_part. pas._ y-hamled, 468, _to tie or attach_ (?) + +handy dandy (A.S.) 69, the expression still used in Shropshire and +Herefordshire + +hange, honge (A.S.) 348, 384, _to hang_ (intransitive). _pret. s._ hanged, +19 + +hange, hangen (A.S.) 39, 392, _to hang_ (transitive). _pret. pl._ hengen, +25 + +hanylons (A.N.) 181, _the wiles of a fox_. See Sir Frederick Madden's +Glossary to Gawawyn (v. _hamlounez_), who quotes the following lines from +the Boke of St. Albans:-- + + And yf your houndes at a chace renne there ye hunte, + And the beest begyn to renne, as hartes ben wonte, + Or for to _hanylon_, as dooth the foxe wyth his gyle, + Or for to crosse, as the roo doth otherwhyle. + +hanselle (A.S.) 96, _gift, reward, bribe_. It is used in the alliterative +poem on the Deposition of Richard II, p. 30:-- + + Some parled as perte + As provyd well after, + And clappid more for the coyne + That the kyng owed hem, + Thanne ffor comfforte of the comyne + That her cost paied, + And were behote _hansell_, + If they helpe wolde. + +hardy (A.N.) 413, _bold, hardy, courageous_. hardier, 354, _more bold_ + +hardie (A.N.) 321, _to encourage, embolden_ + +harewe (A.S.) 412, _a harrow_ + +harewen, harewe (A.S.) 412, 414, _to harrow_. _pret._ harewede, _ib._ + +harlot (A.N.) 175, 270, 271, 303, 354, _a blackguard, person of infamous +life_. The word was used in both genders. It appears to have answered +exactly to the French _ribaud_, as Chaucer in the Romance of the Rose +translates _roy des ribaulx_, by _king of harlots_. Chaucer says of the +Sompnour (C. T. l. 649):-- + + He was a _gentil harlot_ and a kynde + A bettre felaw schulde men nowher fynde. + He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn, + A good felawe to ban his concubyn, + A twelve moneth, and excuse him atte fulle. + +This passage gives us a remarkable trait of the character of the ribald, or +harlot, who formed a peculiar class of middle-age society. Among some old +glosses in the Reliquiæ Antiquæ (vol. i, p. 7), we find "_scurra_, a +harlotte." In the Coventry Mystery of the Woman taken in Adultery (p. 217), +it is the young man who is caught with the woman, and not the woman +herself, who is stigmatised as a _harlot_. + +harpen (A.S.) _to harp_. _pret. pl._ harpeden, 394 + +harrow (A.N.) 430, an exclamation, or rather a cry, said to have been +peculiar to the Normans, the origin and derivation of which have been the +subject of much discussion among antiquaries. It was the cry which every +one was bound to raise and repeat, when any murder, theft, robbery, or +other violent crime, was attempted or perpetrated, in order that the +offenders might be hindered or secured. It was afterwards used in any great +tumult or disorder, and became a general exclamation of persons wanting +help. (See Ducange, in v. _Haro_.) In the Towneley Mysteries (p. 14), when +Cain finds that his offering will not burn, he cries:-- + + We! out! haro! help to blaw! + It wille not bren for me, I traw. + +haspen (A.S.) _to clasp_. y-hasped, 26 + +hastilokest (A.N.) 424, _most quickly, speedily, hastily_ + +haten (A.S.) _to call, order_. _pres. s._ I hote. _pret. s._ highte, heet, +445. _part. pas._ y-hote, hoten, hote, _called, ordered_ + +haten (A.S.) _to be called or named_. _pres. s._ hatte, _is called_, I +hatie, 260, _am called_. _pret. s._ highte, _was called_ + +hater (A.S.) 273, _dress_ + +haterynge (A.S.) 299, _dressing, attire_ + +hatien (A.S.) 179, _to hate_ + +haven, have, han (A.S.) _to have_. _pres. pl._ han. _pret. s._ hadde, _pl._ +hadden, hadde + +haver (A.S.) _oats_, 134, an haver cake, _an oat-cake_ + +heed (A.S.) _the head_. _See_ heved + +heele (A.S.) _health_ + +heep (A.S.) _a heap_ + +heeth (A.S.) 322, _heath_ + +hegge (A.S.) _pl._ hegges, _a hedge_ + +heigh (A.S.) _high_ + ++heyne (A.N.) 466, _hatred_ (?) + +heyre (A.S.) _hair_. _gen._ heris, 193, _hair's_ + +hele, heele (A.S.) _health_ + +hele (A.S.) 150, _a heel_ + +helen, (A.S.) 87, 445. helien, 241, _to conceal, hide_ + +helen, heele, 355 (A.S.) _to heal_. _pret. s._ heeled, 337. an helyng, 355, +_in healing, in the course of recovering his health_ + +helpen, helpe (A.S.) _to help_. _pret. s._ halp, 403, 418, _pl._ holpen, +123. _part. pas._ holpen, 75, 303, 338, holpe, 115 + +hem (A.S.) _them_ + +hemselve (A.S.) _themselves_ + +hende (A.S.) 308, _gentle, polite_. hendenesse, 398, _gentleness, +worthiness_. hendely, hendiliche, 44, _politely, gently_ + +hennes (A.S.) _hence, from this time_ + +henten, hente (A.S.) _to take, seize_. _pret. s._ hente, hent, 435 + +heraud (A.N.) _a herald_ + +herberwe (A.S.) _a harbour_ + +herberwen (A.S.) _to harbour, shelter_. _pret. s._ herberwed, 352 + +heremite (A.N.) _a hermit_ + +heren, here (A.S.) _to hear_. _pret. s._ herde. _imperat._ y-heer, 356 + +herne (A.S.) 42, 393, _a corner_ + +herte (A.S.) _the heart_ + +heste (A.S.) _a commandment_ + ++hethen (A.S.) 475, _hence_ + ++hetheved (A.S.) 469, _head_ + +hethynesse (A.S.) 321, _heathenness, paganism, idolatry_ + +heved (A.S.) _a head_. heed, 352 + +hewe (A.S.) 110, _pl._ hewen, 71, 273, 281, _a husbandman, a workman_ + +hewe, _pl._ hewes (A.S.) 224, _hue, colour_ + +hiden (A.S.) _to hide_. _pret. s._ hidde, 354. _part. pas._ y-hudde, 199 + ++hyen (A.S.) 475, _to hie, go_. _pret. s._ hiede, 444 + +hyere (A.S.) _higher_ + +hii (A.S.) _they_ + +hil (A.S.) _pl._ hulles, _a hill_ + +hilen (A.S.) 113, _to cover over_. _pret. s._ hiled, 241, _pl._ hileden, +223 + +hynde (A.S.) 311, _a doe, female deer_ + +hyne (A.S.) _a servant, serf, rustic, labourer_ + +hyne, 72, 268, _a hen_ (?) + +hippynge (A.S.) 351, _hopping_ + +hire (A.S.) _their_ + +hir (A.S.) _of them_. _gen. pl._ of he. hir neither, 67, _neither of them_. +hir eyther, 212, 446, _either of them_. hir noon, 237, _none of them_. hir +oon fordooth hir oother, 373, _one of them destroys the other of them_ + +his (A.S.) _pl._ hise, _his_ + +hitten (A.S.) _to hit_. _pret. s._ hite, 86, hitte, 96 + ++hod (A.S.) 476, _a hood_ + ++hok-shynes (A.S.) 476, _crooked shins_. hok seems almost superfluous: the +shin towards the _hock_ or ancle? + +holden (A.S.) _to hold_. _pres. s._ he halt, 354, 357, _pl._ holde, 15, +holden, 18. _pret. s._ heeld, 156, 206, _pl._ helden, 294, 418, 438. _part. +pas._ y-holden, 358, holden, y-holde, 440, 441 + +hool (A.S.) _pl._ hole, 392, _whole, entire_. hooly, _wholly_. holly, 396, +_wholly_. +hollich, 452, _wholly_ + +homliche (A.S.) 179, _from house to house_ + +hoom (A.S.) _home_. the viker hadde fer hoom, 424, _the vicar had far to go +home_ + +hoor (A.S.) _pl._ hore, 144, _hoary_. as hoor as an hawethorn, 341 + +hoord (A.S.) _a hoard_ + +hoors (A.S.) 367, _hoarse_ + +hoot (A.S.) 360, _hot_ + +hopen (A.S.) 329, _to expect, hope_ + +hoper (A.S.) 120, _the hopper of a mill_ + +hore (A.S.) 75, _pl._ hoores, 299, hores, 303, _a whore_ + ++hornes (A.S.) 461, _corners_ + +hostele (A.N.) 355, _to give lodging, to receive into an inn_ + +hostiler (A.N.) 352, 355, _the keeper of a hostelry or inn_ + +hostrie (A.N.) 352, _a hostelry, inn_ + +houpen (A.S.) 127, _to hoop, shout_ + +houres (A.N. heures, _Lat._ horæ) _the Romish service_ + +housel (A.S.) 419, _the sacrament of the Eucharist_ + +houselen (A.S.) _to receive the Eucharist_. _part. past_, housled, 396, +424, houseled, 419 + +hoven (A.S.) 13, _to tarry, hover, dwell_. _pret. s._ hoved, 374 + +howve (A.S.) _pl._ howves, 13, 60, 435, _a cap or hood_ + +hucche (A.S.) 72, _a hutch, chest_ + +huge (A.S.) 216, _great_ + +hukkerye (A.S.) 90, _huckstry_ + +hunten (A.S.) _to hunt_. _part. pas._ y-honted, 41 + +huppe (A.S.) 327, _to hop_ + +huyre (A.S.) 111, _hire, wages_ + + I. Y. + +ic, ich, ik (A.S.) _I_ + ++ich (A.S.) _each_. +ichon, 479, _each one_. _See_ ech + +ydel (A.S.) _idleness, vanity_. on ydel, _in vain_ + ++iis (A.S.) 476, _ice_ + +ilke (A.S.) _same_ + +impe (A.N.) 85, _a sprig, twig growing from the root of a tree_ + +impen, ympen (A.N.) 85, _to graft_. +_part. past_, ymped, 469, _grafted_ + +in-going (A.S.) 115, _entrance_ + +inne (A.S.) the adverbial form of _in_ + +inne (A.S.) _a lodging_, hence our _inn_ + +inwit (A.S.) 160, 162, 364, _conscience, interior understanding_. with +inwit and outwit, 263 + +yren (A.S.) 288, _iron_ + +ysekeles (A.S.) 361, _icicles_ + + J. + +jangeleres, jangleris (A.N.) 3, 175, _praters_ + +jangle (A.N.) 9, 33, 74, 136, 164, 251, 337, 339, _to jangle, to talk +emptily, to prate_ + +janglynge (A.N.) 169, 419, _jangling, empty talking, nonsense_ + +jape (A.S.) 433, _a jest_ + +japen (A.S.) 19, 33, 260, _to jest, mock, cajole_. _part. past_, japed, 371 + +japer (A.S.) _pl._ japeres, japeris, 3, 164, 175, _a jester, mocker_ + +Jewe, _gen. pl._ Jewen, 19, Jewene, 384, 402, _a Jew_ + +jogele (A.N.) 260, _to play the minstrel, or jongleur_ + +jogelour (A.N.) 121, 175, _a minstrel, jongleur, one who played mountebank +tricks_ + +jouke (A.S.) 336, _to rest, dwell_ + +joute (A.N.) 86, _a battle, combat_ + +jugge (A.N.) _a judge_ + +juggen (A.N.) 290, 427, _to judge_ + +jurdan (A.N.) 251, _a pot_. At a later period the word was only applied to +a chamber-pot, as in Shakespeare + +juste (A.N.) 251, justes, 351, 352, 370, _a joust, battle, tournament_ + +justen, juste (A.N.) 336, 370, 374, _to joust, tilt (in a tournament)_. +_pret. s._ justed, 340, justede, 380 + +justere (A.N.) 396, _one who goes to jousts, engages in tournaments_ + +justice (A.N.) 404, _to judge_ + +juttes (A.N. ?) 201, _low persons_ + +juventee (A.N.) 402, _youth_ + +juwise (A.N.) 392, _judgment_, from _judicium_ + + K. _See under_ C. + + L. + +lachesse (A.N.) 153, _negligence_ + +ladde (A.S.) _pl._ laddes, 398, _a low common person_ + ++laiche (A.S.) 486, _to catch, obtain_. _see_ lakke + +layk (A.S.) 287, _play_ + +laiken (A.S.) 11, _to play_. The writer of the romance of Kyng Alisaunder, +in describing a battle (Weber, p. 159), says,-- + + There was _sweord lakkyng_, + +_i.e. there was playing with the sword_. Weber, in his Glossary, has very +wrongly explained it by _licking_. It is the Anglo-Saxon poetic phrase, +sweorda ge-lác, _the play of swords_ + +lakke (A.S.) 189, _a fault, a lack, or something deficient or wanting_ + +lakken, lacche (A.S.) 31, 40, 130, 220, 262, 309, 333, _to obtain, catch, +take_. _pret. s._ laughte, 357, 388, 434. _part. act._ lacchynge, 21 + +lakken (A.S.) 85, 130, 185, 189, 208, 214, 234, 263, 307, 309, 329, 411, +_to mock, to blame, or reproach_. _pret. pl._ lakkede, 294. _part. pas._ +y-lakked, 29 + +lakken (A.S.) 46, 218, 219, 262, 310, 365, 423, _to lack, to be wanting_. +_pret. s._ lakkede, 402, _was wanting_ + +lambren (A.S.) 307, _lambs_. So Lydgate (Minor Poems, ed. Halliwell), p. +169,-- + + Takith to his larder at what price he wold, + Of gretter _lambren_, j., ij., or thre, + In wynter nyghtis frostis bien so colde, + The sheppard slepithe, God lete hym never the! + +lang (A.S.) _long_ + +lape (A.S.) 426, _to lap, as a dog_ + +large (A.N.) 398, _largess_ (?) + +lasse (A.S.) _less_ + +late, lete (A.S.) 76, 386, _to let_. _pres. s._ leet, 305, 384. _pret. s._ +leet, 25, 74, 127, 209, 346, _pl._ leten, lete, 294, 393. _subj. s._ late + ++lath ( .) 476. Perhaps an error of the old edition for _lay_? + ++latun (A.N.) 462, _a mixed metal of the colour of brass_ + +laughen (A.S.) 439, _to laugh_. _pret. s._ lough, 423. _part. pas._ lowen, +82. + +launde (A.N.) 155, 183, 312, _a plain, a level space clear of trees in the +midst of a forest, a lawn_ + +lave (A.N.) 273, _to wash_ + +lavendrye (A.N.) 306, _washing_ + ++lavoures (A.N.) 462, _lavers, ewers, basins to receive water_ + +leauté (A.N.) _loyalty_ + +leche (A.S.) 443, _a physician_ + +lechecraft (A.S.) 336, 435, _the art of healing, medicine_ + +lechen (A.S.) 261, _to cure_. _pret. s._ leched, 337 + +leden, lede (A.S.) 355, 393, _to lead_. pret. s. ladde, 352. _part. act._ +ledynge. _part. pas._ lad, 160, 246 + +ledene (A.S.) 242, 243, _speech, language_. This is applied, as here, to +birds, by Chaucer, C. T. 10749:-- + + This faire kynges doughter, Canace, + That on hir fynger bar the queynte ryng, + Thurgh which sche understood wel every thing + That eny foul may _in his lydne_ sayn, + And couthe answer him in _his lydne_ agayn. + +ledes (A.S.) 326, _people attached to the land, peasants_ + +leef (A.S.) _dear, love_. his leef, _his dear_ + +leef (A.S.) 301, _pl._ leves, _a leaf_ + +leelly (A.N.) 19, lelly, 45, 146, _loyally, faithfully_. leele, lele, +_loyal_. lelest, 349, _most loyal_ + +leere, lere (A.S.) 15, 173, _countenance, mien, complexion_ + +leggen (A.S.) 30, 133, 235, 306, 426, leyen, 374, _to lay, to bet (to lay +down a wager)_. _pret. s._ leide, 352, 372, 432, leyde, 98, 436 + +legistre (A.N.) 139, _a legist, one skilled in the law._ + +ley, _pl._ leyes (A.S.) 138, _a lea_ (Lat. _saltus_) + +leye (A.S.) 360, 364, _flame_ + +leme (A.S.) 376, 377, _brightness_ + +lemman (A.S.) _pl._ lemmannes, 303, _a sweetheart, a mistress_ + +lene (A.S.) _lean_ + +lenen, lene (A.S.) _to give_; hence our _lend_. _pret._ lened, 269. _part. +past_, lent, 275 + +lenen (A.S.) _to lean_. _pret. s._ lened, 369 + +lenge (A.S.) 27, 421, _to rest, remain, reside long in a place_. _pret. s._ +lenged, 151, +_pret. pl._ lengeden, 469, _dwelt, remained_ + +Lenten (A.S.) _Lent_ + +lenten (A.S.) 369, _a linden tree_ + +leode (A.S.) 352, _people, a person_, whence our _lad_ + +lepen (A.S.) 41, 236, _to leap_. _pret. s._ leep, 10, 41, lope, 71, lepe, +107, lepte, 434. _pl._ lopen, 14, 22, 86, lope, 74. _part. pas._ lopen, 88 + +leperis (A.S.) _leapers_. lond leperis heremytes, _hermits who leap or +wander over different lands_ + +lered (A.S.) 45, _learned, educated, clergy_ + +leren (A.S.) 146, _to teach_. _pres._ he lereth. _pret._ lerned, 146, 412, +lered, 292, 336, 410 + +lerne (A.S.) 350, 351, 437, 441, _to learn_. _part. pas._ y-lerned, 141 + +lesen (A.S.) _to lose_. _pres. s._ lese, lees, 107, 148. _part. act._ +lesynge. _part. pas._ lost, lore, 374, y-lorn, 388 + +lese (A.S.) 121, _to glean_. The word is still used in Shropshire and +Herefordshire. + +lesynge (A.S.) 66, 387, 388, _a lie, fable, falsehood_ + +lethi (A.S.) 184, _hateful_ + +letten, leten, lette (A.S.) 352, 435, _to hinder, to tarry_, _pret. s._ +lette, 368, letted, 335. _part. past_, letted, 418. lettere, 19, _a +hinderer_. lettyng, _a hindrance_ + +lettrede (A.N.) 49, _lettered, learned_. y-lettrede, _learned, instructed_ + +lettrure (A.N.) _learning, scripture, literature_ + +leve (A.S.) 385, _leave, permission_ + +leve (A.S.) _pl._ leeve, _dear, precious_. levere, _dearer, rather_. +leveste, levest, 364, _dearest_ + +leved (A.S.) 300, _leaved, covered with leaves_ + +leven (A.S.) 299, 301, _to leave_. _part. s._ lafte, 447 + +leven (A.S.) _to dwell, remain_. _pret._ lafte, 440. +_pret. s._ lefte, +473, _dwelt, remained_. + +leven, leeve (A.S.) _to believe_, 304, 319. _pret. s._ leeved, 435. leved, +393. _pl._ leveden + +lewed (A.S.) 26, 420, _lay, ignorant, untaught, useless_. lewed of that +labour, 237, _ignorant of_, or _unskilful in, that labour_. lewednesse, 45, +_ignorance, rusticity_ + +lewté (A.N.) _loyalty_ + +lyard (A.N.) 352, 368, a common name for _a horse_, but signifying +originally _a horse of a grey colour_ + +libben, libbe (A.S.) 275, _to live_. _part. act._ libbynge + +lyen (A.S.) _to lie_. _pres. s. 2 pers._ thow lixt, 86. _pret._ thow +leighe, 393, _thou didst lie_ + +liere (A.S.) _a liar_ + +lif (A.S.) _pl._ lives, _life_ + +liflode (A.S.) _living, state of life_ + +lift (A.S.) 316, _air, sky_ + +lige (A.N.) 76, 390, _liege_ + +liggen, ligge (A.S.) 361, _to lie down_. _pres. s._ I ligge, he lith, lyth, +355, thei ligge, 421. _pret. sing._ lay. _part. act._ liggynge. _part. +pas._ leyen, 45, y-leye, 82, y-leyen, 198, 399 + +lighten (A.S.) _to alight, descend, or dismount from_. _pret. s._ lighte, +352 + +lightloker (A.S.) 112, 237, 321, _more lightly, more easily_ + +lik, lich, y-lik (A.S.) 389, _like, resembling_. liknesse, _likeness_, +y-liche, 401 + +liche (A.S.) 173, _the body_. Chaucer, C.T. l. 2960, speaks of the +_liche-wake_, or ceremonies of waking and watching the corpse, still +preserved in Ireland:-- + + Ne how the _liche-wake_ was y-holde + Al thilke night, ne how the Grekes pleye. + +In the romance of Alexander (Weber, p. 145), the word is applied to a +living body (as in Piers Ploughman):-- + + The armure he dude on his liche-- + _he put the armour on his body_ + +likame, lycame (A.S.) _the body_ + +liken (A.S.) 455, _to please, to like_ (i. e. _be pleased with_). liketh, +17, 262. _pret. s._ liked + +likynge (A.S.) 203, _pleasure, love, liking_ + +likerous (A.N.) 133, _nice, voluptuous, lecherous_ + +likne (A.S.) 175, 190, _to imitate, to mimic, to make a simile_ + +lyme (A.S.) 436, _limb_ + +lyme-yerd (A.S.) 170, _limed twig_ + +lymitour (A.N.) 85, 445, _a limitour, a begging friar_ + +lynde (A.S.) 24, 155, _the linden tree_ + +lippe (A.S.) 324, _a slip, portion_ + +liser (A.N.) 89, _list of cloth_ (?) + +lisse (A.S.) 160, 383, _joy, happiness, bliss_ + +liste (A.S.) _to please, list_. _pret._ list, 356, _it pleased_ + +listre (A.S.) 85, _a deceiver_ + +lite (A.S.) 262, _little_ + +litel (A.S.) _little_. litlum and litlum, 329, _by little and little_, the +uncorrupted Anglo-Saxon phrase. _See_ note + +lyth (A.S.) 341, _a body_ + +lythe, lithen (A.S.) 155, 270, _to listen to_ + +lyven, lyve (A.S.) _to live_. _pr. pl._ lyveden, 2. _part. act._ lybbynge. +_See_ libben + +lyves (A.S.) _alive_. lyves and lokynge, 405, _alive and looking_. _See_ +note on l. 5014 + +lyveris (A.S.) 235, _livers, people who live_ + +lobies (A.S.) 4, _loobies, clowns_ + +loft (A.S.) _high, height_. bi lofte and by grounde, 372, _in height and in +ground-plan_. o-lofte, _aloft, on high_ + +lok (A.S.) 27, _a lock_ + +loken (A.S.) 388, _to look, to over-see_, 148. _pret. s._ lokede, 276 + +lollen (A.S.) 240, _to loll_. _part. pas._ lolled, 239. _part. act._ +lollynge, 346 + +lolleris (A.S.) 308, _lollards_. The origin of this word is doubtful, but +it seems to mean generally people who go about from place to place with a +hypocritical show of praying and devotion. It was certainly in use long +before the time of the Wycliffites, in Germany as well as in England. +Johannes Hocsemius (quoted by Ducange, v. _Lollardi_) says, in his +chronicle on the year 1309, "Eodem anno quidam hypocritæ gyrovagi, qui +_Lollardisive Deum laudantes_ vocabantur, per Hannoniam et Brabantiam +quasdam mulieres nobiles deceperunt," &c. The term, used in the time of +Piers Ploughman as one of reproach, was afterwards contemptuously given to +the church reformers. The writer of the Ploughman's Tale, printed in +Chaucer, Speght, fol. 86, appears to apply it to wandering friars:-- + + i-cleped _lollers_ and londlese. + +lomere (A.S.) 439, _more frequently_ + +lond-buggere (A.S.) 191, _a buyer of land_ + ++lone (A.S.) 493, _a loan_ (?) + +longen (A.S.) _to belong_ + +loof (A.S.) _a loaf_ + +loone (A.S.) 442, _a loan_. lenger yeres loone, _a loan of a year longer, a +year's extension or renewal of the loan_ + +loore (A.S.) 79, 244, _teaching, lore, doctrine, science_ + +loores-man, lores-man (A.S.) 164, 318, _a teacher_ + +loos (A.S.) 219, _honour, praise_ + +lorel (A.N.) 147, 294, 351, 369, _a bad man, a good-for-nothing fellow_. +Chaucer, in his translation of Boethius, uses it to represent the Latin +_perditissimus_. Compare the description of the _lorel_ in the Ploughman's +Tale (Speght's Chaucer) fol. 91:-- + + For thou canst no cattell gete, + But livest in lond as a _lorell_, + With glosing gettest thou thy mete. + +losel (A.N.) 5, 124, 176, 303, _a wretch, good-for-nothing fellow_. It +appears to be a different form of the preceding word. loselly, 240, _in a +disgraceful, good-for-nothing manner_ + +losengerie (A.N.) 125, 176, _flattery, lying_ + +lothen (A.S.) _to loath_ + +looth (A.S.) _loath, hateful_. lother, 318, _more loath_. lothliche, +_hateful_ + +lotebies (A.S. ?) 52, _private companions, bed-fellows_. In the romance of +the Seven Sages (Weber, p. 57) it is said of a woman unfaithful to her +husband:-- + + Sche stal a-wai, mididone, + And wente to here _lotebi_. + +Chaucer uses the word (in the romance of the Rose, l. 6339), in a passage +rather similar to this of Piers Ploughman:-- + + Now am I yong and stout and bolde, + Now am I Robert, now Robin, + Now frere Minor now Jacobin, + And _with me followeth my loteby_, + To don me solace and company. + +In the original the word is _compaigne_ + +lotien (A.S.) 354, _to lurk, lie in ambush_ + +louke (A.S.) 384, _to lock_ + +louren (A.S.) _to lower_ + +lous, lys (A.S.) _pl._ _a louse_ + +louten (A.S.) 50, 181, 182, 300, _to make a salutation, reverence_. _pret. +s._ louted, 294, 470 + +lovyen, lovye, lovien (A.S.) _to love_. hym lovede, 356, _it pleased him_ + +lowen (A.S.) _to condescend_ (?) _pret._ lowed, 8 + +luft (A.S.) 69, _fellow, person_ + ++lullyng (A.S.) 455, _lolling_ (?) + +lurdayne (A.S.) 375, 436, _a clown, rustic, ill-bred person_ + +lusard (A.N.) 389, _a lizard, crocodile_ + +lussheburwes (A.N.) 316, _base or adulterated coins_; which took their name +and were imported from Luxemberg. See note on l. 10322 + +luten (A.N.) _to play on the lute_. _pret. s._ lutede, 395 + +luther (A.S.) 316, 390, _bad, wicked_ + + M. + +macche (A.S.) 248, 249, _companion, match-fellow_ + +macche (A.S.) 360, _a match_ + +macer (A.N.) 47, _one who carries a mace_ + +mayen (A.S.) _to be able_ (it is seldom or never used in the infinitive +mood). _pres. s._ may, _pl._ mowen, mowe. _pret. s._ myghte, _pl._ mighte + +y-maymed (A.S.) 359, _maimed_ + +mayn-pernour, (A.N.) 71, 380. _See_ the next word + +mayn-prise (A.N.) 70, 346, _a kind of bail_, a law term. "It signifieth in +our Common Law the taking or receiving a man in friendly custodie, that +otherwise is or might be committed to prison, and so upon securitie given +for his forth coming at a day assigned: and they that doe thus undertake +for any, are called _mainpernours_, because they do receive him into their +hands." MINSHEU. The persons thus received were allowed to go at large + +mayn-prise (A.N.) 75, 426, meynprise, 39, _to bail in the manner described +under the foregoing word_ + +mair (A.N.) 290, _pl._ meires, 150, _a mayor_ + +maistrie (A.N.) 66, _a mastery, a feat of science_ + +make (A.S.) 50, 222, 230, _a companion, consort_ + +maken, make (A.S.) _to make_. _pret. s._ made. _part. pas._ y-maked, 2. +maad, 71, 248 + +make (A.S.) 229, _to compose poetry_. _See_ note + +makynge (A.S.) 229, _writing poetry_ + +male (A.N.) 91, _a box, pack_ + ++malisones (A.N.) 493, _curses_ + +mamelen (A.S.) 78, 226, _to chatter, mumble_ + +menacen (A.N.) _to menace, threaten_ + +manere (A.N.) _manner_ + +mange (A.N.) 132, _to eat_ + +mangerie (A.N.) 209, 328, _an eating, a feast_ + +manlich (A.S.) 92. _humane_. manliche, _manfully, humanely_ + +mansed (A.N.) 30, 74, 190, 233, 438, _cursed, excommunicated_ + +marc (A.N.) 161, _a mark (a coin)_ + +marche (A.S.) 159, 321, _a border_. The word is preserved in the term +"Marches of Wales," "Marches of Scotland" + +marchen (A.N.) _to march, go_ + +mareys (A.N.) _a marsh_ + ++masedere (A.N.) 499, _more amazed_ + +maugree (A.N.) 131, _ill thanks, in spite of_ + +maundee (A.S.) 339, _maunday_ + +maundement (A.N.) 348, _a commandment_ + +mawe (A.S.) 298, _mouth, maw_ + +maze (A.N.) 12, _doubt, amazement, a labyrinth_ + +meden (A.S.) 56, _to reward, bribe_ + +mede (A.S.) _meed, reward_ + +medlen (A.N.) _to mix with_ + +meel (A.S.) _meal_ + +meene (A.N.) _poor, moderate, middle_ + +mees (A.S.) 249, 313, _a mess_ or _portion of meat_ + +megre (A.N.) _meagre, thin_ + +meynee (A.N.) 178, _household, household retinue_ + +meken (A.S.) _to make meek, humiliate_ + +mele (A.S.) 262, _meal, flour_ + +mendinaunt, _pl._ mendinauntz (A.N.) _a beggar; friars of the begging +orders_ + +mene, meene (A.N.) _mean, middle_ + +mene (A.N.) 326, _a mean_ + +menen (A.S.) _to mean_. to meene, 15, 18. that is Crist to mene, 399, _that +means Christ_ + +menen (A.S.) _to moan, lament_. _pret._ mened + ++menemong (A.S.) 497, _of an ordinary quality_ + +menever (A.N.) 433, _a kind of fur; the fur of the ermine and small weasel +mixed_ + +mengen (A.S.) _to mix, meddle_ + +menyson (A.N.) 337, _a flux, dysentery_ + +menour (A.N.) _a Minorite_ + +menske (A.S.) 54, 455, _decency, honour, manliness_ + +mercien (A.N.) _to thank_ + +mercy (A.N.) 17, 353, _thanks_ + +mercy (A.N.) 360, 361, _mercy_ + +mercyment (A.N.) _amercement_ + +merk (A.S.) 316, _a mark_ + +merke (A.S.) 15, _dark_. merknesse (A.S.) 377, 379, _darkness_ + +merveillous (A.N.) _marvellous, wonderful_ + +meschief (A.N.) 197, _mishap, evil, mischief_ + +mesel (A.S.) _pl._ meseles, 51, 144, 337, _a leper_ + +meson-Dieux (A.N.) 139, _hospitals_ + +messe (A.S.) _mass, the Romish ceremony_ + +mestier (A.N.) 138, _occupation_ + +mesurable (A.N.) _moderate_ + +met (A.S.) 267, _measure_ + +mete (A.S.) _meat_. mete-less, (A.S.) _without meat_ + +metels (A.S.) 13, 31, 147, 149, 155, 202, 207, _a dream_ + +meten, meete (A.S.) 310, _to meet_. _pret. s._ mette, 351. _part. pas._ +met, 216 + +meten (A.S.) _to dream_. _pret. s._ mette, 148, 155, 396. _part. s._ +metynge, 221 + +metyng (A.S.) 246, _a dream_ + ++meter (A.S.) 476, _fitter_ (?) + +meve (A.N.) 153, 228, _to move_. _pres. pl._ ye moeven, 298 + +myd (A.S.) _with_ + +myddel-erthe (A.S.) 221, _the world_ + +middes (A.S.) _middle, midst_ + +mynistren (A.N.) 231, _to administer_ + +mynnen (A.S.) 322, _to mind, to recollect_ + +mynours (A.N.) _miners, diggers of mines_ + +mys-beden (A.S.) 119, _to injure_ + +mysese (A.N.) 16, _ill ease_ + +mys-eise (A.N.) 139, _ill at ease_ + +mysfeet (A.N.) 224, _ill deed, wrong_ + ++myster (A.N.) 484, _kind species_ + +mystier (A.S.) _more misty, more dark_ + ++myteynes (A.N.) 476, _mittens, gloves_ + +mnam, 131, _a Hebrew coin_ + +mo (A.S.) _more_ + +mody (A.S.) _moody_. modiliche, _moodily_ + +moeble, meble (A.N.) 364, _goods_ + +molde, moolde (A.S.) _earth, mould_ + +moled (A.N.) 262, 264, _spotted, stained_ + +mom (A.S.) 13, _a mum, sound_ + +mone (A.S.) 295, _lamentation_ + ++monelich (A.N.) 457, _meanly_ + +monials (A.N.) 192, _nuns_ (_Lat._ moniales) + +moore (A.S.) 403, _greater_ + +moost (A.S.) _greatest_ + +moot (A.N.) 113, 417, _a moat_ + +moot-halle (A.S.) 73, 74, _hall of meeting, of justice_ + +more (A.S.) 300, 330, 331, 334, _pl._ mores, 416, _a root_ + +mornen (A.S.) _to mourn_. _pret. s._ mornede + +mortrews (A.N.) 248, 250, 252, _a kind of soup_ + +morwe (A.S.) _morning, morrow_ + +morwenynge (A.S.) _morning_ + +mote (A.S.) 25, _to hold courts of justice_ + +motyng (A.S.) 141, _judging, meeting for justice_ + +moton (A.N.) 44, _the name of a coin_. _See_ note on l. 1404 + +mous (A.S.) _pl._ mees, _a mouse_ + +mouster (A.N.) 267, _muster, arrangement_ + +muche (A.S.) 155, 417, _great_ + +muchel (A.S.) 401, _great, much_ + +muliere, mulliere (A.N.) 343, 344, _a wife, woman_ + +murie (A.S.) _pleasant, merry, joyful_. murye, 1, _pleasantly_, murier, +_more pleasant_ + +murthe (A.S.) 382, _pleasure, joy, mirth_ + +murthen (A.S.) 362, _to make merry or joyful_ + +muson (A.N.) 183, _measures_ (?) + +must (A.S.) 391, _a liquor made of honey_ + + N. + +nale (A.S.) 124, _the ale_. _see_ atte + +namoore (A.S.) _no more_ + +naught (A.S.) _not, nought_ + +ne (A.S.) _not_. The negative _ne_ is combined with the verb _to will, to +be_, &c.; as _nelle_, for _ne wille_, _nel, nyl_, for _ne wil_, _nere_, for +_ne were_, _nolde_, for _ne wolde_, _nyste_, for _ne wiste_. It is +sometimes combined with other verbs, as _naroos_, 399, for _ne aroos_. So +we have such expressions as, wol he nele he, 427, i. e. _whether he will or +he will not_ + +nede (A.S.) _need_ + +neddre (A.S.) 82, _an adder, venomous serpent_ + +nedlere (A.S.) 96, _maker of, or dealer in, needles_ + +neet (A.S.) 411, _cattle_. Farmers still talk of _neat cattle_ + +neghen (A.S.) _to approach, to near_. _pret. s._ neghed, 425, neghede, 438 + +neigh (A.S.) _near, nigh_ + +nempne (A.S.) 397, _to name, call_. _pret. s._ nempned, 397, 404. _part. +pas._ y-nempned, nempned + +nevelynge (A.S.) 85, _sniveling_ + +nygard (A.S.) _niggard_ + +nymen, nyme (A.S.) 268, 304 426, _to take_. _part. pas._ y-nome, 427 + +nyppe (A.S.) 379, _a point_ (?) + +noble (A.N.) 191, _a gold coin of the value of six shillings and +eightpence_ + +noght (A.S.) _nought, nothing_ + +noyen (A.N.) _to injure, annoy, plague_ + +nones (A.N.) 125, _the hour of two or three in the afternoon_ + +nonne (A.S.) 86, _a nun_ + +noon (A.S.) _none_ + +nounpere (A.N.) 97, _an umpire, an arbitrator_ + +noughty (A.S.) 130, _possessed of nothing_ + +noun (A.N.) 366, _no_ + +nouthe (A.S.) _now_ + + O. + +o (A.S.) 349, _one_ + +of-gon (A.S.) 166, _to derive_ (?) + +of-walked (A.S.) 258, _fatigued with walking_ + +o-lofte (A.S.) _aloft, on high_ + +one, oone (A.S.) _singly, alone, only_. myn one, 154, _myself singly_ + ++onethe (A.S.) _scarcely_. _See_ unnethe + +oon (A.S.) _one_ + +oost (A.N.) 416, _a host, army_ + +openen, opene (A.S.) _to open_. _pret. pl._ opned, 388 + +ordeigne, ordeyne (A.N.) 415, _to ordain_ + +organye (A.N.) 369, _a musical instrument_. by organye, _as an +accompaniment to music_ + +ote (A.S.) _an oat_ + +oughen (A.S.) _to own, possess, owe_. _pret. s._ oughte, 47 + +outher (A.S.) _other, either, or_ + +over-come (A.S.) _to overcome_. _pret. s._ over-coom, 405 + +over-hoven (A.S.) 55, 379, _to hover or dwell over, hang over_ + +over-hippen (A.S.) _to hop over, skip over_. _pret. pl._ thei over-huppen, +250, 318 + +over-leden (A.S.) 62, _to overlead, tyrannize over_ + +over-spreden (A.S.) _to spread over_. _pret. s._ over-spradde, 408 + +over-tilten (A.S.) _to tilt or throw over_. _pret. s._ over-tilte, 428, +433, _threw over, dug up_ + +owene (A.S.) 366, _own_ + + P. + +paast (A.N.) 275, _paste, dough_ + +payn (A.N.) _bread_ + +paynym (A.N.) 108, 326, _a pagan_ + +pays (A.N.) 340, _country_ + +pallen (A.S.) 333, _to knock_. _pret. s._ I palle, 332 + +palmere (A.N.) 83, _a palmer, pilgrim to distant lands_ + +paltok (A.N.) 370, 438, _a cloak_ + +panne (A.S.) 69, _the scull, head_ + +pardoner (A.N.) _a dealer in pardons_ + +parentrelynarie (A.N.) 220, _between the lines, interlineal_ + +parfiter (A.N.) 229, _more perfectly_ + +parfitly (A.N.) _perfectly_ + +parfourne (A.N.) _to perform_ + +parisshen (A.N.) 206, 441, _a parishioner_ + +parle (A.N.) _to talk_. _part. past_, parled, 385 + +parroken (A.N.) 312, _to park or inclose_ + +parten (A.N.) _to share, to part_. +_part. pas._ parten, 475 + +Pasqe (A.N.) 338, _Easter_ + +passhen (A.S.) 431, _to crush_ + +pawme (A.N.) 356, _the palm of the hand_ + +pece (A.N.) 276, _a piece_ + +peeren (A.N.) 320, _make themselves equal_ + +peeren (A.N.) 11, _to appear_ + +pees (A.N.) _peace_. preide hem be pees, 405, _prayed them to be quiet_ + +peire (A.N.) _a pair_ + +peiren (A.N.) 50, _to diminish, injure_. _see_ apeiren + +peis (A.N.) 91, _weight_ + +peisen (A.N.) 90, _to weigh_ + +pelure (A.N.) 420, _fur_ + +pens (A.S.) _pence_ + +peraunter (A.N.) 202, _peradventure, by chance_ + +percell, _pl._ parcelles (A.N.) 177, 220, 349, _a parcel, part_ + +percel-mele (A.N.) 48, _piecemeal_ + +percile (A.N.) 134, _parsley_ + +pere (A.N.) 139, _a peer, an equal_ + +perfourne (A.N.) 251, _to finish, complete, to furnish_ + +perillousli (A.N.) _dangerously, rudely_ + +y-perissed (A.N.) 359, _perished, destroyed_ + +perree (A.N.) 173, _precious stones, jewellery_ + +persaunt (A.N.) 24, _piercing_ + +person (A.N.) 441, _a parson_. personage, _a parsonage_ + +pertliche (A.N.) 78, _openly_ + +pese (A.N.) _pease_ + +petit (A.N.) _little_ + +picche (A.S.) 123, _to pick_ + +pie (A.N.) 150, _a magpie_ + +pik (A.S.) _a pike_ + +pikstaf (A.S.) 123, _a pike-staff_ + +piken (A.S.) _to pick_ + +pyke-harneys (A.N.) 440, _plunderers_ + +pykoise (A.N.) 61, _a hoe_ + +pil, pyl, _pl._ piles (A.S.) 331, 332, 417, _a pile_ + ++pilche (A.S.) 465, _a coat of hair or some rude material_. We find the +word used by Lydgate, ed. Halliwell, p. 154:-- + + Houndys for favour wyl nat spare, + To pynche his _pylche_ with greet noyse and soun. + +And in Caxton's Reynard the Foxe, cap. v, Reynard having turned hermit, +bare "his slayvne and _pylche_, and an heren sherte therunder." + ++pild (A.N.) 500, _bald_ + +pilen (A.N.) 422, _to rob_ + +pilour (A.N.) 371, 420, _a thief_ + ++pylion (A.S. ?) 500, _a kind of cap_ + +pyne (A.N.) peyne, _pl._ peynes, _pain, punishment_ + +pyne, 78. _See_ wynen + +pynynge-stoole (A.S.) 47, literally, _a stool of punishment, a +cucking-stool_ + +pynne (A.S.) 442, _to bolt_ + +piones (A.N.) 95, _the seed of the piony_, which was used as a spice. In +the Coventry Mysteries (ed. Halliwell, p. 22) we find the word joined, as +here, with pepper:-- + + Here is pepyr, _pyan_, and swete lycorys, + Take hem alle at thi lykying + +pyries (A.N.) 78, _pear-trees_ + +pisseris (A.N.) 438 (?) + +pistle (A.N.) _an epistle_ + +pitously (A.N.) _piteously, for the sake of pity_ + +pleyen (A.S.) _to play_. _pret. s._ pleide, _pl._ pleiden + +pleyn (A.N.) _full_ + +pleyne (A.N.) 53, _to commiserate, to complain, make a complaint_ + +plener (A.N.) 209, 336, _full, fully_ + +pleten (A.N.) _to plead_. _pret. pl._ pleteden, 140 + +platten (A.N.) _to fall or throw down flat_. _pret. s._ platte, 81 + +plot (A.N.) 263, _pl._ plottes, 265, _a patch_ + +plow-foot (A.S.) 123, _a part of a plough_ + +po (A.S.) 243, _a peacock_ + ++poynttyl (A.N.) 462, the signification of this word appears to be the +_square tiles_ used for paving floors. See Warton's Hist. of Engl. Poetry, +ii, 99 + +poke (A.S.) 150, 259, 275, 288, _a sack_ + +poken (A.N.) _to urge, push forwards, poke, thrust_ + +pol, 205, polle (A.S.) 261, 430, _a head, poll_ + +polshen (A.N.) 105, _to polish_ + +pondfold (A.S.) 346, _the pinfold or pound_ + +poraille (A.N.) _the poor people_ + +poret (A.N.) _pl._ porettes, 134, 135, _a kind of leek_ + +porthors (A.N.) 302, _a breviary_, (_portiforium_, Lat.) + +pose (A.N.) 365, _to place, put as a supposition_ + +possen (A.N.) _to push_ + +potente (A.N.) 156, _a club, staff_ + +pouke (A.S.) 256, 285, 333, 346, _the devil_ + +Poul (A.N.) _St. Paul_ + +pounde-mele (A.S.) 41, _by the pound_ + +pous (A.N.) 352, _the pulse_ + +poustee (A.N.) 79, 228, _power, strength_ + +povere (A.N.) _poor_ + ++povert (A.N.) 496, _poverty_ + ++powghe, terre powghe, 487, _a torn sack or poke_ (?) The imperfect +glossary appended to the old printed edition of the "Creed" explains it by +_tar box_ + +prayen (A.N.) 430, _to make prey of, plunder_ + +preessen (A.N.) 286, _to hasten, crowd_ + +preyen, preye (A.N.) _to pray_. _pret. s._ preide, preyde + +preiere (A.N.) _prayer_ + +preynte (A.N. ?) 253 (?) + +preise (A.N.) 97, _to appraise, value_ + ++prese (A.N.) 495, _to hasten_. _pret. s._ presed, 460 + +prest (A.N.) 287, _ready_. prester, 191, _more ready_. presteste, 110, +_readiest, quickest_. prestly, _readily_ + +preven, preve (A.N.) _to prove_ + +prikye (A.S.) 369, _to ride over, ride, spur_. _pret. s._ prikede, 368, +_part. past_, y-priked, 430 + +prikere (A.S.) 159, 191, prikiere, 370, _a rider_ + +pris (A.N.) 411, _prize, value_ + +prison (A.N.) 140, 315, 372, _a prisoner_ + +pryvee (A.N.) _private, intimate, confidential_ + +provisour (A.N.) 38, 73, _a purveyor, provider_ + +prowor (A.N.) 411, _a priest_ + +puffed (A.S.) 78, _blown_ + ++pulchen (A.N.) _to polish_. _part. past_, pulched, 458, pulchud, 460, +_polished_ + +pulette (A.N.) _a chicken_ + +punysshen (A.N.) 407, _to punish_ + +pure (A.N.) _pure, simple, unmixed_. pure (_adv._) 213, _purely, simply_. +purely for-do, 262, _altogether destroyed or undone_. +puriche (A.N.) 467, +_purely_: perhaps it should be _purliche_ + +purfill, purfil (A.N.) 72, 78, _embroidery, tinsel_ + +purfilen (A.N.) 28, _to embroider_ + +put (A.S.) 195, 284, _pl._ puttes, _a pit, cave_ + +putten, puten (A.S.) 400, _to put, place_. _pres. s._ putte, _pl._ putten. +_pres. s._ and _pl._ putte, 68, 110, 372. _part. past_, y-put, 290 + + Q. + +quatron (A.N.) 90, _a quartern_ + +quave (A.N.) _to shake, tremble_. _pret. s._ quaved, 373 + +queed (A.S.) 285, _the evil one, the devil_ + +queste-mongere (A.N. and A.S.) _one who made a business of conducting +inquests_ + +queynt (A.S.) 390, _quenched, destroyed_ + +queyntely (A.N.) 416, _quaintly, cunningly_ + +queyntise (A.N.) 385, 417, _cunning_ + +quellen (A.S.) _to kill_. _part. past_, quelt, 337, _killed_ + ++quenes (A.S.) 456, _women_. The word is used in the modern sense of the +word _wench_ + +quyk (A.S.) 384, 399, _live, alive_ + +quykne (A.S.) 390, _to give life to, bring to life_. _pret. s._ I quikne + +quite, quyte (A.N.) 389, 390, _to quit, pay off_. _part. past_, quit, 390 + +quod (A.S.) _quoth, says_ + + R. + +radegunde (A.S. ?) 430, _a disease, apparently a sort of boil_ + +rageman (A.N.) 5, 335, _a catalogue, list_ + +ray (A.N.) 89, _a ray, streak_ + ++raken (A.S.) 455, _to go raking about_ + +rakiere (A.S.) 96, _one who goes raking about_ + +rape (A.S.) 97, _haste_ + +rapen (A.S.) 65, 101, 124, _to prepare_. _pret. s._ raped, 352 + +rapeliche (A.S.) 347, rapely, 351, _readily, quickly_. rapelier, 352, _more +quickly_ + +rappen (A.S.) 20, _to strike, rap_ + +rather, 155, _earlier_ + +rathe (A.S.) _early_. rathest, _earliest, first, soonest, most readily_ + +raton (A.N.) _a rat_ + +ratoner (A.N.) 96, _a rat-catcher_ + +raunsone (A.N.) 390, _ransom_ + +rave (A.S.) 380, _to rave_. ravestow, 380, _dost thou rave_ + +ravysshen (A.N.) 399, _to ravage, rob, plunder, ravish_ + +raxen (A.S.) 100, _to hawk, spit_ + +reaume, reme (A.N.) _pl._ remes, reames, _a realm_ + +recche (A.S.) 67, 204, _to reck, care for_. _pret. s._ roughte, 369 + +recchelees (A.S.) 369, _reckless_ + +rechen (A.S.) 359, _to reach_. _pret. s._ raughte, 5, 76, 153, 335, 369 + +recoverer (A.N.) 352, _a remedy_ (?) + +recrayed (A.N.) 58, _recreant_ (?) + +rede (A.S.) _red_ + +rede (A.S.) _to read_ + +reden (A.S.) _to advise, counsel_. _pret. s._ redde, 106, _pl._ radde, 71, +84. _imperat._ reed, 72 + +redel (A.S.) 257, _a riddle_ + ++redelich (A.S.) 498, _readily, promptly_ + +redyng-kyng, 96, _a class of feudal retainers_. _See_ Spelman's Gloss. in +v. _rodknightes_ + +reed (A.S.) _counsel, advice_ + +regne (A.N.) _to reign_. _pret. s._ regnede, 399, _reigned_ + +regratier, regrater (A.N.) 48, 90, _a retailer of wares and victuals_ + +regratrie (A.N.) 48, _retailing, selling by retail_ + +reyn (A.S.) _rain_ + +reckenen (A.S.) _to reckon, count_ + +relessen (A.N.) 46, _to forgive_ + +releve (A.N.) 377, _to raise again, restore, rally_ + +religious (A.N.) _pl._ religiouses 192, _a monk_ + +renable (A.N.) 10, _reasonable_ + +renden (A.S.) 13, _to rend, tear_. _imperat._ rende, 76 + +reneye (A.N.) 210, _to deny, be a renegade to_. _part. pas._ reneyed, 210, +_renegade_ + +renk (A.S.) 12, 101, 149, 231, 238, 280, 369, 385, _a man_ + +rennen, renne (A.S.) 353, _to run_. _imperative_, ren thow, 230. _pret. s._ +ran, roon, 277, yarn, 205 (? y-arn). _part. past_, ronne, 156 + +renner (A.S.) 72, _a runner_ + +renten (A.N.) 140, _to give rents to_ + ++rentful (A.S.) 476, _meagre, miserable_ (?) + +repen (A.S.) _to reap_. _pret. pl._ ropen, 268 + +repreven (A.N.) 236, _to reprove, blame_ + +rerages (A.N.) 91, _arrears_ + +retenaunce (A.N.) 31, _a retinue_ + +reve (A.S.) 34, 102, 411, 423, _an overseer, a reeve, steward, or bailiff_ + +reve (A.S.) 335, 385, _to take from_ + +revere, _pl._ reveris (A.S.) _reavers, people who deprive by force_ + +reward (A.N.) 364, _attention, warning_ + ++rewel (A.S.) 473, _rule_ + +rewen (A.S.) _to rue, to have mercy_ + +rewme (A.N.) 430, _a rheumatism, cold_ + +ribaud (A.N.) 108, 286, 339, 372, _a profligate low man_. The word belonged +properly to a particular class in society. See a detailed account of its +derivation and signification in a note in my Political Songs, p. 369 + +ribaudie (A.N.) _low profligate talk_ + +ribaudour (A.N.) 121, _a teller of low tales_ + +ribibour (A.N.) 96, _a player on_ _the ribibe_ (a musical instrument) + +riche, ryche (A.S.) _a kingdom_. hevene riche blisse, _the joy of the +kingdom of heaven_ + +richen (A.N.) _to become rich_ + +riden, ryde (A.S.) _to ride_. _pres. s._ ryt, _pl._ riden. _pret. s._ rood, +354 + +rightwisnesse (A.S.) 393, _righteousness_ + +ringen (A.S.) _to ring_. _pret. pl._ rongen, 395, 428 + +ripe (A.S.) 415, _to ripen_ + +ripe (A.S.) 100, _ready_ + +rise, ryse (A.S.) 352, _to rise_. _pret. s._ roos, 91, 344 + +risshe (A.S.) 75, _a rush_ (_juncus_) + +rody (A.S.) _ruddy, red_ + +roggen (A.S.) _to shake_ (explained in the Prompt. Parv. by _agito_.) +_pret. s._ rogged, 335 + +roynous (A.N.) 430, _scabby, rough_ + +rolle (A.N.) 93, _to enrol_ + +rome (A.S.) 209, 210, 328, _to roam_ + +romere (A.S.) _pl._ romeris, _a person who wanders or roams about_ + +ronges (A.S.) 333, _the steps of a ladder_ + +roost (A.N.) 14, _roast_ + ++rote (A.N.) _practice_. by rote, _by heart_. be pure rote, 473, _merely by +rote_ + +roten (A.S.) _to rot_ + +rotey tyme (A.N.) 222, _the time of rut_ + ++rotheren (A.S.) 476, _oxen_ + +rounen, rownen (A.S.) 66, 97, _to whisper, talk privately_ + +routhe (A.S.) _ruth, compassion_ + +rowen (A.S.) _to become red, as the dawn of day_ (?). _pret. s._ rowed, 376 + +rufulliche (A.S.) _ruefully_ + +rugge (A.S.) 286, 413, _the back_. rugge-bone (A.S.) 98, _the back-bone_ + +rulen (A.N.) 393, _to rule, govern_ + +rusty (A.S.) 121, _filthy_ (?). In the Coventry Mysteries, p. 47, Ham's +wife says, "rustynes of synne is cawse of these wawys;" i. e. _filthiness +of sin is the cause of these waves_ + +ruthe (A.S.) _compassion_ + +rutten (A.S. ?) 100, _to snore_. _pret. s._ rutte, 369 + +ruwet (A.S. ?) 98, _a small trumpet_ + + S. + +saaf (A.N.) _safe_ + +sadde (A.S.) 188, _to make serious, steady_ + +sadde (A.S.) 152, _serious, grave, steady_ + +sadder (A.S.) 77, _sounder_ + +safly (A.N.) _safely_ + +saille (A.N.) 260, _to leap_ + +salve (A.N.) 337, _to apply salves_ + +samplarie (A.N.) 234, _type, first copy_ + +saufté (A.N.) _safety_ + +saughtne (A.S.) 65, _to be pacified, reconciled_ + +saulee (A.N.) 331 (?) + +saunz (A.N.) _without_ + +saute (A.N.) 260, _to jump_ + +sauter (A.N.) _the Psalter_ + +savoren (A.N.) 157, _to savour_ + +savour (A.N.) 147, _knowledge_ + +sawe (A.S.) 147, 165, 378, _pl._ sawes, 174, _a saying, legend, proverb_ + +scathe (A.S.) 46, 70, 71, 298, _injury, hurt_ + +scryveynes (A.N.) 193, _writers_ + ++se (A.N.) 483, _seat_ + +secte (A.N.) 106, 107, 216, _a suit_ + +see (A.S.) _the sea_ + +seel (A.S.) 348, _pl._ seles, _a seal_ + +seem (A.S.) 45, 67, _a seam_ (of wheat), a measure of eight bushels, +originally as much as a horse could carry + +sege (A.N.) 443, _siege_ + ++seget (A.N.) 489, _subject_ + +segge (A.S.) 46, 78, 84, 100, 216, 341, 443, 445, _a man_ + +seyen, 290, seye, seyn, seggen, 53, 264, sigge, 208, 302, siggen, 264, 312, +318, 350 (A.S.) _to say_. _pres. s._ I seye, he seith, thei siggen, 320. +_pret. s._ seide, _pl._ seiden + +seillynge (A.S.) 387, _sailing_ + +seynen (A.N.) _to sign_. _pret. s._ seyned, 104 + +seint (A.N.) _a saint_ + +seken, seche (A.S.) _to seek_; 273, _to penetrate_. _pret. s. & pl._ +soughte. _part. pas._ y-sought + +selde (A.S.) _seldom_. selden, 365 + +selen (A.S.) _to seal_ + +self (A.S.) _objec. s._ selve, _pl._ selves _self-same_. on the selve +roode, 427, _on the cross itself_ + ++sely (A.S.) 477, _simple, poor_ + +selkouth (A.S.) _pl._ selkouthe _wonderful, strange_ + +selles (A.N.) _cells_ + +semen (A.S.) 328, _to seem, appear, resemble_. +I semed, 460, _I looked_ + +semynge (A.S.) 318, _resembling_ + +semy-vif (A.N.) 351, _half alive_, i. e. _half dead_ + +sen, 25, see, 32 (A.S.) _to see_. _pres. sing._ thow sest, 15. he seeth, +_pl._ we seen. _pret. sing._ seigh, 77, 147, 200, 247, seyghe, 82, saugh, +29, 77, 347, 376, 437, _pl._ seighe. _part. pas._ y-seyen, seyen, 216, 308, +349, seene, y-seighen, 77, seighen, 177, y-seighe, 365 + +senden (A.S.) _to send_. _pret. s._ sent, 421, _pl._ senten + +serelopes (A.S.) 358, _severally, by themselves_ + +serk (A.S.) 81, _a shift, shirt_ + +serven (A.N.) _to serve_ + +setten (A.S.) _to set_. _pret. s. & pl._ sette. _part. past_, seten, 248 + +sewen (A.S.) _to follow_. _see_ suwen + +shaar (A.S.) 61, _the blade or share of a plough_ + ++shaf (A.S.) 490, _chaff_ + +shaft (A.S.) 161, 225, _make, creation_ + +shaken (A.S.) _to shake_. _pret. s._ shook, 268 + +shallen (A.S.) _the auxiliary verb. sing._ I shal, 15. thow shalt, _pl._ ye +shul, 14, shulle, 25, thei shulle, 22--sholde, sholdest, _pl._ sholden, +sholde + +shapen, shape (A.S.) _to make, create, shape_. _pret. s._ shoop, 1, 163, +197, 225, 443, shapte, 361, 433, for-shapte, 365. _pl._ shopen. _part. +past_, mys-shapen, 144, shapen, 280 + +shappere (A.S.) 358, _a maker, creator_ + +sharpe (A.S.) 443, _pungent_ + +sheep (A.S.) 1, _a sheep, or a shepherd_ + +sheltrom (A.S.) 278, _a host, troop of soldiers_ + +shenden (A.S.) _to ruin, destroy_. _pret. s._ shente, 365. _part. pas._ +shent + +shene (A.S.) 394, _bright_ + +shenfulliche (A.S.) 59, _shamefully, disastrously_ + +shepstere (A.S.) 265, _a sheep-shearer_ (?) + +shere (A.S.) _a shear_ + +sherreve (A.S.) 31, 51, _a shire-reeve_, or _sheriff_ + +sherewe, shrewe (A.S.) _a shrew; a cursed one_ + +shrewednesse (A.S.) _cursedness_ + +sheten (A.S.) _to shoot_. _pret. pl._ shotten, 438 + +shetten, shette (A.S.) _to shut_. _pret. s._ shette + +shide (A.S.) 167, 197, _a thin board, a billet of wood_ + +shiften (A.S.) _to move away_. _pret. s._ shifte 435 + +shyngled (A.S.) 168, _made of planks or boards_ + +shonyen (A.S.) 87, _to shun_ + ++shosen ( ) 491 qu. for chosen, i. e. _dispose, incline to_ + +shrape (A.S.) 84, _to scrape_ + +shryve (A.S.) 441, _to shrive, make confession_. _pret. s._ shrof, 45, 198. +_part. pas._ y-shryve, 82, shryven, 273 + +shrift (A.S.) _confession_ + +shroudes (A.S.) _clothes_ + +sib, sibbe (A.S.) _relation, companion_. Gossip is God-sib, _companion or +fellow in God_, and was originally applied to the attendants at a +christening + +sidder (A.S.) 88, _wider_ + +sike (A.S.) 355, _sick_ + +siken (A.S.) _to sigh_. _pret. s._ siked, 293, sikede, 385 + +siker, syker (A.S.) _sure, secure_. sikerer, 237, _more secure, more sure_ + +syn (A.S.) 444, _since_ + +syngen, synge (A.S.) 408, _to sing_. _pret. s._ songe, I song, 408. _pl._ +songen, 369, 388, 405 + +sinken (A.S.) _to sink_. _pret. s._ sank, 373. _pl._ sonken, 278 + +sisour (A.N.) 31, 32, 38, 51, 75, 434, _a person deputed to hold assizes_. +_See_ Ducange in v. _assisarii_ + +sith (A.S.) _since_. sithen, _since, afterwards_. sithenes, 121, +_afterwards_. siththe (_adv._) _since afterwards_ + +sithe (A.S.) 102, _time_ + +sitten, sitte (A.S.) _to sit_. _pret. s._ thow sete, 386. I seet, 437. sat, +_pl._ seten, 109 + +skile (A.S.) 202, 240, 290, 359, 367, 412, _reason, argument_ + ++slaughte ( ) 456 (?) + +sleighte (A.S.) 379, 401, _a trick, slight_ + +sleen (A.S.) _to slay_. _pres._ sleeth. 364, 421. _pret. s._ slow, 434 + +slepen (A.S.) _to sleep_. _pret. s._ sleep, 99, 100, I slepte, 247. _pl._ +slepe, 277 + +slepying (A.S.) _asleep_ + +sleple (A.S.) 155, _to sleep gently_ + +sleuthe (A.S.) _sloth, idleness_ + +sliken (A.S.) 34, _to make sleek, smooth_ + +slombren (A.S.) _to slumber_. _pret. s._ slombred, 1 + +smal (A.S.) _pl._ smale, _small_ + +smecen (A.S.) _to taste, smack_. _pret. pl._ smaughte, 98 + +smythyen (A.S.) 61, 62, _to do the work of a smith, to forge_ + +so (A.S.) _so, as_. so soone so, 352, _as soon as_ + +soden (A.S.) 312, _to boil_. _part. pas._ y-soden, 321 + +sodenes (A.N.) 303, _sub-deans_ + +softe (A.S.) 1, _warm_ (like the Fr. _doux_) + +sokene (A.S.) 34, _a district held by tenure of socage_ + +solas (A.N.) _comfort, solace_ + +soleyn (A.N.) 240, _one left alone_ + +solne (A.N.) 102, _to sing by note_ + +som (A.S.) _pl._ somme, _some_ + +somone (A.N.) 37, sompne, 62, 209, 408, _to summon_ + +somonour (A.N.) 31, 51, 75, _a somner_, an officer employed to summon +delinquents to appear in ecclesiastical courts, now called _an apparitor_ + +sonde (A.S.) _mission, sending_ + +sone (A.S.) _a son_ + +songewarie (A.N.) 147, 148, _the interpreting of dreams_ + +sonne (A.S.) _the sun_ + +sooth (A.S.) _truth_ + +soothnesse, sothnesse (A.S.) _truth_ + +sope (A.S.) 254, _a sop_ + +sope (A.S.) 273, _soap_ + +soper (A.N.) _supper_ + +sorwe (A.S.) _sorrow_ + +sorweful (A.S.) 353, _sorrowful_ + +soth (A.S.) _true_ + +sothe (A.S.) _truth_ + +sotile (A.N.) 184, 186, _to apply one's cunning or penetration_ + +sotil (A.N.) _pl._ sotile, 294, 297, 319, 372, _clever, cunning, subtile, +difficult to conceive or understand_ + +sotte (A.N.) _a fool_ + +souke (A.N.) 209, _to suck_ + +souter (A.S.) 101, 201, _a shoemaker_. +soutere, 494 + +souteresse (A.S.) 96, _a female shoemaker_ + +southdene (A.N.) _a subdean_ + +sowen (A.S.) 274, _to sow_. _pret. s._ sew, 268, 412, _pl._ sewe, 317. +_part. pas._ y-sowen, 416 + +spakliche (A.S.) 353, _hastily_ (?) + +spede (A.S.) 353, _to haste, to speed_. _pret. s._ spedde, 353 + +speken, speke (A.S.) _to speak_. _pret. s._ spak + +spelonke (LAT.) 311, _a cavern_ + +spences (A.N.) 285, _expense_ + +spillen (A.S.) (trans.) _to mix, spill, spoil, waste_, 414 (_intransitive_) +_to perish_, 303. _part. pas._ y-spilt + +spire (A.S.) 348, _to look closely into, to inquire_ + +spores (A.S.) 370, _spurs_ + +spring (A.S.) 79, _a sprig, rod_ + +springen (A.S.) _to spring_. _pret. s._ sprong, 277, spronge, 404 + +stablisse (A.N.) 22, _to establish_ + ++stappyng (A.S.) 489, _stepping_ + +stede (A.S.) _pl._ stedes, _a place_ + +steere (A.S.) 153, _the helm of a ship_ + +steyen (A.S.) _to arise, mount_. +_pret. s._ steigh, 498, _arose_ + +stekie (A.S.) 22, _to stick fast_ + +stele (A.S.), 412, _a handle_ + +stelen (A.S.) _to steal_. _pret. s._ stale, 268. _pl._ stolen, 405 + +sterre, _pl._ sterne, 310 (A.S.) _a star_ + ++styghtle (A.S.) 469, _to establish, confirm_. Explained in the glossary +appended to the old edition by _to stay_ + ++stylle (A.S.) 473, _quietly, with a low voice_ + ++y-stongen (A.S.) 483, _stabbed, pierced_ + +stinken (A.S.) _to stink_. _pret. s._ stank, 328. +styncand, 489, +_stinking_ + +stynten (A.S.) 22, 186, _to stop_ + +stonden, stonde, stande, 354 (A.S.) _to stand_. he stondeth, it stant, 325, +he stant, 372, thei stonden. _pret. s._ stood, 204, 247 + +stoon (A.S.) 328, _a stone_ + +stotte (A.S.) 411, _an ox of three years old_ + +stounde (A.S.) 155, _a short space of time_ + +stoupe (A.S.) 204, _to bend, stoop_. Chaucer, in the first line of the +Nonne Preestes Tale, speaks of,--"A pore wydow somdel _stoupe_ in age." + ++straken (A.S.) 456, _to proceed directly_ + ++stre (A.S.) 496, _straw_ + +streyte (A.S.) _straitly, narrowly_ + +streyves (A.N.) 6, _estreys, beasts which have strayed_, a law-term + +striken (A.S.) _to strike_. _pret. s._ strook + +struyen (A.N.) 328, _to destroy_. _pret._ struyede + +stuwe (A.N.) 121, _a house of ill fame, a stew_. +stues, 488, _stews, +brothels_ + ++sueres (A.S.) 459, _followers_ + +suffren (A.N.) _to suffer_ + +sulen (A.N.) _to soil_. +_part. pas._ y-suled, 495, _soiled_ + +suren (A.N.) _to assure_ + +surgenrie (A.N.) 336, _surgery_ + +surquidous (A.N.) 416, _overbearing, arrogant, conceited_ + +suster (A.S.) _pl._ sustren, _a sister_ + +suwen, sewe (A.S.) 203, 454 _to follow_. _pret. s. and pl._ suwed, 353, +suwede, 380. _part. p._ suwed, 110, sued, 155 + +swelte (A.S.) 86, _to die, to perish_. _pret. s._ swelted, 431 + +swerd (A.S.) _a sword_ + +sweren, swerye, 275 (A.S.) _to swear_. _pret. s._ swoor, 434, swor, 269. +_part. pas._ sworen, 328, swore + +swetter (A.S.) _sweeter_ + +swevene (A.S.) _a dream_ + +sweyen (A.S.) _to sound_. _pret. s._ sweyed, 1 + +swich (A.S.) 385, _pl._ swiche, _such_ + +swynken (A.S.) _to labour_. _pret. pl._ swonken, 2. + +swynk (A.S.) _labour, work_ + +swithe (A.S.) _very, immediately, quickly_ + +swowe (A.S.) 86, _to faint, to swoon_ + + T. + +tabard (A.N.) 88, _a short coat or mantle_. "Tabbard, _collobium_." Promp. +Parv. One of the stage directions in the Coventry Mysteries (p. 244) is:-- + + Here xal Annas shewyn hymself in his stage, be seyn after a busshop of + the hoold lawe, in a skarlet gowne, and over that _a blew tabbard_ + furryd with whyte. + +tacches (A.N.) 168, _stains, blemishes_ + +taillé (A.N.) 68, _a tally, notched stick; an account scored on a piece of +wood_. _See_ note + +tailen (A.N.) _to keep an account by notches on a stick, to give a tally +for a thing_. _part. a._ tailende, 156. _part. pas._ y-tailed, 102 + +taken (A.S.) _to take_. _pres. s._ took, _pl._ token, toke, 398. _part. +pas._ taken + +taken, take (A.S.) _to give_. _pret. s._ took, 328, _pl._ toke, token, 383 + +tale (A.S.) _an account, reckoning_ + +tale-wis (A.S.) 51, _wise in tales_ + +tasele (A.S.) 322, _a teasel_. The burs of this plant are used in the +manufacture of cloth + +tasten (A.N.) 266, 374, _to feel_. _pret. s._ tastede, 357 + +techen (A.S.) _to teach_. _pret. s._ taughte, 19, taghte, 135. _part. pas._ +taught, 186, y-taught, 436 + +tellen, telle (A.S.) _to count, tell_, 405. _pret. s._ tolde. _pl._ tolden + +teme, teeme (A.S.) 118, 125, 138, 411, 412, _a team of horses_ + +teme (A.N.) 48, 80, 147, 209, _a theme_ + +tenten (A.N.) _to offer, present, to hold out, stretch forth_. _pret. pl._ +tendeden, 383 + +tenen, tene (A.S.) 256, 320, _to injure_. _pret. s._ tened, 432 + +tene (A.S.) 124, 125, 145, 209, 335, _anger, hurt_ + +teneful (A.S.) _injurious_ + +termes (A.N.) 242, _terms, times for their work_ + +teynten (A.N.) _to die, tint_. _part. past_, y-teynted, 322 + +y-termyned (A.N.) 20, _judged, determined_ + +thanne (A.S.) _then_ + +thecche (A.S.) 410, _to thatch_ + +theen (A.S.) _to thrive, be prosperous_. so thee ik! 90, _as I may +prosper!_ + +thef, theef (A.S.) _pl._ theves, 239, 353, 373, _a thief_. thefliche, 389, +_thievishly_ + +theigh (A.S.) _though_ + +thenke, thynke (A.S.) 211, 228, _to think_. _pres. s._ he thenketh, 407 + +ther (A.S.) _there, where_. therafter, 90, _in proportion to it_. thermyd, +_herewith_ + +thesternesse (A.S.) 340, _darkness_ + +thynke (A.S.) 384, _to seem_. _pres. sing._ I thynke, me thynketh (_it +seems to me_). _pret. s._ thoghte, 1, 205, thoughte, 404 + +thirlen (A.S.) _to pierce, bore through_ + +thise (A.S.) _these_ + +tho (A.S.) _those, the_ + +tho (A.S.) _then, when_ + +tholien (A.S.) 70, thole, 392, _to bear, support, suffer_. _pret. s._ +tholede, 251, 384, tholed, 377. _pl._ tholed, 373 + +thonkyng (A.S.) _thanking, thanks_ + +thorugh (A.S.) _through_ + +thow (A.S.) The second personal pronoun is in interrogative clauses +generally combined with its verb, as sestow, _seest thou_; slepestow, +_sleepest thou_, &c. + +thral (A.S.) _pl._ thralles, 398, _a bond-man_ + +threve (A.S.) 333, _a bundle_ + +thridde (A.S.) 413, _third_ + +thringen (A.S.) _to crowd, to throng, to press forward_. _pret. pl._ +thrungen, 108 + +tyd, tid (A.S.) 265, 334, _quickly, promptly, readily_ + +tidy (A.S.) 422, _clever, ready, neat_ + +tyen (A.S.) _to tie_ + ++y-tight, 461, _furnished, provided_ + +tikes (A.S.) 398, _low people_; literally, _dogs_. The word is still used +in Yorkshire + +til (A.S.) 305, _to_ + +tilien, tilie, tilye (A.S.) 131, 138, 375, 410, _to till the earth_. ++_part. pas._ tylde, 461 + +tilthe (A.S.) 421, _tilth, the result or produce of tilling or ploughing_ + +tymbre (A.S.) 223, _to build_. _pret._ tymbred, 48 + ++tymen (A.S.) 494, _to compel_ (?) It appears to be the same word which +occurs in the alliterative poem on the Deposition of Richard II, p. 17:-- + + Thus lafte they the leder + That hem wrong ladde, + And _tymed_ no twynte, + But tolled her cornes, + And gaderid the grotus + With gyle, as I trowe. + +tynen, tyne (A.S.) 416, _to lose_. _part. pas._ tynt, 377 + +titeleris (A.S. ?) 442, _tattlers_ + +tithe (A.S.) _tenth, tithe_ + +tixte (A.N.) 348, _text_ + +to (A.S.) _too_ + +to-, prefixed in composition to verbs of Anglo-Saxon origin, has the same +force as the German _zu-_, giving to the word the idea of destruction or +deterioration:-- + +to-bollen (A.S.) 82, _to overswell_ + +to-breken (A.S.) 156, _to break to pieces, break down_. _part. pas._ +to-broke, 139 + +to-cleve (A.S.) 236, _to cleave in pieces, cut open_ + +to-drawen (A.S.) _to draw to pieces_, or _to destruction_. _pret._ +to-drowe, 175 + +to-luggen (A.S.) 41, _to lug about, tear_ + +to-rende (A.S.) 180, _to be torn or burst to pieces_ + +to-shullen (A.S.) _to cut off, destroy_. _part. pas._ to-shullen, 359 + +toft (A.S.) _an open exposed place, a hill_ + +to-fore (A.S.) _before_. to-forn 235, _before_ + +to-gidere, to-gidres, to-gideres (A.S.) _together_ + ++toylyng (A.S.) 495, _tugging_ + +tollen (A.S.) 89, _to measure out, count_ + +tollers (A.S.) _toll-gatherers_ + +tome (A.S.) 39, _leisure, time_. This form of the word seems to have been +in use in the fourteenth century. It occurs at the commencement of the +Seven Sages:-- + + I sal yow tel, if I have _tome_, + Of the seven ages of Rome. + +Its occurrence in Piers Ploughman shows that Weber was not right in +supposing it a mere alteration of the word _time_ for the sake of rhyme. +See also Sir F. Madden's Glossary to Gawayne + +tonder (A.S.) 362, _tinder_ + ++too (A.S.) _pl._ ton, 476, 489, _a toe_ + +torne (A.N.) 428, _to turn_. _pret. s._ tornede, 321, torned, 265, _turned_ + +torne, 325, turne, 324 (A.S.) _to turn_ (intransitive) + +toten (A.S.) 331, 459, 461, _to look, observe, to peep_. _pret. s._ toted, +471. _pl._ toteden, 476. _part. past_, y-toted, 464 + +touken (A.S.) _to dye_. _part. pas._ y-touked, 322 + +toune, 315, _a tun_. Perhaps it should be printed _tonne_. + +tour (A.N.) _a tower_ + +travaille (A.N.) _to labour_ + +traversen (A.N.) 245, _to transgress_ + +treden (A.S.) _to tread_. _pret. pl._ troden, 223. +_pret. s._ tredede, +476, _trod_ + +tree, 330 (A.S.) _pl._ trowes, 300, _a tree_ + +tresor (A.N.) _a treasure_ + +triacle, tryacle (A.N.) _a remedy, a cure_ + +tricherie (A.N.) _treachery, cunning, trickery_ + +trie (A.N.) 305, 330, _choice, select_. trieste, 23, _most choice_, +trieliche, _choicely_ + ++tryfler (A.S.) 479, _a trifler, a deceiver, a good-for-nothing_ + ++troiflardes (A.S.) 494, _triflers, idlers_ + +trollen (A.S.) 387, _to draw, to drag_ + +tronen (A.N.) _to throne_ + +trowe (A.S.) 358, _to believe, think, suppose_. trowestow, 237, _thinkest +thou_ + +trufle (A.S.) 236, 378, trefle, 471, _a silly tale, trifle, +good-for-nothing thing_ or _person_ + +trumpen (A.N.) _to sound a trumpet_. _pret. s._ trumpede, 395 + +tulien (A.S.) _to labour, to till_. _pret. pl._ tulieden, 277. _part. act._ +tulying, 277 + +tweye (A.S.) _two_ + +twies (A.S.) _twice_ + ++twynnen (A.S.) 480, _to couple together_ + + U. + +umwhile (A.S.) 97, _once, on a time_ + +unbuxome (A.S.) _disobedient, inobedient_ + +underfongen (A.S.) 301, _to undertake, accept, receive_. _pret. s._ +underfonged, 209 + +undernymen (A.S.) 214, _to undertake, take possession of_. _pres. s._ +undernymeth, 84. _part. past_, under-nome, 263, 428 + +under-pight (A.S.) 331, _propped up_ + +unhardy (A.N.) 254, 354, _not bold_ + +un-hiled (A.S.) 367, _uncovered, unroofed_ + +unjoynen (A.N.) 384, _to disjoin, separate_ + +unkynde (A.S.) _unnatural_ + +unkouthe (A.S.) 148, _unknown, strange, foreign_ + +unlosen (A.S.) 356, _to unloose_ + +unlouken (A.S.) 380, 384, 385, 388, _to unlock_ + +unnethe (A.S.) _scarcely_ + +unpynne (A.S.) 385, _to unbolt_ + +unsperen (A.S.) 374, 385, _to open, undo, unbolt_ + ++un-teyned (A.S.) 481, _unfastened (?)_ + +unthende (A.S.) 87, _unserved, without sauce_ + +untidy (A.S.) 432, _slovenly, not clever_ + +until (A.S.) _to_ + +unwittily (A.S.) 49, _unwisely, unreasonably_ + +up (A.S.) _upon_. up so doun, 428, _upside down_ + +usen (A.S.) _to use_ + + V. + +vaunt-warde (A.N.) 430, _the avant-guard, the van_ + +veille (A.N.) 104, _an old woman_ + +vendage (A.N.) 391, _vintage, harvest_ + +venymousté (A.N.) 378, _the property of being poisonous or venomous_ + +venym (A.N.) 326, _poison_ + +vernycle (A.N.) 109, "diminutive of _Veronike_. A copy in miniature of the +picture of Christ, which is supposed to have been miraculously imprinted +upon a handkerchief, preserved in the church of St. Peter at Rome. Du +Cange, in v. _Veronica_. Madox, Form. Angl. p. 428. Testam. Joh. de Nevill, +an. 1386. Item Domino archiepiscopo Ebor. fratri meo. i. vestimentum rubeum +de velvet cum _le Veronike_ in granis rosarum desuper broudata. It was +usual for persons returning from pilgrimages to bring with them certain +tokens of the several places which they had visited; and therefore the +Pardoner [in Chaucer], who is just arrived from Rome, is represented with +_a vernicle sewed upon his cappe_."--TYRWHITT. + +verrey (A.N.) 365, verrey, 405, _true_ + +verset (A.N.) 239, _a little verse_ + +viker (A.N.) 424, _a vicar_ + +vicory (A.N.) 420, _a vicar_ + + W. + +waast (A.N.) 10, _a waste, wilderness_ + +wafrestere (A.S.) 115, _a maker of wafers for the priests, to be +consecrated and administered at the sacrament_ + +wage, wagen (A.N.) 440, _to hire, to wage, pay wages, remunerate_ + +wage (A.N.) 71, _to be pledge for, to warrant_ + +waggen (A.S.) 332, _to shake_. _pret. s._ waggede, 335, 373, 408 + +wayte, waiten (A.S.) 89, 147, 157, 260, 269, _to watch, look about, wait_. +_pret. s._ waitede, 266. _pl._ waiteden, 345 + +waitynges (A.S.) 33, _watchings, lookings_ + +walkne (A.S.) 316, _air, sky, welkin_. wolkne, 357, 383 + +walnote (A.S.) _a wallnut_ + +wayven (A.N.) 113, 435, 482, 491, _to waive_ + +waken (A.S.) _to awake_. _pret. pl._ woken, 277, woke, 405, _awoke_ + +wanhope (A.S.) 34, 94, 140, 238, 366, _despair, hopelessness_ + +wanye (A.S.) 141, 153, _to fade, wane_. _pret. s._ wanyed, 294 + +war (A.S.) _ware, aware_. y-war, 17 + +warde (A.N.) 388, _a keeper_ + +wardemotes (A.N.) 6, _meetings of the ward_ + +wareyne (A.N.) 10, _a warren_ + +warisshen (A.N.) 336, _to cure_ + +warlawes (A.S.) 497, _wizards, sorcerers, warlocks_. See Jamieson, on this +latter word + +warner (A.N.) 96, _a warrener, keeper of a warren_ + +warpen (A.S.) _to utter, cast_. _pret. s._ warpe, 82, 99 + +warroken (A.S.) 66, _to girt_ + +waselen (A.S.) _to become dirty, dirty one's self_. +_pret. s._ waselede, +476 + +wasshe (A.S.) 248, _to wash_. _pret. s._ I wessh, 344, wasshed, 352, _pl._ +wesshen, 247. _part. pas._ y-wasshen, 167, whasshen, 272, wasshen, 392 + +wastel (A.N.) 94, _a cake, fine bread_ + +watlen (A.S.) _to cover with hurdles, to wattle_. _pret. s._ watlede, 415 + +wawe (A.S.) 153, _a wave_ + +webbe (A.S.) 89, _a weaver_ + +webbestere (A.S.) _a weaver_. wollen webbesters, 14, _woollen weavers_ + +wed (A.S.) 91, 346, _a pledge_ + +wedden (A.S.) 73, _to lay a wager_ + +weder (A.S.) _weather_. weder-wise, _weather-wise_ + +wedes (A.S.) _dress, clothes, apparel_ + +weer (A.S.) 209, 330, _a doubt, perplexity_ + +weet (A.S.) _wet_. weet-shoed, 369, _wet-shoed_ + +weg (A.S.) 426, _a pledge_ + +wey (A.S.) _a way_ + +weye (A.S.) 82, _a wey of cheese_ + +weyen (A.S.) _to weigh_. _part. past_, weyen, 25 + +weylaway (A.S.) 383, _an exclamation of lamenting under suffering_ + +weyves (A.S.) 6 (a law term), _animals lost or strayed_ + +weke (A.S.) 360, 362, _the wick of a candle_ + +welden (A.S.) 174, 175, 206, _to possess_. _pres. s._ he welt, 178, when he +weldeth, 426 + +wele (A.S.) 381, _weal, happiness, good fortune_ + +wellen (A.S.) _to boil, to gush out as water from a spring_. _pret. s._ +wellede, 418 + +welle (A.S.) 296, _a spring_ + +welthe (A.S.) 88, _a welt_ + +wem (A.S.) 377, _a flaw, stain_ + +wenden (A.S.) 306, _to go, to wend_. _pres. pl._ wenden. _imperat._ weend, +59 + +wenen (A.S.) 264, 380, _to suppose, imagine, think, believe_. _pret. pl._ +wende, 263, _supposed_ + +wepen (A.S.) _to weep_. _pret. s._ wepte, 374, _pl._ wepten + +wepene (A.S.) 170, _membrum virile_ + +wepne (A.S.) _a weapon_ + ++werdliche (A.S.) 454, 473, _worldly_ + +were (A.S.) 322, _to wear_ + +werken, werche (A.S.) _to work_. _pres. pl._ werchen. _pret. s._ wroghte. +_pl._ wroughte, wroghten. _part. act._ werchynge. _part. pas._ wroughte, +wroght, y-wroght + ++werly (A.S.) 491, _worldly_ + +wernard, wernarde (A.N.) 35, 53, _persons who lay information against +others_ (?) + +wernen (A.S.) _to refuse, deny_. _pres. s._ werneth, 425, _refuses_ + +werre (A.N.) _war_ + +wers (A.S.) _worse_ + ++werwolves (A.S.) 478, _people turned into wolves by sorcery_. An ancient +superstition. _See_ note + +wesshen (A.S.) _to wash_ + +weven (A.S.) _to weave_ + +wex (A.S.) 360, 361, wax + +wexen, wexe (A.S.) 141, 209, 293, 401, _to wax, grow_. _pret. s._ weex, 63, +94, 202, 278, 294, 336, 369. _pl._ woxen, 161, 277, 333. _part. pas._ +woxen, 177, 403 + +wexed (A.S.) 98, _washed_ (?) + +what! (A.S.) 146, an interjection, _lo!_ + +whiche (A.S.) which a light, 376, _what light_ + ++whit (A.S.) 476, _a wight, creature_ + +whiten (A.S.) _to make white_ + ++whough (A.S.) 453, _how_. whou, 481 + +wicche (A.S.) 372, 373, _a witch_ + +wye (A.S.) 109, 223, 245, 248, 283, 352, 354, 388, 405, _a man_. It is the +Saxon _wig_, and was originally applied to a warrior or hero. I am inclined +to think this may be the origin of our present slang term, _a guy_ + +wif (A.S.) _in the objective_, wyve, _pl._ wyves, _a woman, wife_ + +wight (A.S.) 160, _active, brave_. wightly, _actively, bravely, well_. +wyghtliche, 40, _actively_. wightnesse, 410, _activity, cleverness_ + +wight (A.S.) _a creature, being_ + +wike (A.S.) _a week_. _pl._ woukes, 336 + +wikkedlokest (A.S.) 199, _most wickedly_ + +willen (A.S.) 400, _to will_. _pres. s._ wol, wole, _pl._ wol. _pret. s._ +wolde, _pl._ wolde. thow willest, 241 + +wilne (A.S.) 49, _to will_. _pr. s._ wilneth, 20. _pl._ wilne, 15. _pret. +s._ wilned, 211, 369 + +wyn (A.S.) 402, _wine_ + +wynen pyne (A.S.) 78, _the wine pin, or place where wine was sold_ (?) + +wynkyng (A.S.) 77, 99, _dozing, slumbering_ + +wynnen, wynne (A.S.) _to win, gain_. _pret. s._ wan, 123, 231, _pl._ +wonnen, 2. _part. pas._ y-wonne, 82, 213, wonne, 410 + ++wynwe (A.S.) 476, _winnowing_ + +wis, _pl._ wise (A.S.) _wise_ + +wisloker (A.S.) 266, _more certainly_ + +wissen, wisse (A.S.) 399, _to teach_. _pres. sing._ I wisse. _pret. sing._ +wissed, 19. _part. act._ wissynge, 205, _teaching_ + +wissen (A.S.) _to know_. _pret. sing._ wiste, 151, 211, _knew_ _part. +past_, wist, 381 + +wit (A.S.) _mind, wit, intelligence_ + +witen, wite (A.S.) 373, 377, _to know_. _pres. s._ he woot, 105, 199. +_pret. s._ woot, 3, 32, 35, 67. to witene, 152, _to know_. witynge, 418, +_knowingly_ + +witen (A.S.) 140, 331, _to hinder, keep_ + +witen (A.S.) _to blame_. _pret. s._ witte, 17 + +withdrawen (A.S.) _to withdraw_. _pret. s._ withdrough, 373 + +withholden (A.S.) _to withold, retain_. _pres. s._ he withhalt, 110 + +withwynde (A.S.) 108, _crosswise_ (?) as if bound with a withy + +witterly (A.S.) _truly_ + +witty (A.S.) 196, _knowing, wise_ + ++wlon (A.S.) 494, _the nap of cloth_ (?) + +wo (A.S.) _woe_ + +wodewe (A.S.) 169, _pl._ widwes, _a widow_ + +woke (A.S.) 315, _to moisten_ (?) + +wolleward (A.S.) 369, wolward, 497, _miserable, plagued_ + +wolves-kynnes (A.S.) 126, _of the nature of wolves_ + +wombe (A.S.) _the belly_ + +wombe-cloutes (A.S.) 250, _tripes_ + +womman, _pl._ wommen (A.S.) _a woman_ + +wone (A.S.) _a dwelling-place, residence_ + +woned (A.S.) 306, _accustomed, wont_ + +wonyen (A.S.) _to dwell_. _pres. s._ wonyeth, 18. _pret. pl._ woneden, 311 + +woon (A.S.) 435, _plenty, abundance_ + ++woon (A.S.) _a dwelling_ + +worden (A.S.) _to discourse, have words together_. _pret. pl._ wordeden, +68. wordynge, 351, _talking, using words, conversing_ + +worm (A.S.) 222, _a serpent_ + +worstow, 420, _shalt thou be_. _See_ worthe + +wort (A.S.) 135, _a plant, vegetable_ + +worthe, y-worthe (A.S.) _to be, become_. to late the cat worthe, 12, _to +let the cat be_. worth, 26, 244, 359, _shall be_ + +wowen (A.S.) 69, _to woo, court_ + +wower, _pl._ woweris (A.S.) 206, _a wooer_ + +wowes (A.S.) 46, _walls_ + +wrathen (A.S.) _to be or become angry, wroth_ + +wreken (A.S.) _to avenge_. _part. past_, wroken, 39, 437, wroke, 392 + +wrighte (A.S.) 197, _a workman, artist, maker_ + +wringen (A.S.) _to wring_. _pret. s._ wrong, 42, 127 + +writen (A.S.) _to write_. _pret. s._ wroot, 183, 225, 233, 293, 328, 396. +_part. past_, writen, 349 + +writhen (A.S.) 358, _twisted, clenched_ + +wrooth (A.S.) _wroth_ + +wrotherhele (A.S.) 280, _ill fate, ill condition_ + + Y. + +As a consonant; for other words beginning with _y_, see under _g_ and _i_ + +yarken (A.S.) 143, _to make ready, prepare_ + +ye (A.S.) _yea, yes_ + +yeden (A.S.) _to go_. _pret. s._ yede. _pl._ yeden, 324, 351, 354 + +yeepe (A.S.) 203, _active, alert, prompt_ + +yelde (A.S.) 419, _to yield, pay, give_. _pres. s._ he yelt, 375. _pret. +s._ yald, 239, 240. yeldynge + +yeme (A.S.) 349, _heed, attention_ + +yemen (A.S.) 154, 171, 185, _to rule, guide, govern--to heed, take care of_ + +yepeliche (A.S.) 306, _promptly_ + +yerde (A.S.) _a rod, a yard_ + +yere (A.S.) _pl._ yeer, _a year_. yeres-gyve, 154. yeres-yeves, 49, _a +year's gift_ + +yerne (A.S.) _to yearn, desire eagerly_ + +yerne (A.S.) (_adverb_) _eagerly, earnestly, readily_ + +yerne (A.S.) 306, _to run_. _pret. s._ yarn, 205. _part. act._ ernynge, +418. _See_ rennen + +yis (A.S.) _yes_ + +yit (A.S.) _yet_ + +ynowe (A.S.) _enough_. ynogh, 382 + +yvel (A.S.) _evil, wicked_. yvele, 87, _evilly, wickedly_. + +_FINIS._ + + * * * * * + +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON. + + * * * * * + + +Corrections made to printed text + +Lines 9010, 9011. "for cold", "for drye" corrected from "for-cold", +"for-drye" + +Line 9056 et seq.: Original line numbering preserved, appears to be 1 too +low. + +Line 9254 et seq.: Original line numbering preserved, appears to be a +further 2 too low. + +Line 10204: printed "10240" + +Line 10260 et seq.: Original line numbering preserved, appears to be a +further 1 too low. + +Line 13205 "a-fyngred" corrected from "a fyngred". + +Line 14038: printed "14083" + +Line 14311 "hadde" corrected from "hande". + +Creed, line 1238: "In penaunce" corrected from "Ia penaunce". + +Notes generally: the abbreviations for Eccliastes and Eccliasticus are +confusing - they are retained as printed. References to Psalms sometimes +use the numbering of the Vulgate, sometimes the Hebrew/Protestant numbering +- these are also retained as printed. + +Corrections to the line numbers for the notes: 1735 (corrected from 1734); +2497 (2499); 2881 (2882); 3408 (3407); 4618 (4620); 5433 (5423); 8167 +(8164), 8173 (8170), 8180 (8177); 9176 (9177: the next line had incorrect +printed line number 9178), 9178 (9179); 9517 (9510); 10183 (10182); 10322 +(10332); 10553 (10523); 11075 (11074); 11300 (11299); 10322 (10332); 10553 +(10523); 11075 (11074); 11300 (11299); 12669 (12668); 12943 (12942); 14269 +(14265); Creed 913 (911). + +Note 1177. "ynowe" corrected from "ynome". + +Note 3944 & 3948. "Psalm lxviii, 29" corrected from "Psalm xlviii, 29". + +Note 4618. "popularly" corrected from "pupularly". + +Note 6022. "Epist. ad Rom. xii, 19.", the only good match and confirmed by +Skeat. The original has "Galat. vi, 2.", which belongs to the note to line +6981. + +Note 8418. "Luke xxi, 1-4." corrected from "Luke xx, 1-4.". + +Note "8572", corrected from "8573". + +Note 9766. "Psal. xcvi" corrected from "Psal. cxvi". + +Note 10183. "Hadde" from "Hudde". + +Note 10404. "looresmen" from "loorsemen" (cf. glossary). + +Note 11396. "Matth. xx, 40" corrected from "Matth. v, 40". + +Note 11670. "John xii, 32" corrected from "Cant. xii, 32". + +Note 12040. "2 Corinth. xii, 9" corrected from "2 Corinth. xii, 19". + +Corrected page references in the Glossary: affaiten (deleted 9); apeiren 80 +(corrected from 8); arwe 438 (432); brok 119 (199); brotel 153 (133); +cacchen 236 (238); chaffare (merchandise) 85 (84); come: com 400 (401); +comsen: comsynge 382 (384); coveren 238 (228); daggen 433 (483); devors 433 +(438); drawen: drogh 437 (487), drow 376 (375); dredfully 352 (252); duc +388 (188); eten 386 (385); fighten: y-foughte 336 (386); foote 354 (314); +for-yelden 133 (184); formest 403 (409); frete (deleted 4); goon: wenten +351 (321); graithen: graythed 494 (491); hastilokest 424 (434); hewen 273 +(173); kennen: kenne 20 (621, which is the line number instead of the +page); kyn 359 (659); lakken 262 (260); leet 25 (27); leven (to believe): +leved 393 (392); manlich 92 (62); mees 249 (242); metels 207 (206); meve +228 (288); pil 331 (330); pulchen 460 (46); quellen 537 (337); quyk 384 +(334); segge 216 (210); sleen: slow 434 (433); sleep 99 (96); spede: spedde +353 (352); torne: torned 265 (266); treden: tredede 476 (475); undernymen +214 (9); vaunt-warde 430 (409); wage (deleted 171); webbe (deleted 267); +witty 196 (96); writen 349 (249); yvele 87 (7). + +Gloss "aspien", corrected from "aspein". + +Gloss "avowen". "to make a vow" corrected from "... row". + +Gloss "biten". "bitit" corrected from "betit". + +Gloss "deitee". "daity" corrected from "deity". + +Gloss "fondynge", corrected from "fongynge". + +Gloss "liggen". "leyen" corrected from "leven". + +Gloss "lomere". "frequently" corrected from "ferquently". + +Gloss "sitten". "I seet" corrected from "I sete". + +Gloss "speken", corrected from "peken". + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vision and Creed of Piers +Ploughman, Volume II of II, by William Langland + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43661 *** |