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diff --git a/43661.txt b/43661.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a4d9d26..0000000 --- a/43661.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17864 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, -Volume II of II, by William Langland - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, Volume II of II - -Author: William Langland - -Editor: Thomas Wright - -Release Date: September 7, 2013 [EBook #43661] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VISION, CREED, PIERS PLOUGHMAN, VOL II *** - - - - -Produced by Mark C. Orton, Keith Edkins and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - -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_). Thorn and eth -characters (in cited passages) are expanded to th and dh respectively. 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, - Academie 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 Charite?" 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 Charite 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 journee. 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: - _Vae! 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 leaute 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 Trinite - 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 caelorum._ - - "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, - sapientiae 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 - _Sapientiae 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 charite 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, - _Praesul_ 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. - _Scientiae 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 Trinite, - 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 charite, 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 quaeritis - 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 honeste 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 charite." - - "What is charite?" quod I tho. - "A childisshe thyng," he seide. - "_Nisi efficiamini parvuli, non intrabitis - in regnum caelorum._ - Withouten fauntelte 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 charite - Byfore ne bihynde. - Men beth merciable - To mendinauntz and to poore, - And wollen lene ther thei leve 9930 - Lelly to ben paied. - Ac charite that Poul preiseth best, - And moost plesaunt to oure Lord, - Is _Non inflatur, non est ambitiosa, non - quaerit quae 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 aenigmate tunc facie ad faciem._ - {305} - And so I trowe trewely, - By that men telleth of charite, - It is noght chaumpions fight, - Ne chaffare, as I trowe, 9950 - - "Charite," 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 charite 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 hypocritae 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 charite hem folwede. - - "I have y-seyen charite 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, - Charite 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 praesepe - {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 daemonibus - 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 naturae sufficit._ - - "For-thi I counseille alle cristene - To conformen hem to charite, - For charite 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 divinite 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 terrae, 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 leaute - 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 praedicate, 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 Trinite. - _Quaerite 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 ecclesiae_, - 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 ecclesiae_ 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 Trinite 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 aeternam. 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 charite 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 charite." - - "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 Trinite 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 medicinae, 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. - _Daemonium 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: - Vae 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 charite, - 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 virginite y-nempned, - In tokenynge of the Trinite - 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 Trinite - 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 Abrahae 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 Trinite, - 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 Trinite - 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 pite, - 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 Trinite 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 Trinite - 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 Trinite; - 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 Charite asketh. - And sith holy chirche and Charite - Chargeth this so soore, 11950 - Leve I nevere that oure Lord - Wol love that charite lakketh, - Ne have pite 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 equite, - 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 frelete 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 venymouste - 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 laetitia._ - - "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 Gloriae_," - 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 quae 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 saecula saeculorum._" - _Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt - sibi, justitia et pax osculatae 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 caelestia 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 Mariae._ - 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 contre - 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 prudentiae._ - 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 temperantiae._ - 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 justitiae_. - 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 justitiae_. - - _Spiritus justitiae._ - 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 equite 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 quantite 13710 - Holynesse to wexe, - Some thorugh bedes biddynge, - And some thorugh pilgrymages - And othere pryve 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 justitiae_, - 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 justitiae_, - 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 justitiae_, - 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 prudentiae_ - 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 justitiae_, 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 depraedandum._" - 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 temperantiae_, - 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 temperantiae_. - - "For is no vertue bi fer - To _spiritus temperantiae_; - Ne _spiritus justitiae_ - 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 justitiae_ - Shal juggen, wol he nele he, - After the kynges counseil, - And the comune like. - And _spiritus prudentiae_ - 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 Unite 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! a 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 felicite 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 sanctite, - 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 Trinite, - 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 charite and chastite - 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 privite - 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 degre, - 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 privite - 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 charyte, - We chargeden us selven - In amendyng of this men, - We maden oure celles - To ben in cytes 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 devynyte - 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 pryve - 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 pryve 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 divinite - Her matynes to leve, - And cherlich as a cheveteyn - Hys chaumbre to holden, 1160 - With chymene, 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 charite, - 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 charite and chastete, - 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 deyte, - 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 dyvynite - 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 privite, - {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 aestivo -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 este faitz eintz ces heures par gentz -qui sont appellez Roberdesmen, Wastours, et Draghelatche, si est acorde 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 Reliquiae -Antiquae, 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 ... praedicaverunt peregrinationes non debere fieri, et praecipue -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 -charite | 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 Inedites, des -xii^e, xiii^e, et xiv^e siecles, 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. _Vae terrae, etc._ Ecclesiastes, x, 16. "Vae 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 dignites 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 cuntre 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 a garconner, - 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 Reglemens sur les Arts et Metiers 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 Caedmon, 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 -Reliquiae Antiquae, 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 cuntres, - 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 cyte 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 cyte 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. _taille_, 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 unite, - 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 haereditatis meae - 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 quae 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 gratiae -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, aedificia sublimia, -turres, et campanilia, arbores, et alia quaeque durabilia et fortia -violenter prostravit pariter et impegit, in tantum quod residua quae 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 (Reliquiae Antiquae, 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 schaerfere 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 unite. - 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 Breute, 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 pite 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 lewte, - 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 -_praedo_." (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-- - _Vae! 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 paena 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 meae 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, daemonibus 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 -Reliquiae Antiquae, 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 quae reperiri possent, integrum navis onus efficerent: cum -tamen evangelium testificetur ab unico homine ferri potuisse. Quantae -igitur audaciae 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 secre 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 quaerens 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 infirmite 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 caitifte - 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 tuae_, - 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 aeternum; justi autem in -vitam aeternam. - -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 causae et contumeliae. - -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 zontos kai epi chthoni derkomenoio,] - [Greek: Soi koileis para neusi 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. Caes._ 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 thaet andworc the Adam waes -of-ge-worht se aerusta man? Ic the secge of viii punda ge-wihte. Saga me -hwaet hatton thage? Ic the secge thaet aeroste waes foldan pund, of dham -him waes flesc ge-worht; odher waes fyres pund, thanon him waes thaet blod -read and hat; thridde waes windes pund, thanon him waes seo aedhung -ge-seald; feordhe waes wolcnes pund, thanon him waes his modes -unstadhelfaestnes ge-seald; fifte waes gyfe pund, thanon him waes ge-seald -se fat and gedhang; syxste waes blostnena pund, thanon him waes eagena -myssenlicnys ge-seald; seofodhe waes deawes pund, thanon him becom swat; -eahtothe waes sealtes pund, thanon him waeron tha 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" (Reliquiae Antiquae, 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 fuer Deutsches Alterthum, by Dr. James -Grimm,--"God scop thene eresta meneska, thet was Adam, fon achta wendem; -that benete fon tha stene, thet flask fon there erthe, thet blod fon tha -wetere, tha herta fon tha winde, thene togta (l. thochta) fon tha wolken, -the(ne) suet fon tha dawe, tha lokkar fon tha gerse, tha agene fon there -sunna, and tha blerem on thene helga om."--_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. paenitet 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 residuae per mundum ultra modum, -nulla sterilis efficiebatur, sed praegnantes hinc inde videbantur, et -plures geminos pariebant, et aliquae tres infantes insimul vivos -emittebant." The writer goes on to observe, "Sed proh dolor! ex hujus -renovatione saeculi 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 caepit 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 "Reliquiae Antiquae," 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 quae 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 aere. - -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 Scribae et Pharisaei. - -6440. Psal. xxxv, 8. - -6476. Ecclesiastes ix, 1. - -6504. Matth. x, 18. The quotation is not quite literal. - -6528. For _idiotae irapiunt_, read _idiotae 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 pyte, 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 quae 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 plente. - 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 plente 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 beaute - 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 haec 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:-- - - Ecclesiae 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 a 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 saeculi 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: poietes] (from [Greek: poiein]), the Anglo-Saxon _scop_ (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 _trouvere_, and the -Provencal _trobador_, signify a finder or inventor. - -7484. Catonis Distich. iii, 5. - -7500. 1 Cor. xiii, 13. Nunc autem manent fides, spes, charitas, tria haec: -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 verite, - Qe si l'un voegle soit mene - D'un autre voegle, tresbucher - Falt ambedeux en la fossee. - C'est un essample compare - As fols curetz, qui sanz curer - Ne voient pas le droit sentier, - Dont font les autres forsvoier, - Qui sont apres leur trace ale. - Car fol errant ne puet quider, - Ne cil comment nous puet saner, - Qui mesmes est au mort naufre. - _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 a leccherie, - Du quoy son corps delitera; - Ou il se prent a 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 privee des Francais, 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 pieche 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. Ined. 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 povrete, - Sans point d'iniquite, - 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, - Praecedebat 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_ remissae -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. _Surre._ 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 gardee; - Molt vous ai souvent esgardee - Que vo chemise ne sachies!' - _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, sapientiae -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 Charite, 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 a 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 a 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 haec pavide - Dixit facturum, nisi sciret non nociturum - Si praesul 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 privee des Francois, 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 a 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,-- - - Fumee, 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, -Mysteres inedits du quinzieme Siecle, 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 charite, 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 Mysteres inedits, 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 Mysteres inedits, 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 charite 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 privite._ 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 Goliae, 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 (aet-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 Reliquiae Antiquae, -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, aet than 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 oi 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_. Reliquiae Antiquae, 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 secre 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, -_maugre thin eyen_, _maugre 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 _maugre 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. Antiquae, 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, fauntelte (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 plente; - 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 _gaedeling_ means a companion or -associate, apparently without any bad sense. Thus the romance of Beowulf -speaks of the armour of one of the heroes:-- - - thaet Onela for-geaf, - his gaedelinges - gudh-ge-waedu. - _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 Reliquiae Antiquae (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._ horae) _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-lac, _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_ - -leaute (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_ - -lewte (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 hypocritae 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_ - -saufte (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_ - -taille (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_ - -venymouste (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 THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VISION, CREED, PIERS PLOUGHMAN, VOL II *** - -***** This file should be named 43661.txt or 43661.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/6/6/43661/ - -Produced by Mark C. 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