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Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 7

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Passus .vijus./septimus de visione vt supra

W7.1 (KD7.1)TReuþe herde telle her-of · and to Piers he sente
W7.2 (KD7.2) To maken his teme · and tilien þe erþe
W7.3 (KD7.3) And purchaced hym a pardoun · a pena & a culpa
W7.4 (KD7.4) For hym and for hise heires · for euere-moore after
W7.5 (KD7.5) And bad hym holde hym at home · and erien hise leyes
W7.6 (KD7.6) And alle þat holpen hym to erye · to sette or to sowe
W7.7 (KD7.7) Or any ooþer mestier · þat myȝte Piers auaille
W7.8 (KD7.8) Pardon wiþ Piers Plowman · truþe haþ ygraunted

W7.9 (KD7.9) Kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holy chirche
W7.10 (KD7.10) And riȝtfully in Remes · rulen þe peple
W7.11 (KD7.11) Han pardon þoruȝ purgatorie · to passen ful liȝtly
W7.12 (KD7.12) Wiþ Patriarkes and prophetes · in paradis to be felawe

W7.13 (KD7.13) Bysshopes yblessed · if þei ben as þei sholde
W7.14 (KD7.14) Legistres of boþe lawes · þe lewed þer-wiþ to preche
W7.15 (KD7.15) And in as muche as þei mowe · amenden alle synfulle
W7.16 (KD7.16) Arn peres wiþ þe Apostles · þis pardon Piers sheweþ
W7.17 (KD7.17) And at þe day of dome · at þe heiȝe deys sitte

W7.18 (KD7.18) Marchauntz in þe margyne · hadde manye yeres
W7.19 (KD7.19) Ac noon A pena & a culpa · þe pope nolde hem graunte
W7.20 (KD7.20) For þei holde noȝt hir halidayes · as holy chirche techeþ
W7.21 (KD7.21) And for þei swere by hir soule · and so god moste hem helpe
W7.22 (KD7.22) Ayein clene Conscience · hir catel to selle

W7.23 (KD7.23) Ac vnder his secret seel · truþe sente hem a lettre
W7.24 (KD7.24) That þei sholde buggen boldely · þat hem best liked
W7.25 (KD7.25) And siþenes selle it ayein · and saue þe wynnyng
W7.26 (KD7.26) And amende Mesondieux þer-myd · and myseise folk helpe
W7.27 (KD7.27) And wikkede weyes · wightly amende
W7.28 (KD7.28) And do boote to brugges · þat tobroke were
W7.29 (KD7.29) Marien maydenes · or maken hem Nonnes
W7.30 (KD7.30-31) Pouere peple and prisons · fynden hem hir foode

W7.31 (KD7.32) And sette Scolers to scole · or to som oþere craftes
W7.32 (KD7.33) Releue Religion · and renten hem bettre
W7.33 (KD7.34) And I shal sende yow my-selue · Seint Michel myn Archangel
W7.34 (KD7.35) That no deuel shal yow dere · ne fere yow in youre deying
W7.35 (KD7.36) And witen yow fro wanhope · if ye wol þus werche
W7.36 (KD7.37) And sende youre soules in saufte · to my Seintes in Ioye

W7.37 (KD7.38) Thanne were Marchauntz murie · manye wepten for ioye
W7.38 (KD7.39) And preiseden Piers þe Plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle

W7.39 (KD7.40) Men of lawe leest pardon hadde · þat pleteden for Mede
W7.40 (KD7.41) For þe Sauter saueþ hem noȝt · swiche as take ȝiftes
W7.41 (KD7.42) And nameliche of Innocentz · þat noon yuel ne konneþ

W7.42 (KD7.42α)Super innocentem munera non accipies

W7.43 (KD7.43) Pledours sholde peynen hem · to plede for swiche and helpe
W7.44 (KD7.44) Princes and prelates · sholde paie for hire trauaille

W7.45 (KD7.44α)A Regibus & principibus erit merces eorum

W7.46 (KD7.45) Ac many a Iustice and Iurour · wolde for Iohan do moore
W7.47 (KD7.46) Than pro dei pietate · leue þow noon ooþer

W7.48 (KD7.47) Ac he þat spendeþ his speche · and spekeþ for þe pouere           230(n)
W7.49 (KD7.48) That is Innocent and nedy · and no man apeireþ           231(n)
W7.50 (KD7.49) Conforteþ hym in þat caas · wiþ-outen coueitise of ȝiftes           232(n)
W7.51 (KD7.50) And sheweþ lawe for oure lordes loue · as he it haþ ylerned           233(n)
W7.52 (KD7.51) Shal no deuel at his deeþ-day · deren hym a myte
W7.53 (KD7.52) That he ne worþ saaf and his soule · þe Sauter bereþ witnesse

W7.54 (KD7.52α) Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo

W7.55 (KD7.53) Ac to bugge water ne wynd · ne wit ne fir þe ferþe

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W7.56 (KD7.54) Thise foure þe fader of heuene · made to þis foold in commune
W7.57 (KD7.55) Thise ben truþes tresores · trewe folk to helpe
W7.58 (KD7.56) That neuere shul wexe ne wanye · wiþ-outen god hym-selue
W7.59 (KD7.57) Whan þei drawen on to deye · and Indulgences wolde haue
W7.60 (KD7.58) Hir pardon is ful petit · at hir partyng hennes
W7.61 (KD7.59) That any Mede of mene men · for hir motyng takeþ
W7.62 (KD7.60) Ye legistres and lawieres · holdeþ þis for truþe
W7.63 (KD7.60) That if þat I lye · Mathew is to blame
W7.64 (KD7.60.1) For he bad me make yow þis · and þis prouerbe me tolde

W7.65 (KD7.60α)Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis           234(n)

W7.66 (KD7.61) Alle libbynge laborers · þat lyuen wiþ hir hondes235(c)           236(n)
W7.67 (KD7.62) That treweliche taken · and treweliche wynnen           237(n)
W7.68 (KD7.63) And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for hir lowe hertes           238(n)
W7.69 (KD7.64) Haueþ þe same absolucion · þat sent was to Piers           239(n)

W7.70 (KD7.65) Beggeres ne bidderes · ne beþ noȝt in þe bulle
W7.71 (KD7.66) But if þe suggestion be sooþ · þat shapeþ hem to begge
W7.72 (KD7.67) For he þat beggeþ or bit · but if he haue nede           240(n)
W7.73 (KD7.68) He is fals wiþ þe feend · and defraudeþ þe nedy           241(n)
W7.74 (KD7.69) And also he bigileþ þe gyuere · ageynes his wille
W7.75 (KD7.70) For if he wiste he were noȝt nedy · he wolde ȝyue þat anoþer
W7.76 (KD7.71) That were moore nedy þan he · so þe nedieste sholde be holpe
W7.77 (KD7.72) Caton kenneþ me þus · and þe clerc of stories
W7.78 (KD7.73)Cui des videto · is Catons techyng           242(n)

W7.79 (KD7.74) And in þe stories he techeþ · to bistowe þyn almesse
W7.80 (KD7.75)Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des           243(n)

W7.81 (KD7.76) Ac Gregory was a good man · and bad vs gyuen alle           244(n)
W7.82 (KD7.77) That askeþ for his loue · þat vs al leneþ           245(n)
W7.83 (KD7.77α)Non eligas cui miseriaris neforte/ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere246(c)

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W7.84 (KD7.77β)Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeas           247(n)
W7.85 (KD7.78) For wite ye neuere who is worþi · ac god woot who haþ nede           248(n)
W7.86 (KD7.79) In hym þat takeþ is þe trecherie · if any treson walke           249(n)
W7.87 (KD7.80) For he þat yeueþ yeldeþ · and yarkeþ hym to reste
W7.88 (KD7.81) And he þat biddeþ borweþ · and bryngeþ hym-self in dette
W7.89 (KD7.82) For beggeres borwen euere-mo · and hir borgh is god almyȝty
W7.90 (KD7.83) To yelden hem þat yeueþ hem · and yet vsure moore

W7.91 (KD7.83α) Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam
vt ego veniam cum vsuris exigere

W7.92 (KD7.84) For-þi biddeþ noȝt ye beggeres · but if ye haue gret nede
W7.93 (KD7.85) For who-so haþ to buggen hym breed · þe book bereþ witnesse
W7.94 (KD7.86) He haþ ynouȝ þat haþ breed ynouȝ · þouȝ he haue noȝt ellis

W7.95 (KD7.86α) Satis diues est qui non indiget pane           250(n)

W7.96 (KD7.87) Lat vsage be youre solas · of seintes lyues redyng
W7.97 (KD7.88) The book banneþ beggerie · and blameþ hem in þis manere

W7.98 (KD7.89) Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum ne/ne[c]251 semen eius &c

W7.99 (KD7.90) For ye lyue in no loue · ne no lawe holde
W7.100 (KD7.91) Manye of yow ne wedde noȝt · þe womman þat ye wiþ deele
W7.101 (KD7.92) But as wilde bestes with wehee · worþen vppe and werchen
W7.102 (KD7.93) And bryngen forþ barnes · þat bastardes men calleþ
W7.103 (KD7.94) Or þe bak or som boon · he brekeþ in his youþe
W7.104 (KD7.95) And siþþe goon faiten with youre fauntes · for euere-moore after
W7.105 (KD7.96) Ther is moore mysshapen peple · amonges þise beggeres           252(n)
W7.106 (KD7.97) Than of alle manere men · þat on þis moolde walkeþ           253(n)
W7.107 (KD7.98) And þei þat lyue þus hir lif · mowe loþe þe tyme           254(n)
W7.108 (KD7.99) That euere þei were men wroȝt · whan þei shal hennes fare           255(n)

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W7.109 (KD7.100) Ac olde men and hore · þat helplees ben of strengþe
W7.110 (KD7.101) And wommen wiþ childe · þat werche ne mowe
W7.111 (KD7.102) Blynde and bedreden · and broken hire membres
W7.112 (KD7.103) That taken þise myschiefs mekeliche · as Mesels and oþere
W7.113 (KD7.104) Han as pleyn pardon · as þe Plowman hym-selue
W7.114 (KD7.105) For loue of hir lowe hertes · oure lord haþ hem graunted
W7.115 (KD7.106) Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie · here on þis erþe
W7.116 (KD7.107) Piers quod a preest þoo · þi pardon moste I rede
W7.117 (KD7.108) For I wol construe ech clause · and kenne it þee on englissh

W7.118 (KD7.109) And Piers at his preiere · þe pardon vnfoldeþ
W7.119 (KD7.110) And I bihynde hem boþe · biheld al þe bulle
W7.120 (KD7.111) And in two lynes it lay · and noȝt a leef moore
W7.121 (KD7.112) And was writen riȝt þus · in witnesse of truþe

W7.122 (KD7.113) Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam           256(n)
W7.123 (KD7.114)Qui vero mala in ignem eternum257(c)          258(n)

W7.124 (KD7.115) Peter quod þe preest þoo · I kan no pardon fynde
W7.125 (KD7.116) But dowel and haue wel · and god shal haue þi soule           259(n)
W7.126 (KD7.117) And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þow noon ooþer           260(n)
W7.127 (KD7.118) But after þi deeþ-day · þe deuel shal haue þi soule           261(n)

W7.128 (KD7.119) And Piers for pure tene · pulled it atweyne
W7.129 (KD7.120) And seide Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis           262(n)
non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es

W7.130 (KD7.122) I shal cessen of my sowyng quod Piers · & swynke noȝt so harde
W7.131 (KD7.123) Ne aboute my bely ioye · so bisy be namoore
W7.132 (KD7.124) Of preieres and of penaunce · my plouȝ shal ben her-after
W7.133 (KD7.125) And wepen whan I sholde slepe · þouȝ whete breed me faille

W7.134 (KD7.126) The prophete his payn eet · in penaunce and in sorwe

fol.43v

W7.135 (KD7.127) By þat þe Sauter seith · so dide othere manye
W7.136 (KD7.128) That loueþ god lelly · his liflode is ful esy
W7.137 (KD7.128α) Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte           263(n)

W7.138 (KD7.129) And but if luc lye · he lereþ vs by foweles
W7.139 (KD7.130) We sholde noȝt be to bisy · aboute þe worldes blisse
W7.140 (KD7.131)Ne soliciti sitis  he seiþ in þe gospel
W7.141 (KD7.132) And sheweþ vs by ensamples · vs-selue to wisse
W7.142 (KD7.133) The foweles in þe feld · who fynt hem mete at wynter           264(n)
W7.143 (KD7.135) Haue þei no gerner to go to · but god fynt hem alle           265(n)

W7.144 (KD7.136) What quod þe preest to Perkyn · Peter as me þynkeþ
W7.145 (KD7.137) Thow art lettred alitel/a litel · who lerned þee on boke

W7.146 (KD7.138) Abstynence þe Abbesse quod Piers · myn /a/· b/· c ·/ me tauȝte
W7.147 (KD7.139) And Conscience cam afterward · and kenned me muche moore

W7.148 (KD7.140) Were þow a preest quod he · þou myȝtest preche where þou sholdest
W7.149 (KD7.141) As diuinour in diuinite · wiþ Dixit insipiens to þi teme

W7.150 (KD7.142) Lewed lorel quod Piers · litel lokestow on þe bible
W7.151 (KD7.143) On Salomons sawes · selden þow biholdest
W7.152 (KD7.143α)Ecce derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c

W7.153 (KD7.144) The preest and Perkyn · opposeden eiþer ooþer
W7.154 (KD7.145) And I þoruȝ hir wordes awook · and waited aboute
W7.155 (KD7.146) And seiȝ þe sonne in þe South · sitte þat tyme
W7.156 (KD7.147) Metelees and moneilees · on Maluerne hulles
W7.157 (KD7.148) Musynge on þis metels · and my wey ich yede
W7.158 (KD7.149)MAny tyme þis metels · haþ maked me to studie
W7.159 (KD7.150) Of þat I seiȝ slepynge · if it so be myȝte

fol.44r

W7.160 (KD7.151)And also for Piers þe Plowman · ful pencif in herte
W7.161 (KD7.152) And which a pardon Piers hadde · al þe peple to conforte
W7.162 (KD7.153) And how þe preest inpugned it · wiþ two propre wordes
W7.163 (KD7.154) Ac I haue no sauour in Songewarie · for I se it ofte faille
W7.164 (KD7.155) Caton and Canonistres · counseillen vs to leue
W7.165 (KD7.156) To sette sadnesse in Songewarie · for sompnia ne cures
W7.166 (KD7.157) Ac for þe book bible · bereþ witnesse
W7.167 (KD7.158) How Daniel diuined · þe dreem of a kyng
W7.168 (KD7.159) That was Nabugodonosor · nempned of clerkes

W7.169 (KD7.160) Daniel · seide sire kyng · þi dremels bitokneþ
W7.170 (KD7.161) That vnkouþe knyȝtes shul come · þi kyngdom to cleyme
W7.171 (KD7.162) Amonges lower lordes · þi lond shal be departed
W7.172 (KD7.163) And as Daniel diuined · in dede it fel after
W7.173 (KD7.164) The kyng lees his lordshipe · and lower men it hadde

W7.174 (KD7.165) And Ioseph mette merueillously · how þe moone and þe sonne
W7.175 (KD7.166) And þe elleuene sterres · hailsed hym alle

W7.176 (KD7.167) Thanne Iacob iugged · Iosephes sweuene
W7.177 (KD7.168)Beau fitz quod his fader · for defaute we shullen
W7.178 (KD7.169) I my-self and my sones · seche þee for nede

W7.179 (KD7.170) It bifel as his fader seide · in Pharaoes tyme
W7.180 (KD7.171) That Ioseph was Iustice · Egipte to loke
W7.181 (KD7.172) It bifel as his fader tolde · hise frendes þere hym souȝte
W7.182 (KD7.173) And al þis makeþ me · on þis metels to þynke

W7.183 (KD7.174) And how þe preest preued · no pardon to dowel
W7.184 (KD7.175) And demed þat dowel · Indulgences passed
W7.185 (KD7.176) Biennals and triennals · and Bisshopes lettres
W7.186 (KD7.177) And how dowel at þe day of dome · is digneliche vnderfongen
W7.187 (KD7.178) And passeþ al þe pardon · of Seint Petres cherche

W7.188 (KD7.179) Now haþ þe pope power · pardon to graunte þe peple
W7.189 (KD7.180) Wiþ-outen any penaunce · to passen in-to heuene
W7.190 (KD7.181) This is oure bileue · as lettred men vs techeþ

W7.191 (KD7.181α) Quodcumque ligaueris super terram · erit ligatum & in celis &c

W7.192 (KD7.182) And so I leue leelly · lordes forbode ellis
W7.193 (KD7.183) That pardon and penaunce · and preieres doon saue
W7.194 (KD7.184) Soules þat haue synned · seuen siþes dedly
W7.195 (KD7.185) Ac to truste to þise triennals · trewely me þynkeþ
W7.196 (KD7.186) Is noȝt so siker for þe soule · certes as is dowel

W7.197 (KD7.187) For-þi I rede yow renkes · þat riche ben on þis erþe
W7.198 (KD7.188) Vp-on trust of youre tresor · triennals to haue
W7.199 (KD7.189) Be ye neuer þe bolder · to breke þe .x./ten hestes
W7.200 (KD7.190) And namely ye maistres · Meires and Iugges
W7.201 (KD7.191) That haue þe welþe of þis world · and for wise men ben holden
W7.202 (KD7.192) To purchace yow pardon · and þe popes bulles
W7.203 (KD7.193) At þe dredful dome · whan dede shulle rise
W7.204 (KD7.194) And comen alle tofore crist · acountes to yelde
W7.205 (KD7.195) How þow laddest þi lif here · and hise lawes keptest
W7.206 (KD7.196) And how þow didest day by day · þe doom wole reherce
W7.207 (KD7.197) A poke-ful of pardon þere · ne prouincials lettres
W7.208 (KD7.198) Theiȝ ye be founde in þe fraternite · of alle þe foure ordres
W7.209 (KD7.199) And haue Indulgences double-fold · but if dowel yow helpe
W7.210 (KD7.200) I sette youre patentes and youre pardon · at one pies hele

W7.211 (KD7.201) For-þi I counseille alle cristene · to crie god mercy ·
W7.212 (KD7.202) And Marie his moder · be oure meene bitwene
W7.213 (KD7.203) That god gyue vs grace here · er we go hennes
W7.214 (KD7.204) Swiche werkes to werche · while we ben here
W7.215 (KD7.205) That after oure deeþ-day · dowel reherce
W7.216 (KD7.206) At þe day of dome · we dide as he hiȝte

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