Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Prologue

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WP.1 (KDP.1)IN a somer seson · whan softe was þe sonne ·
WP.2 (KDP.2) I shoop me in-to shroudes · as I a sheep weere ·
WP.3 (KDP.3) In habite as an heremite · vnholy of werkes ·
WP.4 (KDP.4) Wente wide in þis world · wondres to here ·

WP.5 (KDP.5)Ac on a May morwenynge · on Maluerne hilles ·
WP.6 (KDP.6) Me bifel a ferly · of Fairye me þoȝte ·
WP.7 (KDP.7) I was wery for-wandred · and wente me to reste ·
WP.8 (KDP.8) Vnder a brood bank · by a bournes syde ·

WP.9 (KDP.9)And as I lay and lenede · and loked on þe watres ·
WP.10 (KDP.10) I slombred in-to a slepyng · it sweyed so murye ·

WP.11 (KDP.11)¶ Thanne gan I meten · a merueillous sweuene ·
WP.12 (KDP.12) That I was in a wildernesse · wiste I neuere where ·
WP.13 (KDP.13) And as I biheeld in-to þe Eest · an heiȝ to þe sonne ·
WP.14 (KDP.14) I seiȝ a tour on a toft · trieliche ymaked ·
WP.15 (KDP.15) A deep dale byneþe · a dongeon þer-Inne ·
WP.16 (KDP.16) Wiþ depe diches and derke · and dredfulle of siȝte ·
WP.17 (KDP.17) A fair feeld ful of folk · fond I þer bitwene ·
WP.18 (KDP.18) Of alle manere of men · þe meene and þe riche ·
WP.19 (KDP.19) Werchynge and wandrynge · as þe world askeþ ·1(c)

WP.20 (KDP.20)¶ Some putten hem to þe plouȝ · pleiden ful selde ·2(c)
WP.21 (KDP.21) In settynge and sowynge · swonken ful harde ·
WP.22 (KDP.22) And wonnen þat wastours · with glotonye destruyeþ ·

WP.23 (KDP.23)¶ And somme putten hem to pride · apparailed hem þer-after ·
WP.24 (KDP.24) In contenaunce of cloþynge · comen3(c) degised ·

WP.25 (KDP.25)¶ In preieres and penaunces · putten hem manye ·
WP.26 (KDP.26) Al for þe loue of oure lord · lyueden ful streyte ·
WP.27 (KDP.27) In hope to haue after · heuene-riche blisse ·

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WP.28 (KDP.28)¶ As Ancres and heremites · þat holden hem in hire selles
WP.29 (KDP.29) And coueiten noȝt in contree · to carien aboute
WP.30 (KDP.30) For no likerous liflode · hire likame to plese

WP.31 (KDP.31)¶ And somme chosen chaffare · þei cheueden þe bettre
WP.32 (KDP.32) As it semeþ to oure siȝt · þat swiche men þryueþ

WP.33 (KDP.33)¶ And somme murþes to make · as Mynstralles konne
WP.34 (KDP.34) And geten gold with hire glee · synnelees I leeue

WP.35 (KDP.35)¶ Ac Iaperes and Iangeleres · Iudas children
WP.36 (KDP.36) Feynen hem fantasies · and fooles hem makeþ
WP.37 (KDP.37) And han hire wit at wille · to werken if þei wolde
WP.38 (KDP.38) That Poul precheþ of hem · I wol4 nat preue it here
WP.39 (KDP.39) But5 · Qui loquitur turpiloquium · is luciferes hyne

WP.40 (KDP.40)¶ Bidderes and beggeres · faste aboute yede
WP.41 (KDP.41) Wiþ hire belies and hire bagges · of breed ful ycrammed
WP.42 (KDP.42) Faiteden for hire foode · fouȝten at þe ale
WP.43 (KDP.43) In glotonye god woot · go þei to bedde
WP.44 (KDP.44) And risen wiþ ribaudie · þo Roberdes knaues
WP.45 (KDP.45) Sleep and sory sleuþe · seweþ hem euere

WP.46 (KDP.46)¶ Pilgrymes and Palmeres · pliȝten hem togidere
WP.47 (KDP.47) For to seken Seint Iame · and Seintes at Rome
WP.48 (KDP.48) They wenten forþ in hire wey · wiþ many wise tales
WP.49 (KDP.49) And hadden leue to lyen · al hire lif after

WP.50 (KDP.50)¶ I seiȝ somme þat seiden · þei hadde ysouȝt Seintes
WP.51 (KDP.51) To ech a tale þat þei tolde · hire tonge was tempred to lye
WP.52 (KDP.52) Moore þan to seye sooþ · it semed bi hire speche

WP.53 (KDP.53)¶ Heremytes on an heep · with hoked staues ·6

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WP.54 (KDP.54)¶ Wenten to walsyngham · and hire wenches after
WP.55 (KDP.55) Grete lobies and longe · þat loþe were to swynke
WP.56 (KDP.56) Cloþed hem in copes · to ben knowen from oþere
WP.57 (KDP.57) And shopen hem heremytes · hire ese to haue

WP.58 (KDP.58)¶ I fond þere Freres · alle þe foure ordres
WP.59 (KDP.59) Prechynge þe peple · for profit of hem-selue
WP.60 (KDP.60) Glosed þe gospel · as hem good liked
WP.61 (KDP.61) For coueitise of copes · construwed it as þei wolde
WP.62 (KDP.62) Manye7(c) of þise maistre freres · now8 cloþen hem at likyng
WP.63 (KDP.63) For hire moneie and hire marchaundize · marchen togideres
WP.64 (KDP.64) For siþ charite haþ ben chapman · and chief to shryue lordes
WP.65 (KDP.65) Manye ferlies han fallen · in a fewe yeres
WP.66 (KDP.66) But holy chirche and hij · holde bettre togidres
WP.67 (KDP.67) The mooste meschief on Molde · is mountynge wel faste

WP.68 (KDP.68)¶ Ther preched a pardoner · as he a preest were
WP.69 (KDP.69) Brouȝte forþ a bulle · wiþ many Bisshopes seles
WP.70 (KDP.70) And seide þat hym-self myȝte · assoillen hem alle
WP.71 (KDP.71) Of falshede of fastynge · of Auowes ybroken

WP.72 (KDP.72)¶ Lewed men leued it9 wel · and liked hise wordes
WP.73 (KDP.73) Comen vp knelynge · to kissen hise bulles
WP.74 (KDP.74) He bonched hem with his breuet · and blered hire eiȝen
WP.75 (KDP.75) And rauȝte with his Rageman · rynges and broches

WP.76 (KDP.76)¶ Thus þei gyuen hire gold · glotons to kepe
WP.77 (KDP.77) And leneþ10 it swiche Losels · as leccherie haunten

WP.78 (KDP.78)¶ Were þe Bisshop yblessed · and worþ boþe hise eris
WP.79 (KDP.79) His seel sholde noȝt be sent · to deceyue þe peple
WP.80 (KDP.80) Ac it is noȝt by þe bisshop · þat þe boy precheþ
WP.81 (KDP.81) For þe parisshe preest and þe pardoner · parten þe siluer
WP.82 (KDP.82) That þe poraille of þe parisshe sholde haue · if þei ne were

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WP.83 (KDP.83)¶ Persons and parisshe preestes · pleyned hem to þe Bisshop
WP.84 (KDP.84) That hire parisshes weren pouere · siþ þe pestilence tyme
WP.85 (KDP.85) To haue a licence and leue · at London to dwelle
WP.86 (KDP.86) And syngen þer for symonie · for siluer is swete

WP.87 (KDP.87)¶ Bisshopes and Bachelers · boþe maistres and doctours
WP.88 (KDP.88) That han cure vnder crist · and crownynge in tokene
WP.89 (KDP.89) And signe þat þei sholden · shryuen hire parisshens
WP.90 (KDP.90) Prechen and praye for hem · and þe pouere fede
WP.91 (KDP.91) Liggen at Londoun · in Lenten and ellis

WP.92 (KDP.92)¶ Somme seruen þe kyng · and his siluer tellen
WP.93 (KDP.93) In Cheker and in Chauncelrie · chalangen hise dettes
WP.94 (KDP.94) Of wardes and of wardemotes · weyues and streyves

WP.95 (KDP.95)¶ And somme seruen as seruauntz · lordes and ladies
WP.96 (KDP.96) And in stede of Stywardes · sitten and demen
WP.97 (KDP.97) Hire messe & hire matyns · and many of hire houres11(c)
WP.98 (KDP.98) Arn doon vndeuoutliche · drede is at þe laste
WP.99 (KDP.99) Lest crist in Consistorie · acorse ful manye

WP.100 (KDP.100)¶ I parceyued of þe power · þat Peter hadde to kepe
WP.101 (KDP.101) To bynden and vnbynden · as þe book telleþ
WP.102 (KDP.102) How he it lefte wiþ loue · as oure lord hiȝte
WP.103 (KDP.103) Amonges foure vertues · þe beste of alle vertues
WP.104 (KDP.104) That Cardinals ben called · and closynge yates
WP.105 (KDP.105) There is crist12 in his kyngdom · to close and to shette
WP.106 (KDP.106) And to opene it to hem · and heuene blisse shewe

WP.107 (KDP.107)¶ Ac of þe Cardinals at court · þat kauȝte of þat name
WP.108 (KDP.108) And power presumed in hem · a pope to make
WP.109 (KDP.109) To han þat power þat Peter hadde · impugnen I nelle
WP.110 (KDP.110) For in loue and in lettrure · þe eleccion bilongeþ
WP.111 (KDP.111) For-þi I kan & kan nauȝt · of court speke moore

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WP.112 (KDP.112)¶ Thanne kam þer a kyng · knyȝthod hym ladde
WP.113 (KDP.113) Might of þe communes · made hym to regne

WP.114 (KDP.114)¶ And þanne cam kynde wit · and clerkes he made
WP.115 (KDP.115) For to counseillen þe kyng · and þe commune saue

WP.116 (KDP.116)¶ The kyng and knyȝthod · and clergie boþe
WP.117 (KDP.117) Casten þat þe commune · sholde hem-self fynde

WP.118 (KDP.118)¶ The commune contreued · of kynde wit craftes
WP.119 (KDP.119) And for profit of al þe peple · Plowmen ordeyned
WP.120 (KDP.120) To tilie and to trauaille · as trewe lif askeþ

WP.121 (KDP.121)¶ The kyng · and þe commune · and kynde wit þe þridde
WP.122 (KDP.122) Shopen lawe and leaute · ech man to knowe his owene

WP.123 (KDP.123)¶ Thanne loked vp a lunatik · a leene þyng wiþ-alle
WP.124 (KDP.124) And knelynge to þe kyng · clergially he seide

WP.125 (KDP.125)¶ Crist kepe þee sire kyng · and þi kyngryche
WP.126 (KDP.126) And lene þee lede þi lond · so leaute þee louye
WP.127 (KDP.127) And for þi riȝtful rulyng · be rewarded in heuene

WP.128 (KDP.128)¶ And siþen in þe Eyr an heiȝ · an Aungel of heuene
WP.129 (KDP.129) Lowed to speke in latyn · for lewed men ne koude
WP.130 (KDP.130) Iangle ne Iugge · þat Iustifie hem sholde
WP.131 (KDP.131) But suffren and seruen · for-þi seide þe Aungel

WP.132 (KDP.132)Sum Rex sum princeps · neutrum fortasse deinceps ·
WP.133 (KDP.133)O qui iura regis · christi specialia regis ·
WP.134 (KDP.134)Hoc quod agas melius · iustus es · esto pius ·
WP.135 (KDP.135)Nudum ius a te · vestiri vult pietate
WP.136 (KDP.136)Qualia vis metere · talia grana sere
WP.137 (KDP.137)Si ius nudatur · nudo de iure metatur

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WP.138 (KDP.138)S[i]13 seritur pietas · de pietate metas
WP.139 (KDP.139)¶ Thanne greued hym a Goliardeis · a gloton of wordes
WP.140 (KDP.140) And to þe Aungel an heiȝ · answerde after14(c)
WP.141 (KDP.141)Dum rex a regere · dicatur nomen habere
WP.142 (KDP.142)Nomen habet sine re · nisi studet iura tenere

WP.143 (KDP.143)¶ Thanne gan al þe commune · crye in vers of latyn
WP.144 (KDP.144) To þe kynges counseil · construe who-so wolde
WP.145 (KDP.145)Precepta Regis · sunt nobis vincula legis

WP.146 (KDP.146)¶ Wiþ þat ran þer a route · of Ratons at ones
WP.147 (KDP.147) And smale mees myd15 hem · mo þan a þousand
WP.148 (KDP.148) And comen to a counseil · for þe commune profit
WP.149 (KDP.149) For a cat of a contree · cam whan hym liked
WP.150 (KDP.150) And ouerleep hem liȝtliche · and lauȝte hem at his wille
WP.151 (KDP.151) And pleide wiþ hem perillousli · and possed aboute
WP.152 (KDP.152) For doute of diuerse dredes · we dar noȝt wel loke
WP.153 (KDP.153) And if we grucche of his gamen · he wol greuen vs alle
WP.154 (KDP.154) Cracchen vs or clawen vs · and in hise clouches holde
WP.155 (KDP.155) That vs loþeþ þe lif · er he late vs passe
WP.156 (KDP.156) Miȝte we wiþ any wit · his wille wiþ-stonde
WP.157 (KDP.157) We myȝte be lordes o-lofte · and lyuen at oure ese

WP.158 (KDP.158)¶ A Raton of renoun · moost renable of tonge
WP.159 (KDP.159) Seide for a souereyn · help to hym-selue

WP.160 (KDP.160)¶ I haue yseyen segges quod he · in þe Cite of Londoun
WP.161 (KDP.161) Beren beiȝes ful briȝte · abouten hire nekkes
WP.162 (KDP.162) And somme colers of crafty werk · vncoupled þei wenten
WP.163 (KDP.163) Boþe in wareyne and in waast · where hem-self liked
WP.164 (KDP.164) And ouþer while þei arn ellis-where · as I here telle
WP.165 (KDP.165) Were þer a belle on hire beiȝe · by Iesu as me þynkeþ
WP.166 (KDP.166) Men myȝte witen wher þei wente · and awey renne

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WP.167 (KDP.167)¶ And riȝt so quod þat Raton · Reson me sheweþ16(p)
WP.168 (KDP.168) To bugge a belle of bras · or of briȝt siluer
WP.169 (KDP.169) And knytten it on a coler · for oure commune profit17
WP.170 (KDP.171) Wher he ryt or rest · or renneþ to pleye
WP.171 (KDP.172) And if hym list for to laike · þanne loke we mowen
WP.172 (KDP.173) And peeren in his presence · þe while hym pleye likeþ
WP.173 (KDP.174) And if hym wraþeþ be war · and his wey shonye

WP.174 (KDP.175)¶ Al þis route of Ratons · to þis reson þei assented
WP.175 (KDP.176) Ac þo þe belle was ybrouȝt · and on þe beiȝe hanged
WP.176 (KDP.177) Ther ne was Raton in al þe route · for al þe Reaume of Fraunce
WP.177 (KDP.178) That dorste haue bounden þe belle · aboute þe cattes nekke
WP.178 (KDP.179) Ne hangen it aboute þe cattes hals · al Engelond to wynne
WP.179 (KDP.180) Alle18 helden hem vnhardy · and hir counseil feble
WP.180 (KDP.181) And leten hire labour lost · and al hire longe studie

WP.181 (KDP.182)¶ A Mous þat muche good · kouþe as me þouȝte
WP.182 (KDP.183) Strook forþ sternely · and stood bifore hem alle
WP.183 (KDP.184) And to þe route of Ratons · reherced þise wordes

WP.184 (KDP.185)¶ Thouȝ we killen þe cat · yet sholde þer come anoþer
WP.185 (KDP.186) To cacchen vs & al oure kynde · þouȝ we cropen vnder benches
WP.186 (KDP.187) For-þi I counseille al þe commune · to late þe cat worþe
WP.187 (KDP.188) And be we neuere bolde19 · þe belle hym to shewe
WP.188 (KDP.193) For I herde my sire seyn · is seuen yeer y-passed
WP.189 (KDP.194) Ther þe cat is a kitoun · þe court is ful elenge
WP.190 (KDP.195) That witnesseþ holy writ · who-so wole it rede
WP.191 (KDP.196)Ve terre vbi puer Rex est &c
WP.192 (KDP.197) For may no renk þer reste haue · for Ratons by nyȝte
WP.193 (KDP.189) The while he caccheþ conynges · he coueiteþ noȝt youre20 caroyne
WP.194 (KDP.190) But fedeþ hym al wiþ venyson · defame we hym neuere
WP.195 (KDP.191) For bettre is a litel los · þan a long sorwe21(c)
WP.196 (KDP.192) The maze among vs alle · þeiȝ we mysse a sherewe
WP.197 (KDP.198) For many mennes malt · we mees wolde destruye22(c)

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WP.198 (KDP.199)And also ye route of Ratons · rende mennes cloþes
WP.199 (KDP.200) Nere þe cat of þat court · þat kan yow ouer-lepe
WP.200 (KDP.201) For hadde ye rattes youre wille · ye kouþe noȝt rule yow-selue

WP.201 (KDP.202)¶ I seye for me quod þe Mous · I se so muchel after
WP.202 (KDP.203) Shal neuere þe cat ne þe kiton · by my counseil be greued
WP.203 (KDP.204) Thoruȝ23 carpynge of þis coler · þat costed me neuere
WP.204 (KDP.205) And þouȝ it hadde costned me catel · biknowen it I nolde
WP.205 (KDP.206) But suffren as hym-self wolde · to doon as hym likeþ
WP.206 (KDP.207) Coupled and vncoupled · to cacche what þei mowe
WP.207 (KDP.208) For-þi ech a wis wiȝt I warne · wite wel his owene

WP.208 (KDP.209)What þis metels bymeneþ · ye men þat ben murye
WP.209 (KDP.210) Deuyne ye · for I ne dar · by deere god in heuene

WP.210 (KDP.211)¶ Yet houed þer an hundred · in howues of selk
WP.211 (KDP.212) Sergeantz it bisemed · þat serueden at þe barre
WP.212 (KDP.213) Pleteden for penyes · and poundes þe lawe
WP.213 (KDP.214) And noȝt for loue of oure lord · vnlose hire lippes ones
WP.214 (KDP.215) Thow myȝtest bettre meete myst · on Maluerne hilles
WP.215 (KDP.216) Than gete a mom of hire mouþ · til moneie be shewed

WP.216 (KDP.217)¶ Barons and Burgeises · and bonde-men als
WP.217 (KDP.218) I seiȝ in þis assemblee · as ye shul here after
WP.218 (KDP.219) Baksteres and Brewesteres · and Bochiers manye
WP.219 (KDP.220) Wollen webbesters · and weueres of lynnen
WP.220 (KDP.221) Taillours and Tynkers · and Tollers in Markettes
WP.221 (KDP.222) Masons and Mynours · and many oþere craftes
WP.222 (KDP.223) Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers · lopen forþ somme
WP.223 (KDP.224) As dykeres and delueres · þat doon hire dedes ille
WP.224 (KDP.225) And dryueþ forþ þe longe day · with Dieu saue dame Emme

WP.225 (KDP.226)¶ Cokes and hire knaues · cryden hote pies hote
WP.226 (KDP.227) Goode gees and grys · go we dyne go we

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WP.227 (KDP.228)¶ Tauerners vntil hem · trewely24 tolden þe same
WP.228 (KDP.229) Whit wyn of Oseye · and reed wyn of Gascoigne
WP.229 (KDP.230) Of þe Ryn and of þe Rochel · þe roost to defie25

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Last updated: Sept. 27, 2000.
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