Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WP.53 Heremytes on an heep · with hoked staues ·6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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WP.138Si13 seritur pietas · de pietate metas
WP.139 Thanne greued hym a Goliardeis · a gloton of wordes
WP.140 And to þe Aungel anheiȝ · answerde after14(c)
WP.141Dum rex a regere · dicatur nomen habere
WP.142Nomen habet sine re · nisi studet iura tenere

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WP.225 Cokes and hire knaues · cryden hote pies hote
WP.226 Goode gees and grys · gowe dyne gowe

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WP.227 Tauerners vntil hem · trewely24 tolden þe same
WP.228 Whit wyn of Oseye · and reed wyn of Gascoigne
WP.229 Of þe Ryn and of þe Rochel · þe roost to defie25
Last updated: Sept. 27, 2000.
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