Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 19

Scribal | Critical | All Tags Next: Passus 20 Previous: Passus 18 Up: Contents

Passus xixus / et explicit dobet / et incipit dobest

W19.1Thus I awaked and wroot · what I hadde ydremed
W19.2 And dighte me derely · and dide me to chirche
W19.3 To here holly þe masse · and to be housled after

W19.4 In myddes of þe masse · þo men yede to offryng
W19.5 I fel eft-soones aslepe · and sodeynly me mette
W19.6 That Piers þe Plowman · was peynted al blody
W19.7 And com in wiþ a cros · bifore þe comune peple
W19.8 And riȝt lik in alle þynges936 · to oure lord Iesus

W19.9 And þanne called I Conscience · to kenne me þe soþe
W19.10 Is þis Iesus þe Iustere quod I · þat Iewes dide to deþe
W19.11 Or it is Piers þe Plowman · who peynted hym so rede

W19.12 Quod Conscience and kneled þo · þise arn Piers armes
W19.13 Hise colours and his cote Armure · ac he þat comeþ so blody
W19.14 Is crist wiþ his cros · conquerour of cristene

W19.15 Why calle937 hym crist quod I · siþen Iewes calle hym Iesus
W19.16 Patriarkes and prophetes · prophecied bifore
W19.17 That alle kynne creatures · sholden knelen and bowen
W19.18 Anoon as men nempned · þe name of god Iesu
W19.19Ergo is no name · to þe name of Iesus

fol.116r

W19.20Ne noon so nedeful to nempne · by nyȝte ne by daye
W19.21 For alle derke deueles · arn adrad to heren it
W19.22 And synfulle aren solaced · and saued by þat name
W19.23 And ye callen hym crist · for what cause telleþ me
W19.24 Is crist moore of myȝt · and moore worþi name
W19.25 Than Iesu or Iesus · þat al oure Ioye com of
W19.26 Thow knowest wel quod Conscience · and þow konne reson
W19.27 That knyght · kyng · conquerour · may be o persone
W19.28 To be called a knyght is fair · for men shul knele to hym
W19.29 To be called a kyng is fairer · for he may knyghtes make
W19.30 Ac to be conquerour called · þat comeþ of special grace
W19.31 And of hardynesse of herte · and of hendenesse
W19.32 To make lordes of laddes · of lond þat he wynneþ
W19.33 And fre men foule þralles · þat folwen noȝt hise lawes

W19.34 The Iewes þat were gentil men · Iesus þei despised
W19.35 Boþe his loore and his lawe · now are þei lowe cherles
W19.36 As wide as þe world is · noon of hem þer wonyeþ938
W19.37 But vnder tribut and taillage · as tikes and cherles
W19.38 And þo þat bicome cristene · bi counseil of þe baptisme
W19.39 Aren frankeleyns · free men · þoruȝ fullynge þat þei toke
W19.40 And gentil men wiþ Iesu · for Iesu was yfulled
W19.41 And vp-on Caluarie on cros · ycrouned kyng of Iewes

W19.42 It bicomeþ to a kyng · to kepe and to defende
W19.43 And conquerour of conquest · hise lawes and his large
W19.44 And so dide Iesus þe Iewes · he Iustified and tauȝte hem
W19.45 The lawe of lif · þat laste shal euere
W19.46 And defended from foule yueles · feueres and Fluxes
W19.47 And from fendes þat in hem were · and false bileue
W19.48 Tho was he Iesus of Iewes called · gentile prophete
W19.49 And kyng of hir kyngdom · and croune bar of þornes

W19.50 And þo conquered he on cros · as conquerour noble
W19.51 Mighte no deeþ hym fordo · ne adoun brynge
W19.52 That he naroos and regnede · and rauysshed helle
W19.53 And þo was he conquerour called · of quyke and of dede
W19.54 For he yaf Adam and Eue · and oþere mo blisse
W19.55 That longe hadde yleyen bifore · as Luciferis cherles

W19.56 And siþ he yaf largely · alle hise lele liges
W19.57 Places in Paradis · at hir partynge hennes
W19.58 He may wel be called conquerour · and þat is crist to mene

W19.59 Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus · wiþ cros of his passion
W19.60 Is to wissen vs þer-wiþ · þat whan þat we ben tempted939(c)
W19.61 Ther-with to fiȝte and defenden940 vs · fro fallynge to941 synne
W19.62 And se bi his sorwe · þat who-so loueþ ioye
W19.63 To penaunce and to pouerte · he moste puten hym-seluen
W19.64 And muche wo in þis world · to942 willen and suffren

W19.65 Ac to carpe moore of crist · and how he com to þat name
W19.66 Faithly for to speke · his firste name was Iesus
W19.67 Tho he was born in Bethleem · as þe book telleþ
W19.68 And cam to take mankynde · kynges and Aungeles
W19.69 Reuerenced hym faire · wiþ richesses943 of erþe
W19.70 Aungeles out of heuene · come knelynge and songe
W19.71Gloria in excelsis deo &c944(c)

W19.72 Kynges þat945 come after · knelede · and offrede
W19.73 Mirre and muche gold · wiþ-outen mercy askynge
W19.74 Or any kynnes catel · but knowelichynge hym souereyn
W19.75 Boþe of lond · sonne and see · and siþenes þei wente
W19.76 In-to hir kyngene kiþ · by counseil of Aungeles
W19.77 And þere was þat word fulfilled · þe which þow of speke
W19.78Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu

W19.79 For alle þe Aungeles of heuene · at his burþe knelede
W19.80 And al þe wit of þe world · was in þo þre kynges
W19.81 Reson and Rightwisnesse · and Ruþe þei offrede
W19.82 Wher-fore and why · wise men þat tyme
W19.83 Maistres and lettred men · Magi · hem callede

W19.84 That o kyng cam wiþ Reson · couered vnder sense

W19.85 The seconde kyng siþþe · sooþliche offrede
W19.86 Rightwisnesse vnder reed gold · Resones felawe
W19.87 For946 gold is likned to leautee · þat laste shal euere947

W19.88 The þridde kyng þo kam · knelynge to Iesu
W19.89 And presented hym wiþ pitee · apperynge by Mirre
W19.90 For Mirre is mercy to mene · and mylde speche of tonge

W19.91 Thre yliche honeste þynges · were offred þus atones
W19.92 Thoruȝ þre kynne kynges · knelynge to Iesu

W19.93 Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz · oure lord kyng948Iesus
W19.94 Was neiþer kyng ne conquerour · til he gan to wexe
W19.95 In þe manere of a man · and þat by muchel sleighte
W19.96 As it bicomeþ a conquerour · to konne manye sleightes
W19.97 And manye wiles and wit · þat wole ben a ledere
W19.98 And so dide Iesu in hise dayes · who-so hadde tyme to telle it

W19.99 Som-tyme he suffrede · and som-tyme he hidde hym
W19.100 And som-tyme he fauȝt faste · and fleiȝ ouþer while
W19.101 And som-tyme he gaf good · and grauntede heele boþe
W19.102 Lif and lyme · as hym liste he wroȝte
W19.103 As kynde is of a Conquerour · so comsede Iesu
W19.104 Til he hadde alle hem · þat he for bledde

W19.105 In his Iuuentee þis Iesus · at Iewene feeste

fol.117v

W19.106Water in-to wyn turnede · as holy writ telleþ
W19.107 And þere bigan god · of his grace to do wel
W19.108 For wyn is likned to lawe · and lifholynesse949
W19.109 And lawe lakkede þo · for men louede noȝt hir enemys
W19.110 And crist counseileþ þus · and comaundeþ boþe
W19.111 To lered and to lewede · to louyen oure enemys
W19.112 So at þat feeste first · as I bifore tolde
W19.113 Bigan god of his grace · and goodnesse to dowel
W19.114 And þanne was he called · noȝt holy crist but Iesu
W19.115 A faunt fyn ful of wit · filius Marie
W19.116 For bifore his moder Marie · made he þat wonder
W19.117 That she first and formest · ferme sholde bileue
W19.118 That he þoruȝ grace was gete · and of no gome ellis
W19.119 He wroȝte þat by no wit · but þoruȝ word one
W19.120 After þe kynde þat he cam of · þere comsede he dowel
W19.121 And whan he woxen was moore · in his moder absence
W19.122 He made lame to lepe · and yaf light to blynde
W19.123 And fedde wiþ two fisshes · and with fyue loues
W19.124 Sore afyngred folk · mo þan fyue þousand

W19.125 Thus he confortede carefulle · and caughte a gretter name
W19.126 The which was dobet · where þat he wente
W19.127 For deue þoruȝ hise doynges to here · and dombe speke he made
W19.128 And alle he heeled and halp · þat hym of grace askede
W19.129 And þo was he called in contre · of þe comune peple
W19.130 For þe dedes þat he dide · Fili dauid Iesus
W19.131 For dauid was doghtiest · of dedes in his tyme
W19.132 The burdes þo songe · Saul interfecit mille et dauid decem milia

W19.133 For-þi þe contree þer Iesu cam called hym fili dauid
W19.134 And nempned hym of Nazareth · and no man so worþi
W19.135 To be kaiser or kyng · of þe kyngdom of Iuda
W19.136 Ne ouer Iewes Iustice · as Iesus was hem þouȝte

W19.137 Wher-of Cayphas hadde enuye · and oþere of þe Iewes
W19.138 And for to doon hym to deþe · day and nyȝt þei casten
W19.139 Killeden hym on cros-wise · at Caluarie on Friday
W19.140 And siþen buriede his body · and beden þat men sholde
W19.141 Kepen it fro nyght-comeris · wiþ knyghtes y-armed
W19.142 For no frendes sholde hym fecche · for prophetes hem tolde
W19.143 That þat blissede body · of burieles risen sholde
W19.144 And goon in-to Galilee · and gladen hise Apostles
W19.145 And his moder Marie · þus men bifore demede

W19.146 The knyghtes þat kepten it · biknewe it hem-seluen
W19.147 That Aungeles and Archaungeles · er þe day spronge
W19.148 Come knelynge to þe corps · and songen Christus resurgens
W19.149 Verray men950 bifore hem alle · and forþ wiþ hem he yede

W19.150 The Iewes preide hem be951 pees · and bisouȝte þe knyghtes
W19.151 Telle þe comune þat þer cam · a compaignie of hise Apostles
W19.152 And biwicched hem as þei woke · and awey stolen it

W19.153 Ac Marie Maudeleyne · mette hym by þe weye
W19.154 Goynge toward Galilee · in godhede and manhede
W19.155 And lyues and lokynge · and she aloud cride
W19.156 In ech a compaignie952(c) þer she cam · Christus resurgens

W19.157 Thus cam it out þat crist ouercoom · recouerede and lyuede
W19.158Sic oportet Christum pati & intrare &c
W19.159 For þat · þat wommen witeþ · may noȝt wel be counseille

W19.160 Peter parceyued al þis · and pursued after
W19.161 Boþe Iames and Iohan · Iesu for to seke
W19.162 Thaddee and ten mo · wiþ Thomas of Inde
W19.163 And as alle þise wise wyes · weren togideres
W19.164 In an hous al bishet · and hir dore ybarred
W19.165 Crist cam In and al closed · boþe dore and yates

W19.166 To Peter and to þise Apostles · and seide pax vobis
W19.167 And took Thomas by þe hand · and tauȝte hym to grope
W19.168 And feele wiþ hise fyngres · his flesshliche herte

W19.169 Thomas touched it · and wiþ his tonge seide
W19.170Deus meus & dominus meus
W19.171 Thow art my lord I bileue · my god lord953Iesu
W19.172 Thow deidest and deeþ þoledest · and deme shalt vs alle
W19.173 And now art lyuynge and lokynge · and laste shalt euere

W19.174 Crist carpede þanne · and curteisliche seide
W19.175 Thomas for þow trowest þis · and treweliche bileuest it
W19.176 Blessed mote þow be · and be shalt for euere
W19.177 And blessed mote þei alle be · in body and in soule
W19.178 That neuere shul se me in sighte · as þow doost nowþe
W19.179 And lelliche bileue al þis · I loue hem and blesse hem
W19.180Beati qui non viderunt &c

W19.181 And whan þis dede was doon · dobest he tauȝte
W19.182 And yaf Piers power · and pardon he grauntede
W19.183 To alle maner men · mercy and forȝifnesse
W19.184 Hym myght to assoille · of alle manere synne
W19.185 In couenaunt þat þei come · and kneweliched to paie
W19.186 To Piers pardon þe Plowman · redde quod debes

W19.187 Thus haþ Piers power · by his pardon paied
W19.188 To bynde and vnbynde · boþe here and ellis-where
W19.189 And assoille men of alle synnes · saue of dette one

W19.190 Anoon after anheigh · vp in-to heuene
W19.191 He wente and wonyeþ þere · and wol come at þe laste
W19.192 And rewarde hym right wel · þat reddit quod debet
W19.193 Paieþ parfitly · as pure truþe wolde
W19.194 And what persone paieþ it nouȝt · punysshen he þenkeþ

fol.119r

W19.195And demen hem at domes-day · boþe quyke and dede
W19.196 The goode to þe godhede · and to greet Ioye
W19.197 And wikkede to wonye · in wo wiþ-outen ende
W19.198 Thus Conscience of crist · and of þe cros carpede
W19.199 And counseiled me to knele þer-to · and þanne cam me þouȝte
W19.200 Oon Spiritus paraclitus · to Piers and to hise felawes
W19.201 In liknesse of a lightnynge · he lighte on hem alle
W19.202 And made hem konne and knowe · alle kynne langages
W19.203 I wondred what þat was · and waggede Conscience
W19.204 And was a-fered of þe light · for in fires lightnesse954
W19.205Spiritus paraclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle

W19.206 Quod Conscience and knelede · þis is cristes messager
W19.207 And comeþ fro þe grete god · and grace is his name
W19.208 Knele now quod Conscience · and if þow kanst synge
W19.209 Welcome hym and worshipe hym · wiþ Veni creator Spiritus

W19.210 Thanne song I þat song · so dide manye hundred
W19.211 And cride wiþ Conscience · help vs god of grace

W19.212 And þanne bigan grace · to go wiþ Piers Plowman
W19.213 And counseillede hym and Conscience · þe comune to sompne
W19.214 For I wole dele to-day · and ȝyue diuine grace
W19.215 To alle kynne creatures · þat han hir fyue wittes
W19.216 Tresour to lyue by · to hir lyues ende
W19.217 And wepne to fighte wiþ · þat wole neuere faille
W19.218 For Antecrist and hise · al þe world shul greue
W19.219 And acombre þee Conscience · but if crist þee helpe

W19.220 And false prophetes fele · flatereris and gloseris
W19.221 Shullen come and be curatours · ouer kynges and Erles
W19.222 And Pride shal be Pope · Prynce of holy chirche
W19.223 Coueitise and vnkyndenesse · Cardinals hym to lede

fol.119v

W19.224For-þi quod grace er I go · I wol gyue yow tresor
W19.225 And wepne to fighte wiþ · whan Antecrist yow assailleþ
W19.226 And gaf ech man a grace · to gide wiþ hym-seluen
W19.227 That ydelnesse encombre hym noȝt · enuye ne pride
W19.228Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c
W19.229 Some he yaf wit · with wordes to shewe
W19.230 Wit to wynne hir liflode wiþ · as þe world askeþ
W19.231 As prechours and preestes · and Prentices of lawe
W19.232 They lelly to lyue · by labour of tonge
W19.233 And by wit to wissen oþere · as grace hem wolde teche

W19.234 And some he kennede craft · and konnynge of sighte
W19.235 Wiþ sellynge and buggynge · hir bilyue to wynne

W19.236 And some he lered to laboure · a lele lif and a trewe
W19.237 And some he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche and to thecche
W19.238 To wynne wiþ hir liflode · bi loore of his techynge

W19.239 And some to deuyne and diuide · noumbres to kenne
W19.240 And some to compace craftily · and colours to make
W19.241 And some to se and to seye · what sholde bifalle
W19.242 Boþe of wele and of wo · telle it er it felle
W19.243 As Astronomyens þoruȝ Astronomye · and Philosofres wise

W19.244 And some to ryde and to recouere · þat wrongfully955 was wonne
W19.245 He wissed hem to wynne it ayein · þoruȝ wightnesse of handes
W19.246 And fecchen it fro false men · wiþ Foluyles lawes

W19.247 And some he lered to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes
W19.248 In pouerte and in penaunce · to preie for alle cristene
W19.249 And alle he lered to be lele · and ech a craft loue ooþer
W19.250 And forbad hem alle debat · þat noon were among hem
W19.251 Thouȝ some be clenner þan some · ye se wel quod Grace

fol.120r

W19.252 That he þat vseþ þe faireste craft · to þe fouleste I kouþe haue put hym
W19.253 Thynkeþ alle quod Grace · þat grace comeþ of my ȝifte
W19.254 Lokeþ þat no man956 lakke ooþer · but loueþ alle as breþeren
W19.255 And who þat moost maistries kan · be myldest of berynge
W19.256 And crouneþ Conscience kyng · and makeþ craft youre Stiward
W19.257 And after craftes conseil · cloþeþ yow and fede
W19.258 For I make Piers þe Plowman · my procuratour and my reue
W19.259 And Registrer to receyue · redde quod debes
W19.260 My prowor and my Plowman · Piers shal ben on erþe
W19.261 And for to tilie truþe · a teeme shal he haue

W19.262 Grace gaf Piers a teeme · of957 foure grete Oxen
W19.263 That oon was Luk a large beest · and a lowe-chered
W19.264 And Mark and Mathew þe þridde · myghty beestes boþe
W19.265 And Ioyned to hem oon Iohan · moost gentil of alle
W19.266 The pris neet of Piers plow · passynge alle oþere

W19.267 And Grace gaf Piers · of his goodnesse foure stottes
W19.268 Al þat hise oxen eriede · þei to harewen after
W19.269 Oon highte Austyn · and Ambrose anoþer
W19.270 Gregori þe grete clerk · and Ierom þe goode
W19.271 Thise foure þe feiþ to teche · folweþ Piers teme
W19.272 And harewede in an hand-while · al holy Scripture
W19.273 Wiþ two harewes þat þei hadde · an oold and a newe
W19.274Id est vetus testamentum & nouum

W19.275 And Grace gaf greynes · þe Cardynal vertues
W19.276 And sew hem in mannes soule · and siþen he tolde hir names
W19.277Spiritus prudencie · þe firste seed highte
W19.278 And who-so ete þat · ymagynen he sholde
W19.279 Er he deide any deeþ958 · deuyse wel þe ende
W19.280 And lerned men a ladel bugge · wiþ a long stele
W19.281 And caste for to kepe a crokke · to saue þe fatte aboue

W19.282 The seconde seed · highte Spiritus temperancie959(c)
W19.283 He þat ete of þat seed · hadde swich a kynde
W19.284 Sholde neuere mete ne muchel drynke · make hym to swelle
W19.285 Ne no scornere ne scolde · out of skile hym brynge
W19.286 Ne wynnynge ne wele · of worldliche richesse
W19.287 Waste word of ydelnesse · ne wikked speche moeue
W19.288 Sholde no curious clooþ · comen on his rugge
W19.289 Ne no mete in his mouþ · þat maister Iohan Spicede

W19.290 The þridde seed þat Piers sew · was Spiritus fortitudinis
W19.291 And who ete960 þat seed · hardy was he euere
W19.292 To suffren al þat god sente · siknesse and Angres
W19.293 Mighte no lesynges ne lyere · ne los of worldly catel
W19.294 Maken hym for any mournynge · þat he nas murie in soule
W19.295 And bold and abidynge · bismares to suffre
W19.296 And pleieþ al wiþ pacience · and Parce michi domine
W19.297 And couered hym vnder conseille · of Caton þe wise
W19.298Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique

W19.299 The ferþe seed þat Piers sew · was Spiritus Iusticie
W19.300 And he þat ete of þat seed · sholde be euere trewe
W19.301 Wiþ god · and nauȝt agast · but of gile one
W19.302 For gile gooþ so pryuely · þat good feiþ ouþer-while
W19.303 May nouȝt ben espied · for Spiritus Iusticie

W19.304 Spiritus Iusticie · spareþ noȝt to spille
W19.305 Hem þat ben gilty · and for to correcte
W19.306 The kyng if he falle · in gilt or in trespas
W19.307 For counteþ he no kynges wraþe · whan he in Court sitteþ
W19.308 To demen as a domes-man · adrad was he neuere
W19.309 Neiþer of duc ne of deeþ · þat he ne dide lawe
W19.310 For present or for preiere · or any Prynces lettres
W19.311 He dide equyte to alle · euene-forþ his power
Thise foure sedes

W19.312 Thise foure sedes Piers sew · and siþþe he dide hem harewe
W19.313 Wiþ olde lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe
W19.314 Among þo foure vertues · and vices destruye
W19.315 For comunliche in contrees · cammokes and wedes
W19.316 Foulen þe fruyt in þe feld · þer þei growen togideres
W19.317 And so doon vices · vertues worþi

W19.318 Quod Piers hareweþ alle þat konneþ kynde wit · by conseil of þise doctours961
W19.319 And tilieþ after hir techynge · þe Cardynale vertues

W19.320 Ayeins þi greynes quod Grace · bigynneþ for to ripe
W19.321 Ordeigne þee an hous Piers · to herberwe Inne þi cornes

W19.322 By god Grace quod Piers · ye moten gyue tymber
W19.323 And ordeyne þat hous · er ye hennes wende

W19.324 And Grace gaf hym þe cros · wiþ þe croune of þornes
W19.325 That crist vp-on Caluarie · for mankynde on pyned
W19.326 And of his baptisme and blood · þat he bledde on roode
W19.327 He made a manere morter · and mercy it highte
W19.328 And þer-wiþ Grace bigan · to make a good foundement
W19.329 And watlede it and walled it · wiþ his peyne962 and his passion
W19.330 And of al holy writ · he made a roof after
W19.331 And called þat hous vnitee · holy chirche on englissh

W19.332 And whan þis dede was doon · Grace deuysede
W19.333 A cart highte cristendom · to carie Piers sheues
W19.334 And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricion and confession
W19.335 And made preesthod hayward · þe while hym-self wente
W19.336 As wide as þe world is · wiþ Piers to tilie truþe

W19.337 Now is Piers to þe plow · and pride it aspide
W19.338 And gadered hym a greet Oost · for to963 greuen he þynkeþ
W19.339 Conscience and alle cristene · and Cardinale vertues

W19.340 Blowe hem doun and breke hem · and bite a-two þe mores
W19.341 And sente forþ Surquidous · his sergeaunt of Armes
W19.342 And his Spye Spille loue · oon Spek yuel bihynde

W19.343 Thise two coome to Conscience · and to cristen peple
W19.344 And tolde hem tidynges · þat tyne þei sholde þe sedes
W19.345 That Piers þere hadde ysowen · þe Cardynale vertues
W19.346 And Piers bern worþ ybroke · and þei þat ben in vnitee
W19.347 Shulle come out · and Conscience · and youre two caples
W19.348 Confession and Contricion · and youre carte þe bileeue
W19.349 Shal be coloured so queyntely · and couered vnder Sophistrie
W19.350 That Conscience shal noȝt · knowe by contricion
W19.351 Ne by Confession · who is cristene or heþene
W19.352 Ne no manere marchaunt · þat wiþ moneye deleþ
W19.353 Wheiþer he wynne wiþ right · wiþ wrong or wiþ vsure

W19.354 Wiþ swiche colours and queyntise · comeþ pride yarmed
W19.355 Wiþ þe lord þat lyueþ after · þe lust of his body
W19.356 To wasten on welfare · and in964 wikked lyuyng965
W19.357 Al þe world in a while · þoruȝ oure wit quod Pryde

W19.358 Quod Conscience to alle cristene þo · my counseil is to wende
W19.359 Hastiliche in-to vnitee · and holde we vs þere
W19.360 And praye we þat a pees weere · in Piers berne þe Plowman
W19.361 For witterly I woot wel · we beþ noȝt of strengþe
W19.362 To goon agayn Pride · but Grace weere wiþ vs

W19.363 And þanne kam Kynde wit · Conscience to teche
W19.364 And cryde and comaundede · alle cristene peple
W19.365 For to deluen a dych · depe aboute vnitee
W19.366 That holy chirche stode in vnitee · as it a Pyl weere

W19.367 Conscience comaundede þo · alle cristene to delue
W19.368 And make a muche moot · þat myghte ben a strengþe

fol.122r

W19.369 To helpe holy chirche · and hem þat it kepeþ
W19.370 Thanne alle kynne cristene · saue comune wommen
W19.371 Repenteden and refused synne · saue þei one
W19.372 And false men flatereris · vsurers and þeues
W19.373 Lyeris and questemongeres · þat were forsworen ofte
W19.374 Witynge and wilfully · wiþ þe false helden
W19.375 And for siluer were forswore · sooþly þei wiste it

W19.376 Ther nas no cristene creature · þat kynde wit hadde ·
W19.377 Saue sherewes one · swiche as I spak of
W19.378 That he ne halp a quantite · holynesse to wexe
W19.379 Some þoruȝ bedes biddynge · and some þoruȝ pilgrymages966
W19.380 And oþere pryue penaunces967 · and somme þoruȝ penyes delynge

W19.381 And þanne wellede water · for wikkede werkes
W19.382 Egreliche ernynge · out of mennes eighen
W19.383 Clennesse out of comune · and clerkes clene lyuynge
W19.384 Made vnitee holy chirche · in holynesse to stonde

W19.385 I care noȝt quod Conscience · þouȝ pride come nouþe
W19.386 The lord of lust shal be letted · al þis lente I hope
W19.387 Comeþ quod Conscience · ye cristene and dyneþ
W19.388 That han laboured lelly · al þis lenten tyme
W19.389 Here is breed y-blessed · and goddes body þer-vnder
W19.390 Grace þoruȝ goddes word · yaf Piers power
W19.391 And myȝtes to maken it · and men to ete it after
W19.392 In help of hir heele · ones in a Monþe
W19.393 Or as ofte as þei hadde nede · þo þat hadde y-paied
W19.394 To Piers pardon þe Plowman · redde quod debes

W19.395 How quod al þe comune · þow conseillest vs to yelde
W19.396 Al þat we owen any wight · er we go to housel

W19.397 That is my conseil quod Conscience · and Cardinale vertues
W19.398 That ech man forȝyue ooþer · and þat wole þe Pater noster
W19.399Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &c
W19.400 And so to ben assoilled · and siþþen ben houseled

W19.401 Ye baw quod a Brewere · I wol noȝt be ruled
W19.402 By Iesu for al youre Ianglynge · wiþ Spiritus Iusticie
W19.403 Ne after Conscience by crist · while I kan selle
W19.404 Boþe dregges and draf · and drawe it out at oon hole
W19.405 Thikke ale and þynne ale · for þat is my kynde
W19.406 And noȝt hakke after holynesse · hold þi tonge Conscience
W19.407 Of Spiritus Iusticie · þow spekest muche on ydel

W19.408 Caytif quod Conscience · cursede wrecche
W19.409 Vnblessed artow Brewere · but if þee god helpe
W19.410 But þow lyue by loore · of Spiritus Iusticie
W19.411 The chief seed þat Piers sew · ysaued worstow neuere
W19.412 But Conscience þe comune fede · and Cardinale vertues
W19.413 Leue it wel þei ben lost · boþe lif and soule

W19.414 Thanne is many a man lost · quod a lewed vicory
W19.415 I am a Curatour of holy kirke · and cam neuere in my tyme
W19.416 Man to me / þat me kouþe telle · of Cardinale vertues
W19.417 Or þat acountede Conscience · at a cokkes feþere or an hennes
W19.418 I knew neuere Cardynal · þat he ne cam fro þe pope
W19.419 And we clerkes whan þei come · for hir comunes paieþ
W19.420 For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete · and pilours þat hem folweþ

W19.421 The comune clamat cotidie · ech a man til ooþer
W19.422 The contree is þe corseder · þat Cardinals come Inne
W19.423 And þer þei ligge and lenge moost · lecherie þere regneþ

W19.424 For-þi quod þis vicory · by verray god I wolde
W19.425 That no Cardynal coome · among þe comune peple

W19.426 But in hir holynesse · helden hem stille
W19.427 At Auynoun among þe Iewes · Cum Sancto Sanctus eris &c
W19.428 Or in Rome as hir rule wole · þe relikes to kepe
W19.429 And þow Conscience in kynges court · and sholdest neuere come þennes
W19.430 And Grace þat þow graddest968 so of · gyour of alle clerkes
W19.431 And Piers wiþ his newe plow · and ek wiþ his olde
W19.432 Emperour of al þe world · þat alle men were cristene

W19.433 Inparfit is þat pope · þat al þe world sholde helpe
W19.434 And sendeþ swiche þat sleeþ hem · þat969 he sholde saue

W19.435 And wel worþe Piers þe plowman · þat pursueþ god in doynge
W19.436Qui pluit super Iustos & iniustos · atones
W19.437 And sent þe sonne to saue · a cursed mannes tilþe
W19.438 As brighte as to þe beste man · or to þe beste womman

W19.439 Right so Piers þe Plowman · peyneþ hym to tilye
W19.440 As wel for a wastour · and wenches of þe stewes
W19.441 As for hym-self and hise seruauntz · saue he is first yserued
W19.442 And trauailleþ and tilieþ · for a tretour also soore
W19.443 As for a trewe tidy man · alle tymes ylike
W19.444 And worshiped be he þat wroȝte al · boþe good and wikke
W19.445 And suffreþ þat synfulle be ·970
W19.446 And god amende þe pope · þat pileþ holy kirke
W19.447 And cleymeþ bifore þe kyng · to be kepere ouer cristene
W19.448 And counteþ noȝt þouȝ cristene ben · killed and robbed
W19.449 And fynt folk to fiȝte · and cristen blood to spille
W19.450 Ayein þe olde lawe and newe lawe · as Luc þer-of witnesseþ
W19.451Non occides · michi vindictam &c

W19.452 It semeþ bi so · hym-self hadde his wille
W19.453 That he reccheþ · riȝt noȝt of al þe remenaunt
W19.454 And crist of his curteisie · þe Cardinals saue
W19.455 And torne hir wit to wisdom · and to welþe of soule

fol.123v

W19.456For þe comune quod þis Curatour · counten ful litel
W19.457 The counseil of Conscience · or Cardinale vertues
W19.458 But if þei seiȝe as by sighte · som-what to wynnyng
W19.459 Of gile ne of gabbyng · gyue þei neuere tale
W19.460 For spiritus prudencie · among þe peple is gyle
W19.461 And alle þo faire vertues · as vices þei semeþ
W19.462 Ech man subtileþ a sleiȝte · synne for to hide
W19.463 And coloureþ it for a konnynge · and a clene lyuynge
W19.464 Thanne louȝ þer a lord · and by þis light seide
W19.465 I holde it riȝt and reson · of my Reue to take
W19.466 Al þat myn Auditour · or ellis my Styward
W19.467 Counseilleþ me bi hir acounte · and my clerkes writynge
W19.468 Wiþ Spiritus Intellectus · þei seke þe reues rolles
W19.469 And wiþ Spiritus fortitudinis · fecche it I wole after971

W19.470 And þanne cam þer a kyng · and by his croune seide
W19.471 I am kyng wiþ croune · þe comune to rule
W19.472 And holy kirke and clergie · fro cursed men to fende972
W19.473 And if me lakkeþ to lyue by · þe lawe wole I take it
W19.474 Ther I may hastilokest it haue · for I am heed of lawe
W19.475 And ye973 ben but membres · and I aboue alle
W19.476 And siþ I am youre aller heed · I am youre aller heele
W19.477 And holy chirches chief help · and Chieftayn of þe comune
W19.478 And what I take of yow two · I take it at þe techynge
W19.479 Of Spiritus Iusticie · for I Iugge yow alle
W19.480 So I may boldely be housled · for I borwe neuere
W19.481 Ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde askeþ

W19.482 In condicion quod Conscience · þat þow konne defende
W19.483 And rule þi reaume in reson · right wel and in truþe
W19.484 Take þow mayst in reson · as þi lawe askeþ
W19.485Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum · set non ad deprehendendum
W19.486 The viker hadde fer hoom · and faire took his leeue
W19.487 And I awakned þer-wiþ · and wroot as me mette

Scribal | Critical | All Tags Next: Passus 20 Previous: Passus 18 Up: Contents
Last updated: Sept. 27, 2000.
© Piers Plowman Electronic Archive