Passus septimus


Treuthe herde telle her-of · and to peres he sent
To taken his teme and tulyen þe erthe
A pena & a | culpaO.7.3: Hand 1, fol. 29v, left margin. Piercis | Pardon . Cr1.7.3: Fol. 36r, right margin.Piercis | Pardon .Cr2.7.3: Fol. I.4r, right margin.Piercis | Pardon .Cr3.7.3: Fol. 36r, right margin. And purchaced hym a pardoun · a pena & a culpa
For hym and for his heires · for euermore after
And bad hym holde hym at home · and eryen his leyes
And alle þat halpe hym to erie · to sette or to sowe
Or any other myster · þat myȝte pieres auaille ·
Pardoun with pieres plowman · treuthe hath ygraunted

¶ Kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holycherche
And ryȝtfullych in reumes · reulen þe peple
Han pardoun thourgh purgatorie · to passe ful lyȝtly
With patriarkes and prophetes · in paradise to be felawes

¶ Bisshopes yblessed · ȝif þei ben as þei shulden
Legistres of bothe þe lawes · þe lewed þere-with to preche
And in as moche as þei mowe · amende alle synful
Aren peres with þe apostles · þus pardoun Piers sheweth
And at þe day of dome · atte heigh deyse to sytte

notaquod mercatores non sunt soluti | a pena & culpa quia non | sanctificant sabatumM.7.18: Hand 3, fol. 33r, right margin.MarchauntisO.7.18: Hand 1, fol. 30r, right margin. Hand 3 substituted a supralinear "d" for the "t."MarchundisC2.7.18: Hand 1, fol. 34r, right margin. ¶ Marchauntz in þe margyne · hadden many ȝeres
Ac none a pena & a culpa · þe Pope nolde hem graunte
For þei holde nouȝt her halidayes · as holicherche techeth
And for þei swere by her soule · and so god moste hem helpe
Aȝein clene conscience · her catel to selle

L.7.23: Hand X, fol. 30v, left margin.What | merchaun=|tes shuld | do .Cr2.7.23: Fol. I.4v, left margin.What | merchaun=|tes shuld | do .Cr3.7.23: Fol. 36v, left margin. ¶ Ac vnder his secret seel · treuthe sent hem a lettre
That þey shulde bugge boldely · þat hem best liked
And sithenes selle it aȝein · and saue þe wynnyge
How þou schalt do | þin almesO.7.26: Hand 1, fol. 30r, right margin.how þou shalt do | þin almesC2.7.26: Hand 1, fol. 34r, right margin. And amende mesondieux þere-myde · and myseyse folke helpe
And wikked wayes · wiȝtlich hem amende
And do bote to brugges þat to-broke were
Marien maydenes · or maken hem nonnes
Pore peple and prisounes · fynden hem here fode
notaM.7.32: Hand 3, fol. 33r, left margin. And sette scoleres to scole · or to somme other craftes
Releue Religioun · and renten hem bettere
And I shal sende ȝow my-selue · seynt Michel myn archangel
Þat no deuel shal ȝow dere · ne fere ȝow in ȝowre deying
And witen ȝow fro wanhope · if ȝe wil þus worche
notaM.7.37: Hand 3, fol. 33r, left margin. And sende ȝowre sowles in safte · to my seyntes in ioye

¶ Þanne were Marchauntz mery · many wepten for ioye
And preyseden Pieres þe plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle

notade legum peritis quia | minime de Indulgencia | recipiuntM.7.40: Hand 3, fol. 33v, left margin.men of LawC2.7.40: Hand 2, fol. 34r, right margin. Men of lawe lest pardoun hadde þat pleteden for Mede
For þe sauter saueth hem nouȝte · such as taketh ȝiftes
And namelich of innocentz þat none yuel ne kunneth
Psal .xv.Cr2.7.42α: Fol. I.4v, left margin.Psal .xv.Cr3.6.42α: Fol. 36v, left margin. Super innocentem munera non accipies
Men of | law shold | take nou=|ght but | their fee .Cr2.7.43: Fol. I.4v, left margin.Men of | law shold | take nou=|ght but | their fee .Cr3.6.43: Fol. 36v, left margin. Pledoures shulde peynen hem · to plede for such an helpe
Prynces and prelates · shulde paye for her trauaille
A regibus & pryncipibus erit merces eorum

Lawyars | shuld take | no moneyCr1.7.45: Fol. 37r, right margin.Lawyars | shold take | no moneyCr2.7.45: Fol. K.1r, right margin.Lawiers | should take | no moneyCr3.7.45: Fol. 37r, right margin. ¶ Ac many a iustice an iuroure · wolde for Iohan do more
Þan pro dei pietate · leue þow none other
notaW.7.47: Hand X, fol. 41v, right margin. Ac he þat spendeth his speche and spekeþ for þe pore
notaW.7.48: Hand X, fol. 41v, right margin. Þat is Innocent and nedy · and no man appeireth
oute +M.7.49: Hand 2, fol. 33v, right margin, erased but legible under UV light.notaW.7.49: Hand X, fol. 41v, right margin. Conforteth hym in þat cas · with-oute coueytise of ȝiftes
notaW.7.50: Hand X, fol. 41v, right margin. And scheweth lawe for owre lordes loue · as he it hath lerned
Shal no deuel at his ded-day · deren hym a myte
Þat he ne worth sauf and his sowle · þe sauter bereth witnesse
Psal .xvCr2.7.52α: Fol. K.1r, right margin.Psal .xv.Cr3.7.52α: Fol. 37r, right margin. Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c ·

notaM.7.53: Hand X, fol. 33v, left margin. - C.7.53: Hand X, fol. 10r, right margin. ¶ Ac to bugge water ne wynde · ne witte ne fyre þe fierthe
notaquia deus Creauit | quatuor in adiutorium | ComuneM.7.54: Hand 3, fol. 33v, left margin. Þise foure þe fader of heuene · made to þis folde in comune
Þise ben treuthes tresores · trewe folke to helpe
Þat neuere shal wax ne wanye · with-oute god hym-selue

¶ Whan þei drawen on to deye · and Indulgences wolde haue
Her pardoun is ful petit · at her partyng hennes
Þat any Mede of mene men for her motyng taketh
Ȝe legistres and lawyeres · holdeth þis for treuthe
Þat ȝif þat I lye · Mathew is to blame
For he bad me make ȝow þis · and þis prouerbe me tolde
notaW.7.60α: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin.☞Y.7.60α: Hand 1, fol. 33r, right margin.Luke .vi.Cr2.7.60α: Fol. K.1r, right margin.Luke .vi.Cr3.7.60α: Fol. 37r, right margin. Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis

notaW.7.61: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. ¶ Alle lybbyng laboreres · þat lyuen with her hondes
notaW.7.62: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. Þat trewlich taken · and trewlich wynnen
notaW.7.63: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for her lowe hertis
notaW.7.64: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin.Of geu=|yng of Al=|mes . Cr1.7.64: Fol. 37r, right margin.Of g[euyng] | of alm[es .]Cr2.7.64: Fol. K.1r, right margin. The copy of Cr2 from which transcription was made has water damage on this page.Of giuing | of almes .Cr3.7.64: Fol. 37r, right margin. Haueth þe same absolucioun · þat sent was to peres

Beggers and | Bydders . C2.7.65: Hand 2, right margin. ¶ Beggeres ne bidderes · ne beth nouȝte in þe bulle
But if þe suggestioun be soth · þat shapeth hem to begge
notaW.7.67: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. For he þat beggeth or bit · but if he haue nede
notaW.7.68: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. He is fals with þe fende · and defraudeth þe nedy
argumentumM.7.69: Hand 4, fol. 34r, right margin.....bibileM.7.69: Hand X, fol. 34r, right margin. And also he bigileth þe gyuer ageines his wil
For if he wist he were nouȝte nedy · he wolde ȝiue þat an other
Þat were more nedy þan he · so þe nediest shuld be hulpe
Catoun kenneth men þus · and þe clerke of þe stories
opinio # quia remandat elimosina | in Manu donec videas | Cui des secundum CatounM.7.73: Hand 3, fol. 34r, right margin. Followed by a curly brace connecting the label to all three lines of the Latin that follows.notaW.7.73: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin.catoun of | almes dedisO.7.73: Hand 1, fol. 30v, left margin.Caton of | almes dedisC2.7.73: Hand 1, fol. 35r, right margin. Cui des videto · is catounes techyng
And in þe stories he techeth · to bistowe þyn almes
XL.7.75: Hand X, fol. 31r, left margin.notaW.7.75: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. Sit elemosina in manu tua donec studes cui des

Responsio ~ Et tamen vide GregoriusM.7.76: Hand 3, fol. 34r, right margin.notaW.7.76: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin.GregorieCr2.7.76: Fol. K.1v, left margin.GregorieCr3.7.76: Fol. 37v, left margin. ¶ Ac Gregori was a gode man · and bad vs gyuen alle
lenethM.7.77: Hand2, fol. 34r, right margin.notaW.7.77: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. Þat asketh for his loue · þat vs alle leneth
notaW.7.77α: Hand X, fol. 42r, right margin. Non eligas cui miserearis · ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere
Quia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas

notaW.7.78: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. ¶ For wite ȝe neuere who is worthi · ac god wote who hath nede
walkeM.7.79: Hand 2, fol. 34r, right margin.SolucioM.7.79: Hand 4, fol. 34r, right margin. "Walke" was originally written in the margin for later correction. After the correction was made, this word was erased and Hand 4 added "Solucio." See KD.7.76.notaW.7.79: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. In hym þat taketh is þe treccherye · if any tresoun walke
For he þat ȝiueth ȝeldeth · and ȝarketh hym to reste
And he þat biddeth borweth · and bryngeth hym-self in dette
For beggeres borwen euermo · and her borgh is god almyȝti
To ȝelden hem þat ȝiueth hem · and ȝet vsure more
XL.7.83α: Hand X, fol. 31v, left margin.Luke xix.Cr2.7.83α: Fol. K.1v, left margin.Luke xixCr3.7.83α: Fol. 37v, left margin. Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniens cum vsuris exigerem ·

· Nota · C.7.84: Hand 1, fol. 10v, left margin.Of false beg|gerisO.7.84: Hand 1, fol. 30v, left margin. ¶ For-þi biddeth nouȝt ȝe beggeres · but if ȝe haue gret nede
False beggersC2.7.85: Hand 1, fol. 35r, right margin. For who-so hath to buggen hym bred · þe boke bereth witnesse
He hath ynough þat hath bred ynough · þough he haue nouȝt elles
notaW.7.86α: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. Satis diues est qui non indiget pane

¶ Late vsage be ȝowre solace · of seyntes lyues redyng
Þe boke banneth beggarie · and blameth hem in þis manere
[Psal.] 37Cr2.7.89: Fol. K.1v, left margin. Again this page shows water damage.Psal. .37Cr3.7.89: Fol. 37v, left margin. Iunior fui etenim senui · et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius &c

¶ For ȝe lyue in no loue · ne no lawe holde
notaquia mendicantes | operantur tanquam bestie | Cum we heM.7.91: Hand 3, fol. 34r, right margin. Many of ȝow ne wedde nouȝt · þe wommen þat ȝe with delen
notaM.7.92: Hand 3, fol. 34r, left margin. But as wilde bestis with wehe · worthen vppe and worchen
And bryngeth forth barnes · þat bastardes men calleth
Or þe bakke or some bone · he breketh in his ȝouthe
+L.7.95: Corrector, fol. 31v, left margin. A sitthe gon faiten with ȝoure fauntes · for euermore after
notaW.7.96: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. Þere is moo mysshape peple · amonge þise beggeres
notaW.7.97: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. Þan of alle maner men · þat on þis molde walketh
notaW.7.98: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. And þei þat lyue þus here lyf · mowe lothe þe tyme
notaW.7.99: Hand X, fol. 42v, right margin. Þat euere he was man wrouȝt · whan he shal hennes fare

Right BeggersC2.7.100: Hand 2, fol. 35r, right margin. ¶ Ac olde men & hore · þat helplees ben of strengthe
Þe pardoun | of peris | Plowman .O.7.101: Hand 1, fol. 31r, right margin.Patiente | pouertie .Cr2.7.101: Fol. K.2r, right margin.Patiente | pouertie .Cr3.7.101: Fol. 38r, right margin. And women with childe · þat worche ne mowe
Blynde and bedered · and broken her membres
Þat taketh þis myschief mekelych · as meseles and othere
Han as pleyne pardoun as þe plowman hym-self
For loue of her lowe hertis · owre lorde hath hem graunted
Here penaunce and here purgatorie · here on þis erthe

notaM.7.107: Hand 5, fol. 34v, left margin. ¶ Pieres quod a prest þo · þi pardoun most I rede
For I wil construe eche clause · and kenne it þe on englich

nota Bullispetri ploughmanM.7.109: Hand 3, fol. 34v, left margin. ¶ And pieres at his preyere · þe pardoun vnfoldeth
And I bihynde hem bothe · bihelde al þe bulle
Al in two lynes it lay · and nouȝt a leef more
Trew pardon is | do wellC2.7.112: Hand 2, fol. 35v, right margin. And was writen riȝt þus · in witnesse of treuthe
Indulgencia | petriL.7.113: Hand 1, fol. 31v, right margin.notaW.7.113: Hand X, fol. 43r, right margin.Mat .xxv.Cr2.7.113: Fol. K.2r, right margin.Mat .xxvCr3.7.113: Fol. 38r, right margin. Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
notaW.7.114: Hand X, fol. 43r, right margin. Qui vero mala in ignem eternum ·

notaM.7.115: Hand X2, fol. 34v, left margin. ¶ Peter quod þe prest þo · I can no pardoun fynde
notaW.7.116: Hand X, fol. 43r, right margin. But dowel and haue wel · and god shal haue þi sowle
notaM.7.117: Hand 3, fol. 34v, left margin.notaW.7.117: Hand X, fol. 43r, right margin. And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þow non other
XL.7.118: Hand X, fol. 32r, left margin.notaW.7.118: Hand X, fol. 43r, right margin. Þat after þi ded-day · þe deuel shal haue þi sowle

¶ And pieres for pure tene · pulled it atweyne
notaW.7.120-121: Hand X, fol. 43r, right margin.Psal .xxiiiCr2.7.120-121: Fol. K.4r, right margin.Psal xxiiiCr3.7.120-121: Fol. 38r, right margin. And seyde si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis · non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es

· nota · C.7.122: Hand 1, fol. 10v, left margin. ¶ I shal cessen of my sowyng quod pieres · and swynk nouȝt so harde
notaM.7.123: Hand 3, fol. 34v, left margin. Ne about my bely-ioye · so bisi be namore
Of preyers and of penaunce · my plow shal ben her-after
And wepen whan I shulde slepe · þough whete bred me faille

XL.7.126: Hand X, fol. 32r, left margin. ¶ Þe prophete his payn ete · in penaunce and in sorwe
By þat þe sauter seith · so dede other manye
Þat loueth god lelly · his lyflode is ful esy
notaW.7.128α: Hand X, fol. 43v, right margin.Psal .xlii.Cr2.7.128α: Fol. K.2r, right margin.Psal .xlii,Cr3.7.128α: Fol. 38r, right margin. Fuerunt michi lacrime mee · panes die ac nocte

¶ And but if Luke lye · he lereth vs bi foules
We shulde nouȝt be to bisy · aboute þe worldes blisse
Math .vi.Cr2.7.131: Fol. K.2v, left margin.Math .vi.Cr3.7.131: Fol. 38v, left margin. Ne solliciti sitis · he seyth in þe gospel
And sheweth vs bi ensamples · vs-selue to wisse
notaW.7.133: Hand X, fol. 43v, right margin. Þe foules on þe felde · who fynt hem mete at wynter
notaW.7.135: Hand X, fol. 43v, right margin. Haue þei no gernere · to go to ; but god fynt hem alle

¶ What quod þe prest to perkyn · peter as me þinketh
Þow art lettred a litel · who lerned þe on boke

¶ Abstinence þe abbesse quod pieres · myne abc · me tauȝte
And conscience come afterward · and kenned me moche more

A blynde | priestes | taunt .Cr2.7.140: Fol. K.2v, left margin.A blynd | priestes | tauntCr3.7.140: Fol. 38v, left margin. ¶ Were þow a prest pieres quod he · þow miȝte preche where þow sholdest
As deuynour in deuynyte · with dixit insipiens to þi teme

¶ Lewed lorel quod Pieres · litel lokestow on þe bible
On salomones sawes · selden þow biholdest
Pro .xxiiCr2.7.143α: Fol. K.2v, left margin.Pro .xxii.Cr3.7.143α: Fol. 38v, left margin. Ecce derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c

¶ Þe prest and perkyn · apposeden eyther other
And I þorw here wordes awoke · and waited aboute
And seighe þe sonne in þe south sitte þat tyme
NotaC.7.147: Hand 1, fol. 10v, right margin. Metelees and monelees · on Maluerne hulles
Musyng on þis meteles · and my waye ich ȝede
Many tyme þis meteles · hath maked me to studye
Of þat I seigh slepyng · if it so be myȝte
- C.7.151: Hand X, fol. 10v, right margin. And also for peres þe plowman · ful pensyf in herte
And which a pardoun peres hadde · alle þe peple to conforte
And how þe prest impugned it with two propre wordes
- C.7.154: Hand X, fol. 10v, right margin. Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie · for I se it ofte faille
+F.7.155: Hand X, fol. 29r, right margin, marks error in F's line. Catoun and canonistres · conseilleth vs to leue
notaopinionem de sompnisM.7.156: Hand 3, fol. 35r, right margin. To sette sadnesse in songewarie · for sompnia ne cures

How Da=|niel dimid | þe dreamis | of Nabu=|godono=|sor . Cr1.7.157: Fol. 38v, left margin.How Da|niel di=|med the | dreames | of Nabu=|chodono=|sor .Cr2.7.157: Fol. K.2v, left margin.How Da|niel de=|med the | dreames of Nabu=|chodono=|sor .Cr3.7.157: Fol. 38v, left margin. ¶ Ac for þe boke bible ; bereth witnesse
How danyel deuyned · þe dremes of a kynge
Þat was nabugodonosor · nempned of clerkis
Daniel seyde sire Kynge · þi dremeles bitokneth
Þat vnkouth knyȝtes shul come · þi kyngdom to cleue
Amonges lowere lordes · þi londe shal be departed
And as danyel deuyned in dede it felle after
Þe kynge lese his lordship · and lower men it hadde

Of the | dreames | of IosephCr2.7.165: Fol. K.3r, right margin.Of the | dreames | of IosephCr3.7.165: Fol. 39r, right margin. ¶ And ioseph mette merueillously · how þe mone and þe sonne
· Nota · C.7.166: Hand 1, fol. 10v, right margin.Of þe dre=|mes of Io|sephe . Cr1.7.166: Fol. 39r, right margin. And þe elleuene sterres · hailsed hym alle
Þanne Iacob iugged · iosephes sweuene
Beau filtz quod his fader · for defaute we shullen
I my-self and my sones · seche þe for nede

¶ It bifel as his fader seyde · in pharaoes tyme
Þat ioseph was iustice · egipte to loken
It bifel as his fader tolde · his frendes þere hym souȝte
And al þis maketh me · on þis meteles to þynke

¶ And how þe prest preued · no pardoun to dowel
notaquod dowell superest IndulgenciasM.7.175: Hand 3, fol. 35v, left margin. And demed þat dowel · indulgences passed
Dowell passith | the pardon of | petres churcheL.7.176: Hand X2 (16th C), fol. 32v, left margin. Biennales and triennales · and bisschopes lettres
And how dowel at þe day of dome · is dignelich vnderfongen
Note ho=|we he scor|neth the | auctority | of PopesCr2.7.178: Fol. K.3r, right margin.Note ho=|we he scor|neth the | auctority | of PopesCr3.7.178: Fol. 39r, right margin. And passeth al þe pardoun · of seynt petres cherche

☞ pardonHm.7.179: Hand X, fol. 143r, left margin. ¶ Now hath þe pope powere · pardoun to graunte þe peple
nota · C.7.180: Hand 1, fol. 10v, right margin. With-outen eny penaunce · to passen in-to heuene
Þis is owre bileue · as lettered men vs techeth
Math .vi.Cr2.7.181α: Fol. K.3r, right margin. The proper citation is Matthew 18.Math .vi.Cr3.7.181α: Fol. 39r, right margin. Quodcumque ligaueris super terram · erit ligatum et in celis &c ·
And so I leue lelly · lordes forbode ellis
Þat pardoun and penaunce · and preyeres don saue
Soules þat haue synned · seuene sithes dedly
Ac to trust to þise triennales · trewly me þinketh
Is nouȝt so syker for þe soule · certis as is dowel

XL.7.187: Hand X, fol. 32v, left margin.now haþ þe | per .O.7.187: Hand 3, fol. 32r, right margin. Any further text cropped; presumably a version of the first missing line following KD.7.186: "Now haþ þe pope power pardon to graunte." ¶ For-þi I rede ȝow renkes · þat riche ben on þis erthe
Vppon trust of ȝowre tresoure · triennales to haue
Be ȝe neuere þe balder · to breke þe x hestes
And namelich ȝe maistres · mayres and iugges
Þat han þe welthe of þis worlde · and for wyse men ben holden
To purchace ȝow pardoun · and þe popis bulles
xF.7.193: Hand X, fol. 29v, left margin. At þe dredeful dome · whan ded shullen rise
And comen alle bifor cryst · acountis to ȝelde
How þow laddest þi lyf here · and his lawes keptest
a poke full of | pardonL.7.196: Hand X2 (16th C), fol. 33r, right margin.de indulgencijsM.7.196: Hand 4, fol. 35v, left margin. And how þow dedest day bi day · þe dome wil reherce
Of pardoun .O.7.197: Hand 1, fol. 32r, right margin. of pardonC2.7.197: Hand 1, fol. 36v, right margin. A poke ful of pardoun þere · ne prouinciales lettres
Theigh ȝe be founde in þe fraternete · of alle þe foure ordres
And haue indulgences double-folde · but if dowel ȝow help
notanotaM.7.200: Hand X2 (possibly two different hands), fol. 35v, left margin. I sette ȝowre patentes and ȝowre pardounz at one pies hele

¶ For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to crye god mercy
And Marie his moder · be owre mene bitwene
Þat god gyue vs grace here · ar we gone hennes
Suche werkes to werche · while we ben here
Þat after owre deth-day · dowel reherce
...?...M.7.206: Hand X, fol. 36r, right margin.finitur visionemG.7.206: Hand 2, fol. 32v, left margin. Seems to be the same as the hand that initialed "WH" on fols. 69v, 70r, and 103r.notaG.7.206: Hand 2, fol. 32v, right margin. At þe day of dome · we dede as he hiȝte

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