Passus vicesimus & primus de dobest


Thanne as I went by þe way · whan I was þus awaked
Heuy-chered I ȝede · and elynge in herte
I ne wiste where to ete · ne at what place
And it neighed nyeghe þe none · & with nede I mette
That afronted me foule · and faitour me called
Coudestow nouȝte excuse þe · as dede þe Kynge & other
NecessitasO.20.7: Hand 1, fol. 83v, left margin. Þat þow toke to þi bylyf · to clothes and to sustenance
As by techynge & by tellynge · of spiritus temperancie
And þow nome namore · þan nede þe tauȝte
Nede hathe no LaweC2.20.10: Hand 2, fol. 102r, right margin. And nede ne hath no lawe · ne neure shal falle in dette
For þre thynges he taketh · his lyf forto saue
That is mete whan men hym werneth · & he no moneye weldeth
¶ Ne wyght none wil ben his borwe · ne wedde hath none to legge
What li=|berti nede | geueth .Cr2.20.14: Fol. Ee.3v, left margin. What li=|berti nede | geueth .Cr3.20.14: Fol. 111v, left margin. And he cauȝte in þat cas · & come þere-to by sleighte
He synneth nouȝte sothelich · þat so wynneth his fode
And þough he come so to a clothe · and can no better cheuysaunce
Nede anon-riȝte · nymeth hym vnder meynpryse
And if hym lyst for to lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at eche diche · ar he for thurste deyde
So nede at grete nede · may nymen as for his owne
Wyth-oute conseille of conscience · or cardynale vertues
So þat he suwe & saue · spiritus temperancie

spiritusG.20.23: Hand 1, fol. 96r, right margin. ¶ For is no vertue by fer to spiritus temperancie
Neither spiritus iusticie · ne spiritus fortitudinis
Tempe=|raunce is | the chiefe | vertue .Cr2.20.25: Fol. Ee.3v, left margin. Tempe=|raunce is | the chiefe | vertue ,Cr3.20.25: Fol. 111v, left margin. For spiritus fortitudinis · forfaiteth ful oft
He shal do more þan mesure · many tyme & ofte
Passus vicessimusR.20.27: Hand X (italic), fol. 96r, left margin. Marks in what passus R resumes. And bete men ouer bitter · and somme of hem to litel
And greue men gretter · þan goode faith it wolde

¶ And spiritus iusticie ; shal iuggen wolhe nolhe
After þe kynges conseille · & þe comune lyke
And spiritus prudencie · in many a poynte shal faille
Of þat he weneth wolde falle · if his wytte ne were
wenyng is no wisdomR.20.33: Hand X4 (16th-c, secretary), fol. 96r, right margin. Wenynge is no wysdome · ne wyse ymagynacioun
Homo proponit & deus disponit · & gouerneth alle good vertues
Ac nede is next hym · for anon he meketh
And as low as a lombe · for lakkyng of þat hym nedeth
Wyse men forsoke wele · for þey wolde be nedy
And woneden in wildernesse · & wolde nouȝte be riche

¶ And god al his grete ioye · gostliche he left
And cam & toke mankynde · and bycam nedy
So nedy he was as seyth þe boke · in many sondry places
Þat he seyde in his sorwe · on þe selue Rode
Bothe fox & foule · may fleighe to hole & crepe
And þe fisshe hath fyn · to flete with to reste
+L.20.46: Corrector, fol. 87v, left margin. Þere nede hath ynome me · þat I mote nede abyde
And suffre sorwes ful sowre · þat shal to ioye tourne
For-þi be nouȝte abasshed · to byde and to be nedy
Syth he þat wrouȝte al þe worlde · was wilfullich nedy
Ne neuer none so nedy · ne pouerere deyde

¶ Whan nede had vndernome me þus · anon I felle aslepe
And mette ful merueillously · þat in mannes forme
ipsa papaG.20.53: Hand 3, fol. 96v, supralinear gloss on "antecryst.". Antecrist .O.20.53: Hand 1, fol. 84r, right margin.AntechristusC2.20.53: Hand 2, fol. 102v, right margin. Antecryst cam þanne · and al þe croppe of treuthe
Ieronimus super illud Danielis . 12 . Beatus qui | expectat & peruenit vsque ad | dies . 1335 . Beatus inquit qui | interfecto antichristo . dies supra | numerum | perfinitum . 45 . prestolatur quibus | & dominus saluator in sua | magestate venturus estO.20.54: Hand 1, fol. 84r, right margin, parallel to KD.20.54-61. Passage taken almost verbatim from Saint Jerome's commentary on Daniel 12.12. Torned it vp-so-doune · and ouertilte þe rote
ipsa papaG.20.55: Hand 3, fol. 96v, supralinear gloss on "false." And fals sprynge & sprede · & spede mennes nedes
In eche a contre þere he cam · he cutte awey treuthe
And gert gyle growe þere · as he a god were
Nota howe | fallshedd | fyrst krept | In by the pope | and his flockG.20.58: Hand 3, fol. 96v, left margin.. Freres .O.20.58: Hand 3, fol. 84r, left margin.FryersR.20.58: Hand X4 (16th-c, secretary), fol. 96r, right margin.Who re=|ceyued | Antichri=|ste fyrste .Cr2.20.58: Fol. Ee.4r, right margin.Who re=|ceyued | Antichri=|ste fyrste .Cr3.20.58: Fol. 112r, right margin. Freres folwed þat fende · for he ȝaf hem copes
And religiouse reuerenced hym · and rongen here belles
And al þe couent forth cam · to welcome þat tyraunt
And alle hise · as wel as hym · saue onlich folis
Which folis were wel leuer to deye þan to lyue
Lengore sith lenten ; was so rebuked
And a fals fende antecriste · ouer alle folke regned
How An=|tichriste | doth se=|duce ma=|ny good | men .Cr2.20.65: Fol. Ee.4v, left margin.How An=|tichriste | doth se=|duce ma=|ny good | men .Cr3.20.65: Fol. 112v, left margin. And þat were mylde men & holy · þat no myschief dredden
Defyed al falsenesse · and folke þat it vsed
+L.20.67: Corrector, fol. 88r, left margin. And what Kynge þat hem conforted · knowynge hem any while
They cursed and her conseille · were it clerke or lewed

¶ Antecriste hadde thus sone · hundredes at his banere
And Pryde it bare · boldely aboute
With a lorde þat lyueth · after lykynge of body
That cam aȝein conscience · þat kepere was & gyoure
Ouer kynde crystene · and cardynale vertues

¶ I conseille quod conscience þo · cometh with me ȝe foles
In-to vnyte holy cherche · and holde we vs there
And crye we to kynde · þat he come & defende vs
Foles · fro þis fendes lymes · for Piers loue þe plowman
And crye we to alle þe comune / þat þei come to vnite
And þere abide and bikere · aȝein beliales children

¶ Kynd conscience þo herde · and cam out of þe planetes
And sent forth his foreioures feures and fluxes
Coughes and cardiacles · crampes and tothaches
Rewmes & radegoundes · and roynouse scalles
M Mr TomasS.20.84: Hand X (Thomas Hewlet), fol. 85v, left margin. Byles and bocches · and brennyng agues
Frenesyes & foule yueles · forageres of kynde
Hadde yprykked and prayed polles of peple
Þat largelich a legioun · lese her lyf sone

¶ There was harrow and help · here cometh kynde
A greate | signe of | infidelityCr2.20.89: Fol. Ee.4v, left margin.A greate | signe of | infidelityCr3.20.89: Fol. 112v, left margin. With deth þat is dredful · to vndone vs alle

¶ The lorde that lyued after lust · tho alowde cryde
After conforte a knyghte · to come and bere his banere
Alarme alarme quod þat lorde eche lyf kepe his owne

¶ And þanne mette þis men · ar mynstralles myȝte pipe
And ar heraudes of armes · hadden descreued lordes

¶ Elde þe hore · he was in þe vauntwarde
And bare þe banere bifor deth · by riȝte he it claymed
Kynde come after · with many kene sores
As pokkes and pestilences · and moche poeple shente ·
The ma=|ner of god|des visitata|tion .Cr2.20.99: Fol. Ff.1r, right margin.The ma=|ner of god|des visitata|tion .Cr3.20.99: Fol. 113r, right margin. So kynde þorw corupciouns · kulled ful manye

- C.20.100: Hand X, fol. 30r, left margin. ¶ Deth cam dryuende after · and al to doust passhed
Kynges & Knyȝtes · kayseres and popes
Lered ne lewed · he let no man stonde
That he hitte euene · þat euere stired after
Many a louely lady · and lemmanes of knyghtes
Swouned and swelted · for sorwe of dethes dyntes

¶ Conscience of his curteisye · to kynde he bisouȝte
To cesse & suffre · and see where þei wolde
Leue pryde pryuely · and be parfite cristene

¶ And kynde cessed tho · to se þe peple amende
The ma=|ner of men | when pla|ges ceaseCr2.20.110: Fol. Ff.1r, right margin.The ma=|ner of men | when pla|ges ceaseCr3.20.110: Fol. 113r, right margin. Fortune gan flateren thenne · þo fewe þat were alyue
And byhight hem longe lyf · and lecherye he sent
Amonges al manere men · wedded & vnwedded
And gadered a gret hoste · al agayne conscience

¶ This lecherye leyde on · with a laughyng chiere
And with pryue speche · and peynted wordes
And armed hym in ydelnesse · and in hiegh berynge
He bare a bowe in his hande · and manye blody arwes
Weren fethered with faire biheste · and many a false truthe
+L.20.119: Corrector, fol. 88v, left margin. Wit his vntydy tales · he tened ful ofte
Conscience and his compaignye · of holicherche þe techeres

¶ Thanne cam coueityse · and caste how he myȝte
Ouercome conscience · and cardynal vertues
And armed hym in auaryce · and hungriliche lyued
His wepne was al wiles · to wynnen & to hyden
With glosynges and with gabbynges · he gyled þe peple
Couetise | and Simo|ny make | prelates .Cr2.20.126: Fol. Ff.1v, left margin.Couetise | and Simo|ny make | prelates .Cr3.20.126: Fol. 113v, left margin. Symonye hym sent · to assaille conscience
And preched to þe peple · and prelates þei hem maden
To holden with antecryste · her temperaltes to saue
And come to þe kynges conseille · as a kene baroun
And kneled to conscience in courte afor hem alle
And gart gode feith flee · and fals to abide
And boldeliche bar adown · with many a briȝte noble
Moche of þe witte and wisdome · of westmynster halle
He iugged til a iustice · and iusted in his ere
And ouertilte al his treuthe · with take þis vp amendement
And to þe arches in haste · he ȝede anone after
And torned Ciuile in-to symonye · and sitthe he toke þe official
nota the mantell off MyneverM.20.138: Hand 3, fol. 100v, left margin. For a mentel of menyuere · he made lele matrimonye
Departen ar deth cam · & deuos shupte

¶ Allas quod conscience & cried þo · wolde criste of his grace
That coueityse were cristene · þat is so kene a fiȝter
And bolde and bidyng · while his bagge lasteth

¶ And þanne lowgh lyf · and leet dagge his clothes
And armed hym in haste · in harlotes wordes
And helde holynesse a iape · and hendenesse a wastour
And lete leute a cherle · and lyer a fre man ·
Conscience and conseille · he counted it a folye ·

¶ Thus relyed lyf · for a litel fortune
And pryked forth with pryde preyseth he no vertue
A careth nouȝte how kynde slow · and shal come atte laste
And culle alle erthely creature · saue conscience one
Lyf leep asyde · and lauȝte hym a lemman
Heel & I quod he · and hieghnesse of herte
Shal do þe nouȝte drede · noyther deth ne elde
Lyfe and | Fortune | beget Slo|uth .Cr2.20.155: Fol. Ff.1v, left margin.Lyfe and | Fortune | beget Slo|uth .Cr3.20.155: Fol. 113v, left margin. And to forȝete sorwe · and ȝyue nouȝte of synne

¶ This lyked lyf · and his lemman fortune
And geten in her glorie · a gadelyng atte laste
One þat moche wo wrouȝte · sleuthe was his name
Sleuthe wex wonder ȝerne · and sone was of age
Slouthe | marieth | dispayreCr2.20.160: Fol. Ff.2r, right margin.Slouthe | marieth | dispayreCr3.20.160: Fol. 114r, right margin. And wedded one wanhope · a wenche of þe stuwes
Her syre was a sysour · þat neure swore treuthe
nota Tom twotongeM.20.162: Hand 3, fol. 100v, left margin. One Thomme two tonge · ateynte at vch a queste

¶ This sleuthe was war of werre · and a slynge made
mordonM.20.164: Hand X, fol. 100v, right margin. And threwe drede of dyspayre · a dozein myle aboute
For care conscience þo · cryed vpon elde
And bad hym fonde to fyȝte · and afere wanhope

¶ And elde hent good hope · and hastilich he shifte hym
And wayued awey wanhope · and with lyf he fyȝteth
And lyf fleigh for fere to fysyke after helpe
And bisouȝte hym of socoure · and of his salue hadde
And gaf hym golde good woon · þat gladded his herte
And þei gyuen hym agayne a glasen houve
Lyf leued þat lechecrafte · lette shulde elde
notacontra phisicosM.20.174: Hand 3, fol. 101r, right margin. And dryuen awey deth · with dyas and dragges

¶ And elde auntred hym on lyf · and atte laste he hitte
Age kil=|leth boeth | Phisician | & SurgienCr2.20.176: Fol. Ff.2r, right margin.Age kil=|leth boeth | Phisician | & SurgienCr3.20.176: Fol. 114r, right margin. A Fisicien with a forred hood · þat he fel in a palsye
And þere deyed þat doctour · ar thre dayes after
Now I see seyde lyf · þat surgerye ne Fisyke
May nouȝte a myte auaille · to medle aȝein elde
And in hope of his hele · gode herte he hente
And rode so to reuel · a ryche place and a merye
The companye of conforte · men cleped it sumtyme
And elde anone after me · and ouer myne heed ȝede
And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe croune
So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed · it wil be seen eure

¶ Sire euel ytauȝte elde quod I · vnhende go with the
Sith whanne was þe way · ouer men hedes
XM.20.188: Hand X, fol. 101r, right margin. Haddestow be hende quod I · þow woldest haue asked leue

¶ Ȝe leue lordeyne quod he · and leyde on me with age
And hitte me vnder þe ere · vnethe may ich here
He buffeted me aboute þe mouthe · & bett out my tethe
And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝte go at large
notaR.20.193: Hand X, fol. 98v, left margin. And of þe wo þat I was in · my wyf had reuthe
And wisshed ful witterly · þat I were in heuene
For þe lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele
On nyȝtes namely · whan we naked were
I ne myght in no manere · maken it at hir wille
So elde and she sothly · hadden it forbeten

¶ And as I seet in þis sorwe · I say how kynde passed
And deth drowgh niegh me · for drede gan I quake
And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge
Loo elde þe hoore · hath me biseye
Awreke me if ȝowre wille be · for I wolde ben hennes

¶ Ȝif þow wilt ben ywroken · wende in-to vnite
And holde þe þere eure · tyl I sende for þe
And loke þow conne somme crafte ar þow come þennes
Nature | wolde we | shoulde | learne to | loue .Cr2.20.207: Fol. Ff.2v, left margin.Nature | wolde we | shoulde | learne to | loue .Cr3.20.207: Fol. 114v, left margin. Conseille me kynde quod I · what crafte is best to lerne
loveR.20.208: Hand X6 (16th-c, secretary), fol. 98v, left margin. Lerne to loue quod kynde · & leue of alle othre

¶ How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and to fede
And þow loue lelly quod he · lakke shal þe neure
Mete ne wordly wede · whil þi lyf lasteth

¶ And þere by conseille of kynde · I comsed to rowme
theS.20.213: Hand X, fol. 87r, right margin. Thorw contricioun & confessioun · tyl I cam to vnite
And þere was conscience constable · cristene to saue
The seuen | capitall | sinnes be|sieged con|science .Cr2.20.215: Fol. Ff.2v, left margin.The seuen | capitall | sinnes be|sieged con|science .Cr3.20.215: Fol. 114v, left margin. And biseged sothly · with seuene grete gyauntz
Þat with Antecrist helden · hard aȝein conscience

¶ Sleuth with his slynge · an hard saut he made
Proude prestes come with hym moo þan a thousand
In paltokes & pyked shoes · & pisseres longe knyues
Comen aȝein conscience · with coueityse þei helden

nota the prest off IrlondM.20.221: Hand 3, fol. 101v, left margin. ¶ By Marie quod a mansed preste · of þe marche of yrlonde
Woulde | god there | were no | such prie=|stes in en=|glande .Cr2.20.222: Fol. Ff.3r, right margin.Woulde | god there | were no | such prie=|stes in en|glande .Cr3.20.222: Fol. 115r, right margin. I counte namore conscience · bi so I cacche syluer
· Nota · C.20.223: Hand 1, fol. 30v, left margin. Than I do to drynke · a drauȝte of good ale
And so seide sexty of þe same · contreye
And shoten aȝein with shotte · many a shef of othes
And brode hoked arwes · goddes herte & his nayles
And hadden almost vnyte · and holynesse adowne

¶ Conscience cryed helpe · clergye or ellis I falle
Thorw inparfit prestes · and prelates of holicherche
bene vales conscienciaM.20.230: Hand 4, fol. 101v, left margin. Freres herden hym crye · and comen hym to helpe
Ac for þei couth nouȝte wel her craft · conscience forsoke hem

¶ Nede neghed tho nere · and conscience he tolde
Freres be FlaterersC2.20.233: Hand 2, fol. 105r, right margin. That þei come for coueityse · to haue cure of soules
Curates | oughte to | haue a com|petent lyuyng cer=|tayne .Cr2.20.234: Fol. Ff.3r, right margin.Curates | oughte to | haue a com|petent ly|uyng cer=|tayneCr3.20.234: Fol.115r, right margin. And for þei arn poure par-auenture · for patrimoigne hem failleth
+L.20.235: Corrector, fol. 90r, right margin.notaM.20.235: Hand 3, fol. 102r, right margin. Thei wil flatre to fare wel · folke þat ben riche
And sithen þei chosen chele · and cheytifte pouerte
Lat hem chewe as þei chese · and charge hem with no cure
id est sepiusL.20.238: Hand 1, fol. 90r, suprlinear gloss on "lomer.".id est. sepiusM.20.238: Hand 1, fol. 102r, supralinear gloss on "lomer."id est sepiusHm.20.238: Hand 2, fol. 203r, supralinear gloss on "lymer." For lomer he lyeth · þat lyflode mote begge
notaM.20.239: Hand 3, fol. 102r, right margin. Þan he þat laboureth for lyflode · & leneth it beggeres
And sithen Freres forsoke · þe felicite of erthe
| C.20.241: Hand X, fol. 31r, left margin.frerisO.20.241: Hand 3, fol. 86v, left margin.Freris .O.20.241: Hand 1, fol. 86v, left margin. Lat hem be as beggeres · or lyue by angeles fode

¶ Conscience of þis conseille þo · comsed for to laughe
+L.20.243: Corrector, fol. 90r, left margin. And curtei[s]lich conforted hem · and called in alle freres
And seide sires sothly · welcome be ȝe alle
To vnite and holicherche · ac on thyng I ȝow preye
Holdeth ȝow in vnyte · and haueth none envye
To lered ne to lewed · but lyueth after ȝowre rewle
And I wil be ȝowre borghe · ȝe shal haue bred and clothes
And other necessaries anowe · ȝow shal no thyng faille
With þat ȝe leue logyk · and lerneth for to louye
- C.20.251: Hand X, fol. 31r, left margin. For loue laft þei lordship · bothe londe and scole
Frere Fraunceys and Dominyk · for loue to ben holy

¶ And if ȝe coueyteth cure · kynde wil ȝow teche
That in mesure god made · alle manere thynges
And sette it at a certeyne · and at a syker noumbre
And nempned names newe · and noumbred þe sterres
[Pointing hand]C.20.256α: Hand X, fol. 31r, left margin.Psal .147.Cr2.20.256α: Fol. Ff.3v, left margin.Psal .147.Cr3.20.256α: Fol. 115v, left margin. Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum · & omnibus eis &c

notaY.20.257: Hand X, fol. 102r, left margin. Same as that at KD.1.136. ¶ Kynges & knyghtes þat kepen and defenden
Han officers vnder hem · and vch of hem certeyne
And if þei wage men to werre · þei write hem in noumbre
Wil no tresorere hem paye · trauaille þei neure so sore
Alle other in bataille · ben yholde bribours
Pilours and pykehernois · in eche a place ycursed

¶ Monkes and monyals · and alle men of Religioun
Her ordre and her reule wil · to han a certeyne noumbre
Of lewed and of lered · þe lawe wol and axeth
A certeyn for a certeyne · saue onelich of freres
The Fry=|ers are with|out numbreCr2.20.268: Fol. Ff.3v, left margin.The Fry|ers are with|out numbreCr3.20.268: Fol. 115v, left margin. For-þi quod conscience by cryst · kynde witte me telleth
It is wikked to wage ȝow · ȝe wexeth out of noumbre
Heuene hath euene noumbre · and helle is with-out noumbre
For-þi I wolde witterly · þat ȝe were in þe Registre
And ȝowre noumbre vndre notarie sygne · & noyther mo ne lasse

¶ Enuye herd þis · and heet freres to go to scole
And lerne logyk and lawe · and eke contemplacioun
And preche men of plato · and preue it by seneca
Þat alle þinges vnder heuene · ouȝte to ben in comune

¶ And ȝit he lyeth as I leue · þat to þe lewed so precheth
XC.20.278: Hand 1, fol. 31r, right margin. For god made to men a lawe · and Moyses it tauȝte
Exod .xxCr2.20.279: Fol. Ff.3v, left margin.Exod .xx.Cr3.20.279: Fol. 115v, left margin. Non concupisces rem proximi tui
notaM.20.280: Hand 3, fol. 102v, left margin. And euele is þis yholde · in parisches of engelonde
For parsones and parish prestes þat shulde þe peple shryue
Ben curatoures called · to knowe and to hele
Alle þat ben her parisshiens · penaunce to enioigne
And shulden be ashamed in her shrifte · ac shame maketh hem wende
And fleen to þe freres · as fals folke to westmynstre
. westmynyster .O.20.286: Hand 1, fol. 87r, right margin.ȝerneC2.20.286: Hand 2, fol. 106r, left margin.Thei that | went to þe | Fryers to | shrift wer | like santu|ary men .Cr2.20.286: Fol. Ff.4r, right margin.Thei that | went to þe | Fryers to shrift | wer | like santu|ary men .Cr3.20.286: Fol. 116r, right margin. That borweth and bereth it þider · and þanne biddeth frendes
Ȝerne of forȝifnesse · or lenger ȝeres leue

¶ Ac whil he is in westmynstre · he wil be bifore
And make hym merye with other mennes goodis
And so it fareth with moche folke · þat to þe freres shryueth
+L.20.291: Corrector, fol. 90v, left margin.confession made to FryersR.20.291: Hand X4 (16th-c, secretary), fol. 99v, left margin. As sysours and excecutours · þei wil [yeue þe] freres
A parcel to preye for hem · & make hem-self myrye
With þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat other men biswonke
And suffre þe ded in dette · to þe day of dome

¶ Enuye herfore · hated conscience
And freres to philosofye · he fonde hem to scole
XM.20.296: Hand X, fol. 102v, right margin. The while coueytise and vnkyndenesse · conscience assailled
In vnite holycherche · conscience helde hym
And made pees porter · to pynne þe ȝates
Of alle taletellers · and tyterers in ydel
It[D]R.20.300: Hand X, fol. 100r, right margin. Ypocrisye and he · an hard saut þei made
. ypocrisie .O.20.301: Hand 1, fol. 87r, right margin. Ypocrysie atte ȝate · hard gan fiȝte
[Dvd]R.20.302: Hand X, fol. 100r, right margin. And wounded wel wykkedly · many wise techer
Hipocrisi | woundeth | preachersCr2.20.303: Fol. Ff.4r, right margin.Hipocrisi | woundeth | preachersCr3.20.303: Fol. 116r, right margin. Þat with conscience acorded · and cardinale vertues
Conscience called a leche · þat coude wel shryue
Go salue þo þat syke ben · þorw synne ywounded
. schrifte .O.20.306: Hand 1, fol. 87r, right margin. Shrifte shope sharpe salue · and made men do penaunce
For her mysdedes þat þei wrouȝte hadden
And þat piers were payed · redde quod debes

¶ Somme lyked nouȝte þis leche · and lettres þei sent
Ȝif any surgien were þe sege · þat softer couth plastre
nota syr leff to live in | lecheryeM.20.311: Hand 3, fol. 103r, right margin Sire lief to lyue in leccherye · lay þere and groned
For fastyng of a fryday · he ferde as he wolde deye
Ther is a surgiene in þis sege · þat soft can handle
Frere FlatererC2.20.314: Hand 2, fol. 106r, right margin. And more of phisyke bi fer · and fairer he plastreth
notaL.20.315: Hand 1, fol. 91r, left margin. notaM.20.315: Hand 1, fol. 103r, left margin. . Frere flaterer .O.20.315: Hand 1, fol. 87v, left margin. One frere flaterere is phisiciene and surgiene
· c · Hm.20.316: Hand X, fol. 204r, left margin. Quod contricioun to conscience · do hym come to vnyte
For here is many a man herte · þorw ypocrisie

¶ We han no nede quod conscience · I wote no better leche
Than persoun or parissh prest · penytancere or bisshop ·
.id est. papaM.20.320: Hand X, fol. 103r, right margin. Saue Piers þe plowman · þat hath powere ouer hem alle
And indulgence may do · but if dette lette it
I may wel suffre seyde conscience · syn ȝe desiren
That frere flaterer be fette · and phisike ȝow syke

¶ The Frere her-of herde · and hyed faste
Nother | patron nor | bishop , re|gardeth | his dutyeCr2.20.325: Fol. Ff.4v, left margin.Nother | patron nor | bishop , re|gardeth | his dutyeCr3.20.325: Fol. 116v, left margin. To a lorde for a lettre · leue to haue to curen
As a curatour he were · and cam with his lettres
Baldly to þe bisshop · & his brief hadde
In contrees þere he come in · confessiouns to here
And cam þere conscience was · and knokked atte ȝate

¶ Pees vnpynned it · was porter of vnyte
And in haste asked · what his wille were
In faith quod þis frere · for profit and for helthe
Carpe I wolde with contricioun · & þerfore come I hider

¶ He is sike seide pees · and so ar many other
Ypocrisie hath herte hem · ful harde is if þei keure
I am a surgien seide þe segge · and salues can make
Conscience knoweth me wel · and what I can do bothe
. Frere leche .O.20.338: Hand 1, fol. 87v, left margin. I preye þe quod pees þo · ar þow passe ferther
What hattestow I preye þe · hele nouȝte þi name

penetrans domosR.20.340: Hand X5 (16th-c), fol. 100v, left margin. ¶ Certes seyde his felow sire penetrans domos
Ȝe go þi gate quod pees · bi god for al þi phisyk
But þow conne somme crafte · þow comest nouȝt her-Inne
I knewe such one ones · nouȝte eighte wynter passed
Come in þus ycoped · at a courte þere I dwelt
And was my lordes leche · & my ladyes bothe
And at þe last þis limitour · þo my lorde was out
He salued so owre wommen · til somme were with childe
Hende speche het pees · opene þe ȝates
Late in þe frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere
He may se and here · so it may bifalle
That lyf þorw his lore shal leue coueityse
And be adradde of deth · and with-drawe hym fram pryde
And acorde with conscience · and kisse her either other
Thus thorw hende speche entred þe frere
And cam in-to conscience · and curteisly hym grette
Þow art welcome quod conscience canstow hele þe syke
Here is contricioun quod conscience · my cosyn ywounded
Conforte hym quod conscience and take kepe to his sores
The plastres of þe persoun · and poudres biten to sore
He lat hem ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem
Fro lenten to lenten · he lat his plastres bite

. Frere confessour .O.20.362: Hand 1, fol. 88r, right margin.T[omas] Hewlet Mr Tomas Hewlet Mr TomasS.20.362: Hand X (Thomas Hewlet), fol. 88v, left margin. Written vertically bottom to top along with several other erased pen trials in a different ink. ¶ That is ouerlonge quod this limitour · I leue I shal amende it
And goth and gropeth contricioun · and gaf hym a plastre
Of a pryue payement · and I shal praye for ȝow
The olde | maner | of eares | shrifte | made sin|ners neg=|ligent .Cr2.20.365: Fol. Gg.1r, right margin.The olde | maner | of eares shri|fte made | synners | negligentCr3.20.365: Fol. 117r, right margin. For alle þat ȝe ben holde to · al my lyf-tyme
And make ȝow my lady · in masse and in matynes
As freres of owre fraternite · for a litel syluer

¶ Thus he goth and gadereth · and gloseth þere he shryueth
Tyl contricioun hadde clene forȝeten · to crye & to wepe
And wake for his wykked werkes · as he was wont to done
For confort of his confessour · contricioun he lafte
contricionR.20.372: Hand X (15th-c), fol. 101r, right margin. Þat is þe souereynest salue · for alkyn synnes

¶ Sleuth seigh þat · and so did pryde
And come with a kene wille · conscience to assaille
Conscience cryde eft · and bad clergye help hym
And also contricioun · forto kepe þe ȝate
He lith and dremeth · seyde pees · and so do many other
The Frere with his phisik · þis folke hath enchaunted
And plastred hem so esyly · þei drede no synne

¶ Bi cryste quod conscience þo · I wil bicome a pilgryme
And walken as wyde · as al þe wordle lasteth
XF.20.382: Corrector, fol. 93r, right margin. Drypoint noting omission of next line. To seke Piers þe plowman · þat pryde may destruye
And þat freres hadde a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren
- C.20.384: Hand X, fol. 31r, left margin. And contrepleteth me conscience · now kynde me auenge
And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers þe plowman
And siththeR.20.386: Hand X (modern pencil), fol. 101r, right margin, clarifying unclear text inline.William ButtesR.20.386: Hand X (secretary), fol. 101r, supralinear above trailer "Passus ijus de dobest." And sitthe he gradde after grace · til I gan awake

Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman

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