<County: Oxfordshire>
<Code: L6860>
<MS reference: Cambridge University Library, Ff.v.35>
<Text: Piers Plowman C>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 51v><line 5> þe conscience & þe king in to court wente .
where houed an hundred . in hownus of silk .
seriauntes þei semyde . to seruen at þe barre .
to plete for penyes . and poundes þe lawe .
& nat for loue of oure lord . vnlose here lippus onus .
þ/u my3test better mete myst . on maluerne hulles .
þan gete a mum of her~ mouþ . til mony hem schewed .
þo runne þere a route . of ratonus as it were .
& wt hem smale mys . mo þan a þousand .
þt come to a counsel . for here comune profit .
for a cat of a court . cam whan him likede .
& ouerleep hem li3tlyche . & lau3te hem atte wille .
& pleide wt some perelouslich . & put hem þere him likede .
& if we grucche of his game . he wil greue us alle .
& to his clawes clochen us . & in his tampus holde .
þat us loþeþ þe lif . or he late us passe .
but my3t we wt any wit . his wil to wt-sitte :
we my3t be lordes a lofte . & lyuen as us luste .
þo seide a ratoun of renoun . most renable of tunge .
I haue I-seie gret sires . in citees & in tounus .
bere byus of bri3t gold . al aboute here neckus .
& colerus of crafty werk . boþe kny3tus & squyerus
were þere a belle on here bye . by ihesu as me þenkeþ .
men my3t wete where þei wente . & here wey rowme .
Ri3t so qd þe ratoun . resoun me scheweþ .
a belle to bigge of bras . or of bri3t siluer .
& knyt it on a coler . for our~ come profit .
& hange aboute þe cattes hals . heere þanne we mowe .
wheþer he rist oþer rest . or romeþ to pleye .
& 3if him lust for to laike . þanne loke we mowe .
& in his presence appere . whil him pleye liketh .
& 3if he wraþþe we may be war . & his waye rowme .
alle þe route of ratonus . to þis resoun assentede .
<fol. 52r>ac þo þe belle was j bou3t . & on þe bye hangede .
þere was no ratoun in al þe route . for al þe reme of fraunce .
þat durst haue bounde þe belle . aboute þe cattus necke .
ne hangid hit aboute his hals . al yngelond to wynne .
& leete here labour lost . & al here long tyme .
A mows þt muche gode cowde . as me þo þou3te .
stroke forþ stornely . & stode before hem alle .
& to þe route of ratonus rehersede þese wordes .
þowh we hadde culde a cat . 3it schulde þer come a noþer .
to cracche us and al oure kynde . þowh we crope vndur benches .
for-þi J counseil for come profite . late þe catte worthe .
& be we neuer so bold . þe belle him to schewe .
for J herde my sire seye . seuene 3ere J-passid .
þere þe cat is but a kitoun. þe court is ful elenge .
witnessith hit wel holy writ . ho so can wel rede .
<lat></lat>
J sey it for me qd þe mows . J se so muchel after
schal noþer þe cat þe kitoun noþer . by my counseil be greuyd .
no carpen of here colerus þat costnede me neuere .
& þowh it coste me catel . biknowe J ne wolde .
but suffre & seye nou3t . & so is þe beste .
til meschef amende hem . þat many men chasteþ .
for many a mannus malt . we mys wolde destruye
& þe rowtus of ratonus . of rest men a-wake .
ner~ þe cat of þe court . & 3ong kittus toward .
for hadde 3e rattus al 3oure rede . 3e cowde nat rewle 3ow selue
What þis metelus be-meneþ . 3e men þt be merye .
dyuyne 3e for J ne dar . by dere god al-my3ty .
& 3it mette J more . of mene & of riche .
as baronus & burgeis . & bonde men of thropus .
al saw j slepyng . as 3e schal here after
boþe bakerus & brewerus . bocherus & oþere .
as websterus & walkerus . & wynnerus wt handes .
as tailours & tannerus . & tiliers þe erthe .
as dikerus & deluerus . þat do here dedes ille.
& dryueþ forth þe deerne dry . wt dieur saue dam emme .
cokus & here knaues . criede hote pies hote .
<fol. 52v>gode gees & grys . wt go+we dyne go we .
Tauerners a tast for nau3t . þei tolde þe same .
wt white wyn of oseye .& of garscoyne .
& of þe ryne & rochel wyn . 3e rost to defye .
al þis y saw slepyng & seuene sithes more .
<lat></lat>
What þe mountayne bemeneth . & þe merke dale .
and þe feld ful of folk . j schal 3ow fair~ schewe .
a louely lady of leore . in lynen J-cloþed .
cam doun fro þe clif . & callede me fayre .
& seide wille slepest þu . sixst þu nat þis peple .
& how besy þat þei ben . aboute þe mase .
þe most part of þe peple . þt passith on þis erþe .
of oþer heuene þanne here is . holde þey no tale .
haue þei wurschepe in þis world . þei wesche no more .
j was a-ferd of here face . þei3 sche fair were .
& seide mercy madame . what may þis be to mene .
þe tour on þe tuft qd sche . trewþe is þer ynne .
& wolde þt 3e wrou3te . as his worde techith .
For he is fader of feith .& formour of alle .
to be feithful to him . he gaf 3ow fyue wittus .
for to wurschepe him perwt . whil þat 3e be here .
wher~-fore he heete þe element . to helpe 3ow alle tymes .
& bring forth 3owre byleue . boþe wullen & lynnen .
in mesur~ þowh it muche were . to make 3ow at ese .
He comaunded of his curtesye . in comune þre þingus
ar non nedeful but þo . & nempne hem J þenke .
& rekene hem by rowe . reherse hem where þe lyketh .
þe furst of þo is fode . & vesture þe secunde .
& drynk þat it dooþ good . but drynk nat out of tyme .
loo loth in his lif . þurw likerous drynke .
wrou3t wikkedeliche . & whraththede god al-my3ty
in drunkenesse on a day . his dou3terus he di3te .
& lay by hem boþe . as þe book tellith .
In his glotenye he gat . gurlus þat were þrallus
& al he witede þe wyn . þat wikkede dede
<lat></lat>
<fol. 53r><lat></lat>
þurw wyn & þurw women þer was loth encombred .
drede delitable drynk . boþe day & ny3tus
for mesure ys medecyne . þowh þu muche wylne .
Al is nat good to þe gost . þat þe gut askeþ .
ne liflode to þe licam . þat leef is to þe soule .
Leue nat þi licam . for a lier~ him techith .
þt is þe wrecchede world . þat wolde þe begyle
for þe fend & þi flesch . folweth to-gederus .
& sickith þi soule . & seith it þe in herte .
and wisseþ þe to be war . & what wolde þe deceyue .
a madame mercy qd J. me likeþ wel 3our~ wordes .
ac þe monye of þis molde . þat men so fast kepe .
tellith me now to whom þat tresour befallith .
Go to þe gospel qd scheo .& se what god saide .
whanne þe peple apposed him . wt a peny in þe temple .
& god askede at hem . hoos was þe cune .
cesarus þei seiden . sothli to say .
Reddite cesari qd god . þat cesar behoueth .
Et que sunt di deo . or ellus 3e doon ille .
For ri3tfullich resoun schuld rewle 3ow alle .
and kynde wit be wardeyn . 3oure welþe to kepe .
& tutour of 3oure tresour . & take 3ow at nede .
for hubondrye & he . haldith hem to-gedre .
þo frayned j here fair~ þo . for him þat here made .
þe depe dale and derk . so dredful to sy3t
what may it be to mene . madame J 3ow beseche .
That is þe castel of care . ho so comeþ þer ynne .
may banne þt he bore was . in body or in soule .
þer ynne wonyeþ a wi3t / wrong is his name .
he is fader of falshede . & founded it furst of alle .
Adam & eue wt enuye . he eggede to ille .
& counseil cursede caym to killen his broþer .
Judas he be-iapede . wt Jewene siluur .
& aftir he henge him hye up on an helderne .
He is lettere of loue . & lyeth alle tymes .
þat trist in erthly tresour . he betrayeth sonnest .


<Tranche 2>

<fol. 61v>þurw wheche loueday is J-lost . þat leaute my3t wynne .
þe mase for a mene man . þowh he mote euere .
þe lawe is so lordlich . & looth to make ende .
wtoute presentes or pans . heo plesith wel fewe .
trewe burgeys & bonde . to nau3t scheo bryngeth ofte .
& cast þe commune in care . & in coueytise .
Religioun heo al-to-renneth . & out of rewle dryueth .
þer nys citee vndur sunne . ne so riche reme .
þer heo is alowed & lete by . þat laste schal any while .
withoute werre oþer woo . or wikkede lawus .
& customus of coueytise . þe comune to destroye
vnsittyng suffraunce . here sustur & here selue .
haue J-maked al-most . but marye þe helpe .
þat no lond ne louyeth . & 3it leest þin owne
For mede haþ knyt so clerkus . & couetise to-gedere .
þat al þe+wit of þe world . wox is in to gile .
þus þis lady ledeth þi lond . now lord 3if here sorwe .
for pore men dar nat pleyne . ne here pleint schewe .
such a maistres is mede . among men of gode .
þanne moornede mede . monyng here to þe kyng .
to haue space for to speke . spede if scheo my3te .
þe king graunted here grace . wt a gode wille .
excuse þe 3if þu can .J can no more saye .
for conscience accuseth þe . to cunge þe for euere .
Leue lord qd þat lady . leueth him þe worse .
whan 3e wete witturly. in whom þe wrong liggeth .
for þer as gret meschef is . mede may muche helpe .
& þat knowest þu conscience . J cam nat for to chide .
ne to depraue þi persone . wt a proud herte .
for wel þu wost witturly . but if þu wole gabbe .
þu hast hanged on myn hals . elleue tymes .
& also gripen of my gold . & 3oue it where þe likede .
whi þou wraththest þe now . wundur me þinketh .
& 3it J may as j my3te . menske þe wt 3iftus .
& meynteyne þi manhode . more þan þu knowest .
& þu hast famed me foule . before þe kongus ere
for+culd+y neuer no kyng ne counseiled so to done
<fol. 62r>ac J saued my self . sexty þousand lyues .
boþe here & elluswhere . in many kynguslondus .
Ac þu þi self sothly . ho so it segge durste .
haft J had hardy men . þat hadde wil to fi3te .
boþe to brenne & to breke . & bete a doun strenkþus.
Jn contre þere þe kyng cam . þu conscience him lettest .
þt he feld nat his foes . þo fortune it wolde .
& as his wirdus were J-þou3t . by wil of god al-my3ty
caitifliche þu conscience . counseiledest him to lete .
in his enemyus hond . his heritage of fraunce .
vnkunyng is it conscience . a kyngdom to selle .
þat conquered is by come help . or a ducherye .
it may nat be+sold sothly . so many here part aske .
of fewe folk þat fau3t þerfore . & folwede kyngus wille .
But þe leste lad þt lieth to him . be þe lond J wunne .
lokeþ aftur lordschepe . or oþur large mede .
where-by he mow as a man . for euer leue þer aftur .
& þat is ye kinde of a kyng . þt conquereth on his enemyus .
to helpe hoygeliche al his ost . or ellus for to graunte .
al þat his men may wynne . to do þerwt here beste .
For-þi J counseil no kyng . any counseil aske .
at conscience 3if he coueite . to wynnen a reme .
for schuld neuer conscience . be my constable .
were J a kyng J-corowned . by al þis croys qd mede .
ne be marchal . ouer my men. þere J most fi3te .
Ac hadde mede be his marchal . ouer his men in fraunce .
J durst haue leid þerto my lif. & no lasse wedde .
he hadde be lord of þat lond . in lengþe & in brede .
& also kyng of þat kith . his kyn to haue j-holpe .
þe leste brol of his blood . a baronus pere .
vnkyndely þu conscience . counceyledest him þanne .
to leete so his lordschepe for a litel mede.
Hit becometh to a kyng . þat schal kepe a reme .
to 3eue men mede . þat mekely him serueth .
To alienus to alle men to honour hem wt 3iftus.
þanne makith mede him beloued . & for a man J-holde .
Emperourus & eerlus. & al maner lordus .
<fol. 62v>Þurw 3iftis hane 3emen . to renn & to ryde .
Þe pope & alle prelatus . presentus vndurfonge .
& 3eue mede to men . to meynteyne here lawus .
Seriaunt3 for her~ seruise . mede þei asken.
& take mede of here maistrus . as þei may acorde .
Beggerus & bedemen . craue mede for here preiers .
And mynstrallus for her~ mynstralsye . mede þei asken .
Men þat teche clerkus craueþ here mede.
Prestus þat precheþ . & techeth þe lawe .
aske mede & masse pens . & here mete boþe .
Alle kynne crafty men .craue mede for here hyre .
Marchaundise & mede . mote nede go to gederus .
þer is no leode þat leuyth . þt he ne loueth mede .
& glad for to gripe here . boþe grete & smale .
Now qd þe king to conscience . by crist as me semeth .
mede is worthi as me þinkeþ . þe maistry to haue .
Certes qd conscience to þe kyng . clerkus know þe soþe .
þt mede is euurmore . a meyteynour of gile .
as þe sauter schewith . by such as 3eueþ mede .
þat vnlawfulliche leueth . haue ful large hondus .
to 3eue men of mede . þe more or þe lasse .
ac þer is mede & mercede . & boþe of hem me demyth .
a desert for sum dede . deorne oþer ellus .
Mede 3eue many men before here doynge .
& þat is noþer resoun nor ry3t . nor in no reme lawe .
þat any man schal mede take . but he it may deserue
or trewly vndurtake . to trauayl for an oþer .
& wote neuer witturly .wheþer he lyue so longe .
or haue hap to his hele . mede to deserue .
J hold him to hardy . or ellus vntrewe .
þat per manibus is j-payd . or his pay asketh .
as harlotus & hoorus . & also false leches .
þat asken here huyre . or þei it haue deserued .
And gylours gyue bifore . ac gode men atte neende .
whan þe dede is J-do . & þe day endede .
þat is no mede but mercede . & dette for doynge .
& but it be prestliche payd . þe paier~ ys to blame .
<fol. 63r>for as þe holy book bit . no body schuld wtholde :
þe hire of his hyne . til it be oþer morwe .
<lat></lat>
And þer is resoun as a reue . to rewarde trewþe
þat boþe lord & laborer~ . be lelly j-serued .
þe mede þt many men takith . for here massus syngyng .
Amen amen Matheu seith .<lat></lat>
Jn marchaundis þer is no mede . J may it wel avowe .
it is a permutaconun . a peny for anoþer .
& þowh þe kyng of curtesy . carser oþer pope .
3if lond or lordschepe . or oþer large giftus .
to here leel lyge men . loue is þe cause .
And 3if þe leel & þe lige . be lithur men aftur .
boþe kyng & caiser . & þe crowned pope .
may disalowe þt þei dede . & dewe þerwt anoþer .
& anon benyme it hem . & neuermore þer aftur
noþer þei nor here heires . be hardy hit to clayme .
of þat þe king or caiser gaf of catel & of rente .
For god gaf to salomon . gret grace upon eorþe .
boþe ricchesse & resoun . while he+wel leuede .
& as sone as god sey . he sewid nat his wille .
he reued him of his ricchesse . & of his ri3t mynde .
& suffred him in mysbeleue . J leue he be in helle .
So god giueth no þing . wtouten any glose .
And ri3t so soothly . may þe kyng & pope .
boþe geue & graunt eke .þere his grace likeþ .
& eftsone haue it a3en . of men þat do ri3t ille .
þus is mede & mercede . as two relaciouns .
wheche beþ recte & indirecte . rennynge boþe .
on a sad & on a sikur . semeliche to hem self .