Piers Plowman — The Vision of William Langland

THE VISION OF

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

IN a summer season, when soft was the sun,

I enshrouded me well in a shepherd's garb,

And robed as a hermit, unholy of works.

Went wide through the world, all wonders to hear.

And on a May morning, on Malvern hills,

Strange fancies befel me, and fairy-like dreams.

I was weary of wand'ring, and went to repose

On a broad green bank, by a burn-side ;

As I lay there and leaned and looked on the waters,

I slumbered and slept, they sounded so merry.

Came moving before me a marvellous vision ;

I was lost in a wild waste ; but ivhere, I discerned not.

I beheld in the east, on high, near the sun,

A tower on a hill-top, with turrets well wrought ;

A deep dale beneath, and a dungeon therein,

With deep ditches and dark, and dreadful to see.

A fair field, full of folk, I found there between.

Of all manner of men, the mean and the rich.

All working or wand'ring, as the world requires.

Some ploughed with the plough ; their play was but seldom ;

Some sowing, some earning, with sweat of their brows,

The gain which the great ones in gluttony waste.

In pride of apparel some passed on their way,

And in costliest clothing were quaintly disguised. '

In prayer and in penance some placed their delight,

And all for our Lord's love lived strictly and hard,

In hope to have after their heavenly meed ;

These hermits and anchorites held to their cells.

Not caring to roam through the country around

For doles of sweet dainties, their flesh to delight.

Some chose to be chapmen, to chaffer for gain ;

As it seems to our sight, such surely succeed.

And some, to make merry, as minstrels are wont.

Getting gold with their glee, yet guiltless, I trust.

As for jugglers and jesters, all Judas's children,

That feign silly fancies, apparelled as fools,

Having wit, if they willed it, to work as they ought —

I pass o'er what Paul would have preached of these sinners ;

For the speaker of evil is Satan's own son.

Next beggars and beadsmen were bustling about,

Their bags and their bellies with bread were well cramm'd.

By falsehood they fed them, and fought o'er their ale.

As greedy as gluttons they go to their beds.

And rise up as ribalds, these robberlike knaves ;

Sleep and vile sloth pursue them for ever.

Next, pilgrims and palmers would plight them together

To seek out Saint James and saints known in Rome ;

They went on their way with many wise tales.

And had leave to tell lies all their lifetime after.

Some saw I that said they had sought out the saints ;

In each tale that they told their tongue fashion'd lies

Much sooner than sooth, as it seemed by their speech.

Of hermits a huge heap, with hooks to their staves,

To Walsingham went ; and their wenches went after ;

Great lubbers and long, that to labour were loath ;

They clothed them in cloaks, to be known from all others,

And arrayed them as hermits, more ease to enjoy.

I found there some friars of all the four orders,

Who preached to the people for personal profit ;

As it seemed to them good, put a gloss on the gospel, 6o

And explained it at pleasure ; they coveted copes.

Many of these masters may wear what they will ;

Their money and merchandise meet well together ;

Since Charity was chapman, and chief to shrive lords.

What sights we have seen in a few short years !

Unless they and the Church keep closer together.

The most mischief e'er made will be mounting up fast.

There preached, too, a pardoner, a priest, as he seemed,

Who brought forth a bull, with the bishop's seals.

And said he himself might absolve them all

Of falsehood in fasting, or vows they had broken.

The laymen believed him, and lik'd well his words,

Came up and came kneeling, to kiss the said bull ;

He blessed them right bravely, and blinded their eyes,

And won with his roll both their rings and their brooches.

Thus they give up their gold for such gluttons to spend,

And lose to loose livers their lawful gains.

If the bishop were wiser, or worth both his ears,

His seal ne'er were sent, to deceive so the people.

Small blame of the bishop such boys will express ;

For the parish-priest and pardoner part all the silver

That the poor of the parish would otherwise share.

The parsons and parish-priests complained to the bishop

That their parishes were poor since the pestilence-year,

Asking licence and leave in London to dwell,

To sing there for simony ; for silver is sweet.

Bishops and bachelors, both masters and doctors,

Having cures under Christ, and crowned with the tonsure

To show they should hear their parishioners' shrift.

Preaching and praying, and feeding the poor,

Are lodged now in London, in Lent-time and ever.

Some serve there the king, and count out his silver,

In chancery and exchequer make claims of his dues

From wards and from ward-motes, his waifs and his strays.

And some serve as servants both ladies and lords,

Are as stewards enstalled, or as judges take seat.

Their masses and matins and many of their prayers

Are done undevoutly. I dread, at the last,

Lest Christ, at the judgement, will curse not a few.

I pondered on the power that Peter had to keep — 100

* To bind and to unbind ' — as the Book tells us.

How he left it, with love, as our Lord him bade,

In trust of four virtues — the best of all virtues —

As 'cardinal' known, or 'the closing of gates,'

Where Christ's in His kingdom, to close and to shut,

Or to open to good men the glory of heaven.

But for ' cardinals ' at court, who have caught up the name,

And presume on their power a pope to appoint,

To have Peter's own power — impugn it I dare not ;

To learning and love that election belongeth ; i lO

I might, but I must not, say more of that court.

Then came there a king, with knights in a troop ;

The might of the commons had made him to reign ;

And then came Kind- Wit, and clerks he appointed

To counsel the king, and the commons to save.

The king and his knights, and the clergy also

Decreed that the commons must toil for their bread.

The commons contrived for the craftsmen their trades,

And for profit o' the people set ploughmen to work,

To till and to travail, as true life requires ;

While the king and the commons, with Kind-Wit as third,

Made laws for protecting all loyal men's goods.

Then looked up a lunatic, a lean man withal,

Knelt down to the king, and full clerk-like spake : —

" Christ keep thee, sir king ! and thy kingdom eke,

So to reign in thy land that thy lieges may love thee.

And thy righteous rule be rewarded in heaven ! "

Then, high in the air, an angel from heaven

Spake loudly in Latin, that laymen might fail

To object or to judge, or justly to doubt,

But suffer and serve : — and thus said the angel —

" Know, prince, that thy power soon passes for ever ;

Thy kingdom is Christ's, and in keeping His laws

Thou 'rt just ; but let justice be joined to discretion !

Array naked justice in raiment of mercy ;

Sow wisely such grain as thou gladly wouldst reap.

Who deals in bare justice, bare justice be dealt him ;

To him who has mercy shall mercy be meted,"

A riotous rich one, who rambled in talk,

To the angel on high made answer in anger : — 140

" Since rex is derived, sure, from rego, I rule,

Kings rule by the laws, or they rule but in name."

Then cried out the commons, exclaiming in Latin,

To theking andhis knights (let him construe, who will) —

Precept a regis sunt nobis vincula legis:

'* Commandments of kings are the canons of law." 145

Then forth ran a rout of great rats, all at once.

Where met them small mice, yea, more than a thousand ;

All came to a council for their common profit.

For a cat of the court would come, when he liked,

And chase them and clutch them, and catch them at will,

Play with them perilously, and push them about : —

" For dread of the danger, look, round us we dare not ;

If we grudge him his game, he will grieve us the more,

Tease us or toss us, or take in his claws,

That we loathe our own lives, ere he lets us go free,

If by wit or by wile we his will might withstand,

We might lord it aloft, and might live at our ease."

Then a rat of renown, very ready of tongue.

Said, for a sovereign help to themselves,

" Some cits have I seen, in the city of London,

Wear chains on their necks of the choicest gold.

Or collars of crafty work ; uncoupled they go

Both in warren and waste, as their will inclines,

And elsewhere at odd times, as I hear tell.

If they bore each a bell, by its ringing, me thinketh,

One might wit where they were, and away soon run !

Right so," quoth the rat, " doth reason suggest

To buy a bell of brass or of bright silver.

To be bound on a collar, for our common profit,

On the cat's neck to hang ; then each hearer can tell

If he rambles or rests him, or runs out to play !

When mild is his mood, we can move as we list

And appear in his presence, when playful and pleased.

Or, when angry, beware ; and away will we run ! "

AH the rout of great rats to his reasons assented,

But when bought was the bell, and well bound on the collar,

Not a rat in the rout, for the realm of all France,

Durst bind the said bell about the cat's neck,

Nor hang it beside him, all England to win !

They owned they were cowards, and their counsel weak ;

So their labour was lost, and all their long study.

Then a mouse of mind, who had merit, methought.

Strode forth sternly, and stood before them all,

And to the rout of rats rehearsed these words :

"Though we killed the old cat, yet another would come

To catch all our kin, though we crept under benches.

I counsel the commons to let the cat be ;

Be we never so bold as to show him the bell.

For I heard my sire say, some seven years since,

* Where the cat is a kitten, the court is a sad one ; '

So witnesseth scripture, who willeth may read it,

IVoe to thee, land, tuhen thy king is a child ! ( Eccl. X. 16).

For no one could rest him, for rats in the night !

While the cat catches rabbits, he covets us less.

But is fed as with venison ; defame we him never !

Better a little loss than a livelong sorrow,

By loss of a loathed one to live in disorder !

For many men's malt we mice would destroy.

And ye, rout of rats, would rend men's clothes,

If the cat of the court could not catch you at will !

Ye rats, if unruled, could not rule o'er yourselves.

I see," quoth the mouse, "such a mischief might follow,

Neither kitten nor cat, by my counsel, shall suffer ;

Nor care I for collars that have cost me nothing ;

Had they cost me a crown, I would keep it unknown,

And suffer our rulers to rove where they like,

Uncoupled, or coupled, to catch what they can.

I warn well each wise man to ward well his own."

What this vision may mean, ye men that are merry.

Discern ye ! I dare not discern it myself!

I saw then a hundred, in hoods all of silk,

All Serjeants, it seemed, that served at the bar.

Pleading their causes for pence or for pounds.

But for love of our Lord their lips moved never !

Sooner measure the mist upon Malvern hills

Than see a mouth mumble ere money be shown !

Barons and burgesses, and bondmen also

I saw in this assembly, as soon ye shall hear ;

Bakers and brewers, and butchers full many,

Websters of woollen, and weavers of linen,

Tailors and tinkers, and tollers in markets,

Masons and miners, and many other crafts.

Of labourers of all kinds there leapt forth some,

Such as dikers and delvers ; ill done was their work ; /

They drawled through the day, singing '■' Dieu vous save,

dame Emme ! "

Cooks and kitchen-lads cried — "Hot pies, hot ! " — 225

"Good geese and good bacon! " — "Good dinners! come,

dine ! "

Taverners touted — " A taste here, for nothing ! "

" White wine of Alsace I " — " Red Gascony wine ! "

"Here's Rhine wine!" "Rochelle wine, your roast to

digest! "

All this saw I sleeping, and seven times more.

END OF PROLOGUE.

WHAT the mountain may mean, and the murky dale,

And the Fairfield full of folk, I shall fairly show.

A lady, lovely of look, and in linen clothed.

Came down from the castle, and called me by name.

And said, " Son, sleepest thou ? seest thou this people,

How busy they be, all about this maze ?

The chief part of this people, that pass o'er the earth,

Want worship in this world, and wish for no more,

They hold no account of a heaven, save here ! "

I had fear of her face, though her aspect was fair,

And said — " Mercy! my lady! what mean you by this ? "

" That tower on the hill-top is Truth's own abode,

And I would that ye wrought as His word teacheth.

He is Father of your faith, and formed you all,

Both figure and face, and He gave you five wits

To worship Him with, all the while ye are here.

He hath ordered the earth, for your help, to supply

Both woollen and linen, and livelihood's needs

In measurable manner, to make you at ease ;

And commanded, of His courtesy, in common three things;

None others are needful, now list to their names,

I reckon then by reason ! rehearse thou them after.

The first one is clothing, to keep thee from cold ;

Next, meat at thy meals, best medicine for ill ;

Last, drink when thou'rt dry, but desist from excess,

Lest thy work be the worse, when worktime has come. . . .

Dread drink that delights thee, thy deeds shall be better.

Moderation is medicine, though much thou desire.

All suits not the soul, that the appetite seeketh.

Nor booteth the body, that's best for the soul.

Ne'er trust to thy body, a traitor misleads it,

This world with its wiles lies in wait to betray.

For the fiend and thy flesh ever follow together,

Pursuing thy soul, and seducing thine heart ;

Be wise then and wary, I warn thee full well."

" Gramercy, my lady, I mind well thy words ;

But the wealth of this world, so much wooed by mankind,

To whom doth that treasure, pray tell me, belong ? " 45

« See the gospel," quoth she, " where God said Himself,

When the people would pose Him with a penny i' th' temple,'

To tell if a tax should be tendered to Cxsar ;

He asked of them all, of whom spake the letters.

And whose was the image engraven thereon > 50

' 'Tis Cesar's,' they said, ' we can see it each one.'

* Give Caesar,' quoth God, ' what to Cs^sar belongeth,

And to God, what is God's, if to good ye incline.'

For Reason and Right should be rulers of all ;

Good Sense should be warden your wealth to preserve,

Safe guarding your goods, for your gain when in need';

For caution and care are the causes of thrift."

Then I meekly besought, for her Maker's sake—

" The dungeon in the dale, so dreadful to see.

What meaneth its menace, my lady, I pray > " 60

" 'Tis the Castle of Care ; whoso cometh therein

May mourn that he born was, in body or soul.

There watcheth a wight, and Wrong is his name.

The father of falsehood, and finder of ill.

Adam and Eve he to evil incited, 5^

Gave counsel to Cain, how to kill his brother,

And Judas beguiled with the Jews' silver,

Who hung himself after, on branch of an elder.

He letteth all love, and he lies to all those

That trust in his treasure, whom soon he betrays." 70

Then I wondred in my wit, who this woman might be

Who such words of wisdom from holy writ drew ;

I asked her, in the High name, ere ever she went,

To say who she was, who had warned me so well.

" Holy-Church," quoth she, "as thou oughtest to know ;

I received thee at first, thy faith I thee taught ;

Thou broughtest me sureties, to be at my bidding.

And leally to love me, while life should endure."

Then I knelt on my knees, and her mercy besought,

And piteously prayed her to pray for my sins,

And kindly instruct me on Christ to believe.

And to work at His will, who had wrought me as man.

" Ne'er tell me of treasure, but tell me the truth,

How to save my soul ; as a saint I revere thee ! "

" When all treasures are tried, know. Truth is the best,

* God is Love,' saith the text, and it teaches you all

That Truth can be trusted, like true God Himself.

Who is true of his tongue, and has no false tales,

Is wary in works, and wishes no evil,

Is a god, saith the gospel, on ground and aloft,

Yea, like to our Lord, by saint Luke's own words.

The teachers who trow this should teach it to all.

For Christian and heathen lay claim to the Truth.

Both kings and their knights should keep to the Truth,

They should ride through the realm, and arrest the false,

Should take the transgressors, and tie them in bonds.

Till Truth should determine their trespass's fine.

To deal with such dooms is the duty of knights.

Not to fast for one Friday in live-score years !

Let them ward men and women that work for the Truth,

Nor falsely forsake them for favour or bribes.

For David, in his day, dubbed knights for his service.

Who swore on their swords to serve Truth for ever.

And he that was perjured apostate was deemed.

But Christ, King of kings, made ten orders of knighthood,

Cherubs and seraphs, seven more, and one other.

Majestic and mighty, the more was their bliss ;

Over armies of angels archangels were these.

Of the Trinity taught all the truth to revere.

Obeying God's bidding ; He bade them naught else.

Lucifer with his legions had learnt it in heaven,

But brake his obedience, abandoned his bliss.

And fell from that fellowship, in a fiend's likeness,

To a deep dark hell, to dwell there for ever ;

And with him more thousands than man could number

Leapt out with Lucifer, in loathly forms.

Believing in him who in this wise lied : —

/ ivill sit also in the sides of the north ; I 'will he like the

most High (Isa. xiv. 13).

They that hoped in his boasting, no heaven could hold them,

Nine days were they falling, in likeness of fiends.

Till God, of His goodness, to stay them began,

Closed up the skies, and commanded a rest.

The fall of the wicked was wondrous and strange,

Some in air, some on earth, some in hell's abyss ;

But Lucifer, lowest he lieth of all ;

For pride that he put forth, his pain hath no end ;

And all wicked workers shall likewise wend.

After their deathday, to dwell with that fiend ;

But well-doing workers, as holy writ tells.

Who end, as I ere said, in truth and in peace.

May be sure that their souls shall ascend unto heaven

Where Truth, the Tri-une, shall enthrone tliem on high.

So I say, as I said ere, at sight of these texts.

When all treasures are tried, sure, Truth is the best.

Let laymen then learn, for learned men know it.

That Truth is the choicest of treasures on earth." 135

" I perceive not," I said, " till you show me yet more,

By what means in my mind it commenceth to grow."

'< Thou dotest, thou dullard ! how dull are thy wits !

Too little of Latin thou'st learnt in thy youth !

* JIas ! hoiv barren were my youthful days J '

'Tis a knowledge," quoth she, "in thy nature implanted,

To love thy liege Lord no less than thyself,

Nor do deadly sin, though death should assail thee ;

This, I trow, is the Truth ; who can teach thee better,

Suffer him to say, and pursue what he teaches ;

Thus witnesseth the word ; then work thou thereafter.

Remember that Love is the medicine of heaven,

To be filled with its fulness gives freedom from sin.

God wrought all His works by Love, as He listed,

And taught it to Moses, as most like to heaven ;

'Tis a plant giving peace, the most precious of virtues,

Not heaven could withhold it, so heavy it seemed.

Till it had, on this earth, well eaten its fill ;

But when flesh and blood in the world it had taken,

No leaf on a linden was lighter thereafter ;

As piercing and sharp as the point of a needle,

No armour might stay it, and no high walls.

'Tis Love, then, that leadeth the Lord's host in heaven ;

As the mayor is a mean 'twixt the king and the commons,

So Love is a leader and shapeth the laws ;

On man, for his misdeeds, he fixes the fine.

To say thee its nature, its source is in might ;

In the heart is its head and its holy spring-

In conscience of heart its cause hath its rise,

As found in the Father, who formed us all,

Looked on us with love, and let His Son die

Meekly for our misdeeds, to amend us all.

Yet He wished them no woe, who had wrought Him that pain.

But meekly with His mouth for mercy He prayed,

For pity of the people that pained Him to death.

Of shining examples Himself was the chief;

He was mighty, yet meek, and His mercy He granted

To those that high hanged Him, and pierced His heart.

I counsel you rich ones, have ruth on the poor,

Though mighty in meetings, be meek in your works ;

The measure ye mete with, amiss or aright,

Shall measure your deeds when ye migrate hence.

IV'tth 'what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you

again (Matt. vii. 2).

Though true of your tongue, and true in your dealings,

And as chaste as a child that in church first weeps,

Unless ye love leally, and lend to the poor.

And such goods as God sends you, in goodness impart,

Ye have no more merit in mass or in prayers

Than Moll of her maidenhood, whom no man desires.

For James the gentle thus judged in his book.

That Faith without fact has nothing of worth,

'Tis as dead as a doornail, save deeds shall follow !

Faith tu'tthout ivorks is dead a/so (James ii. 26).

Chastity without charity shall chained be in hell ;

'Tis as lorn as a lamp, whose light is extinct.

Many chaplains are chaste, but their charity's naught ;

Promote them, they prove to be greedy and grasping,

Unkind to their kin, and to Christian souls,

They chew up their charity, and chide to have more !

Such chastity without charity shall chained be in hell !

Many curates in charge are chaste in their ways,

Yet covetous cravings encumber them ever.

So hardly hath avarice hasped them in bonds ;

Their truth has been turned into treachery of hell.

And incites the unlearned to cease to give alms.

Then weigh well the words that God's word utters,

'Give of your goods, and to you shall be given, ( Luke vi. 38) ;

'Tis the lockgate of love, that letteth out grace

To comfort the careworn encumbered with sin.

Love, next our Lord, is the leech of man's life.

The right road that runneth directly to heaven.

So I say of the texts, as I said before,

When all treasures are tried, then Truth is the best.

I have told thee what Truth is ; no treasure is better ;

I may linger no longer ; the Lord be thy guide ! "

YET I knelt on my knees, loud crying for grace,

Saying, " Mercy, my lady, for our Lady's sake,

Who bare Him that bought us on the blessed rood,

Teach me some token, the False One to tell ! "

" Look on thy left hand, and lo ! where he standeth,

See False there and Flattery, and most of their fellows ! "

Then I looked on my left, as the lady had said.

And was ware of a woman, most worthily clothed.

All furnished with furs, none finer on earth.

Crowned with a crown, the king hath no better. lO

Featly her fingers were furnished with rings

Whereon were red rubies, as red as a coal,

Diamonds full dear, and double-rich sapphires,

Most precious of gems, that could poison destroy.

Her robe was full rich, of red scarlet in grain,

With ribands of red gold and richest of stones ;

Her ravishing raiment, her riches amazed me ;

I wondered what she was, whose wife she might be.

" Who is this woman so worthily drest ? "

" 'Tis Meed the maid, who hath injured me oft,

Who hath Loyalty slandered, my lief one and dear.

And lied to all lords who have laws to observe.

In the palace of the pope she's as prime as myself,

Though justice would ban her, for her bastard birth.

Falsehood was her father, full fickle of tongue,

Who never said sooth since he settled on earth,

And Meed has his manners, his natural match ;

Like father, like daughter ; a good tree hr'ingeth forth good

fruit (Matt. vii. 17).

My place is above her ; my birth is the better.

Great God is my father, the ground of all graces,

Who ne'er had beginning, and I his good daughter.

Mercy He gave me, for my marriage-portion ;

The man that has mercy, and loyally loves me,

Shall be my lief lord, in the heaven on high.

The man that takes Meed — my head dare I wager —

Shall lose, for her love, all the love of our Lord.

What David the king saith of men that take meed.

And of merciful men that maintain the truth,

And how souls shall be saved, the Psalter has told us : —

Lord, ivho shall abide in thy tabernacle ? (Ps. xv. i ).

Now Meed will be married to a miscreant base.

To one False Fickle-Tongue, child of a fiend ;

Flattery, by fair speech, this folk hath enchanted.

And Liar hath led her in this wise to wed.

To-morrow shall be made the maiden's bridal,

Thou may'st wit, if thou wilt, of what order are they

That belong to that lordship, the greater and less.

Ken what thou canst, yet keep well thy tongue.

Nor brand them with blame, until Loyalty judge

Who has power to punish ; then put forth thy plea.

I commend thee to Christ, and His virgin Mother ;

And ne'er be thy conscience encumbered with meed!" 50

The lady then left me, still lying asleep;

And how Meed was then married. I marked in my dream;

How all the rich retinue, that reigned with Sir False,

Were bidden to the bridal, in both of their trains.

Of all manner of men, the mean and the rich.

To marry this maiden were many assembled

Of knights and of clerks, with the commons and others.

Assize-men and sumners, and sheriffs and clerks.

Beadles and bailiffs, and brokers of wares.

Purveyors, and advocates of the Court of Arches ;

None can reckon the rout that thus ran after Meed.

But Simony and Civil-law and assize-men of courts

Knew most about Meed of any men, methought.

Flattery was the first that her fetched from her bower,

And, as broker, had brought her to mate with Sir False.

When Simony and Civil-law had seen what they wished,

They assented, for silver, to say what they would.

Then Liar leapt forth, saying, " Lo ! here ! a charter

That Guile, with his great oaths, hath given them both ; "

And prayed Civil-law to see it, and Simony to read it.

Then Simony and Civil-law stood forth both.

Unfolding th' enfeoffment that False then had made.

And thus 'gan these rascals to read to the rabble : —

Know all men by these presents, See.

" Wit ye and witness ye, who wander on earth,

That Meed here is married much more for her goods

Than for virtue or fairness, or freedom by birth.

For sake of her riches. Sir False is so fond,

And Flattery, with fickle speech, enfeoffs them by charter

To be princes in pride, and the poor to despise.

To backbite and boast, and bear false witness,

To scorn and to scold, and slanders to utter.

To be braggart, and boldly to break the commandments.

I grant them the earldoms of Envy and Wrath,

With the castles of Chiding and Chattering-out-of-reason,

The county of Coveting, and coasts all around,

Such as Usury and Avarice, I grant them all these.

With bargains and brokerage, and the borough of Theft,

The lordship of Lechery in length and in breadth.

As in works and in words, and watchings of eyes.

With wishes full wanton, and idle thoughts,

When wild is the will, but occasion wanteth.

Eke Gluttony he gives them, and granteth them oaths,

And all day to drink at divers taverns.

Still gibing and jesting, and judging their fellows,

And feasting on fasting-days, ere full time has come,

Then Civil-law assented, but Simony would not

Till he and his scribes for their service had silver.

Then Flattery fetched forth florins unnumbered,

Bidding Guile to go giving much gold all about.

Notably to notaries, none should be missed,

And to fee False-witness with florins at will ;

" He'll be master of Meed, and will make her assent ! "

When given was the gold, full great was the thanking

Of False and of Flattery, for their fair gifts ;

Soon came they to comfort from care Sir False,

And said, " Sir, for certain, now cease will we never.

Till Meed be thy wife, through the wits of us all.

We have mastered Meed with our merry speech ;

She has granted to go, with a right good will,

To London, to know if the law will allow

The judges to join you in joy everlasting."

Then fain was Sir False, and Flattery blithe ;

And summoned all sage men from shires around.

And bade them be bound, both beggars and others.

To wend soon to Westminster, to witness this deed.

They hunted for horses, to hasten the journey.

And Flattery fetched forth some foals of the best.

Meed sat on a sheiitF, new shod for the nonce,

False rode an assize-man, that softly trotted,

And Flattery a flatterer, finely attired.

Then had notaries none, annoyed were they all

That Civil-law and Simony should follow on foot ;

But Simony swore, and Civil-law also,

That sumners should be saddled, to serve them at need.

And provisors apparelled as palfreys also ;

Sir Simony himself was to sit on their backs.

" Ye deans and ye subdeans, now draw you together,

Archdeacons, officials, and registrars all.

Be saddled with silver, our sins to allow.

Adultery, divorces, and doubling of debts,

And payments for bishops that visit abroad.

The Paulines' people, for plaints in consistory,

Shall serve here myself, who am Civil-law named.

Cart-saddle the commissary, our cart shall he draw.

And lewd men shall fee us for lewdnesses winked at.

Give Liar a long cart, to lead all the others.

Such as friars and false men, that run all afoot."

Thus False and Sir Flattery fared on their way,

With Meed in the midst, and all these men after.

33 D

Time fails me to tell of the tail that did follow,

All manner of men that on earth's mould live ;

But Guile was foregoer, and guided them all.

Soothness perceived them, and said but a little.

But pricked well his palfrey, and passed all the rout,

And came to the king's court, and told it to Conscience,

And Conscience to the king recounted it after.

" Now by Christ," quoth the king, "if I could but catch

False or Sir Flattery, or any of their fellows,

I'd wreak me on those wretches, that wrought have so ill,

And hang in a halter each hound that abets them !

Not a bairn or a brother should bail out the least.

But the sentence of law should be served upon all ! "

I He commanded a constable, that came at his call,

S " Go, attach me those tyrants, I tell thee for sooth.

And fast fetter False, never free him for bribes ;

Let Guile be beheaded, nor go a foot further.

If you light upon Liar, ne'er let him escape.

But put him in the pillory, in spite of his prayers ;

And bring Meed to me, in spite of them all."

Dread stood at the door, and this doom heard,

How the king had commanded constables and sergeants

To fetter Sir False, and to bind all his fellows.

Then went Dread away, and gave warning to False,

Bade him flee for fear, and his fellows go with him.

Then False in his fear fled fast to the friars ;

And Guile too was going, aghast for his life,

But met with some merchants, who made him abide.

Shut him in their shops, to show forth their ware,

And apparelled him as a 'prentice, the people to serve.

Then lightly did Liar go leaping away,

Lurking through lanes, and belaboured by many ;

He was nowhere welcome for his wily tales.

But everywhere hooted, and hustled to flee.

Till pardoners had pity, and pulled him indoors,

Washed him and wiped him, and wound him in raiment,

And sent him with seals on Sundays to churches,

Giving pardons for pence, by pounds at a time.

Then leeches had envy, and letters they sent him

To dress as a doctor, and dwell with them ever.

The grocers besought him to sell men their spices,

And tout for their trade ; their terms well he knew.

But minstrels and messengers met with him once.

And withheld him a half-year, and eleven days.

Time fails me to tell of the tail that did follow,

All manner of men that on earth's mould live ;

But Guile was foregoer, and guided them all.

Soothness perceived them, and said but a little,

But pricked well his palfrey, and passed all the rout.

And came to the king's court, and told it to Conscience,

And Conscience to the king recounted it after.

" Now by Christ," quoth the king, *'if I could but catch

False or Sir Flattery, or any of their fellows,

I'd wreak me on those wretches, that wrought have so ill.

And hang in a halter each hound that abets them !

Not a bairn or a brother should bail out the least.

But the sentence of law should be served upon all ! "

( He commanded a constable, that came at his call,

- " Go, attach me those tyrants, I tell thee for sooth,

And fast fetter False, never free him for bribes ;

Let Guile be beheaded, nor go a foot further.

If you light upon Liar, ne'er let him escape.

But put him in the pillory, in spite of his prayers ;

And bring Meed to me, in spite of them all."

Dread stood at the door, and this doom heard,

How the king had commanded constables and sergeants

To fetter Sir False, and to bind all his fellows.

Then went Dread away, and gave warning to False,

Bade him flee for fear, and his fellows go with him.

Then False in his fear fled fast to the friars ;

And Guile too was going, aghast for his life,

But met with some merchants, who made him abide.

Shut him in their shops, to show forth their ware.

And apparelled him as a 'prentice, the people to serve.

Then lightly did Liar go leaping away,

Lurking through lanes, and belaboured by many ;

He was nowhere welcome for his wily tales,

But everywhere hooted, and hustled to flee.

Till pardoners had pity, and pulled him indoors.

Washed him and wiped him, and wound him in raiment,

And sent him with seals on Sundays to churches,

Giving pardons for pence, by pounds at a time.

Then leeches had envy, and letters they sent him

To dress as a doctor, and dwell with them ever.

The grocers besought him to sell men their spices,

And tout for their trade ; their terms well he knew.

But minstrels and messengers met with him once,

And withheld him a half-year, and eleven days.

Friars with fair speech fetched him at last,

And coped him as a friar, lest comers should know him;

He has leave to go loose, as oft as he liketh,

And hie when he will to their house as his home.

All fled they for fear, and had flown into holes ;

Save Meed the maid, not a man durst abide ;

But, truly to tell it, she trembled for dread,

And lamented and wept when at last she was caught.

NOW is Meed the maid, and no more of them all,

With beadles and bailiffs, soon brought to the king.

The king called a clerk — I ken not his name —

To take Meed the maid, and make her at ease.

" I shall try her myself, and truly enquire

What spouse in this world she would soonest wed.

If she works by my wish, and my will doth follow,

I forgive her this guilt ; so God be my help ! "

Courteously the clerk, as the king had commanded,

Took Meed by the middle, and set her i' the midst ;

There was mirth and minstrelsy, Meed to amuse.

They that waited in Westminster worshipped her all.

Gently, with joy, all the justices hastened,

All bound for the bower where the bride dwelt,

To comfort her kindly, with Clergy's leave,

Saying, " Mourn not. Meed, nor make thy lament ;

We will counsel the king, and thy course direct ;

Thou shalt wed at thy will, and thy wishes obtain

Though Conscience's craft may be cunning to hinder ! "

Mildly then Meed said " gramercy ! " to all

For their great goodness, and gave them each one

Great vessels of gold, and goblets of silver.

Rings with red rubies, and rich gifts many ;

The least of the crew had a gold crown-piece.

Then took they their leave, these lordlings, of Meed.

Then came to her clerks, to comfort her also,

And bade her be blithe ; " for we be thine own,

To work all thy will, the while that thou livest."

Politely the lady then promised the same,

" I will loyally love you, and make you all lords ;

In council, at court, I will call out your names ;

Though wanting in wisdom, no wight that I love

Shall be left in the lurch ; for my lore is well heeded.

While clerks that are cunning may hobble behind ! "

Then came a confessor, with cope like a friar,

To Meed, that maiden, he muttered these words.

Saying full softly, in shrift as it were,

" Though laymen and learned had loved thee alike,

And falsehood had followed thee for fifty years,

I soon would assoil thee, for a sackful of wheat,

And e'en be thy beadsman, and bear well thine errands,

The conscience of knights and of clerks to pervert."

Then Meed, for her misdeeds, to that man knelt.

And shrove her of sinfulness, shameless, I ween.

She told him a tale, and tendered him a * noble,'

To be both her beadsman and her broker also.

Right soon he assoiled her, and afterwards said : —

" We are working a window, much wealth will it cost ;

Wouldst thou glaze that gable, and grave there thy name.

Safe were thy soul to ascend unto heaven ! " 50

" Wist I that," quoth the woman, " I would not spare

To befriend you, sir friar ! nor fail you at need.

While you love such lords as in lechery live.

And blame not the ladies that love well the same.

'Tis a frailty of flesh, as ye find in your books,

And the natural course mankind to preserve.

If we 'scape the slander, the scath is soon mended ;

*Tis the sin of all seven the soonest excused.

Have mercy," quoth Meed, " upon men that pursue it,

And I'll cover your church, and your cloister repair, 6o

Whiten your walls, and your windows glaze,

And paint and pourtray them, and pay for the making ;

All that see it shall say I am sister of your house."

But God, to all good men, such 'graving forbids,

To write thus in windows their worthy deeds,

Lest pride be there painted, and pomp of the world ;

For Christ knows your conscience and covert intent.

Your craving, j'our cost, and whence comcth the coin.

Then learn ye, my lords, to leave all such works,

To write thus in windows your worthy deeds ;

Nor appeal to the priors when dealing your doles.

Lest your hire and your heaven be here upon earth : —

Let not thy left hand hnoiv ivhat thy right hand doeth

(Matt. vi. 3).

' Let never thy left hand, early or late.

Wit what thou workest with thy right side ; '

For thus, saith the gospel, the good shall do alms.

Ye mace-men and mayors, that are midmost between

The king and the commons, now keep well the laws.

And punish on pillories and penitence-stools

Brewers and bakers, and butchers and cooks ;

Such men, on this mould, can most harm work 8o

To the poorer people, that piece-meal buy ;

For they poison the people, both privily and oft,

Grow rich by retailing, and house-rents buy

With profits that else would support the poor.

If true were their trade, they would triumph the less,

And buy them no buildings — be ye well sure.

But Meed the maid the mayor had besought

Of all such sellers some silver to take.

Or gifts without money, as goblets of silver,

Rings, and rich presents, retailers to please.

"For my love," said that lady, "pray, love them each one,

And surfer them sell things dishonestly dear."

But Solomon the sage a sermon has made,

For amending the mayors, and men that give laws.

And told us the tale that I tell you here : — 95

Fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery (Job xv. 34).

To them that are learned the Latin expresses.

That fire shall fall, and the flames consume

The houses and homes of the head men in office,

Who presents or profits improperly seek. —

The king came from council, and called to him Meed, r oo

And sent for her soon, and the sergeants appeared,

Who brought her with joy to a blissful bower.

Then kindly the king, and with courteous words.

To Meed the maiden his message began : —

" Unwittily, woman, thou often hast wrought,

But worst was thy choice, when thou chosest Sir False.

I forgive thee that guilt, and grant thee my grace ;

Henceforth, till thy death-day, do so no more !

I've a knight, named Conscience, late come from afar;

If he wooes thee for wife, say, wilt thou him wed ? " 1 10

" Yea, lord ! " quoth the lady, "the Lord forbid else !

I am wholly at your best ; else hang me at once ! "

Then Conscience was called, to come and appear

Before king and council, the clerks and the others.

Low kneeling, Sir Conscience the king saluted,

To wit what his will were, and what he should do.

" Wilt wed this woman, by my will and assent ?

She is fain of thy fellowship, thy wife for to be."

Quoth Conscience to the king — " Now Christ it forbid !

Ere I wed such a wife, may woe me betide !

She is frail in her faith, and fickle of speech,

And maketh men misdo many score times ;

Trust in her treasure betrayeth full many.

To wives and to widows she wantonness teacheth ;

Soon lechery learn they> who love well her gifts.

Your father she felled by her false deceits ;

She hath poisoned popes, and impaired holy church ;

There is no better bawd, by Him that me made,

Between heaven and hell, in the whole wide earth ;

She is loose in her living, and lavish of speech,

As common as the cart-way to carters and knaves,

To monks and to minstrels, and miscreants base.

Assize-men and sumners, and such men praise her ;

Sheriffs of shires were shiftless without her.

She lures men to lose both their lands and their lives.

She plucks men from prison, and pays for them often,

Gives gold to the jailers, and groats of silver,

To unfetter the false men, to flee where they please.

The true she attaches, and ties them in bonds,

And hangs men, for hatred, who never did harm.

To be cursed by a council she counts not a rush,

But clothes the commissary, gives coats to his clerks.

And as soon is assoiled, as it pleaseth herself.

She may nigh do as much in a single month

As your secret seal may in six-score days.

She persuadeth the pope, as provisors can tell ;

Simony and herself put seals on their bulls.

She blesseth the bishops, though base and unlearned,

Gives prebends to parsons, and priests she permits

To have lemans and lovers as long as they live,

Who bring forth bairns — though the law forbids.

When she's well with the king, then woe to the realm !

For she favours the false, and defeats the true.

With her gems and her jewels the judge she corrupts,

Lies against the law, and limits its way,

Till faith has no force, where her florins abound.

She leads law at pleasure, and * lovedays ' appoints ;

Men lose, for her love, what the law might win ;

The poor man is posed, though he plead for ever ;

Since law is so lordly, so loath to make end,

Without presents or pence she pleases but few.

Barons and burgesses she brings into sorrow,

And foileth the folk that v/ould fain live in truth ;

Clerkship and coveting she couples together.

Thus liveth that lady ! The Lord give her sorrow ;

And men that maintain her, mischance them betide !

The poor have no pow'r to complain, though they smart.

Such a mistress is Meed among men that are rich."

Then Meed began mourn, and bemoan to the king,

That leave might be lent her, her life to excuse.

The king, of his goodness, then granted her grace ; —

*' Excuse, if thou canst ; I cannot say more ;

For Conscience accuses, to cast thee aside."

" Nay, lord! " quoth that lady, " believe him the less,

When I tell you the truth, where the true wrong lies.

Where mischief is most, there Meed may avail !

Thou knowest, Sir Conscience, I come not to chide

Or deprave thy person, with a proud heart.

Consent, thou deceiver, the sooth to admit.

Thou hast lain in my lap some eleven times,

And hast grasped at my gold, to give where you pleased.

Thy present displeasure surprises us all !

More gifts will I give, when grant them I may.

And maintain thee as master, yea ! more than thou knowest !

Thou hast foully defamed me, before the king here ! — 185

I killed never king, no such counsel I gave.

Nor wrought as thou say'st ; to himself I appeal !

He ne'er was in Normandy annoyed by my means ;

But soothly, thyself oft his shame didst achieve ;

Didst creep under cover, so cold were thy nails,

Didst ween that the winter would weigh on thee ever,

Didst dread to be dead, so dim was the weather,

And homeward didst hie thee, lest hunger should end thee.

Thou didst ruthlessly rob men, and ravage the land,

And carry their chattels to Calais to sell.

I stood by my lord there, his life for to save ;

I made his men merry, their mourning to mend ;

I patted their backs, and emboldened their hearts,

Till they jumped for joy, to enjoy mine aid.

Had / been his marshal, his men to command,

I'd have laid my life, and no less a pledge,

He'd have held that land, in length and in breadth,

As king of that country, his kindred to aid.

Till each brat of his blood were a baron's peer !

Thou, coward-like, Conscience, didst counsel him thence,

To relinquish his lordship, for a little silver.

That richest of realms that the rain sweeps over !

It becometh a king, who a kingdom rules.

To give meed unto men that meekly him serve.

To aliens and all men, and honour them with gifts ;

Meed makes him beloved, a man to be honoured.

Emperors and earls, and all kinds of lords,

For gifts, have their young men to run and to ride.

The pope and all prelates rich presents receive,

Giving meed in return, to maintain their laws.

Servants, for service, we see well the sooth,

Take meed from their masters, as meetest appears ;

Beggars beseech men for meed, as a boon ;

Minstrels, for mirth, claim meed for reward ;

The king hath his meed for maintaining the peace ;

Tutors, for teaching, take pupils' fees ;

Priests ever preach to the people for pay.

For mass-pence, and meat when the mealtime comes.

For 'prentices, craftsmen their payments crave ;

Merchants and meed ever meet well together ;

No wight that's in want in this world long lives."

The king said to Conscience, " I can but admit

That Meed is well worthy the mast'ry to have."

To the king quoth Conscience (and knelt on the earth) —

" There are meeds in two manners, my lord, by your leave !

One, God of his grace and in mercy granteth

To well-doing workers, the while they are here,

As the prophet has preached, and put in the Psalter,

Lord, ivho shall abide in Thy tabernacle ? (Ps. xv. i ) : —

' Who shall dwell in Thy house with Thy holy saints,

Or Thy holiest hills inhabit ? ' — he asketh.

And solves it himself, as the Psalter saith —

He that ivalketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness (Ps. xv.

The spotless shall enter, the simple of heart,

With reason and right who their works have wrought,

Who never have used usurious ways.

And impart to the poor, and pursue the truth : — 240

He that putteth not his money to usury, nor taketh rciuard

against the innocent (Ps. xv. 5) : —

Give help to the harmless, and hold with the righteous,

Unguerdoned do good, and guide men to truth —

Such manner of men have the former meed

From God, when they go hence, the Judge to behold.

But the measureless meed which masters desire,

Who makers of mischief maintain for bribes,

Thereof saith the psalter in a psalm's end,

In tuhose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full oj

bribes (Ps. xxvi. 10) :

He that graspeth gold (so God be my help)

Shall abide it bitterly, or the Book is false.

Priests and all parsons, who pleasures desire,

Taking meed and money for masses they sing.

Have their meed upon earth, as St. Matthew teaches: —

Verily I say unto you, they have their reivard ( Matt. vi. 5 ) .

What labourers and low folk receive of their masters

Is no manner of meed, but a measurable hire.

No meed is in merchandise, so may I avow,

'Tis a plain permutation, one pen'orth for another.

Hast thou read not, in ' Kings,' thou recreant Meed,

Why punishment fell upon Saul and his sons ?

God sent unto Saul, by Samuel the prophet.

That Agag of Amalek, and all of his people

Must die for a deed that their elders had done.

Said Samuel to Saul, ' God Himself thee commands,

Obey now His bidding. His will to fulfil.

To Amalek hie with thy host, and there slay

All bold men and beasts, and burn them to death ;

Both widows and wives, and women and children.

Burn all that thou findest, both farms and folds.

And bear naught away, be it never so worthy

Of meed or of money ; but make it away ;

Despoil it, nor spare it ; so speed thou the better ! '

But he coveted the cattle, and spared the king,

And forbare the beasts, as the Bible telleth.

Though otherwise warned by the prophet to work ;

God said unto Samuel, that Saul should die.

And his seed for that sin should shamefully end.

Such a ruin to Saul Meed rendered at last ;

God hated him ever, and his heirs also.

49 E .

What hence is concluded, I care not to show ;

Lest aught should annoy you, none end will I make.

'Tis the way of this world with those that have power,

Who says what is soothest, the soonest hath blame.

I, Conscience, this know, as Common-sense taught.

That Reason shall reign, and govern all realms ;

As happened to Agag, shall happen to others ;

A Samuel shall slay them, and Saul shall be blamed,

And a diadem'd David be deemed supreme ;

One Christian king shall be chief over all.

No more then shall Meed be a master, as now.

But Lowness and Love, and Loyalty also

Be masters on earth, to maintain the truth !

Who is traitor to Truth, or takes what He claims.

Loyalty alone shall judge him by law.

No sergeant for service shall silk hood v/ear,

Nor furnish his cloak with fur, when he pleads.

For Meed of misdoers makes many a lord,

And against lords' laws misruleth a realm.

But Kind-love shall come yet, and Conscience also.

And make Law a labourer ; such love shall arise,

Such peace among people, such perfect truth,

That Jews shall well ween, and be wondrous glad,

That Messiah or Moses amidst us is here.

And muse in their minds why men are so true ! ;

He that beareth a cutlass, a broad sword, or lance.

An ax or a hatchet, or any such weapon

To death shall be doomed, or must duly recast it

As sickle or scythe, as share or as coulter :

They shall beat their sivords Into plough-shares (Isa. ii. 4).

Each shall play with a plough, a pickax or spade,

Or spin, or spread dung ; or perish in sloth.

Parsons and priests shall their prayerbooks ply,

Ever dealing with David each day, until eve ;

If hawking or hunting shall hinder his work,

Of his boasted benefice bare be he shorn !

Neither king, nor knight, constable, nor mayor

Shall the commons oppress, or shall summon to court.

Or put them in pannel, to pledge their truth ;

As the deed is done, shall the doom be given.

Guilty or not guilty, as Truth shall decide.

King's court and common court, consistory and chapter,

All shall be one court, and one baron judge ;

And True-tongue be mine, who a traitor was never.

No battles shall be, nor bearing of weapons,

But smiths, forging arms, shall be smitten to death : —

Nation shall not lift up sivord against nation (Isa. ii. 4).

Ere this fortune shall fall, men will find disaster

By six suns and a ship, and a half-sheaf of arrows ;

And the middle of a moon shall make Jews repent,

And Saracens, for that sight, sing * Glory to God,'

For Mohammed and Meed both shall meet with mishap : —

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches "

(Prov. xxii. i ). —

As wroth as the wind waxed Meed, in a while,

" No Latin I know, but the learned know truth ;

See what Solomon says, in sapient words,

' To men that give gifts chief honours are granted.

And worship therewith,' saith the Holy Word : —

He who gives gifts shall acquire honour ' ' ( Prov. xxii. 9 ) .

" I believe thee, my lady ; thy Latin is true ;

Thou'rt like to a lady, that read once a lesson,

'Twas — 'prove ye well all things'; and pleased was her heart.

For the line was no longer, at end of the leaf.

Had she looked any longer, or turned the leaf over,

More words had she found there, that follow close after,

'Hold fast what is good ' — God gave us that text

(i Thess. V. 2i).

Right so hast thou fared ; thou couldst find no more

When ye sat in your study, and Solomon read.

The text thou hast told of is good for the great ;

But there lacked one of learning, the leaf for to turn !

Look forth yet again ; ye shall find what doth follow,

A text that sore taxes the takers of bribes : — 345

But they take aiuay the souls of them that receive them

(Prov. xxii. 9) :^

'Tis the tail of the text thou hast taken as true ;

For, though we win worship with meed, as I ween,

The soul that takes bribes is in bondage thereby."

EASE," said the king, ** I suffer you no longer ;

econciled, soothly, and serve me alike.

Kiss her," quoth the king, " Conseience, I bid thee ! "

"Nay, sir king," quoth Conscience, "excuse me for ever ;

Save Reason direct me, I rather would die ! " 5

"I command thee," quoth the king unto Conscience tlien,

" Make ready to ride, and Reason fetch hither.

Command him to come, my counsel to hear !

He shall rule my realm, and direct me the best,

And account for thee. Conscience, so Christ be my guide ! i o

How thou leadest the people, both learned and poor."

" I accord to that counsel," quoth Conscience then ;

To Reason he rode, and rehearsed in his ear,

And said all his errand, and soon took his leave.

" I shall array me to ride," quoth Reason, "now rest thee,"

And called Cato his servant, so courteous of speech,

And also Tom True-tongue-telI-me-no-ta!es-

Nor-lies-for-to-laugh-at-I-loved-them -never ;

" Set my saddle on Suffer-till-I-see-my-time,

And gird him with girths made of witty words,

Hang heavy reins on him, to hold his head low,

Lest he whinny and wince more than once on his way."

Then Conscience on his courser went quickly from thence,

And argued with Reason, as onward they rode.

How Meed, as a master, was mighty on earth.

And next Warren Wisdom, with Witty his friend.

Followed them fast, for they fain would repair

To exchequer and chancery, suits to discharge.

They rode on, that Reason might rule their affairs,

And save them, for silver, from shame and from harms.

But Conscience well knew they were covetous both.

Bade Reason ride onward, and reck not of either ;

" There are wiles in their words, and with Meed do they dwell ;

Where wrath is and wrangling, they reap many profits,

But loyalty and love they are loath to approach.

Destruction and utihapphiess is in their ivays (Ps. xiv. 7)«

They give not, for God's sake, a goose's wing ;

There is no fear of God before their eyes ; (Ps. xiv. 7).

They would, doubtless, do more for a dozen chickens.

For so many capons, or a cart-load of oats.

Than for love of the Lord, or the love of His saints.

Then, Reason, let rich men go ride by themselves,

For Conscience and Christ contemn them, I trow."

Then Reason fast rode on the right highway ;

As Conscience had counselled, they came to the king.

Courteously the king then came to meet Reason,

'Twixt himself and his son he set him on the bench,

And well wisely discoursed for a while together.

Then came Peace into parliament, and put forth a plea,

How Wrong, 'gainst his will, had abducted his wife,

Had borne away Rose, Sir Reginald's love,

And Mai kin the maiden, with merciless force — 50

*' My geese and my swine his serving-men steal,

I dare not, for fear of him, fight or complain.

My bay horse he borrowed, and brought him home never,

For pence, in repayment, I pleaded in vain.

His men he maintaineth, to murder my hinds,

Forestalleth my fairs, and fights in my market,

Brealcs up my barn-doors, and bears away wheat,

Tenders a tally for ten quarters of oats.

Mauls me with bruises, maltreats my maid ;

I scarce have the boldness his presence to bear." 60

The king gave him credit, for Conscience had told him

That Wrong was a robber, who wrought many harms.

Then Wrong was well wary, and Wisdom besought

To make peace with his pence, and proffered him many ; —

"Were I lief to my lord, but little I'd reck

Though Peace and his party complained for ever ! "

Then Wisdom awoke, and Sir Warren the witty,

Since Wrong had thus wrought such a robber-like deed.

And warned well Sir Wrong with their wisest skill : —

"Whoso worketh too wilfully, waketh men's wrath ;

We say it of thyself, full soon shalt thou find it ;

Let Meed make amends, or mischief is near ;

Both thy life and thy land now lie in his grace."

Then readily Wrong wooed Wisdom to help ;

To make peace with his pence a huge forfeit he paid.

Then Wisdom and Witty went forward together,

And took with them Meed, some mercy to win.

Peace put forth his head, for his poll was bloody : —

" All guiltless, God knoweth, I got me this wound ;

Conscience and the commons consent to this truth." 80

Yet Wisdom and Witty went boldly about

To conquer the king with coins, if they might.

But the king by the cross and his crown swore,

That Wrong for his works much woe should endure.

And commanded a constable to cast him in irons : — 85

" He shall not, in seven years, see his feet once ! "

" God wot," said Sir Wisdom, " that were but amiss ;

If he makes good amends, let mercy take bail

To proffer safe pledges, and pay for his sin,

And amend his misdeeds, and be evermore better." 90

Wit accorded therewith, and decided the same : —

'* 'Tis better with bounty to banish the evil.

Than beat down the evil, while bounty is slighted ! "

Then Meed 'gan bemoan her, and mercy besought.

And proffered Peace a present of pure red gold : — 95

" Take, man, this of me, to amend thy harms ;

And Wrong will oppress thee, I promise, no more ! "

Then Peace, full of pity, 'gan pray to the king

For mercy on the man that misdid him so oft : —

"He hath truly atoned, as Sir Wisdom him taught, lOO

I forgive him that guilt, with a right good will.

If the king so assent, I can say nothing more ;

Meed hath made me amends; and no more can I ask."

" Nay," quoth the king then, *' so Christ be my help !

Wrong wends not away so ; I wish to know more.

If he leapt hence so lightly, he'd laugh evermore.

And be but the bolder my servants to beat.

Save Reason have ruth, he shall rest in the stocks

As long as he lives, save he lowly submits."

Some wrought with Sir Reason for ruth on that wretch,

To counsel the king, and Conscience as well ;

That Meed might be surety, they Reason besought.

" No ruth shall be wrested," quoth Reason, " from me.

Till lords and great ladies alike love Truth,

And keep from their converse all coarseness of speech ; i x

Till costly apparel is kept in the chest,

And children are coddled with chastening rods !

Till hypocrites holy are held in contempt,

Clerks covet to feed and to clothe the poor,

And religious roamers remain in their cloisters

As Saint Bennet first bade them, and Bernard and Francis ;

Till the preaching of prelates be proved in themselves.

And the councils of kings seek the common good ;

Till bishops sell horses, to buy beggars huts.

And their hawks and their hounds go to help the poor ;

Till Saint James shall be sought only where I assign ;

Who goes to Gallicia must go there for ever.

Let all runners to Rome, to the robbers therein

Bear no silver o'er sea, that shows the king's image,

Neither silver nor gold, ungraven or graven,

Or forfeit the coinage, when found out at Dover ;

Save merchants and their men, or messengers with letters,

Provisors or priests, or penitent sinners.

By the rood," quoth Reason, " no ruth will I show.

While Meed, in this moot-hall, hath mastery still.

I could cite some examples, as seen now and then ;

And I say for myself, if so it might be

I were crowned as a king, to keep well a realm,

No wrong in this world that I well could arrest

Should pass hence unpunished, on peril of my soul,

Nor grace have for gifts, so God may defend me !

Nor have mercy for Meed, till he meekly submit.

' No evil should ever unpunished remain,

Nor good unreivarded' — so goes the old saw :

Let priests, without comment, this precept expound.

If ye put it in practice, I pledge both my ears,

That Law will turn labourer, leas to manure,

And Love lead thy land, as were liefest he should ! "

Priests, thus appealed to, their heads put together

To construe that clause for the king's sole profit,

Not for comfort of the commons, nor yet the king's soul.

I saw Meed, in the moot-hall, on men of law wink.

Who leapt to her, laughing, and Reason they left.

Sir Warren Wisdom then winked at the lady,

" Your man am I, madam ! whate'er my mouth utters ;

I fall in with florins, and fail in my speech ! "

The righteous recorded that Reason said truth.

And Wit too accorded, commending his words ;

While most men in hall, and many of the great

Said Meekness was master, and Meed was accurst.

Love liked her but little, and Loyalty less ;

And said it so high, that the whole hall heard ;

" He that wisheth to wed her, for wealth of her goods,

Men will call him a cuckold, or cut off my nose ! "

Then Meed began mourning, and made sad lament

That the chief of the commons accounted her frail ;

But a summoner sought her, and so did assize-men.

And a clerk of a sheriff beshrewed all the rout ;

" I have helped you full often," quoth he, "at the bar.

Though ne'er did ye give me the gift of a rush ! " 170

The king called for Conscience; with Reason he came;

They recorded that Reason had rightly adjudged.

Moodily on Meed looked the king, in his might,

And was angry with Law, whom Meed had misled,

Saying, " Law, by your laxness I lose my escheats ;

Meed masters the lawyers, and muzzles the truth.

Yet Reason shall rule, if I reign any longer.

And deem, by this day ! every doom by desert :

No Meed shall buy bail, by Saint Mary in heaven !

But laws shall be loyal, not laden with cavil,

And Wrong by the righteous be rightly condemned."

Quoth Conscience to the king," Save the commons assent,

'Twill be hard, by my head, such a process to hold,

To lead, as you list, all your lieges aright ! "

But Reason replied — " By the holy rood,

Save I rule thus your realm, you may rend out my ribs !

Now bid men's obedience to bide with me ever."

" I assent," quoth the king, " by Saint Mary my lady,

When my council has come, both of clerks and of earls.

Now rest thee, Sir Reason, and ride not away ;

As long as I live, will I leave thee no more."

" I am ready," quoth Reason, " to rest with you ever,

Be Conscience in our council ; I care for no better."

"I assent," quoth the king, " God save us from faults;

As long as life lastetb, hence live we together ! " 195

THE king and his knights to the kirk went

To hear matins of the day, and the mass after.

Then I waked from my sleep, and was woful withal

That I had not slept sounder, and seen much more.

Scarce fared I a furlong, ere faintness o'ercame me,

Nor further could foot it, for default of repose.

Sat I softly adown, and said my belief,

And babbled o'er my beads ; which brought me asleep.

Then saw I much more than I marked hitherto ;

The field full of folk I saw, as before,

Where Reason was ready to preach to the realm ;

With a cross, 'fore the king, he commenced his teaching.

65 P

He proved that the pestilences were purely for sin,

And the south-west wind, on Saturday at even.

Was plainly for our pride, and for no point else.

Pear-trees and plum-trees were puffed to the earth

For example to sinners, to serve God better.

Beeches and broad oaks were blown to the ground,

Turning upward their tails, as a token of dread

That deadly sin, at doomsday, would condemn us all,

I might, of this matter, be muttering long ;

But I say what I saw — so God be my help ! —

How plainly Sir Reason 'gan preach to the people.

He bade Waster to work at what he knew best.

To win what he wasted, with wise employ.

Maid Parnel he prayed fine apparel to leave.

And keep it in chests, as a chattel at need.

Tom Stow then he taught to take two staves.

And fight for his Phyllis, when ducked for a scold !

He warned also Wat that his wife was to blame,

For her head cost a half-mark, his hood not a groat.

He bade also Bat cut a bough or e'en twain.

And beat Betty therewith, unless she would work.

He charged also chapmen to chasten their children,

Not spoil them, though wealthy, the while they were young.

Nor please them too fondly, in pestilence-time.

" My sire to me said once, and so did my dame,

* The liefer the child, the more lore it behoveth ; '

And Solomon likewise, in Sapience, wrote,

He that spareth his rod hateth his son (Prov. xiii. 24).

The sense of this saying, if some one would know,

Is, *who spareth the birch-sprig, his children he spoileth.' "

And next he prayed prelates and priests together,

" What ye preach to the people, first prove on yourselves.

And do so in deed ; it will draw you to good ;

If ye live by your lore, we believe you the better." 45

Religion he counselled his rule to observe,

" Lest the king and his council your 'commons' impair.

And be stewards of your steads, till ye're better established."

Then he counselled the king the commons to love,

" 'Tis thy treasure 'gainst treason, an antidote true." 50

Then prayed he the pope to have pity on the church ;

Ere he granted a grace, first to govern himself.

" Ye that laws have to keep, first covet the truth

More than gold or great gifts, if God ye would please.

The traitor to truth has been told in the gospel

That neither God knows him, nor saints in the skies :

■ Verily I say unto you, I knoiv you not ( Matt, xxv, 12).

Ye that seek to Saint James, and the saints in Rome,

Seek rather Saint Truth, who can save you all ;

Who with Father and Son : — fair hap them befall

Who assent to my sermon ! " — And thus said Sir Reason.

With that ran Repentance, rehearsing the text,

And making Will weep many watery tears.

The Confession of Pride.

Maid Parnel Proud-heart fell prone on the earth,

Lying long ere she looked up, and " Lord, mercy ! " cried.

She vowed then a %'ow to the Father in heaven,

Her smock to unsow, and a hair-shirt to wear.

To enfeeble her flesh, that so fierce was to sin : —

" Shall no high heart upheave me ; I'll hold myself low,

And "suffer men slight me — and so did I never !

I pray for more meekness, and mercy beseech

For all I have hitherto hated in heart."

The Confession of Lechery.

Then said Lecher, " Alas ! " — to our Lady he cried

To have mercy, for misdeeds, 'twixt God and his soul.

And said that'on Saturdays, seven years after,

He would drink'with the duck, and would dine only once !

The Confession of Envy.

Next Envy, with heavy heart, asked to have shrift ;

As a sorrowful sinner his sins he confessed.

He was pale as a stone, in a palsy he seemed.

And clothed in a coarse suit I scarce can describe,

In a short coat and kirtle, a knife by his side.

Of a friar's frock were the two fore-sleeves ;

Like a leek that has lain too long in the sun

He looked, with his lean cheeks, lowering on all.

With wrath swelled his body, he bit both his lips.

Fast clenching his fists ; to avenge him he thought

With works or with words, still awaiting his time.

He uttered his tales with an adder's tongue ;

Chiding and challenging chose he as food ; t

To backbite and blacken, and bear false witness

Was his care and his courtesy, whereso he came. 90 y jj

"I'd be shriven," quoth this shrew, '• if for shame I might dare;

My gladness is greater, when Gib fares amiss,

Than in winning a wey of your fine Essex cheese !

I've a neighbour full nigh, I annoy him full oft,

And belie him to lords, till he loses his pelf ;

His friends are made foes through my false report ;

His gains and his good luck oft grieve me full sore.

'Twixt household and household such hatred I raise

That both lives and limbs have been lost by my means.

When I meet him at market whom most I detest, lOO

I heartily hail him in haste, as a friend ;

He's more doughty than I, so I dare do naught else ;

Had I mast'ry and might, God knows my desire !

When I come to the kirk, and should kneel to the cross.

And pray for the people, as teacheth the priest,

For pilgrims and palmers, and people at large,

Then I cry on my knees, * may Christ give him sorrow

Who bore off my bowl, or my broken plate ! '

Away from the altar then turn I mine eyes.

And note how Elaine hath a new-made gown ; no

I wish it were mine, with the rest of the web.

I laugh when men lose, for that my heart liketh ;

I weep when they win, and bewail the time ;

I doom the ill-doer, myself doing worse ;

With him that upbraids me I'm angry for ever.

I would that each wight were my servant and slave ;

Who hath what I have not, him hate I full sore.

Thus loveless I live, like a low-bred cur,

That my body nigh bursts for bitterest gall.

I oft cannot eat, as a man ought to do,

For envy and ill-will are hard to digest.

Can no sugar nor sweet thing assuage my swelling,

Nor medicinal drug drive it out of my heart,

Nor yet shrift nor shame, save my maw be scraped ? "

"Yes ; readily," said Repentance, "this rule is the best —

Sorrow for sins is salvation of souls." 126

"lam sorry," quoth that sinner, "I am seldom aught else;

This makes me so meagre — I miss my revenge !

I have been among burgesses, dwelling in London,

Getting brokers to backbite and blame men's ware.

If my neighbour could sell, while I sold not, right soon

Would I lower and lie, and lay on him blame.

I'll amend, if I may, by th' Almighty's help ! "

The Confession of Wrath.

Now Wrath awaketh, with two white eyes ;

He snivelled with his nose, with a neck low bent.

" I am Wrath," quoth he ; "I once was a friar,

And the convent-gardener, to graft young shoots.

On ' limiters ' and ' lectors ' such lies I engrafted,

They bore leaves of low-speech, great lords for to please,

And then blossomed abroad, to hear shrifts in bowers,

Till there fell this fruit — that folk would far rather

Show shrifts unto them, than be shriven by priests.

Now that priests have perceived how friars claim part,

These prebend'ries preach, and deprave the friars.

Then friars find fault, as the folk, bear witness,

And preach to the people in places around ;

I, Wrath, with them rove, and teach them to rail.

Thus clerks of the church one another contemn

Till both are but beggars, and live by their begging,

Or else all are rich, and go riding about.

I, Wrath, never rest, but rove evermore.

And follow these false ones ; for such is my grace.

My aunt is a nun, and an abbess to boot ;

^She sooner would swoon than once suffer a pain.

I was cook in her kitchen, the convent I served

For many a month ; and with monks have I stayed ;

Made pottage for the prioress, and other poor dames.

Their broth was to backbite — ' dame Joan is a bastard ' —

' Dame Clarice, a knight's girl, a cuckold's her sire ' —

' Dame Parnel's a priest's wench, a prioress never ;

She childed in cherry-time, the chapter all know it.'

Their worts I commingled with wicked words, ^

Till ' liar ! ' and * liar ! ' leapt forth from their lips,

And each hit the other just under the cheek ;

They had dealt many deaths, had daggers been near !

Saint Gregory, pope, had a good foreknowledge.

And granted no prioress power to shrive ;

For surely, with women, no secret is safe ! ^

To remain among monks I mostly refuse ;

Too keen are some brothers my counsels to spy,

Such as prior, sub-prior, and J>a(er the abbot.

If I tell any tales, they take me to task,

And make me fast Fridays on bread and on water.

I am chidden in chapter-house, like to a child,

And beaten on bare flesh, rebuked and abused.

With such men to linger small liking is mine ;

Salt fish is their diet, and feeblest of ale.

If wine, once a while, in my way comes at eve,

I defame them, with foul mouth, some five days after.

All sins I had seen any brother consent to

I discussed in the cloister ; the convent soon knew them."

" Repent," quoth Repentance ; "rehearse nevermore

Such facts as thou findest by favour or right ;

Nor drink over deeply, nor delicate draughts,

Lest rashly thy will unto wrath should incline.

Be sober," he said ; and absolved him thereafter.

Bade him weep with good will, and his wickedness mend.

The Confession of Avarice.

Next Coveting came ; whom I scarce can describe ;

So hungry and hollow Sir Harvey appeared.

He had beetling brows, coarse bulging lips,

And two bleary eyes, like a blind old hag ;

Like a leathern purse were his loose-hung cheeks,

Lower than his chin low-drooping with age.

His beard, like a boor's, was beslobbered with bacon ;

A hood on his head, and a lousy old hat ;

In a tawny tabard, some twelve years old.

All tattered and torn, with lice for its tenants ; —

By nature a louse is a lively leaper.

Or it could not have crawled on that threadbare cloth.

"I've been covetous," quoth that caitiff, "I confess ithere ;

For some time I served old Sim at-the-Stiie,

And was plighted his 'prentice, his profit to serve.

First learnt I, in lying, a lesson or twain ;

Wickedly to weigh was my first lesson ;

To Weyhill and Winchester I went to the fair

With all manner of wares, as my master bade ;

If Guile had not given some grace to my ware,

It had still been unsold, were it seven years since !

Then I drew me to drapers, my duties to learn.

To stretch out the stuff, till it looked the longer.

One lesson I learnt as to long striped cloths ;

To pierce them with a needle, and piece them together,

Put them in a press, and press them thereunder

Till ten yards or twelve were turned to thirteen !

My wife was a weaver, and woollen cloth made ;

She spoke to the spinners to spin it well out ;

But the pound that she paid by surpassed by a quarter

The standard of weight that the steelyard gave !

I barley-malt bought her, she brewed it to sell.

Thick ale and thin ale she thoroughly mingled

For labourers and low folk ; this lay by itself.

The best ale in bower or bed-room we kept ;

He that tasted thereof was contented to buy it,

A groat for a gallon ; he gave never less ;

Yet it came forth in cups ; such craft would she use.

Rose the Retailer she rightly was named ;

The trade of a huckster is hers, as at first.

I swear now, so thrive I ! that sin will I leave,

Nor chaffer so falsely, nor false measures use,

But wend unto Walsingham, and with me my wife,

And pray Bromholm-rood to reprieve me from sin."

" Hast never repented, nor made restitution ? "

" Yes ; once was I housed with a host of chapmen ;

I rose while they rested, and rifled their bags."

" That was no restitution, but a robber's deed ;

For which thou more highly hast claim to be hanged

Than for all the misdeeds thou hast hitherto done."

" I thought theft ' restitution ' ; for read could I never ;

Such French as I know is of further Norfolk."

" Was usury ever a usage of thine ? " 240

" Nay, soothly 1 " he answered, " except in my youth.

I learnt among Lombards and Jews this lesson.

To weigh the king's pence, and the heavy ones pare.

And lend them (to lose them) for love of the pledge ;

So I worded the deed, if the day should be broken.

More manors are mine through arrears than mercy.

I have lent things to lords, and to ladies also.

And then been their broker, and bought them myself.

Exchanges and loans are the chaffer I deal with.

When I lend, of each noble a portion they lose ;

And with letters of Lombards bear money to Rome,

Here take it by tally, there tell it as less."

" Hast lent aught to lords, for love of their aid ? "

** I have lent oft to lords, that ne'er loved me thereafter.

And made of a knight both a mercer and draper

Who paid, as apprentice, not one pair of gloves ! "

" Hast thou pity on poor men, persuaded to borrow ? "

" Such pity on poor men, as a pedlar on cats ;

Could he catch them, he'd kill them ; he covets their skins."

" Dost deal out to neighbours thy drink and thy meat?"

'* I'm as courteous," he cried, " as a cur in a kitchen;

Such a name, among neighbours, is noted as mine ! "

" Now God never grant thee, unless thou repent.

His grace, on this ground, thy goods to bestow,

Nor thine heirs have, after thee, aught of thy gains,

Nor executors spend well the silver thou leavest !

What was wrongfully won will be wickedly spent.

Were I friar of a house, where faith is and love.

Thy coin should not clothe us, nor our kirk amend,

Nor a penny of thine should our pittance improve

Forthebestbookwe have, though bright gold were the leaves,

If I knew for a sooth thou wert such as thou sayest,

Or could witness, by watching, thy works and thy ways.

' Seek a man s feasts ^ and you serve him as slave ;

Live on thy loaf, and thy life then is free / '

Thou'rt a creature unkind, whom I cannot assoil

Till thou make restitution, and reckon with all.

Till Reason enroll, i' th' register of heaven.

Thou hast made full amends, I may not absolve thee : —

The sin is not remitted, till the stolen thing he restored.

All that gain by thy goods, so God have my troth !

At the high day of doom, must help thee restore.

Who sees not this sooth, let him seek in the Psalter,

In M'uerere-mei, that I mean the truth : —

Behold, thou desirest truth in the iniuard parts (Ps. li. 6).

No workman i' th' world shall thrive on thy winnings ;

Cum sancto eris sanctus ; expound that in English ; " — 285

With the holy thou shalt he holy (Ps. xviii. 25).

Then lost he all hope, and himself would have hanged.

Had not quickly Repentance the wretch reassured —

" Keep mercy in mind, and with mouth implore it ;

God's mercy is more than His mightiest works : —

His mercy is over all his 'w;ori/,'(Ps.'cxlv. 9).

All the wickedness i' th' world that men work or devise

Is no more, to God's mercy, than sparks in the main : —

^11 intquUy, comparea 'with God's mercy ^ is as a spark in

the midst of the sea.

Keep mercy in mind, and thy merchandise leave ;

Thou hast no better way to win thee a loaf

Than by aid of thy tongue or thy two good hands.

The gain thou hast gotten began with deceit,

And while buying therewith, thou wast borrowing ever !

If thou wit not whereby or to whom to restore,

Bear it to the bishop ; beseech him, of grace,

To bestow it himself as is best for thy soul.

He shall answer for thee, at the awful doom,

For thee and for many that man shall account —

As his lore was in Lent (believe this is true) —

How the Lord's grace he lent you, to lead you from sin."

The Confession of Gluttony.

Now beginneth Sir Glutton to go to his shrift ;

His course is to kirkward, as culprit to pray.

But Betty the brewster just bade him " Good-morrow,"

And asked him therewith as to whither he went.

" To holy church haste I, to hear me a mass.

And straight to be shriven, and sin nevermore."

" Good ale have I, gossip; Sir Glutton, assay it ! " 310

" But hast thou hot spices at hand, in thy bag ? "

"I have pepper and paeony-seed, and a pound of garlick,

And a farthingworth of fennel-seed, for fasting-days."

Then Glutton goes in, and with him great oaths.

Cicely the shoe-seller sat on the bench,

The warrener Wat, and his wife also,

Timothy the tinker, with two of his lads.

The hackney-man Hick, the needle-man Hugh,

Clarice of Cock-lane, the clerk of the church,

Davy the ditcher, and a dozen others ;

Sir Piers the priest, and Parnel of Flanders,

A fiddler, a ratcatcher, a Cheapside raker,

A rider, a rope-seller, dish-selling Rose,

Godfrey of Garlickhithe, Griffin of Wales ;

And a heap of upholsterers, early assembled,

Gave Glutton, with glad cheer, a treat of good ale.

Then Clement, the cobbler, cast off his cloak.

Which he offered to any, by way of exchange ;

Hick the hackney-man hitched off his hood,

And bade Bat the butcher to be on his side.

Then chapmen were chosen the choice to appraise ;

He that hath but the hood shall have more for amends.

Two rose up in haste, and reasoned together,

Appraising these pen'orths apart by themselves.

They could not, in conscience, accord together

Till Robin the roper arose from his place.

And was ordered, as umpire, to end the dispute,

And tell the true value between them at last.

So Hickey the ostler laid hold of the cloak,

In covenant that Clement should fill up his cup,

And have Hick's hood, the ostler's, and hold him content j

Who soonest repented must after arise,

And grant to Sir Glutton a gallon of ale.

There was laughing and lowering, and " let go the cup! "

They sat so till evensong, and sung now and then,

Till Glutton had gulped down a gallon and a gill. . . .

He neither could step, nor without a staff stand ;

Then began he to go like a gleeman's dog,

Sometimes aside, and sometimes arear.

Like one that lays lines, young larks to ensnare.

As he drew to the door, then dim grew his eyes,

He was tripp'd by the threshold and thrown to the earth.

Clement the cobbler him caught by the middle.

To lift him aloft, and him laid on his knees ;

81 G

But Glutton, that great churl, was grievous to lift,

And coughed up a caudle in Clement's lap ;

So hungry no hound is in Hertfordshire lane

As would lap up the leavings, unlovely of scent.

^. With all woe in the world his wife and his wench

/ Bore him home to his bed, and brought him therein.

And after this surfeit he slept, in his sloth.

All Saturday and Sunday, till sunset had come.

Then woke he in wonder, and wiped both his eyes ;

The word he first uttered was — " Where is the bowl ? "

; His wife sadly warned him, how wicked his ways,

And Repentance full rightly rebuked him of sin : —

" Both in words and in works thou hast wrought much evil.

Now shrive thee with shame, and show me thy sins."

" I, Glutton," he granted, " am guilty indeed ;

I have trespassed with tongue, I can tell not how oft,

Have sworn * by God's soul,' and ' so help me the saints/

Where never was need, nine hundred of times.

I'd a surfeit at supper, and sometimes at noon.

Till I, Glutton, it gulped up, ere gone was a mile.

And spilt what should spared be, and spent on the hungry.

Too delicately, on fast-days, I drank and ate both,

And sat sometimes so long that I slept while I ate.

To hear tales, in taverns, to drink more, I dined,

And feasted ere noon, when the fasting-days came."

" This showing of shrift shall be to thy merit." 385

Then Glutton 'gan grcan ; great mourning he made

For the loathsome life he had lived such a while ;

And vowed he would fast : — " For hunger or thirst

Shall no fish on the Friday be found in my maw

Till Abstinence, my aunt, hath accorded me leave ;

And yet have I hitherto hated her ever ! "

The Confession of Sloth.

Then came Sloth all beslobbered, with two slimy eyes,

" I must sit," quoth this sinner, " or else shall I doze ;

I stand not, nor stoop, nor kneel without stool.

Were I brought to my bed, save for bitterest need,

Should no ringing arouse me, ere ripe time for dinner."

Benedtc'tte he began, and smote on his breast ;

He grumbled, and stretched him, and grunted at last.

" Awake ! " quoth Repentance, "make ready for shrift."

" This day should I die, no duties for me !

Paternoster I know not, as priests intone it.

But rhymes of Robin Hood, or Randolph of Chester ;

Of our Lady or Lord, not the least ever made !

Forty vows have I made, and forgot them the morrow ;

I performed never penance as the priest appointed ;

Right sorry for my sins as yet was I never.

If I bid any beads, but it be in my wrath,

What I tell with my tongue is two miles from my heart.

Each day am I occupied, holidays and others,

With idle tales at ale-house, and sometimes in churches ;

God's pain and His passion I ponder on seldom.

1 visit no feeble men, or fettered men in jails ;

I'd sooner hear ribaldry, or summer-games of cobblers,

Or lying tales to laugh at, and belie my neighbours,

Than all that e'er Mark wrote, John, Matthew, or Luke.

All vigils and fastdays I simply let slide.

And lie abed in Lent, in a lazy sleep.

Till past matins and mass ; then I move to the friars ;

To come to the mass-end, for me, is enough.

I seldom am shriven, save sickness impel me,

Not twice in two years ; when I shrive me by guess i

I've been parson and priest past thirty long years,

Yet I sing not, nor sol-fa, nor Saints' Lives read ;

I can find in a field or a furlong a hare

Better than in heatus-vir or in beat'i-omnes

(Ps. i. or Ps. cxxviii.)

Construe a clause, or full clearly expound it.

I can hold well ' lovedays,' or hear a reeve's reckoning,

But in canon-law and decretals can read not a line.

If I buy aught and pledge it— but it be on the tally—

I forget it right soon ; and, when settlement's sought,

Six times or seven I forswear it with oaths ;

Thus true men I trouble ten hundred of times.

My servingmen's salary is sometimes behind ;

Rueful is the reckoning, to read the accounts ;

With wrath and ill-will all my workmen I pay.

If a service is shown me, or succour at need,

I requite it unkindly ; I cannot conceive it ;

For I have, and have had, the ways of a hawk.

Being lured, not by love, but by meat in the hand.

The favours my fellows once fondly accorded,

I, Sloth, have forgotten them sixty times since ;

In speech, or in sparing speech, spoilt many times

Both flesh-meat and fishes, and many such victuals :

Both bread and eke ale, milk, butter, and cheese,

Would I waste in my service, till none would they serve.

I ran wild in youth, still refusing to learn,

And since, for my sloth, as a beggar subsisted.

Hoiv barren, alas ! ivas the life of my youth ! "

" Dost repent ? " quoth Repentance ; and straightway he

swooned ;

Vigilate, the watchful, drew water from his eyes

Which he flung in his face, and with firmness of speech

Said, " Beware of Despair, that will work thee but woe ;

• I am sorry for my sins,' thus say to thyself.

And beat on thy breast, and beseech God's grace ;

No guilt is so great but His goodness is more." 455

Then sat Sloth up, made the sign of the cross.

And vowed, before God, for his foul neglect : —

" Each Sunday, for seven years, except I am sick,

Will I draw me, ere day, to the dear-lov'd church,

To hear matins and mass, like a monk devout.

No ale after meat shall hold me thence

Till I've evensong heard ; so help me the Rood

Of wealth will I strip me, and strive to restore

What I wickedly won by my cunning wits.

Though I lack good living, no labour I'll spare

Till each have his own, ere I hence depart ;

And with help of the remnant, by the rood of Chester,

Will I seek Saint Truth, ere I see far Rome ! "

Robert the robber was fain to restore ;

But wealth had he none, wherefore sorely he wept.

The sorrowing sinner thus said to himself: —

** Christ, that on Calvary didst die on the cross.

When Dismas my brother besought Thee for grace.

And had mercy on the man who ' Remember me ' said,

(Luke xxiii. 42)

Have ruth on the robber that naught can restore,

Nor ween to win wealth with skill of my own.

Mitigation I pray for ; Thy mercy is great.

Nor condemn me at doomsday for deeds I did ill."

What befell of this felon I failed to discern ;

With both his eyes water, I wot well, he wept,

And acknowledged moreover his crimes unto Christ

Till Penitence, his pike-staff, was polished anew.

To leap with, o'er land, while his life should endure ....

Then Repentance had ruth, and advised them to kneel : —

" For sinners I pray to our Saviour for grace

To amend our misdeeds, and show mercy to all.

Now, God ! that in goodness the great world didst make.

Of naught madest all, and man most like Thyself,

And didst suffer him to sin, which was sickness to all,

Yet all for the best, as the book hath expressed : —

Oh happy fault / Oh necessary sin of Adam !

Thy Son, through that sin, was sent to this earth.

Made man of a maid, mankind for to save ;

Like Thyself and Thy Son we sinners were made ;

Let us make man in our image, after our likeness {Gen. i. 26).

He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him

(l John iv. 16).

And since, in Thy Son, in our suit didst die

On Good Friday, for man's sake, at full time of day ;

Nor Thyself, nor Thy Son, didst feel sorrow in death.

In our suit was the sorrow ; Thy Son led it captive : —

He led captivity captive (Ps. Ixviii. 18).

The sun then, for sorrow, lost sight for a time ;

At midday, when's most light, the mealtime of saints,

Thou fed'st, with Thy fresh blood, our forefathers in dark-

ness ; —

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light

(Isa. ix. 2).

By the light that then leapt out was Lucifer blinded ;

It blew all Thy blessed to Paradise' bliss.

The third day thereafter saw Thee in our suit ;

Frail Mary beheld Thee ere Mary Thy mother ;

To solace all sinners Thou sufFeredst thus : —

/ am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repent an c

(Matt. ix. 13).

All that Mark ever made, John, Matthew, and Luke —

Thy doughtiest deeds — were done in our armour : —

The word was madejlesh, and divelt among ?/j-( John i. 14).

By so much, me seemeth, more surely may we

Both pray and beseech, if it be Thy will,

Our Father and Brother, Thy mercy be shown us ;

Have ruth on these ribalds, repenting them sorely

They wrought Thee to wrath, in word, thought, or deed."

Then Hope seized a horn, Thou-shalt-quicken-us-again

(Ps. Ixxi. 20),

And blew it with blessed-is-he-iuhose-sin-is-forgiven

(Ps. xxxii. i),

Till saints high in heaven all sang in accord : —

0 Lord, Thou preser-vest man and least ; hoiv excellent is

Thy lo-ving-kindness (Ps. xxxvi. 6).

A thousand of men then came thronging together.

Crying upward to Christ and His kindly^mother

That grace might go with them, to seek saint Truth.

No wight was so wise that the way there he knew ;

They blundered, like beasts, over banks and o'er hills,

A long while, till late, when a lithe one they met.

Apparelled as a pagan, in pilgrim's guise.

He bare him a staff, with a broad strip bound,

That round it was twined like a woodbine's twist ;

A bowl and a bag he bare by his side ;

A hundred of vials were set on his hat,

Signs from Sinai, Gallician shells ;

With crosses on his cloak, and the keys of Rome,

And the vernicle before, for that men should discern

And see by his signs what shrines he had sought.

Then fain would this fol k know from whence he had come ?

" From Sinai," he said, "and the Sepulchre Holy,

Bethlehem and Babylon, I've been in them both,

Armenia, Alexandria, and other like places.

Ye may see by the signs that here sit on my hat

I have walked full widely, in wet and in dry,

And sought out good saints, for the health of my soul."

" Know'st thou a saint men entitle Saint Truth ?

Canst thou walk in the way now, to where He resides ?"540

*♦ Nay," said the good man, " so God be my guide,

I saw never palmer with pikestaff or scrip

That asked for Him ever, ere now in this place ! "

*' By Peter ! " quoth a ploughman, and put forth his head,

" I know him as closely as clerk doth his books !

Through Conscience and Kind-wit I ken where He dwelleth ;

They safely ensured me to serve Him for ever,

Both to sow and to set, while my strength shall endure.

I have faithfully followed him fifty long years.

Both sown Him His seed, and His cattle preserved ;

Within and without have I watched o'er His profit.

I dike and I delve, and do that He biddeth ;

Sometimes I sow, and sometimes I thrash ;

I am tailor or tinker, as Truth doth appoint ;

I weave or I wind, doing what so He biddeth.

Though I say it myself, my service He values ;

I have meed in good measure, and sometimes have more ;

None prompter to pay can a poor man find,

He withholds none his hire ; he hath it at even.

He's lowly as a lamb, and loving in speech ;

And would ye now wit well, where that He dwelleth.

Full well can I wend on my way to His place."

"Yea, Piers ! " quoth the pilgrims, and proffered him hire

To teach them the true way to Truth's own abode.

'•By my soul's health," quoth Piers, and was fain for to swear

*' Not a farthing I finger, for Saint Thomas's shrine !

Truth would love me the less for a long time after.

But would ye now wend there, the way there is this

That I set now before you ; I say you the sooth. —

Commence it through Meekness, ye men and ye women,

Till ye come unto Conscience, let Christ know the truth

How ye love well our Lord as the liefest of things.

And your neighbour the next, and in no wise requite him

Otherwise than thou wouldst he should do to thyself.

Bend forth by a brook named Be-courtly-of-speech,

Till ye find there a ford, called Honour-your-fathers : —

Honour thy father and thy mother (Exod. xx. 12) :

Wade through that water, and wash you well there ;

Ye shall leap then the lightlier, your lifetime after !

Then see shall ye Swear-not-except-ye-have-need-

And-name-not-in-vain-the-great-name-of-the-Lord.

Next come near a croft, but ne'er come ye therein ;

That croft is called Covet-not-men's-cattle-or-wives-

And-none-of-their-servants-that-might-them-annoy ;

So break ye no boughs there, save boughs of your own.

Two stocks there are standing, but stay ye not there,

Named Steal-not and Slay-not, but slip by them both,

Leave them on the left hand, and look not upon them ;

And Hold-well-thy-holiday-holy-till-even.

Next bend past a barrow, Bear-no-false-witness,

'Tis fenced in with florins and other like fees ;

Then pluck thou no plant there, for peril of thy soul.

Then see shall ye Say-Sooth-as-sooth-is-indeed-

And-otherwise-never-at-no-one's-request.

Next come to a court, as clear as the sun,

Its moat is of Mercy, the manor around,

The walls are of Wit, to guard against Will,

Embattled with Christendom, Christians to save.

Buttressed with Believe-so-or-saved-be-never.

The house is all covered, both chambers and halls,

Not with lead, but with Love, and Low-speech-of-brethren;

The bridge is of Pray-well-the-better-to-speed ;

Each pillar, of Penance or Prayers-to-the-Saints,

And of Almsdeeds, the hooks whereon hung are the gates.

Grace is the gate-ward, a good man forsooth ;

His man is Amend-you, full many men know him.

Tell him this token, which Truth will approve,

' I performed all the penance the priest did enjoin,

And am sorry for my sins, and so shall be ever

When thoughts of them throng me, yea, though I were pope ! '

Pray Amend-you full meekly his Master to ask

To throw wide the wicket the woman once shut

When Adam and Eve ate their apples unroasted : —

Through Eve tuas it closed to all, and through the Virgin

Mary was it opened again.

For His is the key, though the king should slumber.

If Grace shall once grant thee to go through the gate,

Thou shalt see, in thyself, Truth sit in thine heart,

In a chain of Charity, a child as thou wert.

To suffer but say naught 'gainst will of thy sire.

Beware then of Wrath-thee, most wicked of all.

He hath envy of Him that should sit in thine heart.

And putteth forth Pride and the Praise-of-thyself ;

Thy boasting of benefits maketh thee blind,

Till out thou art driven, and the door shut fast,

And closed with a key, to keep thee outside

A hundred years, haply, ere ever thou enter.

Thus thou losest His love, by uplifting thyself,

Ne'er, haply, to enter, save only by grace.

There are seven sweet sisters that serve Truth for ever,

Porters of posterns assigned to that place.

Abstinence is one, and Humility next,

Charity and Chastity, chief of His maidens,

Patience and Peace, many people they help ;

And Largesse, the lady that lets many in ;

From the pinfold of hell she hath helped out a thousand.

He that kinship can claim with these sisters seven

Is wondrously welcome, and well is received.

And except ye're akin to some one of the seven,

'Tis full hard, by my head, for any of you all

To go through the gate there, save grace may be yours."

"By Christ ! " quoth a cutpurse, "no kin have I there ! "

"Nor I," quoth an apeward, "for aught that I know." 640

" Wist I," quoth a wafer-man, " such were the truth,

No further I'd foot it, by friars' advice ! "

"Yes ! " quoth Piers Plowman, (their profit he sought,)

" Mercy's a maid there, hath might over all.

Akin to all sinners, as her Son is also ;

By help of these two (there is hope in none other)

Grace shalt thou get there, by going betimes."

" By Saint Paul," quoth a pardoner," perhaps I'm unknown there,

Where's my brief-box, my bull, and my bishop's letters?"

A common wench cried — " Thy companion I'll be,

And say I'm thy sister ; but see ! they are gone ! "

" A WILD way were this, save a guide were at hand,

XA. To follow us each foot ; " so the folks complained.

Quoth Perkin the ploughman — " By Saint Peter of Rome,

I must plough my half-acre, beside the highway ;

Had I plough'd my half-acre, and sown it well after,

I would wend with you people, and show you the way."

" 'Twould let us too long," quoth a lady in a veil,

" What should we women then work at the while ? "

" Some, sew up the sacks, against shedding the wheat ;

Ye, ladies so lovely, so long in the fingers, lO

Get sendal and silk ; and sew, at your leisure.

Chasubles for chaplains, our churches to honour.

97 H

Ye wives and ye widows, spin wool or spin flax ;

Make cloth as I counsel, and teach so your daughters.

The needy and naked, take note of their tatters,

And cast them some clothes, as Truth hath commanded.

I shall find them some livelihood, unless the land fail,

Both meat and good bread, both for rich and for poor.

As long as I live, for the love of our Lord.

All manner of men, that meat earn and drink,

Help them to work well, that win you your food."

" 'Tis true ! " quoth a knight then, " he teaches us best;

But truly, this knowledge was taught to me never ;

Now teach me, and trust me to try to do well."

" By Paul, now," quoth Perkin, " ye proffer so fair,

I will sweat in thy service, and tow for us both,

For thy love will I labour, while life shall endure,

In covenant that thou keep holy kirk and myself

From wasters and wantons, this world that destroy.

Go, hardily hunt both the hares and the foxes,

The boars and the brocks, that would break down my hedges ;

Go, fling up thy falcons the wild fowl to kill.

For they come to my croft, and would crop off my wheat."

Courteously the knight then commenced to reply,

" As my power is, Piers, here I plight thee my troth

To fulfil this fair offer, though fighting ensue ;

As long as I live will I lend thee mine aid."

" One point yet," quoth Piers, " I would pray you to grant !

O'ertax thou no tenant, save Truth will assent !

And though thou amerce them, let Mercy be taxer !

Be Meekness thy master, let Meed go unheeded ;

Though poor men should proffer thee presents and gifts,

Decline them, in case that thy claim be denied ;

Lest thou yield them again, at the year's full end.

In a perilous place, that is Purgat'ry named !

Beguile not thy bondman, the better thou'lt speed ;

Though under thee here, it may happen in heaven

His seat may be higher, in saintlier bliss,

Than thine, save thou labour to live as thou shouldst ;

Friend^ go up higher (Luke xiv. 10).

In the charnel at church, churls are hard to discern,

Or a knight from a knave there ; this know in thy heart.

And be true of thy tongue ; all tales shalt thou hate

Save of wisdom or wit, that may workmen reprove.

Hold with no ribalds, nor hear thou their tales,

And mostly at meat such men shalt thou shun ;

They're the devil's own tell-tales, I do thee to know."

" I assent, by Saint James," said the knight in reply ;

" I will work by thy words, while my life shall endure."

" I'll apparel me," quoth Piers, " in a pilgrim's guise,

And wend with you will I, till Truth we may find.

I'll cast on my clothes, be they cobbled or whole,

My gaiters and cuffs, lest cold be my nails;

A basket, behind me, shall be for a scrip ;

A bushel of bread-corn I'll bring me therein ;

I'll sow it myself, and right soon will I wend

On pilgrimage, like palmers, a pardon to gain.

Whoso helps me to plough here, or sow, ere I wend.

Shall gain him a good right to glean here in harvest,

Therewith to make merry, though many begrudge him.

And craftsmen of all kinds, whose callings are true,

I will find them in food while they faithfully live ;

Save Jackie the juggler, and Janet the frail,

Daniel the dicer, and Denot the bawd.

The friar that feigneth, and folks of his order,

And Robin the ribald, for his rustic words.

For Truth hath me told, and bade tell it again —

* Let their names be deleted, and deal with them never ;

No tithes should be taken from traitors like these.'

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; and not

be ivritten with the righteous (Ps. Ixix. 28).

By good luck, they live yet ! May God them amend ! "

Dame Work-when-time-is Piers' wife was surnamed;

His daughter, Do-so-or-thy-dame-shall-thee beat ;

His son, SufFer-sov'reigns-to-have-all-their-will-

If-thou-darest-to-judge-them-thou'lt-dearly-abide-it.

" May God be with all, with His word for our guide !

Now I'm hoary and old, having goods of my own,

To penance and pilgrimage I'll pass with the others ;

And I wish, ere I wend, now to write out my will.

' In God's name, amen ! lo ! I make it myself.

May God have my soul, who hath saved and deserved it,

And defend it from fiends, for so I believe,

Till I come to account, as the creed me instructs.

For release and remission of rental, I hope.

Let the kirk have my carrion, and keep well my bones,

For of corn and of cattle she craved the tithe.

I paid it her promptly, for peril of my soul ;

She is holden, I hope, to have me in her masses,

And in memory mind me, amongst her believers.

My wife shall have only what fairly I won,

To deal 'mong my daughters and dear little boys.'

Though I die should to day, of all debts am I quit ; lOO

I bare back what I borrowed, ere going to bed.

With the rest and the remnant, by the rood of Lucca !

1 will worship therewith Saint Truth, while I live,

And at plough be His pilgrim, for poor men's sakes.

My plough-foot, for pikestaff, shall pick up the roots,

While my coulter shall carve through and cleanse out the

furrows."

Now Piers and his pilgrims to the plough are gone ;

To plough his half-acre there helped him full many ;

Dikers and delvers, they digged up the balks.

And Perkin was pleased then, and praised them at work.

Other workmen there were too, that eagerly worked ;

Each man, in his manner, well made his attempt ;

And some, to please Perkin, would pick up the weeds.

Then Piers, at high prime, the plough he let stand,

To o'ersee them himself ; and whoso best wTought

Should be hired thereafter, when harvest-time came.

Some sat down at ease, and sung in the ale-house.

Their help in the ploughing was — " hi ! tooral, lay ! "

" On peril of my soul ! " quoth Piers in his anger,

" Except ye rise quickly, and run to your work,

Not a grain that here groweth shall gladden your need ;

Though ye die of spare diet, who careth a doit : "

Then false men were frightened, and feigned they were blind.

Some laid up their legs, as such liars know how,

And bemoaned them to Piers, and prayedfor his grace : — 125

" Our limbs cannot labour, so willeth the Lord !

We pray for thee. Piers, and thy ploughshare as well,

That God, of His grace, may your grain increase.

And repay you what pittance for us ye provide ;

Exertion would slay us, such sickness us aileth ! " 130

" If ye say sooth," said Piers, " I soon shall espy !

Ye are wasters, I wot well, and Truth wot the sooth !

As His servant, full surely I seek Him to warn

What wights in this world here His workmen annoy.

Ye waste what men win with hard travail and work ;

But Truth soon shall teach you His teams how to drive.

Or your bread shall be barley, your drink of the brook !

The blind and the bedrid, or broken of limb,

Their bread shall be wheat-bread, their drink shall be mine,

Till God, of His goodness, amendment may send.

Ye must travail as Truth wills, and take meat and hire,

Keeping kine in the field, or the cattle from corn ;

Ye must dike or must delve, or must thrash out the sheaves.

Or help to make mortar, or bear muck a-field.

In lechery and laziness live ye, and sloth,

And all through God's suff'rance,that spares you frompain!

But hermits and anchorites, who eat but at noon,

And no more till the morrow, mine alms shall they have ;

My chattels are theirs, that have cloisters and churches.

But runagate Robert shall naught have of mine,

Nor preachers, save such as the bishop empowers ;

They shall bread have and broth, and abide at their ease.

For religion, in reason, hath somewhat for certain."

Then a waster waxed wroth, and was willing to fight ;

And to Perkin the ploughman he proffered his glove ;

A Breton, a braggart, next boasted to Piers,

Bade him pack with his plough, for a peevish rogue !

" Will ye or nill ye, we'll have what we want.

Thy flour and thy flesh-meat we'll fetch when we please,

And make ourselves merry, though much ye resist ! " 160

Then Perkin the ploughman complained to the knight.

To keep him, by covenant, from cursed deceivers,

And from wasters like wolves, that make the world dear : —

" They waste and they win not, and ne'er, the mean while.

Will people have plenty — my plough lying idle." 165

Kindly the knight then, in courteous wise,

Warned well the waster, and wooed him to profit —

" Or abide by the law, by the order I bear ! "

'* I was ne'er wont to work, and I will not begin : " —

He made light of the law, and still less of the knight,

Setting Piers and his plough at a peashell's price,

And menaced his men, whensoever they met.

" Now, on peril of my soul, I shall punish you all ! " —

Piers whooped after Hunger, who heard him at once,

(( Wreak woe on these wasters, theworld who destroy ! " 1 7 5

Then Hunger caught Waster in haste by the maw.

And wrung so his belly, that both his eyes watered ;

That Breton he buffeted on both cheeks about,

That he looked like a lantern his lifetime thereafter !

He beat so their bodies, he burst half their ribs.

Had not Piers, with a pease-loaf, prayed Hunger to cease.

They soon had been buried, believe thou naught else !

" Let them live with the hogs, let them eat what they leave,

Or broad beans and bran, that are baked well together.

Or milk and some mild ale" — thus Piers for them prayed.

Then false men, for fear, fled fast to the barns,

And flapped on with flails, from morning till eve.

Till Hunger less hardy was on them to gaze.

For a potful of peasen that Piers had got ready.

A heap too of hermits caught hold of their spades,

And curtailed their copes, and so made them short-coated.

And went forth as workmen with shovels and spades.

Still diking and delving, to drive away Hunger.

The bedrid and blind then were bettered by thousands ;

Who sat to beg silver, full soon were they healed.

Bread baked for bay horses was help to the hungry,

And beggars would bend to their labour for beans ;

Each poor man was pleased to have pease for his hire,

To what Piers prayed them do, they were prompt as a hawk.

Thereof was Piers proud, and soon put them to work,

Giving meat as he might, and a moderate hire.

Then pity had Piers, praying Hunger to go

Fast home to his own place, and hold him content —

" Of wasters, through thee, am I well now avenged.

But I pray, ere thou pass hence," quoth Piers to Sir Hunger,

" With mendicant beggars what's best to be done ?

For I wot, when thou wendest, they'll work with ill will;

'Tis misfortune that m.akes them so meek to obey,

For default of their food is this folk at my will.

They're my brethren by blood, God bought us alike;

Truth taught me betimes to love all mankind.

And help them in all things, as each should have need.

And now would I wit of thee, what were the best,

How may I them master, and make them to work ? "

" Hear now," quoth Hunger, " and hold it as wisdom ;

Bold beggars and big, that their bread well may earn,

With hounds' bread and horse-bread hold up their hearts ;

Abate them with beans, lest their bellies grow fat ;

If the grumblers demur, bid them go to their work ;

They'll sup all the sweeter, when supper is earned.

If thou find any feeble, by Fortune oppressed.

Or defrauded by false men, then find out their needs,

Comfort and keep them, for Christ's sake in heaven ;

Love them and lend, as the law of God teacheth:

Bear ye one another's burdens (Gal. vi. 2).

All manner of men, that thou mightest espy,

That are needy and naught have, such help with thy goods ;

Love them, not loathe them, leave vengeance to God ;

And though they do ill, 'tis not thine to chastise : —

Vengeance is mine ; I will repay (Rom. xii. 19).

God's grace wouldst thou gain, be the gospel thy guide.

Be loved by the low folk, so look for His grace : — 230

Male to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteous-

ness (Luke xvi. 9)."

" I ne'er would grieve God, for the wealth of the world,

May I do so and sin not ? " said Piers in reply.

" So be it," said Hunger, " the Bible is witness ;

Lo, Genesis the giant, engend'rer of all : —

'In sweat and in sorrow thy meat shalt thou earn,

And for livelihood labour,' our Lord so ordained.

Saith Sapience the same, as I saw in the Bible ;

* The sluggard in snow-time forsaketh the plough.

Let him beg then in harvest, and none help his hunger '

(Prov. XX. 4).

Matthew * with-the-man's-face ' a parable made,

How the man with the talent to traffic refused.

And his master dismissed him, with blame evermore ;

His talent he took, since toil would he never,

And transferred it to him who the ten talents had.

And proclaimed in the hearing of all holy church,

' He that hath, still shall have, for help in his need ;

He that naught hath, shall naught have, and none shall him help;

What he weeneth to have, I will also withdraw ' (Matt.

XXV. 24-29).

E'en Common-sense wills that each wight ought to work

In ditching or delving, or travailing in prayer;

Contemplative or active life Christ hath ordained.

Saith the psalter in the psalm of beat't-omties,

* He that feedeth himself with his faithful labour

Is blessed,' the Book saith, *in body and in soul.'

For thou shah eat the labour of thine hands ; happy shalt

thou be.'* (Ps. cxxviii. 2.)

"Yet I pray thee," quoth Piers, "for love, if ye know

Any lesson of leechcraft, I pray, let me learn.

For some of my servants, and myself also,

A whole week we work not ; our stomachs so ache ! "

" I wot well," quoth Hunger, "what sickness you aileth;

Ye have munched overmuch, and that maketh you groan.

But I bid thee," quoth Hunger, " if health thou wouldst gain.

That thou drink not each day, ere thou partly hast dined.

Eat not, I bid thee, ere hunger thee taketh.

And sends thee his sauce, to give savour to meat.

And keep some till supper, and sit not too long ;

Arise up ere appetite has eaten his fill.

Let not Sir Surfeit once sit at thy board ;

Nor deal as he deemeth ; he's dainty of tongue.

Of many strange meats his maw is an-hungered.

If thou diet thee thus, I dare lay mine ears,

That Physic his furred hoods will sell for his food.

And his cloak of choice fur, with its buttons of gold,

And be fain, by my faith ! his physic to leave,

And learn lab'ring on land ; for lifelihood's sweet.

Many leeches are murd'rers ! The Lord them amend

Men die, through their drinks, ere destiny claims them."

" By Saint Paul ! " quoth Piers, '< these are profitable words.

10 J

Wend, Hunger, when thou wilt, well be thee for ever !

For thy laudable lesson the Lord thee requite ! " 279

" Hark now," quoth Hunger, " ne'er hence will I wend

Ere to-day I have dined, and have drunk well also."

" I've no penny," quoth Piers, '* young pullets to buy,

Nor bacon nor geese, only two green cheeses,

Some curds and some cream, and an oaten cake,

Two bean-loaves with bran, just baked for my children.

And I say, by my soul, I have no salt bacon,

Nor eggs, by my Christendom, collops to make ;

Only onions and parsley, and cabbage-like plants ;

Eke a cow and a calf, and an old cart-mare

To draw afield dung, while the drought shall prevail.

By such food must we live, until Lammas-time come,

I hope I may have then some harvest afield ;

And I'll dight thee a dinner, as dearly will please me."

Then all the poor people their pea-shells brought,

Beans and baked apples they brought in their laps,

Young onions and chervils and ripe cherries many.

And proffered these presents, Sir Hunger to please.

All Hunger ate hastily, and asked for some more !

Then poor folk, for fear, fed Hunger with speed.

And thought him to poison with peas and green leeks.

Then harvest drew nigh, new corn came to market,

And folks were full fain, and fed Hunger right well

With good ale, as a glutton, and got him to sleep.

Then would Waster not work, but would wander about, ^

Nor beggar eat bread wherein beans had a part, 305 ;

But flour of the finest, and wheat of the whitest ;

Nor halfpenny-ale would in any wise drink.

But the best and the brownest the borough could sell.

Then labourers landless, that lived by their hands.

Would deign not to dine upon worts a day old ;

No penny-ale pleased them, no piece of good bacon.

Only fresh flesh or fish, well fried or well baked.

Ever hot and still hotter, to heat well their maw.

He must highly be hired, or else will he chide.

Bewailing his woe, as a v/orkman to live. 3 i 5

'Gainst the counsel of Cato he loudly complains —

^ Let poverty^ s burden he patiently borne.'

He grumbles 'gainst God, and grieves without reason,

And curses the king, and his counsel after.

Who license the laws that the labourers grieve.

While Hunger was master, no man would complain,

Nor strive 'gainst the statute ; so sternly he looked.

I warn you, ye workmen, to win while ye may ;

For Hunger now hitherward hastens full fast,

To wake you with water, and wasters to starve.

Ere five years be fulfilled, such a famine shall rise,

Through floods and foul weather the fruits shall all fail ;

So Saturn hath said, and hath sent you to warn. —

When the sun seems amiss, and ye see two monks' heads,

And a maid have the mast'ry, and multiply by eight,

Then Death shall withdraw him, but Dearth shall be justice.

And Davy the ditcher shall die yet of hunger,

Save God, of His goodness, will grant us a truce.

PASSUS VII.

THE ploughman's PARDON.

TRUTH heard tell hereof, and to Piers He sent,

To take him his team, and to till well the earth ;

And procured him a pardon 'from pain and from guilt,'

For him and his heirs, for evermore after.

He bade hold him at home, and his horse-plough employ ;

All that helped him to plough, and to set, and to sow.

Or in any employment that Piers might assist,

Like pardon with Piers hath Truth to them granted.

Kings too and knights, such as keep holy church.

And rightly in realms ever rule o'er the people, i

Have pardon through purgat'ry to pass with much ease,

With patriarchs and prophets, in Paradise, fellows.

And bishops so blest, if they be, as they should,

Legists of both laws, to laymen to preach.

Who, as much as they may, all sinners amend,

Are peers with th' apostles — such pardon Piers showed —

At the high day of doom on the dais to sit.

Merchants i' th' margin had many long years,

But 'from pain and from guilt' would the Pope none grant;

For they keep not their holidays, as holy church teacheth,

And they swear *by their soul,' and ' so God be their help,*

Clear against conscience, their chattels to sell.

But under secret seal Truth sent them a letter.

Full boldly to buy what best they could choose.

And sell it soon after and save well the profit,

Therewith to build hospitals, helping the sick.

Or roads that are rotten full rightly repair.

Or bridges, when broken, to build up anew,

Well marry poor maidens, or make of them nuns.

Poor people and pris'ners with food to provide,

Set scholars to school, or to some other crafts,

And relieve the religious, enhancing their rents ; —

*'I will send you Myself then Saint Michael Mine angel,

Lest fiends should assault you, or fright you when dying,

To help you from hopeless despair, and to send

In safety your souls to My saints in their bliss."

Then merchants were merry, wept many for joy,

And praised Piers the Ploughman, who purchased this bull.

Least pardon had lawyers, who pleaded for meed ;

The psalter saves none such as seek after bribes

From innocents even, no evil that know : —

He that taketh not reivard against the innocent (Ps. xv. 5).

If pleaders took pains but to plead for the feeble.

Princes and prelates should pay for their trouble : —

From kings and from princes shall come their reward.

Many justices and jurors for Jack will do more

Than for love of the Lord — believe this is true.

He that spendeth his speech, and speaks for the poor

That's needy and innocent, and no one hath harmed.

Comforts his case, nor covets great gifts,

Showing law for our Lord's love, e'en such as he learnt.

No devil at 's deathday shall dare him to fright,

But his soul shall be safe, as the psalter bears witness : —

Lordy 'who shall abide in thy tabernacle? (Ps. xv. l).

Water and wind, wit, and fire are free ;

These four did our Father make common to all,

And these are Truth's treasures, true people to help.

Ne'er waxing nor waning, but like God Himself.

When they draw near to death, and indulgences seek,

Their pardon is poor, at their parting hence,

Who meed from poor people for pleading demand.

Ye legists and lawyers, believe in the truth ;

The mark if I miss, then is Matthew to blame,

Who bade me to mark, and this maxim me told : —

ylll things ivhat soever ye ivould that men should do to you^

do ye even so to them (Matt. vii. 12).

All living lab'rers, that live by their hands,

Who truly receive and as truly perform,

Who in love live, and law, for their lowly hearts

Have the same absolution that sent was to Piers.

But mendicant beggars are not in the bull.

Save the cause that inclines them to begging be true.

He that begs or beseeches, save bitter his need,

Is as false as the fiend, and defraudeth the needy,

Beguiling the giver against what he would.

If he knew he'd no need, he would give to another

More needy than he, and the neediest help.

Thus counsels us Cato, and *the clerk of the stories ' : —

Cut des, videtOy is Cato's own teaching ;

And ' the stories ' instruct us how alms to bestow : — 75

Let thine alms remain in thine own handy ivhilst thou

considerest to luhom to give.

But Gregory, good man, bade give unto all

That ask, for His love's sake, that lent to us all things : —

Choose not ivhom to pity, lest thou pass him by ivho is

luorthy to receive ; for thou knoiuest not through ivhom

thou may est most please God.

Ye know not who's worthy, but God knows his need ;

The receiver's the traitor, if treason there be.

He that giveth, imparts, and prepares for his rest ;

He that beggeth but borrows, and brings him in debt.

For beggars still borrow, with God for their surety.

Who repayeth the gift, giving usury also : —

Wherefore gavest not thou my money into the bank^ that at

my coming I might have required mine own ivith

usury ? (Luke xix. 23).

Then beg not, ye beggars, save great be your need ;

He that buyeth his bread, as the book beareth witness,

Enough hath, that bread hath, though naught he have else : —

He is rich enough, ivho lacks not bread.

Learn rest and contentment by reading Saints' Lives.

The Bible bans beggars, and blames them e'en thus : —

/ have been young, and now am old ; yet have I not seen

the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread (Ps.

xxxvii. 25).

Ye live in no love, and no law observe ;

Full often ye wed not the women ye deal with ; . . .

They bring forth bairns that are bastards accounted ;

His back or his bone if one breaks in his youth,

Ye go forth to beg with that bairn ever after.

More people misshapen are seen among beggars

Than among all the many that move o'er the earth.

They that live such a life may the moment long loathe

Of birth, when the time comes that takes them away.

But old men and hoary, and helpless of strength,

And women with child, that to work are unable,

Bedrid and blind men, or broken in limb.

That pain bear in patience, like lepers or others,

Have as plenary pardon as Piers hath himself;

For love of their low hearts our Lord hath them granted

Their penance and purgat'ry here upon earth.

" Piers ! " quoth a priest then, " thy pardon I'd read ;

And construe each clause, and declare it in English."

Then Piers, at his prayer, the pardon unfolded,

And behind both the twain I beheld all the bull.

In two lines it lay, and ne'er a leaf more, no

And was written right thus, as was witnessed by Truth : —

They that have done good, shall go into life everlasting :

j4nd they that have done evil, into everlasting Jire.

" By Saint Peter ! " the priest said, « no pardon I find

Save ' Do-well and have-well, and God have thy soul,'

And ' Do-ill and have-ill, and hope nothing else

But, after thy death-day, the devil have thy soul.' " 115

And Piers, for pure anger, then pulled it in twain.

And said : — " Though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death ^ I will fear no evil ; for thou art with

me (Ps. xxiii. 4).

I shall cease from my sowing, and toil not so hard.

And for needs of the body be busy no more !

With prayers and with penance I plough will hereafter,

And weep in my sleep-time, though wheat-bread should fail.

The prophet his bread ate in penance and sorrow,

As the psalter hath said, and so did many others ;

They that loyally love God can live upon little : —

My tears have been my meat day and night (Ps. xlii. 3).

Unless that Luke lie, we may learn from the birds.

We should ne'er be too busy about worldly bliss ;

Ne solUciti sitisy he saith in the gospel {Luke xii. 22),

And shows us examples, ourselves to instruct : —

Who finds food in winter for fowls of the field ?

They've no garner to go to, but God finds it all."

"What?" the priest said to Piers, "by Saint Peter,

me thinketh,

■'■■^' ' t l*aWM3ta», II.I.H tTl[-|LltJ.LBI>LilllJ.WiM.li

Thou'rt lettered a little ; who taught thee thy book ? "

" Abstinence the abbess my A-b-c taught me,

And Conscience came after, and counselled me more."

" Wert thou priest," quoth he, " Piers ! thou might'st

preach when thou wouldst.

As divinity-doctor, on dixit imiplens .'" (Ps. xiv. i).

"Rude wretch! " replied Piers, " little read'stthou the Bible,

For Solomon's saws thou hast seldom regarded : —

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out." (Prov.

xxii. 10.)

The priest then and Perkin opposed one another ;

Through their words I awoke, looking warily round.

And the sun in the south saw I sitting that time ;

Meatless and moneyless, on Malvern hills.

Did I ponder this dream while departing for home.

Full often this dream hath induced me to study

Whate'er I saw sleeping, if so it might be : —

For Perkin the ploughman full pensive in heart ;

What a pardon had Piers, all to comfort the people ;

How the priest had impugned it with two special words.

But I love not expounding ; experience fails.

Cato and canonists counsel us never

To seek exposition : — tie somnia cures.

And yet the book Bible bears witness to all men,

How Daniel divined the dreams of a king

That Nebuchadnezzar is named of clerks.

Said Daniel, " sir king, thy dream doth betoken

That strangers shall come here thy kingdom to cleave ;

Amongst lower lords shall thy lands be divided."

As Daniel decided, indeed it befell,

The king lost his lordship, which lower men took.

And Joseph dreamt marvels ; the moon and the sun.

And eleven bright stars all stooped in obeisance ;

And Jacob thus judged as to Joseph's dream.

" Dear son," quoth his father, " we must, for default,

Myself and my sons, sometime seek thee for food."

It befell as his father said ; Pharaoh was king.

And Joseph was justice all Egypt to judge.

It befell so, his father and friends there him sought.

All this doth induce me to dwell on my dreams.

And how the priest proved no pardon like Do-well,

Deciding that Do-well indulgences passed,

Biennials, triennials, and letters of bishops ;

Thus Do-well at doomsday is dearly received,

Surpassing the pardon of Peter's own church.

The pope, by his power, can pardon the people ;

Without any penance they pass into heaven ;

And so I believe, e'en as lettered men tell us : — 175

Whatsoever thou shalt hind on earth shall be hound in heaven

(Matt. xvi. 19).

So I likewise believe — the Lord forbid else! —

That pardon and penance and prayers can save

Souls that have sinned, yea, seven times deadly !

But to trust to triennials, truly me thinketh.

Is less safe for the soul, for certain, than Do-well !

Then know ye, ye nobles, ye rich ones on earth,

Having trust in your treasure, triennials to buy,

Be never the bolder to break the ten bests ;

And least should ye masters, ye mayors and ye judges,

That have wealth in the world, and as wise men are holden,

Purchase you pardons, or bulls from the pope.

At the dreadful doom, when the dead shall arise,

And come before Christ, their accounts to submit.

How thou leddest thy life here, and keptest His laws,

What thou didst day by day, the doom will rehearse.

With a pokeful of pardons, or provincial letters,

Tho' ye're found in fraternity of all the four orders,

With indulgences doubled, save Do-well you help,

Your patents and pardons a pea-shell are worth !

So I counsel all Christians to cry for God's mercy,

Praying Mary His mother to mediate also.

That God give us grace now, before we go hence,

Such works for to work, e'en while we are here,

That, after our death-day, then Do-well may witness.

At the great day of doom, that we did as He bade.