The plouumans tale compylled by syr Geffrey Chaucher knyght

The plouumans tale compylled by syr Geffrey Chaucher knyght

Table of contents

Title page

The prologue. ¶ Here begynneth the Plowmans Prologue.

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The Plouumans tale compylled by syr Geffray Chaucher knyght.

The prologue.
¶ Here begynneth the Plowmans Prologue.

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THe plowemā plucked vp hys plowe.

Whan midsomer mone was comē in

And said his beestes shuld eate ynow

And lige in the grasse vp to the chynne

They ben feble both oxe and cowe

Of he m [...]nys left but bone and skynne

He shoke of shere and coultre o [...] drowe

And honge his harneys on a pynne.

☞ He toke his tabard and his state e [...]e

And on his heed he set hys hat

And sayde he wolbe saynt Thomas seke

On pylgremage he goth forth platte

In scrippe he bare both breed and lekes

He was forswonke and all forswatte

Men might haue sene through both his chekes

And euery wang toth and where it sat

¶ Our hoste behelde well about

And lawe thys man was sunne ybrent

[Page]He knewe well by hys senged snoute

And by hys clothes that were to rent

He was a man wont to walke about

He nas nat alwaye in cloystre ypent

He coulde not religeouslyche loute

And therfore was he fully shent.

¶ Our host him axed, what man art thou?

Syr quod he) I am an hyne

For I am wont to go to the plowe

And erne my meate yet that I dyne

To swete and swinke I make auowe

My wyfe and chyldren therwyth to fynde

And serue god and I wist howe

But we leude men bene full blynde.

¶ For clerkes saye we shullen be fayne

For her lyuelod swet and swynke

And they ryght nought vs gyue agayne

Neyther to eate ne yet to drinke

The mowe by lawe, as they sayne

Vs curse and dampne to hel brynke

Thus they putten vs to payne

Wyth candles queynt and belles clyncke

[Page]

¶ They make vs thralles at her lust

And sayne we mowe nat eles be saued

They haue the corne and we the duste

Who speaketh ther agayn they say he raued

¶ what mā ꝙ our host canst thou preach

Come nere and tell vs some holy thyng

¶ Syr quod he, I herde ones teache

A prest in pulpyt a hood preachnyge

¶ Saye on quod our host, I the beseche.

Syr I am redy at your byddyng

I praye you that no man me reproche

Whyle that I am my tale tellynge.

❧ Thus endeth the prologue, & here foloweth the fyrst parte of the tale.

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1

A Sterne stryfe is stered newe

In many stedes in a stounde

Of sondry sedes that bene sewe

It semeth that some ben vnsounde

For some be great growen vngrounde

Some bene souble, symple and small

Whether of hem is falser founde

[Page]The falser foule mote hym befall

¶ That one syde is that I of tel

Popes▪ cardynals and prelates

Parsons, monkes, and freers fell

Priours, abbotes of greate estates

Of heuyn and hell they kepe the yeates

And Peters successours they ben all

This is demed by olde dates

But falshed foule mought it befall

¶ The other syde ben poore and pale

And people put oute of prease

And seme caytyffes sore a cale

And euer in one without encrease

I clepeth lollers and lōdlese

Who toteth on hem they bene vntall

They ben arayed all for the peace,

But falshed foule mote it befall.

¶ Many a coūtreye haue I sought

To knowe the falser of these two

But euer my trauyle was for nought

All so f [...]rre as I haue go

[...] as I wrandred in a wro

[Page]In a wodde besyde a wall

Tho fowles sawe I sette tho

The fals foule mote hym befall

❧ That one dyd plede on the Popes syde

A gryffon of a grimme stature

A Pellycane withouten pryde

To these lollers layde his lure

He mused his matter in measure

To counsayle Christ euer gan he call

The gryffon shewed as sharpe as fyre

But falshed foule mote it befall

The Pyllycan began to preache

Both of mercy and of mekenesse

And sayd that Chryst so gan vs teache

And meke and mercyable gan blesse

The Euangely beareth wytnesse

A lambe he lykeneth Christ ouer al

In tokenynge that he mekest was

Sith pride was out of heuen fal.

¶ And so shoulde euery Christened be

Prestes, Peters successourp

[Page]Beth lowlyche and of lowe degree.

And vsen none erthly honours

Neyther crowne, ne curious couetours

Ne pylloure, ne other proude pal

Ne nought to cofren vp great treasours

For falshed foule mote it befall

¶ Preestes shoulde for no cattel plede.

But chasten hem in charyte

Ne to no bateyle shoulde men lede

For inhaunsyng of her awne degree

Nat wylne syttynges in hye see

Ne soueraynte in house ne hall

All wordely worshippe defye and flee

For who so wylleth highnes foule shal fall

¶ Alas who may such sayntes call

That wylneth weld erthly honour

As lowe as Lucifere such shall fall

In baleful blackenesse ybuylden her boure

That eggeth the people to erroure

And maketh them to hem thrall

To Chryst I holde such one traytrur

As lowe as Lucifer suche one shall fall

[Page]

That wylleth to be kynges peeres

And hygher than the Emperour

Some that were but poore freers

Nowe wollen waxe a warryour

God is nat her gouernour.

That holdeth no man hys permagall

Whyle couetyse is her counsaylour

All such falshed mote nede fal

¶ That hye on horse willeth ryde

In glytterande golde of greate araye

I paynted and portred al in pryde

No commen knight maye go so gay

Chaunge of clothynge euery day

Wyth golden gyrdles great and small

As boystous as it bere at bay

All suche falshed mote nede fall.

¶ Wyth pryde punyshed the poore

And some they sustayne wyth sale

Of holy churche maketh an hore

And fylleth her wombe wyth wyne and ale

Wyth money fylleth many a male

And chaffren churches when they fall

[Page]And telleth the people a leude tale

Suche false faytours foule them befall

¶ Wyth chaunge of manye maner meates

With songe and solace syttyng long

And fylleth her wombe, and fast fretes

And from the meate to the gonge

And after meat wyth harpe and songe

And eche man mote hem lordes call

And hote spyces euer amonge

Suche false faytours foule hem fal

¶ And myters mo than one or two

I perled as the quenes heed

A staffe of golde, and pyrry lo

As heuy as it were made of lead

Wyth cloth of golde both newe and redde

Wyth gltterande golde as grene as gall

By dome wyll dampne men to deed

All suche faytours foule hem fall

¶ And Christes people proudly curse

Wyth brode boke, and b [...]aying bell

To putte pennyes in her purse

[Page]They woll sell both heuen and hel

And in her sentence and thou wylt dwel

They wyllen gesse in her gay hall

And though the soth thou of hem tell

In great cursynge shalt thou fal

❧ That is blessed, that they blesse

And cursed that they curse woll

And thus the people they oppresse

And haue theyr lord shyppes at full

And many be merchauntes of woll

And to purs penyes woll come thrall

The poore people they all to pul

Suche false faytours full hem fall

¶Lordes mote to hem loute

Obeysaunt to her brode blessynge

They ryden wyth her royall route

On a courser, as it were a kinge

Wyth saddle of golde glytteryng

Wyth curyous harneys quayntly crallyt

Styroppes gaye of golde mastlyng

All suche falshed foule it befall

[Page]

¶ Christes mynisters clepen they bene

And rulen all in robberye

But Antichrist they seruen clene

Attyred all in tyrannye

Wytnesse of Iohns prophecye

That Antichriste is her admirall

Tyffelers attyred in trecherye

All suche faytours foule hem fall.

¶ Who sayth that some of hem may synne

He shalbe done to be deed

Some of hem woll gladly wynne

All ayenst that whyche god forbed

All holyest they clepen her heed

That of her rule is regall

Alas that euer they eten breed

For all suche falshed woll foule fall

❧ Her heed loueth all honour

And to be worshypped in worde and dede

Kynges mote to hem knele and coure

To the apostles, that Christ forbede

To Popes hestes suche taketh more hede

Than to kepe Christes commaundement

[Page]Of gold and syluer mote ben her wede

They holdeth hym hole omnipotent

❧ He ordayneth by hys ordynaunce

To paryshe preestes a powere

To another a greater auaunce

A greater poynt to his mistere

But for he is hyghest in erth here

To hym reserueth he many a point

But to Christ that hath no pere

Reserueth he neyther opyn no ioynt

❧ So semeth he aboue all

And Christ aboue hym nothynge

Whan he sytteth in hys stall

Dampneth and saueth as hym thynke

Suche pride to fore god doth stynke

An angell bad Iohn to hym nat knele

But only to god do his bowynge

Such wyllers of worship must nede euyll fele

¶hey ne clepen Christ, but sanctus deus

And clepen her hedd Sanctissimus

They that suche a secte sewys

[Page]I trowe they taken hem amysse

In erth here they haue her blysse

Her hye master is Belyal

Chrystes people from hem wysse

For all suche false wyll foule fall

¶ They mowe both bynde and lose

And all is for her holy lyfe

To saue or dampne they mowe chose

Betwene hem now is great stryfe

Many a man is kylled with a knyfe

To wete whych of hem haue lordshyp shall

For suche Chryst suffred woundes fyue

For all suche falshed wyll foule fall

¶ Chryst saed: Out glady [...] percutit

W [...]th swerde shall dye

He had his preestes peace and gryth

And bad hem not drede for to dye

And bad them be both symple and slye

And carke not for no cattell

And trusteth on god that sytteth on hye

For all false shall foule fall

¶ These wollen make men to swere

[Page]Ayenst Chrystes commaundement

And Chrystes membres all to tere

On roode, as he were newe yrent

Suche lawes they make by commen assent

Eche on it choweth as a ball

Thus the poore be fully shent

But euer falshed foule it befall.

¶ They vsen no symonye

But sellen churches and prioryes

Ne they vsen no enuye

But cursen all hem contraryes

And hyreth men by dayes and yeres

Wyth strength to holde hem in her stall

And culleth all her aduersaries

Therfore falshed foule thou fall

¶ Wyth purse they purchase personage

Wyth purse they paynen hem to plede

And men of warre they woll wage

To brynge her enemyes to the dede

And lordes lyues they woll lede

And moche take, and gyue but small

But he it so get, from it shall shede

And make suche false right foule fall

[Page]

¶ They halowe nothynge but for hyre

Church, font, ne vestment

And make orders in euerye shyr

But preistes paye for the parchement

Of riatours they taken rent

Therwith thy smere the shyppes sakll

For many churches ben oft suspent

All such falshed yet foule it fall.

Some lyueth nat in lecherye

But haunten wenches, widdowes & wyues

And punysheth the poore for putrye

Them selfe it vseth al theyr lyues

And but a man to them shryues

To heuen come neuer he shall

He shal be cucsed as be captyues

To hell they sayne that he shall fall

¶ There was more mercy in Maxemyen

And in Nero, that neuer was good

Than is nowe in some of them

Whan he hath on hys furred hoode

They folowe Christ that shedde hys blode

To heuen, as buckette into the wall

[Page]Such wreches ben worse than wode

And all such faytours foule hem fall

¶ They gyue her almesse to the ryche

To maynteynours, and to men of law

For to lordes they woll be lyche

In harlottes sonne nat worthe an hawe

Soth fastenesse such han slawe

They kembe her crokettes with christal

And drede, of god they haue downe drawe

All suche faytours foule hem fall

¶ They maken parsons for the pennye

And canons of her cardynals

Vnnethes amongest hem all any

That he ne hath glosed the gospell fals

For Christ made neuer no cathedrals

Ne wyth hym was no cardynall

Wyth a Redde hatte as vsyn mynstrals

But falshed foule mote it befal

¶ Theyr tything, and her offering both

The [...] clemeth it by possessyon

Therof nyll they none forgo

But robben men as raunsome

The tythynge of Turpe lucrum

[Page]Wyth these maisters is meynall

Tythynge of bribry, and larson

Wyll make falshed woll foule fal

¶ They taken to ferme her sompnours

To harme the people what they may

To pardoners, and false faytours

Sell her seales I dare well saye

And all to holden great array

To multiply hem more metall

They drede full lytel domes day

Whan all suche shall foule fall

¶ Suche harlottes shull men dysclaunder

Aor they shullen make her gree

And ben as proude as Alexaunder

[...]nd sayne to the poore, wo be ye

By yere eche preeste shal paye hys fee

To encrease hys lemmans call

Suche heerdes shul wel yuel the

And all suche false shull foule fal

❧ And yf a man be falsely famed

And wolde make purgacyon

Than woll the officers be a gramed

[Page]And assyng hym fro town to towne

So nede he must paye raunsome

Though he be clene, as is christal

And than haue an absolution

But all suche false shull foule fall

¶ Though he be gyltie of the deed

And that he maye money pay

All the whyle his purse woll blede

He maye vse it fro day to day

These byshopes offycers gone full gay

And thys game they vsen ouer all

The poore to pyll is all theyr pray

All suche false shull foule fall

¶ Alas, god ordayned neuer suche lawe

Ne no suche crafte of couetyse

He forbad it by hys sawe

Suche gouernours mowen of god agryse

For all his rules is ryghtwyse

These newe poyntes ben pure papall

And goddes lawe they dispyce

And all suche faytours shul foule fall

¶ They sayne that Peter had the key

Of heuyn and hell, to haue and holde

[Page]I trowe Peter toke no money

For no synnes that he solde

Suche successours ben to bolde

In wynnyng all theyr wytte they wrall

Here conscience is waren colde

And all suche faytours foule hem fall

¶ Peter was neuer so great a fole

To leaue hys key wyth suche a lorell

Or to take suche cursed suche a tole

He was aduysed nothyng wel

I trowe they haue the key of hell

Theyr maister is of that place marshal

For there they dressen hem to dwell

And wyth false Lucifere there to fall

❧ They ben as proude as Lucifarre

As angry, and as enuyous

From good fayth they ben full farre

In couetyse they ben curyous

To catche catell as couytous

As hounde that for hungre woll al

Vngodly and vngracyous

And nedely suche falshed shall foule fal

❧ The pope and he were Peters heyre

[...]e thynke he erreth in this case

[Page]Whan chose of byshopes is in dispayre

To chosen hem in dyuers place

A lorde shall write to hym for grace

For hys clerke ano [...]e pray he shall

So shall he spede hys purchase

And all suche false foule hem fal

❧ Though he can no more good

A lordes prayer shalbe spedde

Though he be wylde of wyll or wood

Nat vnderstandyng what men han redde

A lende boster and that god forbede

As a good byshoppe is my horse ball

Suche a Pope is foule be stede

And at last woll foule fall

❧ He maketh byshopes for erthlye thanke

And nothyng for Christes sake

Suche that ben ful fate and ranke

To soyle heale none hede they take

Al is well done what euer they make

For they shall answere at one fors all

For worldes thanke, suche worch and wake

And all suche false shall foule fall

¶ Such that canne nather Crede

[Page]Wyth prayer shul be made prelates

Nother canne the gospell rede

Suche shul nowe welde hye estates

The hye godes frendshyp hem makes

They toteth on her somme totall

Suche bere the kyes of hell yates

And all suche false shall foule fal

❧ They forsake for Christes loue

Traueyle, hungre, thurst, and colde

For they ben ordred euer all aboue

Out of youthe tyll they ben olde

By the dore they go, nat in to the folde

To helpe theyr shepe they nought tarauall

Hyred men all suche I hold

And all suche false foule hem fall

☞ For Christ her kyng they woll forsake

And knowe hym nought for hys pouerte

For Christes loue they wol wake

And drynke peyment ale aparte

Of god they seme nothyng a [...]ferde

As iusty lyueth, as dyd Lamuall

And dryuen her shepe in to deserte

A [...] such taytours shall foule fall

[Page]

☞ Chryst hath .xii. Apostels here

Nowe say they, there may be but one

That may nat erre in no manere

Who leueth nat this ben lost echone

Peter erred, so dyd nat Iohn

Why is he cleped the principall?

Christ cleped hym Peter, but hym selfe chestone

All false faytours foule hem fall

☞ Why cursen they the croysery

Christes christen creatures

For bytwene hem is now enuy

To be enhaunsed in honours

And christen lyuers with her labours

For they leuyn on no man moitall

But do to deth with dishonnurs

And all suche false foule hem fall

❧ What knoweth a tylloure at the plowe

The popes name and what he hate

Hys crede suffyseth to hym ynowe

And knoweth a cardynal by hys hatte

Rough is the poore vnryghtly latte

That knoweth Christ hys god royal

Suche maters be not worth a gnatte

[Page]But suche false faytours foule hem fall

¶ A kynge shall knele and kysse his showe

Chryst suffered a synfull to kysse hys fete

Me thynketh he holdeth hym hye ynow

So Lucifer did, that hye sette

Such one me thynketh hym selfe for yet

Eyther to the trouth he was nat call

Christ that suffered woundes wete

Shall make such falshed foule fal

¶ They layeth out her large nettes

For to take syluer and golde

F [...]llen coffers and sackes fetttes

There as they soules catche sholde

Her seruauntes be to them vnhold

But they can doublyn theyr rentall

To bygge hem castles, and bygge hē holde

And all suche false foule hem fall

¶ Here endeth the fyrste parte of thys tale, and herafter foloweth the secōde parte

2

TO accorde wyth thys worde fall

No more English can I rynde

Shewe another nowe I shall

[Page]For I haue moch to saye behynde

How preestes han the people pynde

As curteys Christ hath me kynde

And putte thys matter in my mynde

To make thys maner men amende

☞ Shortly to shende hem, and shew nowe

How wrongfully they worche and walke

O hye god nothyng they tell, ne howe

But in goddes worde, telleth many a balke

In hernes holde hem and in balke

And preachin of tythes and offrende

And vntruely of the gospell talke

For hys mercy god it amende

☞ What is Antichrist to saye

But euyn Christes aduersarye

Suche hath now ben many a daye

To Christes byddynge full contrary

That from the trouth clene warry

Out of the waye they ben wende

And Christes people vntruely cary

God for hys pytye it amende

☞ That lyuen contrary to Christes life

In hye pryde agaynst m [...]kenesse

[Page]Agaynst sufferaūce they vsen stryfe

And angre ayenst sobrenesse

Agaynst wisedome wylfulnesse

To Christes tales lytell tende

Agaynst measure outragiousnesse

But whan god woll it maye amende

¶ Lordly lyfe ayenst lowlynesse

And demyn all wythout mercy

And couetyse ayenst largesse

Agaynst trewth trechery

And agaynst almesse enuy

Agaynst Christ they comprehende

For chastyte they maynteyne lechery

God for hys grace thys amende

❧ Agaynst penaunce they vse delyghtes

Ayenst suffraunce stronge defence

Ayenst god they vsen euyll ryghtes

Ayenst pytye punyshementes

Open euyll ayenst contynence

Her wycked wynnyng worse dispende

Sobrenesse they sette in to dispence

But god for hys goodnesse it amende

❧ Why cleymen thy holy his powere

[Page]And wranglen ayenst all hys histes

Hys lyuyng folowen they nothyng here

But lyuen worse than wytlesse beestes

Of fyshe and fleshe they louen feestes

As lordes they ben brode ykende

Of goddes poore they haten gestes

God for his mercy thys amende

¶ Wyth dyuers suche shal haue her dome

That sayne that they be Christes frendes

And do nothyng as they shulde done

All suche ben falser than ben fendes

On the people they ley suche bendes

As god is in erth they han offende

Sucour for suche Christ now sende vs

And for his mercy thys amende

¶A token of antichrist they be

His careckes ben now wyde yknow

Receyued to preche shall no man be

Wythout token of him I trow

Eche christen preest, to prechyn owe

From god aboue they ben sende

Goddes worde to all folke for to showe

Syn [...]ull man for to amende

❧ Christ sente the poore for to preche

[Page]The royall ryche he dyd nat so

Now dare no poore the people teache

For antichrist is ouer all her foe

Amonge the people he mote go

He hath bydden, all suche suspende

Some hath he hente, and thynketh yet mo

But all thys god may well amende

❧ All tho that han the worlde forsake

And lyuen loly, as god badde

In to her pryson shullen be take

Betyn and bounden, and forth ladde

Herof I rede no man be dradde

Christ sayd, hys shulde be shende

Eche man ought herof be gladde

For god full well it woll amende

☞ They toke on hem royall power

And say they haue swerdes two

One curse to hell, one slee men here

For at thys takynge Christ had no mo

Yet Peter had one of tho

But Christ, to Peter smyte gan defende

And in to sheth badde putte it in tho

And all such myscheues god amende

[Page]

☞ Christ badde Peter kepe hys shepe

And wyth hys swerde forbade hym smyte

Swerde is no tole wyth shepe to kepe

But to sheperdes that shepe woll byte

Me thynketh such sheperdes ben to wyte

Ayen her shepe with swerde that contende

They dryue her shepe with great dispite

But all thys god maye well amende

☞ So successours to Peter be thei nought

Whome Christ made chefe pastoure

Aswerde no sheperde vsen ought

But he wold slee, as a bochoure

For who so were Peters successour

Sulde bere his shepe tyll his backe bende

And shadowe hem from euery shoure

And all thys god may well amende

☞ Successours to Peter ben these

In that, that Peter Christes forsoke

That [...]ad leuer the loue of god lese

Than a sheperde had to lese hys hock

He culleth the shepe as doth the coke

Of hem taken the woll vntrende

And falsely glose the gospell boke

God for his mercy them amende

[Page]

¶ After Christe had take Peter the kay

Christ sayd he must dye for man

That Peter to Christ gan with say

Christ badde hym go behynde sathan

Such coūs [...]ylours many of these men han

For worldes wele, god to offende

Peters successours they ben for than

But all suche god may well amende

¶ For sathan is to say no more

But he that contrary to Christ is

In thys they lerne Peters lore

They sewen hym whan he dyd mysse

They folowe Peter forsothe in thys

In all that Christ wolde Peter reprehende

But nat in that, that lōgeth so heuyn blysse

Gor for his mercy hem amende

¶ Some of the apostels they sewē in case

Of ought that I can vnderstonde

Hym that betrayed Christ, Iudas

That bare the purse in euery londe

And all that he myght sette on hone

[...]e hydde and stale, and myspende

[...]ys rule these traytours han in honde

Almyghty god hem amende

[Page]

☞ And at the last hys lorde gan tray

Cursedly through hys false couetyse

So wolde these trayne hym for moneye

And they wysten in what wyse

They be seket of the selfe ensyse

From all sothnesse they ben frende

And couetyse chaungen with queyntyse

Almighty god all suche amende

☞ Where Chryst on erthe here efte sone

These wolde dampne hym to dye

All hys bestes they han fordone

And sayne his sawes ben heresy

And ayenste hys commaundementes they crye

And dampne all hys to be made

For it lyketh nat hem suche losenserye

God almyghtye it amende

These han more myghte in Englande here

Than hath the kynge and all hys lawe

They han purchased hem suche powere

To take hem whome lyste nat knawe

And saye that heresye is her sawe

And so to prysone woll hym sende

It was nat so by elder dawe

God for hys mercye it amende

[Page]

❧ The kynges lawe wol no man deme

Angerlyshe withouten answere

But yf anye man these mysqueme

He shalbe bayghteh as a bere

And yet well worse they woll hym tere

And in prisone woll hem pende

In gyues, and in other gere

Whan god woll, it maye mende

¶The kynge taxeth nat hys men

But by assente of the commynalte

But these eche yere woll raunsom hem

Maysterfullye, more than doth he

Her seales by yere better be

Than is the kynges in extende

Her offycers han gretter fee

But thys mischefe god amende

¶For who so woll proue a testament

That is natte all worth tenne pounde

He shall paye for the parchement

The thyrde parte of the moneye all rounde

Thus the people is raunsounde

They say suche parte to hem shulde apende

There as they grypen it goth to groude

God for hys mercy it amende

[Page]A simple fornication

Twentye shyllynges he shall paye

And than haue an absolution

And all the yere vsen it furthe he may

Thus they letten hem go a stray

They recke nat though the soule be brende

These kepen yuell Peters key

And al suche sheperdes god amende

Wonder is, that the parlyamente

And all the lordes of thys londe

Here to taken so lytell entente

To helpe the people out of her honde

For they ben harder in theyr bonde

Worse beate, and better brende

Than to the kynge is vnderstande

God hym helpe thys to amende

¶What byshopes, what religions

Han in thys lande as muche laye fee

Lordshyppers and possessyons

More than the lordes, it semeth me

That maketh hem lese charyte

They mowe nat to god attende

In erth they haue so hygh degree

God for his mercy it amende

[Page]

¶The Emperour yaf the pope sometyme

So hyghe lordyshp hym about

That at laste the sely kyme

The prude Pope putte hym out

So of thys realme is in doute

But lordes be ware and them defende

For nowe these folke be wonder stoute

The kynge and lordes now thys amende.

¶Thus endeth the seconde parte of thys tale, and hereafter foloweth the thyrde

3

MOyses law forbode it to

That preestes shuld no lordshppes welde

Christes gospel byddeth also

That they shuld no lordshyp helde

Ne Christes Apostels were neuer so bolde

No suche lordeshippes to them enbrace

But smeren her shepe and kepe her folde

God emende hem for his grace

¶For they ne ben but counterfete

Men may know hem by her fruyte

Her gretnesse maketh hem god foryete

And take hys mekenesse in dispite

And they were poore and had but lyte

[Page]They nolde nat demen after the face

But noryshe her shepe, and hem nat byte

God amende hem for hys grace

¶ Gyfon,

¶ What canst thou prech ayenst chanons

That men clepen seculere?

Peli. They ben curates of many townes

On erth they haue great powere

They haue great prebendes and dere

Some two or thre, and some mo

A personage to ben a playeng fere

And yet they lerne the kynge also

¶ And lette to feruie all that fare

To whome that woll most gyue therfore

Some woll spende, and some woll spare

And some woll laye it vp in store

A cure of soule they care not for

So they mowe money take

Whether her soules be wonne or lore

Her profytes they woll not forsake

¶ They haue a gedering procuratour

That can the poore people enplede

And robben hem sa a rauynour

And to his lorde they money lede

[Page]And catche of quycke and eke of dede

And richen hym and hys lorde eke

And to robbe the poore can gyue good rede

Of olde and yonge, of hole and syke

¶ Therwyth they purchase hem lay fee

In loude there hem lyketh best

And b [...]ylde also brode as a cyte

Bothe in the East, and eke in the west

To purchase thus they ben ful prest

But on the poore they woll noughte spende

Ne no good gyue to goddes gest

Ne sende hym some that all hath sende

☞ By her seruyce suche woll lyue

And truste that other in to treasur

Though all her paryshe dye vnshriue

They woll nat gyue a rose floure

Her lyfe shulde be as a myrrour

Bothe to lered and to leude also

And teche the people her lele labour

Suche mister men ben al mysgo.

❧ Some of hem ben harde nygges

And some of hem ben proude and gay

Some spende her good vpon gygges

[...] [...] hem of great aray

[Page]Alas, what thynke these men to say

That thus dispended goddes good

At the dredefull domes daye

Suche wretches shul be worse than wood

¶ Some her churces neuer ne sye

Ne neuer openye, thyder ne sende

Though the poore parishens for hūgre dye

O peny on hem wyl they nat spende

Haue they receyuynge of the rente

They recke neuer of the remenant

Alas, the deuyll hath clene hem blente

Such one is Sathanas soiournante

¶ And vsen horedome and harlotry

Couetyse, pompe, and pride

Slouthe, wrathe, and eke enuy

And sewen synne by euery syde

Alas, where thynke suche tab [...]de

Howe wol they accompes yelde

From hye god they mowe hem nat hyde

Such wyllers wytte is nat worth a nelde

¶ They ben so roted in richesse

Hhat Christes pouert is for yet

Serued wyth so many messe

Hem thynketh that Manna is no mete

[Page]All is good that they mowe gete

They wene to lyue euermore

But whan god at dome is sette

Suche treasour is a feble store

❧ Vnneth mote they matyns say

For countynge and courtholdynge

And yet he iangleth as a iaye

And ynd [...]rstont hym selfe nothyng

He woll serue both erle and kynge

For hys fyndynge and his fee

And hyde hys tythynge and his offryng

Thys is a feble charite

❧ Other they ben proude, or coueytous

Or th [...]y ben harde, or hungry

Or they ben lyberall or lecherous

Or els medlers with marchadry

Or maynteyners of men wyth maystry

Or stewardes▪ countours, or pledours

And serue god in ypocrysy

Such prestes ben Christes false traytours

❧ They ben false, they ben vengeable

And begilen men in Christes name

They ben vnstedfast and vnstable

To tray her lorde, hem thynketh no shame

[Page]To serue god they be full lame

Goddes theues, and falsly stele

And falsely goddes worde defame

In wennynge is her worldes wele

☞ Antichrist these serue all

I pray the who may say nay?

Wyth Antichrist suche shull fall

They folowen hym in dede and fay

They seruyn hem in ryche array

To serue Christ suche falsely fayne

Why, at the dredefull domes day

Sull they not folow hym to payne?

☞ That knowē hem selfe that thei done yll

Ayenst Christes commaundement

And amende hem neuer ne wyll

But serue satan by one assente

Who sayth soth he shalbe shent

Or speketh ayenst her false lyuyng

Who so well lyueth shalbe brent

For suche ben gretter than the kynge

☞ Pope, Bishopes, and Chardinals

Chanons, Persons, and vycaire

In goddes seruyce I troue ben false

That sacramentes sellen here

[Page]And ben as proude as Lucifere

Eche man loke whether that I lye

Who so speketh ayenst her powere

It shal be holden heresye

Loke howe manye orders take

Onely o [...] Christe, for hys seruyce

That the worldes goddes forsake

Who so taketh orders, or other wyse

I trowe that they shall sore agryse

For all the glose that they conne

Al sewen not this assyse

In yuell tyme they thus begonne

¶ Loke howe many amonge hem all

Holden not thys hye way

Wyth Antichriste they shullen fall

For they wollen god betraye

God amende hem that best maye

For many men they maken shende

They weren well the sothe I saye

But the deuyel hath foule hem blende

¶ Some on her churches dwell

Appparailled poorely proude of porte

The seuen sacramentes they done sell

In cattel catchynge is her comforte

[Page]Of eche matter they wollen mell

And done hem wronge is her dysporte

To afray the people they ben fell

And holde hem lower then doth the lorde

¶ For the tydynge of a ducke

Or of an apple, or an aye

They make men sware vpon a boke

Thus they foulen Chrystes say

Suche bearen yuell heauen kay

They mowen assoyle, they mowe shryue

Wyth mennes wyues strongly play

Wyth true tyllers sturte and stryue

¶ At the wrestlynge, and at the wake

And chefe chauntours at the nale

Markette beaters, and medlyng make

Hoppen and houten with heue and hale

At fayre freshe, and at wyne stale

Dyne and drynke, and make debate

The seuen sacramentes set at sayle

How kepe suche the kayes of heuen gate?

¶ Mennes wyues they wollen holde

And though that they ben ryght sory

To speake they shull nor be so bolde

For sompnenge to the consystory

[Page]And make hem saye mouth I lye

Though they it sawe wyth her eye

Hys lemman holden openlye

No man so hardy to axe why

¶ He woll haue tythynge and offrynge

Maugre whosoeuer it gruche

And twyse on the daye he woll synge

Goddes prestes nere none suche

He mote on hunting wyth dogge and biche

And blowen hys horne, and cryen hey

And sorcerye vsen as a wytche

Suche kepen yuell Peters key

¶ Yet they mote haue some stocke or stone

Gayle paynted, and proudely dyght

To maken men lyuen vpon

And saye that it is full of myght

Aboute suche, men sette vp great lyghte

Other suche stockes shull stande therby

As darke as it were mydnyght

For it maye make no mastry

¶ That it leude people se mowe

Thou Mary, thou worchest wōder thinges

Aboute that, men offren to nowe

Hongen broches, ouches, and tynges

[Page]The preest purchaseth the offrynges

But he nyll offre to none ymage

Wo is the soule that he for synges

That precheth for suche a pylgrimage

¶ To men and women that ben poore

That ben Christes awne lykenesse

Men shullen offre at her dore

That suffre honger and dystresse

And to suche ymages offre lesse

That mowe not fele thurst ne colde

The poore in sprete gan Christ blesse

Therfore offreth to feble and olde

☞ Buckelers brode, and sweardes longe

Baudrke, wyth baselardes kene

Such toles about her necke they honge

Wyth Antichrist suche preestes ben

Vpon her dedes it is well sene

Whome they seruen, whome they honoren

Antichristes they bene clene

And goddes goodes fasly deuouren

¶ Of scarlet and grene gay gownes

That mote be shape for the newe

To clyppen and kyssen counten in townes

The damoseles that to the daunce sewe

[Page]Cutted clothes to sewe her hewe

Wyth long [...] pykes on her shone

Our goddes gospell is not trwe

Eyther they seruen the deuill or none

¶ Nowe ben preestes pokes so wyde

That men must enlarge the vestemente

The holy gospell they done hyde

For they contraryen in rayment

Suche preestes of Lucifer ben sent

Lyke conquetours they ben arayde

The p [...]ude pendauntes at her ars ypent

Falsely the truth they han betrayde

¶ Shryfte syluer suche wollen aske is

And woll men crepe to the crouche

None of the sacramentes saue askes

Wy [...]hout mede shall no man touche

On her byshoppe theyr warant vouche

That is lawe of the dec [...]e

Wyth mede and money thus they mouche

And thus they sayne is charite

¶ In the myddes of her masse

The nyll haue no man but for hyre

And full shortly let forth passe

Suche shull men fynde in euery shyre

[Page]That personages for profyte desyre

To lyue in lykinge and in lustes

I dare not sayne, Sans ose [...]eo dyre

That suche ben antichristes preestes

❧ Or they yef the bishoppes why

Or they mote ben in hys seruyce

And holden forth her harlotry

Suche prelates ben of feble emprise

Of goddes grame suche men agryse

For suche matters that taken mede

How they excuse hem, and in what wyse

Me thynketh, they ought greatly drede

☞ They sayne that it to no man longeth

To reproue them though they erre

But falsely goddes goodesse they fongeth

And therwith maynteine wo and werre

Her dedes shulde be as bryght as sterre

Her liuinge, leude mannes lyght

They say the pope may not erre

Nede must that passe mannes might

☞ Though a preeste lye wt his lemman all nyght

And tellen his felow, and he hym

He goth to masse anone righte

And sayeth he syngeth out of synne

[Page]Hys byrde abydeth hym at hys ynne

And hyghteth hys dyner the meane whyle

He syngeth hys masse for he wolde wynne

And so he weneth god begyle

☞ Hem thynketh longe tyll they be mette

And that they vsen forth all the yere

Amonge the folke when he is sette

He holdeth no man halfe hys pere

Of the byshope he hath powere

To soyle men or els they ben lore

Hys absolution may make them skere

And wo is the soule that he singeth for

¶ The Gryffon began for to threte

And sayd, of monkes canst thou ought

The Pyllycan sayd, they ben full grete

And in thys world much wo hath wrought

Saint benet, that her order brought

Ne made hem neuer on suche manere

I trowe it came neuer in hys thought

That they shuld vse so great power

❧ That a man shulde a monke lord cal

Ne serue on knees, as a kynge

He is as proude as prynce in pall

In meate and drynke, and all thynge

[Page]Some weareu myter and rynge

Wyth double worsted well ydyght

Wyth royall meate and ryche drynke

And rydeth on a courser as a knyght

☞ Wyth hauke and with hundes eke

Wyth broches or ouches on hys hode

Some say no masse in all a weke

Of deinties is her moste foode

Wyth lordshyppes and wyth bondmen

Thys is a royall religion

Saynt Benet made neuer none of hem

To haue lordshyppe of man ne towne

¶ Nowe they ben queynte and curious

Wyth fyne clothe cladde and serued cleane

Proude angry, and enuious

Malyce is muche that they meane

In catchyng crafty and couetous

Lordly lyuen in great likynge

This liuing is not religious

Accordyng to Benette in his liuinge

¶ The [...] [...]ē clerkes, her courtes thei ouer se

Her poore tenaunce fully they slyte

The hyre that a man amerced be

The gladlier they woll it write

[Page]This is farre from Christes pouerte

For all wyth couetyse they endyte

On the poore they haue no pyte

Ne neuer hem cleryshe but euer him byte

☞And commenly suche ben comon

Of poore people, and of hem begete

That thys perfection han ynomen

Her fathers ryden nat but one her fete

And trauaylen sore for that they ete

In pouert lydeth yonge and olde

H [...]r fathers suffreth drought and wete

Many hongry meles, thurst, and colde

¶ And all thys the monkes han forsake

For Christes loue and saynte Benette

To pryde and ease haue hem take

Thys ryligion is yuell beseate

Had they ben out of relygion

They must haue hanged at the plowe

Threshyng & dykinge fro towne to towne

Wyht sory mete, and not halfe ynow

☞ Therfore they han this all forsake

And taken to ryches, pryde, and ease

Full sew for god woll monkes hem make

[Page]Lytel is suche order for to prayse

Saynt Benet ordayned it not so

But badde hem be cherelyche

In churlyche maner lyue and go

Boystous in earth, and not lordlysh

¶ They dysclaunder saynt Benette

Therfore they haue hys holy curse

Saynt Benet wyth hem neuer mete

But yf they thought to robbe hys purse

I can no more hereof tel

But they ben lyke tho before

And clene serue the dyuell of hell

And ben hys treasure and hys store

❧ And all suche other counterfaitours

Chanhus, Canons, and such dysgysed

Ben goddes enemyes and traytours

Hys true religion han foule dyspysed

Of Freres I haue tolde before

In a makynge of a Crede

And yet I coulde tel worse and more

But men wolde werien it to rede

☞ As goddes goodnesse no man tell might

Wryte ne speake ne thinke in thought

[Page]To her falshed, and her vntyght

May no man tell that euer god wrought

The Gryffon sayde, thou canst no good

Thou came neuer of no gentyll kynde

Other I trowe thou waxest wood

Or els thou hast loste thy mynde

❧ Shulde holy churche haue no hede

Who shulde be her gouernayle

Who shulde her rute, who shulde her reede

Who shulde her forthren, who shuld auayle

Eche man shall lyue by his trauayle

Who best doth shall haue most nede

Wyth strength yf men the churche assayle

Wyth strength men must defende her nede

☞ And the pope were purely poore

Nedy, and nothynge ne hadde

He shulde be dryuen from dore to dore

The wycked of him nolde not be dradde

Of suche and heed men wolde be sadde

And synfully lyuen as hem lust

Wyth strength, amendes suche be made

With wepen wolues from shepe be wust

¶ Yf the pope and prelates wolde

[Page]To begge, and bydde, bowe and borowe

Holy churche shulde stande full colde

Her seruauntes sytte and soupe sorowe

And they were noughty foule and horowe

To worshyppe god men wolde wlate

Bothe on euen and on morowe

Suche harlotry men wolde hate

☞ Therfore men of holy churche

Shulde ben honest in all thynge

Worshypfully goddes workes werche

So semeth it to serue Christ her kynge

In honest and en clene clothynge

Wyth vessels of golde and clothes ryche

To god honestly to make offrynge

To hys lordshyppe none is liche

¶ The Pellican caste an houge crye

And sayde alas, why sayest thou so

Christ is our heed that sytteth on hye

Hedde [...] ne ought we haue no mo

We ben hys membres both also

And father he taught vs to cal hym als

Maysters to be called defended he tho

Af other maysters ben wycked and fals

[Page]

☞ That taketh maystry in hys name

Goostly, and for earthly good

Kynges and lordes shulde lordshyp haue

And rule the people wyth mylde mode

Christ for vs that shedde hys blode

Badde hys preestes no maystershyp haue

Ne carke nat for cloth ne fode

From euery myschefe he wyll hem saue

¶ Her riche clothing shalbe ryghtwysnesse

Her treasure, true lyfe shalbe

Charite shalbe her rychesse

Her lordshyppe shalbe vnite

Hope in god, her honeste

Her vessell clene conscience

Poore in spirite, and humilite

Salbe holy churches defence

¶ What sayd the Gryffon may the greue

That other folkes faren wele

What haste thou to done wyth her lyue

Thy falsheed eche man may fele

For thou canst no catell gette

But lyueh in londe as a lorel

Wyth glosynge gettest thou thy mete

[Page]He fareth the deuell that wonnethe in hell

¶ He wolde that eche mā there shuld dwell

For he lyueth in clene enuey

So wyth the tales that thou doest tell

Thou woldest other peopl destry

Wyth your glose, and your heresye

For ye can lyue no better lyfe

But clene in hypocrisy

And bryngest the in wo and stryfe

❧ And therwyth haue not to done

For ye ne haue here no cure

Ye serue the dyuell, neyther god ne man

And he shall paye you youre hyre

For ye woll fare well at feestes

And warme clothed for the colde

Therfore ye glose goddes heestes

And begyle the people yonge and olde

❧ And all the seuen sacramentes

Ye speake ayenst as ye were slye

Ayēst tythinges, offringes wt your entētes

And on our lordes body falslylye

And all thys ye done to lyue in ease

As who sayth, there ben none suche

[Page]And sayne the pope is not worth a pease

To make the people ayen hym gruche

¶ And thys commeth in by frendes

To brynge the christen in distaunce

For they wolde that no man were feendes

Leaue thy chattrynge wyth mischaunce

Yf thou lyue well, what wylt thou more

Let other men lyue as hem lyst

Spende in good, or kepe in store

Other mennes conscyence neuer thou nyste

¶ Ye han no cure to answere fore

What meddell ye, that han not to done

Let men lyue as they han done yore

For thou shalt answere for no man

The Pellican sayd, Syr, nay

I dispised not the pope

Ne no sacramente, soth to say

But speake in charite and good hope

¶ But I dyspyse her hye pryde

Her rychesse, that shulde be poore in spiryte

Her wyckednesse is knowe so wyde

They serue god in false habyte

And turnen mekenesse in to pryde

[Page]And lowlynesse in to hye degre

And goddes worde turne and hyde

And that am I moued by charyte

¶ To lette men to lyue so

Wyth all my connynge and al my might

And to warne men of her wo

And to tel hem trouth and ryght

The sacramentes be soule hele

Yf they ben vsed in good vse

Ayenst that speake I neuer a dele

For then were I nothyng wyse

But they that vsen hym in mysse manere

Or sette hem vp to any sale

I trowe they shall abye hem dere

Thys is my reason, thys is my tale

Who so taketh hem vnryghtfullyche

Ayenst the ten commaundementes

Or by glose wreched lyche

Selleth any of the sacramentes

I trowe they do the deuell homage

In that they weten they to wronge

And therto I dare well wage

They seruen Satan for al her songe

[Page]To tythen and offren in holsome lyfe

So it be done in dewe manere

A man to houselyn and to shryfe

Weddyng, and all the other in fere

☞ So it be nother solde ne bought

Ne take ne gyue for couetyse

And it be so taken it is nought

Who selleth hem so meye sore agryse

On our Lordes body I do not lye

I saye soth thorowe trewe rede

Hys fleshe and blode through hys mysterye

Is there, in the forme of brede

¶ How it is there, it nedeth not stryue

Whethe it be subgette or accydent

But as Christ was, when he was on liue

So is he there verament

Yf pope or cardynall lyue good liue

As Chryst commaunded in his gospel

Ayenst that woll I not stryue

But me thynketh they liue not well

¶ For yf the people liued as god bede

Pryde and hyghnesse he shylde dispise

Rychesse, couetyse, and crowne hi [...] hede

[Page]Mekenesse and pouerte he shulde vse

The Gryffon sayde he shulde abye

Thou shalbe brent in balefull fyre

And all thy secte I shall dystrye

Ye shall hanged by the swyre

¶ Ye shullen be hanged and to drawe

Who gyueth you leaue for to preache

Or speake agaynst goddes law

And the people thus falsely teache

Thou shalt be cursed wyth boke and bell

And dysseuered from holy churche

And cleney dampned into hell

Otherwyse but ye woll worche

¶ The Pellycan sayd that I ne drede

Your cursynge is of lyttell value

Of god I hope to haue my mede

For it is falshed that ye shewe

For ye ben out of charite

And wylneth vengeaunce, as dyd Nero

To suffern I woll redy be

I drede not that thou cāst do

¶ Christ bad ones suffre for hys loue

And so he taught all hys seruauntes

[Page]And but thou amende for his sake aboue

I drede not all thy mayntenaunce

For yf I drede the worldes hate

Me thynketh I were lytell to prayse

I drede nothynge youre hye estate

Ne I drede not your dysease

¶ Wolde ye turne and leue your pryde

Youre hye porte, and your rychesse

Your cursynge shulde not go to wyde

God brynge you into ryghtwysnesse

For I drede not your tiranny

For nothynge that ye can done

To suffre I am al redy

Syker I recke neuer howe soone

¶ The Gryffon grynned as he were wode

And loked louelye as an owle

And swore by cokes hert bloode

He wolde hym terē euery doule

Holy churche thou dysclaundrest foule

For thy reasons I woll the all to rate

And make thy fleshe to rote and moule

Lo [...]e [...], thou shalt haue harde grace

☞ [...] Gryffon slewe forth on his waye

[Page]The Pellycane dyd sytte and wepe

And to hym selfe he gan saye

God wolde that any of Christes shepe

And herde, and ytake kepe

Eche a worde that here sayd was

And wolde it wryte and well it kepe

God wolde it were all for hys grace

Plowman

☞ I answerde, and sayd I wolde

Yf for my trauyle any man wolde pay

Pelycan. He sayde yes, these yt god han solde

For they han store of money

Plowman. I sayde, tell me and thou maye

Why tellest thou mens trespace?

Pelycan. He sayd, to amēde hem in good fay

Yf God woll gyue me any grace

¶ For Christ hym selfe is lykened to me

That for hys people dyed on rode

As fare I, ryght so fareth he

He fedeth hys byrdes wyth his blode

But these done yuel ayenst god

And ben hys fone vnder frendes face

I tolde hem howe her lyuynge stode

[Page]God amende hem for hys grace

Plowmā. what ayleth the Griffō, tell why

That he holdeth on that other side

For they two ben lykely

And wyth kyndes robben wyde

Pellican. The foule betokeneth pryte

As Lucifer, that hygh flew was

And syth he dyd hym an euell hyde

For he agylted goddes grace

❧ As byrde flyeth vp into the ayre

And lyueth by byrdes that ben meke

So these ben flowe vp into dyspayre

And shended sely soules eke

The soules that ben in synnes seke

He culleth hem, knele therfore alas

For brybry goddes forbode breke

God amende it for hys grace

❧ The hynder parte is a lyon

A robber and a rauynere

That robbeth the people in earth a downe

And in erth holdeth none hys pere

So fareth thys foule both ferre and nere

And with tēporel strength ther people chase

[Page]As a lyon proude in erth here

God amende hem for hys grace

Pellican

❧ He slew forth wyth hys wynges twayne

All droupynge, dased, and dul

But sonne the gryffon came agayne

Of hys foules the earth was full

The Pyllycan he had cast to pull

So great a nombre neuer sene there was

What maner of foules tellen I woll

Yf god woll gyue me of hys grace

❧ Wyth the griffon comen foules fele

Rauyns, tokes, crowes, and pye

Gray foules, agadred wele

I gurde aboue they wolde hye

Gledes and bosardes wherin hem by

Whyte molles and puttockes tokē her place

And lap winges, that well commeth lye

This felowshyp han for gerde her grace

❧ Lange the Pellican was oute

But at last he commeth againe

And brought with him the Phenix stoute

The Griffon wold haue flow ful faine

[Page]Hys foules that flewen as thicke as rayne

The Penyx tho began hem chace

To flye from hym it was in vayne

For he did vengeaunce and no grace

☞ He slewe hem downe wythout mercy

There astarte neyther free ne thral

On hym they cast a ruful crye

When the Gryffon downe was fall

He bete hym not, but slewe hem all

Whyther he hem droue no man may trace

Vnder the erth me thought they yal

Alas they had a feble grace

¶ The Pellycan then axed ryght

For my wrytynge yf I haue blame

Who woll for me fyght of flyght?

Who shall shelde me from shame

He that had a mayde to dame

And the lambe that slayne was

[...]al shelde me from gostly blame

For erthely harme is goddes grace

❧ Therfore I praye euery man

Of my wrytynge haue me excused

[...]ys wrythynge wryteth the Pellican

That thus these people hath dyspysed

[Page]For I am freshe fully aduysed

I nyll not maynteyne hys manace

For the deuell is often dysguysed

To brynge a man to yuell grace

❧ wyteth the Pellican and not me

For herof I nyl not auowe

In hye ne in lowe, ne in no degre

But as a fable take it ye mowe

To holy churche I wyll be bowe

Eche man to amende hym Christ sēde space

And for my wrytyng me alowe

He that is almighty for hys grace

❧ Thus endethe the boke of Chaunterburye Tales

§

§

☞ Imprinted at London in Paules churche yarde at the sygne of the Hyll by Wyllyam Hyll

Information about this book

Title statement

The plouumans tale compylled by syr Geffrey Chaucher knyght

Edition statement

1548

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A18571

ID [STC]

STC 5100

ID [STC]

ESTC S104968

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99840698

ID [PROQUEST]

99840698

ID [VID]

5225

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A18571)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 5225)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 132:15)

Source

— The plouumans tale compylled by syr Geffrey Chaucher knyght, Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400, attributed name., Brampton, Thomas, fl. 1414, attributed name..

Extent

[64] p.

In Paules churche yarde at the sygne of the Hyll by Wyllyam Hyll,. [Imprinted at London :: [1548?]]. (Not in fact by Chaucer. Also misattributed to Thomas Brampton. "A.N. Wawn, Yearbook of English studies, 2 (1972) 21-40, and BJRL, 56 (1973) 174-92, argues that the work was originally a Lollard tract written in the early 15th century, subsequently revised and gaining the addition of the prologue and lines 205-28 in the 16th century"--Halkett & Laing (3rd ed.).) (In verse.) (Publisher's name from colophon; publication date conjectured by STC.) (Signatures: A-D.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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