insolent

It was no ill simile by which Plato set forth the unreasonableness of a philosopher’s meddling with government.  ‘If a man,’ says he, ‘were to see a great company run out every day into the rain and take delight in being wet—if he knew that it would be to no purpose for him to go and persuade them to return to their houses in order to avoid the storm, and that all that could be expected by his going to speak to them would be that he himself should be as wet as they, it would be best for him to keep within doors, and, since he had not influence enough to correct other people’s folly, to take care to preserve himself.

No doubt, very deaf

he would rather govern rich men than be rich himself; since for one man to abound in wealth and pleasure when all about him are mourning and groaning, is to be a gaoler and not a king

He is an unskilful physician that cannot cure one disease without casting his patient into another. 

Who quarrel more than beggars?

I earnestly beg you would describe that island very particularly to us

first and dine

—

Let him live upon what belongs to him without wronging others, and accommodate his expense to his revenue.  Let him punish crimes, and, by his wise conduct, let him endeavour to prevent them, rather than be severe when he has suffered them to be too common.  Let him not rashly revive laws that are abrogated by disuse, especially if they have been long forgotten and never wanted.  And let him never take any penalty for the breach of them to which a judge would not give way in a private man

never to have at once above a thousand pounds of gold in his treasures, or so much silver as is equal to that in value.  This law, they tell us, was made by an excellent king who had more regard to the riches of his country than to his own wealth, and therefore provided against the heaping up of so much treasure as might impoverish the people. 

Macarians

Their friends are allowed to give them either meat, drink, or clothes, so they are of their proper colour; but it is death, both to the giver and taker, if they give them money; nor is it less penal for any freeman to take money from them upon any account whatsoever: and it is also death for any of these slaves (so they are called) to handle arms.  Those of every division of the country are distinguished by a peculiar mark, which it is capital for them to lay aside, to go out of their bounds, or to talk with a slave of another jurisdiction, and the very attempt of an escape is no less penal than an escape itself.

prerogative

transgress

antiquated

pretence

To this I would add that after all those warlike attempts, the vast confusions, and the consumption both of treasure and of people that must follow them, perhaps upon some misfortune they might be forced to throw up all at last

they by joint counsels made an humble address to their king, desiring him to choose which of the two kingdoms he had the greatest mind to keep, since he could not hold both; for they were too great a people to be governed by a divided king

Achorians

fermentation

pretension

avowedly

scoundrel

Elisha

zeal

suppose the sheep should increase ever so much, their price is not likely to fall; since, though they cannot be called a monopoly

avarice

dolefully

vexed

reproach

restitution

The change of the word,” said he, “does not alter the matter.

abounded

disband

incessantly

but that they would willingly do it; many of them have already done it by their books, if those that are in power would but hearken to their good advice.

your friend Plato thinks that nations will be happy when either philosophers become kings or kings become philosophers.

for God having taken from us the right of disposing either of our own or of other people’s lives, if it is pretended that the mutual consent of men in making laws can authorise man-slaughter in cases in which God has given us no example, that it frees people from the obligation of the divine law, and so makes murder a lawful action, what is this, but to give a preference to human laws before the divine?

if he is convicted of theft as if he were guilty of murder, this will naturally incite him to kill the person whom otherwise he would only have robbed

no punishment, how severe soever, being able to restrain those from robbing who can find out no other way of livelihood.

simple theft not being so great a crime that it ought to cost a man his life

entering into the garden, sat down on a green bank

confutation

amiss

thieves, ‘who,’ as he said, ‘were then hanged so fast

For most princes apply themselves more to affairs of war than to the useful arts of peace; and in these I neither have any knowledge, nor do I much desire it; they are generally more set on acquiring new kingdoms, right or wrong, than on governing well those they possess

Utopians

we made no inquiries after monsters

thence

Utopia

Raphael

Hythloday

civility

who seemed past the flower of his age; his face was tanned, he had a long beard, and his cloak was hanging carelessly about him, so that, by his looks and habit, I concluded he was a seaman

“As for my friends,” answered he, “I need not be much concerned, having already done for them all that was incumbent on me; for when I was not only in good health, but fresh and young, I distributed that among my kindred and friends which other people do not part with till they are old and sick: when they then unwillingly give that which they can enjoy no longer themselves.  I think my friends ought to rest contented with this, and not to expect that for their sakes I should enslave myself to any king whatsoever.

dismally

insinuated

New Castile

discoursing

if you knew the man, for there is none alive that can give so copious an account of unknown nations and countries as he can do, which I know you very much desire.

eloquent

Margrave

Cuthbert Tonstal

Book I

elder sister

knighted

Amerigo Vespucci

Antwerp

Peter Giles

communism

Plutarch

Plato’s “Republic,

Erasmus

Cuthbert Tunstal

Usurpation

Archbishop Morton

College of Physicians

Thomas Linacre

William Grocyn

Canterbury College, Oxford

Tower

Richard III

Cardinal John Morton

King’s Bench

Sir Thomas More

Sir Thomas More

SIN IS FITTING

Norwich, Julian

ALL CREATION AS HAZELNUT

It is I that thou lovest.

office

“Love was our Lord’s Meaning”

.

woe

weal

the first is Nature, the second is Mercy, and the third is Grace.

Sense-soul

behovable

but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.

These three came to my mind in the time: pellots, for roundness, in the coming out of the blood; the scale of herring, in the spreading in the forehead, for roundness; the drops off eaves, for the plenteousness innumerable.

And these words are full lovely to the soul, and full near touch they the will of God and His Goodness. For His Goodness comprehendeth all His creatures and all His blessed works, and overpasseth without end. For He is the endlessness, and He hath made us only to Himself, and restored us by His blessed Passion, and keepeth us in His blessed love; and all this of His Goodness.

God, of Thy Goodness, give me Thyself: for Thou art enough to me, and I may nothing ask that is less that may be full worship to Thee; and if I ask anything that is less, ever me wanteth,—but only in Thee I have all.

All-mighty, All-wise, All-good

In this Little Thing I saw three properties. The first is that God made it, the second is that God loveth it, the third, that God keepeth it.

verily

Gabriel

ere

fiends

reverend

astonied

the Trinity fulfilled my heart most of joy

privy

After this the upper part of my body began to die

my reason and by my feeling of my pains that I should die

JULIAN’S BODILY SICKNESS AND THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST

I weened oftentimes to have passed; and so weened they that were with me.

“I desired to suffer with Him”

.

If his reckoning be not clear when he do come, God will say–ite maledicti in ignem æternum. And he that hath his account whole and sound, High in heaven he shall be crowned

Doctor. This moral men may have in mind; Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young, And forsake pride, for he deceiveth you in the end, And remember Beauty, Five-wits, Strength, and Discretion, They all at the last do Everyman forsake, Save his Good-Deeds, there doth he take. But beware, and they be small Before God, he hath no help at all. None excuse may be there for Everyman: Alas, how shall he do then? For after death amends may no man make, For then mercy and pity do him forsake. If his reckoning be not clear when he do come

Angel. Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesu: Hereabove thou shalt go Because of thy singular virtue: Now the soul is taken the body fro; Thy reckoning is crystal-clear.

Knowledge. Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure; The Good-Deeds shall make all sure.

Except my Good-Deeds that bideth truly.

Take example, all ye that this do hear or see, How they that I loved best do forsake me, Except my Good-Deeds that bideth truly.

Everyman. Methinketh, alas, that I must be gone,

Good-Deeds

Five-wits. Everyman, my leave now of thee I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake. Everyman. Alas! then may I wail and weep, For I took you for my best friend.

Discretion. I, Discretion, will bide by you also.

Everyman. I had wend surer I should you have found. He that trusteth in his Strength She him deceiveth at the length.

Strength. In faith, I care not; Thou art but a fool to complain

Strength. Nay, sir, by the rood of grace I will hie me from thee fast, Though thou weep till thy heart brast.

Beauty. Peace, I am deaf; I look not behind me, Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest.

smother

earth

Strength. Everyman, we will not from you go, Till ye have gone this voyage long. Discretion. I, Discretion, will bide by you also. Knowledge. And though this pilgrimage be never so strong, I will never part you fro:

Everyman

Five-wits. I trust to God no such may we find; Therefore let us priesthood honour,

Sinful priests giveth the sinners example bad; Their children sitteth by other men’s fires, I have heard; And some haunteth women’s company, With unclean life, as lusts of lechery These be with sin made blind.

Knowledge. If priests be good it is so surely;

Thou art surgeon that cureth sin deadly: No remedy we find under God But all only priesthood. Everyman, God gave priests that dignity, And setteth them in his stead among us to be; Thus be they above angels in degree.

Fain

unction

sacraments

For priesthood exceedeth all other thing; To us Holy Scripture they do teach, And converteth man from sin heaven to reach; God hath to them more power given, Than to any angel that is in heaven; With five words he may consecrate God’s body in flesh and blood to make

Five-Wits. Yea, Everyman, hie you that ye ready were, There is no emperor, king, duke, ne baron, That of God hath commission, As hath the least priest in the world being; For of the blessed sacraments pure and benign, He beareth the keys and thereof hath the cure For man’s redemption

Beauty

Strength. And I, Strength, will by you stand in distress, Though thou would in battle fight on the ground. Five-wits. And though it were through the world round, We will not depart for sweet nor sour. Beauty. No more will I unto death’s hour, Whatsoever thereof befall. Discretion. Everyman, advise you first of all;

Everyman. Almighty God, loved thou be, I give thee laud that I have hither brought Strength, Discretion, Beauty, and Five-wits;

Knowledge. Be no more sad, but ever rejoice, God seeth thy living in his throne above; Put on this garment to thy behove, Which is wet with your tears, Or else before God you may it miss, When you to your journey’s end come shall. Everyman. Gentle Knowledge, what do you it call? Knowledge. It is a garment of sorrow: From pain it will you borrow; Contrition it is, That getteth forgiveness; It pleaseth God passing well.

Yea, a thousand pound shalt thou have, And defer this matter till another day. Death. Everyman, it may not be by no way; I set not by gold, silver, nor riches, Ne by pope, emperor, king, duke, ne princes

And great pain it shall cause him to endure Before the Lord Heaven King. Everyman, stand still; whither art thou going Thus gaily? Hast thou thy Maker forget?

Lo, yonder I see Everyman walking; Full little he thinketh on my coming; His mind is on fleshly lusts and his treasure,

gaily

yonder

Every man will I beset that liveth beastly Out of God’s laws, and dreadeth not folly: He that loveth riches I will strike with my dart, His sight to blind, and from heaven to depart, Except that alms be his good friend, In hell for to dwell, world without end.

Death. Almighty God, I am here at your will, Your commandment to fulfil. God. Go thou to Everyman, And show him in my name A pilgrimage he must on him take,

forbear

The worse they be from year to year;

Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet, Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep, When the body lieth in clay. Here shall you see how Fellowship and Jollity, Both Strength, Pleasure, and Beauty, Will fade from thee as flower in May. For ye shall hear, how our heaven king Calleth Everyman to a general reckoning: Give audience, and hear what he doth say.

transitory

Adonai

CHARACTERS

reverence

.

penance

Nec in pane et in pabulo

vivit homo

Fiat voluntas Dei

decreed

vouchsafe

Psalter

Placebo and Dirige

Paternoster

My father and my friends provided me with schooling

and so God help me, am too weak to work with sickle or with scythe, And too long

Bold beggars and big · that might earn bread by work, With hounds’ bread and horse bread · hold up their hearts, Abate them with beans · to keep down their bellies;

`Some shall sew sacks,’ quoth Piers · ‘for sheltering the wheat; And ye, lovely ladies · with your long fingers, Have silk and sendal · to sew, while there’s time, Chasubles for chaplains · churches to honour. Wives and widows · wool and flax spin; Make cloth, I counsel you · and so teach your daughters. The needy and naked · take heed how they lie And contrive for them clothes · for so commands Truth. I shall get them livelihood · unless the land fails, Flesh and bread both · to rich and to poor, As long as I live · for the Lord’s love of Heaven. And all manner of men · that by meat and drink live, Help ye them to work well · that win you your food.’

`THIS were a wicked way · unless we had a guide That would show us each step’ · thus these folk complained. Quoth Perkin the plowman · ‘By Saint Peter of Rome! I’ve an half acre to plow · hard by the highway. Had I plowed this half acre · and sown it after, I would wend then with you · and show you the way.

Ye must go through Meekness · both men and their wives, Till ye come into Conscience · let Christ know the truth That ye love our lord God · the best of all things; And then your neighbours next · in no wise use Otherwise than thou wouldest · be wrought to thyself.

And said, ‘Mercy, madam · what is this to mean?

Pilgrims and palmers

Tramps and beggars

And some chose trade · they fared the better, As it seemeth to our sight · that such men thrive. And some to make mirth · as minstrels know how, And get gold with their glees · guiltlessly, I hold. But jesters and janglers · children of Judas, Feigning their fancies · and making folk fools, They have wit at will · to work, if they would; Paul preacheth of them · I’ll not prove it here — Qui turpiloquium loquitur · is Lucifer’s hind.

dixit insipiens

Ne solliciti sitis

Davy the ditcher

Alter alterius onera portate

Mihi vindicta, & ego retribuam.

Labores manuum tuarum, etc.

Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento.

Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam aeternam; qui vero mala, in ignem aeternum.

Si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis non timebo mala: quoniam tu mecum es.

Fuerunt mihi lacrimae meae panes die ac nocte.

saith

psalter

`Peter!’ quoth the priest then · `I can no pardon find

`Piers,’ quoth a priest then · `thy pardon must I read, For I will construe each clause · and tell it in English.’

TRUTH hereof heard tell · and to Piers he sent, To take him his team · and to till the earth; And provided a pardon · a poena et a culpa For him, and for his heirs · for evermore after. And bade him hold him at home · and plow up his fields, And all that helped him to plow · to set or to sow, Or any other work · that might Piers avail, Pardon with Piers Plowman · Truth them hath granted.

vexation