[629] Further details on Langland and his Visions, and in particular the elucidation (as far as I have been able to furnish it) of several doubtful points, may be found in "Piers Plowman, a contribution to the History of English Mysticism," London, 1894. Some passages of the present Chapter are taken from this work. [630] Mr. Skeat has given two excellent editions of these three texts (called texts A. B. and C.): Iº "The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman, together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet et Dobest, secundum Wit et Resoun," London, Early English Text Society, 1867-84, 4 vols. 8vo; 2º "The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman, in three parallel texts, together with Richard the Redeless," Oxford (Clarendon Press), 1886, 2 vols. 8vo. [631] The reasons in favour of these dates are given in "Piers Plowman, a contribution to the history of English Mysticism," chap, ii., and in a paper I published in the _Revue Critique_, Oct. 25th, and Nov. 1, 1879. Mr. Skeat assigns the date of 1393 to the third text, adding, however, "I should not object to the opinion that the true date is later still." I have adduced proofs ("Piers Plowman," pp. 55 ff.) of this final revision having taken place in 1398 or shortly after. [632] B. xv. 48. [633] A. xii. 6. [634] _Concupiscencia carnis_ | colled me aboute the nekke, And seyde, "Thou art yonge and yepe | and hast yeres yn Forto lyve longe | and ladyes to lovye. And in this myroure thow myghte se | myrthes ful manye That leden the wil to lykynge | al thi lyf-tyme." The secounde seide the same | "I shal suwe thi wille; Til thow be a lorde and have londe." (B. xi. 16.) [635] C. vi. 42. [636] C. vi. 45. [637] On which see W. S. Simpson, "St. Paul's Cathedral and old City life," London, 1894, 8vo, p. 95: "The chantry priests of St. Paul's." A list of those chantries in a handwriting of the fourteenth century has been preserved; there are seventy-three of them. _Ibid._, p. 99. [638] C. beginning of passus vi.; B. beginning of passus xv.: "My witte wex and wanyed til I a fole were." [639] B. x. 181. [640] B. x. 420. [641] ... None sonner saved | ne sadder of bileve, Than plowmen and pastoures | and pore comune laboreres. Souteres and shepherdes | suche lewed jottes Percen with a _pater-noster_ | the paleys of hevene, And passen purgatorie penaunceles | at her hennes-partynge, In-to the blisse of paradys | for her pure byleve, That inparfitly here | knewe and eke lyved. (B. x. 458.) And thow medlest with makynges | and myghtest go sey thi sauter, And bidde for hem that giveth the bred | for there ar bokes ynowe To telle men what Dowel is.... (B. xii. 16.) [642] He seems to have written at this time the fragment called by Mr. Skeat: "Richard the Redeless," and attributed by the same with great probability to our author. [643] C. iii. 211 ff. [644] B. iii. 328. [645] B. iv. 3. [646] Daughter of Piers Plowman: