Piers Plowman: Passus I Summary & Analysis

Still in deep sleep, Will sees a beautiful woman (who later introduces herself as Holy Church) dressed in linen and departing from the castle on the hill. Holy Church approaches Will and speaks to him gently, explaining to him that the hilltop tower is home to Truth, who is “father of faith” and creator of the world. Out of compassion for his creation, Truth has deemed “three things common to all” to keep humans comfortable: clothing, food, and drink. However, says Holy Church, these things must be consumed in moderation. Those who don’t drink in moderation, for example, will end up like Lot from the Bible, who “Did with his daughters what the Devil found pleasing.” Holy Church warns Will to listen to his soul, not his body.

Will asks Holy Church about the dungeon in the valley that sits on the other side of the field of folk. She says the dungeon is founded and ruled by Wrong—the very being who “egged to evil” Adam and Eve, Cain, and Judas. Wrong is “a molester of love” who “lies to every one.” 

Holy Church finally introduces herself by name to Will, telling him that he should already recognize her, for “I befriended you first and taught the faith to you.” Kneeling out of respect and admiration, Will asks her to pray for his sins and asks her how to save his soul. Holy Church responds that Truth, a “love-gift” declared by Deus caritas, is the answer.

Holy Church briefly teaches Will about the beginnings of Heaven and Hell. She explains that Christ created ten orders of heavenly beings, gave them power, and taught them to obey Truth. However, Lucifer, “the loveliest of light after our Lord,” refused to obey Christ, causing him to fall from God’s graces and from Heaven, where he landed in “a deep dark hell, to dwell there forever.” Thousands of other heavenly beings were damned as well, since they wrongly believed Lucifer when he told them that he will be “like the most high.” However, Lucifer is the most sinful of them all and he suffers the most. Holy Church says that all people who choose to “work with wrong” will find themselves in Lucifer’s company, but those who “work well” will go to Heaven.

Holy Church explains to Will that Truth is the “trustiest treasure on earth,” and that this idea is imbedded in all people, whether those people are learned or unlearned. Will objects, claiming he has no “natural knowledge” and needs to be taught “more clearly.” Reprimanding him, Holy Church calls Will a “doting dolt,” and explains that all people are instilled with “natural knowledge” in their hearts to love God more than they love themselves and to turn away from deadly sins.

While Truth is “trustiest” on earth, love is “trustiest” in Heaven, as love erases sin and establishes peace. Holy Church explains that Love took on “flesh and blood” on earth, and is now the “leader of the Lord’s people in Heaven,” serving as a point of contact between the God and his people.

Holy Church also teaches Will that “faith without works is worse than nothing, / And as dead as a doornail unless the deed goes with it.” She says that many people on earth seem pure and faithful, but they are lacking charity. She declares that people should treat one another with love, since love is “the strait street that goes straight to Heaven.”