The intro to "Piers Plowman"

Written by William Langland circa 1360 - 1387 "Piers Plowman" is one of the relatively small number of surviving works of literature written in Middle English and is second in importance only to "The Canterbury Tales". Below are some introductory passages along with translations;

1.a) "Memorandum quod Stacy de Rokayle pater willielmi de Langlond qui stacius fuit generosus & morabatur in Schiptoun vnder whicwode tenens domini le Spenser in comitatu Oxoniensi qui predictus willielmus fecit librum qui vocatur Perys ploughman."

b) (translation)
"It should be noted that Stacy de Rokayle was the father of William de Langlond; this Stacy was of noble birth and dwelt in Shipton-under-Wychwood, a tenant of the Lord Spenser in the county of Oxfordshire. The aforesaid William made the book which is called Piers Plowman."

2.a) "Whan this werke was wrouyt, ere Wille myte aspie
Deth delt him a dent and drof him to the erthe
And is closed vnder clom"

b) (translation"
"Once this work was made, before Will was aware
Death struck him a blow and knocked him to the ground
And now he is buried under the soil."