Page "Piers Plowman" Paragraph 29

There is, at any rate, strong evidence that Crowley's editions did not have much of an impact on Latin-literate, elite audiences.

After 1550, it was not printed again until 1813 except for Owen Rogers ' 1561 edition — a cheap knock-off of Crowley's text that omits the preface naming the author while adding — in some cases — Pierce the Ploughman's Crede.

The few people who mention Piers Plowman before 1700 usually attribute it to someone other than Langland, and often it is unclear if they are referring to Langland's poem or one of the many other texts circulating in print as part of the Piers Plowman tradition, particularly The Ploughman's Tale.

Since Piers was conflated with the author and dreamer-narrator of the poem at an early date, " Piers Plowman " or a Latin equivalent is often given as the name of the author, which indicates complete unfamiliarity with — or else silent incredulity toward — Crowley's preface.