Piers Plowman B V 379: A Syntactic Note

The word “shewynge” in PPl B.5.379 is syntactically a verbal noun (followed by its object “shrift”), not a present participle or participial adjective (modifying “shrift”) as is generally construed. Accordingly, the line in question may be translated more or less literally as “This showing of (your) shrift may be a merit to you.”