William Langland, around 1375.
I recall being taught that the oldest English novel is called 'Piers Plowman', written by William Langland in the early 1300's. I'm sure that there are other works that could arguably be called the first.
Pearson evolved from "Piers' son" or "Pierre's son", in other words, meaning the son of Piers or Pierre. Or, it can be an Americanized version of a name that sounded similar.
A plowman was a farmer who worked plowed fields. He plowed the field, distributed the seed, and gathered the crop. He also worked with other farmers on common fields doing whatever work needed doing.
Jnandeva wrote jnaneswari
I'm not so sure if it's correct, but I think it's an arcade.
charity
Piers is revealed to be the personification of the virtue of Patience in Langland's "Piers the Plowman." He serves as a moral guide for the protagonist, offering wisdom and lessons on living a Christian life.
Lynne Hunt Levy has written: 'Piers Plowman and the concept of poverty' -- subject(s): Piers the Plowman, Poverty
Francis J. Hemelt has written: 'The seven deadly sins in English literature with special reference to the 'Piers plowman'..' -- subject(s): Accessible book, Piers Plowman, English literature, History and criticism
The quote "patience is a virtue" is attributed to William Langland, who wrote the poem "Piers Plowman" in the 14th century.
A. J. Colaianne has written: 'Piers Plowman' -- subject(s): Bibliography
Michael Henry Frost has written: 'Symbolic buildings in Piers Plowman'
George Kane has written: 'Middle English literature' -- subject(s): Christian poetry, English (Middle), English Romances, English literature, English poetry, History and criticism 'Poets and the Poetics of Sin (Bloomfield Lectures in Medieval English Literature)' 'Johnson's criticism: a study of its conventional basis and its distinguishing themes' 'Piers Plowman' 'Piers Plowman: The A Version - Will's Visions of Piers Plowman and Do-Well' 'Chaucer' -- subject(s): Criticism and interpretation
"Piers Plowman" was written first, by William Langland in the late 14th century. "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri was written later, in the early 14th century.
Virginia Landreth has written: 'Sources and influences on the harrowing-of-hell theme through Piers Plowman'
Diane Purdy Lichstein has written: 'Piers Plowman, an image of neo-Platonic Christendom'
Helen Morris Prince has written: 'Long Will, the first-person narrator in Piers Plowman'