Cr1.3.139KD.3.137 She letteth passe prisoners , and prayeth for them oft
C.3.138KD.3.137 Sche lates passe prisoners · and paieth for hem ofte
R.3.129KD.3.137 Sche latR.3.129:
R's lat is unique in form and appears, at first glance, to be a preterite;
the other B witnesses show a common present-tense inflection (e.g.,
LMCrWHmOGF = leteth); however, MED attests this form as 3rd
sing. pres., and it seems clear that R intends the same meaning as the other B manuscripts rather than a preterite (cf. payeth later in this
line). In the C version, lat is actually the
predominant reading among the X family. A similarly inflected form also appears in several
A manuscripts. See the Introduction III.2.2.10 for a full discussion of ambiguities in R's tense
marking. passe prisonsR.3.129:
R's prisons is uniquely spelled (F and beta read prisoneres); however, MED, s. v.
prisoun, verifies that the R form is viable as a variant of the Bx word. The plural, prisons (= "prisoners"), actually
appears in Bx at R7.30: Pore poeple or prisones
fynden hem here fode. R's form is also found in some A witnesses at this point, and is the predominant form in the cognate line of the C version. and payeth for hem ofte .