Cr1.14.187KD.14.174 And pore puple thi prisoners lord in þe put of mischefe
C.14.185KD.14.174 ¶ And pouer pepyle thy prisoners · lord in the pyte of myschief
R.14.184KD.14.174 ¶ Ac pore poeple þi prisones loreR.14.184: R's prisones is simply an archaic formal variant for
beta's prisoneres (cf. R15.207 and R15.380, where beta also shows this
form). Perhaps because the F scribe was confused or troubled by this form (he uses prisoner in the other two instances mentioned), the a-verse in F seems
completely rewritten: But þe poore in prisoun lyȝn. As for R's lore, see Richard Jordan, Handbook of Middle English Grammar:
Phonology, translated and revised by Eugene Joseph Crook (The Hague: Mouton, 1974):
§199, remark 3. The spelling occurs as well at R5.409 and R18.61. in þe put of
mischief .
F.10.651KD.14.174¶ But þe poore in prisoun lyȝnF.10.651: F's a-verse is unique. Bx reads "Ac poore peple þi prisoners (Alpha had prisoun or R's prisones) lord." / in þe pit of myscheef.