The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 1: Oxford, Corpus Christi College, MS 201 (F) William Langland Edited by Robert Adams, Hoyt N. Duggan, Eric Eliason, Ralph Hanna, John Price-Wilkin, and Thorlac Turville-Petre Associate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. Farley Graduate Research Assistants William O. Albertini, Patricia Bart, Michael Blum, Cristina Maria Cervone, John H. Chaffin, Nancy L. Renwick Clendenon, Christopher J. Copeland, David Cox, Stephen C. Martin, Stephen J. Ramsay, and Dominique Woodall. Computer Consultants and Programmers Oludotun Akinola, Robert W. Bingler, David Cosca, Karen Dietz, Susan Gants, Nigel Kerr, Susan Munson, Daniel Pitti, David Seaman, Thornton Staples, John Unsworth, and Peter Yadlowsky. Medieval Academy of America Cambridge, MA ISBN: 0-472-002???

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copyright 2002, by SEENET

2002

SEENET A.1

Oxford, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, MS 201

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, MS 201

Attribute Values brown ink anglicana bastarda italic Lombard Cap ornamented capital, N lines high rubricated touched in red textura underlined underlined in red green ink blue ink

Latin French German poetry masculine 199901 cataloger Jackie Shieh New header created
Rubbing and cropping have rendered some text at the top of the page illegible. The interior characters in Pers are virtually illegible because of rubbing, and the end of Plowman has been lost to cropping. The following is legible: Incip it Pers þe Plowman .No. 1668. 201. D.3.10. Piers the : Plowman. The shelfmark "D.3.10." is written in a darker ink in a modern hand. Other matter, perhaps a quotation of the first line (?), has been scraped and is illegible. A l F.1.1: The ornamental capital is blue with red and white flourishes. Set in gold foil is an image of the sleeping dreamer with his head in his left hand and an image of a walled city beneath his feet. He wears three-fingered laborer's gloves, perhaps suggesting that the illustrator has conflated dreamer and plowman. F.1.1: All other B manuscripts begin "In a somer seson . . . ." Though certainty is not possible, the similar ornamental capital in the Ushaw College fragment written in the same workshop suggests that this lection is intended to take advantage of the workman's skill, since an <A> offers more scope for the illustration than an <I>. The change in the text is, in this instance, more probably the work of the immediate scribe than of the F-Redactor. in som er sesou n / whan softe was the su nne I shoop me in -to shrowdes / as y sheep [a] sheep were F.1.2: F omits the following line from Bx: "In habite as an heremite vnholy of werkes." & wente wyde i n . þis world / wondres to here & on May [a] May morwe / on malverne hillis By -fel me a feerly / as fayrye me thowhte I was wery of wandry nge / & wente me to reste Vpon a brood banke / be a boorne syde & as y lay & lenede / & lokede on þe wawys I slu mbrede in -to slepy ng / it swyȝede so merye Þa n ga n y to meety n / a mervelo us sweuene Þ at y was i n a wyldernesse / wiste y neu ere where I beheld in -to Est [þe] Est / an heyȝ to þe su nne I seyȝ a tour on a tuft / tryally y -tymbryd & a deep dale be -nethe / a dongou n þer -Inne W it h depe dychis & derke / & dredful to syghte & a fayr feeld ful of folk / y fond þ ere be -twene Of all e man ere of me n / þe mene & þe ryche Wyrkynge & wandrynge / as this world askeþ Su mme pitte hem -selue to plowh / & pleyede seldyn & in settynge & sowynge / þey swonken ful harde & su mme pitte hem to p ride / & a -p arayled hem þer -after In co ntynances of clothynge / kemen fele dysgysyd F.1.22: An otiose curl appears over the <g>. & wonnen þ at þese wastoures / w it h glotenye dystroyen F.1.23: This line appears after F1.20 in Bx. In p rayerys & i n penau nces / pitte hem -selue manye For þe love of oure lord / þei lyvedyn ful streyte In hope to have to hyre  heuy n -ryche blysse As Ankrys & hermytys / þ at holde he m -selue i n sellys & coueyte nowht in cu ntres / to kayren a -bowte For no F.1.29: An otiose curl appears over the <n>. likorous lyflode / here lykame to plese & su mme chesen chaffare / to cheven þe bettre As it semeþ to oure syght / þ at swiche me n thryvyn & su mme merthis to make F.1.32: F omits the b-verse "as Mynstralles konneth" and the following a-verse: "And geten gold with hire glee." / synneles y leve But Iaperis & Iangeleris / ben Iudas childryn Þei feynen hem fantesyes / & folis hem maken & welden wit at wille / to worche what þei sholde What Poul p recheþ of hem / y wil not p reue it heere F.1.36: F omits the following line from Bx: " Qui loquitur turpiloquium is luciferes hyne." Boþe bidderis & beggeris / faste a -bowty n wentyn F.1.37: F omits the following line from Bx: "Wiþ hire bely and hire bagge of breed ful ycrammed." & fele fayted for here foode / & fowtyn at þe ale F.1.38: A late seventeenth- or early eighteenth-century Corpus Christi College librarian supplied the following inscription at the bottom of the page: Liber C.C.C Oxon. Ex dono Gulielmi Fulman A. M. hujus Collegii quondam Socii.William Fulman (1632-1688), born Penshurst, Kent, in November, 1632, became a scholar at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in 1647, was expelled in 1648 by Parliamentarians, and at the restoration in 1660 was created M.A. and Fellow of the college. He remained in college until 1669 when he took a living in Gloucestershire, where he died of a fever in 1688. See the Dictionary of National Biography, eds. Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee (Oxford: Oxford U P, 1917): 7.767-68. & god woot w it h glotenye / þey goon to -gydre to bedde & rysen vp / w it h rubawdye / þo roberis knavis & sleep & sory slewthe / sew et h hem euere Pylgrymes & palmeris / pyghtyn he m to -gydre To seken sey nt Iemes / & seyntis in Rome & wenty n forþ / on here way / w it h fele wyse talis & haddyn leve / for to lyȝen / al here lyve aft er F.1.45: F lacks the following lines attested by beta family manuscripts: I seiȝ somme þat seiden þei hadde ysouȝt Seintes To ech a tale þat þei tolde hire tonge was tempred to lye Moore þan to seye sooþ it semed bi hire speche Heremytes on an heep with hoked staues Wenten to walsyngham and hire wenches after. & grete longe lobyes / þ at looþ wery n to swynke Clothid hem in copis / to be knowe f ram oþere & shoop hem lyk hermytis / her e ese for to kacche / [¶] I fond þer e of þe freris / alle þe fowre ordris Þ at p recheden þe peple / for p rofyȝt of hem -selue & gloseden þe gospel / as hem -selue lykede For coueytyse of copis / þei co nst rue as þei will e Fele of þe Mayst ris / may cloþe hem at lykyng For here mone & marchaundyse / marchyn to -gydre For sytthe Charite is chapman / & cheef to shryve lord is Fele ferlijs have ben falle / in a fewe ȝeeris & but holy chirche & they / holde bettr e to -gydre Þe mooste myschef on moolde / ys mou nty nge faste There p rechede a p ardon er / as he a preest where & browhte forþ a bulle / w it h bysshopis selys & seyde þ at hym -selue / myghte a -soyle he m alle Of false oþis & fastyngis / & fele avowys brokene & lewide me n belevid he m wel / & lykeden hise woordis & keme n vp knelynge / & kessed e his bulle & he blessid hem w it h his brevet / & blered e here eyȝen & lawhte [r]awhte w it h his ragman / ryngis & brochis & þorghȝ þe seelis on þe selk / syluer gret plente These two lines appear only in F. W it h wheche his konkebyne at hom / is klad ful klene & þus me n gyven here gold / glotonys to kepe & be -leven on þo loselis / þat leccherye hawnten But where þe blessynge bisshop / worþ boþe his eryn His seel sholde not be sent / to disseyve þe peple But it it [is] not be þe bisshop / þ at so þe boy precheþ But þe p arsou n er þe preest / ys cawse of þe gilte F.1.74: This line appears only in F. For þe p rest & þe p ardoner / shull e dep arten þe syluer F.1.75: The <l> was inserted after the word was initially written, probably by the original scribe. F.1.76: An early scribe has written an abbreviation for n ota in the left margin. Note that the curious mark beneath it is repeated again on passus 27 r, again in connection with a nota abbreviation. Þ at þe pore me n of þe p arschȝ  sholde have if þey nere Bothe p arsonys & vikerys F.1.77: F's a-verse is unique. Beta witnesses have "Persons and parisshe preestes." In the absence of R, it is not possible to identify the source of the error. / pleynede to þe bisshop Þat here p arschenys where pore / sitthe þe pestyle nce tyme To have lycence & leve / at loonde nn to dwe llyn. & syngy n þer e for Symony / for siluer ys swete. Boþe Mayst ris & Bisshopis / & bacheler es & doctoris. F.1.81: F's reading is unique. Beta witnesses have "Bisshopes and Bachelers boþe maistres and doctours." In the absence of R, it is not possible to identify the source of the error. Þ at have cure vndir c rist / & konynge to knowe. & charge F.1.83: F's charge is unique. Beta witnesses have signe. þ at þei sholden at hom / shryvy n her e p arsshenis. & p rechen & p raye for hem  & þe poore leene & feede. & nowht lyȝn i n Londe nn / in Lentene & ellys. & su mme seruy n þe kyng / & his syluer tellyn. In þe cheker & i n þe Chauncery / to chalange hise dettes. Of wardis / & of warde -motis / of wayvis & strayes. & su mme be Clerkis of þe ky ngys bench / þe cu nt re to shende. F.1.89: This line appears only in F in the B textual tradition. Cf. Kane, A Prol.95. & su mme s eruy n as s eruau ntys / Lordys & ladijs. & in þe stede os o[f] styward / þey Iuggyn & demen. F.1.91: F's b-verse is unique. Beta witnesses have "sitten and demen." But here mase ne matynys / ne manye of her e oures. Be not salysbery hews / her e Ordynal so tellyþ. F.1.93: This line in F replaces two in Bx: Arn doon vndeuoutliche drede is at þe laste Lest crist in consistorie acorse ful manye. / [¶] I p arceyvede of þ at power / þ at Pet er hadd e to kepe To byȝnde & vnbyȝnde / as þe book telliþ. How he lefte it w it h love / as our e lord hy m hyghte. A -mongys four e v ertues / most v ertuous of hevene. Þ at Cardinalis ben callid / to closen hevene ȝatys. Þer e c rist ys in hys kyngdo mm / to close & to shette. & to opene it to hem / & heuene blysse hem shewe. & þe Cardynalis at þe court / of he m kawty n name. For Powher P resumeþ Presume[d] i n hem / a pope to make. To haue þe Powher / þ at pet er hadde / Inpugne y nylle. For in love & in lettrur e / þe lecc iou n by -longeþ. For -þy  y can / & can not  of þe cowrt carpy n mor e. Þanne kam þ ere a kyng / knyghthod he ladde. & þe myght of hyse como nys / maden hy m to regne. & forþ kam kyȝnde wyt  & clerkys he hadde. For to conseyle þe kyng / & hise como nis save. & þe kyng & his knyghthod / & þe clergye also. Þey casten þ at F.1.111: The scribe first wrote þ e and corrected it to þ t . þe como nys / sholde fyȝnde he m -selue. F.1.111: An otiose curl appears above the second <e> in hemselue. Þe como nys be kynde wit / cont riveden craftes. & for p rofyȝt of þe peple / plowhme n þey made. To swynke / & to tylye F.1.114: F's a-verse is unique. Beta witnesses have "To tilie and to trauaille." / as trewe skyl askeþ. / [¶] Þa nne þe kyng & como nys / & kyȝnde wit þe thryde. Schopen lawe / be lewte / ech lyf to knowe his owe. Þa nne lookede a lunatyk / a lene þy ng w it h -alle. He ga n knele to þe kyng / & clergyaly seyde. Cryst kepe þe sir e kyng / & þy n kyngdom ryche. & leve le[n]e þe / so lede þyn lond / so lewhte þe a -lowe. & for þy n ryght -ful rewly ng / þ ou be rewardid i n heuene. & a -no n fram þe hevene on heyȝ / com dou n an Angyl e. F.1.122: F's line is unique. Bx has "And siþen in þe Eyr an heiȝ an Aungel of heuene." The scribe neglected to supply red touches on the beginning letters of lines and on highlighted words on folios 2v-3r. He sometimes failed throughout the manuscript to supply colored parasigns, though he marked the place for each with a light solidus. & lowhde spak in Latyn / for lewede me n ne sholde. Ianglyn ne Iuggen hym / ne Iustefye hy m w it h mowþe. But suffr en & s eruy n / softly / for -þy  seyde þe angil. S u m rex su m p rinceps . neutru m fortasse deinceps. O qui iura regis . cristi specialia legis [r]egis. H oc q uod agas melius . iust us es esto pius. N udu m vis F.1.129: Alpha reads vis. All beta family manuscripts read ius with version C. a te . vestire F.1.129: Alpha is responsible for vestire, though the reading is shared by H. Beta witnesses have vestiri. vult pietate. Q valia vis metere . talia grana sere. S i vis F.1.131: RFH read vis against ius in all other manuscripts. nudatur . nudo de iure metatur. S i seritur pietas . de pietate metas. / [¶] Thanne grevid hy m a Goliardes / a glotou n of woordys. & to þe Angel on hey  he answerede soone. D u m rex a reg ere . dicatur nome n h abere N ome n h abet sine re . n isi studet iura tenere. / [¶] Thanne cryeden alle þe como nys / w it h o voys a tonys at onys. F.1.137: Alpha omits the following line attested by beta witnesses: "To þe kynges counseil construe whoso wolde." P recepta regis . su nt nobis ui nc ula legis. / [¶] W it h þat kemen F.1.139: F's kemen is unique. Bx has ran þer. a rowhte / of Ratonys manye. & Manye Mees w it h hem / moo þanne a þowsand e & wenty n F.1.141: F's wentyn is unique. Bx has comen. to a conseyl / for þe comou n p rofyȝt. For a Cat in þe court / cam whan hire [hym] lykede. & ouer -leep hem lyghtly / & lawht hem at wylle. & pleyeþ w it h vs ap ertly / & posseþ vs a -bowhte. & for drede of deeþ / we ne dore not wel looken. & if we grucche F.1.146: Alpha is responsible for the omission of of after grucche. F alone has wille in place of gamen. his will e / he wil greve vs sore. & cracche vs / & clawe vs / & in his cloche vs holde. Þ at we loþyn oure lyf / er he leete vs passen. / [¶] But myghte we be ony wit / hys will e w it h -stonde. We weryn lordys on lofte / & lyven i n gret ese. / [¶] Þa nne a Ratou n of renou n / moost renable of tu nge. Seyde a resonable resou n F.1.152: F's a-verse is unique. Bx has "Seide for a souereyn." / & helplych to he m alle. F.1.152: Alpha is responsible for "hem alle." Beta witnesses have "to hymselue." I have herd of F.1.153: F's "herd of" is unique. Beta witnesses have "yseyen." seggis q uod he  in þe Cyte of Lundou n. Þ at me n bery n bryghte byȝes / a -bowtyn here nekkys. & su mme Coler es of c rafty werk / vn -cowpled þey walke. Boþe in wareyn & in waast / wher e hem best lykeþ. & oþ ire -whylys ellys -where / as weyȝes me telle. F.1.157: F has revised the line, changing the alliterative pattern. Bx has "And ouþer-while þei arn elliswhere as I here telle." Where þer e a belle on her e beyȝe / by Iesus F.1.158: Alpha is responsible for Iesus. Beta witnesses have Iesu. as me þy nkeþ. Men myghte n wetyn / where þei wente / & a -wey renne. Ryght so q uod þe Ratou n / as resou n me shew et h. It were best to begge a bras belle / or of shyȝn F.1.161: F's shyȝn is unique. Bx has briȝt. syluer. & knette it on a Coler / for oure Comou ne p rofyȝt & hange it a -bowte þe Cattys hals / þ at here hy m we mowe. F.1.163: Alpha lacks the following two lines attested by beta witnesses: Wher he ryt or rest or renneþ to pleye And if hym list for to laike þanne loke we mowen. & a -peren i n his abse nse F.1.164: F's addition of vus in the b-verse shows that the revision of Bx's presence to absense was intended. / þe while v us pleye lykeþ. & yf he wratthe / to be war / & hise weye shone. Þa nne alle þe F.1.166: Alpha is responsible for þe. Beta witnesses have þis. rowhte of Ratonys / to þis resou n assentid. But whanne þe bell e was bowht / & on þe byȝe hanged. Þer e was no ratou n / of þ at rowhte / for þe Rewhme of Frau nce. Þ at durste a bownde þ at bond / a -bowte þe Cattys nekke. Ne honge yt a -bowte his F.1.170: Alpha and C have his. Beta witnesses have þe cattes. hals / al Ingelond to wynne. But helden he m -selue vn -hardy / & al her e co nseyl feble. & al here labour was loost / & here large costes. / [¶] Tha nne a Mows / þ at mychil good / cowhde / as me thowhte. Strook forþ sternely / & stood be -for e hem alle. & to þe rowhte of ratonys / he reersyd e þese wordys. / [¶] They we haddy n kyllyd þ at Cat / ȝyt sholde þ ere come a -noþ ir. & kacche v us & our e kyȝnde / whan we kroule a -bowte. For -þy  by my co nseyl / to soffr e þe Cat a -worthe. F.1.178: F's line is unique. Bx has "Forþi I counseille al þe commune to late þe cat worþe." & no bacheler be so bold / þe belle hy m to shewe. F.1.179: See Kane-Donaldson, 176, for their editorial reasoning on re-ordering this passage. For y herde my n syre sey n / is sevene ȝeer y -passed. Þere þe Cat ys kytou n / þe court ys elenge. Þ at witnessiþ holy wryt / who -so will e it rede. U e terre . ubi puer rex est. F.1.183: A cross is written in the right margin beside this line in an ink like that used by the original scribe. There may no renke haue reste / for rattys on nyghtis. / [¶] For whilis he cacchiþ conyes / he coueyteþ not our e bowkys. F.1.185: bowkys, "bodies, carcasses." But fediþ hy m w it h fenysou n / defame we hy m neuere. For bettr e ys a lytil los / þan a long sorwe. Þe Maase  a -mong vs alle / þey we mysse a shrewe. For manye me nnys malt ell is / we myȝs will e distroye. & also ellis ȝee ratonys / wolde renden renkes clothys. F.1.190: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And also ye route of Ratons rende mennes cloþes." H also omits "route of." Ne wer e þe cat of þe court / þ at can a -mong ȝow lepe. For hadde ȝe ratonys F.1.192: Alpha reads ratonys, a reading in which it is joined by GH and the C version. Beta manuscripts have rattes. ȝo ure wille / ȝee cowhde not rewle ȝo ur -selue. I sey þis F.1.193: Alpha is responsible for the direct object. R has it. Beta manuscripts lack an object. for my -selue q uod þe Mous / & see so mychil after. Shal neu ere Cat ne kytou n / by my n co nseyl be grevid. Ne carpynge of his coler / coste me neu ere aft er. & þowh it coste F.1.196: Alpha and G lack beta's hadde before coste. me catel / by -knowe it F.1.196: An otiose curl appears above the <t>. y nylle. But suffre as su mme oþ ire do / to slen what hy m lykeþ. Cowpled / & vncowplyd / to cacche what he wille. & euery wyȝs Mows y warne / to wacche wel hy m -selue. / [¶] What þis Metelys meneþ / ȝee me n / þ at been her e -Inne. I ne dar dyvyne it ȝow / be dere god in hevene. / [¶] Ȝit hovede þere an hu ndr ed / in howfes on Molde. F.1.202: The scribe was perhaps confused by howfes, "coifs." Bx reads "in howues of selk." Sergawntys þey semeden / þ at s erued e at þe barre. Pleteden for þe peny / & pownded þe lawe. & nowht for our e lordys love / vn -lose her e lyppe onys. Þ ou myghtyst bettr e meten myst / on Maluerne hellys  Þa n gety n a Mu m of her e mowht / er F.1.207: Alpha is responsible for er. Beta manuscripts have til or but. mone be shewyd. F.1.207: F omits the following line from Bx: "Barons and burgeis and bondemen als." I seyȝ in þis a -sem ble / as ȝee shu lle here after. Boþe Bakerys / & Brewsteres / & Bocherys manye. & also wolle websterys / & webberys of Lynene. & Taylour es & Tynkeres / & tollerys of Market. & Masonys & Mynowrys / & manye oþ ire craftys. Of alle F.1.213: Alpha lacks beta's kynne before lyvynge. lyvynge laborerys / lope þer e furthȝ su mme. As dykerys & delueres / þ at doon her e ded es ylle. & dryve furthȝ þe fayre day / w it h deu vo us saue dame Emme . / [¶] Þer e wheren kene Cokys knavis / c riȝeden / hote pyes hote  Goode fatte gryȝs & gees / gowe go we dyghne . gowe go we. / [¶] & þe Tauernerys vn -tyl he m / tolledyn þe same. W it h good fyȝn Maluesyn F.1.219: F alone has this reading. Bx reads "Whit wyn of Oseye." Malvesie is a sweet Greek wine from Napoli di Malvasia. / or wyn of Gaskoyne. Or Rochel or Romeney F.1.220: F's a-verse is unique. Bx reads "Of þe Ryn and of þe Rochel." / þe roost to diffyȝe. Explicit passus Prim us . Petri Plouhma n. This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. Incipit Passus S ec und us. W hat F.2.1: The ornamented capital is done in red ink with green flourishes extending in the left margin from the top into the bottom margin of the written space. þis Mou ntey n meneþ / & þe d erke dale. & þe feld ful of folk / y shal fair e ȝow shewe. A Love lady of leere / in lynene y -clothed. Com fram a Castel / & callede me fayre. & seyde sone slepistow / seest þ ou þis peple. How bysely þ at þey been / a -bowtyn þe mase. Þe mooste p artye of þis peple / þ at pasen on erthe Have þey worchepe in þis world / þey wilnen no bettre. Of othir hevene þan here / holde þey no tale. I was a -ferd of her e face / þey she fair were. & seyde Mercy Madame / what is þis to mene. Q uod she  In þe tour vpon þe toft / trewthe is þ ere -Inne. He wolde þ at me n wroghte / as his woord tellyþ. For he . ys fader of feyþ / & formed hem alle. Boþe w it h fel / & w it h face / he ȝaf ȝou fyve wyttys. For to worchepe hy m w it h / whyles ȝee been here. & þerfor e he hyghte þe erthe / to helpe ȝou ecchone. Of wollene / & lynene / & lyflode at neede. In mesurable maner / to make ȝow atese at ese. He comau ndid e of his c urtesye / in comou n þre þy ngys. None needfuller e þan þo / & ne mpne he m y þynke. & rykene be resou n / reerse ȝee he m after. Þe fyrste ys vesteure / fram chele þe to save. Þe toþir ys mete at meel / for myssese to the. Þe thrydd e F.2.25: The scribe began to write þredde and then changed the <e> to <y>. He nowhere writes "third" as þredde. ys drynk whan þ ou dryest / but do it i n resou n. Þ at þ ou ne worthȝ þe wors / whan þ ou werche sholdest. For looth in hise lif dayes / þorghȝ lykynge of drynke. Dyde by his dowhter es / þ at þe deuel lykede. For he de lytyd hy m in dryn k / as þe deue l wo lde. F.2.29: " II us " with red flourishes is written in the top right margin to identify the passus. & leccherye hym lawhte / & he lay by hem bothe. & al he witte it wyȝn / þ at wykkede dede. I nebriam us eu m uino . dormiam usq ue cu m eo. V t seruare possum us poss[i]mus . de patre n ostro semen. For þorghȝ wyȝn & wo mmen / þ ere was Looth a -cu mbryd. & gat w it h gret glotenye / gerlys þ at whery n cherlys. For -þy  drede delytable drynk / & þ ou shalt do þe bettr e. For Mesur e ys Medycyne / þey þ ou mychel ȝeerne. It ys nowht al good to þi goost / þ at þy gut askeþ. Ne lyflode to þy lykame / þ at leef is to þy sowle. F.2.39: F and G omit the following line from Bx: "Lef nauȝt þi licame for a liere hym techeþ." For þ at ys þe wrecched e world / he wolde þe be -t raye. & þe fend / & þy flesshȝ / folwe þe to -gydre. Þese thre / sewe þy sowle / to shende it þey casten. F.2.42: F's b-verse is unique. Bx probably read "seith it in þin herte." & for þ ou sholdest ben war / y wysshe þe beste. A Madame m ercy q uod y  me lykeþ wel ȝour e wordys. But þe Mone on þis Molde / þ at me n so faste kepe. F.2.45: Alpha is responsible for kepe. Beta witnesses have holdeþ. Tell e ȝee me to whom / þ at tresor a -pendyþ. / [¶] Q uod she  go to þe gospel / þ at god seyde hy m -selue. Whan þe peple w it h a peny / a -posed hy m in þe temple. Wheyþ ir þey sholden þ erw it h / worchepe kyng Cesar. & cryst askede þer e hem / of whom spak þe lettre. & þe ymage was lyȝk / þ at þer e -Inne stondiþ. Alle þey seyden . Cesar / we seen it wel ecchone. R eddite cesari q uod cryst F.2.53: "Quod cryst" was written first in red and then erased. The tail of the <y> is just visible over the <o> in "or ellis" in the following line.  þ at cesari to falleþ E t que su nt dei deo  or ellis / ȝee don ylle For ryghtful resou n / sholde rewle ȝow alle. & kende wit be wardeyn / ȝour e welthe to kepe. & tutor of ȝour e tresor / & take it ȝow at nede. For he & husbondrye / holden to -gydres. / [¶] Þa nne y fraynede hire fair e / for hy m þ at hir e made. Of þe dungou n in þe dale / þ at ys so dirk to syghte. What may it be -mene / Madame ȝee me telle. / [¶] It ys þe Castel of Care q uod she  who -so komeþ þ er -Inne  He may banne / he bore was / to body or to sowle. For þ ere -Inne woneþ . a wyght / þ at wrong ys y -hote. He is fadir of falshed / he foundid hy m -selue [yt] hymselue. For boþe Adam & Eve / he eggyd he m to Ille. & he conseyled e Caym / to kylly n his broþir. & to Iudas he Iapede / w it h þe Iewys syluer. & sytthen on an ellerne tr e / he hongid e hy m -selue. He is letter e of love / & by -lyȝeþ he m alle. Þey þat t riste on his tresor / be -t rayed are su nnest. Þan hadde y wonder in my wit / wat wo mman she were. F.2.72: An otiose curl appears above the first <e>. Þ at swyche wyse wordys / of holy wryt shewede. & y halsede F.2.74: F alone reads halsede. R has hasked, an inverse spelling for Bx's asked. hire on þe hyȝe name / er she þe ns wente. What she was wyttyrly / þ at wyssed me so fayre. / [¶] Q uod she  y am holy chirche / þ ou awhtist me to knowe. For For [y] vndir -fongyd þe fyrst / & þe feyþ þe tawhte. Þow browhtest me borwes / my byddy nge to fulfille. & to love leelly me F.2.79: The order "lelly me" is owed to alpha. / whylys þy lyf dureþ. Þan y kurblyd e [kurbyd] dou n on knees / & c ried hir e of g race. & p rayede hir e pytously / to p raye for my n synnes. & also kenne me kendely / on c rist to be -leve. F.2.82: Alpha omits the following line from Bx: "That I myȝte werchen his wille þat wroȝte me to man." & teche me to no tresor / but teche me þe soþe. How y may save my sowle / þ at sey nt art y -holde. Whan alle tresor ys tryed . q uod she  trewþe is þe beste. I do it on deus caritas / to demen þe sothe. Þ at F.2.87: Þat is owed to alpha. it ys as derworþy a dr ewry / as der e god hy m -selue. He þ at F.2.88: He þat is unique to F. Beta has Whoso and R has He." ys trewe of his tu nge / & telleþ no n oþir. & doþ werke þ er -w it h / & wylneþ no ma n ylle. He ys a god / by þe gospel e / on grownde & on lofte. F.2.90: FH omit the following line from Bx: "And ylik to oure lord by Seint Lukes wordes." Þe Clerkys þ at knowe þys / sholde kenne it a -bowte. For c ristene & vnc ristene / cleyme heuene ecchone. / [¶] Kyngys & knyghtes / sholde kepe it be reson. & ryden & rappe dou n / in rewhmes a -bowte. & taken transgressores / & teyȝen hem faste. Tyl trewþe hadde det ermyned / her e t respas to ende. & þ at ys þe p rofessiou n p roperly / þ at apendiþ to knyghtys. & nowht to fasten a fryday / in fyve skore wynt er. But holde w it h hy m / er w it h hire / & so wolde trewthe. Ne F.2.100: Alpha is responsible for Ne. Beta manuscripts have And. neu ere leue hem for love / ne for lacchy nge of sylu er. For dauid i n hise dayes / dubbede knyghtes. & dyde he m swer e on a swerd / to s erue trewþe eu ere. & who þ at passede þ at poynt / a -postata was holde. But Cryst kynggene kyng / knyghted ten oþere. F.2.104: F omits the following line from Bx: "Cherubyn and Seraphyn swiche seuene & oþere." & ȝaf hem myght of his mageste / þe meryer e he m þowhte. & ouer hise meene meyghne / he made he m archang elis & tawhte he m of þe t rinnyte / trewþe to knowe. & F.2.108: Alpha is responsible for the &. Beta manuscripts have To. be buxu m at his byddy nge / he bad hem nowht ell is. / [¶] Þan Lucyfer w it h legyonys / leerned yt i n helle. F.2.109: Bx reads heuene. The scribe reversed the sense without attention to the context. Cf. F5.633. Til F.2.110: Alpha is responsible for Til. Beta manuscripts have But for. he brak buxu mnesse / þa n blysse ga n he tyne. & fel fram þe felachepe / in -to þe feendys lykness e. In -to þe derke helle / to dwelle þ erinne for euer e. & mo þowsende w it h hym / þan ony man ca n nu mbre. Lopen dou n w it h lucyfer / in a lothly forme. For þey be -levede on lucyfer / þ at lord hy m -selue made. F.2.115: F alone among B manuscripts supplies alliterating lucyfer. It also differs from all other B witnesses by altering the b-verse and by omitting a Latin quotation. Bx reads as follows: . . . þat lyed in þis manere Ponam pedem in aquilone & similis ero altissimo. & alle þ at hopede it myghte be so / heuene ne myghte he m holde. But fylly n owt foule feendis / nyghne dayes complet. Tyl god of his goodnesse / gan stable he m to stynte. & made hevene be steke a -gey n / & stonden in quyete. But whan þo wikkyd e wenty n out / wondir -wyse þey felly n. Su mme i n þe erthe / su mme i n þe eyȝr / & su mme i n þe helle depe. But in helle lyþ lucyfer / lowest of hem alle. For P ride þ at he pitte owt / his peyghne haþ no n ende. / [¶] & alle þat after wrong wirchen / wenden þey shulle. Aft er here deþ -day / to F.2.125: Alpha is responsible for to. All beta manuscripts except H have and. dwellyn w it h þat shrewe. & þo þ at wel wirchen / as holy writ hem techeþ. Þey enden / as eer [I] eer seyde / in trewþe / for þe beste. Þey mowe be syker / þ at here soule / shal styȝen i nto heuene. Þer e trewþe ys w it h þe t rinnyte / þ at shal saven F.2.129: The error occurred in alpha. Bx reads "and troneþ hem alle." hem alle. / [¶] For -þy  y seyȝ ȝyt / as y seyde eer / be þe same tixtys. F.2.130: Alpha is responsible for the b-verse. Beta manuscripts have "by siȝte of þise textes." Whan all e tresorys ben t ried / trewþe ys þe beste. Lere F.2.132: Alpha and G omit beta's it after lere. þys / ȝee lewide me n / for lett rid me n it knowen. Þ at trewþe ys þe fayrest tresor / & t ristest on erthe. I have no kyȝnde knowynge q uod y  y coueyte lerne bettr e. F.2.134: Alpha is responsible for the b-verse. Beta manuscripts have "yet mote ye kenne me bettre." R reads "ȝette mote I lerne bettre." By what craft in my corps / it comseþ & where. / [¶] A þ ou dotyst q uod she / to dulle ben þyne wittys. To lytil latyn þ ou lernedist / leede in þyn ȝowthe. H eu m ichi q uod sterilem  duxi uitam iuuenilem. Þat is a kyȝnde knowyng q uod she  þ at comeþ in þy n herte. For to love þy n lord / leevere þan þy -selue. & non / dedly synne don / dyȝe þey þ ou sholdist. Þis y trowe is good tr ewþe / who can teche þe bettre. Loke þ ou suffre hym to seyȝe / & sytthe lerne it soone. For þus witnesseþ his word / worche þ ou þer -after. / [¶] For tr ewþe telliþ / þ at love / ys t riacle of hevene. Þere may sy nne [no] synne / be on hy m sene / þ at that spyce vseþ. Alle hise wirkys be wroghte / w it h love / at his lykyng. & lerned it to moyses / for leve F.2.148: Bx reads "for þe leueste þyng." / & most lyk to hevene. & also plente of pees / ys moost p recious of v ertues. For hevene myghte not holde it / so was it hevy hy m -selue. Tyl it hadde of þe erthe / y -hetyn al his fylle. & whan it hadde of ma nhode / fleshȝ & blood take. Was neu ere leef vpon lyȝnde / lyghter e þer e -after. F.2.153: F omits the following line from Bx: "And portatif and persaunt as þe point of a nedle." Þer F.2.154: The scribe used this form of <r> on the first folio and very infrequently indeed after that point. It is his usual form in the Ushaw fragment. myghte no n armo ure yt lette / ne no n hyȝe wallys. Þ erfor e ys love ledere / of þe lordis fo lk of hevene. & as þe Meyȝr e is meene / be -twene þe kyng & comonys. Ryght so / ys love a leder e / & þe Lawhe shapeþ. Vpon man / for hise mysdedis / & mercyme nt he askeþ. & for to knowe it kyndely / yt comseþ be myghte. & in þy n herte is þe heved / & þe hyȝe welle. For in kyȝnde knowynge i n herte / þer e myght by -gy nneþ. & þ at falleþ to þe fadir / þ at formede faire vs alle. He lookede on vs w it h love / whan he leet his sone dyȝe. Meekly for our e mysdedis / to a -me ndy n vs alle. & ȝyt wolde he no woo  to þo þ at wrowhte hy m peyne. But meekly w it h mowþe / Mercy he be -sowhte. To have pyte on þe peple / þ at pyned hy m to dethe. Here myght þ ou seen ensample / in hy m -selue oone. Þ at he was myghtful & meeke / & m ercy gan g raunte. To he m / þ at hongy n hy m on hyȝ  & his herte þryllyd. For -þy  y rede þe ryche / have m ercy on þe pore. Þey ȝee been myghtful to moote / be ȝee meke i n herte. For be þe same mesur e / þ at ȝee mety n / a -mys oyþ er ellys. Ȝee shulle be weyȝe þer -w it h / whan ȝee wendyn hennys. E ade m me nsura qua me nsi fueritis  remeciet ur uobis. For þey ȝee ben trewe of tu nge / & trewly selle. & as chast as þe chyld / þ at in þe chirche wepiþ. & but ȝee love ȝour e neyhebor e / & leene or gyve þe poor e. Of swiche goodis / as god ȝow se nt / goodly w it h he m ȝe p arte. Ȝee have no mor e meryght / of Mess e ne of howres Þan Malkyn of hir e Maidenhod / þ at alle me n dysyren. F.2.181: Either a scribe or the F redactor miscomprehended the comparison. Beta family manuscripts read: "þat no man desireþ." For Iemes þ at Ientyl man / Iuggede in hise bookys. Þ at feythȝ w it houty n fewte / ys no -þyng worthy. But as ded / as dore tre / but if dedys sewen. F ides sine op erib us F.2.185: The abbreviation for <er> is unusual for this scribe.  mortua est. For -þy  Chastite w it h -outy n Charite / worþ cheyned i n helle. It is lewed as þe lampe / þat no lyght ys Inne. Fele Chapeleynys be chast / but charite is a -weye. Þ ere ben no n averouserer e þan þey / whan þey ben a -vawncyd. & vn -kyȝnde to her e ken / & to all e c ristene peple. Þey chewyn her e charite / & chydyn aft er moor e. Swich chastite w it h -outy n charite / worþ cheyȝned i n hell e. Fele Curat urys kepe hem -self / klene of her e bodijs. But þey ben a -cubrid a -cu[m]brid w it h coueytise / þey ku nne out crepe. So harde haþ Averyce / y -haspid he m to -gydres. & þ at ys not t rewthe of þe t rinnyte / but t reccherye of helle. & lerny nge to lewid me n / þe latter e to leve synne. For -þy  þese word is ben y -wr ete / weel i n þe gospel. D ate & dabitur uobis / for y dele w it h ȝow alle. F.2.199: " III us, " flourished in red, appears in the top right margin to indicate the passus. For date is / þe look of love / þ at leetiþ out my grace. To co nforte þe kareful / þ at is a -cu mbred w it h synne. For love is leche of lyf / & neest our e lord i n heuene. & it ys / þe grayþ gate / þat good goo[þ] F.2.203: Though this instance is probably to be attributed to scribal error, some late East Anglian scribes displayed a tendency to substitute <d> for <þ>. See M. C. Seymour, "A Fifteenth-Century East Anglian Scribe," Medium Ævum 37 (1968): 116-67. in -to blysse. For -þy / y seyȝ / as y seide / eer by þe tyxtys. Whan all e tresor is t riȝed / ȝyt trewþe ys þe beste. Now have y told þe / what trewþe ys / tak it if þ ou lyke. F.2.206: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þat no tresor is bettre." I may no lenger e lenge þe w it h / our e lord looke þe euere. E xplicit pass us S ec und us de visione Pet ri plouhman This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. Incipit Passus Tercius. I F.3.1: The seven-line ornamental capital is red and green with flourishes in red to the top of the page. Covrbet ȝyt on my knees / & gradd e hir e of g race. & seyd e m ercy Madame / for Marie love of heuene. Þ at bar þ at blisful barn / þ at bowhte vs on roode. F.3.3: A pointing hand appears in the right margin, added by a later hand. & kenne me by su m craft / to knowe þe false. Loke on þy lyft half q uod she  & se wher e he sta ndis. Boþe Fals / & Favel / & her e ferys manye. I lookede on my lyft half / as þe lady tawhte. & was war of a wo mman / was worcheply clothyd. & purfylyd w it h pelur e / þe purest on erthe. & crowned she was w it h a crowne / þe kyng haþ no bettr e. F.3.10: F omits the following line from Bx: "Fetisliche hire fyngres were fretted with gold wyr." & set abowhte w it h rubyes / as rede as ony gleede. & w it h dyamau nd es þe derrest / & doble dyu erse sapherys. Oryentalis & ewagis / enemyes to distroye. Hire Robe was ful ryche / of reed skarlet greyned. W it h Rubanes of reed gold / & ful of ryche stones. Hir e a -ray / me rauyschede / swich rycchesse seyȝ y neu ere. I hadde wondir what she was / & whoos wif she were. What wo mman ys þis / q uod y  so worthyly y -tyred. She is Meede þe Mayde / q uod she  haþ noyed me ful ofte. & often lakkyd my le mman / þ at lewhte is y -hote. & she is lowly to Lordis / þ at lawys have to kepe. & in þe popis paleyȝs she is / as p riuy as my -selue. But Sothnesse wolde no no[t] so / for she bor e bastard. F.3.23: Bx reads "for she is a Bastard." F's revision creates a T-type b-verse. For fals was hir e fadir / þ at haþ a fykyl tu nge. & neu ere soþ seyde / sytthe he co m on erthe. & Meede ys man ered aft er hy m / ryght as kynde askyþ. Q ualis p ater . tal is fili us . I terum . B on us arbor bon us fruct us h abet . M alus arbor F.3.27: The red ink has flaked or rubbed so that the <a> of the second arbor is illegible, only the top lobe remaining. mal us fruct us profert . F.3.27: F alone expands the Latin tag. Bx ends after habet. I awhte ben herrere þan she / y am of a bettr e roote. My Fadir grete god ys / grownde of alle gracis. He is god w it h -owtyn gy nny nge / & y am his goode dowhter. & he gaf me m ercy / to maryen w it h my -selue. & what ma n be m ercyful / & leelly me honowre. Shal be my lord / & y his leef / in þe heyȝe hevene. & what man takþ meede / my nn heed dar y legge. Þ at he shal leese . for hir e love / his lappe ful of charyte. See  how dauid meneþ / of men / þat Meede taken. & of me n on þis Molde / þat Meyȝntene trowthe. & how ȝee shal save ȝour e -selue / þe sawter ȝow techeþ. D omine quis habitab it in tab ernac ulo tuo . & cet era. / [¶] & now shal Meede be Maried / to a manshid shrewe. To on fals & fykil of tu nge / a foul feendis be -ȝeete. Favel þoruh his false speche / þis folk ys enchauntyd. F.3.42: Bx reads ". . . haþ þis folk enchaunted." Cf. 16.376b for the same formula. & alle hise eyȝres eggynge / þ at she shal be y -weddid. & to -morwe worthȝ þe mariage / & þe Maydes brydale. & þer e may þ ou wete / if þ ou wilt / wheche þei ben alle. Þ at longen to þ at Lordchepe / þe lasse & þe more. Knowe hem þer e / if þ ou canst / & keep wel þy n tu nge. & lakke hem nowht but lete he m worþe / tyl Lewte be Iustise. & have powher to pu nshe he m / & þa n pyt furþ þy resou n. Now y be -kenne þe c rist q uod she / & his clene Moodir. & þ at no co ncyense a -cu mbre þe / for coueytyse of meede. / [¶] Þus lefte me þ at Lady / lyggy nge on slepe. & how Meede was Maryed / in Meetelys me þowhte. Þ at al þe alle þe al þe ryche retenew / þ at regned e w it h sir e false. Weryn bodyn to his bydale b[r]ydale / fair e on boþe sydys. Of alle maner e of men / þe mene & þe ryche. To Marie þ at mayde / whery n me n ensemblyd þere. Of knyghtys & of Clerkys / & oþ ire comou n peple. Of sysour es of su mnowr es / & shereuys & her e Clerkis. Of Bedelis & Baylees / & brokores of Chaffar e. Forgowler es Forgower es & vytaleris / & vocatis of þe archis. & manye oþ ir myst er me n / mo þan ben i n myȝnde. F.3.62: This line appears only in F. I can not redily rekne þe rowhte / þ at ran a -bowhte Meede / [¶] But symony & Cyvile / & sysour es of courtys. Wher e most p riue w it h meede / of ony me n þ ere owte. But Favel was þe firste / þ at fette hir e out of chambre. & as a brokour he browhte hir e / to be w it h false en -Ioyned. & wha nne Symony & Cyuyle / seyen here boþe wille. & F.3.69: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta manuscripts have Thei. assentid e for syluer / to seyn / as boþe wolde. / [¶] Þan leep Lyȝer e forþ / & seyd e loo  here a chartre. Þ at Gyle w it h hise grete oþis / gaf hem to -gydre. & p rayede Cyvyle it to seen / & Symony yt redde. Þa nne Symony & Cyvile / stoden forþ bothe. F.3.73: F omits the following line from Bx: "And vnfoldeþ þe feffement that Fals hath ymaked." & þus by -gu nne þo goomes / to gredyn ful hyȝe. F.3.74: " III us " is written with red flourishes in the top right margin to mark the passus number. S ciant p resentes et Fut uri . & cet era. Weteþ wel & wytnessyþ / þ at whonen vpon erthe. Þ at Meede ys Maryed / more for hyre goodys. Þan for ony v ertue / or fairnesse / or ony fre keende. Falsnesse is fayn of hire / for he whot hir e ryche. & Favel w it h his fikyl speche / feffyþ he m by þys chartr e. To been Princes of p ride / & pouerte dyspyse. To Bakbyte & boste wel / & to F.3.82: An otiose curl appears over the <t>. beryn fals witnesse. To skoorne & to skoolde / & sklawndres to make. & to be bold & vn -buxu m F.3.84: Alpha is responsible for the word order "bold & vn-buxu m." Beta witnesses read "vnbuxome and bolde." / to breke þe ten hestys. To have þe Erldom of Envye / & wratthe to -gydres. W it h þe Chastelet of Ieestys / & þe Iangelynge of synne. F.3.86: F's b-verse is unique. Beta manuscripts have "and chaterynge out of reson." R has "and chaterynge out of tyme." & al þe Cu ntr es of Coueytise / w it h alle þe coostys abowhte. Þat is vserye & Avaryce / alle y hem grawnte. In bargaynes & brokages / w it h þe bolde borghȝ of þefte. & al þe Lordchepe of Leccherye / in Lengþe & in brede. In werkynge in wordis / in waytynge w it h yȝen. In wenyngis / In wischyngis / & in wast þowhtys. Þer e as will e wolde werke / ne were woo & drede. F.3.93: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "There as wil wolde and werkmanshipe fayleþ." He ȝaf hem Glotonye eek / & grete oþis to -gydre. & al day to drynke / al a[t] fele dyuerse tauernys. & þer e to Iangle & to Iape / & Iuggyn here euy n -c ristene. & in fastynge F.3.97: A kind of reversed virgule appearing here is probably a slip of the pen. dayes to frete / er ful tyme weere. & softe sytty n & sowpe / tyl sleep F.3.98: An otiose mark appears above the final <p>. gy n hy m a -sayle. & broode hy m as a F.3.99: The a is owed to alpha. borghȝ swyn / & bedde hy m on a bolstr e. Tyl slewthe / & softe sleep / slyken hise sydes. & þa nne wanhope a -wake hy m so / w it h no wil to a -me nde hy m. For he be -leviþ to be loost / þ at ys þe laste ende. / [¶] And þey to haven & to holden / & alle her e eyȝres aft er. A derk dwelly nge w it h þe deuyl / & be da mpned for euere. W it h alle p ertynau ncis of p urgatorye / in -to þe pyne of helle. For þis þyng ȝeldynge / at on ȝeerys ende. Here sowlys to sathan / to suffre w it h hy m peynes. & w it h hy m / to whone i n woo / whilis god ys in hevene. In witnesse of þis F.3.109: The reading þis is owed to alpha. Beta reads which. þyng / wrong was þe firste. & Pers þe P ardone r / of Pawlynes doctryne. & Bette þe bedel e / of Bokyngham -schyre. & Reygnold þe Reve / of Rokelond e F.3.112: The reading Rokelonde is owed to alpha. Beta reads Rutland. sokene. & Munde þe Meller e / & manye mo oþere. In þe date of þe deuel / þis dede y a -seele. By syght of sir e Symony / & Cyvylys leve. Thanne was teenyd / t heo logye / w han he þis ta le herde. & seyde / to sir e Cyvile / now sorwe mote þ ou have. Swiche weddy ngg es to wirche / to wratthe w it h trewþe. & he þis weddynge haþ wrought / woo  hy m by -tyȝde. For Meede ys Moylere / of a - Mendys ongendred [e]ngendred. & god g rauntid to gyve / Meede to trewthe. & þ ou hast gyve hir e to a gylour / now god gyve þe sorwe. Þe tyxt tellyþ not so / trewþe whot þe soþe. For dignus est op erariu us operarius / his heer e to have. & þ ou hast fest hir e w it h fals / fy  on þy n lawe. For al be lesyngys / þ ou lyvyst  & leccherouse werkys. / [¶] Þan Symonye & Cyvyle / chydden holy chyrche. & seid e þe notarijs & ȝee / foule noyȝhen þe peple. Ȝee shull e a -begge it / boþe / by god þ at me made. Wel ȝee wety n wernardys / þ at [but if] ȝour e wit fayleþ. Þ at fals ys faythles / & fykil in hise werkys. & as F.3.132: The reading as is owed to alpha. Beta reads was. a bastard y -bor e / of Belzabubis kynne. & Meede ys Moylere / & a Mayde of goode. & myghte kyssen þe kyng / for kosyn & he F.3.134: Alpha preserves the he form for the third person singular feminine pronoun here. wolde. For -þy  wyrcheþ be wisdom / & be wit bothe. & lediþ hir e to Londou n / þer e lawhe ys y -shewyd. If ony lawhe will e looke / þ at þey lyggy n to -gydres. & þey Iustyses Iuggy n hire / to be Ioyned w it h fase fa[l]se. Ȝyt be war of þe F.3.139: The reading þe is owed to alpha, though it is shared by GH. Beta omits it. weddy ngge / for wytty is trewthe . & co nsience his co nseylour / he know et h ȝow ecchone. & if he fyȝnde ȝow i n defawhte / & w it h sir e false holde. He wil be -slot ere F.3.142: MED s.v. bislotered, cites only one other instance of this verb, which appears as a variant in Chaucer, CT Prol. (CmbGg) A.76. ȝour e sowlys / ful soure at þe laste. F.3.143: A cropped red <x> appears in the left margin, a corrector's mark noting the error. Herto asentyd Cyvyle / but Cyvyle [Symonye] ne wolde. Tyl he hadde su m syluer / & all e hise notarijs. F.3.145: A cropped red <x> appears in the left margin, possibly noting the failed alliteration in the preceding line. / [¶] Þa nne fette Favel forþ / floreynys y -nowe. & bad Gyle goo gyve / gold al abowhte. & namely to þe Notarijs / þ at þey noon fayle. & feffe Fal s / be witnesse / w it h floreynys y -nowe. Þ at he F.3.149: The reading he is owed to alpha, though shared by L. Beta reads þei. may Meede a - Maystrye / & makyn at my n wille. Whan þis gold was y -gyve / gret was þe þonkyng. To fals / & to Favel / for her e fair e gyftys. & kestyn a -wey care / & conforte sir e false. F.3.152: The line is unique to F. Bx reads "And comen to conforten from care þe false." & seyden sir e for -soþe / seece shull e we neuer e. Tyl Meede be þy weddyd wif / þoru wyt of vs alle. For we have Meede a - Mayst ried / þorgh F.3.155: The reading þorgh is owed to alpha, though shared by H. Beta reads wiþ. our e m erye speche. Þ at she g raunteþ for to goo / w it h a good wille. To lu nde nn to looken / if þat þe Lawe will e. Iuggen it Iustelyche / in Ioye for euere. F.3.158: The following partially legible words were written in a secretary hand in the top margin: "he . . . / must no[t] in Redyng be to lyght." The top of the notation has been trimmed away. / [¶] Þanne Fals was fayȝn / & Favel ful blythe. & leet somou ne alle me n / in shyres a -bowte. & bad he m alle been bou n / begger es & oþer e. To wenden w it h hym to westme nstr e / to witnesse þe F.3.162: The reading þe is owed to alpha. Beta reads þis. dede. But þan cared þey for Caplis / to kayre hem to lu nde nn & Favel fette furþ a -noon / fele folys sone. & sette Meede on a Sh er ev e / y -shood al newe. & Fals sat on a Sysour / þat softly trottide. & Favel on a Fl at ere / ful fetyȝsly a -tyred. / [¶] Þan Notarijs hadde noone / & a -noyed þey whery n. Þ at Symonye & Cyvile / sholde on foote renny n. But þa nne swoor Symonye / & Cyvile bothe. Þ at Somnowr es sholde be sadlid / & s erue he m ecchone. & p ropirly aparayle p rovysoures / in palfreyes wyse. & sire Symonye hy m -selue / shal sytty n on her e bakkys. & deenes & southdenes / let drawe to -gydr e. Archedeknys & officiali s / & alle ȝoure registrys. & stoppe hem w it h syluer / our e synnes to suffre. As devoos & devoutrye / & deerne vserye. To ber e Bisshopis a -bowte / a -brood to vysyte. / [¶] & Pawlynes peple / and pleyntis in þe co nstorye. Shulle s eruy n my n -selue / þ at Cyvile is y -named. & Cartesadle þe Co mmyssa rye / our e carte shal he leede. To fecche vs vytaylis / at fornicatores. & Lyer e shal be long carte / to leden alle þe oþ ire. As Fobberys / & Faytour es / þ at on her e feet renne. & þus fals & favel / faren forþ to -gydre. & Meede in þe Myddys / & all e þe oþ ire after. I have no tome to telle / þe tail þ at hem folw et h. Of many a man ere man / þ at on þe moolde lybbeþ. But Gyle was forgoer e / & gyede he m alle. / [¶] Þan Sothnesse seyȝ hem wel / & seyde but a lyte. But p rikede his palfray / & passede he m alle. & cam to þe kyngys court / & co nsyence it tolde. & Consyence to þe kyng / carped it after. Nou be c rist q uod þe kyng / & y cacche myghte. Fals eyþ ir F.3.195: The reading eyþir is owed to alpha. Beta has synonymous or. Favel / or feerys of hise felachepe. I wolde be wrooke of þo wrecchis / þ at werche so Ille. & don hem hongy n be þe hals / & all e þat hem meyghten mey[n]ten[e]. Sholde neu ere man on moolde / me nprise þe leeste. But ryght as þe Lawe will e / lete fall e on hem alle. / [¶] Ano n he comou ndid com[a]undid a co nstable / to comen at þe fyrste. F.3.201: The scribe in his rubricating mode wrote what appears to be an <l> surrounded with marks rather like modern commas in the top margin immediately above the ampersand. & goo F.3.201: The reading goo may be unique in F. The margin of R is badly cropped and the beginning of the line lost, but oo appears. Beta reads To. tac he þo tyrawntys / for ony thyng y hote. & fetre faste False / For ony faire gyftys. & loke þ ou gerde of Gyles heed / & let hy m go no further e. & if þ ou lacche Lyȝere / lete hy m nowht a -skape. Er he be pyt on Pillory / for ony p rayer e y hoote. & loke þ ou brynge Meede to me / Mawgre hem alle. Þan stood drede at þe dore / & al þe dome herde. & how þe kyng comaundid e / co nstablis & s ergauntys. Þ at False / & his felachepe / to fet ere & to byȝnde. Þa nne Dreede wente wyȝhtly / & warnede False. & bad hy m flee for ferd / & hise feerys alle. & a -no n Fals for feer e / fleyȝ streyt to þe Frerys. & w it h hym Gyle gan goo / for gast he sholde dyȝe. But Marchawntys mette w it h hy m / & made hy m abyȝde. & settyn hy m in her e shoppis / to shewen here ware. & p araylid hym lyȝk a p rentyȝs / þe peple to serue. Ful lyghtly Lyer e / leep a -wey þenne. Lurkende þorghȝ lanes / to -luggyd of manye. He was no -wher wolkome / for hise manye talys. But ou eral hyȝe howted / & y -hoote to trusse. & P ard oneris hadden pyte / & pullyd hy m to howse. & wasshed hy m / & wyped hy m / & wou nnde hy m in cloþis. & sentyn hy m w it h seelys / on sundayes to chirchis. & gaf p ardou n for pens / pownd -meel a -bowte. Þa nne Lowrede Lechis / & Lettrys þey sentyn. Þ at he wolde wone w it h hem / watrys to looke. Fele spyceris spoke to F.3.227: The reading to is owed to alpha. Beta reads with. hy m / to a -spyȝe her e ware. For he cowhde on F.3.228: The reading on is owed to alpha, though appearing also in Hm and Hm 2. Beta reads of. her e craft / & knew fele gu mmes. Þa nne Menstralis & Messagerys / metty n w it h hy m o weye. & heelde hy m half a F.3.230: The reading half a is owed to alpha, though shared by CrH. Beta reads an half. ȝeer / & elevene dayes. But Freris w it h Fair speche / fecchid hy m þenne. & for komynge knowerys / þey copid hy m as a Frer e. But haþ leve / to leepen owt / as ofty n as hy m lykeþ. & ys wolkome . whan he will e / w it h -owty n ony dau nnger. F.3.234: The b-verse is unique to F. Bx reads "and woneþ with hem ofte." & alle þe oþ ire fledde for feer / & faste flown to hyrnes. Save Meede þe Mayde / no moo durste a -byde. But trewþe to telle / she trembled e for feere. F.3.237: The reading feere is owed to alpha. Beta reads drede. & also F.3.238: The reading also is owed to alpha. Beta reads ek. wepte & weylede / for she was a -tachid. E xplic it Passus Tercius. This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. I ncipit Passus Qvartus. N Ow F.4.1: The ornamented capital is produced in red and green ink with flourishes in red to within an inch of the top of the written space. is Meede þe Mayd e / & no mo of alle. I -browht by -for e þe kyng / w it h bedel & bayly A -no n þe kyng kallid a Clerk / y knowe not h is name. To take Meed e þe Maide / & make hir e a tese at ese. But y will e hir e first a -sayȝe / & sotilly hir e apose. What wyȝe of þis world / þ at she were levest. & if s he wirc he be my wit / & my wi lle fo lwe. F.4.7: IIII us with red flourishes is written in the top right margin to indicate the passus. I wil for -gyve hir e þe gyltis F.4.8: Alpha is responsible for plural gyltis. Beta manuscripts have gilt. / so me god helpe. Þa nne þe Clerk curteysly / dyde as þe kyng hy m hyghte. He took Meede by þe myddil / & mente F.4.10: F alone has this probably original reading. We have not determined whether it represents F-Redactor's (or F-Scribe's) intelligent conjecture or (as Kane and Donaldson have proposed) his access to a pre-archetypal manuscript. hir e to chambre. & þe Clerk gan conforte hire / for gret cony nge he hadde. F.4.11: This line appears only in F. & fette furþ m erthe w it h me nstralcy / Meede w it h to plese. Su mme þ at whonen at westme nstr e / worchepe þey hir e make. Ful Ientylly w it h Ioyȝe / of þe Iustises manye. Busked hem boldly to hir e bour / þere þe beerde dwelliþ. To conforte hir e kony ngly / by Clergyes leve. Þey seide moorne not Meede / ne make þ ou no sorwe. For we will e wisse þe kyng / & þy weyȝe shape. To be weddid at þy will e / & wher þe levest lykeþ. For al co nsyecys consye[n]cys craft / or cast F.4.20: Alpha is responsible for this word order. Beta manuscripts have "cast or craft." / as y trowe. Þa nne Myȝldely Meede / mercyed hem alle. Of here grete goodnesse / & gaf to hem ecchone. Cowpis / of klene gold / w it h cases of syluer. Ryngis w it h rubyes / & rycchesse F.4.24: Alpha is responsible for rychesse. Beta manuscripts have richesses. ful thykke. For þe leeste of her e me n / hadde a motou n of goolde. Þan lawhte þei her e leve / þo Lordis at Meede. & w it h þat  keme n Clerkys / & co nfortid hir e þe same. & beedy n hir e be blythe / For we ben þyn owene. For to wirche þy wille / þe whyles þ ou may laste. Þa nne she dede hendely / & be -hyghte hem þe same. To loven hem lelly / & Loordis hem to make. For in þe co nstorie in þe court / I shal do cowþe ȝo ur name. Shal no lewidnesse letty n / þo clerkys F.4.33: Alpha is responsible for clerkys. Beta manuscripts have leode. þ at y lovye. Þ at he worþ F.4.34: Bx reads "That he ne worþ first auaunced . . . ." The negative was omitted in alpha. first a -vauncyd / for y am wel be -knowe. Þer e þ at kony nge clerkys / shull e knokke k[l]okke F.4.35: F supplies non-sensical knokke to replace klokke, "limp," an unfamiliar word which appears only in Piers Plowman. by -hyȝnde. Þa nne com þer e a Confessour e / was coped as a Frere. To Meede þ at F.4.37: Beta witnesses read þe, exactly what Langland's usual formula would suggest. However, R has þis, and alpha may simply have had a thorn without the suspended <s>, <t>, or <e>. Mayde / & meelyd e þese wordis. & seyde ful softly / as in scryfte it where. Þey leernede me n / & lewed e me n / have ley n by þe boþe. & þey Fals have defoulyd þe / þis fyftene wynter. I shal a -soyle þe my -selue / for a seem of wheete. & also ben þy n bedema n / & beer e wel þy n name. A -mongys Clerkys & knyghtys / her e consyence to t urne. Þan Meede for hir e mysdedis / to þ at man t urnede. & shrof hir e of hir e shrewidness e / shameles y t rowe. Whan she hadde told hir e tale / she took hy m a noble. For to been hir e bedeman / & hir e brokour alse. A -non he assoylyd hir e soone / & sytthen he seyde. We have a wyndowe wirc hynge / will e sytte vs fu l hyȝe Wolde ȝe glase þ at gable / & grave þ ere -In ȝour e name. Sykirly sholde ȝour e soule / in -to hevene styȝe. Ȝee wiste y þat q uod Meede / þer is [n]is wyndowe ne awht er. F.4.52: This line and the following one correspond roughly to A 3.50-51. Alpha omits eleven lines attested by beta witnesses. Possibly the addition of this line and the next reflects alpha's attempts to restore material missing in his exemplar from his memory of A. Beta reads as follows: Wiste I þat quod þat womman I wolde noȝt spare For to be youre frend frere and faile yow neuere While ye loue lordes þat lecherie haunten And lakkeþ noȝt ladies þat louen wel þe same It is a freletee of flessh ye fynden it in bokes And a cours of kynde wherof we comen alle Who may scape þe sclaundre þe scaþe is soone amended It is synne of þe seuene sonnest relessed Haue mercy quod Mede of men þat it haunteþ And I shal couere youre kirk youre cloistre do maken Wowes do whiten and wyndowes glazen. Þ at y y [ne] wolde do me nde it / or make it at þe fulle. & do peynte me & my n name / a -p ertly þ ere -Inne F.4.54: The line is unique to F. Beta reads "Do peynten and portraye and paie for þe makynge." F is possibly influenced by A's "Þat I ne shulde make or mende & myn name writen." Þ at ech a F.4.55: Alpha is responsible for ech a. Beta manuscripts have euery. segg e sholde see / I am syst er to ȝow alle. F.4.55: Alpha is responsible for "to ȝow alle." Beta manuscripts have "of youre house." / [¶] But god / to goode folk / swich g rauynge defendiþ. & wryty nge i n wyndowis / of her e wel -dedys. Ne awht er do peynte / for pompe of þe peple. F.4.58: The line is unique to F. Beta reads "An auenture pride be peynted þere and pomp of þe world." For c rist know et h þy n co nsyence / & þy n kende wille. Boþe þe coost & þy coueytyse / & who þe catel awhte. F.4.60: F omits the following lines from Bx: Forþi I lere yow lordes leueþ swiche werkes To writen in wyndowes of youre wel dedes Or to greden after goddes men whan ye delen doles On auenture ye haue youre hire here and youre heuene als. The lines are missing from H as well. N esciat sinistra  quid faciat dextera. Leete nowht þy n lyft half / neyþ ir late ne rathe. Weety n what þ ou wyrchist / w it h þy n ryght syde. For þus biddis þe gospel / good men dos do[n] F.4.64: F has missed the point, substituting a finite form for the required infinitive. þ erafter. / [¶] Meyȝres w it h here Macerys / þ at meenys been be -twene. Þe kyng / & þe Comou nys / to kepen wel þe Lawys. & punsshyn F.4.67: The scribe corrected this word by writing a second <s> over original <c>. See F4.195, 10.561 for similar corrections. vpon F.4.67: Alpha is responsible for vpon. Beta manuscripts have on. pylory / & on pynyge pyny[n]ge stolys. Boþe webster es & bakesterys / & bocher es & Cookys. For þo ar e me n vpon F.4.69: Alpha is responsible for vpon. Beta manuscripts have on. moolde / þ at mest harm wirche. To þe poore peple / þat p arcel -meel byggyn. & poysene þe peple / pryvyly & softe. Þey rychen þoru regratrye / & rentys he m byggyn W it h þat  þe por e peple / sholde pytte in her e wombe. For tooke þey on trewly / þey tyȝmbred not so hyȝe. Ne bowhte no bargayn / be þe F.4.75: This alpha reading is shared by BmBoCot; most other beta manuscripts have ye. fulle s ertey n. But now þe Maide meede / þe Mayr haþ she p rayed. Of alle swiche seller es / sylu er to taken. Or p resentys w it h -outy n pens / as pecys of syluer. Or rynges or rycchesse / þe reg ratoures to mey nghte meyn[ten]e. For my Lord F.4.80: Alpha reads Lord for Bx's loue. / q uod þ at Lady / loveþ he m ecchone. & suffreþ he m to selle / su mdel a -gey n resou n / [¶] Kyng Salomo n þe sage / a sermou n he made. To a - Mende Meyȝhrys / & me n þ at kepe þe Lawis & þus he tolde his teeme / þ at y shal telle ȝou aft er. I gnis deuorabit tabernac ula eor um qui libent er F.4.85: Alpha omits beta's accipiunt munera. A -mong lettryd leedis / þis latyn ys to meene. Þ at feer shal falle & brenne / al to bloo askys. Þe howses / & þe homes / of hem þ at dysyren. Gyftys / or ȝeris -gyftys / be -cause of her e offyȝs. F.4.89: Alpha is responsible for offyȝs, a reading shared by H. Beta manuscripts have plural offices. Þanne þe kyng fram co nseyl ca m / & callyd after Meede. & sente aft er hir e swyþe / w it h s ergauntys manye. Þ at brow htyn browhtyn [hire] to bowre / wiþ blysse & w it h Ioyȝe. / [¶] A -non þe kyng curteysly / comsed for to telle. & to Meede þe Maide / he meled e þese wordis. Þ ou wo mman vn -wittyly / wrought hast þ ou ofte. But worse wroughtist þ ou neu ere / þan whan þ ou fals tooke. But y forgyve þe þ at gylt / & g raunte þe my n grace. Fram hens to þy n deþ -day / yf þ ou do so no moore. / [¶] But y have a knyght hatte con syence / kam late f ram by -ȝou nde. If he wilne þe to wyve / wilt þ ou w it h hy m holde. Ȝee Lord q uod þe Lady / our e Lord for -beede ellys. But y be holly at ȝo ur heste / hyȝe hange hange [me] soone. / [¶] & þan was Consyence clepd / to come n & a -peren. By -for e þe kyng & his cu nseyl / as Clerkys & oþer e. Þa nne Consience knelynge / vnto þe kyng lowhtede. To wete what his will e wer e / & what he do sholde. / [¶] Wilt þ ou weddy n þis wo mma n q uod þe ky ng / if she will e a -sente. For she is of fair shap F.4.108: F's reading is unique. Beta manuscripts read "fayn of þi felaweshipe." / for to ben þyn make. Q uod Co nsience to þe kyng / c rist it me for -beede. & er y wedde swich a wyf / woo me by -tyȝde. For she is fykel of feyþ / & fals of hire speche. & makþ me n mys -doon / manye skor e tyȝmes. & þo þ at t ristne on trewþe / she treyȝeþ hem ofte. F.4.113: F's line is unique. Bx reads "Trust of hire tresor trayeþ ful manye." Boþe wyvis & wedewis / & wantowne wenchis. F.4.114: The b- verse is unique to F. Bx reads "wantounnesse she techeþ." & lerneþ hem Leccherye / þ at loveþ hire loor e. Ȝowre fader she felde / þorhȝ hir e F.4.116: BmBoCot read hire, which is otherwise unique to F. fayr e F.4.116: Alpha is responsible for fayre. Beta manuscripts read false. heste. & she haþ y -poysoned popis / & a -peyred holy chirche Þer is nawht a bettr e bawde / by hy m þ at me maade. By -twexe hevene & hell e / þey me n al erthe sowhte. For she is tykyl of hir e tayl / & talewyȝs of tunge. & as comou ne as cartewey / to ech knave of towhne. She takþ Masonys F.2.122: F's reading "She takþ Masonys" is unique. Other manuscripts have "To Monkes." F also uniquely has & twice in place of Bx's to. & Menstralys / & Meselys in heggys. Boþe Sysoures & Su mnowres / swiche shull e hir e p reyse. But Sherevis of Shyres / whery n shent if she neere. For she doþ me n leesen her e lond / & her e lyf boþe. & she leetyþ passe p risonerys / & payeþ for he m ofte. & gyfþ þe gailer gold / & grootys to -gydr e. To vnfet ere þe false / & flee wher e hy m lykeþ. & trewþe ys take be þe top / & teyȝed fyȝn faste. & he hangyd for hatter ede / þ at harm dyde neu ere. To don curse in constorye / she a -cou nteþ not a resshe. For she copeþ þe Comyssarie / & klokiþ F.4.132: klokiþ, "provides with a cloak." This is the first instance we have found of the finite form of this verb. OED's earliest citations are from the early sixteenth century, while the only MED citation is a participial adjective dated c. 1450 in the related sense "encased, enclosed." all e hise clerkys. & she ys a -soyled soone / as hir e -selue lykyþ. She may neeyh doon as myc he / in a Moneþ ones. As ȝowr e secret seel / sir e kyng / in sixe skor e dayes. For she is p rive w it h þe pope / alle p rovisoures it knoweþ. For Maist er Symony & hir e -selue / a -seely n þe billys & she blessiþ bisshopis / & beggerys she hateþ. A problem in alpha has led F to invent new b-verses for these two lines. Beta witnesses attest: She blesseþ þise Bisshopes þeiȝ þei be lewed Prouendreth persones, and preestes maynteneþ & p restys she meynteneþ / w it h me nnes wifes to deele. & to have lemannys F.4.140: F alone begins the line with & and omits and lotebies. / alle her e lyf -dayes. & so ben browht forþ barnes / a -gey n for -boode Lawis. / [¶] & þer e she is weel w it h þe kyng / woo ys / to þ at Rewhme. For she is fau erable / to Fals / & defouleþ trewþe ofte. By Iesus w it h hir e Iewelis / þe F.4.144: Alpha is responsible for þe. Beta manuscripts have youre. Iustises she shendiþ. & lyȝeþ a -geyn þe Lawhe / & lettyþ so þe gate. Þ at feyþ may not have his furþ / for Floreynys goo so þykke. She leediþ þe lawe as she lyst / & swiche love -dayes makeþ. Þ at me n leese be hir e love / þ at lawe wolde þey wonne. Ȝee þe Mase for a meene man / þeyhȝ he moote euer e. For þe Lawe is so lordly / & looþ to make an ende. W it h -outy n p resentys or pens / it plesiþ but fewe. Boþe Baronys & burgeisis / she bryngiþ in sorwe. & all e þe como nis in care / þ at coueyten truthe. For Clergye & Coueytyse / she cowpleþ to -gydr e. Þis is þe Lyf of þ at Lady / our e Lord gyve hir e sorwe. & alle alle [þat] hire mey ntene & hir e me n / myschawnce he m by -tyȝde. For poor e me n have no powher / to pleyne þeyhȝ þey smerte. F.4.157: F omits the following line from Bx: "Swich a maister is Mede among men of goode." T Hanne F.4.158: A small guide <t> for the rubricator appears to the top left of the finished <T>. mornede Meede / & made mychil sorwe. F.4.158: F combines and reconfigures Bx's b-verse with the a-verse of the following line. Bx reads as follows: Thanne mournede Mede and mened hire to þe kynge To haue space to speke spede if she myȝte. & p rayede þe kyng to speke / speede if she myghte. Þe kyng g rauntyd hir e g race / w it h a glad wille. Excuse þe if þ ou canst / I can no moor e . þis tyme. For Consience haþ accused þe  to kunge þe for euer e. Nay Lord q uod þ at Lady / now leve hy m þe worse Whan ȝee wetyn wytt yrly / wher e þe wrong lyggiþ. For þere þ at Mischeef ys gret / Meede may it helpe. & þ at F.4.166: Alpha is responsible for þat. Beta manuscripts lack it. þ ou knowist Consience / y can not w it h þe chyde. Ne deprave þy p ersone / w it h a prowd herte. But wel þ ou woost wernard / but if þ ou wyll e gabbe. Þ ou hast hangid on my n half / eleuene tymes. & also y -g ripe my gold / & gyve yt F.4.170: An otiose tilde appears above the <y>. wher e þe lyked. But why  þ ou wratthest þe now / wondir me þy nkyþ. For ȝit y may as y myghte / menske þe w it h gyftys. & meyntene þy n manhod / moor e þan þ ou knowyst. But þ ou hast defamed defamed [me] foule / by -for e þe kyng heere. For t ruly y kyllyd e neu ere knyght F.4.175: Alpha is responsible for knyght. Beta manuscripts have kyng. / ne co nt rivede þ at dede. Ne dyde as þ ou demest me / y doo it on þe dede. F.4.176: F has picked up dede from the preceding line. Bx has kynge. For in Normondyȝ þe ky ng was nout / noyhed for my sake But þ ou þy -se lve sot hly / þ ou shamedist hym ofte. F.4.178: The top of the page has a five-line illustration with a human head at the left end of a decorated tube and a lion's head at the right end. The drawing incorporates the ascenders from the text. For crope Crope in a Caban / for cold of þyn naylys. & wendist þ at wynt er / wolde have lasted euere. & also þ ou dreddist to dyȝe / for a dym clowhde. & hyȝedist homward e / for hung ir of þy wombe. & w it h -outyn pyte þ ou pylour / pore me n þ ou robbedist. F.4.183: An otiose curl appears over the <o>. & bere her e bras at þy bak / In Caleys to selle. Þere y lefte w it h my Lord / his lyf for to save. I made hise me n meryȝe / & her e Murnynge y lette. I bat ered he m on þe bak / & bolded here hertys. & dide he m hoppy n on hope / to have me at will e. Hadd e y be Marchal of hise me n / be Marie of hevene. I durste haue leyd my lyf / & no lesse gage. He shulde have have [be] lord of þ at lond / in lengþe & i n brede. & also kyng of þ at kyþ / al his keen to helpe. Þe leeste brolle of þis lond F.4.193: The substitution of lond for Bx's blood is owed to alpha. / a baronys peere. & þ ou Consience / cowardly / þ ou conseyledist hy m þenne. To levyn so his Lordshepe F.4.195: The scribe initially wrote Lordchepe and then corrected the <c> to <s>. Cf. F4.67, 10.561. / for a lytyl syluer. Þ at ys þe ryccheste regne / þ at reyȝn ou ere -hoveþ. It be -comeþ wel a kyng / þ at kepiþ a rewhme. To ȝyve Meede to men / þ at menskly hy m s erue. & alyenys & oþ ire men / to honour e he m w it h gyftys. For Meede makþ hy m by -loved / & a ma n y -holde. Emp erour es / & Erlys / & alle erthely Lord is. Þorghȝ ȝiftys have ȝoomen F.4.202: Alpha is responsible for ȝoomen. Beta manuscripts have yonge men. / to ȝeerne & to ryȝde. Þe Pope also / of p relatys / p resentys he vndir -fongyþ. & þey Meede me n hem -selue / to mey ntene þe lawis. & seruau ntys for her e s eruyse / who can seyȝ þe sothe. Take Meede of her e Mayst er / as þey mou n a -corde. & beggerys for her e beggy ng F.4.207: Alpha is responsible for beggyng. Beta manuscripts have biddynge. / byddyn for me n meede. & Menstralis for her e m erthe / meede / me n hem p rofr e. / [¶] Þe kyng haþ Meede of hise me n / to make pees i n londe. & me n þ at techen chyldryn / craven of hem meede. F.4.210: A pointing finger is added in the margin by a later hand. Preestis þ at p reche þe peple / of god þey aske meede. & messe -pens & her e meel / at here mete tyȝme. Alle man ere of c rafty me n / crave meede for her e p rentyȝs. & Marchauntys & meede / muste nedys goon to -gydr e. No wyȝht as y wene / w it houty n meede may lybbe. F.4.216: This ornamental capital, more elaborate than the one at 4.158, is red with green flourishes. A small guide <t> is visible in its midst. T han seyd e þe kyng to con sience / by c rist as me þy nkiþ. Now ys Meede worthy / þe Maystrie to have. Nay q uod co nsience to þe kyng / & kneled on þe erþe. Þere ben two man ere of meedis / my lord be ȝo ur leve. Þe firste is þ at god of his g race / grauntyþ to his blysse. To þo þ at wel wirche / whilis þey ben on erthe. Þe p roph ete p rechiþ þer -of / & is pyt in þe Sawter. D omine q uis habitab it in tabernac ulo tuo  at que q uis req uiescet in monte sancto eius . imoce ns i[nn]ocens ma nib us & mu ndo corde. F.4.223: F significantly augments the tag. Bx ends after tuo. He seyþ Lord who shal wone i n þy n wones / w it h þy n holy sey ntis. Er restyn on þyn holy hillis / þus askede F.4.225: Alpha is responsible for askede. Beta manuscripts have askeþ. dauyd. / [¶] & dauyd asoyled it / hy m -selue / as þe sawht er tellyþ. Q ui i ngredit ur sine mac ula  & op erat ur iusticia m. Þo þ at entryn of o colour he seiþ / & also of o wille. & haven wroght werkis / w it h ryght & w it h resou n. & he wil nowht vse / þe lyf of vseryȝe. But en -formeþ pore me n / to pursue trewþe. F.4.231: F omits Bx's "Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram et munera super innocentem." & þo þ at helpe þe Innoce nt / & holde w it h þe ryghtful. & w it h -outy n Meede doon he m good / & trew men F.4.233: Alpha is responsible for trew. Beta manuscripts have truþe. F alone adds men. helpe. Swiche man ere of me n my lord / shull e have þe for -seyd mede. Of god / at his grete neede / whan þey goon hennys. / [¶] Þe s ec onde Meede ys Mesourles / þ at Mayst ris dysyren To Mey ntene mysdoerys / Meede þey taken. & of hem seyþ þe sawht er / in a Spalmes ende. F.4.239: An X appears in the left margin by this line. In q uor um manib us i niq uitates su nt  dext ra eor um r epleta e st mun erib us. He þ at grypeþ so gold / so me god helpe. F.4.241: Note is written in the left margin by a later hand along with a pointing finger, probably marking the passage and no one line. He shal a -byȝe it bytt erly / if þe book be trewe. Boþe p restys & p arsones / þ at p reysynge dysyreþ. Þey take Meede & Mone / for Masses to sy nge. & þerfor e is her e Meede / as Sey nt Mattheu vs tellyt Ame n dico vobis . receperu nt mercedem suam. / [¶] But þ at Laboris & lewid men / taken of here Mayst ris. It is no manere Meede / but a mesurable hyȝre. Ne in Marchantdyse / is no meede / y may it wel a -vowe. It is F.4.249: Alpha is responsible for the omission of a before Permvtacioun. Permvtac iou n ap ertly / a peny -worþ / for a -noþir. But reddist þ ou neu ere regu m / þ ou recreyȝede Meede . Why  þe vengaunce fel on / Saul & hise childryn. God sente to Saul / be Samuel the p roph ete. Þ at Agag & Amalek / & al here peple after. Shulden dyȝe for þe dede / þ at doon hadde her e eldres. / [¶] Þus seyde Samuel to Saul / god hy m -selue þe hoteþ. Þ ou be buxu m at my F.4.256: RF agree against beta family manuscripts which read his. byddy ngge / his wille to fulfylle. Wende to Amelek w it h þy n oost / & what þ ou fynst sle it. & beernes & beestis / brenne he m to dethe. Boþe wyvis & wydewis / & wo mme n w it h chylde. F.4.259: F alone has "with chylde." Other manuscripts read "and children." Mevable & vn -mevable / al þ ou may þ ere fyȝnde. Brenne yt / ber e it nowht a -way / be it neu ere so ryche. For Meede ne for mone / mak no þy n þyn[g] on lyve. F.4.262: Bx fails in alliteration, and F has revised to provide alliteration on nasalization. Bx reads "For Mede ne for monee loke þow destruye it." Cx also revises the b-verse, but differently. But spille it / & spar e it nowht / & þ ou shalt spede þe bettr e. / [¶] & for he coueytyd her e catel / & þe kyng he sparede. & for -bar hy m / & hise beestis / as þe book telliþ. Othir -wyse þa n he was / warned of þe p roph ete. / [¶] Þan seyde god / to Samewel / þ at savl sholde dyȝe. & al his seed / for þ at sy nne / synfully þan endede. F.4.268: Alpha is responsible for the preterite endede, a lection shared with Hm. Other beta manuscripts have ende(n). Swich a Myschef / Meede made / kyng saul to have. Þ at god hatyd hy m for eu ere / & alle hyse eyȝres aft er. Þe co nstruyng of þis caas / kepe y nowht expowne. For hap if it noyede me n / no n ende wil y make. For so is þis world went / w it h hem þ at have powher. Þ at who -so seyþ he m her e soþis / he ys su nnest blamed. I knowe it wel q uod co nsience / for wit me it tawhte. Þ at resou n shal reygne / & rewhmes gouerne. & ryght as Agag hadde no harm / so happe shull e su mme. For Samvel shal fle [s]le hy m / & saul shal be blamed. & d auid shal be dyademed / & adawnty n he m alle. & .o. c ristene kyng / shal kepen al þe frape. F.4.280: Other B witnesses have the relatively pedestrian b-verse variants "kepen hem echone" or "kepen hem alle." Shal no moor e meede be mayst er / so mychil as he F.4.281: he, "she." Alpha preserves this form. All beta witnesses read she. is nowþe. But boþe love & lowenesse / & lewte to -gydre. Þese shull e be Mayst ris on Moolde / trewþe to save. & who t respaseþ a -gey n t rewþe / or takþ a -gey n his will e. Lewte shal doon hy m lawe / & no lyf ellys. Shal no sergau nt for no s eruyse / were a sylk howe. Ne no pelewr e in his cloke / for plety nge at þe barr e. But ofte Misdoeris þoru Meede / ys mey ntened be lord is. & þoru þe Lordys be Lawes / for to rewle þe rewhme. / [¶] But kyȝnde love shal come ȝit / & co nsyence to -gydr e. Two abbreviations for n ota were written in very pale ink in the right margin by a later scribe. & make of Lawe a laborer / swich love shal a -ryse. & swich pees F.4.292: Alpha is responsible for the omission of a before pees. a -mo ng þe peple / & p arfyȝt trewþe. Þ at Iewis shull e wene i n her e wit / & waxe wondir glade. Þ at Moyses or Messye / be comen i n -to erthe. & have wondir in hertis / þ at me n be her e so tr ewe. / [¶] & all e þ at bery n baselard e / or F.4.296: The initial character could be either an <e> or an <o>. Both forms appear in the manuscript. brod -swerd or lawnce. Er ex or hachet / or ony wepene ellis. Shull e be da mpned to þe deþ / but he do it smythie. In -to sykil or i n -to sythe / to shar er to cultyr. E t conflabu nt gladios suos in vom eres. Ech man shal pleyȝe w it h þe plowh /. or pykoyse or spade. Or spy nne or sprede du nk / or lese F.4.302: Alpha is responsible for lese. Beta manuscripts have correctly alliterating spille. hy m -selue w it h slewþe. Prestis & p arsonys / w it h Placebo shull e hunte. & dynggyn vpon dauid / eu ery day til eve Huntynge or hawkynge / if ony of hem it vse. For his boost / his benefyȝs / worþ by -nome hy m aft er. Shal neyþ ir kyng ne knyght / ne Meyȝr ne co nstable. Ouer leede þe comou ne / ne to her e court he m somowne. Ne pitte hem in panel / to do plyghte her e trewþe. But aft er þe dede / þ at is doon / o doom shal rewarde. Er w it h M ercy / or w it h no M ercy / as trewthe wyll e a -sente. Boþe kyngis court / & comou n cowrt / Constorye & chapetle. All e shull e be but .o. court / & .o. barou n be Iustise Þa n worþ t rewe tu nge / a tydy ma n / þ at tenede me n ofte. F.4.314: A series of misunderstandings lies behind F's reading. Bx reads "me neuere." That in turn has been redivided to "men euere" and then translated to "men ofte." Ne þa nne shull e no batailes be / ne no ma n shal ber e wepne & what smeþ þ at ony smythie F.4.316: Alpha is responsible for smythie. Beta manuscripts have smyteth or smyþeþ. / he shal be smyte þer -wiþ. N on leuab it ge ns co nt ra ge nte m gladiu m. & er þis Fortune falle / men shulle fyȝnde þe werse. F.4.319: The left margin is cropped, leaving "..te" in the hand with italic <e>. A second annotator has written "nota" again, and a possibly original nota brevigraph appears inside a bracket for 319-20. For þer shul be sixe su nnes & a ship / & half a shef of arwis. & þe Myddil of a Moone / shal make þe Iewis F.4.320: Alpha and G lack to after Iewis. t urne. & þe sarsynes for þe syghte þ erof F.4.321: Alpha is responsible for "þe syghte þerof," while beta manuscripts have "þat siȝte." / shull e sy ngyn Gl oria in excel sis . Þorghȝ F.4.322: F alone has this reading. All other B witnesses have For. Machamet & Meede / mys -shapen shull e þey F.4.322: F alone has this reading. All other B witnesses omit þey. þ at tyme. For melius est bonu m nome n h abere  q uam diuicie m ulte Þo as wrothȝ as þe wyȝnd / wex Meede in a qwhyle. Q uod she y can lytyl latyn / clerkys knowe þe sothe. Now see ȝee what salomo n seyþ / In sapience bokys. Of hem þ at gyveþ gyftys / þe victorie wynneþ. & myche worchepe haue þ erfore / as holy wryt telliþ. H onore m adquiret . qui dat mun era. I leve wel Lady q uod co nsience / þ at þy n Latyn be trewe. But þ ou art lyk a Nu nne F.4.331: F uniquely inserts Nunne. Lady / þ at a lessou n redde ones. It was þus omnia aute m probate / & þ at plesede her e herte. For þ at Lyȝne was no lenger e / þan þe levis ende. Hadde she lokyd on þe oþ ir half / & þe leef y -turned. She sholde have fownde fele word is / folwynge aft er. Þ at seyde q uod bonu m e st tenete / Trewthe þ at tyxt made. & so feerde ȝee Madame / no moore cowhde ȝee fyȝnde. Of þ at ȝee seyȝe i n Sapience / syttynge i n ȝour e stodye. But þis tyxt þ at ȝee have told / ȝee takyn nout þe ende. F.4.339: The b-verse is unique to F. Bx reads "were good for lordes." But ȝee faile a konynge clerk / þ at can þe leef wel t urne. F.4.340: The b-verse is unique to F. Bx reads "þat kouþe þe leef han torned." & yf ȝee seke in Sapience eft / fyȝnde shal ȝee þ at folw et h. A fu l teenefu l tyxt of þ at ta le / þ at ȝee to me pitte. F.4.342: F omits two lines and re-arranges others, melding KD3.349 and 3.351. Bx reads as follows: A ful teneful text to hem þat takeþ Mede Animam autem aufert accipientium &c. And þat is þe tail of þe text of þat ye shewed. & þeyȝ ȝe wynne worchepe / & of me F.4.343: Alpha is responsible for me. Beta manuscripts have Mede. have þe victorye. Ȝit þe sowle / þ at þe syluer takþ / be so myche ys bownde. N Ow sesiþ seyde þe kyng þo / y suffre ȝow no leng ere. Ȝee shul sawhtle for -soþe / & seruy n me boþe. Kysse hir e now q uod þe kyng / þ ou consience y hoote. Nay be c rist q uod Co nsyense / honge F.4.348: F alone reads honge. Bx reads congeye. me rather sone. But if Resou n rede me þ erto / rather e y will e dyȝe. Þanne y comawnde þe q uod þe kyng / F.4.350: The scribe inexplicably left a space of 13 mm after kyng. We have interpreted the flourish following <g> as a virgule since one does not otherwise appear. Consyence he seyd e. Rape þe to ryde a -non / & Resou n þ at þ ou fecche. & comawnde hy m þ at he come to me / my n co nseil to her e. For he shal rewle my rewhme / & reede me to þe beste. F.4.353: F, like most B manuscripts, lacks the following line attested in YCr 23OC 2 as well as in versions A and C: "Of Mede and of mo oþere what man shal hire wedde." & a -Cowntr e w it h þe Co nsience / so me c rist helpe. How þ ou leernyst þe peple / boþe lerede & þe lewede. / [¶] I am fayn of þis forward / seyd e þ at freke þanne. & to resou n he rood ryght / & rowned e in his ere. & tolde hy m as þe kyng seide / & sytthe he took his leve. I will e go a -rayȝe me q uod Resou n / go reste þe þ erwhile. A -no n he klepede Catou n his knave / ful c urteyȝs of speche. & also Tomme trewe tu nge / þ at tolde fewe talys. Ne lesyngis to Lawhe of / for he lovede he m neu ere. He bad / go sette a sadil vpon suffr e / tyl y se my tyme. & let warroke hy m w it h gyrtys / þ at is w it h witty wordis. & hange on hy m þe hevi brydil / to holde his heed lowe. For he wil makyn . we  he  to trewþe F.4.366: The reading to trewþe is unique to F. Bx reads twies. er he be þer e. / [¶] Þan Consience vpon his capil / cayreþ forþ faste. & Resou n w it h hy m rydis / rownynge to -gydre. Whiche Maystryes on erthe / Meede þe Maide makeþ. F.4.369: Alpha is responsible for the word order of this line. Beta manuscripts read "Whiche maistries Mede makeþ on þis erþe." A -no n waryȝn wyȝsdom / & watte witty his feere. Folwed hem faste / for þey haddy n to doone. In þe Chekkeryȝe / & Chawncerye / to be dischargid þer e. Faste þey ryden for resou n / þ at he wolde rede he m for þe beste. For to saven her e syluer / & he m f ram shame & harmes. & Consyence knew hem wel / þ at koueytyse þey loveden. & he bad resou n ryde faste / & recche of þem neythir. For þer e ar e whilis / in her e woordis / & w it h Meede þey dwelle. & þere as wratthe / & wrangly nge is / þ ere wynne þey silu er. & wher e þ at lo ve & lewte ys / þey leete nowht come þer e. For þey gyve nowht god / nowht .o. goos feedre. F.4.380: F transposes this line with the Latin quotation. C ont ric io & i nfelicitas i n uijs eor um. N on est timor dei an te occ ulos o[c]ulos eor um. For god wot þey will e doon / moore / for a dosey dosey[n] chykes. Or for as manye Caponys / or for a seem of ootes. Þan for þe love of our e lord / or for hise leve seyntys. Þerfor e F.4.386: Alpha is responsible for the omission of Reson before lete. lete hem ryde / þo ryche me n by hem -selue. For Concie nse knowe þey nowht / ne c rist as y t rowe. / [¶] Þanne reson rood faste / þe ryght hyȝe gate. F.4.388: An otiose curl appears above the <g>. As Consience hy m kennede / til þey to þe kyng keme. Þan Curteysly þe kyng ano n / kam a -gey n resou n. & by -twene hy m & his sone / he sette hy m on þe deyȝse. & wordeden wol wyȝsly / a long while to -gydres. / [¶] & þa nne cam pees to þ at p arleme nt / & pitte furþ a bylle. How Wrong a -gey n his wille / hadde his wif y -taken. & he ravysshid Rose / Reygnoldis leve dowht er. & be -revede Margr ete hir e Maydenhed / mawgr e hir e wille. & also my n gees & my n gryȝs / hise gadelyngys fecchen. & y dar nowht for feere / fyghtyn ne chyden. He borwid of me Bayard / & browhte hy m a -gey n neu ere. Ne no ferthyng þ erfor e / for nowht F.4.400: Alpha and LM read nowht. Other beta manuscripts have ouȝt. y cowhde pleete. Also he mey nteneþ hise me n / to moþer e m[u]rþere my n heuuys. F.4.401: The spelling heuuys for hewen, "servants," occurred in alpha. What the immediate scribe thought he was writing is a matter of speculation, since the combination <uu> never again appears in the English text. F is unique in reading moþere. & to & for -staleþ my n feyrys / & fyghteþ in þe chepyng. He brakiþ vp my beerne dore / & beryþ a -wey my whete. & takþ me but a tayle / for teen qwarteris otes. & ȝit he thretiþ me þ erto / & lyggeþ by my Mayde. I am nowht hardy for hym / vnneþe for to looke. / [¶] Þe kyng knew wel he seyd e soþ / for Concie nse so hy m tolde. Þ at wrong was a wykkid wyght / & wroghte myche F.4.408: The scribe initially wrote muche and then corrected to his usual form. sorwe. Þanne wex wrong a -ferd / & wysdom he sowhte. To make pees w it h hise pens / he p roferede manye. & seyde / hadde hadde [y] love of þe kyng / lytil wolde y recche. Þeyhȝ / pees w it h his powher / pleygned hy m ofte. F.4.412: F omits the following lines from Bx: Tho wan Wisdom and sire waryn þe witty For þat wrong hadde ywroȝt so wikked a dede And warnede wrong þo with swich a wis tale Whoso wercheþ by wille wraþe makeþ ofte. I seyȝ it to þy n -selue / þ ou shalt it wel fyȝnde. For but yf Meede / it make / þy Mischeef is vppe. For boþe þy n lyȝf & þyn londe / lyȝþ in his g race. / [¶] Þanne whowede wrong / wyȝsdom ful ȝeerne. To make his pees w it h pens / y -payed handy dandy Þanne wit & wisdom a -non / wenty n to -gydres. & token Meede myd hem / Mercy to wynne. Pees pitte forþ his heed / & his pate al blody. W it h -outy n gylte god it whot / gat y þis skathe. Boþe Concyense & þe comones / knowe wel þe soþe. / [¶] & þ erwhilis wit & wisdom / wenty n a -bowty n faste. To ouer -come þe kyng / w it h catel if þey myghten. Þe kyng swor by Cryst / & be his Crowne boþe. Þ at wro ng for hise werkys / woo sholde þolye. A -no n he comaundid a Cu nstable / to caste hy m in stokkis. F.4.427: The correction with interlinear in is inserted in brown ink, but the caret is written in red. & nowht aft er þis sevene ȝeer / he se hise feet ones. / [¶] A  god whot q uod Wis dom þo / þat were not þe beste. But he a -me ndis mowe now make / let Meinp rise hy m holde. & if he have borghȝ of his bale / þey mowe bygge hy m boote. & so a -me nde / þ at is mys -do / & he shal do eu ere þe bettre. A -no n wit a -cordit þ erw it h / & seyde þe same resou n Þ at bettr e it wer e / þ at boote / sholde bale doun brynge. Þan bale be y -beete / & boote neu ere þe bettre. / [¶] & þa nne gan Meede to Meke hir e / & m ercy by -sowhte. & p roferede pees a p resent / al of pure syluer Have þis man of me q uod she / to a -me nden þy skaþe. For y will e wage me for wrong / he wil do so no mor e. Þanne Pees pytously / p rayede to þe kyng þere. He wolde have m ercy on þ at man / þ at mysdede so ofte. For he haþ waged me wel / as wyȝsdom hy m tawhte. & y for -gyve hy m my gilt / w it h a good wille. So þe kyng a -sente þ erto / y can seyȝ no bettr e. For Meede haþ maad my n a -me ndis ./ y may no mor e aske. / [¶] Nay  q uod þe kyng þo / so me god helpe. Wrong wendiþ not so aweyȝ  y will e first wete mor e. For lowpe he so lyghtly a -wey / lawhen he myghte. & eft þe bolder e to be / to beetyn myne hewen. But resou n have rewþe on hy m / he shal reste in stokkys. & þ at as longe as he lyviþ / but lowhnesse hy m borwe. Fele radde resou n þo / to have rewþe on þ at shrewe. Þ at he myghte conseile þe kyng / & co nsience seyde aft er. Þ at Meede myghte be his p aramo ur This curious revision of Bx reflects one of the scribal editor's more bizarre moments. Bx reads as follows: Som men radde Reson to haue ruþe on þat shrewe And to counseille þe kyng and Conscience after That Mede moste be maynpernour Reson þei bisouȝte. / resou n þey be -sowte. / [¶] Now  rede me nowht / q uod Resou n / ony rewthe to g raunte. Til Lordis & Ladijs / loven lovely trewþe. & haten al harlot riȝe / to heren it / of Mowthis. & til Peronellis pelur e / be pit in hyr e chiste. & Chydene Chyrsynge Chy[l]d[r]ene Chyr[y]synge / be chastysed w it h ȝerdes & harlotis holynesse / be holde for vanyte. & Clerkene coueytyse / cloþe wel þe Po Po[re & fede] F.4.461: At least one character is erased after Po. Bx reads "to clothe þe pouere & fede." The b-verse is heavy, and we cannot be certain that the F-Redactor would have concurred with Bx. & religyous rome renneris / recorde i n her e cloystr e. As sey nt Benyght he m bad / & Bernard & Fraunces. & til p rechores p rechynge / be previd on hem -selue. & ty l þe kyngys consey l / be þe comou ne p rofyȝht. & tyl þe Bisshopis barganour es / be beggerys in chambr es. & her e hawkys & hownd is / helpe relygyous e howsys. & tyl Sey nt Iemys be sowht / þer e y shal a -sygne Þ at no man goo to Galys / but he goo for euere. & also / Rome rennerys / for robberis be -ȝounde. Bere no syluer ou er þe see / þ at sygne of kyng shew et h. Neyþ ir g raue / ne vng raue / gold neyþ ir syluer. Vpon forfetur e of fee / who fynt hym at dou ere. But he be M archau nt . er his ma n / er Messag er w it h lett ris. Er p rovysour or preest / er penau nt for hise synnys. & ȝit q uod F.4.476: The scribe has written the abbreviation for <ra> above the usual brevigraph for "q uod." Reeson be þe roode / y shal rewþe [no] rewþe have. Whil e Meede haþ þe Mayst rie / in þe moot hall e. For y shal shewe ensample / as y see oþ irwhyle. I seyȝ it be my n -selue / q uod he  / if it so now were. Þ at y wer e kyng w it h crowne / to kepen þe rewme. Sholde neu ere wro ng in þis world / þ at y wete myghte. Ben vnpu nshid / in my powher / for p ereyl of my sowle. Ne getyn my g race þoru gyftys / so me god save. Ne for no Meede have M ercy / but Meeknesse it made. For nullu m malu m þe man / mette w it h inpunitu m. & bad nullum bonu m / ben irremuneratu m. Leete ȝour e co nfessour sir e kyng / construe þis clause vnglosid / & if hewerke he werke it in werk / y wedde þanne myne erys. Þ at Lawe shal be a laborer / & leede dunk to feelde. & Love shal leede þy n Lond / as þe leevest lykyþ. Ano n Clerkis & co nfessoures / cowpled hem to -gydre. To construe wel clawse [þis] clawse / al for þe kyngis p rofyȝt. But not for co nfort of þe comou n / ne for þe kyngis sowle. For y seyȝ Meede in þe Moot hall e / on me n of lawe wynke. & þey lawhenge lope to hir e / & leftyn aloone resou n. Sire Waryȝn Wyȝsdom / wynkede vp -on Meede. & seid e Madame y am ȝour e ma n / what -so my mowþ Iangle. I stumble at floreynes q uod þe freeke / þ at y faile speche ofte. & ano n Ryghtful recordid / þ at res ou n trewþe tolde. & wit a -cordyd þ erw it h / & comendyd wel hise wordis. A -no n all e þe peple / in þe hall e / & manye of þe greete. Þey helden Meeknesse for a Mayst er / & meede a ma nshid shr ewe. Þanne Love leet of hir e lyght / & Lewhte wel lasse. & cryeden so hyȝe / þat al þe halle hem herde. Who þat wy lneþ Meede to wyve / For welthe of wordly goodis. F.4.505: The scribe wrote a large red V in the top right margin to indicate the passus. But he be knowe for a kokewold / kytte of boþe our e erys. Þanne Meede M urnede faste / & made hevy cheere. For all e þe comonys of þe cowrt F.4.508: An otiose curl appears over the <c>. / callid e hir e as a[n] hoore. Boþe a Sysour & a su mnour / þanne sewid hire faste. & also a sherevis clerk / y shrewe all e þe rowhte. A ofte have y q uod she / holpe ȝow / at þe barre. & ȝit neu ere ȝeve ȝee me / þe worþ of a rysshe. Þanne cleped e þe kyng Concyense / & so he dede resou n. & recordid þ at Resou n / hadde Ryghtfully shewid. Þanne Moodely vp -on Lawe F.4.515: An otiose curl appears above <we>. / myghte þe kyng looke. & wex wroothȝ w it h Lawe / for Meede made hy m a -shamed. & seyd e þorghȝ ȝour e Lawe / as y leve / y lese fele cheetys. For Meede ou er - Mayst riþ so Lawe / & Michil t rewþe lettyþ. But resou n shal rekne w it h ȝow / yf y reyghne a stounde. & deme ȝow be þis day / as ȝee have disseruyd. Mee Mee[de] shal not me np rise ȝow / be Marie qween of glorie. I will e have lewte for Lawe / & leeve al ȝo ur Iangly nge. & as all e wyȝes witnesse / wrong shal be demed. Sire  q uod Concyense to þe kyng / but þe como nys assente. It ys ful hard by my n heed / her -to / to brynge it Alle ȝour e londys leedys / to leede hem all e evene. By hy m þ at was reed on roode / q uod Resou n to þe ky ng But if y rewle þ us ȝour e rewme / reerde out my guttis. If ȝee will e bydde Buxu mnesse / to be assocyed tome to me. Þerto y assente q uod þe kyng / by seynte Marie my Lady. To my n co nseyl e þ at ȝee kome / a -mo ngys Clerkis & Lord is. But redely resou n / þ ou ryde shalt not frome fro me. For as longe as y lyve / leeve þe y nylle. I am al redy q uod Resou n / to reste w it h ȝow eu ere. F.4.534: F omits Bx's "So Conscience be of oure counseil I kepe no bettre." & y graunte q uod þe kyng / god for -bede þ ou fayle. As longe / as our e lyvis laste / leeve we to -gydre. / [¶] Thanne þe kyng w it h hise knyghtis / to þe kyrke wenty n. To heryn Matinys of þe day / & a Messe after. E xplicit P assus Q uartus. I ncipit Passus Quintus. O F F.5.1: The ornamental capital, five lines high, is produced mainly in green with red flourishes. wynkynge y waked þo / & wo was y w it h -all e. Þ at y ne hadde slepe saddere / & y -seyn moore. But er y hadde faren a forlong / a feyntyȝs e me he nte. Þ at y ne myghte a foote further e / for defawte of slepe. Þan sat y softly adou n / & seyde my n beleve. & y ba blede so on my bedis / þey brow hte me on s leepe. & þanne y seyȝ mychil moore / þan y be -fore -hond tolde. For y seyȝ þe feld ful of folk / þ at y be -fore of seyde. & how Resou n a -rayed hym / al þe Rewme to preche. & at þe cros by -for e þe kyng / he comsed a teeme. / [¶] He p rechede þ at þe pestylencys / wheryn for pure synne. & þat þe Sowþ -west wyȝnd / on a Sat urday ateve at eve. Was a -pertly for pryȝde / & for no poynt ellys. Boþe pyryes & plu mtrees / whery n puffyd to þe erthe. & broode okes & beechis / where blowe to þe grownde. & turned e vpward e her e tayl / knowlechynge F.5.16: Alpha lacks beta's in before Bx's tokenynge which F has rendered as knowlechynge. drede. Þ at dedly sy nne er dom es -day / sholde for -don vs alle. & al þese was ensample / þ at we sholde doon þe bettre. F.5.18: There is considerable variation among B manuscripts for this verse. Bx probably read "In ensample ye segges ye sholden do þe bettre." Note that this verse appears after 5.14 in Bx. But of þis Matere y y [myȝt] / mamele ful longe. But y shal seyȝn ȝow / as y seyȝ / so me god helpe. How p ropirly by -for e þe peple / prechen gan resou n . / [¶] He bad wastour goo wyrche / what he beest cowhde. & wynny n his wastynge / w it h su m maner e of werkys. He p rayede Peronylle / hire p urfyl e to leete. & kepe þe coyn in hir e cofre / to co nforte hir e at neede. / [¶] & Thomme of Stowe he tawhte / to take two stavis. & Fecche Felice his wif hom / fram wyfene pyȝne. Also he warnede watte / how hys wif was to blame. Þ at hir e heed was worþ half Mark / & his hood not worþ a groote. / [¶] He bad his knave a bowhȝ kytte / komely to honde. Bx reads "And bad Bette kutte a bouȝ ouþer tweye." To beety n þ erw it h Betou n / but yf she will e wyrche. & namely he charged e Chapmen / to chastyse her e childry n. & leete no wynny ng e / for -wayne hem / whilys þey ben ȝonge. Ne for no pyte of Pestilence / ne pleese he m out of Resou n. / [¶] My sire seyde onys to me / & also seyde my da mme. How þ at þe leever e chyld / þe mor e Loore be -hoveþ. & Salomo n seid e þe same / þ at sapience book maade. Q vi parcit virge  odit filiu m. Þe englyȝs of þis Latyn ys / who þ at will e yt knowe. Who þ at spareþ þe ȝonge spryng / he F.5.40: Beta witnesses omit he. spillyþ hyse barnes. Þanne p arled he to p arsones / & to preestis to -gydres. Looke ȝee p reche þe peple / & p reve it on ȝoure -selue. & doþ it sadly in dede / & ȝee shull e drawe to goode. & ell is will e þe peple parle / in ȝour e parshȝ a -bowhte. F.5.44: This line occurs only in F. If ȝee lyve / as ȝee leerne vs / we leve ȝow þe bettre. / [¶] Þanne aft er he radde Relygious / her e rewhlys to holde. Lest þe kyng by his co nseyl / ȝour e como nys a -peyre. & been Styward e of ȝour e Stedis / ty l ȝee been in bettr e rewle. F.5.48: " V:" with red flourishes appears in the upper right margin to indicate the passus number. & sytthen he co nseylyd e þe kyng / to love þe comou n peple. For þat is tresor / yf tresou n ner e / & t riacle at neede. & sytthe he p rayede þe Pope / to have rewþe on holy chirche & er he grawnte ony g race / to governe fyrst hy m -selue. & ȝee þ at have Lawis to kepe / let Coueytyse be w it h trewþe. Mor e þan gold / or oþ ire gyftys / if ȝee will e god plese. For who þ at co nt raryeþ trewþe / as telliþ þe trewe gospel. Þ at god know et h hy m nowht / ne non coorseynt of hevene. A men dico vobis . nescio vos. & ȝee þ at seekyn sey nt Iemes / or ony sey nt of Rome. Seke first sey nt trewþe / for he may save ȝow all e. Q vi cu m patre & filio / alle fayre hem be -falle. Þat sewyn my n s ermou n / & þus seyde sir e Resou n. N Nou Nou F.5.62: The scribe left a blank space for the capital but rather than write a guide-letter in the space, supplied his own anglicana text capital. ran Repentau nce / & reersede his teeme & made will e to wepe / wat er w it h his eyȝen. & Peronyll e p rowd -herte / platte hire on þe erthe. & þere she lay longe / & our e lord / m ercy cryȝede. & by -hyghte to hy m an hees F.5.66: hees, "hest." / þ at vs alle formede Þ at she wolde vn -sowe hy hy[r] sirke / & settyn þ ere F.5.67: The scribe originally wrote þ ee , and then corrected the superscripted <e> to his usual suspension for <-er>. an hayr e. To a -flasshen F.5.68: F's unique reading a-flasshen-- Bx reads affaiten--is rare in Middle English. MED has only one citation, but it is clearly related to flashen with its senses of striking, slashing, throwing down violently. Here it refers to mortification of the flesh through penance. hir e fleshȝ / þ at feers was to synne. Shal y neu ere have heyȝ herte / but holde me eu ere lowe. & suffr e to to [be] mys -seyȝd / & so ȝit dide y neuere. But now will e y meeke me / & M ercy be -seche. For þ at F.5.72: Alpha omits al before þat. y have hated / in my n herte longe. / [¶] Þe Lecclour Lecc[h]our seyde ofte allas / & to our e Lady he c riȝede. To have mercy for hise mys -dedis / þ at mychil he offendid. F.5.74: F's b-verse is unique. Bx fails in alliteration, reading "bitwene god and his soule." Be so / he sholde eu ery day F.5.75: Beta reads þe Saterday in place of euery day (F) or on þe day (R). / þis sevene ȝeer after. Drynke w it h þe du nkele F.5.76: This spelling, which appears to be unique, conceals dunghill. The lection does not appear in other B manuscripts. doke / & dyghnen but ones. Þanne Envie w it h heuy herte / askyd e after shryfte. & carefully w it h mea culpa he comsede to shryve. F.5.78: Beta reads shewe in place of F's shryve or R's schrewe. He was as pale / as a pelote / & in þe palesy he semed e. He was cloþid i n cawry -mawry / I cowhde it not discryȝe. He hadde on kyrtyl & coorteby / & a long F.5.81: An otiose curl appears above the <g>. knyf by his syȝde. & of a Frerys frokke / weryn hise F.5.82: Alpha is responsible for hise, though the reading is shared by H. Other beta manuscripts have þe. fory-slevis. He lookede w it h lene chekys / & lowrynge brewys. F.5.83: In relation to Bx this line and the next are transposed. As a leek hadde y -leyn / longe a -gey n þe su nne. His body was foule y -bolned / & faste he boot hise lyppis. & hise hondis he wrong / to ben a -wr eke he þowhte. W it h werkys / or w it h word is / whan he seyȝ his tyȝme. & eu ery word þ at he warp / was lyk an addir tu nge. Of chydynge & Ianglynge / was his cheef lyflode. F.5.89: The scribe corrected loflode only imperfectly. See the facsimile. W it h ba kbyty nge & bysmer e / & berynge fals witnesse. Swiche manerys he made / to ech man he medled w it h. F.5.91: F has completely rewritten this line which in Bx reads "This was al his curteisie where þat euere he shewed hym." Þanne seyde þ at shr ewe y wolde be shryve / if y for shame durste. But ȝit y wolde be gladder e / yf Gybbe hadde mys -chau nce. F.5.93: F omits Bx's: "Than þouȝ I hadde þis wouke ywonne a weye of Essex chese." I have a neyȝhebor e neyȝ me / y haue noyȝed hy m ofte. & lowhe on hy m ful lowhde / & mad hy m loost [lese] his syluer. & mad hise frendis . hise foon / þorwh my false tu nge. For his g race & goode happis / greve me ful sor e. By -twixe hym & manye me n / y make debate ofte. Þ at boþe her e lyvis & her e lymes / be loost . þoru my speche. & whan y mete hy m in Market / þ at y moost hate. I heyȝle hy m ful hendely / as y his frend were. For he he [is] dowhtyer e þan y / y dar doon non oþir. But hadd e y Mayst rie ouer hy m / god wot my wille. & whan y come to chirche F.5.104: Alpha is responsible for chirche, though the reading is shared by Hm. Bx reads kirk. / & knele to -for þe roode. & sholde p raye for þe peple / as þe p arshȝ p rest techeþ. For pylgrymes for palmer es / & penau ntys also. Þa nne y c riȝe for c ristian / þat c rist gyve hir e sorwe Þ at bar a -wey my n bolle / & my broke sheete. A -weyȝ fram þe awht er / þan t urne y my n eyȝen. & be -held how hervy / hadde on F.5.110: Beta witnesses omit alpha's on. a newe cote. Þerfor e y brende bett erly / þ at my n brest -boon ga n krake. F.5.111: This line appears uniquely in F. & wisshede ofte / it wer e my n / & al þe weeb aft er. & for me nnys leesynge y lawhe / for it lykeþ wel my n herte. But for his wy nny ngg e y wepe / & ofte weyle þe tyme. I deme hem / þ at doon Ille / & y do my -selue wel werse. & who þ at vndir -nemeþ me þ erof / I hate hy m eu ere after. I wolde þ at euery whyȝt man / were F.5.117: An otiose curl appears above the medial <e>. be -come my n knave. & who þ at haþ mor e þan y / ȝee  þ at ang riþ me sore. & þus y lyve loveles / lych a lythir dogge. Þ at al my body bolneþ / so bytt er ys my galle. I myghte not ety n manye ȝeris / as a ma n awhte. For Envye & euel wyl / ys evyl to defyȝe. Þ ere may no sewgre / ne swete þy ng / a -swage my wo mbe. Ne no n dyapendyon / dryve it fram my n herte. Ne neythir shryfte ne shame / but he wil shrape my n mawe / [¶] Ȝys  q uod R epentawnce redely / & radde hy m to þe beste. Strong sorwe for synne / is saluaciou n to þe sowle. Pet er y am eu ere F.5.128: Beta lacks alpha's euere. sory q uod he  y am but seelden oþ ir. & þ at makþ me þus meegr e / for y ne me may a -venge. F.5.129: Bx reads "for I ne may me venge." F's word order is a bit odd. See Tauno F. Mustanoja, A Middle English Syntax, Part I: Parts of Speech, Mémoires de la Société Néophilologique de Helsinki 23 (Helsinki: Société Néophilologique, 1960), pp. 339-40, and cf. F9.22. I was a -mong burgeys / þere me n bowhte & solde. I made ba kbyter e be bro kour / to la kke me nnys war e. F.5.131: " V:" with red flourishes appears in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. & whan he solde & y nowht / þa n was y ful redy. To lyȝe & to lowr e on hy m / & to lakkyn his ware. F.5.133: The alpha scribe picked up ware from two lines above. Beta preserves correct chaffare. I will e a -me nde me if y may / þorgh c ristis myght i n heue nne. F.5.135: The scribe left an indented blank for a 3-line capital <T>. A guide letter <T> appears. T Hanne wratthe gan awake / w it h two white eyȝes. Al revelynge [n]evelynge w it h his nose / & his nekke hangy ng e. I am wrothȝ he seyde þo / for su mtyme y was a fr ere. & þe Couentys Gardyn er / for to graffe yȝmpis. & on Lemetour & on lyȝstre / lesynges y yȝmpede. Tyl þey ber e Levis of lowh speche / lordis to plese. & sytthyn þey blomed F.5.141: Alpha is in error, omitting abrood after blomed. i n bowr es / for to heeryn shryftis. & now ys fally n swich frut þ erof / þ at folk have wel lever e. To shewyn her e shryfte to hem / & for -sake her e p arsou n. F.5.143: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þan shryuen hem to hir persons." & now have p arsones y -p arceyvid / þ at her e p arsshenys love fr eris. F.5.144: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þat freres parte wiþ hem." & so possessioneris p rechyn / & de -p rauen Freris. & fyȝnde F.5.146: Alpha omits freres before fyȝnde. hem i n defawhte / as folk ber e witnesse. Þ at whan þey p reche þe peple / in fele placys a -bowte. I wratthe walke w it h hem / & wisshe he m of my bookys. & make hem so speke of sp iritualte / tyl ech dyspyse oþ ir. Tyl þey ben boþe beggeris / & by F.5.150: Alpha omits my following by, as does Hm. almesse lybben. Or ellis boþe be ryche / & ryally ryde a -bowte. & y wratthe reste neu ere / but renne aft er & folwe. Alle swiche wykkid e folk / for swich is my grace. / [¶] I have an awnte to a Nu nne / & eek an Abbesse. F.5.154: Alpha and C lack a line-terminal boþe that appears in all beta witnesses. F's eek is unique. Þey wery n leuer e to sweltre / þan to suffr e a whyle. I was Cook i n her e kychene / & þe co nuent seruede. Fele Moneþis of þe ȝeer / & Mawgr e was my knave. F.5.157: F has substantially revised this line. Bx reads "Manye Monþes wiþ hem and wiþ Monkes boþe." I was þe P rioresse potager / & oþ ire poor e Ladijs. & Made hem Iowtys of Ianglyng e / þ at dame Ione was bastard. & dame Claris a knyghtis dowt er / bu bu[t] she knew not hir e fadir. & dame Peronel a p restys syst er F.5.161: Bx reads "a preestes fyle." ./ P rioresse worþ she neuer e. For she childid i n Chirye -tyme / al þe chapetr e it wyste. I hakkede her e wortis ech day / w it h wordys & w it h spyes. F.5.163: F has completely revised this line which in Bx reads "Of wikkede wordes I wraþe hire wortes I made." Tyl þ ou lyxt  & þ ou lyxt / lopen owt a tonys at onys. & ech cracchid oþir / & hir e kyrtlys rentyn. F.5.165: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And eiþer hitte ooþer vnder þe cheke." Hadd e þey had knyvis by c rist / ech hadd e kyllid oþ ir. Sey nt Gregory was a good pope / & hadd e good resou n. Þ at no P rioresse sholde be p rest / þ at lawe he ordeynede Þey wery n infamys at þe firste / so cu n þei conseil close. A -mo ngis Mu nkis y myghte be / but ofte þa nne y wonde. F.5.170: A corrupt or confusing exemplar may account for F's reading. He omits the following line from Bx and revises the b-verse of this one. The immediate scribe wrote the present b-verse over an erasure in a different ink. Bx reads as follows: Among Monkes I myȝte be ac many tyme I shonye For þere ben manye felle frekes my feeris to aspie. Boþe of Pryo ur & supp rior / & of pater Abbas . For if itelle i telle onye talis / þey take hem to -gydr es. & don me faste frydayes / boþe breed & wat ur. & y am chastysed in Chapetr e / as y a child wer e. & baleysed on my bar e bak / þat my bely beendiþ. F.5.175: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And baleised on þe bare ers and no brech bitwene." For -þy  y have no lykynge / w it h þo leedis to dwelle. For þer e y eet vnthende fyssh / & drank feble ale. &irwhile whan wyȝn comeþ / y dry nke wel F.5.178: Beta manuscripts have wyn or it for alpha's wel. a teve at eve Þ at y have a flyx & a foul mowth / wel fyve dayes aft er. & al þe wykkidnesse þ at y woot / be onye of my br etheryn. I cowthe it in þe Cloystr e / til al þe Coue nt know et h yt. A Repente q uod Repentau nce / & reerse þ ou yt neu ere. Of co nseyl þ at þ ou knowist / be co ntynance ne be speche. F.5.183: Alpha is responsible for speche. Beta reads variously riȝt, sight, and nyght. & drynk not ou er -delycatly / ne to depe neythir. Þ at þy wille be cause þerof / to wratthe it þe turne. E sto sobrius he seyde / & assoyled me sone þ ere -aft er. & bad me wylne to wepe / my wykkidnesse to ame nde. A Fter hy m cam Coueytyse / y can not hy m disc riue. F.5.188: The ornamental capital <A> is written in green with red flourishes extending in the left margin fifteen lines above and ten below. So hugerly hu[n]gerly / & holwe / sire Hervy lokede. He was brytyl -brewid bytyl -brewid / & babirlyppid alse. W it h two blered e eyȝen / as a blynd hagge. & as a ledrene purs / lolleden hise chekys. Wel sydder e þan his chyn / þey shynede shyu[er]ede for elde. & as a bonde -ma n et bakou n / so was his berd dravelyd. F.5.194: Bx reads "And as a bondeman of his bacon ...." The scribe's usual form of "ate" is eet, and it is not at all clear what he intended here. His hood he hadde on his hed / an heyȝ hat þer vppe. He hadde on a tany tabbard / of ten ȝeer of age. Al to -tore & bawhdy / & lappe syȝd / it semede. F.5.197: This line fails in alliteration in all B manuscripts, and Kane-Donaldson reject it as spurious (p. 193). F's b-verse reading is unique, most B manuscripts reading "and ful of lys crepyng." We are uncertain what lappe syȝd means, though it is possibly an early occurrence of "lopsided." Þ at but if a lows wer e lyght / & cowhde lepe þe bettr e. F.5.198: F's reading for this line is unique. All the other B manuscripts are corrupt, omitting an alliterating stave in the a-verse: "But if a lous couþe haue lopen þe bettre." R also omits haue. He sholde no no[t] walke on þ at web / but his staf wer e pyked. F.5.199: He is a relict form originally meaning "she" and referring to the lows of the preceding line. Alpha is responsible for retaining this form, but as the b-verse indicates, the immediate scribe took it to be the masculine pronoun. Bx reads "He sholde noȝt haue walked on þat welche so was it þredbare." I have be Coueytous q uod þis caytyf / y be -knowe it her e. For su mtyme y servede / Symme at þe style. & was his p rentiȝs a -plyght F.5.202: Bx reads ypliȝt. F is alone in the B tradition in reading a-plyght, but the same relatively rare word appears among the A variants at A.5.116. / his profyte to wayte. Fyrst y leernede to lyȝe / wel a leef or moore. F.5.203: Alpha is responsible for or, which is shared by M. Beta reads ouþer. F uniquely reads moore for Bx's tweyne. & skarsly to weyȝe þyngis / was my fyrste lessou n. To wyku mbe

F.5.205: Kane-Donaldson, p. 8, note in their description of F that it uniquely reads wycumbe in place of Bx's wy, suggesting that it "may indicate provenance." Ms. Tania Styles of CENS at the University of Nottingham (private communication) was kind enough to supply us with the following note:

The etymology of Wycombe in Buckinghamshire is disputed. The EPNS county volume of 1925 gives the first element as the river-name Wye and the second as OE cumb "valley" (pp. 200-01), though spellings that would indicate this do not appear until Domesday Book ( Wicumbe). Eilert Ekwall, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 4th ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1960) decides on the basis of the OE forms Wicumun and Westwicam that we have OE wīc + hamm/hām ("meadow/homestead with a dairy farm") or wīchām ("Romano-British settlement" < Lat. vicus) in the dative plural, the river-name being a late back-formation from the place-name; in this case, association with OE cumb would be secondary but still early; it seems to have been made in 1086 at least. The latest place-name dictionary (A. D. Mills, A Dictionary of English Place Names (Oxford: Oxford U P, 1991), traces the name from wīcum "at the dwellings," giving the same explanation of the river-name and implying a similar status for the -combe spellings. Margaret Gelling came to this conclusion in Signposts to the Past: Place-Names and the History of England, 2nd ed. (Chester: Phillimore, 1988), p. 68, and in "English Place-Names Derived from the Compound wīchām," in Place-Name Evidence for the Anglo-Saxon Invasion and Scandinavian Settlements, ed. Kenneth Cameron (Nottingham: EPNS, 1987): 8-18.

This would suggest that any place-names in wīchām or -hamm or simplex wīc in the dative plural may have been assimilated to cumb, either sporadically or consistently, from an early date. This makes all of the following non-Bucks names possible candidates for -combe spellings in the ME period.

Ms. Styles then provided a list of thirty-one possible instances. Three of these, Wickham Bishops, Wickham Hall, and Wickham St. Pauls, are in Essex, the first very close to the point at which the editors of LALME have located this manuscript. The EPNS volume The Place-Names of Essex, ed. P. H. Reaney (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1935), lists no spellings in -cumbe, -combe for any of the Essex sites.

& to wynchestr e / y wente to feyres.
W it h many maner of Marchaundise / as my Maist er me hyghte. Ne hadde þe g race of gyle be / þ at gan gon a -mo ng my ware. It hadde be vnsold þis seuy n ȝeer / so me god helpe.
/ [¶] Þa nne drow y me a -mo ng draperis / my donet to leerne. For to drawe þe lyȝste a -long / þe cloþ þe leng ere semede. A -mong þe ryche rayes / y rendred my lessou n To broche he m w it h a batte F.5.212: Alpha is probably responsible for batte, though the reading is shared by L. Other beta manuscripts have pak. nedle / & plytid he m þa n to -gydr e. & pitte hem in a p resse / & pyned he m þ er -Inne. F.5.213: " V" with red flourishes appears in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. Tyl teen ȝerdis or twelue / tollyd F.5.214: An otiose curl appears over <t>. out thrittene. My wif was a webbe / & wollene she made. She spak to a spy nster e F.5.216: Alpha reads a spynstere for beta's Spynnesteres. / to spy nne it fair & klene. But þe pound þ at she payed by / peysed a q uarter mor e. Þa n my n owne awncel / who þ at weyȝede trewþe. / [¶] Þan bowhte y her e barly malt / she brewh it to selle. Peny ale & puddy ng ale / she porede to -gydr e. For laboreris & lowe folk / she leide it be þe -selue. F.5.221: Bx reads "þat lay by hemselue." & þe beste ale lay in my bowr / or in my bed -chambr e. & who þ at bu mmed e þer -of / he bowhte it þer -after. A galou n for a groote / god woot no lesse. & ȝit it com in / cuppe -mel / swich craft she vseþ F.5.225: Alpha has present tense vseþ against the beta family's preterite. Rose regrater / ys F.5.226: Alpha has present tense ys against the beta family's preterite. hir e ryght name. She haþ y -holde huksterye / al hire lyf -tyȝme. I swere now so þeech F.5.228: The <ch> spelling is an odd one for alpha to have introduced for Sire Hervey Coveitise of Norfolk. Langland had indulged himself in the same dialect joke that Chaucer had used in The Reeve's Tale. Bx must have read so þe ik. / þat synne wil y leete. & neuer e wrongly weyȝe / ne wikkid chaffar e vse. But y wenden to walsyngham / & my wif w it h me. & bidde þe roode of Bromholm / brynge me f ram dette. Repentist þe eu ere / q uod repe ntau nce / & restituciou n þ ou madist. / [¶] Ȝee  q uod he onys y was herborwhed / w it h an hep of Chapme n. & whan þei wery n in reste / y roos / & ryflede her e malis. Þ at was no repentau nce q uod he / but a robberis dede. F.5.235: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "That was no restitucion quod Repentaunce but a robberis þefte." Manuscript G also joins F in reading he for Repentaunce. Þ ou haddist been bettr e þ erfor e / ben hongyd be þe nekke. Þan for al þe oþ ir þyng / þ at þ ou hast here shewyd. / [¶] I wende ryfflyng wher e restituc iou n / so kan y rede on boke. F.5.238: The b-verse lection of Bx is the metrically clumsy and probably corrupt "for I lerned neuere rede on boke." Some scribe in the tradition between alpha and the extant manuscript may well have restored, whether by conjecture or access to a better manuscript, the original reading: "ne kan y rede on boke." Only later would it have been scribally revised, with so supplied for the negative enclitic in the original. Ne y can no Frenchȝ in feyþ / but of Norþfolk langage. F.5.239: Bx's reading is the metrically clumsy "but of þe ferþest ende of Northfolk," and again the relative shapeliness of F's reading suggests that Bx is corrupt. Richard Beadle, "Prolegomena to a literary geography of later medieval Norfolk," in Regionalism in Late Medieval Manuscripts and Texts: Essays Celebrating the Publication of A Linguistic Atlas of Late Medieval English , ed. Felicity Riddy, York Manuscripts Conference: Proceedings Series, University of York, Centre for Medieval Studies, 2 (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1991), suggests that this is "possibly an allusion to some early version of the modern colloquialism 'Norfolk French', intended to express the difficulty of the dialect to outsiders" (94). Vsedist þ ou eu ere vserye q uod repe ntau nce / in al þy lyf -tyme. / [¶] Nay soþly seyde he  save su mtyme i n ȝowthe. I lernede a -mo ngys lu mbard is / a lessou n be herte. F.5.242: F's b-verse is unique. R reads "a lessoun and of iewes," while beta witnesses have: "and Iewes a lesson." To weyȝe pens w it h a peyȝs / & þan to par e þe heuyest & to leene for love of þe cros / & if þey leyȝde a wed / lese it. & doble dette F.5.245: F's a-verse is unique. Bx has "Swiche dedes I dide write." y dide wryte / if he his day brooke. I have mo Maneris þoruh regages / þa n þoruh miseret ur & comedat. I have lent lord is longe / my lovely chaffare. & be a brokour aft er / bowht yt a -gey n my -selue. & w it h changis & chevesau nces / w it h chaffare y dele. & y leene folk þ at leese will e / a shely ng i n þe noble. & w it h lu mbardis lett ris / y ladde gold to Rome. & took it her e be tale / & tolde it þer e lasse. Lentyst þ ou eu ere Lordis q uod he  for love of Mey ntenau nce. Ȝee  y have lent Lordis q uod he F.5.254: Beta manuscripts lack quod he.  þ at lovede me neu ere after. & y have maad many a knyght / boþe Mercyr & drapeer. Þ at peyȝede neu ere for his p rentyȝshod / not a peyȝr e clovis [g]lovis. F.5.256: F's clovis is unique, and all other manuscripts have gloues. Though cloves were paid for rents [see MED s.v. clove n.(2),2(b)], this instance is more likely to represent simple error than conscious revision. Hast þ ou pyte on poore me n / þ at muste for nede borwe. I have as myche pyte on þe pore / as þe F.5.258: Alpha is in error. Beta manuscripts lack unmetrical þe. pedder e on Cattis. Þ at wolde kylly n hem all e / for coveytyse of here skynnys. Art þ ou Manly to þy n Neyȝhebo ur / of Metis & drynkys. I am holde / as hende q uod he / F.5.261: The virgule is possibly intended to replace the punctus elevatus. as hownd ys in þe kycchene. A -mong my Neygheboures namely / swich a name i have. Now god gyve g race q uod repe ntau nce / but þ ou repente / þe rather e. Grawnte þe g race on þ is grownde / þy good so þ ou be -sette. Þ at þyn houswif aft er the / have Ioye of þ at þ ou wynnyst. & þyne seketour es weel be -sette / þe siluer þ at þ ou levist For as it ys / wonne w it h wro ng / it worþ w it h wastour es spe ndid. For wher e y Frer e of an hows / þer e feyþ is fownde þ ere -Inne. I wolde not F.5.269: Alpha has wolde not against beta's nolde. Cope vs w it h þy n Catel / ne our e chirche F.5.269: Alpha has chirche for beta's kirk. a -me nde. Ne have a peny to petau nce / so mote pyȝghne i n helle. F.5.270: F's reading is unique. There are several variants, but Bx probably read as follows: "of þyne bi my soule hele." For þe beste book i n our e hous / þeyȝ brend gold wher e þe levis. & y wyste wittirly / þ ou were swych as þ ou tellyst. S eruus es alt eri us cu m fercula pinguia queris. P ane tuo pocius vescere liber eris. Þ ou art an vn -kyȝnde creatur e / y can þe nowht asoyle. Tyl þ ou Make restituciou n / & rekne w it h hem alle. & þerto / þ at Resou n rolle it / in þe regystr e of hevene. For til þ ou hast maad / ech ma n good / y may þe noht a -soyle. N on dimittit ur peccatu m  n isi F.5.279: nisi is owed to alpha. Beta, except for Cr, reads donec. restituat ur ablatu m. For alle þo þ at have þy n good / as god have my trewþe He is holde to ȝeelde it her e / if he may it qwyte These lines appear only in F, replacing two lines in Bx: Is holden at þe heiȝe doom to helpe þee to restitue And whoso leueþ noȝt þis be sooþ loke in þe Sauter glose. Or p raye þe of for -gyfnesse / or to doon yt for þy sowle. & ell is he shal have evil hap / but he heendely wirche. His catel shal fally n hy m froo / or ell is hise freendis goode. Or ell is his soule shal dry nke sour / at o dayes tyme. Or seyȝ Miserere mei d eus wich ys w[her y] mene trewthe. F.5.286: F omits from Bx the Latin tag " Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, &c. " Þer ys no Laborer þ at wil leve F.5.287: The scribe initially wrote love and corrected to leve. þe / þ at longiþ to pers plowhma n. F.5.287: This line appears only in alpha. For F.5.288: Beta lacks alpha's For. shal neu ere werkman i n þis world / þryve . w it h þ at þ ou wynnyst. C u m s anc to s anc tus eris / const rue now wel þis resou n. Þa nne wex þe F.5.290: Alpha has þe against beta's þat. shrewe in wanhope / & wolde an ho ngid F.5.290: In view of the scribe's frequent omission of initial <h>, the an here probably represents Bx's han. Alternatively, this is a possible scribal haplography for a anhongid. hy m -selue. Ne hadde Repentau nce þe rather e / reersyd þese wordis. F.5.291: F's b-verse is unique. Other manuscripts read "reconforted ( or conforted) hym in þis manere." Have m ercy i n þy Myȝnde ma n / & w it h þyn Mowþ god be -seche. For goddis m ercy ys more / þanne manye of hise oþ ir werkys. F.5.293: The following Latin line is missing from F, but it is missing from WHmCrGCB as well: " Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c. " & al þe wykkidnesse / þ at ony man / may eyþ ir wirche or þy nke. Is no moor e to godd is m ercy / þan in þe see a gleede O mnis i niq uitas q uantu m ad m isericordiam d ei  e st q uasi sintilla i n medio maris. F.5.296: The Latin quotation was too long for the single line left for it, and the scribe indented the final three words and preceded them with the conventional paraph mark. For -þy  have in þy my nde m ercy / & Marc haundise þ ou leve. F.5.297: " V" with decorative red flourishes appears in the top right margin to indicate the passus. For þ ou hast no good grownde / to gete þ erfor e a wastel. But it be w it h þy tu nge / or ell is w it h þyn hondis. For al þe good þ at þat [þou] hast geete / þe grownde be -ga n w it h falsnesse. & as longe þ ou [as] þou lyvest þ erw it h / þ ou ȝeeldest not but borwist. & if þ ou wete neu ere to wyche / ne yt [ȝ]it to whom restore. Bere it to þy n Bysshop / & bydde hym of his g race. By -sette yt hy m -selue / as beest is for þy n sowle. For he shal answer e for þe / at þe day of doome. For the / & for manye moo / þ at man shal ȝeve r ekny ng. & what he lerned ȝow i n le ntene / be -leve þ ou no n oþir. F.5.307: F omitted the following line from Bx: "And what he lente yow of oure lordes good to lette yow fro synne." H Erly F.5.308: The ornamental capital is outlined in red and flourished with green ink. The green marginal flourishes extend to the top of the page and two-thirds down the page. gan Glotou n / for to goo to shryfte. & wendis hy m to kirkeward / his coupe to shewe. A -no n Betou n þe Brewster e / bad hy m good Morwe. & freyned hy m . whens he cam / & whidir þ at he wolde. To holy chirche q uod he  to heren a -morwe Messe. & sytthe y will e be shryve / & synne no moore. Ȝee  y have good ale gossip q uod she  glotou n wilt þ ou a -saye. Hast þ ou in þy n purs q uod he  ony spyces fyȝne. I have pep er & pyenys / q uod she  & a pou nd of gilloffris. & a ferthyng -worþ of fenel seed / for fastynge -dayes. A -no n gooþ Glotou n in w it h hir e / & grete oþis after. & fond Symme sowt eres wif / sytty nge on þe benche. & Watte Waryner also / & his wif bothe. & Tomme þe tynkere / & tweyn of hise p rentyȝs. & hikke þe hakeney man / & howe þe nedlere. & Clarys of cokkyslane / w it h þe clerk of þe chirche. & F.5.324: Beta manuscripts lack the &. sire pers of prydye / & peronell e of Flaundr es. Beta manuscripts transpose these two lines. & Dawe þe dyker e / & wel a dosey n oþere. A rybybour / a ratoner / & a rakyer e of chepe. A Ropere & a Redy ng -kyng / & Rose dissher es dowht er. F.5.327: Beta family manuscripts lack dowhter. & Godefrey / of Garlyngheþe / & Geffrey wasshere. & vp -holderys a gret heep / herly be þe Morwe. Þey geve Glotou n w it h glad cher e / a galou n ale i n honde. Sone Cleme nt þe Cobeler e / of -caste his cloke. & in þe newe feyȝre / he ne mpnyd it to selle. A -no n hikke þe hakeney ma n / hytte his hood aft er. & bad Bette þe bocher / to F.5.334: Beta manuscripts lack to. been on his syȝde. Þere weryn chapme n y -chose / þ at chaffar e to p reyȝse. Which of hem sholde have þe hood / or who sholde haue þe boþe. Þan ryse þey ful rathely / & rowneden to -gydr es. & p reyseden þe F.5.338: Beta manuscripts read þise in place of alpha's þe. peny -worthis / ech p art by hy m -selue. But þei cowde not be her e co nsience / a -corde þ at tyȝme. Tyl Ro byn þe Roper e / was reysed fram his sete. & ne mpned for a nou npere / þ at no debate þ ere fylle. Þa nne hikke hosteler / hadde þe cloke. In co nnawnt þ at Cleme nt / sholde sholde [þe] cuppe fylle. & have hikkis hod hosteler / & holde hy m a -payed. & who þ at repentyd rathest / sholde ryse sone. & grety n wel sir e Glotou n / w it h a galou n ale. Þer e was lawhyng / & lowry ng / & let go þe cuppe. & sety n þer e tyl evynsong / & su nge m erye songis. Tyl Glotou n hadde y -glubbyd / a galou n & mor e. Þ at hise guttys gu nne to gowle / as a gredy sowe. I t rowe he pissed a potel / in a pat er nost er whyle. & blewh his rownde rewet / at his regbonys ende. Þ at al þe folk i n þe hows / helden her e nose after. & wysshed it wer e wypid / w it h a wips of fyrsen. He myghte not steppe ne stonde / er he a staf hadde. & þa nne gan he goo lych / a glewh -ma nnys bycche. Su m -tyme he ȝeede o -syde / & hidirward & þydirward. As who þ at leyþ lyȝnes / larkys to cacche. & whan he drowh to þe dore / þa n dy mmed hise eyȝen. & t ripplid trippid on þe threshold / & ou er -threwh to grownde. A -no n Cleme nt cobler e / kawht hy m in hise armes. For to lifte hy m on F.5.362: An otiose mark, shaped like an apostrophe, appears over <n>. loft / & leyȝde hy m on hise knowis. But Glotou n was a gret cherl / & g rim for to lyfte. & cowhed a potel cawhdel / in Cleme ntis lappe. Þer is no n so hu ng ri hound / in al hertforde -shyre. Þ at leste lape a lyte þ erof / so loþly it smellid e / [¶] Þan w it h al þe wo i n þe world / his wif & his wenche. Þey beren hy m to his bed / & browhte hy m þ ere -Inne. & aft er al þ at exces / he hadde swich an accydie. Þ at he sleep al Sat urday / & Sunday tyl eve. & þa nne a -waked he wroþly / & wypide hise eyȝen. & þe fyrste word þ at he warp / was wher e is þe bolle. & wit gan edwyte hym / how wykkidly he wrouhte. & ryght so dede Repentance / he rebukyd hy m þ at tyme. Þ ou hast þoruhȝ word & werk / wrowht euele i n þy lyve. I rede þ ou shryve þe & be a -shamed / & shewe it w it h þy mowþe. Þan seyd e þ at gome Glotou n / y have gyltyd god ofte. F.5.377: F omits "That I haue trespased with my tonge I kan not telle how ofte." & swor e godd is sowle & side F.5.378: Beta manuscripts lack the phrase "& side." R reads "and his sydes." / & so help me god F.5.378: Beta manuscripts have "god me help" for alpha's "help me god." & holy -dom. Þere þ at no nede was / ny hȝne hundryd tyȝmes. I have ouer -seyn me at sop er / & su m -tyme at noon melis. Þ at y gert vp a -geyn / er y gan goon a myle. & ofte y -speld F.5.382: The interpretation y speld="I spilled" is less probable than the past participle. The same is true of y-drunke in the following line. . þ at myghte be spared / & spend it on nedy. & ouer -delycatly on fastynge -dayes / y -dru nke & ety n boþe. & su m -tyme sat so longe þ ere -at / y sleep & eet a tones at ones. To hery n talis in tau ernys / to dry nke þe su nner e y wente. & ofte hyȝede to mete er noon / whan fastynge -dayes felle. Now þis shewynge shryfte / q uod Repe ntau nce / shal be meryȝt to þe. / [¶] & a -no n gan Glotou n grety n / & greet dool he maade. For his loþ lyþ ir lyf / þat he so lyvid hadde. & a -vowede to faste / for hung ir & þryst boþe & seyd e / shal neuer e fyshȝ on fryday / defyen i n my wombe. Tyl Abstynence my n awnte / haþ ȝove me good leve. & ȝit have y hated hir e / In al my lyf -tyme. F.5.394: A space is left for an ornamental capital <T>. Hanne [T]hanne com Slewthe be -slot ered / w it h two slymed eyȝes. I muste sytte seyd e þe segg e / or y shal ell is nappe. I may nowht stonde / ne stowpe / w it h -oute [ne] with -oute stool knele But where y browht i n bedde / but my bely F.5.397: F's bely is unique. Bx has tailende. it made. Sholde no rynggy ng e do me ryse / er y wer e rype to dyghne. / [¶] He gan B en edicite on a book / & his brest he knokkyd e. & rorede w it h a raskeng / & Rutte at þe laste. What a -wake q uod Repentau nce / & rape þe to shryfte. / [¶] A -þeyh y sholde dyȝe q uod he F.5.402: F inherits quod he from alpha, but not the loss of a stave. Bx reads "If I sholde deye bi þis day me list nouȝt to loke."  y may not now looke. I can not my pat er n oster / as þe preest me tawhte. But y y [can] Romau nces of Roby nn hod / & of Randolf þe Reve. But no n of our e lord ne our e lady / þe leeste þ at is makyd. I have maad fourty a -vowes a teve at eve / & for -gety n he m on morwe. Ne y p arformed neuer e my penau nce / þ at þe preest me Ioynede. Ne be sory for my synnys / ȝit soþly was y neuer e. & if y bydd e ony bedys / but it be in wratthe. Þ at y tell e w it h my tu nge / it is two myle fram my n herte. I am ocupied eu eryday / boþe halyday & oþere. W it h ydyl talis at þe ale F.5.412: An otiose curl appears over <a>. / & oþ ire -whilis in chirche. On godd is peynys ne on his passiou n / ful seelde y þy nke. I vysityd seelde syke F.5.414: The error occurred in alpha. The correct reading feble is attested in beta. me n / or feteryd folk in p risou n. I hadde F.5.415: Alpha reads past tense hadde for beta's haue. lever e her e harlot riȝe / or seen a som er game. Er lesyngis to lawhe of F.5.416: Alpha reads of for beta's at. / or be -lyȝe my n evync ristene. & al þ at eu ere sey nt Mark made / or Mattheu . Ioh an . or lucas. & vigilijs & fastyng -dayes / all e y leet hem passe. I lay in bedde in Lentene / & my lemma n in my n armes. Ty l Matinis & Masses / be do / & y muste to þe freris But come y to Ite Missa est. I holde me wel y -s eruyd. I am nowht shryve but selden / but seknesse it make. Nowht twyes in þe ȝeer / & þa nne me þynkþ to sone. F.5.423: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "and þanne vp gesse I shryue me." I have be preest & P arsou n / passynge fourty wynt er. & ȝit can y neyþ ir solue ne synge / ne sey ntys lyvis r ede. But y can fyȝnde in a fyȝld / of a furlong an hare. Bettr e þan in Beat us vir / or in Beati om nes. To construe it clause -meel F.5.428: Beta reads "oon clause wel" for alpha's "it clause-meel." / & kenne it my p arshenys. I can holde wel Lovedayes / or F.5.429: Alpha reads or for beta's and. hery n a Revis rekeny ng. But i n Cano n ne in decretalis / y can not rede a lyȝne. & if y bygge or borwe / but it be wel y -taylid. I for -ȝeete it as ȝeerne / & if me n me yt aske. Sixe sythis or sevene / y for -swere me w it h oþis. & þ erw it h y tene / trewe men / ten hundr ed tymys. & myne s eruau ntys su m -tyme / her e sallarye is be -hyȝnde. It is hard to heer e rekeny nge / whan we rede a -cowntys. & so w it h wikkid will e & wratthe / my werkme n y peyȝe. If ony doþ me a benefet / or helpiþ me at neede. A -gey n hy m / y am vnkyȝnde / & kan not it knowe. For y have / & have had / su mme of hawkys Manerys. For y am nowht lured w it h love / but su mwhat lygge vndir þu mbe. My n kosyȝnes gret kyȝndenesse / kyddy n to me fernere. fernere, "in old times, long ago." Most B witnesses have the more transparent spelling fernȝere. Sixty syþis for slewhthe / y have for -gete it sytthe. & in sparynge of speche / y have spilt fele þy ngys. Boþe fleshȝ & fysshȝ / & fele oþere vytaylis. As breed & beef & boter e / & bake metys manyȝe. I have for -slewthid in my s eruyse / so longe y haue kept yt. I ran a -bowhte i n ȝowthe / & ȝaf me not to lerne. Þ at y am eu ere euere sytthe i am þe leweder e F.5.449: Bx is corrupt, reading "And euere siþþe haue be beggere for my foule sleuþe." F attempted to revise, substituting lewedere for beggere on the basis of the preceding b-verse. / þorghȝ my n gr ete slowþe. H eu michi q uod F.5.450: Alpha is joined by BoCot in reading quod for beta's quia. sterilem vita m duxi Iuuenilem. Ȝee  Repentest þe nowht q uod Repentance / & ryght w it h þ at he swonyd e Tyl vigilate & orate / fette wat ur at hise eyȝen. & flappede on his face / & faste on hy m cryȝede. & seyd e war þe now fram wanhope / he wole þe be -t rayȝe. I am sory for my synes / seyȝ now so þy -selue. & beete þy -selue on þy brest / & bidde god of g race. For þ ere is no gilte here so gret / þ at goddis goodness e is mor e. Þanne sat slewte vp / & sygned hy m on þe forhed. & made a -vow F.5.459: The phrase "made a vow vn-to god" is also possible here. vn -to god / for his foule slewthe. F.5.459: F omits the following line from Bx: "Shal no Sonday be þis seuen yer but siknesse it lette." Þ at y shal do me eu ery day / to þe derne de[er]e chirche. & þer e her e Matinys & messe / as y a Mu nk wher e. F.5.461: F omits the following line from Bx: "Shal noon ale after mete holde me þennes." Tyl y have euy nsong herd / y hote now to þe roode. & what y have take . to ȝelde a -gey n / yf y so mychil welde. F.5.463: Beta witnesses read "And yet wole I yelde ayein if I so much haue." Of al þ at y so wykkidly wan / sytthe y wit hadde. & þeyhȝ my lyflode / lakke / letty n þerfor e y nylle. Þ at ech man shal have hys / er y hens wende. & w it h þe oþ ir remnau nt / by þe Roode of chestre. I shal seken trewþe / tryst [fyr]st F.5.468: It is not clear what the immediate scribe intended here. The likely explanation is that a scribe changed Bx's erst to synonymous fyrst which then was written in the metathetic form fryst from whence it was corrupted to nonsensical tryst. / er y seke Rome. A -noon Rob ert þe Robbere / on reddite lokede. For he hadde nowht wher -of / he weep wondir sore. But þ at synful shrewe / seyde þus to hym -selue. Whan þ at cryst on Caluarie / vpon þe cros dyȝede. Þan dismas my brothir / by -sowhte c rist of g race. & he hadde m ercy on þ at man / for memeto meme[n]to -is sake. So rewe on me Robbere / þat reddere wil [n]il knowe. Ne neu ere weneþ to wynne / w it h craf þ at y knowe. F.5.476: Alpha and Cr read knowe for beta's owe. But for mychil m ercy / su m Mitigaciou n me seende. F.5.477: F omits Bx's "Ne dampne me noȝt at domesday for þat I dide so ille." What be -fel of þis felou n / y can not fair e shewe. F.5.478: The red ink appearing here is unintentional, a blot from the facing leaf. But wel y whot he wepte faste / wat er w it h hyse eyȝen. F.5.479: Alpha lacks the following line found in beta: "And knoweliched his gilt to crist yet eftsoones." Þ at Penitencia -ys pyk / sholde pulshe hy m newe. F.5.480: Bx reads "That penitencia his pyk he sholde polshe newe." & leep w it h hy m ouer londe / al his lyf -tyme. & be -fore he lay w it h latro / luciferys Awnte. Thanne Repentaunce hadde rewþe / & radde he m all e F.5.483: The red ink on <ll>, like that on shewe in 5.478, does not appear to be like the scribe's other intentional touches, but it is not blotted from the facing leaf. to knele. & be -sechen for all e synful / oure saviour of g race. & þ at we a -me nde vs of our e mys / & do mercy on vs alle. & seid e god of þy n goodnesse / þ ou gu nne þis world to make. & of nawht / madist awht / & ma n most lyk þy -selue. & sytthe þ ou suffredist hy m synne / a sekirnesse seknesse to ma nkynde. & al for þe beste as y beleve / what -eu ere bookys euer e tell e telle O Felix culpa O necessariu m p ecc atum Ade. For þorghȝ synne þy sone / was sent dou n in -to erthe. & by -cam man of a Maide / Mankyȝnde / to save. & madyst þy -selue w it h þy n sone / & vs synful y -lyche. F aciam us ho mi nem ad ymagine m & similitudi nem n ostram . Et alibi. Q ui manet i n caritate i n d eo manet & d eus i n eo. & sytthe w it h þyn selue sone / in our e sewht þ ou dyedist On good fryday / for ma nnis sake / at ful tyme of þe day. Neyþ ir þy -selue ne þy sone / no sorwe i n dyȝeng feledist. But in our e -selue F.5.499: Bx reads oure secte. . was þ at F.5.499: Alpha reads þat for beta's þe. sorwe / & þy n sone yt ladde. C aptiua m duxit captiuitatem. Þe su nne for sorwe þ erof / he lees syghte for a tyme. A -bowhty n Mydday / whan most lyȝt ys / & meel -tyme of sey ntis. Þo feddyst þ ou w it h þy fresche blood / our e fadrys in derknesse. P op ul us qui amb ulat ambula[ba]t i n teneb ris . uidit luce m magna m. & þorw h þ at lyg ht þ at leep fram t he / lucyfer blente. For it blew alle þyne blessede þens / boldely in -to p aradyȝs. & þe þrydde day aft er ȝit / þ ou ȝeedyst forþ in oure sewte. Fyrst a synful Marie þe see / er dede þy moodir dere. F.5.508: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "er seynte Marie þi dame." It was to solace synful / þ ou suffredist it so falle. N on veni uocare iustos . s ed p ecc atores ad penite ncia m. & al of the [þat] / Mark haþ maad / & Mattheu / Ioh an & Lucas. Of þyne dowhtyeste dedis / wher e don in oure armes. Q uod u erbu m caro factu m est . & habitab it habita[v]it in nobis. & by so myche / it F.5.514: Alpha reads it for beta's me. semeþ / þe sykere syk[er]ere to styȝe to hevene. We byddyn þe / & by -sechyn / If so / it be þy wille. As þ ou fadir & brothir art / be m ercyable on þy n peple. & have m ercy F.5.517: Alpha is in error. Beta manuscripts preserve authorial ruþe. on þese rybawdys / þ at repenten hem sore. Þ at euer e ȝit þey wratthid þe F.5.415: Alpha is responsible for the loss of "in this world." The error is shared by G. / In word / þowht / or dede. Þanne hente Hope an horn / was de us tu conu ers us uiuificabis nos. & blew it w it h beati q uor um remisse su nt iniquitates. & alle þe sey ntis in heuene / a -no n / þus þey sungyn a tonys at onys. H o mi nes & iume nta saluabis d omine  q uemadmodu m m ultiplicasti m isericordia m tua m de us. F.5.522: tua m de us is continued beyond this line into the margin below. / [¶] Wel a þowsend e me n þo / þru ngy n alle to -gydres. & c riȝeden vp -ward e to c rist / & to hys clene Modir. To graunte swich g race / trewthe to seken. But þer e was no n so wyȝs / þe weyȝe to hy m cowthe. But blustreden furþ as beestis / ou er balkys & hillis. Tyl it was late & longe / þ at þey a leede mettyn. I -paraylid as a palmer e / in pylg rimes wedys. He bar a burdou n y -bownde / w it h a brood lyste. In a whythyes wyth[wynd]es wyse / ywownde al a -bowte. & a bulle F.5.532: bulle, "bowl." in a bagge / he bar by his syȝde. & an hundr ed of ampullis / vpon his hat sety n. & fele sygnes of seyntys / & shellis also of Galis. & many a crowch on his cloke / w it h þe F.5.535: Alpha is responsible for adding unmetrical þe. Bx has and for F's with þe. keyȝes of Rome. & þe vernicle was by -for e / for folk sholde hy m knowe. & seen by hise syghnes / whom he sowht hadde. Thanne þis folk freynede hy m / whens þ at he keme. Fram þe sepulcre he seyde / & fram synay hyȝe hill is. F.5.539: Bx reads "From Synay he seide and fram oure lordes Sepulcre." We could have easily transcribed the last word in the line as hill e , since the barred double <ll> is ambiguous in this hand. I have been boþe in Bedleem / & in Babylonye also. In Armonye in Alysaundr e / & manye oþ ire places. Ȝee may seen by my n syghnes / þ at sytty n on my cloke. Þ at y have walkid wyȝde / in weet & in dreyȝe. & holy seyntis sowht / for my sowle helthe. / [¶] Ȝee  knowist þ ou nowht a corsey nt / þ at me n calle trewþe. & canst þ ou wisshe vs þe wey / wher e þ at weyȝ dwelliþ. Þa nne seyde þe goome / nay so god me helpe. I seyȝ neu ere þ at palmere / w it h pyk ne w it h sc rippe. Ne man þ at askyd aft er hy m / ty l now in þis place. Peter q uod Pers Plowhman / & pitte furþ his face. I knowe hy m as kyȝndely / as ony clerk hise bookis. Consiense & kyȝnde wit / kende me to his place. & y haue ensured hem sewrly / to s eruy n hy m / for eu ere. Boþe to sowe & to sette / whil y swynke myghte. I have ben his foot folwer e / al þis fourty wynter Boþe y -sowed hise seedis / & sewyd a -bowty n hise beestis. & w it h -Inne boþe & & w it h -outy n / waytid his p rofyȝte. & boþe diggid & deluyd / & dyde þ at he me comau ndid e. F.5.558: F's me comaundid is unique. Bx reads hoteþ. F omits the following lines from Bx: Som tyme I sowe and some tyme I þresshe In taillours craft and tynkeris craft what truþe kan deuyse I weue and I wynde and do what truþe hoteþ. The error had occurred before the immediate scribe's stint, since it was the result of eye-skip from Bx's hoteþ in 5.558. That had to have occurred before the substitution of comaundide for hoteþ. For þeyh y sey it my -selue / y serue hy m to payȝe. & y haue my n her e of hy m / & oþir -whilis moore. He is þe p resteste payȝer e / þat poore me n knowen. He w it hhalt no ma n F.5.562: R's men suggests that the error is in alpha. Beta witnesses preserve correctly alliterating hewe. his hyȝr e / þ at þey haue it soone. F.5.562: F's b-verse is unique. R reads "þat þei ne haue it anone." Beta reads "þat he ne haþ at euen." & he is as lowhly as a lomb / & lovely of speche. & if ȝe wilneþ to wete / where þ at he dwellyþ. I shal wysse ȝow witt erly / þe weyȝe to his place. / [¶] Ȝee leve Pers q uod þo pilg rimes / & p roferedy n hy m hyȝre. For to wendy n w it h hem / þere trewþe gan dwelle. Nay by my sowle q uod pers / & gan swer e faste. I nolde fongy n a ferthyng / for fyfty florenys tolde. F.5.569: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "for Seint Thomas Shryne." Þan t rewþe wolde love me þe lasse / a long tyme after. But if ȝee wilneþ wel to walke / þis is þe wey þidirward. / [¶] Ȝee mote goon / be Meeknesse / boþe me n & wyvis. Tyl ȝee come to consience / cryst whot þe soþe. & þ at ȝee loven our e lord god / levest of all e þynge. & þanne ȝour e neyhebor e neest / & i n no wyse a -peyr e hy m. Oþirwyse / þa n þ ou woldist / he wroghte to þy -selue. & beende forþ be a brook / be buxu m of þy n F.5.577: Alpha is responsible for þyn, omitted by beta. speche. Tyl ȝee fyȝnde a forthe . ȝour e fadr es ȝee honour e. H onora patre m & matre m . ut sis longeu us sup er t erra m. F.5.579: F uniquely completes the Latin verse after matrem. Wadiþ in -to þ at wat er / & wasshe ȝow wel þer -Inne. & ȝee shull e lepe þe lythlokere / al ȝour e lyf -tyme. & sone shalt þ ou see swer e nowht / but it be for nede. Ne ne mpne not i n ydelnesse / þe name of god almyghty. & þa nne shalt þ ou come be a croft / but co m þ ou nowt þ ere -Inne. Þe name ys coueyte þ ou nowht / neyþ ir maydi ns ne wyvis. Ne no n of her e s eruau ntys / ne no þy ng to hy m longiþ. F.5.586: F's b-verse is unique. Bx has "þat noyen hem myȝte." Ne noyȝhe not hise bestis / neyþ ir bollokys ne oþer e. F.5.587: Bx reads "Loke ye breke no bowes þere but if it be youre owene." Two stokkis þ ere stondy n / but stynte ȝee not þere. Þ at is stele not ne sle not / ȝee st rike furþ by boþe. & leve hem on þy left hond / & lo ke not on hem after. Þ at is / holde wel þy n halyday / w it h holy p rayeris. Þan shalt þ ou blenche at a beech / þ ou bere no fals witness e By -syde is a fair e fyld / fals flat eryng e ys þe name. F.5.593: This line appears only in F. It ys frytthid w it h floreynys / & oþ ire fees manye. Loke ȝee F.5.595: Alpha reads ȝee for beta's þow. plukke no plante þ erof / for p ereyl of þe heyward. F.5.595: F omitted the following lines from Bx: Thanne shul ye see seye sooþ so it be to doone In no manere ellis noȝt for no mannes biddyng. Thanne shalt þ ou come to a court / as cleer as þe su nne. Þe Moot is of mercy / w it h Maryȝs al a -bowte. & all e þe wall is ben of wit / to holde will e owte. & y -kerneled w it h c ristendom / ma nkynde to save. I -bot erased w it h good by -leve / or þ ou best not savid. & all e þe howsis ben y -helid / hyȝe hall es & chambr es W it h no leed / but w it h love / & w it h lowhȝ speche also. Þe bregge is . bydde wel / þe betre may þ ou spede. Þe pilerys hatte Penau nce / & p rayeris to seyntys. Þe hokys ben almes e dede / þe gate god hy m -selue. & grace hatte þe gateward / a good ma n for -soþe. & his ma n hatte / a -me nde ȝow / many F.5.607: Alpha omits beta's for before many. ma n hy m know et h. / [¶] Tell e ȝee hy m þis tokne / trewþe know et h þe sothe. Þ at y p arformede þe penau nce / þe p rest me en -Ioynede. & am sory of F.5.610: Alpha reads of for beta's for. my n sy nnys / & so y shal ben euere. F.5.610: F omitted the following line from Bx: "Whan I þynke þeron þeiȝ I were a Pope." & byddeþ / a -me nde ȝow / mekely / to his mayst er p raye. To weyve vp þe wyket / þ at þe wo mma n shette. After þ at adam & Eve / eety n þe appil vnrostyd. P er evam cu ntis cun[c]tis clausa est . & p er maria m v irgi nem it eru m &c. F.5.614: Alpha has " iterum &c. " for " patefacta est ." For she haþ þe keyȝe & kleket / þeyhȝ þe kyng slepe. F.5.615: F omits the following line from Bx: "And if grace graunte þee to go in þis wyse." Þan shalt þ ou see þy -selue / wher e þ at trewþe syttyþ. In a chambr e of charite / as he a child were. To suffre ony seyȝeng / & do þy syrys wille. But be war of wratthe / he is a wikkid shrewe. He haþ Envie to hym / þ at in þy n herte syttyþ. & pokeþ F.5.621: Alpha is in error, omitting forth after pokeþ. p ride p riuyly / to preyse wel þy -selue. & þe boldeness e of þy n benefetys / make þe blynd þa nne. & worþ þ ou dryve owt / & þe dor e y -closed. & keyȝed & klekedid / to kepyn þe w it h -outy n. Happyly an hu ndryd wynt er / er þ ou eft in entre. Þus myght þ ou lesen his love / to lete wel by þi -selue. & neu ere happely eft entr e / but his g race þ ou have. / [¶] But þer e ar e seuene s eruau ntys / þ at s eruy n Trewþe euer e. Þey ben porterys at þe ȝatys / þ at to his place longiþ. Þe firste ys abstynense / & humilite ys a -noþ ir. & Charite & Chastite / þese been hise chef chyldry n. & Pacience & pees / mychil peple þey helpen. & largenesse þat lady / s he leteþ out F.5.633: The redactor, seeing out in the following line, attempted to harmonize the two b-verses to the detriment of the larger sense of the passage. Such a scribal reversal occurs in other contexts, e.g. helle for heuene in F2.109. ful Manyȝe. She haþ delyueryd a þowsend e / owt of þe deuelys ponfolde. & she is neyȝh -by sibbe þe [to] þe sevene / so me god helpe. & she will e worchepely wolkome ȝow / & wel ȝow vndirfonge. & but ȝee ben sybbe / q uod pers / to su mme of þese sevene. It ys hard / by my n heed / for ony of ȝow alle. To gety n in passage . at ony gate / but g race be þe moor e. A  by cryȝst q uod a Cuttepurs / y have no ken þere. / [¶] Ne y / q uod an Apeward / by awht þat y knowe. A  wolde god q uod a Messag er / þ at y wiste þe sothe. Sholde y neu ere a fote ferther e / for no frerys p rechy nge. / [¶] Ȝys . ȝis  q uod pers plowhma n / & pokede hem to goode. Þere a [is] a Mayde þer e / Mercy / she haþ myght ou er he m alle. She ys sybbe to synful / & so ys hir e sone also. & þorghȝ þe helpe of hem two / hope þ ou non oþir. Þ ou myght gety n g race þer e / by so þ ou goo by -tymes. By sey nt Poul q uod a pardon er / p arawnt er y be not wolkome. F.5.649: Beta witnesses read knowe(n) þere in place of alpha's wolkome. I will e go fecchy n my boox / w it h þe Bisshopis lett ris. / [¶] By c rist q uod a comou n wo mman / In þy n Cu mpany wil y wende. & seyȝ y am þy n syst er / in Cytes þer e we wende. F.5.652: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "I ne woot where þei bicome." F.5.653: The text is marked in the left margin by a later secretary hand for the B passus division. Þis wher e a wikkid e wey / but we hadde a gyde. F.5.653: A later secretary hand supplied passus sextu[s] in the right margin. The final character has been lost to cropping. Þ at wolde folwe vs eu ery foote / þ at no folk vs noyȝe. Q uod pers plowhman þo / by sey nt pet er of Rome. I have an half acre to eryȝe / by þe hyȝe -weyȝe. Hadde y heryd þ at half acre / & y -sowe it aft er. I wolde weende w it h ȝow / & þe weyȝ ȝow techen. / [¶] Þys wer e a long letty nge / q uod a Lady w it h a skleyȝre. What shull e we wo mmen / wyrchen þer whylys. Su mme shull e sowe þe sak / q uod Pers / for shedy ng of whete. & ȝee lovely Ladijs / w it h ȝoure longe fyngrys. Loke ȝee have sylk & sy ndel / to sowe / whan it ys tyme. To make Chesyplis for Chapelei ns / chirchis to honour e. & ȝee wyvis & wydewis / wulle / & flex ȝee spy nne. / [¶] & Makeþ cloþ y co nseyle ȝow / & kenneþ so ȝour e dowht ris. Þe nedy & þe nakede / nemeþ hede how þey lyggyn. & casteþ on hem cloþis / & so comau ndiþ ȝow trewþe. For y shal lene hem lyflode / but if my n lond e fayle. Boþe fleshȝ & breed / to ryche & to poore. As longe as y lyve / for þe lord is love in hevene. & all e maner e of me n / þ at w it h mete & dry nk lybbyn Shull e helpe to wirche wyghtly / to wynne w it h ȝour e fode. Be c rist q uod a knyg ht þo / he kenneþ vs þe beste. But trewly on þe teem / tawht was y neuere. But kenne me it q uod þe knyght / & by c rist y will e a -sayȝe / [¶] By sey nt Poul q uod P erkyn / ȝee p rofere ȝou sir e so fayre. Þ at y will e swynke & swety n / & sowe for vs boþe. & oþer e laboreris shull e for þy n love / al here lyf -tyȝme. In co nnau nt / þ at holy chirche / þ ou kepe / as þy -selue. Fram wastoures & wikkyd me n / þ at þis world stroyȝeþ. & goo þ ou hu nte hardely / to hares / & to foxes. & to bawsynes & boores / b ut breke þ ou none heggys. F.5.683: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "To bores and to brokkes þat breken adown myn hegges." & go a -fayte þy fakonys / whilde foul to kelle. For þei come in -to my croft / & cropyþ my whete. / [¶] Þa nne þe knyght c urteysly / comsede þese wordys. By my powher Pers q uod he  y plyghte þe my trewþe. To fulfylle þis forward / þeyhȝ y fyghte sholde. & as longe as as [y] lyve i n londe / y shal þe Meyntene. But .o. poynt q uod Pers / y p raye þe of more. Loke þ ou tene no tenau nt / but trewþe will e a -sente. & þeyȝh þ ou mayst angre me n / let Mercy be taxour. & Meeknesse þy Mayst er / Mawgr e Meedis chekys. & þeyhȝ poor e me n p rofer e þe / p resentys & ȝiftys. Nyme he m nawht in awnt er / þ ou F.5.695: Alpha has þou for beta's ye. maist not yt disserue. For þ ou shalt ȝeelde yt a -ȝeen / at o ȝerys ende. Al in a p arlyous place / purgatorye me n name it. Ne mys -bede not þy bonde -man F.5.698: Alpha and Hm have singular man for beta's men. The same variants appear in C, but A manuscripts agree in the plural form. / þe bettr e shalt þ ou spede. Þeyhȝ he be her e . þy n vndirly ng / wel may happe i n heuene. Þ at he worþ worthier e set / þa n þ ou / & in wel mor e blysse. Amice  ascende superius For i n a F.5.702: Alpha is responsible for a, a reading shared by Hm. chapel F.5.702: F's reading is unique. R has chanel, leaving the <r> out of Bx's Charnel. or i n a chirche / a clerk F.5.702: Alpha substituted clerkes for original cherles. F uniquely has "a clerk." is evel to knowe. So is a knyght þer e fra m a knave / knowe þis i n þy n herte. But loke þ ou be t rewe of tu nge F.5.704: Alpha lacks beta's þi before tunge. / & talis þ at þ ou hate. & by wysdom & by wit / þy werkme n þ ou chastyze. & holde not F.5.706: Alpha is responsible for the double negative. Beta witnesses lack not. w it h none harlotis / ne heer e not her e talis. & namely at þy mete bord / swiche me n ecchewe. For þey ben þe deuelis dissour es / y do þe to vndirsto nde. I a -sente by sey nt Ieme / seyd e þe knyght þa nne. To werche al aft er þy word / whylis my lyf dureþ. / [¶] & y shal a -p arayle me q uod Pers / in pylgrymes wyse. & y wyll e wende w it h ȝow / tyl þ at we fyȝnde trewþe I wil casty n on my n cloþis / y -clowtyd at þe fulle. My n kokerys & my n coffys / for cold of my n naylys. & y will e hangy n my n hoper / at my n ha ls / as i hadde a sc rippe. & a busshel of bred -corn / y wil bere þere -Inne. For y will e soowe it my -selue / & sytthe w it h ȝow wende. On pilg rimagis as palmeris doon / pardou n to have. But who þ at helpiþ me to heryȝe / or sowe er y wende. He shal have leve by our e lord / to large his heruest heere. & make hy m meryȝe þer -myde / mawgre who grucche. & all e kynne crafty me n / þ at kunne lyve in trewþe. I shal fyȝnde hem foode / for feythfully þey lybbe. / [¶] Save Iakke Iogelour F.5.724: An otiose curl appears above <g>. / & Ionete at þe styvis. F.5.724: Alpha and Bo have the form styvis rather than beta's stuwes. See MED, s. v. stive n.(1), and steu(e) n.(2). & Danyel þe dyȝs pleyȝer e / & denote þe bawhde. & also frer e faytour / & mo folk of his ordre. & Robyn Rybawdour / for hise rusty wordis. For trewþe tolde me onys / & bad me tell e aft er. Deleantur de libro viuenciu m / I sholde not w it h he m deyle. For holy chirche / is holde / of hem no tyþe to take. Q uia cu m iustis no n scribant ur / in þe registr e in hevene. F.5.731: F uniquely adds an English b-verse after the Latin text. Þey ben skapid good awnt er / now god hem a -mende. Dame wirche wel / wan tyme is / Persis wyf hyȝte. & his dowht er do ryght so / er þy dame wil þe beete. & his sone hyȝte wel [suffre] wel / þy n soverynes have her e will e. & deme he m nowht / if þ ou doost / þ ou shalt it der e a -begge. But lete god worche F.5.737: The text is ambiguous here, for what we have transcribed as <c> could with about equal probability have been transcribed as <t>. Both worche and worthe appear in B manuscripts. / w it h it al / for so his word þe techiþ. / [¶] For now y am hoold F.5.738: An otiose curl appears over the second <o>. / & hoor / & have good of my n howne. To pylg rimage / for penau nce / y wil passe w it h oþere. But y will e er y wende / do wryty n my n enqweste . I n dei no mi ne amen / god shal have my n soule. Alpha two lines here appear in beta witnesses as three. Beta reads as follows: In dei nomine amen I make it myselue He shal haue my soule þat best haþ deserued And fro þe fend it defende for so I bileue. Þ at best ys worthy / & weyvid fram yt þe fendis. Tyl y come to hise a -cowntys / as my crede F.5.743: Alpha lacks beta's me after crede. F's spelliþ is unique. Bx has telleþ. spelliþ. F.5.743: F omitted the following line from Bx: "To haue relees and remission on þat rental I leue." & þe kyrke -ȝeerd shal kepe / my n kareyne & my n boonys. For of my n corn & catel / þe kirke c rauede þe tythe. & & [y] peyȝede it t rewly to þe preest / for pereil of my soule. For -þy he is holde as y hope / to have me in his messe. & me nge me i n his Meme nto / a -mongys all e c ristene. / [¶] & my wif shal have of þ at y wan / w it h trewþe & no moore. & dele it among hir e dowht ris / & my n dere childryn. For t ruly þey dyȝede [y] dyȝede to -day / my n dettys ben all e qwitte. I bar hoom þ at y borwede / er y to bedde wente. & w it h þe resydue of þe remenau nt / be þe Roode of lukys. I will e worchepe þ erw it h / trewþe by my lyve. & been his pylgryȝm / at þe plowhȝ / for poor e me nnys sake. My p low hȝ -pote ys my pyȝ k -staf / þ at pittyþ a -wey þe rootys. & helpiþ my cultre to kerue / & to klense þe furwis. Now ys Pers & þe pilgrymes / to þe plowhȝ y -faren. To heryȝen his half acre / þere hulpene hym manye. Boþe dykerys & deluerys / dyggedyn vp þe balkys. & w it h hem was Pers wel payed / & p reyȝsede hem faste. / [¶] Oþer e werkmen þer e wery n / þ at wroghty n ful ȝeerne. Ech ma n / on his manere / made hy m -selue to doone. & su mme poore to plese Pers / þey pulliden vp þe rootys. Þa nne at heyȝ p rime pers / leet his plowhȝ stoonde. & wente to seen hise werk -me n / how þ at þey wroghte. He wolde heren hem / þ ere -after / wan hervest tyme keme. Þa nne fond he su mme sytty n / & synge at þe alehous. & hulpen hym so to heryȝe / w it h hoy  trolly / lolly. Þ at þey filly n flat on þe floor / so feyþfully þey swonke. F.5.770: This line appears only in F. / [¶] Now be my n sowlis pereyl q uod Pers / in pur e gret tene. But ȝee a -ryse þe rathere / & rape ȝow to wyrche. Shal no grey n þ at grow et h / glade ȝow / at ȝour e neede. & þeyȝ ȝee dyȝen for dool / þe devil have hy m þ at recche. Þo whery n Faytour es a -ferd / & feynede he m blyȝnde Su mme leyȝde her e leggys swolle / as su m loselys vsen. & maden her e moone to Pers / & p rayede hy m of grace. & seyd e / we have no lymes to labour e / our e Lord do v us boote. But we p raye for ȝow Pers / & for ȝour e plowhȝ -me n boþe. Þ at god of his grete g race / ȝour e greyn m ultyplyȝe. & ȝeelde ȝow / ȝour e almesse -dede / þ at ȝee ȝeve v us heere. For we mowe not swynke / swich syknesse vs holdeþ / [¶] If it be soþ q uod Pers / þ at ȝee sey n / y shal it sone a -spyȝe. Þ at ȝee ben wastoures y whot wel / & t rewþe whot þe soþe. & y am his olde hyȝne / & by -hyȝhte hy m to warne. Whiche þey whery n in þis world / his werk wolde a -peyr e. For ȝee wasten þ at me n wynnyn / w it h t rauayle & w it h teene. But trewþe shal teche ȝow / his teeme to dryve. Or ȝee shull e ety n barly breed / & of þe brook drynke. But he þ at is blynd / or broke -leggyd / or boltyd w it h yrenys. He shal ety n whyȝt breed / & dry nke wyȝn or ale. Tyl god of his goodnesse / a -me ndeme nt hy m seende. / [¶] But ȝee myghte t rauayle tr ewly / & take meete & hyȝre. To kepen keen in þe fyld / or corn fram þe beestys. Or dyken or deluy n / or dyggy n vp rootys. Or helpy n makyn morter / or leedy n muk on filde. & nowht to lyve in Leccheryȝe / ne in Losengryȝe & slowþe. It is suffrau nce of god / þ at vengau nnce ȝow ȝow [ne] takeþ. / [¶] But Ancres & hermyȝtis / þ at etyn but at noonys. & no more til on morwe / my n almesse þey shull e have. & of my n catel to kou ere hem w it h / þ at kepy n cloystr e & chirche. But Dau nn Rob ert renne a -bowhte / shal nout rewle my goodis. Ne preest . but he p reche ku nne / & have powher of þe bisshop. Þey shull e have payn & potage / w it h a pytawnce by -syde. For it is an vn -resonable relig iou n hous F.5.805: F alone reads hous. / þ at haþ re ntys none. F.5.805: The scribe wrote rentys around a hole in the manuscript. / [¶] Þan gan a wastowr wexe wrothȝ / & wolde fayn a fowhte. & to Pers Plowhma n / he p roferede / his glove. & w it h hy m cam a braggere / & a F.5.808: a, "he." boostide Pers also. & bad hy m goo pisse on F.5.809: Alpha has on for beta's with. his plowh / for -pynede shrewe. & seyd e  wilt þ ou . pers / o o[r] nyltou / we will e have our e will e. & þy flour & þyn fleshȝ / we fecche whan vs lykeþ. & make vs meryȝe þer -myde / mawgr e / þy n chekys. Þanne Pers wente kony ngly / & to þe knyght pleyȝnede. To kepen hy m as cu nnau nt was / fram c ursede shrewys. F.5.814: F omits the following line from Bx: "And fro þise wastours wolueskynnes þat makeþ þe world deere." For þey wastyn / & wynne nowht / & wete wel for -soþe. Worþ neu ere plente a -mo ng þe peple / whil e my plowhȝ lyggyþ. / [¶] Curteysly þe knyght þo / as his kende wolde. Warnede wastour / & wysshede to þe betre. Or þ ou shalt a -bygge be þe Lawe he seid e / be þe ordr e y bere. I was not wont q uod he / to wirche / ne y wil not now by -gy nne. & leet lyghtly of þe lawe / & lasse of his speche. & sette also pers at a pese / & his plowhȝ boþe. & þrette Pers & hise men / yf þey metty n eft -sone. / [¶] Q uod pers / be þe pereyl of my n sowle / y shal a -peyȝr e ȝou all e F.5.824: F omits the following line from Bx: "And houped after hunger þat herde hym at þe firste." & a -wr eke me of þese wastour es / þ at þis world she nd e Sone hu ngir in haste þo / hente wastour by þe maw & wrong hy m so by þe wo mbe / þ at boþe hise eyȝes watred e & he buffetid so þe bragger e / a -bowhty n boþe hise chekis. Þ at he loked lyȝk a lant erne horn / al his lyve after. He beet hem so boþe / he brast neer her e guttys. Ne hadde pers . w it h a pese loof / p rayed hu ngir sese. F.5.831: Alpha lacks beta's to before sese. Þey hadde be douy n do[l]uyn boþe / deme no man oþir. Suffr e hem lyve seyd e Pers / & let hem ety n w it h hoggys. Or ellis benys & bren / y -bakyn boþe to -gydre. & drynke melk / or meyhne ale / to mey ntene her e lyvis / [¶] Þanne Faytoures for feer / flown in -to beernes. & flappyd on w it h fleylis / fram morwe to þe eve. Þat hungir was not F.5.838: Alpha and G lack beta's so before hardy. hardy / on hem onys to looke. For a poot -fu l of peesys / þat Pers dide hem ma ke. Anon an heep of hermyȝtis / in hand is henty n spades. & kyttyn her e copis / & coortepijs hem made. & wenty n as werkmen / to swynkyn a -bowtyn. & deluedy n & dykedy n / to dryve a -wey hungir . Þa nne blynde me n & beddr edid e / wher e butned a þowsand e Þ at sety n to begge syluer / sone wery n they helyd e. For þat was bakyn for bayard / was boote þe [to] þe hu ngry. & many a begger e for benys / ful bown was to swynke. & ech por e ma n wel payd / to have pesys to heere. & what Pers p rayede he m doo  as preest . as a sparhawk. & þerfor e wex Pers prowd / & pitte hem to werke. & gaf hem as he myghte mete / & mesurable hyȝre. Þa nne hadde Pers pite / & p rayede hung ir to wende. Hoom to his owne hold / & holde hy m styll e þere. For y am wel a -wreke now / on wastoures þis tyȝme. But y p raye þe er þ ou passe / q uod Pers þo to hungir. Of beggerys & of bydderys / what is best to doone. For y whoot wel . be þ ou went / þey will e wirche ful ille. For myscheef it makeþ / þey been so meeke nowthe. & for de -fawhte of foode / þys folk ys at my will e. Þey are my brethery n of blood q uod Pers / for c rist bowhte vs all e. Trewþe tawhte me onys / to love hem ecchone. & to helpe hem of all e þy nge / ay as hem neediþ. & nowh wolde y wete of þe / what were þe beste. How y myghte a -mayst rie he m / & maken hem to wirche. Now here wel me q uod Hu ng ir / & holde it for a wisdom. Þ at bolde beggeris & bygge / þ at for her e breed mowe swynke. W it h howndis breed & horse -breed / hold vp here hertys. & a -bate hem w it h beenys / for bolnynge of here whombis. & if þo goomes grucche / bidde hym goo & swynke. F.5.869: Alpha omitted the following line attested by beta manuscripts: "And he shal soupe swetter whan he it haþ deserued." & if þ ou fyȝnde ony freek / þ at False F.5.870: R reads falshed, suggesting that F's reading is owed to alpha. Beta witnesses read Fortune, as did A. C, however, has fals men. haþ a -sayȝed. F.5.870: F's reading is unique. Bx reads apeired. Or ony man ere of false me n / fonde þ ou swiche to knowe. W it h þy catel knowe þ ou hem / for c ristis love in hevene. Love hem / & leene hem / for godd is lawe so techiþ. A lter alterius / honera portate & alle oþere manere of me n / þat þ ou myght a -spyȝe. Þ at needy ben / & nowhty / help hem / w it h þy n goodis. Love hem / & lakke hem nowht / lete god take vengau nce. & if þey don evil a -gey n þe / lete god / w it h hem worthe. M ichi vindictam / et ego retribuam & if þ ou wi lt gete g race of god / do as þe gospe l tec heþ. Þ ou loowe þe / to lowe men / & so shalt þ ou lacche grace. F acite vobis amicos de Ma mmona i niquitatis I wolde not greve god q uod Pers / for al þe good on grownde. Myghte y synneles don as þ ou seyst / so me god helpe. I hoote to god / q uod hu nger / ȝis  or ellis þe byble lyȝeþ. Goo to Genesis / þe Geau nt / engendrowr of vs alle. He seyþ in swoot & in swynk / þ ou shalt þy foode wynne. & Labour e for þi lyf -loode / & so our e lord þe hyghte. & sapiense book seyþ þe same / soþly to telle. Þ at Piger p ro frigore / no fildis wolde tylye. & þerfor e he shal beggy n / & no man beetyn his hungir Seynt Matthew / w it h ma nnys face / mowthiþ þese word is. Þat seru us neq uam hadde a man / þ at wolde nout chaffare. F.5.893: Alpha had changed mnam to man, and F further revises the line to make this spurious man the antecedent of þat by omitting Bx's he. & he mawgre of his mayst er / for euere -moore after. & he by -nam hym his napm / for he wolde not wirche. & ȝaf it to a -noþ ir man / þat ten napmes hadde. & w it h þat dede he seyȝde / þat all e me n it herde. He þ at haþ / shal have / to helpe hy m / at his neede. & he þ at nowht haþ / nowht shal have / & no ma n hy m helpe & þ at he hopeþ for F.5.900: Alpha has for for beta's wel. to have / me n shull e yt hy m bereve. For kende wolde / þat euery wyght wroghte In dykynge or in deluy nge / or doynge in p rayeris. Eir Conte mplatif lyf or actif / c rist coueytyd e we wroughte. Þe Sawhter seyþ in a F.5.904: Alpha has a for beta's þe. spalm / F.5.904: A second virgule appears to have been partially erased. In beati omnes. Þe freeke þ at feediþ hy m -selue / w it h his feyȝþful labour. He ys blessid be þe book / in body & in sowle. L abores manuu m tuar um q uia ma nducabis . bat us b[e]atus es &c. . Ȝit y praye þe q uod Pers / pur charite & þ ou cu nne. Of ony leef of leche -craft / leere it me y p raye. For su mme of my n s eruau ntis / & my -selue boþe. Of all e þe wyke / wirke nowht / so our e whombe akeþ. A  y whot wel q uod hu ng ir / what syȝknesse ȝow eyȝleþ. Ȝee have Mawngid ou er -myche / & þ at makþ ȝow grone. But y hote þe q uod hu ngir / if þ ou þy n hele disyryst. Þ at þ ou dry nke no day / er þ ou dyghne a mussel. Ne ete nowht y hoote þe / er hu ngir þe take. & bry nge þe of his saws / to savour e þy n lyppis. & keep su m / tyl soper / but sitte þ ou nowht longe. But a -ryse vp er apetyȝt / have loost al his strengþe. But lete not sir e surfet / sytty n at þy n table. Leeve hy m / for he is leccherows / & ly kerous of tu nge. & after manye meetys / his Mawe ys / a -lustyd. & ȝif þ ou dyete þe þus / y dar leyȝe my n erys. Þat Fysyk shal his furryd hood / ȝee [for his] fode selle. & his kloke of Calabre / w it h knoppis of gold þ erone. & be fayn by my n feyȝþ / his fysyȝk to leetyn. & leerne to laboure on þe lond / for lyf -loode ys sweete. Now are mo moraynerys F.5.928: moraynerys is a nonce word, apparently meaning "killers, murderers," formed from the noun murrein. R's morareres suggests that the reading was in alpha, though the R scribe failed to make sense of it. Most beta witnesses have "murþereris are manye." þa n lechis / our e lord he m ame nde. þey doon me n dyȝe / þoru her e dry nkys / er destenyȝe it wolde. By sey nt Pet er a - postle q uod Pers / þese ar e p rofytable woordis. Wende nowh hu ngir . whan þ ou wilt / & wel þe be -tyȝde. For þis ys a lovely lessou n / our e lord it þe for -ȝeelde. I hote god q uod hu nger / hens wil y not wende. Tyl y have dyghne dyghne[d] þys day / & þ erto dru nke bothe. Pet er / y have no peny q uod Pers / peyȝneme ns þe to begge. Ne neyþ ir gryȝs ne gees / but y have two grene chesis. & a fewe cruddis & creem / & þ erto an haver kake. & two lovis of beene breed / y bok F.5.938: Bx has the past participle form ybake. yt for my barnys. & ȝit y swere by my sowle / y have no salt bakou n. Ne be c rist no kokeney / kolopys the to make. But y have P ersyȝle & porrettis / & fele p ropr e F.5.941: F's propre before herbys is unique. R's erroneous queynte herbes may represent alpha, and F has revised to correct the alliteration. Beta witnesses also fail in alliteration, reading cole plauntys. herbys. & eek a kow & a Calf / & eek a Carte mare. To drawe dunk on felde / whyl e þe drowht lasteþ. & by þis lyfloode y muste lyve / tyl lammesse tyme. For y hope by þat to have / hervest in my crofte. & þa nne may y dyghte þy dyghner / as þe deer e lykeþ. & all e þe por e peple þo / pese -koddis feccheden. & beenys / & bake applis / þey browhte in her e lappis. Chybollis / & chirne mylk / & rype chiryes manye. & p roferedy n Pers þ at p resent / to plese w it h hungir . & all e þo / hu ngir eet i n haste / & askede aft er moore. Þa nne por e folk for feer / feddy n hu ngir faste. W it h grene porettis & pesis / to poysoyne hy m þey þowhte n. But by þ at . it neyhede neer hervest / & newe corn a -per ede. & þ erof wer e F.5.955: An otiose curl appears over an ill-formed <e>. folk fayn / & fedde hem w it h þe beeste. & w it h good ale / as glotou n tawhte / þa n ga n he goo to slepe. But þa n wolde no F.5.957: Alpha has wolde no for beta's nolde. Beta adds noȝt before wyrche. wasto ur wyrche / but wandr edid a -bowhte. Ne no begger e eete no breed / þ at beenys Inne weryn. But of koket or cler -maty n / or ell is of klene whete. Ne no man ha lpeny a le / in no wyse dryn ke. But of þe beste & bru nneste / in borghȝ was to selle. & laboreris þ at have no lond / but lyven w it h her e hondis Þey endeyȝhne F.5.963: This word, unique to F, is not elsewhere attested in the sense "disdain," but cf. MED s.v. endeinous "disdainful, haughty." to F.5.963: Alpha omits noȝt before to dyghne. dyghne / or suppe olde wortes. Ne no peny ale hem peyȝe / ne no pece of bakou n. But it be hoot flesh & fr eshȝ / for flasshy ng of her e mawe. F.5.965: Alpha omitted a b-verse and an a-verse, creating one line of Bx's two. Bx reads as follows: But if it be fressh flessh ouþer fissh fryed ouþer ybake And þat chaud and plus chaud for chillynge of hir mawe. R preserved chillyng, but F characteristically regularizes the alliteration by substituting flasshyng. & but he be hyȝly hyȝryd / ell is will e he chyde. & þ at he cam / swich werk to wirke / he will e weyȝle þe tyme. A -gey n Catonys co nseyl / comseþ he to Iangle. P aup ertatis onus / pacie nt er ferre meme nto F.5.969: A contemporary hand wrote n ota in the right margin. For the bracket beneath it, cf. fol. 1v. He grevyþ grevously god / for he grucchyþ a -gey n resou n. & þus he curseþ þe kyng / & all e hise conseyl after. Swiche Lawis to looke / Laboreris to greve. But whilis hu ng er was her e mayst ir / þa nne wolde none chide. Ne stryve a -gey n þe stateut / so sternely hu ng ir lokede. F.5.975: A contemporary hand wrote nota in the left margin. But y warne ȝow wirkme n / wynneþ whil ȝee mowe. For hu nger hyȝeþ hidirward / & hasteþ hy m ful F.5.976: Alpha is responsible for ful. faste. F.5.976: Two later annotators wrote n ota nota in the right margin. & he will e a -wake su mwhat / wastoures dede. Er fyve ȝeer / be ful -fyld / swych famyȝn shal a -ryse. Þorhȝ fowle wederys & floodis / þ at frutys shull e fayle. Þa nne shal Sat urne sende to ȝow / swich warny ngg e F.5.980: Kane and Donaldson transcribed this as warnyngger, but the suspension following a syllable-terminal <g> is identical for <-e> and <-er>. s ertey n. Whan þe su nne ȝee seen a -mys / w it h two Mu nkys heedis. & a Mayde þorghȝ mayst riȝe / be m ultyplyed on heyȝghte. Þan shal deeþ drawe to deyȝs / & derthe be Iustise. & þa nne dawe þe dykere / dyȝe for hu ngir. But god of his goodnesse / grawnte vs a trewe. Þa nne Trewþe herde tell e er -of / & to Pers he sente. & bad hy m take his teeme / & goo tylyȝe þe grownde. & p urchased hym a pardou n / A pena & a culpa. For hym & for hise eyȝrys / for euer e -more after. & bad hy m to holde hy m at hom / & heryȝe hise leyȝes. & alle þ at hulpe hy m to heryȝe / or to setty n or sowe. Er ony oþ ir myst er / þ at myghte Pers a -vayle. He haþ p ardou n w it h Pers / Trewþe haþ it grawntid. Boþe kyngis & knyghtis / þ at kepy n holy chirche. Þ at ryghtfully in þe rewhme / weel rewle þe peple. Have p ardou n / þorhȝ p urgatorie / to passe þorhȝ lyghtly & w it h Pat riarkis i n paradyȝs / to ben her e felowis. & blessede Bisshopis / þ at been as þey sholde. & legistris of boþe Lawis / þer -w it h / þe lewide to p reche. F.5.999: F omits the following line from Bx: "And in as muche as þei mowe amenden alle synfulle." Þey are perys w it h a -postlys / þus pardou n Pers g raunteþ. & at þe day of dome / on heyȝe deyȝs to sytte. / [¶] Þan Marchawntis in þe Margyne / hadde manye ȝeeris. But no pena & a culpa F.5.1003: Alpha had changed archetypal "noon A pena " to "no pena ." / þe Pope will e not g raunte. F.5.1003: Alpha's b-verse probably read "þe Pope wolde hem not graunte." Beta reads "þe pope nolde hem graunte." For þey holden no n holyday F.5.1004: Alpha is responsible for singular -day. This is another instance in which alpha agrees with C and beta with A. / as holy chirche techyþ. & for þey swery n oftyn F.5.1005: Alpha is responsible for erroneous oftyn for beta's "by hir soule and." / so grete god F.5.1005: Alpha is responsible for omitting Bx's moste before hem. he m helpe. A -geyn klene co nsiense / he he[re] catel to selle. But trewþe vndir his secrete seel / he sente he m a lettre. Þ at þey sholde byggy n boldely / þ at hem beest lykeþ. & sytthe to selly n it a -gey n / & savy n þe wy nny nggys. F.5.1009: Alpha is responsible for the plural form. & a -me nde meselis þ erw it h / & myssese folk also. & also wykkede weyȝes / whyȝhtly he m a -me nde. & do boote to bryggis / þat broke a -bowte were. & also marie Mayde nis / or helpe he m make nu nnys. & þe Poore / & p risonerys / fyȝnden he m here foode. & setty n skoleris to skole / or ell is to F.5.1015: Alpha is responsible for the omission of Bx's som. ire craftys. Or to rewly n religiou n / or to renty n hem þe betre. / [¶] & y shal sende seyd e trewþe / sey nt Myhel þe angyl. Þ at no devil shal ȝow der e / ne feer e ȝow in ȝour e dyȝeng. & whysshe ȝow fram wanhope / if ȝee will e þ us wirche. & sende ȝour e sowlys in safte / a -mo ng sey ntis i n Ioyȝe. Þa nne wher e þer e manye Marchaunt is / þ at wopy n for Ioyȝe. F.5.1021: Beta reads "Thanne were Marchauntz murie manye wepten for ioye." & p reysedy n Pers ap ertly / þ at p urchasede þis bulle. But me n of Lawe of p ardou n / þe leeste p art þey haddyn. Beta witnesses read: Men of lawe leest pardon hadde þat pleteden for Mede For þe Sauter saueþ hem noȝt swiche as taken ȝiftes. R differs from F in 5.1024, reading "þat pleteden for mede for þat craft is schrewed." For þey for meede plety n moor e / þa n mychil for godd is helpe. Wher -for e þe sawht er savo ur F.5.1025: Bx reads saueþ. he m nowht / swiche as takyn ȝiftis. & namely of Innocentys / þ at no evil ne know et h. F.5.1026: Alpha omitted the following Latin line attested by beta witnesses: " Super innocentem munera non accipies. " Pletour es sholde peyȝne hem / to plete for swiche & helpe. & Pryncys / & P relatis / sholde peyȝe for her e t rauayle. A F.5.1029: A guide character <a> in red ink is visible behind the Lombard capital. Regib us / & p rincipib us / erit merces eor um. / [¶] But many a Iustise & Iurrour / wolde for Iakke do more. Than p ro d ei pietate / beleve þ ou no n othir. But he þ at spendiþ his speche / & spekeþ for þe poore. Þ at ys Innocent & needy / & no man can a -peyȝre. & F.5.1034: Alpha is responsible for the addition of &. co nforteþ hy m in ony caas / w it h -outy n coueytouse ȝiftis. & shew et h lawhe for our e lord is love / as he haþ it leerned. Shal no deuyl at his deþ -day / der e hy m worþ a myte. Þ at he worþ [ne] worþ saf & his sowle / þe sawht er beryþ wittnesse D omine q uis habitabit i n tab ernac ulo tuo  &c. ut . sup ra. F.5.1038: F alone adds ut supra . But no man sholde bygge wat ur / ne wyȝnd / ne fyȝr ne wit neyþ ir. For þese fowr e þe fadir of hevene / formede he m comou n on erthe. For þo ben Trewþis tresoreris / trewe folk to helpyn. Þ at neu ere shull e wexe / ne wanyȝe / w it h -outyn god hy m -selue. Whan me n drawe to þe deþ / & indulgensis dysire. Here p ardou n ys ful petyȝt / at her e dep arty nge henne. For ony meede of mene men / þ at for here moty nge toke. Þe legist ris & lawyeris / holde it a gret trewþe. & yf þ at y lyȝe now / sey nt Matthew is to blame. F.5.1047: F omits the following unmetrical and probably spurious line from Bx: "For he bad me make yow þis and þis prouerbe me tolde." Q vodcu mq ue uultis ut facia nt uobis ho mi nes  facite eis. & also as laboreris / þat lyvyn by here hondis. Þ at trewly wirkyn / as þey trewly wynnen. & lyven i n love & in lawe / w it h lowhe t rewe h erte. F.5.1051: Alpha has singular herte in place of beta's plural. Þey have same [þe] same absoluc iou n / þ at was to Pers grau ntid. But beggeris / ne bidderis / ben not in þe bull e. But if þe suggestiou n be soþ / þ at shapma n he m shap[eþ] hem [to] bigge. F.5.1054: An otiose curl is written over the first <g>. For he þ at beggiþ / or bit / but if he have neede. He is fals as þe fend / & defrawhdiþ þe nedy. & by -gyliþ þe gyvere / a -gey n his goode will e. For if he wiste . he wer e not nedy / he wolde gyve it anoþ ir. Þ at wer e mor e nedyer e F.5.1059: Alpha and M have nedyere in place of beta's nedy. þan he / & so þe nedyer e helpe. Catou n kenneþ men so / & þe Mayst er F.5.1060: F is responsible for erroneous Mayster in place of clerc. Equally erroneous þe before Stories is from alpha, though the reading is shared by LM and may well be archetypal. of þe Stories . C ui des  videto. F.5.1061: F omits the b-verse from Bx: "is Catons techyng." / [¶] Þe Mayst er of stories techiþ the / how þ ou shalt be -take þy almesse. S it elemosina i n manu tua . don ec studes cui des. God seyþ hy m in his gospel / nesciat sinistra q uid faciat d extra. F.5.1064: This line appears only in F. But Gregorie þ at goode man / he bad vs gyvy n alle. Þ at asken for our e lord is love / þ at leeneþ vs all e þynge. N o n eligas cui cui cui miserearis . ne forte p ret eras illu m F.5.1067: F alone omits the phrase " qui meretur accipere " after illum . Q via i nc ertu m e st pro q uo d eum magis placeas. If ȝee wete not who is worthy / but god whot who haþ nede. For in þe takere ys F.5.1070: Alpha lacks beta's þe before treccherye. treccherye / if ony tresou n walkeþ. For þe ma n þ at ȝifte ȝeviþ / he ȝarkiþ his sowle reste. F.5.1071: F extensively revises the line. Beta reads "For he þat yeueþ yeldeþ and yarkeþ hym to reste." Alpha has the noun ȝifte in place of beta's yeueþ. & þe taker e borw et h yt / & bryngiþ his sowle i n dette. For -þy F.5.1073: Alpha has For-þy in place of beta's For.  begger es borwe eu ere / & her e borwhȝ is god al -myghty. To ȝelden hem . þ at ȝeviþ hem / for her e goode will e. F.5.1074: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "and yet vsure moore." Q vare no n dedisti p ecunia m mea m ad me nsam . vt ue niens cu m vsuris & exegissem vtiq ue illa m. For -þy  beggiþ nowht as begger es / but ȝe have neede. For who þ at haþ w it h / to bygge hy m bred / þe book beriþ witnesse. He haþ y -nowh þ at haþ but bred / þeyhȝ he haþ not ellis. S atis diues est . q ui pane no n indiget. Lete vsage by ȝour e solace / of sey ntys lyvis redy ngge. Þe sawht er blameþ beggeris / & byddis on þis manere. I vnior fui / & eteni m senui & no n non [vidi] iustu m derelictu m nec seme n eius querens panem. For begger es lyve in no love / ne no lawe holde. Many ma n weddiþ nowht / þ at wo mman / þ at he wyth delyþ. But as a wyȝlde beeste w it h we . he  he worthiþ vp & werchiþ. & of hem come barnes / þ at bastardis me n callyn. & here baak / or su m boon / þey breke in her e birthe. F.5.1087: Bx probably read "Or þe bak or som boon þei breke in hire ( or his?) youþe." Beta manuscripts have ambiguous he for alpha's þei, though it is clear that beta scribes took it to be singular. & so goo þey fayȝten w it h here fawntys / ful longe aft er. For þer e is moo mys -shape peple / a -mongis a fewe begger es. Þan of all e maner e of men / þ at on þe moolde wandreþ. For þo þ at leede þus her e lyf / euer e -mowe þey loþe þe tyme. Þ at euer e was he man wroght / whan he shal hens fare. But olde me n & hoor e / þ at helpeles ben of strengþe. & wo mmen w it h childe / þ at wirche ne mowe. F.5.1094: F omits the following line: "Blynde and bedrede and broken hire membres." & Meselis here myssese / meekly it take. F.5.1095: The reading is unique to F. Bx reads "That taken þis myschief mekeliche as Mesels and oþere." Haven a pley n p ardou n / as pers haþ hy m -selue. For love of her e lowe h ertys / our e lord haþ he m grauntyd. For her e penau nce / & p urgatorye / here is open on erthe. Peersq uod a preest þo / þy p ardou n muste y rede. & y shal F.5.1100: Alpha has shal in place of beta's wol. co nstrue eu ery clawse / & kenne it þe on englyshȝ. & sone peers at his p rayere / his pardou n vn -foldede. & y stood / by -hyȝnde hem boþe / & be -hild al ou er þe bull e. & al in two lyȝnes þe strengþe lay / & nout a leef moore. & was y -wryte ryght þus / witnesse of trewþe. E t q ui bona egeru nt  ibu nt i n vita m eterna m. Qvi v ero mala  in ignem eternum. Peet er . q uod þe Preest þo / y can no p ardou n fyȝnde. But dowel . & hauewel / & god shal have þy n sowle. & doevel / & haue evel / & hope þ ou after a -nothir. Þat after þy deþ -day / þe devil shal have þy sowhle. & a -no n Peers for pure teene / pullid þe bull e in tweyne. & seyde þus Si amb ulau ero i n medio vmbre mortis. Non timebo mala q uoniam tu mecu m es d omine. F.5.1113: F alone adds domine at the end of the Latin quotation. I wil sese now of my n sowy nge / & swynke not so harde. Ne a -bowhty n my bely Ioyȝe / so bisy ben no more. But of p rayeris & of penau nces F.5.1116: Alpha has the plural form here and beta the singular. / my plowh shal be aft er. & wepy n whan y sholde slepe / þeyhȝ whete F.5.1117: The scribe initially wrote weete and then corrected it to whete. bred y -fayle. I fyȝnde þe p roph ete payn eet / in Penance & in sorwe. & aft er þat þe sawht er seyþ / so diden oþer e manye. He þ at loveþ god leelly / his lyfloode is ful redy. F ueru nt m ichi lac rime mee panes die ac nocte / [¶] & but if sey nt Luk lyȝeþ / or lerneþ vs be foolys. F.5.1122: Most of the b-verse is owed to alpha. Beta's b-verse reads "he lereþ vs by foweles." A manuscripts have both folis and foules. We sholde not ben to bysy / a -bowhty n world is blysse. He seyþ þus in his gospel / Ne solliciti scitis. & be swiche ensamplis he shew et h vs / our e -seluy n to wissen. Þe fowlis in þe fylde / who fyndes he m mete in wyntyr. Þey have no gerner to go to / but god fynt hem alle. What q uod þe Preest to Peers / be Peeter as me þynkiþ. Þ ou art lettred a lytyl / who leerned e þe on booke. Mayster Abstynence q uod Pers F.5.1130: F's exemplar was almost certainly defective. Alpha had omitted "þe Abbesse," and F has characteristically recomposed the line. Bx reads "Abstynence þe Abbesse quod Pers . . . ." / my n a. b. c. me tawhte. & Consience com afterward e / & kennyd me wil w[e]l more. Pers  q uod he / & þ ou were a preest / þ ou myghtist p reche abowte. As a Doctour of F.5.1133: Alpha and G have of in place of beta's in. dyuynyte / w it h F.5.1133: The remainder of the line was not written. Bx reads " dixit insipiens to þi teme." A  þ ou lewid lorel q uod Peers / lytyl lokest þ ou / on þe byble. Þere Salomonys sawis been / ful seelde þ ou he m be -holdist. E ice derisore m & exib it cu m eo iurgiu m / cessab itq ue cause & contumelie. F.5.1136: F differs significantly from Bx which reads " E[j]ice derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c. " The added phrases are drawn from Proverbs 22:10. See John A. Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations (Binghamton: MRTS, 1992), p. 57, for discussion. & þus þe Preest & Pers / ech a -posede oþir. & þorghȝ her e woord is y a -wook / & waytede al abowhte. & y seyȝ þe su nne in þe sowþ / wher e it sat þ at tyme. I was Moneles & Meteles / my Mawe gan groone. F.5.1140: F alone suppresses the reference to the Malvern Hills. The b-verse in Bx reads "on Maluerne hulles." But ȝit y mewsed e on þis Metelis / as y my way wente. & many a tyme meteles / It haþ maad me studyȝe. Of þ at y seyȝ slepy nge / if it soþ / be myghte. & also for Pers Plowhman / ful pensyf in herte. & what P ardou n Pers hadd e / þe peple to conforte. & how þe Preest Impugned it / w it h tweye propr e woord is. But y have no savour in So mpnuarye / to sey n nout þ eraft er. F.5.1147: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "for I se it ofte faille." For Catou n co nseyliþ Catonist ris Ca[n]onistris / comou nly it faylyþ. F.5.1148: A small <+> appears in the right margin to mark the error. F.5.1148: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Caton and Canonistres counseillen vs to leue." To settyn no soþnesse / in no So mpnewaryȝe. F.5.1149: F revises and shortens this line. Bx reads as follows: "To sette sadnesse in Songewarie for sompnia ne cures." But for boldely þe byble book / beriþ bettre witnesse. How Danyel dyvynede / of a kyngys dremes. He was Nabugodonosor / y -ne mpned of clerkys. Sir e kyng seyd e Danyel / þy dremes by -tokneþ. Þ at vnkouþe knyghtis shull e come F.5.1154: An otiose curl appears above the <m>. / þy n corou n þe reve. F.5.1154: Alpha has reve in place of beta's cleyme or cleue. The other manuscripts have "kyngdom to" in place of F's "coroun þe." & a -mong lowere lordis / þy lond shal be dep artid. & as Danyel dyvynede / þe dede fel after. Þe kyng lees his lordchepe / & lowher e lord is it hadd e. & Ioseph mette m ervyously / of þe Moone & sonne. & of þe elevene sterrys / how þey heylid hy m alle. Ano n Iacob Iuggede / Iosepys swevenys. Bewh fyȝs q uod his fadir / for defawhte after. My -selue & my sones / shull e seeke þe for neede. It fel as his fadir seyde / in pharao -is tyme. Þ at Ioseph was Iustyse / of Egypt to looke. & as his fadir tolde / hise fawntys sowty n þer e. & al this mat ere makiþ me / on my metelis þy nke. & how þe Preest p re vede / no P ardou n to Dowel . & demede þ at Dowel / all e Indulgenses passede. Or q uinquenalis / or tryennal es / or þe Bisshopis lett ris. & how Dowel at þe day of dome / is dey ntely take. & passeþ al þe p ardou n / of sey nt Pet ris chirche. Þe Pope haþ gret powher / p ardou n to grawnte. A sowle w it h -outy n penau nce / to passyn in -to hevene. Þis ys our e be -leve / þe gospel leyþ þe same. F.5.1174: F rewrote the b-verse which in Bx reads "as lettred men vs techeþ." He left a blank line for the Latin text, but failed to write it. Bx reads " Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis, &c ." & y be -leve leelly / our e lord for -bede ellys. Þ at P ardou n / & p rayeris / & Penau nce saven sowlys. Þ at þe bodijs have sy nnyd / sevene syþis dedly. F.5.1177: F has revised this line. Bx reads "Soules þat haue synned seuen siþes dedly." But to t ristne on tryanal es / t ruly me þy nkiþ. It ys nowht so sykir to þe sowle / soþly as is Dowel . / [¶] Þerefor e y rede ȝow / all e / þ at ryche me n been heere. Vpon t rist on ȝowr e tresor / tryenalis to p urchase. Be ȝee neu ere þe bolder e / to breke þe ten hestys. & namely ȝee Mayst ris / boþe Meyȝhres & altherme n. Þ at have þe welthe of þ is world / & wyse me n ben holde. To p urchase ȝow p ardou n / w it h þe popis bullis. F.5.1186: The faint black <x> in the left margin apparently does not correlate with an error in the text. For at þe dred -ful dome / whan dede me n shull e ryse. & come n all e by -fore c rist / & ȝour e a -cowntys ȝeelde. F.5.1187: Alpha is responsible for & at the beginning of the b-verse and the omission of to before ȝeelde, and F uniquely has ȝoure. Bx reads "acountes to yelde." & how ȝee ladden ȝour e lyf / & ȝour e lawis kepyn. & how ȝee F.5.1189: FHm alone have plural ȝee instead of þow. don F.5.1189: Alpha is responsible for the present tense. Beta manuscripts have didest. day be day / þe dome will e reerce. A Poke -ful of p ardou n / þer e / ne p rovyncial is lettrys. Be not fownde in no frat ernite / of þe foure ordrys. Ne Indulgencis doblefold / but Dowel ȝow helpe. F.5.1192: F omits the following line from Bx: "I sette youre patentes and youre pardon at one pies hele." Þerfore y co nseyle all e c ristene / to c riȝe c rist mercy. & Marie his Moodir be our e mene at neede. Þ at he gyve vs g race / er þ at we goon henne. Swiche wirkis to wirche / þe F.5.1196: Alpha, agreeing with many C manuscripts, supplies þe, providing another instance in which beta manuscripts agree with A and alpha with C. whyle we ben here. Þat aft er our e deþ -day / Dowel it reerse. At þe day of dome we dide þ at we hy m hyȝhte. The original scribe left the instructions " qui nt us / sext us " in the left margin to indicate where the passus break occurred. E xplicit Passus Quintus.
This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. I ncipit Passus Sextus. A Nd F.6.1: The ornamental capital is red with green flourishes which extend over half way up the page in the left margin. wa nne y awakid was / y wondred wer e y wer e. These lines appear only in F. Tyl þ at y be -þowhte me / what þy ng y dremede. & y Rob ert F.6.3: The last four characters are virtually illegible because of bleed through and the translucency of the manuscript. F.6.3: The reading "y Robert" is unique to F. Bx reads yrobed. in russet / ga n rome a -bowhte. F.6.3: F omits the following line: "Al a somer seson for to seke dowel." & freynede ful F.6.4: The manuscript is almost completely illegible here. ofte / folk þ at y mette. If ony whyght wiste / where Dowel were F.6.5: Alpha is responsible for were; beta witnesses (and A,C) read was. ostagid. F.6.5: ostagid, "lodged, dwelled, resided." This form is rare in Middle English. MED lists only one other occurrence. F.6.5: A rubricated " VI:" appears in the top right margin with red flourishes to indicate the passus number. & what man he myghte be / of many a ma n y askede. But þer e was was [neuere] wyght as y went / þ at me wysshe cowthe. Wher e þ at leede lengede / neyþ ir lesse ne more. Tyl it fel on a Fryday / w it h tweye Freris y mette. & F.6.10: Alpha is responsible for &. weryn Maystrys of þe Menourys / & me n weel y -lerned e. F.6.10: F omits the following line from Bx: "I hailsed hem hendely as I hadde ylerned." I p rayede hem p ur charite / er y passede further e. If þey knewe in ony cowrt F.6.12: Alpha is responsible for cowrt, a reading shared by Cr 2,3. Beta witnesses read contree. / or in coostys þer e F.6.12: Alpha is responsible for þere. Beta witnesses read as. þey wenty n. Wher e þ at Dowel dwellyþ / y p raye ȝow ȝee me wisse. F.6.13: Alpha lacks the following lines present in beta witnesses: For þei be men of þis moolde þat moost wide walken And knowen contrees and courtes and many kynnes places Boþe princes paleises and pouere mennes cotes And dowel and do yuele where þei dwelle boþe. Marye q uod þo Menoures / a -mongys vs he dwellyþ. & euer e haþ as y hope / & euer e shal her e -after. Contra q uod y / as a Clerk / & comsed to disputy n. F.6.16: F omits the following line from Bx: "And seide hem sooþly Sepcies in die cadit Iustus ." For sevene tymes / as seyþ þe book / slyȝdiþ þe ryghtful. & who þ at synneþ in doynge / he doþ evele me þynkiþ. & dowel & doevele / mowe not dwelle to -gydr e. Ergo he is nowht alwey / at hoom a -mong ȝour e frer es. But he is ellis -wher / for to wisse þe peple. I shal seyȝe þe my sone / seyȝd e þe to þe frere þanne. How sevene sythis þe sad man / synneþ on þe day -tyȝde. Be a propre resou n / y shal þe redyly shewe. Lete brynge a ma n in a boot / a -myddis þe brode wat ur. Þe wynd / & þe wat ur / & the boot waggynge. Makþ þe ma n many a tyme / to meve / & to stakere. For stonde he neuer e so stef / he stu mbleþ & falleþ. & ȝit is he saf & sownd / & so hy m by -hoveþ. For but he ryse þe rather e / & rawhte to hy m þe sterne. F.6.30: Alpha has sterne, a reading shared by HmC 2. Other beta witnesses read steere. The same pattern of variation appears in A manuscripts. Þe wynd wolde / on þe wat ur / þe boot ou er -terve. & þa nne wer e his lyf loost / þorhȝ lacchesse of hy m -selue. Ryght þus fareþ it q uod þe Frer e / by folk on þis grownd e Þe wat ur y lykne to þis world / þ at wanyeþ & wexiþ. & þe goodis on þis grownde / be lykned þe grete wawis. & as þe wynd & þe wedir / walkyn a -bowte. Þe boot y lykne to our e bodijs / þ at brotyl is of kyȝnde. Þ at þorgh þe feend . & our e flesh / & þe false world also. Synneþ þe sad e ma n / ech day sevene syȝþys. But dedly sy nne doþ he no n / for Dowel hy m helpiþ. & þ at is Charite þe Champiou n / cheef a -gey n synne. For he strengþ ma n / to stonde / & steriþ ma nnys will e. Þ at þeyhȝ þy body bowe / as þe boot in þe watir. Euer e ys þy sowle saf / but if þy -selue will e. If þ ou folwe þy fowle fleshȝ / & þe feend þ ere -aft er. F.6.45: F alone among B manuscripts has this line, otherwise attested only by A manuscripts. & doost dedly synne / þ ou drenchist þa nne þy sowle. But god will e þ ou save þi sowle F.6.47: F's a-verse is unique, and the agreement of FHmR in reading sowle in place of the other beta manuscripts' reading sleuþe makes it difficult to determine the archetypal reading. It is likely to have read "God wole suffre wel þi sowle ( or sleuþe)." / þyf [ȝ]if F.6.47: Though Norman Davis notes that isolated cases of scribal confusion of <þ> and <ȝ> occur occasionally elsewhere, the examples he cites are mainly from East Anglian texts. "A Scribal Problem in the Paston Letters," English and Germanic Studies 4 (1951-1952): 39. It is perhaps equally possible that this form represents the scribe's effort at the Worcester form yef or yif. þi -selue lyke. F.6.47: F revises this line radically. Bx reads "God wole suffre wel þi sleuþe if þiself likeþ." Alpha must have had soule in place of sleuþe, and later F revised "suffre wel" to "þou save" in an attempt to salvage some sense. He ȝaf þe / two ȝer esȝevis / to ȝeeme wel þy -selue. & þo ben wit / & frewil / to euery wyght a porciou n To man & to foulis / to fyschis & to beestis But ma n haþ moost þ ereof / & moost he is to blame. But he wyrche wel þer -w it h / as dowel hy m techiþ. Ȝee y have no kyȝnde knowy nge q uod y  to co nseyve þy word is. But if y may lyve & looke / y shal goo leerne bettre. I be -kenne þe Cryst q uod he / þ at on þe croys dyȝede. & y seyde / þe same lord / save þe fram myschaunce. & g raunte þe grace on þis grownde / good ende to make. / [¶] & wente y wyȝde -wher e / walkynge by my n oone. In a whilde wyȝldirnesse / by a wode -syȝde. Þanne blysse of þe brydd is / a -byȝde me made. F.6.60: Beta attests a different b-verse for this line: "brouȝte me aslepe." Alpha's reading corresponds to Cx. & vndir a lyȝnde on a lawnde / lay y a stounde. To lystne þe layȝes / þe Nytyngalis maden F.6.62: Bx reads for the b-verse: "þe louely foweles made," though R also omits the alliterating stave louely. That suggests that alpha had lost the alliterating word and that F had revised his defective exemplar. Cf. F's substitution of larkys for foweles at 5.358. & þe merthe of her e mowthis / made me on sleepe. & þe mervylokest metelis / mette y þ at stownde. Þ at euer e wyȝght / in þis world / as y wene dremede. Me þowhte oon com / & callyd me / be my ryght name These lines in F are transposed in relation to Bx. A mychil ma n he was / mychil lyȝk my -selue. What art þ ou q uod y þo / þ at þowhȝ my name knowist Thow wost wel q uod he þo / & no whyȝt bettre. I not neu ere . who art þ ou  thowht y am he seyde. & have sewid þe þis sevene ȝeer / ne seyȝe þ ou me no rather e. Art þ ou þowht / q uod y tho / canst þ ou me telle. Where þat dowel dwellyþ / þ ou do me hy m F.6.73: Alpha has hym. Beta witnesses read þat. to knowe. Dowel q uod he . & dobet / & dobest þe thrydde Are þre faire felowis / & dwell e not feer o twynne. For who is trewe of his tu nge / & of hise two hondis. & meeke in his herte / & myȝlde of his speche. F.6.77: This line uniquely appears in F in the B tradition. It appears in A, though it has correctly alliterating mouþ in place of herte. The line is omitted in C. & trewe of his tayl -ende / & takþ but his owne. These lines in F are transposed in relation to Bx. & þorghȝ þe labour of his hand / his lyfloode wynneþ. & nowht dru nkelewhȝ ne deygnous / dowel hy m folweþ. And dobet doþ ryght / but he doþ michil moore. He is as lowhȝ as a lomb / & lowhly of speche. & helpiþ alle men / & eseþ hem at neede. Þe baggys bownde w it h brygerdlis F.6.84: F's use of the form brygirdel (See MED s.v. brech-girdel) to mean bi-girdel, "money-belt," had already taken place in the manuscripts of the A text of Piers Plowman, but it does not occur in other B witnesses. / he haþ broke hem all e Þ at þe Erl / sir e Averous e / held for hise eyȝres. & w it h Ma mmones mone / he haþ maad freenschepis. & ys ru nne in -to religio us / to rendre þe byble. & p recheþ þe peple / seynt Powlys woordis. L ibenter suffertis i ncipientes . cu m ip si scitis sapie ntes. He seyþ ȝee s ho lde g lad ly suffre þe vnwyse / w it h ȝow to lybbe. & w it h glad wil don hem good / for god so ȝow hoteþ. But dobest beriþ a bisshopis croos / & is a -bove hem boþe. It is hoked at þe ende / to halye men fram helle. & in þ at potente ys a pyȝk / to pytten dou n þe wykkede. Þ at wayten w it h wrong / sire dowel to teene. F.6.95: F lacks KD8.100-101 and re-orders several other lines. Alpha had already omitted KD8.106. The missing lines read: And dowel and dobet amonges hem ordeyned To crowne oon to be kyng to rulen hem boþe (=KD8.101). But dobest bede for hem þei to be þer for euere (=KD8.106). And þus dowel . & dobet . & dobest þe thrydde. In this and the next two paragraphs, a scribe subsequent to alpha augmented his text, probably from an A manuscript, but possibly, as Kane and Donaldson believe, a superior B manuscript. Haue crowne crowne[d] oon to be kyng / & be here co nseyl wirche F.6.97: F's b-verse reading is unique. Bx reads "to kepen hem alle." & to rewle al þe rewhme / be reed of hem alle. F.6.98: F's b-verse reading is unique. Bx reads "by hire þre wittes." & be no nir -wyse / but as þey þre will e assente. For if þat dowel or dobet / dyden a -gey n dobest. & weryn vn -buxu m to don his byddy ngge / & bown to do Ille. F.6.101: F alone among B manuscripts attests this line, which is found in A, but not in C. Þa nne sholde þe kyng come / & comawnde he m to p resou n. & pitte hem þer e in penawnce / w it h -oute pite or g race. F.6.103: This line from the A version appears only in F among B manuscripts. Alpha omits the following line found in beta: "But dobest bede for hem þei to be þer for euere." Þa nne þankede y thowht þo / þ at he so fair e me tawhte. & seyde / me savoureþ not ȝyt wel / so me c rist helpe. This b-verse and the following a-verse, found in Ax and Cx, are not attested in other B manuscripts. For more kyȝnde knowynge / y coveyte of ȝow to leerne. Wher e þat dowel & dobet & dobest / doon on þis molde. Trewly but . witt kan wisshe þe q uod thowt / wher e þ at þey dwelle. Ellis knowe y no n þ at can / þ at now ys on lyve. Þo þowht & y / thre dayes we wentyn. Disputynge on dowel / day aft er oþir. & er þat we wery n war / w it h witt gu nne we meetyn He was long & leene / & lyȝk to no n oþir. Was no p riȝde in his a -p arayle / ne pou erte neythir. But sad of his semblau nd / & softe he was of chere. I durste meve no matere / for to make hy m Iangle. But as y bad þowht þo / be meene be -twene. To pytte furþ su m p urpos / to prevyn hise wittis. What was dowel fram dobet / & dobest fra m hem bothe. Þanne þowht in þ at tyme / seyde þese woordys. Where dwellyþ F.6.121: F uniquely has dwellyþ, which then requires the omission of Bx's ben from the b-verse after dobest. Curiously, R also omits ben. dowel & dobet / & dobest in londe. F.6.121: F revises the next three lines, converting Thought's third person discourse into first person. Bx reads as follows: Here is wil wolde wite if wit koude teche hym And wheiþer he be man or no man þis man wolde aspie And werchen as þei þre wolde this is his entente. Fayn wolde y wete witt / If þ ou cowdist me telle. F.6.122: Bx reads here: "Here is wil wolde wite if wit koude teche hym." Wheyþ ir he be man / or noon / y wolde fayn a -spyȝe. & worchen as ȝee [þ]e[y] þre wolde / þis were my n entente. Sire dowel dwelliþ q uod witt / nowht a day henne. In a Castel þ at Keende made / of four e man ere of þy ngis. Of Erthe & eyȝr it ys maad / & medlyd to -gydres. W it h wynd & w it h wat ur / wytt yrly en -Ioyned. Syre Keende haþ closed þer -in / craftly w it halle. His le mman F.6.130: The <a> in lemman is written, for no apparent reason, much larger than usual. þ at he loveþ wel / she is lych hy m -selue. Anima she hatte / but Envie hyre hateþ. He is a prowd p riker e of Fraunce / pri nceps hui us mu ndi. He wolde wynne hir e a -weyȝ / w it h wyȝles if he myȝhte. F.6.133: The <y> is corrected from <u>. & þ at know et h Kynde wel / & kepeþ hire þe bettre. & doþ hire dwelle w it h dowel F.6.135: Alpha is responsible for the omission of sire before dowel. / Dewk of þ at marches. F.6.135: F's þat is unique. R has þe, and beta manuscripts þise. & dobet ys hir e Damysel e / sire dowell is dowhtir. She s erueþ þ at Lady leelly / boþe late & rathe. & dobest ys above hem boþe / a Bisshopis peere. & þ at he byddis mote be doon / for he rewhliþ he m alle. And Anima þat lady / ys lad by his leerny nge. But þe Cunstable of þe Castel / þ at kepeþ all e þe wacche. Is a wyȝs knyght w it h -alle / sire Inwitt he hatte. & haþ fyve fair e sones / by his firste Lady. sire Seewel & seywel / & sire F.6.144: Alpha's sire is matched by the C reading. Beta is like A in omitting it. herewel þe heende. & sire wyrche wel w it h þy n hond / a whyht ma n of stre ngþe. & sire Goweel on grou nde F.6.146:F's reading is unique. Other witnesses have "Godefray Go-wel" in place of "Goweel on grounde." / a gret Lord F.6.146: Alpha is responsible for singular "a gret Lord." Beta witnesses have "grete lordes." for -sothe. Þese sixe F.6.147: Though the archetypal reading was fyue, F has almost certainly supplied the correct reading. ben set / to save sown þys Anima. F.6.147: Alpha's omission of beta's lady is matched by the C reading. Tyl Kynde come or sende / to kepen hir e hy m -selue. What kenne þyng ys Kynde q uod y  canst þ ou me telle. Q uod wit  Kynde is a c reato ur / of all e kenne þyngys. Fader & formere / of alle þynge on erthe. He is grete god / þ at by -gy nnynge hadd e neuer e. & lord of lyf & of lyth / of blysse & of peyȝne. Ang elys & alle þynge / ben at his wille. But man ys moost hy m lyȝk F.6.155: Alpha is responsible for the word order "moost hym lyȝk." Beta witnesses have "hym moost lik." / of makyng e & of chafte. F.6.155: chafte, "shaft." For þorghȝ þe word þ at he spak / wenty n forþ beestys. F.6.156: The next three lines are unique to F, replacing the Latin tag " Dixit et facta sunt ." Kane and Donaldson reject the first two as spurious and accept the substance of the third, though they emend it. Schmidt, Parallel-Text Edition, rejects all three. & grene gres grew sone / on grownde al a -bowhte. & trees wery n frawht w it h frut / fayre vpon erthe. & al was maad þorgh his word / as his will e wolde. / [¶] But he made Adam a man / lykkest hym -selue. & Eve was maad of Adam -is ryb / w it h -outy n ony meene. & for he was nowht syng uler / he seyȝde faciam us. As who seyȝþ  mor e mote her e -to / þan my word oone. For my myght mote helpe / forþ w it h my speche. Ryght as a lord shold make a lettre / & only lakkede p archemy n Or þeyȝ he cowhde wryte neu ere so wel / & he lakked e a penne Þe Lettre for al his lordshepe / y leve sholde not be makyd Ryght so it semeþ be god / as þe byble telleþ Þer e god seyde þis sawe / faciam us ho mi ne m ad ymagine m &c. F.6.169: The Latin tag is attested only in F at this point. Bx reads " dixit et facta sunt ." F's reading mirrors Ax. He wroghte þus w it h his word / & w it h his wit gan shewe & in þis man ere man was maad / þorhȝ þre p ersones oone. W it h his word he wroghte ma n / & ȝaf hy m lyf after. F.6.172: F has extensively revised this line. Bx reads "Wiþ his word and werkmanshipe and wiþ lif to laste." & god gaf hy m a goost / of þe godhed of hevene. & of his grete g race / he grawntyd hy m blysse. Þer e is lyf þ at eu ere shal laste / to alle his lynage after. & þ at Castel þ at Kynde maade Caro it F.6.176: The rubricating scribe, whom we take to be the main text scribe, noticed that the <i> was not dotted and supplied it in red ink. hatte. & is as mychel to mene / as man w it h a sowle. & þ at he wroughte it as [with] werk / & w it h his F.6.178: Alpha is responsible for his, which is not in beta. word boþe. Þorgh myght of þe Mageste / þus was ma n y -maked. Inwit & alle wittys / y -closed ben þ ere -Inne. For love of þ at Lady anima / þat lyf is sprenklyd F.6.181: Bx reads ynempned. F's reading is not easily accounted for by recourse to unconscious scribal substitution and perhaps reflects a conscious intention, but we find no appropriate sense for sprenklyd in this context. Ouer al in ma nnys body / he F.6.182: he, "she." walweþ & wandreþ. But in þe herte . ys here hoom / & here F.6.183: F rarely writes here for singular "her." However, since he probably did not recognize he in the preceding b-verse as "she," he probably took here in both cases to be plural "their," referring to "Inwit & alle wittys." moost reste. & Inwit ys in þe hevid / & to þe herte he lookeþ. What a ni ma is leef or looþ / he ledeþ hir e at his wyll e. For after þe g race of grete god / Inwit neest folwiþ. Mychil wo worþ þ at wyght / þ at Inw it may not rewle. & þo been glotones & gloseris / þ at god is in her e wombe. Q vor um deus venter est. For swiche seruy n Sathan / & her e sowlis he shal welde. For þey levyn synful lyf / her e sowl e ys lyȝk þe powke. & þo þ at lyvyn good lyf / lyk aft er godd is techyng Sey nt Ioh an seyþ F.6.193: F uniquely attributes the Latin quotation to Saint John. q ui manet i n caritate i n d eo manet & d eus i n eo. Allas  þ at drynk shal for -doon / þ at god dere bowhte. & doþ god for -saken hem / þ at shoop he m aft er his lyknesse. F.6.195: F omits the following line from Bx: " Amen dico vobis nescio vos Et alibi Et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum ." I fyȝnde þ at holy chirche / sholde neu ere faylyn foolys. F has heavily revised Bx, which reads as follows: Fooles þat fauten Inwit I fynde þat holy chirche Sholde fynden hem þat hem fauteth and faderlese children. Ne knowe no n defawhte / of faderles F.6.197: An otiose curl appears above the <r>. chyldryn. Ne wedewys þ at have nout wherw it h / to wynny n her e foode. And madde me n & maydenys / þ at helpeles weryn. For alle þese lakkyn Inwit / & loore hem by -hoveþ. But of þis mater e y myghte / maken a long tale. & fyȝnde fele wytness e / of þe four e doctoures. & þ at y lyȝe nowht / sey nt Luk beryþ witnesse. Þ at boþe godfadir . & godmodir e / þ at seen her e god -childryn. In myssese & myscheef / & may hem wel a -me nde. Þey shull e haue penau nce in p urgatorye / but if þey he m helpe. For mor e longiþ a lytyl barn / er he þe lawe knowe. Þan ne mpne first his name / & he be neu ere þe wyser e. For þer e shold e no c ristene creat ure / cryȝen at þy n ȝate & F.6.210: The ampersand is owed to alpha. Beta reads Ne. For a similar variation, see 11.8. faylen payn & potage / & F.6.210: The ampersand represents here an, "if." p relatys dyden here devir. A Iew wo lde not seen a Iew / goo Iang lynge for defawhte. For all e þe mone on þe moolde / & he a -mende it myghte. Allas þa nne þ at a c ristene ma n / sholde so ben vn -kyȝnde. Sytthyn þe Iewis þ at we for - Iuggen / to ben Iudas felawe. Þ at ech helpiþ oþ ir of hem F.6.215: Alpha's a-verse differs from beta's "Eyþer of hem helpeþ ooþer." F's ech is substituted for Bx's Eyþer. / of good þ at hem neediþ. / [¶] Why will e [ny]lle we c ristene of c ristis good / ben also kyȝnde. As Iewis þ at ben for -lor e me n F.6.217: F's reading is unique, whether it is interpreted as "for lore-men," meaning "standing in place of teachers," or as we punctuated it here as "for-lore men," meaning "lost ( or damned) men." Bx must have read "As Iewes þat ben oure loresmen shame to vs alle." / It is shame to vs alle. Þe ryche for her e vnkyȝndnesse / shull e yt ful sore a -byȝe. / [¶] Bisshopis shull e be blamed / for beggerys sake. He He [is] werse þa nne Iudas / þ at ȝeviþ a Iapere syluer. & byddis þe begger e gon a -wey / for hise broke cloþis. Proditor e st p relat us cu m Iuda q ui pat rimoniiu m patrimonium cristi min us dist ribuit. F.6.222: F omits the second clause attested by Bx: " Et alibi, Perniciosus dispensator est qui res pauperum christi inutiliter consumit. " / [¶] He doþ not wel þ at doþ þus / he drediþ not god almyghty. He lokyþ not Salomonys sawis / þ at sapyence is named. He seyþ Iniciu m sapience sapienc[i]e  timor d omini. For he þat drediþ god doþ wel / he drediþ god his maker e. F.6.226: At least partly because of error in alpha, F confuses the sense of this line and the following. Bx reads as follows: That dredeþ god he dooþ wel þat dredeþ hym for loue And drad hym noȝt for drede of vengeaunce dooþ þerfore þe bettre." He dredyþ nowht for love F.6.227: This is the alpha reading. Beta manuscripts read drede. of vengau nce / for to don þe bettre. F.6.227: Beta's b-verse reads "dooþ þerfore þe bettre." But he doþ best þ at w it hdraw et h hy m / by day / & by nyghte. To spilly n ony speche / or ony space of tyme. Q ui offendit in vno verbo  in o mnib us reus est. Lesyngys & ydilnesse / trewþe whot þe soþe. Is moost hatyd huttyrly / of hem heyȝe in hevene. & all e swiche þ at spillyn speche / her e spiryȝt haþ no g race. F.6.233: Bx reads "And siþþe to spille speche þat spire is of grace." Alpha has swiche in place of siþþe. For þey seme n godd is glemen / to gamen he m in heuene. Wolde neu ere þe feyþful fader / his fythele were vn -te mpryd. Ne his gleeman a galyng ga[de]lyng / a goere to tauerne. / [¶] For to all e trewe tydy men / þ at travayle dysyre. Our e lord loveþ he m & lent  lowhde oyþ er stylle. Grace  to goon hem to  to gety n here lyf -loode. Inq uirentes aute m dominu m  no n i nue nient ur [m]i nuent ur o mni bono. Trewe weddid lyvyngge folk / in þis world is dowel. For þey moty n wirche to wynne / & þe world sosteyne. For of her e kyȝnde he F.6.243: Beta witnesses read þei for alpha's relict form he. com þ at confessour es be ne mpnyd. & bothe kynggys & knyghtys / & kayseres & Clerkys. & Maydenys & Martyres / out of man kemen. & wo mman was maad a weyȝ / for to helpe wirche. & þus was wedloke wroght / & god hy m -selue it made. F.6.247: Alpha omits the following lines from Bx through eye-skip on identical a-verses: ... wiþ a mene persone First by þe fadres wille and þe frendes conseille And siþenes by assent of hemself as þei two myȝte acorde And þus was wedlock ywroȝt . . . . In erthe her e F.6.248: Alpha has here, "their," where most beta witnesses have þe. hevene ys / hy m -selue beryþ wytnesse. / [¶] But false folk & F.6.249: Beta omits &. feyþles / boþe þevys & lyeris. & wastoures & wrecchis / out of wedloke y trowe. Are conceyvid in evi l tyme / as Cayn was of Eve. Of swiche synful shrewis / þe sawht er seyþ þis sawe. Concepit dolorem & pep erit iniq uitatem. & alle þ at kemen of Cayn / kemen to evil ende. For god hy m to seyn / & þus seyd e þe angel. F.6.255: Bx is corrupt, and F produced only nonsense. Bx reads "For god sente to Sem and seide by an Aungel." There Sem is an error for Seth, confusing the names of Adam's and Noah's sons. Þyn Issew w it h þyn Issew / y will e þ at þey be weddid. & nowht þy n kyȝnde w it h Cayn / neyþir cowpled ne spoused. But su mme ȝit / a -gey n þe sonde / of our e savio uris heeste. Cayn -is keen & his kynde / wery n cowpled F.6.259: An otiose curl appears above the <p>. to -gydre Tyl god þey wratthid w it h her e werk / & þis word he seyde. Þat y on moolde maked man / now it me for -þy nkyþ. Penitet me hominem fecisse. / [¶] & þanne god cam to Noe / & bad hy m nowht lettyn. He seide goo shape þe a ship / of shyȝdys & of boordys. Þy -selue & þy n sones þre / & sytthen ȝour e wyvys. Buske ȝow / into þ at boot / & a -byȝdeþ þere -Inne. Tyl fourty dayes ben fulfild / & þe flood haþ y -wastyd. F.6.267: y-wastyd is alpha's reading. Beta witnesses read ywasshen. Al cleene þe cursed blood / þ at Cayn haþ y -maked. Beestis þ at now been / shull e banne þe tyme. Þ at euer e þ at cursed Cayn / com vpon þis erthe. F.6.270: F omits one line from Bx: "Alle shul deye for his dedes by dales and hulles." & þe foulis þ at fleen / shull e forþ . w it h þo beestys. Except oonly / of eu ery keyȝnde a couple. F.6.272: F omits one line from Bx: "That in þi shyngled ship shul ben ysaued." Þan dere a -bowhte þe barn / his beel -sir es gyltes. Þ at aft er for her e fore -fadres / þey ferdy n þe werse. But þe gospel ys þer e -agey n / in þis degr e y fyȝnde. Filius no n portabit iniq uitatem p atris . n ec p ater F.6.276: Alpha is responsible for abbreviating the Latin text. Beta manuscripts have " et pater non portabit " for alpha's " nec pater ." i niq uitate m filij. / [¶] But y fyȝnde if þe fadir / be fals / or a shrewe. Þ at su mdel þe sone shal have / of his syr es tacchys. For ympe vpon F.6.279: Alpha reads vpon for beta's on. an Ellerne / & if þy n appyl F.6.279: An otiose curl appears above the first <p>. be soote. Myche merveyle me þynkþ / & ȝit moor e of a shr ewe. Þ at bryngþ forþ ony barn / but he be þe same. & savoure aft er þe syre / seelde seest þ ou oþir. Nu mq uam coligu nt de spinis vuas . n ec de t ribul is fic us. & þus þorghȝ cursede Cayn / Com car e first on erthe. & al for þey wroghty n wedlokys / a -gey n godd is will e. For -þy  þey haddy n mawgrees / for maryagys vnkende. F makes two lines of the following line in Bx: "Forþi haue þei maugre of hir mariages þat marie so hir children." / [¶] & on þe same maner now / me n maryen here chyldryn. For su mme me n as y see / soþ for to telle. For coveytyse of Catel / vn -kendely ben weddyd. Þan a kareful co ncepciou n / komeþ of þ at F.6.290: Alpha reads þat for beta's swiche. Maryage. As yt be -fel / of þ at F.6.291: Alpha reads þat for beta's þe. folk / þ at y befor -hond tolde. F.6.291: Alpha omits two lines attested by beta witnesses: For goode sholde wedde goode þouȝ þei no good hadde I am via & veritas seiþ crist I may auaunce alle. It is F.6.292: This is a poor piece of vellum, occasionally almost translucent. Abrasion and cockling on the recto and either mildew damage or abrasion on this side make is very difficult to see. an komely [vn]komely cowple / by Iesus F.6.292: Alpha is responsible for Iesus. Bx has correctly alliterating crist. as me semeþ. To ȝeve ȝong [a] ȝong Mayde / to an old baslard. F.6.293: Though it is possible that F's baslard reflects a slang usage unrecorded elsewhere, he probably meant to write bosard, "buzzard, old fool." See F7.285. Bx reads "an olde feble." What we have interpreted as <s> could equally well be an <f>. Er a ȝong ma n an old wydewe F.6.294: F's a-verse is unique. Bx reads "Or wedden any wodewe." / for welþe of hir e good is. Þ at neuer e shal barn ber e / but in two armys. Many a peyr e syþe þe pestele nce / have plyȝt he m to -gydr es. Þe frut / þ at þey brynge forþ / ar e but foule wordis. F.6.297: Alpha omits the following line attested by beta witnesses: "In Ielousie ioyelees and ianglynge on bedde." Note that Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt re-arrange the lines, placing this line after 6.295. Þey have no childr en / but Iangly ng he m be -twene. F.6.298: Alpha's reading was apparently defective, and R and F found different unsatisfactory solutions. Bx must have read "Haue þei no children but cheste and choppyng hem bitwene." Þey sholde gon to Du nmowe / & fecche þ ere bakou n. Alpha's lections here contrast with beta family manuscripts which read: And þouȝ þei do hem to Dunmowe but if þe deuel helpe To folwen after þe flicche fecche þei it neuere And but þei boþe be forswore þat bacon þei tyne. F differs considerably from R for these lines as well. R reads as follows: And for to go to dunmowe to feche hom here bakon And whan þei haue brouȝt it hom to whom is best to selle it And þus þei lyuen in coueytise þe deuel and þei togydres. But for þe caryage is karkful / þey dor e no n fecche. But lyven þus in Iangly ng / þoru þe develys loore. For -þy  y co nseile all e me n / ȝee coveyte not be weddyd. For coueytyse of Catel / ne of kenr ede ryche. But Maydenys w it h Maydenys / marye ȝow to -gydr e & wydewerys w it h wydwis / werche ȝee / þe same. For no lond / but for love / loke ȝee ne wedde. & þa nne gete ȝee g race of god / & good y -nou to welde. F.6.307: Alpha omits nine lines present in beta witnesses: And euery maner seculer þat may noȝt continue Wisely go wedde and ware hym fro synne For lecherie in likynge is lymeyerd of helle Whiles þow art yong and þi wepene kene Wreke þee wiþ wyuyng if þow wolt ben excused Dum sis vir fortis ne des tua robora scortis Scribitur in portis meretrix est ianua mortis Whan ye han wyued beþ war and wercheþ in tyme Noȝt as Adam and Eue whan Caym was engendred For su m -tyȝme [in vn] -tyȝme trewly / be -twene ma n & wo mman. F.6.308: F has made syntactic chaos of this sentence. Bx reads as follows: For in vntyme trewely bitwene man and womman Ne sholde no bourde on bedde be but if þei boþe were clene Of lif and of soule and in parfit charite. Ne sholde not lyggyn In bedde / but þei F.6.309: The <i> has an extra stroke and looks to some degree like an <r>. boþe wer e clene. Boþe in lyf & in sowle / & also in p arfyȝt charyte. Þ at ilke derne dede / shold e no n ma n don ell is. & nou  if me n ledde þ us her e lyf / It wold e lyke almyȝty. For he made wedloke first / & þus hy m -selue seyde. Bonu m est vt vnusq uisq ue vxore m sua m habeat. F.6.314: Alpha lacks the end of this Latin tag, which in beta manuscripts reads " propter fornicacionem ." And þey þat oþir -gatis be getyn / for gadelyngis be holde. & false folk & foundely ngis / & faytour es / & lyerys. & vn -g racio us to gety n good / or love / of þe peple. But þey wandr en / & wastyn / what þey wynne mowe. A -gey n Dowel þey do evel e / & þe deuyl serve. & aft er her e deþ -day / þei shul dwell e w it h her e Mayst er. But god gyve he m g race her e / hem -selue soone ame nde. F.6.321: Alpha omits the following lines attested by beta family manuscripts: Dowel my frend is to doon as the lawe techeþ To loue þi frend and þi foo leue me þat is dobet To ȝyuen and to yemen boþe yonge and olde To helen and to helpen is dobest of alle. Þus ys Dowel F.6.322: The reading is owed to alpha. to dr ede god F.6.322: The scribe perhaps intended the <g> to cancel a misplaced virgule? / & Dobet to suffr e hy m. & þa n comeþ Dobest of boþe / & bryngþ a -dou n þe Mody. & þ at ys wikkid will e / þ at manye werkys F.6.324: Alpha has the plural form werkys for beta's werk. shendiþ. & dryveþ a -wey dowel / oonly þoru dedly synne. E xplicit Passus Sextus I ncipit P assus S eptim us S Ire F.7.1: The ornamented capital is red with green flourishing which extends about half way down the page. wit / hadde a wif / was klepid dame stodye . F.7.1: A red VII with red flourishes appears in the top right corner of this badly cropped leaf to indicate the passus number. Þ at leene was of leer e / & of lycame boþe. She was wondirful wroþ F.7.3: The <r> is a correction supplied by the original scribe over an illegible character. / þ at wit me tawhte. F.7.3: The <a> has an otiose curl above it. & al sterne stary nge / & startlynge F.7.4: startlynge, "leaping, jumping." she seyde. Wel art þ ou wyȝs q uod she / ony wisdom to tell e. To flat ereris & folis / þ at feble ar e of wittys. & blamed hy m bustously / & bad hy m be stylle. W it h swiche wise wordis / to wissyn ony sottys. & seyȝde man / noli mittere / Margerye p erlys. By - fore hogg is þ at hety n hawis / at hoom at her e will e. Þey don but dravele þ ere -on / draf wer e hem bettr e. Þan al þe p recious p erre / þ at in p aradyȝs wexeþ. I sey it / be swiche q uod she / þ at shewe be her e werkys. Þ at hem wer e leuere lond / & lordshepe here. F.7.14: Alpha is responsible for the defective b-verse; beta witnesses read "and lordshipe on erþe." F then omits the following line from Bx: "Or richesse or rentes and reste at hir wille." Cf. 5.1180 where F alone substitutes here for on þis erþe. Þan alle þe soþe sawis / þ at salomon seyde eu ere. For now wit & wisdom / ys not worþ a kerse But it be Cardyd w it h coueytise / as kytte kembeþ woll e. Who ca n co nt rive deseytys / & co nspyren wrongys. & ledyn forþ a loveday / & F.7.19: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta manuscripts and the A text have to. letty n eu ere trewthe. F.7.19: F omits through eye-skip on truþe the following lines from Bx: He þat swiche craftes kan to counseil is cleped Thei lede lordes wiþ lesynges and belieþ truþe. Ioob þ at ys so Ientyl / in his Iestys tellyþ. Þ at wikkede me n welden / welthys on moolde. & þey þ at ben lordis of leedis / as owtlawys þei lybbe. & owt of our e Lord is lawe / þ at leneþ hem þ at welthe. These lines appear only in F. & þynke not who it oweþ / þ at þei wasten heere. Quare ergo Impij viuu nt sulleuati su nt diuicijs. F.7.25: F has changed the Latin text, quoting more of Job 21:7 than appears in the archetype and ignoring Bx's conflation of the passage from Job with Jeremiah 12:1. Bx reads as follows: "Quare impij viuunt? Bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt?" The sawter seyþ þe same / be swiche þ at doon Ille. Ecce ip si p ecc atores habu ndantes in s ec ulo F.7.27: F abbreviates the Latin quotation, omitting obtinuerunt diuicias . Alpha is responsible for the omission of diuicias . Loo  seyþ holy lettrur e / wiche lordis be þese shr ewis. Þo þ at god moost greve mest good he he m deleþ. F.7.29: A space was left for a medial solidus after greve, but it was not written. F's gap may indicate some other dissatisfaction with his exemplar, for his line is unique. Bx probably reads "Thilke þat god moost gyueþ leest good þei deleþ," though manuscript C agrees with alpha in reading "most greueth" in place of "moost gyueþ." & most vnkynde to þe comou n be / he m moost catel se ndiþ Qve p erfecisti dest ruxeru nt . Iust us aute m. Harlotis for her e harlotryȝe / shull e have her e goodis As Iaperis & Iogelour es / & Iangler es of Iestys. But he þ at haþ holy wryt / ay in his mowthe. & can telly n of Tobye / & of þe xij e apostlys. Or p rechen of þe penau nce / þ at Pilat to c rist wrouhte. Or of Ientil Iesu / þ at Iewis dyde on roode. He is lytyl lovid now / þ at swich a lessou n shew et h. Er deynte ly drawe forþ / y do it on ȝour e -se lue. F.7.39: F alone reads ȝour e-selue . Other witnesses have god hymselue. But þo þ at feyne hem foolys / & w it h fayty nge lybbe. A -gey n þe lawe of our e lord / & lyȝe on he m -selue. / [¶] Þey spytty n & spewen / & speke foule wordis. & drynkyn / & dravelyn / & do me n to gape. Þey lykne me n / & lyȝen / þ at leene he m no ȝiftys Þey ku nne no mor e me nstralsy / ne musyk me n to glade Þan Mu nde þe Meller e / on of multa fecit deus F.7.46: The remainder of the line was left blank by the rubricator. The reading of Bx is "of Multa fecit deus ." Ne were her e vile harlot riȝe / have god my tr ewþe. Sholde neyþ ir kyng ne knyght / ne þe comou n peple. F.7.48: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "ne chanon of Seint Poules." F.7.49: A marginal pointing finger is drawn by a later hand in the left margin. Ȝeve hem / to her e ȝirysȝeve F.7.49: The black underlining is by a later scribe. / þe worþ F.7.49: Alpha is responsible for worþ. Some beta manuscripts have correctly alliterating ȝifte, while others read value. of a groote. But merthe w it h Menstralsy / a -mongis me n nowt ys. But Leccherye be leyȝd / in loselys talys. & glotenyȝe & grete oþis / þ at ys good m erthe. But if þey carpy n of c rist / þese clerkis to lewede. At mete in Merthis / whan me nstralis be still e. Þan talke talke [þei] of þe trynnyte / a tale or tweyne. & bry nge a ballyd resou n forþ / & take bernard wittnesse. & pitte forþ a qwestiou n / & pr eve it for -soþe. Þus þey dravele / at þe deyȝs / þe dyte to knowe. & gnawe god w it h her e gorge / whan her e guttys be fulle. But þe kareful may c riȝen / & mys -karyȝe at þe ȝate. Boþe for hu nger & þurst / & for chele qwake. Þer e ys no n to nempne hy m neer / his noyȝ to a -me nde. But hoen on hy m / as an hou nd / & hote hy m go h is gate. Lityl loveþ he þ at lord / þ at lente hy m al þ at blysse. Þ at dep arteþ not w it h þe pore / a p arcel whan he m nediþ. Ne wer e M ercy w it h mene me n / more þa n in ryche. Manye me ndynau ntis meteles / myȝhte go n to bedd e. God is mychil in her e gorgis F.7.68: Alpha is responsible for the plural form. / of þese g rete Maystris. But a -mo ngis mene me n / his m ercy is / & hise werkys. & so seyþ seyþ seyþ / þe sawt er book / y have sey n it ofte. Ecce audiuim us eu m in effrata  i nue nim us eu m F.7.71: Alpha is responsible for eum in both occurrences in this line, though the reading is shared by Cr. Beta manuscripts have eam. i n ca mpis silue. Clerkis & oþer e F.7.72: Alpha is responsible for omitting kynnes before men, though G omits it as well. me n / carpen of godd is face. F.7.72: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "carpen of god faste." & have hy m myche in her e mowþ / but mene me n i n h erte. But freris þo faytour es / have fou nde fair e questio nis. To plese w it h prouhde me n / sytthe þe pestylence. F.7.75: Alpha and most C manuscripts omit beta's and the A version's tyme after pestylence. & p rechen at poulis cros / for pur e envyȝe of clerkis. Þ at folk is is [not] fermed in þe feyþ / ne free of her e good is. Ne sory for her e sy nnys / so p riȝde so hyȝe is waxe. F.7.78: Bx reads "so is pride woxen." In Re lygyon & in þ is rewme / among is ryche & pore. F.7.79: The scribe has written a large "VII" with flourishes in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. Þ at prayeris have no powher / þese pestylencys to lette. For god is def / on þese dayes / & deyȝneþ not vs to her e. These lines are omitted from beta. Þe gystys for her e giltys / he for -g riynt hem alle. & ȝit no wrecche in þis world / is war be oþ ir. Ne for drede of þe deþ / w it h -draw et h he m fra m p riȝde. Ne plentevo usere to þe por e / as pur e charite wolde. But in gaynesse & glotenye / þei for -glutte he m -selue. & breke no breed to þe begg ere / as þe book he m techiþ. Frange esurienti pane m tuu m & þe mor e he wynnyþ / & welt / of welthis & rycchesse. Euer e as he F.7.90: Alpha is responsible for "Euere as he." Beta manuscripts have And. loondiþ F.7.90: loondiþ is a nonce-word, apparently meaning "come into possession of land." Cf. OE (ge)landod and MED, s. v. londed ppl. adj. (1). The change began with a homeographic error in which <r> and <n> were confused. Bx reads "And lordeþ in londes ...." of lond e / þe lasse good he deliþ. But Thobye techiþ not so / takþ hede ȝee ryche. Hou þe byble book / of hy m beriþ wytnesse. Si tibi sit copia habundanter t ribue. Si autem exiguu m  illud i mp ertire libent er stude. Who -so haþ myche good / spende it manly seyþ thobye. & who þ at lytil weldiþ / rewle hy m þ ere -after. For we have no lettr e / of our e lyf / hou lo nge þ at we dur e. Swyche lovely lessonys / lordis sholde here. & how he myghte most meyghne manly [/] manly fyȝnde. Nout to faren as a fytheler e / for to fyȝnde festis. & ben hoomly at her e hows / & haty n his owe. Ful elenge is þe halle / ech day of þe wyke. Þer e þe lord ne þe lady / ne lykiþ not in to sytte. Nou haþ ech renke / a rewle / to ety n by hy m -selue. In a p rive p arlour / for pore me nnys sake. Or in a Chambr e / w it h chymne / & leve h is cheef hall e. Þ at was maad for men / melys to etyn Inne. & al to sparen þe pownd es / þ at spendy n shal a -noþ ir. I have herd ryȝt hyȝe me n / etynge at þe table. Carpid as þey clerkis were / of c rist & hise myghtis. & leyȝd defawte on þe fadir / þ at formed F.7.111: The <d> is perhaps a figment of my imagination (HND), for whatever the scribe attempted to squeeze in before the hole in the manuscript is unclear. vs all e. & carpedy n a -gey n clerkis / swiche crabbed e F.7.112: An otiose curl is added to initial <c>. word is. Why  wolde o ur savio ur suffr e / swich a worm i n blysse. Þ at by -gilede þe wo mma n / & þe ma n after. Þorghȝ wiche wilis & word is / þei wenty n boþe to hell e. & all e her e seed / for her e sy nne / þe same deþ suffr eden. They lyen in her e loor e / þ at þese word is meven. F.7.117: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Here lyeþ youre lore þise lordes gynneþ dispute." For þe clerkys þ us v us kennyþ / of c ristes owne gospel. Filius no n portabit i niq uitate m pat ris . n ec p ater i niq uitate m filij. F.7.119: F alone completes the quotation. Bx ends with " patris &c. " Why sholde / þ at nou be / for þe werkis of Adam. F.7.121: A later hand inserted a pointing finger in the left margin. Our e soulis / Ragman rende F.7.121: F's a-verse is unique. Bx reads "Roten and torende." The black underlining is by one of the later hands. / resou n wolde it neu ere. Vnusquisq ue . on us suu m portabit F.7.122: Alpha has the word order " onus suum portabit ." Beta manuscripts have " portabit onus suum &c. " Swiche mocyonys F.7.123: The scribe may have intended motyonys. Bx reads motyues. þei meve / þo maist ris in her e glorie. & make men i n mysbeleve / þ at mewsen on her e word is. Ymagenatyf her -aft erward e / shal answer e to ȝo ur p urpos. Sey nt Austyn to swiche arguer es / he telliþ hem þ is teme. Non plus sapere  qua m oportet sap ere. Wilneþ neu ere to wete / why þ at god wolde. Suffr e sory sathan / his seed to by -gyle. But be -leveþ leelly / in holy chirche loore. & p raye god / of p ardou n / & do penau nce i n þi lyve. Þ at of his mychil m ercy / he a -me nde ȝou heere. For all e þo / þ at wilneþ to wete / þe weyȝes of hevene. F.7.134: A later reader has drawn a pointing hand in the left margin and perhaps the same person has underlined in black ink the phrase "in his ers." I wold e his hond / wer e in h is ers / & & [his] elbowe after. F.7.134: F uniquely has hond and elbowe in place of Bx's eiȝe and fynger. Þ at eu ere wilneþ to wete / why þ at god wolde. Suffre sory sathan / h is seed to be -gyle. Er Iudas þe Iewh / Iesu to be -traye. For al was as he wolde F.7.138: F's reading is from alpha. Beta manuscripts have "þow woldest." / be he worchepid eu ere. F.7.138: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "yworshiped be þow." & al worþ as he will e / what -eu ere we dispute. & þ us w it h swiche Auelonys / to blynde me n þey axe F.7.140: F's reading is unique. Bx reads as follows: "And þo þat vseþ þise hauylons to blende mennes wittes." What is dowel fram dobet . now deef mote þei woxe. Sytthe þei wilne to wete / wiche þey ben alle. If he lyve in þe lyȝue F.7.143: Kane-Donaldson read lyȝne. / þ at longeþ to Dowel F.7.143: The rubricating scribe here and in the immediately following lines in the words "Dowel ... Dobet ... Dobest" wrote over the original black ink so as almost to cover it entirely. We have treated these as rubrications rather than as touched in red. I dar been his borwhȝ F.7.144: Alpha is responsible for the omission of bolde before borwhȝ. / in Dobet komeþ he neu ere. Þey Dobest drawe / on hy m / day aft er oþir. A Nd whan wit was war / how F.7.146: Alpha is responsible for how. Beta manuscripts and C manuscripts have what. dame Stodye tolde. He be -cam so co nfus / he cowhde vneþ es loke. & wex as deef / as dor e -nail / & drow hy m on syȝde. & for no carpynge y cowhde / ne knelynge on g rounde. I myghte no [gete] no grey n / of hise grete wittys. But al lawynge he lowted e / & lokede on dame stodye In sygne / þ at y sholde / be -sekne hir e / of g race. & whan y was war of his will e / to h is wif ga n y lowte. & seyd e Mercy Madame / ȝour e ma n shal y worthe. As longe as y lyve / boþe late & rathe. & F.7.156: Alpha and nearly all C manuscripts have &. Beta and A manuscripts lack it. for to wirche ȝour e will e / whil my lyf endureþ. So ȝee kenne me kendely / to knowe what ys Dowel . For þy meeknesse ma n q uod she / & for þy myȝlde speche. I shal kenne þe to my n cosyn / þ at klergye is named. He haþ weddid a wif / w it h -Inne þ is sixe wykis. & she is sybbe þe [to] þe vij ars / Sc ripture F.7.161: The rubricating scribe wrote over the original black ink so as almost to cover it entirely. We have treated it as rubrication rather than as touched in red. is hir e name. F.7.161: Note the drawing in the right margin. & þey two / as y hope / & þ ou do aft er my techyng e. Þey wil wisshe þe to Dowel / I dar it vndirtake. Þan was y fayn / as foul on fair morwe. & gladdere þa n a glema n / þ at gold gadred at festis. F.7.165: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þat gold haþ to ȝifte." & asked hir e þe hyȝe wey / wer e Clergye dwellyd e. Tel me q uod y  su m tokne / for tyme ys þ at y wende. Aske þe wey q uod she þo / hens vnto Suffre. F.7.168: The rubricating scribe wrote over the original black ink so as almost to cover it entirely. We have treated it as rubrication rather than as touched in red. Boþe in wele & in woo / if þ at þ ou wilt leerne. & rayke forþ þoru rycchesse / but reste not þ er -Inne. For if þ ou be cu mbred þ er -w it h / to c rist F.7.171: F's reading is unique. Bx reads clergie. The error may lie in alpha, since R has cherche. comest þ ou neu ere. Be war of þe Lycourous lawnde / þ at Leccherye is hote. F.7.172: Alpha is responsible for is hote. Beta manuscripts have hatte. Leve it on þi left half / a large myle or more. Þan shalt þ ou kome to a court / keep wel þy n tu nge. Fram loselys / & lythir speche / & lykerouse dry nkis. Þer e shalt þ ou see / Sobrete / ful symple of bery nge. F.7.176: Alpha is responsible for berynge. Beta manuscripts have speche. & eu ery wyȝt be in will e / his wit þe / to shewe. & þ us shalt þ ou kome kome [to] Clergyȝe / þ at can manye þy ngis. & telle hy m þis tokne / how y sette hy m to skole. & also grete wel h is wif / þ at y wroot hir e bookys. & sette hir e Sapiense [to] Sapiense / & to þe sawt er glose. & Logyȝk y lerned hir e / & þe lawys manye. & all e þe Musones in Musyk / y made hir e to knowe. Plato þ at poete / y pitte hy m fyrst to booke. & Aristotle & oþ ire F.7.185: Beta manuscripts have mo after oþire, but alpha and nearly all C manuscripts omit it. / to Argue / hem y tawhte. & g ramer e for gerlys / y gart first wrytyn. & beet hem w it h a baleyȝs / but þei wold e leerne. & to all e kenne c raftys / y cou ntrefetid e toolys. Of Capenteris Ca[r]penteris & kerverys / & cu mpases to Maso nis. I lerned he m to levele be lyne / þey y looke dy mme. But Theologye þ at teneþ me / ten skor e tymes. Þe Mor e y mvse þ ere -Inne / þe Mystyer e it semeþ. & þe depper e F.7.193: The comparative form here reflects normal shortening of the vowel before a doubled consonant. y delue / þe derker e me þynkeþ. It is no sciense for -soþe / for to sawhtle F.7.194: Alpha is responsible for sawhtle "make peace, reconcile." Beta manuscripts and the A version have sotile "reflect upon, contemplate." The b-verse is revised in C. Inne. A ful lethy þy ng it wer e / if þ at love ne were. But for it is . led be love / y love it þe bettr e. For þer e þ at love is ledere / ne lakkede neu ere grace. þ erfore love þ ou leelly / love / if þ ou þy nke to dowel. F.7.198: F's reading is unique. Beta reads "Loke þow loue lelly if þee likeþ dowel." Alpha may have been corrupt, for R has "Loue þow loue lelly if þow thenke dowel." & Dobet & Dobe st / þey ben of lovis kynne. & to þis same sentence / y seyȝ in Catou n onys. F.7.200: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "In ooþer Science it seiþ I seiȝ it in Catoun." Qvi similat v erbis F.7.201: F omits " nec corde est fidus amicus ." Tu q uoq ue fac simile / sic ars deludit ur arte. Who -so gloseþ / as gylour es doon / goo fram her e sawis & so shalt þ ou fals folk / & feyþles by -gyle. Þis is Catonys kenny ng e / to clergonys þ at leerne. But Theologye techiþ not so / who þ at takþ heede. He kenneþ vs þe cont rarie / a -gey n Catonys wordis. For he bidd is vs be brethery n / & bydd e for our e enemyȝs. & love hem / þ at lyȝen on vs / & lene hem F.7.209: The scribe initially wrote leem, but overwrote the first two characters to make an <h>. whan he m ned et h. & doon good / a -gey n evil / god hy m -selue so hootiþ. Du m te mp us est F.7.211: Alpha is responsible for est . Beta manuscripts have habemus . op erem ur bonu m ad o mnes / maxi me aut em ad domesticos fidei Poul p rechede þe peple / þ at p arfyȝtnesse lovede. To doon good / for goddis love / & gyve hem þ at aske it. & namely to swiche me n / þ at shew et h F.7.214: Alpha is responsible for sheweth. Beta manuscripts have suwen. our e beleve. & all e þ at lakke F.7.215: Alpha lacks beta's vs after lakke, an omission shared by Cr. or lyȝe on vs / our e lord bidd is vs love he m. & not to gr eve he m þ at greveþ vs / It is not godd is will e. F.7.216: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "god hymself forbad it." Michi vindicta m . & ego ret ribua m / god seid e hy m -selue. F.7.217: F smooths the inclusion of this tag by adding a b-verse not found in Bx which is a relict of the entirely revised b-verse in the preceding line. An otiose curl appears over the <u> in selue. For -þy  loke þ ou love as longe / as þ ou lengyst heere. For þer e is is [no] salue F.7.219: F's salue is unique. Bx reads science. vndir su nne / so sou ereyn for þe soule. But Ast ronomye is hard þy ng / & evil for to knowe. Geomet riȝe & Geomesye / is gynful of spechis. Who þynkiþ wirche w it h þo two / he thryviþ ful late. For sorceryȝe is þe souer eyn sekt / þ at to þo sciencis lo ngiþ. Ȝit ar e þer e fybycchis / of fele folkys makyng e. Exp erimentis & Alkenemyȝe / þe peple to disseyve. If þ ou þy nke to dowel / deyle þ ou þer -w it h neu ere. & all e þese sciencis y my -selue / y -sotild e & ordeyned e & fond he m formest / folk to disseyve. Now telle Clergye þese toknys / & to sc ript ure aft er. Þ at þey co nseyle þe kendely / for to knowe Dowel . F.7.230: The b-verse is owed to alpha. Beta manuscripts have "to knowe what is dowel." Grant m ercy q uod y Madame / & Meekly hir e grette. F.7.231: F omits the following line from Bx: "And wente wightly my (or a-) wey wiþoute moore lettyng." Tyl y com to Clergye / cowhde y neu ere stynte. & grete þe goode man / as þe Ientil lady F.7.233: F's reading is unique. Bx probably read with R "þe gode wif." Beta witnesses have Studie. me tawhte. & aft erward e his wif / y worchepede he m boþe. & tolde he m þe toknes / þ at me tawht wore. Was neu ere gome vpon g rounde / syþ god þ is world made. Fair e Fair[er]e vndir -fongy n / ne frenloker e at ese a tese. As was my -selue soþly / as soone as he wiste. Þ at y y [was of] wittys hous / & w it h his wif dame stodye. Þa nne y seyȝde hem soþly / þ at y was sent þidir For Dowel / & Dobet / & Dobest to leerne. It is comou n q uod Clergye / on holy chirche beleve. W it h all e þe artyklis / of þe feiþ / þ at falle to be knowe. Þ ou must beleve leelly / boþe lewed e me n & lered. Vpon þe grete god / þ at by -gynny ng F.7.245: An otiose tilde appears over gyn. hadd e neu ere. & on þe soþfast sone / þ at savede ma nkyȝnde. Fram þe dedly deeþ / & þe develis powher. Þoruh þe helpe of þe holy gost / þe wiche is of boþe. & þey ben þr e p ersones / but not in plur el nu mbr e. For al is but o god / & ech is god / by his one. Deus pat er / d eus filius / d eus sp irit us s anc tus. Non tres dij  sed vnus est deus. F.7.252: This line appears only in F, supplementing the preceding line from the Athanasian creed. God is þe fadir / god is þe sone / god ys þe holy goost. Makere of Mankende / & of al þe Mounde boþe. Sey nt Austyn þ at holy man / here -of he F.7.255: Alpha and L have he, which is lacking in other beta witnesses and in C. made bokis & ordeynede hy m -selue / to sadde vs in beleve. Who was his autour e / but þe foure Ewangelyes. F.7.257: An otiose stroke is written across the <l>. How c rist seyde hy m -selue so / þe wang elye beriþ witnesse. Ego in patre / & pater in me F.7.259: Alpha lacks beta's est after me.  & qui F.7.259: Alpha by eyeskip lacks beta's videt after qui. me videt  & patrem meum videt. F.7.259: F uniquely reads videt after meum. However, note that a number of C manuscripts read: " Ego in patre & pater in me est; Et qui me vidit patrem meum vidit qui in celis est &c. " Alle þe Clerkis vndir c rist / ne cu n þis a -soyle. But it long et h to be -leve / to lewede þ at will e Dowel . For hadde neu ere ȝit freke wit / þe feyþ to dispute. Ne ma n sholde have no m ercy F.7.263: Alpha is responsible for erroneous mercy. Beta manuscripts have merite. / myghte sy nnys F.7.263: F uniquely reads synnys. Bx reads it. be p revid. Fides non habet meritum  Vbi humana rac io prebet exp erime ntu m. Þa nne is Dobet to suffre / for þy sowle helthe. Al þ at þe book bidd is þe / by holy chirche techyng & þ at is mychil by godd is myȝht / for m ercyes sake Looke þ ou werche þy werk / as þe woord shewiþ. F.7.269: F omits the following line from Bx: "Swich as þow semest in siȝte be in assay yfounde." Apare quod es  aut F.7.270: Alpha is responsible for aut. Beta manuscripts have vel. esto quod apares. & lete no -body be þy n berynge / her e be by -gylyd. But be þ ou swich in þy sowle / as þ ou semest w it h -owte. & þa nne is Dobest bold / to blame þe gelty. Sytthe þ ou seest þy -selue / in þy n soule klene. But blame þ ou neu ere a -noþ ir / If þ ou be blame -worthy. Si culpare velis / culpabilis te e sse cauebis. Dogma tuu m sordet cu m te tua culpa remordet. God in þe gospel / grevously repreviþ. Þo þ at lakken ony lyf / & lakkys have hem -selue. Q uid co nsideras festucam in oculo fratris tui  trabem aute m in oculo tuo non vides. Why mevis þ ou þy mood for a mote / in þy broþ ir yȝe. Whan a beem is in þyn / þ at ablendiþ þy -selue. Þe wiche letteþ þe to loke / lasse oiþ er mor e. These two lines are uniquely transposed in F. Eice p rimu m t rabem de oculo tuo. I co nsayle ech blynd bosard / do boote to hy m -selue. Boþe p relatis & p riour es / sholde pu nshe her e sogettis. F.7.286: F substitutes this line in place of the following line from Bx: "For Abbotes and for Priours and for alle manere prelates." & p arsonys & p arshe p restis / sholde p reche & teche. All e maner e of me n / be hem / myghte a -me nde. Þis tixt was y -told ȝow / Be war er ȝee teche. Þ at ȝee wer e swych as ȝee teche / to salue wel oþ ire. For godd is woord / wolde not be lost / for yt worchiþ eu ere. If it a -vayle þe comou ne not / it may a -vaile ȝo ur -selue. / [¶] But it semeþ not F.7.293: Alpha is responsible for the negative. Beta manuscripts have now. soþly / to þe world is syghte. Þ at godd is goddis [word] worchiþ owt [no]t / on lernede ne on lewede. But i n swich man er / as mark / meviþ in þe gospel. Du m cecus ducit cecu m  ambo in fouea m cadu nt. A lewed ma n may lyȝkne ȝou / þe beem lyȝþ in ȝour e yȝes. & þe festewe is fally n / for ȝour e owe defawte. Fram all e man ere men / þorhȝ manshede preestis. F.7.299: F omits the following lines from Bx: The bible bereþ witnesse þat al þe folk of Israel Bittre abouȝte þe giltes of two badde preestes. / [¶] Looke Offyn & Fynees / for her e coueytyse. For Archa dei mys -happede / hely brak his nekke. Ȝe correctour es claw et h her e -on / b ut correcte first ȝo ur -selue. & þa nne may ȝe soþly seyȝ / as d auid seiþ i n þe sawhter. Existimasti iniq ue quod ero tui similis . arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam. F.7.305: The odd mark consisting of a semi-circle with three radiating lines above it appears here as well as on fol. 1 v and 27 r. & þa nne shull e borel clerkis / be a -basshid ȝou to blame. F.7.305: Alpha is responsible for this line. Beta manuscripts have "And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed to blame yow or to greue." & carpen not as þei carpe nou / to calle ȝou coward es. F.7.306: F's revision of "doumbe houndes" to cowardes probably reflects the loss of the following Latin line from his exemplar: " Canes non valentes latrare ." & drede to wratthe ȝou / ȝour e Manshepe to lette. & be p rester e at ȝour e p rayer e / þa n for a pou nd of noblis. & al for ȝour e holynesse / have ȝee þis in herte. A -mo ngis ryghtful r elygo us / þ is rewle sholde be holde. These lines are not attested in beta. / [¶] Sey nt Gregory þe gr ete clerk / & þe goode pope. Of Relygyonys r ewle / he reersiþ in hise bookis. & seyþ in exsomple / þ at þeyhȝ F.7.313: þeyhȝ, "they." sholde do þ ere -after. Whan fysshis faile þe flood / & þe fressh wat er. Þey dyȝen for drowhte / whan þei dreyȝe lyȝe. Ryght so q uod Gregory / religiou n trollyþ. It steruyþ & stynkþ / & stelyþ lord is almess e Þ at owt of Couent & cloistr e / coueyty n to lybbe. For if hevene be in erthe / & ese to þe soule. It ys in cloystr e / or in skole / be fele skylys y fyȝnde. For in Cloistr e comeþ no ma n / to fyȝhte / ne to chyȝde. But al is buxu mnesse F.7.322: An otiose curl appears over the <n>. & bookis / to rede & to leerne. / [¶] In skole is a -noþ ir skyle / for skorn but he leerne. F.7.323: F has extensively revised the line, perhaps in response to problems he perceived in the text of alpha. Beta manuscripts read: "In scole þere is scorn but if a clerk wol lerne." R has "In scole þere is skile and scorne but ȝif he lerne." & love & lykynge ys þ ere gret / for ech man loveþ oþ ir. But now now [is] relygyou n a ryder e / a re nner e be stretys. A ledere of Lovedayes / & a lond bygger e. A p riker e on palfreys / fram maner to maner. W it h an heep of hou nd is at h is hers / as he a lord wer e & but if his knave knele / þ at shal h is cupp e brynge. He lowryþ loþly on hy m / & lythirly hy m thretyþ. Lytil hadde lord is to done / to ȝeeve her e londis f ram hem. A later hand has put wavy brackets around this passage in the left margin. To relygious þ at have no r ewþe / þei it r egne on þe awt er. In places þer e þey p arsonys be / be hem -selue at ese a tese. On poor e haue þey no pyte / & þ at ys her e pur e charge. F.7.334: F uniquely reads charge. Bx reads charite. Alpha is responsible for pure, which is absent in beta. C has "puyre chartre ( or charite)." For þey lety n hem -selue lord is / her e lond is lyȝn so brode. F.7.335: The pointing hand in the left margin is drawn in the same ink as the bracket from 7.331-348. But þer e shal come n a kyng / & co nstreyne þe relygious. & beete ȝow as þe book seyþ / for brekynge of ȝour e rewle. & a -me ndyn Monyalis / & Mu nkys & Chanonys. & pytte hem to her e penau nce / ad p ristinu m statu m ire . & Baronys shull e bety n hem / þorghȝ Beat us vir techy ng. & sey n her e barnys cleyme of ȝow / & blame ȝou foule. Hij in currib us & hij ineq uis in equis . ip si obligati s unt & cecid erunt. F.7.342: F alone among B witnesses supplies the last two words in this quotation from Psalms 19:8-9. They also appear in Cx. / [¶] & þa nne Freris in her e Freyto ur / shull e fyȝnde n a keyȝe. Of Constanci us coffres / In wiche ys þe catel. Þ at Gregories goode god F.7.345: R's gode suggests that the substitution of go(o)de for god occurred in alpha, though it appears, probably coincidentally, in G and Hm as well. Note that alliteration fails in the b-verse in all B manuscripts. children / have evele dispendid. Þa n F.7.346: The scribe, influenced by the preceding line, initially wrote a superscript <t> and corrected it to make a tilde. shal þe Abbot of Abyndou n / & al h is isseu for eu ere. Have a knok of a kyng / & Incurable þe wou nde. Þ at þis is soþ / seeke ȝee / þ at ofte haue seen þe byble. Q uomodo cessauit exactor q uieuit t ributu m . Cont riuit d ominus bac ul um i mpior um & v irga m d ominanciu m . cedenciu m plaga i nsanabili. But erst er þ at kyng come / Caym shal a -wake. But Dowel shal dynge hy m dou n / & dist roye h is powher. F.7.351: A later hand provides a pointing hand and decorative drawings in the bottom margin. Þa nne is Dowel / & Dobet q uod y  D ominus & knyght y ho lde knyght -ho[d]e F.7.352:Other B witnesses read " Dominus and knyȝthode." The error could have occurred at any point in the transmission from alpha, but as an apparent attempt to restore sense, it is probably the work of the immediate scribe or of another scribe between him and the F-Redactor. I wil not skorne q uod sc ripture / but skryvenys / lyȝen. Kynghod & knyghthod / be not in þese dayes. F.7.354: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "by noȝt I kan awayte." For þey helpe no ma n to heuene -ward e / so realte ou er -re nneþ. F.7.355: F makes one line of two, perhaps intentionally. Bx reads Helpeþ noȝt to heueneward oone heris ende Ne richesse riȝt noȝt ne Reautee of lordes. / [¶] Poul previþ it i npossible / þ at ryche me n haven hevene. Salomon seiþ also / þ at syluer god most hateþ. F.7.357: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þat siluer is worst to louye." F.7.358: A cross appears in the left margin. Nichil iniqui us  quam amare peccuniam. Catou n kenneþ vs to coueyte it nowht / but in gret nede. Dilige denariu m  s ed p arce diligere forma m Þese Pat riachis Patria[r]chis & p roph etis / & oþere poetis manye. Þey wryty n to wissen vs / to wilne to no rycchesse. Þey p reyse wel pou erte / þe apostlys ber e witnesse. Þ at þey have herytage of hevene/ by ryȝt & be trewþe. For þer e may no ma n ryght cleyme / but of godd is g race. F.7.365: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Ther riche men [(beta) or man (alpha)] no riȝt may cleyme but of ruþe and grace." / [¶] Contra q uod y  be c rist  þ at clause can y rep reve. & p reve it be Pet er / & Poul boþe. Þey þ at been baptyzed be saaf / be þey ryche or pore. Þ at is in extremys q uod sc ripture / of sarsynes & Iewis. Þey may be savid so / & þ at is our e be -leve. Þ at a c ristene F.7.371: F's reading is unique. Other B manuscripts have vncristene. ma n in þ at caas / may c ristne an heþene. & for his leel by -leve / whan he his lyf tyneþ. Shal have þe herytage of hevene / as ony ma n y -c ristned. / [¶] B ut to c ristne a ma n / w it h -outy n mor e / he may not wy nne hevene. For c rist for c ristene me n dyede / & co nfermede þe lawe. Þ at who -so F.7.376: An otiose mark appears above the first <o>. wolde / & wilnede / w it h c rist vp a -ryse. F.7.376: F omits the following line from Bx: " Si cum christo surrexistis &c. " He sholde love hy m leelly / & þe lawe fulfylle. F.7.377: F omits the following line from Bx: "That is loue þi lord god leuest aboue alle." & aft er all e c riste nne c reat uris / in comou n ech a -lyche. & þus it longiþ to love c rist / þ at be -leven to be savid. / [¶] & þus but we doon i n dede / er þe day of dyȝeng It shal sytty n vs ful sour / þe syluer þ at we kepyn For our e bak mote be bety n / we cloþe no begger e nakyd. F.7.382: The scribe misunderstood his exemplar. Bx reads "And our bakkes þat moþeeten be and seen beggeris go naked." We can see in R's "mote eten ben" the origins of F's error. & delyȝte vs in wyȝnys stro nge F.7.383: F's reading is unique. Other B witnesses have "Or delit vs in wyn and wildefowel." / & whot he m in defauhte. For eu ery c ristene c reat ure / sholde be kyȝnde to oþir. & sytthe heþene to helpe / in hope of a -me ndeme nt. God bydd is hyȝe & lowe / no ma n sholde hurte oþ ir. F.7.386: F omits the following line from Bx: "And seiþ slee noȝt þat semblable is to myn owene liknesse." But y sende þe su m tokne / god seyþ Non mechaberis . God seiþ  y slee slee not / but suffr e / & al is for þe beste. For Michi vindictam  & ego retribuam. F.7.389: This line is not attested in beta manuscripts, but it appears in A. For y pu nshe in p urgatorie / or in þe pit of helle. Ech ma n for hise mysdedis / but my m ercy / it lette. This is a long lessou n q uod y  & lytyl y am þe wisere. Wher e Dowel is / or Dobet / derkely ȝe me shewe. Manye ta lys ȝee te lle / þ at T heo logye lyȝeþ. F.7.394: F's reading is unique. Other B manuscripts have lerneþ. Þ at y man maad was / & my n name is entryd. In þe legende of lyf / longe / er y bor e were. Or ell is y -wryty n for wikkydnesse / as holy writ telliþ. F.7.397: Alpha reads telliþ. Beta manuscripts have the unmetrical witnesseþ. Nemo ascendit ad celu m  nisi qui descendit de celo. / [¶] For i be -leve on our e lord / & on no lettrur e bettre. For salomo n þe sage / þ at sapience tawhte. Good God gaf hy m g race of wit / & of all e goodis aft er. To rewle his rewme wel / & hy m ryche make. F.7.402: This line appears only in alpha in the B tradition, but versions of it appear in both A and C. He demede wel & wyȝsly / as holy writ tellyþ. Boþe Arystotle & he / who wisshede me n bettre. & nou Maist ris þoru godd is m ercy / teche me n & p reche. Of here word is þey wisshe vs / for wisest in her e tyme. & al holy cherche / holde hem da mpned boþe. If y sholde wirche be her e werkis / to wynne me hevene. Þ at for her e werkis & her e F.7.409: Alpha is responsible for the second here. Beta manuscripts lack it. wit / þey wone nou i n peyȝne. Þan wrouht y vnwyȝsly / what -so -eu ere ȝee p reche. But of her e wittis in fayþ / lytil ferly y have. Þowh her e goost be vn -g racio us / god for to plese. For ma n F.7.413: Alpha is responsible for singular man. Beta manuscripts have plural men. F alone omits many before man. on þis moolde / moor e set in herte. F.7.413: Alpha and C have singular herte. Beta manuscripts have plural hertes. On erly F.7.414: erly, "earthly." This spelling appears also at 11.190 and 16.151. The scribe elsewhere writes erthely (4.201, 15.96), and his usual form is erthe (38 instances to 3 of erþe). Though F alone among B witnesses has a form of erþly at this point, several C manuscripts read worldliche. See A. V. C. Schmidt, Piers Plowman: A Parallel-Text Edition .... C.xi.232. good / þa n on god / for -þy  g race he m fayleþ. At her e moost myscheef / whan lyf þei shull e lete. As salomo n & oþ ire F.7.416: Alpha is responsible for the omission of the alliterating word swiche before oþire as well as for the change in word order. Beta witnesses have "As Salomon dide and swiche oþere." dede / þ at sheweden g rete wisdom But her e werkis / as seyþ þe book / was eu ere þe cont rarye. For -þy  wise wittyd men / & wel lett rid e clerkis. As þey seyn he m -selue / ful selde do þei þ ere -aft er. F.7.419: F omits the following line from Bx: " Super cathedram Moysi &c. " / [¶] But y wene it worþ of manye / as was i n Noes tyme. Þo þ at he shoop h is shyp / of shyȝdis / & of boordys. Was no wryghte savid aft er / ne no nir werkman. But beestis & brydd is / in bynnys y -closed. F's reading is unique. Bx reads as follows: But briddes and beestes and þe blissed Noe And his wif wiþ hise sones and also hire wyues. & Noe & his wif / weryn þe ship w it h -Inne. & her e sones / & her e wyvis / wery n all e to -gydr e. But of wryghtis / þ at it wrouhte / was no n y -savid. God leve it far e not so nou / be folk þe feyþ techiþ. F.7.427: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "God lene ( or leue) it fare noȝt so bi folk þat þe feiþ techeþ." Of holy chirche / þ at herborw is / & godd is hous to save. He shelde vs fram shame þ ere -Inne / as þe ship dide beestis. & all e þe me n þ at made it / a -mydd is þe flood wery n dr enklyd. / [¶] Þe Conclusiou n of þ is clause / of curaturis is þe meny ng. Þey be clepid Carpenter es / to saven c ristis beestis. F.7.432: F omits the following line from Bx: " Homines & iumenta saluabis domine &c. " At domes -day / þe flood worþ / of wat ur & feer at onys a tonys. These three lines are attested only in alpha. Versions of 433 and 435 appear in C. For -þy y co nsey le ȝou kler kis / of ho ly c hirc he F.7.434: Alpha is responsible for chirche. Beta has correctly alliterating kirke. wryg htis. Werke ȝee / as ȝee seen wr ete / o lest ȝe worþ y -dr enklid. For F.7.436: Alpha is responsible for For. Beta manuscripts and both A and C omit it. on good fryday / y fyȝnde / a felou n was y -savid. Þ at hadde lyvid al his lyf / w it h lesyngis & þefte. & for he be -knew it on þe crois / & to c rist shrof hy m. He was su nner e savid / þa n sey n Ioh an þe Baptist. Or ysaak F.7.440: F uniquely reads ysaak. Bx has Adam. / or ysaye / or onye of þe p roph etis. Þ at leyȝen lowe w it h lucyfer / manye longe ȝeer es. Þ at robber e was y -ra nsomed / rather e þa n þey all e. W it h -outy n penau nce in p urgatorie / to p erpetuel blysse. & also Marie Maudelyn / what wo mman dide worse. Or þan dyde d auid . þ at vries deþ co nspired. Or Poul þe apostle / þat no pyte hadde. F.7.446: Alpha omits the following line from Bx: "Muche cristene kynde to kille to deþe." & ben nou as sovereynes / w it h sey ntis in hevene. &ire þ at wrouhty n werst her e / be heyest nou i n hevene. F.7.448: F's reading is unique. Other B witnesses have "Tho þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest in world þo þei were." & þo þ at wyȝsly wordede / & wrete manye bookis. & hadd e wit & wisdom / w it h da mpned soulis dwelle. F.7.450: F omits the following line from Bx: "That Salomon seiþ I trowe be sooþ and certein of vs alle." S u nt iusti atq ue sapientes . & op era eor um i n manu d ei s unt. Su mme be witty & wel lyvynge / but her e werkis be hedde. In þe hond is of god / for he whot al the sothe. Wher he worþ a -lowid / for love of hise werkys. Or ell is for his evil wil / þoruh envye of his h erte. He worþ a -lowid of his lyf / fro lyþ irnesse is knowe þe goode. F.7.456: F omits the following line from Bx: "And wherby wiste men which is whit if alle þyng blak were." For who  wer e a good ma n / but þer e wery n su mme wikke. For -þy  lyve we furþ w it h lythir me n / y leve fewe be goode. For quantz oporet opor[t]et vin F.7.459: Alpha is responsible for the form vin. Beta manuscripts have vient. en place . yl ne ad q ue pati . & he þ at may al a -me nde / have mercy on vs all e. For þe sothest word þ at god eu ere spak / was Nemo bon us . Clergye þo of c ristis mowþ / come ndid was þan lyte. For he seyde to sey nt Pet er . / & to hise postlis alle. F.7.463: F's b-verse is unique. Bx has the unmetrical reading "and to swiche as he louede." D u m steteritis ante reges & p resides nolite cogitare. Þeyhȝ ȝee kome by -fore kyngis / & clerkis of þe lawe. Beþ not a -basht / for y shal be / buxu m in ȝour e mowthis. & gyve ȝow wit at F.7.467: Alpha and L read at. Beta manuscripts have and. will e / & konynge to co ncluden. All e hem / þ at a -gey n ȝow / godd is lawe dispute. Dauid makþ me nciou n / wher e he spekþ of kyngis. Þer e myghte no kyng ou er -come hy m / by cony ng e of speche. But wit & wisdom / whan euer e [n]euere F.7.471: Misinterpretation of elision appears to have caused this error. Whan, "won." Cf. Wan, "when" in the following line. / þe Mayȝstryȝe. Wan man was / at myschef / w it h godd is g race plentyvo us. Þe dowtyest doctour / & dyvyno ur of dyvinite. F.7.473: The scribe has written VII in red with red flourishes in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. Was sey nt Austyȝn / þe olde / & heyȝest of þe four e. He seyþ þus in a s ermou n / y seyȝ it wrety n ones. E cce ip si ydiote rapiu nt celu m  ubi nos sapientes in i nferno mergimur. Þis is to meene to meene [englyshȝ] me n / neyþ ir mor e ne lasse. Þer e are noone su nnere ravisshid / fram þe ryght be -leve. Þan are þese kony nge Clerkys / þ at know F.7.479: Alpha is responsible for knowe. Beta manuscripts have konne. F alone has fele for Bx's manye. fele bookys. Ne none su nnere y -savid / ne sader e / of by -leve. Þa nne trewe plowhme n ben / & poor e comou n peple. As sowteres & shepp erdys / & swiche lewede Ioppis. Swiche p ersen w it h her e pater nost er / þe paleyȝs of hevene. & þey passyn þoru p urgatorie / at her e lyvis dep arty ng. In -to þe pleyn p aradyȝs / þoruhȝ her e pur e by -leve. Þo þ at in p arfyȝt lyf here / & in clennesse lyvede. Men knowe su mme Clerkis / þ at þey haue c ursed þe tyme. Þat eu ere þey knewe mor e / þan credo i n deu m patre m . & p rincipaly þe F.7.489: Alpha is responsible for þe. Beta manuscripts have hir. pat er nost er / manye have þis dysyred. I see ensamplis my -selue / & so may many a -noþ ir. Þ at me n þ at s eruyn Lordis / fallyn selden in reragys. But But [þo] þ at kepyn her e catel / by her e a -cou ntys þey fall e. F.7.492: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "clerkes and Reues." Ryght so Lewed me n / of a lytyl conynge. F.7.493: Alpha reads conynge. Beta manuscripts have knowyng. Selde falle so foule / & so feer in synne. As Clerkis of holy kyrke / þ at kepy n c ristis tresor. Þe wiche is mannys soule / as seiþ godd is gospel. I te vos in vinea m mea m  & q uod iustu m fuerit . d abitur vob is. F.7.497: F alone completes the quotation. Bx's text ends with " vineam meam ." Þanne sc riptur e skornede me / & a skele me tolde. For me lakkede latyn / lyght by me he F.7.499: he: Manuscripts WHmCrLM read she; others omit the pronoun as do Kane and Donaldson. An unlikely form of the feminine nominative singular in this scribe's dialect, it is here a relict from alpha which in turn reflects Langland's own usage. See F14.156 for an instance in which RF have he for "she" and where alliteration shows that the reading with an "h-" form of the pronoun is original. Cf. F8.104, where F uses he to refer to Scripture. See also M. L. Samuels, "Dialect and Grammar," in A Companion to Piers Plowman, ed. John A. Alford (Berkeley and Los Angeles: U of California P, 1988), p. 109. sette. & seyde m ulti m ulta sciu nt . & seip sos nesciu nt. Þo for sorwe y wepte / & was wrothȝ of hir e speche. & of myn wynkynge y a -wook / & wondrede þa nne These six lines appear only in F. Of all e þe dremes þ at y drempte / so dau ngerous þei wer e. & t urned me on þe oþ ir syde / for to take my n eese. E xpl icit Passus Septim us de Dowel. I ncipit Passus Octau us A Nd F.8.1: The ornamental capital is written and flourished in green and red ink. as y lay & lookede / vpon þe lau nde grene. I þouhte on þe Metelis / hou m erveylo us þei wer e. Tyl sodynly hevynesse / on slepe brouht me þa nne. A -no n a m erveylous metelys / me tydde to dr eme. F.8.4: The defective b-verse is attributable to alpha. Beta witnesses read "mette me þanne." For y was ravisshid F.8.5: F uniquely omits "riȝt þere" after ravisshid. For at the beginning of the verse is owed to alpha. Beta has That. / & Fortune me fette. & in -to þe lond of longy nge / a - loone s he me brouhte. & in a Myrro ur þ at is Midlerd / she made me in beholde. & aft erward e she seide to me / her e may þ ou se wondr es. & knowen þ at þ ou coveytist / & come þ erto p araunter. Þer e folwede Fortune / four e F.8.10: A greater interest in alliteration than in counting perhaps accounts for F's reading. Bx has "two faire damyseles." fair e damyselys. Concupiscencia carnis / was kallyd þe elder e mayde. & þe s ec onde was Rycchesse F.8.12: A space is left for the medial virgule. Ful dey ntily a -rayed. F.8.12: F's line is unique. Bx reads instead: "And Coueitise of eiȝes ycalled was þat ooþer." F's revision of the name of the second damsel from Coueitise of eighes arises from his confusion of eighe with eighte, the Essex dialectal form of aughte (< OE ǣhte, "property, goods, wealth"). F's attention to this phrase can be seen in the eye-skip which has omitted KD11.46b-52a. The confusion extends even to Elde's exclamation in 42, where Bx's "Allas eiȝe" has become "Allas Richesse." Such a misunderstanding suggests that the origin of this passage in 1 John 2:16 was lost on the redactor. Perhaps the Bx form eiȝe is the source of the confusion, since one other occurrence of the singular form (7.133) is also revised (to hond). The word caused no difficulty at 7.280. Þa nne p riȝde of p arfyȝt lyvynge / p ursuede he m boþe. & bad me for ony co ntyna nse / a -cou nte clergye lyte. Concupiscencia carnis / collid me a -bowte þe nekke. & seyd e / þ ou art ȝit ȝong & ȝeep / & hast ȝeer e y -nowe. For to lyven longe on londe F.8.17: This repetition of the poet's signature pun does not appear in other B manuscripts. / & loven ladyes manye. & in þis M irrour þ ou may see / m erthis y -nowe. Þ at will e leenge þe in lykynge / al þy lyf -tyme. Þa nne Ricchesse seyd e þe same / y wil sewe þy n will e. Tyl þ ou be a Lord of Lond e F.8.21: Or possibly Lond is . / leve þe y nylle. Þ at y shal folwe þy felashepe / if Fortune it lyke. He shal fyȝnde me eu ere frend / tel Fortune þ is tale. F.8.23: Bx reads "quod Fortune þerafter." Þe Freke þ at folweþ my will e / failed neu ere blysse. Þan was þer e oon Elde . / þ at hevy was of chere. Ma n q uod he if y meete w it h þe / be Myȝlde Marie of hevene. Þ ou shalt fyȝnde Fortune fayle / at þy mooste neede. & Concupiscencia carnis / loke clene þ ou for -sake. Ful bytt erly shalt þ ou banne ell is / boþe dayes & nyghtis. Þ at euer e in þis rewme / rycchesse þ ou knewe. F.8.30: Bx reads "Coueitise of eiȝe þat euere þow hir knewe." & p riȝde of p arfyt lyvynge / In p ereyl will e þe brynge. Ȝee recche þe neu ere / q uod reccheles / was clad i n raggid cloþ is. Folwe forþ Fortunes wil / þ ou hast ful feer to Elde. A man may stoupe tyme y -nou / whan he shal tyne h is c rowne. Homo p roponit q uod a poete þo F.8.35: Alpha and C have þo which is omitted in beta manuscripts. Mayster occurs uniquely in F. / Mayst er Plato he hyghte Et deus disponit q uod he  lete god doon his will e If trewþe will e þ at it be do / Fortune to folwe. Concupiscencia carnis / ne Ricchesse of þ is rewme. F.8.38: The reading is unique to F. Other B witnesses read "ne Coueitise of eiȝes." Þey shull e not g reve þe g rayþly / ne gyle þe but þ ou knowe. Ȝee  far e -wel fyppe / q uod Fauntele / & forþ gan me drawe. Tyl co ncupiscencia carnis / a -cordid w it h my n werkis. Allas . Ricchesse q uod Elde / & holynesse boþe. Þ at wit shal t urne þis wr ecche / for wil / to haue lykynge. F.8.43: Alpha by eye-skip omits the following four lines attested by beta manuscripts: Coueitise of eiȝes conforted me anoon after And folwed me fourty wynter and a fifte moore That of dowel ne dobet no deyntee me þouȝte I hadde no likyng leue me if þee list of hem ouȝt to knowe. F alone then omits the following lines: Coueitise of eiȝes com ofter in mynde Than dowel or dobet among my dedes alle. Note that C conforms to F's omissions here. Þa n Coueytise & Ricchesse / þei co nfortid me ofte. & seyd e have þ ou no co nscience / hou þ ou good shal holde. Goo co nfesse to a Frer e / & shewe hy m þy synnes. For whil e Fortune is þy frend / Frer es wil þe worchepe. F.8.47: The scribe wrote a red " VII " with red flourishes (an error for "VIII") in the upper right margin to indicate the passus number. & sette [f]ette þe in her e frat ernyte / & faste for þe p raye. To her e p rovid pr[iour] p rovincial / p ardou n for þe to have. & p raye for þe . pol . be . pol . if þ ou be pecunyous holde. P ena pecuniaria no n sufficit p ro sp irituali delicto. Þa nne wrowhte y aft er þ at wenche / here wordis wery n so swete. & tyȝhtly fram ȝowthe / y ȝeede streyght to heelde. & þa n fel Fortune my foo / fro hir e fair e be -heeste. & pou erte p ursuede me / & pytte me ful lowe. & þo fond y þe frere a -feerd / & flytyng to me boþe. A -gey n our e firste forward / for y seid e y nolde. Be beryȝed at her e hows / but at my p arshȝ chirche. For y herde onys / how co nscience / it tolde. Þ at þer e a man wer e c ristnyd / þer e sholde he be beryed. Wher e he F.8.61: F alone omits were after he. Alpha is responsible for a, which is omitted in beta manuscripts. a p arshene or noon / ȝit sholde he þer e be g rauyd. & for i tolde þus þe Freris / a fool þei me helde. & lovede me lasse / for my leele speche. / [¶] But y c riȝede on my co nfessour / þ at Cony ngge hyghte hy m -selue. By my feiþ Fr ere q uod y  ȝee fare lyȝk þese wowerys. Þ at weddy n olde wedewys / for to welden her e goodys. So it fareþ nou be ȝow / for ȝee ne rowhte neuere. F.8.67: The reading is unique to F. Other B manuscripts read "Riȝt so by þe roode rouȝte ye neuere." Wher e my body were beryed / so ȝee hadde my syluer. I have myche m erveyle of ȝow / & so haþ many a -noþ ir. Why  ȝour e couent coveyty n / to co nfesse & to beryȝe. Rathere þa n to baptyse / barnes þ at ben cathecumys. Baptysynge & beryenge / boþe ben ful nedful. But mychil mor e merytorie / me þy nkiþ it ys to c ristne. For a baptisyd ma n may / as g rete Maist ris telly n Þorghȝ gret co nt riciou n / come in -to heuenly blysse. S ola contric io But a barn w it h -outy n bapteme / may not so sone be savid. N isi quis renatus fuerit / þis resou n y radde sone. F.8.78: F completes the Latin tag and then omits the following line from Bx: "Loke ye lettred men wheiþer I lye or noȝt." And Lewte þo F.8.79: Alpha is responsible for þo, which is absent in beta. lokede on me / for y gan so lowre. Wherfor e lowrest þ ou q uod lewte / & lookede on me harde. / [¶] Marye . yf y durste q uod y  a -mo ng me n / þ is Metelys to a -vowe. Ȝee be pet er F.8.82: An otiose curl appears above the <p>. & poul q uod he  & took hem boþe to wytnesse. N on od eris f ratres secreto i n corde tuo  s ed publice argue illos. Þey will e a -gey n a -[legge]n q uod y  & be þe gospel e þ us p reve. F.8.84: The ascenders on the top lines of this opening and the next are not decorated. As usual, we have recorded the highlighted characters. How Iustly Iesu seyde / nolite Iudicare que mq uam. Wherof serviþ lawe q uod lewte / if no man it w it h -take. For falsnesse & fayterye / for su mwhat þe apostle it seid e. N on oderis fratrem These two lines are written as one in all other B manuscripts. & in þe Sawter also / seyþ dauid þe p roph ete. E xistimasti iniq ue q uod ero tui similis . argua m te & stat uam. F.8.90: Bx ends the Latin tag at similis. / [¶] It is Licitu m for lewed e me n / to seggyn þe sothe. If hem lykeþ & lyste / eu ery lawe euer e lawe [euery lawe] it g raunteþ. Except P arsones & p restis / & me n of holy chirche. It falliþ not for þ at folk / none talis to telle. Þowh þe tale were trewe / & it towche to sy nne. A þyng þ at al þe world whot / wherfor e sholdist þ ou spar e. & redyn yt in retoryk / to a -raty n dedly synne. Bot be þ ou neuer e -mor e þe firste / þe fawty to blame. & þeyhȝ þ ou see evil / tell e it not / but be sory it wer e [n]ere me ndid. & ony þy ng þ at ys p rive / publysshe þ ou it neuer e. Neyþ ir for leef / ne for loþ / ne lakke for no Envye. P arum lauda  Vitup era parciu us parcius / [¶] He seyþ soþ q uod sc ript ure / & stey on heeyȝ & prechede. But þe mater e þ at he F.8.104: Bx reads she. The scribe probably took he to refer to the He of the preceding line, for he is an unlikely form of the feminine nominative singular in this scribe's dialect. He is confused about the gender of Scripture in 8.107. mevede / lewede me n not knowe yt. F.8.104: Bx reads "if lewed men it knewe," though R also omits if and has knowe. F, confused by the error in alpha, attempted to make sense by adding not and revising the following a-verse. & if þey knewe latyȝn / leerne oþ ire þey wolde. But þei be -leven on þe lord / þ at lettrid me n he m techeþ. F.8.106: This line is attested only in alpha. Þus gan he his teeme / y took þ erto good heede. Þ at Multi to a Mangerye / & to a mete wery n sompned. & whan þe peple was plen ere come / þe port er vn -py nnyd þe ȝate. & plukkyd in Pauci p rivily / & leet þe remnau nt goo rome. & þa nne for teene of þis tyxt / tre mbreld e tremb[le]de my n h erte. & in a weer þan y wex / & w it h my -selue disputid. Wheyþ ir y was chose / or not chose / on holy chirche y þouhte. Þ at vndirfong me at þe funt / for oon oon [of] godd is chosene. For c rist clepiþ vs alle / come if we wolde. Boþe sarsyȝnes & sismatikis / & so he dide þe Iewis. O vos om nes scicientes F.8.117: This spelling appears in alpha and in a substantial number of beta witnesses. venite & bad hem sowke for synne / save at his brest -bon & drynke boote for bale / dry nke [brou]ke yt who þ at wolde. / [¶] Þa n may all e c ristene come yn q uod y  & cleyme to entr e þ ere. Þoru þe blood F.8.121: Alpha and G omit þat after blood. he bowte vs w it h / & þoru þe bapteme aft er. Q ui crediderit & baptizat us fuerit  salu us erit. F.8.122: F alone completes the quotation. Other B manuscripts end the line with fuerit &c . F.8.122: The scribe appears to have lost count of the passus and to have written " VII " with red flourishes in the top right margin in place of correct "VIII." For þeyhȝ a ma n coveyted e / his c ristendom to r eceyve. The recast sentence reflects F's efforts to make sense of his exemplar. Alpha, reading receyve for the beta manuscripts' reneye, neatly reversed the point. Beta witnesses read as follows: For þouȝ a cristen man coueited his cristendom to reneye Riȝtfully to reneye no reson it wolde. & vn -ryghtfully he receyve it / no r esou n shal save hy m. For may no cherk cher[l] a chartr e make / h is catel to sell e W it h -outy n leve of h is lord / no leve l[aw]e will e it g raunte. But he may renne i n reragis / & rayke F.8.127: F's rayke is unique. Beta witnesses have rome. R has repeated renne from the a-verse. f ram home. & þey he renne recchesly recche[le]sly / or romeþ a -bowte. F.8.128: F's line is unique, but Bx is defective. Most beta manuscripts read "And as a reneyed caytif recchelesly aboute." Ȝit resou n shal rykne w it h hy m / & rebewke hy m at þe laste. Beta omits 129b-130a from Bx by eye-skip on "with him." & Co nscience shal a -cou nte w it h hy m / & kaste hy m in rerage. & pytty n hy m in strong p risou n / in p urgatorie to brenne. & F.8.132: F's & is unique. Beta witnesses have For, and R has And for. hise reragys rewarde hy m þer e / til oo day komy nge. But if co nt riciou n kome hy m to / & m ercy c riȝe by h is lyve. & be sory for hise mys -dedys / w it h mowþ & w it h herte. / [¶] That is soþ seyde sc ript ure / may þ ere no sy nne be lettyd. For m ercy may F.8.136: Alpha is responsible for may before al. al a -me nde / if F.8.136: F's if is unique, though beta's and may well carry the sense "if." See MED s. v. and conj. 5(a). Meeknesse hy m F.8.136: F's hym is unique. Beta witnesses have hir and R has he. folwe. For þey been as bokis tell e / a -bove all e godd is werkis. M isericordia d omini  sup er o mnia opera ei us. Ȝee baw  waw F.8.139: F expands the Bx exclamation baw similarly at 15.404.  for bookis q uod oon / was broke out of hell e. He was Troianus þe knyght / he took witnesse of þe pope. F.8.140: This line shares with Cr and Cx the omission of "had been a" after Troianus. F consistently reflects Trajan's material in third person rather than Bx's first. How he was ded & dampned / to dwelly n in derk peyne. For he was an vn -c ristene c reat ure / clerkis knowe þe soþe. Þ at al þe Clergye vndir c rist / myghte hy m cracche f ram hell e. But oonly love & lewte / of F.8.144: Alpha is responsible for of. Beta witnesses have and. hise F.8.144: F's hise is shared only by G. Bx has my. lawe -ful doomes. / [¶] Sey nt Gregory wiste þ is wel / what was his cause. Bx reads as follows: Gregorie wiste þis wel and wilned to my soule Sauacion for sooþnesse þat he seiȝ in my werkes And after þat he wepte and wilned me were graunted Grace wiþouten any bede biddyng his boone was vnderfongen. & wilned e to his soule / saluaciou n & helthe. For þe soþfastnesse / he seyȝ of hise werkis. & aft er þ at he wepte / & wisshed hy m wer e g rauntyd. Grace  w it h -outy n mor e byddy nge / h is boone was vndirfongid. & was savid as ȝee may se / w it h -outy n song of messis. Þoru love / & be -leve / & þoru lyvynge in trewþe. It brouhte hy m fram bitt er peyne / þer e no bede ne myghte. Loo  ȝee lord is / what lewte doþ / by þ at Emp ero ur of Rome. Þ at was an vn -c ristene c reat ure / as clerkis knowe in bookis. Nowht þoru p rayer e of þe pope / but for h is pur e t rewþe. So was þ at sarsyȝn savid / sey nt Gr egory ber et h witnesse. Wel awtyn þe F.8.157: Alpha is responsible for þe. Beta witnesses have ye. Though <y> and <þ> are sometimes difficult to distinguish in anglicana hands, this is clearly a <þ>. lawe -keperis / þis lessou n have i n my nde. & on Troianus to þy nke / & do t rewþe to þe peple. Þis mater e is m erk for manye / save me n of holy chirch e. These lines are preserved in alpha only. Þe legende s anc tor um / lerneþ ȝow  mor e larg ere þa n y ȝou tell e. & þus leel love / & leel lyvynge in trewthe Pytten owt of peyȝne / a payȝnym of Rome. I -blessid be trowþe / þ at brak so helle ȝaatys. & savede þ at sarsyȝn / fram sathenases powher. Þer e no Clergie ne cowhde / ne cony nge of lawis. Þan is love & lewte / ryght a leel science. F.8.166: F omits the following line attested in R: "For þat is þe boke blissed of blisse and of ioye." God wrouht it / & wroot it / w it h his owne fyng er. & took it Moyses on þe Mou nt / all e me n / it to leere. Ȝee lawe w it h with[ -outen] love q uod troian us / leyȝ þer e a beene. Or ony science vndir su nne / of all e þe sevene artis. But þei ben leerned for godd is love / lost is her e tyme. & for no cause siluer to kacche / ne to be cald a Mayst er. But al for love of our e lord / & þe bettr e to love þe peple. For sey nt Ioh an seyþ þus / & sothe been hise wordys. Q ui non me diligit  manet in morte Who loveþ not to lovel[e]ve me F.8.176: James Weldon claims ["Ordinatio and Genre in MS CCC 201: A Mediaeval Reading of the B-Text of Piers Plowman," Florilegium 12 (1995, for 1993): 174 n 24], that F's reading "is absurd, since Trajan is the speaker here." However, it is difficult to say with any confidence that the speaker here is Trajan. Kane and Donaldson, for instance, conclude his speech at the end of line F8.169, and he has clearly ceased speaking by the my in F8.196. The speeches in the middle section of the poem are not clearly voiced. The way that speeches, or parts of speeches, are reassigned in the C revision also points to a lack of commitment as to who is saying what in this "dialogus." / he lyveþ in deþis drede. & þ at all e maner e of men / boþe enemyȝs & frendis. Shull e loven eyþ ir oþir / as loveþ ma n hym -selue. For F.8.179: Alpha is responsible for For, which is absent from beta. who þ at be -leveþ [len]eþ nouht / he loviþ not / god whot þe soþe. He comandid e F.8.180: Alpha is responsible for the preterite comandide, though the reading is shared by C 2O. Other beta witnesses have the present tense. ech creat ure / to co nforme hy m to love god. & his neyȝhebor e as hy m -selue / & hise enemyȝe after. F.8.181: F's reading is unique. Most B manuscripts read "And souereynly pore peple and hir enemyes after." For / fore hem / þ at haten vs / ys most meryȝt to lovyȝe. And to plese þe poor e peple / here p rayeris may vs helpe. For our e Ioyȝe & our e helthe / ys F.8.184: Alpha is responsible for ys, which is absent in beta. Iesu c rist of hevene. & in a poor e a -p arayle / he p ursueþ vs euer e. & lookeþ on vs in her e lyknesse / & þ at w it h lovely cher e. To knowe vs be our e kynde h erte / & casty nge of our e eyȝen. Wheyþ ir we love þe loord her e / be -for e þe lord of blysse. He warneþ vs be þe e wang elie / whan we make feestis. We sholde not call e our e ken þ erto / ne no n knowe me n ryche. F.8.190: Bx's b-verse reads "ne none kynnes riche." R and other beta witnesses have singular kynne. But kalliþ þe kareful þ erto / þe crokede & þe blyȝnde. F.8.191: In relation to Bx this line and the next are transposed. Cu m facitis co nuiuia  nolite invitare amicos. F.8.193: An illegible letter resembling <e> appears with a red touch and a period in the left margin. For ȝour e freendis will e fede ȝou / & w it h foode a -gey n it quyte. Boþe festis / & fair e ȝiftys / ech frend ȝeld et h so oþir e. & þe poore shal p raye F.8.195: The manuscript is stained, but the <e> is tolerably clear. for ȝow / & a -quyte so ȝour e t rauaile. Þ at ȝeveþ he m mete or mone / or a -me ndiþ he m for my sake. God myghte ryche a maad / all e me n if he wolde. F.8.197: This line is attested only in alpha. But for þe beste / su mme be ryche / & su mme me n be poore. But alle are we hise creat urys / & of hyse coffres ryche. F.8.199: A " VII " with red flourishes (an error for "VIII") is written in the top right margin. & bretheryn ben of blood / boþe begg ere & Erlys. For at Caluerye of c ristis blood / c ristene blood ga n sp ringe. & bodily br ethery n we be -come / of c ristis body y -wonne. As quali qua[s]i modo geniti / & Ientil me n ecchone. No beggere is a -mogys a -mo[n]gys vs / but if sy nne it make. Qui facit pecc atum  seruus est p ecc ati. In þe olde lawe it seiþ / as þe lettr e tellyþ. Þ at / þe sone of man / we be callyd echone. Þe issew is of Adam & Eve / til god & ma n dyȝede. & aft er his ressurrexiou n Redemptor was he callyd. & we hise bretheryn / þoru hy m bowht / boþe ryche & poor e. Þerfor e love we as leve childry n / & ech ma n lawhe on oþ ir. & of þat / ech ma n may for -ber e / a -me nde hy m þ at is nedy. & ech ma n helpe oþ ir heere F.8.213: Alpha is responsible for heere, which is absent in both beta and C. / for hens shull e we alle. A lter alterius  onera portate. & be we not vn -kyȝnde of Catel / ne of kony nge neyþ ir. For no ma n whot / hou neyȝ he is / to be y -nome fra m boþe. Þerfor e lakke no leef oþir / þeyhȝ he mor e laty n knowe. Ne nyme no ma nir foule / for no n is w it h -outy n defawte. For what eu ere Clerkys carpe / of Crystendom or ellis. Cryst to a comou n woman seyd e / in comou n at þe feste. Þ at fides sua sholde save hire / & saluen hir e synnes. Þ at Þa[nne] is beleve a leele helpe / a -bove logyȝk or lawe. Neyþ ir logyȝk ne lawe / ne legende of s anc tor um . Been but lytil a -lowed / but beleve he m helpe. F.8.224: F's reading is unique. R has "Is litel alowed þei both but by-leue hem helpe." Beta has "Is litel alowaunce maad but if bileue hem helpe." For it is ou er -longe of o[r] F.8.225: or, "ere." F has replaced Bx's er with of. logyk / ony lessou n a -soyle. & lawe is looþ to lovye / but he lacche syluer. Boþe Logyk & lawe / love wel boþe to lyȝen. I co nseyle all e c ristene me n / ȝee cleve not þ eron to sor e. For su mme word is fyȝnde y wr ete / wher -of feiþ is rote. F.8.229: F's b-verse is unique. Bx has "were of Feiþes techyng." Þ at saveþ sy nful me n / as sey n Ioh an beriþ witnesse. E adem me nsura qua me nsi fueritis . remecie tur uobis. F.8.231: The red ink of the lombard capital <E> and the last two words is darker than that of the remainder of this quotation, suggesting they were copied at slightly different times. For -þy  leerne we þe lawe of love / as our e lord techeþ. & so seyþ sey nt Gregory / for synful ma nnys helthe. F.8.233: F omits Bx's " Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum ." Why y meve þ is mater e / þ at most is to helpe þe poore. For in por e lyȝknesse c rist / ofte haþ been y -knowe. Witnesse of þe Gospel / whan he to Emaus wente. Cleophas ne knew hy m nout / þ at he cryst were. For his poor e a -parayle / & pilgrymes wedys. Ty l he blessede & brak / þe breed þ at þey eetyn. & so by hise wyrkys / þey wisten þe soþe. But þey knew hy m not be cloþy nge / ne be carpy nge of tu nge. & al þ at was ensample / to vs synful heere. Þ at we shulde ben lowe / & lovely of speche. & a -p arayle vs not p roudly / for pilg rimys we ben all e. F.8.244: F omits the following line from Bx: "And in þe apparaille of a pouere man and pilgrymes liknesse." Ofte c rist haþ been y -met / a -mo ng ys nedy peple. Þer e neu ere segg e hy m seyȝ / w it h syghte / lyk þe ryche. F.8.246: The b-verse in Bx reads "in secte of þe riche." F habitually avoids secte, substituting sewte (F10.734), seut (F11.248), or even selue (F5.499). However, note that at 7.223 F alone reads sekt in place of Bx's book. / [¶] Sey nt Ioh an & oþ ire sey ntis / were sey n in por e cloþy nge. And as pore pylg rimes / p rayede me n of her e good is. F.8.248: F omits two lines from Bx: Iesu crist on a Iewes doȝter aliȝte gentil womman þouȝ she were Was a pure pouere maide and to a pouere man wedded. Martha on godd is modir F.8.249: F alone confuses Mary Magdalene with Christ's mother. The confusion is odd and not explicable by the scribal omission of the preceding two lines. / made an huge tale. Vnto Iesu our e saviour / she seyd e þese wordis. D omine no n est tibi cure q uod soror mea reliq uid me sola ministrare. & c rist fair e answerede / & eyþeris wil fulfylde. Boþe Marthis & Maries / as Mattheuh beriþ witnesse. But pouerte he pitte to -for e / & p reysede þe bettr e. M aria optima m p arte m elegit  que no n auferet ur ab ea. & all e þe wise me n / þ at eu ere wer e / as y can a -spyȝe. Preyse pou erte for best lyf / if pacyence it welde. F.8.257: F's welde is unique. R has wolde, and beta manuscripts have folwe. & mor e blessedere be skyle / & bettr e þan rycchesse. Al -þowhȝ it be sour to suffr e / þer e komeþ swete aft er. / [¶] Ryght as is a walshe -note / w it hout e / ful bytt er ys þe ryȝnde. & aft er þ at bitter bark / & [be] þe shell e a -weyȝe. Is a kernel of co nfort / kyȝndely to restore. So is aft er pou erte or penau nce / pacyently y -take. Makþ a ma n have meende on god / & a gr et will e. To wepe & to wel bydde / wher -of wexiþ m ercy. Of wiche c rist is kernel / to conforte þe soule. & wel sekerer e he slepiþ / þe segge þ at ys poore. & lasse drediþ þe deþ / ne dowhteþ to be robbyd. Þan he þ at ys ryche / Resou n beriþ witnesse. P aup er ego ludo / du m tu diues meditaris. / [¶] & þeyhȝ Salomo n seyd e þus / as me n F.8.271: Alpha is responsible for men. Beta witnesses have folk. seen i n þe byble. D iuicias nec paup ertates A -noþ ir Poete seyþ / in his pur e speche. F.8.273: F has rewritten this line. Bx reads "Wiser þan Salomon was bereþ witnesse and tauȝte." Þ at p ropre pou erte ys / no possessiou n to holde. But lyve moost i n lykynge of god / as Luk ber et h witness e. S i vis p erfectus esse  vade & vende o mnia q ue habes . &c. F.8.276: F alone completes the quotation after vende . Þis ys to meene to me n / þ at on þis moolde dwelle. Who þ at wil be pur e p arfyȝt / mot possessiou n for -sake. Or selle it / as seyþ þe book / & þe siluer dely n þe nedy. To begg erys þ at beggy n / & byddyn for godd is sake. F.8.280: The scribe has written in red with red flourishes " VII " in the upper right margin, an error for "VIII." For faylede neu ere ma n mete / þ at myghtful god s erueþ. & Dauid seiþ i n þe sawt er / & hise sawis ben soþe. Confusion in alpha lies behind F's revision of these lines. For 8.282-283, Bx reads as follows: As Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter to swiche þat ben in wille To serue god goodliche ne greueþ hym no penaunce. R reads as follows: As dauid seith in þe sauter to swich þat ben in wille. With eny wel or wo To serue god godeliche ne greueth hem no penaunte. Note that only an a-verse appears in R for the equivalent of F8.283. to F.8.283: Though we have taken the scribe to have intended to mark the first character on each line both as touched in red ink and capitalized, in this instance the contrast between this opening <t> and the capital form at the beginning of the next line is too great to leave without comment. As we have noted before, consistency in such matters is a more steady concern of modern editors than of medieval scribes. swiche as been i n will e / to suffr e wo / for welthe. To s erue god goodly F.8.284: An otiose curl is written above the <d>. / ne greviþ he m no peyȝne. N ichil difficile F.8.285: Alpha is responsible for difficile. Beta witnesses have inpossibile. volenti F.8.285: F omits the following lines from Bx: Ne lakkeþ neuere liflode lynnen ne wollen Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono . If p restis wery n all e wise me n F.8.286: F's "alle wise men" is unique. R has only "wise," while beta witnesses have "parfite." / þey sholde F.8.286: F's sholde is unique. Bx has wolde. no siluer take. For Messis ne Mati ns / but here mete only. Neyþ ir kertyl ne cote / þeyhȝ þey for cold sholde p ershe. But sey n þus for her e dygner F.8.289: F extensively revises the a-verse, the result, perhaps, of misreading a form of Bx's deuoir as dener. Bx reads "And þei hir deuoir dide ...." / as d auid seiþ i n þe sawt er. I udica me d eus / & discerne causam meam Þey sholde speke of spera i n deo whan spe ndy nge wantiþ. F.8.291: F's line is unique. Bx has " Spera in deo spekeþ of preestes þat haue no spendyng siluer." & t ravayle trewly / & t riste on god of hevene. Þa n sholde þey lakke no liflode / neyþ ir wollene ne lyne nn. For ȝour e tytle of ȝo ur ordr es / tell e ȝee ben a -vau ncyd. Þan nediþ ȝou take no mone / for Mess e þat ȝee synge. For he þ at took ȝou þ at tytle / sholde F.8.296: The <o> is malformed. take þ at ȝe nede. Or þe Bisshop F.8.297: The <B> is atypical here and in F8.307. / þ at blessiþ ȝow / if þ at ȝee ben worthy. / [¶] For makyd neu ere kyng no knyght / but catel he hadde. As fallyþ for his astat F.8.299: F's reading is unique. Most other manuscripts have "As bifel for a knyȝt ...." / or fynd e hy m for his stre ngþe. It is a kar eful knyght / & a Caytifis kyngys maky ng. Þ at haþ neyþ ir lond ne lyflode F.8.301: F's lyflode is unique. Bx has lynage. Beta and C manuscripts follow lynage with riche, but it is absent in alpha. / ne good loos of h is hond is. Þe same y sette to sey þe soþe / by all e swiche p restis. Þ at have neyþ ir kony nge / ne kyn / but her e crowne oone. & her e tytle a tale of nouht / to take to / in myschef He is moor e be -levid as y t rowe / to lacche þoru his c rowne. A cure  þan for kony nge / or knowe for klene bery nge. I have wondir / & why  & wherfor e þe Bisshop. Maken Make[þ] swiche p restis / þ at poor e me n be -trayen. A Chartr e is chalengable / be -for e a cheef Iustyse. If fals laty n be in þ at lettr e / þe lawe it r epugneþ. F.8.310: F alone reads repugneþ, while Bx has impugneþ. The words overlap in their semantic range (see MED, s.v. repugned v. [2], citing the C substitution in at least one manuscript of repugnen for impugnen at C.Prol.136). The same pattern of variation occurs in F10.125. Or pey ntid þe lynyaryes [parentrelynarie] F.8.311: parentrelynarie, "interlined." / or p arcell es ou er -skyppid. Þe Goome þ at it gloseþ / for a goky ys he holde. / [¶] Ryght so is he a goky by god / þ at in his gospel fayleþ. Or in þe Messe or Mati ns / makeþ ony defawhte. Q vi offend it in vno delitto  reus e st i n o mnib us. F.8.315: Bx reads " Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus &c ." Dauid seyþ in þe sawter / to swiche ouer -skipper es. S pallite deo n ostro spallite F.8.317: F alone omits Bx's " quoniam rex terre deus Israel ."  spallite sapient er. / [¶] Þe Bisshop shal be blamed / be -for e god / y leve. Þ at krowneþ swiche godd is knyghtis / þ at ku nne lytil laty n. Neyþ ir synge ne spalmes F.8.320: An otiose curl is written over the <a>. rede / ne syngy n of a feeste. For neu ere neyþ ir is blameles / þe Bisshop ne þe chapeley n. For boþe been endytyd / & þ at ys be ynorance y[g]norance. N o n excusat ep iscopos n ec ydiote crownid e chapeleynys. Þe lookenge of lewede p restis / haþ do me lope F.8.324: F's lope ["leap" (cf. ON laupa)] is unique. Beta witnesses have lepe. fra m pou erte. Þe wiche y p reyse þ ere pacyence is / mor e p arfyȝt þan is rycchesse. F.8.325: F omits the following line from Bx: "Ac muche moore in metynge þus wiþ me gan oon dispute." The following nine lines, including the repetition of lines 326-27, are unique to F. Whether the differences between the repeated lines reflect the practice of the immediate scribe or another is not determinable. & þus y fel in þowhtis feele / flappynge in my n herte. Þ at all e my n spiritys wery n sor e stoned / & þ erw it h y wakned e. & as manye & feele þowhtis / felle flappynge in my n h erte. All e my n spirytis wery n stoned / & þ erw it h y a -waked e. & ful sor e syȝhede / þe syghte was so m ervylous. & streyhte me / & t urned e me / & to my -selue y seid e. Þis ys a mychil m erveyle / what meny nge it meneþ. F.8.333: What was probably the scribe's instructions to the rubricator for passus division has been cropped on the left, leaving just <u> and the <us> abbreviation. & in þis þowht still e y lay / a long tyme after. E xplicit Passus Octau us. I ncipit Passus Non us. A S F.9.1: The ornamental capital is in red and green ink with red and green flourishes running from the top to the bottom of the page in the left margin. y lay & lokede forþ / lowe vp -on þe greene. I fel in a slu mbry nge / & sone to me cam keende . F.9.2: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And slepynge I seiȝ al þis and siþen cam kynde." & ne mpnyd me by my name / & bad me nemy n hede. Of þe worchynge of þ is world / wit for to take. & on heyȝ Mou nteyn / þ at Mydlerd hette. F.9.5: F omits Bx's "as me þo þouȝte." I was þidir fet forþ / ensamples to knowe Þoru eu ery creatures keende / my creat ur to loveye. I sey þe su nne & þe see / & þe sond aft er. & brydd is & beestis / by her e makes wenty n. & wyȝlde wlues F.9.10: F uniquely reads wlues. Other B manuscripts have wormes. wlues, "wolves." Though appearing only this one time in F, the use of <w> alone for <wu> appears once in R as well ( wlueliche R15.131, KD15.116) and may perhaps be attributed to alpha. in wodis / & wondirful foul is. W it h flekked e fedres / & fele fair e coloures. Boþe ma n & his make / ful manye seyȝ y þer e. F.9.12: F uniquely reads "ful manye seyȝ y þere." R has "I miȝte se bothe," and beta manuscripts have "I myȝte boþe biholde." Boþe pou erte & plente / & eek pees & werre. Blisse & also bale / y seyȝ þ ere boþe at oonys atoonys. & me n tooke Meede / & Mercy for -soke Thanne Resou n shewede me / all e man ere beestis. F.9.16: F's line is substantially revised. Other B manuscripts have "Reson I seiȝ sooþly sewen alle beestes." Alpha is likely to have been responsible for shewede since R has schewen. In etynge & drynkynge / in gendry nge of keende. & aft er cours of co ncepciou n / no n took keep of oþir. F.9.18: F omits the following three lines from Bx: As whan þei hadde ryde in Rotey tyme anoon riȝt þer-after Males drowen hem to males amorwenynges by hemselue And in euenynges also ȝede ( or beta's þe?) males fro femelles. Þar was non kow þoru kyȝnde / þ at conceyvid hadde. Þ at wolde belwe aft er bole / ne boor aft er sowe. Ne grete hors ne hakeneys / aft erire beestis. Ne þey medlid not w it h her e makis / save ma n oone. I be -held brydd is also / in busshis þey made nestis. Was neu ere ȝit wyȝe / hadd e wit / to wirche þe leeste. I hadde wondir of whom / & wher e þe pyȝe lernede. F.9.25: The scribe has written in red with red flourishes the numeral " IX" in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. Stykkis to legge / in lengþe & in breede. F.9.26: F's reading is unique. Other B manuscripts have "To legge þe stikkes in which she leyeþ and bredeþ." Þer e is no wryghte as y wene / can wirche to hir e paye. F.9.27: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "sholde werche hir nest to paye." Ne Masou n to make a Moolde þ erto / myche m erveyle F.9.28: F uniquely reads merveyle. Bx has wonder. it wer e. Ȝyt merveylid y moor e / of F.9.29: FG alone read of. Other B manuscripts have how. manye oþ ire brydd is. Þey heledyn & heddyn / her e heggys F.9.30: An inverse spelling for eggys. ful derne. W it h Moos F.9.31: Moos, "moss." / in þe Maryȝs / þ at me n ne sholde he m fyȝnde. F.9.31: F is revised significantly. Bx reads as follows: In Mareys and moores for men sholde hem noȝt fynde And hidden hir egges whan þei þerfro wente. & feer of oþ ire fowlys / & for wyȝlde beestys. Su mme tredyn her e makys / & on trees breden. & brynge forþ her e bryddis / al a -bove þe grou nde. & su mme blowe bele in bele / & w it h her e breeþ co nseyve. F.9.35: Other B witnesses read: "And some briddes at þe bile þoruȝ breþyng conceyued." & su mme kawkede y tok keep / as pekokys wirche. Mychil m erveyled e me þan / what mayst er þey hadd e. & who tawhte hem on trees / to tyȝmbr e so hyȝe. Fram all e beestys / her e bryddis to save. F.9.39: F's line is unique. Other B manuscripts have "Ther neiþer burn ne beest may hir briddes rechen." & aft er y lookede on þe see / & on þe sterris bryghte. & manye selkouþis y seyȝ / y may not seyȝ nowþe. I seyȝ flowr es in þe frythȝ / w it h ful fayr e colourys. F.9.42: The <c> is written more like <t> with an ascender. Þ at a -mo ngis þe g rene gras / grewe ful soote. Su mme soote & su mme sowr / gret selkouþ me þouhte But of her e keende colour es / to carpe were to longe. But þ at most m erveyled me / & made my mood to change. Þ at Resou n took reward / & rewlede all e beestis. Save man / & his make / manye tymes F.9.48: Alpha is responsible for unmetrical tymes. Beta manuscripts have tyme. & ofte. No resou n rewlyþ hem / & y rebewkyd hy m þanne. & þus sadly to hy m / my -seluen y seyȝde. I have wondir of þe . q uod y  þ at Resou n art holde. Þ ou makst ma n & his make / no myschef he m folwe. F.9.52: F has miscomprehended the sense here. Bx reads "Why þow ne sewest man and his make þat no mysfeet hem folwe." Alpha was quite possibly corrupt since R has schewest for sewest. Þan Resou n a -ratid me / & seyde recche þe neu ere. Why y suffr e . or not suffr e / þ ou hast not to doone. A -me nde it / þ ou myght not / but tyȝme y a -byȝde. F.9.55: This line represents a succession of small errors followed by scribal smoothing in an attempt to make sense of botched copy. Bx reads as follows: "Amende þow it if þow myȝt for my tyme is to abide." Suffrance is a souerey n v ertu / & vengable is vengau nce F.9.56: The b-verse in other B manuscripts reads "and a swift vengeaunce." Suffrance god suffrede / to goomes as y leve. F.9.57: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Who suffreþ moore þan god quod he no gome as I leeue." He myghte a -me nde he m in a while / all e þ at mys -fonde. F.9.58: MED, s. v. misfōn, "to make a mistake," occurs only here and in an early thirteenth-century devotional text, though the word is common in Old English. Bx reads "al þat mysstandeþ." & ȝit he suffreþ / for su m ma nnys goode / & so is our e bettr e. Holy writ . q uod þ at weyȝ / wyssheþ F.9.60: The scribe wrote <ssh> where we might expect <ss> for this word. Wyssheþ here is a form of wisseþ, "teaches, counsels, instructs." me n to suffre. These thirteen lines appear only in alpha. P ropt er deu m  s ubiecti estote  o mni creature. Now will e ȝe leer e a tale / was told me in towne. How Frensshe me n in France / a -fayty n her e childry n. B eele v ertue est suffrau nce  mal dire e st pety ve ngance. B ien dire & bien suffre  fait lui suffrant a bien ven ir. / [¶] For -þy  y rede þe Resou n / þ ou rewle bett er þy tu nge. & er þ ou my lyf lakke / looke þy n be to p reyse. For þ ere is no creat ure vndir c riȝst / can forme n hy m -selue. & yf a ma n myghte / make lakles hy m -selue. Ech ma n wolde ben lakles / leve þ ou no n oþir. Ne shalt fyȝnde but fewe / fayn wolde heere. Of here fowle defawtys / be -for e her e face reersed. Þe witty wyȝsman / wroot wel in þe byble. D e re que te non molestat no n c ertau eris . & i n iudic io i niudic io F.9.74: F alone adds " & in iudicio ," from Ecclus. 11:9 which reads " De ea re quae te non molestat ne certeris; et in iudicio peccantium ne consistas ." / [¶] For be a man fair or foul / It falleþ not hy m to lakke. Þe shap ne þe shafte / þ at god shoop hy m -selue. For all e þy nges he wrouhte wel / as þe writ wytnessiþ. E t vid it d eus cunta cun[c]ta que fec erat  & era nt uald e bona. God bad ech creatur e / in his kyȝnde encrese. & al was to m erthe w it h man / þat most woo þolyeþ In foondynge of his fleshȝ / & of þe feend boþe. For ma n was maad of mater / he may not fro it sterte. Þ at su m -tyme hy m but suffre / to folwe his keȝnde. Catou n a -cordiþ þ erto / nemo sine c rimine viuit. / [¶] Þo cawhte y colour a -no n / & cu msed e to ben a -shamed. & y awaked e þer e -w it h / & woo was y thanne. Þat y ne myghte in Metelys / mor e mater e y -knowe. Þanne chidd e y my -selue / & seyd e þese woord is. F.9.88: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And þanne seide I to myself and chidde þat tyme." Now what Dowel ys q uod y  by der e god y knowe. & as y keste vp my n eyȝes / oon lokede on me & askede. What þyng þat Dowel ys / y -wis sir e y not y seyde. F.9.91: F revises two problematic lines from Bx into one. Bx reads as follows: Of me what þyng it were ywis sire I seide To se muche and suffre moore certes quod I is dowel. Þan seyd e he haddist þ ou suffred / þo þ ou on slepe were. Þ ou sholdist have knowe it of Clergye / & co nseyvid it be resou n. For Resou n wold e have reersyd þe / ryght as Clergye seyd e F.9.94: F omits the following line from Bx: "Ac for þyn entremetynge here artow forsake." P hilosophus esses  si tacuisses. Adam whilis he was heer e / he hadd e p aradyȝs at his will e. & whan he mamelede on his mete / he menede to knowe. Þe wisdom F.9.98: The red ink on <d> appears to be unintended. of his god / & he was pyt fram blysse. & ryȝht so ferde Resou n / be þyn rude speche. Þ ou lakkedist lordly þyng / þ at longyd þe not to done. He hadde aft er no lykynge / for to leere þe moore. / [¶] & now wil p riȝde & p resu msyou n / p arau nter þe a -peele. Þ at Clergyȝe in F.9.103: Alpha is responsible for in, which is omitted in Beta manuscripts. þy n cu mpanye / nowht coueytyþ F.9.103: F uniquely reads "nowht coueytyþ." Other B manuscripts have "ne kepeþ noȝt." eft to sytte. F.9.103: Alpha reads "eft to sytte." Beta manuscripts have "to suwe." For F.9.104: Alpha and some C manuscripts read For, which is not in beta manuscripts. shal neu ere mor e no chydynge neuere [chalangynge ne] chidynge / chastyse a ma n su nnere. Þan shal needful shame / if he shape hy m to a -me nde. For leete a dru nke daffe / in a deep dyȝk falle. & lete hy m lygge longe þer e / tyl hy m lyste to ryȝse. & þey Resou n rebewke hy m / ȝit rekkeþ he neuere. Beta omits these verses through eye-skip on Bx's "hym þanne." Of Clergye ne of his co nseil / he a -cownteþ not a resshe. For to betyn hy m þanne / it were but pure synne. But whan neede nemeþ hy m vp / for dowhte leest he sterve. F.9.111: F omits Bx's "And shame shrapeþ hise cloþes and hise shynes wassheþ." Þanne whot þ at dru nke daffe / wherfor e he is to blame. Ȝee seyn sooþ q uod y be my sowle / y haue seyȝ þ at ofte. Þer e smyt no ma n so smerte / ne sku mfyȝteþ F.9.114: F uniquely reads skumfyȝteþ. Other B manuscripts have smelleþ. no n so sor e As shame dooþ þer e he shew et h hy m / no ma n loveþ his felachip e. F.9.115: Alpha is responsible for the b-verse. Beta manuscripts have the also defective reading "for euery man hym shonyeþ." / [¶] Why wyȝsse ȝee me þus . q uod y  for y rebewked so Resou n. Sertys q uod he þ at ys sooþ / & shoop hy m for to walke. & gan faren on hys weyȝ / & y folwede after. F.9.118: F has recomposed the line. Bx reads "And I aroos vp riȝt wiþ þat and folwed hym after." & p rayede hy m of his c urtesyȝe / to telle me his name. I am ymagenatyf q uod he / ydel am y neuer e. Þowhȝ y sytte be my -selue / in seeknesse or in helthe. & y have folwid þe in feyþ / fyve & fowrty wynt er. & manye tyme have mevid the / to þy nkyn on þy n ende. F.9.123: F omits Bx's "And how fele fernyeres are faren and so fewe to come." & on þyn wyȝlde wantou nnesse / þo þow in ȝowthe wer e. To a -me nde þe in mydde age / a lest lest þy myght fayle aft er. & in þy n olde elde / þan þa[t] canst evele suffre. Ony pou erte or penau nce / or p rayerys to byddyn. S i non i n p rima vigilia nec i n s ec unda A -me nde þe whil e þ ou myght / þ ou hast be warned ofte. W it h seeknesses / & penances F.9.130: F is responsible for substituting seeknesses for poustees, but alpha had already changed pestilences to penances. / w it h pou ertes & ang ris. For w it h þo bittre baleys e / god beteþ hise chyldryn. Q vem diligo  castigo. F.9.132: Alpha omits the following two lines: And Dauid in þe Sauter seiþ of swiche þat loueþ Iesus Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt. / [¶] Al -þeyhȝ þ ou st rike me w it h godd is staf / w it h -outy n stykkes sor e F.9.133: The b-verse makes little sense. Bx reads "wiþ stikke or wiþ yerde." It is but m erthe to me / to a -me nde my sowle. Why medlyst þe w it h makyng F.9.135: Alpha and M have the possibly correct singular form. Beta manuscripts have the plural makynges. þan / þ ou myght bettr e go p raye. & bydde for he m þ at ȝeve þe breed / for þ ere be bookis y -nouwe. To tellyn what ys . dobet / & Dowel . bothe. F.9.137: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "To telle men what dowel is dobet and dobest boþe." & p rechoures to p reve what it is / of many a peyr e freris. Þan wiste y wel he seyd e sooþ / & þouhte me to excuse. & F.9.140: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta manuscripts omit it. seyde Catou n co nfortyd his sone / ful kony ngly y wene. F.9.140: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þat clerk þouȝ he were." Su m -tyme to solace hy m -selue / & su m -tymesadly to stodie. F.9.141: F's reading for this line is unique. Bx reads "To solacen hym som-tyme as I do whan I make." The excision of sadly to before stodie by lining through is not entirely characteristic of this scribe, and it is possible that he did not intend to omit to. F.9.142: The scribe has left a space for a Lombard capital <I>. nterpone [I]nterpone tuis  int erdu m gaudia curis. & also of holy me n her e y / hou þ at þey oþir -while. Pleyedyn þe p arfyȝter e to been / in her e p rayer es aft er. F.9.144: F's b-verse is unique and represents an attempt to correct a corrupt archetype. Bx has erroneous "in manye places." Nou if þer e wher e ony wyht / þ at wolde me telle. What wer e Dowel . & Dobet . & Dobest þe þrydde. Wolde y neu ere do werk / but weendy n to holy chirche. & þ ere byddy n my bedis / but whan y eete or slepe. See Poulis pistil q uod he  he p reueþ what ys Dowel. F.9.150: Space was left for a Lombard capital <F>. Ides [F]ides . Spes . Karitas . Maior F.9.150: Alpha is responsible for the omission of et before Maior. hor um e st Karitas. He seyþ feyþ . hope . & Charite . all e F.9.151: Alpha lacks beta's and before alle. ben goode. & savyn me n su ndry tymes / but no n sone F.9.152: F uniquely omits so before sone. as charite. For he doþ wel w it h -outy n dowte / þ at doþ as lewte techiþ. Þ at ys  If þ at þ ou be maryed / þ ou love þy make leelly. & lyve as lawe will e / þe F.9.155: Alpha's þe is lacking in beta. whilis ȝee lyven bothe. / [¶] Also If þ ou be Relygous / renne þ ou neuer e fram home. To Rome ne to Roche -madour e / but as þy n rewle tellyþ. & holde þe vndir obedyence / þ at is þe heye wey to hevene. & if þ ou be a Mayde meeke / & þ ou myghte wel þe co ntenue. Seeke þ ou neu ere sey nt forther e / for þyn sowle helthe. For what made Lucifer / to leese þe hyȝe hevene. Er salomo n h is sapience / or sampson h is strengthe. Er Ioob al his Ioyȝe / of hise Ientil e childryn. F.9.163: F has substantially revised the line. Bx reads "Iob þe Iew his ioye deere he it abouȝte." Er Arystotil or virgyle / & ypocraas þe wise. Er Alysaundr e þ at al wan / & alengely F.9.165: alengely, "wrechedly." he endide. Al was but catel & vn -kende wit / a -cu mbred he m all e. F.9.166: F has extensively revised this line. Bx has "Catel and kynde wit was combraunce to hem alle." Er Felyce for hir e fayrnesse / yt fel hir e al to sklaundr e. & Rosemou nd ryght soo / rewfully she be -sette. Þe Bewhte of hir e body / in badde vse F.9.169: Alpha reads "badde vse" for beta's "baddenesse she." dispendyd. Of manye swyche may y F.9.170: The word order "may y" is owed to alpha. r ede / boþe of me n & wo mme n. Þ at wyse wordys wolde shewe / & wirche þe co nt rarye. F.9.172: Space was left for a Lombard capital <S>. unt [S]unt ho mi nes neq uam b en e de v irtute loque ntes. / [¶] Þer e ben ryche renkys þ at do so / þ at gadr en & sparen. P araunt er þem þey moost haten / mynystre her e goodys. F.9.174: F's b-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts have "mynistren it at þe last." & þ at ys / for þey ofte seen / so fele nedy folkys. & loveþ hem nouht a s god F.9.176: F substitutes god for oure lord. The same substitution appears in GYOC 2CB. Cf. F9.316, 388. bit / þey lese her e owen soule. God bydd is ȝou do þus F.9.177: The a-verse is unique to F. / date  & dabit ur uobis. & þ erfor e catel & vnkynde wit / a -cu mbreþ ful manye. These lines are attested only in alpha. Woo F.9.179: An otiose curl appears above the first <o>. ys hy m / þ at hem weldiþ / but he he m wel dispende. F.9.180: Space was left for a Lombard capital <S>. cienti [S]cienti bonu m & no n facienti  uarijs flag ell is uapulab it. Þe book seiþ þ at sapyence / swellyþ a ma nnys sowle. F.9.182: Space was left for a Lombard capital <S>. apiencia [S]apiencia inflat / [¶] & also / Rycchesse doþ ryȝt so / but if þe roote be trewe. But grace ys grate F.9.184: F attempts to make sense of alpha's grace, attested by R, or confuses <c> with <t>, losing the B text's pun on gras meaning "a plant or herb of healing power" MED s.v. gras n. 2(b). þ erfor e F.9.184: Alpha reads þerfore. Beta manuscripts have þerof. / þo grevaunces to a -bate. But grace growyþ / nowher / but a -mongys lowe. F.9.185: F omits Bx's "Pacience and pouerte þe place is þer it groweþ." & in me n in leele lyvynge / & in lyf -holy. & þ at gaf hem þe holy goost / as þe gospel tellyþ. F.9.188: Space was left for a capital <S>. pirit us [S]pirit us ubi vult spirat. Clergye & kende wit / comeþ of syghte & techy ng e. As þe book beriþ wytnesse / to beurnys þ at ku nne rede. F.9.191: Space was left for a capital <Q>. vod [Q]vod sim us loq uim ur & q uod uidim us testamur. Of q uod sim us loq uim ur F.9.192: F uniquely repeats loquimur from the preceding line. Other B manuscripts omit it. komeþ clergye / a F.9.192: Alpha is responsible for a. Beta manuscripts have and. cony nge of hevene. & of q uod vidimus komeþ wit / þoru syghte of our e eyȝes. But grace is a gifte of god / & of gret love sp ringiþ. Ȝit knew neu ere clerk hou he comeþ / be kende witys weyes. F.9.195: F's b-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts have "ne kynde wit þe weyes." F.9.196: Space was left for a capital <N>. escit [N]escit aliq uis vn de ven it aut quo vadit But ȝit is Clergye to come nde / & kende wit boþe. & namely Clergye for c ristis love / for he know et h þe roote. F.9.198: Bx reads "þat of Clergie is roote." For god wroot to Moyses / þ at he sholde wisse þe peple. The elaborate hypotactic structure of Bx and the loss of a line in alpha appear to have defeated the revising scribe. He retains key words, but fails adequately to capture the sense. Bx reads for this passage: For Moyses witnesseþ þat god wroot for to wisse þe peple In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleþ þat was þe lawe of Iewes That what womman were in auoutrye taken wher she riche or poore Wiþ stones men sholde hir strike and stone hire to deþe A womman as we fynden was gilty of þat dede Ac crist of his curteisie þoruȝ clergie hir saued For þoruȝ caractes þat crist wroot þe Iewes knewe hemselue Giltier as afore god and gretter in synne. Affter þe lettr e tellyþ / þe lawe so was to þe Iewis. What wo mma n was take in a -vowtery / wher e she ryche or por e. W it h stonys she sholde be stryken / & stoned to dethe. F.9.202: Alpha omits the following line from Bx: "A womman as we fynden was gilty of þat dede." & Cryst of his c urtesye / o wo mman he savede. For þoruh c ristis carectys F.9.204: Alpha's a-verse, reflected here, is more laconic than beta's "For þoruȝ caractes þat crist wroot." / þe Iewys knewe he m -selue. Geltyer e a -fore god / & gretter e was her e synne. Þa n þe wo mman þ at þ ere stood / & wenty n a -wey for shame. Þus þoruh clergye þere / co nfortyd was þe wo mman. Holy chirche F.9.208: Alpha is responsible for the failure in alliteration here. Beta witnesses have kirke. In view of F-Redactor's interventionist tendencies and the evidence elsewhere that his own dominant form was kirke, his leaving this form indicates the sporadic and unsystematic nature of his interventions. know et h wel / þ at c ristis wryty nge hir e savede. & so ys Clergye gret co nfort / to c reatur es þ at will e r epe nte. & also to ma nshide me n / in Mischeef at her e nede. For godd is body myghte not be of breed / w it h -outy n clergye. Þe wiche body in forme of breed F.9.212: F alone has "in forme of breed." / ys boote to þe ryghtful. & deþ / & da mpnaciou n to he m / þ at dyȝen in vn -klennesse. But F.9.214: Alpha had But or R's Ac. Beta witnesses have As. c ristis carecte co nfortid hir e / & all e þei wer e coupable. For þe wo mma n þ at þe Iewis brouhte / cryst þouhte to save. F.9.216: Space was left for a capital <N>. olite [N]olite iudicare  & non Iudicabimini. / [¶] Ryght so goddis dere body / but it be worthyly take. Da mpneþ vs at þe day of dome / as dide F.9.218: An otiose <e> abbreviation follows <d>. þe carecte F.9.218: The word order and the singular form of carecte are alpha's. Beta witnesses have "as þe carectes dide." þe Iewis. For -þy / y co nseile þe for c ristis sake / clergye þ at þ ou lovye. For keende wit . is of his ken / & neer kosynes be boþe. To our e lord leve þ ou me / for -þy / love he m y reede. For boþe been as Mirrour es / to a -me nde our e defautis & leederis to lewede men / & for lettryd boþe. / [¶] For - þy  lakke þ ou neu ere logyk lawe / ne hise leve customys. Ne cou ntr eplete no clerkys / y co nseyle þe for euere. For as ma n may not see / þ at mysseþ his syghte. F.9.226: Alpha is responsible for syghte. Beta and C manuscripts have eiȝen. No mor e can no clerk clergye / but he cacche it i n bokis. & al -þeyhȝ ma n make bookys / ȝit god is Mayst er & sey nt spiryȝt þe sau mplarie / to þe ma n þ at wryt yt. F.9.229: F miscomprehended the sense of the passage. The b-verse in Bx reads "& seide what men sholde write." For ryght as wit s eruyþ a ma n / to seen in þe strete. Ryght so leryþ lettrur e / ma n to knowe resou n. F.9.231: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "lewed men to Reson." & as a blynd ma n in bataile / beriþ wepyn to fyȝte. & haþ no n hap w it h hax / his enemy to hytte. No mor e can a lewid ma n F.9.234: F's a-verse perhaps reflects corruption in alpha. If R's almost nonsensical "kende wedded man" in place of beta's "kynde witted man" reflects alpha, F's omitting kynde and substitution of "lewed man" represents an attempt to make sense of the half-line. / but clerkes hy m teche. For al ys F.9.235: ys, "his." kende wit / to be c ristnyd & savyd. Wich e ys coffr e of c ristis t resor / & clerkys F.9.236:An otiose curl appears over the <c>. kepe þe keyȝe. To vnloke it at her e lyky ng / vnto þe lewid peple. & g raunteþ m ercy for mysdedis / yf me n will e yt aske. Buxu mly & benyg nly / & bydde it / of grace. / [¶] Archa dei in þe olde lawe / levites it kepten. Hadde neu ere lewid ma n leve / to leyn hond þ ere -onne. But he wer e p rest or p restis sone / pat riarch or p roph ete. Saul for his mys -sac rifyse / sorwe hy m by -tydde. These lines are attested only in alpha. & hise sones also / for þ at synne myschevedyn. & manye mo oþ ire me n / þ at wery n none levites. Þ at w it h archa dei wenty n / w it h worchepeful r euere ncis. & leyde on hond / & lyfte it vp / & lurn her e lyf aft er. / [¶] For -þy  y co nseyle all e creatur es / no clergye ȝee dispise. Ne settiþ lyg ht be her e scyence / w hat so þei do he m -selue. Tak her e word is at worþ / her e wytnesses be t rewe. & medle not meche w it h he m / to meve he m to wratthe. Leest Charyte be chased owt F.9.252: R, the only other witness to this line, reads "Lest cheste chasen vs." / þa n ech ma n chopp et hir. F.9.253: Space was left for a capital <N>. olite [N]olite tangere Cristos meos. Clergyȝe is keye & kepere F.9.254: R reads "kynge and kepere" for F's "keye & kepere," while beta witnesses have only "kepere." / vnd vnd[ir] cryȝst of hevene. Whas þ ere neuer e no knyght / but Clergyȝe hy m made. For keende wyt komeþ / of all e kenne syghtys. Of beestys & of brydd is / of trewþe / & of disseytys. / [¶] Lyuerys be -for e vs / leerned e bookys to make. F.9.258: Bx fails in alliteration, and both alpha and F attempted correction. Bx has "Lyueris toforn vs vseden to marke." Alpha and Cr have make in place of beta's marke. Þe selkowthis þ at þey seyȝen / her e sones for to teche. & helde it an heyȝ scyence / here wittys to knowe. But þorhȝ her e scyencis soþly / was neu ere sowle savid. Ne bowht F.9.262: Alpha introduced the reading bowht. Beta witnesses read broȝt. be her e bookys / to blysse ne to Ioyȝe. For al here kende knowynge / cam of dyu erse syghtys. Boþe Pat riarchis & p roph etis / repreven here scyencis. & seyn he word he[re] word[is] ne her e scyence F.9.265: F uniquely reads scyence. Other B manuscripts have wisdome (R) or plural wisdomes (beta). / was al but folye. As to þe Clergyȝe of c rist / a -cowntyd it is a trefle. Sapiencia hui us mu ndi  Stulticia est ap ud deu m. F.9.267: Alpha omitted the following lines attested in beta: For þe heiȝe holy goost heuene shal tocleue And loue shal lepe out after into þis lowe erþe And clennesse shal cacchen it and clerkes shullen it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem He spekeþ þere of riche men riȝt noȝt ne of riȝt witty Ne of lordes þat were lewed men but of þe hyeste lettred oute Ibant magi ab oriente &c. If any frere were founde þere I ȝyue þee fyue shillynges Ne in none beggers cote was þat barn born But in a burgeys place of Bethlem þe beste Set non erat ei locus in diuersorio et pauper non habet diuersorium. / [¶] To Pastores & to poetis / aperede an F.9.268: Alpha is responsible for an. Beta manuscripts and C have þe. angil. & bad hem goon to Bedleem / c ristis berthe honowr e [to] honowre. He song a song of solace / wich e was F.9.270: The scribe left the remainder of the line blank. Bx reads " Gloria in excelsis deo ." Ryche me n rowhted þoo / þ at in her e reste weryn. These two lines are attested only in alpha. Whan to shepp erdis a sterr e shon / a shewer e of blysse. & F.9.273: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta manuscripts and C omit it. Clerkis knewen it wel / & kemen w it h p resentis. & dyde omage & hono ur / to hy m þ at was al -myghty. Why y have told þis tale / y took ful good heede. How þ ou cont raryedist Clergye / w it h þy crabbid e wordis. Þ at lewede me n / lyghtloker e / þan lettrid me n wery n savid. & Clerkys / þan cleer wittyd me n / of þe c ristene peple. F.9.278: The scribe's inattention turns the line on its head. Bx reads "Than clerkes or kynde witted men of cristene peple." Partially erased, partially legible characters appear in the right margin. The legible <a> and partially legible <. . g . ll> may have been intended to identify the speaker (the he of l.270) with the angel of l.268. Additional erased and illegible characters appear immediately below. & þ ou seydist soþ of su mme / & see an ensample. F.9.279: F's b-verse is unique, and the corruption of R suggests that he has attempted to repair a defective exemplar. R has "ac se in whanere" in place of beta's "ac se in what manere." / [¶] Tak two stronge men / & in Temse hem caste. & looke boþe ben naked / noon be / but as oþyr. Þ at oon can wel swymme / & konynge to dyve. F.9.282: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "That oon haþ konnynge and kan swymmen and dyuen." & þ at oþ ir is lewyd to labour e / for he lerned it neu ere. Wiche t rowist þ ou of he m two / in temse shal drenche. But he þ at never e dyvede / ne neu ere cowhde of swy mmy ng For þe swymmer e is saaf / yf so hy m -selue yt lyke. F.9.286: F and Cot omit the following line from Bx: "Ther his felawe flet forþ as þe flood likeþ." & þ at oþ ir ma n ys in dr ede to dr eche dre[n]che / for he dyde neu ere swy mme. F.9.287: Alpha omits the following line attested by beta witnesses: "That swymme kan noȝt I seide it semeþ to my wittes." Ryght so q uod þe renke / ryght / Resou n shewyþ. He þ at know et h Clergyȝe / can su nner e a -ryȝse. Owt of sy nne to be saf / þey he sy nne ofte. If hy m lyke & lyste / þanne ony lewede gooky. F.9.291: F uniquely reads gooky. Other B manuscripts have leelly. For if þe Clerk be kony nge / he know et h what ys sy nne. & þorhu co nt risyou n & confessiou n / co nfortyd ys his sowle. F.9.293: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And how contricion wiþoute confession conforteþ þe soule." As þ ou seest in þe Sawter / in a spalm it tellethȝ F.9.294: F's b-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts read: "in Salmes oon or tweyne." Alpha and L have singular spalm for beta's plural Salmes. How Co nt ricyou n ys come ndid / for he caste a -wey sy nne. Beati quor um remisse su nt i niquitates . & q uor um tecta su nt p ecc ata. F.9.296: Alpha and Hm have peccata. Beta manuscripts omit it. Þis v ers co nforteþ eu ery clerk / & kenneþ F.9.297: Alpha is responsible for kenneþ. Beta manuscripts have couereþ. hy m fram wanhope. In wiche þe foule fend F.9.298: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "In which flood þe fend." / fondeþ a man hardest. Þer e þe lewid ma n lyþ stylle / & aft er lewte le[n]te lookeþ. & haþ no co nt ricyou n ne shryfte / for þ ere -of / ne ca n he tell e. F.9.300: F's reading is unique. Bx is corrupt, reading "And haþ no contricion er he come to shrifte & þanne kan he litel telle." But as hise loorys -me n lerne hy m / so he be -leveþ & t row et h. Aft er his p arsou n or p arshe p rest / p arawnt er þey be vnkony ng e boþe. F.9.302: F's b-verse is unique. R reads "and par auenter bothe," and beta witnesses have "and parauenture" with Vnkonnynge in the following a-verse. F omits Bx's "Vnkonnynge to lere lewed men as luc bereþ witnesse." Du m cec us ducit cecu m F.9.303: Alpha omitted the following line attested by beta witnesses: "Wo was hym marked þat wade moot wiþ þe lewed." Weel may þ at þat [barn] blesse hy m / þ at sette hy m fyrst to skole. F.9.304: The revised b-verse is to be attributed to alpha. R reads "hym sette to scole," while beta manuscripts read "þat hym to book sette." Þ at þorhu his lettrure lerned / his lyf is savid & sowle F.9.305: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "That lyuynge after lettrure saued hym lif and soule." D ominus p ars hereditatis mee / ys a merye v ersikle F.9.306: The b-verse is written over an erasure, and the <k> of versikle is corrected from <c> in a different ink by a contemporary hand. It haþ take fram Tyburne / ten thowsend e þeuys. F.9.307: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "twenty stronge þeues." Þer e lewede þevis be lollyd vp / loo  who haþ þe bettr e. F.9.308: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "loke how þei be saued." Þe theef þ at hadde g race of god / on good fryday to speke. Was for he ȝeeldid hy m to c riȝst / & knowleched hy m gylty. F.9.310: Alpha omits the following line: "And grace asked of god and he is euere redy." & buxu m was in meende / his M ercy was to crave. F.9.311: F substantially revised this line which in Bx reads "That buxomliche biddeþ it and ben in wille to amende hem." / [¶] But þeyhȝ þ at þeef hadd e hevene / he hadde no n heyȝ blysse. As sey nt symou nd or stevene / þ at have disservid yt bett er. F.9.313: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "As Seint Iohan and oþere Seintes þat deserued hadde bettre." Ryght as Man ȝeve me / meete a -myddis his hall e. F.9.315: Scribal " .a ." appears in the left margin, indicating that the scribe intended that this line, originally written after F9.317, should precede it instead. The actual order in the manuscript is the order of Bx, and presumably this reflects's F's immediate exemplar, but we have followed the scribe's instruction as to his own intention. The change is attributable not to F-Redactor but to the immediate scribe. & sytte boordles begg erely / be my -selue on g rownde. F.9.316: The scribe has written " . b ." in the left margin by this line. See the textual note to the preceding line for discussion. I have meete ryght a -nowh / but not so myche worchep e. As þey þ at sytty n at þe table F.9.317: F's omission of the alliterating stave syde before table is shared by GYOC 2CB, probably reflecting the FG scribes' sense that a side table is not the place for the sovereign. The omission makes more sense in FG where or is omitted before with than in the other manuscripts that make the change. For other agreements among these manuscripts, see F9.176, 388. / w it h þe souerey n of þe place. So it fareþ be þ at felou n / þ at on good fryday was savid. He syt neyþ ir w it h Ioh an ne Iemes / w it h Ierom / ne w it h awsty n. F.9.319: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "He sit neiþer wiþ Seint Iohan Symond ne Iude." Alpha is responsible for the omission of Seint in the a-verse, but F revised the line to fit a new alliterative stave. Ne w it h Martyr es ne con fessour es / ne w it h Maydenys clene. F.9.320: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Ne wiþ maydenes ne with martires ne (R only) Confessours ne wydewes." But be hy m -selue as a soley n / þ at s eruyd ys in þe hall e. For he þ at ys oonys a theef / he is eu ere aft er in dawng er. & as lawe will e lyke / to make hy m lyve or dyȝe. De p ecc ato p ropiciato / noli e sse sine metu. But for to F.9.325: The to is added above the line in a different ink by a contemporary hand, we think the original scribe's. servyn a sey nt / & swich a þeef to -gydres. It were neyþ ir resou n ne reyght / to rewarde he m y -lyche. & ryght as Tr oian us þe knyght / tylte not in -to helle. Þ at c rist hadd e hy m lyghtly owt / so leve y it be in hevene F.9.328: Alpha had omitted thief, and F revised to make sense of what he found. Beta witnesses read "so leue I þe þef be in heuene." For he is in þe lowest in hevene / if our e be -leve trewe [be] trewe. & wol F.9.330: The same spelling occurs in R, reflecting an alpha reading. loosly / he lolleþ þer e / be lawe of holy chirche. Þer e þe byble seyþ F.9.331: F uniquely introduces the Latin tag with this a-verse, but R has And. Beta witnesses begin the line with Qui or Quia . . Reddite F.9.331: Alpha reads Reddite. Beta manuscripts have reddit. vnicuiq ue iux ta op era sua. But why þ at oon þeef on þe croos / creau nt gan hy m ȝeelde. Rathere þan þ at oþ ir theef / þ ou þynkst me to a -pose. Alle þe Clerkys vndir c rist / ne cu nne þe skyll e telle. F.9.334: Alpha is responsible for telle. Beta manuscripts have assoille. Qvare placuit  quia deus F.9.335: F uniquely reads deus. Other B manuscripts omit it. voluit. / [¶] And so y seyȝ to the / þ at sekyst after þo weyȝes. & hast y -resoned Reson / w it h rebewkyng as it were. & wylnest of wyȝlde bryddys / of here bredy ng to knowe. Beta attests these lines in a different order, exchanging 339 with 338 and 341 with 340. Why su mme lowe [be] lowe & su mme on lofte / þy lykynge wer e to her e. & how þe flowres in þe frythȝ / have so fair e hewes. Wher -of þey kacchen her e colour F.9.341: Alpha has singular colour. Beta manuscripts have plural colours. / so cleer & so bryghte. & of þe stones & þe sterrys / þ ou stodyest in þy n meende. How þey may so styken / & shynen fram þe walkene. F.9.343: This line replaces the following one from Bx: "How euere beest ouþer brid haþ so breme wittes." Clergye ne keende wit / knew neuere þe cause. But keende know et h þe cause / no creat ure ell is. He ys þe Pyes patrone / & pit it in hys ere. Þ at there þe thorn ys thykkest / þer e to bygge & brede. F.9.347: Alpha reads "þere to builde and brede." F and C independently supply the synonymous bygge. Beta manuscripts have "to buylden and brede." & keende kenneþ þe Pekook / to kawken w it h his make. & keende kennede Adam / to knowe hise p riue me mbrys. & tawhte hy m & Eve / to hele hem w it h leevys. / [¶] But lewed me n manye tymes / Mayst ris a -pose. Why Adam heled not hys mowþ / whan he eet þe appil. Rather e þa n his lykam lowe / þis is a lewid ma nnys mau nd e. F.9.353: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "lewed asken þus clerkes." Keende know et h why he dyde so / but no Clerk ell is. Of bryddis & of beestys / me n be olde tymes. Ensamples tooken be t ermes / as telly n þe Poetys. How þe fayrest foul / fowlest þey gendren. & feblest foul of flyght / þ at fleeþ or swymmeþ. Þ at ys þe prowhde Pookok / & ryche me n he be -tokneþ. For þe pokok & F.9.360: The ampersand here stands for an, "if." he be p ursued / he may not flee hyȝe. For trayle of his tayl / ouer -take ys he soone. & his fles h e ys fou l f les h e / & hise feet fou le bot he. & he haþ an vnlovely stevene F.9.363: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And vnlouelich of ledene." F substitutes stevene for ledene again at F9.381. / & loþly to here. Ryght so þe ryche man / if he his rycchesse kepiþ. & deleþ it not tyl his deþ -day / þe tayl of all e sorwe. Ryght as þe pennys of þe Pekok / peyneþ hy m in fleyng. So is possessiou n peyne to þe ryche / of pens & of noblys. & to all e he m þ at syluer holdiþ / tyl her e tayl be plukkyd. F.9.368: An otiose mark is written over the <p>. & þeyhȝ þe ryche repe nte þa nne / & be -rewe þe tyme. Þ at eu ere he gadr ede so grete / & gaf þ erof so lytyl. Þeyhȝ he þa nne c riȝe to c rist / w it h clene wyl y leve. Ful lytil g race ys g rauntyd hy m / for god may not hy m heere. F.9.372: This line replaces the following one from Bx: "His ledene be in oure lordes ere lik a pies." But whan his karey n ys kowchyd / & in kave beryed. I leve it flawmeþ foule / þe foolde al a -bowten. Þ at yt envenymeþ þ ere it lyþ / all eire þoru his atter. Be þe poo feet ys vndirstond e / as it seyþ in Avenet. Executoris be þo false frend is / þ at fulfyll e not his will e. Al is wrete to ber e witnesse / to wirche as he F.9.378: Alpha reads he. Beta manuscripts have it. wolde. Ryght as þe Poete p reveþ þe pookok / me n pulle hise fedr es. F.9.379: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Thus þe Poete preueþ þat þe pecok for hise feþeres is reuerenced." Ryght so is þe ryche man / be -reeft hy m fram hise goodis. F.9.380: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Riȝt so is þe riche by reson of hise goodes." Þe Larke þ at is a lasse foul / ys mor e lovely of stevene. & wel a -wey of wenge / & swyfter e / þan þe pookok. & of fleshȝ be fele fold / boþe fatter e & swettere. Ryght so / to lowe lyvy ng e me n / þe larke may be lykned. F.9.384: F uniquely reads "may be lykned." Other B manuscripts have "is resembled." F.9.384: An otiose mark appears over the <n>. For F.9.385: Alpha is responsible for For. Beta manuscripts omit it. Aristotil þe grete clerk / swiche talis he tellyþ. Þe larke he lykneþ i n his glose F.9.386: Alpha is responsible for glose. Beta manuscripts and C have logik. R has glosing. / þe leeste foul owte. & for -soþe of Salomon / no Sc ripture can telle. F.9.387: In relation to Bx this line and the next are transposed. Wheyþ ir he be saaf / or no n F.9.388: The omission of saaf (2) is shared by CrGYOC 2CB. Cf. F9.176, 316. / þe soþe telliþ no byble. F.9.388: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "þe soþe woot no clergie." But god is so good y hope / þ at sytthe he gaf hy m wyttis. To wysshen wyȝen þ ere -w it h / þ at wyssen vs be saved. & þe bettr e for hise bookis / to bydde for hy m we be holde. Þ at god of his grete g race / grawnte his sowle reste. F.9.392: Alpha is responsible for grawnte and the singular phrase "his sowle." Beta manuscripts have gyue and "hir soules." For lett rid me n wery n lewede / ne were loor e of bookys. All e þese Clerkys q uod y tho  þ at on c rist be -leven Seyn in her e s ermonys / þ at neyþ ir Iewys ne sarsyȝnes. Ne no c reat ure lyȝk to c rist / w it h -outy n c ristny ng worþ saved. Cont ra q uod ymagenatyf þo  & komsed e for to lowre. & seyde vix saluabitur iust us in die Iudicij. Ergo  Saluabit ur q uod he / & seyd e no more latyn. Troianus þ at trewe knyg ht / too k neu ere no c ristendom F.9.400: The scribe has written " X" in red with red flourishes in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. & he is saaf as seyþ þe book / & his soule i n blysse. But F.9.402: Alpha is responsible for F's But and R's Ac. Beta manuscripts have For. þ ere is fully ng in þe funt / & also in blood shedy ng. & þoru þe holy goost F.9.403: F alone reads "holy goost" in place of correct fire. An intelligent sophistication, it is perhaps attributable to the F redactor. is fully ng / & þ at ys ferme be -leve. Aduenit ignis diuin us no n combure ns s ed illuminans. But þe knyght F.9.405: Though alpha is responsible for the omission of þat before trespased, F alone among B witnesses substitutes þe knyght for truþe. trespased neu ere / ne t ranuersyd tran[s]uersyd F.9.405: CrLR also read transuersed, a reading appearing in numerous C manuscripts. Beta has trauersed. See Kane-Russell's Piers Plowman: The C Version (London: Athlone Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles: U of California P, 1997), p. 487. a -gey n h is lawe. & be -leved as was tawht hy m / for he ne knew no bettr e. F attempted to simplify this notoriously difficult passage, translating loosely. Bx reads as follows: But lyueþ as his lawe techeþ and leueþ þer be no bettre And if þer were he wolde amende and in swich wille deieþ Ne wolde neuere trewe god but trewe truþe were allowed. & if he wer e wykke he wolde a -me nde / & i n swich a will e dyȝeþ. Ne wolde neu ere t rewe god / but his wil wer e a -lowed. & were it worþ . or not worþ / þe beleve ys gret i n t rewþe. & an hope hangynge þ erin / þ erfore meede to have. F.9.410: Bx reads "to haue a mede for his truþe." For d eus d icitur q uasi dans vita m et erna m suis . i d F.9.411: F uniquely reads id. Bx has hoc. est . fidelib us. Et alibi . Si ambulauero i n medio vmbre mortis no n timebo mala quonia m tu mecu m es d omine. F.9.412: F uniquely reads " non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es domine ." Other B manuscripts conclude the line with mortis . The glose grawntiþ vpon þ at vers / a gret meede of trewþe. Boþe wit & wysdom q uod þ at wyȝ / wery n su mtyme a tresor. To kepe hem fra m [wiþ a] comou n / no catell e was bettre. & myche m erthe & ma nhed / & w it h þ at word he vanshede. E xplicit Passus Non us. This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. I ncipit Passus Decim us. A - Wake F.10.1: The ornamental capital is red and green with red and green flourishes extending the height of the page in the left margin. y gan þer -w it h / witles neer honde. & as a Freek Freek [þat] a -feerd were / forþ gan y walke. In maner e of a Mendynau nt / many a ȝeer aft er. & of þis meety nge many tymes / M erveyle y hadde. Fyrst how Fortune faylede me / at my moost nede. & how þ at Elde manased me / myghte we eu ere mety n. & how þ at Frerys folwed e folk / [/ folk] þ at weren ryche. & poor e folk þ at wery n / lytyl of he m þey settyn. & no koors in her e kyrke -ȝeerd / wolde F.10.9: An otiose curl appears over the <o>. þei no n berye. But q uik he wolde be -qwethe he m / or q uite out her e dettys. & how Coueytyse ouer -cam / clerkys & preestys. & hou þ at lewid men ben lad / but our e lord hem helpe. Þoruhȝ vnkonynge kurato uris / to vn -kurable peynes. F.10.13: Alpha omits the following seven lines: And how þat Ymaginatif in dremels me tolde Of kynde and of his konnynge and how curteis he is to bestes And how louynge he is to bestes on londe and on watre Leneþ he no lif lasse ne moore The creatures þat crepen of kynde ben engendred And siþen how ymaginatif seide vix saluabitur And whan he hadde seid so how sodeynliche he passed. / [¶] I lay dou n longe in þis þowht / & at þe laste y slepte. & as c rist wolde cam Conciense / & co nfortyd me þ at tyme. & bad me come to his cu ntr e / w it h Clergye shuld e y dyghne. & for Conciense of Clergye spak / y cam wel þe rathere. & þer e y seyȝ a Mayst er / what ma n he was / y nyste. & lowe dou n y lowtede / & lovely dyde hy m honoure. F.10.19: F's reading is unique. The b-verse in Bx reads "and loueliche to scripture." But Concyense knew me wel / & wolkomed me faire. Þan wysshe þey & wypeden / & wenty n aft er to dyghner. / [¶] But Pacyence in þe paleyȝs stood / in pylg rimes wedys. & p rayede mete p ur Charite / for a poore hermyte. Þan Concyense callyd F.10.24: The scribe corrected an original <u> to <y>. hy m in / & c urteyȝsly he seyȝde. Wolkome weyȝ . goo & washȝ / & þ ou shalt sytte i n haste. / [¶] Þe Mayst er was maad sytty n / as moost of hem worthy. & þan Clergye & Concyence / & pacience ca m after. Pacyence & y  wery n seet / to ben mettys. F.10.28: Alpha reads mettys. Beta manuscripts have macches. & setyn be our e -selue / at a syȝd -table. Þan Concyense callid after meete / & sone ca m sc ripture. & s eruede hem þus soone / of su ndry metys manye. Of Austyn & Ambrose / & w it h þe four e ewang elis. Edentes & bibentes que ap ud eos su nt. / [¶] Þe Mayst er ne no nir ma n / no n man er fleshȝ etyn. For þey hadd e metys F.10.35: Alpha reads "hadde metys." Beta manuscripts have "eten mete." of moor e cost / as Morter elys powdr ed. F.10.35: F's reading for the b-verse is unique. Most other B manuscripts read "mortrews and potages." Compare F10.60b for similar variation. Of þ at me n mys -wonny n / þey made hem wel a tese at ese. But her e saws . was ou er sowr / & vn -saverly g rounde. In a Morter post mortem / / w it h many a bytt er peyȝne. & shull e sobbe for þe sowlys / manye salte teerys. F.10.39: Alpha reads "(with) manye salte teerys." Beta manuscripts have "and wepe salte teris." Vos qui p ecc ata ho mi num comeditis . n isi p ro eis lac rimas & or aciones effunderitis ea que in delicijs comedistis comeditis in torme ntis F.10.40: The scribe originally wrote torme nmentis with a line break following initial tormen and with the following men subpuncted in red. evometis. Concyence curteysly þo / comau ndid e scrypture By -for e Pacience breed to bry nge / & me þ at was h is meete He sette a -for e vs a sour loof / & seide agite penitencia m. & aft er he drowh vs a drynk / was diu p erseuerans. As longe as lyf q uod he F.10.45: Alpha, OC 2, and C read he. Beta manuscripts have I. / & lykam may dure. / [¶] Here Here [is] p ropr e s eruyse q uod Pacience / no P ri nce far et bettr e. & þa n he browhte a -noþ ir mees / was miserere mei d eus. & þ er -w it h beati quor um / tecta s unt / w it h blawnche poudr e stroued. F's reading is unique. Bx reads as follows: And he brouȝte vs of Beati quorum of Beatus vir res makyng. Et quorum tecta sunt peccata in a dissh. & beat us v ir cui no n i mputau it / in a plater a loo F.10.49: The reading appears only in F. Bx reads "dissh of." Possibly luce, lus, "pike" lies behind loo. & deerne shryfte dixi / & co nfitebor tibi Bryng pacyence su m pitau nce / pryvyly q uod Concyense . & þan was brouht to pacyence / þis pytance ful soone. Pro hac orabat F.10.53: Alpha and the majority of C manuscripts omit beta's ad te . o mnis s anctis in te mp ore op ortuno. & þan Concyense co nfortyd e me / & carpede m erye talys. A -mo ng was . cor co nt ritu m & humiliatu m de us no n despicies. Þan was Pacyence p rowhd / of þ at p ropre seruyse. & maade m erthe w it h his mowht F.10.57: F's reading is unique, perhaps in response to corruption in alpha. R has mene. Beta and C read mete. / but y moornede eu ere. For þe doctour es on þe dees / dru nke wyȝn so faste. Ve vobis qui pote ntes estis ad bibendu m vinu m. Þey F.10.60: F's reading is unique. R has And, and beta reads He. etym ety[n] many su ndry metys / & morterews y -powdr ed. F.10.60: F's reading for the b-verse is unique. Most other B manuscripts read "mortrews and puddynges." Compare F10.35b for similar variation. Whyȝlde braun & whombe clowtys / & bacou n w it h eggys fryed. Þanne seyde y my -selue / þ at Pacyense it herde. It ys not goo four e dayes þ at þis freek / be -for e folk at poul is. Prechede In fame & frigore  & flappis of skorges. F.10.64: F makes one line of two. Bx reads as follows: Preched of penaunces þat Poul þe Apostle suffrede In fame & frigore and flappes of scourges. Ter cesus su m  & a Iudeis q uinquies q uadragen as. But o woord þey ouer -hyppid / at ech tyme þey p reche. Þ at Powl in his pistil / to þe peple tolde. Periculu m F.10.68: Alpha is responsible for the omission of beta's est . in falsis fratrib us was neu ere ȝit no teeme. F.10.68: As he frequently does, F adds a tag to make a full line. Holy wryt bidd is be war / y wil not wryte it heere. On englyshȝ enawnt er / it shold e be reersyd to ofte. & greve þ erew it h / þ at goode me n been / but g ramaryenys shul it r ede. Vnusquisq ue a fr atre se custodiat. Qvia dicit ur  p ericulu m e st / in falsis frat rib us. I nyste neuer e ȝit Frer e p reche / be -fore me n on englyshȝ. Took it for his teeme / & tolde it w it h -outy n glosyng. But F.10.76: Alpha is responsible for But (R has Ac), which is omitted in beta. þey p rechen þ at penau nce / ys p rofytable to sowle. What myscheef & male -ese / c rist for ma n tholede. But þis goddys glotou n q uod y  w it h hise grete chekys. He haþ no pyte on þe poore / he p arformeþ h is speche evele. Þ at he p recheþ þ us & p reveþ yt F.10.80: F's reading is unique. Beta reads "That he precheþ he preueþ noȝt to Pacience I tolde." R has "Þat he precheth and preueth to pacience I tolde." / to Pacyence p riuyly y tolde. & wyȝshede wytt yrly w it h will e / w it h woordys ful egre. Þ at dysshes & dubbler es / on dees be -for e þe doctour. F.10.82: F's b-verse is unique. Beta reads "bifore þis ilke doctour." R has "byfor þis doctor." Were Mooltyn leed in his Mawe // & Mahou n a -myddys. I shal Iangle to þ at Iurdan / w it h his Iusty whombe. To telle me what penau nce ys / of wyche he p rechiþ eu ere. F.10.85: F's euere is unique. R has nonsensical þere aþ, and beta reads raþer. Pacyense p arseyve parseyve[d] what y seid e / & bad holde me styll e F.10.86: F's b-verse is unique, though derived from alpha. Beta reads "and wynked on me to be stille." R has "and bad me be stille." & seyd e þ ou shalt seen aft er soone / whan he may etyn no mor e. He F.10.88: The red touch on the <H> is very faint. shal have penau nce in h is paunche / & puffe at eu ery speche & þa nne shull e hise guttys gowle / & he shal galpen after. For now he haþ dru nke so depe / he will e dyvyne sone. & p reue it in F.10.91: An otiose curl appears on the <n>. þe a -pokelyps / & in þe passiou n of sey nt savour es [Auereys]. F.10.91: This curious name probably reflects scribal misunderstanding of <S> appearing before auereys as an abbreviation for "saint." It would be entirely characteristic of F to have supplied seynt where he believed it was missing. Þ at neyþ ir bakou n ne brawn / ne F.10.92: Alpha is responsible for ne which does not appear in beta. blameg eris / ne Mortreus. Is neyþ ir fyshȝ ne fleshȝ / but foode for penauntys. F.10.93: Alpha is responsible for penauntys. Beta manuscripts have singular a penaunt. & takþ testemonye on þe Try nnyte / & ek h is felowe to borwe. What he fond in a sell e / aft er a F.10.95: An otiose curl appears above the <a>. frerys dyȝeng. F.10.95: Bx reads "What he fond in a frayel after a freres lyuyng." & but þe firste lyȝne be in a lesy ng / leve me neu ere aft er. & þa nne is tyme to a -posen / & pyttyn to þe Docto ur. If Dowel and Dobet / and Dobest be penau nce. I sat stylle as pacyence bad / & sone þe Docto ur aft er. As rody as þe Rose / gan rodye hise chekys. He Cowhede & Carpede / & Concyense hy m herde. & tolde tolde [hym] of þe Trynnyte / & towardis v us he lokede. / [¶] What ys Dowel sir e . q uod y  & is Dobest F.10.103: Alpha is responsible for Dobest. Beta manuscripts have Dowel. ony penau nce. Do -wel is q uod þe Doctour / & dronk a -no n þ ere -aft er. F.10.104: F's b-verse is unique. Beta reads "and took þe cuppe and drank." R is defective, reading "and dronk after." Do no evil to þy n evync riste nn / nowht be þy n powher. / [¶] By þis day sir e q uod y  þan be ȝee nowht nou in Dowel . For ȝee have harmed v us two / in þ at ȝee ety n þe puddy ng. & Morterelis & oþ ir mete / & we no mussel hadde. If ȝe fare so in ȝour e fermerye / ferly me þy nkeþ. But Cheeste w it h Charyte be / y chyll e on ȝow pleyne. F.10.110: F has revised the line, especially the b-verse. Bx reads "But cheeste be þer charite sholde be and younge children dorste pleyne." R divides the line into two defective lines, reading: But cheste be þere charite schulde be And ȝonge children durst pleyne. F's revision is striking, since ych is the form of neither the immediate scribe nor the revisor we think responsible for the more substantial revisions in the text. Obviously the form is motivated by the demands of alliteration, and it is perhaps not remarkable that an East Anglian scribe should have known and used the doublet form. I wil p ermyte F.10.111: Most other B witnesses read permute "exchange." F's permyte is a spelling variant and not an error. my n penau nce w it h ȝour e / for y am am [in] poy nt to spill e [dowel]. Þa nne Conscyence ful F.10.112: Alpha and C have ful. Beta manuscripts omit it. c urteysly / a contynau nce he made. & plukkid vp -on pacyense / & p rayede hy m be styll e. & seyd e hy m -selue / sir e Doctour / & it be ȝour e will e. F.10.115: An ordinary abbreviation for n ota was written by a later hand in the left margin. In what appears to be the same ink, the symbol for a musical note also appears just below the abbreviation, a fairly common visual pun in late medieval manuscripts. What is Dowel & Dobet / ȝee dyvynoures knowe. / [¶] Dowel q uod þ at doctour / ys / to doon as clerkes teche. & dobet ys he / þ at techeþ / & t rauayleþ to teche oþer e. & dobest dooþ hy m -selue so / as he seyþ & techeþ. Q ui facit & docuerit . h ic magn us uocabit ur i n regno celor um. A Clergye q uod Conscience / þ ou carpist what is Dowel . I have sevene sones he seyd e / þ at s eruy n in a Castel. Þer e þe lord of lyf woneþ / to lerne hem to dowel. I wolde see þo sevene sones / & ȝo ure -selue a -corde. F.10.123: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Til I se þo seuene and myself acorden." / [¶] I am vnhardy q uod he þa n / to ony wyght p reve F.10.124: Alpha lacks beta's to before preve. it. For pers plowhma n a -p ertly / haþ repugned F.10.125: F alone reads repugned in place of Bx's impugned. The words overlap in their semantic range (see MED, s.v. repugned v. [2], citing the C substitution in at least one manuscript of repugnen for impugnen at C.Prol.136). The same pattern of variation occurs in F8.310. v us all e. He set all e scyenses at a sop / save love oone. & no nir tyxt takþ he / to mey ntene his cause. But dilige deu m / and d omine quis habitabit. He seyþ þ at dowel & Dobet / ben tweye Infynytis. Wiche Infynytis w it h a feyþ / fyȝnden owt owt [Dobest]. Þ at shal save ma nnys soule / þus seyþ Peers Plowhma n. I can not heere on / q uod Conscyense / & ȝit y knowe wel Perkyn F.10.132: F's revision here of Bx's Piers to Perkyn is surprising since all other Bx references to Perkyn, save one, have been revised in F to Piers. He wil not speke a -gey n holy wryt / y dar wel wel wel vndir -take. Now passe we ou er tyl Pers come / & p reve þis in deede. Pacyense haþ ben in many place / & p aravent ure he know et h. Þere ben no Clerkis kone F.10.136: Alpha and OC 2 omit beta's ne before kone. so meche / as c rist beriþ witnesse. The silverpoint line indicators for this leaf are unusually dark, but they are not intended for emphasis. Pacientes vincunt / [¶] At ȝowr e p rayer e q uod Pacyense þo / so no man be displesyd. Disce q uod he and doce / and dilige i nimicos tuos. Disce and dowel / doce and dobet. Dilige and dobest / thus was tawht me onis. Þanne a Lemman þ at Lovely spak / Love was hir e name. W it h wordis & w it h werkis q uod she / & good will e of þy n herte. Þy sowle þowh love leely / al þyn lyf -tyȝme. & so to leerne to lowe the F.10.145: Bx reads "And so þow lere þe to louye . . . ." / for þe Lordis love of hevene. & þyn Enemy in all e wyse / love evene as þy -selue. Caste kolys on his heed / þ at ys  all e kynde speche. Boþe w it h werkis & w it h wordis / to wynne h is love þ ou fonde. & leyȝ on hy m þus w it h love / tyl he lawhe on the. & but he bowe for þys betynge / blynd mote he worthe. / [¶] But for to fare þus w it h þy freend / greet folye it were. For he þ at loveþ the leelly / lytyl of þy n he dysyreþ. F.10.152: Alpha is responsible for dysyreþ. Beta manuscripts and C have coueiteþ. For kende love coueyteþ not / no catel / but speche. W it h half a lampe lyne of latyȝn / ex vi t ransic io nis. & beryþ þ erInne a -bowte / faste y -bownde Dowel. In a sygne of þe Sat urday / þ at syt first in þe kalender. & al the wit of þe wednysday / & þe nexte wyke aft er. Þe Myddil of þe Moone / ys þe myght of bothe. & þ erfor e am y wolkome / þere y have yt w it h me. Vndo it & F.10.160: Alpha is responsible for &, which is omitted in beta. lete þe Docto ur se F.10.160: Alpha is responsible for se. F alone adds it. Beta manuscripts have deme. L had sen, but corrected it to deme. it / wher F.10.160: Alpha is responsible for wher. Beta manuscripts have if. dowel be þ er -Inne. For by hy m þ at me maade / myghte neu ere pou erte. Myssese ne myscheef / ne ma n w it h his tunge. Ne Catel ne Care / ne cu mpanye of thevys. Neyþ ir heete ne hayl / ne no n helle powke. Ne neythir feyȝr ne flood / ne feere of þy n enemy. Teene the ony tyme / & þ ou take it w it h the. Caritas nichil timet. & eek so have god my soule / & þ ou wilt love crave. These lines are attested only in alpha. Þer e nys Emp ero ur ne Empr esse / neyþ ir Erl ne barou n. Pope ne Pat riark / þ at pure resou n shal the make. Mayst er of all e me n / þoruhȝ myght of his reede. Nowht þoruh no ryche craft / but þoruh wit of he m -selue. F.10.172: F omits the following line attested only in R: "Do kyng and quene and alle þe comune after." To ȝeve þe al þ at þey may ȝeve / as þ ou for beest ȝeemer e. F.10.173: F omits the following line attested only in R: "And as þou demest wil þei do alle here dayes after." Pacientes vincunt / [¶] F.10.175: The scribe in rubricating the leaf noted that he had not marked for the paraph and made the correction in red ink. It ys but a dydo q uod þe Doctour / & a dysoures tale. For all e wyttys of þis world / ne wayty ng of ma nnys stre ngþe. F.10.176: The b-verse in Bx reads "and wiȝt mennes strengþe." Ku nne not co nferme pees / twixe þe pope & hise enenyȝs ene[m]yȝs. Ne twene two c ristene kyngis / þei cu nne no pees make. Profytable to eu ery peple / & þ erw it h  he pytte þe table fra m hy m. & took Clergye & Consciense / to conseyl e as it were. & leet Pacyense forþ passe / for pylg rime pylgrime[s] ku nne wel lyȝe. F.10.182: A clumsily drawn pointing hand is supplied in the left margin by a later reader. Þan Conscyense carpede lowhde / & c urteysly seyde. Freendys fareþ all e wel / & fair e spak to Clergye . For y will e goon w it h þis goome / if god wil gyve me g race. & been pylgrym w it h pacyense / tyl y have p reved moore. / [¶] What q uod Conscyense to Clergye / ar e ȝee coveytous nowthe After ȝyresȝevis & ȝiftys / or ȝeerny n to reedy n redelys. I shal brynge ȝow a byble / a book of þe olde lawe. & leerne ȝow if ȝee lykyn F.10.189: Alpha is responsible for the personal form of the verb. Beta manuscripts have the impersonal construction "yow like." / þe leeste lyȝne to knowe. Þ at Pacyense þ at pylgrym / p arfyȝtly knewh neu ere. Nay be c rist q uod Consciense / cryst þe for -beede. For al Pacyense me p roferyþ / p rowhd am y / but lyte. But þe will e of þe weyȝ / & will e of folk heere. Have meved my mood / to moorne for my synnys. For þe goode will e of eu ery whyȝt / was neu ere bowht to der e. For þ ere is no t resor þ erto / as to a trewe will e. / [¶] Hadde not Marie Mawdeley n / mor e for a boox of salue. Þanne Zacheus hadde / for dimidiu m bonor um meor um do paup erib us. & þe poore wydewe / for a peyȝre of Mytys. Þa nne alle þo þ at offreden gold / in Gazophylac io m. Þus c urteysly Concyense / concludid e þe Mayst er. F.10.201: F alone has this b-verse. Other B manuscripts read "congeyed first þe frere." & sytthe softely he seyde / in Clergyes ere. Me wolde leuer ere by our e lord / & longe y lyve sholde. Have Pacyence p arfyȝtly / þan half þy pakke of bookys. / [¶] Clergye ne Consciense / no congye wolde take. But þei seiden ful sobr ely / þ ou shalt se the tyme. Whan þ ou art wery for -walkyd / wylne me to co nseyle. Þ at is soþ q uod Co nsciense / so me god helpe. If Pacyense be our e p artynge feere / & p reve w it h vs boþe. Þer e is no wrong in þ is world / þ at we we [ne] shull e yt a -me nde. & co nforme kyngis to pees / of F.10.211: Alpha reads of against beta's and. alle kenne londys. & F.10.212: Beta lacks alpha's &. sarsynes of Suryȝe / & so forþ alle þe Iewis. & turnen he m to trewe feyþ / & in - to trewe beleve. Þat is soþ q uod Clergye / I see wel what þ ou menys. I shal dwelly n as y doo / my dever to shewe. & enformen fawntekynes / & oþ ire folk to leerne. Tyl Pacyense haþ p revid þe / & p arfyȝtly parfyȝt þe makyd. / [¶] Consciense w it h Pacyense / passeden / pylg rimes as þei wer e. Þa n hadde Pacyense in his pooke / pylg rimes vytailys. Sobrete & symple speche / & soþfast beleve. To co nforte hy m & co nsciense / where þey keme n in place. For vnkyȝndeness e & coveytyse / be hu ng ri cu ntr es bothe. & as þey wenty n be þe wey / & of Dowel carpeden. F.10.223: Beta manuscripts have "of Dowel þei carped." Þey mettyn w it h a Menstral / a mychil ma n he m þowhte. F.10.224: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "as me þo þouȝte." Pacyense a -posed e hy m / & p rayede hy m to tellen. To Consciense what craft he cowhde / & to what cu ntr e he wold e / [¶] I am a Menstral q uod þ at Man / my name is actiua vita Al maner ydelnesse y hate / for actif ys my name. I am a wafer er / wil ȝee wete / & worshepe F.10.229: F alone has an alliterating stave in the b-verse. Bx reads serve. The scribe initially wrote worchepe and corrected <c> to <s> by overwriting. manye lord is. But fewe Robis y fonge / or onye furrede gownes. Cowhde y lyȝe / & F.10.231: Alpha reads &. Beta manuscripts have to. doon me n lawhe / þa n lacche su m y wolde. Eir Mentyl or Moonee / a -mongys oþ ire Menstralis. But for y can neyþ ir tabour e / ne telly n no Ieestys. Ne fayten F.10.234: Bx reads Farten. ne Fythely n / at none fair e feestys. Ne Iapen ne Ianglyn F.10.235: Alpha is responsible for Ianglyn. Beta witnesses have Iogele. C witnesses are divided between these variants as well. / ne Ientilly pype. Ne sawtrye ne saylen / ne sy nge w it h þe harpe. Þerfor e fewe rewarde me / my re nte is þe lasse. F.10.237: This line appears only in F. I have no good gyftes / of þese grete Lordis. For no breed y browhte F.10.239: Alpha is responsible for the preterite form here. hem / save a bu nne F.10.239: Bx reads "saue a benyson on þe sonday." a su nday. Whan þe p reest p rayeþ þe peple / þe Pater noster to bidd e. For Pers þe Plowhma n / & all e hy m p rofyghte wayteþ. & for me Actyf also / þat haate al ydelnesse. & for alle trewe tylyeris / & t rauaylour es on erthe. Fram Myhelmesse tyl Myhelmess e / þo me n t rauaile sor e. F.10.244: F's b-verse is unique in the B tradition. Bx reads as follows: "I fynde hem wiþ wafres." Boþe beggerys & bydderys / of my n breed craven. & Freris & Faytour es / & folk w it h brode crownes. I fyȝnde payn for þe Pope / & p rovendr e for his palfrey. & ȝit hadde y neuer e of hy m / have god my trewthe. Neyþ ir p ersonage ne p rovendr e / of þe popis gyfte. Save a p ardou n w it h a plu m of leed / & twey pollys a -myddis. I wolde eu ery clerk þ at cowde wryte / hadd e cast hy m a byll e. Þ at þe Pope wolde seendy n his seel / a salue for þe pestyle nce. Þ at F.10.253: Beta manuscripts have And before Þat. his blessynge & his bull e / bocchis myghte distroyen. In no mi ne meo demonia eicient Et sup er egros man us i mpone nt  & b en e habebu nt / [¶] Þa nne wolde y pre [be] pre[st] F.10.256: Kane and Donaldson read "prs," which is also possible. to þe peple / paast for to make. & buxu m & besy also / a -bowty n breed & drynke. For hy m & for all e hise / to fyȝnden swich a p ardou n. Þ at myghte leechen a ma n / as y be -leeve he sholde. For sytthe þe Pope haþ power / as sey nt seynt [Peter] hadde. F.10.260: A scribe unintentionally omitted Peter, but the line had already been substantially revised. Bx reads "For siþ he haþ þe power þat Peter hymself hadde." He haþ þe pot w it h þe salue / soþly as me þynkyþ. Argentu m & auru m no n est m ichi q uod aute m habeo h oc t ibi do. In no mi ne d omini Surge & ambula. But if myracle hy m fayle / to me n þ at be not worthy. To have no F.10.265: Alpha is responsible for no. C and beta manuscripts have þe. g race of god / to gete gryþ of þe pope. Þer e may no blessynge do vs boote / but we will e a -me nde vs. Ne no myscheef make pees F.10.267: F's a-verse is unique. Bx has "Ne mannes masse make pees." / a -mong c ristene peple. Tyl p riȝde be p riuyly F.10.268: Alpha is responsible for priuyly. Beta manuscripts read pureliche. Note alpha's similar substitution at 12.55. for -do  þorhu paynes defawhte. / [¶] For er y have breed of mele / mychil moste y swete. & er þe co mmounys have hoom her e corn / is many a cold morwe. Er my wafrer es wafres been wrouht / mychel woo y tholye F.10.272: A later hand has written Nota followed by a n ota brevigraph in the left margin. Al F.10.272: We have not interpreted the barred <l> as significant. Lu nde nn as y leve / lyken wel my wafres. & þey þ at lakke hem lowren / for largyte þey wanty n. F has revised to make two lines of one. Bx reads "And louren whan þei lakken hem it is noȝt longe ypassed." It was not longe y -passed / lewed me n wery n needy. Þer e was a kar eful comou nte / wan no carte co m to towne. W it h bake breed fram Stratford e / þo ga n begg erys wepe. & werkme n wer e so a -gast / it be þouht on longe aft er. In þe date of our e dryghten / in a drye Ap rill e. A thowsand e & þr e hu ndr ed ȝeer / & two & XX ty & ten. F.10.279: F's reading is unique. The b-verse in Bx reads "twies þritty and ten," though only LR retain that reading and most beta witnesses have twenty in place of thirty. My wafres wer e þer e gesene F.10.280: gesene, "scarce, rare." / wan o ur meyȝr Chychestr e. F.10.280: The b-verse in Bx reads "whan Chichestre was Maire." / [¶] I took gret F.10.281: Alpha reads gret. Beta manuscripts have good. kep / of pacyense F.10.281: F alone reads "of pacyense." / be c ri cri[st] & of Consciense boþe. F.10.281: boþe appears to have been added by the scribe in the right margin after the page had been written. How [Of] Haukyn þe actyf man / & how he was y -Clothyd. He hadde on a cote of c ristendom / as holy chirche be -leviþ. But yt was moolyd in manye placis / fele su ndry spottys. F.10.284: F's b-verse is unique, destroying the alliterative pattern. Other B manuscripts have "wiþ manye sondry plottes." Of p riȝde was þ ere a spoot / & of vn -buxu m speche. F.10.285: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Of pride here a plot and þere a plot of vnbuxom speche." Of skorny ng is of skoffyngis / & of vn -skylful bery nge. As of a -p arayle peyntyd / & prowhd a -mo ng þe peple. Oþir -wise þa n he haþ herd / seyd m erveyles. F.10.288: F is confused. Bx reads "Ooþerwise þan he haþ wiþ herte or siȝte shewynge." Hy m weny nge F.10.289: F uniquely reads wenynge. Bx has Willyng. þ at all e me n / wende he wer e most myghty. For -why  he bosteþ & braggeþ / w it h fele bolde oþis. & looþ F.10.291: F uniquely reads looþ. Bx reads inobedient. to been vndir -nome / of ony lyf lyvynge. & goo [s]oo syng uler be hy m -selue / in syghte of þe peple. Þ at þer e is no n swich as he ys / ne no n so poppe -holy. F.10.293: This spelling is unusual and appears only, at least so far as MED citations suggest, in manuscripts of Piers Plowman. Kane and Donaldson list parallel spellings for poppe-holy in OCotBmBoYC 2C as well. MED offers no spellings with doubled consonants under pope. WHmL read pomp holy. For he is en -habyȝtid habyȝtid lyȝk an h ermyte F.10.294: Bx is more laconic, reading "Yhabited as an heremyte." / & ordr ed [an] ordre be hy mselue. But religiou n is saved be rewle / & be resonable obedyence. F's reading for these three lines is unique. Bx reads as follows: Religion saunz rule and resonable obedience Lakkynge lettrede men and lewed men boþe In likynge of lele lif and a liere in soule. It is lakky ng to lewid me n / & to lered e me n boþe. In lyknesse it is a leel lyf / & a lyȝer e to his soule. Boþe w it h Inwit & owtwit / he ymageneþ & stodyeþ. As best for his body bee / to ber e a bold F.10.299: Alpha reads bold. Beta has badde. name. & to entr emete hy m ou eral / þ ere he haþ nouht to done. Wyllynge þ at me n wendyn / his wit wer e þe beeste. Or for his c rafty kony ngge / of clerkis he wer e þe wisest. These lines are attested only in alpha. Or strengest on steede / or styffest gyrt w it h gyrdel. & lowlyest F.10.304: The scribe occasionally writes <w> for /v/, and that is perhaps what is intended here. In that case, no emendation is required. to loken on / & leellest of werkys. & no n so holy as he / ne non of lyf clennere. Or fayrest of fetour es / of face / ne of forme. Or most sotyl of song / or slyest of hondys. Or looþ for to leene / & large for to cacche. F.10.308: The reading is unique to F. Beta family manuscripts lack the line, and R reads "And large to lene losse þere-by to cacche." & if he ȝeve to poor e me n / to tell e what he delte. F.10.309: F omits the following line from Bx: "Pouere of possession in purs and in cofre." & as a lyou n to looken on / & lordly of speche. & boldest of beggerys / boostynge at þe nale. F.10.311: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "a bostere þat noȝt haþ." In towne & in tauernys / talis to tellyn. & sey n þy ng he neu ere y -seyȝ / & for -soþe swere it. Of dedis he neu ere dyde / to demen & boosten. & of werkis he wel dede / wytnesse & tellyn Loo  if ȝee leve nowht / þ at y lyȝe / ȝee wene. Goo  aske hy m / or hir e / & he ȝow can telle. What y suffr ede / or seyde / or what y su m -tyme hadd e. Or what y cowde or knew / or of what ken y co m of. Al he wold e þ at me n wiste / of werkys & wordis. Swiche talis plese þe peple / wan he p reyseþ hy m -selue. Si ho mi nibus placere mcristi seruus no n e ssem. Et alibi . Nemo p otest duob us d ominis seruire By c rist q uod Consciense þo / þy corteby Haukyn. Haþ manye moolis & spottys / yt moste ben y -washe. Who takþ heede / q uod Haukyn / by -hyȝnde & be -fore. What on bak & on body half / & on bothe syȝdes. Men sholde fyȝnde fele fru nnces / & fele foule spottys. & þ erw it h / he t urnede hy m as tyȝt / & þanne y took heede. Þ at yt was fouler e be fele fold / þan it first semede. It was by -droppid w it h wratthe / & w it h wykkid e wylle. W it h evil speche & envye / & excitynge to fyghte. W it h lyenge / & lakkynge F.10.333: Lakkynge is from alpha. Beta witnesses attest erroneous laughynge. / & w it h a leef tu nge to chyde. & al þ at he wiste be ony wyȝt / wykkydly out it telle. & blame me n by -hyȝnde her e bak / & bydde he m myschau nce. & þ at he wyste by willyem / to tellen yt to walt er. In these two lines F uniquely substitutes willyem for Bx's wille and walter for watte. & al þ at he of walt er wiste / willyem wiste it soone. Also he made freendis foos / þoru his false tu nge. Or þoru myght of mowþe / or þorwh ma nnys stre ngþe. & but y a -venge me fele tymes / evele y frete my -selue. As dooþ a shepperis sher e / so shrewidly y grynte. F.10.341: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "I shrewed men & cursed." Cui us maledicc ione os plenu m est  & amaritudine & dolo sub lingua eius labor & dolor. F.10.342: Alpha omits a second verse from Ps. 56.5, " Et alibi Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte et lingua eorum gladius acutus ." The first Latin quotation is from Ps. 9.28. Þere is no lyf y leve / will e leste me ony whyle. For talis þ at y tell e / no ma n t ristneþ to me. & whan y have not þe mayst rie / swich malekolye y take. & þ at sone y cacche þe Crompe / & þe Cardyacle aft er. Or an Agewh / for ang er / & þ erw it h an hoot fyu ere. Þ at takþ me a twelmoneþ / tyl þ at y dispyse. Lechecrafte be our e lord / & be -leve on a wycche. Þ at seyþ / þ at no Clerk can / by c rist as y beleve. As doþ sowter e of sowþwerk / or of sordych dame Emme. Þey seyn þ at goddis woord / gaf me neuer e boote. But þoru a charm / he hadde chau nce / & his cheef heele. F in this passage, sometimes influenced by alpha, changes the person of pronouns. In 10.353, his appears in place of Bx's first person. In 10.354, F uniquely adds on hym after wislykore and has he for beta's it and R's I, while in 10.355, alpha has myn in place of beta's his. In 10.356 and 10.357, F has first person for Bx's he. I wayted wislykor e on hy m / & þa n was he soyled. W it h lykyngeryȝe [lykynge of leccheryȝe] / w it h lokyngis w it h my n eyȝen. For eu ery Mayde þ at y mette / y made swiche syghnes. Semy nge to synne -ward e / & su mme y ga n a -taste. Mowþ F.10.358: The word is badly rubbed and barely legible. w it h mowþ / or be -nethe / p riuyly ga n hir e g rope. F.10.358: F has revised the line, perhaps motivated by erosion of b-verse bigynneþ to apheretic gynneþ (as happened in Y) and subsequent confusion about the alliterative pattern. Bx reads "Aboute þe mouþ or byneþe bigynneþ to grope." Tyl eythrys wyll e wexe kene / & þa n to werke wenty n. As wel fastyng day & fryday / & for -bode nyghtys. As leef in lentou n as owte / & all e tymes y -lyke. F.10.361: F has revised the line, perhaps in response to what he perceived to be corruption in Bx. Beta manuscripts read: "And as wel in lente as out of lente alle tymes yliche." Alpha has lef in place of beta's wel. Swiche werkys w it h me & he m F.10.362: F's unique reading curiously anticipates the C revision of this passage in moving it from Haukyn's confession to the confession of the deadly sins in the Visio. Bx reads "Swiche werkes with hem . . . ." Cx reads "Such werkes with vs . . . ." / wer e neu ere out of sesou n. Tyl þey myg hte no mor e do / but he lde it m erye talky ng. How þ at leccherous me n love wel / w it h lawynge & Iapis. & of F.10.365: Alpha reads of. Beta manuscripts have of hir. harlot rie & of hordom / in eelde þey have burde. Þan Pacience p arceyvede / þe poyntes of his coote. Was cru mplyd / þoru coveytyse / w it h vnkynde dysyry ng. Moor e to good / þan to god / þe goome his love caste. & ymagenede nyght & day / how he myghte it have. W it h false Mesures / & false met / & eek w it h fals witnesse. & leenede for love of þe weed / & looþ to doon trowþe. & waytede þoru his wit / fele wyȝes / to be -gyle. & mengede his Marchau ndyse / & made a fayr mustr e. & þe werste w it h -Inne was / a greet wit he F.10.374: F alone reads he. All other B witnesses change from third person reported speech to the first person at this point. held it. & if my n Neyhebor e have an F.10.375: Alpha reads an. Beta manuscripts have any. hyȝne / or ony beeste ellis. More p rofytable þan my n / manye sleyghtis y maake. How y myghte wynne yt / al my wit y caste. & but y gete yt be ony way / y geete it be stelthe. F.10.378: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "And but I hadde by ooþer wey at þe laste I stale it." Or p rivyly his purs y shook / or y vn -pykede F.10.379: An otiose curl appears above the <p>. hise lokkys. Eir F.10.380: Alpha is responsible for dissyllabic Eyþir. Beta manuscripts have Or. be nyght or be day / a -bowte harm was y eu ere. Þoru gyle to gadren / þe goodis þ at y welde. For if y ȝeede to þe plowhȝ / y pynchede so narwe. Þat a foote lond ou er F.10.383: Bx reads or. a forw / fecchen y wolde. Of my n neeste neyhebor e / whan y sholde repen it. F.10.384: Alpha had made one line of two. Beta reads as follows: Of my nexte Neghebore nymen of his erþe And if I rope ouerreche or yaf hem reed þat ropen. To seese me w it h her e sykyl / þe wiche y sew neu ere. / [¶] & who wolde borwe Monee // tyl a s ertey n tyȝme. He muste legge pleggys of heuyer e peyȝs / & p riuy p resentis. F.10.387: F's line is unique. Bx reads as follows: "Wiþ presentes pryuely or paide som certeyn." So wheyþ ir he wolde / or he nolde / wynny n y wolde. & boþe to kyþ & to kyn / vnkyȝnde of þ at y hadde. & who þ at Chepede my chaffar e / chyden y wolde. But he p roferede to peyȝen / a peny or tweyne. Moor e þan it was worþ / & ȝit wolde y swer e faste. Þ at it coste F.10.393: Alpha reads coste. Beta manuscripts have coste me. mychil moore / y swoor manye oþis. & in halydayes in holy chirche / wan y shold e her e mess e. Hadde y neu ere will e god whot / witt urly god by -sechen. Ne aske m ercy for my mys e / þ at y ne moornede moor e. For leesynge of my n goodys / þan for my lykames gilte. As whan y hadde do dedly sy nne / y dredde not þ at so sor e. As whan y leenede good / & lost it / or longe er it wer e peyed. & if y kydde ony kyȝndenesse / my n evy n -c ristene to helpe. Vp -on a c ruel Coveytyse / my Conscience ga n hangen. / [¶] & if y sente ou er þe see / ony s eruaunt to Brugges. Or in -to sprws F.10.403: Bx reads Prucelond. my n p rentyȝs / my n profyȝte to wayte. To Marchaunte my menee m[o]nee / or to F.10.404: F uniquely reads or to. Other B manuscripts have and. ma ken c haungis. F.10.404: Alpha reads chaungis. Beta manuscripts have dissyllabic eschaunges. Myghte neu ere þynk co nforte me / in þe mene tyme. Neyþ ir messis ne matynys / ne no man ere syghtis. Ne penau nce p arforme / ne pater n oster byddyn Þ at my n myȝnde was [ne] was moor e / on my good in dowhte. Þan in þe g race of god / or in hise goode halwis Vbi thesaurus tuus . ibi & cor tuu m est. Ȝeet þ at goome w it h grete oþis / his garneme nt was soiled. These lines are attested only in alpha. & foule be -flobered it / al w it h fals speche. & þer e no neede was / ne mpnede god ydellyche. & swoor þ erby / swythe ofte / a -bowte þe ale cuppe. F.10.414: F's b-verse is unique. R reads as follows: "and al by-swatte his cote." & ofte moor e eet & dra nk / þa n kynde myȝhte defye. & su mtyme kawte seknesse / þoruh surfetys ofte. Þ at for dowhte y dr edde / to dyȝen in dedly synne. & into wanhope y wente / y wende neu ere to be savid. Þe wyche slewþe is so slowhȝ / þ ere may no sleyghte it helpe. Ne no m ercy a -mende it / þe ma n þ at dyȝeþ þ ere -Inne. Þese been þe brau nchis / þ at bry ngþ a man in slewþe. Þ at moorneþ not for his myssis / ne makþ for he m sorwe. Ne penau nce þ at þe preest hy m took / he p arformed e neu ere. Ne neyþ ir doþ almesse -dede / ne dr ediþ neu ere synne. & he þ at lyȝeþ a -gey n be -leve / & no lawe holdeþ. For ech day is halyday w it h hy m / os o[r] is an heyȝ feste. & if he wil owt heere / it ys an harlotys tu nge. For whan me n carpen of c rist / or clennesse of soule. Þa nne wexeþ he wroþ / & wolde her e word is of m erthe. & þe penau nce of poor e me n / & þe passiou n of sey ntys. He hateþ to heery n of hem / & alle þo hit telleþ. Þese ben þe brau nchis / þ at bry nge me n in wanhope. / [¶] I co nseyle lordis & ladijs / & legatys of holy chirche. Þ at fynde folis sage / & flat eres ben & lyerys. & have lyst to lystne hem / to do ȝow to lawhe. Ve vobis qui ridetis. & ȝeve swiche mete & meede / & por e me n refuse. Syker in ȝour e dyenge / ȝee may drede sore. Leest swiche man ere of me n / to myche sorwe ȝou bry nge. Consencientes & age ntes  pari pena puniendi su nt. F.10.440: Alpha reads puniendi sunt against beta's punientur. Pat riarkys & p roph etis / & prechour es of god i n hevene. Saven þoruh her e s ermou n / ma nnys soule f ram helle. Ryg ht so f lat erys & fo lys / are þe feendis dyssyp lys. To te mpte me n þoruh her e talis / to synne & harlot riȝe. But Clerkys þ at knowe holy writ / sholde kenny n so lord is. What Dauyd seyþ of swiche me n / as þe sawht er telliþ. No n habitabit i n medio dom us mee  q ui facit superbiam. F.10.447: F omits Bx's " & qui loquitur iniqua ." Sholde no n harlot haue no n audiense / in hall e ne i n Chambr e. Þer e þ at wise me n wery n / witnesse on godd is woord is. Ne no n mys -prowhd ma n / a -mo ng lordis a -lowed. Boþe knyghtis & Clerkis / wolkome kyngis me nstral is. These lines appear only in alpha. & for þe love of here loord / þey lyghten he m at festis. Mychil mor e me þy nþa n / [/ þan] ryche me n sholde. Have beggeris be -for e he m / wiche ben godd is me nst ralis. As he seyþ hy m -selue / sey nt Ioh an beryþ witnesse. Qvi vos spernit  me sp ernit. / [¶] Þ erfor e y rede ȝou ryche me n / at Revelis whan ȝe make. For to solace ȝour e soulis / swiche me nstral is ȝee have. Þe poor e for a fool sage / ȝee sette at þe table. & a leerned ma n to leerne the / what our e lord suffred e. For to save þy soule / fram Sathan þy n enemy. & w it howty n flat erynge fythele / of good frydaes fryda[y]es storye. & tak a blynd ma n þy burdo ur / or a bedrede wo mman To c riȝe a largesse to our e lord / þy n goode loos to shewe. Þese þr e man ere of me nstral is / make me n to lawhe. & in his deþ dyeng / þei doon hy m gr et co nfort. Þ at be his lyve he lystned he m / & lovede he m to heere. Þey solace þy soule / tyl þy -selue be fallyn. In a wol good hope / a -mongis goode seyntys. Þer e flat eris & foolis / w it h her e foule woordis. Leden þo / þ at lovedy n F.10.471: Alpha has the preterite form. Beta manuscripts have louen. he m / to lucyferis feeste. W it h t urpiloquio a lay of sorwe / in lucyferis fythele. Þus Haukyn Actyf ma n / hadd e y -soyled his coote. Tyl Conscience a -cowpid hy m / in a curteyȝs manere. Why he ne hadde wasshe yt / er w it h a brushȝ rubbid it. F.10.475: Bx reads "or wiped it wiþ a brusshe." / [¶] I have but on hat ere F.10.476: Alpha and L lack beta's hool before hatere. q uod Haukyn / y am þe lasse to blame. Þeyhȝ it be soyled & selde clene / for y slepe þ er -in on nyghtis. & also y have an houswif / & hewen boþe & chyldren. Vxorem duxi . & ideo no n possu m ve nire. Þ at will e be -moole it manye tymes F.10.480: Alpha and Cr 2,3G have the plural form for beta's tyme. / mawgr e my chekys. It haþ ben laven in Lentou n / & out of Lentene boþe. W it h soope of syknesse / þ at seekeþ wonder depe. F.10.482: The top lines of each leaf, with the exception of the drawings on fol. 76v, are undecorated to the end of the manuscript. & w it h loos of Catel / þ at looþ me was to leese. & grucched e a -gey n god / whan grevis he me sente. F.10.484: F revises this line extensively. Bx reads "To agulte god or any good man by aught þat I wiste." & was shryve of þe preest / þ at ȝaaf me for my sy nnys. Pacyense to penau nce / & poore me n to feeden. For coveytyse of my c ristendom / in clennesse to kepe it. F.10.488: A large <X>, about seven lines high, appears in the left margin. But y cowhde not kepe it be c riȝst / not an hour to -gydr e. F.10.488: F's reading is unique. Beta manuscripts have "And kouþe I neuere by crist kepen it clene an houre." Alpha has not in place of beta's neuere. Þ at y y [ne] soyled it w it h syght / or w it h su m ydel speche. Or þoruh werk or ell is þowht / or þoruh wil of herte. F.10.490: Alpha introduced þowht, spoiling the alliterative pattern. Bx reads "Or þoruȝ werk or þoruȝ word or wille of myn herte." Þ at y flobered ful foule / fram morwe tyl þe eve. / [¶] I shal kenne the q uod Conscience / of co nt riciou n a brushȝ to make. Þ at shal clawe of þy coote / all e vn -clene fylthys. F.10.493: F omits the following line: " Cordis contricio &c. " Dowel wasshe it & wry nge it / w it h a wyȝs co nfessour. F.10.494: F omits the following line: " Oris confessio &c. " Dobet bowke it & beete it / as bryght as ys skarlet. & engreyne it w it h good will e / w it h helpe of godd is g race. & Dobest & keep þe cleene / fram vnkyȝnde werkis. F.10.497: The portion of this line following Dobest is attested only in F. & þey þ ou slyde or stu mble sor e / soone vp þ ou ryȝse. F.10.498: This line appears uniquely in F. & goo to Satisfacciou n sone / for to su nne þe after. F.10.499: F omits the following line from Bx: Satisfaccio . In Bx this line and the omitted Latin tag appear before 10.497. & þa n shal neu ere myst moole it / ne motthe do it skaþe. Ne neyþ ir feend ne fals ma n / defoule it in þy n lyve. Þ ere shal no heroud e ne harpo ur / have an hender e F.10.502: F's reading is unique. Bx reads fairer. garneme nt. Þan Haukyn þe Actif ma n / & þ ou do my techyng. Ne no Menstral F.10.504: A faint hint of red on the initial <M> may indicate that the scribe intended to highlight it. be mor e worþ / a -mo ng poor e & ryche. Þan Haukyn þe Waferer / wich is F.10.505: Beta manuscripts have "with his" in place of "wich is." / actiua vita . / [¶] & y shal p urueye þe past / q uod pacie nce / þeih þ ou F.10.506: Beta lacks þou. no plowh F.10.506: An otiose curl appears over the <p> in plowh. holde. Of flour to feede folk w it h / as beest be for þy soule. Þey neu ere grey n g rowe on g rownde / ne g rape vp -on vyne. For all e þ at lyven & looken / lyfloode wil y fyȝnde. & þ at y -nowhȝ shal no n fayle / of swich as he m neediþ. Noma n shal be besy / a -bowty n his lyf -loode. Ne soliciti scitis F.10.512: F truncates the Latin tag, which in Bx continues " &c. Volucres celi deus pascit &c. pacientes vincunt &c. " Þan lawhede Haukyn a lyte / & a lytil ooþ he made. F.10.513: Bx's b-verse reads "and lightly gan swerye." Who -so trow et h eyþ ir of ȝow / y trowe he be vnblessid. F.10.514: F's reading is unique. Beta reads "Whoso leueþ yow by oure lord I leue noȝt he be blessed." R is much the same, but adds noþer after yow. / [¶] Noo  q uod Pacience paciently / & out of h is poke he hente. Vytayles F.10.516: An otiose curl appears over the second <y>. / g rete vertues / of all e man ere goodnesse. & seyde loo  her e is lyflode y -nou / if our e feyþ F.10.517: F's reading is unique. Bx reads bileue. be tr ewe. For lewte was neu ere so ryf / as lyflode is y -shape. F.10.518: F's nonsense is the product of confusing <n> with <u>, eventually producing lewte instead of lente, and <l> with anglicana <r> to make ryf in place of lyf. Bx reads "For lent neuere was lif but liflode were shapen." F omits the following archetypal line: "Wherof or wherfore or wherby to libbe." / [¶] Fyrst þe wilde worm / vndir þe weet erthe. & in þe flodis fysshis / & in þe fyȝr þe kreket. Þe Corlewh be kyȝnde / most klennest is of foulis. & beestis by g rasees þey F.10.522: An otiose curl appears above the <þ>. lyve / & be greene rootys. In meeny nge þ at all e me n / sholde doon þe same. & lyve þoru leel by -leeve / as goode god witnessiþ. Q uodcu mq ue pecieritis F.10.525: The omission of Bx's a patre occurred in alpha. For variants in the Vulgate text of Jn. 14.13, see John A. Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations (Binghamton, NY: Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies, 1992), p. 87. in no mi ne meo dabit ur vobis. F.10.525: F alone completes the quotation with Dabitur vobis. Et alibi. Non i n solo pane viuit h omo . Sed i n o mni verbo q uod p rocedit de ore dei. / [¶] Þa n y lookede what þ at lyflode F.10.526: Alpha is responsible for "þat lyflode." Beta and C manuscripts have "liflode it." was / þ at Pacyense p reysede. Þ ere was F.10.527: Alpha and HmCr lack beta's it after was. a pece of þe Pat er nost er . fiat volu ntas tua. Hav Haukyn q uod Pacience / & ete þ is whan þe hu ngreþ. Or wan þ ou clu msist for cold / er klyngyst for drowhtys. F.10.529: Alpha and C agree in reading drouȝthe. Beta manuscripts have drye. F alone has the plural form. Þer e shal neu ere fayto ur F.10.530: Alpha reads faytour against beta's correctly alliterating gyues. þe g reve / ne g rete lord þe wratthe. Ne P risou n þe peyghne / whil Pacientes ui ncu nt. Be so / þ ou be sobr e / boþe of syght & tu nge. In ety nge & handly nge / & in all e þi fyve wittis. Neu ere tharst þ ou car e for corn / ne lyne n ne wollene. Ne for drynk deþ drede / but dyȝe wan god will e. Ne for hu ng ir ne heete / for no þy ng shal þe greve. F.10.536: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads as follows: "at his wille be it." If þ ou leve aft er his loor e / þe short ere lyf þe leuer e. F.10.537: This is the alpha reading. Beta witnesses have þe bettre. Si quis amat cristum  mu ndu m no n diligit istu m. For þoruhȝ his breeþ beestys were n / & wyȝde a -brood wenty n. F.10.539: F omits the following line from Bx: " Dixit & facta sunt &c ." / [¶] Ergo  þoruh his breeþ mowe we / beestis & me n lybben. As holy writ witnessiþ / & dauid in þe sawter. F.10.541: Bx reads "whan men seye hir graces." The scribe is correct in saying that the following quotation is from the psalter. It is Ps. 144.16. Aperis tu manu m tua m & i mples om ne a ni mal F.10.542: The flourish on the <l> is not significant. b en edict io ne / [¶] It is founde þ at fourty wy nt er / folk lyvede w it houty n tilthe. & out of þe flynt sprong þe flood / þ at folk & beestis dru nke. & also in helyes tyme / hevene was y -closed. Þ at no reyn reyȝnede / þus me n rede in bookys. & ȝit me n leveden / & mete & drynk hadden. F.10.547: F's line is unique, reversing the sense of Bx's "That manye wyntres men lyueden and no mete ne tulieden." & seue n me n slepen as seyþ þe book / seuy n hu ndr ed wy nt er. & lyveden w it houty n lyflode / & at þe laste þei a -woken. & if me n lyvede be mesur e / þer e sholde be no defawte. A -mo ngis F.10.551: The <o> is ill-formed, the scribe having begun to make a <g>. c ristene c reat uris / if c ristis wordys þei take. / [¶] But welthe is so mych e a maist er F.10.552: F's reading is unique. The a-verse in Bx reads "Ac vnkyndenesse caristia makeþ." / a -mo ng is c risten e peple. Þ at ou er -plente makeþ p riȝde / a -mo ngis poor e & ryche. & mesur e is so mychil worþ / it may not be to deer e. For þe myschef & myschaunce / a -mongis me n of Sodoom. Was þoruh ple nte / of payn / & of pure slewthe. F.10.556: F omits the following line from Bx: " Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit ," though it is worth noting that R also omits Bx's " peccatum . . . nutriuit ." For þei mesur ede not hem -selue / neyþ ir meete ne dry nke. & dyden swich e dedly synnes / þ at þe devil he m lykede. & swich vengau nce fel on he m / for her e foule synnes. Þ at þei su nken in -to hell e / þo Cytees bothe. Þerfor e mesur e þe wel / & mak þy feyþ / þy sheltrou m. F.10.561: F has revised this line. Bx reads "Forþi mesure we vs wel and make oure feiþ oure sheltrom." The scribe initially wrote cheltroum but corrected himself. For þoruh feyþ comeþ Cont ricio u n / Concien se heer whoot wel. Wiche dryveþ a -wey dedly sy nnes / & doþ he m be as venyal. & if a ma n may not speke / ȝit Cont riciou n may hy m save. & bry nge his his [sowle] to blysse / be soo þ at feyþ beriþ witnesse. Þ at whiles he be -levede / in loor e of holy chirche he leevede. F.10.566: F revised this line. Bx reads "That whiles he lyuede he bileuede in þe loore of holy chirche." Concyense  Ergo  feyþ / & co nt riciou n / keendely is to Dowel. Sorwe for dedly senne ys / whan shryfte of mowþe fayleþ. But shryfte of mowþ / mor e worþy ys / if ma n be w it h with[in] F.10.569: Bx reads "if man be ynliche contrit." co nt rit. For shryfte of mowþ / sleeþ sy nne / be it neu ere so dedly. Per confessione m to a preest / peccata occidu ntur. Þere Contriciou n ne doþ / but dryveþ it dou n / in in[to] a venyal sy nne. As d auid seyþ in þe sawht er / quor um tecta su nt peccata. But Sati sfa cciou n sekþ out þe roote / & sleeþ boþe & voydeþ. & as it neu ere hadde be / ys þan þ at dedly synne. Ne neu ere aft er þ at soor is seene / but semeþ a wownde helid. Ȝee F.10.577: Alpha is responsible for Ȝee. wher e woneþ Charite / q uod hauky n / ȝit wiste y neu ere. Ony ma n þ at w it h hy m spak / as wyȝde as y have wandr ed. / [¶] Q uod hee / þ ere p arfyȝt lyf / & por e h erte is / & pacyet pacye[n]t of tu nge. Þer e is charytees / chambr e / for he is god hy m -selue. F.10.580: Bx reads "There is Charite þe chief chambre ( or chaumbrere?) for god hymselue." Wheyþ ir paciense & pou erte F.10.581: Alpha and C read "paciense & pouerte." Beta manuscripts have "paciente ( or pacience) pouerte." q uod haukyn / be plesant to god more. Þan Rycchess e ryȝghtfully wonne / & resonabely spe ndyd. Ȝee  quis est ille q uod Pacience / quik laudabim us eu m. Þey me n reden of rycchesse / ryght to þe worldis ende. Fond neu ere renke þ at ryche was / þa n wan he r ekene sholde. & drowh to h is deþ -day / þ at he ne dredde hy m soore. Þ at his rekeny ng in rerage fel / rather e þan out of dette. Þere þe poore dar plete / & preve it be pure resou n. To have a -lowance of h is lord / be lawe he it cleymeþ. / [¶] A wyȝe F.10.590: F revises the a-verse. Bx reads "Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde." þ at neu ere Ioye hadde / of a Iugge he askeþ. & seyþ loo  brydd is & beestis / þ at no blysse ne knowe. & wyȝlde wormes in wodys / w it h wynt ris þ ou he m grevist. & makst hem wol meeke / & myȝlde for defawhte. & aft er þ ou sendist hem som er / þ at ys her e sou erey n Ioyȝe. & gret F.10.595: An otiose curl appears above the <re>. blysse to all e þ at been / boþe wyȝlde & tame. Þa nne may begger es & beestis / aft er boote wayten. Þ at al here lyf have lyved / in lango ur & in defawte. But god wold e sende he m su mtyme / su m man er of Ioyȝe. Eir here / or ell is -wher e / god wolde so be keende. F.10.599: Bx reads "kynde wolde it neuere." For to wrothele was wroth[erh]ele was [he] wrouht / þ at neu ere Ioye was shape. Ang elis þ at in hell e nou been / hadden Ioye su m -tyme. & dives in dey ntees lyvede / & in dowce vyȝe. Ryght so Resou n redyþ / þo me n shull e r edyly a -cou nte. F.10.603: F's reading is unique. Bx reads as follows: "Right so reson sheweþ þat þo men þat were riche." R reads "Riȝt so resoun scheweth þat þo men." & her e makys also / þ at ledden her e lyve in m erthe. But god is of a wondir will e / by þ at kende wit shew et h. To ȝeve ma n his m ercyme nt / er he have it disservid. Ryght so doþ god be su m ryche ma n / rewþe me þy nkiþ. For þei have here / her e heere / & hevene as it were. & gret lykynge of lyf / w it h -outyn body t rauayle. Bx reads as follows: And greet likynge to lyue wiþouten labour of bodye And whan he dyeþ ben disalowed as Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter. & in her e dyȝenge ben dislowed / as dauid in þe sawt er tell et h Dormier unt & nichil i nuener unt . et alibi F.10.611: F uniquely adds et alibi . . Velud sompniu m surge nciu m d omine i n ciuitate tua  ad F.10.611: Alpha and OC 2 lack beta's et before ad . nichillu m r ediges ymagine m. / [¶] Allas þ at rycchesse shal reve / & robbe ma nnys sowle. Fram þe love of our e lord / at his laste ende. For þ at have her e heere to -for e / been heer e moost nedys nedy F.10.614: F's reading is unique. Beta reads "Hewen þat han hir hire afore arn eueremoore nedy." Alpha is responsible for tofore in place of afore. For selde þei suppe out of dette / & dyȝhgne er þei aserue it. F.10.615: Bx reads "And selden deyeþ he out of dette þat dyneþ er he deserue it." Alpha is responsible for omitting the first he and converting the second to plural þei. That led F to supply a plural subject for suppe. Tyl he have doon h is devir / & his dayes Iurne For whan a werk -ma n haþ wrouht / þa n me n may se þe soþe. What he wer e worthy / & what he haþ disservid. & nowht to fongen be -for e / for dr ede of dislowy ng. Be ryche me n yt semeþ ryght soo / þe same þ at ȝee shull e. F's reading is unique. Beta witnesses vary, though most read as follows: So I seye by yow riche it semeþ noȝt þat ye shulle Haue heuene in youre here beyng and heuene þerafter. Alpha had the phrase "two hevenys," and it reappears in a revised line in C. Cleyme two hevenys / oon her e / & a -noþ ir heer eaft er. Ryght as a s eruau nt takeþ / his sallarie be -for e h is t erme. Alpha has two lines for beta's one. & aft er wolde cleyme / his heere eft -soones. As he þ at no n hevene hadde / & haþ hevene F.10.624: F adds hevene in the a-verse for greater explicitness. Alpha is responsible for the second hevene. Beta manuscripts have hire in the b-verse. at þe laste. It may F.10.625: An otiose curl appears over the <m>. not so be ȝee ryche me n / if Matthew be t rewe. De delicijs / ad delicias . difficile e st ascendere. F.10.626: Alpha is responsible for ascendere. Beta manuscripts have transire. If þe Ryche man have rewþe / & rewarde þe poore. & lyve as lawe tellyþ / & dooþ lewte to his brothir. Þan c rist of h is c urtesye / shal co nforte ȝou at þe laste. & rewarde duble rycchesse / þ at rewful hertys haddy n. & as an hyȝne haþ his hyȝr e / er he h is werk by -gy nne. & he dooþ wel his devir / he is ou er þat / rewardyd. A coote ou er his cou nau nt / ryght so / c rist ȝeveþ hevene. Boþe to ryche / & to no no[t] ryche / þat ryght -fully F.10.634: Alpha is responsible for ryght-fully. Beta manuscripts read rewfulliche. heer e lybben. & þo þ at doon her e devir wel / have dubble for her e t rauayle. Of forgyfnesse of her e sy nnes / & hevene blysse after. F.10.636: Alpha omitted the following five lines: Ac it is but selde yseien as by holy seintes bokes That god rewarded double reste to any riche wye For muche murþe is amonges riche as in mete and cloþyng And muche murþe in May is amonges wilde beestes And so forþ while somer lasteþ hir solace dureþ. / [¶] But beggerys a -bowty n myssom er / breedles þey sowpe & ȝit is wynt er for hem werse / for weet -shood þey wandr e. & a -fyrst & a -fryngrid a -fyngrid / & foule ofte rebewked. & a -rated of ryche me n / þat rewþe it is to heere. Now lord sende to hem som er / & su m man er of Ioyȝe. Hevene aft er her e hens goeng / þ at her e have swich defawte. For alle myghtyst þ ou have maad / & noon mener e þa nir. & y -lyche wytty & wyȝs / If þy will e hadde lykyd. Have rewthe ȝee ryche men / þ at rewarde no porayle. & ȝeve hem of þy n good / for ing raty ben manye. But god of þy goodnesse / gyve hem g race of me ndeme nt. For may no derthe ben to deer e / neyþ ir drowhte ne weete. Neyþ ir heete ne hayl / if þey haven here hele. For al þ at þey wilne & wolde have / wanteþ he m no n heere. But þe poore in p risou n lyȝn F.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. Þ ou co nforte þo creat uris / þat mychil care suffren. Þoruh derthe / þoruh drowhte / all e here dayes heere. Þey have woo / in wynt ris tyme F.10.654: Beta manuscripts have "wynter tymes." / & wanty nge of cloþis. & seelden in þe som er tyme / suppe þey to þe fulle. Now c rist conforte þo careful / kyng in þy n ryche. How þ ou co nfortist all e creat ures / clerkys knowen all e. Conuertimini ad me / & salui eritis. Thus in genere of alle Ientylis F.10.659: Alpha is responsible for alle. R has his genitrice, and beta has gentries for F's Ientylis. / Iesu c rist seyȝde. To robberis & to reverys / to ryche & to poore. To harlotys / & to hoorys / & to all eir peple. F.10.661: This line is attested only in alpha. Þ ou tawhtist he m of þe t rinyte / to taken bapteme. To been clene þoru c ristny nge / of all e kenne sennys. & ȝif vs be -felle / be folye / to fally n in synne aft er. & be -knowleche it In co nfessiou n F.10.665: F's a-verse is unique. Beta reads "Confession and knowlichynge," and R has "Knowlechynge and confession." / & c raue þy n m ercy. We shold e a -me nd vs as ofte / as we wolde dysyr e. & If þe powke plede þ ere a -gey n / to punshe vs in consciense. We F.10.668: F uniquely reads We. Beta manuscripts have He, and R has Ho. sholde take a -q uitaunce / & to þe qweed it shewe. Pateant vniu ersi p er passione m d omini n ostri Iesu cristi F.10.669: The scribe may have underestimated the size of the Latin quotation to be supplied, for he left the next line blank. Or perhaps, in view of his reaching the end of the quire at the end of a stint of copying, he was simply padding. & so pytte of þe powke / & preve vs vndir borwe But þe p archemy n of þis pate nte / muste be n of pou erte. & of pure Pacyense / & of p arfyȝt be -leve. & if pompe or p ride / doþ þe p archemy n cowre. F.10.673: The b-verse in Bx reads "þe parchemyn decourreþ." Decourreþ is a nonce word, here used figuratively to mean "shuns, avoids, parts from." MED provides no parallels for F's cowre. & p rincipaly of þe peple / but þey been poor e of h erte. Ellis is al ydelnesse / al þ at euer e þey wryten. Pat er nost ris & penau ntis F.10.676: Alpha, Hm, and a slightly revised C have the plural form. Beta manuscripts have singular penaunce. / & pilg rimes to Rome. W it h our e spendyng of spekynge / sp ringe of a trewe well e. F's revisions of this passage fail in sense. Bx reads as follows: But oure spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe welle Ellis is al oure labour lost lo how men writeþ In fenestres at þe freres if fals be þe foundement Forþi cristene sholde be in commune riche noon coueitous for hymselue. F omits the last of these lines entirely. Ellis al our e labour is / laweles y trowe. F.10.678: The phrase "labour . . . trowe" is written over an erasure. Looke how me n wryten / in fenest ris at þe freris. If fals be þe fowndeme nt / it fawseþ al atoonys at oonys. Sevene sy nnes þere been / þ at asayle vs euere. & þe fend folw et h hem all e / & fondiþ hem to helpen. But w it h rycchesse þo rybawdis F.10.683: Alpha and C have the plural. Beta manuscripts have "þat ribaude." / rathest me n by -gyle. For þer e þ at rycchesse reygneþ / reu erences F.10.684: Alpha and C have the plural. Beta manuscripts have a singular form. F alone has it. it folwiþ. & þ at þat [is] plesau nt to p ride / to poore & eek to ryche. But F.10.686: Alpha is responsible for But (or R's Ac). Beta manuscripts have And. þe ryche is reu erencid / be resou n of his rychesse. Bx reads as follows: Ac ( or And) þe riche is reuerenced by reson of his richesse Ther þe poore is put bihynde and parauenture kan moore Of wit and of wisdom þat fer awey is bettre Than richesse or reautee, and raþer herd in heuene. The revision of the fourth line above suggests that the omission of the third had already occurred in F's exemplar. Þer e þe poor e is pit by -hyȝnde / & p araunt er ca n moore. Þan þe ryche ma n so ryal / & rather e herd in hevene. For þe ryche haþ mychel to rykne / & ryght softe walkeþ. Þe ryght F.10.690: Alpha and G read ryght in place of correctly alliterating Bx/Cx's heiȝe. wey to hevene -ward / but ofte þe ryche is lettyd. F.10.690: F omits the following line from Bx: " Ita inpossibile diuiti &c. " Þere þe poor e p rocheþ F.10.691: Scribal interpretation of a suspension in alpha is responsible for F's p(ro)cheþ and R's p(re)cheth. Beta manuscripts and C have preesseþ. to -foor e / w it h a pakke y -charged. F.10.691: F omits the following three lines from Bx: Opera enim illorum sequntur illos Batauntliche as beggeris doon and boldeliche he craueþ For his pouerte and his pacience a perpetuel blisse. Beati paup eres sp iritu  q uoniam ip sor um e st eni m F.10.692: F uniquely adds enim. regnu m celor um. But F.10.693: Alpha is responsible for But (or R's Ac). Beta manuscripts and C have And. p ride in rycchesse reygneþ / rathere þan in pou erte. Or in þe Mayst er . or in his man / su m mansyou n he haveþ. But in pou erte þer e pacience is / p riȝde haþ no strengthe. Ne no n of þe seuy n sy nnes / sytte ne mowe þ ere longe. Ne have powher in pou erte / if pacience hem folwe. For þe poor e ys ay p rest / for to pleesen þe ryche. & buxu m at his byddy nge / for hise broode noblis. F.10.699: F uniquely reads "broode noblis." Other B manuscripts have "broke loues." & buxu mnesse . & boost / þey been euere at werre. & eyþir hateþ oþ ir / in all e maner e of werkis. & if wratthe wrastle w it h þe poor e / he haþ þe worse ende. For if þey boþe pleyne / þe poor e ys to feeble. & if he chyde or chatr e / hy m cheeviþ þe worrse. For lowly he lookeþ / & lovely is his speche. These lines are attested only in alpha. Þ at ony meete or monee / of oþer e me n mote asken. & if Glotenye g reve pou erte / he gadr eþ þe lasse. For hise rentys wil not reche / no ryche meetys to bygge. & þowh his glut F.10.709: The required sense "gluttony" for glut is not elsewhere attested in Middle English. See MED s.v. glut, meaning "glutton." be in good ale / he gooþ a -cold to bedde. & hys hevid euele y -helyd / & vnesely y -wryȝe. For whan he streyneþ hy m to strecche / þe straw is his schete. So for his grete glotenye F.10.712: F alone omits Bx's "and his greete sleuthe." / he haþ a g reuous penau nce. Þ at is wellawo whan he wakeþ / & wepiþ sor e . for colde. & su m -tyme for hise synnes / so he is neu ere merye. W it h -outy n moornyng e a -moong . & myche myschef to boote. & þey F.10.716: Alpha is responsible for þey, "though." Beta manuscripts have If. Coueytyse wolde cacche þe poor e / þey mowe not come n same. Be þe nekke namely / þer no n may henden oþir. For me n knowe wel þ at coueytyse / ys of a kene will e. & haveþ has hondis & armes / of an huge lengthe. & pou erte is but a pety þyng . & a -periþ not to his novele. A lovely leyk ys it neuer e / be -twene þe longe & schorte. & þey Aueryse wolde angr e þe poor e / he haþ but lytyl strengþe. For pou erte haþ but pokes / to pytty n in hise goodis. Þere Aueryȝse haþ Almerijs . & yrene bownde coffr es. & wheyþ ir be lyghter e to breke / lasse boost he makeþ. A beggerys bagge / or a bownden coffre. Leccherye loveþ hy m nowht . for lytyl syluer he delyþ. To doon hy m dyghne delycatly ./ ne to dry nke wyȝn ofte. F.10.728: Alpha omitted two lines attested by beta manuscripts: A straw for þe stuwes it stoode noȝt I trowe Hadde þei no þyng but of poore men hir houses stoode vntyled. & þey slewhthe sewe pou erte / & s erue not god to payȝe. Mischef is his mayst er ./ & makeþ hym to þy nken. Þ at god is grettest his [his grettest] F.10.731: Alpha and B omit his before grettest. F in correcting the error presumably misplaced his. helpe / & no goome ellis. & he his s eruau nt as he seyȝþ / & of his sewt boþe. & wheyþ ir he be / or be not  he beriþ þe sygne of pou erte. & in þ at sewte is our e saviour / þ at saueþ al man -kynde. For -þy all e poor e þ at pacie nt ys / may cleyme n & asken. Affter here endynge day / hevene -ryche blysse. Michil hardier e may he aske / þ at haþ heer e myght & will e. As a lord . of lordschepe / & haþ lykynge of bodily helþe. & for goddis love / leveþ al / & lyviþ as a beggere. & as a Mayde for ma nnys love / hir e moodir for -sakeþ. & hire fadir & all e hir e frend is / & folw et h forþ hir e make. Miche F.10.742: An otiose curl is written over the <c>. The spelling miche does not elsewhere appear in this manuscript. is þ at mayde to love / of hym þ at swich oon takeþ. Moore þan þ at mayden ys / þ at ys maried þorghȝ brokage. As be a -se nt of su ndry p artyes / & peyȝe syluer to boote. Moor e for coueytyse of good / þan kende love of boþe. So it fareþ be eu ery p ersone / þ at possessiou n for -sakeþ. & pit hym to ben pacye nt / & pouerte weddiþ. Þe wiche is sybbe to god hym -selue / & so neer is þ at p ersone. F.10.748: F's b-verse is unique. Beta has "and so to hise seintes," and R reads "and so neyȝ is pouerte." Have god my trewthe q uod haukyn / y heer e heere [ȝou] p reyse pou erte. F.10.749: F's b-verse is unique. Beta manuscripts read "ye preise faste pouerte." R's reading is corrupt. What is pouerte q uod he  p roperly to meene. Paup ertas q uod pacience / est odib ile bonu m . remocio curar um / possessio sine calu mpnia . donu m d ei . sanitatis mat er . absq ue Solitudine Sol[lic]itudine semita . Sapiencie te mp erat rix . negociu m sine da mpno . Incerta fortuna . Absq ue solicitudi ne felicitas. I can not co nstrue al þis / q uod haukyn / þ ou kenne it on englyȝs. Q uod Pacience in englyȝs it is hard / to expowne it to soþe. But su mdel y schal seyȝn yt / by so þ ou vndirstonde it. Pou erte is þe firste poy nt / þ at p riȝde moost hateþ. Þan is it good by good skyl / þ at it a -gaste pryȝde. Ryght as Cont riciou n is co nfortable þy ng / co nscience woot wel Þey it be sorwe to hy m -selue / It is solace to his sowle. Ryght so / pou erte p roperly / ys penaunce & Ioyȝe. & to þe body ys / pure spyrytual helpe. Ergo paup ertas est odib ile bonum. Cont ricio is confort / & cura a ni mar um . F.10.762: < .1. > is written in the right margin, probably by the original scribe, to identify the first of the "solaces" mentioned in 10.758. The third is identified in the text at 10.768. For selden syt pouerte / þe soþe to declar e. As sytt a Iustise / to Iugge me n of gyltys. F.10.764: F's b-verse is unique. R has no b-verse reading at all, and beta witnesses read "enioyned is no poore." Ne as a Meyȝr on F.10.765: R has ouer, and given beta's synonymous aboue, F's on probably reflects either a failure in his exemplar to provide the suspension above <ou> or his own oversight. men / ne my nstre vndir kyngis. Seelden ys þe poor e y -pyt / to punchen þe peple. F.10.766: F omits Bx's " Remocio curarum. " Ergo  pou erte & poor e me n / p arforme n godd is comau ndeme nt. Nolite iudicare que mq uam . the thrydde. Seelden ys pore . ryght ryche / but it be of ryght -ful erytage. He wynneþ nowht w it h hise wyȝles / ne w it h vn -selyd mesures. F.10.770: < .2. > is written in the right margin, probably by the original scribe, to identify the second of the "solaces" mentioned in 10.758. The third is identified in the text at 10.768. Ne borweþ of his neyhebour e / but þ at he may wel payen Possessio sine calu mpnia. Þe feerthe is a Fortune / þat florcheþ þe sowle. W it h sobrete fram all e synne / & also ȝit moore. It a -faytethȝ þe fleschȝ / fram folijs ful manye. A collaterel confort / comeþ of c ristis ȝifte. Donu m dei. Þe fyfte is / þe Moodir of hele F.10.778: Beta manuscripts have "moder of helþe" in place of alpha's "þe Moodir of hele." / and freend in alle fondy ng e. & for þe lawe eu ere y -lyche / a lemman of clennesse. Sanitatis mat er. Þe sixte is a paþ of pees / platou n beryþ witnesse. F.10.781: F has completely rewritten the b-verse. Bx reads "ye þoruȝ þe paas of Aultoun." R is defective in sense here, reading "ȝe þoruȝ þe pa altone," and F's revision may be a response to a problem in alpha. Pouerte myghte passe / w it howtyn p ereyl of robbynge. For þer e þ at pou erte passeþ / pees folw et h after. F.10.783: F omits the following line: "And euer þe lasse þat he bereþ þe hardier he is of herte." For -þy  seyþ Seneca / Paup ertas e st absq ue solitudi ne F.10.784: Alpha is responsible for solitudine , a reading shared by C 2BmBoCot. Beta manuscripts have sollicitudine . Both variants appear in the C tradition as well. semita. He is an hardy man of herte / a -mong an hep of þevis. Cantabat paup ertas cora m lat rone viator. Þe seuenthe is well e of wisdom / & fewe wordis he shew et h. For loordis a -low et h hy m lytel / or lystneþ to his resou n. He te mpreþ his tu nge to trewþe -ward / þ at no t resou n F.10.789: F uniquely reads tresoun. Other B manuscripts have tresor. coueytyþ. F.10.789: Alpha and most C manuscripts lack beta's " Sapiencia temperatrix " following this line. Þe . viij e. is a leel labourer F.10.790: Alpha is responsible for labourer, a reading shared by CrL. Other B and C manuscripts have labour. / & looþ to taken moor e. Þan he may wel disserue / in som er or in wynt er. & if he chaffareþ / he chargeþ no los / if he charyte wynne. Negociu m sine da mpno. Þe . ix e. is sweete to þe sowle / no sugre is swetter e. For pacyence is peyne / for pou erte he is hy m -selue. F.10.795: F has miscomprehended the sense here, confusing payn, "bread," with peyne, "pain." He then revised the b-verse in an attempt to make sense of the line. Bx reads "For pacience is payn for pouerte hymselue." & sobrete is sweete dryng / & a good leche in seknesse. Þus lerned me a lerid F.10.797: Alpha and most C manuscripts read lerid. Beta manuscripts have lettred. man / for our e lordis love of heue nne. Sey nt Austyn seyþ it ys a blessid lyf / w it h -outy n ony besynesse. For body & for sowle / absq ue solicitudine felicitas. Now god þ at all e goode gyviþ / grawnte his sowle reste. Þ at þus first wroot to wisse me n / what pou erte was to meene. Allas q uod Haukyn F.10.802: Alpha is responsible for omitting "þe Actif man" after "Haukyn." þanne / þ at after my c ristendome. I hadde [ne] hadde ben deed / & doluen / for doweelis sake. So hard it is to lyven heere / & to lyȝn longe in synne. Synne schew et h vs good se mblau nt / & sory gan he wexen. F.10.805: Erroneous scheweth is owed to alpha. Beta reads "Synne seweþ vs euere quod he and sory gan wexe." F revises to supply an appropriate direct object for the verb. & wepte wat er w it h hise eyes / & weylede þe tyme. Þ at euer e he dide ony dede / þ at deere god dysplesede. He swownede & sobbede / & sykede ful ofte. Þ at eu ere he hadde lond or lordchepe / lasse eyþ ir moor e. Er mayst rie ou er ony ma n / moor e þan ou er hy m -selue. I were not worthy q uod haukyn / to weryn ony cloþis. Neyþir scherte ne schoon / save for schame oone. To kou ere my n kareyne q uod hee  & c riȝede m ercy faste. & wepte & weyȝlede / & þerw it h y awakede. Explicit Passus .X us. This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. Incipit Passus .XI us. A Fter F.11.1: The ornamental capital is in blue with red flourishes. The scribe has run flourishes from top to bottom of the page in a russet ink not otherwise used in the manuscript. my wakynge / it was longe after. Er y cowhde keendely / knowe what was dowel. & so my wit wex & wanyede / tyl y a fool were. & su mme F.11.4: The scribe's intention here is not clear. His usual form for "some" used as a collective subject is summe (cf. 1.19, 21, 31, 86, etc.), and that is consonant with Bx. However, a tilde appears over the final <e>, and the scribe perhaps intended to write su m me n? lakkede my lyf / þer e a -lowed it fewe. & leetyn me for a lorel / & looþ to don me worchepe. Eir lordis or ladijs / or ony lyf ellys. As p ersones w it h pelur e / w it h pendawntys of syluer. To sergawntis & F.11.8: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta manuscripts instead read ne. For a similar variation, see 6.210. to swiche me n F.11.8: A character has been erased where the expected virgule might have appeared. seyde nout oones. God looke ȝow lordis / ne y lowtyd to he m fayr e. Þ at folk held me a fool / & in my foly ravede. Tyl resou n hadde rewthe on me / & rokkid me on slepe. Þan seyȝ y a syght of sorseryȝe / a sotyl þy ng w it h -alle. Oon w it h -owtyn tu nge or teeþ / told me whidir y sholde. & wher -of y cam kendely / þan co niowred y hy m in haste. If he were c ristis creature / for c ristis love me to telle. I am c ristis creatur e q uod he / & c ristne in many a place. In c ristis cowrt y -knowe wel / & of c ristis kyn a p arty. Is neyþ ir Peter þe port er / ne powl w it h his fawchou n. Þ at will e defende me þe door e / dynge y neu ere so late. At mydnyght . at mydday  my voys is so wel y -knowe. Þ at eu ery creatur e of his cowrt / wolkomeþ me fayre. / [¶] But what are cald [ye] cald . q uod y in þ at cowrt / a -mong c ristis peple. Þe whilys y qwyke in þe corps / calid y am Anima . The scribe on this opening highlighted the faculties of the soul with underlining and overlining in red. & whanne y wilne & wolde / Animus y hatte. & whan y make moone to god / my name is Memorye . F.11.25: " XI" with red flourishes is written in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. & whan y deme on dees / & do as trewthe techeþ. Þan rac io my n name is ryght / reson on englysch tunge. & for þ at y can y knowe [and] knowe / callyd mens y am ofte. F.11.28: In Bx, this line appears after 11.24. & whan y fele þ at folk tellyþ / my fyrste name ys sensus. & þ at is wit & wyȝsdom / þe well e of alle craftes. & whan y chalange / or chalange nowht / chepe or refuse. Þan am y Cons ci ence y -cald / c ristis clerkis notarie. & whan y love leelly / our e loord & alle oþer e. Þan is leel love my n name / & in latyn Amor . & whan y flee fleschly lust / & for -sake kareyne. Þan am y a spiryȝt specheles / & Sp irit us þa nne y hatte. Awstyn & ambrose / have brevid on her e bookis. F.11.37: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "Austyn and Ysodorus eiþer of hem boþe." Þey nempned me þus be name / now þ ou myght cheese. How þ ou wilt cally n me / þ ou knowist all e my n names. Anima p ro diu ersis acc io nib us diu ersa no mi na sortit ur. Du m viuificat corp us  a ni ma e st . Du m vult  anim us . est. Du m scit  mens e st . Du m recolit  memoria est. Du m Iudicat  rac io e st . Du m sentit  sensus est. Du m amat . amor e st . Du m negat v el consentit  Co nsiencia est . Du m spirat  sp irit us est. What ȝee ben as a bischop q uod y / & gan burde þ at tyme. For byschopis þ at ben y -blessid / þey bery n many names. Presul & Pontifex & Metropolanus F.11.48: RF share the erroneous Metropolanus. & oþere names an hep / ep isc opus et pastor Þ at ys sooþ / þan seyde he / for now y see þy n will e. Þ ou woldist knowe & ku nne / þe cause of all e my n F.11.51: FW alone read myn. Bx has hire. names. & of my n yf þ ou myȝtyst / me þynkeþ be my n F.11.52: F's myn is unique. Bx has þi. speche. Ȝe sire þan seyde y / so no man wer e a -grevid. All e þe sciencis vndir su nne / & all e þe sotill e c raftys. I wolde y knew & knew k[owþe] / kendely in my n herte. Þan art þ ou Inp arfyght / q uod he  & oon of p riȝdes knyghtis. For swich a lust & lykynge / lucifer fel fram hevene. & held hym -selue as gret as god / swich g race he hade. F.11.58: This line is unique to F. Pona m pedem meu m i n aq uilone m . & sim ilis ero altissi mo. It were a -gey n kyȝnde q uod he  & al -skens resou n. Þ at ony creatur e sholde kenne al / except c rist hy m oone. A -geyn swiche Salomo n spekiþ / & disputiþ F.11.62: F's disputiþ is unique. Bx has despiseþ. her e wittis He seyþ . si q uis mel comedit multu m  no n e st bonu m ei. F's reading is unique. Bx has the following: And seiþ Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria. Sic qui sc rutator e st magestatis . opp rimet ur a gl oria. To englysch me n þis is to meene / þ at mowe speke & heeren. Þe ma n F.11.66: An otiose curl appears over the <m>. þ at mychel hony eet / his mawe mote be engleymed. Ryght so þe moor e þ at a man / of good matere heeryþ. But he do þ ere -after / it doþ hy m mychil skathe. Beatus est seyþ sey nt Bernard / qui sc ripturas legit . & v ertit v erba F.11.70: Alpha is responsible for the word order. Beta witnesses have " verba vertit ." i n op era / holly to his powher. He þ at Coueytiþ to ku nne / & to knowe sciencis. Was pyt owt of p aradyȝs / as adam & Eve. Sciencie appetit us ho mi nem i nmortalitatis gl oriam spoliau it. & ryght as hony is evil to defie / & engleyme engleyme[þ] F.11.74: We have taken the error to have been the work of the immediate scribe, but the redactor possibly understood the verb to be parallel to the infinitive form in the a-verse. þe mawe. Ryght so þorghȝ resou n / he wolde þe roote knowe. Of god / & of hise grete myghtis / his g race gan it lette. For in lykynge lyþ g ret p riȝde / & lykames coueytise. A -geyn c ristis co nseyl / & all e clerkys techyng. Þat is no n plus sap ere  qua m oportet sapere. Freris & oþere F.11.80: Alpha omitted fele before oþere. Maystris / þ at to lewed me n prechen Ȝee meve mateer vn -mesurable F.11.81: The dot between vn and mesurable does not appear to be intentional. / to telly n of þe t rinnyte. F.11.81: Alpha omitted the following unmetrical line attested by beta witnesses: "That ofte tymes þe lewed peple of hir bileue douten." Bettr e it wer e to be -leve on / as doctouris vs techeþ. & telly n of þe .x. comau ndeme ntis / & towche þe .vij sy nnes & þe brawnces þ at burgoneþ of hem / & bry ngeþ F.11.84: An otiose curl appears above the <g>. me n to hell e & how þ at folk w it h folijs / mys -spendyn her e fyve wyttis As weel freris as oþ ire me n / folyly spendyn. In howsynge in hat erenge / in -to hy clergye schewynge. Moor e for pompe þan for charite / þe peple whot þe soþe. Þ at y lyȝe no woord loo  for lordis ȝee plesen. & reuerence þe ryche me n / þe rather e for her e syluer. Confu ndant ur om nes q ui adorant sculptilia . Et alibi d icitur. Vt q uid diligitis vanitate m  & queritis mendaciu m. Goo to þe glose of þe vers / ȝee þ at been clerkis. If y lyȝe on ȝow / to my n lewid wit / led me to bre nny ng. For as it semeþ / ȝee for -sake / no me nnys almesse. Of vsereris / of horis / & F.11.96: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta witnesses have of alone. Curiously, R has and without of, so F's reading is unique. of averous chapmen. & ȝee lowten / to þe lord is / þ at mowe leene ȝow noblys. A -gey n ȝour e religions rewle / y take record at Iesus. þ at seyd e to hise dissip elis / nescitis [ne sitis] accept ores p ersonar um. F.11.99: Alpha is responsible for the word order. Beta witnesses have " personarum acceptores ." Of þis mater e y myghte  maken a mychil byble. But of curatour es of þe peple / as clerkis beriþ witnesse. I shal tell e it for tr ewþe sake / take heede wh wh[oso] it lykeþ. As holynesse & honeste / in holy chirche spredyþ. Þorghȝ leell e lyvynge men / þ at godd is lawes F.11.104: Alpha is responsible for plural lawes. Beta witnesses have lawe. techen. Ryght so owt of holy chirche / all e evelis sprediþ. Þer e inp arfyȝt p resthod ys / & F.11.106: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta witnesses lack it. p rechouris & techeris See it be ensample / on trees / in som er tyme. Su mme bowes been levid / & su mme bery n noone. For a myschef is in þe maist er roote / þ at is ca m of þe bowis. F.11.109: F is unique among B manuscripts. Bx has "Ther is a meschief in þe more of swiche manere bowes." So yt fareþ be preestis / & p recherys in holy chirche. Þey sholde been roote of þe fayþ / to rewle þe peple. But þe mayst er roote is rote F.11.112: rote ppl. "rotten." / resou n whot þe soþe. Shal it neu ere bery n frut / ne branche of grene F.11.113: An otiose curl appears over <g>. levis. For -þy  wolde þe lettred e / leven leccherye & cloþy ngg e. F.11.114: Bx reads "Forþi wolde ye lettrede leue þe lecherie of cloþyng." The substitution of þe for ye occurred in alpha, and occurred again in the BmBoCot group. F noted the inconsistency and two lines below changed both instances of youre to here. & be kende as clerkis sholde / & c urteys of c ristis good is. & trewe of her e tu nge / & of her e tayl e -ende. F.11.116: Though Langland's reference in Bx's "and of youre tail boþe" is sexual, it seems likely that F took the reference to be to "accounts, reckonings." For the form, cf. 6.78 above. & haten to heeren harlot riȝe / & looþ wrong vndirfonge. Of tythis of t rewe þy ngis F.11.118: F's a-verse is unique. Most B manuscripts have "Tiþes of vntrewe þyng." / y -tylijd or y -chaffared. Looþ weryn lewede me n / but þey ȝour e loor e folwed e. & a -me ndid he m þ at mysdoon / þe moor e / for ȝour e ensampl e. Þa n for to p reche & p reve it nowht / ypocrisye it semeþ. For ypocrisie in latyn / ys lykned to a dongou n. F.11.122: Alpha is responsible for dongoun. Beta witnesses read dongehill. It is perhaps curious that F uniquely introduces dunk, "dung," in 11.124 and did not correct his exemplar here. Þ at wer e be -snowid w it h -oute / & snakys been þ ere -Inne. Or to a wal whyȝtlymed / & wer e dunk w it h -Inne. Ryght so manye p relatis / p rechour es & preestis. Are blawnchid w it h bele p arolis / & blewe burnet cloþis. & ȝour e werkis & ȝour e wordis / þ ere -vndir ben al foxly. F.11.127: F's foxly is unique. R has wlueliche, and beta has unloueliche. Ioh annes c risostim us / of clerkis / he spekiþ & p rechiþ. Sicut de templo om ne bonu m procedit. F.11.129: The form procedit is from alpha. Beta witnesses read progreditur . Sic de templo  om ne malu m procedit. Si sac erdociu m i ntegru m fuerit . tota floret ecc lesia. Si a utem corupta F.11.131: The form corupta is from alpha. Beta witnesses read corruptum . fuerit . om ni fides marcida e st . Si sac erdos F.11.131: The form sacerdos is from alpha. Beta witnesses read sacerdocium . fuerit i n p ecc atis . tot us pop ul us conu ertit ur ad p ecc atum F.11.131: Alpha is responsible for peccatum, though the reading is shared by Cr 2,3. Beta and C witnesses have peccandum. . Sic ut videris arbore m pallida m & marcida m . Intelligis q uod viciu m h abet i n radice. F.11.131: F alone omits the following: " Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum ." If lewed men wisten / what þis latyȝn meeneþ. & who were my n awtour / gret wondir wolde þey haven. But eu ery p rest sholde ber e / for here broode baselardis. F.11.134: F's line is unique, revised in the light of a probably confused exemplar. Most beta witnesses have "But if many a preest beere for hir baselardes and hir broches," where the alliterative pattern suggests that Bx was already corrupt. R reads "But if many preste bere for here broches and for here baselardes." The R scribe's placement of a punctus elevatus after bere shows that he did not take "and for here baselardes" to have constituted the b-verse, though that is possible. A peyr e of bedis in her e hond / or F.11.135: Alpha is responsible for or. Beta witnesses have and. a book to bydde on. Sire Ioh an & sir e Geffrey / haven gyrdlys of syluer. & a baselard or a ballokknyf / & botenys ou er gilt bryghte. But his portuos þ at is his plowh / placebo on to seggen. Þ at is be -take to tauerne hows / for ten schelyng plegge. F.11.139: This line appears only in F. If he hadd e no s eruyse ne syluer / w it h evil will e he will e sy nge. F.11.140: F is unique. Beta witnesses have "Hadde he neuere seruice to saue siluer þerto seiþ it with ydel wille." R is similar to beta, though its b-verse ("seith it with euel wille") suggests that alpha is responsible for evil. Allas . ȝee lewid me n / mychil leese ȝee on F.11.141: An otiose curl appears above <o>. preestes. For wikkidly þey wynnen / gold / & w it h slyȝe sleyghtis. Wolde neu ere wit / of witty god / but vn -witty me n he m made. F.11.143: Made is alpha's reading. Beta manuscripts read hadde. Þ at swiche p restis inp arfyȝt lyve / & p rechen for syluer. & ben seketour es of sowlis good / & su mnowris w it h her e feeris. F.11.145: F is unique. Bx has "Executours ( or sectours) and Sodenes Somonours and hir lemmannes." Al þ at / w it h gyle þey gety n / vng racyously is spendyd. So harlotis & hooris / have holpe owt swiche goodis. But F.11.148: Alpha is responsible for But. (R has Ac.) Beta witnesses have And. godd is folk for defawte / for -faren & spyllyn. Of curatoures of holy cherche / & F.11.149: Alpha and C have &. Beta witnesses have as. clerkis þ at ben auerous. Þ at þey sparen lyghtly F.11.150: F's a-verse is unique. Bx has "Lightliche þat þei leuen." / loselys it habbeþ. Er þey deye in -testat / & þanne þe Bischop ent riþ. & makeþ m erthe þ er -w it h / & hise meyȝne boþe. & sey n he was a negard / þ at no good myghte sp are. To freend ne to fremde / þe feend have nou his sowle. For a wrecchid hous F.11.155: The <s> is malformed. he hild / al his lyf -tyme. & þ at he sparede he [&] sperede / spende we now in m erthe. Boþe after lewed & lered / þ at looþ ben to spende. Þus goon her e goodis / be þe goost y -faren. But for goode me n god wot / gret dool me n maken. & þey be -meene goode mete -ȝiveris / & in my nde he m have. In p rayeris & in penau nces / & in p arfyȝt charite. A . what is charite q uod y þo  a childisch þy ng he seyde. Nisi efficiamini sic ut p aruuli  no n i nt rabitis i n reg num celor um. W it h -outy n fawntelte er folie / er a free lyberal will e. Wher e sholde me n fyȝnde swich a frend / w it h so fr e an herte. I have lyved in londe q uod y  & longe will e is my name. & ful charyte fond y neu ere / by -for e me / ne by -hyȝnde. For me n be not m ercyable / to mendynau nt is ne to poor e. F.11.168: F's reading is unique. Other B manuscripts read: "Men beþ merciable to mendinauntz and to poore." But þey leene . þere þey be -leven / to been lelly y -peyed. But not for charite þ at poul p reyseþ / It pleseþ god in heuene. As no n inflat ur / no n est a mbic iosa . no n querit que sua su nt. I seyȝ neuere swich a man / so me god helpe. Þ at he wolde [ne] wolde asken aft er his / & oþ irwhile mor e coueyte n. Of þyng þ at hy m needid F.11.174: Alpha is responsible for this word order. Beta witnesses have "neded hym." nowht / & nyme it if he myghte. Crerkis C[l]erkis kenne me soþly / þ at cryst is in alle places. But y sey hy m neu ere soþly / but as my -selue in m errour. Hic in enigmate . tu nc facie ad faciem. & so y trowe trewly be he / þ at men telly n charite. He is no champiou n w it h to fyȝt / ne chaffar e as y trowe. Charite chaffareþ not q uod he  ne chalyngeþ ne craveþ. He is as prowd of a peny / as of a pond of goolde. & is as glad / of a gowne / of a gray russet. As of a tonycle of tarse / & of tryȝe veluet. He is glad . w it h all e gladde / & good to all e wikkyd e He beleviþ F.11.185: Alpha and Y have He for beta's And. F uniquely has beleviþ for Bx's leneþ (or leueþ). & loveþ all e þo / þ at our e lord god made. He curseþ no creatur e / ne he can bere no wratthe. Ne he haþ lykynge to lyȝe / ne to lawe no n to skorne. Al þ at me n sey n he let it soþ / & it in solace takeþ. & all e man ere of myscheuys / in myȝldenesse he suffreþ. He coueytiþ no n erly F.11.190: erly, "earthly." The scribe elsewhere writes "erthely" (4.201, 15.96), and his usual form is "erthe." This spelling appears also at 7.413 and 16.151. goodis F.11.190: Alpha is responsible for the plural form. Beta witnesses have good. / but heuy nly hyȝe blysse. Haþ he ony rycchesse q uod he / er ony ryche frendys. Of rentys ne of rychesse q uod he / ne reccheþ he neuere. For þe freend þ at fyndis hy m / fayled hy m neu ere at neede. For fiat volu ntas tua / feedyþ hym euer e -more. & þerto / he sowpeþ a sope / of spera in deo. He can portreyȝe wel þe Pater noster / & pey nte it w it h ave . F.11.196: Alpha has the singular form. Beta and C witnesses have Aues. &irwhile he is wont / to wenden on pilg rimages. Þere poor e me n & p risoneris lygge / þeere p ardou n to have. Þowhȝ he ber e hem no breed / he beriþ soter e lyflode. For he loveþ hem as god byt / & lookeþ how þey faren. / [¶] & whan he is wery of þ at werk / þa n wole he su m -tyme. Sore labour e in lavandryȝe / þe lengþe of a myle. & ȝeernen in -to ȝowhþe / & ȝeeply þere seken Pryde w it h all e hise p ertynau nces / & pakke hem to -gydres. & bowken hem at hys breest / & beety n hem clene. & leggen on longe / w it h laboraui in gemitu meo. & w it h warm water of hise eyȝes / wasschen hem after. Þan he syngiþ whan he doþ so / & su m -tyme seiþ wepy nge. Cor co nt ritu m & humiliatu m / no n despicies d omine. By c rist y wolde y knew hy m q uod y  no creature leuere. W it h -oute helpe of pers q uod he / his p ersoone seest þ ou neu ere. Wher e Clerkis knowe hym q uod y  þ at kepen holy chirche. Clerkys have no knowynge q uod he  but by werkis & wordis. But pers plowhman / parseyveþ mor e deppere. F.11.214: The comparative form here reflects normal shortening of the vowel before a doubled consonant. Þ at is why  & wherfor e / for many whyȝt y -knoweþ. F.11.215: Bx reads "What is þe wille and wherfore þat many wight suffreþ." Alpha had omitted þe before wille, and L agrees with alpha in reading Þat in place of What, but the remaining differences are attributable to F. Et vidit d eus cogitac io nes eor um. For þer e are ful prowde herted me n / & ben pacie nt of tu nge. & buxu m of berynge / to borgeys es & to loordis. But to þe poor e peeple / pep er is in her e nose -þerlys. & as a leou n he lookeþ / þer e men lakke hise werdis. Þer e are beggerys & bydderis / beedeme n as þey weren. & þey looken as lambren / & seme of lyf holy. But it is moor e to have her e mete / on swich esy man ere. Þan for penau nce & p arfyȝtnesse / swich pou erte is vn -holy. Þerfor e be colour of clergye / knowe shalt þ ou hy m neuere. Neyþ ir þorghȝ word / ne þorghȝ werk / but þorghȝ will e oone. & þ at know et h no clerk / ne creatur e on erthe. But pers þe plowhman / p roperly Pers idest id est Cristus . For he loveþ noone lollerys / ne lond leperis neyþir. Ne anc ris þ ere any box hangeþ / for all e swiche fayte. Fy on þo faytoures / & on factores F.11.231: F alone reads factores . Other B manuscripts have fautores . suos . For Charite is goddis Champiou n / & as a good child hende. & þe meriest of mowþ / at mete wher e he syttyþ. F.11.233: F omits the following line from Bx "The loue þat liþ in his herte makeþ hym liȝt of speche." & he is co mpynable / & co nfort confort[atif] / as c rist bit hy m -selue. Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite t ristes. For y have sey n hym in sylk / & su m -tyme in russet. & furrid w it h gray & w it h gryȝs / & goon in gylt harneyȝs. & as gladly he it gaf / to goomes / þ at it needyd. Sey nt Emu nd & sey nt Edward / eyþ ir weren kyngys. & now be þey sey ntis sette / so F.11.240: Alpha is responsible for so. Beta witnesses have til or for. charite he he[m] F.11.240: Though he is possibly written for "they," it is not the scribe's usual form, and in view of Bx's hem it is more likely to reflect error than to be a relict form. folwede. I have sey n charite / also / syngen & reeden. Ryden & rennen / in raggede wedis. But byddyngge as a begger e / by -held y hy m neu ere. But in ryche robes / rathest he walkeþ. I -callid / & y -cremylid / & his crowne y -schave. & in a frerys frokke / he was y -fownden oones. But it is fern a -goo / in sey nt Fraunceys tyme. & in þ at seut F.11.248: Curiously, the <u> is corrected from <n>, though in general the scribe does not distinguish the two graphies. sytthen / selden haþ he be knowe. Ryche me n he recome ndiþ / & of her e robis takiþ. Of þoo w it h -owty n wyȝlis / heer e lowly ledyn here lyvis. Beatus est diues qui In þe kyngis cowrt ofte / þer e his co nseyl is trewe. & coueytise be in his co nseyl / he wil not come þ er -i nne. In cowrt a -mo ng Iaperis / charite comeþ selde. For brawly ng & bakbyty nge / & bery nge of falshede. In co nstorie a -for e þe comyssarie / he comeþ not ofte. For her e lawe dureþ longe / but if þey lacche syluer. F.11.257: F omits the following line from Bx "And matrimoyne for moneie maken and vnmaken." A large drypoint "X" appears in the right margin, probably an unheeded corrector's mark to indicate the skipped line. & þo þ at conscience & cryȝst / have knet to -gydre. F.11.258: An otiose curl appears over <g>. Þey vn -don it vn -worthily / doctour es of þe lawe. W it h Bisshopis F.11.260: An otiose curl appears over the <B>. & abbotys / & p relatis of holy chirche. These five lines appear only in alpha. For to wone w it h hem / hys wone was su m -tyme. & c ristis parsymonye F.11.262: This is the first appearance we have found in the language of "parsimony." MED has no entry, and the earliest citation in the OED is 1432. Bx reads patrymonye. to þe por e / p arcel -mel þey deltyn. But Auerise haþ þe keyȝes / & kepiþ for hise kenysmen. & for hise seketo uris & s eruau ntis / & su mme for hise chirdry n chi[l]dryn. But y lakke no lyf / but our e lord . a -me nde vs all e. & god grau nte vs g race / þ at charite may vs folwe. F.11.266: The a-verse is written over an erasure, and a small hole follows god, but no text is lost. For who -so myghte mete w it h hy m / swiche man eres hy m eyleþ. He blameþ neyþ ir ne blameþ [banneþ] / ne boosteþ ne p reyseþ. Ne lakkeþ ne lesseþ / ne lookeþ no þy ng sternyþ stern[e]. Ne c raueþ ne coueytiþ / ne c riȝeþ aft er moor e. F.11.270: Alpha omitted the following line attested by beta witnesses: " In pace in idipsum dormiam &c. " Þe mooste lyfloode / he lyveþ by / ys goddys passiou n. Neyþ ir he byddiþ / ne beggiþ / ne borw et h but he it ȝelde. He mys -doþ no ma n / ne w it h his mowþ hy m greveþ. A -mongis c ristene me n / þys myȝldenesse sholde laste. In all e man ere ang ris / have þis euer e at herte. Þ at þeyȝ þow suffr e all e þese / god suffred for vs moor e. In ensample we sholde don soo / & taken no vengau nce. On our e foos þ at doon vs falsnesse / þis is þe fadr es will e. For eu ery ma n may wel wete F.11.279: Alpha is responsible for the a-verse word order. Beta witnesses have "For wel may euery man wite." / if god wolde F.11.279: Alpha lacks beta's hadde before wolde. hy m -selue. Sholde neu ere Iudas þ at F.11.280: Alpha has þat (F) or þe (R). Most beta witnesses have ne. Iew / have Iesu doon on roode. Ne have m artred Pet er ne Poul / ne in p rison he m holden. But he suffrede in ensample / þ at we sholde suffre also. & seyd e to swiche þ at suffre wolde / þ at Pacientes vincu nt. F.11.283: The scribe left a full line for rubrication, wrote Verbi gracia and then scraped it out, leaving one empty line. The reading is archetypal. Verbi gracia q uod he  & verred e ensamples manye. In þe lengenda legenda s anc tor um / ys þe lyf of holy sey ntys. What penau nce & pou erte / & passiou n þey suffred. & hunger & heete / & manye oþer e angris. Sey nt Antonye & Egidie / & oþer e holy fadres. Þey woneden in wildernesse / a -mo ng wyȝlde bestis. & also mukys mu[n]kys & me ndynans / men by hem -selue In Caues & in spelu nses F.11.291: Cf. OF espelunce, cited by MED, s. v. spelunkes. / & seelde spoke to -gydr es. But neyþ ir Antonye ne Egidie / ne no n hermite þ at tyme Of Liones ne lep ardes / no lyfloode þey tooken. But of þe F.11.294: Alpha has þe, which is omitted in beta. fowlis þ at fleyȝ / þus is fownde in bookis. Except þ at Egidie / after an hyȝnde called e. & be þe melk of þe F.11.296: F is unique. R has "þat meke." Beta witnesses have "þat mylde." beeste/ þe man was susteyned. He hadde hir e nowht eu ery day / his hu ng ir for to slake. But seelden & sundry tyme F.11.298: Alpha is responsible for singular tyme. / as seyþ þe book & techiþ. Sey nt Antonye on a day F.11.299: Alpha is responsible for "on a day." Beta witnesses have adayes. / A -bowte noon tyme. He hadde a brid þ at browte hy m to / breed to his lyfloode. F.11.300: F's line is unique. Most B witnesses have "Hadde a brid þat brouȝte hym breed þat he by lyuede." & þey þ at goome hadde a gest / god fedde F.11.301: Alpha is responsible for fedde. Beta manuscripts have fond. hem boþe. Powl p rim us heremyta / hadde parokkid in F.11.302: Alpha is responsible for in, which is absent in beta. hy m -selue. Þ at no man myghte hy m seen / for moos & for levys. & fowlis hy m fedde / fele wynt ris w it h -alle. Tyl þ at he was fowndour e of frerys / of fraunces F.11.305: F alone reads fraunces, and Bx has Austynes. The verse in C is rewritten. ordre. Powl aft er c ristis pynynge / panyeris he made. & wan w it h hise hondis / þ at his woombe nedede. Peet er fischede for his foode / & hys felawe Andrew. & su mme þei solden & su mme þei eety n F.11.309: Alpha's eetyn replaces soden, "seethed," which appears in beta manuscripts. / & so lyveden boþe. & also Marie Magdeley n / be mores & by F.11.310: Alpha omitted lyuede before the & and added by after it. dewis. But moost by devociou n / & mynde on god almyghty I shulde not þis seuene dayes / seyn ȝow . hem alle. Þ at lyvedyn þus for our e lordis love / a -mongis wyȝlde beestis. F.11.313: The b-verse reading occurred in alpha; beta witnesses read "many longe yeres." For þer e was [ne] was Liou n ne Lypard e / þ at on londe wente. Ne beer e neyþ ir ne boor / ne oþer e beestis wyȝlde. Þ at þey felly n [ne] fellyn to heer e feet / & fawned hem w it h her e taylis. & if þey hadde cowd [cowd hadde] y -carpid / by c rist as y trowe. Þey wolden have y -feed þ at folk / by -fore whyȝlde fowlis. For al þe kyȝndenesse þ at þey cowde / þey kydde to folk ofte. These two lines are preserved only in alpha. In lykkynge & lovynge / þere þey on londis wentyn. But god sent hem foode by folis / & by no wyȝlde F.11.321: FG alone have wyȝlde. Bx has "fierse." beestys. In menynge þ at meke þy ng / myȝlde þyng sholde feede. As who -so seyþ religious / ryght -ful me n sholde feede. F.11.323: FW alone read feede. All other B witnesses have fynde. A drypoint "X" in the right margin may have been intended to call attention to the error. & lawful me n / lif holy me n / lyflode sholde bryngen. & þa nne wolde lordis & ladyes / be looþ to agilte. & taken of her e tenau ntis / moor e þan trewþe wolde. F.11.326: A drypoint "X" appears in the right margin, but the reason for its appearance is not apparent. & fonde if þ at ony freris / wolde for -sake her e almesse. & byddy n hem beryn it / þere þ at it was borwid. & sey n we ben godd is foulis / & a -byȝden alwey. Tyl þ at bryddis bryngen vs / þ at we sholden lyven by. For hadde ȝee payn & potage / & penyale to drynke. & oo mees to ȝore meete / of oo man ere of kyȝnde. Ȝ ee hadde ryght y -now ȝee religious / & so ȝour e ordr e F.11.333: Beta witnesses have correctly alliterating rule against alpha's ordre. techiþ. Nu mq uid d icit Iob . Rugiet onager cu m habuerit herbam aut mugiet bos cu m an te plenu m p resepe steterit F.11.334: Alpha omitted the following words from the middle of the Latin quotation: " brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficiat ." ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua. If me n knewe þis latyn / þey wolde looke whom þey ȝeve. & a -visen hem by -for e / fyve dayes or sixe. Er e þey a -mortysyd sikirly / vnto mu nkys her e rentis. Allas Lordis & ladies lewid co nseyl have ȝee. To ȝevyn fram ȝour e eyres / þ at ȝowr e eyhelis ȝow leftyn. & ȝeviþ it / to bydde for ȝow / to swiche as been ryche. & been y -fownded & feffid eek / to byddy n for oþere. Who p arformormeþ parformeþ þis p rophesye / of þe peple þ at now lybbeþ. Disp ersit dedit paup erib us  Iusticia ei us manet i n s ec ul um s ec uli. F.11.343: F alone adds " Iusticia . . . seculi ." If ony peple p arforme þ is tixt / it are þese poor e frerys. For þ at þey beggy n a -bowten / in biggynge þey it spende. & su m on hem -selue / & on swiche þ at been her e laboreris. & of hem þ at have þey take / & ȝeviþ he m þ at nede habbyn. But Clerkys & knyghtis / & comonys þ at been ryche. Fele of ȝow faren / as if y a forest hadde. & it were ful of fayr e trees / & y as a fonne caste. How y myghte moo þ ere -Inne / a -mo ngys hem sette. Ryght so ȝee ryche / ȝee robbe þem / þ at be not ryche. These lines are botched in alpha and in several beta manuscripts with roben, "to give a robe," confused with robben, "to rob, steal." Bx probably read: Right so ye riche ye robeþ þat ben riche And helpeþ hem þat helpeþ yow and ȝyueþ þer no nede is. & helpiþ hem þ at helpiþ not ȝow / & ȝeveþ þer e no n neede ys. As who -so fellyþ a tu nne / ful of a ryver. F.11.354: F is unique. Beta witnesses have "As whoso filled a tonne of a fressh ryuer." R has a similar a-verse. Note that beta lacks alpha's ful at the beginning of the b-verse, but R perhaps reflects an error in alpha when it replaces fressh with a second ful. & wente forþ / w it h þ at wat er / to woke w it h þe temse. Rich R[yght] F.11.356: The erroneous reading Rich is the only instance in this manuscript of the word spelled with <i>. The remaining 80 instances all are spelled with <y> and a final <e>. The scribe has perhaps misread the common East Anglian form rith, "right," confusing <t> with <c>. so  ȝee ryche me n / ȝee robben F.11.356: The same confusion of robben with roben noted at line F11.352 continues here. & feedyn. Hem þ at have as ȝee have / hem ȝee make a tese at ese. But religious þ at ryche been / shulde rather e feede F.11.358: Alpha is responsible for feede. Beta witnesses have feeste. beggeris. Þan burgeys þ at ryche been / as þe book techeþ. Q uia sac rileg iu m est res paup eru m  no n paup erib us dare . It em . Idem F.11.361: Alpha is responsible for Idem , which is lacking in beta. p ecc atorib us dare e st demonib us immolare. F.11.361: Alpha omits the follow sentences attested in beta: Item monache si indiges & accipis pocius das quam accipis Si autem non eges & accipis rapis . Porro no n indiget monachus si habeat q uod nat ure suffic it. / [¶] Þerfore y co nseile all e c ristene / to conforme ȝow to Charyte. For Charite w it h -outy n chalangy nge / vn -chargeþ þe sowle. & many a p risoner fram p urgatorie / þorghȝ p rayere ben dylyu ered. F.11.365: Alpha is responsible for a form of be plus the past participle. Beta witnesses have (he) deliuereþ. But þ er is a defawte in þe folk / þ at þe feyþ kepithȝ. Wherfor e folk is þe feblere / & nowht ferme in beleve. Ryght as þe luscheburue is lyþ ir of lay [alay] / & ȝit it lookeþ fayr e. For þe marke F.11.369: An otiose curl appears over the <r>. of þe mone F.11.369: The scribe initially put a dot over the <o> very like the usual one over <i>. is good / but þe matal is feble. & so it fareþ be su mme folk now / þey have a fayr speche. & crowne & c ristendom / þe kyngis m erke of hevene. But þe metal / þ at is ma nnys soule / w it h sy nne is so a -layed. F.11.372: F and manuscripts BCG omit the following line from Bx: "Boþe lettred and lewed beþ alayed now wiþ synne." Þ at no lyf beleviþ oþ ir / ne oure lord / as it semeþ. For what þoru werre & wikydnesses F.11.374: F's wikydnesses is unique. Bx has wikkede werkes. / & wederys vnstable. F.11.374: F's vnstable is unique. Bx has vnresonable. Þ at wedir -wyse shipme n / & wytty Clerkys also. Þey have no be -leeve to c rist F.11.376: F's crist is unique. Bx has þe lifte. / ne to þe loor e of philosofres. / [¶] Ast rinomyes alday / in here art þey fayle. Þ at whilu m warnede to -for e / what sholde fally n aft er. Schipme n w it h schippis / & schepp erd is w it h scheep wentyn. F.11.379: F's line is unique. Most B manuscripts have "Shipmen and shepherdes þat wiþ ship and sheep wenten." Þey wisten by þe walkene / what sholde aft er by -tyȝde. Of wederis & of wyȝndis / þey warnede me n ofte. Tylyeris of þe erthe / þey tolden her e maystris. By þe seed þey sewen / what þey selly n myghte & what leeve [to] leeve & to lyve by / þe lond was so trewe. & now fayleþ þe folk of þe flood / & of þe lond boþe. Boþe schepp erdis & schipme n / & so doon þese tylyerys. Neyþ ir þey ku nne / ne knowe / no cowrs to -for e a -noþir & astronomyes astronomye[n]s also / aren at here wittys ende. Of þ at was calkuled of cleme nt F.11.389: This passage caused B scribes some confusion. Beta witnesses read þe element. Alpha's clement along with C's clymat reveals the probable reading. / þe cont rarie nou þey fynde. For gram ere þ at is þe grownde of all e / it by -gyleþ nou childr en. For þ ere is now of no[n] of [þese] newe clerkis / who þ at takeþ heede. Þ at can v ersyfye fayr e / ne foormely endyten. Ne a -mong anhu ndrid an hu ndrid / an Anteme F.11.393: The first <e> is malformed. can construe. Ne rede F.11.394: An otiose curl appears above the first <e>. a lettr e in ony langage / but in latyn or englyschȝ. Go now to ony degr e / & but gyle be Mayster. & flat errere his felawe / to formen his speche. F.11.396: F's b-verse is unique, and Bx is corrupt, reading "vnder hym to fourmen." & myche wondir me þynkyþ / a -mo ngys vs alle. Of docto uris of degrees / & of diuinite þe Mayst ris. Þ at scholden kenne & knowen / all e -skens clergye. & answer e to argumentis / & also to a q uodlybet I dar not sey it for shame / if swiche wer en a -posed. Þey scholde fayle in philosofye / & in fysyk boþe. Wherfor e y am a -ferd / of folk of holy chirche. Leest þey ou er -hyppe n as oþ ire doon / in Offyȝs & in houres. But þey oon hippe as y hope do nowht / our e be -leve sufficit F.11.405: Alpha is responsible for sufficit . Beta manuscripts have suffiseþ. As Clerkys in corp us cristi feste / reedyn & syngyn. Two drypoint <X>s appear in the right margin. Þ at sola fides sufficit / to save þe lewed peple. / [¶] & so may sarsynes be saved / boþe sc ribis & Iewis. Allas but our e loores me n / lyven / as þey lerne vs. & for her e lyvynge þ at lewede ben / þe lother e god þey gilte. For sarsynes have su mwhat / semy nge to our e be -leve. For þey loove & beleve / on oon p ersone almyghty. & we lerede & lewede / in oon god be -leven. & so c ristene / & vnc ristne / in oon god ben be - leven. F.11.414: This line is attested only in alpha. / [¶] But oon Machabeus Macha[meþ] / a man of mysbeleve. Broghte sarsynes of surye / þ ere -in / see in what man ere. Þis Machameþ was c ristene ma n / but for he ne myght be pope. In -to Surye he sowhte / & þorghȝ hise sotyl wittis. He dawntyd a dowue / & day be day hir e fedde. & þe corn þ at sche croppede / he cast it in his eere. F.11.420: Alpha omitted two lines attested by beta witnesses: And if he among þe peple preched or in places come Thanne wolde þe coluere come to þe clerkes ere. Menynge as after mete / þ us machameþ hir e chawnteþ. F.11.421: F's chawnteþ is unique. Bx has the preterite form, though alpha is responsible for apheretic chaunted in place of beta's enchauntede. & dyde folk fally n on knees / for he swoor in his p rechyng. Þ at þe culuer þ at cam so / cam fram god of hevene. & F.11.424: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta witnesses have As. Messag er to makameþ / me n for to techen. & þus þorghȝ wylis of his wit / & of a wyt dowe. Machameþ in mysbeleve / me n & wo mmen browhte he m. Þ at leernede me n & lewede / ȝit be -leven þer e on hise lawes. & sytthyn our e saviour e suffrede / so / þe sarsynes to by gylid. F.11.428: The erasure, the additional solidus, and the inserted to suggest some confusion on the part of the scribe. Bx reads for the b-verse "þe Sarzens so bigiled." Þorghȝ a c ristene Clerk / & a -cursed in his sowle. But for drede of þe deþ / y dar not telly n þe soþe. How Cryste nn clerkis a culuer feede / þ at Coueytyse hatte. & ben Manerid aft er machamet / for no ma n vseþ trewthe. Bothe Ankres & hermytis / & Mu nkis & frerys. Been peeris to þe apostlys / þorghȝ her e p arfyȝt lyuy nge. Wolde neu ere þe feyth -ful fadir / þ at hise Mynyst ris sholden. Of Tyrawntis þ at tene t rewe me n / taken ony almesse. But doon as sey nt Antonye dyde / or dominik or F.11.437: Alpha is responsible for or. Beta witnesses have and. F is alone in beginning the b-verse with or. Frances. Or benyȝt or F.11.438: Alpha is responsible for this or. Beta witnesses have and. F is alone in beginning the verse with Or. bernard / þe wheche hem fyrst tawhte. To lyve be lytyl in lowe howses / be leele me nnys fyndy ng. F.11.439: Beta witnesses read almesse in place of alpha's fyndyng. Grace sholde g rowe & be grene / þorghȝ her e leel F.11.440: The error appears in alpha. Beta witnesses have correctly alliterating goode. lyvynge. & folk sholde fynde / þ at been in dyuerse syknesse. Þe better e for her e byddyngis ./ in body & in sowle. & here p rayeres & her e penau nces / to pees sholde he m F.11.443: An alpha reading. Beta witnesses omit hem. brynge. Alle þ at been at debate / if bede -me n weren trewe. Petite & accipietis . q uerite & i nue nietis . p ulsate. F.11.445: F alone among B manuscripts reads " querite . . . pulsate ." / [¶] Salt saveþ þe Catell e / as seyn sadde wyves. F.11.446: F omits the following 68 lines, reflecting the contents either of a single leaf or (more likely) opening from his exemplar. E. Talbot Donaldson noted this fact in "MSS R and F in the B-Tradition of Piers Plowman," Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences (1955): 185 n. 19, rightly attributing the error to a copyist between F and alpha. More recently Sean Taylor, "The F Scribe and the R Manuscript of Piers Plowman B," English Studies 77 (1996): 530-48, reminds us that this lacuna coincides with the opening of fols. 78 v-79 r in R and argues, we think unconvincingly, that F was copied directly from R. The omitted lines follow: Vos estis sal terre &c. The heuedes of holy chirche and þei holy were Crist calleþ hem salt for cristene soules Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur Ac fressh flessh ouþer fissh whan it salt failleþ It is vnsauory forsoþe ysoden or ybake So is mannes soule sooþly þat seeþ no good ensample Of hem of holi chirche þat þe heighe wey sholde teche And be gide and go bifore as a good Banyer And hardie hem þat bihynde ben and ȝyue hem good euidence Elleuene holy men al þe world tornede Into lele bileue þe lightloker me þinkeþ Sholde alle maner men we han so manye maistres Preestes and prechours and a pope aboue That goddes salt sholde be to saue mannes soule Al was hethynesse som-tyme Engelond and Walis Til Gregory garte clerkes to go here and preche Austyn at Caunterbury cristnede þe kyng And þoruȝ miracles as men mow rede al þat marche he tornede To crist and to cristendom and cros to honoure And follede folk faste and þe feiþ tauȝte Moore þoruȝ miracles þan þoruȝ muche prechyng As wel þoruȝ hise werkes as wiþ hise holy wordes And seide hem what fullynge and feiþ was to mene Clooþ þat comeþ fro þe weuyng is noȝt comly to were Til it is fulled vnder foot or in fullyng stokkes Wasshen wel wiþ water and wiþ taseles cracched Ytouked and yteynted and vnder taillours hande And so it fareþ by a barn þat born is of wombe Til it be cristned in cristes name and confermed of þe bisshop It is heþene as to heueneward and helplees to þe soule Heþen is to mene after heeþ and vntiled erþe As in wilde wildernesse wexeþ wilde beestes Rude and vnresonable rennynge wiþ-outen cropers ( or keperes) Ye mynnen wel how Mathew seiþ how a man made a feste He fedde hem wiþ no venyson ne fesauntz ybake But wiþ foweles þat fram hym nolde but folwede his whistlyng Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt &c. And wiþ calues flessh he fedde þe folk þat he louede The calf bitokneþ clennesse in hem þat kepeþ lawes For as þe Cow þoruȝ kynde mylk þe calf norisseþ til an Oxe So loue and leaute lele men susteneþ And maidenes and mylde men mercy desiren Right as þe cow calf coueiteþ swete melke So doon riȝtfulle men mercy and truþe The text for the next fourteen lines is from R, though without its pointing or indication of abbreviations. Beta witnesses lack this passage. And by þe hande fedde foules his folk vnderstonde Þat loth ben to louye with-outen lernynge of ensaumples Riȝt as capones in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge In menynge after mete folweth men þat whistlen Riȝt so rude men þat litel reson cunneth Louen and byleuen by lettred mennes doynges And by here wordes and werkes wenen and trowen And as tho foules to fynde fode after whistlynge So hope þei to haue heuene þoruȝ her whistlynge And by þe man þat made þe feste þe mageste bymeneth That is god of his grace gyueth al men blisse With wederes and with wondres he warneth vs with a whistlere Where þat his wille is to worschipen vs alle And feden vs and festen vs for euere more at ones Ac who beþ þat excuseþ hem þat arn persons and preestes That heuedes of holy chirche ben þat han hir wil here Wiþ-outen trauaille þe tiþe deel þat trewe men biswynken They wol be wrooþ for I write þus ac to witnesse I take Boþe Mathew and Marc and Memento domine dauid Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata &c. What pope or prelat now parfourneþ þat crist highte Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate &c. Allas þat men so longe on Makometh sholde bileue So manye p relatis ben to p reche / as þe bible F.11.447: The scribe first wrote peple and corrected it with a cross above the line and added bible in the margin. The Bx reading is pope, which is doubtless correct. makþ meende. Of Nazareth / of Nynyve / of Neptalym of Damask. Þ at þey ne wenty n as c rist he m wisseþ / sytthe þey wilne þe name. To been pastores & p reche / þe passiou n of Iesu & as hy m -selue seyde / to lyve / & dyȝe for oþ ire. F.11.451: F omits the following line from Bx: " Bonus pastor animam suam ponit &c. " He seyde so for saluaciou n / of sarsynes & oþere. & to c ristene & to vnc ristene F.11.453: Beta's a-verse reads "For cristene and vncristene." Alpha is responsible for to in place of for before cristene and for adding to before vncristene, but F alone begins the line with &. / c rist seyd e on þis wyse. Ite & vos . in vineam meam & sytthen þ at þese sarsynes / & sc ribis & eek Iewis Haven a lyppe of our e be -leve / þe lyghtloker e it semeþ. F.11.456: Alpha is responsible for "it semeþ." Beta witnesses have "me þynkeþ." Þey sholde t urnen who t rauayle wolde / to teche he m of þe t rinnyte. Q uerite  & invenietis. For alle paynymes p rayen / to oon p ersone of helpe. F.11.459: The b-verse is owed to alpha. Beta witnesses read as follows: "and parfitly bileueþ." & on . o. god þey gredyn / & his g race asken. F.11.460: Alpha is responsible for the line, though R lacks line-initial &. Beta witnesses have "In þe holy grete god and his grace þei asken." & maken her e meene to Machameþ / her e message to shewe. Þus in a feyþ lyveþ F.11.462: The manuscripts are divided between leue(þ), "believes," (most beta witnesses) and some form of liven (alpha and CrL). þ at folk / & in fals meene. & þ at is rewthe for ryght -ful men / þ at in þe rewme dwell e. F.11.463: F omits the following line from Bx: "And a peril to þe pope and prelates þat he makeþ." Þ at bery n bisschopis names / of bedleem & of babyloyne. Whan þe hyȝe kyng of heuene / sente his sone to erþe. These lines are attested only in alpha. For further discussion, see Ralph Hanna, III, Pursuing History: Middle English Manuscripts and Their Texts (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1996), pp. 215-29. Some corroborative evidence for Hanna's position is provided by Stephen Justice, "Introduction: Authorial Work and Literary Ideology," in Written Work: Langland, Labor, and Authorship, eds. Stephen Justice and Kathryn Kerby-Fulton (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997), pp. 5-9. Manye myraclis he wroghte / man for to turne. In ensaumpl e þ at þat [men] sholde seen / þ at by sad resou n. Men myghte not ben savid / but þorghȝ m ercy & grace. & þorghȝ penau nce & passiou n / & p arfyȝt beleve. & by -cam by -cam [man] of a mayde / & metropolitanus aft er. & was baptyzed & y -sygned / w it h þe blood of his herte. Alle þ at wilned & wolde / w it h wit be -leve it. Manye a sey nt sytthen / haven suffred to dyȝen. Al for to ferme þe fayȝþ / in fele co ntrees dyȝen. In yȝnde in Alysaundr e / in Armonye in spayne. & in doolful deþ þey dyeden / for þeyr e feyþis sake. In savaciou n F.11.477: A hint of red ink is barely visible on <s>. of þe fayþ / sey nt Thomas was y -martred. F.11.477: A large drypoint <X> appears in the right margin, perhaps intended to call attention to the failure in alliteration. And a -mong vnkyȝnde c ristene / for c ristis cristis [loue] he dyȝede. & for þe ryght of al þ is rewme / & all e rewmes c ristene. Holy chirche ys honour ed / hyȝlyche þorghȝ his dyȝenge. He is be -leve to all e bisschopis / & a bryght m errour. & sou ereynly to swiche / þ at of surrye beren þe name. & nowht to hoppe her e & þeer e / for halwen awteris. F.11.483: The scribe originally wrote nawteris and corrected it to awteris. F.11.483: F's reading is unique. R reads "And nauȝt to huppe aboute here in englande for to halwe autres." Beta witnesses have "That huppe aboute in Engelond to halwe mennes Auteres." & crepen In a -mong kuraturis / & co nfesse a -gey n þe lawe. Nolite mitter e falsem in messe m aliena m. / [¶] Many a man / for c ristis love / was Martrid in grete roome. Er c ristendom wer e knowe þer e / or ony cros honowred. F.11.487: Alpha omitted the following lines, attested by beta manuscripts. For the ordering in Bx see the discussion in Kane-Donaldson, p. 176. It is ruþe to rede how riȝtwise men lyuede How þei defouled hir flessh forsoke hir owene wille Fer fro kyth and fro kyn yuele ycloþed yeden Baddely ybedded no book but conscience Ne no richesse but þe roode to reioisse hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c. And þo was plentee and pees amonges poore and riche And now is rouþe to rede how þe rede noble Is reuerenced er þe Roode receyued for þe worþier Than cristes cros þat ouercam deeþ and dedly synne And now is werre and wo and who-so why askeþ For coueitise after cros þe croune stant in golde Boþe riche and Religious þat roode þei honoure That in grotes is ygraue and in gold nobles For coueitise of þat cros men of holy kirke Shul torne as templers dide þe tyme approcheþ faste Wite ye noȝt ye The Bx reading here is uncertain, since good manuscripts from beta both omit (BCC 2LMOY) and include (CrGHmW) ye. wise men how þo men honoured Moore tresor þan trouþe I dar noȝt telle þe soþe Reson and rightful doom þo Religiouse demede Right so ye clerkes for youre coueitise er longe Shal þei demen dos ecclesie and youre pride depose Deposuit potentes de sede &c. If knyghthod and kynde wit and commune by conscience Togideres loue leelly leueþ it wel ye bisshopes The lordshipe of londes for euere shul ye lese And lyuen as Leuitici as oure lord yow techeþ Per primicias & decimas &c. Whan Costantyn of curteisie holy kirke dowed Wiþ londes and ledes lordshipes and rentes An Aungel men herden an heigh at Rome crye Dos ecclesie þis day haþ ydronke venym And þo þat han Petres power arn apoisoned alle A medicyne moot þer-to þat may amende prelates That sholden preie for þe pees possession hem letteþ Takeþ hire landes ye lordes and leteþ hem lyue by dymes If possession be poison and inparfite hem make Good were to deschargen hem for holy chirches sake And purgen hem of poison er moore peril falle If preesthode were parfit þe peple sholde amende That contrarien cristes lawe and cristendom dispise. F.11.487: A large drypoint <X> appears in the right margin, perhaps noting the omission of this passage, though the loss had occurred in alpha and therefore could not have been in the immediate scribe's exemplar. Euery bischop þ at beriþ a croos / by þat  he is holde To telly n & scheven F.11.489: Though <v> can be written for <w> in East Anglian dialects (see Richard Jordan, Handbook of Middle English Grammar: Phonology, trans. and rev. Eugene J. Crook (The Hague and Paris: Mouton, 1974), § 300), it is rarely done in this manuscript after front vowels. However, since schewen is clearly the (erroneous) reading of alpha, it must have been what the scribe intended. Beta manuscripts have techen. / on þe t rinnyte to be -leeve. F.11.489: In relation to Bx this line and the next are transposed. & þorgh his p rouy nse to pase / & to his peple shewe hy m. / & feeden F.11.491: The <d> is written over an erasure, possible a long <s>. he m w it h goostly foode / & nedy folk to feeden f[yn]den. These lines are attested only in alpha, probably because of eye-skip in beta on goostly foode. F omits foode after the second goostly. / [¶] But ysayas how þ ou spekist [of ȝow] speki[þ] / & Osyas boþe. Þ at no man shold be bisschop / but if he hadde boþe. F.11.493: A drypoint <X> appears in the right margin. Bodyly foode & goostly / to gyven þer e it nedyþ. In domo mea no n est panis . neq ue vestime ntu m. & ideo nolite constituere me rege m. ysa. 3 o. F.11.495: Alpha and L alone cite the source. Osyas seyþ / for swiche / þ at syke been & feeble. Inferte om nes decimas i n orreu m meu m . vt cib us in domo mea / [¶] But we c ristene c reaturis / þ at on þe croos be -leevyn. Are formed F.11.499: Alpha is likely to have been responsible for forme, if not the preterite form. R has for me. Beta witnesses have ferme. as in þe feyþ / goddis forbode ellys. & have clerkis to kepe vs þ er -Inne / & he m þ at shull e come n aft er. Þe Iewes be -leven F.11.501: F's be-leven is unique. Most other B witnesses have lyuen. in leel lawe / our e lord wrot it hy m -selue. In stoon for it stedefast was / & stoonde scholde euere. Dilige deu m tuu m F.11.503: F's uniquely includes tuum. & p roxi mum tuu m F.11.503: FC 2O alone include tuum. / is p arfyȝt þe F.11.503: F's þe is unique. Iewis lawe. & took it Moyse to teche it hem F.11.504: Alpha is responsible for hem. Beta witnesses have correctly alliterating men. / tyl messias come. & on þ at lawe þey be -leeve / & leten it for þe beeste. & ȝit knewe þey aft er . c rist / þ at c ristendom tawhte. & for a p arfyȝt p roph ete / þ at mychil peple savede. Of selkowthe soorys / þey seyȝe hy m heele manye. Boþe of m erveylis & myraklis / whan þ at he me n festede. W it h two fischis / & fyve lovis / fyfe þowsand e peple. & by þ at mangery þey F.11.511: Alpha has þey in place of beta's men. myghte seen / þ at messias he were. Whan he lift vp lazar / þ at leyd was in þe g raue. & vndir stoon he stank ded / w it h styf voyȝs he hy m callyd e. Lazare  veni foras. He dyde hym ryse & roome / ryght by -fore þe Iewys. But þey seyden & sworen / w it h sorceryȝe þ at he wroghte. & stodieden to stroyen hy m / & stroyedyn hem -selue. & þorghȝ his pacience / her e powher / to pur e nowht he broghte. Pacientes vincu nt Maliciam. But Danyel of here doenge F.11.520: FCrM alone have doenge. Most B manuscripts have vndoynge. / dyvynede & seyde. Cu m veniat s anc tus s anc tor um. F.11.521: The reading is owed to alpha. Beta witnesses read " Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnxio vestra ." & ȝit wenen þo wrecchis / þ at he wer e speudo p roph eta. & þ at his loore / be lesyngis / & þey lakken it alle. & hopen þ at be [he] be to come / þat shal hem releve. Or Moyses eft / or Messias / ȝit her e Mayst ris dyuyne. But Farisenys F.11.526: Farisenys, "Pharisees." & sarsynes / & scribis & greekys. Arn folk of oo fayȝþ / þe fadir god . þey honowren. & sythe þat þe sarsynes / & also þe Iewis. Kunne þe firste clawse / of our e beleeve. F.11.529: F makes two lines of Bx's one. Bx reads "Konne þe firste clause of oure bileue Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem ." Credo i n deu m pat rem o mnipote ntem. Prelatis / of c ristene p rovynces / sholde p roven if þey myghte. & lerne hem lytelu m & lytelu m / & in Iesum cristum filiu m . Tyl þey cowden speken & spelly n / Cr edo F.11.533: F alone reads Credo. Beta witnesses have et , and R has and. i n sp iritum s anc tum . & reden it & recorde it / w it h remissione m p ecc ator um . & þerw it h Carnis re surrecc io nem / & vita m et ernam amen . Expl icit Passus .xi us. " XII" with red flourishes appears in the top right margin to indicate the passus number. Incipit Passus .xii us. A Geyn F.12.1: The ornamental capital is blue with red and green flourishes in the left margin the length of the page. The scribe's guide <a> for the rubricator is visible in the middle of the rubricated letter. y gan to sleepe softe / & my syȝde y gan to t urne. These two lines appear only in F. & a -noon y seyȝ . as y seyȝ erst / & spak to hy m w it h mowþe. Now fayr e fall e ȝow / q uod y þo  for ȝour e fayr e schewynge. For haukyne love þe actif man / eu ere y shal ȝow lovie. But ȝit y am in a weer / what charite ys to meene. It is a ful t riȝe tree q uod he  good trewþe F.12.6: Alpha is responsible for trewþe, though R lacks good. Beta witnesses have trewely. to telle. Mercy is þe moste þ ereof / þe myddil stook is rewthe. F.12.7: A drypoint <x> appears in the right margin. Þe leevis ben leele word is / þe lawe of holy chirche. Þe blosmes been buxu m spechis / & benygne lokyngys. Pacience hatte þe pur e tree / & poor e symple of herte. & so þorghȝ god & goodeme n / grow et h frut of Charite. I wolde t rauayle F.12.12: An otiose curl is written above the <y>. þis tr e to seen / q uod y.xx. ti hundr ed myle. To have my fill e of þ at frut / & for -sake al oþ ir sawle Lord q uod y / if ony wyght weete / wher þ at tre spryngiþ. / [¶] It grow et h in a gardyn q uod he / þ at god made hy m -seluen. A -myddis ma nnys body / þe mor e is of þat stokke. Herte . hatte þ at herber / þ at þe tree in grow et h. F.12.17: F's reading is unique. Bx has "þat it Inne groweþ." And liber um arbit riu m . haþ þe Lond to feerme. & vndir is F.12.19: Alpha is responsible for the intrusion of And, but F alone reverses the hierarchy by adding is. pers þe plowhman / to pyken it & weden it. Peers þe Plowhman q uod y þo  & al for pur e Ioyȝe. Þ at y herde ne mpne his name / a -no n y swowned aft er. & longe lay in a love -dreem / & at þe laste me þowhte. Þ at Peers þe Plowhma n anon / al þe place me schewede. & bad me tooten on þe tre / on top / & on roote. & w it h þre pyleris it was vndir -pyght /. y p arceyved it sone. Peers q uod y / y p raye þe / why stonden þese pileris heer e. / [¶] For wyndys / wilt þ ou wete q uod hee  to kepe F.12.27: Alpha is responsible for kepe. Beta witnesses have witen. it fram fally ng. F.12.27: F omits the following line: " Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur quia dominus supponit manum suam ." In blomy nge tyme a -bid e no flour es / but þese pileris helpen. Þe world is a wikkid wynd / & wend et h a -mo ng þe levis. F.12.29: Eye-skip caused alpha to omit the b-verse and following a-verse. Interestingly, a drypoint <x> appears in the right margin at this point, suggesting awareness of text outside alpha. Bx reads as follows: The world is a wikked wynd to hem þat willen truþe Coueitise comþ of þat wynd and crepeþ among þe leues. & for -fret neyȝ þe frut / þorgh fele fayr e syghtes. Þe fyrste pyler y call e / ys Potencia dei F.12.31: F's reading is unique. Bx has "Thanne with þe first pil I palle him doun þat is potencia dei patris." Þe fleschȝ is a fel wynd / þ at fleeþ in flourynge tyme. Þorgh lykynge þorghȝ lustis / so lowde he gy nneþ blowe. Þ at it norscheþ nyce syghtes / & su m -tyme nyse woordys. & þer -of come n wykkede werkis / & wormes of synne. F.12.35: A black <x> appears in the right margin. & for -byteþ þe blosmes / ryght to þe bar e leevis. Þan sette y to / þe s ec onde piler / þ at is Sapienci a pat ris . Þ at is passiou n [þe] passioun & þe powher / of our e p rince Iesu W it h p rayeris & penau nces F.12.39: F's a-verse is unique. Beta witnesses have "Thoruȝ preieres and þoruȝ penaunces." Alpha is responsible for "With" in place of the first "Thoruȝ," but R has the second. / & c ristis passiou n in myȝnde. Þus save y it / tyl y see it rype / & su mdel wel y -fruted. & foondiþ þe feend / my frut to distroye. W it h alle wyȝles þ at he can / he waggeþ þe roote. & casteþ vp / to þe croop / vn -kende conseyl ofte. F.12.43: F has revised the b-verse significantly. Bx reads "vnkynde Neighebores." Bakbyteris & boosteris / & blawreris b[r]aw[l]eris & chyderys / He he He leyþ a laddir þerto / of lesyngys are þe rybbis. Þe stakys for to steppen oon / been exseketouris trewþe. F.12.46: This line appears only in F. He feccheþ a -weyȝ my n flour es / by -for e boþe my n eyȝen. But li beru m arbitriu m / lettiþ hym su m -tyme. Þ at ys his lewtenau nt to loke it / be leeve of my -selue. Videatis  qui peccat i n sp iritum s anc tum . nu mq uam. F.12.50: Beta manuscripts have remittetur after numquam , probably because of a defective exemplar. R has re &c . Hoc est id em qui peccat p er liberu m arbit riu m no n rep ugnat But what F.12.52: Beta witnesses correctly read whan. F retains what from alpha. þe fend & þe fleschȝ / forþ w it h þe world Þey manace by -hyȝnde me / my n frut for to fecche. Þanne liberu m arbitriu m / laccheþ þe þrydde plankke. & puttyþ a -dou n þe powke / p riuyly F.12.55: Alpha is responsible for priuyly. Beta witnesses have pureliche. þorghȝ g race. & w it h helpe of þe holy goost / & þus have y þe mayst rie. Now fayre falle ȝee pers / q uod y  so fayr e ȝe disc riuen. Þe powher of þese postes / & her e p ropr e myghtes. But y have þoght a þrowe / of þese þre pyleris. In what woode þey woxen / & wer e þ at þey grewen. For alle are þey a -lyche long / no n lasse þa n oþir. & to my meende as me þy nkeþ / in oon moor þey grewe & al of oon gretnesse / & greene of greyn þey semen. Þ at is sooþ seyde Pers / it may so by -fally n. I shal telly n þe as tyȝt / what þis tree hette. Þe grownde þer e it grow et h on / goodnesse me n it call e. & y tolde þe erst what hyȝte þe tre / þe t rinnyte it meeneþ. & þa nne eg rily he lokede on me / & þ erfor e y sparede / To aske hy m ony moor e þ ere -of / but p reyede hy m ful fayre. To disc rive me þe frut / þ at so fayre hangede. Heer e now be -neþe q uod he þo / yf y neede hadde. Mat rimonye y may neme / a moyst frut w it h -alle. Þan co ntynence is neer þe croop / as caylewey bastard. Þa n beryþ þe croop kendest frut / & klennest of all e. Maydenhod ang elys perys / & þo raþest wil be rype. & sweete w it h -oute swelly ng / sorwe worþ it euere. I p rayede Peers / to pully n dou n / an appil if he wolde. F.12.77: Roman numeral xj is written (erroneously) in a lighter brown ink in the right margin. & suffre me to a -saye / what savour it hadde. & Peers caste to þe croop / & þan comsed it to c riȝen. & a -noon waggede wedewhod / & sor e wepte F.12.80: The scribe initially wrote a long <s> which he converted to make a <p>. after. & whan he mevede Mat rimonye / it made a myche noyse Þan had y rewþe / whan peers rusched F.12.82: Alpha is probably responsible for rusched. R has rused, while beta witnesses have rogged. / it g radde so rewfully. For eu ere as þey droppid a -dou n / þe deuyl was þer e redy. & gadrede he m all e to -gydr es / boþe greete & smale. Boþe Adam & habraham / & ysaye þe p roph ete. & sampson & samewel / & sey nt Ioh an þe baptist. & bar hem forþ boldly / no -body wolde hy m lette. & made of holy me n his hoord / in lymbo inferni. Þer e is derknesse & dreede / & þe deuyl mayster. & Peers for pur e teene / þo oo pyler he lawhte. & hitte aft er hym / happe how it myghte. Filius be þe fadr es will e / & frenesse of sp iritus s anc ti. To goo robbe þ at ragma n / & be -reve þe frut fra m his place. Þane spak sp iritus s anc tus / in gabriell is F.12.94: The barred double <l> is ambiguous, usually standing for <-e>, but sometimes unmistakably representing <-is> or <-es>. MS R alone among the remaining B manuscripts lacks the genitive inflection, so the ambiguity is nearly complete. mowthe. To a maide þ at hyȝte Marie / a meeke þy ng w it hall e. Þat oon / a Iustises sone / muste Iowken in hir e cha mbr e. Tyl Plenitudo te mp oris / tyme come it were. Þ at Peersis frut flowrede / & fel whan it was rype. & þan shulde Iesu Iustne þ erfor e / by Iugeme nt of armes. Wheyþ ir sholde fonge þe frut / þe feend or hy m -selue. Þe Maide myȝldely þo / þe messag er she grauntyd. F.12.101: The scribe marks the last two words for separation with a tick above and below the line. & seyde hendely to hy m / loo me his hand -mayde. For to worchen his will e / w it h -outy n ony synne. Ecce ancilla d omini . fiat m ichi s ec und um v erbu m tuun tuu[m]. & in þe wombe of þ at wenche / was he .xl. wykys. Tyl he wex a F.12.106: The graph actually looks more like the scribe's <&> than capital <A>. fawnt þorgh hir e flesch / & on fytȝ fy[ȝt] he coude. To have y -fowte w it h þe fend / er ful tyme come. & Peers y p arseyuede / in þ at plener tyme. & lerned hy m lechecraft / his lyf for to saven. Þ at þowh he wer e of his enemy hurt / to warsche hy m sone. & dide hy m a -saye surgerie / on he m þ at syke weren. Tyl he was p arfyȝt p ractysour / if ony pereylis fellen. & sowhte owt þe syke / & þe synful boþe. He salued F.12.114: An otiose curl appears above the <d>. þe syke & synful / boþe blynde & krokede. & comou n wy mmen he co nu ertyd e / & to c rist turned hem. Non est sanis op us medic us . s ed male habentib us. Boþe Meselis & mysseses / þ at of þe menysou n weren. Ofte he helede swiche / he hild it lytil mayst rie. F has revised the syntax of Bx which reads as follows: Ofte he heeled swiche he held it for no maistrie Saue þo he leched lazar þat hadde yleye in graue Quatriduanus quelt quyk dide hym walke. Save þo / he lechid e lazar / þ at hadde y -leyn in g rave. Qvatriduan us boþe quert / & q uik he dyde hy m ryse. But as he made þ at maist rie / mestus cepit e sse & wepte wat er w it h hise eyȝes / þer e seyȝen it manye. & su mme þ at þe syghte seyȝe / seyden in þ at tyme. Þ at he was a leche of lyf / & lord of hyȝe heuene. Þe Iewis Ianglyd þere a -geyn / þo þ at Iugged þe lawes. F.12.125: F's b-verse is unique. Most beta manuscripts read "and Iuggede lawes." Alpha is responsible for F's þat, but F uniquely has þo and þe. & seyd e he wroghte þorgh wicche -c raft / & w it h þe deuelis myght Demoniu m habes / þe domes -me n seyden. F.12.127: F is unique in having a b-verse. Þan are ȝee cherlys q uod c rist / & ȝour e childryn boþe. & sathan ȝour e saviour / ȝour e -selue may witnesse. For y have salued ȝour e -selue / & ȝour e sones after. Ȝour e bodies & ȝour e beestis / & blynde me n y holpe. & fed ȝow w it h two fyschis / & w it h fyve lovis. & left basketys of broke mete / bere a -wey who wolde. He mysseyde þe Iewis manly þus / & manassid he m to beete. & knokkid on he m w it h a corde / & caste dou n her e stallys. Þ at in chirche chaffaredyn / er changid ony monee. & seyde þus in syght of he m all e / so þ at all e it herde. I shal ouer -t erve þis te mple / & a -dou n it þrowe. & in þr e dayes aft er / edyfye it newe. & make it as myche . or moor e / in all e maner e poy ntis. As eu ere it was . & as wyȝd / wherfor e y hote ȝow heere. Of p rayerys & of p arfyȝtnesse / þis place ȝee cally n after. Dom us mea dom us or acionis vocabitur. Boþe Envie & evil wyl / was a -mong þe Iewis. Þey casten & co nt riueden / to kylle hy m whan þey myghte. Ech day after oþ ir / her e tyme þey þan waytyd. Tyl it be -fel on a fryday / by -for e pask a lytel. On þursday by -for e þat / þan he made his cene. & syttende at þ at soper / hy m -selue seyde þese word is. I am sold / þorgh su mme of ȝow / he shal þ at tyme rewe. Þ at eu ere he solde his sauyour / for siluerene plates. Iudas Iangelede þer e a -gey n / & Ientil Iesu hy m toolde. It was hym -selue soþly / & seyde tu dicis. Þan wente forþ / þ at wikkid man / & w it h þe Iewis he mette. & tolde he m be what tokne / þey sholde knowe his mayst er. Þe F.12.156: Alpha has Þe. Beta witnesses have And. wiche tokne in -to þis day / ys here mychil vsed. Þ at kyssy ngge w it h fair co ntynau nce / & w it h vnkyȝnde will e. & so was w it h Iudas þoo / þ at Iesus by -t rayede. Ave rabbi / q uod þ at rybawde / & ryght to hy m he wente. & kest hy m to by cawht þ er -by / & kyllyd þorghȝ F.12.160: Alpha has þorghȝ. Beta witnesses have of. þe Iewis. Þa nne Iesu to Iudas / & to all e þe Iewis seyde. Falsnesse y fyȝnde / in þy n false speche. & gyle in þy glad cheere / & galle is in þy n lawhyng. Þ ou shalt shalt [be] merour after / to manye me n to disseyve. But þe woors & þe wikkidnesse / shal worthe on þy -selue. Necesse est vt veniat Scandal um . F.12.166: F's veniat Scandalum is unique. Bx has veniant scandala . Ve ho mini illi p er que m scandalu m venit. Þowhȝ y be þorghȝ tresou n take / & þorgh ȝour e owne will e. Suffreþ my n apoostlis in pees / p riuyly forþ to gange. F.12.169: F's reading is unique. Bx has "Suffreþ myne Apostles in pays and in pees gange." In F.12.170: Alpha has In. Beta witnesses have On. a þursday in þerknesse F.12.170: The reading þerknesse occurs only in F. R joins most beta manuscripts in reading þesternesse, both words meaning "darkness." / þus was y [he] taken. Þorghȝ Iudas & þe Iewis / Iesu was þan taken & on fryday folwynge / for cause of ma nkende. He Iustned e in Ier usal em / gret Ioye to vs alle. & on a cros on Caluerye / c rist took þe batayle. A -gey n deeþ & þe deuyl / þe day for þe nyght he made. F.12.175: F melded two lines into this one. Bx reads as follows: Ayeins deeþ and þe deuel destruyed hir boþeres myȝtes Deide and deeþ fordide and day of nyȝt made. Þan y waknede þ erw it h / & wipyd boþe my n eyȝes / & for y hadde so soor e y -slept / sory was y þanne. These lines appear only in F. & on þe dremy nge y dre mpte / eu ery doynge y þowhte. Expl icit . Passus .xij us. Incipit Passus .xiij us. A Nd F.13.1: The initial is blue, flourished with green and red and with red flourishes extending halfway up the left margin. whan y hadde longe ley n / y lawhte to me h erte. & after Pers plowhma n / y pryȝede & starede. Estward e & westward / y waytid hy m ful faste. & ȝeede as an ydeoot / in cu ntrees to a -spye. After peers plowman / fele places y sowhte. & þa nne mette y w it h a ma n / on mydlentene su nday As hoor as an hawe -þorn / Abraham he hyghte. I freyned hy m first / from whens þ at he come. & of whens he wer e / & whidir þ at he þowhte. I am feythȝ q uod þ at freeke / it falleþ me F.13.10: Alpha and most C manuscripts have me, though R and C have it after nowht. Beta lacks it. nowht to lyȝe. & of Abraham -is hows / an heroud of Armes. I seeke after a segge / y sey hym but oones. A ful boold Bacheleer / y knew hy m by his blasen. What beryþ þ at burne . q uod y þo / so blysse þe by -tyde. Thre Leedys in oon lyȝþ / non lenger e þan oþir. Of oon mychele & of oon myght / in lengthe & mesure. & þ at .o. dooþ / all e doon / & ech doþ by hy m -selue. Þe firste haþ myght in mageste / maker e of all e þy ngys. Pater is his p ropre name / on p ersone by hy m -selue. F.13.19: The syntactic confusion apparent here is caused by F's omission through eye-skip of three lines after line 19. Bx reads as follows: The secounde of þat sire is Sothfastnesse filius Wardeyn of þat wit haþ was euere wiþout gynnyng The þridde highte þe holi goost a persone by hymselue. Þ at al þe lyght & þe lyf / on londe & on watr e. F.13.20: The syntactic confusion here began in alpha. Beta witnesses read "The light of al þat lif haþ a londe and a watre." R also omits the verb, reading "Þat alle þe liȝt of þe lif ...." He is co nfortour of creaturis / of hy m comeþ all e blysse. So þre bylongen for Lord [a] Lord / þ at lordchepe cleymeþ. Myght & eek a meyne F.13.23: The scribe first wrote meene and overwrote the second <e> with <y>. / to his myght owiþ. F.13.23: Bx reads "to knowe his owene myȝte," spoiling the alliterative pattern. F's attempt to repair the damage changes the sense. Of hy m -selue & his s eruau nt / & su mwhat suffreþ he m boþe. So god þ at gy nnynge hadd e neu ere / but þo hy m good þowhte. He sente forþ his sone / as for his s eruau nt þ at tyme. To ocupien hy m heer e / ty ty[l] issue wher e y -sprunge. Þ at is childur of charite / & holy chirche þe Moodir. F.13.28: The scribe initially wrote a lower case <m> and added a flourish to capitalize it. & pat riarchis & p roph etis / & a -poostlys were þo barnes. F.13.29: An alpha lection. Beta manuscripts read children. & c ristys c ristendom / & all e F.13.30: Alpha has alle, which is absent in beta. The same variants appear in C manuscripts. c ristene holy chirche. In menynge þ at a ma n muste / in F.13.31: Alpha and Cr have in. Beta manuscripts have on. oo god be -leve. & þer e hy m lykede & lovede / in þr e p ersones . he hy m schewed e. & þ at it may be so & soþ / manhod it scheweþ. As wedloke / & whedewehod / & virgynete first ne mpned. In tokny ng of þe t rinyte / was take out . of ma nkynde. Adam was our e forme fader / & Eve was of hy m -selue. & þe issew þ at þey hadd e / yt was of hem boþe. & eyþ ir is / oþeris Ioye / in þr e sundry p ersones. & in hevene . & heere / oo syng uler name. Þ at F.13.40: F's reading is unique. Alpha is responsible for Þat. Beta manuscripts have And þus is. R reads And þat is. mankynde / or ma nhod / of manhod F.13.40: F's error for matrimoyne is consistent with either a semi-conscious scribal change or the F redactor's conscious meddling. y -spru nge. & it be -tookneþ þe t rinyte / þ at trewe is to our e beleue. Myght is . in Mat rimonye / þ at m ultyplyeþ on erthe. & it be -tookneþ trewly / telle ȝow . if y durste. Hy m þ at first all e formede / þe fadir of hevene. & þe sone if y durste it say / ensample to wydewe. Deus me us . d eus m eus . vt quid dereliq uisti me. Þ at his is F.13.47: In view of the evidence for loss of word-initial aspirate /h/ in the scribe's dialect, his may represent an inverse spelling for is rather than scribal error or sophistication. creator was creatur e / to knowe what was boþe. As wydewe w it houty n wedloke / was neu ere ȝit F.13.48: An otiose curl appears over <t>. y -seyȝne. No moore myghte god be man / but if he moodir hadde. Ne widewe w it h -outy n wedloke / may not wel stande. Ne mat rimonye w it h -outy n moyler e / ys not myche to p reyse. Maledict us h omo qui non reliquid reliqui[t] seme n i n isr ahel. Þus been þre p ersones oon / p arfyȝtly þorghȝ manhode. F.13.53: F's reading is unique, and Bx is corrupt. Beta manuscripts read: "Thus in þre persones is parfitliche manhede." R has "Þus in thre persons is perfitliche puir manhode." Þ at is ma n & his make / & moyller e here F.13.54: Alpha and L have here, lacking in beta manuscripts. childryn. & is not but gendr e for generac iou n / by -for e Iesu in heuene. Ryght so is þe fadir w it h þe sone / & fre will e of boþe. Sp irit us p rocede ns a patre & filio. Wiche is þe holy goost all e [of] alle / & al is god oone. / [¶] Þus in a som er y hy m seyȝ / as y sat in my n porche. I roos vp / & reu errencid hy m / & ryght fair e grette. Þre me n to my n syghte / y made weel a teese at eese. & weschȝ her e feet & wipid he m / & aft erward e þey eety n. Calues fleschȝ & kake bred / þey knewen what y þowhte. Ful trewe toknes be -twene vs ys / to telly n whan me lykeþ. First he fondid me / yf y lovede bettre. Hy m or ysaak my n eyȝr / þe wiche he hyght me kylle. He wiste my will e by hy m / he wil me it a -lowhe. I am ful sekir my sowle is þer e / & my n sones boþe. F.13.68: F has significantly revised this line. Bx reads as follows: "I am ful siker in soule þerof and my sone boþe." I circu msysed my soone / sytthen for his sake. My -selue & my n meyghne / & all e þ at malis weren. Bleddyn blood for þ at lord is love / in hope blysse to wy nne. F.13.71: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "and hope to blisse þe tyme." Myn affiau nce & my n feyþ / is ferme in my n beleve. For hy m -seluy n be -hyȝte me / & to my n yssew boþe. Be þe lond / & lordchepe / & lyf w it h -outy n ende. & to me & to my n ysseue / ȝit F.13.75: The <ȝ> is larger than usual and perhaps should have been rendered as <Ȝ>. moor e he me g rauntyd. Mercy for our e mysdede / as many tyme as we aske. Q uam olim habrahe p romisisti / & semini ei us. & sytthen he sente me to seyȝe / y sholde don sac rifise. & doon hy m worchepe w it h breed / & w it h wyȝn boþe. & he callid me foot of his feyþ / his folk for to save. & defendid he m fram þe feend / þe folk on me beleveþ. Þus haue y been his herawd / heer e & eek in hell e F.13.82: F omits two lines, creating syntactic confusion. The missing verses in Bx read: And conforted many a careful þat after his comynge waiten And þus I seke hym he seide for I herde seyn late. Of a burne þ at baptised hy m / Ioh an babtist was his name. Þ at to pat riarkis & p roph etis / & to oþ ir peple in derknesse. Seyden as y seide eer / þ at he schal have he m all e. F.13.85: F's reading is unique. Beta reads "Seide þat he seiȝ here þat sholde saue vs alle." Alpha is responsible for substituting seide for seiȝ and hem for vs. Ecce agnus dei . ecce qui tollit p ecc ata mu ndi. F.13.86: F and Hm alone complete the Latin quotation. Bx ends at dei &c . Þan hadde y wondir of hise woord is / & of hise wyde cloþis. & F.13.88: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta manuscripts and C have For. in his bosu m he bar a þyng / & F.13.88: Alpha, along with most C manuscripts, has &. Beta lacks it. þ at he blessid e euere. & y lokede in his lappe / a lazar lay þan þ ere -Inne. A -mongis pat riarkis & p roph etis / pleyende to -gydres. What a -waytist þ ou q uod he  & what woldist þ ou have. I wolde wete q uod y þo  what is in ȝour e lappe. Loo  q uod he  & leet me see / þan Lord m ercy y seide. Is þis a p resent of mychil p riȝs / what p rince shal it have. It is a p recious p resent q uod he  but þe powke haþ it tachid. & me þ erw it h q uod þ at wyȝe / may no wed vs qwyten. Ne no barn be our e borghȝ / ne bry ng vs fram his dang er. F.13.97: Alpha omitted the following line attested by beta manuscripts: "Out of þe poukes pondfold no maynprise may vs fecche." Tyl he come / þ at y carped of / cryst ys his name. Þ at shal delyu ere vs su mday / owt of þe deuelys power. & a bettr e wed for vs legge / þa n we ben all e worthy. Þ at is lyf / for lyf / er lyggen shull e we þus evere. & þus shal y [he] loll e in my lappe / tyl swich a lord vs fecche. Allas þowhte y þoo / þ at is / a long a -bydynge These three lines are from alpha. They are properly judged by Kane and Donaldson as well as by Schmidt to be spurious, probably motivated by censorship of material deemed to be theologically dangerous. Beta manuscripts read: Allas I seide þat synne so longe shal lette The myght of goddes mercy þat myȝte vs alle amende I wepte for hise wordes wiþ þat sauȝ I anoþer Rapeliche renne forþ þe riȝte wey he wente. The last line was omitted by alpha. The reading of alpha is not entirely clear, since F differs significantly from R which reads as follows: Allas thouȝte I þo þat is a longe a-bydynge. And sued hym for he softe ȝede. Þat he toek vs as tit ac trewly to telle. & oon on foote sewede hy m / for he softely wente. & he be -took hym þe targe as tyȝt / trewly to me it telle. Þan y freyned hy m first / from whens þ at he come. What he hyȝte / & whidir he wolde / & whyȝtly he tolde. I am Spes a spie q uod he  & spere aft er þ at knyght kowþe. Me was taken a mawndeme nt / vpon þe mou nt of synay. To rewle all e rewmes þ erw it h / y bere þe rolle heere. Is it a -selyd seyd e y / may me n seen þe lettre. Nay he seide y seke hy m / þ at haþ þe seel to keepe. & þ at is þe cros & c ristendom / & cryst þer -on to hange. & whan it ys / a -selyd soo / sathenas haþ lost his power. These lines differ greatly between alpha and beta witnesses as well as within alpha. Beta manuscripts read: And whan it is enseled so I woot wel þe soþe That Luciferis lordshipe laste shal no lenger. R supplies the b-verse "sathanas power schal last no lenger" for the first line, but has a hypometrical following line: "And þus my lettre meneth." W. W. Skeat, The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman, in Three Parallel Texts (Oxford: Clarendon, 1886): 2.416, proposed that FR's exemplar must have read: And when it is aseled so Sathanas power Schal last no lenger and þus my letter meneth. & þus my n lettre meneþ / men mowe knowe yt F.13.115: The scribe wrote an otiose mark above the <y>. alle. Let see þ at lettr e F.13.116: Alpha is responsible for "þat lettre." Beta and C manuscripts have "þi lettres." q uod y  we myghte þe lawes knowe. & he plukkede forþ a patente / a pece of an hard rooche. Were -oon was wryten two wordis / on þis wyse vnglosid [y]glosid. Dilige deu m / et p roximu m tuu m. Þis was þe tixt trewly / y took þer -to good keepe. F.13.120: F's b-verse is unique. Beta manuscripts have "I took ful good yeme." R reads "gome" for beta's "yeme." & þe glose was gloriously wrete / w it h a gylt penne In hijs duob us ma ndatis . tota lex pend et & p roph ete. Is heere al þy n lord is lawe q uod y  ȝee  leve me he seyde. & who þ at wirchiþ aft er þys wryt / y will e vndir -taken. Shal neu ere do F.13.125: The scribe (though it is possibly some later revisor) may perhaps here be seen revising the exemplar. The characters <uyl> are erased after initial <de>. The <e> was converted to <o> by scraping. Other B witnesses read "Shal neuere deuel hym dere ne deeþ in soule greue." hym dere / ne deuel his soule greve. For þeyȝ y sey it my n -selue / I have saved w it h þis charme. Of me n & of wo mmen / manye skor e þowsendis. He seyþ soþ seyd e þe heroud / y have fownde it ofte. Loo heer e in my lappe / þ at belevedy n on þ at charme Boþe Iosue & Iu dith / & Iudas Machabeus. & sixty þowsande by -syde / þ at been not sey n heere. Ȝ our e word is are wondirful q uod y  wich of ȝow is trewest. & leelest to be -leve on / to þe lyf / or to sowle. Abraham seyþ þ at he seyȝ / holly þe trynnyte. Þre persones in p arselys / dep artable fram oþer. & alle þre but oon / þus Abraham me tawhte. & þey been savid þ at byleve soo / & sory for her e synnys. He can can [not] seyȝ þe su mme / & su mme been in his lappe. What neediþ it þa nne / a newe lawe to brynge. Sytthe þ at þe firste ys sufficiau nt / to save vs to blysse. & þan comeþ spees & spekiþ / þ at haþ a -spied þe lawe. & tellyþ nowht of þe t rinnyte / þ at took hy m his lettris. To be -leven & lovyen / in oon god F.13.143: F's reading is unique. Bx reads lord. almyghty. & sytthe ryght as my -selue / so to loven al þe peple. F.13.144: Alpha omits eleven lines. Beta witnesses read: The gome þat gooþ wiþ o staf he semeþ in gretter heele Than he þat gooþ wiþ two staues to sighte of vs alle And riȝt so bi þe roode Reson me sheweþ It is lighter to lewed men o lesson to knowe Than for to techen hem two and to hard to lerne þe leeste It is ful hard for any man on Abraham bileue And wel awey worse ȝit for to loue a sherewe It is lighter to leeue in þre louely persones Than for to louye and lene as wel lorels as lele Go þi gate quod I to Spes so me god helpe Tho þat lernen þi lawe wol litel while vsen it. & as we wentyn in þe weyȝe / þus wordynge to -gydre. Þan sey we a samaritan / syttende on a Mule. & Rydende ful rapely / þe ryght weyȝ we ȝeedyn. Comy nge fram a cu ntre / þ at me n cally n Ierycho. To a Iustis in Ierusale m / he chased awey faste. Boþe þe heroud / & spes F.13.150: F alone translates the correctly alliterating hope into Latin. / & me / he mette a toones at oones Where þ at a man was wowndid / & w it h þevis takyn. He myghte neyþ ir steppen ne stonden / ne ster e foot ne hond e Ne helpen hy m -selue soþly / for semyvif he semede. & as nakyd as þe nedle / & noon helpe a -bowten. F.13.154: Alpha is responsible for the omission of hym following abouten. F's form with final <n> is unique, providing a final unstressed syllable for the b-verse. Feyȝþ hadde first syghte on F.13.155: Alpha is responsible for on. Beta manuscripts have of. hy m / but he fleyȝ a -syȝde. & wolde not neyȝhe hy m neer / be nyghne londis lengþe. Hope cam hippynge aft er / þ at hadde so y -boosted. How he w it h Moyses maundeme nt / hadde me n y -holpe / But whan he hadd e syght of þ at segg e / on syde he ga n hy m drawe. Dredfully by þis day / as a doke doþ fram þe F.13.160: The scribe initially wrote pe and corrected the <p> to <þ>. fawcou n. But so sone as þe samaritan / hadde syght of þ at leede. He lyghte dou n of Lyard / & ladde hy m in his handis. F.13.162: Alpha is responsible for plural handis. Beta manuscripts have the singular, and the same variations appear in C. & to þe weyȝ he wente / hise wou nnd is to be -holde. & he p arceyvede be his powse / he was in pereyl to dyȝe. & but he hadde þe rather e recure / ryse scholde he neuere. He breyded to hise botelis F.13.166: The scribe first wrote botetis and then overwrote the <t> with an <l>. / & boþe he hem tamede. F.13.166: This line is attested in alpha only. W it h wyȝn & w it h oyle / hise wowndis he waschede. & Enbawmed hy m / & bond his heed / & in his lappe hy m leyde. & ladde hy m so forþ on liard / to lex Cristi F.13.169: Cristi is written over an erasure. a grawnge. Weel sixe myle or sevene / by -syden Newe F.13.170: F uniquely omits þe before Newe. m erket. & herberwid hy m at an hosterie / & F.13.171: Alpha lacks beta's to after &. þe osteler callede. & seyde / have kepe þ ou þis man / tyl y come fram Iustis. & loo heere is syluer he seyde / for salue / to hise wownd is. & he took hym two pens / for F.13.174: An otiose curl is written above the <r>. liflode as it wore. F.13.174: H. R. L. Beadle, "The Medieval Drama of East Anglia: Studies in Dialect, Documentary Records and Stagecraft," unpub. D. Phil. thesis, University of York, 1977, p. 69, lists wore for "were" as a feature of Norfolk dialects. See also E. Björkmann, Scandinavian Loan Words in Middle English, Studien zur englischen Philologie, 7, 11 (1900-1902), p. 85; and G. Försstrom, The Verb "To Be" in Middle English: A Survey of the Forms, Lund Studies in English, 15 (Lund: C.W.K. Glerrup, 1948), pp. 119-20. & seyde what he spendid more / y make þe good her e -after. I may no lenger e letty n q uod þ at leede / & lyard he be -st ridiþ. & rapeþ hy m to Ier usal em -ward / þe ryght weyȝ to ryde. Þan fayth folwed hy m faste / & fondid hym to meete. & Spes sparkly F.13.179: This unusual form appears also in R, probably reflecting sprakliche in alpha. Compare 14.12 for similar variants. Beta witnesses read spakliche. hy m spedde / speden if he myghte. To ou er -take hym / & talke to hy m / er he to towne come & whan y sey þis y soiorned not / but schoop me to renne & sewede þe samaritan / þ at was so ful of pyte. & he grauntyd me / y to be his goome / grau nt m ercy y seide. F.13.183: F, perhaps not recognizing "promised" as the sense of grauntyd, has revised the line substantially. Bx reads "And graunted hym to ben his gome [(alpha) or groom (beta)] graunt mercy he seide." & þy n frend & þy felowe q uod he / þ ou fyȝndist me at neede. & þanne y þankyd hy m þo / & sytthyn þus y hym toolde. How þ at feyþ fley a -wey / & spes his felawe boþe. For syghte of þe sorwful man / þ at robbed was w it h þevis. Have hem excused q uod he / her e helpe may lytil a -vayle. Þer e may no medycyn vndir moolde / þ at ma n to helthe bry nge. Neyþ ir feythȝ ne fyȝn hope / so feest rid ben hise wownd is. W it h -owty n þe blood of a barn / þ at shal be born of a mayde. & been F.13.192: Alpha omits beta's he. bathed in his blood / baptyzed as he were. & make a plastre w it h penau nce / w it h þe F.13.193: F's with þe is unique. Bx reads and. Alpha is responsible for adding unmetrical þe. passiou n of þ at babe. & þan shal he stonde & steppen / but stalworthe worþ he neu ere. Tyl he haþ etyn al þe barn / & his blood y -dru nke. For wente neu ere weyȝ in þis world / þorghȝ þ at wyȝldernesse. Þ at he was [ne] was robbed & ryfled / rood he eyþir or ȝeede. Save feyþ & his felawe / Spes & my n -selue. & þy -selue nowthe / & swiche as sewe our e werkys. For an owtlawe is F.13.200: Alpha is responsible for "owtlawe is." Most beta manuscripts have the plural. R lacks "an" before "owtlawe," but curiously Cr 2,3 share that reading with F. in þe wode / & vndir balkis lotyeþ. & he may eu ery man se / & goode marke takeþ. F.13.201: Alpha is responsible for the finite form takeþ. All beta witnesses have the infinitive take. Who is by -hyȝnde / & by -fore / & who is on horse. For he halt hy m hardier e on horse / þan he þ at is on foote. For he seyþ me samaritan / þ at feyþ & his felawe sewen. F.13.204: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "For he seigh me þat am Samaritan suwen Feiþ & his felawe." Oon  my capel þ at hette caro / of mankyȝnde y it tooke. He was but an harlot F.13.206: F's a-verse is unique, and error in R suggests that alpha's reading had been botched. R reads "he was vn-harlot." Beta manuscripts have "He was vnhardy þat harlot." / & hedde hy m In inferno. But er þis þis [day] þre dayes / y dar vndyr -take Þ at he worthȝ fet rid þ at felou n / faste w it h stronge cheynes. & neu ere eft greve goome / þ at goþ þis ilke gate. O mors ero mors tua morsus tuus ei e[ro] i[nferne] F.13.210: The scribe appears to have mistaken the abbreviation e. i. for the pronoun. F.13.210: The line appears only in alpha, and F alone continues the quotation with " morsus tuus ero inferne ." Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations, notes that this O antiphon is "sung during Holy Week (e.g. Brev. 1:dcclxxxii, dccci), based on Osee 13:14 (Cf. 1 Cor. 15:55)" (107). Alpha omitted a dozen lines attested in beta witnesses between F13.210 and 211. Beta family manuscripts read: And þanne shal Feiþ be forster here and in þis Fryth walke And kennen outcomen men þat knowen noȝt þe contree Which is þe wey þat I wente and wher forþ to Ierusalem And Hope þe Hostilers man shal be þer þe man lith anhelyng And alle þat feble and feynte be þat Feiþ may noȝt teche Hope shal lede hem forþ with loue as his lettre telleþ And hostele hem and heele þoruȝ holy chirche bileue Til I haue salue for alle sike and þanne shal I returne And come ayein bi þis contree and conforte alle sike That craueþ it or coueiteþ it and crieþ þerafter For þe barn was born in Bethleem þat with his blood shal saue Alle þat lyuen in Feiþ and folwen his felawes techynge. A sweete sir e seyde y þo / wheyþ ir of ȝow shal y leve. For feythȝ & his felawe / enformed me boþe. Of þre p ersones dep artable / & p erpetuel ben euere. & all e þre but .oo. god / & all e goomes after. F.13.214: F omits a b-verse, a full line, and an a-verse. Bx reads as follows: . . . þus Abraham me tauȝte And Hope afterward he bad me to louye O god wiþ al my good . . . . Love hem lyȝk my -selue / but our e lord a -bove all e. Aft er Abraham seid e F.13.216: Seide is supplied above the line by the original scribe as a correction. However, the "correction" makes little sense in context. The scribe nowhere else shows dissatisfaction with quod. Cf. F14.167, where he substitutes quod in place of correctly alliterating seide. q uod he / þ at heraud e of armes. He settte sette faste þy fayþ / & feerme þy be -leve. & as hope by -hyȝte F.13.218: Alpha reads by-hyȝte for beta's highte. þe / y hote þe . þ at þ ou lovie. Þy nn euy nc ristene euer e -mor e / even -forþ w it h þy -selue. & if co nscience carpe þ ere a -gey n / er kynde wit eyþ ir. Or eretykis w it h argume ntis / þy n hand þ ou he m schewe. For god is aft er an hand / þ ou here it now / & knowe it. Þe fadir was first . as a fyst / w it h oo fyng er folden. Tyl he lyþed F.13.224: F alone reads he lyþed, "relaxed, relented." Beta manuscripts read hym louede, except for Hm, which agrees with Cx in reading lykede. R reads leued. & luste / to vnloose his fynger. & p rofered it forþ w it h þe pawme / to what place it sholde. Þe Pawme is of F.13.226: F uniquely reads of. Bx reads purely. þe hand / & p rofereþ forþ þe fyngris. To mynistr e & to make / þ at myght of ma n know et h. It be -tokneþ trewly / to tellen who -so lykeþ. Þe holy goost of heuene / he is lykned þe pawme. & þe fyngris þ at free been / to folde & to s erue. By -tokneþ soþly þe sone / þ at sent was to erthe. & þorghȝ towchyng & tastyng / & F.13.232: Alpha is responsible for &. Beta and C manuscripts have at. F's a-verse reading is unique, almost certainly reflecting F-Redactor's attempt to make sense of the <&> he found in his exemplar. He changes the verbs of Bx into gerunds. techynge of þe pawme. Seynte Marie þ at mayde / mankende sche lawhte. Q ui co ncept us est de sp iritu s anc to Þe fadir ys / as a fist / w it h fynger to towche. Q uia omnia t raham ad meip sum me ipsum. & F.13.237: F uniquely reads &, confusing the sense and syntax. Other B manuscripts omit it. al þ at pawme p arceyueþ / p rofitable to feele. & þus are þey all e but oon / as it a fyst F.13.238: The substitution of a fyst for an hand occurred in alpha. were. & þre sundry syghtys / in oon shewynge. Þe pawme for it pit forþ / fyng ris & fyst boþe. Ryght so redely / good resou n it schewiþ. How he F.13.242: The scribe perhaps intended to place a punctus between he and þat. þ at is holy goost / sire / & sone . y -preve & as þe hand halt harde / all e þyngis & faste. Þorghȝ foure fyng ris & a þu mbe / forþ w it h þe pawme. Ryght so þe fadir & sone / & sey nt spiryȝt þe þrydde. Holden al þe wyȝde world / w it h F.13.246: Alpha reads with for beta's wiþInne. hem þre to -gydres. Boþe þe walkene & þe wyȝnd / þe water & þe erthe Hevene & hell e F.13.248: An otiose curl appears over the <h>. / & al F.13.248: An otiose curl appears after the <l>. þ at þere ys Inne. F.13.248: Alpha and L read "þere ys Inne." Beta manuscripts have "is þerInne" or "therin is." Þus it neediþ euery man / to trowen on no n oþir. F.13.249: Alpha has confused the sense. Beta witnesses read "Thus it is nedeþ no man trowe noon ooþer." Þ at þre þynges longen to / in [ / in] our e lord of heuene. & are su nderlepis by hem -selue / & a -sundr e weren F.13.251: Alpha and L omit beta's þei before neuere. neu ere. No moor e þan may an hand F.13.252: Beta's a-verse reads "Na moore þan myn hand may." / meve / w it h -owty n fryng ris fyngris. & as my fyst is ful hond / & y -folde to -gydres. So is þe fadir a ful god / foormer e & scheppere. Tu fabricator omniu m. & all e þe myght myd hy m ys / in makynge of þyngys. Þe fyng ris foormen a ful hond / to portreye or to pey nte. To keruy nge or F.13.258: Alpha reads or. Beta manuscripts have and. cu mpassynge / þ at is c raft of þe fyng ris. Ryght so is þe sone / þe science of þe fadir. & he ful god as is þe fadir / no feblere ne no bettre. Þe pawme is pur -lych þe hand / but he [haþ] power by hy m -selue. Oþir -wise þ at wryty nge þa[n þe] wry[þyn] fust / or werkma nchipp e of þe fyng ris. For þe pawme haþ powher / to pitty n owt þe Ioyntys. & to vnfelde þe fust / for it . to hym longeþ Beta omitted a b-verse, a full line, and an a-verse because of eye-skip on fust. & to receyve þ at þe fyng ris reche / & to refuse boþe. Whan he felyþ þe fust / & F.13.266: Alpha reads & for beta's at. þe fyng ris will e. So is þe holy goost god / neyþ ir gretter e ne lasse. Þan is þe syre . or þe sone / & of þe same strengþe. & all e þey are but oon god / as is hond & fyng ris. Vn -folden or folden / my fust er my pawme / Al ys it / but an hand / how so y t urne it. But who is hurt in þe hond / evene in þe myddis. He may receyve ryght nowht / of þ at he reche myghte. F.13.273: F omits by eye-skip on receyve ryght nowht the following lines from Bx: ... reson it sheweþ For þe fyngres þat folde sholde and þe fust make For peyne of þe pawme power hem failleþ To clucche or to clawe to clippe or to holde Were þe myddel of myn hand ymaymed or yperissed I sholde receyue riȝt noȝt .... As a result of the eyeskip, F changed Bx's I to he in the b-verse. But þey my n þu mbe . & my n fyng ris boþe weren to -swoll e. & þe myddis of my n hond / wer e / w it h -owty n male -eese. Ȝit in manye -skens manerys / y myghte my -selue helpe. Boþe meeve / me in manere / þey all e my n fyng ris oken. By þis skyle he seyde / þ ou F.13.278: F's þou is unique. Other B manuscripts have I. see an evydense. Þ at who -so sy nneþ in þe holy spiryȝt / asoyled worþ he neu ere. Neyþ ir heer e / ne ell is -wher e / as y have herd tell e F.13.280: F omits the following line from Bx: " Qui peccat in spiritu sancto &c ." For he p rikkiþ god in þe pawme / þat peccat in sp iritu s anc to . For god þe fader is a fust / þe sone is a fynger. Þe holy goost of hevene / is as he wer e þe pawme. So who þ at sy nneþ a -gey n F.13.284: Alpha's a-geyn agrees with the majority of C manuscripts. Beta has in. þe holy F.13.284: F uniquely reads holy. Other B manuscripts have Seint. spirit / it seme seme[þ] þ at he g reuyþ. His hond þ at he grypeþ w it h / & his owene g race he qwenchiþ. F.13.285: F's line is uniquely. Bx reads as follows: "God þat he grypeþ wiþ and wolde his grace quenche." For to a to a to a toorche / or to a taper þe t rinnyte ys lykned. & þat is but weex & weke / wroght boþe to -gydre. & a fayr fyȝr flawmeþ / forthȝ of hem boþe. & as weex & weke / & warm feer is to -gydres. F.13.289: Alpha preserves original warm against the beta family's hoot. The interlinear insertion of is represents a scribal attempt to smooth the syntax, for it appears in no other manuscripts. Fostren forþ a flawme / & a fayȝr leyȝe. So dooþ þe sire & þe sone / & s anc ti s anc t[us] sp irit us also. Fostren foorþ a -mong folk / boþe love / & byleve. Þ at al c ristene kynde / it clenseþ of synnes. & as þ ou seest su m -tyme / sodey nly a torche. Þe blase þerof y -blowe owt / & ȝit brenneþ þe weke. W it howtyn leyȝe or lyght /. eu ere þe macche brenneþ. So is þe holy goost god / & g race / w it h greet m ercy F.13.297: F has misunderstood the line, revising it from Bx's "So is þe holy goost god and grace wiþoute mercy." He does the same again in 13.304. See also a similar revision at 15.78. To all e vnkende creaturis / þ at coueyte to distroye. Leel love to þe lyf / þat oure lord schapede. F.13.299: Alpha omits the following twenty-seven lines attested by beta witnesses: And as glowynge gledes gladeþ noȝt þise werkmen That werchen and waken in wyntres nyȝtes As dooþ a kex or a candle þat caught haþ fir and blaseþ Na moore dooþ sire ne sone ne seint spirit togidres Graunte no grace ne forgifnesse of synnes Til þe holy goost gynne to glowe and to blase So þat þe holy goost gloweþ but as a glede Til þat lele loue ligge on hym and blowe And þanne flawmeþ he as fir on fader and on filius And melteþ hire myȝt into mercy as men may se in wyntre Ysekeles in euesynges ( or eueses) þoruȝ hete of þe sonne Melteth in a Mynut while to myst and to watre So grace of þe holy goost þe grete myȝt of þe Trinite Melteþ to mercy to merciable and to noon oþere And as wex wiþouten moore on a warm glede Wol brennen and blasen be þei togideres And solacen hem þat mowe se þat sitten in derknesse So wol þe fader forȝyue folk of mylde hertes That rufully repenten and restitucion make In as muche as þei mowen amenden and paien And if it suffise noȝt for assetz þat in swich a wille deyeþ Mercy for his mekenesse wol make good þe remenaunt And as þe weke and fir wol make a warm flaumbe For to murþe men wiþ þat in merke sitten So wole crist of his curteisie and men crye hym mercy Boþe forȝyue and foryete and ȝit bidde for vs To þe fader of heuene forȝifnesse to haue. But hewe þ ou feyȝr on a flynt / four e hu ndr ed wynt er. But þ ou have tacche F.13.301: Alpha and C read tacche. Beta manuscripts have tow. to take it / w it h tndir t[i]ndir or brochis. Al þy n labour is loost / & al þy n longe t rauayle. For may may [no] feyr flawme make / fayle it his kynde. So is þe holy goost god / & g race w it h gret m ercy. F.13.304: F has again misunderstood the sense as he did in 13.297. Bx reads "So is þe holi goost god and grace wiþouten mercy." To all e vnkyȝnde c reatures / c rist hy m -selue witnessiþ. Amen dico vobis nescio vos . Vigilate itaq ue quia nescitis diem neq ue horam. F.13.306: The text of Bx ends with vos &c . Be vnkyȝnde to þy n euy nc ristene / & al þ at þ ou canst bidden Er deele / or do penance / day or nyght euere. Er p urchase al þe p ardou n / of þe pope of rome. & Indulges Indulge[nc]es y -nowe / & be Ing rate to þy n kynne. F.13.310: Alpha is responsible for the b-verse. Beta and some C manucripts have "and be ingratus to þi kynde." Þe holy goost heeriþ þe nowht / ne helpe may þe be resou n. For vnkyndenesse qwenchiþ hy m / þ at he may not schyne. Ne brenne ne blasen cleere / for blowynge of vnkynde Sey nt Powl þe apostle / p reveþ þ at y not lyȝe. Si ling uis ho mi num loquar & ang elor um caritate m no n habuero nichil m ichi prodest. F.13.315: The text of Bx ends with loquar &c. For -þy be war ȝee wise men / þ at w it h þe world deelen. Þ at ryche been & resou n knowe / rewle wel ȝour e -selue. Beþ not vnkende i co nseyle ȝow / to ȝour e euy nc ristene. For manye of ȝow ryche me n / be my sowle me n telle. Ȝee brenne / but ȝee blase nowht / & þ at is a blynd beekne. Non o mnis q ui d icit m ichi F.13.321: F alone has michi . d omine . d omine  i nt rab it i n reg num celor um s ed q ui fac it vol untatem. F.13.321: The quotation from Matthew 7:21 ends in Bx with intrabit . / [¶] For diues dyȝede & da mpned / for his vnkyndenesse. He ȝaf no mete ne mone F.13.323: An otiose stroke, apparently intentional, appears above the <o>. / to men þ at it needede. Euery ryche ma n y rede / rewarde at hy m ȝee take. & gyveþ ȝour e good to þ at god / þer e g race of a -ryseþ. For þo þ at been vnkynde to hise / hoope þ ou no n oþir. Þ at þey shull e dwell e þ ere dyves ys / dayes w it h -outy n ende. Þus vn kyndenesse is his co ntrarie / for it qwenchiþ hys g race. F.13.328: The scribe (or some later revisor) has mindlessly revised his exemplar by erasing <vn> from vnkyndenesse, changing the sense of this and the following line. Bx reads as follows: Thus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie þat quencheþ as it were The grace of þe holy goost goddes owene kynde. Þe g race of þe holy goost / is goddys owen kende. For þ at kendeness e kendenesse [dooþ] / vnkendeness e for -dooþ / as ben þese c ursed e þeuis F.13.330: Note that the interlinear correction is not archetypal. The line has been revised extensively, though the omission of dooþ in the a-verse is probably unintentional. Bx reads "For þat kynde dooþ vnkynde fordooþ as þise corsede þeues." Vnkyȝnde c ristene me n / for coueytyse / & Envyȝe. Sleeþ a ma n for hise meblis / w it h mowht or w it h handis. For þ at þe holy goost haþ to kepe / þo harlotys distroye. Þe whiche is lyf & love / & leeyȝe of ma nnys body. For eu ery good man may heer e / by lykned to a torche. Or ellys to a taper / to reuerence þe trynnyte. & who -so Morderythȝ a good man / me þynkyþ be good r esou n. He for -doþ þe levest lyght / þ at our e lord lovyeþ. / [¶] But ȝit in manye moo man eres / me n þe holy goost offende. But þis is þe F.13.340: An otiose curl appears slightly to the left and above the <þ>. werste wyȝse / þ at ony wyȝt myghte. Sengen F.13.341: Sengen, "sin" (infinitive). a -gey n þe sey nt spiryt / assenten / to distroye. For coveytise of ony þy ng /. þ at c rist so deer e bowhte. How may may [he] aske m ercy / or ony m ercy hym helpe. Þ at wykkidly / & wylfully / woole m ercy amitte a[nien]te. For innocense is neest god / & nyght & day it c riȝeþ. Vengawnce . Vengau nce / for -ȝeve be it neuere. Þ at schente F.13.347: Alpha omits beta's vs after schente. & schadde our e blood / & for -schop v us as it semeþ. F.13.347: Alpha and C manuscripts have a form of semen. Beta manuscripts have were. Vindica sang uine m iustor um. Þus vengau nce vengau nce / verry charite askeþ. & sytthe holy chirche & charite / chargiþ þis soor e. / [¶] I be -leeve neu ere þ at our e loord / will e love / þ at charite lakkiþ. Ne have pite for ony p rayer e / þere þ at he pleyneþ. I poose y hadde synged F.13.353: synged, "sinned." soo / & scholde now dyȝen. & nowht F.13.354: The erroneous substitution of nowht for now occurred in alpha, probably reflecting confusion about a nowth spelling for now. am sory þ at y soo / þe sey nt spyryȝt a -gulted e. But co nfesse me & c riȝe his g race / god þ at al made. & myȝldely his m ercy aske / myghte y nowht be savid. Ȝis seyd e þe samaritan / so þ ou myghtyst repente. F.13.357: Beta manuscripts have "so wel þow myght repente." Þ at ryghtwyȝsnesse to F.13.358: Alpha is responsible for to in place of beta's and most C manuscript's þoruȝ. repentau nce / & to rewþe myghte t urne. But it is but seelde y -sey n / þer e soþnesse beriþ witnesse. Ony cr eat ure be cowpable / by -for e a kyngis Iustise. Be ramsomed for his gilt F.13.361: F's gilt is unique. Bx reads repentaunce. R has no alliterating stave at all, suggesting that alpha was already corrupt. It is characteristic of F to have attempted to make sense of a defective exemplar. / þer e al resou n hy m da mpneþ. For þer e þ at þe p artyȝe p urseweþ / þe peel is so hewge. Þ at þe kyng may do no m ercy / tyl boþe me n a -coorden. & eythir haþ oþir y -qwit / as holy writ telleþ. Nu mq uam dimittit ur p ecc atum  nisi r estiauat ur restituatur F.13.365: It is possible that the rubricator attempted to correct the first <a> to make a <t> of it, but since it still looks more like an <a>, we have treated it as an uncorrected error. ablatu m. F.13.365: F alone completes the quotation after peccatum as it had appeared above in 5.279. As Alford notes [ Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations, Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies 77 (Binghamton: MRTS, 1992), p. 46], the line is a maxim of canon law derived from Augustine. / [¶] Þus it fareþ by swiche folk / þ at falsly al here lyve. F.13.366: Alpha reads singular "lyve" for beta's plural. Evele lyven . & leety n nowht / tyl hem lyf for -sake. & drede of F.13.368: An otiose curl was written over the <o>. desp eraciou n / þa nne dryveþ a -wey g race. These lines are attested only in alpha. Þ at m ercy in heere myȝnde / may not þa nne falle. & good hoope þ at helpe scholde / to wanhope it t urneþ. Nowht of þe nou nper e F.13.371: Alpha is responsible for the probably erroneous spelling with - per(e). Beta manuscripts have nounpower, "absence of power, impotence." of god / þ at he is eu ere myghtful. To a -me nde al þ at mys ys / & his m ercy is grettere. Þan all e our e wikkid e werkis / as holy writ telleþ. Misericor dia d omini F.13.374: Alpha is responsible for domini . Beta manuscripts have eius .  sup er o mnia op era eius. But er his ryghtwysnesse / to rewþe t urne / su m restituciou n be -hoviþ. F.13.375: Alpha omitted the following line attested by beta manuscripts: "His sorwe is satisfaccion for hym þat may noȝt paie." Thre þy ngis þer e been / þ at dooþ a ma n / be strengthe. For to fleen hys owene hows / as holy writ schewiþ. Þ at oon is / a wykkid wif / þ at wil not be chastised. Þere hir e feere fleeþ F.13.379: Alpha is responsible for omitting fro after fleeþ. hir e / for feer of hir e tunge. & if his hows be vnhelyd / & it reygne on his bedd e Sokour e he seekeþ þa nne / tyl F.13.381: An otiose curl appears over the <t>. he mowe sleepe dryȝe. F.13.381: F's reading is unique. Bx reads "He sekeþ and sekeþ til he slepe drye." & whan smook & smoldir / smyten in hise eyȝen. It dooþ hy m worse þan his wif / er þe wat ur eyþir. F.13.383: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "or wete to slepe." For smook & smolder / so smerteþ hise eyȝes. Tyl he be blere -eyȝed or blynd / & a bold cowhe after. F.13.385: F's b-verse is unique. R's "and cowȝhe (="cough") in þe throte" suggests that alpha had lost an alliterating stave. Beta witnesses make sense but lose the alliterative pattern, reading "and hoors in þe þrote." Þan kenely he c urseþ / þ at c rist ȝeve hy m sorwe. Þ at sholde brynge in bettr e woode / & blowe it tyl it bre nde. / [¶] Þese þre þ at y telle of / þus ben to vndirstonde. Þe wyf is our e wikkid fleschȝ / þ at wil not ben chastysed. For keende cleym et h on hy m eu ere / to co nt rarie þe sowle. & þey it falle it fynt skylis / þ at freelte it made. & þ at is lyghtly fo -ȝyve fo[r] -ȝyve / & for -ȝeete boþe. To ma n þ at m ercy askeþ / & to me nde hym he þynkeþ. / [¶] Þe reyn þ at reygneþ / þer e we restyn scholden. Been seeknesses & sorwis / þ at we suffren awhten. F.13.395: Alpha is responsible for awhten. Beta and most C manuscripts have ofte. As sey nt powl þe a -postle / to þe peple tawhte. Virtus i n infirmitate i ninfirmitate p erficitur. & þey þ at me n maken myche deel in here angris. & ben pacie nt F.13.399: F's reading is unique. Bx reads inpacient. in her e penau nce / pur e resou n know et h. Þ at þey have resou n F.13.400: The substitution of resoun for original cause occurred in alpha. to co ntrarie / by kyȝnde of her e sykness e. & lyghtly our e lord god / at here lyvis ende. He haþ m ercy on swiche me n / þ at so evele may suffre. But þe smook & þe smolder / þ at smyt in our e eyȝes. Þ at is coueytyse & vnkendenesse / þey qwenche godd is m ercy. For vnkyndene vnkyndene[sse] is þe co nt rarie / to all e skens resou n. For þer e nys syȝk ne sory / ne no n so mychel a wrecche. Þ at he may [ne] may love & hy m lyke / & leene of his herte. Good will e . good woord / boþe wischen & wylnen. & to all e man ere of me n / boþe m ercy / & for -ȝevenesse. & love he m lych hy m -selue / & his lyf a -mende. I may no lenger e letty n q uod he  & lyard he p rikede. & wente a -wey as þe wynd / & þerw it h y waknede. Explicit Passus .xiij us. Incipit Passus .xiiij us. A N F.14.1: The ornamental capital is in blue with red flourishes. The small guide letter <a> can be seen through the red ink. wellowerd F.14.1: OED s. v. woolward, "wearing wool next to the skin, esp. as a penance," offers one parallel spelling, "wellewerd" from Caxton's The Cronicles of Englond (1480). Other B witnesses read "wolleward." & wetschod / y wente forþ þanne. As a reccheles renke / þ at of no woo reccheþ. Bot ȝeede lyȝk a lorel / al my lyf -tyȝme. Tyl y wex wery of þe world / & wilned eft to slepe. & lened me to a lentene alentene / & long tyme y slepte. Me þowhte þ at F.14.6: The superscript <t> is altered from <e> by the original scribe. c ristis passiou n / þe peple þ erof rawte. I restid me & rutte faste / tyl ramis palmar um. & of gurlis & of gl oria laus / gretly y dr emede. & how osanna w it h orgenes / olde men sungen. & oon lyȝk þe samaritan / & su mdel to peers plowma n. Barefoot on an asses bak / al bootewles F.14.11: Bootewles, "without boots." All other B manuscripts read synonymous bootles. The boteau is a kind of low boot. cam sp ringe sp[ur]ringe. F.14.11: F's springe makes little sense in context. Bx reads prikye, and some scribe in the tradition between alpha and this manuscript had written the synonymous spurring, here reduced to springe. W it howty n spores eyþ ir sp ere / spraklyche F.14.12: Beta manuscripts read spakliche, but agreement of C manuscripts suggests that alpha's reading is correct. For a similar variation between alpha and beta families, see the note to 13.179. he lokede. F.14.12: The numeral xiij, an error for xiiij, is added in the right margin in a pale ink as an instruction to the rubricator. As is kyȝnde of a knyght / þ at comeþ to be dubbid. To gety n hy m gilt spores / on galochis y -cowpid. / [¶] Þan was Feyȝth in a fenestr e / & c ried e o fili d auid F.14.15: The scribe had written o fili d auid in the right margin, but neglected to supply the rubricated text. As dooþ an heroud e of armes / whan an awnt rous com et h to Iust us. & olde Iewes of Ier usal em / for gre gre[te] Ioyȝe þey sungen B en ed ict us q ui venit in no mi ne d omini. Þanne freynede y at feythȝ / what al þ at far e me nte. & who sholde Iuste in Ier usal em / Ientil Iesu he seyde. & fettyn þ at feend [þe] feend cleymeþ / peers frut plowhma n [þe] plowhman. F.14.21: F here and in 14.26, 14.34, and 15.363 omits the definite article in the divided genitive noun phrase. He avoids the construction by revision in 15.190 and 15.397. However, since F also tends to omit archetypal þe in about half the occurrences of the phrase, Piers þe Plowman, e. g. 5.644, 655, 807, 1144, its omission in the genitive phrase is perhaps intentional. Is Peers in þis place q uod y  & þanne he prente on me. Þis is Iesus of his Ienterye / will e Iuste in Peersis armes. In his helm & in his haburgou n / þ at is humana nat ura. Þ at c rist be not be -knowe heer e / for co nsu mmat us deus. He is in p erses paltok plowhma n [þe] plowhman / þis p rikier e þ at shal ryde. For þer e is no dynt / þ at shal hy m dere i n deitate pat ris. / [¶] Who shal Iustne w it h Iesus q uod y  eyþir Iewes er sc ribis. Nay q uod feythȝ no n but þe feend / & false doome to dyȝe. Deþ seythȝ he shal for -doon / & a -dou n bryngen. All e þ at lyveþ & lookeþ / on londe eyþ ir on water. Lyf seyþ . þ at he lykþ F.14.32: The substitution of erroneous lykþ for archetypal lyeþ occurred in alpha and is shared by L. / & leyþ his lyf to wedde. Þ at for al / þ at deeþ can doo / w it h -Innen þre dayes. He shal feccy n fram þe feend / Peersis frut plowhma n [þe] plowhman. & lede hit þer e hy m lykeþ / & lucyfer byȝnde. & for -beete & dou n brynge / bale deeþ for euer e. O mors ero mors tua  morsus tu us e ro. F.14.37: F again supplements the Latin quotation, as he had at 13.210 above, adding " morsus tuus ero ." Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations, notes that this antiphon is "sung during Holy Week (e.g. Brev. 1:dcclxxxii, dccci), based on Osee 13:14 (Cf. 1 Cor. 15:55)" (107). / [¶] Þan cam pilat us w it h gret peple / sede ns p ro t ribunali. To se how dowhtely sholde [deeþ] sholde doo / & deme n boþe ryghtys. Þe Iewes & þe Iustyses / a -gey n Iesu þey weren. & all e þe cowrt on hy m c riede / c rucifige ful sharpe. Þo pytte hy m forþ a pylour / byfor e pilat & seyde. Þis Iesus w it h oure temple / he Iapede / & dispysede. He will e for -doon it in a day / & in þre dayes aft er. Edyfie it eft newe / heer e he stant þ at seyd e it. & ȝit maken it as myche / in all e maner e of poy ntis. Boþe as long & as large / on lofte & by grownde. Crucifige q uod a Cacchepol / y warante hy m a wicche. F.14.48: This line is repeated at the top of the next leaf, omitting the following line from Bx: " Tolle tolle quod anoþer and took of kene þornes." Crucifige q uod a cacchepol / y warante hy m a wycche F.14.49: The last syllable of Cacchepol and the b-verse are written over an erasure. That is curious in view of the scribe's repetition of the line from the preceding leaf. Two crude line drawings appear at the top of the leaf. & by -gan of þ at þorn / a garlond to make. & on his heed sette it sore / & seyȝde w it h envye. Ave Rabbi q uod þo rybawdis / & threwe redelys re[ede]s at hy m. & nayled hy m w it h fowre F.14.53: F alone reads fowre nayles. All other manuscripts refer to three nails, though a later hand has inserted foure in R, without deleting three. The dispute is something of a theological commonplace, as Skeat's note suggests, and has no bearing on F's relationship to R. nayles / naked on þe roode. & to hise lyppis þey pyttyn / poysou n on a poole. & beedy n hy m dry nke his deþ evel / for hise dayes wer e done & if þ at þ ou / so sotyl e be / save now þy n -selue. If þ ou be c rist & kyngis sone / come dou n of þe roode. Þan shull e we be -leeve þ at lyf þe loveþ / & will e not lete þe dyȝe. Consummatu m est q uod c rist / & comsed for to swoune. Ful pytously & pale / as a presoner þ at dyȝeþ. Tyl þe lord of lyf & of lyght / leyde hise eyȝes to -gydr es. Þan þe day for drede w it h -droghȝ / & derke by -ga n þe su nne. Þe wall is waggeden & kleef / & al þe world qwakede. & deede me n for þ at deene / come owt of her e g rauys. F.14.64: Alpha had lost the alliterating stave from the b-verse, substituting here for depe. & tolden why þ at tempest / so longe tyme durede. For a bitt er batayle / þe dede bodies seyȝden. Þ at lyf / & deeþ / in þis derknesse / þer oon for -doþ þe toþ ir. Schal no wyght wety n witt erly / who shal have þe mayst rie. Er su nday F.14.69: The tilde was added by the rubricator in red ink. at þe su nne risenge / & w it h þ at he sank in -to erþe. Su mme seyden he was godd is sone / þ at so fayr e dyȝede. Vere filius dei erat iste. & su mme seyden he was a wicche / good is / we a -sayen. Wher he be ded / or not ded / dou n er F.14.73: An otiose curl is written above the <e>. he be take. & two þevis also / þoleden deþ þ at tyȝme. Vpon crossis be -syde c rist / so was þe comou n lawe. But a cacchepol cam forþ / & crakede boþe her e leggys. & her e armes aft er / of eyþyr of þe þevis. But þ ere was no boy so bold / crystis body to towche. For he was knyght & kyngis sone . keende for -ȝaf þ at þrowe. Þ at noon harlot wer e so hardy / to leynd leyn hondys on hym. But þer e cam forþ a knyght / w it h a kene sp ere grou nde. He hyȝghte Longeys as þe lettr e tell et h / & longe hadde lost his syghte & by -for e pylat & oþ ir peple / in þe place he hovede. & mawgre manye of his teeþ / he was mad þ at tyme. To take þe sp ere in his hond / & Iustne w it h Iesus þer e For all e þey weryn vnhardy / þ at houed e on horse or stede. To towche or to taste hym / or take hy m dou n of þe roode. But þis blyȝnde bacheler / þ at bar hy m þorghȝ þe herte. Þe blood span F.14.89: Span, "gushed, spurted." dou n by þe sp ere / & opned F.14.89: Alpha had lost the alliterating stave from the b-verse, substituting the common synonym opned for vnspered. þe knyȝtes eyȝes. Þan fel þe knyght vpon knees / & c riede c rist m ercy. For a -gey n my will e it was / to wounde ȝow so soore. He syȝghede ofte & seyde / sore it me a -þy nkyþ. For þe dede þ at y have doo / y doo me in ȝoure grace. Have on me rewthe ryȝtful c rist / & ryght w it h þ at he wepte. Þan gan F eyth F.14.95: The underlining is added in the blue ink of the paraph of 14.102 as an apparent afterthought. The highlighted blue touch on <e> appears to be intended. ful felly / þe false Iewis dispise. He callyd hem all e caytifis / & he cursede he m for eu ere. For þis fowle vilenyȝe shal be / vengance to ȝou alle. To don þe blyȝnde . beety n . & bynde / it was a boyes co nseyl e. A ȝee c urse curs[ed]e caytyfis / knyghthod was it neuer e. To mys -doon a deed body / by day / or be nyght & þe gree hath he ȝit getyn / for all e hise greete wound is. For ȝour e Champiou n chiualeer / & chef knyght of ȝou all e. Ȝeldeþ hy m recreau nt renny ngge / ryght a a[t] Iesu -is will e. For be þis derknesse y -doo / deeþ worthȝ y -venkischid. & ȝe lordeynes have y -loost / for lyf shal have þe maist rie. & ȝour e fraunchise þ at free was / fally n ys in þraldom. & ȝee cherlis & ȝour e childr en / cheven schull e ȝe neu ere. Ne have lordchepe in londe / ne no londys tylthe. But al shal bareyne ben / & ȝee vseryȝe shull e vse. Wiche is lyf of [þat] our e lord / in all e lawis a -cursethȝ. Now ȝour e goode dayes be don / as danyel p roph esyede Whan c rist cam to his kyngdom / his crowne he shuld lese. F.14.112: Bx reads "Whan crist cam hir kyngdom þe crowne sholde lese ( or cesse)." F alone takes Daniel's prophecy of the lost crown to apply to Christ rather than the Jews. Cu m veniat s anc tus s anc tor um F.14.113: F follows alpha. Beta manuscripts end the quotation "cessabit vnxio vestra." What for fer e of þis ferly / & of þe false Iewis. I drowh me to a derknesse / þ at to to descendit ad i nferna. F.14.115: The scribe had written to dessend it in the right margin. The end of the gloss has been cropped. & þer e y seyȝ soþly / Scecundu m sc ripturas. F.14.116: The scribe wrote " s ec und um sc rip[turas] " in the right margin. The remainder of the marginal text has been cropped. Owt of þe west coost / a wenche as me þowhte. Cam walkynge in þe weyȝe / & to hell e she lokede. Mercy hyghte þ at mayde / a meeke þyng w it hall e. A ful benygne beurde / & buxsu m of speche. Hir e sist er as it semede / cam softly hir e aft er. Eve Eve[n] owt of þe Est / & westward e she lookede. A ful komely creature / trewthe she hette. For þe v ertue þ at hir e folwe folwe[d] / a -feerd was she neu ere. & whan þese Maidenys metty n / m ercy & trewthe. Eir askid oþir / of þis greete wondir. Of þe dene / & þe derknesse / & why þe day so lowred e. & swich a lyght / & a leem / lay be -for e hell e. I have ferly of þis far e / in fayþ seyd e trewthe. & þ us y wende for to wete / what þ at wondir meneþ. Have no m erveyle q uod M ercy / for m erthe it be -tokneþ. A maide þ at hette Marie / & Moodir w it h -outy n felynge. Of ony kende creature / she co nseyued e þorghȝ speche. & þorghȝ g race of þe holy goost / she wex grete w it h childe. W it h -outy n wem in -to þis world / a kaue k[n]aue child she broghte. & þ at my tale be trewe / y take god to witnesse. & sytthe þis barn was bore / ys twenti twenti [wynter] y -passed. F.14.137: F fails in alliteration, substituting ys for Bx's ben. The b-verse in all other manuscripts reads "ben thirti wynter passed." Wiche dyede / & deeþ þolede / þis day abowty n mydday. & þ at is cause of þis clyps / þ at closeþ now so þe su nne. In menynge þ at man shal / fram derknesse be drawe. Þe wiche lyght / & leem / lucyfer shal bleenden. For pat riarkis & p roph etis / have p rechid here -of often. Þ at a ma n sholde / man save / þorghȝ a maidenys helpe. & þ at was tynt þorghȝ a tree / a tree sholde it wynne. & þ at dethȝ dou n broghte / dethȝ sholde releve. / [¶] Al þis þ ou tellyst q uod trewthe / is but a tale of walter -hod. F.14.146: Bx reads waltrot, "a foolish or idle tale." W. W. Skeat, The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman in Three Parallel Texts . . . (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1886), 2.254, notes its similarities to troteuale, a rare word appearing in Robert Manning of Brunne's Handling Synne, meaning either "vain talk, idle tale-telling, foolishness" or "a deceit, trick, delusion." The forms to be listed in the MED are trotivale, trotovale, trutevale, tretefale, and tretevale. F has characteristically attempted to make sense of a term unfamiliar to him. We are grateful to Professor Douglas Moffat of the MED for providing the forms and definitions. For Adam & Eve / & habraham & oþere. Pat riarkis & p roph etis / þat in peyne lyggen / Be -leeve þ ou neuer e þ at ȝoone lyght . shal hem on lofte bry nge. Ne have hem out of hell e / holde styll e m ercy þy n tu nge. It yt y[s] but trewfelis þ at þ ou tellyst / trewþe whot þe soþe. For he þ at oones is in hell e / owt komeþ he nevere. Ioob þe p roph ete & pat riark / rep reviþ þy n sawis. Qvia i n inferno nulla est redempcio. Þanne Mercy ful myȝldely / mowthede þese woordis. Þorghȝ experiense q uod he F.14.156: A variant form of heo, "she," he appears also in Cr 1R. / y hope y shal be savid. For venyȝm for -dooþ venyȝm / & þ at y p reue be resou n. For of all e venymys / fowlest is þe skorpiou n. For þ ere may no medycine helpe / þe place þ ere styngiþ [he] styngiþ. Tyl he be deed & do þerto / þe evil þa n he distroyeþ. Of þe fyrste veny m / þorgh vertue of hy m -selue. So shal þis deeþ doo / y dar my lyf legge. Al þ at deeþ dide first / þorghȝ þe devely devely[s] te mptyng & ryght as þorghȝ gyle / man was by -gyled. So shal g race þ at he gan / maken a good sleyghte. Ars ut artem falleret. Now suffre we q uod trewthe / y see as me þy nkyþ. Owt of þe nyppe of þe northȝ / nowht ful feer hennys. Ryghtwisnesse com rennynge / reeste we þe whyl e. For she whoot mor e þa n wee / she was er we boþe. / [¶] Þ at is soþ seid e m ercy / & y see heer e by sowthe. Wher e Pees comeþ pleyenge / in pacience y -cloþid. Love haþ coueytyd hir e longe / leve y no n oþir. But he sent hir e su m lettr e / what þis lyȝt be -meenyþ. Þ at ou er -hoveþ hell e þus / he F.14.175: Alpha's he in this line and in 14.178-80 is consonant with Langland's dialect. Beta witnesses read she. shal vs all e tell e. Whan Pees in pacience clothid / ap rochede he m tweyne. Ryȝtwysnesse hir e reu errensid e / for hir e ryche cloþis. & p rayede Pees to tell e hir e / to what place F.14.178: An otiose curl appears over <p>. he wolde. & in hir e gaye garneme ntis . whom to greete he þowhte. / [¶] My will e is q uod he / to weende / & wolkome he m all e. Þ at many a day myght not see / for m erknesse of sy nne. As Adam & Eve / & manye moo in hell e. & Moyses & oþer e moo / mercy shull e þey have. F.14.183: F omits the following line from Bx: "And I shal daunce þerto do þow so suster." For Iesus haþ Iusted weel / Ioye by -gy nneþ dawe. F.14.184: F omits the following line from Bx: " Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia." Love þ at is my n le mman / swiche lettris me sente. Þ at Mercy & y  Mankende sholde saven F.14.186: In contrast to alpha, beta manuscripts preserve my suster after Mercy. & how þ at god haþ for -gyve / & g rauntyd me pes & m ercy. To been ma nnys mey np ernour / for eu ere -mor e after. Loo heer e F.14.189: The second <e> is malformed and could be taken to be an <o>. þe pate nte q uod pees / In pace in idip sum. & þ at deede shal eu ere dure / dormiam & requiescam. What raviste þ ou q uod ryghtwisnesse / or art þ ou y -dru nke. Beleevist þ ou þ at ȝoone lyght / vnlowke myghte hell e. & save ma nnys sowle . syster wene þ ou it neuere. For at þe fyrste by -gy nnynge / god gaf doome hy m -selue. Þ at Adam & Eve / & all e þ at hem sewede. Sholden dyȝen dou n -ryght / & dwell e in peyne aft er If þ at þey towchid a tre / & of þe frut eetyn. And adam afterward e / a -ȝens his defense. He freet of þ at frut / & for -sook goddis forboode. F.14.199: F's b-verse is unique. Bx's b-verse reads "and forsook as it were." & þe love our e [of] oure lord / & his loore boþe /. & folwede þ at þe fend hy m tolde / & hise feerys will e. F.14.201: Alpha omitted the following line from Bx: "Ayeins Reson and ( or I) rightwisnesse recorde þus wiþ truþe." Þ at here peyne be p erpetuel / & no p rayer e may he m helpe. For -þy  let hem chewe as þey chose / & chyde we not syst er. For it ys boteles bale / þe bittes þat þey eety n. I shal p raye q uod pees / her e peyne mote have an ende. & woo / in -to wele / mote wenden at þe laste. For þey hadd e wisten of no woo / hadde þey no weele knowe. For no wyght whot what wele is / þ at neu ere woo suffrede. Ne what is hoot hu ng ir / þ at hadde neu ere defawhte / For if no nyght neere / no man as y beleve. Shulde weten witt erly / what day is to meene. Shulde neuere ryght ryche man / þ at lyve lyve[þ] in reste & ese. Wety n what woo is / ne were þe deeþ of kende. So god þ at by -gan al / of hys goode will e. By -cam man of a mayde / ma nkyȝnde to save. & he suffred e to be sold / & seen F.14.216: seen, "to see." Note that alpha had omitted the to preceding it. Seen is the scribe's usual form of the infinitive. þe sorwe of dyȝeng. Þe wyche vnknytteþ all e car e / & co msynge is of reste. For tyl Modicu m mette w it h vs / y may it weel a -vowe. Whot no whyght as y weene / what it is to meene. For -þy god of his goodnesse / þe firste goome Adam. He sette hy m in solace / & in a souerey nn Ioyȝe. & sytthe he suffred hy m synnen / sorwe to feele. To wete what wele ys / & kendely to knowe it. & aft er god awnterid hy m -selue / & took adam -is kynde. To wete what he suffrede / in þre sundry places. Boþe in hevene & in erthe / & now to hell e he þy nkyþ. To wete what al woo ys / þ at woot of all e Ioyȝe. / [¶] So it shal fare by þis folk / here foly & her e synne. Shal lerne hem what langour e ys / þer e þ at pees regneþ. F.14.229: F by eye-skip made one line of two. Bx reads as follows: Shal lere hem what langour is and lisse wiþouten ende Woot no wight what werre is þer þat pees regneþ. & what ys witterly weele / wellawey shal hy m techen. Þan was þer e a wyght / w it h tweyn broode eyȝes. Book hyghte þ at bewpere / a boold ma n of speche. By godd is bodi q uod þis book /. y will e beere witnesse. Þ at þo þis barn was y -bore / þere blasede a sterre. Þ at all e þe me n in þis world / in oo witt a -corden Þ at swich a barn was y -born / in bedleem cyte Þ at ma nnys sowle sholde save / & sori synne distroyȝe. & all e þe eleme nns q uod þe book / here -of / beriþ F.14.238: Kane and Donaldson take the virgule before beriþ to represent <i>. witnesse. Þ at he is god þ at all e wroghte / þe walkene F.14.239: The late fifteenth- or early sixteenth-century scribe who provided the marginal glosses is responsible for underlining walkene. first he schewede. F.14.239: The late fifteenth- or early sixteenth-century scribe wrote heven or elemen in the right margin. The end of the third word is cropped. & þo þ at weryn in heuene / tooken Stella comata & tendid hir e as a torche / to reu erense his burthe. & þ at lyght folwid our e lord / in -to þe lowe erthe. Þe wat er witnessiþ þ at he was god / for he wente on it. Sey nt Peet er þe apostle / a -parceyuede his gate. & whan he seyȝ on þe wat er / he knew hy m wel & seid e. Iube me venire ad te sup er aquas. & loo how þe su nne gan looke / hir e lyght in hire -selue. Whan she seyȝ hy m suffre / þ at su nne & moone F.14.248: Moone is the alpha reading. Beta witnesses agree with C in reading see. made. Þe erthe for evynesse / þ at he wolde suffre. Qwakede as a qwik þy ng / & al by -qwache þe rooche. Loo  hell e myghte not F.14.251: An otiose curl appears above <n>. hy m holde / but openede þo c rist þoledd e. & leety n out symond es sones / to seen hy m hange on roode. & now shal lucifer leese it / þey hy m looþ þynke. F.14.253: Alpha omitted the following lines from Bx: For gigas þe geaunt wiþ a gyn engyned To breke and to bete adoun þat ben ayeins Iesus. & y book F.14.254: The flourish on terminal <k> is possibly here intended to represent a virgule? will e be brend / but Iesus ryse to lyve. In al þe myghtys of a ma n / & his moodir glade. & co nforte all e his kyn / & out of car e hem brynge. & all e þe Iewene Ioyȝe / to Ioyneen & to lowke. F.14.257: F has reversed the sense of the original. Bx reads "And al þe Iewene Ioye vnioynen and vnlouken." & but if þey reu erence / his roode / & his ressurexiou n. & by -leve on a newe lawe / þey been loost lyf & soule. / [¶] Suffre seyde trewthe / y heere & see boþe. A spiryȝt spekeþ to hell e / & bydd is vnspere þe ȝatis. Tollite portas a voyȝs in þ at lyght / to lucyfer c rieþ. F.14.262: Alpha had combined two lines into one. Beta witnesses read: Attollite portas A vois loude in þat light to lucifer crieþ. Ȝee p rinces of þis place / vnpy nneþ & vn -lowkeeþ. For heer e comeþ w it h crowne / þe kyng þ at is of glorie. Þan seyde s[ike]de sathan soone / & seyde þus to helle Swich a lyght aȝens our e leve / lazar it fette. Care & co mbrau nnce / ys come n to vs all e. If þis kyng come In / ma nkende will e he fecche. & leede hem þer e lazar ys / & lyghtly me byȝnden. Pat riarkis & p roph etis / þan p arlyd here -of longe. Þ at swich a lord & a lyght / shal leede hem fra m þese woones. F.14.271: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "sholde lede hem alle hennes." Listneþ q uod lucifer / for y þis lord knowe. Boþe þe lord & þe lyght / it is longe a -goo y knewe he m. May no deeþ þis loord der e / ne no deuelys qweyntise. & wher e he will e . ys his weyȝe / but war hy m of þe p ereyl. If he reve me of my ryght / & robbe me by maystrie. For be ryȝt & resou n / þe renkys þ at been heere. Body & sowle þey ben myne / boþe goode & yll e. For hy m -selue seyde so / þ at syre þ at is of hevene. Þ at if Adam eet þe Appil F.14.280: An otiose curl appears above the first <p>. / ap ertly he shulde dyȝe. & dwelly n heer e w it h vs / þis þreteny nge he made. & he þ at soþnesse is / seyȝde to hy m þese wordis. Sytthe y was sesed / þis seuene hu ndred wynter. I leve þ at lawe wil nowht / leete hy m þe leeste. Þ at is sooþ seyde sathan / but y soor e drede. For þ ou gete hem w it h gyle / & his gardy nn F.14.286: An otiose curl appears over <g>. breke. & in semblau nd of a serpent / þ ou seete on þe appiltre. & eggiddist hem / to eete / Eve by hym -selue hi[re] -selue . & toldist hir e a tale / of tresou n / were þe woordis. & also / þ ou haddist hem owt / & hidir at þe laste. It is nowht g rayþly geete / þere gyle is þe roote. For god will e nowht gyled bee / q uod gobelyn ne be Iapid. We have no n t rewe tytle to hem / þorgh resou n [t]resoun wer e þey da mpned. Sertys y drede me q uod þe deuyl / leest t rewþe will e hem fecche. Þis .xxx. ti wynt er as y weene / he wente a -bowte & p rechid. I have a -sayed hym w it h sy nne / & su mme y have hy m asked. Wher he wer e god / or goddis sone / he ȝaf me schort answer e. & þus he haþ trollyd forþ / þis two & .xxx. ti wynt er & whan y seyȝ it was so / slepynge y wente To warne Pilatis wif / what was w it h c rist to doone. For þe Iewes hated hy m / & have doon hy m to deþe. & y wolde have lengþid his lyf / for y leve if he dyede. Þ at his soule wolde not suffr e / no synne in his syghte. For þe body þ at a -bove F.14.304: F's revision of this line arises from misreading Bx's on bones as a-boue. Bx reads "For þe body while it on bones yede . . . ." ȝeede / a -bowten was euere. To saven me n fram synne / If he m -selue wolde. & now y see wher e a sowle / comeþ hidirward e seyly ng W it h gl oria & gret lyght / y knowe c rist is his name. I reede / we fleen q uod he  faste all e hennys. For we were bettre her e not be / þan byden in his syghte. For þy lesyngis lucifeer / loost is al our e t rauayle. Fyrst / we fylle þorghȝ þe / fram heuy nne so heyȝe. For we belevedyn þy n lesyngis / we loopen out all e. These verses are attested only in alpha, beta having lost them by eye-skip. & now for þy n laste lesynge / y -loor e have we Adam. & al our e lordche lordche[pe] y leeve / on londe & on wat er. Nu nc p rinceps hui us mu ndi  eiciet ur foras. Eft þe lyght bad vn -lowke / & lucifer answerede. What Lord art þ ou q uod Lucifer  quis est iste. Þe Lyght seyde Rex eterne / þe lord of all e man ere v ertues. This passage in F is unique. Alpha had a different reading from the beta witnesses which read: Rex glorie þe light soone seide And lord of myght and of man and alle man(er)e v(er)tues . Dominus virtutum Dukes of þis dymme place anoon vndo þise yates. R makes two lines of the passage: Rex glorie þe liȝte seide  þe lord of miȝt and of man and alle maner vertues Dominus virtutum . Duk of þis dym place anone vndo þis ȝates. F rejects R's line division and abbreviates the passage, omitting " Dominus virtutum ." Þ ou dewk of þis dym place / a -noon vndo þese ȝatys. Þ at c rist may come In / þe kyngis sone of hevene. & w it h þ at breeþ hell e brast / & belyallis barrys. For ony weey or warde / wyȝde openeden þe ȝatis. Pat riarkis & p roph etis / And populus in tenebris. Su ngen sey nt Ioh an -is song / ecce agnus dei. Þan Lvcifer F.14.325: The <v> appears to have been written over some other character, perhaps a <c> or <e>. looke ne myghte / so lyght hy m a -blente. & þo þ at our e lord lovede / in -to his lyght he lawhte. & seyde to sathan loo  heer e my n sowle to a -me ndys. For all e synful sowlis / to saven hem fram peyȝne. F.14.328: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "to saue þo þat ben worþi." Myȝne þey been & of me / y may þe bet hem cleyme Al -þowhȝ resou n recorde / & ryght of my n -selue. If þey þ at eety n þe appil / all e sholde dyȝen. I be -hyghte hem not heer e / hell e for euere. For þe dede þ at þey dyden / þy n disseyȝt it made. W it h gyle þ ou hem gete / a -gey n all e resou n For in my n paleys of p aradyȝs / in p ersone as an addre. Falsly þ ou fettyst þer e / þyng þ at y lovede. Þ ou lyknest þe to a lyzard / w it h a ladies visage. & þefly þ ou me robbedist / þe olde lawe grawnteþ. Þ at gylour es been by -gyled / & þ at is good resou n. Dentem pro dente . & oculu m F.14.340: The <u> is ill-formed, probably corrected after the scribe had initially written <a>. Kane-Donaldson's transcription of it as <a> is possibly correct. p ro oculo. Ergo  sowle shal sowle qwite / & sy nne to sy nne wende & al þ at ma n haþ mys -doon / y may it wel a -me nde. Me mbre for me mbr e / be þe olde lawe was a -me ndis. & lyf for lyf also  & be þ at lawe y cleyme. Adam & all e his Issew / at my wel craftere [wille herafter]. & þ at deeþ in he m / for -dede / my deeþ shal releve. & boþe qwyt qwy[k] & q uit / þ at þ ou qwenchist w it h synne. & þ at grace . distroyeþ [gyle] distroyeþ / good feyþ it askeþ. Be -leve it neu ere lucyfer / þ at y a -gey n þe lawe fecche he m. But be ryght & resou n / y rau nsou n her e my leeges. Non veni soluere legem at que p roph ecias F.14.351: The phrase atque prophecias appears only in F. sed ad -i mplere. Þ ou fettyst my nne / in my n place / a -gey n ryght & resou n. Falsly & felou nly / good feyþ me it tawhte. To recouer e hem þorghȝ rau nsou n / & be no resou n ell is. So þ at w it h gyle þ ou geete / w it h grace it was y -wonne. & þey lucifeer in lyknesse / of a lythir adder. F.14.356: The scribe initially wrote arder and corrected the <r> to <d>. Geety n by gyle / þyng F.14.357: The scribe arguably intended the usually meaningless flourish after <g> to indicate a virgule here, as it does in F14.372 below. þ at god lovede / & y in lyknesse of a leede / & lord am y of hevene. Graciously gyle haþ þe qwit / goo gyle a -gey n gyle. & as Adam & all e men / þorghȝ a tree dyȝede. So Adam & all e þorgh a tre / shull e t urne to lyve. & gyle is be -gyled / & in his gyle fallen. Et cecidit in foueam qua m fecit. Now by -gy nneþ þy gyle a -gey n [/] a -geyn þy gyle to turne. & my n g race to growe / euer e gretter e & gretter e. & þe bitt ernesse / þ ou hast browe / now browke it þy -selue. Þ at art doctour of deeþ / drynk of þ at þ ou madist. For y þ at am lord of lyf / love is my n drynke. & for þ at drynk to -day / y dyȝede vpon erthe. I fawht so / me þurstis ȝyt / for ma nnys soul e F.14.370: The abbreviation is ambiguous, and the genitive <is> attested in C 2 and Cr 3 is possibly intended. sake. F.14.370: F omits the following line from Bx: "May no drynke me moiste ne my þurst slake." Tyl þe vengau nce F.14.371: Vengaunce falle (or possibly vengaunse falle, since the <c> is malformed and could have been intended to be <s>) is written over an erasure. The substitution perhaps reflects the scribe's failure to understand Bx's vendage. Such confusion may have caused (or been caused by) omission of the preceding line. falle / in þe vale of Iosephat Þ at y dry nke rype must / ressurrecc io mortuor um & þan shal y come as a kyng / crowned w it h ang elis. & have now out of hell e / all e my n me nnys sowlys. Feendis & feendekynes / be -for e me schull e stoonde & been at my n byddy nge / wher e -so -eu ere me lykeþ. But not so m erciable to man / my keende may not aske. For we been breþery n of blood / & in bapteme all e. But all e ben my n hoole breþery n / in blood & i n bapteme Shal not be da mpned to þe deeþ / þ at is w it h -outy n ende. F.14.380: F omits the following line from Bx: " Tibi soli peccaui &c ." It is nowht vsed in erthe / to hangen a felou n Ofter e þan oones / þey he wer e a tretour. & if þe kyng of þ at kyngdom / ceme in þ at tyȝme. Þere þe felou n þole / scholde / deeþ / or oþ ir -wyse. Lawe wolde / he ȝeve hy m lyf / & he lookede on hym & y am kyng of kynges / & shal come swich a tyȝme. & þeyr e deedis deme to þe deþ / & da mpne all e wikked e. & if lawe will e y looke on he m / it lyȝthȝ in my n g race. Wheyþ ir þey deyȝen or deyȝen nowht / for þ at þey dyden ill e. Be it ony þy ng a -bowten / þe boldnesse of her e synnys. I may don m ercy manyfold / w it h -outy n ryghtwisnesse. F.14.391: Bx reads "I may do mercy þoruȝ rightwisnesse and alle my wordes trewe." Presumably F's stark contrast of mercy to righteousness reacts against what he saw as the Pelagian implications of Bx. See F's treatment of mercy earlier at 13.297ff. & þey holy writ wolde be wrooke / of he m þ at dyden ylle. Nullu m malu m i npunitu m. Þey shull e ben clensed cleerly / & waschen of her e sy nnes. In my n p risone p urgatorie / tyl parce y seende. & my n mercy shal be schewed / to manye of my n breþery n For blood may suffre his blood / boþe on -hu ngred & a -kale. But blood may not seen his blood / bleede but hy m rewe. Audiuit archana v erba que no n lic et ho mini loqui. But Ryghtwyȝsnesse & ryght / shal rewle al hell e. & Mercy al man -kende / befor e me in hevene. For y wer e an on -kyȝnde kyng / but y my n kyn holpe. & namely at swich a neede / þer e needis helpe by -houyþ. Non i ntres in iudiciu m cu m seruo tuo d omine / [¶] Þus be lawe q uod our e lord / ledyn fram hennes y will e. Þo þ at y lovede & þei me / F.14.406: The virgule was partially erased, and a following graph, possibly an ampersand, was completely scraped out. be -leveden on my n comy nge. F.14.406: An otiose curl appears over the <g>. & for þy n lesyngis lusyfeer / þ at þ ou lowe to Eve. Þ ou shalt a -byȝe bitt erly / & ano n he bond hy m w it h cheynes. & astarot & all e þe rowte / hydden hem sone in hernes. Þey durste not looke on our e lord / þe boldest of he m alle. Þan ledde w it h hy m what hy m lykede / & leefte what hy m lyste. & Manye hu ndred of ang elis / harpeden F.14.412: An otiose mark appears above the <p>. & su ngen. Culpat caro / p urgat caro / regnat d eus d ei caro. Þa nne pypede pees / of poysyȝe a noote. Clarior e st solito / post maxi ma neb ula pheb us. Post inimicitias clarior est & amor. / [¶] After scharpest schoures q uod pees / moost schene is þe su nne. Þer is no whedir warmer e / þa n aft er watry clowdes. Ne no love lever e / ne leuerere to freendys. Þan aft er werre & woo / whan love & pees ben oned. Was neu ere werre in þis world / ne wikkidnesse so kene. Þat love & hy m lyste / to lawynge he browhte. & pees þorghȝ patience / all e p ereylis he stoppeþ. Trews q uod trewthe þo  þ ou tellyst vs sooþ of Iesus. Clyppe we in þis co nnau nt / & ecch of vs kysse oþer. Ȝee lete no peple q uod pees / p erceyve þ at we chyden. For inpossible is no þyng / to hy m þ at al is myghty [is al -myghty] . Þ ou seist soþ q uod ryȝtwisnesse / & reuere ntly F.14.428: An otiose curl appears above the <t>, perhaps intended as a flourish on <l>. he m kyssed e F.14.428: F omits the following line from Bx: "Pees and pees here per secula seculorum ." Misericordia & veritas  obuiaueru nt sibi. F.14.429: F omits this sentence from Bx: " iusticia & pax osculate sunt." Þa nne trewþe tru mped e þo / & treblide te deu m laudam us. & love lawhte of hym / in a luddere noote. Ecce quam bonu m  & qua m iocu ndu m. Tyl þe day dawede / þese damyselis carolden. Þ at me n ru ngen to þe ressurecciou n / & ryght þ erw it h y waked. I callid kytte my wif / & calote my n dowhter. A -ryseþ & goo reuerensiþ / þe ressurecciou n at kyrke. F.14.436: F's b-verse is unique, though since R is defective, we cannot be certain that the reading is not owed to alpha. Other B witnesses read "goddes resurexion." & crepiþ on knees to þe cros / & kysse it for a Iewel. For c ristis blessid body / bar it for our e boote. & it a -feeryþ þe feend / for swich is þe strengþe. Þ at þ ere may no g risly goost / glyde þer e it schadweþ. Explicit Passus .xiiij us. Incipit Passus .xv us. A Non F.15.1: The ornamental capital has a base of blue with red and green flourishes. The guide letter for the rubricator is still visible. y wakned e & þa n y wroot / what þ at y dremede. & dyght me deerly / & dide me to kyrke. To heeren holyly / þe messe / & to be huslyd aft er. & myddis of þe messe / me n wenty n to offre. & y fel on sleepe / & sodey nly y dre mpte. Þ at pers þe plowhman / cam peyntyd a a[l] reede. & browhte w it h hy m a cros / by -for e þe comou n peple. & ryȝt F.15.8: An otiose curl appears above <t>. lyȝk in all e lymes / to our e loord hy m -selue. A -no n y clepid e co nscyence / to kenne me þe soþ. Wheyþ ir he wer e Iesu þe Iustier e / þ at þe Iewis dyden to deþe. Er ys he peers plowhma n / þ at is pey ntyd so reede. Q uod conscience & knelede dou n / þese are c ristis F.15.12: F's reading is unique in the B tradition. All other manuscripts have Piers. R is absent. armes. Hise coloures of his cote armeur e / he comeþ / fram þe Iustis. F.15.13: F's b-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts have "ac he þat comeþ so blody." He ys c rist w it h his cros / he haþ co nqwere conqwere[d] all e c ristene sowlis. Why calle ȝee hy m c rist q uod he F.15.15: F uniquely reads he. Other B manuscripts have I.  sytthe Iewes named hy m Iesus. & pat riarkis & p roph etis / þey p rofecyden by -fore. Þ at all e kenne creatures / sholde knely n & bowen. A -no n as me n ne mpned / þe name / of þ at Ientyl Iesu. For In no mi ne Iesu  om ne genu flectitur celestia t errest ria / & i nfernor um. F.15.19: This line appears uniquely in F. Kane and Donaldson call attention to its similarity to F15.83. Note that the scribe at F15.82 adds first as an apparent reference back to this line. Ergo þ ere is no name / to þe name of Iesus. Ne no n name so needful / to ne mpne / by nyghtis ne be dayes. For all e þe derke deuelis / are a -dred to heeren y -ne mpned. & synful soul is ben solaced / & savid be þ at name. Why calle ȝee hy m þanne c rist / what cause ȝee me tell e. For c rist is moor e of myght / & of mor e worthier e name. Þan Iesu er Iesus / þ at al our e Ioyȝe of spryngeþ. Knowest þ ou weel q uod conscience / & þ ou kone good resou n. Þ at a knyght . & a kyng . & co nquerour / may ben al on p ersone. To ben clepd a knyght is fayr / for me n shull e knele til hy m. To ben callid a kyng is fair ere / for a kyng mai knyghtis make. For to ben co nquerour calid / þ at comeþ of godd is special g race. & of hardynesse of herte / & also of hendenesse. To maken lordis & ladijs / in londys þ at þey wynne. & free me n / fowle þrall e / þ at folwe not hise lawes. For þe Iewis þ at weren Ientyl -me n / Iesu þey dyspised e. Boþe his loor e / & his lawe / & now be þey lowe cherlis. As wyȝd as þis world ys / whonen þer e noone. But vndir t ribut / & tallyage / as tykes & cherlys. & þo þ at by -come c ristene / by co nseyl of bapteme. Arn Frankeleynes & free me n / þorghȝ fully ng þ at þei take. & Ientil -me n w it h Iesu / for Iesu was y -fullid. Vpon Caluerye / on þe cros / & korouned kyng of Iewis. It be -comeþ wel to a kyng / to kepen his lond & to defende it. & co nquerour of his co nquest /. hyse lordis to ȝeve he m large. & so dyde Iesus to þe Iewis / he Iusted F.15.45: F uniquely reads Iusted. Other B manuscripts have Iustified. The same variants appear in C. & tawhte hem. Þe lawe of lyf / þat lasten shal eu ere mor e. & fendid fram he m fowle evelis / boþe fyu eres . & eek fluxis. & feendis þ at in hem was / & eek fals by -leve. Þo was he Iesu of Iewis callyd / & þe Ientil p roph ete. & kyng of kyngdo mm F.15.50: F failed to mark the caesura. & crowne he bar of þornes. & þo co nquerid he on þe cros / a co nquerour noble. Myghte no deeþ hy m for -do / ne noþy ng dou n bry nge. Þ at he a -roos & regned e / & ravischede hell e. & þo was he co nquerour cald / of qwike & of dede. For he ȝaf Adam & Eve / & oþere moo blysse. Þ at longe hadde leyn by -fore / as lucyferis chirlys. & þa nne took he lotthly lucifer / þ at loord was of hell e. These lines are attested only in F. R is absent here, and the lines may not with any security be attributed to alpha. & bond his as his bondema n F.15.58: F is the only B witness at this point. Cx reads "And bond him as he is bounde ...." / w it h bondis of yrene. Who was hardier e þan he / þ at his herte blood he shedde. To maken all e folk free / þ at folwen hise lawes. & sytthen he ȝeveþ largely / all e hise leele lygis. Places in p aradis / at here dep artynge hennes. He may wel be cald a co nquerour / & þ at is c rist to meene. But þe cause þ at he comeþ þus / w it h his cros of his passiou n. Is to wissen vs þ ere -w it h / whan we been y -te mptyd. Þer -w it h / to fyghte & defende vs / fro fally ng in -to synne. & to seen be his sorwe / þ at who -so loveþ Ioyȝe. To penau nce & to pou erte / he muste pytty n hy m -selue. & mychel woo / in þis world / wylnen & suffren. But to carpe mor e of c rist / & how he ca m to þ at name. Faythly F.15.71: Faythly is written over an erasure. / for to speke / his fyrste name was Iesus. Þoo he was boor e in bedleem / as . bookys boldly telly n. & ca m to take ma nkynde / boþe kyngys & ang elis. Reuerensed hy m ryght fayr e / w it h rycchesse of erthe. Ang elis out of heuene / come knelynge & su ngen. G loria in excelcis deo. Kyngis kemen after / & kneled to hy m & offreden. Ensens / & myrre . & F.15.78: An otiose curl is written over the <&>. myche gold / w it h F.15.78: The substitution of with for Bx's wiþouten in this theological context is typical of F. See also a similar revision at 13.297 and 13.304. myche m ercy asked. Er of ony kenne Catel e / þey knowlechid hy m . her e sou ereyn. Boþe of su nne . of sond . & see / & sythis hoom þey wenty n. In -to her e kyngene kyþ / be kenny nge of an angel. & þerw it h was þe woord / ful -fyld / þe wiche first þ ou speke O mnia celestia / t errest ria flectant ur i n h oc no mi ne Iesu. For all e þe ang elis of hevene / at his berthe þey kneliden. & al þe witt in þis world / was þoo in þre þynges. F.15.85: F alone reads þynges. All other B witnesses have kynges. R is absent for this passus. Resou n . & Ryghtwisnesse / & rewþe / þey offreden. Where -for e / & why  wyse men þ at tyme. Boþe Maist ris & me n y -leerned e / Magy hem nameden. Þe ton kyng cam w it h resou n / y -kou ered vndir ensense. Þe toþ ir kyng sytthe / sooþly he offrede. Ryghtwyȝsnesse vndir reed gold / þ at lasten shal eu ere. F.15.91: F omits the b-verse and following a-verse, making one line of two. Bx reads as follows: Rightwisnesse vnder reed gold Resones felawe Gold is likned to leautee þat laste shal euere. For it shal turne tresou n F.15.92: F's a-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts have "And resoun to ryche gold." / to ryght F.15.92: The scribe perhaps intended the flourish after <t> to serve as a virgule. & to trewthe. Þe þrydde kyng þo cam / & knelid to Iesu lowe. & p resented hy m w it h pite / a -peerynge be Mirre. For M irre is m ercy to meene / & myȝlde speche of tu nge. Erthely onest þyng / was offred þus . at oones a toones Þorghȝ þre kenne kyngys / knelyng to Iesu For þese p recious p resentis / our e lord p rince Iesus. Was neyþ ir kyng ne co nquerour / tyl he gan to wexe. In þe man ere of a man / & þ at þorghȝ myche sleyghte. As it be -comeþ a co nquerour / to knowe manye sleyghtes. & manye wyȝlis / & witt / þ at will e ben a leeder e. & so dide Iesu in hise dayes / who hadd e tyme to tell e. Su m -tyȝme he suffrede / & su m -tyme he hedde hy m -selve. & su m -tyme he fawht faste / & he fleyȝ oyþ er whyle. & su m -tyȝme he gaf good / & grau nted heele boþe. & also lyȝf & leme / as he luste he wroghte. As keende is of a co nquerour / so cu msede Iesu Tyl he hadde all e hem / þ at he fore bledde. In his Iuvente þis Iesus / at Iewene feeste he t urnede. Water in -to wyȝn / as holy wryt telleþ. & þere by -gan god / of his grace Dowel. For wyȝn y lykne to þe lawe / or lyf of holinesse. & lawe lakked þo / for me n lovede not her e enemyȝs. But c rist co nseyleþ þus vs / & comau ndeþ vs boþe. To lerede & to lewed e / for to love our e enemyȝs. So at þe feest first / as y be -fore tolde. By -gan god of his g race / & of his goodnesse to Dowel & þo was he clepid & cald / not oonly c rist but Iesu. A fantekyn ful of wit / filius Marie. & byfor e hys moodir Marie / made he þ at wondir. Þ at she first & formest / scholde ferme þe beleve. Þ at he þorghȝ grace was begete / & of no goome ell is. He wroghte þat / be no wit / but þorghȝ woord oone. Aft er þe kende þ at he co m of / þer e co msed he Dowel. & whan he was waxe moor e / in his moodir p resense. F.15.126: F alone reads presense. All other B witnesses have absence or absent (HmY). R is absent for this passus. He made lame to leepe / & he ȝaf lyȝht to blynde. & he fedd e w it h twey n fyschis / & w it h fyve loves. Folk soor e an -hu ng rid / moor e þan fyve þowsand e Þus he co nfortyd þe car eful / & kawhte a gret name. Þe wyche was dobet / where þat he wente. For deve þorghȝ his doynge / & du mbe speke & herde. & all e he helede & halp / þ at hy m of g race askede. & þo was he callid in cowrt / of þe comou n peple. For þe dedys þ at he dede / Iesu fyly dauyd . For dauid was þe dowhtyeste / of dedis in his tyme. Þerfor e me n su ngen F.15.137: The a-verse is written over an erasure. . Saul i nt erfecit mille  & d auid dece m milia. F.15.137: The scribe wrote a small <o> over the final <a>. For -þy þe cu ntre þer e Iesu cam / þey callid hy m. F.15.138: The line is truncated, the rubricator having failed to supply fili dauid , attested in beta manuscripts. & named hy m of nazarethȝ / & no ma n so worthy. To ben kayser or kyng / of þe kyngdom of Iuda. Ne ou er Iewis Iustise / as Iesus was hem thowte. Þerfor e hadde kayphas F.15.142: Beta manuscripts transpose to kayphas hadde. F's agreement with Cx suggests that alpha better reflects Bx than beta witnesses. envyȝe / & oþ ire kony nge Iewis. For to doon hy m to deþe / day & nyght þey kastyn. & kulled hy m on þe cros / on Caluerye on a fryday. & aft er beried þey his body / & beden þ at me n sholde. Kepen it . fram nyght -comeris / w it h knyghtys y -armed. For no freend sholde it fecche / for p roph etis befor en tolde. Þ at c ristis blessid body / of berielis shulde vp ryse. & goon in -to Galile / & gladien hise apostlys. & his modir Marie / þus me n by -forehond demede. Þan þe knyghtis þ at kepty n it / be -knewen he m -selue. Þ at ang elis & Archang elis / er þe day gan sp ringe. Comen knely nge to þ at corps / & konyngly su nge. F's b-verse, with konyngly supplying an alliterating stave, is unique. Beta witnesses have the metrically anomolous reading "Come knelynge to þe corps and songen," followed by the tag line Christus resurgens . Lacking the evidence of R at this point, we cannot be certain that F's konyngly is not the alpha reading and thus probably original. However, in view of the agreement in 153b of Cx with beta and of 154 with F, F's konyngly is probably an intelligent conjectural emendation, while his 154 perhaps reflects Bx. Cristus resurge ns a mortuis / & a -noon he roos after. Verry man by -for e hem all e / & forþ be -for e he m wente. Þe Iewis p rayede hem of pees / all e þo p ropr e knyghtis. F.15.156: F's b-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts have "and bisouȝte þe knyghtes." C has preide in place of beta's bisouȝte. R is absent at this point. & telly n þe comou n / þ at þer e keme / a cu mpany of hise postlis. & by -wichyd hem þ at þer e wooke / & awey stole þe body. But sone Marie Magdeleyn / mette hy m in þe weye. Goynge toward e Galyle / boþe in godhede & in ma nhede. & lyvynge & lookynge / & w it h lowhde voyȝs he Though it perhaps reflects the immediate scribe's miscomprehension, he here and in the following line is possibly a relict form of heo, "she." R is absent here, but the beta reading in F15.162 is she. c riȝede. In eu ery cu mpanye þ ere he cam / Cristus resurgens. Þus cam it owt / þ at c rist ou er -cam / & recurede & levede. F.15.163: R is absent for this passus, so it is impossible to tell whether the loss of two lines here occurred in alpha or F alone, though since it occurs at the transition between recto and verso, the latter is perhaps slightly more likely. Beta witnesses read: Sic oportet Christum pati & intrare &c. For þat wommen witeþ may noȝt wel be counseille. Peter p arceyvede al þis / & p ursewed e after & eek Iemes & Ioh an / Iesu for to seken. & Thadeus & ten mo / w it h Thomas of ynde. & as all e þese wise weyȝes / weren to -gydres. In an hows al by -schet / & her e dor e y -barred. Cryst cam In & al closed / boþe dores & ȝatis. & a -p ertly to hise a -postlys / he seid e pax vobis F.15.170: The scribe has scraped out an error—the phrase þese wordis is decipherable with ultra-violet—and supplied the Latin tag pax vobis in the right margin. He neglected to supply the rubrication within the text. He took Thomas by þe hond / & tawhte hy m to grope. & felen w it h hise fyng ris / his fleschly herte. Þan Thomas towchid it / & w it h his tu nge he seyde. D ominus meus & deus meus . & dou n he fel to g rownde. F.15.174: F alone supplies an English b-verse. Since R is absent, we cannot determine whether the addition is F's or whether it had appeared in alpha. Þ ou art my n lord y be -leve / & greet love þ ou schewist. F.15.175: F's b-verse is unique. Other B manuscripts have "god lord Iesu." Þ ou dyedist & þoledyst deeþ / & deme þ ou shalt vs all e. & now þ ou lyvist & lokist / & laste þ ou shalt eu ere. Cryst carpede þa nne / & curteysly he seyde. Thomas for þ ou trowist þis / & trewly it belevist. Blessid mote þ ou be / & be shalt for eu ere. & blessid mote þey been / in body & in sowle. Þ at neu ere shull e see me in syght / as þ ou doost nowþe. & leelly be -leven al þis / y love he m & blesse hem Beati qui non videru nt  & credideru nt. & whan þis dede was doon / Dobest he took sone F.15.185: F's b-verse is unique. Beta manuscripts have "do best he tauȝte," though C has thouhte. & ȝaf Peers power / & p ardou n to graunte. To all e man ere of me n / mercy & for -ȝevenesse. & power to a -soyle he m / of all e maner e of synnes. In co nnau nt þ at þey come / & knowleche to payȝe To peers plowhman p ardoner ./ Redde q uod debes. Þus Peers plowhman / for his p ardou n p rayede. F.15.191: F makes feeble sense. Bx reads "Þus haþ Piers power be his pardon paied." To byȝnden . & vnbynde / boþe heer e & ellys. & a -soyle me n of her e sy nnys / save of dette oone. Þanne a -no n aft er in hyȝ / vp in -to hevene. He wente & wooneþ þer e / & wil come at þe laste. & rewarde hy m ryght wel / þ at rat . redde q uod debes. F.15.196: F's b-verse is unique. Beta and most C manuscripts have "þat reddit quod debet ." & peyȝeth p arfyȝtly / as pur e trewthe wolde. & what p ersone peyȝeþ not / pers þy nkeþ hy m to pu nche. F.15.198: The ink has filled the lobe of the <c> or <s>, and either form is possible, for both forms appear in this manuscript. & demen hem at domes -day / eyþ ir to deþ / or lyve. F.15.199: F's b-verse is unique. Beta and most C manuscripts have "boþe quyke and dede." & þe goode to þe godhede gon / in -to þe greete Ioyȝe. & þe wikkede to wonye / in woo / w it h -outy n ende. Þus þe consciense of c rist / & of þe cros he carpede. & co nseylide me to knele þerto / & þan cam me þowhte. Oon Sp iritus paraclitus / to peers & hise felawes. In lyghtnesse of a lyȝghtny nge / & lyȝghte on he m all e. F.15.205: F omits through eye-skip on hem alle the following lines attested by beta family manuscripts: And made hem konne and knowe alle kynne langages I wondred what þat was and waggede Conscience And was afered of þe light for in fires liknesse Spiritus paraclitus ouerspradde hem alle. Q uod co nsciense & knelede / þis is c ristis messager. & comeþ fram þe grete god / g race is hys name. Knele now q uod co nsciense / & if þ ou canst synge. Wolkome hy m & worchepe hy m / with F.15.209: The rubricator failed to supply veni creator spiritus , attested in beta manuscripts. Since he left a space for that text, it is likely to have been in his exemplar. In the absence of R we cannot be similarly confident that this was the case for the two following lines, attested by beta witnesses, also missing here: Thanne song I þat song and so dide manye hundred And criden wiþ Conscience help vs god of grace. veni creator spiritus & by -gan grace / to go w it h peers plowhman. & co nseiled hy m & co nscience / þe comeune to sumne. For y will e to -day / doon dyviden grace. To all e kenne creatures / þ at kan hise fyve wittis. A tresor to leve by / to here lyves ende. & a wepne to fyghte w it h / þ at will e neu ere fayle. For Antec rist & hyse / al þe world shal greve. & a -cu mbre þe Conscience / but if c rist þe helpe. For false p roph etis / & fele flatererys & gloserys. Shull e comen & ben curatour es / ou er kyngis & knyghtis. & þa n shal pryȝde ben pope / & p rince of holy chirche. Coueytise & vnkendenesse / shul ben / cardinal is hy m to lede. For -þy q uod g race er y goo / y will e gyve ȝow tresor. & a wepne to fyghte w it h / whan antec rist ȝow asayleþ & gaf ech man grace / to gyȝe w it h hy m -selue. Þ at ydelnesse a -cu mbre hy m nowht / ne envyȝe ne p riȝde. D iuisiones graciar um sunt. Su mme he ȝaf wit / & woordes to schewe. & wit to wynne here lyfloode / as þe lond askeþ. As p rechoures & preestis / & prentyȝs of þe lawe. Þey leelly to lyven / be labour of her e tu nge. & by her e witt to wissen oþer e / as g race wolde he m teche. & su mme he kennede craft / & kony nge of syghte. W it h selly nge & beggynge / here lyfloode to wynne. & su mme he lerned e to labour e / on londe & on watre. F alone attests these lines, beta having omitted them through eye-skip on labour. R is defective here, lacking the entire passus. & lyve by þ at labour / a leel lyf & trewe. & su mme he tawhte to tylie / to diche & to þresche. To wynne w it h her e lyfloode / by loore of his techy ng & su mme to dyuyne & dyvyde / nu mbris to knowe. & su mme to cu mpasse c raftyly / & coloures to make. & su mme to see / & to seyȝe / what sholde be -fall e. Boþe of wele & of woo / to tell e it er it felle. As Ast rononyens Astrono[m]yens of astronomye / & philosofer is wyȝsdom. & su mme to rekne / & rekewre F.15.243: As Richard Beadle notes, spellings like this or recure when the word means "regain, repossess" are very narrowly East Anglian. "The Medieval Drama of East Anglia: Studies in Dialect, Documentary Records and Stagecraft," (unpublished D. Phil. thesis, University of York, 1977), 66. / þ at vnryghtfully was wonne. F.15.243: F omits the following line attested by beta family manuscripts: "He wissed hem wynne it ayein þoruȝ wightnesse of handes." & fecchen it fram false me n / w it h folvyles lawe & su mme he leernede to lyve / in longynge to ben hennys. As in pou erte & in pacience / to preyȝe for all e c ristene. & all e lernede to ben leele F.15.247: The scribe may have intended to cancel the final <e>, for a mark very like the virgule in the preceding line appears through it. The scribe wrote both forms in apparent free variation. / & ech craft to love oþer. & for -bad hem / Debate / þ at noon were a -mo ng hem. Þey su mme ben clenner e þa n su mme / ȝee see wel q uod g race. Þ at he þ at vseþ fayr c raft / to þe foulest y cowde a pyt hym. & he þ at is ȝour e althir drevel / myghte mayster ben holden. These four lines occur only in F. With R absent, it is not possible to determine whether they originated in alpha. If g race wolde haue g rantyd hy m / but þynk þ ou wel þ erafter. If he leede weel his lyf / his Ioyȝe shal encresen. And al þ at he swynkeþ harde heer e / to blysse it shal hy m t urne. Þynkeþ all e now q uod grace / þ at grace comeþ of my n gifte. & looke no n ne lakke oþ ir / but loveþ all e as bretheryn. & who þ at moost mast ries can / be myȝldest of berynge. & crowneþ Conscience kyng / & makeþ craft ȝour e styward. & aft er Craftes co nseyl e / ȝee clothe ȝow / & feede. For y make Pers plowhman / my n p rocour & my n reve. & registrer to receyve / Redde q uod debes. My procour & my n plowhman / peers shal ben on erthe. & for to tylye F.15.263: The scribe initially wrote tylee before correcting <e> to <y>. trewly / a teeme / shal he have. Þan g race gaf peers a teem / fowre greete oxen. Þe firste was Lewk F.15.265: The flourish may be intended to serve as a virgule here. a large beeste / & a ful lowh cheere. & Mark / & Mathewh / þe þrydde / myghty beestis boþe. He Ioynede to hem oon Ioh an / moost Ientyl of hem all e. & prysest of peersys plowhȝ / & passynge all e oþere. & ȝit grace of his goodnesse / gaf peers four e stottys. Al þ at hise Oxen ereden / þey to harwe it after. Þe firste hyȝhte Austyȝn / & Ambrose is a -noþir e. & Gregorie þe greete clerk / & Ieroom þe fowrthe. & þese fowre þe feyþ techen / & folwen peersys teeme. & harwen in hand - wlyle w[h]yle / Al holy sc ripture. W it h tweye hayȝtes F.15.275: F alone reads hayȝtes, possibly a form of the nonce-word (at least in Middle English) aiþes, "harrows," < OE egeþe, egþe, for which beta has the more common term harewes. R is defective here, lacking the entire passus. þ at þey hadden / þe olde lawe & þe newe. Id est vetus testamentu m & nouu m testame ntu m. F.15.276: F alone repeats testamentum. & grace gaf Peers greynes / kardynalys vertues & he sew it in ma nnys sowle / & sitthe he tolde her e names. / [¶] Sp iritus prudencie / þe fyrste seed hette. Þ at who eetyþ of þ at frut / ymagene he sholde. Er he dyde ony dede / dyvyse he sholde þe ende. & leerned hy m a ladil to bygge / w it h a long steele. For he caste to keepe a crokke / & keepe þe fatte a -bove. Þe secunde seed þ at he sew / was sp iritus te mp erancie. He þ at eetiþ of þ at seed / he shal have swich a kyȝnde. Sholde neu ere meete ne myschef / maken hy m to swell e. Ne sholde no skorner e / out of skyll e hy m brynge. Ne wynny nge ne welthe / of no wordly rycchesse. Ne wast woord of ydelnesse / ne wikkid speches meve. & also sholde no n koryows clooþ / come n on hys regge. Ne no n meete in his mowthȝ / þ at Mayst er Ioh an it spyede spy[c]ede / [¶] Þe þrydde seed þ at peers sew / was sp iritus fortitudinis. & who -so eet of þ at seed / hardy he was euere. To suffr e al þ at god sente / seeknessis & angrys. Þer myghte no lesyngys of lyȝer e / ne los of wordly catel. Maken hy m for ony m urnynge / þ at he was [n]as m eryȝe in sowle. & boold / & abydynge / bysmeerys to suffr e / & he pleted eu ere w it h pacience / and p arce m ichi d omine. & he coueryth hy m vndir co nseyl / of Catou n þe wyse. Esto forti animo . cu m sis da mpnat us iniq ue. Þe ferthe seed þ at Peers sew / was sp iritus Iusticie. & he þ at eet of þ at seed / sholde be euere trewe. & of god nowht a -gast / but of gyle oone. For gyle gooþ so p riuyly / þ at good feythȝ oþ irwhyle. May not ben a -spyed / for sp iritus Iusticie. Spirit us Iusticie / spareþ nowht to spylle. Hem þ at ben gylty / & for to corecte . F.15.307: The scribe has added the terminal punctus in red ink, suggesting that when terminal punctuation is missing it is more likely to be oversight than intention. Þey me n falle a -gey n þe kyng F.15.308: F's a-verse is unique. Beta witnesses have "The kyng if he falle." Bx is corrupt. / in gelte or in trespas. He coueyȝteþ no keene wratthe F.15.309: Bx reads "For counteþ he no kynges wraþe." F has changed the sense of this entire passage, though the failure of alliteration suggests that beta too has problems. R is absent at this point. / whan he i n court syttiþ. To demen ryght as a domesma n / adrad is he neu ere. Neyþ ir of dewk ne of deeþ / if he doo þe lawe. For p resent or for p rayere / er for ony p rinces lettris. He dede qwite [e]qwite to alle me n / euene -forþ his power. Þese four e seedis peers sew / & sytthe he dyde he m harwe. W it h þe olde lawe & þe newe lawe / þ at love myghte wexe. A -mo ng þese four e v ertues / & vycys to distroyȝe. & comou nly grow et h in cu ntres / kammokys & weedis Þey fowle þe frut in feeldis / þer e þey g rowen to -gydr es. Ryght so dooþ vices / worthy fayre vertues. Q uod Peers harw et h all e þ at knowen witt / be co nseyl of þ is docto ur. & tylyeþ aft er her e techynge / þese Cardynal e vertues. / [¶] A -geyn þe tyme F.15.322: F alone reads tyme. All other B witnesses have greynes, and that is preceded in most beta manuscripts by þi instead of F's þe. R is absent for this passus. q uod grace / þ at þy frut gy nneþ rype. Peers ordeyne þe an hows / to herborwe in þy n cornes. By goddis g race q uod Peers / ȝee moote gyve me tymbir. & ordeyne & caste þ at hows / er ȝee hens wenden. & grace gaf hym þe cros / & þe crowne of þornys. Þ at c rist vpon Caluerye / for mankeende kawhte. & of his bapteme & of þe blood / þ at he bledde on roode. He made a maner morteer / m ercy it hyȝghte. & þerw it h g race by -gan / to make a good fowndeme nt. & he pey ntyde þe wallis / w it h þe wou ndis of his passiou n. & of al holy writ / he wroghte þe roof aft er. & callyd þ at hows vnyte / holy chirche on englyschȝ. / [¶] & whan þis dede was doon / g race dyvisede. A Carte þ at hette c ristendom / to carie hoom schevis. & gaf peers caplis to his carte / contricion and confession F.15.336: The scribe neglected to supply Bx's "contricion and confession." & he made preesthod heyward / þe while hy m -selue we nte As wyȝde as þe world is / w it h peers to tylye t rewthe. & þe loore of by -leeve / & þe lawe of holy chirche. F.15.339: This line is attested only in F. R is defective here, lacking the entire passus. Now is peers to þe plowhȝ / & p riȝde it a -spyede. & he gadreþ hy m a gret ost / greven hy m he þy nkiþ. / [¶] & Conscience & c ristendom / & cardynal e vertues. Blewe hem dou n & breeken he m / & beety n dou n her e man eres. & senty n forþ surq uidoures / were s ergawntys of armes. & his spyȝes spill e love / & speke evyl by -hyȝnde. Þese two keme n to co nscien s e / & to c ristene peple. & tolden he m tydyngys / þ at þey wolde stroye þo seedys. Þ at peers plowhman seew / all e þe cardinal v ertues. & Peersis door e worþ y -broke / & þey þ at been i n vnyte. Shul come to vs co nscience / & ȝour e two caples. Boþe Co nfessiou n & co nt riciou n / & þe carte of beleve. Shal be colour ed so qwey ntely / & cou ered vndir sofistr e Þ at Consciense ne cont riciou n / shal not ben knowe. Ne be co nfessiou n / who is c ristene or heþene. Ne no marchawnt / þ at w it h monee deleþ Wheyþ ir he wynneþ w it h ryght / or w it h wro ng / or w it h vsure. W it h swiche coloures y -pey ntid / comeþ comeþ [pryde] y -armed. W it h þe loord þ at lyveþ aft er þe lustys of his herte. F.15.358: F alone reads lustys and herte. Beta witnesses have lust and body. R is absent for this passus. To waaste & wel faren / & wikkednesse he meyntiþ. F.15.359: Beta reads "To wasten on welfare and in wikked kepyng." Al þe world in a while / þorghȝ our e wit . q uod p riȝde. Q uod co nscience to c ristene þo / y co nseyle þe to wende. Hastely . to vnyte / & wee shull e holde vs heere. & p raye we / þ at pees wer e / in Persys beerne plowhma n [þe] Plowhman. For witt erly y woot wel / we ben not of strengþe. To goon a -gey n p riȝde / but grace were w it h vs. & þan cam keende wit / co nscience to teche. & cryede & comandide / all e c ristene peple. For to delue & dyke depe / all e abowte vnyte. Þ at holy chirch stoode strong / as it a pyȝl were. Consciece Conscie[n]ce comau ndid e þo / all e c ristene to delue. & maken a mychil moot / þ at myghte been of strengþe. To helpyn holy chirche / & hem þ at it keepiþ. Þa nne all e kenne c ristene / save comou n wo mmen. Repentyd & refused synne / save þey aloone. & false me n & flateris / & vsereris & þevis. Lyeris / & qwest -mo ngeris / þ at ben for -swor e ofte. Wytynge & wilful / & w it h þe false helde. & for syluer ben for -swor e F.15.378: An otiose curl appears above the <s>. / & soþly knowe þe co nt rarie. F.15.378: F alone reads "knowe þe contrarie." Beta witnesses have "þei wiste it." R is absent for this passus. Þer was no c ristene creature / þ at keende wit hadde. Save shrewis oonly / & swiche y spak of to -forehond. Þ at he ne halp a qwantite / holynesse make to wexe. Su mme þorghȝ beedis byddynge / & þorghȝ pilg rimage. Su mme þorghȝ pens dely ng / & su mme þorghȝ p riue penau nces. & þanne walmede water / for wykkede werkys. Ful eg rily ernynge / owt of mennys eyȝes. Clennesse of þe comou n / & clerkys cleene lyvynge. Made Vnite in holychirche / holylyche stoonde. I care nowht q uod co nscience / þey keme [pryde] keme nowthe. & þe lord of lust shal be lettyd / al þis lentene y t rowe. Comeþ w it h me q uod co nscience / ȝee c ristene & dyghneþ. Þ at han laboured lelly / al þis lentene tyȝme. Heer e is breed y -blessed / & godd is body þ ere -Inne. Þan Grace þorghȝ godd is word / gaf pers his power. & myght for to maken yt / & me n to eete it after. In helpe of her e heele / ones in a twelfmoneþ. F.15.395: The F redactor's substitution of "twelfmoneþ" for Bx's "Monþe" perhaps reflects some sense of excess. Eamon Duffy, The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England, 1400-1580 (New Haven: Yale U P, 1992), notes that "frequent communion was the prerogative of the few. Lady Margaret Beaufort received only monthly, and even so was considered something of a prodigy. For most people receiving communion was an annual event ..." (93). Er as ofte as þey hadde neede / þo þ at hadde payed. To peers plowhma nn -ys p ardou n / redde q uod debes. Ow  q uod all e þe comou n / þ ou comandist vs to ȝeldyn. Al þ at we owen ony wyght / er þ at we come to husly ng. Þ at is my n co nseyl / q uod co nscience / & cardynal e vertues. Or ony for -ȝeve oþir / & þat will e the pater noster. F.15.401: The line up to wille is written over an erasure. Et dimite nobis debita nostra. & so to been a -soyled / & setthen to been y -huslyd. / [¶] Ȝee  baw wawh  q uod a Brewere / y will e not so be rewlyd. Ne Iustefied be Iesu so  for al ȝour e Ianglynge her e. F.15.405: F's line is unique. Bx has the following unmetrical line: "By Iesu for al youre Ianglynge with Spiritus Iusticie ." Ne after þe Conscience / but y can wel sell e. Boþe dreggis & draf / & drawe out an oon hole tappe. Boþe þykke ale & þenne / þ at is my n craft cleene. & nowht hakke aft er holynesse / now hold co nsciense þy n tu nge. Of Spiritus Iusticie  / þ ou spyllyst ydel speche. ACaytyf q uod Conscience / þ ou art a cursyd wrecche. Vn -blessid art þ ou brewer e / but if god þe helpe. & but þ ou lyve be þe loor e / of sp iritus Iusticie . Þe cheef seed þ at Peers sew / savid worþ þ ou neuer e. & but co nscionce consci[e]nce be þy n comou n foode / & cardynal e vertues. Leve me wel þ ou art loost / boþe lyf & sowle. / [¶] Þan is many a ma n loost / q uod a lewed vykery. I am a curatour e of holy chirche / & cam neu ere in my tyme. Ma n þ at cowde me tell e / of Cardynal e vertues. Þ at euer e a -cowntyd co nscience / oon cokkys fedre. I knewh neu ere Cardynal / þ at cam fram þe Pope. F.15.421: F's b-verse is unique. Beta and C witnesses have "þat he ne cam fro þe pope." For we vyker es wan þey kome / for her e como nys paye & for her e palfreis mete F.15.423: F's a-verse is unique. Beta and C witnesses have "For hir pelure and palfreyes mete." / & for pyloures þ at he m folw et h. & þe comewnys clamant cotidie / ech man tyl oþir. Þ at þe cuntre is þe cursedere / þer e Cardynal is come n Inne. & þere þ at þey lyggy n moost F.15.426: F's omission of "and lenge" following "lyggyn" led to his misplacing the caesura marker. The a-verse in Bx reads "And þer þei ligge and lenge." R is absent at this point. / leccheryȝe þere reygneþ. Þerfor e q uod þ at vikery / by verry god y wolde. Þ at neu ere Cardynal keeme / a -mong þe comou n peple. But been at hoom in her e holynesse / & þer e holde he m still e. At Avyou n a -mong Iewis / cu m s anc to s anc tus eris. Or in Rome as here rewle woole / þe relykys keepen. & þ ou conscience in kyngis cowrt / & come þens sholdist þ ou neu ere. & grace þ at þ ou gredist so of / sholde be gyȝere of all e clerkis. & also peers plowman / w it h his newe plowh & þe olde. Sholde be Emp erour e ou er al þe world / & all e me n weren c ristene. For Inp arfyȝt is þe pope / þ at al þe peple shulde helpe. For he sendiþ hem / þ at sleeþ swiche / as he sholde save. But weel worþ peers plowma n / þ at purseweþ god in dede. Qvi pluit sup er iustos / & in -iustos bothe at ones atones. For he sent þe su nne to shyȝne / on F.15.440: F alone has "shyȝne on." All other B witnesses have saue. R is absent for the entire passus. a cursed ma nne tylthe. & as bryght as to þe beeste ma n / or to þe beeste wo mman. Ryght so peers plowhma n / peyneþ hy m to tylye. F.15.442: F omits the following lines attested by beta family manuscripts: As wel for a wastour and wenches of þe stewes As for hymself and hise seruauntz saue he is first yserued. The presence of the following line in Cx suggests that a third line was lost through eye-skip from Bx: "So blessed be Piers þe Plowman þat peyneþ hym to tilye." & t rauayleþ & toyleþ / for a tretour as soore. As for a trewe tyȝdy man / all e tymes in lyke. & worchepeþ hy m / þ at wroghte al / boþe good & wikke. & he suffreþ þo þ at synful ben / tyl tyme þ at þey r epente. Grete god a -me nde þe pope / þ at pylyeþ so holy chirche. & cleymeþ by -for e þe kyng / to be keper e ou er c ristene. & a -cownteþ not þei c ristene / be kyllyd & robbid. & fyndis folk to fyȝte / & c ristene blood to spill e. A -gey n þe olde lawe & þe newe / as lewk beriþ witness e. F.15.451: The scribe's intention is clear, but the <n>, if it is indeed present, is written over a <t>. Non occides . // It erum . Michi vindictam & ego r et ribuam. F.15.452: F uniquely has Iterum and the completion of the quotation after vindictam. It seemeþ by so / hy m -selue / hadde his owne will e. He ne rowhte ryght nowht / how þe remnau nt fareþ. But c rist of custesyȝe cu[r]tesyȝe F.15.455: The second character is malformed, and we have read it variously as a single lobed <a>, as <o>, and as <u>. It is not likely to be <a>, for the scribe never elsewhere writes a single-lobed <a> after <c> and before <st>. Bx reads curteisie. / þo Cardynalis save. & t urne her e witt / to wisdom / & her e welþe to sowle helpe. For þe comeunes of F.15.457: F's of is unique. Beta and C witnesses have quod. þis curatour / a -cownten but lytyl. F.15.457: An otiose curl appears above the <t> in lytyl. Þe conseyl of Conscience / of Cardynal e vertues. But if þey sowne as to syghte / su mwhat to wynny ng is. Ne of Gyle ne gabbynge / gyve þey neu ere tale. For Sp iritus p rudencie / a -mong þe peple is gyle. F.15.461: The scribe appears in this instance to have left the line blank after For and to have then written the black ink conclusion of the line after he had rubrished Spiritus p rudencie , a practice more common toward the end of the manuscript than at the beginning when he tended to leave spaces for the rubricated letters, as indeed he does on the following leaf. Note there that Spiritus intellectuS has extra space, while in the following line Spiritus Fortitudinis is crowded. & alle þo fayr e F.15.462: An otiose curl appears above <fa> in fayre. vertues / as vices þey semen. For eu erey man sotyleþ a sleyȝte / synne to hyȝde. & coloureþ it for konynge / & a klene lyuynge. Þan lowrede þere a lord / & by þis lyght he tolde. I holde it ryght & resou n / of my n reve to take. Al þ at my n Auditour haþ herd / or ell is my n styward. & co nseyleþ me / be here a -cowntes / & by my n clerkis wryty ng. Þ at Þat [wiþ] Sp iritus intellectus F.15.469: The <ct> is indistinguishable from <tt>. / þey tooken þe revis roll es. & w it h Sp iritus Fortitudinis / þey fecchid hym to p resou n. F.15.470: F's b-verse is unique. Beta witnesses have "fecche it I wole." & þan kam þer e a kyng / & be his crowne he seyde. I am kyng w it h krowne / þe comou nes to rewle. & holy kyrke & Clergye / fram þe cursede defende. & if y lakke / to lyve by / by lawe wil y take it. Þer e y may hastlyer e have it / for y am heed of lawe. For ȝee been but me mbris / & y am a -bove ȝou alle. & sytthe y am ȝour e alther heed / y am ȝour e althir hele. & holy chirche cheef helpe / & cheuy ntyn of þe como nis. & what y take of ȝow / me to / y take it at þe techynge. Of Sp iritus Iusticie / for y Iugge ȝow alle. & so y may boldely be hoseled / for y borwe neuere. Ne crave of my nn comou nys / but as my n kende askeþ. In co ndiciou n q uod co nscience / þ at þ ou kunne he m defende. & rewle þy rewme in resou n / in ryght & in trewþe. Þ at þ ou þy n lykyng F.15.485: The word lykyng is written over an erasure. F alone reads alliterating þyn lykyng where beta and C witnesses have in reson. have / as þe lawes asken. Omnia su nt tua ad defendendu m . s ed no n ad dep rehendu m. Þe vyker e hadde fer hoome / & fair e he took his leve. & y a -wakned þ ere -w it h / & y wroot as y mette. Explicit Passus .xv us. This folio marker does not represent a leaf boundary at this point, but it is included to make it possible to display the facsimile image from this passus file. Incipit Passus .xvi us. A Nd F.16.1: The ornamental capital is blue, red, and green with red flourishes in the bottom quarter of the left margin. The guide <a> is still visible toward the top of the ornamental capital. wan y was wakned / y wente forþ aloone. F.16.1: F's line is unique. Beta witnesses have "Thanne as I wente by þe wey whan I was thus awaked." R is absent at this point. Syȝghenge & evy cheryd / & elenge in herte. For y ne wiste wher e to ete / ne at what place. & it neyhed neer noon / & þan w it h neede y mette. & he afruntid me fowle / & faytour me callidd e. & seyd e coudist þ ou nout excuse þe / as þe ky ng & oþ ire. Þ at þ ou tooke to lyve by / but cloþis & sustynau nce. & þ at was by techyng & telly ng / of F.16.8: The line is unfinished, the rubricator having failed to write spiritus temperancie , attested in beta manuscripts. & þ at þ ou nome no moore / þan y neede þe tawhte. For neede haþ no lawe / ne neu ere shal fall e in dette. For þre þy ngys / þ at he takþ / his lyf for to save. Þ at is meet whan me n hy m wernethȝ / & he no moone weldiþ. Ne whyȝht þ at will e ben his borghȝ / ne no wed haþ to legge. & if he caste F.16.14: Cx reads cacche, while beta family witnesses have cauȝte. R is absent here. in þ at caas / & come þ erto be sleyghte. He synneþ nowht soþly / þ at so wynneþ his foode. & þey he come so / to a clooþ / & can no bettr e chewsau nce. Neede a -no n nymeþ hym / vndir meene -pryse. & if he lyste for to lapen / þe lawe of kende wolde. Þ at he dru nke at eu ery dyȝch / er he for þrust dyȝede. So neede at gret neede / may nyme as for his owne. W it h -owty n of [conseil] of Co nscience / er of Cardynal e vertues. So þ at he sawe F.16.22: F's spelling sawe for souen, "to sew," is unique among B manuscripts. If not simple error, it perhaps reflects the northern East Anglian provenance of F-Redactor. Beta witnesses have sewe. & save / Sp iritus te mp erancie. For þer is no vertewe by -fore / Sp iritus te mp erancie. Neyþir Iusticie F.16.24: F alone omits Spiritus before Iusticie . / ne Sp iritus fortitudinis. But Sp iritus Fortitudi nis / forfeetythȝ ful often. For he dooþ mor e þan mesure / manye tymes & ofte. & beetyþ me n ou er bitt erly / & su mme bodijs to lytel. & he greveþ me n ofte gretter e / þa n good feyþ it wolde. And Sp iritus Iusticie / schal Iugge hy m / will e he  nyll e he  Aft er þe kyngis co nseyl / þe comou n & he a -sente. And Sp iritus p rudencie . / in manye poy ntis shal fayle. Of þ at he weneþ wolde falle / if his wit ne were. For weny ng is no wisdom / ne no n wise ymagynaciou n. Homo p roponit  & de us disponit . and gou erneþ alle. Alpha's and beta's line division differ here. Beta reads as follows: Homo proponit & deus disponit and gouerneþ alle goode vertues Ac nede is next hym for anoon he mekeþ. To goode vertues neede is next hy m / for a -no n he mekeþ. & as lowh as a loomb / for lakkynge þ at hy m needyþ. / [¶] For neede makþ fele [nede] fele / for needys lowhȝ of herte. F.16.37: This line is attested only in alpha. Philosophres F.16.38: Alpha and C have Philosophres. Beta witnesses have Wise men, reflecting a different sense of the alliterative pattern. for -soke welthe / for þey wolde ben nedy. & wonedyn wol elengely / & wolde neu ere ben ryche. & god / all e his greete Ioye / of gostly he lefte. & ca m & took ma nkynde / & by -cam heer e al needy. He was so needy as seyþ þe book / in many su ndry places. Þ at he seyde in his sorwe / on þe selue roode. Boþe foox & fowl / may flee to hoole & creepe. & þe fychȝ haþ fyn / to fleete w it h or F.16.45: Alpha is responsible for or, which is lacking in beta and C. to reeste. Þer e neede haþ y -nome me F.16.46: The scribe mistakenly started a virgule and then used that stroke as the first in <m>. / þ at y mote neede a -byȝde. & suffr e sorwis ful sowre / þ at shull e to Ioyȝe t urne. For -þy be þ ou nowht abascht / to bowe & to be needy. Sytthe F.16.49: An otiose curl appears above the <S>. he þ at wroghte al þe world / was wilfully needy. Ne neuer e noon so needy / ne noon porere F.16.50: A pale punctus, perhaps scraped, appears after porere, suggesting that the scribe prematurely ended the line and changed his mind. dyȝede. Whan neede hadde nome me þ us / a -noon y fel on slepe. & mette ful mervilously / þ at in a ma nnys forme. Antec rist cam þa nne / & all e þe croppis of trewthe. Anon he turnede vp -so -dou n / & vp -tild þe roote. & made fals sp ringe & sprede / & schende F.16.55: F's schende is unique. Bx has spede. me nnys ned ys F.16.55: The curl following <d> is ambiguous, and we have resolved to Bx's plural form, but the scribe may have intended singular nede. In eu ery cu ntr e þer e he cam / he kytte awey trewþe. & gart gyle growe þer e / as he a god were. Freeris folwid e þ at fend / for he fond hem coopis. & fele relygious reu erensed hy m / & ru nge agey n hy m bell es. & al þe Couent cam holly / to wolkome þ at tyrau nt. & all e hise . as wel as hy m / save oonly foolys. Whiche were gladdere to dyȝe / þan to gon on lyve. F.16.62: F's reading is unique. Beta has "Whiche foolis were wel leuere to deye." F alone omits foolis. Alpha and C have gladdere for beta's leuere. Alpha and G omit beta's and C's wel. & langoured so w it h lewte / & weren sor e rebewkyd. Of a fals feend antec rist / þ at ou er all e folk reyghned e. & þ at wee F.16.65: Alpha is responsible for wee. Beta witnesses have were. myȝlde holy me n / þ at no myschef dredd e. Defyden all e falsnesse / & þe folk þ at it vsede. & what kyng þ at hy m co nfortyd e / knowy nge hy m F.16.67: F's hym is unique. Bx has hem. gyle. Þey cursed e he m & her e co nseyl / wher e he clerk or oþ ir. Antec rist hadd e sone / hu ndred es at his baner. & P ride bar yt bare F.16.70: F's "bar yt bare" is unique. Bx and C have "it bar." / booldely a -bowte. W it h a loord þ at lyveþ / w it h lykynge of body. Þan cam conscience / þ at keper e was & gyour. Ouer kende c ristene / & Cardynal e vertues I conseyle q uod Conscience þo / comeþ w it h me ȝe folis. In -to vnyte of holy chirche / & holde we vs þere. & c riȝe we to keene kyng F.16.76: F's keene kyng is unique. Bx has kynde. / he come & defende vs. Foolys / fram þe feendis lemes / for Peersis love & c riȝe we on all e þe comou ne / þ at þey comen to vnyte. & þer e a -byden & abyker e a -gey n / belyall es children. Kende co nsciense herde þo / & cam owt of þe planetis. & sente a -for e hise foreoures / boþe feveris & fluxes. & kowhes & Cardiaclis / crampis & toth -achis. Rewhmes / & radegu nd es / & reynowse skall es. & beelis & bocchis / & brenny nge hagews. F.16.84: A reverse spelling for agues. & frenesis & fowle evelis / all e wer en Forayneris F.16.85: F's Forayneris is unique. Beta has forageres. of kende. Þey hadde pyked & prayed / pollis of þe peple. Largely / a legiou n / losten here lyȝf soone. Þere was harow / & help / how þere cam keende. W it h deeþ þ at is dredful / to vndoon hem alle. Þe lord þ at lyvede aft er lust / þo lowde he cryȝede. After F.16.91: Alpha is responsible for the omission of Confort. a komely F.16.91: F's komely is unique. knyght / to come n & ber e his baner. A - larme . a -l arme / q uod þ at loord / ech man keep his owne. Þa nne me nttyn mettyn þese men / er me nstralis myghte pipe. & er herawd es of armes / hadd e disc riued lordys. Þan Elde þe horel F.16.95: The substitution of horel, "fornicator," for hoore occurred in alpha. / he hild þe vawnwarde. & bar þe bar þe bar þe baner by -for e deeþ / by ryght he it cleymed e. & keende cam after hym / w it h manye kenne soores. As Pokkis & pestilencis / & myche peple he schente. So keende w it h corupcio nis kyllyd e ful manye. Þan ca m deeþ dryvend e / & all e to dust he daschede he m. F.16.100: F's "he daschede hem" is unique. Beta and C witnesses have "passhed." Boþe kyngis . & knyghtis / & cayseris & popis. Neyþ ir lewede ne lered e / he lefte non stande. Þo þ at he hitte evene / þ at euere he sterede after. Þan many a lovely Lady / for hir e levis sake. F.16.104: F's reading is unique. Other B manuscripts have "and hir lemmans knyȝtes." Swouned e & sweltrid e / for sorwe of dentis de[th]is dyntis. Þa nne Conscience of his curtesie / to kende he be -sowhte. To sese & suffre / & seen wheyþ ir þey wolde. Leven pryȝde p riuyly / & p arfyȝtly lyve as c ristene. & keende sesede sone F.16.109: F's sone is unique. Other B and C witnesses have þo. / to seen þe peple a -me nde. & þa nne gan Fortune flatr e / þo fewe þ at were n on lyve. & by -hyghte hem long lyf / & leccheryȝe hem sente. A -mong all e man ere of me n / weddid & vn -weddid. & gadred a gret hoost / a -no n a -gey n consciense. Þis Leccheryȝe leyde oon / w it h lawhynge cheer e. & w it h p rive speche / & p ropre pey ntyd woordis. & armed hy m in ydelnesse / & in heyȝ berynge. He bar a bowe in his hond / & manye broode arwes. Þ at were fedred w it h fair speche / & fele fals be -hestis. & w it h vntyȝdy F.16.119: Red ink marks are blots from the rubrication on the opposite page. talis / he teenede / ful ofte. Consciense & his cu mpany / of holy kyrke F.16.120: Alpha is responsible for correctly alliterating kyrke, and is joined by Cr in that reading. The remaining beta and all C witnesses have chirche. techeris. Þa nne cam Coue ytyȝse / & caste how he myghte. Ouer -come Co nsciense / & Cardinal e vertues. & he armed hy m in Auerise / & vngryly he lyvede. & his wepnes were whyȝlis F.16.124: A reverse spelling for wiles. / to wynne & to holde. W it h glosyngis & w it h gabbyngis / he gyled e þe peple. & Symonye he sente / to a -soyle F.16.126: FY alone read a-soyle. Bx and Cx have assaille. conscience. & preched e to þe peple / & p relatis þey hem made. To holde w it h antecrist / here te mp oraltes to save. & come to þe kyngis co nseyl / as a keene barou n. & knelid e to co nscience / in court by -for e he m all e. & maden good feythȝ to flee / & fals to a -byȝde. & boldely bar dou n / w it h manye a reed F.16.132: Alpha is responsible for reed. Beta witnesses and C have bright. noble. Myche of þe wit & wyȝsdom / of west -menstr e hall e. He Iusted a -gey n Iustises / & Iangled in his eere. F.16.134: F's reading is unique. Bx has "He Iugged til a Iustice and Iusted in his eere." & ouer -tylte al trewþe / w it h tak þis vp a -me ndeme nt & þa nne in -to F.16.136: F's þanne is unique. Alpha and Hm, as well as a number of C manuscripts, have into where most beta and some C witnesses have to. þe Archis / in haste he wente after. & turnede Cyvile to Symonye / & sytthe he took þe official e. & for a menyver ma ntyl / he made leele mat rimonye. To dep arty n er deeþ cam / & a devoos he schapede. Allas q uod Conscience & c riȝede / wolde c rist of his g race. Þ at Coueytyse wer e c ristene / þ at is so keene to fyghte. & bold / & a -byȝdynge / þe whyle his baggis lasten. & þa nne lowhȝ lyf lyghtly / & leet daggen hise cloþis. & armed hy m in haste / in harlot rie woordis. & he heeld holynesse a Iape / & hendenesse a wastour. He leet lewte a cherl / & lyȝere a freeman. & boþe co nscience & conseyl / he cowntid it but folye. Þus releved e lyf / w it h a lytyl fortune. & p rikede forþ / w it h p ride / & preysy ng of no vertues Ne he careþ nowht þ at kende fleyȝ [slowhȝ] / & shal come at þe laste. & calle F.16.151: Alpha is responsible for calle. Beta and C witnesses have kille. all e erly F.16.151: erly, "earthly." The scribe elsewhere writes erthely (4.201, 15.96), and his usual nominal form is erthe. The spelling erly appears also at 7.413 and 11.190. c reatures / save conscience oone. Lyf seyde occide F.16.152: Alpha is responsible for "seyde occide ." Beta and C witnesses have "lepte aside." / & lawhte hy m a le mman. Heele & y q uod he / & hyȝnesse of herte. Shal do þe nowht dreede / neyþ ir deeþ ne elde. But to for -ȝeete sorwe / & ȝeve nowht of synne. Þis lessou n lykede lyf / & F.16.156: An otiose curl appears over the <&>. his le mman Fortune. & geetyn in her e glorie / a gadely ng at þe laste. On þ at mys -wroghte F.16.158: Beta manuscripts read "Oon þat muche wo wroȝte." Wo had been omitted in alpha, and mys-wroghte is F's attempt to wrest sense from what remained. / slewhte was his name. Slewþe wex wondir ȝeerne / & was soone of age. & weddid e oon wanhope / a wenche of þe styves. Hire syre was a sysour / þ at neuere swoor trewþe. On Thomme þe [two] tonge / a -teynt in eu ery qwestis. Slewþe was waar F.16.163: The scribe originally wrote waas but corrected himself. of þis werre / and a slynge he made. & þrew drede in dispayr / a doseyn F.16.164: The scribe originally wrote deseyn but corrected the error himself. myle a -bowte. For care Conscience þo / cryȝede vpon Elde. & bad fonde to fyghte / & a -feere whanhope. & Elde hente good hope / & hastely he hyȝed F.16.167: F's hyȝed is unique. Most B witnesses have shifte. hym. & weyvid a -wey whanhope / & w it h lyf he fyghteþ. & lyȝf fleyȝ for feere / to fysyȝk aft er helpe. & by -sowhte hy m of sokour / & of his salve he hadde. & gaf hy m gold good F.16.171: An otiose curl appears over the <g>. Compare the flourish over initial <g> in glasene in the following line. whone / þ at gladid his herte. & he gaf hy m a -gey n / a glasene F.16.172: An otiose curl appears over the <g>. The scribe has written his characteristic final flourished <g> rather than his customary word-initial one. howe. Lyf be -leevede þ at lechec raft / letty n sholde elde. & to dryve F.16.174: Alpha is responsible for to dryve. Beta witnesses have dryuen. a -wey deþ / w it h dayes F.16.174: The lection dayes occurred in alpha for dyas. þo [&] dragges. F.16.174: dragges, "drugs." & Elde awnt rid hy m on lyf / & at þe laste hy m hytte. On a Fisisian w it h a furrid hood / þ at he fel in a pallasy. & þere dyȝede þ at doctour / er thre dayes after. Now F.16.178: The scribe has almost certainly erased I, the reading of all other B witnesses. His reasons for doing so are not obvious. see seyde lyf / þ at surgeryȝe ne fysyȝk May not a -vayle a myte / to medle a -gey n Elde. & in hope of his heele / good herte he hente. & rood so to revel e ryght / a ryche myryȝe place. Þe cu mpanye of co nfort / me n clepid it su m -tyȝme. & Elde a -noon after hy m / ouer my n heed wente. & made me ballyd by -for e / & bare . on þe crowne. So harde he ȝeede ouer my n heed / it will e be sene eu ere. Sir e evele y -t awht Elde q uod y  vn -heende goo w it h þe. Sytthe whanne was þe wyde way / ou er me nnys heedis. Haddist þ ou been hende q uod y  þ ou woldist have askid leve. Ȝee  leeue lurdeyn q uod he  & leyde on me w it h age. & hytte me vndir þe eere / þ at vnneþe may y heere. & beet me a -bowte þe mowþ / & buscht out my n wang -teeþ. & he be -gyled e me w it h þe gowte / y may not goo at large. & of þe woo þ at y was Inne / my F.16.193: An otiose curl appears over the <m>. wif hadde rewthe & wischede often witt erly / y hadde ben in hevene. For þe lyme she lovid me for e / þ at leef she was F.16.195: F's revision of Bx's "and leef was to feele" is probably intentional. The omission of to before the infinitive is possibly simple error. feele. On nyghtis namely / wan we nakyd weren. I ne myghte in no manere / make it at hire will e So eelde & þe gowte & she F.16.198: F's a-verse is unique. Beta manuscripts read "So Elde and she sooþly." R's reading is supported by C manuscripts: "So elde and hee," where hee is a relic meaning "she." / hadde yt for -beete. Þus was y set w it h sorwe / y seeyȝ my n stat passede. & deeþ drowh neer me / for drede y gan qwaken. & y c riede to kende / owt of car e me brynge. & seyde loo  Elde þe hoor e / haþ my n lyf F.16.202: Alpha is responsible for "myn lyf." Beta and C witnesses have "me." be -seyȝe. A -wreke me if ȝour e will e be / for wendy n hens y wolde. If þ ou wilt ben y -wroke q uod he / wende vn -to vnyte. & holde þe þer e eu ere / tyl y seende for the. & looke þ ou ku nne su m craft / er þ ou come þe nnis. Conseyle me q uod y þo / what c raft y myȝhte leerne. Leerne to love q uod keende / & leve all eire c raftys. How shal y come to catel so / to cloþe me & feede. & þ ou love leelly / lakke shalt þ ou neuere. Wede F.16.211: An otiose curl is written over the first <e>. ne worldly meete / whilis þy lyf lasteþ. & þer e be conseil e of kende / he F.16.212: Bx has I in place of he. R lacks a subject both here and in line 214, suggesting an error in alpha. F's he may represent an unintelligent revision by either the redactor or the scribe. comsed e to roome. Þorghȝ co nt riciou n & co n fessiou n / tyl y cam to vnyte. & þere he was mad a cu nstable / c ristene to saven. F.16.214: Omission of Conscience had occurred in alpha. F characteristically revises to make sense of what lay before him. Beta witnesses read "And þere was Conscience Conestable cristene to saue." He was by -seged soþly / w it h sevene grete Geau ntis. Þ at w it h antec rist heelden / harde a -gey n co nscience. Þan slewthe w it h his slynge / an hard sawht he made. Prowde preestis keme w it h hy m / passynge an hu ndred. In paltokes & pikede schoos / & pisserys ful longe. F.16.219: F's b-verse is unique. Both Bx/Cx read "and pisseris longe knyues." As Derek Pearsall notes, pissere is attested for "man," and this passage tends to support his further speculation that "it might be a cant term for a long knife" ( Piers Plowman: the C-Text, 370 n. 219). Þey keme n a -gey n Consc ie nce / & w it h co ueytis e þey helden. Be Marye q uod a manschid p rest / was of þe march of Ir elond. I a -cownte no mor e Conscience / be so y cacche syluer. Þan y doo / to dry nke a drawht / of good stale F.16.223: F alone adds stale, having failed to recognize the caesura. ale. & w it h hy m swooren syxty moo / of þe same cu ntre. & gu nne for for [to] scheete faste / þykke scheef oþis. F.16.225: Bx reads here: "And shotten ayein wiþ shot many a sheef of oþes." & broode hokede arwes / w it h godd is herte . & nayles. & hadden al -moost vnyte / & holynesse a -downe. Conscience c riede help to Clergie / or ell is y now fall e. Þorghȝ inp arfyȝt p restys / & p relatis of holy chirche. Freris herden c riȝen / & kemen hy m to helpe. But for þey cowde not wel her e c raft / co nscience for -sook he m. Þa nne neede neyȝhede hem neer / & co nscience he tolde. Þ at þey keme for no coueytyse F.16.233: Erroneous no appeared in alpha. C manuscripts support beta witnesses here in omitting it. / to have cure of sowlys. & for þey þey [are] poor e / & patrymonye hem fayleþ. Þey will e flat ere to fare weel / of folk þ at been ryche. & sytthe þey chosen chele / & chastite & pouert F.16.236: F's b-verse is unique. There is a good bit of variety among beta and C witnesses. LRW have "cheitiftee pouerte." Let hem cheve F.16.237: cheve, "chew." Cf. 14.203. as þey chose / & charge he m w it h no cure. F.16.237: Alpha had omitted the following two lines: For lomere he lyeþ þat liflode moot begge Than he þat laboureþ for liflode and leneþ it beggeris. For F.16.238: Alpha is responsible for For. Beta and C witnesses have And. sytthen Freris for -soke / felycite F.16.238: Alpha is responsible for the omission of þe before felycite, though the reading is shared by G. of erthe. Let hem been as beggerys / or lyve by ang elis foode. Þan Conscience for þis co nseil / comsed F.16.240: Alpha is responsible for the omission of þo before comsed. for to lawhe. & curteysly he comfortyd hem / & callid in all e freris. & seyde syres soþly / wolkome be ȝee all e. To vnyte & to holy chirche / but .o. þyng y ȝow p raye. Holdiþ ȝow w it h vnyte / haþ non envyȝe. To lewed e ne to lerede / but lyveþ after ȝour e rewle. & y will e be ȝour e borghȝ / ȝee shull e have breed & cloþis. &ire necessaries y -nowe / for ȝee shal no þyng lakke. So þ at ȝee leve logyȝk / & leerneþ for to lovye. & þan leefte for love / lond . lordchepe & skole. F.16.249: Bx reads "For loue lafte þei lordshipe boþe lond and scole." Boþe fraunceys & domnyk / for love to ben holy. & if ȝee coueyte kures / kende will e ȝow tellyn. Þ at in mesur e god made / all e man er of þyngys. & sette hem in a s ertey n / & in a sykir nu mbre. & ne mpned hem names / & newe nu mbred F.16.254: Alpha is responsible for this word order. Beta witnesses have "names newe and noumbrede." þe sterris. Qvi numerat m ultitudine m stellar um  & o mnia F.16.255: F's omnia is unique. Bx has omnibus . eis. F.16.255: Alpha is responsible for the omission of nomina vocat after eis . Kyngis & knyghtis . þ at kepen me n to defende hem / Have officeris vndir hem / of ech of hem a serteyn. & if þey wage me n to werre / þey wryte n he m in nu mbre Ellys will e no tresorer take he m wages / t rauayle þey ner so sor e All eire in batayle ben y -holde / but brybouris by -syȝde. As Pilour es & pyȝkharneys / in eu ery parsch a -cursyd. Boþe mu nkes & Monyalis / & all e me n of relygiou n Þer is in here rewle wel F.16.263: Alpha is responsible for a botched a-verse, which F attempted to revise. R reads "heraude here reule wol." Beta and C witnesses have "Hir ordre and hir reule wole." / to have a s ertey nn nu mbre. Of lered e & of lewede / þe lawe wil it aske. A sertey n for s erteyn / save oonly þe frerys. For -þy  q uod Consciense be c rist / kende wit me tellyþ. It is wikke to wage ȝow / ȝee wexen ou er ony F.16.267: F's "ouer ony" is unique. Beta and C manuscripts have "out of." nu mbre. Hevene haþ evene nu mbre / & hell e is owt of s ertey n. F.16.268: F's serteyn is unique. Bx has noumbre. For -þy y wolde wytt yrly / ȝee weren in þ at registre. & ȝowr e nu mbr e vndir notarie signe / neyþ ir mo ne lesse. Þa nne Envie herde þis / & heet freris goon to scole. & leerne logyk & lawe / & leeve Conte mplaciou n. & p reche me n of plato / & preven it be Seneca. Þat all e þyngis vndir heuene / awhte been in comou n. He lyeþ as y leve / þat to þe lewede so p rechen. For god made to me n a lawe / & Moyses hem tawhte. Non concupisces rem p rox imi tui. & evele is þis y -holde / in Innes F.16.278: F's Innes is unique. Alliteration is defective in both Bx and C manuscripts which read parisshes. of Ingelond. For p arsones & p arsche p restis / þ at sholde þe peple shryve Ben curatoures callid e / to knowe & heele. & all e þ at been here p arschenes / penances to en -Ioynen. & been a -schamed / to tell e her e schryfte / & þ erfor e þey wende. & fleen to þe frerys / as fals folk doon to westmenstr e. & borw et h & beryþ it þidir / & þanne he bydd is frendys. Ful F.16.285: The scribe began to write an <a> and overwrote the beginning of its upper lobe with <u>. ȝeerne forȝevenesse / or lengere þey bleve þere. F.16.285: Bx reads "Yerne of forȝifnesse or lenger yeres loone," though the agreement of LR in reading leue (or lene) complicates the matter. It is not clear what F intended by bleve. For bleve, see MED, s. v. bilēven (v.1) 3., "remain, tarry." Bu Bu[t] whill e he is in westme nstre / he will e ben by -for e. & makeþ hym meryȝe / w it h oþer e me nnys goodis. & so it falliþ w it h myche folk / þ at to Freres hem F.16.288: FOW alone have hem. The same variation appears in C manuscripts. schryuethȝ As sysour es & executoures / þey shull e ȝeve þe freris. A p arcel e to p raye for hem / & w it h þe remnau nt make meryȝe. F.16.290: F's b-verse is unique. Bx and Cx fail in alliteration, reading "and make hemself murye." Of þe residue of þe good F.16.291: F's a-verse is unique. Bx reads "Wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt." / þ at oþer e me n by -swonken. & suffr e þe dede in hell e lyȝn F.16.292: F alone reads "in helle lyȝn." Bx has "in dette." / tyl þe day of dome. Þanne Envie herfor e / hatede consciense. & Frerys to philosophie / he fond hem to skole. Whilis Coueytyse & vnkendenesse / Conscience a -sayled e. In vnyte holy chirche / & holy chirche w it hheld hy m. F.16.296: Bx's b-verse reads "Conscience held hym." & made Pees port er / to pynne wel þe ȝatys. Of all e tale tellerys / & totelerys of ydelte. F.16.298: F omits the following line from Bx: "Ypocrisie and he an hard saut þei made." Þan ypoc risie at þe ȝate / harde gan fyghte. & woundid wol wikkidly / many a wyȝs techer e. Þat w it h co nscience a -cordid / & cardinal e vertues. Þan Conscience callid a leche / þ at cowde wel skryve. To salue þo / þ at syke weren / & þorghȝ sy nne y -wou ndid. Schryfte shoop scharp salue / & made me n don penau nce. For her e mysdedis / þ at þey wroght hadden. & þ at peers wer e payed / Redde q uod debes. Su mme lyked e nowht þis leche / & lettris þey sente. If ony s urgien wer e in þe sege / þ at softer e cowde plastr e. Sire lyf F.16.309: Alpha and CrHm have lyf, as do the majority of C manuscripts. Most beta witnesses have leef. to lyve in leccheryȝe / lay þer e & g ronede. For fastynge of a fryday / he feerde as as [he] wolde dyȝe. Þer e is a surgyen in þis seege / þ at softe can handle. & moor e of fysyȝk he ca n be feer / & fayr ere he plastreþ. On frere flater e ys boþe fysisen & surgyen. Q uod Cont riciou n to co nscience / do hy m come to vnyte. For heer e heere [is] many a man hert / þorghȝ ypoc risyȝe. We have no neede q uod co nscience / I not no F.16.316: An otiose curl appears above <n>. bettr e leche. Þan P arsou n or p arsche prest / pentawncer or bischop. Save Pers þe plowman / þ at power haþ F.16.318: F's "power haþ" is unique. Bx and Cx have unmetrical "haþ power." ouer al. & Indulgence may doo / but if dette it lette. / [¶] I may wel suffre q uod co nscience / sytthe ȝee disyre. Þ at Frere flaterere be feet / & fysyȝk ȝow seeke. Þe Frer e here -of heerde / & hyȝede ful faste. To a loord for a lettr e / leeve to have to curen. And as a curatour he were / he cam w it h his lettre. F.16.324: Alpha has singular lettre. Beta witnesses have the plural form. The same variants appear in C manuscripts. Boldely to þe byschop / & hys breef he hadde. In cu ntrees þer e he cam / co nfessionys to heere. & he cam þ ere Consciense was / & knokkyd e at þe ȝate. / [¶] & pees vn -py nned it / þ at was port er of vnyte. & in haste he askede / what þ at his will e were. In feyþ q uod þis Frere / for p rofyȝt & for helthe. Carpen y wolde w it h Cont riciou n / & þis is my cawse. F.16.331: F's b-verse is unique. Bx has "and þerfore cam I hider." / [¶] He is seek / seyd e pees / & so are manye oþere. Ypoc risye haþ hurt hy m / hard is if he kyuere. I am a surgyen seyde þe Frere / salues ca n y make. Conscience know et h me wel / & what y can do boþe. / [¶] I p raye þe q uod pees þoo / er þ ou passe furthere. What hattist þ ou hyghtly F.16.337: Bx/Cx are metrically less regular than F here, but make superior sense, reading "What hattestow I praye þee." / & hele nowht þy name Þe Frere seyde p roperly F.16.338: F's a-verse is unique. Bx reads "Certes seide his felawe." / syre penetrans domos . F.16.338: The name is written in the text hand in the same brown ink as the text, but it is given emphasis by the characters being slightly larger than the adjacent text. / [¶] Ȝee goo þy gate q uod pees / by god for al þy fysyȝk. But þ ou ku nne more craft / þ ou komest nowht heer e -Inne. I knew swich oon ones / nowht oo F.16.341: F's oo is unique. Bx has eighte. ȝeer y -passid. Cam þus In y -cooped / at a court þer e y wiste. & was my lordis leche / & my ladies boþe. & at þe laste þ at lymytour / þo my n lord was owte. He saluede so our e wo mmen / tyl sixe or seuene wer e grete. F.16.345: F's b-verse is unique. Bx reads "til some were wiþ childe." Hende speche bad F.16.346: F's bad is unique. Bx has heet. Pees þoo / to opene F.16.346: An otiose curl appears over <o>. þe ȝatis. & lete in þe frer e & his felawe / & mak hem fair cher e. He may seen his syknesse / er so may be -falle. F.16.348: F's reading is unique. As the testimony of C manuscripts suggests, Bx probably had "He may se and here here so may bifalle." Beta manuscripts have "He may se and here so it may bifalle." Þ at lyf þorghȝ his loor e / shal leven Coveytyse. & ben a -dred of deeþ / & w it h -drawe hy m fram p ride. & a -corde w it h conscience / & kissen eyþir oþir. / [¶] Þus þorghȝ heende speche / in entrid þo frerys. & kemen in to Co nscience / & curteysly hy m grette. Þ ou art wolkome q uod Conscience / canstow heele syke. Here is Cont riciou n q uod Conscience / my n cosyn y -wou ndyd. Conforte hy m w it h conseyl F.16.356: F's "with conseyl" is unique. Bx reads "quod Conscience." / take keep to hise soores. Þe plastris of þe p arsou n / & þe powdres byte so soore. He leet he m lyggy n ou er -longe / & looþ is to change hem. Fram lentene tyl lentene / he leet hise plast ris F.16.359: An otiose curl appears above the <p>. byȝte. Þ at is ouer -longe q uod þis lymytour / y leeve y shal a -me nde it. & he gooþ & gropeþ co nt riciou n / & gaf hy m a plastre. Of a p rive pyneme nt / y shal preyȝe for ȝow. & for all e þ at been holde too / al my lyf -tyme. & make of ȝow memory F.16.364: F's "of ȝow memory" is unique. Bx reads "yow my lady." / in messe & in matynys. All e þe Freris of our e frat ernete / for a lytyl syluer. / [¶] Þus he gooþ & gadreþ gold / & glosen F.16.366: The scribe initially wrote gloseþ and then wrongly "corrected" it to glosen. The ink on the overwritten <n> is darker than that on the thorn. An otiose curl appears over <g>. þer e he schryveþ. Tyl co nt riciou n haue cleene for -ȝeete / for c riȝeng & for wepynge. F.16.367: F's b-verse is unique. Bx has "to crye and to wepe." & for wakyng for hise wikkid e werkis / þ at he was whont to doone. For confort of his co nfessour e / co nt riciou n he leefte. Þ at is þe souereynest salue / for all e kenne synnes. Þ at seeyȝ slewthe wel / & ryght so dyde p riȝde. & keme w it h a keene will e F.16.372: F omitted the virgule to mark the caesura but left a larger than usual space between words. co nscience to asayle. & Conscience c ried e eft / & bad Clergie helpe hy m. & also co nt riciou n / for to keepe þe ȝaate. / [¶] He lyȝþ & dreemeþ seyȝde pees / & so dooþ many a -noþ ir. Þe frere w it h his fysyȝk / þis folk haþ so F.16.376: Alpha's so is absent from all other B manuscripts. enchawntyd. & plastred hem so esely / þey dreedyn no syȝknesse. F.16.377: F's syȝknesse is unique. Bx has synne. By c rist q uod Co nscience þo / y will e be -come a pilgrym. & walken as wyde / as þe world askeþ. F.16.379: F's askeþ is unique. Bx has lasteþ. To seke peers Plowhman / þ at pryȝde he myȝhte stroyȝe. F.16.380: F's b-verse is unique. Bx read "þat pryde myȝte destruye." A drypoint "X" appears in the right margin, probably to call attention to F's omission of the following line from Bx: "And þat freres hadde a fyndyng þat for nede flateren." For he cou ntrepletyþ me co nscience / now kende me avenge. & sende me hap & heele / tyl y have pers plowhma n. So sore he gradde after g race / þ at be -gan [y] be -gan F.16.383: Having erased erroneous he after þat, the scribe failed to supply the necessary first person pronoun. a -wake. E xplicit One of the later hands supplied a second Explicit . A line drawing of a bird fills the remainder of this page. See Kathleen L. Scott, "The Illustrations of Piers Plowman in Bodleian Library MS. Douce 104," YLS 4 (1990): 2n, who describes this as "a tinted drawing of a stork holding a blank phylactery, possibly meant as an ownership mark." A.V. C. Schmidt in a review of Derek Pearsall's facsimile edition of Bodleian Library, MS Douce 104 in Medium Aevum 63.1 (1994): 130, rightly notes that the drawing is of a pelican, "the emblem of Corpus Christi College," and "has nothing whatever to do with Langland (though doubtless testifying to the loyalties of the one-time owner, a Fellow of the College)" (130). Ms. Christine Butler, Archivist of Corpus Christi College, agrees that the pelican is likely to have been supplied for William Fulman, who gave the manuscript to the college.