<div1>
<div1>fol. 8v (cont.)I</div1>
<head>
<milestone>BPassus 3</milestone>
<foreign><hi><hi>I</hi></hi><hi><hi>ncipit Passus Qvartus.</hi></hi></foreign></head>
<lg>
<l><hi><hi>N</hi></hi><hi>O</hi>w<note>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.</note> is <hi>Meede</hi> þe <hi>M</hi>ayd<expan>e</expan> / & no mo of alle.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi><seg>-</seg>browht by<seg>-</seg>for<expan>e</expan> þe kyng / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> bedel & bayly</l>
<l><hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>no<expan>n</expan> þe kyng kallid a <hi>C</hi>lerk / y knowe not h<expan>i</expan>s name.</l>
F.4.4KD.3.4
<l><hi>T</hi>o take <hi><hi>Meed<expan>e</expan></hi></hi> þe <hi>M</hi>aide / & make hir<expan>e</expan> <orig>a tese</orig><reg>at ese</reg>.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut y will<expan>e</expan> hir<expan>e</expan> first a<seg>-</seg>sayȝe / & sotilly hir<expan>e</expan> apose.</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>hat wyȝe of þis world / þ<expan>a</expan>t she were levest.</l>
<milestone>fol. 9rI</milestone>
<l><hi>&</hi> if s<hi>h</hi>e wirc<hi>h</hi>e <hi>b</hi>e my <hi>w</hi>it / & my <hi>w</hi>i<hi>ll</hi>e fo<hi>l</hi>we.<note>F.4.7: <hi>IIII<expan>us</expan></hi> with red flourishes is written in the top right margin to indicate the passus.</note></l>
F.4.8KD.3.8
<l><hi>I</hi> wil for<seg>-</seg>gyve hir<expan>e</expan> þe gyltis<note>F.4.8: Alpha is responsible for plural <hi>gyltis</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>gilt</hi>.</note> / so me god helpe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan>ne þe <hi>C</hi>lerk curteysly / dyde as þe kyng hy<expan>m</expan> hyghte.</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>e took <hi><hi>Meede</hi></hi> by þe myddil / & mente<note>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.</note> hir<expan>e</expan> to chambre.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> þe <hi>C</hi>lerk gan <expan>con</expan>forte hire / for gret cony<expan>n</expan>ge he hadde.<note>F.4.11: This line appears only in F.</note></l>
F.4.12KD.3.11
<l><hi>&</hi> fette furþ m<expan>er</expan>the w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> me<expan>n</expan>stralcy / <hi><hi>Meede</hi></hi> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> to plese.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>S</hi>u<expan>m</expan>me þ<expan>a</expan>t whonen at westme<expan>n</expan>str<expan>e</expan> / worchepe þey hir<expan>e</expan> make.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>ul <hi>I</hi>entylly w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> <hi>I</hi>oyȝe / of þe <hi>I</hi>ustises manye.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>usked hem boldly to hir<expan>e</expan> bour / þere þe beerde dwelliþ.</l>
F.4.16KD.3.15
<l><hi>T</hi>o <expan>con</expan>forte hir<expan>e</expan> kony<expan>n</expan>gly / by <hi>C</hi>lergyes leve.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ey seide moorne not <hi><hi>Meede</hi></hi> / ne make þ<expan>o</expan>u no sorwe.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or we will<expan>e</expan> wisse þe <hi>k</hi>yng / & þy weyȝe shape.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o be weddid at þy will<expan>e</expan> / & wher þe levest lykeþ.</l>
F.4.20KD.3.19
<l><hi>F</hi>or al <sic>co<expan>n</expan>syecys</sic><corr>consye[n]cys</corr> craft / or cast<note>F.4.20: Alpha is responsible for this word order. Beta manuscripts have "cast or craft."</note> / as y trowe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan>ne <hi>M</hi>yȝldely <hi><hi>Meede</hi></hi> / mercyed hem alle.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f here grete goodnesse / & gaf to hem ecchone.</l>
<l><hi>C</hi>owpis / of klene gold / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> cases of syluer.</l>
F.4.24KD.3.23
<l><hi>R</hi>yngis w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> rubyes / & rycchesse<note>F.4.24: Alpha is responsible for <hi>rychesse</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>richesses</hi>.</note> ful thykke.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or þe leeste of her<expan>e</expan> me<expan>n</expan> / hadde a motou<expan>n</expan> of goolde.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>an lawhte þei her<expan>e</expan> leve / þo <hi>L</hi>ordis at Meede.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þat  keme<expan>n</expan> <hi>C</hi>lerkys / & co<expan>n</expan>fortid hir<expan>e</expan> þe same.</l>
F.4.28KD.3.27
<l><hi>&</hi> beedy<expan>n</expan> hir<expan>e</expan> be blythe / For we ben þyn owene.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or to wirche þy wille / þe whyles þ<expan>o</expan>u may laste.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan>ne she dede hendely / & be<seg>-</seg>hyghte hem þe same.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o loven hem lelly / & <hi>L</hi>oordis hem to make.</l>
F.4.32KD.3.31
<l><hi>F</hi>or in þe co<expan>n</expan>storie in þe court / I shal do cowþe ȝo<expan>ur</expan> name.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>hal no lewidnesse letty<expan>n</expan> / þo clerkys<note>F.4.33: Alpha is responsible for <hi>clerkys</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>leode</hi>.</note> þ<expan>a</expan>t y lovye.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t he worþ<note>F.4.34: <hi>Bx</hi> reads "That he ne worþ first auaunced . . . ." The negative was omitted in alpha.</note> first a<seg>-</seg>vauncyd / for y am wel be<seg>-</seg>knowe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>er<expan>e</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t kony<expan>n</expan>ge clerkys / shull<expan>e</expan> <sic>knokke</sic><corr>k[l]okke</corr><note>F.4.35: F supplies non-sensical <hi>knokke</hi> to replace <hi>klokke</hi>, "limp," an unfamiliar word which appears only in <title>Piers Plowman</title>.</note> by<seg>-</seg>hyȝnde.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.36KD.3.35
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan>ne com þer<expan>e</expan> a <hi>C</hi>onfessour<expan>e</expan> / was coped as a <hi>F</hi>rere.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o <hi><hi>Meede</hi></hi> þ<expan>a</expan>t<note>F.4.37: Beta witnesses read <hi>þe</hi>, exactly what Langland's usual formula would suggest. However, R has <hi>þis</hi>, and alpha may simply have had a thorn without the suspended <s>, <t>, or <e>.</note> <hi>M</hi>ayde / & meelyd<expan>e</expan> þese wordis.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> seyde ful softly / as in scryfte it where.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ey leernede me<expan>n</expan> / & lewed<expan>e</expan> me<expan>n</expan> / have ley<expan>n</expan> by þe boþe.</l>
F.4.40KD.3.39
<l><hi>&</hi> þey <hi><hi>Fals</hi></hi> have defoulyd þe / þis fyftene wynter.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> shal a<seg>-</seg>soyle þe my<seg>-</seg>selue / for a seem of wheete.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> also ben þy<expan>n</expan> bedema<expan>n</expan> / & beer<expan>e</expan> wel þy<expan>n</expan> name.</l>
<l><hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>mongys <hi>C</hi>lerkys & knyghtys / her<expan>e</expan> <expan>con</expan>syence to t<expan>ur</expan>ne.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.44KD.3.43
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>an <hi><hi>Meede</hi></hi> for hir<expan>e</expan> mysdedis / to þ<expan>a</expan>t man t<expan>ur</expan>nede.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> shrof hir<expan>e</expan> of hir<expan>e</expan> shrewidness<expan>e</expan> / shameles y t<expan>ro</expan>we.</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>han she hadde told hir<expan>e</expan> tale / she took hy<expan>m</expan> a noble.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or to been hir<expan>e</expan> bedeman / & hir<expan>e</expan> brokour alse.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.48KD.3.47
<l><hi></hi> <hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>non he assoylyd hir<expan>e</expan> soone / & sytthen he seyde.</l>
<milestone>fol. 9vI</milestone>
<l><hi>W</hi>e <hi>h</hi>ave a wyndowe wirc<hi>h</hi>ynge / will<expan>e</expan> sytte vs fu<hi>l h</hi>yȝe</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>olde ȝe glase þ<expan>a</expan>t gable / & grave þ<expan>er</expan>e<seg>-</seg>In ȝour<expan>e</expan> name.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>ykirly sholde ȝour<expan>e</expan> soule / in<seg>-</seg>to hevene styȝe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.52KD.3.51
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Ȝ</hi>ee wiste y þat q<expan>uo</expan>d <hi><hi>Meed</hi>e</hi> / þer <sic>is</sic><corr>[n]is</corr> wyndowe ne awht<expan>er</expan>.<note>F.4.52: This line and the following one correspond roughly to <hi>A</hi> 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 <hi>A</hi>. Beta reads as follows: <lb/>
Wiste I þat quod þat womman I wolde noȝt spare <lb/>
For to be youre frend frere and faile yow neuere <lb/>
While ye loue lordes þat lecherie haunten <lb/>
And lakkeþ noȝt ladies þat louen wel þe same <lb/>
It is a freletee of flessh ye fynden it in bokes <lb/>
And a cours of kynde wherof we comen alle <lb/>
Who may scape þe sclaundre þe scaþe is soone amended <lb/>
It is synne of þe seuene sonnest relessed <lb/>
Haue mercy quod Mede of men þat it haunteþ <lb/>
And I shal couere youre kirk youre cloistre do maken <lb/>
Wowes do whiten and wyndowes glazen.</note></l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t <sic>y</sic><corr>y [ne]</corr> wolde do me<expan>n</expan>de it / or make it at þe fulle.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> do peynte me & my<expan>n</expan> name / a<seg>-</seg>p<expan>er</expan>tly þ<expan>er</expan>e<seg>-</seg>Inne<note>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 <hi>A</hi>'s "Þat I ne shulde make or mende & myn name writen."</note></l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t ech a<note>F.4.55: Alpha is responsible for <hi>ech a</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>euery</hi>.</note> segg<expan>e</expan> sholde see / I am syst<expan>er</expan> to ȝow alle.<note>F.4.55: Alpha is responsible for "to ȝow alle." Beta manuscripts have "of youre house."</note></l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.56KD.3.64
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>B</hi>ut god / to goode folk / swich g<expan>ra</expan>uynge defendiþ.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> wryty<expan>n</expan>ge i<expan>n</expan> wyndowis / of her<expan>e</expan> wel<seg>-</seg>dedys.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e awht<expan>er</expan> do peynte / for pompe of þe peple.<note>F.4.58: The line is unique to F. Beta reads "An auenture pride be peynted þere and pomp of þe world."</note></l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or c<expan>ri</expan>st know<expan>e</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þy<expan>n</expan> co<expan>n</expan>syence / & þy<expan>n</expan> kende wille.</l>
F.4.60KD.3.68
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe þe coost & þy coueytyse / & who þe catel awhte.<note>F.4.60: F omits the following lines from <hi>Bx</hi>: <lb/>
Forþi I lere yow lordes leueþ swiche werkes <lb/>
To writen in wyndowes of youre wel dedes <lb/>
Or to greden after goddes men whan ye delen doles <lb/>
On auenture ye haue youre hire here and youre heuene als. <lb/>
The lines are missing from H as well.</note></l>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>N</hi></hi><hi><hi>esciat sinistra  quid faciat dextera.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
<l><hi>L</hi>eete nowht þy<expan>n</expan> lyft half / neyþ<expan>ir</expan> late ne rathe.</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>eety<expan>n</expan> what þ<expan>o</expan>u wyrchist / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þy<expan>n</expan> ryght syde.</l>
F.4.64KD.3.75
<l><hi>F</hi>or þus biddis þe gospel / good men <sic>dos</sic><corr>do[n]</corr><note>F.4.64: F has missed the point, substituting a finite form for the required infinitive.</note> þ<expan>er</expan>after.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>M</hi>eyȝres w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> here <hi>M</hi>acerys / þ<expan>a</expan>t meenys been be<seg>-</seg>twene.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e kyng / & þe <hi>C</hi>omou<expan>n</expan>ys / to kepen wel þe Lawys.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> punsshyn<note>F.4.67: The scribe corrected this word by writing a second <s> over original <c>. See F4.195, 10.561 for similar corrections.</note> vpon<note>F.4.67: Alpha is responsible for <hi>vpon</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>on</hi>.</note> pylory / & on <sic>pynyge</sic><corr>pyny[n]ge</corr> stolys.</l>
F.4.68KD.3.79
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe webster<expan>e</expan>s & bakesterys / & bocher<expan>e</expan>s & Cookys.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or þo ar<expan>e</expan> me<expan>n</expan> vpon<note>F.4.69: Alpha is responsible for <hi>vpon</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>on</hi>.</note> moolde / þ<expan>a</expan>t mest harm wirche.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o þe poore peple / þat p<expan>ar</expan>cel<seg>-</seg>meel byggyn.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> poysene þe peple / pryvyly & softe.</l>
F.4.72KD.3.83
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ey rychen þoru regratrye / & rentys he<expan>m</expan> byggyn</l>
<l><hi>W</hi><expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þat  þe por<expan>e</expan> peple / sholde pytte in her<expan>e</expan> wombe.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or tooke þey on trewly / þey tyȝmbred not so hyȝe.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e bowhte no bargayn / be þe<note>F.4.75: This alpha reading is shared by BmBoCot; most other beta manuscripts have <hi>ye</hi>.</note> fulle s<expan>er</expan>tey<expan>n</expan>.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.76KD.3.87
<l><hi></hi> <hi>B</hi>ut now þe Maide meede / þe Mayr haþ she p<expan>ra</expan>yed.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f alle swiche seller<expan>e</expan>s / sylu<expan>er</expan> to taken.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>r p<expan>re</expan>sentys w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan><seg>-</seg>outy<expan>n</expan> pens / as pecys of syluer.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>r rynges or rycchesse / þe reg<expan>ra</expan>toures to <sic>mey<expan>n</expan>ghte</sic><corr>meyn[ten]e</corr>.</l>
F.4.80KD.3.91
<l><hi>F</hi>or my Lord<note>F.4.80: Alpha reads <hi>Lord</hi> for <hi>Bx</hi>'s <hi>loue</hi>.</note> / q<expan>uod</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t Lady / loveþ he<expan>m</expan> ecchone.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> suffreþ he<expan>m</expan> to selle / su<expan>m</expan>del a<seg>-</seg>gey<expan>n</expan> resou<expan>n</expan></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>K</hi>yng <hi>S</hi>alomo<expan>n</expan> þe sage / a sermou<expan>n</expan> he made.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o a<seg>-</seg><hi>M</hi>ende <hi>M</hi>eyȝhrys / & me<expan>n</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t kepe þe <hi>L</hi>awis</l>
F.4.84KD.3.95
<l><hi>&</hi> þus he tolde his teeme / þ<expan>a</expan>t y shal telle ȝou aft<expan>er</expan>.</l>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>I</hi></hi><hi><hi>gnis deuorabit tabernac<expan>u</expan>la eor<expan>um</expan> qui libent<expan>er</expan></hi></hi></foreign><note>F.4.85: Alpha omits beta's <hi>accipiunt munera</hi>.</note> </l>
<l><hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>mong lettryd leedis / þis latyn ys to meene.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t feer shal falle & brenne / al to bloo askys.</l>
F.4.88KD.3.99
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e howses / & þe homes / of hem þ<expan>a</expan>t dysyren.</l>
<l><hi>G</hi>yftys / or ȝeris<seg>-</seg>gyftys / be<seg>-</seg>cause of her<expan>e</expan> offyȝs.<note>F.4.89: Alpha is responsible for <hi>offyȝs</hi>, a reading shared by H. Beta manuscripts have plural <hi>offices</hi>.</note></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>anne þe <hi>k</hi>yng fram co<expan>n</expan>seyl ca<expan>m</expan> / & callyd after Meede.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> sente aft<expan>er</expan> hir<expan>e</expan> swyþe / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> s<expan>er</expan>gauntys manye.</l>
<milestone>fol. 10rI</milestone>
F.4.92KD.3.103
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t <sic><hi>b</hi>row<hi>h</hi>tyn</sic><corr>browhtyn [hire]</corr> to <hi>b</hi>owre / wiþ <hi>bl</hi>ysse & w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> Ioyȝe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>non þe kyng curteysly / comsed for to telle.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> to <hi> <hi>Meed</hi>e</hi> þe <hi>M</hi>aide / he meled<expan>e</expan> þese wordis.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>o</expan>u wo<expan>m</expan>man vn<seg>-</seg>wittyly / wrought hast þ<expan>o</expan>u ofte.</l>
F.4.96KD.3.107
<l><hi>B</hi>ut worse wroughtist þ<expan>o</expan>u neu<expan>er</expan>e / þan whan þ<expan>o</expan>u fals tooke.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut y forgyve þe þ<expan>a</expan>t gylt / & g<expan>ra</expan>unte þe my<expan>n</expan> grace.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>ram hens to þy<expan>n</expan> deþ<seg>-</seg>day / yf þ<expan>o</expan>u do so no moore.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>B</hi>ut y have a knyght hatte <hi><hi><expan>con</expan></hi>syence</hi> / kam late f<expan>ra</expan>m by<seg>-</seg>ȝou<expan>n</expan>de.</l>
F.4.100KD.3.111
<l><hi>I</hi>f he wilne þe to wyve / wilt þ<expan>o</expan>u w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> hy<expan>m</expan> holde.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Ȝ</hi>ee <hi>L</hi>ord <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> þe <hi>L</hi>ady / our<expan>e</expan> <hi>L</hi>ord for<seg>-</seg>beede ellys.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut y be holly at ȝo<expan>ur</expan> heste / hyȝe <sic>hange</sic><corr>hange [me]</corr> soone.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>&</hi> þan was <hi><hi>Co</hi>nsyence</hi> clepd / to come<expan>n</expan> & a<seg>-</seg>peren.</l>
F.4.104KD.3.115
<l><hi>B</hi>y<seg>-</seg>for<expan>e</expan> þe <hi>k</hi>yng & his cu<expan>n</expan>seyl / as <hi>C</hi>lerkys & oþer<expan>e</expan>.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan>ne <hi><hi>C</hi>onsience</hi> knelynge / vnto þe kyng lowhtede.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o wete what his will<expan>e</expan> wer<expan>e</expan> / & what he do sholde.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>W</hi>ilt þ<expan>o</expan>u weddy<expan>n</expan> þis wo<expan>m</expan>ma<expan>n</expan> q<expan>uod</expan> þe ky<expan>n</expan>g / if she will<expan>e</expan> a<seg>-</seg>sente.</l>
F.4.108KD.3.119
<l><hi>F</hi>or she is of fair shap<note>F.4.108: F's reading is unique. Beta manuscripts read "fayn of þi felaweshipe."</note> / for to ben þyn make.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Q</hi><expan>uo</expan>d <hi><hi>Co</hi><expan>n</expan>sience</hi> to þe kyng / c<expan>ri</expan>st it me for<seg>-</seg>beede.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> er y wedde swich a wyf / woo me by<seg>-</seg>tyȝde.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or she is fykel of feyþ / & fals of hire speche.</l>
F.4.112KD.3.123
<l><hi>&</hi> makþ me<expan>n</expan> mys<seg>-</seg>doon / manye skor<expan>e</expan> tyȝmes.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> þo þ<expan>a</expan>t t<expan>ri</expan>stne on trewþe / she treyȝeþ hem ofte.<note>F.4.113: F's line is unique. <hi>Bx</hi> reads "Trust of hire tresor trayeþ ful manye."</note></l>
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe wyvis & wedewis / & wantowne wenchis.<note>F.4.114: The b- verse is unique to F. <hi>Bx</hi> reads "wantounnesse she techeþ."</note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> lerneþ hem <hi>L</hi>eccherye / þ<expan>a</expan>t loveþ hire loor<expan>e</expan>.</l>
F.4.116KD.3.127
<l><hi>Ȝ</hi>owre fader she felde / þorhȝ hir<expan>e</expan><note>F.4.116: BmBoCot read <hi>hire</hi>, which is otherwise unique to F.</note> fayr<expan>e</expan><note>F.4.116: Alpha is responsible for <hi>fayre</hi>. Beta manuscripts read <hi>false</hi>.</note> heste. </l>
<l><hi>&</hi> she haþ y<seg>-</seg>poysoned popis / & a<seg>-</seg>peyred holy chirche</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>er is nawht a bettr<expan>e</expan> bawde / by hy<expan>m</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t me maade.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>y<seg>-</seg>twexe hevene & hell<expan>e</expan> / þey me<expan>n</expan> al erthe sowhte.</l>
F.4.120KD.3.131
<l><hi>F</hi>or she is tykyl of hir<expan>e</expan> tayl / & talewyȝs of tunge.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> as comou<expan>n</expan>e as cartewey / to ech knave of towhne.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>he takþ Masonys<note>F.2.122: F's reading "She takþ Masonys" is unique. Other manuscripts have "To Monkes." F also uniquely has <hi>&</hi> twice in place of <hi>Bx</hi>'s <hi>to</hi>.</note> & Menstralys / & Meselys in heggys.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe <hi>S</hi>ysoures & <hi>S</hi>u<expan>m</expan>nowres / swiche shull<expan>e</expan> hir<expan>e</expan> p<expan>re</expan>yse.</l>
F.4.124KD.3.135
<l><hi>B</hi>ut <hi>S</hi>herevis of <hi>S</hi>hyres / whery<expan>n</expan> shent if she neere.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or she doþ me<expan>n</expan> leesen her<expan>e</expan> lond / & her<expan>e</expan> lyf boþe.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> she leetyþ passe p<expan>ri</expan>sonerys / & payeþ for he<expan>m</expan> ofte.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> gyfþ þe gailer gold / & grootys to<seg>-</seg>gydr<expan>e</expan>.</l>
F.4.128KD.3.139
<l><hi>T</hi>o vnfet<expan>er</expan>e þe false / & flee wher<expan>e</expan> hy<expan>m</expan> lykeþ.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> trewþe ys take be þe top / & teyȝed fyȝn faste.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> he hangyd for hatter<expan>e</expan>de / þ<expan>a</expan>t harm dyde neu<expan>er</expan>e.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o don curse in <expan>con</expan>storye / she a<seg>-</seg>cou<expan>n</expan>teþ not a resshe.</l>
F.4.132KD.3.143
<l><hi>F</hi>or she copeþ þe <hi>C</hi>omyssarie / & klokiþ<note>F.4.132: <hi>klokiþ</hi>, "provides with a cloak." This is the first instance we have found of the finite form of this verb. <title>OED</title>'s earliest citations are from the early sixteenth century, while the only <title>MED</title> citation is a participial adjective dated c. 1450 in the related sense "encased, enclosed."</note> all<expan>e</expan> hise clerkys.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> she ys a<seg>-</seg>soyled soone / as hir<expan>e</expan><seg>-</seg>selue lykyþ.</l>
<milestone>fol. 10vI</milestone>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>S</hi>he may neeyh doon as myc<hi>h</hi>e / in a <hi>M</hi>oneþ ones.</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>s ȝowr<expan>e</expan> secret seel / <hi>s</hi>ir<expan>e</expan> kyng / in sixe skor<expan>e</expan> dayes.</l>
F.4.136KD.3.147
<l><hi>F</hi>or she <add>is</add> p<expan>ri</expan>ve w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe pope / alle p<expan>ro</expan>visoures it knoweþ.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or <hi>M</hi>aist<expan>er</expan> <hi><hi>S</hi>ymony</hi> & hir<expan>e</expan><seg>-</seg>selue / a<seg>-</seg>seely<expan>n</expan> þe billys</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> she blessiþ bisshopis / & beggerys she hateþ.<note> A problem in alpha has led F to invent new b-verses for these two lines. Beta witnesses attest: <lb/>
She blesseþ þise Bisshopes þeiȝ þei be lewed <lb/>
Prouendreth persones, and preestes maynteneþ</note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> p<expan>re</expan>stys she meynteneþ / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> me<expan>n</expan>nes wifes to deele.</l>
F.4.140KD.3.151
<l><hi>&</hi> to have lemannys<note>F.4.140: F alone begins the line with <hi>&</hi> and omits <hi>and lotebies</hi>.</note> / alle her<expan>e</expan> lyf<seg>-</seg>dayes.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> so ben browht forþ barnes / a<seg>-</seg>gey<expan>n</expan> for<seg>-</seg>boode Lawis.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>&</hi> þer<expan>e</expan> she <add>is</add> weel w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe kyng / woo ys / to þ<expan>a</expan>t Rewhme.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or she is fau<expan>er</expan>able / to <hi><hi>F</hi>als</hi> / & defouleþ trewþe ofte.</l>
F.4.144KD.3.155
<l><hi>B</hi>y <expan><hi>I</hi>esus</expan> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> hir<expan>e</expan> <hi>I</hi>ewelis / þe<note>F.4.144: Alpha is responsible for <hi>þe</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>youre</hi>.</note> <hi>I</hi>ustises she shendiþ.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> lyȝeþ a<seg>-</seg>geyn þe Lawhe / & lettyþ so þe gate.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t feyþ may not have his furþ / for Floreynys goo so þykke.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>he leediþ þe lawe as she lyst / & swiche love<seg>-</seg>dayes makeþ.</l>
F.4.148KD.3.159
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t me<expan>n</expan> leese be hir<expan>e</expan> love / þ<expan>a</expan>t lawe wolde þey wonne.</l>
<l><hi>Ȝ</hi>ee þe Mase for a meene man / þeyhȝ he moote euer<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or þe Lawe is so lordly / & looþ to make an ende.</l>
<l><hi>W</hi><expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan><seg>-</seg>outy<expan>n </expan> p<expan>re</expan>sentys or pens / it plesiþ but fewe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.152KD.3.163
<l><hi></hi> <hi>B</hi>oþe <hi>B</hi>aronys & burgeisis / she bryngiþ in sorwe.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> all<expan>e</expan> þe como<expan>n</expan>is in care / þ<expan>a</expan>t coueyten truthe.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or <hi>C</hi>lergye & <hi>C</hi>oueytyse / she cowpleþ to<seg>-</seg>gydr<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>is is þe Lyf of þ<expan>a</expan>t <hi>L</hi>ady / our<expan>e</expan> <hi>L</hi>ord gyve hir<expan>e</expan> sorwe.</l>
F.4.156KD.3.167
<l><hi>&</hi> <sic>alle</sic><corr>alle [þat]</corr> hire mey<expan>n</expan>tene & hir<expan>e</expan> me<expan>n</expan> / myschawnce he<expan>m</expan> by<seg>-</seg>tyȝde.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or poor<expan>e</expan> me<expan>n</expan> have no powher / to pleyne þeyhȝ þey smerte.<note>F.4.157: F omits the following line from <hi>Bx</hi>: "Swich a maister is Mede among men of goode."</note></l>
<l><hi><hi>T</hi></hi><hi>H</hi>anne<note>F.4.158: A small guide <t> for the rubricator appears to the top left of the finished <T>.</note> mornede <hi><hi>M</hi>eede</hi> / & made mychil sorwe.<note>F.4.158: F combines and reconfigures <hi>Bx</hi>'s b-verse with the a-verse of the following line. <hi>Bx</hi> reads as follows: <lb/>
Thanne mournede Mede and mened hire to þe kynge <lb/>
To haue space to speke spede if she myȝte. </note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> p<expan>ra</expan>yede þe kyng to speke / speede if she myghte.</l>
F.4.160KD.3.172
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e kyng g<expan>ra</expan>untyd hir<expan>e</expan> g<expan>ra</expan>ce / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> a glad wille.</l>
<l><hi>E</hi>xcuse þe if þ<expan>o</expan>u canst / I can no moor<expan>e</expan> . þis tyme.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or <hi><hi>C</hi>onsience</hi> haþ accused þe  to kunge þe for euer<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>ay <hi>L</hi>ord <hi>q</hi><expan>uo</expan>d þ<expan>a</expan>t <hi>L</hi>ady / now leve hy<expan>m</expan> þe worse</l>
F.4.164KD.3.176
<l><hi>W</hi>han ȝee wetyn wytt<expan>yr</expan>ly / wher<expan>e</expan> þe wrong lyggiþ.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or þere þ<expan>a</expan>t <hi>M</hi>ischeef ys gret / <hi>M</hi>eede may it helpe.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> þ<expan>a</expan>t<note>F.4.166: Alpha is responsible for <hi>þat</hi>. Beta manuscripts lack it.</note> þ<expan>o</expan>u knowist <hi> <hi>C</hi>onsience</hi> / y can not w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe chyde.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e deprave þy p<expan>er</expan>sone / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> a prowd herte.</l>
F.4.168KD.3.180
<l><hi>B</hi>ut wel þ<expan>o</expan>u woost wernard / but if þ<expan>o</expan>u wyll<expan>e</expan> gabbe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>o</expan>u hast hangid on my<expan>n</expan> half / eleuene tymes.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> also y<seg>-</seg>g<expan>ri</expan>pe my gold / & gyve yt<note>F.4.170: An otiose tilde appears above the <y>.</note> wher<expan>e</expan> þe lyked.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut why  þ<expan>o</expan>u wratthest þe now / wondir me þy<expan>n</expan>kyþ.</l>
F.4.172KD.3.184
<l><hi>F</hi>or ȝit y may as y myghte / menske þe w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> gyftys.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> meyntene þy<expan>n</expan> manhod / moor<expan>e</expan> þan þ<expan>o</expan>u knowyst.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut þ<expan>o</expan>u hast <sic>defamed</sic><corr>defamed [me]</corr> foule / by<seg>-</seg>for<expan>e</expan> þe kyng heere.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or t<expan>ru</expan>ly y kyllyd<expan>e</expan> neu<expan>er</expan>e knyght<note>F.4.175: Alpha is responsible for <hi>knyght</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>kyng</hi>.</note> / ne co<expan>n</expan>t<expan>ri</expan>vede þ<expan>a</expan>t dede.</l>
F.4.176KD.3.188
<l><hi>N</hi>e dyde as þ<expan>o</expan>u demest me / y doo it on þe dede.<note>F.4.176: F has picked up <hi>dede</hi> from the preceding line. <hi>Bx</hi> has <hi>kynge</hi>.</note></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>F</hi>or in <hi>N</hi>ormondyȝ þe ky<expan>n</expan>g was nout / noyhed for my sake</l>
<milestone>fol. 11rI</milestone>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut þ<expan>o</expan>u þy<seg>-</seg>se<hi>l</hi>ve sot<hi>hl</hi>y / þ<expan>o</expan>u <hi>s</hi>hamedist <hi>h</hi>ym ofte.<note>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.</note></l>
<l><sic><hi>F</hi>or crope</sic><corr>Crope</corr> in a <hi>C</hi>aban / for cold of þyn naylys.</l>
F.4.180KD.3.192
<l><hi>&</hi> wendist þ<expan>a</expan>t wynt<expan>er</expan> / wolde have lasted euere.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> also þ<expan>o</expan>u dreddist to dyȝe / for a dym clowhde.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> hyȝedist homward<expan>e</expan> / for hung<expan>ir</expan> of þy wombe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>&</hi> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan><seg>-</seg>outyn pyte þ<expan>o</expan>u pylour / pore me<expan>n</expan> þ<expan>o</expan>u robbedist.<note>F.4.183: An otiose curl appears over the <o>.</note></l>
F.4.184KD.3.196
<l><hi>&</hi> bere her<expan>e</expan> bras at þy bak / In <hi>C</hi>aleys to selle.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ere y lefte w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> my <hi>L</hi>ord / his lyf for to save.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> made hise me<expan>n</expan> meryȝe / & her<expan>e</expan> <hi>M</hi>urnynge y lette.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> bat<expan>er</expan>ed he<expan>m</expan> on þe bak / & bolded here hertys.</l>
F.4.188KD.3.200
<l><hi>&</hi> dide he<expan>m</expan> hoppy<expan>n</expan> on hope / to have me at will<expan>e</expan>.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>H</hi>add<expan>e</expan> y be <hi>M</hi>archal of hise me<expan>n</expan> / be <hi>M</hi>arie of hevene.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> durste haue leyd my lyf / & no lesse gage.</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>e shulde <sic>have</sic><corr>have [be]</corr> lord of þ<expan>a</expan>t lond / in lengþe & i<expan>n</expan> brede.</l>
F.4.192KD.3.204
<l><hi>&</hi> also kyng of þ<expan>a</expan>t kyþ / al his keen to helpe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e leeste brolle of þis lond<note>F.4.193: The substitution of <hi>lond</hi> for <hi>Bx</hi>'s <hi>blood</hi> is owed to alpha.</note> / a baronys peere.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>&</hi> þ<expan>o</expan>u <hi><hi>C</hi>onsience</hi> / cowardly / þ<expan>o</expan>u <expan>con</expan>seyledist hy<expan>m</expan> þenne.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o levyn so his <hi>L</hi>ordshepe<note>F.4.195: The scribe initially wrote <hi>Lordchepe</hi> and then corrected the <c> to <s>. Cf. F4.67, 10.561.</note> / for a lytyl syluer.</l>
F.4.196KD.3.208
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t ys þe ryccheste regne / þ<expan>a</expan>t reyȝn ou<expan>er</expan>e<seg>-</seg>hoveþ.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>t be<seg>-</seg>comeþ wel a kyng / þ<expan>a</expan>t kepiþ a rewhme.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o ȝyve <hi>M</hi>eede to men / þ<expan>a</expan>t menskly hy<expan>m</expan> s<expan>er</expan>ue.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> alyenys & oþ<expan>ir</expan>e men / to honour<expan>e</expan> he<expan>m</expan> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> gyftys.</l>
F.4.200KD.3.212
<l><hi>F</hi>or <hi><hi>M</hi>eede</hi> makþ hy<expan>m</expan> by<seg>-</seg>loved / & a ma<expan>n</expan> y<seg>-</seg>holde.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>E</hi>mp<expan>er</expan>our<expan>e</expan>s / & <hi>E</hi>rlys / & alle erthely <hi>L</hi>ord<expan>is</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>orghȝ ȝiftys have ȝoomen<note>F.4.202: Alpha is responsible for <hi>ȝoomen</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>yonge men</hi>.</note> / to ȝeerne & to ryȝde.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>e <hi>P</hi>ope also / of <hi>p</hi><expan>re</expan>latys / p<expan>re</expan>sentys he vndir<seg>-</seg>fongyþ.</l>
F.4.204KD.3.216
<l><hi>&</hi> þey <hi><hi>M</hi>eede</hi> me<expan>n</expan> hem<seg>-</seg>selue / to mey<expan>n</expan>tene þe lawis.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> seruau<expan>n</expan>tys for her<expan>e</expan> s<expan>er</expan>uyse / who can seyȝ þe sothe.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>ake <hi>Meede</hi> of her<expan>e</expan> <hi>M</hi>ayst<expan>er</expan> / as þey mou<expan>n</expan> a<seg>-</seg>corde.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> beggerys for her<expan>e</expan> beggy<expan>n</expan>g<note>F.4.207: Alpha is responsible for <hi>beggyng</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>biddynge</hi>.</note> / byddyn for me<expan>n</expan> meede.</l>
F.4.208KD.3.220
<l><hi>&</hi> <hi>M</hi>enstralis for her<expan>e</expan> m<expan>er</expan>the / meede / me<expan>n</expan> hem p<expan>ro</expan>fr<expan>e</expan>.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>Þ</hi>e kyng haþ <hi>M</hi>eede of hise me<expan>n</expan> / to make pees i<expan>n</expan> londe.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> me<expan>n</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t techen chyldryn / craven of hem meede.<note>F.4.210: A pointing finger is added in the margin by a later hand.</note></l>
<l><hi>P</hi>reestis þ<expan>a</expan>t p<expan>re</expan>che þe peple / of god þey aske meede.</l>
F.4.212KD.3.224
<l><hi>&</hi> messe<seg>-</seg>pens & her<expan>e</expan> meel / at here mete tyȝme.</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>lle man<expan>er</expan>e of c<expan>ra</expan>fty me<expan>n</expan> / crave meede for her<expan>e</expan> p<expan>re</expan>ntyȝs.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> <hi>M</hi>archauntys & meede / muste nedys goon to<seg>-</seg>gydr<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>o wyȝht as y wene / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan>outy<expan>n</expan> meede may lybbe.</l>
F.4.216KD.3.228
<l><note>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.</note> <hi><hi>T</hi></hi><hi>h</hi>an seyd<expan>e</expan> þe <hi>k</hi>yng to <hi><hi><expan>con</expan></hi>sience</hi> / by c<expan>ri</expan>st as me þy<expan>n</expan>kiþ.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>ow ys <hi>M</hi>eede worthy / þe <hi>M</hi>aystrie to have.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>N</hi>ay <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> <hi> <hi>c</hi>o<expan>n</expan>sience</hi> to þe kyng / & kneled on þe erþe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ere ben two man<expan>er</expan>e of meedis / my lord be ȝo<expan>ur</expan> leve.</l>
<milestone>fol. 11vI</milestone>
F.4.220KD.3.232
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e firste is þ<expan>a</expan>t god of his g<expan>ra</expan>ce / grauntyþ to his blysse.</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o þo þ<expan>a</expan>t wel wirche / whilis þey ben on erthe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e <hi>p</hi><expan>ro</expan>ph<expan>et</expan>e p<expan>re</expan>chiþ þer<seg>-</seg>of / & is pyt in þe <hi>S</hi>awter. </l>
<l><foreign><hi> <hi>D<expan>omi</expan>ne q<expan>ui</expan>s habitab<expan>i</expan>t in tabernac<expan>u</expan>lo tuo  at<expan>que</expan> q<expan>ui</expan>s req<expan>ui</expan>escet in monte sancto eius . <sic>imoce<expan>n</expan>s</sic><corr>i[nn]ocens</corr> ma<expan>n</expan>ib<expan>us</expan> & mu<expan>n</expan>do corde.</hi></hi></foreign><note>F.4.223: F significantly augments the tag. <hi>Bx</hi> ends after <hi>tuo</hi>.</note></l>
F.4.224KD.3.235
<l><hi>H</hi>e seyþ <hi>L</hi>ord who shal wone i<expan>n</expan> þy<expan>n</expan> wones / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þy<expan>n</expan> holy sey<expan>n</expan>tis.</l>
<l><hi>E</hi>r restyn on þyn holy hillis / þus askede<note>F.4.225: Alpha is responsible for <hi>askede</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>askeþ</hi>.</note> dauyd.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>&</hi> <hi>d</hi>auyd asoyled it / hy<expan>m</expan><seg>-</seg>selue / as þe <hi>s</hi>awht<expan>er</expan> tellyþ.</l>
<l><foreign><hi> <hi>Q<expan>ui</expan> i<expan>n</expan>gredit<expan>ur</expan> sine mac<expan>u</expan>la  & op<expan>er</expan>at<expan>ur</expan> iusticia<expan>m</expan>.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
F.4.228KD.3.238
<l><hi>Þ</hi>o þ<expan>a</expan>t entryn of o colour he seiþ / & also of o wille.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> haven wroght werkis / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> ryght & w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> resou<expan>n</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> he wil nowht vse / þe lyf of vseryȝe.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut en<seg>-</seg>formeþ pore me<expan>n</expan> / to pursue trewþe.<note>F.4.231: F omits <hi>Bx</hi>'s "Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram et munera super innocentem."</note></l>
F.4.232KD.3.242
<l><hi>&</hi> þo þ<expan>a</expan>t helpe þe Innoce<expan>n</expan>t / & holde w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe ryghtful.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan><seg>-</seg>outy<expan>n</expan> <hi>M</hi>eede doon he<expan>m</expan> good / & trew men<note>F.4.233: Alpha is responsible for <hi>trew</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>truþe</hi>. F alone adds <hi>men</hi>.</note> helpe.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>wiche man<expan>er</expan>e of me<expan>n</expan> my lord / shull<expan>e</expan> have þe for<seg>-</seg>seyd mede.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f god / at his grete neede / whan þey goon hennys.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.236KD.3.246
<l><sic>/</sic><corr>[¶]</corr> Þe <hi>s</hi><expan>e</expan>c<expan>on</expan>de <hi><hi>M</hi>eede</hi> ys <hi>M</hi>esourles / þ<expan>a</expan>t <hi>M</hi>ayst<expan>ri</expan>s dysyren</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o <hi>M</hi>ey<expan>n</expan>tene mysdoerys / <hi><hi>M</hi>eede</hi> þey taken.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> of hem seyþ þe sawht<expan>er</expan> / in a <hi>S</hi>palmes ende.</l>
<l><note>F.4.239: An <hi>X</hi> appears in the left margin by this line.</note> <foreign><hi><hi>In q<expan>uo</expan>r<expan>um</expan> manib<expan>us</expan> i<expan>n</expan>iq<expan>ui</expan>tates su<expan>n</expan>t  dext<expan>ra</expan> eor<expan>um</expan> r<expan>e</expan>pleta e<expan>st</expan> mun<expan>er</expan>ib<expan>us</expan>.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
F.4.240KD.3.250
<l><hi>H</hi>e þ<expan>a</expan>t grypeþ so gold / so me god helpe.</l>
<l><note>F.4.241: <hi>Note</hi> is written in the left margin by a later hand along with a pointing finger, probably marking the passage and no one line.</note> <hi>H</hi>e shal a<seg>-</seg>byȝe it bytt<expan>er</expan>ly / if þe book be trewe.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe <hi>p</hi><expan>re</expan>stys & <hi>p</hi><expan>ar</expan>sones / þ<expan>a</expan>t p<expan>re</expan>ysynge dysyreþ.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ey take <hi>M</hi>eede & <hi>M</hi>one / for <hi>M</hi>asses to sy<expan>n</expan>ge.</l>
F.4.244KD.3.254
<l><hi>&</hi> þerfor<expan>e</expan> is her<expan>e</expan> <hi>M</hi>eede / as Sey<expan>n</expan>t Mattheu vs tellyt</l>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>Ame<expan>n</expan> dico vobis . receperu<expan>n</expan>t mercedem suam.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>B</hi>ut þ<expan>a</expan>t <hi>L</hi>aboris & <hi>l</hi>ewid men / taken of here <hi>M</hi>ayst<expan>ri</expan>s.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>t is no manere <hi>M</hi>eede / but a mesurable hyȝre.</l>
F.4.248KD.3.257
<l><hi>N</hi>e in <hi>M</hi>archantdyse / is no meede / y may it wel a<seg>-</seg>vowe.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>t is<note>F.4.249: Alpha is responsible for the omission of <hi>a</hi> before <hi>Permvtacioun</hi>.</note> <hi>P</hi>ermvtac<expan>i</expan>ou<expan>n</expan> ap<expan>er</expan>tly / a peny<seg>-</seg>worþ / for a<seg>-</seg>noþir.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut reddist þ<expan>o</expan>u neu<expan>er</expan>e <foreign>regu<expan>m</expan></foreign> / þ<expan>o</expan>u recreyȝede <hi><hi>M</hi>eede</hi>.</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>hy  þe vengaunce fel on / <hi>S</hi>aul & hise childryn.</l>
F.4.252KD.3.261
<l><hi>G</hi>od sente to <hi>S</hi>aul / be <hi>S</hi>amuel the <hi>p</hi><expan>ro</expan>ph<expan>et</expan>e.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t <hi>A</hi>gag & <hi>A</hi>malek / & al here peple after.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>hulden dyȝe for þe dede / þ<expan>a</expan>t doon hadde her<expan>e</expan> eldres.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>Þ</hi>us seyde <hi>S</hi>amuel to <hi>S</hi>aul / god hy<expan>m</expan><seg>-</seg>selue þe hoteþ.</l>
F.4.256KD.3.265
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>o</expan>u be buxu<expan>m</expan> at my<note>F.4.256: RF agree against beta family manuscripts which read <hi>his</hi>.</note> byddy<expan>n</expan>gge / his wille to fulfylle.</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>ende to <hi>A</hi>melek w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þy<expan>n</expan> oost / & what þ<expan>o</expan>u fynst sle it.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> beernes & beestis / brenne he<expan>m</expan> to dethe.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe wyvis & wydewis / & wo<expan>m</expan>me<expan>n</expan> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> chylde.<note>F.4.259: F alone has "with chylde." Other manuscripts read "and children."</note></l>
F.4.260KD.3.269
<l><hi>M</hi>evable & vn<seg>-</seg>mevable / al þ<expan>o</expan>u may þ<expan>er</expan>e fyȝnde.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>renne yt / ber<expan>e</expan> it nowht a<seg>-</seg>way / be it neu<expan>er</expan>e so ryche.</l>
<milestone>fol. 12rI</milestone>
<l><hi>F</hi>or <hi>M</hi>eede ne for mone / mak no <sic>þy<expan>n</expan></sic><corr>þyn[g]</corr> on lyve.<note>F.4.262: <hi>Bx</hi> fails in alliteration, and F has revised to provide alliteration on nasalization. <hi>Bx</hi> reads "For Mede ne for monee loke þow destruye it." <hi>Cx</hi> also revises the b-verse, but differently.</note></l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut spille it / & spar<expan>e</expan> it nowht / & þ<expan>o</expan>u shalt spede þe bettr<expan>e</expan>.</l>
F.4.264KD.3.273
<l> <sic>/</sic><corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>&</hi> for he coueytyd her<expan>e</expan> catel / & þe kyng he sparede.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> for<seg>-</seg>bar hy<expan>m</expan> / & hise beestis / as þe book telliþ.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>thir<seg>-</seg>wyse þa<expan>n</expan> he was / warned of þe p<expan>ro</expan>ph<expan>et</expan>e.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>Þ</hi>an seyde god / to <hi>S</hi>amewel / þ<expan>a</expan>t savl sholde dyȝe.</l>
F.4.268KD.3.277
<l><hi>&</hi> al his seed / for þ<expan>a</expan>t sy<expan>n</expan>ne / synfully þan endede.<note>F.4.268: Alpha is responsible for the preterite <hi>endede</hi>, a lection shared with Hm. Other beta manuscripts have <hi>ende(n)</hi>.</note></l>
<l><hi>S</hi>wich a <hi>M</hi>yschef / Meede made / kyng saul to have.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t god hatyd hy<expan>m</expan> for eu<expan>er</expan>e / & alle hyse eyȝres aft<expan>er</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e co<expan>n</expan>struyng of þis caas / kepe y nowht expowne.</l>
F.4.272KD.3.281
<l><hi>F</hi>or hap if it noyede me<expan>n</expan> / no<expan>n</expan> ende wil y make.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or so is þis world went / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> hem þ<expan>a</expan>t have powher.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t who<seg>-</seg>so seyþ he<expan>m</expan> her<expan>e</expan> soþis / he ys su<expan>n</expan>nest blamed.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> knowe it wel <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> <hi><hi>c</hi>o<expan>n</expan>sience</hi> / for wit me it tawhte.</l>
F.4.276KD.3.285
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t <hi><hi>r</hi>esou<expan>n</expan></hi> shal reygne / & rewhmes gouerne.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> ryght as <hi>A</hi>gag hadde no harm / so happe shull<expan>e</expan> su<expan>m</expan>me.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or <hi>S</hi>amvel shal <sic>fle</sic><corr>[s]le</corr> hy<expan>m</expan> / & saul shal be blamed.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> <hi>d<expan>aui</expan>d</hi> shal be dyademed / & adawnty<expan>n</expan> he<expan>m</expan> alle.</l>
F.4.280KD.3.289
<l><hi>&</hi> .o. c<expan>ri</expan>stene kyng / shal kepen al þe frape.<note>F.4.280: Other <hi>B</hi> witnesses have the relatively pedestrian b-verse variants "kepen hem echone" or "kepen hem alle."</note></l>
<l><hi>S</hi>hal no moor<expan>e</expan> meede be mayst<expan>er</expan> / so mychil as he<note>F.4.281: <hi>he</hi>, "she." Alpha preserves this form. All beta witnesses read <hi>she</hi>.</note> is nowþe.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut boþe <hi>love</hi> & <hi>lowenesse</hi> / & <hi>lewte</hi> to<seg>-</seg>gydre.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ese shull<expan>e</expan> be <hi>M</hi>ayst<expan>ri</expan>s on <hi>M</hi>oolde / <hi><hi>t</hi>rewþe</hi> to save.</l>
F.4.284KD.3.293
<l><hi>&</hi> who t<expan>re</expan>spaseþ a<seg>-</seg>gey<expan>n</expan> <hi><hi>t</hi><expan>re</expan>wþe</hi> / or takþ a<seg>-</seg>gey<expan>n</expan> his will<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi><hi>L</hi>ewte</hi> shal doon hy<expan>m</expan> lawe / & no lyf ellys.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>hal no sergau<expan>n</expan>t for no s<expan>er</expan>uyse / were a sylk howe.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e no pelewr<expan>e</expan> in his cloke / for plety<expan>n</expan>ge at þe barr<expan>e</expan>.</l>
F.4.288KD.3.297
<l><hi>B</hi>ut ofte <hi>M</hi>isdoeris þoru <hi>M</hi>eede / ys mey<expan>n</expan>tened be lord<expan>is</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> þoru þe <hi>L</hi>ordys be <hi>L</hi>awes / for to rewle þe rewhme.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>B</hi>ut kyȝnde <hi><hi>l</hi>ove</hi> shal come ȝit / & co<expan>n</expan>syence to<seg>-</seg>gydr<expan>e</expan>.<note> Two abbreviations for <hi>n<expan>ota</expan></hi> were written in very pale ink in the right margin by a later scribe.</note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> make of Lawe a laborer / swich love shal a<seg>-</seg>ryse.</l>
F.4.292KD.3.301
<l><hi>&</hi> swich pees<note>F.4.292: Alpha is responsible for the omission of <hi>a</hi> before <hi>pees</hi>.</note> a<seg>-</seg>mo<expan>n</expan>g þe peple / & p<expan>ar</expan>fyȝt trewþe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t Iewis shull<expan>e</expan> wene i<expan>n</expan> her<expan>e</expan> wit / & waxe wondir glade.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t <hi>M</hi>oyses or <hi>M</hi>essye / be comen i<expan>n</expan><seg>-</seg>to erthe.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> have wondir in hertis / þ<expan>a</expan>t me<expan>n</expan> be her<expan>e</expan> so tr<expan>e</expan>we.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.296KD.3.305
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>&</hi> all<expan>e</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t bery<expan>n</expan> baselard<expan>e</expan> / or<note>F.4.296: The initial character could be either an <e> or an <o>. Both forms appear in the manuscript.</note> brod<seg>-</seg>swerd or lawnce.</l>
<l><hi>E</hi>r ex or hachet / or ony wepene ellis.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>hull<expan>e</expan> be da<expan>m</expan>pned to þe deþ / but he do it smythie.</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n<seg>-</seg>to sykil or i<expan>n</expan><seg>-</seg>to sythe / to shar er to cultyr.</l>
<milestone>fol. 12vI</milestone>
F.4.300KD.3.308α
<l><foreign><hi><hi>E</hi></hi><hi><hi>t conflabu<expan>n</expan>t gladios suos in vom<expan>er</expan>es.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
<l><hi>E</hi>ch man shal pleyȝe w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe plowh /. or pykoyse or spade.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>r spy<expan>n</expan>ne or sprede du<expan>n</expan>k / or lese<note>F.4.302: Alpha is responsible for <hi>lese</hi>. Beta manuscripts have correctly alliterating <hi>spille</hi>.</note> hy<expan>m</expan><seg>-</seg>selue w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> slewþe.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>P</hi>restis & p<expan>ar</expan>sonys / w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> <foreign><hi>P</hi>lacebo</foreign> shull<expan>e</expan> hunte.</l>
F.4.304KD.3.312
<l><hi>&</hi> dynggyn vpon dauid / eu<expan>er</expan>y day til eve</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>untynge or hawkynge / if ony of hem it vse.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or his boost / his benefyȝs / worþ by<seg>-</seg>nome hy<expan>m</expan> aft<expan>er</expan>.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>S</hi>hal neyþ<expan>ir</expan> kyng ne knyght / ne Meyȝr ne co<expan>n</expan>stable.</l>
F.4.308KD.3.316
<l><hi>O</hi>uer leede þe comou<expan>n</expan>e / ne to her<expan>e</expan> court he<expan>m</expan> somowne.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e pitte hem in panel / to do plyghte her<expan>e</expan> trewþe.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut aft<expan>er</expan> þe dede / þ<expan>a</expan>t is doon / o doom shal rewarde.</l>
<l><hi>E</hi>r w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> M<expan>er</expan>cy / or w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> no M<expan>er</expan>cy / as trewthe wyll<expan>e</expan> a<seg>-</seg>sente.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.312KD.3.320
<l><hi></hi> <hi>B</hi>oþe kyngis court / & comou<expan>n</expan> cowrt / Constorye & chapetle.</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>ll<expan>e</expan> shull<expan>e</expan> be but .o. court / & .o. barou<expan>n</expan> be Iustise </l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan> worþ t<expan>re</expan>we tu<expan>n</expan>ge / a tydy ma<expan>n</expan> / þ<expan>a</expan>t tenede me<expan>n</expan> ofte.<note>F.4.314: A series of misunderstandings lies behind F's reading. <hi>Bx</hi> reads "me neuere." That in turn has been redivided to "men euere" and then translated to "men ofte."</note></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>N</hi>e þa<expan>n</expan>ne shull<expan>e</expan> no batailes be / ne no ma<expan>n</expan> shal ber<expan>e</expan> wepne</l>
F.4.316KD.3.324
<l>& what smeþ þ<expan>a</expan>t ony smythie<note>F.4.316: Alpha is responsible for <hi>smythie</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>smyteth</hi> or <hi>smyþeþ</hi>.</note> / he shal be smyte þer<seg>-</seg>wiþ.</l>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>N</hi></hi><hi><hi>on leuab<expan>i</expan>t ge<expan>n</expan>s co<expan>n</expan>t<expan>ra</expan> ge<expan>n</expan>te<expan>m</expan> gladiu<expan>m</expan>.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
<l>& er þis <hi><hi>F</hi>ortune</hi> falle / men shulle fyȝnde þe werse.</l>
<l><note>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.</note> For þer shul be sixe su<expan>n</expan>nes & a ship / & half a shef of arwis. </l>
F.4.320KD.3.327
<l>& þe <hi>M</hi>yddil of a <hi>M</hi>oone / shal make þe <hi>I</hi>ewis<note>F.4.320: Alpha and G lack <hi>to</hi> after <hi>Iewis</hi>.</note> t<expan>ur</expan>ne.</l>
<l>& þe sarsynes for þe syghte þ<expan>er</expan>of<note>F.4.321: Alpha is responsible for "þe syghte þerof," while beta manuscripts have "þat siȝte."</note> / shull<expan>e</expan> sy<expan>n</expan>gyn <foreign><hi><hi>Gl<expan>or</expan>ia in excel</hi>sis</hi></foreign>.</l>
<l>Þorghȝ<note>F.4.322: F alone has this reading. All other <hi>B</hi> witnesses have <hi>For</hi>.</note> <hi>M</hi>achamet & <hi>M</hi>eede / mys<seg>-</seg>shapen shull<expan>e</expan> þey<note>F.4.322: F alone has this reading. All other <hi>B</hi> witnesses omit <hi>þey</hi>.</note> þ<expan>a</expan>t tyme.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or <foreign><hi><hi>melius est bonu<expan>m</expan> nome<expan>n</expan> h<expan>ab</expan>ere  q<expan>ua</expan>m diuicie m<expan>u</expan>lte</hi></hi></foreign> </l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.324KD.3.331
<l><hi></hi> <hi>Þ</hi>o as wrothȝ as þe wyȝnd / wex Meede in a qwhyle.</l>
<l><hi>Q<expan>uod</expan></hi> she y can lytyl latyn / clerkys knowe þe sothe.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>ow see ȝee what <hi>s</hi>alomo<expan>n</expan> seyþ / In sapience bokys.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f hem þ<expan>a</expan>t gyveþ gyftys / þe victorie wynneþ.</l>
F.4.328KD.3.335
<l><hi>&</hi> myche worchepe haue þ<expan>er</expan>fore / as holy wryt telliþ.</l>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>H</hi></hi><hi><hi>onore<expan>m</expan> adquiret . qui dat mun<expan>er</expan>a.</hi></hi></foreign></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>I</hi> leve wel <hi>L</hi>ady <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> <hi>c</hi>o<expan>n</expan>sience / þ<expan>a</expan>t þy<expan>n</expan> Latyn be trewe.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut þ<expan>o</expan>u art lyk a <hi>N</hi>u<expan>n</expan>ne<note>F.4.331: F uniquely inserts <hi>Nunne</hi>.</note> <hi>L</hi>ady / þ<expan>a</expan>t a lessou<expan>n</expan> redde ones.</l>
F.4.332KD.3.339
<l><hi>I</hi>t was þus <foreign><hi><hi>omnia aute<expan>m</expan> probate</hi></hi></foreign> / & þ<expan>a</expan>t plesede her<expan>e</expan> herte.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or þ<expan>a</expan>t <hi>L</hi>yȝne was no lenger<expan>e</expan> / þan þe levis ende.</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>adde she lokyd on þe oþ<expan>ir</expan> half / & þe leef y<seg>-</seg>turned.</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>he sholde have fownde fele word<expan>is</expan> / folwynge aft<expan>er</expan>.</l>
F.4.336KD.3.343
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t seyde <hi><hi><foreign>q<expan>uo</expan>d bonu<expan>m</expan> e<expan>st</expan> tenete</foreign> / Trewthe</hi></hi> þ<expan>a</expan>t tyxt made.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> so feerde ȝee <hi>M</hi>adame / no moore cowhde ȝee fyȝnde.</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f þ<expan>a</expan>t ȝee seyȝe i<expan>n</expan> Sapience / syttynge i<expan>n</expan> ȝour<expan>e</expan> stodye.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut þis tyxt þ<expan>a</expan>t ȝee have told / ȝee takyn nout þe ende.<note>F.4.339: The b-verse is unique to F. <hi>Bx</hi> reads "were good for lordes."</note></l>
F.4.340KD.3.347
<l><hi>B</hi>ut ȝee faile a konynge clerk / þ<expan>a</expan>t can þe leef wel t<expan>ur</expan>ne.<note>F.4.340: The b-verse is unique to F. <hi>Bx</hi> reads "þat kouþe þe leef han torned."</note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> yf ȝee seke in <hi>S</hi>apience eft / fyȝnde shal ȝee þ<expan>a</expan>t folw<expan>e</expan>t<expan>h</expan>.</l>
<milestone>fol. 13rI</milestone>
<l><hi>A</hi> fu<hi>l</hi> teenefu<hi>l</hi> tyxt of þ<expan>a</expan>t ta<hi>l</hi>e / þ<expan>a</expan>t ȝee to me pitte.<note>F.4.342: F omits two lines and re-arranges others, melding KD3.349 and 3.351. <hi>Bx</hi> reads as follows: <lb/>
A ful teneful text to hem þat takeþ Mede <lb/>
<foreign>Animam autem aufert accipientium &c.</foreign> <lb/>
And þat is þe tail of þe text of þat ye shewed.</note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> þeyȝ ȝe wynne worchepe / & of me<note>F.4.343: Alpha is responsible for <hi>me</hi>. Beta manuscripts have <hi>Mede</hi>.</note> have þe victorye.</l>
F.4.344KD.3.353
<l><hi>Ȝ</hi>it þe sowle / þ<expan>a</expan>t þe syluer takþ / be so myche ys bownde.</l>
<milestone>BPassus 4</milestone>
<l><hi><hi>N</hi></hi><hi>O</hi>w sesiþ seyde þe kyng þo / y suffre ȝow no leng<expan>er</expan>e.</l>
<l><hi>Ȝ</hi>ee shul sawhtle for<seg>-</seg>soþe / & seruy<expan>n</expan> me boþe.</l>
<l><hi>K</hi>ysse hir<expan>e</expan> now <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> <hi>þ</hi>e <hi>kyng</hi> / þ<expan>o</expan>u consience y hoote.</l>
F.4.348KD.4.4
<l><hi>N</hi>ay be c<expan>ri</expan>st <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> <hi><hi>Co<expan>n</expan>syense</hi></hi> / honge<note>F.4.348: F alone reads <hi>honge</hi>. <hi>Bx</hi> reads <hi>congeye</hi>.</note> me rather sone.</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut if <hi>Resou<expan>n</expan></hi> rede me þ<expan>er</expan>to / rather<expan>e</expan> y will<expan>e</expan> dyȝe.</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>anne y comawnde þe q<expan>uod</expan> þe kyng / <space></space><note>F.4.350: The scribe inexplicably left a space of 13 mm after <hi>kyng</hi>. We have interpreted the flourish following <g> as a virgule since one does not otherwise appear.</note> <hi>Consyence</hi> he seyd<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>R</hi>ape þe to ryde a<seg>-</seg>non / <hi>&</hi> <hi><hi>R</hi>esou<expan>n</expan></hi> þ<expan>a</expan>t þ<expan>o</expan>u fecche.</l>
F.4.352KD.4.8
<l><hi>&</hi> comawnde hy<expan>m</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t he come to me / my<expan>n</expan> co<expan>n</expan>seil to her<expan>e</expan>.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or he shal rewle my rewhme / & reede me to þe beste.<note>F.4.353: F, like most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, lacks the following line attested in YCr <hi>23</hi>OC<hi>2</hi> as well as in versions <hi>A</hi> and <hi>C</hi>: "Of Mede and of mo oþere what man shal hire wedde."</note></l>
<l><hi>&</hi> a<seg>-</seg>Cowntr<expan>e</expan> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe <hi><hi>Co<expan>n</expan>sience</hi></hi> / so me c<expan>ri</expan>st helpe.</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>ow þ<expan>o</expan>u leernyst þe peple / boþe lerede & þe lewede.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
F.4.356KD.4.13
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>I</hi> am fayn of þis forward / seyd<expan>e</expan> þ<expan>a</expan>t freke þanne.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> to <hi> <hi>resou<expan>n</expan></hi></hi> he rood ryght / & rowned<expan>e</expan> in his ere.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> tolde hy<expan>m</expan> as þe <hi>kyng</hi> seide / & sytthe he took his leve.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>I</hi> will<expan>e</expan> go a<seg>-</seg>rayȝe me <hi>q<expan>uod</expan></hi> <hi><hi>Resou<expan>n</expan></hi></hi> / go reste þe þ<expan>er</expan>while.</l>
F.4.360KD.4.17
<l><hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>no<expan>n</expan> he klepede <hi>Ca</hi>tou<expan>n</expan> his knave / ful c<expan>ur</expan>teyȝs of speche.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> also <hi> <hi>To</hi>mme</hi> <hi>trewe</hi> <hi>tu<expan>n</expan>ge</hi> / þ<expan>a</expan>t tolde fewe talys.</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e <hi>l</hi>esyngis to <hi>L</hi>awhe of / for he lovede he<expan>m</expan> neu<expan>er</expan>e.</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>e bad / go sette a sadil vpon <hi><hi>suffr<expan>e</expan></hi></hi> / tyl y se my tyme.</l>
F.4.364KD.4.21
<l><hi>&</hi> let warroke hy<expan>m</expan> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> gyrtys / þ<expan>a</expan>t is w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> witty wordis.</l>
<l><hi>&</hi> hange on hy<expan>m</expan> þe hevi brydil / to holde his heed lowe.</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or he wil makyn . <hi>w</hi>e  <hi>h</hi>e  to <hi><hi>trewþ</hi>e</hi><note>F.4.366: The reading <hi>to trewþe</hi> is unique to F. <hi>Bx</hi> reads <hi>twies</hi>.</note> er he be þer<expan>e</expan>.</l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><sic>/</sic> <corr>[¶]</corr> <hi>Þ</hi>an <hi><hi>Consience</hi></hi> vpon his capil / cayreþ forþ faste.</l>
F.4.368KD.4.25
<l><hi>&</hi> <hi><hi>Resou<expan>n</expan></hi></hi> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> hy<expan>m</expan> rydis / rownynge to<seg>-</seg>gydre.</l>
<l>Whiche Maystryes on erthe / <hi><hi>Meed</hi>e</hi> þe <hi>M</hi>aide makeþ.<note>F.4.369: Alpha is responsible for the word order of this line. Beta manuscripts read "Whiche maistries Mede makeþ on þis erþe."</note></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l><hi></hi> <hi>A</hi><seg>-</seg>no<expan>n</expan> <hi><hi>w</hi>aryȝn</hi> <hi><hi>wyȝsdom</hi></hi> / & <hi>watte witty</hi> his feere.</l>