The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 7: <list type="simple" TEIform="list"> <item TEIform="item">London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 </item> <item TEIform="item">Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38</item> </list>

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 7: <list type="simple" TEIform="list"> <item TEIform="item">London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 </item> <item TEIform="item">Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38</item> </list> William Langland Edited by Robert Adams Associate Editors: Patricia R. Bart, M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. Farley Technical Editor: Daniel Pitti Graduate Research Assistant Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Carrie Lindley, Janice McCoy, Ashley Opps, Timothy L. Stinson, and Jordan Taylor. Computer Consultants and Programmers Robert Bingler, Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard, Chris Jessee, Daniel Pitti, David Seaman, and John Unsworth. The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET by Boydell and Brewer, LTD Woodbridge, Suffolk ISBN: (Individual) 9781843840947 (Institutional): 9781843840930

Commercially available:

2006 Combined facsimile & documentary edition. Identification of hands IRA = Robert Adams 1 computer optical disk : col. ; 4 3/4 in. The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET, by Boydell and Brewer, LTD. Woodbridge, Suffolk Source copy consulted: London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 and Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38

SEENET, A.9

Attribute Values br brown ink ab anglicana bastarda it italic lc Lombard Cap o[number] ornamented capital, N lines high rb rubricated tr touched in red tx textura ul underlined ur underlined in red gr green ink bl blue ink

Latin French German November 2005 revise header, update DTD and ent files Hoyt N. Duggan New header created Prologus de visione Petri Plowman R.P.0:

Fols. 77r and 80v are both very faded with considerable bleed-through from their opposite sides. In a few cases, the midline punctus elevatus must simply be inferred because the fading makes it indistinct though still visible. Moreover, the bottom and outer margins of all eight sides bound in Lansdowne 398 (77r-80v) are severely cropped.

More than one hundred lines at the beginning of the Prologue (= KD Prol.1-124) as well as the end of Passus 1 and the beginning of Passus 2 (= KD1.141 through KD2.40) have been lost from MS R since the early eighteenth century (at the latest). It is likely, but unproveable, that the event behind this loss also accounts for the fact that the surviving first few leaves of MS R (usually referenced as Oxford, Bodleian MS Rawlinson Poetry 38) are now bound into a completely different codex, London, British Library MS Landsowne 398. For more information, see Introduction, I.10."

Crist kepe þe sire kyng e  and þi kyngriche . And lene þe lede þi land  so lewete þe louye . And fore þi riȝtful rewelyng  be rewarded in heuene . ¶ And sithen in þe heir an hey  an aungel of heuene . Lowede to speke in latyne  fore lewede men ne cowede Iangele ne Iuge  þat iustifie hem schulde . Bute suffren an seruen for -þi seyde þe angel . Su m rex su m princeps · veutru m [n]eutru m neutrum R.P.8: The form of the <v> in veutrum is slightly blurred, but there is no possibility of transcribing it as <n>. This is a unique error in R. fortasse deinceps . A light brown brace in the right margin links RP.8-14. There is also some evidence of light brown underlining of the a-verses in RP.9-14, but it may be merely the ruling, which is quite visible on this side. O qui iura regis  christi specialia regis . Hoc quod agas melius  iustus es esto pius . Nudum vis ius R.P.11: Alpha reads vis. All beta family manuscripts read ius with the C archetype (a few C copies agree with alpha). a te  vestire vestiri R.P.11: Alpha is responsible for vestire, though the reading is shared by H. All authoritative Beta witnesses have vestiri, which is also the reading of the C version. wlt R.P.11: R's wlt is a common English scribal spelling for Latin vult; it appears to have resulted from an association between the customary phonetic value assigned to Latin initial <v> (= /w/) and a popular sense of the origin of the <w> graph itself as a "double v." Because many other European languages, as well as Latin, had no <w> graph, and foundries therefore omitted the form from standard typographic templates, English printers often resorted to using the digraph <vv> to represent English <w> till the end of the seventeenth century. Cf. R.7.65: ( wltis), R.12.71:, and R.15.43: (both wlt). pietate . Qualia vis metere  talia grana sere . Si vis ius R.P.13: Alpha reads vis. All beta family manuscripts read ius. nudatur  nudo de iure metatur . Si seritur pietur pietas pietas pietas de pietate metas . ¶ Þanne greuede hym a golyardas  a gloton of wordes . And to þe angel an heiȝ  answeres answerd R.P.16: Only L agrees with R in this reading; F and all other beta manuscripts agree on the preterite form, answerde. after . Dum rex a regere  dicatur nomen h abere . In both of these cases, the red boxing has been heavily rubbed. Nomen habet sine re  nisi studet iurea tenere . ¶ And þanne gan alle a þe R.P.19: R offers two unique readings in this line: (1) where the beta copies have þe comune(s) , R reads a comoune ; (2) where beta attests in vers, R has in a vers . F's reading of this line is completely erratic. comoune crie  in a nil vers of latyn . R.P.19: Immediately hereafter, alpha omits a line present in beta: To þe kynges conseille construe ho -so wolde . Precepta regis sunt nobis vincula legis . ¶ With þat ran þere a route of ratones  at ones . And smale mys with hem  mo þan a þousand . And comen to a conseyle  fore here comoune p rofitt e . For a cat of a courte  com whan hym lykede . And ouer -leep e hem liȝthliche  and lauȝt hem at his wille . And pleyed R.P.26: There is a small hole in the parchment here, causing the <d> of pleyed to be written slightly above the rest of the line. with hem periliousely  and possed hem aboute . For doute of diuerse dredes  we dare nouȝt wel loke . And ȝif we grucchen his of his ga mmen R.P.28: R's phrase here is unique; beta and the C version attest of his game(n) , while F reads his wille.  he will e greue vs alle . Cracche vs or clawe vs  and in his cloches halde . Þat vs lothes þe lyf  er he lete vs passe . Miȝt we with any witt  his wille with -stonde . We miȝte be lordes on lofte  and lyuen at oure eese . A raton of renou n  moste resonable R.P.33: R shares this reading with Hm and with the C version; beta and F read renable. of tonge . The rubricating scribe managed to touch each of the first characters on this side in red, at least so far as cropping permits us to judge. None of the initials survives in whole, but we have marked initials as rubricated where sufficient fragments remain to verify that fact. S eyde for a souereyne  helpe to hem alle hymselue(n) . R.P.34: In place of alpha's hem alle, beta reads hym-selue. I haue I -seyne segges q uod hee  in þe citee of london . B eren beȝes ful bryȝtte  abouten here nekkes . A nd somme coleres of crafty werke  vncoupled þei wenden . B oþe in warayne and in waste  whar e þaym lef lykeþ . R.P.38: There is considerable variation in attestation for the final phrase. F reads hem best lykeþ. Some of the beta copies show hem-self liked; others read hem leue liketh. A nd other while þei aren elles -where  as I here telle . W ere þere abelle a belle on here bye  by Ihesus Ihesu R.P.40: Beta witnesses have Ihesu. The C manuscripts are divided, a majority reading with beta but a significant minority, in both major branches, agreeing with alpha. as me thenketh . M en miȝt wite where þei wente  and away renne . ¶ A nd riȝt so q uod þat raton  reson me scheweth . T o bugge a belle of bras  or of briȝt siluer . A nd knetten it on a coler  for oure comoune p rofitt e . And hangen it vp -on þe cattes hals  þan here we mowen . R.P.45: Alpha lacks the following two lines attested by beta witnesses and by Cx: Where he ritt or rest or renneth to playe And ȝif him list for to laike þenne loke we mowen. And peren in his presens  þere while hym plei lyketh . And ȝif hym wraþheth ben y -war  and hys wey shonye . ¶ Alle þe þis route of þe nil R.P.48: The second þe in this line is R's unique addition. The first þe is an alpha variant (beta has þis). The C manuscripts are divided on this reading, a majority of the X family agreeing with beta, while a majority of the P family agrees with alpha. ratones  to þis resou n þei assented . Ac þo þe belle was I -bouȝt e  and on þe bey I -hanged hanged . Þere ne was raton in alle route þe route  for alle þe reme of france . Þat durste haue I -bounde þe belle  aboute þe cattes nekke . Ne hangen it aboute his þe cattes hals R.P.52: Beta reads þe cattes hals. Alpha's his hals is also the reading of the C version.  alle englond to wynne . And helden hem vn -hardy  and here conseyll e feble . And letu n here labour I -lost lost  and alle here longe studie . ¶ A mous þat muche goed  couthe as me thouȝte . Strok forth sternely  and stod by -forn hem alle . And to þe route of ratou ns  rehersed þis wordes . ¶ Þouȝ we had nil I -culled culled(en) R.P.58: In place of alpha's ( had I -culled ), beta witnesses read either kulled (LMCO) or killen (CrWHmG). The C version agrees on this reading with alpha. þe cat  yut schulde þer e cu m an -other e . To crachy vs and alle our e kynde  þouȝ we crope vnder benches . For -þi I conseill e alle þe comoune  to late þe catt I -worthe worthe . And be we neuer so bolde  þe belle hym to schewe . R.P.61: See note at RP.66. For I herde my sire seyen  is seuen ȝere I -passed . Þere þe cat ys a kytou n  þe court is ful elyng e . Þat witnesseth holy writt  who -so wile it rede . Ve terre vbi puer est rex rex est &c . For may no renk no þer R.P.65: F omits R's double negative and beta reads þer reste in place of R's no reste . reste haue  for ratones by nyȝte . — It is unclear why the scribe's lineation went wrong here (running together the Latin quotation with half the following English line, so that the b-verse ended up relegated to a line of its own). It seems likely that the problem is related to a larger problem of textual order between KDProl.188 and 197 in Bx (See Kane-Donaldson, p. 176, for their editorial reasoning on re-ordering this passage). However, there is no evidence that the R scribe had any clue about the source of the problem. The <f> at the head of RP.66 is not capitalized, but it is touched in red, and the small + in the left margin is probably irrelevant; similar marks are found beside most lines that were to have been boxed in red (unnoted in this edition). ¶ Þe while he caccheth conynges  he coueyteth nauȝt our e caray ne But fet hym alle wyth veneson  defame we hym neuere . For better is a litel los  þen a longe sorwe . Þe mase a -monge vs alle  þeiȝ we misse a schrewe . For many mann us malt e  we muys wolde destruye . And also ȝe route of ratones  rende mennes clothes . Nere þat cat of þe courte  þat can ȝow ouer e -lepe . For hadde ȝe ratones ȝour e wille  ȝe couthe nouȝt rewele ȝour e -selue I seye it nil R.P.75: R's it is a unique addition to the line as read by the beta witnesses (at this same point, F uniquely adds þis). However, Cx agrees on this reading with R. for my -self me R.P.75: Beta reads me, a lection also supported by the C version. q uod þe mous  I see so muchel after . Schal neuere þe cat ne þe kyton  by my conseil be greued . Ne carpyng of þis colere  þat costed me neuere . And þouȝ it costed had cost(n)e(d) me R.P.78: R's it costed me agrees in substance with FG, which also read a simple preterite. Beta has it had cost(n)e(d) me. The alpha reading is also that of the C version. catel  beknowen it Inolde I nolde . But suffre as hym -self R.P.79: There is an ink dot (smaller than a punctus) immediately after hym-self. From the lack of spacing, it appears to be accidental. wolde  to do as hym liketh . Coupled and vn -coupled  to cacche what þei mowe . For Forþi R.P.81: R's For is unique; F has & while beta reads For-þi. vche a wyse man R.P.81: Cf. beta's wiȝte and F's Mows. I warne wite wel hys owene . ¶ What þis meteles by -mene  þe ȝe R.P.82: Unfortunately, R's hand often fails to distinguish þ from y. As was the judgment of Kane-Donaldson, our guess here, judging by proximate renderings of both characters, is that R intended þe; if that was, in fact, the scribe's intention, the resulting reading is unique error; the other B copies read ȝe. men þat ben myrie . Deuyne ye ne dar I nouȝt for I ne dar R.P.83: F rephrases this a-verse extensively; in place of R's ne dar I nouȝt, beta reads for I ne dar, a phrase that agrees completely with the reading of the C version.  by dere god in heuene  ¶ R.P.84: The paraph marker for this strophe was either partially erased or badly rubbed. Ȝeet houed þere an hundreth  in houues of silke  Seriauntz it semede  at þat R.P.85: R's at (cf. R2.11) is formally unique among the B witnesses, which uniformly attest the expected þat; one C manuscript (Dc) shows the same clipped form as R's. Otherwise all agree with Bx. s erueden at þe barre . Pletedden for penies  and pondres poundes R.P.86: Beta reads poundes (which is also the reading of Ax and Cx) while F has pownded. R's reading, which was misconstrued by Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt as poudres, is unique among the B witnesses (manuscript E in the A tradition also attests ponderys). MED, s. v. ponder, defines pondres as "balance scales" or "weights," but the variant is almost certainly scribal. þe lawe . And nouȝt for loue of oure lorde  vnlese here lippes ones . Þow miȝtest e better mete miste  on maluerne hulles . Þan gete a mu mme of here mouth  her but mony hem by were R.P.89: In place of alpha's er, beta copies read til or but. Only R adds hem after mony. Later in this half-line, most B witnesses read be, but LMCY attest were. Among the C manuscripts, most P family witnesses agree with beta's til, while a majority of the X family agrees with alpha's er. However, at the end of the half-line, the C families fragment their allegiances, most of the P group (and four of the X group — P 2CotLcBo) now aligning with the more widely attested B reading, be, while some of the best X witnesses read wer(e), agreeing with LMCY. Both sets of variants were already attested in various A copies. I -she wed ¶ Barons and burgeis  and bonde -men alse . I seiȝ in þis assemble  as ȝe schul here after Baxsteres and brewsteres  and bocheres manye . Wolle websteres  and weueres of lynnen . Taillours and tynkeres  and tolleres in marketes . Masons and mynours  and many other craftes . Of alle alkin libbynge R.P.96: Beta reads alkin libbyng. The entire line is missing from the A and C versions, but it is witnessed in Z (MS Bodley 851), where the phrasing in question is identical to that found in alpha. laboreres  lopen forthe so mme . As dikares and deluares  þat doth here dedes ille . The entire outer margin is cropped, but as far down as the passus division, all initials are visible and all are touched in red. After the rubricated heading for Passus 1, the cropping becomes severe. And dryueth forth here dayes here þe longe day R.P.98: Cf. R's here dayes here with F's þe fayre day and beta's þe longe day. Beta's reading agrees with that of the A version, while the reading of R closely parallels that of Cx (= here days). . with deu vous saue dam emme . ¶ Kokes and here knaues  cryeden hote pies hote . Gode gris and gees  gowe go we dyne gowe go we . ¶ Tau erneres vntil hem  tolde þe same . Whitt wyne of osey  and of gascoyne red wyn of Gascoigne R.P.102: R's of gascoyne is deficient in length and alliteration to complete a full half-line, but it is substantively the same as the reading of the P family of C manuscripts. F has wyn of Gaskoyne, which essentially agrees with both the X family reading in the C tradition and with Ax. Beta reads, more explicitly, red wyn of Gascoigne. . Of þe ryn and þe rochel R.P.103: Beta reads and of þe Rochel . This is also the reading of Ax and Cx.  þe rost to defye . Al þis seyȝI seyȝ I slepynge  and seuen sithes more . Passus R.1.0: The of Passus in the heading is partially visible, but its specific identity is clear only from context. prim us de visione petri plowman — W hat þis montayne by -meneth  and þe merke dale . It is clear that the initials of line 1 and line 3 were oversized, and that they were executed in blue and red respectively. But their specific identities are inferrable only from context; hence, they are bracketed and marked as supplied. And þe felde ful of folke  I schal ȝow fayre schewe . A lufly lady of lere  in lynnen I -clothed . Com dou n from a castel  and cald me fayre . And seyde sone slepestow  sest þow þis poeple . How bysi þei ben  a -bouten þe mase . Þe moste partie of þis poeple  þat passeth on þis erthe . Haue þe þe[i] þei worchipp e in þis worlde  þei willne no better . Of other heuene þan here  holden þei no tale . ¶ I was aferd of here face  þeiȝ she faire were . And seyde mercy madame  what is þis to mene ¶ Þe toure vp þe tofte q uod sche  treuthe is þere -inne . And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte  as his worde techeth . For he is fader of feyth  formede ȝow alle . Bothe with fel and with face  and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittes . For to worchipp e hym þere -with  þe while þat ȝe ben here . Þat And R.1.17: The cropping of R here makes any reading speculative, but it is obvious from the surviving <t> that R's reading was unique; we conjecture Þat, but no other manuscript, including those of the A version (which attests the same line), shows this reading. þer efore he hiȝtte R.1.17: Or hiȝcte? In either case the form is unique in the manuscript, and the scribe does not steadily distinguish these graphies. þe erthe  to helpe ȝow echone . Of wollen of ly nnen  of lyflode at nede . An old ownership stamp for the British Library (in red) is found in the right margin opposite these lines. In mesurable manere  to make ȝow at ese . ¶ And comanded of his curteisye  in co mmou n thre thynges . Aren none nedful bute þo  and nempne hem I thenke . And reken hem by resou n  reherse þou hem after . Þat on his R.1.23: Compare this erasure to a similar instance at RP.89, where her was changed to er. vesture  fram chele þe to saue . And mete at þe mele  for mysayse of thy -selue . And drynk whan þow dryst e  ac do nouȝt e oute of resou n . Þat þow worthe þe wors  whan þow werche schuldest e ¶ For loth in his lif -dayes  for lykyng of drinke . Dede by his dowtres  þat þe deuel lykede . Delyted hym in drynke  as þe deuel wolde . And leccherye hym lauȝte  and lay by hem bothe . And al he witte it it þe wyn  þat wykked dede . In the space between these strophes, there is red offset from the passus rubric on 78v. ¶ Inebriemus eu m vino  dormiamusq ue cu m eo . Vt s eruare possimus de patre n ostro semen — Þorȝ wyn and þorȝ wymmen  þer e was loth a -combred . And þere gat in glotonie  gerles þat were cherles . ¶ Forthi drede delytable drynke  and þow schalt do þe bettre . Mesure is medicyne  þeiȝ þow muche ȝerne . It is nouȝt al gode to þe goste  þat þe gut axeth . Ne lyflode to þi licam  þat leef is is to þi þe R.1.39: R's reading here is unique among the B copies; the others attest is to þi. Ax agrees with the B majority (only Bodley 851 agrees with R) , but Cx is uncertain. Though a majority of C witnesses also supports the predominant reading, a significant minority of X family manuscripts (XICotBmBoUc) agrees with R in omitting to. soule . Lef nauȝt þi licame  for a lyeȝer hym techeth . Þat is þe wrecched world  wold þe bytraye . For þe fende and þi flesch  folwen þe to -gydere . This and that sueth seeþ R.1.43: Cf. F's sewe and beta's seeþ. Although three C witnesses (P 2UcDc) support the alpha verb, it seems clear that Cx had the same reading as beta. þi soule  and seith it in þin herte . And for þow schuldest ben Iwar  I wisse þe þe beste . ¶ Ma -dame mercy q uod I  me lyketh wel ȝour e wordes . Ac þe monee of þis molde  þat men so fast kepeth holdeth . R.1.46: For alpha's kepeth or kepe (= F), beta reads holdeth. Beta agrees here with the A version while alpha agrees with the C version. Telleth Telle R.1.47: R's verb inflection, Telleth, is unique among the B copies (F and beta agree on Tel(le)). However, both Ax and Cx agree with R's form. me ma -dame  to whom R.1.47: F omits madame from the a-verse phrase, while beta transposes the phrase and reads to whom Madame. F's reading agrees with that found in the other two versions of the poem. þat tresour appendeth . ¶ Goo to þe gospell e q uod sche  þat god seyde hym -selue . Þo þe poeple hym apposede  with a peny in þe temple . Wheither þei schulde þer e -with  worchipp e þe kyng sesar . And god axed of hem  of whom spak þe lettre . And þe ymage Ilyk  þat þere -inne stondeth The rubricating scribe failed to touch line-initial letters in red on this opening. . ¶ Cesaris þei seyden  we sen hym wel vchone . ¶ Reddite cesari q uod god  þat cesari byfalleth . Et que sunt dei deo  or elles ȝe don ille . For riȝtful resou n  schuld rewele ȝow alle . And kende witt be wardeyn  ȝoure welthe to kepe . And tutour of ȝour e tresor  and taken it ȝow at nede . For housbondrye and heo hij R.1.59: Heo, "she." R.1.59: Beta reads hij for alpha's he(o). However, both Ax and Cx support F's version of alpha's lection (= he).  halden to -gyderes . An old ownership stamp, in black ink, runs vertically downwards in the right margin opposite these lines; the label says MVSEVM BRITTANICVM. ¶ Þanne I frayned hire hir faire R.1.60: R uniquely omits faire at the end of the a-verse.  for hym þat hire made . Þat dongoen in þe dale  þat dredful is of siȝtte . What e may it be to mene  madame I ȝow by -seche . ¶ Þat is a castel R.1.63: Both F and beta read þe castel . This is also the reading of both Ax and Cx. Among the B manuscripts, only H agrees with R on this lection. of care  who -so cometh þere -Inne . May banne þat he borne was  to body or to soule . Þere -Inne wonyeth a wyȝth  þat wronge is I -hote . Fader of falsed  and founded it hym -selue . d d d e Adam and eue  he egged to Ille . Conseyled caym  to cullen his brother . Iudas he Iapede  with Iewes siluer . And sethen on an ellerne  honged hym after . He is lettere of loue  and lyeth hem alle Þat tristeth on his tresor  bytrayed aren R.1.72: Beta copies show considerable variation in this phrase, but beta itself probably read bitrayeþ he. This is a simple reversal of the archetypal C reading, which is he bytrayeth. By contrast, alpha's reading here is identical to that of Ax. sonnest e . ¶ Þanne haued I wonder in my witt  what wo mman sche it R.1.73: For alpha's sche, beta reads it. Beta's lection agrees exactly with Ax, but the alpha reading is semantically the same as that of C, which is he. wer e . Þat suche wyse wordes  of holy wrytt schewed . ¶ And hasked R.1.75: Cf. F's halsede and beta's asked. Though both variants are available in the A tradition, Ax almost certainly agreed with F's reading. The same is true for Cx, though a third variant, hanslede, is generated in some copies—apparently by metathesis—from a variant spelling of the original (= halsnede) still found in manuscripts EcQSc. The evidence in the B tradition seems easiest to explain on the supposition that R's verb form, hasked, was that of Bx and that beta merely normalized its spelling while F corrected the reading itself through his habitual use of an A manuscript for proofing. hyre on þe hiȝe name  er heo þennes ȝode . What he she R.1.76: He, "she." were witterly  þat wissed me so faire . ¶ Holy cherche I am q uod he she R.1.77: He, "she."  þow hauȝtest me to knowe . I vnderfong þe ferst  and þe faith tauȝte . And brouȝtest me borwes  my byddyng to fulfille . And to loue lely me me lelly R.1.80: Beta transposes alpha's lely me as me lelly. Beta's word order is also that of the A version.  þe while þi lif dureth . Þanne I courbed on my knes  and cryed hire of grace . And preyed hire pytously  to preye R.1.82: For alpha's to preye, beta reads simply prey. Alpha's reading is supported by that of Ax. for my synnes . And also kenne me kendely  on cryst to byleue . R.1.83: Alpha omits the following line found in beta: That I miȝte worchen his wille þat wrouȝte me to man. The line is not present in the C version but is attested in the A version. Teche me to no tresor  bute telle me þis ilke . How I may saue my soule  þat seint art I -holde . ¶ Whanne alle tresores aren tryed q uod he she R.1.86: He, "she."  trewthe is þe beste . I do it on deus caritas  to deme þe sothe . Þat it It R.1.88: For alpha's Þat it, , beta and the other two versional archetypes read It. is as derworthe a drewery  as dere god hym -selue . ¶¶ He Whoso R.1.89: R's He is unique; F reads He þat while beta reads Whoso. The A-version reading agrees with beta's. The C-version has a revised b-verse, but for this variant the manuscripts divide into the two large families usually seen, with the P family supporting R ( For he) while the X family is closer to beta ( For who ). is trewe of his tonge  and telleth non other . R.1.89: Ordinarily, throughout this manuscript, the scribe indicated where rubricated paraph markers should be inserted—alternately blue and red—by leaving a small cc in the margin. Many of these survive in the latter part of the manuscript, where very few rubricated paraphs were ever completed, but some have been erased, as is the case on fol. 80, where only the blank line between strophes attests scribal intentions. And doth þe werkes þer e -with  and wilneth noman ille . He is a god by þe gospel  a -grownde and a -lofte . And I -lyke to oure lorde  by seint lukes wordes . Þe clerkes þat knowe þis  schulde kennen it a -boute . For cristene and vncristene  claymeth it vchone . ¶ Kynges and kniȝtes  schulde kepe it by resou n . BRyden and rappe adoun  in reumes aboute . And taken transgressores  and teyȝen hem fast . Til treweth hadde I -termined  here trespas to þende . And þat is þe p rofessiou n apertelyche  þat appendeth for R.1.99: Most B copies, including F, read to knyȝtes . The latter reading is also that of the A and C version. kniȝt es And nouȝt to fasten a friday  in fyue score winter . But holden with him and wyth hire  þat wolden alle tr ewthe Ne And R.1.102: Ne is an alpha variant; beta reads And. Beta's reading here is also that of Ax and Cx. neuere leue hem for loue  ne for lacchyng e of seluer ¶¶ For dauid in his dayȝes  dubbede kniȝtes  And dede hem swere on here swerdes swerde R.1.104: The plural form is unique to R; the other B witnesses show swerde. Although three copies from the A tradition and one from C agree with R's plural, it is clear that the archetype in both of the other versions agreed with the B majority.  to serue trewth euere And who -so At this point there was an original diagonal tear in the parchment (repaired by stitching). The scribe has written around the tear, which also affects the spacing of R1.106 between crist and kyngene. passed þat poynt  was apostata in þa t ordre ¶ But crist kyngene kyng R.1.106: A partially erased <h> is visible, occupying the space between the <g> of king and the punctus elevatus. The <h> in question may connect with a partially erased ampersand above kyngene earlier in the line and indicate the occurrence of a fairly extensive erasure / correction in this passage.  kniȝtede ten . Cherubyn and seraphyn  suche seuene and othere . And ȝaf hem miȝt in his maieste  þe murgur hem tho uȝte And ouer his mene meyne  made hem archangeles Tauȝte R.1.110: The <e> of Tauȝte has been partially rubbed out but is still legible. hem by þe trinite  trewthe to knowe . And To R.1.111: For alpha's And, beta reads To, which is also the reading of the A version. be buxu m at his biddynge  he badde hem nauȝt ell es Lucifer with legiouns  lerned it in heuene . Cons t fol. 80. Til But for he brak buxu mnesse  his blisse gan he tyne And fel froo þat felaschypp e  in a fendes lyknesse . In -to a deep e derke helle  to dwelle þere fore euere . And mo thousantes with hym  þan man couthe nou mbre . Loupen ouȝt with lucifer  in lothelyche forme . For þei leueden vppon hym  þat lyede in þis manere . Ponam pedem in aquilone &c etera et similis ero altissimo R.1.119: R uniquely omits the end of this tag, as represented by the other B witnesses, as well as by C: et similis ero altissimo . . ¶ And alle þat hopede it miȝt be so  none heuene miȝt hem holde . But fellen outȝ in fendes lyknesse  nyne dayes to -gyderes . Til god of his goodenesse  gan stable and stynte . And garte þe heuene to stekye  and stonden in quiete . ¶ Whanne þis wykkede wente ouȝt  wonderwyse þei fellen . So mme in erthe so mme in eyre erthe R.1.125: Most beta copies (M being a notable exception) transpose the order of alpha's elements to Somme in eyre somme in erthe . This is also the order of Ax. However, Cx agrees with alpha's phrasing.  and so mme in helle deepe . Ac lucifer lowest  lyth of hem alle . For pruyde þat he pelt pult R.1.127: R's pelt is unique in spelling but substantively the same as the reading of Cr and L (= pult). F has pitte. Beta reads putte, which is also the reading of A. ouȝt  his peyne hath none ende . ¶ And alle þat worche with wronge  wende þei schulle . After here deth -day . to and R.1.129: For alpha's to, beta reads and, which is also the reading of the A and C versions. dwelle with þat schrewe ¶ Ac þoo þat werche wel  as holy writt telleth . And enden as I oer [e]r ere seyde  in trewthe þat is þe beste . Mowe be siker  þat here soule  schal wende to heuene . Þere trewthe is in trinite  for to and saue troneth R.1.133: In place of alpha's relatively vague saue(n), beta shows the properly alliterating troneth. The entire b-verse in beta ( and troneth hem alle ) is identical to that found in the A version . Although the C version is revised at this point, the appearance of trone in the P sub-archetype of its cognate line (X = tour) also suggests beta's superiority here. R's for to preceding the verb in question is unique; F has þat shal while beta reads and. hem alle . ¶ For -þi I seye as I seyde  ere by bi siȝte of þis tixtes . R.1.134: Evidently, alpha had dropped the third stave of this line, producing a short b-verse; beta, which agrees exactly with Ax here, reads bi siȝte of þise textis . Whan alle tresores ben R.1.135: Beta reads arn(e), which is also the probable reading of Ax. The C version is revised at this point. Itried  trewthe is þe R.1.135: The scribe has allocated a long space (approx. 1.8 cm.) between þe and beste to accommodate the original tear in the parchment described at R1.105. beste . ¶ Lereth R.1.136: Beta adds it after Lereth. This is also the reading of the A and C archetypes. this it þis lewed men  for lettrede me n it knoweth . Þat trewthe is tresor  þe triest on eerthe . ¶ I haue Ȝet haue I R.1.138: For alpha's I haue, beta reads Ȝet haue I, which is also the reading of Ax. However, the reading of alpha agrees with that of Cx. no kende knowyng quatz I  ȝette mote I ȝe lerne kenne me R.1.138: Once more, R's (and alpha's) third stave was defective in alliteration; cf. beta's b-verse, which offers ȝet mote ȝe kenne me to R's ȝette mote I lerne. Beta's reading agrees with that of the other two versions. bettre . By what craft in my corps  it comseth and where . ¶ Þow dotede daffe quatz sche  dulle arn þi wittes . R.1.140: Hereafter, R's text is lost for KD1.141 through KD2.40. Passus secundus de visione Petri Plowman . vt supra R.2.0: Here the lacuna in the manuscript (running from KD1.141-2.40) ends and text resumes. To on fals fikel of nil R.2.1: Beta omits of. tonge  a fendes byȝete . Fauel þoruȝ his faire speche  hath þis folke enchaunted . And alle is lyeres ledynge  þat sche is þus ywedded ¶ To -morwe worth ymad.  þe maydenes bruydale . And þere miȝt þow wite if þow wilt  whiche þei ben alle . Þat longeth to þat lordschippe  þe lasse and þe more . Knowe hem þere if þow canst  and kepen þi tonge . R.2.7: F and some beta copies read keep wel þyn tunge . Other beta witnesses show kepe þow þi tonge . Manuscripts CL agree with R's phrasing. None of the B witnesses agrees with Ax or Cx, which both attest kepe the fro(m) hem alle . And lak hem nauȝt but late hem worth  til lewte be iustic e And haue poer to puneschen hem  þanne putt forth thy r eson ¶ Now I bekenne þe crist q uod he she R.2.10: He, "she." R's he, repeatedly deployed for the feminine 3rd person sing. pronoun, is relatively uncommon among the B manuscripts in this role.  and his clene moder . And at lat R.2.11: At, "that." no consience acombre þe  for coueytise of mede . ¶ Þus left me þat lady  lyggynge a -slepe . And how mede was ymaried  in meteles me thouȝthe . Þat alle þe riche retenawans  þat regneth with þe false . Weren bede R.2.15: Though identical in meaning to the majority reading, R's form here is unique among the B copies; most of the others, including F, attest boden. Ax agrees with the B majority (although manuscripts VRa agree with R) , but Cx's verb form is uncertain. Though a majority of C witnesses also supports the predominant reading, most P family manuscripts (PVcAcQScFcGc ~ ibede McNc) agree with R. to þis þe R.2.15: F reads his; beta shows þe. Two A witnesses agree with R (manuscripts LaK), but Ax agrees with beta. Cx is uncertain: the X family reading is identical to that of beta, but the P family reading is þat. bridale  on bothe to sydes . In the right margin, in black ink, there is an early ownership stamp for the Bodleian Library. Of alle maner of men  þe mene and þe riche . To marie þis mayde  was many man ensembled assembled R.2.17: For alpha's ensembled (F has ensemblyd þere), beta reads assembled. . As of kniȝtes and of clerkes  and other comou ne poeple . ¶ As sysoures and sompnoures  scheryues and .her e clerke s Bedeles and bayliues  and brokoures of chafare . Forgoeres and vitayleres  and vocates of þe arches  I can nouȝt rekene þe route  þat ran a -boute mede . ¶ Ac symonye and cyuile  and sysoures of courtes . Were moste priue with mede  of any men þouȝte me þouȝte . R.2.24: R's reading here, men þouȝte, is unique error. R is probably reproducing an omission that had already occurred in alpha. As is often the case, F 's homologous reading, þere owte, has more the appearance of an attempted repair than a faithful reproduction of the sub-archetype. The Cx reading here is identical to beta's; however, manuscript X, the single best witness of this version, agrees with R in omitting me but then reinserts it in another hand! X's corrected error may attest to an early documentary parent of both B and C traditions in which the word occurred only as an interlinear correction. ¶ Ac fauel was þe furste  þat fette hire oute of boure . And as a brokour e brouȝt hire  to be with fals enioyned . ¶ Whanne symonye and cyuile  seiȝ here bether e beire R.2.27: The variant genitive forms bether, boþer and beire all appear in the manuscripts. wille . And Thei R.2.28: For alpha's And, beta reads Thei. Although the line is revised in the C version, its opening is identical to beta's phrase. assented for seluer  to seggen seye R.2.28: R's verb form here is unique; F has seyn while beta reads seye. as bothe wolde . ¶ Þanne leup lyere forth  and seyde lo here a chartre . Þat gyle with his grete othes  gaf hem to -gyderes . And preyede cyuile to se  and symony to rede it . ¶ Þanne symony and cyuile  stondeth R.2.32: Although R's meaning here is identical to that found in beta (presumably reading stonden), R's verb form is unique at this point in the B tradition; F agrees with YM in reading a preterite, stoden castel. Nevertheless, R's form is probably also the reading of Ax and is certainly the form attested in the X family of C. Among the P manuscripts, the preferred reading is that of FcYcMc (which can also be found among some A witnesses). forth bothe . And vnfoldeth þe feffement  þat fals hath y -maked . And þus bygyneth þis gomes  at to R.2.34: R's at (cf. R2.11 above) = standard þat and is a unique reading here. The other witnesses attest to. greden ful hiȝe . S ciant presentes R.2.35: R uniquely omits the end of this citation: & futuri &c . The C version of this citation agrees with that found in F/beta. &c etera & futuri . ¶ Wyteth and witnesseth  þat wonyeth vppon þis eerthe . Þat mede is I -maried  more for hire godes . Þan for any vertu or fairenesse  or any fre kende . Falsenesse is fayne of hire  for he wote hire riche . And fauel with his fikel speche  feffeth by þis chartre . To be princes in pruyde  and pouerte to despise . To bagbiten and to bosten  and bere fals witnesse . To scorne and to scolde  and s.clander to make . Bold and vnbuxu m Vnboxome and bolde R.2.44: In beta, the phrasal order of this a-verse is reversed: Vnbuxome and bolde . The beta rendering is, however, the presumptive original since it matches the order found in C.  to breke þe ten hestes . ¶ And þe eerldam of enuye  and wrathe to -gyderes . With þe chastelett of gestes chest R.2.46: Cf. F's Ieestys and beta's chest. The C reading agrees with that of beta.  and chaterynge out of tyme resoun . R.2.46: F's b-verse is unique ( & þe Iangelynge of synne). For R's tyme, beta reads resoun. The C reading agrees with that of beta. Þe contee of coueytise  and alle þe costes aboute . Þat is vsure and auarice  alle I hem graunte . In bargeynes and in brokages  with alle þe borgh e of thefte . ¶ And alle þe lordeschipp e of lecherie  in lenthe and in brede . As in werkes and in wordes  and waytynges with eiȝes . In wedynges wedes R.2.52: Cf. F's wenyngis, which is probably the reading of Bx as well as that of alpha; beta reads wedes. The Cx reading is uncertain; the P family agrees with beta, but the X group rejects all the B variants, revising to woldes. and in wischynges  and with ydel þouȝtes . Þere as wille wolde  and werkmanschipe fayleth . ¶ Glotonye he gaf hem eeke  and grete othes to -gydere . And alle day to drynke  at dyuerse tauernes . And þere to iangle and to iape  and iuge her e euencristene . And with in R.2.57: R's with is unique; Bx reads in. fastyng -dawes to frete  ar ful tyme were . And þan to sitten and soupen  til slepe hem assaile . And bredun as a as R.2.59: Beta does not attest a. burgh swyne  and bedden hym hem esely . Til slewth and slepe  slyken his sydes . Robart Bente you shalbe w ith vs at Budworthe and there to Testyfy youre knowlegh in a mater R.2.61: At the top of fol. 2r, a secretary hand has written in black, Robart Bente you shalbe w ith vs at Budworthe and there to Testyfy youre knowlegh in a mater . This note may explain the cropped margins of the first few pages of the manuscript: someone appears to have been using them for occasional short notes. Budworth probably refers to one of two ancient parishes in Cheshire, Great Budworth and Little Budworth. And þanne wanhope to a -wake hym so  with no wille t o amende For he leueth be yloste lost  þis is his here R.2.62: R's his is unique (but preferable to the F and beta alternatives, which are rejected in its favor by Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt); F reads þe while beta reads here. laste ende . ¶ And þei to haue and to holde  and here heyres after . A dwellynge with þe deuel  and dampned be fo for R.2.64: Neither MED nor OED2, s. v. for, cites an example of fo as viable for the preposition signified here, but it occurs in R in four widely separated contexts (cf. R14.60, R15.379, and R20.224) and probably represents an instance of idiolect apocope. euere . With alle þe .p urtenaunces purtenaunce of purgatorie  in -to þe pyne of hel le Ȝelding for þis thinge  at one ȝeres ende . Here soules to sathan  and to R.2.67: R's and is unique; Bx reads to. suffre with hym peynes . And with hym to wonyen in wo  while god is in heuene . ¶ In wytnesse of þis which R.2.69: For alpha's non-alliterating þis, beta properly reads which. Unfortunately, the problem appears to be, at some level, authorial rather than merely scribal. That is, although Ax clearly agrees with beta in alliterating this line on /w/ (using the exact same variants), Cx agrees with alpha just as emphatically in ignoring the normal alliterative pattern. Russell-Kane emend their C text back to the norm, but that seems pointlessly meliorative. At the very least, the aforementioned variant array (which is fairly typical) suggests a cavalier attitude toward such small metrical issues on the part of the C author. þing  wronge was þe furste . And peres þe pardonere  of paulynes doctrine . Bette þe bedel of bokyngh am -schire . Reynald þe reue  of rokelond Rotland sokene . Munde þe mellere  and many mo other e . In date of þe deuel  þis dede I asele . By siȝt of sir e symonye  at and R.2.75: This is a unique reading in R; Bx reads and. Cx agrees with the B majority. cyueyles leue . ¶ Þenne teneth tened R.2.76: Only R deploys a seemingly present-tense form of this verb (but the difference may be illusory; see the Introduction III.2.2.10. Beta reads tened while F has was teenyd. Both Ax and Cx agree here with beta. hym teologye  whan he þis tale yherde herde . And seyde to cyuile  now sorwe mote þow haue . Swiche weddynges to wurche  to wrathe with trewth e And ar þis weddyng be y -wroȝt wrouȝte  wo the be -tyde . ¶ For mede is moylere  of amendes engendreth . R.2.80: R shares an apparently nonsensical verb inflection ( engendreth for engendred) with beta witnesses LCY. Nevertheless, any RL shared form, however odd, is intrinsically likely to be archetypal, albeit perhaps non-authorial—because of their extraordinary accuracy as well as their definitive stemmatic positions. If this lection is not merely a blatant archetypal error (one "corrected" by most later copyists to the expected form), it may be that the R and L scribes (or the Bx scribe) understood the -eth suffix in this word as allomorphic with the past participle suffix -ed / -et attested in other B copies. The final phone of engendreth would then probably have been construed by L and R as /t/ (not the /θ/ which the spelling would suggest to us). Cf. the 1408 London will of John Plot. Twice in this brief document, Plot uses a phonologically identical verbal suffix <-yth> to denote the past participle form usually spelled as <-ed>. In the first instance, Plot requests that "thyr be Spendyth among my Nyebourus in Mete & in drynke" a certain amount of money; in the second, he requests that some of his assets be used for road repairs, or, as he phrases it, "be yspendyth betwene London and ware, of fowle weys, . . . there most nede ys" ( The Fifty Earliest English Wills, ed. Frederick J. Furnivall (London: Trübner, 1882), 14-15. A few pieces of evidence scattered throughout manuscripts L and R may support such a conclusion. One wonders, for example, whether the strong preference in manuscripts L and R for the ON-derived spelling of the cardinal number 100 (= hundreth) over the OE-derived form (= hundred) indicates that these scribes, or their models, would have pronounced that word with /θ/ as the final phone, rather than /t/. Such a conclusion seems doubtful. Rather, this spelling preference for the number 100 probably attests the same trivial orthographic anomaly hypothesized above concerning engendreth. For fuller discussion see Introduction III.2.2.10. And god granteth to gyue  mede to trewthe . And þow hast gyue hire to a gyloure  now god gyue þe sorwe Þe Thi tixit tixt tixt telleth þe nouȝt so  trewthe wote þe sothe . For dignus est operarius  hys huyre to haue . And þow hast fast hire to fals  fy on þi lawe . For alle by lesynges þow lyuest  and lechores lecherouse werkes ¶ Symonye and þi -selue  schenden holy cherche . Þe notaries and ȝee  nuyȝet R.2.88: Some beta copies and F agree in reading noyen but beta itself probably read as LMHm, noyeth. Only R shows what appears to be a preterite form of the verb (but see the Introduction III.2.2.10 regarding the possibility of morphological ambiguity in R's verb-tense marking). In a similar version of this line, Ax agrees with beta and F in using a present-tense form. þe poeple . Ȝe schulle a -byggen it bothe  by god þat me made . Wel ȝe wyten wernardes  but if ȝour e witt fayle . Þat fals is faithles  and fals fikel R.2.91: R's fals is unique; Bx reads fikel. in his werkes . And as was R.2.92: Beta reads was. Both Ax and Cx agree here with alpha. a bastarde ybore  of belsabubbes kynne . And mede is moylere  a mayden of goode . And miȝte kysse þe kyng  for cosyn and he she R.2.94: He, "she." On this variant of the feminine, 3rd person sing. pronoun, see the note at R.2.10:. wolde . ¶ For -thi wercheth by wysdom  and by witt al -so . And ledeth hire to londou n  þere lawe is yschewed . If any lawe wil loke  þei ligge to -gyderes . ¶ And þouȝ iustices iuge hire  to be ioyned with fals . Ȝut beth war of þe nil R.2.99: R's þe is owed to alpha, though it is shared by GH. Beta omits it. Many A witnesses, as well as Cx, agree with alpha on the presence of this determiner. weddynge  for witty is trewthe . And consience is of his conseyle  and knoweth ȝow echeone . And if he fynde ȝow in defaute  and with þe fals holde . It schal be -sitte ȝoure soules  ful soure atte laste . ¶ Hereto assenteth cyuile  ac symonye ne wolde . Til he hadde siluer for this his R.2.104: R's this is unique; beta reads his while F rephrases the entire line (which appears to be corrupt at the archetypal level when compared to the rendering in A and C). s eruise  and al -so þe notaries . ¶ Þanne fette fauel forth  floreyns ynowe . And bad gyle to gyue  gold al aboute . And nameliche to þe notaries  þat hem non ne fayle . And feffe fals witnesse  with floreyns ynowe . For he þei R.2.109: Only L, among beta copies, agrees with alpha's reading here; the other beta witnesses attest þei. However, the LRF reading is almost certainly authorial, matching the reading found in Ax and Cx. may mede a -maystrie  and maken at my wille . ¶ Þo þis gold was Igyue  grete was þe thonkyng e . To fals and to fauel  for here faire ȝiftes . And comen to conforte  fram care þe fals . And seyden certes sir e  sese schul we neuere . Til mede be þi wedded wyf  þorȝ wittes of vs alle . For we haue mede amaysterud  thorȝ with R.2.115: Beta reads with here, agreeing with the apparent reading of Ax (two A copies, manuscripts LaE, agree with alpha); the C manuscripts support alpha almost unanimously. oure merie speche . Þat heo graunteth goo to gon R.2.116: For R's goo, F reads for to goo while beta has to gon. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta's phrasing.  with a good wille . To londou n to loke  if þat þat þe R.2.117: R's if þat lawe is unique; F and some beta copies read ȝif þat þe Lawe ; other beta witnesses have if þe lawe. The reading of Ax is uncertain (because of a wide variety of variants here) but may have agreed with R's. The reading of Cx is if lawe . lawe walde iuge . R.2.117: R uniquely divides this line after iuge; all other B witnesses divide the line before this word. Ȝow ioyntly  in ioye for euere . ¶ Þanne was falsenesse fayne  and fauel as blythe . And leten sompne alle þe R.2.120: R is joined by G in attesting þe (and Ax agrees with the R variant), but the word is not found in F ( alle me n ) or beta ( alle segges). The P family of C agrees with beta's rendering of this phrase, but the X family has alle his segges . segges  in schires aboute . And bad hem alle be bown  beggeres and otheres othere . R.2.121: R is the only witness for the plural form; all other B copies (except Hm, which shows ellis) attest the singular othere. Both Ax and Cx agree with the F/beta phrasing. M M Butte N N Nell XXX CX God from Sam R.2.122: At the top of fol. 3r are the remains of various sixteenth-century pen trials, scribbled in jagged fashion horizontally, from left to right. To wenden with hym hem R.2.122: Though RF opt for the apparently singular form (a reading endorsed by Schmidt), beta agrees with Ax in reading hem, which seems more appropriate to the plural referents named in previous lines; the P family of C also attests this reading, but the X family agrees with alpha. However, MED, s.v "hem," documents hym as an available but rare spelling, especially in the fifteenth century, for the objective case of the third-person plural pronoun. So the difference noted above may be only a clutter of scribal / authorial accidentals. to westmenstre  to witnesse þe þis R.2.122: For alpha's þe, beta reads þis. A majority of A witnesses supports beta, but a sizeable minority agrees with alpha. dede . ¶ Ac þanne cared þei for caplus  to cayren hem þidur . And fauel fette forth þenne  folus Inowe . And sette mede vpp e vpon R.2.125: For R's vppe, F has on while beta reads vpon. The same line occurs in the A version, where the reading agrees with F's. a schyriue  I -schoud shodde alle newe . The terminal punctus for each of these lines has been rubbed or partially erased long ago, but they are both sufficiently visible for detection in normal light. And fals satt on a sysoure  þat softlyche trotted . And fauel on a flaterere  fetysliche atyred . ¶ Þo haued R.2.128: Only manuscript L agrees with R's unusual verb form haued (common in the thirteenth century but nowhere cited in MED, s. v. haven, later than about 1330, except for Piers Plowman). Both F and the majority of beta copies read had(de). The same line appears in A, but Kane was not concerned to record such morphemic variations, regarding them all as accidentals. notaries none  anuyed þei were . For symonye and cyuile  schulden on here feet gange . ¶ Ac þanne swore symonie  and cyuile bothe . Þat sompnoures schulde be sadeled  and s erue hem vchone . And lat apparayle þe þis R.2.132: FGH omit any determiner, while beta reads þis. The same array of variants is present at this point in the A witnesses , with no strong evidence for originality. p rouisoures  in palfreyes wyse . Syre symonie hym -selue  schal sitten vppon here bakke s T om th Between these two lines is what seems to be a pen trial of uncertain age: T om th . ¶ Denes and southdenes  drawe ȝow to -gyderes . Erchedeknes and deknes nil R.2.135: R's deknes is a unique addition unattested in any other B manuscript.  officiales and alle ȝour e regestreres Lat sadle hem with siluer  oure synne to suffre . As deuoutrie auoutrie R.2.137: This is the alpha variant. Beta offers a more common synonym, but one that fails to alliterate: auoutrie. F reverses the noun phrasal order of the a-verse. and deuoses  and derne vsure . To bere byschoppes aboute  a -brode in visitynge . ¶ Paulines priues  for pleyntes in þe consistorye Schule serue my -selue  þat cyuile is nempned . And carte -sadele þe comyssary  oure carte schal he lede And fecche vs vitailes  at fornicatores . ¶ And makeþ of lyare a lange karte  to leden alle þes oth ere As fobberes Freres R.2.144: Beta has Freres. A majority of A witnesses attests folis at this point (though three, manuscripts LaWaN, agree with beta). Cx has fobbes. That support, as well as the word's relative rarity, suggests alpha's variant is likely to be authorial in B. Schmidt accepts fobberes at face value. MED, s. v. fobben, hypothesizes that fobberes was derived from "fobben," v., but cites merely two Piers Plowman manuscripts for the form's existence. Conversely, Kane-Donaldson view alpha's variant as scribal and emend to the C form. and faytoures  þat on here feet rennen . ¶ And þus fals and fauel  fareth forth to -gyderes . And mede in þe myddes  and alle þese men after . ¶ I haue no tome to telle  þe taile þat hem folweth . Of many maner man  þat on þis molde libbeth . John naylle R.2.149: A sixteenth-century signature written vertically upwards appears in the lower left margin of fol. 3r: John naylle . Ac gyle was forgoer e  and gyede hem alle . Sothnesse seiȝ hem wel  and seyde bute a litel . And prikede his palefrey  and passed hem alle . And com to þe kynges courte  and consience it tolde . And consience to þe kynge  carpud it after . ¶ Now by crist q uod þe kyng e  and I cacche miȝte . Fals other or fauel  other or R.2.155: Beta reads this set of correlative conjunctions as or . . . or. F agrees with R for the first ( eyþ ir) but reverts to the beta variant for the second . A majority of A witnesses agrees with beta (but Kane chooses the alpha set, exemplified in manuscript T, as a "harder reading"). Cx's reading is also somewhat ambiguous, with a majority of witnesses (mostly of the P family) attesting oþur in the first case and a minority (again mainly P family manuscripts) offering the same variant in the second instance. any of his feres . I wolde be wroke of þoo wrecches  þat wurcheth so ille . And do hem hange by þe hals  and alle þat hem maynteneth . Schal neu ere man of molde  meyntprise þe leste . But riȝt as þe lawe wil loke  lat falle on hem alle . ¶ And comanded a constable  þat com atte þe furste . Goo R.2.161: Beta reads To, which is also the reading of Ax. Four C witnesses (IP 2FcNc) agree with beta, but Cx clearly agrees with alpha's Goo. atache þo tirantes  for eny thyng I hote . And fetreth fast falsnesse  for eny kynnes ȝiftes . And gerdeth of gyles heued  and lete hym goo no further e . And ȝif ȝe laccheth lacche(n) R.2.164: R's form is unique; F and most beta copies read lacche(n). Both Ax and Cx appear to agree with the F/beta reading. lyere  lat hym nouȝt asckapen . Ar he be put on þe pillerie  for eny preyere I hote . And brengeth mede to me  maugre hem alle . ¶ Drede atte dore stode  and þe dome herde . And how þe kynge demede comaunded R.2.168: R uniquely fails in alliteration here; F and beta read comaunded.  constables and s eriantz . Falsnesse and his felaschipe  to fetturen and to bynden . Þanne drede wente wiȝtlyche  and warnede þe fals . And bad hym flee for fere  and his felawes alle . ¶ Falsenesse for fere þanne  fleiȝt fleiȝ R.2.172: R's form is unique; F and many beta copies read fleiȝ. Other beta witnesses have fledde. Both Ax and Cx appear to agree with the F/beta reading. to þe freres . And gyle doth hym to go  agast for to deye . Ac marchantz mette with hym  and made hym abyde . And by -schetten hym in here schoppe  to schewen her e war e . And apparayled hym as a prentise  þe poeple to s erue . ¶ Liȝtliche lyere  leep awey þenne  Lurkynge þorȝ lanes  to -lugged of many . He was nawer e welcome . for his many tales . Ouer al I -howted  and I -hote trusse . Til pardoneres haued pite  and pulled hym into house . Þei weschen hym and wyped hym  and wonden hym in cloth es cloutes R.2.182: Although Hm agrees with alpha, beta itself must have read cloutes. It is unclear what the reading of Ax was since the alpha / beta disjunction is mirrored by nearly equal numbers of A witnesses. Cx, however, agrees with beta on this form. And sent hym with seales  on sonedayes to cherches . And gaf pardon fore pans  pound -mel aboute . ¶ Þanne lowrede leches  and lettres þei sente . Þat he schulde wonye with hem  watres to loke . ¶ Spiceres speken to with R.2.187: Beta has with. Although both readings are available in the A tradition, a large majority of A witnesses agrees with beta. On the contrary, Cx clearly agrees with alpha's to. hym  to spien here ware . For he couthe on of R.2.188: Although Hm supports alpha, beta itself must have read of. Both Ax and Cx agree with alpha's reading. here craft  and knew many gu mmes . ¶ Ac minestrales and mesageres  metten with hym ones . And helden hym half a an half R.2.190: For alpha's half a, beta reads an half. Cx probably read simply half, a variant also found in the A tradition (manuscripts TRaUNMa). However, a plurality of A witnesses agrees with alpha's phrasing (though two agree with beta). ȝere  and elleuene dayes . ¶ Freres with fayre speche  Fetten hym þennes . And for knowyng of comeres  coped hym as a frere . Ac he hath leue to lepe out  as ofte as hym liketh . And is welcome whan he wille  and wonyeth with hem o fte ¶ Alle fledden for fere  and flowen into hyrnes . Saue mede þe mayde  no man na mo R.2.196: R's no man is unique in the B tradition (four A copies share the reading); F and beta read na mo, which is the reading of Cx and of a majority of the A manuscripts. durste abyde . Ac trewly to telle  heo tremeled for fere drede . And al -so ek R.2.198: Beta reads ek, which is also the reading of Ax ( Cx has bothe). wepte and wrong wronge whan  heo she was R.2.198: Where R has heo was, F reads for she was while beta reads whan she was. Beta's rendering is that attested by the other two versions for this passage. a -thachud . Passus tercius de visione petri plowman . vt sup ra &c etera . N ow is mede þe mayde  and namo of hem alle . With bedelus and with bayliues  y -brouȝt by -for þ e kynge Þe kyng called aclerke a clerke  can I nouȝt his name . To take mede þe mayde  and maken hire at ese . I schal assay hire my -selue  and couthliche sothelich R.3.5: R's couthliche is a unique variant, probably reflecting an alpha error (beta = sothelich); F smooths this mistake to sotilly hire . appose . What man of þis world molde R.3.6: The beta reading is molde. However, the entire a-verse represents a problem. F's rendering of this half-line, What wyȝe of þis world, may be the original, descended vertically from alpha. If that were the case, R (which is usually much more faithful to copytext than F) would have slipped into the same modernized form for the first stave word as beta did ( man) but preserved the second as rendered in alpha and Bx, (i.e., worlde), creating an instance of faulty alliteration. By contrast, having modernized wyȝe out of this line, beta would then have gone on, in the interest of alliterative regularity, to invoke the archaism molde as a replacement for the original worlde. Unfortunately for this theory, the evidence from the other versions fails to provide it with much support. The evidence of the A witnesses overwhelmingly favors man as the first stave of this half-line. And a significant majority of the same manuscripts supports worlde as the second stave (RaUHaEKWa = molde), agreeing exactly with the testimony of manuscript R in the B tradition (against both F and beta). Among the C copies, the agreement with R's non-alliterating phrase is universal. If Langland's metrics seem too embarrassed by this evidence, it is still possible to theorize that he intended the first stave word of the line to be What rather than man, but this hypothesis remains awkward since it would require an elevation of were in the b-verse from its apparent position in a dip.  þat hire were leuest . And if heo she wurche be my witte  and my wille folwe . I wile for -gyue hire þis gultes gilte R.3.8: The beta reading is gilte. Ax agrees with beta, but Cx agrees with alpha.  so me god helpe . ¶ Curteysliche þe clerke þanne  as þe kyng e hiȝte . Tok mede by þe middel  and brouȝte hire in -to chaumbre . Ac þere was murthe and ministracie mynstralcye  mede to plese . ¶ Þ ei þat wonyeth at westmenstre  worschipped hire alle . Gentiliche with ioye  þe iustices somme . Busked hem to þe bowr e  þere þe buyrde dwelte dwelled . To conforte hire kendeliche  by clergyse leue . And seyden mourne nouȝt mede  ne make þow no sorwe . For we wil wyse wisse(n) þe kyng  and þi weye schape . To be wedded at þi wille  and where þe leef lyketh . For alle consience crafte caste  and cast craft R.3.19: R's phrase, crafte and cast, represents the alpha order for this pair (cf. F's craft or cast); in beta manuscripts they are reversed. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta's order. as I trowe . ¶ Mildliche mede Mede þanne R.3.20: Here R uniquely omits þanne (F attests this adverb's presence at the head of the a-verse rather than the tail, as in beta). Both Ax and the X family of C agree with beta's reading. The P family of C positions the adverb as in beta, but reads it as þo.  merciede hem alle . Of þeire grete godenesse  and gaf hem vcheone . Coupes of clene gold  and cuppes of siluer . Rynges with rubies  and ricchesse ricchesses R.3.23: Beta shows the plural, ricchesses. Both variants are available in the A tradition, but a significant majority of A witnesses agrees with beta's reading. manye . Þe lest man of here meyne  a motou n of goolde . Þanne lauȝte þei leue  þis lordes at mede . ¶ With þat comen clerkes  to conforte hire þe same . And beden hire be blithe  for we beth þin owene . For to wurche þi wille  þe whyle þow miȝt last . ¶ Hendeliche heo þanne  be -hiȝte hem þe same . To loue ȝow R.3.30: F and most beta manuscripts show hem here (M has been erased and overwritten to match this majority reading), but L uniquely agrees with R's ȝow. Although two A manuscripts (RaU) agree with the LR reading, it seems clear that Ax supports the F/beta variant. However, the A majority continues in the following line with third-person plural references (RU again dissenting), but a large cluster of fairly reliable B manuscripts (MCOF, as well as the BmBoCot set) all suddenly shift to second-person plural pronouns at this point, coming back into alignment with LR. It appears likely, then, in the light of this attestational pattern, that LR are not randomly agreeing in error but witnessing, at R3.30, what actually appeared in Bx, that the other B copies, by contrast, are merely drifting along with the third-person references established in previous lines of this passage and fail to notice, until the next line, the sudden shift in viewpoint caught here by the two most careful B scribes. lely  and lordes to make . And in þe constorie at courte  do calle ȝoure names . Schal no lewednesse lette  þe clerkes leode R.3.32: Although alpha's third stave shows defective alliteration (cf. beta's leode, which is also the reading of Ax), alpha's clerkes is supported by Cr and universally by the C version. The possibility that alpha and C have randomly converged in error here, both chancing upon the same word that neither alliterates in its line nor is an equivalent for the word replaced, seems unlikely—especially since this particular pattern of alpha / C agreement in editorial change is one that recurs frequently throughout the developing narrative. Only two explanations seem plausible for this array of variants and for many similar ones; however, at this distance the two explanations are almost indistinguishable: (1) While he was working on B, Langland began to be much more concerned about his London readers not understanding obsolescent words like leode than about small metrical lapses and therefore entered a series of marginal "updatings" into Bx's exemplar, moving it away, at times awkwardly, from original A readings in order to meet his changed perception of audience needs. When confronted with such evidence of authorial ambiguity in his exemplar, the scribe of Bx usually hedged his bets by copying the text unaltered, with the authorial change reproduced in his own margin (perhaps thinking it a gloss). In the final stage of this process, alpha and beta followed their respective proclivities, with alpha normally taking such an entry as authorial revision and using it to supplant the original text while beta usually took it as a mere gloss, ignored it, and copied what he saw in the body of the line of Bx. Or, (2) like its many anomalous relatives in other "revised" lines, clerke(s) was indeed a purely scribal gloss in the immediate ancestor of Bx and had no warrant from the author, but still seemed sufficiently ambiguous to the Bx scribe to deserve exact reproduction. The roles of alpha and beta in this scenario remain the same as in the first. But what is painfully evident is that, by the time he began using the exemplar of Bx to create the C text, Langland either didn't care anymore about such small aesthetic matters or had completely forgotten who had authored clerkes—or both! þat I louye . Þat he he ne R.3.33: Only the two alpha manuscripts here omit ne before the verb. The A version here agrees completely with beta. worth furst vaunsed auanced R.3.33: R's vaunsed is a unique form among the B witnesses but dominates the X family of C. The P family tends to agree with the F/beta reading, auaunced. As would be expected, MED, s. v. vauncen, categorizes vaunsed as a clipped form derived from the verb avauncen. Citations for this form are mostly from the fifteenth century (but the passage from manuscript R is also cited as well as one from Robert Manning).  for ich am by -knowe . Þere connynge clerkes  schulle clokke by -hynde . ¶ Þanne com þer e a confessoure  ycoped coped as a frere . To mede þis þe mayde  he mellud þis R.3.36: R's phrase þis mayde is unique. F's has þat Mayde while beta reads þe mayde. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. wordes . And seyde ful sotely softly R.3.37: R's sotely is unique; the other B witnesses read softly; the C version is revised at this point, but Ax agrees with the B majority and no A copy agrees with R .  in schrift as it were . Þeiȝ lewed men and lered men  had leyne be þe bothe . And falsede falsenesse R.3.39: Cf. F's Fals and beta's falsenesse. Though all three variants are available in the A tradition, Ax almost certainly agreed with R. As for C, the manuscript support in that version for R's lection is almost universal. hauede I -folwed þe  al þis fifty wynter . I schal assoyle þe my -selue  for a seme of whete . And al -so be þi bedeman  and bere wel þi message . Amonges kniȝtes and clerkes  consience to turne . ¶¶ Þanne mede for here misdedes  to þat man kneled . And schrof hire of hire schrewednesse  schameles I trowe . Tolde hym a tale  and tok e hym a noble . For to ben hire bedeman  and hire brocour e alse . ¶¶ Þanne he assoyled hyre sone  and sytthen a he R.3.47: A, "he." sayde . We han a wyndow a -werchynge  wil sytten vs ful hiȝe . Waldestow glase þat gable  and graue þer e þere -inne R.3.49: R's þer e is unique; the other B manuscripts have þere-inne. However, almost all C witnesses agree with R. þi name . Syker schulde þi soule be  heuene to haue . ¶¶ Wist I þat quatz mede  þere nys is wyndow no wowȝ ne awhter . R.3.51: Beta's version of the b-verse reads I wolde nouȝt spare . It seems likely that the long passage of damaged or missing text in alpha after this point (cf. R3.52) may actually begin with this b-verse. Þat I ne nil wolde make and amende do mende it or make  it with of myne at þe fulle . These two lines are offered by alpha instead of eleven lines preserved in beta (= KD3.52-62); it appears that the beta passage is archetypal but was somehow overlooked or unavailable to alpha and that the two lines in their stead were introduced to patch the resulting incoherence, adapted from two cognate lines in A (= Kane 3.50-51). Beta's cognate lines are as follows: Wist I that quod þat womman I wolde nouȝt spare For to be ȝowre frende frere and faille ȝow neure Whil ȝe loue lordes þat lechery haunteþ And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis þat loueþ wel þe same It is a frelete of flesche ȝe fynde it in bokes And a course of kynde wher -of we komen alle Who may scape þe sklaundre þe skaþe is sone amended It is synne of seuene sonnest relessed Haue mercy quod Mede of men þat it haunte And I shal keure ȝowre kirke ȝowre cloystre do maken Wowes do whitten and wyndowes glasen . And my name write & do peynte me & myn name  openliche apertly þere -Inne . Þat vch a eury R.3.54: For alpha's vch a, beta reads eury. Alpha's reading is supported by a majority of A witnesses, but beta's variant agrees with C. segg e schal Ise seyn R.3.54: This form (cf. F's see) is an alpha reading that agrees with both Ax and Cx against beta's seye(n) (= modern "say").  Ich am suster to ȝow alle of ȝowre hous . R.3.54: R's to ȝow alle is from alpha; beta reads of ȝowre hous. Both Ax and Cx here support beta, the former by complete agreement, the latter by being an obvious revision of the beta phrase (C = of ȝoure ordre). ¶¶ Ac god to alle goed folke  suche grauynge defendeth . To writen in wyndowes  of here wel -dedes . And An aunter pruyde be ypeynted peynted þere  and pompe of þe wo rld For god crist R.3.58: R's god fails to alliterate properly (cf. the F/beta reading, crist, which does alliterate). Nevertheless, all the C witnesses agree with R against F and beta. knoweth þi consience  and þi kende wille . Þi And þi R.3.59: The opening of this line in F reads Boþe þe coost; cf. beta's And þi coste. However, the P family of C agrees with R's line opening (the X family has no reading here at all as a result of an earlier error that merged two lines in its subarchetype). cost and þi coueytyse  and who þe catel owȝte . ¶¶ For -thi I lere ȝow lordes  leueth suche werkes . To writen in wyndowes  of ȝour e wel -dedes . Or to grede after goddes men  whan ȝe delen doles . An aunter ȝe han ȝoure hir e here  and ȝour e heuene al se Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera  R.3.64: The right end of this red boxing has been cropped. Lat nouȝt þi left half  late ne rathe . Wite what þow worchest  with þi riȝte syde . For þus bitt þe gospel  goede men do here almesse . ¶¶ Meyres and maceeres  þat menes ben by -twene . Þe kyng and þe comou ne  to kepe þe lawes . To ponysch vppon on R.3.70: Beta reads on. Ax clearly agrees with beta here, but the C families are divided, the P group supporting beta while the X group agrees with alpha's vppon. pilaries  and pynyng e stoles . Brewsteres and bakesteres  bocheres and kokes . For þese aren men vppou n on R.3.72: Beta reads on. C is revised at this point, but the A version attests an identical line, in which witnesses are mostly divided between beta's reading and of þis molde  þat moste harme werchen . To þe pouere poeple  þat parcelmel buggen . ¶ And also For they R.3.74: R's And also is unique but may derive from alpha; cf. beta's For they and F's &. C is revised at this point, but the A version attests an almost identical line, in which nearly all manuscripts agree with beta's opening phrase. poysene þe poeple  priuelich and ofte . Þei richen thorȝ regratrie  and rentes hem buggeth . With that þe pouer poeple  schulde putte in here wombe . For toke þei on -trewely  þei tymbrede nouȝt so heyȝe . Ne bouȝte none burgeage burgages R.3.78: R's use of the singular burgage is unique but may reflect alpha (beta attests the plural); cf. F's bargayn. Although manuscripts EWa of the A version agree with R's singular, it seems clear that both Ax and Cx read as beta does here.  be ye R.3.78: Beta has ȝe. F and G clearly have þe, but R's y and þ show sufficient overlap that the scribe's intentions here are ambiguous. ful certeyne . ¶ Ac mede þe mayde  þe mayre hath be -souȝte . Of alle suche selleres  siluer to take . Or presentz with -oute pans  as peces of siluer . Rynges other other e or other ricchesse R.3.82: This awkward phrase, other othere richesse, almost certainly derives from alpha; cf. F's smoothing omission, or rycchesse. Beta has or other ricchesse.  þe reg ratoures to meyntene . ¶ For my lord loue R.3.83: Beta reads loue, which is also the reading of Ax in an identical line. The C version is revised at this point, but an analogous line ( Loue hem for my loue quod this lady mede) confirms the originality of beta's variant. q uod þat lady  loue hem vchone . And suffre hem to selle  somdel aȝeynes resou n . ¶ Salamon þe sage  a sarmou n he made . For to amende meyres  and men þat kepe lawes . And tolde hem þis teeme  þat I telle thenke . I gnis deuorabit tabernacula eoru m qui libent er libenter accipiunt munera . R.3.88: Beta finishes the citation with a phrase omitted by alpha: accipiunt munera. &c etera . Among e þis letterede lede ledes R.3.89: R's lede (a unique reading) is to be construed as a collective singular (="these lettered folk"); the other B manuscripts witness the plural ledes. Both Ax and Cx attest a completely different word for this alliterative stave: lordes.  þis latyn is to mene . Þat feer schal falle and beerne  al to bloo askes . Þe houses and þe homes  of hem þat desireth . Ȝiftes or ȝereȝiftes  be -cause of here office offices . R.3.92: Beta has the plural, Offices. ¶ Þe kyng fram conseyle cam  and called after mede . And ofsent hire alswithe R.3.94: Only L (= alswythe) and M (= alsswythe) agree precisely with R in attesting this exact phrase and writing it as a single word (cf. manuscript O = als wythe, WC = as swiþe , and F = swyþe). However, both OED2 s. v. alswith and MED in a quotation from the early fourteenth-century King Alexander s. v. certe and smert(e), attest the phrase's occurrence in this merged form in the fourteenth century, the former in Kyng Alisaunder ( He þonked Kyng Alisaundre þerof, certe, And starf alswiþe, wiþouten smerte ) and the latter in Barbour's Bruce ( His ansuer he tald alswith VIII. 153). The same a-verse occurs in the A version, where the archetypal reading appears to be that found in manuscripts WC of B, but one of the oldest of the A copies, Vernon, merges the words, reading aswiþe. The LMR form is likely to be that of Bx.  with seriantes manye . Þat brouȝten hire to bowre  with blisse and with ioye . ¶ Curteysliche þe kyng þanne  cumseth comsed to telle . To mede þe moayde  melleth þis wordes . Vnwittiliche wo mman  wrouȝt hastow ofte . Ac R.3.99: The cropped word cannot be supplied with confidence, since F has synonymous But in place of beta's Ac. wors wrouȝtestow neuere  þan þo þow fals toke . But I for -gyue þe þat gult e  and g raunte þe my grace . Hennes to þi deth -day  to do do R.3.101: R's to do is a unique variant. Most betas read simply do; cf. F's yf þou do. The same phrase occurs in A, where its form agrees with that found in beta. so namore . ¶¶ I haue a kniȝt consience  cam late fram by -ȝunde . Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyue  wil -tow hym haue . ¶¶ Ȝee lord quatz þat lady  lord it me for -bede forbede elles . R.3.104: R's b-verse is unique in the B tradition ; F and beta read lorde forbede elles, which agrees with Ax. However, R's phrasing is identical to that found in Cx. But I be holy at ȝour e heste  lete hange me sone . ¶¶ And þanne was consience I -called calde  to comen and appere . By -forn þe kyng and his conseyll e  as clerkes and other e . ¶¶ Knelynge consience to þe kyng lowtede . To wite what his wille were  and what he do schulde . ¶¶ Wiltow wedde þis wo mman q uod þe kyng  ȝif I wole assente n . For sche is of is fayne of R.3.111: Here R omits a key word; beta reads is fayne of þi felawship . The fact that F appears to try smoothing this passage ( is of fair shap ) suggests that R's omission was inherited from alpha. Both Ax and Cx read the phrase as beta does. þi felaschipp e  for to be þi make . ¶¶ quatz consience to to [þe] to þe kyng e  crist it me for -bede . Er I wedde swich a wif  wo me bytyde . For sche is frele of hire feyth  and fykel R.3.114: R's and fykel is paralleled by Hm and H in the beta tradition; however, beta itself omitted the conjunction. F reads & fals. The beta reading agrees with that of Ax, but R's phrasing is identical to that found in Cx (emended out of the Athlone text by Russell and Kane). of hire speche . And maketh men mys -do  many score tymes . Trust of hire tresor  treyeth ful manye . Wyues and wydewes  wantownnesse heo techeth . And lereth hem lecherie  þat loueth hire ȝiftes . Ȝoure fader he she R.3.119: He, "she." R's he, repeatedly deployed by the scribe in this passage, is uncommon in form among the B manuscripts but not substantive; OED2, s. v. heo, and MED, s. v. he (pron. 2), indicate that he is a variant for heo between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. feelde  þoruȝ faire fals R.3.119: R's faire is an alpha variant. Cf. beta's fals. The same line occurs in A, where the original reading is clearly the same as in beta; however, three A witnesses, VHaMa, agree with alpha's variant. beheste . And hath appoysond popes  and appayreth peired R.3.120: R's present tense for this verb is unique among the B copies ; the others show its form as a preterite. However, Cx clearly agrees with R's verb form and the A manuscripts are split between present and past-tense forms. Cf. see the Introduction III.2.2.10 on a potential ambiguity of tense marking in R. holy cherche Is nouȝt a better e baude  by hym þat me made . By -twene heuene and helle  and R.3.122: Beta reads in, but Ax and Cx both agree here with the reading of alpha. eerthe þeyȝ men sou ȝte For sche is tykil of hire taile  tale -wise of of hir tonge R.3.123: R's phrase at the end of this line represents the alpha reading; beta has talwis of hir tonge . However, Cx clearly agrees with alpha's phrasing while the A manuscripts are split between the alpha and beta lections. . As comoun as a carte -wey  to ech a knaue þat walketh To monkes and to menstrales  to mesels in hegges . Sysours and sompnoures  suche men hire preyseth . Schirryues of schires  were schent ȝif sche nere . For sche doth men lese her londe  and here lif bothe . Sche lat leteth R.3.129: R's lat is unique in form and appears, at first glance, to be a preterite; the other B witnesses show a common present-tense inflection (e.g., LMCrWHmOGF = leteth); however, MED attests this form as 3rd sing. pres., and it seems clear that R intends the same meaning as the other B manuscripts rather than a preterite (cf. payeth later in this line). In the C version, lat is actually the predominant reading among the X family. A similarly inflected form also appears in several A manuscripts. See the Introduction III.2.2.10 for a full discussion of ambiguities in R's tense marking. passe prisons prisoneres R.3.129: R's prisons is uniquely spelled (F and beta read prisoneres); however, MED, s. v. prisoun, verifies that the R form is viable as a variant of the Bx word. The plural, prisons (= "prisoners"), actually appears in Bx at R7.30: Pore poeple or prisones  fynden hem her e fode . R's form is also found in some A witnesses at this point, and is the predominant form in the cognate line of the C version.  and payeth for hem ofte . And gyueth þe gayleres gold  and grotes to -gyderes . To vnfettere þe false  fle where hym lyketh . And taketh trewthe R.3.132: R's trewthe is an alpha variant. Beta has þe trewe. Both phrasings occur in the other two versions. They seem almost equally distributed in the A copies, while a majority of C manuscripts, including the most important members of the X family, agrees with alpha (but a significant minority, especially among the P family, agrees with beta). by þe toppe  and teyeth hym faste . And hangeth hym for hatrede  þat harme dede neu ere . ¶ To be cursed in constorie  he she R.3.134: He, "she." conteth nouȝt a rusche . For he she R.3.135: He, "she." copeth þe comissarie  and coteth his clerkes . He She R.3.136: He, "she." is assoyled assone as sone  as hire -selue liketh . And may neiȝ as muche do  in amoneth a moneth ones  As ȝoure secret seal  in six score dayes . ¶ For he she R.3.139: He, "she." is priue with þe pope  prouisoures it knoweth . For sire symonye and hir e -selue  sealeth her e bulles . ¶ He She blisseth þes bisshopes  and prestes am.eynteneth a m.eynteneth meynteneth . R.3.141: R's phrasing in this line represents a unique compression of two lines from Bx, apparently necessitated by textual loss in alpha since F also improvises at this point. Beta, which here appears to reflect Bx better, reads: She blesseth þise Bisshopes þeiȝe þey be lewed Prouendreth persones, and prestes meynteneth . Nevertheless, when R and F witness an alpha variant in this last half-line, with their inclusion of a reasserted pronoun (cf. F's & prestys she meynteneþ ), they are presumably attesting Bx accurately since both the A and C versions agree on this point. To haue lotebies and lemmanes lemmannes and lotebies R.3.142: R here offers a reversal of the beta phrase, lemmannes and lotebies; F uniquely omits and lotebies. Both the A and C versions agree with beta on this phrase.  alle here lif -dayes . And bringen forth barnes  aȝeyne forbode lawes . Þere he she R.3.144: He, "she." is wel with þe kynge  wo is þe reume . For he she R.3.145: He, "she." is fau ourable to þe fals  and fouleth trewth ofte . ¶ By ihesus with hire ieweles  þe ȝowre R.3.146: Beta reads ȝowre, which agrees with Ax. The alpha reading is supported by Cx. iustices heo schendeth . And lith aȝeyne þe lawe  and let letteth R.3.147: R's let is unique; cf. Bx's letteth. hym þe gate . Þat feyth may nouȝt haue his forth  hir e floreynes go so thikke . Heo She let ledeth R.3.149: R's let is unique; Bx has ledeth. Cx agrees with Bx here. Cf. R's lat at R.3.129:. þe lawe as hire leste  and louedayes maketh . And doth men lese thoruȝ hir e loue  þat lawe miȝt wynne . Þe mase for a mene man  þouȝ he mote hir e euere . Lawe is so lordliche  and loth to make ende . With -owten presentz other or R.3.153: R's other is unique; the other B witnesses read or. Nevertheless, R's reading may well be original here since it agrees with the majority of C witnesses, including the best copies from the X family. pans  he she R.3.153: He, "she." pleseth ful R.3.153: R's ful is an alpha variant shared with F; beta has wel, which agrees with the lection found in half of the A manuscripts. Most of the other A copies agree with RF, as does the archetype of the C version. fewe . ¶ Barouns and burgeys  heo bringeth in sorwe . And alle þe comou n in care  þat coueyten lyf R.3.155: R's lyf is unique among the manuscript witnesses of the B version but is shared with Cr 2-3. The other B copies read lyue. in trewthe . For clergise R.3.156: R shares this reading ( clergise for Bx's clergye) with Hm by convergence. The A version agrees with the majority B reading here. and coueytise  he she R.3.156: He, "she." coupleth to -gyderes . Þis is þe lyf of þat lady  now lord ȝif hire sorwe . And alle þat meyteneth her e men  meschaunce hem bytyde . For pore men mow haue no powere  to pleyne he m þoȝ þei sm erte . Suche a maister is mede  amonges men of goode . R.3.161: Because the left margin has been lost to cropping, it is not possible to be confident that it lacked the parasign that appears in LMWHmO. The scribe frequently fails to skip a line between strophes when the last line falls at the foot of a page. Þanne mornede mede  and mened hir e to þe kynge . To haue space to speke  spede ȝif a she R.3.162: A, "she." miȝte . ¶ Þe kynge graunted hire grace  with a goede wille . Excuse þe if ȝow canst  I can namore seggen . For consience acuseth þe  to congey þe for euere . ¶¶ Nay lord quatz þat lady  leue hym þe worse . When ȝe witen witterly  where þe wronge lyggeth . Þere þat mischief is grete  mede may helpe . And þat nil R.3.169: Only RF attest þat; beta omits it. The A version agrees with beta; by contrast, a majority of C manuscripts attests the presence of þat, but most of these omit þow. XIFc read þat knowestou. þow knowest consience  I cam nouȝt to chyde . Ne depraue þi persone  with a proude herte . Wel þow wost wernard  but if þow wilt gabe . Þow hast hangen on myn half  elleuen tyme tymes R.3.172: R's tyme is unique in form, an unmarked plural. Compare R.3.89:, R.10.224:, and R.15.407:). Both Ax and Cx agree with the ordinary plural of the other B manuscripts. . And al -so I -gripe griped R.3.173: Beta reads griped. my gold  gyue it where þe liked . And whi þow wrathest þe now  wonder me thenketh . Ȝet I may as I miȝte  menske þe with ȝiftes . And mayntene þi manhode . more þanne þow knoweste . ¶ Ac þow haste famed me foule  by -fore þe kyng here . For kuld I neu ere no kniȝt kynge R.3.178: R's kniȝt is an alpha reading; cf. beta's kynge. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta.  ne conseyled þere -after . Ne dede as þow demest  I do it on þe kynge . ¶¶ In normandy was he nouȝt  I -nuyed noyed for my sake . Ac þow þi -selue sothelich  schamedest hym ofte . Crope in -to a caban  for cold of þi nayles . Wendest þat wynter  wold a last R.3.183: R's last is matched only by Hm; F and beta read (y)lasted. Nevertheless, the Ax form agrees with RHm. euere . And draddest to be dede  for a dym clowde . And heȝedest homward  for hunger of þi wombe . ¶ With -oute pite pyloure  pouer men þow robbedest . And bere here bras at þi bak  to caleys to selle . Þere I lefte with my lord  his lif for to saue . I made hys men merie  and murnyge murny[n]ge mornyng lette . I batered hem on þe bak  and bolded here hertes And dede hem hoppe fore hope  to haue me at wille Hadde I be marschal of his men  be marie of heue ne I durste haue leid my lyf  and no lesse wedde  He schuld haue be lord of þat lond  a lenthe and a brede . And al -so kynge of þat kyth  hys kyn for to helpe . Þe leste brol of his lond blode R.3.196: Here alpha's alliteration fails; cf. beta's blode, a reading which is also found in Ax and Cx.  a barounes pere . ¶ Cowardlich þow consience  consayledest hym þennes . To leuen his lordschipp e  for a litel siluer . Þat is þe riccheste rewme  þat reyn ouer -houeth . ¶ It bycometh to a kuyng e  þat kepeth a rewme . To ȝiue mede to men  þat mekeliche hym s erueth . To alyenes and to alle men  to honour e hem with ȝiftes . Mede maketh hym by -loued  and for a man holden . ¶ Emperoures and erles  and alle maner lordes . Þurȝ for R.3.205: Beta reads For, but both Ax and Cx agree with alpha. ȝiftes han ȝoumen ȝonge men R.3.205: Beta's phrase is ȝonge men, a reading also found in Ax; however, Cx agrees with alpha.  to ȝernen renne(n) R.3.205: Here beta reads synonymous renne. Ax agrees with this non-alliterating reading, as does the P family of the C tradition, but the X family clearly agrees with alpha's ȝernen, a choice endorsed by both Russell-Kane and Schmidt. and to ride . ¶ Þe pope and alle p relates  presentes vnderfongen . And medeth men hem -selue  to meyntene her e lawes . ¶ Seruantz for here s eruise  we seth wel þe sothe . Taken mede of her meystres  as þei mowen acorde . Beggeres for here beggyng e biddynge  bydden men mede . Minstrales for here murthe  mede þei aske  ¶ Þe kynge hath mede of his men  to make pes i n londe . Men þat techet teche(n) R.3.213: Here most B witnesses (including F) read teche(n). Manuscript C reads techeþ, which may be what was intended by R (C's form is used by R on many other occasions). MED, s. v. techen, acknowledges techet as a possible 3rd sing. pres. inflection of techen, but the few citations are almost all from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. children  crauen of hem mede . ¶ Prestes þat p reche þe poeple  to god to gode R.3.214: Here beta reads gode, but Hm agrees with alpha, specifically with F (= of god). Ax agrees with beta. asken mede . And masse -pans and here mete  at at þe R.3.215: Beta reads at þe while F has at here . meal -tymes . ¶ Alle kynnes crafty men  craue n mede for her e prentyces . Marchauntz and mede  most nede go to -gyderes . No wiȝt as I wene  with -oute mede may lybbe . ¶ Quatȝ þe kyng to consience  by crist as me thenketh . Mede is is wel worthy R.3.220: Beta reads wel worþi while F revises the entire a-verse, producing Now ys Meede worthy. Ax reads this verse exactly as R does, and though the C version introduces a phrasal revision in mid-line, it also omits beta's qualifier before worthi, supporting the originality of R's reading.  þe maystrie to haue . R.3.220: The eighth leaf of Rawlinson is slit (part of the same act as the cropping of leaves 1-7) at the right edge of the writing area for a space of some 12.5 cm, from R3.229-49. ¶ Nay quatz consience to þe kyng e  and kneled to þe erthe . Þere arn to maner e of medes  my lord by with R.3.222: Beta reads with, but Ax agrees with alpha. ȝoure leue . to .....ratio bonor um qui . operans iusticiam In the right margin, in a brown contemporary hand, an early reader left behind this partially legible note. Þat on god of his grace  graunteth in his blisse . To þo þat wel werchen  while þei ben here . Þe p rophite p recheth þere -offe  and putte it in þe sauter R.3.225: In the right margin, just inside the ruling, someone has added an oversized punctus for this line in a darker shade of ink than that used by the original scribe. D omine quis h abitabit in tabernaculo tuo . &c etera . Lord who schal wonie in þi wones  with and with R.3.227: Beta reads and with; the line does not appear in either A or C. þi holy seyntes . Or resten on in R.3.228: The alpha reading is here confirmed by LM, but the other beta copies show in. þin holy hilles  þis asked asketh R.3.228: Beta shows the present form, asketh. dauid . ¶¶ And dauid assoyleth it hym -selue  as þe sauter telleth . psal xiv R.3.230: The appropriate scriptural reference has been inscribed in the right margin by an early reader. Qui ingreditur sine macula  & operatur iusticiam . Þoo þat entren of o colour e  and of one wille . And haue I -wrouȝt werkes  with riȝt and with resou n . And he þat ne vseth nauȝt  þe lyue of vsurie . And enformeth pouer e men  and pursueth trewthe . mor wm R.3.235: In the right margin are the remains of what appears to have been a pen trial. Qui pecunia m sua m no n dedit ad vsura m & mun era sup er innoc entem . &c etera . And alle þat helpeth þe innocent  and holt with þe riȝtful . With -oute mede doth hem goed  and þe trewe trewthe R.3.237: Beta reads trewthe. helpeth : Richard A sixteenth-century reader has recorded a pen trial, written vertically downwards in the right margin. Suche man er men my lorde  schal haue þis furste mede . Of god at a grete nede  whanne þei gon hennes . ¶ Þere is an -other e mede mesurles  þat maystres desireth . To meytene misdoeres  mede þei take . And þere -offe seith þe sauter  in a salmes ende . In quor um manib us iniquitates sunt  dext ra eor um repleta e st mun erib us . And he þat gripeth her e gold  so me god helpe . Schal abye it ful bitter e  or þe book lyeth . ¶¶ Prestes and persones  þat plesinge desireth . Þat taked take(n) mede and mone  for masses þat þei songen syngeth . R.3.247: R's past-tense verbs in this line are unique; all other B manuscripts use present-tense forms. Cf. see the Introduction III.2.2.10 on R's problematic tense marking. Both the A and C versions of this line agree with Bx on these verbs being in the present tense. Taketh here mede her e  as mathew vs techeth . Amen amen recipiebant mercedem suam . ¶ Þat laboreres and lewed lowe folke  taketh of here meystres . It nis is R.3.251: The negative verb is unique to R; all other B manuscripts read is. no maner mede  but a mesurable hire . ¶ In marchaundise is no mede  I may it wel a -vowe . It is R.3.253: Beta reads a permutacioun . This is also the reading found in the other two versions. permutacion a permutacioun apertly  a peny -worth for another . ¶¶ Ac reddestow neuer e Regu m  þow recrayede mede . Whi þe vengaunce fel  on saul and on his children . God sente to saul  by samuel þe p rophete . Þat agag of amalec  and and al R.3.257: In the B tradition, R uniquely omits al before the phrase his poeple. However, though Ax reads the phrase exactly as the B majority, a significant, closely interrelated set of A manuscripts (TDChH 2) also omits al at this point. The same phenomenon can be seen among the C witnesses, a small minority reading with R while most agree with F/beta. his poeple after . Schulde deye for a dede  þat don hadde here elderes . ¶ For -thi sayde samuel to saul  god hym -selue hoteth . Þe be buxu m at my his R.3.260: Beta reads his biddynge , which is also the reading found in the A version, but the C text agrees with alpha's my. byddynge  his will e to fulfille . Wend to amalec with þin host  and what þow fynst þer e slee it . Bernes and bestes  brenne hem to dede . Wydewes and wyues  wommen and chyldren . Mebles and vnmebles  and al þat þow miȝt fynde . Brenne it bere it nauȝt a -way  be it neu ere so riche . For mede ne for mone  loke þow destruye it . Spille it and spare it nauȝt  þow schalt spede þe bett ere . ¶¶ And for he coueytede her e catel  and þe kyng spared . For -bare hym and his bestes bothe  as þe bible wytnesseth . Otherwise þan he was  warned of þe p rophete . God seyde to samuel  þat saul schulde deye . And alle his seed for þat synne  schentfulliche endede ende . R.3.272:The RF usage of past tense here (beta = ende) reflects alpha and is shared by convergence with Hm. Though both A and C traditions attest—in isolated manuscripts—preterite forms for this verb, it is obvious that the beta uninflected base form is archetypal in both of the poem's other versions. Suche a meschief mede made  saul þe kyng to haue . Þat god hated hym for euere  and alle his heires after . ¶ Þe culoru m of þis cas  kepe I nouȝt to schewe . Aunter An auenture R.3.276: Beta opens this line with An auenture; F begins it with For hap . The witness of the other two versions is in favor of An aunter . it nuyed men  non eende wille I make . For so is þis worlde went  with hem þat han power e . Þat who -so seyth hem sothes  is sonnest I -blamed . ¶¶ I consience knowe þis  for kynde witt me it tauuȝte . Þat rosoun r[e]soun resoun schal regne  and rewmes gouerne . And riȝt as agag hadde And riȝt as agag hadde  happe schulle so mme . The ninth leaf of Rawlinson is slit (part of the same act as the cropping of leaves 1-7) at the right edge of the writing area for a space of some 10 cm, from R3.296-309. Samuel schal scleen hym  and saul schal be blamed . And dauid schal be diademed  and dau nten hem alle . And on cristene kyng  kepen hem alle . ¶ Schal namore mede  be mayster as he she R.3.285: Alpha's he does not differ substantively from beta; he is a variant of heo, "she." See note at R.3.119:. is nowthe . I R.3.286: In the extreme right margin, beyond the pricking, is what appears to a modern eye to be a barred 9, probably an or <Q> in this hand, though it is unclear what it signifies. Ac loue and lowenesse  and lewte to -gyderes . Þese schul be maystres on molde  trewthe to saue . ¶¶ And hoo -so trespaseth aȝeynes trewthe  or taketh aȝeynes his wille . Lewte schal don hym lawe  and no lif elles . Schal no seriaunt for here s eruise  were a silk howue . Ne non pelure in his clook  for pledyng atte barre . Mede of mysdoeres  maketh many lordes . And ouer lordes lawes  reuleth þe realmes . ¶ Ac kende loue schal come ȝut  and consience to -gydere . And make of lawe a laborer e  suche loue schal aryse . And suche pees a pees R.3.296: Beta reads such a pees ; the C version agrees with alpha. amonge þe poeple  and a parfit trewth . Þat Iuwes schal wene in her e witt  and wexen wonder glade . Þat moyses or messye  be come in -to þis eerthe . And haue wonder in her e hertes  þat men beth so trewe . ¶¶ Alle þat bereth baslard  brode -swerde or launce . Ax other hachet  or eny wepne elles . Schal be demed to þe deth  but ȝif he do it smythye . Into sycul or to sythe  to schare or to culter e . Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c etera . Ich man to pleye with aplow a plow  pycoys or spade . Spynne other or R.3.306: R's other is unique; the remaining B witnesses attest or. sprede dong  or lese spille R.3.306: This non-alliterating third stave ( lese for Bx's spille) is an alpha reading. hym -self with slewthe . ¶ Prestes and persones  with placebo to hunte . And dyngen vppon dauid  vch a day til eue . Huntynge or haukynge  ȝif any of hem vse . His boste of his benefice  worth by -no mme hym after . Schal neyther kyng ne kniȝt  constable ne meyre . Ouer -lede þe comune  ne to þe court sompne . Ne putte hem in panel  to don hem pliȝt here trewthe . But after þe dede þat is don  on dom schal rewarde . Mercy or no mercy or no mercy or no mercy or no mercy  as trewthe wil acorde . ¶ Kynges court and comune court  constorie and chapitele . Alle schal be but on court  and on baron be iustice . Þanne worth trewe tonge  a tydy man þat tened me neuere Batayles schul non be  ne noman ber e wepne . And what smyth þat any smithie smyteth R.3.320: R's smithie is the alpha variant; most of the beta copies attest either smyþeþ (e.g., WO) or smyteth (LC).  be smiten þer e -with to dede dethe R.3.320: R's dede is a unique variant, but its meaning is identical to the common reading ( dethe) found in other witnesses, both from the B and the C traditions. . Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladiu m &c etera . ¶¶ And er e þis fortune falle  fynde men schal þe werste . By six sonnes and a schipp e  and half a schef of arwes . And þe meddel of a mone  schal make þe Iewes torne to torne R.3.324: Cf. beta's Iewes to torne ; but the C reading clearly agrees with alpha's omission of to. . And sarasyns for þe siȝte þer e -offe þat siȝte R.3.325: R's þe siȝte þere -offe reflects alpha; cf. beta's þat siȝte. The C reading is identical to beta's.  schul synge gl oria i n excelsis . For makomet and mede  myshappe schal þat tyme . For melius est bonu m nome n q uam diuicie multe . ¶ Also wroth as þe wynde  wex mede in a while  I can can no latyn R.3.329: R's omission of the negative in this phrase is unique among the extant B manuscripts but is shared by convergence with Cr 3. quatz sche  clerkes wote þe sothe . See what salomon seith  in sapiences sapience R.3.330: R's genitive sapiences is unique; F and beta both attest the unmarked possessive form. bokes . Þat hij þat ȝiueth ȝiftes  þe victorie wynneth . And muche wurchip haad þer ewith  as holy writt telleth . Honorem adquiret qui dat mun era munera &c etera . ¶¶ I leue wel lady q uod consience  þat þi latyn be trowe tr[e]we trewe . Ac þow art lyk a lady  þat radde a lesson ones . Was o mnia p robate  and þat plesede hire herte . For þat lyne was no lenger e  atte þe leuesende leues ende . Had sche loked þat other half  and þe lef I -turned torned R.3.338: R's I -turned reflects an alpha reading; cf. beta's torned. The Cx reading is identical to beta's. . Heo She schulde a haue R.3.339: R's a is unique in form but represents the same semantic element as the majority's haue. founde fele wordes  folwyng þer e -after . Quod bonu m est tenete  trewthe þat tixt made . ¶ And so ferd ȝe ma -dame  ȝe coude namore fynde . Þo ȝe loked on sapience  sittynge in ȝour e stodie . Þis tixt þat ȝe haue Itolde tolde  were goed for lordes . The tenth leaf of Rawlinson is slit (part of the same act as the cropping of leaves 1-7) at the right edge of the writing area for a space of some 4 cm, from R4.12-18. Ac ȝow failede a cu nnyng clerk  þat coude þe lef attorned a torned R.3.344: a, "have." . And if ȝe seke sapience eft  fynde schal ȝe þat foleweth . A ful teneful tixt  to hem þat taketh mede . And þat is a ni mam aute m aufert accipientiu m accip ientium &c R.3.347: After this Latin tag (completely omitted by F), beta adds &c.. Cx agrees with R in omitting it. . And þat is þe taile of þe tixt  of þat þ at ȝe schede schewed R.3.348: R's schede is unique in form but probably represents the same intention as beta's schewed (F omits the entire line). Nevertheless, neither MED, s. v. sheuen (v. 1), nor OED2, s. v. show, acknowledges R's form as a viable inflected spelling for the verb in question. . Þat þow we wynne worchipe  and with me mede R.3.349: Alpha introduced the error of me for original mede. haue victorie . Þe soule þat þe souȝd soude taketh  be so muche is bounde . p R.4.0: At the extreme right margin, on the same line as the passus rubric, there is a small, brown , presumably the remains of a cropped guide. ¶ R.4.0: Possibly other material was erased along with the parasign. Passus quartus de visione petri plowman . vt s upra . ¶ Sesseth R.4.1: There is no blue ornamental capital at the head of this line; instead, the <S> is the same size and color as all line initials. seyde þe kyng  I suffre ȝow no lenger e . Ȝe schal sauȝtne for -sothe  and s erue me bothe . Kysse hire quatz þe kyng  consience I hote . ¶¶ Nay by crist quatz consience  congeye me for euere . But reson rede me þere -to  rather wil I deye . ¶ And I comande þe q uod þe kyng  to consience þenne . Rape þe to ride  and resou n þow fecche . Comaunde hym þat he come  my conseill e to here . For he schal reule my reume  and rede me þe beste . R.4.9: Like most B manuscripts, R here lacks a following line attested in YOC 2 as well as in the Crowley imprints and in versions A and C: Of Mede and of mo oþere what man shal hire wedde. And acounte with þe consience  so me crist helpe . How þow lernest þe poeple  lered þe lered and lewede þe lewede . R.4.11: R is unique in dropping two determiners from the Bx b-verse ( þe lered and þe lewede ). Cf. F's boþe lerede & þe lewede . ¶¶ I am fayn of þat forward  seyde þe freke þanne . And ritt riȝt to resou n  and rou nneth in his ere . And seyde as þe kyng bad  and sithes tok his leue . ¶ I schal araie me to ride quatz resou n  reste þe a while . And called caton his knaue  curteyse of speche . And al -so tho mme trewe tonge  telle me no tales . Ne lesyng to lawe of  for I louede hem neuere . And sette my sadel vppe vppon R.4.19: R's vppe is unique; Bx reads vppon, the same reading found in Ax and Cx. suffre  til I se my tyme . And let warrok it wel  with witti wordes gerthes . And hange on hym þe heuy bridel  to helde holde R.4.21: R's helde is a unique form; the other B copies read holde. his hede lowe For he wil make wehe  tweye R.4.22: Only LM agree with this R reading. Cf. F's to trewþe and the predominant beta reading twies. ere he be þere . ¶ R.4.23: This paraph marker is blotted and smeared. Þanne consience vppon his capel  cayreth forth faste And resoun with hym rit  rounyng e togyderes . Whiche maystries on eerth  mede þe mayde maketh Mede maketh on þis erthe R.4.25: R's phrasing here reflects an alpha error; cf. beta's Mede maketh on þis erthe . Not only is the alliterative pattern of beta's a-verse appropriate (where alpha's is not); in its favor there is also the fact that Cx's a-verse (in a revised line) is identical to beta's. ¶¶ On waryn wisdome  and witty his fere . Folwed hem faste  R.4.27: R shares with L an omission ( for þei ) at the head of this b-verse. The reading of Ax agrees with that of the B majority. However, because of the extraordinary accuracy that the R and L scribes regularly demonstrate, and because these copies are at the top of any credible B stemma, it seems likelier that their shared mistake here attests the presence of a marginal correction in Bx (which both scribes overlooked) than a purely random convergence in ordinary omission. haued to done . In þe cheker cheker and R.4.28: After cheker, R uniquely omits and. L and R then agree against all the other B copies in reading at(te) þe chauncerie where the majority reads in þe chauncerie with W (and, probably, Ax). F simply omits the prepositional phrase altogether, reading & Chawncerye. atte þe chauncerie  to be descharged of thinges . And riden fast for resoun  schulde rede hem þe beste . For to saue hem fro for siluer R.4.30: R's fro siluer is a unique error but may reflect alpha; most other B manuscripts here read for siluer. Cf. F's & hem.  fram schame and fram harmes . ¶ And consience knewe hem wel  þei louede coueytise . And bad bad resou n R.4.32: R uniquely omits resoun from the phrase, And bad resoun ride . ride faste  and recche of her e nother . Þere arn wiles in here wordes  and with mede þei dwelleth . Þere -as wrathe and wranglyng is  þer e wynne þei siluer . ¶¶ R.4.35: R uniquely omits the line-head conjunction witnessed in other B manuscripts as Ac (a majority), And or But. Cx reads Ac. Þere Ac þere is loue and lewte  þei wole nouȝte come þere . Contric io & infelicitas in vijs eor um . &c etera . Þei ne gyueth nouȝt of god  on gose wynge . Non est timor dei ante oculos eor um . For wote god þei wold do more  for a doseyne chikenes . Or as many capounes  or for a sem of otes . Þanne for loue of oure lorde  or alle hys leue seyntes . For -thi R.4.42: R's omission of the vocative resoun after For -thi is derived from alpha and shared with F. late resoun lete hem ride  þo riche be hem -selue . For consience knoweth hem nouȝt  ne crist as I trowe . ¶ And þanne resou n roed fast  þe riȝt hye gate . As consience hym kennede  til þei come to þe kynge . ¶¶ Curteiselich þe kynge þanne  come aȝeyne resoun . R.4.46: There is a superfluous bar over the <n> of resoun. And bytwene hym -self and his sone  sette hym on benche . And wordeddu n wel wyseliche  a grete whyle to -gyderes . ¶ And þanne come pees  in -to parlement  and putte forth a bille . How wronge aȝeynes his wille  haued his wif taken . And how he rauesched rose  raynaldes loue . And margarete of hir e maydenhode  mawgre hire chekes . Bothe my gees and my gris  his gedelynges feccheth . I dar nauȝt for fere of hym  fiȝt ne chide . He borwed of me bayard  and he brouȝt it hym R.4.55: Where the other B manuscripts read the pronoun reference to Bayard as hym, R uniquely reads it. Both Ax and Cx agree with the B majority. home neu ere . Ne no ferthyng þere -fore  for nauȝt auȝte I couthe plede . He meynteneth his men  to murther myn heuues R.4.57: The variant heuues derives from alpha. F's spelling here is heuuys ; cf. beta's hewen = "servants." Kane-Donaldson transcribe this variant in R as hennes and F's as hennys). What the R scribe actually thought he was writing is open to doubt since neither he nor the F scribe again uses <uu> for <w> after <e>. However, R writes the name "Stowe" as stouue at R5.28, and it is reasonable to assume that is what he intended here. . He nil forstalleth R.4.58: R uniquely adds He at line-head position. Cf. F's & to. Beta simply begins the line with Forstalleth. The Ax reading agrees with beta's, but Cx begins the line And forstalleth. my feyres  and fiȝteth in my chepynge . And breketh vppe my bernesdore bernes dore  and bereth a -wey my whete . And taketh me but a tayle  for ten quarteres of otes . And ȝet he bet me þer eto  and lyth by my mayde . I am nauȝt hardy for hym  vnnethe to loke . ¶ Þe kynge knewe he seyde sothe  For consience hym tolde . Þat wronge was a wikked luste R.4.64: R shares this obvious transcriptional error ( luste for luft) with G and BmBoCot by convergent variation. F's wyght has the appearance of a typical smoothing, so R may have derived the error from alpha.  and muche sorwe wrouȝte . R.4.64: R's b-verse involves a transposition (uniquely shared with H) of the Bx phrase, which reads and wrouȝte moche sorwe. ¶¶ Wronge was aferd þanne  and wysdom he souȝte . To make pees with his pans  and profered hym manye . And seyde hadde I loue of R.4.67: Here alpha and Cr omit a stave; in beta the phrase would have read my lorde þe kynge . þe kynge my lorde þe kynge  lytel wolde I recche . Þeiȝ pees and his powere  pleyned hem eu ere . ¶ Þo wan R.4.69: Only L and C agree with R's wan; F omits the entire line, while most beta copies read wente. The b-verse of this line is unmetrical and the entire line is a revision of the A version (K4.53), but the uniformity of attestation for its text from L and R (with C's concurrence) make it clearly a genuine Bx line. wysdom  and sire waryn þe witty . For þat wronge hadde I -wrouȝte  so wikked a dede . And warned wronge þo  with swyche a wise tale . Hoo -so wercheth by wille  wreth maketh ofte . I sey it by thi -self  þow schalt it wel fynde . But if mede it make  þi meschief is vppe . The eleventh leaf of Rawlinson is slit (part of the same act as the cropping of leaves 1-7) at the right edge of the writing area for a space of some 3.5 cm, from R4.74-77. For bothe þi lif and þi londe  lith in his grace . ¶¶ Þanne wowede wronge  wisdom ful ȝerne . To make his pees with his pans  handi -dandi payed . ¶ Wisdom and wit þanne  wenten to -gyderes And token mede myde hem  mercy to wynne . ¶ Pees putte forth his hed  and his panne blody . c iij With -oute gult god it wote  gatt I þis skathe . Consience and þe co mmune  knowen þe sothe . ¶ Ac wisdom and witt  were aboute faste . To ouercome þe kyng e  with catel if þei myȝte . ¶¶ Þe kyng swore by crist  and by his crowne bothe . Þat wronge for his werkes  schuld wo thole . And comanded a conestable  to casten hym in yrenes . And lat hym nauȝte þis seuen ȝeer e  seen his feet ones . ¶ God wote quatz wisdom  þat were nauȝt þe best . And he amendes mowe make  lat meynprise hym haue . And be boruȝ for his bale  and buggen hym bote . And so amende þat is mysdo  and euer e be euermore R.4.92: R's phrase, euere be, is unique, but alpha and Cr agree on euere; cf. beta's euermore. F reads the entire phrase as he shal do euere þe bettre. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. þe bett ere . ¶¶ Witt acorded þere -with  and seyde þe same . Þat nil R.4.94: Þat is an alpha addition unattested by any beta manuscript. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta on the phrasing of this a-verse. bett ere is þat bote  bale adoun brynge . Þanne bale be I -bete  and bote neuer e þe bett ere . ¶ And þanne gan mede to meken mengen R.4.96: Beta reads mengen, but clear majorities of both the A and C witnesses support alpha's reading. hire  and m ercy he she R.4.96: He, variant of heo, "she." See note at R.3.119:. bysouȝte . And profered pees a present  alle of pure golde . Haue þis man of me quatz sche  to amende þi scathe . For I wil wage for wronge  he wil do so na more . ¶¶ R.4.100: This paraph marker was mistakenly executed in red and then erased, in anticipation of being redrawn in blue. Pytousliche pees þanne  preyed to þe kyng e . To haue mercy on þat man  þat mysdede hym so ofte . For he hath waged me wel  as wisdom hym tauȝte . And I forgyue hym þat gult  with a goed wille . So þat þe kyng assente  I can sey no bett ere . For mede hath made myn me R.4.105: For alpha's myn, beta reads me. Both Ax and Cx attest possessive case for this pronoun rather than objective case. amendes  I may namore axe . ¶ Nay quatz þe kyng þo  so me god cryst R.4.106: R's god is an alpha reading; cf. beta's cryst. helpe . Wronge wendeth nauȝt so awey  arst wil I wyte more . For loupe he so liȝtly  leyȝhen he wolde . And efte þe bolder be  to beten myn hewes . But reson haue reuthe on hym  he schal rest in my stokkes . And þat as longe as he lyueth  but lowenesse hy hy[m] hym borwe . ¶ Su mme men radde reson þo  to haue reuth on þat schrewe . And for to consayle þe kyng  and consience after . Þat mede moste be meynp ernour e  reson þei besouȝte . ¶¶ Rede me nauȝt q uod reson  no reuth to haue  Til lordes and ladyes  louyen alle treuthe . And haten alle harlotrie  to heren it or to mouthe it . Til peronelles purfil  be putte in hire hucche . And childerne chirissynge  be chastyng with ȝerdes . And harlotes holynesse  be holden for nauȝte an hyne . R.4.120: R's nauȝte is unique; cf. F's vanyte and beta's an hyne. The C version completely revises this b-verse, but the Ax version agrees exactly with beta's rendering. Til clerkene coueytise  be to clothe þe pore and to fede . And religiouse romares  recordare in here cloystres . As seynt benet hem bad  bernard and Franceys . And til p rechoures p rechyng e  be proued on hem -selue . Til þe kynges conseyll e  be þe co mmune p rofit Til bisshopes bayardes  ben beggere beggeres R.4.126: Beta shows the genitive plural beggeres; F reads beggerys in. chaumbres . Here haukes and here houndes  help to pouer e religiouses Religious . R.4.127: R's plural form is unique; beta reads Religious, while F has relygyouse howsys. ¶ And til seynt Iames be souȝt  þere I schal assygne . Þat no man go to galys  but if he goo for euere . And alle rome renneres  for robberes of by -ȝende . Bere no siluer ouer see  þat signe of kyng scheweth . Nother graue ne vn -graue  gold nother seluer . Vppon forfeture of þat fee  ho -so fynt hym at douer e . But if it be marchant or his man  or messager e with l ettres . Prouisoure or preest  or penaunt for his synnes . The twelfth leaf of Rawlinson is slit (part of the same act as the cropping of leaves 1-7) at the right edge of the writing area for a space of some 2 cm, from R4.134-37. ¶¶ R.4.136: This paraph marker was mistakenly executed in red and then erased, in anticipation of being redrawn in blue. And ȝet q uod resou n be þe rode  I schal no reuthe haue . While mede hath þe maystrie  in þis moot halle . Ac I may schewe ensaumples  as I se other e otherwhile otherwhile otherwhile . I sey it be my -selue q uod he  and it so were . Þat I were kyng with crowne  to kepen a rewme . Schuld neu ere wrong in þis world  þat I witt miȝte  c iiij Ben vnpunesched in my powere  for peril of my soule . Ne gete my grace þoruȝ for R.4.143: R's þoruȝ is an alpha variant shared exclusively with F. Beta reads for. Cx is revised immediately beyond this point in the line, but it agrees with alpha on the identity of this preposition. Ax reads the entire a-verse exactly as alpha does. gyftes  so me god saue . Ne for no mede haue mercy  but mekenesse it made make . ¶¶ For nullu m malu m þe man  mette with inpunitu m . And bad nullu m bonu m  be irremuneratu m . ¶ Lat ȝoure confessour e sir e kyng  construe þis vn -glosed . And ȝif ȝe werkyn it in werke  I wedde myn eres . ☞ Þat lawe schal ben a laborere  and lede afelde donge . A hand in the left margin points to these lines. And loue schal lede þi londe  as þe leef lyketh . ¶¶ Clerkes þat were confessores  couplede hem to -gyderes . Alle to construe þis clause  and for þe kynges p rofit . Ac nauȝt for conforte of þe co mmune  ne for þe kynges soule . ¶ For I seyȝ mede in þe moot halle  on men of lawe wynken . And þei lawhynge lope to hir e  and left reson manye . ¶¶ Waryn wysdom  wynkede vppon mede . And seyde madame I am ȝour e man what -so my mouth iangle . I falle in floreyns q uod þe þat R.4.158: R's þe is an alpha variant (cf. beta's þat), shared by convergence with Cr 2-3. freke  and faile speche ofte . ¶ Alle riȝtful recordede  þat resou n R.4.159: The scribe's rendering of this word is ambiguous; he has placed a dot over the final character rather than the customary nasal bar, but his typical spelling suggests that he intended this word to be construed here as resoun. trewthe tolde . And witt acordede þere -with  and comended his wordes . And þe most poeple in þis þe R.4.161: R's þis is unique. The other B manuscripts read þe. halle  and many of þe grete . And leten mekenesse a mayster e  and mede a mansed schrewe . ¶¶ Loue loue Loue Loue lett of hire lyȝte  and leute wel ȝit R.4.163: R's wel is an alpha variant shared with Hm by convergence. Beta reads ȝit. Cx agrees with beta. lasse . And seyde it so hye  þat alle þe halle it herde . Ho -so wilneth hire to wyue  for welth of hire godes . But he be knowe for a kokewolde  bitte kut R.4.166: R's bitte is unique error. The other B manuscripts read kut, which matches the line's alliterative pattern. Both Ax and Cx agree with the B majority's reading. of my nose . ¶ Mede morned þo  and made heuy chere . For þe most co mmune of þat courte  called hire an hore . Ac a sysour e and a sompnour e  sued hire faste . And a schirreuesclerke schirreues clerke  by -schrewed alle þe route . For ofte haue I q uod he  I -hulpe holpe(n) ȝow atte barre . And ȝet ȝeue ȝe me neu ere  þe worth of a rusche . ¶ Þe kyng called consience  and afterwardes resou n . And recordede þat resou n  hadde riȝtfulliche yschewed schewed . And modiliche vppon mede miȝte with myȝte  þat þe kyng loke loked . R.4.175: Alpha wrongly construed myȝte as a modal instead of a noun. And gan wax wroth with lawe  for mede almost had schent it . ¶¶ And seyde þurȝ ȝour e lawe as I leue  I lese many chetes . Mede ouer -maystrieth lawe  and muche treuthe letteth . Ac resou n schal rekne with ȝow  ȝif I regne any while . And deme ȝow be þis daye  as ȝe haue deseruede . Mede schal nouȝt meynprise ȝow  be þe marie of heuene . I wil haue lewte in lawe  and let be al ȝoure iangelynge . And as alle moste R.4.183: R's alle is an alpha reading. Cf. beta's moste. If beta is original at this point, the omission of the second alliterating stave wel at the end of the a-verse is also derived from an alpha error but one shared with Cr, G, and H. However, it is quite conceivable that F's reading for this half-line is the authorial one (though unlikely to have been derived from alpha): & as alle wyȝes witnesse . folke witnesseth  wronge schal be ydemed demed . ¶ quatz consience to þe kyng e  but þe co mmune wil assente . It is ful hard be my hed  herto to brynge it . Alle ȝoure ȝowre lige R.4.186: R uniquely omits beta's lige from the phrase lige leodes ; cf. F's phrase, londys leedys. In the C tradition, the phrase is either identical to beta's (a majority of C witnesses) or more closely resembles beta's (XYcP 2 = lege lordes ). Most A witnesses also agree with beta. leedes  to lede þus euene . ¶¶ By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode  q uod resou n to þe kyng e . But if I rewle þus ȝoure rewme  rend oute my guttes . If ȝe bydden buxu mnesse  be of myn assente . ¶ And I assente quatz R.4.190: Here beta probably read seith (the reading of LMCrW), but several beta witnesses (HmGOH) support alpha's quod (F) or quatz (R). Ax clearly agrees with the alpha reading, despite its deficient alliteration. þe kyng  by seint marie my lady . Be my conseill e I -come  of clerkes and of erles . ¶¶ Ac redily resou n  þow schalt e nouȝt ride fro me . In the right margin, in black ink, there is an early ownership stamp for the Bodleian Library. The thirteenth leaf of Rawlinson is slit (part of the same act as the cropping of leaves 1-7) at the right edge of the writing area for a space of some 2 cm, from R4.192-94. For as longe as I lyue  leet þe Inelle I nelle . ¶ I am aredy q uod resou n  to rest with ȝow euere . So consience be of oure conseil  I kepe no bett ere . And I graunt q uod þe kyng  godesforbode godes forbode he it R.4.196: For R's he, cf. F's þou and beta's it. Ax agrees with R's reading. faile . As longe as oure lif last lasteth R.4.197: Beta reads lasteth.  leue we to -gyderes . s us Passus quintus de visione petri plowman . vt sup ra . t T he kyng and his knyȝtes  to þe kerke wente . To here matynes of þe day  and þe masse after Þanne awaked I of my wynkyng  and wo was with -all e . Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder e  and I -seyȝen more . Ac er I hadde faren a furȝlonge  feyntise me hente . Þat I ne miȝte forther e a foot  for defaut of slepynge . And sat softly adoune  and sayde my beleue . Nota And R.5.8: R uniquely omits so I before babeled and replaces the presumably original on with vppon ; cf. F's y bablede so on. C omits this passage, but in the A version it reads as in the beta manuscripts of B. babeled so I babeled vppon on my bedes  þei brouȝt me a -slepe . ¶¶ And þanne saw I muche more  þan I befor tolde . For I say þe felde ful of folke  þat I be -fore of seyde And how resoun gan arayen hym  alle þe rewme to p reche . And with a crosse by -for þe kyng  cumsede þus to techen . ¶ He p reued þat þis pestilensez  was for pure synne . And þe south -west wynde  on saterday at eue . Was perteliche for pruyde pure pryde R.5.15: R's phrase here is that of alpha (cf. F's virtually indentical wording); the beta copies read pure pryde . The A and C versions both agree with alpha.  and for no poynt elles . Pyries and plumtres  wer e puffedde to þe erthe . And In R.5.17: And is an alpha variant (cf. F's somewhat different rendering of this line), but it is not present in the beta manuscripts, nor is it attested in the manuscripts of the other versions at this point. in ensaumple ȝee segges  ȝee schulden do þe bett ere . Beches and brode okes  were blowe to þe grounde . And nil R.5.19: And is an alpha variant completely unattested in beta copies (which begin the line with Torned. However, the alpha reading of this line opening agrees exactly with that of the other two versions. turned vpward here taile tailles in  R.5.19: Alpha omits beta's in before tokenynge. Both the A and C versions agree at this point with beta. to kenynge tokenynge in tokenynge of drede . Þat dedly synne ar domesday  schal for -don hem alle . ¶¶ Of þis matere I miȝt  mamely ful longe . Ac I schal seye as I sawe  so me god helpe . How perteliche be -for þe poeple  reson gan to p reche . ¶ He bad wastour to go R.5.24: R's to is unique among the B manuscripts. The others read go, which is also the reading of the A version and of the P family of C witnesses. However, the X family agrees with R's reading. werche  what he best coude . And wynnen his wastinge  with so m maner e crastys cra[f]tys crafte . R.5.25: R's crastys, is probably an alpha error (cf. beta's crafte and F's reconstructed werkys). The phrase is omitted from C, but the A witnesses support beta's rendering. ¶¶ And preied pernele  hire purfile to lete . And kepe it in hire coffre  for catel at hire nede . ¶¶ Thomme stouue he tauȝte  to take to stones staues . R.5.28: R's stones is unique. The other B manuscripts, as well as the other versions, read staues. And fecche felice home  fram wyuene þe wyuen pyne . ¶ He warned watte  his wif was to blame . Þat hire hed was worth half marke  his hode nauȝt a grote R.5.31: HmGCotH join R in omitting worth from the final phrase of this line (witnessed by F and most beta copies as nouȝte worth a grote . The majority of A witnesses agrees with this B majority in attesting the word, but RaUChJEK agree with Rawlinson 38 in omitting it. So do all but two of the C witnesses. . ¶¶ And And bad R.5.32: R uniquely omits the verb bad before bet here. bet cutte  a bow other tweye . And bete betou n þere -with  but ȝif heo she wolde werche . ¶ And þanne he charged chapmen  to chaste R.5.34: The uncovered final <e> makes R's reading unmetrical. R's verb form is unique among the B witnesses; some beta manuscripts have chastize(n). However, R's form is attested in some copies of both A and C. Likewise, some of the A witnesses agree with beta. The Cx form appears to have been chasten, quite possibly the reading of Bx, since it is also the reading of LCrCG. hire childerne . Late no wynnynge for -wanyen  þe hem forweny R.5.35: R uniquely omits Bx's hem at the end of the a-verse and uniquely adds þe at the head of the b-verse. However, the addition of þe is paralleled in the X family of C manuscripts. while þei ben ȝonge . Ne for no pouste of pestilence  plese hem nauȝt oute of resou n . ¶¶ My sire seyde so to me  and so dede my dame . Þat þe leuer childe  þe more lore byhoueth . And salomon seyde þe same  þat sapience made . Qui parcit virge odit filiu m . Þe englisch of þis latyn is  ho -so wil it knowe . Ho -so spareth þe sprynge  he nil spilleth R.5.42: Beta omits he. Although three C manuscripts include the pronoun, it seems clear that Cx read here as beta does. his childern . ¶ And sitthen he p roued preyed R.5.43: R's p roued is unique and presumably results from scribal anticipation of p roue in the next line; beta reads preyed (which is confirmed by both the A and C versions) while F completely rewrites the line. p relatz  and prestes to -gyderes . Þat ȝee prechen to þe poeple  p roue it on ȝow -selue . And doth it in dede  it schal drawe ȝow to gode . If ȝe lyuen as ȝe lerne vs  we schal leue ȝow þe bett ere . ¶¶ And sitthe he radde religiou n  here rewle to holde . Lest þe kyng and his conseyle  ȝour e comunes appeyre . And ben stwardes of ȝoure stedes  til ȝe be rewled bett ere . ¶ And siþþen he conseyled þe kynge  þe co mmune to louye . It is þi tresor if treson were treson [n]ere tresoun ne were R.5.51: R uniquely drops the negative.  and triacle at þi nede . ¶¶ And siþþen he preyed þe pope R.5.52: The word pope has been partially erased, though the original reading is visible. The erasure is very old but not the work of the original scribe.  haue pite on holy cherche . And er he gyue any grace  gouerne furst hym -selue . ¶ And ȝe þat haue lawes to kepe  lat trewthe be ȝour e coueytise . More þanne gold or other giftes  if ȝe wil god plese . ¶ For ho -so contrarieth trewthe  he telth in þe gospel . Þat god knoweth hem nouȝt  ne no seint of heuene . Amen dico vobis nescio vos  . ¶¶ And ȝe þat seke seint Iames  and seintes of rome . Seketh seint trewthe  for he may saue ȝow alle . Qui cu m p atre & filio  þat fair e hem befalle . Þat sueth my sarmou n  and þus seyde resou n . ¶ Þanne ran repentaunce  and reherced his teme . And gerte wille to wepe  water with his eyȝes . ¶¶ Pernele proude -herte  platte hire to þe erthe . And lay longe ar he she R.5.66: He, "she." loked  and lord mercy he criede cryed R.5.66: R alone reiterates the feminine pronoun (in R's typical form, he) in the b-verse. The correctness of the majority reading is confirmed by the text of Ax and Cx. . And by -hiȝte to hym  þat vs alle made . He She R.5.68: He, "she." sclulde sc[h]ulde shulde vnsowen hire serke  and setten þere an haire . To affaiten hire flesche  þat fers was to synne . Schal neu ere heyȝ herte me hente  but holde me lowe . And suffre to be myssayde  and so dede I neu ere . But now wil I meke me  and mercy byseche . For For al þis R.5.73: Beta's phrase is For al þis . F has For þ(a)t ." I haue  I -hated hated in myn herte . ¶ Þanne lecchour seyde allas  and on our e lady he cried To make m ercy for his misdedes  bitwene god and his soule . With þat he schulde on þe day þe saterday R.5.76: Cf. beta's þe saterday and F's euery day. The C version is completely revised at this point, but the A reading agrees completely with that of beta.  seuen ȝer þer e -after . Drinke but with þe doke  and dyne but ones . ¶¶ Enuye with heuy herte  askede after schrifte . And carfulliche mea culpa  he cumsed to schrewe schre[u]e shewe . R.5.79: R's error, schrewe, was not a misreading for shewe (the beta variant) but for schreue, the alpha reading (cf. F's shryve). The A reading agrees with that of beta. He was as pale as a pelete  in þe palsey he semed . And cluted clothed R.5.81: This is a unique R reading ( Bx = clothed). According to MED, s. v. clouten (v. 1), the form is the past participle of clouten, which usually means "to mend" but here and in a few other documented instances clearly signifies "to wear patched or ragged clothes." in a tauri -mauri [c]auri -mauri R.5.81: R, probably by coincidence, shares the <c/t> confusion with Bm.  I coude nauȝt it it nouȝte R.5.81: R reverses this phrase, which in the other B manuscripts (as well as the A version) reads it nouȝte. descriue . In a kertel and curteby  and a knyf be his side . Of a frere freres R.5.83: R's uninflected form, frere, is unique in the B version. The other copies have freres. However, five A-version manuscripts (DJLaEN) agree with R's unmarked genitive. frokke  were his þe R.5.83: In place of alpha's his, beta reads þe. Ax is unclear on this point, a majority agreeing with beta, but a large minority (HaLaEAKWa) agreeing with alpha. fore -sleues . And as a leek hadde I -leye  longe in þe sonne . So loked he with lene chekes  louring foule . ¶¶ His body was to -bolle for wrathe  þat he bot his lyppes . And wryngyed with wryngynge he ȝede with R.5.87: Beta reads wryngynge he ȝede. F has hise hondis he wrong . þe fist  to wreke hym -self he thouȝte . With werkes or with wordes  whan he seyȝ his time . Eche word þat he warp  was of an addre an addres R.5.89: Beta shows a genitive, addres or Neddres. tonge . Of chydynge and of chalengynge  was his chief lyflode With bagbityng and with nil R.5.91: This line's second with is a unique addition in R. bysmere  and berynge of fals wytnesse . Þis was alle his curteysye  where þat euere he schewed hym . ¶ I wolde be Ischryue q uod þis schrewe  and I for schame durste . I wolde be gladder e by god  þat gybbe hadde mischaunce . Þan þouȝ I hadde þis woke I -wonne  a weye of essex chese . ¶¶ I haue a neyȝbore neyȝ me  I haue enuyed hym ofte . And lowen on hym to lordes  to don hym lese his siluer . And al -so made R.5.98: R's al-so is unique; cf. Bx's made. his frendes ben his fon  þoruȝ my fals tonge . His grace and his good happes  greueth me ful sore . By -twene mayne and mayne many and many R.5.100: The form mayne is the R scribe's spelling for meine, "household" (see also R.16.247:). In F the a-verse reads By-twixe hym & manye me n ; most beta manuscripts have Bitwene many and many. Though MED lists the head form as meine, OED notes that by the opening of the fifteenth century the word was sometimes spelled many, which appears to have been beta's intention. Its authenticity is also supported by a cognate line from the A version, where the phrase reads Betwyn hym & his meyne .  I make debate ofte . Þat both lyf and lyme  is lost þoruȝ my speche . ¶ And whan I mete hym in market e  þat I most hatye . I hayls hym hendelich  as I his frende were . For he is douȝtier þan I  I dar do non other . Ac hadde I maystrie and miȝt  god wote my wille . ¶¶ And whan I come to þecherche þe cherche þe kirke R.5.106: HmF agree with R in reading cherche, but they omit the article. The beta reading, kirke (also the reading of the A tradition), fits the alliterative pattern of the line; cherche was the alpha reading, shared by convergence with Hm.  and schulde knele to þe rode . And preye for þe poeple  as þe prest techeth . For pylgrimes and for palmeres  for alle þe poeple after Þanne I crie on my knes  þat crist ȝif hem sorwe . Þat bare away my bolle  and my broke schete . ¶ Awey fro þe auter  þanne turne I myn eyȝes . And beholde how heleyne  hath on nil R.5.112: R's on is an alpha addition unattested in beta or in the A version. a newe cote I wysche þenne it were myn  and alle þe web after . R.5.113: Here the scribe omits his usual line break before a new verse paragraph, presumably because he has reached the end of a side. ¶¶ And of his mennes R.5.114: R's his is a unique reading among the B manuscripts (both F and beta attest mennes). However, it is clear that Ax reads as R does. lesynge I lawhe  þat lyketh myn herte . Ac And for his wynnyge wynny[n]ge wynnynge R.5.115: At the beginning of this phrase, R's Ac is unique among the B manuscripts but is also the reading of Ax; by contrast, F has But and beta reads And). As for his (an alpha variant contrasting to beta's hir), a majority of A witnesses agree with RF. I wepe  and wayle þe tyme . ¶ And deme men nil R.5.116: R's men is unique; F substitutes hem while beta omits it altogether. However, in a slightly different phrase found in the cognate A line ( I deme men þere hy don ille), we find unambiguous support for R's reading. þat hij don ylle  þere I do wel worse . Who -so vndernymeth me her eoffe  Ich hate hym dedly after . I wolde þat vch a wyȝt  were my knaue . For ho -so hath more þanne I  þat angreth me sore . ¶¶ And þus I lyue loue -lees  lyche a lyther dogge . Þat alle my body bolneth  for bytter in of R.5.121: Cf. R's in to F's ys and beta's of; it is unclear what the alpha reading was. The A reading agrees with beta. my galle . ¶ I myȝte nauȝt ete many ȝeres  as a man ouȝte . For enuye and euel wille  is yuel to defye . May no sucre ne swete thynge  aswage my swelynge . Ne no diapenidion  driue it fro myn herte . Ne noyther schrifte no ne schame  but ho -so schrape my mawe . ¶¶ Ȝis redily q uod repentaunce  and radde hym to þe beste . Sorwe of synnes  is sauac iou n of soules . ¶ I am euer e nil R.5.129: Beta omits euere. This omission is also found in the A version, but the C version agrees with alpha and includes the qualifier. sory q uod þat segg e  I am but selde other . And þat maketh me þus megre  for I ne may me venge . Amonges burgeys haue I be  dwellynge atte londou n . And gert bagbytyng be a brokoure  to blame me nnes ware . Whan he solde and I nauȝt  þanne was I aredy redy R.5.133: Beta reads redy, and F has ful redy. Some C copies agree with beta, but Cx agrees with R's form, aredy. . To lye and to loure on my neyȝbore  and to lakken his ware chaffare R.5.134: R's ware is the alpha reading; cf. beta's chaffare. . I wil amende þis if I may  þorȝ miȝt of god al -miȝti . ¶¶ Now waketh wrothe awaketh wratthe R.5.136: R's waketh is unique (most of the other witnesses have awaketh). Likewise, R's spelling of the following noun (= wrothe, but rendered as Wraþe or wratthe by most of the others) is unique among the B copies—cf. the same spelling at R5.138 (at which point F and the X family of C concur with R's form). According to OED2, s. v. wrath, and MED, s. v. wroth, this spelling is a late adaptation from the adjective wroth, = "angry." Nominal usage is also found in a manuscript of Gower's Confessio (at 3.217) and in the Trinity manuscript of the A-version (at 5.66).  with to white eyȝes . And nyuelyng with þe nose  and his nekke hangynge . ¶ I am wrothe wrath R.5.138: R's wrothe is a relatively uncommon spelling for this word (cf. R5.136 above), but it is also attested in F and among the X family of C. Beta and the P family of C witness the more usual spellings (e.g, W's wraþe). quatz he  I was su mtyme a frere . And þe couent couentes R.5.139: R's uninflected form is unique; F and beta read a normal genitive, couentes. On the other hand, the R scribe may have taken the phrase couent gardiner e as a compound noun. gardiner e  for to graffe ympes . On lymitoures and listres  lesynges I ymped . Til þei bere leues  of lowe speche  lordes to plese . And sitthe þei blosmed blosmed obrode R.5.142: The beta phrase, which has the advantage of alliterating properly, is blosmed obrode .  in boure to here schriftes . And now is falle þere -offe a fruyt  þat folk haue wel leuer e . Schewen her e schriftes til to hem  þan schriuen hem til to R.5.144: Both of R's uses of til in this line are unique; F and beta read to in the first instance. F revises the b-verse substantially (so as to be unsuitable for comparison), but beta again deploys to. her e p ersones . ¶ And now haue p ersones ap erceyued parceyued  þat freres parte with hem . Þes possessioneres p rechen  and dep rauen freres . And fynden freres fyndeth R.5.147: The agreement of RF in omitting the first stave of this line ( freres in beta) indicates that the error derives from alpha. hem in defaute  as folke bereth witnesse . Þat whanne þei p reche þe poeple  in many places aboute . I wrathe walke with hym hem R.5.149: R's hym is unique and obviously an error; F and beta read the plural hem, which agrees with all of the surrounding context, including another pronoun reference later in this same line.  and wisse hem of my bokes . Þus þei speken of my spiritualte  þat eyther despi.seth other . Til þei be bothe beggeres  and by by my spiritualte R.5.151: Beta reads by my spiritualte . F has by almesse. libben . R.5.151: There is a black, vertical line from this point to R5.160 in the right margin. Or elles alle riche  and riden aboute I wrathe reste neu ere  þat Ine I ne mot folwe . Þis wikked folke  for swich is my grace . ¶¶ I haue anaunte an aunte to nonne  and an abbesse abbesse bothe R.5.155: Beta adds bothe at the end of this line. The C version, however, agrees with alpha in omitting it. . Hire were leu ere swowe or swelte  þan suffre any peyne . I haue be cook in hire kychyne  and þe couent serued . Many monthes with hem  and with monkes alse bothe . R.5.158: R's alse is unique; the other B manuscripts read bothe. The C reading agrees with that of the B majority. I was þe prioresses potager e  and other pouer ladyes . And made hem ioutes of iangelyng  þat dame ione was a bastard . And dame claris a kniȝtes douȝter  ac a cokewolde was hir e sire . And dame peronel a prestes fyle  prioresse worthe heo neu ere . For heo hadde childe in chirityme  al our e chapitere it wiste . ¶ Of wikked wordes I wrathe  here wortes I -made R.5.164: Only RLOC 2 have the metrically necessary dissyllabic form from OE gemacian. F has a recomposed line, and other B manuscripts have made. . Til þow lixt and þow lixt e  lopen oute at ones . And eyther hitte other  vnder þe cheke . Hadde þei had knyues by crist  her e eyther hadde kulled other e . Gregorius ¶¶ Seynt gregorie was a goed pope  and hadde a goed forwitte R.5.168: In this verse paragraph and the next, the scribal hand becomes noticeably smaller, and yet the 36-line ruling is unchanged from the previous leaf. Þat no prioresse were prest  for þat he ordeyned . Þei hadden þanne be infamis þe firste day  þei cu nne so euel hele conseyle . ¶ Amonges monkes I miȝt be  and many tyme I schonie . For þere ben many felle frekes  my feres to aspie . Bothe priour and suppriour  and oure pater abbas . And ȝif I telle any tales  þei taken hem to -gyderes . And do me faste fridayes  to brede and to water . And ȝeet am am R.5.176: R's ȝeet is a unique addition to this line, as witnessed in the other B manuscripts. However, it is also clearly attested in the C version. chalenged  in þe chapitelhous . As I achild a child were R.5.177: R's line division here is unique and obviously an error; F, beta, and the C version read this phrase as the end of the preceding line .  And baleysed on þe bare ~~hers~~ bak ers R.5.178: R's cancelled reading, hers, is the Bx original. F agrees with R's "corrected" and euphemized reading, bak, but the C version agrees with the Bx original.  and no breche by -twene . For -thi haue I no likyng  with þo ledes to wonye . I ete þere vnthende fissh  and feble R.5.180: The final <e> of feble is blotted. ale drinke . ¶ Ac other -while whan wyn cometh  whan I drynke wel wyn R.5.181: Beta reads wyn. at euen . I haue a flix of a foul mouth  wel fyue dayes after . Alle þe wikkednesse þat I wote  by any of oure bretheren . I couthe it in oure cloystre  þat alle R.5.184: R uniquely omits a determiner after alle. A majority of beta copies, and F, read þe here while LMCrW attest owre. Cx agrees with F and the beta majority. couent owre couent wot it . ¶¶ Now repente þe q uod repentance  and reherce þow neu ere . Conseill e þat þow knoweste  by contenance ne by speche riȝte R.5.186: R and F agree with the C version in attesting speche as this line's final stave. By contrast, beta reads riȝte at this point. . And drink nauȝt ouerdelicatly  ne to depe neyther . Þat þi wille be cause þere -offe  to wrathe miȝt turne . Esto sobrius  he seyde  and so he nil R.5.189: R's so he is a unique addition to the text witnessed by both Bx and Cx. assoyled me after . And badde me wilne to wepe  my wikkedenesse to amende . descripcio avaritie ¶ And þanne come coueytyse  I can hym nauȝt descriue . So hungrilyche and holewe  sire henry hym lokede . He was bittel -browed  and baber -lipped alse . With to blered eyȝes  as a blynde hagge . And as a letheren purce  lolled his chekes . Wel sydder þanne his chyn  þei chyueld for elde . And as a bonde -man of his bakun  his berd was bydraueled . With his an R.5.198: For alpha's his, beta reads an. The C reading agrees with alpha. hode on his hed  a lousy hatt aboue . And in a tawne tabbarde  of twelue wynter age . Al to -torne and baudy  and ful of lys crepynge . But if a lous coude  lepe haue lopen þe bett ere . R.5.201: All the B manuscripts are corrupt, presumably losing most of the original b-verse: But if (þat) a lous couthe (haue lopen / lepen) þe bettre . RF omit þat and avoid the perfect tense. F's reading for this line is unique in other ways as well. The A-version reading for this line's second half is uncertain, with considerable variation between witnesses. Kane chose I may it nouȝt leue. The C b-verse has the appearance of a feeble patch rather than a common original: y leue and y trowe. He She ne nil schulde nouȝt walke haue walked R.5.202: Cf. beta's She sholde nouȝte haue walked. Evidence from the A and C versions suggests that archetypal B was already misreading the first verb in this line (= wandre in A and C). Though most C manuscripts attest the line's opening as He sholde, manuscripts X and P 2 here agree with R's version of the opening phrase, He ne schulde. Among the A copies, the same pattern is apparent, with most opting for some form of he shulde but with ChRaU paralleling R's double-negative syntax. on þat welsch  so was it thredebar e . ¶¶ I haue be coueytouse q uod þis caytyf  I be -knowe it here . For su m -tyme I seruede  symme at þe style . And was his prentis I -pliȝt  his p rofit to wayte . R.5.205: R omits his customary blank line between strophes at the juncture of ll. 205-06, presumably because the latter is to fill the last line ruled for this side. ¶ First I lerned to lye  a leef or other tweyne . wikedlyche to weye . R.5.206:These catchwords are partially cropped. Wikkedliche to weye  was my furst lessou n . To wy and to wynchestre  I wente to þe feyre . With many maner marchandise  as my mayster me hiȝte . Ne hadde þe grace of gyle  I -go amonge my ware chaffare . R.5.210: The alpha variant ware is supported by LM, but most beta copies read chaffare. However, as is often the case with such splits, both Ax and Cx support the LMRF variant. It hadde be vnsold þis seuen ȝer e  so me god helpe . ¶ Þanne drow I me amonges draperes  my donet to lerne . To drawe þe lyser a -longe  þe lenger it semed . Amonge þe riche rayeres rayes R.5.214: R's rayeres, "a maker or seller of striped cloth," is a unique variant among B witnesses; Bx reads rayes. The same variant occurs in manuscript Uc of the C version, but both Ax and Cx clearly attest the same word here as the B majority. For other citations of this R form, see MED, s. v. raier.  I rendred a lessou n . To brochen hem with a batnedel paknedle R.5.215: Most beta manuscripts read paknedle, but L (and perhaps M originally, which has been corrected to pak by erasure and writeover) supports alpha's batnedel. The majority of A witnesses agrees with beta, but manuscripts AE agree with alpha's lection. Batnedel is also the reading of the best C manuscripts (though most of the P family copies agree with the common beta reading).  and playted hem to -gyderes . And putte hem in a presse  and pyned pynned hem þere -Inne . Til ten ȝerdes or twelue  tolled hadde tolled oute threttene . ¶¶ My wif was a webbe  and wolene cloth made . Heo She spak to a spinnester spynnesteres R.5.219: Beta reads spynnesteres, which is also the reading of Cx. The Ax reading is uncertain since the singular and plural forms are both well attested among extant copies.  to spynne n it oute . Ac þe pou nd þat heo payed by  peysed a quarter quarteroun R.5.220: Beta reads quarteroun, but Ax and Cx confirm alpha's lection. more . N ota Þan myn owenauncer owen auncer  ho -so weyȝed trewthe . ¶ I bouȝte hire barly barly malte R.5.222: Beta and F read barly malte, but both Ax and Cx confirm R's reading.  heo brewe it to selle . Peny -ale and puddynge -ale  heo poured to -gyderes . For laboreres and for low folke  þat lay bi hym -selue . ¶¶ Þe best of alle ale R.5.225: R's of alle is unique; F and beta read ale. Among the C manuscripts, the P family omits this lection entirely (as does the cognate line in A), while the X family agrees with the reading of F and beta. lay in my boure  or in my bedde -chaumbre . And ho -so bu mmeth bummed R.5.226: R is the only B manuscript to render this verb in the present tense (but see the Introduction III.2.2.10 on R's—and alpha's—possibly ambiguous tense marking); the others read bummed. Both Ax and Cx agree with the majority B reading. þere -offe  he bouȝte it þere -after . A galoun for a grote  god wote no lesse . And ȝet it com in coppe -mele  þis crafte my wif vseth vsed . R.5.228: The present-tense marking represents alpha's reading (but cf. see the Introduction III.2.2.10 on R's—and alpha's—possibly ambiguous tense marking); cf. beta's vsed. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. Rose þe regrater  is was R.5.229: The present-tense marking represents alpha's reading; cf. beta's was. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. hire riȝte name  . Heo She hath I -holde holden R.5.230: Cf. beta's holden. A and C witnesses show a mixture of verb forms here, but the P family of C agrees with alpha's form. hokkarie  alle hire lif -tyme . ¶ Ac I swere now so theich the ich  þat synne wil I lete . And neu ere wikkedlich weye  ne wikked chaffare vse . But wenden to walsyngh am  and my wif alse . And bidde þe rode of bromeholme  brynge me oute of dette . ¶¶ Repentedest þow euere q uod repentau nce  ne R.5.235: Among the B manuscripts, only LM support R's ne; most beta copies read or and F has &. However, Cx clearly agrees with the LMR reading. restitucion madest . ¶ Ȝus ones I was herberwed q uod he  with an hepe of chapmen . I ros whan þei were a -reste  and I -rifled R.5.237: LR alone have unmetrical I -rifled . Other B manuscripts have riflede. here males . ¶ Þat was no restituc iou n q uod repentance  but a robberes thefte . Þow haddest bett ere R.5.239: R shares with LM alone the omission of be in the phrase, be bettere. Their reading is, however, likely to be the original. M later was "corrected" to the majority reading. worthi  be hanged þere -fore . Þan for alle þat  þat þow hast here schewed . ¶¶ I wende riflynge wer e restituc iou n q uod heo he  for I lerned neu ere rede on boke . And Ican I can no french in feyth  but of þe ferþest ende of norfolke . ¶ Vsedestow eu ere vsurie q uod repentance  in alle þi lif -tyme . ¶¶ Nay sothly heo he seyde  saue in my ȝouthe . I lerned amonges lumbardes  a lessou n and of iewes and iewes a lessoun R.5.245: Cf. beta's and iewes a lessoun. F reads a lessoun be herte . The C reading agrees exactly with R's. . To weye pans with a peys  and pare þe heuiest . And lene it for loue of þe cros  to legge a wedde and lese it . Swiche dedes I dede write  if he his day broke . Ich haue mo maneres þorȝ regages rerages R.5.249: Beta has rerages; alpha's reading, regages, is unrecorded in both OED2 and MED s. v. rerage, and arrearage, and is presumably nonsense generated by the misreading of a single graph, an anglicana r.  þan þorȝ miseret ur & comodat . ¶ I haue I -lente lent lordes  and ladies my chaffare . And ben here brokour after  and brouȝt R.5.251: R shares this error ( brouȝt for bouȝte) by convergence with Cot alone. it my -selue . Exchaunges and cheuysaunces  with suche chaffares chaffare R.5.252: R uniquely deploys the plural form here. I dele . And lenefolke lene folke þat lese wole  a lippe at eueri noble . And with lumbardes l ettres  I ladde golde to rome . And toke it be taille þere here R.5.255: Cf. R's þere with beta's here; F omits the adverb entirely.  and tolde hem ther e lasse . ¶¶ Lenedest þow Lentestow eu ere lordes  for loue of here mayntenance . A design is scratched in drypoint in the left margin beside these lines; its shape is that of three pillars of approximately the same length, a vertical pillar with two supporting pillars on its left side; the higher supporting pillar is a flat horizontal, joining the vertical midway along its length, the lower one running diagonally upwards to join the other two at the same point. The effect is almost that of a reversed capital <K>. ¶ Ȝe I haue lent lordes q uod heo  loued loued R.5.257: The attributive phrase, quod heo, is an alpha reading not witnessed in any beta manuscript; cf. F's quod he. me neu ere after . And haue I -mad many kniȝt  bothe m ercer and draper . Þat payed neu ere for his prentishode  nauȝt a peyre gloues . ¶¶ Hastow pyte on pore men  þat mote nedes borwe . ¶ I haue as muche pyte of pore me n  as þe nil R.5.261: R's determiner, þe, is an alpha variant; it is not present in beta manuscripts. pedler e hath of cattes . Þat wolde kulle he m and yf R.5.262: and, "if." Beta reads yf. he cacche he m miȝte  for coueytise of her e skynnes . R.5.262: At the bottom center margin of 17v, there is a drypoint figure almost identical to the one noted at R5.256 for the left margin. Now, however, the <K> figure faces downwards, and the top is trapezoidal rather than a simple rectangular pillar. ¶ Art þow manliche amonge þi neyȝbores  of þi mete and drinke . ¶¶ I am holden q uod he as hende  as hound in his nil R.5.264: R's in his kychyne is a metathesis of beta's presumably original text (= is in kychyne). Cf. F's in þe kycchene. kychyne . Amonges my neyȝbores nameliche  suche a name Ich haue . ¶ Now god lene neu ere q uod repentaunce  but þow repent þe rather . Þe grace on þis grounde  þi good wel to bi -sette . Ne þin vssue R.5.268: R reads vssue, agreeing with L alone (= ysue); M has been erased and overwritten to match the other beta manuscripts' reading, heires. F reads houswif. after þe  haue ioye of þat þow wynneste . Ne þi seketoures excecutours R.5.269: RF's seketoures is an aphetic form of beta's excecutours. wel bi -sette  þe seluer þat þow hem leuest And þat was wonne with wronge  with wykked men be despe nded For were I frer e of þat hows  þer e good faith and charite is . I wolde nouȝt nolde cope vs with þi catel  ne our e cherche kyrke R.5.272: Two alpha variants are attested here, the second inadequate for the line's alliterative pattern; cf. RF's wolde nouȝt and cherche with beta's nolde and kyrke. amende Ne haue a peny to my pitance of þine  be my soule hele . For þe beste boke in our e hows  þouȝ brend gold wer e þe leues . And I wiste witt erly  þow wer e swiche as þow telleste . Seruus es alterius cu m fercula pinguia queris . Pane tuo pocius  vescere liber eris . ¶ Þow art an vnkende creatur e  I kan þe nauȝt assoile . Til þow make restitucion q uod repentance nil R.5.279: Only R records quod repentance. The other B witnesses, including F, are here content with a line having only two alliterating staves. The B manuscript that Langland used in creating C appears to have shared this faulty alliteration since the alliterative key is there shifted from /r/ to /m/ in order to make use of make (= B) / ymad (= C) in the first stave position.  and rekene with he m alle . And sitthen þat resou n rolle it  in þe registre of heuene . N ota Þat þow hast made vch man goed  I may þe nauȝt saue assoille . R.5.281: R's saue is unique. The other manuscripts read assoille. Non dimittit ur peccatu m nisi donec R.5.282: The predominant beta variant here is donec, but Cr agrees with alpha. restituat ur ablatu m ablatum &c . ¶¶ For alle þat hath of þi good  haue god my trewthe . Is haldynge holde(n) R.5.284: Only LMF agree with R's Is (but F's verb occurs in a completely rewritten line). The other copies show be(n). R's haldynge is unique; the other B copies all show holde(n) as do many P manuscripts in the C tradition. However, the X family of C agrees with R's lection. at þe heyȝ dome  to helpe þe restitue to restitue R.5.284: With reference to beta, R's lection here appears at first glance to involve a unique omission. Beta reads þe to restitue . However, the supposition of omission collapses when we notice that the nearly unanimous C reading at this point is identical to R's (F rewrites the line completely). . And ho -so leueth nauȝt þis be soth  loke in a þe R.5.285: R's lection is unique; the other manuscripts read þe, as does the C version. saut er glose . In miserer e mei deus  where I mene trewthe . Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c etera . ¶ Þer e is no laborer e wolde þat wil leue with he m þe  þ at knoweth longiþ to peres þe nil plowma n . R.5.288: Kane-Donaldson dismiss this alpha line as spurious because of its reference to Piers Plowman, who has not yet been introduced into the narrative. For nil R.5.289: For is an alpha variant; beta omits it. schal neu ere werkman in þis world e  thriue with þ at þow wynnest . Cu m s anc to sanctus eris  construe me þat on englisch e . ¶¶ Þanne wex þe þat schrewe in wanhope  and walde haue hanged hy m -selue . Ne hadde repentance þe rather e  co nforted R.5.292: Although Hm and G agree with R (presumably by convergence), beta itself had a compound of this verb, needed for alliteration: reconforted; F offers, in a rewritten b-verse, reersyd, which looks like an attempted repair. hy m in þis maner e . d ij ¶¶ Haue mercy in þi mende  and with þi mouthe byseche it . For godes mercy is more  þan alle his other werkes . Misericordia d omini eius R.5.295: This is a unique variant in R; the beta copies that contain this citation read eius, the accurate Vulgate form. Approximately half the beta copies and F omit the entire citation. super o mnia opera eius . &c etera . ¶ And alle þe wikkednesse in þis world  þ at man miȝt worche or þenke Ne is namore to þe mercy of god  þan in þe see a glede O mnis iniquitas qu antu m ad m isericordiam dei  est quasi sintilla in medio maris . ¶¶ For -thi haue mercy in thi mynde  and marchandise leue it . For þow hast no goed grounde  to gete þe with a wastel . But if it wer e with þi tonge  or elles with þi to handes . For þe goed þat þow haste gete  bygan alle with falshede . And as longe as þow lyuest þer e -with  þow ȝeldest nouȝt but borwest . ¶ And if þow wite neu ere to whiche  ne wham to restitute . Bere it to þe bischopp e  and bydde hym of his grace . By -sette it hym -selue  as best is for thi soule . For he schal answere for þe  at þe heyȝ dome . For þe and for many mo  þat man schal ȝiue a rekenynge . What he lerned ȝow in lente  leue þow non other . And what he lente ȝow of our e lordes goed  to lette ȝow fro synne . ¶¶ Now bygynneth glotou n  for to go to schrifte And cayres hym to cherchewarde kirkeward R.5.312: As is frequently the case, R's unique reading here is defective in alliteration (cf. Bx's kirke-ward).  his coupe to schewe . ¶ Ac betou n þe brewester e  bad hym goed morewe . And asked of hym with þat  whyderward he wolde . ¶¶ To holy cherche q uod he  for to here masse . And sitthen I wil be schriue  and synne namore . ¶ I haue goed ale gossib q uod sche  glotou n wiltow assaye . ¶¶ Hastow auȝt in þi purce  any hote spices . R.5.318: Although the scribe customarily enters a blank line between paragraphs, following this line he seems to have forgotten to do so because of the heavy prevalence of paraph markers to indicate dialogue. ¶ I haue peper and pioyne piones R.5.319: R's singular is unique among the B manuscripts but agrees with the reading found in Ax and in the X family of C. The P family of C shows the same plural as the B majority. q uod sche  and a pound of garlek e . A ferthyngworth of fenel seed  for fastynge -dayes . ¶ Þanne goth glotou n Inne  and grete othes after . Sesse þe souteres  sate on þe benche . Watte þe warner  and his wif bothe . Symme R.5.324: R's non-alliterating Symme is shared with HmYCBoCot among the B manuscripts but also agrees, oddly, with the reading found in A manuscripts TRaDH 2H and with the reading of C manuscript P 2. Presumably the cause of these overlapping errors is the mutual resemblance of the relevant capitals. þe tynker e  and tweyne of his p rentys . Hikke þe hakeney -man  and howe þe nedeler e . Clares of cokkeslane  and þe clerk e of þe cherche . And nil R.5.327: And is an alpha variant; beta begins the line with Sire. The C version of this line agrees exactly with beta. sire peres of pridie  and p eronele of flaundres Dawe þe dyker e  and a doseyne other . A ribybour e a ratoner e  a rakyer of chepe . A roper a redyng -kyng e  and rose þe dissheres douȝter nil . R.5.330: The phrase dissheres douȝter is an alpha variant; cf. beta's disshere(s). Both the A version and the C version agree with beta on this reading. Godefrey of garlek -hethe  and grifyth gryfin R.5.331: F reads Geffrey while beta has gryfin. Both the A version (some copies omit the line completely) and the P family of the C version agree with beta's name form here (P family = griffyng), but the X family of C agrees with R's otherwise unique form. þe walsh e . And vpholders an hepe  herly by þe morwe . Geue glotou n with gladde chere  goed ale to hansall e . ¶¶ Clement þe coblere  cast of his cloke . And to atte R.5.335: Beta reads atte; F has in. The A version reading agrees with beta while the C version agrees with R's to. þe newfeyre new feyre new faire he  nempned R.5.335: F and beta both read he nempned ; however, both the A archetype and the unanimous C reading agree with R in omitting he. it to selle . Hikke þe hakeneyman  hit his hood after . And badde bette þe bocher e  to nil R.5.337: The verbal particle to is an alpha variant completely absent from the beta manuscripts. It does, however, appear in a few A manuscripts (RaUDJ) and in approximately half of the C manuscripts. It may, in fact, be the family reading of the P group. ben on his side . Þere Þere were(n) R.5.338: R uniquely omits the Bx verb were at this point, treating the participle Ichose at the end of the a-verse as the verb. chapmen Ichose  þis chaffare to preyse . N ota Ho -so haueth þe hood  schul haue amendes of þe cloke . ¶ Þo R.5.340:R and Bm are the only witnesses in the B tradition beginning this line with Þo (= not the common adverb but rather the plural demonstrative pronoun, equivalent to Modern English, "Those." See Kane, Glossary, pp. 207-8). The other beta copies all attest Two while F begins the line with Þan. The P family of C is joined by manuscripts Uc and Dc in support of the beta reading, but manuscripts X, I and P2 (probably reflecting the X subarchetype) agree with R and Bm in reading Þo. The A archetype also supports the RBm variant. Presumably R attests this reading by descent from alpha while Bm has it through correction, perhaps from the C exemplar used for its opening passus. Schmidt is probably correct in hypothesizing (II, 353) that Bx actually spelled Þo in this line as To, thus inviting the common subsequent scribal error of Two. risen risen vp in R.5.340: R uniquely omits a word from this phrase. Beta reads risen vp in while F has ryse þey ful. The reading of beta is also found in many A manuscripts and is clearly archetypal in that tradition; among the C witnesses, the P family mostly agrees with R (omitting vp from the phrase) while the X family attests its presence. However, many C manuscripts in both families omit in. rape  and rowned to -gyderes . And preysed þe þese R.5.341: Beta reads þese in place of alpha's þe. The A reading agrees with alpha, but the C version is split by families, with the P family supporting alpha while the X family agrees with beta. penyworthes  a -part by hym -selue hemselue(n) . Þei coude nauȝt by her e consience  acorden in trewthe . Til robyn þe ropere  arise þe arose bi þe southe . R.5.343: R may well represent Bx here, but the b-verse is plainly wrong. It is obvious that the F redactor has completely recast the b-verse because of its archtypally defective sense; in beta, the b-verse is similarly lacking, reading arose bi þe southe. Both Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt emend this verse conjecturally to conform to the C version: aryse they bisouhte . And nempned hym for a noumper  þat no debate were R.5.344: Beta and F read nere in place of R's were, but both G and Hm agree with R (presumably by correction). The A witnesses are split, but a majority agrees with R; the C version reading is unambiguously the same as R's. . ¶¶ Hikke þe hosteler e  hadde þe cloke . In the right margin, a note was written horizontally here, covering three lines, but was later scraped. It appears to be in the same hand (later than that of the scribe) as a number of other erased notes, such as that found on fol. 94r. In couenaunt þat clement  schulde þe cuppe fille . And haue hikkes hood hostelere  and holde hym I -s erued . And ho -so repented rathest  schuld arise after . And grete sire glotou n  with a galoun ale . ¶ Þer e was lawhyng e and lowryng e  and late go þe cuppe . And sitten so til euesonge  and syngen songe(n) R.5.351: The present tense, syngen, is unique to R; cf. F's sunge and beta's songen. R also shows a present-tense form earlier in this line, sitten, where most B witnesses record a past-tense form (but Cr and G agree with R). Context alone would suggest that the past tenses are correct, but the unanimous witness of C manuscripts as well as the attestation of a clear majority of A manuscripts in favor of these forms decides the question. Cf. see the Introduction III.2.2.10 for a discussion of R's problematic tense marking. vmb -while . Til glotou n haued I -globbed  a galoun and a gille . His guttes gonne to godly R.5.353: R's godly is shared exclusively with LM. As odd as it first seems, this was almost certainly the form of the verb in Bx. F has gowle while most beta manuscripts read goþelen. The same phrase occurs in the C version, where it reads His gottes gan to gothly. Significantly, a sizeable number of C witnesses agree exactly with manuscripts LMR of B on the spelling of the verb form, and MED, s. v. gothelen, acknowledges both -dly and -þly forms as viable for gothelen, but citations are solely to Piers Plowman. The same limited acknowledgment of these forms is found in OED2, s. v. gothele, and godele(n), -y.  as to gnedy g[r]edy gredy sowes . He pyssed a potel  in a pater noster while . He And R.5.355: He is a unique variant; the other B manuscripts read And. However, R's reading is also that of four A manuscripts and of the X family of the C version. Both Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt prefer the F/beta reading, presumably on stylistic grounds since And avoids a syntactic repetition (the previous line begins with He) that modern tastes find clumsy. blew his round rowet  at his rigges bones R.5.355: Most manuscripts have the compound riggebone, but both rigges and bones are genitives. Manuscript C has the same reading. ende . Þat alle þat alle [þat herde] þat alle þat herde þat R.5.356: Here R uniquely omits a key phrase from the archetypal text. horne  held here nose after . And wischedun it hadde be wexed  with a wips of firses . ¶ He miȝte neyther steppe ne stonde  er e he his staf hadde . And þanne gan he go  liche a glwemannes bicche . Sum -tyme a -syde  and sum -tyme arere . As ho -so leith lynes  for to lacche foules . ¶¶ Ac And R.5.362: Ac is unique to R; the other manuscripts read And. The A archetype seems to omit any connective here, but the C version agrees with F / beta. whan he drouȝ to þe dore  þanne dymmed hys eyȝes . He tremled R.5.363: R's tremled is uniquely supported by L (M having been altered once more to conform to the typical beta reading—for which, see below); F reads tripplid while most betas offer the non-alliterating stombled. Among the A manuscripts, only Vernon offers a viable reading, þrompelde, while the others attest various forms of stombled. As for the C version, though a few opt for stumblet, the majority attest thromblede. Based on its alliterative pattern, this is presumably what Langland wrote originally, but the LR form is almost certainly what it became in Bx. on þe threswolde  and threw to þe erthe . Clement þe cobbler e  cauȝt hym by þe myddel . For to lifte hym a -lofte  and leyde hym on his knowes . Ac glotou n was a grete cherle  and a grym in þe liftyng . And cowede vppe a caudel  in clementes lappe . Is non so hungri hound  in hertford e -schire . Durst lape of þe leuyng leuynges R.5.369: Beta shows the plural form, leuynges, while F rewrites the a-verse beyond recognition. The C version agrees here with R's singular.  so vnlouely it þei smauȝte . ¶ With alle þe wo of þis world  his wif and his wenche . Baren hym to home to R.5.371: Beta reads home to; although three A copies (VHaN) agree with beta here, both Ax and Cx concur with alpha's omission of hom. his bed  and brouȝte hym þere -inne . And after alle þis excesse  he hadde an accidie . Þat he slepe seterday and soneday  til sonne ȝede to rest . ¶¶ Þanne waked he of his wynkyng  and wiped his eyȝes . Þe furst word þat he warpp e  was wher e is þe bolle . His witt gan edewyte hym þo  how wikkedliche he leuede . And repentance riȝt so  rebuked hym þat tyme . ¶ As þow with wordes and werkes  hast wrouȝt euele in þi lyue . Schriue þe and be aschamed þere -offe  and schewe it with þi mouthe . ¶¶ I glotou n q uod þe gome  gulty me ȝelde . Of nil þ at R.5.381: R's Of is unique; the other B witnesses begin the line with Þat. However, the C reading here is identical to R's. I haue trespased with my tonge  I can nauȝt telle how ofte . Sworen godes soule and his sydes nil R.5.382: Beta omits the entire R phrase for the end of the a-verse ( and his sydes); F reads an abbreviated version, & side. The C reading is probably that of the X family (which agrees exactly with R's). The P family reading ( & sides) agrees with F's omission of the possessive but with R's plural number.  and so help me god & holy -dome god me help and halidom R.5.382: Beta appears to reverse a key alpha phrase (the latter being more colloquial), rendering alpha's so help me god as so god me help. The C reading for the end of this b-verse is revised but its opening agrees exactly with alpha's phrasing, so helpe me god. Beta's motive for revision was probably metrical, but manuscript M somehow still agrees with alpha and displays a form that may explain both Langland's intention and the apparent lapse in alliteration. Alpha and M read the line as aliterating on /s/ (hence M's selpe) but beta judges that it must alliterate on /g/ and generates the aformentioned phrase reversal to highlight that possibility. . Þere no nede ne was  nyne hundreth tymes . ¶ And ou er -seye me at my soper  and sum -tymes sometyme R.5.384: R's -s form here is unique. The other B copies show some -tyme , a reading shared with C. at nones . Þat I glotou n gurt it vppe  ar I hadde gon a myle . And I -spilt þat myȝt be spared  and spend spended R.5.386: R's spend is an alpha variant; cf. F's spend it and beta's spended. on sum hungry . ¶¶ Ou er delicatly R.5.387: There is a gap in the parchment between de and licatly caused by a pre-existing tear; the same gap occurs on the other side at R5.417. on fastyng -dayes  dronken and eten bothe . And sat sum -tyme so longe þer e  and þat I slep R.5.388: R's and slep is unique; beta appears to reflect Bx accurately with its þat I slepe . Cf. F's þere -at y sleep . and eet at ones . For loue of tales in tau ernes  to ete drynke R.5.389: R's ete is unique and redundant with the preceding line; cf. Bx's drynke. þe more I dyned . And hied to þe mete er none  when fastyng -dayes were . ¶ Þis schewyng schrifte  q uod repentance  schal be merite to þe . ¶¶ And þanne gan glotou n to grete  and muche grete R.5.392: R's muche is unique and may have been adopted to avoid the apparent repetition of the archetype, which reads grete here. doel to make . For his lither lif  þat he leued hadde . And auowed R.5.394: Most beta manuscripts read to fast , as does F. GLM agree with R's omission of to. M's corrector adds to above the line. On the other hand, like the beta majority, the A version attests the presence of to in this phrase. faste  for hunger or for thurst . Schal neu ere fisch e on þe friday  defien in my wombe . Til abstinence myn aunte  hath haue R.5.396: R's hath is the alpha form (shared exclusively with F); beta copies show haue, a reading shared with both Ax and Cx. Iȝeue ȝiue(n) me leue . And ȝet haue I hated hire  al my lif -tyme . ¶ Þanne come sleuthe al by -slobred  with to slymed slymy R.5.398: Beta reads slymy. A significant majority of C witnesses (XIP 2PRcVcAcQScKcGc) agrees with the alpha reading. eyȝes . I most sitte seyde þe seg e R.5.399: R's seg e is an unusual spelling of an old-fashioned word (= "man"). More commonly, the word appears in Middle English as segge, but this form is cited by MED, s. v. segge, in one manuscript of the Awntyrs of Arthur, Lincoln Cathedral Library 91: A knyghte salle...at carelyone be crownede for kynge; That sege salle be sesede at a sesone (289). The spelling is likewise attested in OED2, s. v. segge, for the fourteenth through the sixteenth century, and a passage from Dunbar is cited.  or elles schulde I nappe R.5.399: There is a superfluous bar over the final <-pe> of nappe. . I may nouȝt stonde ne stoupe  ne with -oute stole a stole knele . Were I brouȝt a -bedde  but if my taylende it made . Schulde no ryngyng do me rise  ere I were ripe to dyne . ¶¶ He bygan b en edicite with a bolke  and his brest knokked . And roxede and rored  and rutte atte laste . ¶ What awake renk q uod repentance  and rape þe to schrifte . ¶¶ If I schulde deye bi þis daye  q uod he nil R.5.406: Beta omits quod he. The P family of C manuscripts agrees with the alpha reading, but the X family agrees with beta and omits the phrase.  me lest nouȝt to loke . I can nouȝt p arfitlyche my pat ern oster  as þe prest it syngeth . But I kan rymes of robyn hood  and randolf erl of chestre Ac noþer of our e lor R.5.409: R's clipped form for lord is unique among the B manuscripts both here and in R18.61. See Richard Jordan, Handbook of Middle English Grammar: Phonology, translated and revised by Eugene Joseph Crook (The Hague: Mouton, 1974): §199, remark 3. ne of our e lady  þe leste þ at eu ere was maked . R.5.409: Here the scribe omits his customary line break before a new verse paragraph, presumably because the next line will be the final one of this side. ¶ I haue mad vowes fourti  and forȝete hem or on morwe R.5.410: This occurrence of or is unique; the full phrase in most B witnesses reads on (þe) morne. C has amorwen. . d iiij I parforned neu ere penance  as þe prest me hiȝte . Ne riȝt sori for my synnes  ȝet was I neuere . And ȝif I bedde any bedes  but if it be in wrathe . Þat I telle with my tonge  is to myle fro my herte . I am ocuped vche a day  halyday and other . With Idel tales at þe ale  and other -while in cherche cherches . Godes peyne and his passiou n  ful selde thenke I þer e -on . R.5.417: A repaired tear in the parchment (existing before its use by the scribe) partially obscures the loop from the <r> in þer e-on by which the following <e> is signified. ¶ I visitede neu ere seke fieble R.5.418: R's seke is a non-alliterating alpha variant; cf. beta's fieble, which is also the reading of the C version.. men  ne fetered folke in puttes . I hadde haue R.5.419: Cf. alpha's hadde to beta's haue; alpha's reading is also that of the C version. leu ere here an herlotrie  or a som er game of souteres . Or lesynges to lawhe of at R.5.420: R's of is an alpha variant; beta reads at, but Cx agrees with alpha here.  and bilye my neyȝbore . R.5.421: R uniquely omits a transitional word here in linehead position; cf. F's & and beta's Þan. The C reading agrees with beta's. Al Þan al þat eu ere marke made  mathew Ioh an and lucas . And vigilies and fastyngdayes  alle þis I late þise late I R.5.422: Beta transposes this phrase as late I. F reads the entire phrase as y leet hem passe . And ligge a -bedde in lente  and my le mman in myn armes . Til matynes and masse be do  and þan go to þe freres . Kome I to Ite missa est  I hold me I -s erued . I am nauȝt schriue su mtime  but ȝif sekenesse it make . Nouȝt twyes in to ȝere  and þanne vpe gesse I schriue me . ¶¶ I haue be prest and p ersone  passyng thretty wynter . Ȝet can I neyther solue ne synge  ne seyntes lyues rede . But I can fynde in a felde  or in a furlonge an hare . Better þan in beatus vir  or in beati om nes . Construe it clausemel oon clause wel R.5.432: R's it clausemel is an alpha variant; cf. beta's oon clause wel .  and kenne it to my parochiens . I can holde louedayes  or and R.5.433: Beta reads and. here a reues rekkenynge . Ac in canon ne in þe decretales  I can nouȝt rede a lyne . ¶ Ȝif I begge and borwe it  but if it be I -tayled . I for -ȝete it as ȝerne  and ȝif men me it aske . Sixe sithes or seuene  I forsake it wit with R.5.437: R's spelling of with here is unique among the Piers Plowman manuscripts and also fairly unusual in the Middle English corpus. The same spelling is found extensively in Cursor Mundi; it also occurs several times in the Prose Alexander (ca. 1440), once in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, line 113 (where Andrew and Waldron emend it away), and once in Havelok the Dane, line 2489. othes . And þus I tene tene I R.5.438: Beta transposes this phrase as tene I. trewe men  te te[n] ten hundreth tymes . ¶¶ And my s eruantes su m -tyme  her e salarie is byhynde . Reuthe is to her e here þe rekkenynge  when we schul rede acou ntes . So with wikked wille and wrathe  my werk -men I paye . R.5.441: R omits his customary blank line between strophes at the juncture of ll. 441-42, presumably because the latter is to fill the last line ruled for this side. ¶ Ȝif anyman any man doth me a benfeet  or helpeth me at nede . I am vnkende aȝeyn his curteysie  and can nauȝt vndersta nde it . For I haue and haue hadde  sumdel haukes maneres . I am nauȝt lured with loue  but þere ligge auȝt vnder thou mbe þe thombe R.5.445: Here the beta manuscripts have a determiner, making the phrase þe thombe. This discrepancy is also apparent in the two major families of C: the P family here agrees with alpha and the X family supports beta. . ¶ Þe kendenesse þat myn euencristene  kudde me ferneȝer e . Sixty sithe sythes R.5.447: This R form is unique; both F and beta read sythes. Once more, the P family of C manuscripts here agrees with R and the X family supports beta (with F's collateral attestation). I slewthe  haue foreȝete it setthe . In speche and in sparinge of speche  I -spelt many a tyme . ¶¶ Bothe flesch e and fisch e  and myn many R.5.449: Cf. R's erroneous myn to F's fele and beta's many. other vitailes Bothe brede and ale  butter e melke and chese . For -sleuthed in my s eruise  til it miȝte s erue noman . ¶ I ran aboute in ȝouthe  and ȝaf me nouȝt to lerne . And eu ere sitthe be beggere  for my foule sleuthe . Heu michi q uod quia R.5.454: This alpha variant is supported by BoCot, but beta reads quia. The C reading at this point agrees with alpha's. sterilem  vitam duxi iuuenilem . ¶¶ Repentest Repentestow þe nil nouȝt q uod repentance  and riȝt e with þat he swhounede . Til vigilate þe veile  fette water at his eyȝes . And flatte it on his face  and on faste on R.5.457: R uniquely omits the third stave; the other B manuscripts read and faste on . hym cried . And seyde war þe fram wanhope  wolde þe bytraye . ¶ Ich am sori for my synnes  sey so R.5.459: Although most beta copies omit so and F reads now so, LM support R's so to. Cx shows the same reading as the beta majority. Among the A manuscripts, only EAH attest so in this phrase. to þi -selue . And bete þi -selue on þe breste  and bidde hym of grace . For is no gult here so grete  þat his goednesse is more . ¶¶ Þanne sate sleuthe vppe  and seyned hym swythe . And made a vow to -for god  for his foule sleuthe . Schal no soneday be þis seuen ȝere  but ȝif sekenesse me it R.5.464: R's me is unique; the other manuscripts read it. Both Ax and Cx read (h)it make . lette . Þat I ne schal do me er daye  to þe dere cherche . And heren matynes and masse  as I a monke were . Schal non ale after mete  halde me thennes . Til I haue euensonge herde  I be -hote to þe rode . What I nam And ȝete wil I R.5.469: The defective opening phrase of R's a-verse ( What I nam) may well reflect alpha accurately; cf. F's & what y have take to and beta's And ȝete wil I. ȝelde aȝen  if I so muche haue . Alle þat I wikkedliche wan  sitthen I witt hadde . ¶ And þouȝ me my R.5.471: R's me is unique among the B witnesses; the other manuscripts read my, which is also the reading of most manuscripts for the other two versions of Piers. However, manuscripts X and Yc in the C tradition, two of the most authoritative copies, agree at this point with R. lyflode lakke  leten I nelle . Þat vch man schal haue his  ar I hennes wende . And with þe residue and þe remenant  by þe rode of chestre . I schal seke treuthe  arst er I se rome . ¶ Roberd þe robbere  on reddite lokede . And for þere was nauȝt where -of  he wepe swythe sore . Ac ȝet þe synful schrewe  seyde to hym -selue . Crist þat on caluar e  vppon þe croys deyedeste . Þo bymas [d]y[s]mas dismas R.5.479: Kane-Donaldson commit a rare mistranscription here, rendering this R variant as bysmas. my brother  by -souȝte ȝow of grace . And haddest mercy on þat man  for memento sake . So rewe on þis robber e  þat redder e ne haue . Ne neu ere wene to wynne  with craft þat I knowe owe . R.5.482: For alpha's knowe, all but Cr among the beta copies read owe. However, both Ax and Cx agree with alpha's reading. But for thi michel m ercy  mitigac ion I be -seche . Ne dampne me nauȝt at domes -day  for þ at I dede so ille . ¶¶ What be -fel of þis felou n  I can nauȝt fare faire R.5.485: This form is unique and Kane-Donaldson treat it as a possibly substantive variant, but it is likelier to be merely an unusual spelling variation for standard faire found in the other B witnesses, as well as in Ax. Cf. MED, s. v. fair (adj.), where this spelling is documented, sporadically, for c. 13-15. schewe . Wel I wote he wepte faste  water with bothe his eyȝes . R.5.486: Immediately after this line, the alpha tradition omits a line present in beta (and also present with slight differences in Ax and Cx): And knowleched his gult to cryst ȝete eftsones. Þat penitencia his pik  he scholde polsche newe . And lepe with hym ouer londe  al his lif -tyme . For he hath had R.5.489: F omits this verb entirely and the beta copies render it in the past tense as had. Among the A and C manuscripts, only Vernon agrees with R's reading. The others support beta. Cf. the Introduction III.2.2.10 regarding R's problematic tense marking. leyne be latro  luciferes aunte . ¶ And þanne hadde repentance reuthe  and redde he m alle to knele . For I schal by -seche for alle synful  our e saueour e of grace . To amende vs of oure mysdedes  and do m ercy to vs alle . ¶¶ R.5.493: The rubricator failed to notice the "cc" paraph marker. Now god q uod quod he R.5.493: R agrees with the beta manuscripts about most of this phrase but uniquely omits he at this point (F completely reworks the phrase as & seid god ). þat of þi goednesse  gonne þe worlde make . And of nauȝt madest auȝte  and man most liche to þi -selue And sitthen suffredest hym for R.5.495: In place of alpha's hym, beta reads for, completely misconstruing the meaning of the preceding verb. The C reading is identical to R's form of the alpha phrase. to synne  a sekenesse to vs alle . And alle for þe best as I be -leue  what -euere þe boke telleth . O felix culpa . O nessariu m ne[ce]ssariu m necessarium R.5.497: The correcting scribe marked the line for correction with a marginal <+>. peccatu m ade ade &c . ¶ For thorȝ þat synne þi sone  sent was to þis erthe . And bi -cam man of a mayde  man -kende to saue . And madest þi -selue with þi sone  and vs synful I -liche . Faciamus ho mi nem ad ymaginem & similitudinem n ostram . Et alibi  qui manet in caritate in deo manet & deus in eo . ¶ And sitthe with þe þi R.5.503: R's þe selue sone (= "the Son Himself") is unique and probably signifies nothing more than a casual error by the scribe for Bx's þi -self sone ("Thine own Son"). selue sone  in oure seute dyedest . On godefriday for mannes sake  at fulle tyme of day þe daye . R.5.504: The other B witnesses read of þe daye . Þere þi -selue and R.5.505: Only G agrees with R here; beta and F read ne. þi sone  no sorewe in deth feledest . But in oure secte was þat þe R.5.506: Beta reads þe. sorewe  and þi sone it ladde . Captiuam duxit captiuitatem . ¶¶ Þe sonne for sorewe þer e -offe  les siȝte for a tyme . Aboute myddaye  whan most liȝt is  and mel -tyme of seyntes . Feddest þo Feddest R.5.510: Beta omits þo while F transposes the phrase to Þo feddyst . The C reading here is identical to R's. with þi fresch blode  oure forfadres in derkenesse . Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam . ¶ And thorȝ þe liȝt þat lepe oute of þe  lucifer it was R.5.512: Beta reads was while F omits the word entirely. The C reading agrees with R's. blent . And blew alle þin blissed þennes nil R.5.513: Alpha's þennes (in F = þens boldely) is omitted by beta. However, in a revised version of this line, C includes it.  in -to þe blisse of paradys . ¶¶ Þe thridde day after  þow ȝedest in oure seute . A synful marie þe seiȝ  er seynte marie þi dame . And alle to solace synful  þow suffredest it so were . R.5.516: There is an ink blot over the final <e> of were. Non veni vocare iustos  sed peccatores ad penitenciam . ¶ And alle þat mark hath I -mad  matheu Iohan and lucas . Of þin douȝtyest douȝty dedes  were don in oure armes . Verbu m caro factu m est . & habitauit in nobis . ¶¶ And by so m.yche it me R.5.521: Cx agrees with alpha. semeth  þe sykerloker sikerere R.5.521: This is a unique form in R; F has sikere while beta reads sikerere; nevertheless, Cx agrees exactly with R's comparative, an odd form that appears restricted to texts from the West Midlands (as evidenced by citations from both MED, s. v. sikerli [adv. 3], and OED2, s. v. sickerly.) we mowe . Byde and bi -seche  if it be þi wille . Þat art our e fader and oure brother e  be m ercyable to vs . And haue mercy reuthe R.5.524: Cf. the beta variant, reuthe, which properly alliterates and agrees with the reading of the C version. on þes ribaudes  þat repenten hem sore here sore Þat euere þei wrathed þe þe in þis worlde R.5.525: Beta here attests an additional phrase: in þis worlde .  in worde thouȝt or dedes . ¶ Þanne hent hope an horn  of deus tu co nu ersus viuificabis no s nil . And he nil R.5.527: Before this verb, R uniquely adds he; the C version reading agrees with the B majority in omitting the pronoun. blew it with beati quor um remisse sunt iniquitates . Þat alle seyntes in heuene  songen at ones . Ho mi nes & iumenta saluabis que madmodu m multiplicasti m isericordiam tua m d eus . ¶¶ A thousend of men þo  throngen to -gyderes . Cride vppward to crist  and to his clene moder . Grace to god To haue grace to go R.5.532: This b-verse of this line appears to have been defective in Bx, but beta's version of the a-verse ( To haue grace to go . . .) seems more likely to be original than either F ( To graunte swich grace . . .) or R's truncated and semantically deficient Grace to god. The C version reading for the a-verse agrees with that of beta. with hem  trewthe to seke . Ac þere was wiȝt non so wis  þe weye þider coude . But blostereden forth as bestes  ouer bankes and hilles . Til late was and longe  þat þei a lede mette . Apparayled as a paynym  in pilgrimes wise . He bare a bordou n I -bounde  with a brode liste . In a wythewyndes wyse  I -wonden aboute . A bulle bolle R.5.539: Beta reads bolle which is clearly the intended meaning. Alpha's form is not documented as a variant spelling for this word (= mod. bowl. The C reading agrees with beta's. and a bagge  he bare by hys syde . An hundred of ampulles  on his hat seten . Sygnes of a -sise synay R.5.541: Cf. F's seyntys and beta's Synay. R's reading is supported by Cx and by several A-version manuscripts (including Bodley 851, i.e., Z). Most A copies agree with beta's reading.  and schelles of gales . And many cruche on his cloke  and þe nil R.5.542: The beta manuscripts do not attest þe. Both the A and C versions also omit this determiner. cayes of rome . And þe vernicle before  for men schulde I -knowe knowe . And se by his seynes R.5.544: Seynes, "signs."  wham he souȝt hadde . ¶ Þis folke frayned hym furst : fro whennes he come . ¶¶ Fram synay he seyde  and fram oure lordes sepulcre . In bethlem and in babiloyne  I haue ben in bothe . In ermony and in in R.5.548: R's phrase, and in, is unique. Cr includes and but omits in; both F and the majority of beta copies omit and. The Ax and Cx reading here appears to agree with the F/beta lection. alisaundre  in many other places . Ȝe may se be my sygnes  þat sitten on myn hatte . Þat I haue walked ful wyde  in wete and in drye . And souȝte gode seyntes  for my soule helth . ¶ Knowest þow auȝt a corseint  þat men calleth treuthe . Koudest þow auȝt wissen vs þe wey  þer e where R.5.553: R's þere is unique in the B tradition (LaAMaH among the A manuscripts agree with R); F and beta read where, which is also the reading of the A majority. þ at wyȝte R.5.553: R's wyȝte agrees only with Cr; F and the beta majority read wy(e), which is also the reading of the A version. dwelleth . ¶¶ Nay so me god helpe  seyde þe gome þanne . I seyȝ neu ere palmer e  with pik ne with scrippe . Axen after hym er e  til now in þis place . ¶ Peter q uod a plowman  and put forth his hed . I knowe hym as kendely  as clerk doth his bokes . Consience and kende witt  kenned me to his place . And deden me suren he m hym R.5.560: R's hem is an alpha reading, shared exclusively with F, and the plural reference is presumably to the two figures mentioned in the previous line. By contrast, beta deploys a third-person singular accusative, presumably understanding treuthe as the referent. The P family of C witnesses supports the beta reading, but the X subarchetype appears to have omitted the pronoun altogether. sikerly  to s erue hym for eu ere . Bothe to sowe and to sette  þe while I swynke miȝte . I haue ben his folwar  al þis fourty fifty wynter . Bothe I -sowe his sede  and sued his bestes . With -Inne and with -oute  I -wayted his profite . I dike and I delue  I do þat he treuthe R.5.565: Beta reads treuthe for alpha's he. hoteth . Sum -tyme I sowe  and sum -tyme I thresche . R.5.566: There is a superfluous bar over the final <e> of thresche. In tayloures crafte in and R.5.567: F omits this entire line, but beta reads and here. tynkeres crafte  what treuthe ca n deuise . I weue and I wynde  and do what treuthe hoteth . ¶ For þouȝ I seye it my -selue  I serue hy hy[m] hym to paye . Ich haue my huyre of hym nil R.5.570: Beta omits of hym, but both Ax and Cx witness this alpha phrase. wel  and otherwhiles more . He is þe presteste payer  þat pore men knoweth . He with -halt no men hewe(n) R.5.572: R's men is unique (cf. beta's hewe and F's man) and forces the following pronoun choice, here, shared by convergence only with Cot. At first glance, F's reading seems closer to alpha ( man his), because of the pronoun agreement with beta, but the plural forms shared by R and F later in this line (R = þei ne haue it; F = þat þey haue it) indicate that R is probably, as usual, closer to their common parent. Either way, the beta phrasing, hewe his hyre þat he ne hath it , is almost certainly the original since it preserves the line's alliteration and exactly parallels the text of Ax (and of the a-verse of Cx). her e huyre  þat þei he ne haue hath it anone at eue(n) . R.5.572: For R's anone, F has soone while beta reads at euen. Both Ax and Cx support the beta reading. He is as lowe as a lombe  and louelich of speche . And if ȝe wilneth to wite  where þat he dwelleth . I schal wise ȝow witterly  þe weye to his place . ¶¶ Ȝe leue peres q uod þes pilgrymes  and profered hym huyre . For to wende with hem  to treuthes dwellynge place . ¶ Nay by my soule perel soules helth R.5.578: R's perel is unique but may well represent Bx. The alliterative pattern is no more adequate than that of its only competitor, helth (= WCrGLM), but both Ax and Cx attest R's lection. q uod peres  and gan for to swerie . I nolde fonge a ferthyng  for seint Thom as schrine Treuthe wolde loue me þe lesse  a longe tyme þere -after . Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel  þis is þe weye thider ¶¶ Ȝe mote go thorȝ mekenesse  bothe men and wyues . Til ȝe come in -to consience  þat crist wite þe sothe . Þat ȝe louen oure lorde god  leuest of alle thynges . And þanne ȝour e neyȝbores nexst  in none wise appaire Otherwise þan þow woldest  he wrouȝte to þi -selue . R.5.586: In the right margin, beginning here and written vertically up the page to R5.580, there is a signature which has been erased. It appears to be the same hand as on fol. 94r. Still discernible are traces of an initial and a surname in full. ¶ And so bouh forth by a broke  be buxu m of þi nil R.5.587: R's þi (cf. F's þy n ) is not attested in beta nor in the A version. speche . Til ȝe fynden a forthe  ȝour e faderes honoureth . Honora patrem et matrem matrem &c R.5.589: R's Latin tag omits a final &c found in beta (also, cf. F's unique added phrase ut sis longeu us sup er t erra m ). Most C witnesses agree on this point with beta.  Wadeth in þat water  and wascheth ȝow wel þere . And ȝe schul lepe þe lyȝtloker e  alle ȝour e lif -tyme . ¶¶ And so schalt þow se swere nauȝt  but if it be for nede . And namliche an Idel  þe name of god almiȝti . ¶¶ Þanne schaltow come bi a crofte  but come þow nauȝt þer eInne . Þe That crofte hate coueyte nauȝt  men R.5.595: R uniquely omits a word after men, but the omission probably goes back to alpha. F rewrites by dropping men altogether and uniquely substituting the phrase neyþir maydins , while beta deploys a phrase that parallels Ax : mennes catel. The Cx phrase, menne catel , involves an unmarked genitive that might help account for the error in alpha. ne catel ne here wyues . Ne none of her s eruantes  þat nuyen hem miȝte . Loke þow ye breke no bowes þere  but if it be on nil R.5.597: R's on is a unique addition. ȝoure owen . ¶ To stokkes þere stondeth  ac stynte ȝe nauȝt þere . Þei hatte stele nauȝt ne slee nauȝt  strike forthe by bothe . And leue hem on þi left halfe  and loke nauȝt þere -after And hold wel þin haliday  heye til euene . Þan schalt þow blenche at a beruh  bere no fals wittnesse . R.5.603: Among the B witnesses, R uniquely omits the subject of this line, which is He in beta (as well as in most A manuscripts) and It in F. However, R's reading (with its ellipsis) is also attested in Cx Is He is frythed in with floreynes  and other fees manye . Loke ȝe þow plukke no plante þere  for perel of ȝoure soules þi soule R.5.604: The plural pronouns in this line represent alpha readings, the first of which is also attested in F; cf. beta's Loke þow and þi soule . However, R's soules is a unique reading since F here goes his own way, rendering the final phrase of this line as þe heyward. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. . ¶¶ Þanne schal ȝe sei sothe  so it be to done . In none maner e elles nauȝt  for no mannes byddynge . ¶ Þanne schaltow come to a courte  as cler e as þe sonne . Þe mote is of mercy  þe maner e aboute . And alle þe walles ben of witt  to halden wille oute . And Icarneled kerneled with cristendome  þat kende mankynde R.5.610: In the B tradition, R's þat kende is unique; both F and beta read mankynde. However, both Ax and Cx agree with R and verify that its reading is original. to saue . I -buterased Boterased with by -leue so  or þow best nauȝt I -saued . ¶¶ And alle þe houses ben I -hyled hiled  halles and chaumbres . With no lede but with loue  and lowe speche as bretheren . Þe brugge is of bidde wel  þe bette may þow spede . Iche pyler is of penau nce  of preyeres to seyntes . Of almesdedes aren þe hokes  þat þe gates hangen on . ¶ Grace hatte þe gatewarde  a goed man for -sothe . His man hatte amende ȝow  many for many man men R.5.618: Most beta manuscripts read men here, but LM support alpha's singular, which also happens to be the reading of both Ax and Cx. hym knoweth . ¶¶ Telleth hym þis tokene  þat truthe wyte þe sothe . I parfourmed þe penau nce  þe prest me enioyned . And am ful sori of for R.5.621: Beta reads for here, which is also the reading of the A version; though a majority of C manuscripts also agrees with beta's preposition, some of the most reliable X family witnesses (XYcUcDc) agree with alpha's of. my synnes  and so I schal euere . Whan I thenke þere -on  þei I were a pope . ¶ Byddeth amende ȝow meken hy m  to his meister ones . To wayue vppe þe wykat  þat þe wo mman schette . Þo adam and eue  eten appeles vn -rosted . Per euam cunctis clausa est  & p er mariam virginem it eru m nil &c etera patefacta est R.5.626: Beta omits iterum and finishes the citation with the phrase patefacta est. The C version includes both elements, reading iterum patefacta est . ¶¶ For he hath þe keye and þe clikat  þowe þe kynge slepe . And if grace graunt þe  to go in þis wise . Þow schalt se in þi -selue  treuthe sitte in þin herte . In a cheyne of charite  as þow a childe were . To suffre hym and to R.5.631: R shares this repeated verbal particle solely with G, presumably by convergence. segge segge nouȝte R.5.631: Here R uniquely omits a word; most of the other manuscripts read segge nouȝte . F rewrites the line but also omits the negative, suggesting that the error originated in alpha.  aȝeynes þi sires wille . ¶ Ac be war þanne of wrathe þe  þat is a wikked schrewe . He hath enuye to hym  þat in þin herte sitteth . And pucketh pukketh forþ R.5.634: In the beta tradition, as in many of the A manuscripts and in Cx, this phrase reads pukket forþ. pruyde  to preyse þi -selue . Þe boldenesse of þi benefetes  maketh þe blynd þanne . And þanne worstou driue n out as deuh  and þe dore I -closed closed . I -cayed Kayed and I -clycated clikated  to kepe þe with -oute n . Happely an hundreth wynt er  ar þow efte entre . Þus miȝtow lesen his loue  to lete wel by þi -selue . And neu ere happeliche efte entre  but grace þow haue . ¶¶ Ac þere aren seuen ȝiftes sustren R.5.641: The Bx reading here was sustren (as in Ax and Cx), and alpha obviously was in error; cf. F's reading, seruauntys, which is probably a characteristic smoothing rather than the original alpha variant.  þat s eruen treuthe eu ere . And aren porteres ouer of R.5.642: Cf. F's at and beta's of. The beta reading agrees with the predominant reading among A witnesses, while the reading of R is that of Cx. þe post ernes  þat to þe place longeth . Þat on hatte abstinence  and vmblete humilite R.5.643: R's form here is obviously synonymous with the F/beta humilite (which is also the lection found in Ax). However, R's form is treated by MED and OED2, s. v. humblete, not as a spelling variant but as a different, rarer noun, derived from humble by suffixing. MED cites examples from manuscripts of Chaucer's Physician's Tale, Parson's Tale, and the Tale of Melibee. The P family of the C version agrees with the prevalent F/beta reading, but the X family shows the same rare form as R, suggesting that it may well have been the reading in both Bx and Cx. an -other . Charite and chastite  ben his chief maydenes . Pacience and pees  miche poeple þei helpeth . Largenesse þe lady  he she R.5.646: He, "she." R.5.646: Cf. L's heo; F and the majority of beta copies read she (though Cr omits any pronoun reference). The A and C manuscripts agree with Cr. lete in ful manye . Heo she hath hulpe a thousend oute  of þe deueles pondfolde . ¶ And ho R.5.648: ho, "who, whoever." is sib to þis seuene  so me god helpe . Heo He is wonderlich welcome  and faire vnderfongen . And but if þat nil R.5.650: R's þat is a unique addition to this phrase, which reads in Ax exactly as it does in beta. ȝe be sib  to su mme of þis seuene . It is ful hard be my hed q uod peres  for eny of ȝow alle . To geten Ingonge at any gate þer e  but grace be þe more . ¶ Now be crist q uod a cuttpurs  I haue no kynne þere . ¶ Ne Nor I q uod an apewarde  by auȝt þat I knowe . ¶ Wite god q uod a wafrester e  wiste I þis sothe for sothe . R.5.655: F reads this b-verse as þat y wiste þe sothe. Beta has wist I þis for sothe . Obviously, R is closer to beta here, differing only in omitting for. Ax appears to have had the same reading as beta. Cx is uncertain (a major group of P manuscripts reading þe soþe ), but the X family clearly supports beta's version of the phrase. Schulde I neuer forther e a foot  for no frere freres R.5.656: Among the B copies, R's frere is a unique reading, an unmarked genitive; many C witnesses agree with the B majority, but most of the X family reads this lection in agreement with R. p rechynge . ¶ Ȝus q uod peres þe plowman  and poked hem alle to goed . Mercy is a mayde maydene R.5.658: R's mayde is unique in the B tradition; all other witnesses attest maydene. However, witnesses in the C tradition are split on this reading, most of the X family agreeing with the B majority while most of the P family (as well as several of the X grouping) concur with R's form. þere  hath miȝt ouer hem nil alle . And sche is sib to alle synful  and hire sone alse . And thorȝ þe helpe of hem to  hope þow non other . Þow miȝt gete grace þere  be bi so þow go by -tyme . R.5.661: There is an apparently random ink blot, partially erased, immediately below the punctus, giving it, at first glance, the appearance of a modern semicolon. ¶ By seint poule q uod a pardonere  par -aunter I be nauȝt welcome knowe(n) þere . R.5.662: Where the alpha manuscripts have welcome, the beta copies read knowe þere. I wil go feche my box  with my breuettes  & a bull e with bisshop es l ettres . ¶ By crist q uod a comune woman  þi company wil I folwe . Þow schalt sey I am þi suster  Ine I ne wote wher e þei by -come . Passus Sextus de visione vt sup ra . — — t T his were a wikked way  but ho -so hadde a gyde . Þat wolde folewe vs ech a fote  þus þis folke he m mened . R.6.3: There is no paraph marker here because there was no space for one (the passus initial extends down slightly beyond this line in the left margin). Quatȝ perkyn þe plowma n  by seint peter of rome . I haue an half acre to erie  by þe heyȝ weye . Hadde I hered þis half acre  and I -sowen sowe(n) it after . I wil R.6.6: Among the other B copies, only LCY share R's wil (the rest read wolde). That the latter form of the verb was original in the A version seems obvious (though three of its manuscripts—Ra, U, and La—support a future meaning in place of the conditional); but the reading of Cx is more problematic. Most C copies agree with the AB majorities on wolde, but three of the most authoritative X-family witnesses, XYcI, support the RLCY reading. wenden with ȝow  and þe weye teche . ¶ Þis were a longe lettyng  q uod a lady in a sclayre . What schuld we wo mmen  werche þere þe R.6.8: Most beta manuscripts of all other sub-groups read þe, but the LM pair agrees with alpha. whiles . ¶ Su mme schal sowe þe sak q uod peres  for scheding of þe whete . And ȝe loueliche ladyes  with ȝour e longe fyngeres . Þat ȝe haue selke and sendel  to sowe whan tyme is . Chesibles for chapeleynes  cherches to honoure . wyues and wydewes . ¶ Wyues and wydewes  wolle and flex spynneth . Maketh cloth I conseile ȝow  ad a[n]d and kenneth so ȝour e douȝtres . Þe nedy and þe naked  nemeth hede how a þei R.6.15: a, "they." lyggeth . And casteth hym hem hym, "them." For <a> and hym as spellings of "they" and "them," see MED, s.v. he pron.(3) and hem pron.pl. clothes  for so comaundeth treuthe . For I schal lene hem lyflode  but if þe londe fayle . Flesche and brede bothe  to riche antd to pouere . As longe as I lyue  for þe lordes loue of heuene . ¶ And alle maner e of men  þat thorȝ mete and drynke libbeth . Helpeth hym to werche wyȝtliche  þat wynneth ȝour e fode . ¶ By crist q uod a kniȝt þo  he kenneth vs þe beste . Ac on þe teem treuly  tauȝt was I neuere . Ac kenne me q uod þe kniȝt  and by crist I wil assay . ¶ By seint poule q uod perkyn  ȝe p rofre ȝow so faire . Þat I schal swynke and swete  and sowe for vs bothe . And other laboreres laboures do for þi loue  al my lif -tyme . In R.6.28: There is a mark above the of In. It appears to be a backwards <c> in brown, touched with red. couenau nt þat þow kepe  holy cherche and my -selue . Fro wastoures and fro wikked men  þat þis world strueth . ¶ And go hunte hardiliche  to hares and to foxes . To bores and to bukkes brockes R.6.31: Cf. beta's brockes; F rewrites the a-verse. Both Ax and Cx agree with R's lection.  þat breketh a -dou n myn hegges . And go afayte þi faukones  wilde foules to kulle . For swyche cometh to my crofte  and croppeth my whete . ¶ Curteiseliche þe kniȝt þanne  comsed þes wordes . By my power peres q uod he  I pliȝt þe my treuthe . To fulfille þi þis R.6.36: R's þi is unique; Bx reads þis, which is also the reading of a plurality of A witnesses in a very similar rendering of this line. forwarde  þouȝ I fiȝte schulde . As longe as I lyue  I schal þe meyntene . ¶ Ȝe and ȝet a poynt q uod peres  I preye ȝow of more . Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt  but treuthe wil assente . And þouȝ ȝe mowe am ercy men hem R.6.40: Beta reads hem. In a slightly revised line, the C tradition agrees here with alpha, reading men.  lat mercy be taxour e . And mekenesse ȝour e þi R.6.41: Both F and beta attest þi. The same is true of Cx. mayster e  maugre mede medes R.6.41: R's uninflected form is unique among the B manuscripts; the others have medes. However, a majority of C witnesses, including the best X-family copies, agree with R's form. chekes . R.6.41: Here the scribe again omits his usual insertion of a blank line to mark a new paragraph, presumably because the next line is the last of the side. ¶ And þouȝ pore men profre ȝow  p resentes and ȝiftes . e j Nyme it nauȝt an aunter  þow ȝe R.6.43: R's aunter þow is an alpha reading; beta has auenture ȝe ; however, though five A witnesses support auenture, it seems clear that the entire phrase, in both Ax and Cx was rendered as in alpha. mowe it nauȝt deserue For þow schalt ȝelde it aȝen  at on ȝeres ende . In a ful periliouse place  purgatorie it hatteth . ¶ And mysbede nauȝt þi bonde -man bondemen  þe bett ere may þow spede . Þouȝ he be þin vnderlyng here  wel may happe in heuene . Þat he worth worthier sett  and with more blisse . Amice ascende superius . For in a nil chanel charnel R.6.50: chanel, "charnel house." For the spelling, see MED, s.v. charnel n.(1). at cherche  clerkes cherles R.6.50: Beta reads cherles, which clearly reflects Bx (and agrees with C). Alpha's variant (F = a clerk) is deficient in alliteration as well as less suitable to the context (levelling of social classes beyond death). ben euel to knowe . Or a kniȝt fram a knaue þere  knowe þis in þin herte . And þat þow be trewe of tonge þi tonge R.6.52: Beta reads of þi tonge . Most A witnesses agree on this reading with beta, as does the X family of C manuscripts. However, four A copies (TDH 2V) agree with alpha's omission of any determiner. Most of the P family in the C tradition attest the presence of hys at this point.  and tales þat þow hatie . But if þei ben of wisdom  or of witt þi werkmen to chastie . Holde nauȝt nil R.6.54: No beta manuscript attests nauȝt. Two A copies agree with alpha at this point, but most support beta. By contrast almost all C witnesses support alpha's use of the double negative in this a-verse, although the Russell-Kane edition emends this evidence away. with non herlotes  ne here nauȝt here tales . And nameliche at þe mete  swyche men eschewe . For it beth þe deueles disoures  I do þe to vnderstonde . ¶¶ I assente by seint Iame  seyde þe kniȝt þanne . For to werch by thy wordes  þe while my lyf dureth . ¶ And I schal apparaille me q uod perkyn  in pilgrimes wise . And wende with ȝow I wil  til we fynde treuthe . ¶¶ And caste on me R.6.61: Only L agrees with R in attesting me my. F and the other beta copies simply show my. Ax and Cx agree against B in reading this phrase as third-person description: He caste on ( his = A) / ( hym his = C) cloþis . It is interesting to note that the one difference between the A and C phrases parallels the grammatical difference between LR and the other B witnesses. my clothes  I -clouted and I -hole hole . My cokeres and my cuffes  for colde of my nayles . And hange myn hoper at myn hals  in stede of a sc rippe . A buschel of brede -corne  bryng me þer e -Inne . For I wil sowen it my -selue  and sytthen wil I wende . To pilgrimage as palmeres dou n  pardon for to haue . ¶ Ac ho -so helpeth me to erye  or sowen her e er e I wende . Schal haue leue be oure lord  to lese here in herueste . And maken hym hem R.6.69: Beta reads hem here, but both Ax and Cx agree with alpha's hym. merie þer emyde  maugre ho -so it nil be -grucche . R.6.69: Beta transposes the final phrase as bigruccheth it. This word order parallels that found in the X family of C (the P family omits it completely, as do several of the less authoritative copies in the B tradition). However, the A witnesses strongly support alpha's phrasing at this point. ¶¶ And alle kynne crafty men  þ at conne lyuen in treuthe . I schal fynde hem fode  þat feithfullyche libbeth . R.6.71: Here the scribe again omits his usual insertion of a blank line to mark a new paragraph, presumably because the next line is the last of the side. ¶ Saue Iakke þe iogelour  and Ihonete of þe stiues stues . And daniel þe dys pleyere  and denote þe bawde . And frere þe faitoure  and folke of hys ordre . And robyn þe ribauder  for his rousty wordes . Treuthe tolde me ones  and badde me tellen it after Deleantur de libro viuenciu m  I schulde nauȝt dele with hem . For holy cherche is hote  of hem no tythe to aske take . R.6.78: R's aske is unique; both beta and F read take. However, both Ax and Cx agree with R's reading. Quia cu m iustis non scribantur . Þei ben aschaped good auntour  now nil R.6.80: Beta reads auenture in place of alpha's auntour, but Ax and Cx agree with alpha's form. Also, most beta copies omit alpha's now, but its occurrence in LM clearly attests its authenticity, both in beta and Bx. Almost all C witnesses—and a majority of A copies—attest the presence of this adverb. god hem amende . ¶ Dame worche whan tyme is  peres wif hyȝte . His douȝte douȝte[r] hiȝt do riȝt so  or þi dame schal þe bete . His sone hiȝt suffre  þi souereynes haue to haue(n) R.6.83: Beta reads to hauen . A majority of the A witnesses supports beta (none supports alpha), but Cx clearly agrees with alpha in omitting to. here wille . Deme hem nauȝt for if þow dost  þow schalt it der e a -bugge . Lat god I -worth with al  for so his worde techeth . ¶¶ For now I am holde and hore  and haue of myn owene . To penaunce and to pilgrimage  I wil passe with þis other e . For -thy I wil ar I wende  do write my queste biqueste . R.6.88: R's queste is unique in form but identical in sense to beta's reading (See MED, s. v. quiste [n.]); cf. F's enqweste and beta's biqueste. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta's form. In dei no mi ne amen  I make it my -selue  he schal haue my soule . R.6.89: Here alpha differs from beta by merging the opening phrase from the archetype's next line (= He shal haue my soule ) with this one, and then truncating the third line by deleting its final phrase (= for so I bileue ), so that the three lines in Langland's presumptive original are reduced to two non-alliterating ones. Þat best hath I -serued it  and fro þe fende I -keped it it defende R.6.90: R's I -keped is unique; F rephrases this verse, with his own unique verb phrase ( weyvid fram yt); the cognate beta reading is it defende. Both Ax and Cx substantially agree with beta's phrasing in this entire passage, where alpha was clearly corrupt (cf. note at R6.89). . Til I come til to R.6.91: R's til before his acountes is unique among the B witnesses. Ax, like beta and F, shows to here, but Cx agrees with R. his acountes  as my crede telleth me telleth R.6.91: Beta adds me before telleth. A majority of A manuscripts agrees with beta on this addition, but a minority (ChHaLaEWaMa) supports alpha's omission of the pronoun. Moreover, Cx clearly supports alpha in omitting me. . To haue a reles and a remissiou n  on þat rental I leue . ¶ Þe kyrke schal haue my carayne  and kepe myn bones . For of my corne and catel  he crauede tithe þe tythe . R.6.94: R uniquely omits a determiner before tithe. Most B witnesses agree with Ax in attesting þe before the noun; however, Cr agrees with Cx in reading my at this point. I payede it hym prestly  for peryl of my soule . For -thi is he holden I hope  to haue me in his messe . And mengen in his memorie  amonge alle cristene ¶¶ My wif schal haue of þat I wan  with treuthe and namore . And dele amonge my douȝteres  and my der e childres children R.6.99: R's form is unique; all other witnesses in the B tradition have children. Two C manuscripts (XI) agree with R, but most agree with the B majority. . For þouȝ I deyede deye R.6.100: Beta's form agrees with the reading of both Ax and Cx. to -day  my dette dettes is Iquited ar quitte . R.6.100: R's singular is unique; F shows a plural, dettys ben alle qwitte , and beta attests a slightly different plural phrasing, dettes ar quitte . The A tradition clearly supports the F/beta plural format here, but the C tradition is divided, much of the P family concurring with F/beta while the X family (and a few P copies) support R's singular. I bare hom þat I borwede  ar I to bedde ȝede . ¶ And with þe residue and þe remenau nt  be þe rode of lukes . I wil worschipe þer ewith  treuthe by my lyue . e ij And ben his pilgrime at þe plow  for pore menne sake . My plow -pote plow(es)fote R.6.105: Beta reads plow -fote , but Ax clearly agrees with the alpha reading. schal be my pyk -staf  and picchen at atwo R.6.105: Cf. F's a -wey and beta's atwo. Most of the A witnesses agree with R. þe rotes . And helpe my culter to kerue  and clenese clense þe forewes . ¶ Now is p erkyn and þese his R.6.107: Beta reads his; F has þe. Most A copies support F's reading. Among the C manuscripts, the P family also agrees with F, but the X family reading, þis, concurs with R's þese. pilgrimes  to þe plow faren . To herye þis haf hacre  holpen hym manye . Dikeres and delueres  digged vp þe balkes . Þer ewith was p erkyn apayd  and preised hem faste . Other werkmen þer e were  þat woruten ful ȝerne . Vch man in his maner e  made hym -self to done . And somme to plese p erkyn  piked vp þe wedes . ¶¶ At heȝ prime peres  lete þe plow stande . And ȝeed nil R.6.115: R's And ȝeed to is unique; otherwise R reads the line as beta does (which begins the line simply with To . F completely rephrases the line, but the fact that F's rewritten line begins & wente indicates that R's unique opening probably derives from alpha. Both the A and C versions begin this line by omitting R's opening (the former reading the phrase exactly as beta does). to ouer -sen hem hy m -self  and ho -so best wrouȝte . He schuld be huyred þer e -after  whan heruest -tyme come . ¶ And þanne sete so mme  and songen at þe ale . And ho nil R.6.118: ho, "they." See MED, s. v. he pron.(3). helpen to erye R.6.118: Only G agrees with R's assignment of present tense to this verb; only F agrees with R's inclusion of to after the verb. Beta reads hulpen (cf. F's hulpen). R's ho is unique error. his half acre  with how trolly lolly . ¶¶ Now be þe perill e of my soule q uod peres  alle i n puer tene . But ȝe arise þe rather e  and rape ȝow to werche . Schal no greyn þat groweth  glade ȝow at nede . And þouȝ ȝe deyede deye(n) R.6.122: R's deyede is unique. All other B manuscripts show a present-tense form here, as do the A and C versions. for deul  þe deuel haue þat recche reccheth . ¶ Þo were faitoures aferde  and feyned hem blynde . So mme leyde here legges a -lyry  as swiche loseles co nneth . And made here mone to peres  and preyed hym of grace . For we haue no lymes to labore with  lord graced be ȝe . ¶¶ Ac we preye for ȝow peres  and for ȝour e plow bothe . Þat god of his grace  ȝoure greyne multiplye . And ȝelde ȝow of ȝour e almesse  þat ȝe ȝiuen vs here . For we may nouȝt swynk ne swete  suche seknesse vs ayleth . ¶ If it be soth q uod peres þ at ȝe seyne  I schal it sone aspie . Þo Ȝe R.6.132: R's reading is unique and clearly defective; beta has Ȝe and F reads Þat ȝee. Both the A and C versions confirm the correctness of beta's reading. ben wastoures I wot wel  treuthe and treuthe R.6.132: R's omission of and at the beginning of the b-verse is unique. The A version confirms the presence and location of this conjunction, as found in beta and F. wot wel nil R.6.132: R's redundancy (reiterated wel in the b-verse) is unique. þe sothe . And I am his olde hyne  and hiȝte hym to warne . Whiche þei weren in þis world  his werkemen apayreth appeyred(en) . R.6.134: Beta reads appeyred. F has a-peyre. ¶¶ Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen  with trauayle and with tene . Ac treuthe schal teche ȝow  his teme to driue . Or ȝe schal ete barly brede  and of þe broke drynke . But if he blynde be blynde R.6.138: R's omission of the verb here is unique; cf. F's he þat is blynd and beta's he be blynde. or brokelegged  or bolted with yrenes . . He schal ete whete brede  and drinke with me -selue . Til god of his goednesse  amendement hym sende . ¶¶ Ac ȝe miȝt trauaile as treuthe wolde  & take mete & huyre . To kepe ken in þe felde  þe corne fro þe bestes . Diken or deluen  or dyngen vppon scheues . Or helpe make morter  or bere muk a -felde . ¶¶ In lecherie and in losyngrie  lyue [ȝe] lyue ȝe lyue(n) and in sleuthe . R.6.145: There is an ink blot, probably the result of offset, that has the appearance of a second punctus far to the right of the intended line terminal punctus and just inside the ruling margin. And al is thorȝ suffraunce  þ at vengance ȝow ne taketh . ¶¶ Ac ancres and heremites  þat eten but at nones . And namore ar morewe  myn almesse schul þei haue . And of my nil catel to cope hem with  þat haue cloystres i n kerkes and cherche(s) R.6.149: R's in kerkes is unique; the other B witnesses read and cherche(s). . Ac robert renneaboute  schal nauȝt haue of myne . Ne postles but þei p reche co nne  and ȝut nil R.6.151: R's ȝut is a unique addition to the text of Bx. haue pouer of þe bisshopp e . Þei schal haue payn and potage  and make hem -self at ese . For it is an vnresonable religion  þat hath riȝt nauȝt of certeyne . ¶¶ And þanne gan a wastour to wra.the hy m  & wold haue I -fouȝte . And to peres þe plowman  he profered his gloue . ¶¶ A bretoner e a braggere  abosted a bosted R.6.156: A, "he." peres alse . And bad hym go pissen on with R.6.157: Beta reads with. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. his plow  forpyned schrewe . Wil þow or nell e þow  we wil haue oure wille . And nil of R.6.159: R's And of is an alpha phrase (F omits of). The X family of C also begins the line with And. Though two A manuscripts (KMa) also begin the line exactly as R does, Ax, like beta, omits And. þi flour e and of þi flesch e  fecche whanne vs liketh . And make vs merie þer e -myde  maugre þi chekes . ¶¶ Þanne peres þe plowman  pleyned hym to þe kniȝte . eiij To kepe hym as couenant was  fram cursed schrewes . And fram þes wastoures wolues -kynnes  þat maketh þis R.6.163: Although G agrees with R, beta reads þe; F omits the entire line. Cx supports the RG reading. world der e . For þo waste and wynnen nauȝt  and þat ilke while . Worth neuer plente amonge poeple þe poeple R.6.165: R uniquely omits þe before poeple.  þe while my plow liggeth . ¶ Corteyseliche þe kniȝt þanne  as his kende wolde . Warned wastour  and wissede hym bettere . Or þow schalt abugge with by R.6.168: R's with is unique. The other B manuscripts read by. þe lawe  by þe ordre þ at I bere . ¶¶ I was nouȝt wone wont R.6.169: R's form here is unique; Bx reads wont. to werche q uod wastour  & now wil I nouȝt bygynne . And leet liȝtly liȝte of þe lawe  and lasse of þe knyȝt . There is a brown paraph sign entered at the end of this line, presumably to mark the presence of bygynne, which is carried over from the end of the previous line and written after the paraph. And sette peres at a pese  and his plow bothe . And manseyd peres and his men  if þei mette efte -sone . ¶ R.6.173: Beta begins this line with Now by. The same phrase as beta's occurs in Ax and opens a revised version of the line in Cx Be þe perel of my soule q uod peres  I schal apeyre ȝow alle . And houped after honger  þat herde hym at þe furste . Awreke me of þis wastoures q uod he  þat þis world schenden . R.6.175: Though manuscripts O and G agree with R's terminal inflection for this verb, ( a feature also mirrored by several A witnesses), beta itself, as with Ax, presumably read schendeth. F has shende. ¶¶ Honger in haste þo  hente wastour e by þe mawe . And wronge hym so by þe wombe  þat al watred his eyȝes bothe his eyen wattered(en) . R.6.177: R's b-verse is unique; F and beta agree in reading þat bothe his eyen wattered . However, R's b-verse agrees exactly with the same phrase in both Ax and Cx; it is, therefore, presumably the original reading in B. He boffette buffeted þe bretoner  aboute þe chekes . Þat he loked like a lanterne  al his lif after . He bette hem so bothe  he braste nere her guttes . Ne hadde peres with a pese lofe  preyed honger sese to cesse . R.6.181: Cf. beta's hunger to cesse . Both Ax and Cx agree on a different phrase, with a less obvious verb, for this line's ending: hym byleue. Þei hadde be dolue bothe  ne deme þow non other . Suffre hem lyue he seyde  and late hem ete with hogges . Or elles benes and bren  I -bake to -gyderes . Or elles melke and meyne ale  þus preyed peres for hem . ¶ Faytoures for fere hereof  flowen in into R.6.186: All other B witnesses read into; both Ax and Cx agree with them against R. bernes . And flapten on with flailes  fram morwen til euen . Þat hu nger was nouȝt hardy so hardy R.6.188: Although G agrees here with alpha, beta itself reads so hardy, a reading also attested by half of the A manuscripts (RaUHaJEWaMaH). On the other hand, Cx clearly agrees with alpha's reading (i.e., the omission of so).  on hem for to loke . For a potful of peses  þat peres hadde I -maked . ¶¶ An hepe of heremites hent hem spades . And ketten here copes  and curtebies hem made . And wenten as werkmen  with spades and with schoueles . And doluen and dikeden  to driue awey honger . ¶ Blynde and bedredene  were botened a thousend . Þat seten to begge seluer  sone were þei heled . For þat was bake for bayarde  was bote to for many R.6.196: Beta reads for many, the same phrase as in Cx. F substitutes þe for the phrases found here in R and beta. hungri . And many a begger e for benes  fayne buxome R.6.197: R's fayne is unique; cf. F's ful bown and beta's buxome. was to swynke . And ech a pore man wel apayde  to haue pesen for his huyr e . And what peres preyed hem for to to R.6.199: R's for is not attested by any other B manuscript. do  as prest as a sparhauke . ye be so wanton so p ro .e so And þere -of was peres proude  and putte hem to werke . And ȝaf hem mete as he miȝt a -forth  and mesurable huyre . ¶¶ Þanne hadde peres pyte  and preyed honger to wende . Home in -to his owene erd e  and holden hym þere . For I am wel awreke now  of wastoures þorȝ þi miȝte . Ac I preye þe ar þow passe  q uod peres þo nil R.6.205: Beta omits þo. to honger . Of beggeres and of bydderes  what best is be to done R.6.206: R's is in this b-verse is shared only with F and Y; the entire phrase shows considerable minor variation among the B witnesses, but the original reading of beta is probably that of the majority of beta copies, what best be to done. This agrees with the reading of Cx. By contrast, R's b-verse agrees exactly with Kane's reconstruction of the phrase in Ax (though a majority of A manuscripts reverse the key phrase to is best). . For I wote wel be þow wente  þei wil werche ful ille . For meschef it maketh  þei beth so meke nouthe . And for defaute of here fode  þis folk is at my wille . It Þey R.6.210: R's It is unique among the B manuscripts; most, including F, read Þey. However, R's reading agrees with that found in Ax and Cx, both of which begin the line And (h)it. aren aren aren are my blody bretheren q uod peres  & for R.6.210: Both F and beta have for where R reads &. Ax and Cx agree with F/beta here. god bouȝte vs alle . The parchment here was torn long ago and repaired by stitching. The tear extended the length of these nine lines and is approximately 6 cm. long from its beginning at the page edge, running diagonally inwards and downwards. At its bottom it is approximately 2.5 cm. in from the page margin. Treuthe tauȝte me ones  to louye hem vch one . And to helpen hem of alle thynge  ay as hem nedeth . And now wolde I witen of þe  what were þe beste . And how I miȝt amaystrien hem  & maken hem to werche . ¶ I nil here now R.6.215: R's I here now is unique; cf. F's Now here wel me and beta's Here now. The beta variant is identical with that found in Ax. q uod hunger  and holde it for a wisdome . Bolde beggeres and bigge  þat mowen here brede by -swynken . With houndes bred and hors -bred  holde vpp e here hertes . Abate hem with benes  for bollyng of here ..wombe . And if þe gomes grucche  bydde hem go and nil R.6.219: Beta here omits and, a feature also found in half of the A manuscripts and in a majority of the P family of the C version. swynke . R.6.219: Alpha omitted the following line attested by beta manuscripts (and by both of the other versions of the poem): And he shal soupe swettere whan he it hath deseruid. ¶¶ Ac And R.6.220: Both F and beta have And, which is also the reading of seven A and of seven C copies; R's Ac is probably archetypal in the C version but may not be original in A. if þow fynde any freke  þat falshed fortune R.6.220: R's falshed is unique; cf. F's False and beta's fortune. The Ax reading is fortune, but the Cx variant, in a slightly revised line, is fals men . hath apayred . Or eny maner fals men  fond þow suche to knowe . Conforte hem with þi catel  for cristes loue of heuene . Loue hem and lene hem  so lawe of god techeth . e iiij Alter alterius honera portate  And alle maner e men  þat þow miȝt aspie Þat nedy ben and nauȝti  helpe hem with þi godes . Loue hem and lak hem nauȝt  late god take þe veniaunce . Þeyȝ þei don euel  lat þow R.6.228: Only L supports R's attestation of þow here; all other B copies omit it. god a -worthe . Michi vindictam et ego retribuam . And if þow be wil(t) be R.6.230: R uniquely omits the modal wilt before be. gracious to god  do as þe gospel techeth . And by -lowe R.6.231: Most beta manuscripts read biloue, but LM support the alpha reading, which is clearly the subtler, harder word. þe amonges lowe men  so schaltow lacche g race . Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis . R.6.232: Here the R scribe fails to insert his customary blank line between verse strophes; no reason for this omission is apparent. ¶ I wald nauȝt greue god q uod peres  for alle þe good on grounde . Miȝte I synneles do as þow seyste  seyde peres þanne . ¶¶ Ȝe I be -hote god þe R.6.235: Beta reads þe. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta's reading. q uod hunger  or elles þe bible lyeth . Go to genesis þe geaunt  þe engendrour of vs alle . In sudore and in swynke  þow schalt þi mete tilye . And labore for thi lyflode  and so oure lord hiȝte . ¶ And sapience seith þe same  I seyȝ seigh it R.6.239: R uniquely omits a word in this phrase; beta reads seigh it in . Ax agrees with beta. in þe bible . Pige Pige[r] Piger pro frigore  non feld wolde nolde tylie . And þere -for he schal begge and bydde . & noma n bete his hunger . ¶¶ Matheu with ma nnes face  moutheth mouthed R.6.242: Beta reads a past-tense form of the same verb: mouthed. Though A manuscripts offer a striking variety of possibilities at this point , Kane chose the alpha form as likeliest to represent Langland's original. But the alpha form may not, in fact, signify any real difference from beta anyway (i.e., the alpha scribe may not be intending a present-tense inflection with his "-eth" suffix. See the Introduction III.2.2.10 for a complete discussion. þis wordes . Þat s eruus neq uam had a man (m)nam R.6.243: Although MED, s. v. mnam, lists man as a possible form taken by mnam, it seems clear that this spelling is merely a scribal error (Langland is the only source cited by the dictionary for the word itself) evoked by an unfamiliar foreign term. Alpha passed this error to R and F, which share it with BoCot (and with AH of the A tradition).  & for he wolde nouȝt chaffar e . He hadde maugre of his meystre  for euermore after . And by -nam hym his napm This word is foreign in origin and quite rare, and spellings of it vary considerably on that account. OED2 and MED identify the headword as mnam. OED2 lists nam as the only recognized variant and Langland as the only citation. However, among the A copies, Vernon shows another presumably valid spelling variation, rendering the word at 7.225 (Kane) as npnam. MED also cites Piers Plowman as the only source but lists a wider variety of forms, including mnamme, namp, mam, and man. In light of the fact that Langland is the only source cited, however, it seems probable that several of these "variant forms" are merely scribal errors.  for he ne wold werche . And ȝaf þat nam til hym  þat ten napmes hadde . And with þat he seyde  þat holy cherche it herde . He þat hath schal haue  and helpe þer e it nedeth . And he þat nauȝt hath schal nauȝt haue  & no ma n hy m helpe . And þat he weneth for wel to R.6.250: Beta reads wel to, which is also the reading of both Ax and the X family of C (most of the P family simply omit the phrase). haue  I wil it hym bi -reue . ¶ Kende witt wolde  þat vche a wiȝt wrouȝte . Or in dichyng dykynge or in deluynge  or trauaylyng in preyeres . Contemplatif lyf or actif lyf  crist wolde men wrouȝte . Þe sauter seith in a þe psalme  of beati om nes . Þe freke þat fedeth hym -selue  with his faythful laboure . He is blissed by þe book  in body and in soule . Labores manuu m tuar um &c etera . ¶ Ȝet I prey ȝow q uod peres  par charite and ȝe kunne . Eny lef of leche -craft  lere it me my dere . For so mme of my s eruantes  and my -self bothe Of alle a woke R.6.261: Woke, "week." werche nauȝt  so oure wombe aketh . ¶¶ I wot wel q uod hunger  what seknesse ȝow eyleth . Ȝe haue manged ouer -muche  and þat maketh ȝow grone . Ac I hote þe q uod hunger  as þow þin hele wilneste . Þat þow drynke no day  ar þow dyne su mwhat . Ete nouȝt I hote hote þe R.6.266: Among B copies, R uniquely omits þee in the phrase, hote þe er . Though four A manuscripts (JLaAMa) share this omission, it seems clear that Ax read as beta does, including þee. However, Cx omits the pronoun and renders this phrase exactly as R does. er hunger þe take . And sende þe of his sauce  to sauour e with þi lippes . And kepe su mme to soper tyme  and sitte nauȝt to longe . Arise vpp e ar apetit  haue I -ete ete(n) his fille . Late nauȝt sire surfet  sitten at þi borde . Leue hym nauȝt for he is lecherous  and likerous of tonge . And after many maner met us  his mawe is affyngred . ¶ And if þow diete þe þus  I dar legge myn eres Þat fisik schal his furred hodes  for his fode selle . And his cloke of calabre  with alle knappes þe knappes R.6.275: F reads with knoppis, while beta has alle þe knappes . Ax appears to read this b-verse as & þe knoppis of gold. of golde . And be fayne by my faith  his fisik to lete . And lerne to labori with londe  for liflode is swete . Þer aren mo morareres þan For morthereres aren mony R.6.278: R's morareres is a nonce word, apparently meaning "killers, murderers." The presence of moraynerys in F suggests that some version of the reading was in alpha. Most beta witnesses have For morthereres aren mony leches as their a-verse. The defective alliteration of both sub-archetypes suggests that Bx itself was corrupt here. The likeliest authorial reading for B is that of A: Þere arn mo liȝeris þan lechis . leches  lord hem amende . Þei don men deye þorȝ her e drinkes  ar destine it wolde . ¶¶ By seint poule q uod peres  þis aren p rofitable wordes . Wend now hunger whan þow wilt  þat wel þow be be þow eu ere . R.6.281: Cf. F's þe betyȝde and beta's be þow euere. In his parallel-text edition of Piers, A. V. C. Schmidt errs by listing R's reading here as a dittography, yow yow. Apparently, this error stems not from R itself, which is quite clear, but from Schmidt's reliance on the apparatus of Kane-Donaldson, which here displays a rare mistake. In any event, the correct reading is probably that of beta since it matches the reading of Ax and of a majority of C witnesses for this phrase. However, key X family witnesses (XIUcDc) reverse the crucial phrase, reading thow be and thus agreeing with the B-version's manuscript R against beta. For þis is a louely lesson  lord it þe forȝelde . ¶ By -hote god q uod hunger  hennes ne wil I wende . Til I haue dyned by þis day  and I -dronke bothe . ¶¶ I haue no peny q uod peres  polettes forto bugge . Ne noyther gees ne gris  but to grene cheses . A fewe cruddes and creme  and an hauer -cake . And to loues of benes and bren  I -bake for my fauntes . And ȝet I sey by my soule  I haue no salt bakun . Ne no cokenay by crist  coloppes for to make . Ac I haue percyle and porett  and many queynte herbes kole plantes . R.6.291:R's queynte herbes is unique. Cf. F's propre herbys and beta's kole plantes. Most A witnesses agree with beta's reading (albeit non-alliterating), but Kane has changed his mind since 1960 and in the revised Athlone edition of A opines that the metrically appropriate reading of manuscripts AMaH ( plante colis) is likelier to be original (461). ¶¶ And eke a kow and a kalf  and a carte mare . To drawe a -felde my donge  þe while þe drouȝthe lasteth . And by þis lyflode we mote lyue  til lammasse tyme . And by þat I hope to haue  heruest in my crofte . And þanne may I diȝte þi diner  as me dere liketh . ¶ Alle þe pore poeple þo  pesecoddes fetten . Benes and baken apples  þei brouȝten in here lappe lappes . R.6.298: R's singular is unique among the B copies; the others read lappes. However, R's reading is supported by Cx and by three important A witnesses (TDCh). The other A manuscripts agree with the B majority. Chibolles and chiruilles  and ripe chiries manye . And profered peres þis p resent  to plese with hunger . ¶¶ Alle hunger ete in haste  and asked after more . Þanne pore folke for fere  fedde hunger ȝerne . With grene poret and peses R.6.303: R's plural is the same alpha form attested in F ( pesis); the beta plural, also found in a majority of A copies, reads pesen.  to poyson hunger þei thouȝte . ¶ By þat it neyed ner e heruest  newe corn come to chepyng . Þanne was folke fayne  and fedden hunger with þe beste . With good ale as glotou n tauȝte  and gerte hunger go slepe . ¶¶ And þo ne wolde no wastour wolde wastour nouȝt R.6.307: R's ne is a unique addition to this phrase. F has þan wolde no while beta reads þo wolde wastour noȝt. Beta's phrase is identical to the wording of Cx and probably to that of Ax (some A copies attest nolde for wolde). werche  but wandren aboute . Ne no begger e ete brede  þat benes inne were . But of coket or of nil R.6.309: R's of is a unique addition to this line. clerematyn  or elles of clene whete . Ne non halpeni ale  in nonewyse none wyse drinke . But of þe best and of þe brounest  þ at in borewe is to selle . ¶ Laboreres þat haue no londe  to lyue on but her e handes . Deyned Deyned nouȝt R.6.313: Beta reads Deyned nouȝt to dyne . F completely rewrites the line. Though Ax clearly agrees with beta, most C manuscripts omit noȝt in this phrase, but three (IP 2Ac) include it and X has it added by another hand. to dyne o -day  niȝte -olde wortes . R.6.313: There is an apparently random ink blot (having the appearance of a second punctus) approximately 1.3 cm. to the right of the intended punctus. May no peny -ale hem paye  ne no pece of bakun . But if it be fresch e flesche other fische  for chillyng of his here mawe . R.6.315: R and F run this line of archetypal B together with the next by splicing this a-verse, But . . . other fische (= KD6.310) to the b-verse of the next line (= KD6.311), for chillyng of here mawe. In fact, R is the only B witness (despite its conflation of two lines) to read for chillyng of his mawe —the reading of the X family of C and of four A manuscripts (including Kane's copytext, T). Most of the other B witnesses attest hir(e), the predominant reading in the A-version copies and in the P family of C. And but if he be hylyche huyred  elles wil he chide . And þat he was werkeman wrouȝte  waile þe tyme . Aȝeynes catones conseile  comseth he to iangle . Paupertatis onus  pacienter ferre memento . ¶ He greueth hym aȝeynes god  and gruccheth aȝeynes reson . ¶ Þanne And þanne R.6.321: F begins this line with & þus; beta begins it And þanne . Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. curseth he þe kyng  and alle his conseyll e after . Suche lawes to loke  laboreres to greue . Ac whiles hunger was here maistre  þer e wolde no n of hem chyde . Ne strue str[i]ue stryue(n) aȝeynes his statute  so sterneliche he lokede . ¶ Ac I warne ȝow werkemen  wynneth while ȝe mowe . For hunger hiderward  hasteth hym ful nil R.6.326: No beta manuscript attests ful. Both Ax and Cx also omit it. faste . He schal a -wake with wat water R.6.327: R's reading here ( wat) makes no sense, but as usual is closer to the presumptive original reflected in beta ( water) than is F's reading ( what), which, typically, looks like a smoothed rationalization of irreparable error. Apparently alpha left off the final loop from wat er .  wastoures to chaste . Ar fyue ȝere be fulfilled  swich famyn schal arise . Thorȝ flod flodes R.6.329: R uniquely reads a singular form here. All other B manuscripts show a plural, e.g., flodes. F actually reverses the entire phrase, reading þorhȝ fowle wederys & floodis. Cx agrees with the B majority in attesting a plural, flodes, but a clear majority of A witnesses agrees with R on the singular form. and foule wederes  fruytes schullen fayle . And so seyde saturne  and sent ȝow to warne . Whanne ȝe se þe sonne amys  and to monkes hedes . And a mayde haue þe maystrie  and multiplied multiplie R.6.332: Both L and M confirm this alpha reading (M with an <ed> added in a different ink over an erasure), but all other beta manuscripts read multiplie. be eyghte Þanne schal deth withdrawe  and derth be iustice . And dauwe þe dikere  deye for hunger . And But R.6.335: The erasure of the line initial is very old though clearly not original. R.6.335: R's [A]nd is unique; all other manuscripts read But, which agrees with the reading of the C version. if god of his goodnesse  graunte vs a trewe . Pass us v . vis Passus septim us de visione vt sup ra . R.7.0: At the extreme right margin, on the same line as the passus heading, there is the cropped fragment of a rubrication guide, very small and in a light brown, contemporary hand: Pass us v . Below this fragment is another cropped line, partially obscured by the grain of the membrane: vis. T reuthe herd telle here -offe  and to peres he sente . To taken his teme  and tulyen þe erthe . And purchased hym a pardou n  a pena et a culpa. For hym and for his eyres  for euer -more after And bad hym holden hym at home  and erien his leyes . And alle þat holpe hym to erie  to setten or to sowe . Or any other mester  þat miȝt peres auayle . Pardou n with peres þe R.7.8: Among the other B copies, only the B family (BmBoCot), a textually inferior group, shares R's þe before plowman; the other beta copies omit any determiner at this point, apparently reading the reference to Langland's central character as a full proper name, pieres plowman; F omits everything from the a-verse after Pers. However, among the C witnesses, the X family agrees with R (against the P family's support of beta). plowman  treuthe hath I -graunted . ¶ Kynges and kniȝtes  þat kepen holy cherches cherche . R.7.9: R's plural is unique; all other B copies show the singular, cherche, which agrees with the reading of Ax. And riȝtfulliche in reumes  reulen þe poeple . And [Han] Han R.7.11: And is unique error; most other B copies read Han, which agrees with the reading of Ax and Cx. pardou n þorȝ purgatorie  to passe ful liȝtly . With patriarkes and p rophetes  in paradis to be felawes felawe . ¶¶ Bisshopes I -blessed  if þei ben as þei schulden . Legistres of bothe lawes  þe lewed þere -with to p reche . And in as muche as þei mowe  amenden alle synfull e . Aren peres with þe aposteles  þus þis pardou n peres schewes . And at þe daye of dome  at heie dayes to sitte . ¶¶ Marchauntes in þe margyne  haued hadde(n) R.7.18: R's verb form here is unique and slightly archaic; most of the other manuscripts of all versions read hadde(n). No difference in meaning is discernible. many ȝeres . Ac no none a R.7.19: Alpha construes the opening of this phrase as English and omits the initial Latin preposition; cf. beta's none a pena. The X family of the C version treats this phrase exactly as alpha does, while the reading of the P family omits the negative and is obviously corrupt. pena et a culpa  þepope þe pope wald hem nauȝt nil R.7.19: In place of R's wald hem nauȝt, F has will(e) not while beta reads nolde hem; no beta copy (nor any A or C witness) attests the presence of alpha's nauȝt. Beta is likelier to be authorial. In a slightly revised version of this half-line, the C version reads either nolde hem (P family) or wolde hem (X family). The same disagreement between wolde and nolde divides the A copies into two large groups. graunte . For þei holde nauȝt her e halyday halidayes R.7.20: Although M agrees with alpha on this singular form, most beta witnesses show the plural, halidayes. Most A copies agree with the majority beta reading, but the C manuscripts divide into two large groups, the X family (with some P- family support) atetsting alpha's form while the dominant P-family reading agrees with beta.  as holy cherche telleth techeth . R.7.20: R's telleth is unique; Bx has techeth, the same reading found at this point, uniformly, in the other versions . And for þei swere ofte by her soule and R.7.21: In place of alpha's non-alliterating ofte, beta reads by her soule , which agrees with the phrasing of both the A and C versions.  so god R.7.21: Beta has and so god moste hem helpe . This is also the reading of the other two versions. hem helpe moste hem helpe . Aȝeyne clene consience  here catel to selle . ¶¶ Ac vnder his secrete seel  treuthe sent hem a l ettre . Þat þei schulde bugge boldely  þat hem best liketh liked R.7.24: In place of alpha's present-tense form, beta has a preterite, liked; all but one C witness agrees with beta, but the A manuscripts are split: a majority agree with beta's preterite, but a significant minority attest alpha's form. Kane chooses the minority reading for his edition of A, but Kane-Donaldson endorse the beta reading in their edition of B. . And sitthen us sellen it vs nil R.7.25: R's vs is a unique addition to the text of Bx, which agrees here with that of Ax and Cx. aȝeyn  and sauen þe wynny nges wynnynge . R.7.25: Beta shows a singular form, wynnyge. The Ax reading agrees with beta's, but the C manuscripts are split, a majority (including the best witnesses in both major families) agreeing with alpha's plural while a minority supports beta. And amenden mesondewes þere -with  & myseise folk helpe . And wikked wayes  wiȝtliche hem amende . And do bote to brugges  þat to -broke were . Marien maydenes or maken hem nonnes . Pore poeple or and R.7.30: R's or is unique; Bx has and. prisones  fynden hem her e fode . And sette scoleres to scole  or to R.7.31: The alpha b-verse lacks an alliterative stave; beta reads to somme other craftes . Beta's reading is supported by the analogous verse from A, which reads to summe skynes craftis . other somme other craftes . Releue religiou n  and renten hem bettere . ¶¶ And I schal sende ȝow my -selue  seint mychel my n archangel . Þat no deuel schal ȝow dere  ne fere ȝow in ȝour e deynge . And wyten ȝow fram wan -hope  if ȝe wil þus werche . And sende ȝoure soules in safte  to my seintes in ioye . ¶¶ Þanne wer e manye marchauntz Marchauntz mery  þ at wopen many wepten R.7.37: In place of alpha's manye marchauntz þ at wopen , the beta phrase is Marchauntz mery many wepten. The beta phrase agrees entirely with the wording of Ax and Cx. for ioye . And preiseden peres þe plowman  þat p urchaced þis bull e . Men of lawe  leste pardou n hadde . R.7.39: Here alpha seems to have mislineated by truncation (as reflected in R's short line), which causes the authorial b-verse to be cast as a following line (R7.40), fleshed out (uniquely in R) with for þat craft is schrewed. F attempts an even more extensive smoothing, rendering the two lines as follows: But men of Lawe of pardoun / þe leeste part þey haddyn. For þey for meede pletyn moore / þan mychil for goddis helpe . Þat pleteden for mede  for þat craft is schrewed þat pleteden for Mede . For þe sauter saueth hem nauȝt  suche as taketh ȝiftes . And nameliche of innocentes  þat non euel ne cunneth . R.7.42: Hereafter beta includes a Latin citation omitted by alpha: Super innocentem munera non accipies. ¶ Pledoures schuld peynen hem  to plede for suche and helpe . Princes and prelates  schulde paye for here trauayle . A regibus et principibus  erit merces eoru m . ¶ Ac many a iustice and iurour e  walde for Ioh an do more . Þanne p ro dei pietate  leue þow non other . ¶ Ac he þat speneth spendeth R.7.48: R's speneth is a unique reading (the other B manuscripts read spendeth); however, R's verb derived historically from spende(n), is synonymous with it, and occurs in free variation with it throughout R (cf. R10.109). From its sometimes parallel occurrence in L (as at KD10.90), the form seems likely to be an authorial relict. A majority of C copies agree with R's form here, as does the text of Bodley 851, but most A manuscripts agree with beta. his speche  and speketh for þe pore . Þat is innocent and nedy  and noman appayreth . And nil R.7.50: Beta omits And. The A version attests the same a-verse and reads it exactly as beta does. conforteth hym in þat cas  with -oute coueytise of ȝiftes . And scheweth lawe for oure lordes loue  as he it hath I -lerned . Schal no deuel at his ded -day  deren hym a myte . Þat he ne worth saef and his soule  þe sauter bereth witnesse . D omine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo . — &c etera . ¶ Ac to bugge wat er no ne wynd  ne witt ne fire þe ferthe . Þise foure þe fader of heuene  made to þis folde i n comune . Þes ben treuthes tresores  trewe folke to helpe . Þat neu ere schal wex ne wanye  with -oute god hym -selue ¶ Whan þei drawen in -to onto R.7.59: Beta reads on(e) to (LMCrW), followed by deye(n) (LMCrWCG) . Cx agrees exactly with F's to þe deþ . deth  and indulgences wolde haue . His pardou n is ful petyt  at his her R.7.60: R's second his in this line is unique; all other B manuscripts read a plural form like W's hir. However, Cx agrees exactly with R's rendering of this line, including the singular posessive here. partyng hennes . Þat mede any Mede R.7.61: R uniquely omits any before mede. F and beta agree with Ax in attesting the presence of this determiner, but R has the support of Cx in omitting it. of mene men  for her motyng taketh . Þe legistres and þe nil R.7.62: R's þe is a unique addition to this line. Although R's þ and y tend oftentimes to overlap in form, this word was probably mistranscribed by Kane and Donaldson, who read it as ye, an error also implicit in their earlier omission of R from the lemma for witnesses beginning this line with Þe; that group includes R's sibling F. lawyeres  holdeth þis for treuthe . Þat if þat I lye  mathew is to blame . For he bad me make ȝow þis  and þis p rouerbe me tolde . Quodcu mq ue wltis vt faciant vobis ho mi nes facite eis . ¶ Alle libbyng laboreres  þat lyuen with here hondes . Þat treweliche taken  and treweliche wynnen . And lyuen in loue and in lawe  for her e lowe herte hertis . R.7.68: Beta shows the plural hertis. The C version omits this line, and the A manuscripts are divided, with slightly more than half supporting alpha's singular and the rest agreeing with beta's plural. Haueth þe same absoluc ion  þat sent was to peres . R.7.69: The scribe omitted the customary space between this line and the new verse paragraph below, but he often does so when, as here, the new unit begins on the last line of a side. ¶ Beggeres ne bydderes  ne beth nauȝt in þe bull e . But ȝif þe sugestion be soth  þat schapeth hym hem R.7.71: R's hym is unique among the B manuscripts. The others read hem. Ax agrees with the reading of the B majority, but the C manuscripts are divided by major groups, the X family supporting R while the P group supports the other B copies. to begge . For he þat beggeth or bit  but if he haue nede . He is fals with þe fende  and defraudeth þe nedy . And also he gyleth bigileth R.7.74: Both beta and F read bigileth. However, R's unique verb form agrees exactly with the reading of Ax and Cx. þe gyuer e  ageynes his wille . For if he wist he were nauȝt nedy  he walde ȝif þat another Þat were more nedyer nedy R.7.76: Alpha and M have nedyer (with the final <ere> erased in M) where the other beta copies read nedy. and nauȝtier þan he R.7.76: R's and nauȝtier is unique; beta has þan he while F shows an almost identical þan he &.  so þe nedyest schuld be hulpe . ¶¶ R.7.77: R alone marks this line with a paraph. Caton kenneth men þus  and þe clerke of þe nil R.7.77: Most beta copies omit alpha's þe, but it is likely to be original since LM attest it. stories . Cui des videto is catones teching . And in þe stories he techeth  to bystowe þin almes . Sit elemosina elemosina tua R.7.80: Most beta copies read elemosina tua in manu tua , but LM support alpha's omission of the first tua. in manu tua  donec studes cui des . ¶¶ Ac gregorie is was a R.7.81: In place of R's is a, beta reads was a. F reads þat. good man  and badde vs gyuen alle . Þat asketh for his loue  þat vs alle leneth . Non eligas cui miserearis  ne forte p ret ereas illu m qui m eret ur accip ere . Quia incertu m est p ro quo d eum magis placeas . ¶¶ For wite ȝe neu ere who is worthi  ac god wote who hath nede . Alle nil R.7.86: Beta omits Alle, beginning the line with In; F begins this line with For in. in hym þ at taketh is trecherie þe treccherye R.7.86: Alpha lacks beta's þe before treccherye.  if any treson walke . For he he þat ȝift ȝiueth R.7.87: F reads the opening of this a-verse as For þe man þat ȝifte; beta has For he þat ȝiueth. It seems clear from these overlapping agreements that R is responsible uniquely for omitting þat, that F replaces archetypal he with þe man, and that the ȝifte / ȝiueth dichotomy reflects an alpha / beta difference. ȝeldeth  and ȝarketh hym to reste . And he þat bit biddeth R.7.88: R's bit is a unique verb form here. F makes extensive revisions to the entire line, while most beta copies read biddeth. boreweth  and bryngeth hym -selue in dette For -thi For R.7.89: Beta reads For. beggeres borewen eu ere -mo  and her borȝ is god almiȝti . To ȝelden hem þat ȝyueth hem  and ȝut vsure amore more R.7.90: R alone reads amore; other B witnesses correctly have more. . Quare no n dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam  Vt ego venieniss cu m vsuris & nil exigissem  ¶¶ For -thi biddeth nauȝt ȝe beggeres  but if ȝe haue grete nede . For ho -so hath to bugge n hym brede  þe boke bereth witnesse . He hath I -nowe þat hath brede I -nowe  þauȝ he haue nauȝt elles . Satis diues est qui indiget [non] indiget non indiget R.7.96: R's omission of non before indiget is unique. pane . ¶¶ Late vsage be ȝour e solas  of seyntes lyues redynge . Þe book banneth beggarie  and blameth hem in þis maner e . Iunior fui etenim senui & no n vidi iustu m iustum derelictum nec semen eius &c . For ȝe lyue in no loue  ne no lawe holde . Many of ȝow ne wed nauȝt  þe wo mmen þat ȝe with delen . But as wilde bestes with wehe  worthen vp and werchen . And bryngen forthe barnes  þat bastardes men calleth . Or þe bak or þe some R.7.104: Both beta and F read some bone . This agrees with the reading of Cx. Ax had read his bon . bone  þei he R.7.104: Beta manuscripts have he breketh for alpha's þei breken . The A manuscripts are divided, some attesting a singular and others a plural, but Cx agrees with alpha, treating the phrase as a plural. breken in here his ȝouthe . And sitthen gon faiten with her e ȝoure R.7.105: Although OC 2 support alpha's reading, beta has ȝoure for alpha's here. Both Ax and Cx agree with alpha. fauntes  for eu ere -more after . Þere is mo mischape poeple  amonges þise beggeres . Þanne of alle manere men  þat on þis molde walketh . Þo And þei R.7.108: In place of alpha's Þo or For þo (= F), beta reads And þei. Both Ax and Cx agree with R's version of the entire a-verse. þat lyueth þus here lif  mowe lothe þe tyme . Þat eu ere he was man wrouȝte  whan he schal hennes fare . ¶ Ac olde men and hore  þat helples ben of strength . And wy mm..en with childe  þat werche ne mowe . Blynde and bederede  and broken in nil R.7.112: R's in is a unique reading; this preposition is omitted by the other B witnesses but is attested in two of the A copies (Ma and H) and in Cx. here membres . Þat taketh þis meschief mekelich  as meseles and othere . Haue as pleynepardou n pleyne pardou n  as þe plowman hym -selue . For loue of here lowe hertes  oure lorde hath hem graunted . Here penance and here purgatorie  here vpon on R.7.116: F garbles the entire b-verse; beta reads here on in place of R's here vpon. The reading of A for this half-line seems uncertain, but six A witnesses attest the presence of here at the beginning of this phrase and five read here vpon . C omits B's here from the phrase; the full Cx reading is vppon this puyre erthe. þis erthe . ¶ Peres q uod a prest þo  þi pardou n moste I rede . For I schal wil R.7.118: Beta reads wil. Ax agrees with alpha. construe vche clause  and kenne it þe an englys . ¶ And peres at his preyere  þe pardon he nil R.7.119: R's he is a unique addition to the text as witnessed by the other B copies. Both Ax and Cx agree with the B majority. vnfoldeth . And I be -hynde hem bothe  by -helde alle þe bulle . Alle in to lynes it lay  and nauȝt a lef more . And was I -writen writen riȝt þus  In witnesse of treuthe . Et qui bona egerunt  ibu nt in vitam eternam . Qui vero mala  in ignem eternu m — ¶ Peter q uod þe prest þo  I can no pardou n fynde . But do wel and haue wel  and god schal haue þi soule . And do yuel and haue yuel  hope þow non other . Þat But R.7.128: R's Þat is an alpha variant supported by LM. Most other beta copies read But. Y reads And. Ax agrees with the RFLM reading. after þi deth -day  þe deuel schal haue þi soule . ¶ And peres for puer tene  pulled it a -tweyne . And seyde . Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecu m es . R.7.131: Here the scribe omits the customary space between strophes, presumably because the next verse paragraph begins on the last line of this side. ¶ I schal sese of my sowyng q uod peres  and swynke nauȝt so harde . Ne aboute my bely ioye  so bysy be namore . Of preyeres and of penaunces penaunce R.7.134: Beta shows the singular penaunce. Although two A witnesses (DMa) agree with alpha, it is clear that Ax read the same singular form as beta.  my plow schal ben here -after . And wepen whanne I schulde slepe  þouȝ whete brede me faile . ¶¶ Þe p rophete his payn eet  in penaunce and in sorwe . By þat þe sauter seith  so dede othermanye other manye . Þat loueth god lely  his liflode is ful esy . Fuerunt michi lacrime mee  panes die ac nocte . ¶¶ And but if luke lye  or he R.7.140: Beta reads he. Ax agrees with the beta reading. lereth vs be bi foles foules R.7.140: Alpha has foles; all other B witnesses have some form of foules, "birds." . We schuld nauȝt be to bysi  aboute þe werldes blisse . Ne solliciti sitis  he seyth in þe gospelle . And scheweth vs by ensaumples  vs -selue to wisse . Þe foules of in R.7.144: R's of is unique; F and most beta copies read in. LM have on. The A version reads the key phrase of this half-line as foulis in þe firmament . þe felde  ho fynt hem mete at wynter . Haue þei no gerner to goto go to  but god fynt hem alle . ¶¶ What q uod þe prest to perkyn  peter as me thenketh . Þow art lettred a lytel  ho lerned þe on boke . ¶¶ Abstinence Abstinence þe abbesse R.7.148: After Abstinence, beta adds þe abbesse. The passage does not appear in C but is phrased in A exactly as in beta. q uod peres  myn a b c me tauȝte . And consience come afterward  and kenned me muche more . ¶¶ Were þow a prest peres q uod he  þow miȝtest p reche where þow woldest sholdest R.7.150: Beta reads where þow sholdest while F condenses the line's final phrase to abowte. R.7.150: The <t> of woldest disappears into the gutter of the binding, so it is impossible to see whether a final punctus is present. As dyuinor of in R.7.151: Beta reads in. diuinite  with dixit insipiens to þi teme . ¶¶ Lewed lorel q uod peres  litel lokestow on þi R.7.152: Both F and beta read þe, which is also the reading of Ax. bible . And R.7.153: Beta reads On; F rephrases the entire a-verse, beginning it with Þere. salamounes sawes  selden þow beholdest . Ecce R.7.154: Many B manuscripts read Eice, including F and numerous beta copies; however, the most authoritative beta copies (including LMCrW) all agree with R on Ecce. The latter variant is clearly erroneous with regard to the original Vulgate text, but it probably already existed as a Vulgate variant long before Langland's day since the same paleographic factors that would have induced multiple independent errors in both directions among Piers Plowman scribes already were in place. Even Kane-Donaldson fall into this pit, mistranscribing R's Ecce as Eice because it is barely possible to construe (generously) the <cc> as <ic> joined at the top by a ligature—until one notices, in the preceding tag at R7.142, that the R scribe does not avail himself of a ligature when writing the <ic> of solliciti. There is no way to know which word Langland himself wrote, but since all A manuscripts attest Ecce, the odds are, as Rigg and Brewer theorize in Piers Plowman: The Z Version (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1983): 111, that various B scribes attempted to do for Langland what Kane-Donaldson unconsciously do for R: repair the damage quietly. See John A. Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations (Binghamton: MRTS, 1992), p. 57, for discussion of this tag. derisores derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c etera . R.7.154: R omits the end of this citation, which in beta reads: iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c. F's version of the rest of the citation is, typically, unique: & exibit cum eo iurgium cessabitque cause & contumelie . ¶¶ Þe prest and perkyn  apposed eyther other . ¶¶ And I thorȝ her wordes  R.7.156: R alone misplaces the caesura indicator. a -woke and wayted aboute . And seyȝ þe sonne in þe south  sitte þat tyme . Meteles and moneles  on maluerne hulles . Musyng on þis meteles  a and R.7.159: A, "and." my wey R.7.159: Beta reads this phrase as and my waye ; F has as y my way. All three versions of the phrase are likely to be corrupt, with R closest to the presumed original attested in Ax and Cx: a myle way. ich ȝede . Many tyme þis meteles  hath maked me to stodie . of þat I seyȝ slepyng Of þat I seyȝ slepyng  if it so be miȝte . And al -so for peres þe plowman  ful pensif in herte . And which a pardon peres hadde  al þe poeple to conforte . ¶ And how þe prest inpugned it  with to p ropre wordes . Ac I haue no sauour in song.ewarie  for I se it ofte faile . Caton and canonistres  conseileth vs to leue . To sette saddenesse in songewarie  for sompnia ne cures . ¶ Ac for þe bok byble  bereth witnesse . How daniel diuined  þe dreme R.7.169: F and most beta witnesses attest the plural dremes. of a kyng . Þat was Nabagodonosor  I -nempned nempned of clerkes . Daniel seyde sire kyng  þi dremeles beto keneth beto -keneth . Þat vnkouth kniȝtes  schul come þi kyngdom to reue cleue . R.7.172: In place of alpha's reue, beta witnesses are divided between cleyme (CrWHmC) and cleue (LMGOC 2). Ax reads cleyme, but the stemmatic array of the two variants from beta actually suggests that its form was somewhat likelier to have been cleue. Amonges lowere lordes  þi lond schal be departed . And as daniel dyuined  in dede it fel after . Þe kyng les his lordschipp e  and lowere men it hadde . ¶ And Ioseph mette merueylously  how þe mone and þe sonne . And þe elleuene steres  haylsed hym alle . ¶ Þanne Iacob iugede  Iosepes sweuene . Beau filtz q uod his fader  for defaute we schullen . I my -self and my sones  seche þe for nede . ¶ It byfel as his fader seyde  in pharaoes tyme . Þat Ioseph was Iustice  egipte to loke . It byfel as his fader tolde  his frendes hym þere þere hym souȝte R.7.183: Reversing R's hym þere souȝte, beta reads þere hym souȝte; F has sowtyn þere. . And alle þis maketh me  on þis meteles to thenke . ¶ And how þe prest preuede  no pardou n to do -wel . And nempned demed R.7.186: R's nempned is a unique error, failing in alliteration; F and beta agree on demed, which is also the reading of Cx and of some of the A manuscripts (most of the others read various forms of another alliterating verb, e.g., manuscript A's deuyned). þat dowel indulgence passed  Byennales and triennales  and bisshopes l ettres . And how dowel at þe day of dome  is dignelich vnderfonge And passeth alle pardou n þe pardoun R.7.189: R uniquely omits þe before pardoun. Only one A manuscript duplicates this error (the others all agree with Bx).  of seinte petres cherche R.7.189: Here the scribe omits the customary space between strophes, presumably because the next verse paragraph begins on the last line of this side. ¶ Now hath þe pope pouere pardou n  to graunte þe poeple . f j With -oute any penance  to passen in -to heuene . Þis oure Þis [is] oure Þis is owre R.7.192: R uniquely omits is before beleue. beleue  as lettred men vs techeth . Quodcu mq ue ligau eris super terram erit ligatu m & in celis . And so I leue lelly  lordes forbode elles . Þat pardou n and penance  and preyeres don saue . Soules þat haue synned  seuen sythes dedly . Ac to trist to þis triennales  trewely me thenketh . It nil is R.7.198: Beta omits It and begins the line with Is. Seven A witnesses (UDVJAWaN) agree with beta in this omission, but the others agree with alpha. Among the C copies, it seems likely that the progenitor of the P family agreed with beta's omission, but the X family clearly supports the inclusion of Hit at the head of this line. nauȝt so siker for þe soule  certes as is dowel . ¶ For -thi I rede ȝow thenke renkes R.7.199: Alpha was corrupt here and R presumably mirrors its reading with ȝow thenke ; cf. beta's presumptively authentic ȝow renkes. F offers a typical job of smoothing alpha's error: ȝow alle. Cx agrees with beta.  þat riche ben on þis erthe . Vppon triste of ȝour e tresor  triennales to haue . Be ȝe neuer e þe boldere  to breke þe ten hestes . And nameliche ȝe maystres  mayres and Iuges . Þat haue þe welth of þis world e . and and for wise men ben holden . To purchace ȝow pardou n  and þe popes bulles . At þe dredful dome  whanne dede schullen risen . And comen alle byfore criste  and nil acountes R.7.206: Alpha adds and at the head of this b-verse; although several A manuscripts do the same, it is obvious that both Ax and Cx agree with beta in omitting this conjunction. to ȝelde . How þow hladdest þi lif her e  and his lawes keptest . And how þow dost dedest R.7.208: Beta has dedest; F reads a present form, don. Ax agrees with beta. day by day  þe dome wil reherce . A pouhȝ -ful poke R.7.209: This unusual form appears only in R. The word pouhȝ, "sack, bag," is synonymous with poke, the form attested by other manuscripts. This form is possibly original, since it appears in A's Vernon manuscript, and Kane-Russell have adopted it for their critical text of C of pardou n þere  ne p rouinciales l ettres . Þowe ȝe be founde in þe frat ernite  of alle þe fyue foure R.7.210: R's fyue is a unique variant among the B witnesses; beta and F read foure. Ax agrees with the B majority, but Cx agrees with R. ordres . And haue indulgences dubblefolde  but but if dowel wil nil ȝow R.7.211: Beta has the unmetrical reading but if dowel ȝow. R's wil is a unique addition. helpe . I sette ȝoure patentes and ȝoure pardou n  at on pyes hele . ¶ Forthi I conseil e alle cristene  to crie god mercy . R.7.213: Although he left the job of ornamenting R far from complete, the rubricator usually took care to alternate blue with red paraph markers. However, on this page the pattern is broken (two red parasigns in a row), presumably through inadvertency. The verse strophe preceding this one is fairly long, but there is no evidence that a paragraph division was overlooked by the copyist. Only one of the older B manuscripts shows any division between KD7.187 and KD7.201 (Hm, at KD7.193); the rest agree with R in marking none. And marie his moder  be oure mene by -twene . Þat god gyue vs grace here  ar we go hennes . Suche werkes to werche  þe nil R.7.216: Beta omits þe. Ax agrees with beta, as does the P family of C witnesses; however, the X family agrees with alpha. while we ben here . Þat after oure deth -day  dowel reherce . At þe day of dome  we dede as he hiȝte . ss us j us vis Passus octauus ~~...?...?...~~ de visione pet ri plowhman . I ncipit Dowel . Dobet . & Dobest . R.8.0: A second rubricating hand, resembling that of the scribe of Corpus Christi 201 (F), adds, in a slightly different shade of red, the words, de visione pet ri plowhman. These words are written over an erasure. The same hand adds to the passus heading, in the space that the original scribe always left blank before his first line of text, a second line: Dowel . Dobet . & Dobest . Apparently somewhat later, a third hand, or the second hand using a third shade of red ink, added Incipit at the left margin of the second line. The person responsible for this addition tried to incorporate this new word into the already altered rubric by executing the initial in blue so as to tie it to the passus initial (perhaps wetting and smudging the blue of the initial <Þ> to its left to make the blue of Incipit). At the extreme left margin of the same line as the passus heading, there is the cropped fragment of a guide, apparently three lines long, with single characters in each line detectable but illegible. Þ us I -robed in russet  I romed aboute . Al a somer sesoun  for to seke dowel . And frayned ful ofte  of folke þat I mette . If any wiȝt wiste  where dowel were was R.8.4: Beta reads was, which agrees with the reading of both Ax and Cx. at Inne  And what man he miȝt be  of many man I asked . And nil R.8.6: R's And is unique. F begins the line with But þere was, while beta simply begins with Was. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta. was neu ere in þis worlde wiȝte as I went R.8.6: R uniquely omits wiȝt immediately after neuere. R's in þis worlde, though supported by Cx, is also unique among the B copies; beta and F agree instead on as I went , which is also the reading of many A copies (others have wene rather than wente).  þat me wisse couthe . Where þis lede lengede  lasse ne more . ¶ Til it by -fel on a friday  to freres I mette . And nil R.8.9: Beta omits And. Ax and Cx agree with beta. maistres of þe menoures  men of grete witte . I haylsed hem hendely  as I had lerned . And preyed hem for charite R.8.11: Though Cr and C support R's reading, F agrees with the beta majority in construing this phrase as French, either pur charitee or par charitee . Though three A manuscripts and one C manuscript agree with R, both Ax and Cx agree with the F/beta form.  ar thei passed forther If þei knewe any courte contre R.8.12: R's courte is an alpha variant. Beta has contre. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta.  or costes þer as R.8.12: Beta reads as. þei wente . Where þat dowel dwelleth  doth me to wytene . R.8.13: Hereafter, alpha omits four lines present in beta (and in slightly revised form in the C version): For þei ben men on þis molde þat moste wyde walken And knowen contrees and courtes and many kynnes places Bothe prynces paleyses and pore mennes cotes And dowel and doyuel where þei dwelle bothe. ¶ Amonges vs q uod a [þe] þe menoures  þ at man is dwellyng . And euer hath as I hope  and euer schal here -after . ¶ Contra quod I as clerke  and comsed to dispute . And seyde seide sothli R.8.17: Alpha has apparently lost a phrase: LM read And seide sothli; other beta copies read hem soþly at this point. Cx agrees with LM. sepcies in die cadit iustus . Seuen sithes seith þe book  synneth þe riȝtful . And ho -so synneth I sayde  doth euele as me thinketh . And do -wel and do -euele  mowe nauȝt dwelle to -gyderes . Ergo he is nauȝt alwey  amonges ȝow freres . He is other -while elles -where  to wisse þe poeple . ¶ I schal sey þe my sone  seyde þe frere þanne . How seuen sithes þe sadde man  on þe R.8.24: A majority of beta copies reads a where alpha has þe, but LM agree with alpha. Both Ax and Cx agree with LM / alpha. day synneth . By a for -bisen quod þe frere  I schal þe faire schewe . ¶ Lat bringe a man in a bot  a -midde a R.8.26:Although F agrees with most beta copies in reading þe, L concurs with R's a here. Both Ax and Cx agree with LR. brode water . Þe winde and þe wat er  and þe bot waggynge . Maketh þe man many time  to falle and to stonde . For stonde he neu ere so stif  he stumbleth if he meue . Ac ȝet is he saf and sounde  and so hym byhoueth . For if he ne arise þe rathere  and rauȝte to þe sterne stiere R.8.31: Hm and C 2 agree with alpha's sterne, but beta reads stiere. Various A manuscripts attest one or the other of these two readings. Þe wynd wald and wyth R.8.32: Cf. F's on and beta's wyth. Ax agrees with beta. þe wat er  þe bot ouer -throwe . And þanne were his lif loste  thoruȝ lacches of hym -selue . R.8.33: Here the R scribe omits his usual blank line between verse strophes, presumably because the next line is the last ruled one for this side. ¶ And þus it falleth q uod þe frere  by folke here on erthe . f ij us Þe water is likned to þe world  þat wanyeth and wexeth . Þe godes of þis grounde  aren like to þe grete wawes . Þat as wyndes and wederes  walketh abouthe . Þe bot is likned to oure body  þat brutel is of kende . Þat þoruȝ þe fende and þi R.8.39: L agrees with R here, but all other beta copies attest þe in place of R's þi or F's oure. Ax agrees with the common beta variant, but Cx agrees with F, reading oure at this point. flesch  and þis þe R.8.39: R's þis is a unique reading among the B witnesses. The others all agree on þe (which is also the reading of Ax). But Cx agrees with R. frele worlde . Synneth þe sadman  a day seuene sithes . ¶ Ac dedly synne doth he nauȝt  for dowel hym kepeth . And þat is charite þe chaumpion  chief helpe aȝeynes synne . R.8.42: The punctus at line end is nearly invisible from rubbing. For he strengtheth man to stonde  and stereth mannes soule Þat And R.8.44: Beta reads And. But Ax agrees with alpha. þouȝ þi body bowe  as bot doth in þe water . Ay is þi soule safe  but þi -selue wolle . Do a dedlysynne dedly synne  and drenche so þi -selue þi soule R.8.46: Beta and F read þi soule, but Ax agrees with R (though three A copies support the beta/F reading). . God wil suffre wel þi soule sleuthe  ȝif þi -selue liketh . For he ȝaf þe to ȝeresȝiue  to ȝeme wel þi -selue . And þat is wit and fre wille  to euery wiȝte a porcion . To fleyge fley[n]ge fleghyng foules  to fisches and to bestes . Ac þannme man R.8.51: Originally R read þanne; the erasure of þa + minim leaves me, the unstressed form of men, "one," (both F and beta have man). hath moste þer e -of  and moste is to blame . But if he werche wel þerewith  as dowel hym techeth . ¶ I haue no kende knowynge q uod I  to conseyue alle þi ȝowre R.8.53: Beta reads ȝowre, but Ax agrees with alpha. wordes . Ac if I may leue lyue R.8.54: leue, "live." and loke  I schal go lerne bettre . ¶ I be -kenne þe crist q uod þei he R.8.55: R's quod þei is unique and presumably erroneous; W and F both read quod he, Hm simply has quod, and most B witnesses agree with Ax in omitting the entire phrase. Cx, however, agrees with the F/W reading.  þat on þe croyce deyede . And I seyde þe same  saue ȝow fro mischaunce . And ȝif ȝow grace on þis grounde  gode men to worthe . ¶ And þus I wente wide -wher e  walkynge myn one . By a wild wildernesse  and by a wode side . Blisse of þo R.8.60: R's þo is supported by Hm and L, but F and most beta copies agree on þe. The A version has an identical a-verse (attesting the same variant as F and the beta majority), but of more consequence is the agreement of Cx with F since the C version witnesses the same complete line. briddes  abyde me made brouȝte me aslepe . R.8.60: In place of alpha's abyde me made, beta's b-verse reads brouȝte me aslepe. At first glance, this phrasal difference appears to be one of the many simple instances where beta agrees with Ax against a reading shared by alpha and Cx, both readings being viable. In reality, what seems to have occurred is somewhat less common: the copy of A that Langland was using as the basis of the B revision contained a reversed half-line ( made me abide A9.55b) and an ensuing dittography ( Blisse of þe briddis A9.58a). In fact, both errors, unrelated to each other, were the fault of the archetypal A scribe — or of the author. Having noticed them while composing B, Langland presumably marked the A9.55b phrase for reversal and then created a correction for the dittography of A9.58a (in the form of a marginal or interlinear): he varied this second occurrence of the repeated phrase to Murþe of hire mouþes and then had to revise the b-verse of the same line (perhaps in the opposite margin) to fit the new alliterative pattern, so we get made me þer to slepe instead of the A-version's brouȝte me a slepe.

Confronted with Bx's devotedly passive reproduction of this patchwork revision, the beta scribe seems to have garbled matters in his own unique way, assuming that he was to replace the b-verse of 55 — as it appeared in the underlying A-version text — with the unrevised A-version b-verse of 58, when all that was asked of him was to flip the staves of extant 55b and heed all of the marginal information at line 58. What beta has created, then, is not likely to reflect any authorial state of the text.

And vnder lynde R.8.61: Though BoCot also omit a determiner before lynde, F and beta agree in reading the phrase as a lynde . The reading of F/beta agrees with that of Ax while the R reading agrees with the phrasing found in Cx. vppo vppon a launde  lened I a stounde . To lythe þe layes  þat þe þo louely foules R.8.62: Beta reads þo louely foules; F has þe Nytyngalis . Ax reads þat (þe) louely foulis . made . Murthe of here mouthes  made me þer e to slepe . Merueylokest Þe merueillousest R.8.64: R uniquely omits Þe at the head of this line. meteles  mette me þanne . Þat euer dremed wiȝte  in world as I wene . R.8.65: Here the R scribe omits his usual blank line between verse strophes, presumably because the next line is the last ruled one for this side. ¶ A muche man as thouȝte [me] thouȝte me þouȝte  and like to my -selue . Come and called me  by my kende name . ¶ What art þow q uod I I þo R.8.68: R uniquely omits þo after quod I. However, this adverb in the other B copies may well be a scribal addition since the same omission as found in R characterizes Cx and half of the A witnesses.  þat þow my name knowest e . ¶ Þat þow wost wel q uod he  and no wiȝth better e . ¶ Wot I what þow arte  thouȝte seyde he þanne . I haue sewed þe this seuen ȝere  sey þow me no rather e . ¶ Art þow thouȝt q uod I þo  þow coudest me wisse where . R.8.72: R uniquely divides this line after where; the other B witnesses divide the line after wisse, beginning the next line with Where. Þat dowel dwelleth  and do me hym þat R.8.73: In place of alpha's hym, beta reads þat. Cx renders this line without including either word. to knowe . ¶ Dowel and do -bett  and do -best þe thridde q uod he . Aren thre faire vertues  and beth nauȝt fere to fynde . Ho -so is trewe of his tonge  and of his to hondes . And þoruȝ his laboure or þoruȝ his land  his liflode wynneth . And is tristi of his ta.ylende  taketh but his owene . And is noȝt dronkelew ne dedeynnous dedeignous  dowel hym folweth . ¶ Dobet doth riȝt þus  ac he doth muche more . He is as lowe as a lombe  and loueliche of speche . And helpeth al men  after þat hem nedeth . Þe baggus and þe bygurdles  he hath to -broken hem alle . Þat þe erl auerous  held and his heyres . And And þus with R.8.85: Beta reads þus with here. Ax agrees with alpha. mammonas mone  he hatz ymade hath made hym frendes . And is ronne in -to to R.8.86: Although most other beta witnesses have to, LM support alpha's in -to . The LMRF reading is also that of Ax and Cx. religion  and hath rendred þe bille bi[b]le bible . And preched R.8.87: Though G and O join R in attesting a preterite form for this verb, F and most beta copies read precheth, which is also the reading of the archetypes of the other two versions. to þe poeple  seynt poules wordes . Libent er suffertis incipientes insipientes  cu m ip si sitis sitis ipsi R.8.88: With regard to alpha's word order here, it should be noted that F confuses the verb, using scitis), while beta transposes this phrase as sitis ipsi. Those C manuscripts that cite this text in full follow the same phrase order as beta. insapientes . And suffreth þe vnwyse  with ȝow for to libbe . And with glade wille doth he m goed  for so god ȝow hoteth . ¶ Dobest is aboue bothe  and bereth a bischopes croce . Is an hoke hoked R.8.92: In place of R's unique an hoke, both beta and F read hoked. on þat on ende  to halye men fro helle . A pyke on is on R.8.93: R parallels beta exactly but uniquely omits is before on; F includes the verb but rearranges the half-line. Ax agrees with beta. þat potente  to pelte adoun þe wikkede . Þat wayten any wikkednesse  dowel to tene . R.8.94: Here the R scribe omits his usual blank line between verse strophes, presumably because the next line is the last ruled one for this side. ¶ And dowel and do -bett  amoges amo[n]ges amonges hem ordeyned . fiij To croune and one R.8.96: R's and is a unique reading. F omits the entire line, and beta reads one to be kynge  to kepen hem alle . For R's kepen hem alle, beta reads rulen hem bothe. F omits the whole line. The alliteration in R is clearly preferable to that in beta, and Cx agrees at least with R's verb. But R's b-verse seems conflated with a similar b-verse properly belonging several lines below this point in Bx (= Crouned one to be kynge to kepin hem alle [KD8.108]). To judge from the evidence of both R and F (each shows corruptions and omissions for several lines in a row), alpha was significantly deficient in this passage. Alpha probably omitted all five of the lines in this passage which are present in beta but missing from R (presumably by eyeskip induced from similar a-verses). The two sub-archtypes rejoin each other at KD8.109, but part of the problem continues beyond that point. When Kane and Donaldson examined this garbled passage, they hypothesized that alpha's text for this passage was accurately reflected in F (R being solely responsible for the omission in question); they further postulated that Bx itself had lost two lines (i.e., KD8.103 and KD8.105), lines which are now available only in F and in the A-version. Of course it must be recalled that their hypothetical narrative of F's production included the supposition that F had access, for proofing purposes, to a copy of B whose text was superior to that of the common archetype of all extant B manuscripts. However, it must be recalled that F not only reproduces, in this passage, three A lines unattested in any other B manuscript (KD8.113 as well as the two mentioned above). In addition, F puts forward three distinctive A-version variants in lines that do survive in beta ( presoun for beta's in yrens [KD8.104]; & be here conseyl wirche for beta's to kepin hem alle [KD8.108]; and so me crist helpe for the R/beta I coueite to lerne) Collectively, this evidence suggests a different, simpler explanation of F's text: having found his alpha copytext deficient in this verse paragraph, the F-scribe (or his predecessor) borrowed all of the missing text from an A manuscript usually available to him. And to rewle þe rewme  by here thre wittes . And none otherwise  but as þei thre assented . ¶ I thonked thouȝt þo  þat he me þus tauȝte . Ac Ac ȝete R.8.100: Beta reads Ac ȝete sauoureth . F rephrases the entire line but includes ȝyt in its a-verse. Although various beta copies substitute other variants for ȝete, only R completely omits a word here. sauoureth me nauȝt  þi seggyng I coueit to lerne . How dowel dobet and dobest  don amonges þe poeple . ¶ But wit conne wisse þe q uod thouȝt  where þo thre dwelle . Elles wot I none þat can  þat now is a -lyue . ¶ Þouȝt and I þus  thre dayes we ȝeden . Disputyng vppon dowel  day after other . And ar we war were were(n) (y)war R.8.106: Both beta and F transpose this phrase to were(n) (y)war. R's phrasing agrees with Ax and with the X family of C. The word order of F/beta agrees with that of the P family of C.  with witt gonne we mete . He was longe and lene  liche to non other . Was no pruyd on his apparail  ne pouerte nother . Sad of his semblant  and of softe chere . I dorste meue no mat ere  to make hym to iangle . But as I bad þouȝt þoo  to be mene by -twene . And put forthe his somme R.8.112: R's his is a unique reading; the other B manuscripts agree with Ax and Cx in reading somme. porpose  to prouen his wittes . What was dowel fro dobet  and dobest fram hem bothe . ¶ Þan thowȝt in þat tyme  seyde þes wordes . Whether dowel dobet  and dobest in londe ben in londe . R.8.115: The loss of the verb here presumably occurred in alpha since F also shows this omission; however, the point of its loss must remain speculative since F has recast the entire line by adding a verb to the a-verse. Bx = ben in londe —the same reading found in Ax (= beþ or ben) and Cx. The fact that M inserts ben as a correction suggests that the word had been omitted in Bx itself and then supplied by the Bx scribe as an interlinear or marginal." Here Here is R.8.116: Beta reads Here is wille . F rewrites the line. Ax agrees completely with beta. The C version of the line is slightly revised, but the syntax is the same as beta's and includes is. wille wolde I -witt  if wit coude teche hym . And whether he be man or noman R.8.117: In place of R's noman (which probably reflects alpha's reading — F reads noon), beta had either womman (the reading of the majority) or man (the reading of L). If L's reading is correct (which seems likelier), then beta also had an interlinear correction, no, which was overlooked by L, transmitted in the same form — as an interlinear — through beta prime, and then deciphered correctly by C as well as the B group (which agree with R) while being garbled to wo by most later witnesses.  þis man fayn wold aspie . And werchen as þei thre wolde  þis is his entente . s us us de & c etera . Passus nonus  de visione vt sup ra . — — R.9.0: At the extreme left margin of the same line as the passus heading, there is the cropped fragment of a small brown guide, illegible except for the ends of three lines: s us us de & c etera . S ire dowell~~eth~~ dwellis R.9.1: Manuscript C also reads dwelles, but the A and C versions attest the same present-tense verb form as F and most beta copies: dwelleth. R's original reading, before editorial correction to dwellis, was a grotesque error involving the accidental merger of two words ( dowelleth), but the form of that error makes clear that R's copytext attested the same verb form as that now found in F and most other manuscripts. q uod witt  nauȝt a day hennes . In a castel þat kende made  of foure man er kynnes R.9.2: Beta reads kynnes, which agrees with both Ax and Cx. þinges . Of erthe and heyer is it made  medeled to -gyderes . With wynde and with wat er  witt erly enioyned . Kende hath closed þere -inne  craftily with -alle . A lemman þat he louyeth  y -liche like to hym -selue . Anima sche hatteth  ac enu.ye hire hateth . A proude prikere of fraunce  princeps hui us mu ndi . And wold wynne hire awey  with wiles and he miȝte . And kende knoweth þis wel  and kepeth hire þe bettere . And hath I -do do R.9.11: F and some beta copies (e.g., CrWHm) here read dooþ; LMGO, by contrast, read hath do(on). R's hath I -do is almost identical to the reading of L. The predominant readings among both A and C witnesses are small variations of the RLMOG phrase, but six manuscripts from the P family of C attest the same reading as FCrWHm. hire with R.9.11: Beta reads with sire dowel . This reading is also found in Ax and Cx. dowel sire dowel  is duk of þe þis R.9.11: Cf. F's þat and beta's þis. Beta's reading is also that of Ax and Cx. marches . Do -bet is hire damoisel  sire doweles douȝter . To s erue þis lady lely  both late and rathe . Dobest is aboute abo[u]e aboue(n) bothe  a bischopes pere . Þat he bit motebe mote be do  he reuleth hem alle . Anima þat lady  is lad by hys lernyng lerynge . ¶ Ac þe constable of þat castel  þat kepeth alle þe wacche . Is a wise kniȝt with -alle  sire inwitt he hatte . And hath fyue faire sones  by his furst wyue . Sire sewel and saywel  and sire nil R.9.20: Beta omits alpha's sire from this b-verse. Ax agrees with beta in this omission, but a majority of C manuscripts, including the best X family witnesses and most of the P family, agree with alpha here. here -wel þe hende . Sire werche wel with þin hand  a wiȝt man of strengthe . And sire godefrey go -wel  a grete lord gret lordes R.9.22: In place of alpha's singular ( a grete lord), beta opts for the plural: gret lordes. Beta's choice agrees with the reading of both Ax and Cx. for -sothe Þise fyue ben sette  to saue þis þis lady R.9.23: Beta reads the phrase as þis lady anima . anima . Til kende come or sende  to saue hire for euere . ¶ What kynne thynge is kende q uod I  kanst þow me telle . ¶ Kende q uod witt is a R.9.26: Although M agrees with R in the omission of the determiner (in both copies by what appears to be an editorial erasure of the word a originally written), most beta copies and F agree in reading is a creatour . However, the overwhelming majority of A and C manuscripts agrees with the "corrected" (i.e. the erased) version of RM. creatour  of alkynne þinges . Fader and formeor  of alle þat euer was maked . R.9.27: There is a cross in the left margin here, but it is much heavier and thicker than the similar crosses used by the scribe to mark Latin tags for later boxing. This cross is presumably a correction mark; there is no mistake in 9.27, but the mark may refer to 9.28's gete, which was never corrected. And And þat is R.9.28: R uniquely omits a phrase immediately after And. In beta, the phrase is þat is; F omits And, beginning the line with He is. Ax confirms the authenticity of beta's phrase. þe get e g[r]et e gret god þat gynnyng had neuere . Lord of lif and of liȝt  of blisse lysse R.9.29: The group of witnesses joining R in attesting blisse (a non-alliterating synonym of authorial lisse) includes F, as expected, and five typical beta manuscripts: Cr 1, G, and B (Bm, Bo, and Cot). Cr 1 and G are late, and exposed to extensive lateral transmission, so that their agreement in this reading is not problematic. Likewise, the B group is so textually inferior in its common source as to be an unsurprising ally. However, what is mildly surprising is that M also has been "corrected" into agreement with this alpha error. This fact suggests that blisse was already present in Cr 1's exemplar (beta2), because Cr1's exemplar was almost certainly the copy that had been used long before to "correct" M into agreement with the WHmCr sub-family. and of payne . Angeles and alle þing  aren at his wille . Ac man is most hym hym moste R.9.31: This phrase occurs in beta in transposed order as hym moste. The cognate line in Ax is identical to beta's version, and Cx, in a revised line, repeats the word order of beta's phrase. like  of marke and of schafte . For þoruȝ þe worde þat he spake  wexen forth bestes . Dixit et facta sunt  ¶ And made ma n I -likest likkest to hym -self one . And eue of his ribbe -bon  with -outen any mene . For he was singuler e hym -selue  seyde and seyde R.9.36: R uniquely omits and before seyde; F reads he in place of and. Faciamus . ¶ As ho sey more mote hereto  þanne my worde one . fiiij us My miȝt mote helpe  now with my speche . Riȝt as a lord schul sholde R.9.39: R's form here, schul, is unique and may represent either a present or past tense inflection; F and beta both attest a past-tense form, sholde. make l ettres  and hym lakked p archmyn . Þouȝ he coude write neuer so wel  ȝif he had no penne . Þe lett ere for alle þe lordschipp e  I leue were neuer I -maked . ¶ And so it semed (bi)semeth R.9.42: R's apparently past-tense inflection is unique; Bx has semeth. Cf. the discussion of R's problematic tense marking in the Introduction III.2.2.10, where this example is categorized. by hym  as þe bible telleth . Þeer e he seyde dixit et facta sunt . He moste werche with his worde  and his witt schewe . And in þis maner was man made  þoruȝ miȝt of god almiȝty . With his word and werkmanschipp e  and with lif to laste . And þus god gaf hym a goste  of þe godded R.9.47: Godded, "godhead." of heuene . And of his grete grace  graunted hym blisse  And þat is lif þat ay schal laste  to alle his nil R.9.49: R's his is an alpha variant; although W agrees with alpha in attesting the presence of this possessive adjective, the other beta manuscripts omit it. Nevertheless, Ax supports the RFW reading here. lynage after . And þis þat R.9.50: R's þis is unique; the other B witnesses read þat. Ax agrees with beta here. is þe catel ca[s]tel castel þat kende made  caro it hatte . And is as muche to mene  as man with a soule . And þat he wrouȝt with werke  and with his nil wordes worde R.9.52: R's plural is unique among the B manuscripts; the others read worde. Moreover, beta omits his. Ax agrees with beta on the omission of his, but the A witnesses are divided on whether the following noun is singular (as in F and beta) or plural (as in R). bothe . Þoruȝ miȝt of þe mageste  man was I -maked . ¶ Inwitt and alle wittes  I -clothed (i)closed R.9.54: R's I -clothed is unique; the other B copies read closed. Both Ax and Cx support the majority B reading. ben þere -inne . For loue of þe lady anima  þat lif is Inempned . Oueralle in mannes body  he walketh and wandreth . Ac in þe herte is hire home  and hire moste reste . Ac inwitt is in þe hed  and to þe herte R.9.58: Only Cr and R omit he before loketh. loketh . What anima is lef or loth  he lat hire at hire his R.9.59: R's hire is unique; both beta and F read his. wille . For after þe grace of god  þe grettest is Inwitt . ¶ Muche wo worth þat wiȝt man R.9.61: Beta reads man, and Cx revises to hym.  þat mys -rewleth his Inwitt . And þat beth glotones globares  her e god is here wombe . Quor um deus vent er est . For þei s eruen sathan  here soule R.9.64: Most beta copies and F agree in rendering this variant as a plural ( soules), but the support of LM for R's singular suggests that the reading of alpha, and of Bx, was soule. schal he haue . Þat lyuen synful lyf here  her e soule is liche þe deuel . And alle þat lyuen gode lif  aren like R.9.66: Only L and R omit a preposition before god. F's version of the b-verse is lyk after goddis techyng , while the other beta manuscripts read lik to god almiȝti . god almiȝty . Qui manet in caritate in deo manet &c etera . ¶ Allas þat drink schal fordo  þat god dere bouȝte And doth god forsaken hem  þat schope hem he shope R.9.69: In place of alpha's schope hem, beta reads he shope . to his liknesse . Amen dico vobis nescio vos vos & alibi et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum . R.9.70: F omits the entire Latin tag; beta's version of the tag continues beyond R's end, reading: vos & alibi et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum . ¶ Foles þat fauten Inwitt  I fynde þat holy cherche . Schulde fynden hem þat fauteth R.9.72: Beta reads hem þat hem fauteth / fauted . F's rendering of this a-verse, Ne knowe no(n) defawhte, is too different to make comparison relevant.  and faderles childeren . And wydewes þat haue nauȝt where -with . to wynnen he m her e fode . Madde men and maydenes  þat helples were . Alle þise lakken Inwit  and lore byhoueth . ¶ Of þis matire I miȝte  make a longe tale . And fynde fele witnese  amonges þe foure doctoures . And þat I lye nauȝt nouȝt of þat R.9.78: Alpha here omitted a syntactically important phrase present in the beta manuscripts: of þat. In a second stage of corruption, F characteristically sacrifices from the mangled a-verse of alpha (as attested in R) an alliterating phrase that now makes little sense ( I lere the) and adds weight to the b-verse with sey nt luc. I lerethe lere the  luk bereth witnesse . ¶ Godfader and godmoder  þat sen here god -children . Þat is At R.9.80: In place of R's Þat is, F reads In while beta reads At. mys -heise and at mischief  and mowe hem amende . Schal haue penau nce in p urgatorie R.9.81: This word is partially erased, and the erasure is very old though presumably not contemporary. Despite the attempted erasure, the word remains entirely readable.  but ȝif þei hem helpe . For more by -longeth to þe litel barne  ar he þe lawe knowe . Þan nempnyng of a name  and he neu ere þe wiser e. ¶ Schulde no cristene creature  crien atte ȝate . And Ne R.9.85: Beta reads Ne. faile payn and ne potage  and p relates dide as þei schulde . A Iew wolde nouȝt se a Iew  go Iangelynge for defaute . For alle þe nobeles R.9.87: R's alliteration fails here; cf. beta's moebles, which clearly reflects Bx. F's effort to repair the alliterative pattern with the easy and obvious mone suggests that R's error was derived from alpha. of þis molde  and he amende it miȝte ¶ Allas þat a cristene creature  schal be vnkende til annother . Sitthen Iewes þat we Iugen  Iudas felawes . Þat nil ayther Ayther of hem helpeth other  of hem þat þat hym nedeth . R.9.90: A series of small variations differentiates beta from alpha in this line, making it most efficient simply to show the beta line in its entirety: Ayther of hem helpeth other of þat þat hym nedeth. F renders the line thus: þat ech helpiþ oþir of hem / of good þat hem neediþ. ¶ Why ne wil we cristene  of cristes goed be as kende . As Iewes þat ben oure lores -men  to nil R.9.92: Beta omits R's to; F reads It is. schame to vs alle . Þe comune for here vnkendenesse  I drede me schul abye . ¶ Bischopes schul be blamed  for beggeres sake . He is wors þan Iudas  þat ȝiueth a iaper e siluer . And bit R.9.96: F reads byddis; beta has biddeth. þe begere go  for his broke clothes . Proditor est p relat us cu m iuda qui patrimoniu m christi min us distribuit . Et alibi . P erniciosus dispensator est  q ui res paup eru m christi i nvtilit er co nsumit . He doth nauȝt wel þat doth þus  ne drad nauȝt god almiȝty Ne loueth nauȝt salomones sawes  þat sapience tauȝte . Iniciu m sapiencie timor domini — . ¶ Þat drad dredeth god he doth wel  þat drad dredeth R.9.102: In both instances in this line where R reads drad, Bx has dredeth. hym for loue . And drad hym And nauȝt for loue drede of vengeance  to do doth þer -fore þe better e . R.9.103: Beta's line reads And nouȝt for drede of veniaunce doth þerfore þe bettere . R's And drad hym is unique; F has he dredyþ. He doth best þat with -draweth hym  by day and by nyȝte . To spille any speche  or any space of tyme . Qui offendit in verbo R.9.106: R's verbo is almost certainly authorial, albeit not an accurate Vulgate citation; L is the only other B witness that completely agrees with R, but M probably did originally (by erasure and correction M now reads vno). F tries to split the difference between alpha's verbo and the common beta reading, vno, by adopting a reading of vno verbo. in om nib us est reus . ¶ Lesynge of tyme trewth wote þe sothe  Is most I -hated vp erthe  of hem þat ben in heuene . And seche sitthe R.9.109: F reads all swiche, which looks as though it is somehow related to R's seche but is equally devoid of sense. The likeliest explanation for these variants is that alpha's <c> and <t> were indistinct and that alpha had intended sethe. Beta's correct reading is sitthe. to spille speche  þat spire is of grace . And godes gleman  and a game of heuene . Wold neu ere þe faithful fader  his fithel wer e vntymbred vntempred . R.9.111: For R's unique form, vntymbred, Bx reads vntempred. There is no semantic difference in R's form, merely a changed spelling produced by the voicing of an unvoiced consonant in the middle of a voiced consonant cluster. Ne his gleman a gedelynge  a goere to tauernes . ¶ To alle trewe tydy men  þat trauail desiren . Our e lord loueth hem and lent  loude other stille . Grace to go to hem tille hem R.9.115: R's hem tille is a unique reading. Beta simply reads hem. However, F offers a different unique reading at this point, hem to , suggesting that both R and F are mirroring an alpha variant.  and agoon here liflode . Inquirentes autem dominu m non minuentur o mni bono . ¶ Trewe wedded libbyng folke  in þis world is dowel . For þei mote werche and wynne  and þe world susteyne . For of here kende he þei R.9.119: he, "they." Beta and Cx read þei. come  þat confessoures ben nempned . Kynges and kniȝtes kaiseres and cherles . Maydenes and martires  oute of o man come . Þe wif was mad þe wey R.9.122: Weye, "husband, man."  for to helpe werche . And þus was wedlok I -wrouȝt  and god hym -self it made R.9.123: Alpha omits the following lines from Bx through eye-skip on identical a-verses: . . . with a mene persone First bi þe faderes wille and þe frendes conseille And sytthenes bi assent of hemself as þei two myȝte acorde And thus was wedloke ywrouȝte . . . . In erth þere þe R.9.124: For R's þere, beta reads þe; F reads here heuen is  hym -self was þe witnesse . ¶ Ac fals folk and nil R.9.125: Beta omits and. faithles  theues and lieres . Wastoures and wreches  oute of wedlok I trowe . Conseyued ben Iuel in yuel R.9.127: R uniquely omits in before Iuel. tyme  as caym was on eue . Of suche synful schrewes  þe sauter maketh mende . Concepit dolorem in dolore R.9.129: R's dolorem is the alpha variant—to which Hm has been "corrected" by a second hand (the other beta manuscripts read in dolore). This variation ultimately reflects a discrepancy in the textual tradition of the Vulgate itself, but the predominant reading among A copies of Piers Plowman is the same as alpha's, while the overwhelming preference among C manuscripts is for the beta reading. et peperit iniquitatem iniquitatem &c . And alle þat come of þat caym  come to euel ende . For god sent to sem  and seyde by an au ngel Þin Issu in þin Issu  I wil þat þei ben wedded . And nauȝt þi kende with caym caymes R.9.133: Beta reads caymes.  I -coupled ne I -spoused . ¶ Ȝet so mme aȝeyne þe sonde  of oure saueour e of heuene . Caymes kende and his kynde  coupled to -gyderes . Til god wrathed for here werkes  and such a worde seyde . Þat I maked man  now it me þinketh athynketh/forthynketh . R.9.137: All other B manuscripts here read either athynketh or forthynketh. F shows the latter reading, as does Ax. For the sense of R's reading, see MED, s. v. thinken (v.[2], 10 [a]). Penitet me fecisse ho mi nem . ¶ And come to noe a -none  and bad hym nauȝt lette . Swithe go schape a schipp e  of schides and of bordes . Þi -self and þi sones thre  and sitthen ȝour e wiues . Buske ȝow to þat bote  and bydeth ȝe þere -Inne . Til fourty dayes ben fulfilled  þat floed haue Iwasted ywasshen . R.9.143: For alpha's Iwasted, beta reads ywasshen. Both Ax and Cx confirm the correctness of the beta reading. Clene away þe cursed bloed  þat caym hath I -maked . ¶ Bestes þat now ben  schal banne þe tyme . Þat eu er þat cursed caym  come on þis erthe . Alle schal deye for his dedes  by dales and hilles . And þe foules þat fleth  forth with other bestes . Excepte onlyche  of on eche R.9.149: Beta reads eche; Cr and F have euery. Cx's vch supports beta's variant. kende a couple . Þat in þis þi R.9.150: Beta reads þi . . . shippe; F omits the entire line. Ax reads þe . . . ship, but Cx agrees with beta. schingeled schipp e  schal ben I -saued . Here a -bouȝte þe barne  þe belesires giltes . And all e for here forfaderes  þei ferden þe worse . Þe gospel is here -a -geyne  in on degre I fynde Fili us no n portabit iniq uitate m p atris n ec pat er & pater non portabit R.9.154: Instead of alpha's nec pater, beta reads & pater non portabit . iniquitate m filij filij &c. . ¶ Ac I fynde if þe fader  be fals and a schrewe . Þat somdel þe sone  schal haue þe sire R.9.156: Though C joins R in attesting the uninflected form, F and the other beta copies read sires. tacches . ¶ Impe vp -on on R.9.157: Beta reads on. an ellerne  and if þin appel be swete . Muchel merueile me thenketh  and more of a schrewe . Þat bringeth forth any barne  but if he be þe same . And haue a sauour after þe sir e  selde seste þow other . Numq uam colligit ur de spinis vuas  n ec de tribul is ficus . ¶ And þus þorȝ cursed caym  come care vpp e -on erthe . And alle for þei wrouȝten  wedlokes aȝeyne goddes wille . For -þi haue þei maugre for R.9.164: Although most beta copies read of, LM agree with R in reading for. her e mariages  as me n þat marien now so her childer en . R.9.164: Beta's b-verse reads þat marye so her childeren . F has for maryagys vnkende. For so mme as I se now  soth forto telle . For coueytise of catel  vnkendeliche ben wedded . As careful concepc iou n  cometh to þat of suche mariages . R.9.167: R's b-verse is obviously corrupt, and may include two mistakes at separate stages of transmission; in any case, the R scribe shows his characteristic timidity toward emending patent error. The beta manuscripts here read of suche mariages. Alpha probably generated at least one component of the error shown in R; F appears to adapt to the error in alpha with typical adroitness: of þ at Maryage . As bifel of þat þe folke R.9.168: Beta reads of þe folke . In a parallel but not identical line, Ax reads this phrase in agreement with beta.  þat I before of tolde . R.9.168: Two lines present in beta manuscripts (and in the C version) immediately after this one are omitted by alpha: For goode shulde wedde goode þough hij no good hadde I am via & veritas seith cryst I may auaunce alle . R.9.168: A text line appears to have been erased immediately below this one. ¶ It is an vncomely couple  by Ihesus cryst R.9.169: Beta reads cryst, which maintains the line's alliterative pattern. Ax agrees with beta. as me thenketh . To ȝeue a ȝonge wenche  to an olde feble . Or wedden any wydewe  for welth of hire godes . Þat neu er schal barne bere  but if it be in armes . Many apair e a pair e sitthen þe pestelence  haue pliȝt hem to -gyderes . Þe fruit þat þei bringen forth  aren foule wordes . R.9.174: Alpha omits the following line attested by beta witnesses (and by both the other versions): In ialousye ioyeles and ianglyng on bedde. Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt re-arrange the lines, placing this line after R9.172. Haue þei non children but iangelyng e cheste R.9.175: Here alpha's alliteration fails; beta properly reads cheste, a reading confirmed by both Ax and Cx.  & gaying choppyng R.9.175: R's gaying makes no sense. Beta probably read choppyng. The entire line in F is garbled, presumably by loss of the end of the a-verse. As a result, F reads the line thus: þey have no children / but Ianglyng hem be-twene. he m bitewene . And forto go to du nmowe  to fecche hom here bakon . R and F here depart extensively from the text witnessed by beta, but R and F differ between themselves at many points regarding the underlying alpha text. Beta for these three lines reads as follows: And þough þei don hem to donmowe but if þe deuel help To folwen after þe flicche fecche þei it neuere And but þei bothe be forsworne þat bacoun þei tyne. F 's version of these lines reads as follows: Þey sholde gon to Dunmowe & fecche þere bakoun But for þe caryage is karkful þey dore non fecche . But lyven þus in Ianglyng þoru þe develys loore . And whan þei haue brouȝt it hom  to whom is best to selle it . And þus þei lyuen in coueytise  þe deuel and þei to -gyderes . ¶ For -þi I conseill e all e cristene  coueite nauȝt to R.9.179: Though Cr and M agree with R in reading to here, most B manuscripts, including F, omit it. Nevertheless, nine A-version witnesses attest the presence of to at this point. By contrast, only two C copies agree with R on this issue. be wedded . For coueitise of catel  ne of kenrede riche . Ac maydenes and maydenes  make macche R.9.181: R's reading is unique. Beta reads macche, while F has marye; Cx agrees with F. ȝow to -gyderes Wydeweres and wydewes Widwes and widwers R.9.182: Beta reads Widwes and widwers, reversing alpha's phrasal order; Ax agrees with alpha, but the C manuscripts are divided here by family, with the P family supporting alpha's order while the X family agrees with beta.  wercheth þe same . For no londes but for loue  loke þat nil R.9.183: R's þat is unique. The b-verse of most other B manuscripts reads loke ȝe be wedded. ȝe be wedded . And þanne gete ȝe ȝe þe grace R.9.184: In place of alpha's grace, beta reads þe grace . of god  and god Inow to lyue with . R.9.184: Hereafter alpha omits seven lines found in beta (and in slightly revised form in the C version): And euery maner seculer þat may nouȝt continue Wysly go wedde and war hym fro synne For leccherye in likyng is lymeȝerde of helle Whiles þow art ȝonge and þi wepne kene Wreke þe with wyuynge ȝif þow wil ben excused Dum sis vir fortis ne des tua robora scortis Scribitur in portis meretrix est ianua mortis Whan ȝe haue wyued bewar and worcheth in tyme Nouȝt as Adam & Eue whan caym was engendred . ¶ And For R.9.185: R's And is unique; the other B manuscripts read For. in vntyme trewely  bi -twene man and wo mman . Ne schulde no berde a -bedde bourde on bedde R.9.186: Bx itself may be marginally corrupt here: F has lyggyn In bedde , while beta reads bourde on bedde. Both Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt emend this beta phrase to the reading of Cx, which is bedbourde. However, a key component of the larger textual conundrum is the meaning of R's berde. It seems completely implausible as a spelling of beta's bourde. Far likelier is a bland meaning such as "a youth." Cf. MED, s. v. bird(e) (n. 1[3]): "A man of noble birth; scion, lord . . . also, any young person." The omission and garbling here in R and F suggest an intention, on alpha's part, to bowdlerize the entire passage, as at R3.52, by omitting most of the offensive sexual material (here the lines are KD9.182-88, with their hypothetical reference to the reader's youthful, "keen weapon" and the untimely engendering of Cain) and patching together what remains. be  but if þei bothe were clene . Of Bothe of R.9.187: Beta has Bothe of while F reads Boþe in. lif and of soule  and in parfite charite . Þat ilke derne dede  do noman schulde ne sholde R.9.188: R uniquely omits ne before schulde. F cannot be compared since it completely rephrases the b-verse. In slightly different version of this line, Cx reads the phrase in question precisely as R: do no man sholde . Moreover six A witnesses (UDChVKWa) also agree with R's version. . And if þei ledden þus her e lif  it liked R.9.189: F reads wolde lyke; most beta copies show likeþ, but L agrees exactly with R. god almiȝti . For he made wedlok furst  and hym -self it seyde . Bonu m est vt vnusquisq ue vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem . R.9.191: The beta copies are fuller, ending the citation with propter fornicacionem, which is also the reading of the C version. And þei þat othergates ben geten  for gede -lynges ben holden . And As R.9.193: Beta reads As. Cx agrees here with alpha. fals folke fondelynges  faitoures & lyeres . Vngracious to gete gode  or loue of þe poeple . Wandren and wasten  whatte þei cacche mowe . Aȝein dewel d[o]wel dowel R.9.196: R's dewel is a unique error presumably induced by anticipation of deuel later in this line. þei don euele  and þe deuel s erue . And after her deth -day  schullen dwelle with þe deuel same . R.9.197: In place of R's þe deuel, F reads here Mayster and beta reads þe same. The Ax version of this phrase agrees with beta. But god ȝif hem grace here  hem -self to amende . R.9.198: Hereafter alpha omits the following lines attested by beta family manuscripts (and in slightly different form by the C version): Dowel my frende is to don as lawe techeth To loue þi frende and þi foo leue me þat is dobet To ȝiuen and to ȝemen bothe ȝonge and olde To helen and to helpen is dobest of alle . ¶ And þus is dowel dowel is R.9.199: Beta reads And dowel is. F's reading is identical to R's, except for the omission of the initial conjunction. Cx agrees here with R. to drede god  and dobet to suffre . And so comes dobest of both  and bringeth a -don þe mody . And þat is wikked wille  þat many werkes (a)werke R.9.201: Beta has the singular werke, which is also the reading of Ax. schendeth . And driueth awey dowel  þoruȝ dedliche synnes . pa ssus x us Passus decimus de visione vt s upra . — — Þ Þ anne R.10.1: The initial is flourished with red, as usual, and a man's face has been drawn in the loop of the thorn. had wit a wif  was called hote(n) R.10.1: Cf. F's klepid. Beta's reading is hote, which agrees with Ax and Cx. dame studie Þat lene was of lere  and of lichee liche bothe . Sche was wonderliche wroth  þat wit me þus tauȝte . And alle starynge dame studie  sterneliche seyde . Wel art þow wis q uod sche to witt  any wisdomes to telle . To flatereres or to foles  þat frentik ben of wittes . And blamed hym and banned hym  and bad him be stille . With swiche wise wordes  to wissen any sottes . And seyde noli mitter e man  magerie ma[r]gerie perles . Amonges hogges þat han  hawes at wille . Þei doth but dreuele þer -on  draf were hem leu ere . Þan alle þe preciouse perre  þat in paradis wexeth . I seye it be schuche suche R.10.13: This form is unique to R. MED, s. v. swich, indicates that the South English Legendary (ca. 1300) has the only comparable form of this word, which it labels as a SW Midlands form for swich. Cx reads suche. q uod sche  þat scheweth be her e werkes . Þat hem were leuer e lond  and lordschipe here on erthe . R.10.14: For alpha's here, beta reads on erthe, which agrees with Ax. Other Or ricchesse other or R.10.15: R's Other ... other is unique. F omits this line, but beta reads Or ... or, which agrees with Ax. rentes  and rest at her e wille . Þanne alle þe soth sawes  þat salomo n seyde euere . ¶ Wisdom and witt now  is nauȝt worth a carse . But if it be carded with couetise  as clotheres kembe n wolle Ho -so kan co ntreue deseites  and conspire wronges . And leden forth a loueday  and letten to latte þe with trewthe . R.10.20: Beta reads this b-verse as to latte with treuthe. F has & lettyn euere trewthe. Ax appears to have read to lette þe truþe. He þat suche craftes can  to conseil is cleped . — Þei lede lordes with lesynges  and belyeth treuthe . — ¶ Iob þe gentil  in his gestes witnesseth . Þat wicked men þei welden  þe welth of þis worlde . And þat þei ben lordes in R.10.25: Though Hm agrees with R's in, beta has of (F rewrites the line). vch a londe  þat oute of lawe libbeth . Quare impij viuu nt b en e est om nib us qui preuarica nt ur & iniq ue agu nt . ¶ Þe sauter seith þe same  by such þat don ille . Ecce ip si peccatores habu ndantes in seculo opt inuerunt optinuerunt diuicias . R.10.28: Alpha omits the last word of this citation as found in beta: diuicias. Lo seith holy lettrur e  whiche lordes beth þis schrewes Þilk þat god most greueth gyueth R.10.30: For alpha's greueth, beta reads, more probably, gyueth (though manuscript C agrees with alpha). The C version tries to resolve this difference between greueth and gyueþ by rewriting the line so as to include both words (a timid choice paralleled elsewhere in C), and in the process makes a line that is inferior to both earlier versions. Evidently, by the time he was laboring on the C revision, Langland had forgotten which of these two variants he had composed and which one was scribal. Or, having perhaps written both himself at different times, he had forgotten which one was supposed to supersede the other.  lest gode þei deleth . And most vnkende to þe comune  þat most catel weldeth . Que perfecisti destruxerunt  iustus autem &c etera . Harlotes for here harlotrie  may haue of her godes . And iaperes and iogoloures  and iangeleres of gestes . ¶ Ac he þat hath holy writ  ay in his mouthe . And can telle of tobye  and of þe twelue apostles . Or prechen of þe penaunce  þat pilat wrouȝte . To Ih esu þe gentil  þat iewes to -drowe . — Litel is he loued  þat such a lesson scheweth . Or daunted or drawe forth  I do it on god hym -selue . ¶ But þo þat feynen hem foles  and with faytynge libbeth . Aȝeyne þe lawe of oure lorde  and lyen on hem -selue . Spitten and spewen  and speken foule wordes . Drynken and dreuelen  and do men for to gape . Likkene men and lyen on hem  þat leneth hem no ȝiftes Þei conne namore minstracie  ne musike men to glade Þanne mu nde þe mulener e  of multa fecit deus . Ne were her e vile harlotrie  haue god my trouthe . Schuld neuer e kynge ne knyȝt e  ne canou n of seynt poules . Ȝyue hem to here ȝeresȝyue  þe worth ȝifte R.10.50: R's worth is an alpha variant. The most reliable beta witnesses, including L and M, read ȝifte. Ax reads value. of a grote . ¶ Ac murth and mynstracie  amonges men is nouthe . Lecherie and losengerie  and loseles tales . — Glotonye and grete othes  þis murth R.10.53: Beta has murthe þei louieth (though manuscript Y agrees with R in omitting þey. F completely revises the b-verse. The b-verse of Ax is somewhat different from both alpha and beta, but the stave word, games alliterates appropriately with the unrevised a-verse. Both Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt emend to the A reading. louyeth . Ac ȝif ȝei [þ]ei þei carpen of crist  þis clerkes and þes lewede . At þe mete in her e murthes  whan mynstrales ben stille . Þanne tellen þei of þe trinyte  a tale other tweyne . And bryngeth forth a balled resou n  and taken bernard to witnesse . And putten forth a p resu mpciou n  to p reue þe sothe . Þus þei driuele at here dayes deyse  þe deyte to knowe . And gnawen god with þe gorge  whan her e gutte is full e . ¶ Ac þe careful may crie  and carpen at þe ȝate . Bothe afyngred and a -þurst  and for chele quake . Is non to nymen hym nere  his nuye (a)noye to R.10.63: The other B witnesses read his noye to amende . However, Ax agrees with R in omitting to . amende . But hoen on R.10.64: Hoen, "shout at, raise an outcry against." hym as an hownde  and hoten hym go þennes . Litel loueth he þat lorde  þat lent hym alle þat blisse . Þat þus parteth with þe pore  a parcel whan hym nedeth . Ne were m ercye in mene men  more þan in riche . Mendynantes meteles  myȝt go to bedde . God is muche in þe gorges gorge R.10.69: Beta reads gorge. Ax agrees with beta.  of þes grete maystres . Ac amonges mene men  his m ercye and his werkes . And so seith þe sauter  Ich haue I -seye it oft . Ecce audiuim us eu m eam i n effrata  inuenim us eu m eam R.10.72: In both cases where alpha has eum, beta reads eam. Both Ax and Cx agree with beta, and most C manuscripts go further, glossing eam as caritatem. i n campis silue . Clerkes and other other kynnes men R.10.73: R's other men is the alpha reading; beta reads other kynnes men.  carpen of god faste . And haue hym muche in þe mouthe  ac mene men i n herte . ¶ Freres and faytoures haue founde suche questions . To plese with proude men  sitthen þe pestilence pestilence tyme . R.10.76: Beta reads pestilence tyme. The Ax version of this phrase agrees with beta, but a majority of C manuscripts supports a reading similar to alpha's: pestelences. And p rechen at seynt poules  for pure enuye of clerkes . Þat folke is nouȝt fermed in þe feith  ne free of her e godes . Ne sori for here synnes  so pruyde is is pryde R.10.79: Beta transposes this phrase as is pryde. Cx agrees with beta on the word order. woxen . — In religiou n and in alle þe rewme  amonges riche and pore . Þat preyeres haue no power e  þis þe pestilences pestilence R.10.81: R's þis is a plural determiner, as with F's þese. Beta shows a singular for this phrase: þe pestilence. Cx reads þis pestilences, agreeing with alpha. to lette . For god is def now -a -dayes on þese dayes  and deyneth his heres to opne not vs to here Beta omits these lines. The b-verse of KD10.79 in F reads & deyȝneþ not vs to here. Cx agrees with F. Þat gerles þe gystys for her e gyltes  he for -grynt R.10.83: MED has no listing for this compound, but the inflected form from the base is clearly the 3rd singular indicative of "grinden, v. 1" = "to break into small particles; reduce . . . to powder by crushing." For togrinden, v., a citation is offered from the cognate line of the C-version of Piers: And good men for oure gultes he al to -grynt to deþe . hem alle . — And ȝet þe wrecches of þis worlde  is non ywar e by other Ne for drede of þe deth  with -drawe nauȝt here pruyde . Ne beth plentyuous to þe pore  as pure charite wolde . ¶ But in gaynesse and in glotonye  for -glotten her e goed hem -selue . And breketh nauȝt to þe beggere  as þe boek techeth . Frange esurienti panem tuu m & cet era . And þe more he wynneth and welt  welthes and richesses . Eu ere as he And R.10.91: In place of alpha's Euere as he, beta reads And. Cx revises the line, but the opening phrase agrees with beta. lordeth in londes  þe lasse goed he deleth . ¶ Tobie techeth telleth R.10.92: Beta reads telleth. Cx either agrees completely with alpha (X family) or deploys a preterite of techen (P family). ȝow nauȝt so  taketh hede ȝe riche . How þe boek bible  of hym bereth witnesse . ☞ Si tibi sit copia  habundant er tribue  R.10.94: In the left margin, a hand points at this line and the next. Si autem exiguu m illud inp ertire impertiri R.10.95: Though several beta manuscripts agree with alpha's verb form here, beta itself probably read impertiri, as reflected in LCrWO. The readings of the C manuscripts—for the entire Latin phrase—are quite mixed, but a majority, including XYcP 2, agree with alpha. libent er stude stude libenter R.10.95: Beta transposes this phrase as stude libenter ; Cx attests the same word order here as alpha. . Who -so hath muche  spene manlyche  so meneth tobie . And ho -so litel weldeth  rewle hym þer e -after . For we haue no l ettre of oure lif  how longe it sal dure . Suche lessones lordes schulde  loue to here . And how he miȝt most meyne  manliche fynde . Nouȝt to fare as a fithelere  or as a R.10.101: R's as is a unique addition to the text attested by beta (F completely alters the b-verse). a frer e to seke festes . Homliche at other me nn us howses  and hatyen her e owne . Elyng e is þe halle  vche daye in þe weke . Þere þe lorde ne þe lady  liketh nauȝt to sitte Now hath vch riche a reule  to eten by hym -selue . In a priuy parlour  for pore mennes sake . Or in a chaumber by with R.10.107: R's by is unique; Bx reads with. a chymene  and leue þe chief halle . Þat was made for meles  men to eten Inne . And alle to spare to spille  þat spene spende(n) R.10.109: R's spene is a unique reading here (the other B manuscripts read spende(n)); however, spene is a verb that developed from spende(n), is synonymous with it, and occurs in free variation with it throughout R. From its sometimes parallel occurrence in L (as at KD10.90), the form seems likely to be an authorial relict. schal an -other . ¶ I haue herd hye men  etyng e at þe table . Carpen as þei clerkes were  of crist and of his miȝtes . And leyden fautes vpon þe fader  þat formed vs alle . And carpen aȝeine clerkes  crabbed wordes . Whi wold oure saueor suffre  such a worm in his blisse Þat bygiled þe womma n  and þe man after . Þorȝ which wiles and wordes  þei wenten to helle And alle her e seed for her e synne  þe same deth suffrede . ¶ Here lieth ȝour e lore  þis lordes guynneth dispute . Of þat ye clerkes vs kenneth  of crist by þe gospel . filius no n portab it Filius non portabit iniquitatem iniquitatem patris R.10.120: R uniquely omits patris after iniquitatem. &c etera . Whi schulde we þat now ben  for þe werkes of adam . Roten and to -reue (to)rende R.10.122: It is uncertain how to transcribe this word; it may be rendered as to -reue or as to -rene . If the latter of these options is adopted, it is merely a transcriptional error on the scribe's part for Bx's torende. However one construes it, the form is unquestionably intended as a compound participial adjective and constitutes a unique reading in R (F agreeing here with the beta majority). MED cites toriuen as a compound s. v. riven (v. 2), (with toriue and toreuen as possible participle forms). Meaning 3a would seem closest to the context of R10.122 = "To split, splinter, shatter, or break apart as the result of a blow, collision, or other force; also, fig. be emotionally shattered; (b) fig. of the heart: to break on account of emotion." Two examples from fifteenth-century sources of toreue are cited under this heading. If this is the form intended by R's scribe, it represents an unconscious substitution of a synonym (in its sense of "torn" or "shattered") for original to-rende. The third possibility is that the form may be a compound participle of "reuen, v. 1a" = "to regret, to be embarrassed or shamed," a context that would fit well (albeit textually aberrant) with the meaning of roten, "destroyed, ruined."  reson walde it neu ere . Vnusquisq ue honus suu m portabit portabit onus suum &c R.10.123: Beta transposes this phrase as portabit onus suum . . Suche motifs þei meue  þis maystres in her e glorie And maketh men in mysbyleue  þat muse muche on her e wordes . ¶ Ymaginatif here -afterwarde  schal answerie to ȝour e porpos . ¶ Austyn to suche argueres  he telleth hem þis teme . Non plus sapere q uam oportet &c etera Wilneth neu ere to wite  whi þat god wolde . Suffre sathan his seed to begile . — Ac byleue lelly  in þe lore of holy cherche . And preye hym of pardou n  and penance in þi lyue . And for his muche m ercy  to amende ȝow here . ¶ For alle þat wilneth to wite  þe weyes of god almiȝty . I wold his eye were in his ers  and his fynger after . Þat eu ere wilneth to wite  whi þat god wolde . Suffre sathan his seed to bygile . Or Iudas þe Iew to þe iuwes R.10.138: For alpha's þe Iew, beta has to þe iuwes . Ax agrees with alpha.  ih esu betraie . — ¶ Alle was as he wolde þow wolde(st) R.10.139: Beta reads þow. Ax agrees with alpha.  lorde yworschiped be þow . And alle worth as þow wolt  what -so we despute . ¶ And þo þat vseth þis hauelons  to blende mennes wittes . What is dowel fro dobet  now def mote he worthe . Sitth he wilneth to wite  which þei ben alle bothe . R.10.143: For alpha's alle, beta reads bothe. Ax agrees with alpha. But if he lyue in þe lyue R.10.144: Cf. F's lyȝue (transcribed by Kane-Donaldson as lyȝne); beta reads lyf. þat longeth to dowel . For I dare ben his boruȝh bolde borgh R.10.145: Beta reads bolde borgh here. Ax agrees with beta.  þat dobet wil be nere he neuere . Þow dobest drawe on hym  day after other . ¶ And whanne þat wit was Iwar e  how what R.10.147: Beta reads what. Ax agrees with alpha. dame studie tolde He bycom so confus  he couthe nauȝt loke  And as doumbe as deth  and drowe hym arere . ¶ And for no carpyng e I couth after  ne kneling e to þe grounde . I miȝt gete no greyne  of his grete wittes . But alle lauȝynge he louted  and loked vpon stude . In sygne þat I schulde  be -seche hire of grace . — ¶ And whan I was ware of his wille  to his wif gan I loute . And seyde mercy ma -dame  ȝoure man schal I worthe . As longe as I lyue  bothe late and rathe . And nil R.10.157: Alpha's And is omitted by beta. Ax agrees with beta's wording, but Cx agrees with alpha. forto werche ȝour e wille  þe while my lyf dureth . With þat ȝe kendely [kenne me] kendely kenne me kyndely R.10.158: The omission of verb and object here is unique to R. Cx's wording agrees with the F/beta reading.  to knowe what is dowel . ¶ For þi mekenesse man q uod sche  and for þi milde speche . I schal kenne þe to my cosyn  þat clergise clergye R.10.160: R's clergise is a unique variant; Bx has clergye, and the archetypes of the other two versions show the same reading. is hoten . He hath wedded a wif  withInne þis six monethus . Is sib to þe seuen ars  scripture is hir e name . Þei to as I hope  after my teching e . Schullen wise þe to dowel  I dar wel it R.10.164: R's wel is a unique variant; the other B copies all have it. However, Ax agrees with R. vndertaken . ¶ Þanne was I as fayne  as foule of fair e morwe . And gladder þanne þe gleman  þat golde hath to ȝifte . And hasked hire þe heye wey  where þat clergie dwelte . And telle me so mme tokne q uod I  for tyme Is þat we I R.10.168: R's we is unique; Bx has I. The other two versional archetypes agree with Bx's reading. wende . ¶ Aske þe heye wey q uod sche  hennes to suffre . Both wel and wo  ȝif þat þow wilt lerne . And ride forth bi richesse  ac rest þow nauȝt þer e -Inne . For ȝif þow couplest þe þer e -with  to cherche clergye R.10.172: The correct reading is beta's clergye (as confirmed by an identical b-verse in the other two versions). R's cherche, which makes only superficial sense, may derive from alpha or may be an attempt to emend hopeless corruption; cf. F's reading, c rist . comest þow neu ere . ¶ And also þe likerouse launde  þat lecherie is hote hatte(th) R.10.173: Beta reads hatte in place of alpha's is hote ; Ax confirms beta's reading. . Leue hym on þin left half  a large mile or more . Til þow come to a court  kepe wel þi tonge . R.10.175: Though the next line is marked for a new strophe by the usual cc in the left margin, the scribe forgot to insert his customary blank line to mark this verse paragraph. ¶ Fro lesynges and lither speche  and likerouse drinkes . Þane schaltow se sobrete  and symplete of berynge speche . R.10.177: In place of alpha's berynge, beta reads speche. Ax confirms beta's reading. Þat vch wyȝth ben be in wille  his wit þe to schewe . And þus schalt þow come to clergie  þat can many þinges . Sey hym þis signe  I sette hym to scole . And þat I grette wel his wif  for I wrote hire many bookes . And sette hire to sapience  and to þe sauter glose . Logike I lernede hire  and many other lawes . And alle þe muysones in musike musike I R.10.184: R uniquely omits I before made. made hire to knowe . ¶ Plato þe poete I putte hym furst to booke . Aristotele and other other moo R.10.186: Beta reads other moo. Ax agrees with beta, but Cx agrees with alpha.  to argue I tauȝte . Gramer for girles  I gart furst write . And bet hym with a baleys  but if þei wolde lerne . Of alle kynnes craftes  I contreuede toles . Of carpentrie of kerueres  and co mpasede masones . And lerned hem leuele and lyne  þouȝ I loke dymme . Ac theologye hath tened me  ten score tymes . Þe more I muse þere -inne  þe mystier it semeth . And þe deppere I dyuyne  þe derker e me it þinketh . It is no sciens for -sothe  for to sauȝtele sotyle R.10.195: sauȝtele, "settle." inne . A ful lethi þinge it were  ȝif þat lof nere . Ac for it leet best by loue  I loue it þe bett ere . For þ at þere þere þat R.10.198: R's phrase represents a unique transposition of the Bx form, þere þat. The Bx phrase is rendered identically in Ax. loue is leder e  ne lakkede neuer e g race . Loue Loke R.10.199: Beta reads Loke. The A version has Leue. þow loue lelly  if þow þe thenke lyke(th) R.10.199: For R's þow thenke, beta reads þe lyketh . This lapse in alliteration descended to R from alpha (cf. F's þow þy nke to ) but is paralleled in the A-version. It may have resulted from scribal discomfort with the impersonal construction and inverted word order of Bx: dative pronoun + verb (i.e., þe lyketh ). do wel . For dobet and dobest  ben of loues kynne . ¶ In other science it seyth  I seye it in catou n . Qui similat simulat R.10.202: Alpha's verb form is supported by L, Cr 2-3, and Cot, but most beta manuscripts read simulat. The A version manuscripts are equally divided between these two forms. v erbis vel in R.10.202: In place of R's vel in, beta reads nec, which is also the reading of Ax. corde est fidus amicus . Tu q uo que fac simile  sic ars diluditur arte . Ho -so gloseth as giloures dou n go me to þe same . And so schalstow shaltow fals folke  and faythles bygyle . Þis is catones kennyng  to clerkes þat he lereth . Ac theologie techeth nauȝt so  ho -so taketh gome ȝeme . R.10.207: This unique R reading is a synonym for beta's ȝeme. MED lists it, s. v. gome (n. 4), "Attention, heed, notice;" cf. F's heede. He kenneth vs þe contrarie  aȝeyne catones wordes . For he bit vs be as bretheren  and bidde for oure enemys . And louen hem þat liȝen R.10.210: R uniquely omits on before vs. Ax confirms the reading of the B majority. vs on vs  and lene hem whan he m nedeth . And do goed aȝeynes euel  god hym -self it hoteth . Du m te mpus est habemus R.10.212: For alpha's est, beta reads habemus. op erem ur bonu m bonum ad omnes R.10.212: After bonum, R uniquely omits ad omnes. maxi me aute m ad domesticos fidei . ¶ Poule p reched þe poeple  þat parfitnesse louede . gij To do goed for godesloue godes loue  and gyue men þat asketh . And namelich to suche  þat scheweth sueth R.10.215: Beta reads sueth. oure byleue . ¶ And alle þat lakketh lakketh vs R.10.216: Beta has vs immediately after lakketh. or lyeth vs  our e lorde techeth vs to louye . And nauȝt to greuen hem þat greueth vs  god hym -self for -bad it . Michi vindictam et ego retribuam  For -þi loke þow louie  as longe as þow dureste . For is no science vnder sonne  so sou ereyne for þe soule . ¶ Ac astronomye is hard an harde R.10.221: Beta has an harde, but Ax supports alpha's omission of an. þinge  and euel for to knowe . Geometrie and geomesye  is gynful of speche . Ho -so þenketh werch with þo to  þriueth ful late : For sorcerye is þe sou ereyne boke  þ at to þo þe science R.10.224: R's combination of a plural determiner ( þo) with a singular noun ( science) is unique; some B witnesses read þe science (which is the Ax reading), while others, including WHmF, read þo sciences. It may be that R's þo science represents an unmarked plural rather than the casual error it appears (on a number of occasions, R offers unique, s-less genitive forms for his nouns). longeth . ¶ Ȝeet ar þer e fibiches in forceres  of fele mennes makyng e . Exp erimens of alconomie  þe poeple to deseyue . If þow þenke to dowel  dele þere -with neu ere . Alle þis sciences I my -selue  soteyled and ordeyned . And by -fond founded R.10.229: Cf. F's fond and beta's founded. Ax agrees with beta. hem formest  folke to deseyue . ¶ Telle clergie þise toknes  and to nil R.10.230: Beta omits alpha's to. scripture after . To conseile þe kendely  for nil to knowe dowel knowe what is dowel . R.10.231: Beta reads this b-verse as to knowe what is dowel . ¶ I seyde g raunt m ercy madame  and mekelich hir e grette . And went miȝteliche wiȝtlich my wey awey R.10.233: Beta reads wiȝtlich awey ; F omits the entire line. The Ax version seems a mixture of alpha and beta: wiȝtly my wey.  with -oute more lettyng e . And R.10.234: R uniquely omits til before I. I til I come to clergie  I couthe neu ere stynte . I And grette þe gode man  as þe gode wif studye R.10.235: R's rendering of this line is unique among the B manuscripts but is identical to the phrasing in Ax. For R's I, F and beta have And; for R's phrase, þe gode wif , beta has Studie) while F reads þe Ientil lady . Neither F nor beta alliterates properly. me tauȝte . And after -wardes þe wif  and worchiped hem bothe . And tolde hem þe R.10.237: It appears that the tail of <e> in þe was written over an erasure, perhaps of an intrusive descender from the <þ> of þe in the line above. tokenes  þat me tauȝte were . Was neu er gome vpou n þis grou nde  synnes R.10.238: R's synnes is unique (cf. R20.295 = synnes ȝe desiren) but semantically equivalent to the majority B reading, sith; MED, s. v. sinnes, cites this form from R as a rare contracted example of the conjunction sitthenes. god made þe worlde . Fairer vnderfonge  ne frendloker at ese . Þanne me -self myself sothliche  sone so he wiste . Þat I was of wittes hows  and with his wif dame studie . I seyde to hem sothly  þat sent I was was I R.10.242: Cf. F's y was sent and beta's sent was I . þider . Dowel and dobet  and dobest to lerne . ¶ It is a comune lif q uod clergie  on holy cherche to byleue . With alle þe articles of þe feith  þat falleth to be knowe . And þat is to byleue lelly  bothe lered and lewede . On þe grete god  þat gynnyng e hadde neu ere . And on þe sothfast sone  þat saued man -kende . Fro þe dedly deth  and þe deueles power . Þoruȝ þe helpe of þe holy goste  þe which goste is of bothe . Thre p ropre nil R.10.251: R's propre is unique, having been omitted by both beta and F. Nevertheless, it is clear that the alliterative pattern of the line requires it. In all likelihood, it was found in alpha and Bx. The apparently odd coincidence of the word's having been separately omitted by beta and F is probably explainable in terms of how it would have been abbreviated. It would have occurred in a phrase which, at a glance, looked like this: þre ppre psones . If the required loop from the descender of the initial was missing or unobtrusive, a copyist might easily mistake the word for an errant attempt (uncancelled) at writing the following word (especially if the final <re> was rendered merely as a superscript loop). Or ppre might have been misconstrued as an unerased dittography of the preceding word, þre. p ersones  and nauȝt in plurel e noumbre . For alle is but on god  and eche is god hym -selue . Deus pater deus filius  deus sp iritus s anc tus . God þe fader god þe sone  god holy gost of bothe . Makere of mankende  and of bestes bothe . ¶ Austyne þe olde  here -of he nil R.10.256: Though the other beta copies omit he, L joins RF in attesting this variant. At first glance, it appears that the C reading for this phrase, which agrees with the beta majority, might undercut the authenticity of the LRF reading here; however, in fact C has expanded this whole passage and reproduces verbatim the LRF b-verse, with he, some six lines below its original position. made bokes . And hym -self ordeyned  to sadde vs in bileue . Ho R.10.258: Ho, "who." was his autour  alle þe foure eu aungelistes . And crist cleped hym -self so  þe eu aungeliez ewangelistes R.10.259: Beta's reading is ewangeliste(s); F has wangelye. bereth witnesse . Ego in patre et pater in me me est R.10.260: After me, beta adds est. The X family of C manuscripts agrees with beta in this addition, but the P family agrees with alpha.  et qui me vidit videt me . p atrem M evm v idit &c etera . et patrem meum R.10.260: R's two uses of vidit are unique in the B tradition; F and beta read videt. However, a majority of C manuscripts (including copies from both major families) agrees with R's verb form. With regard to alpha's version of the end of this citation, beta's rendering involves phrasal transposition: & qui videt me videt et patrem meum . R.10.260: The &c . has been rubbed or obscured by a stain, so that the final punctus is now barely detectable. ¶ Alle þe clerkes vnder criste  ne coude þis assoile . But þus it longeth bilongeth to bileue  to lewede þat willen dowel . For hadde neu ere freke fyne wit  þe feyth to despute . Ne man hadde no m ercy merite R.10.264: Beta reads merite in place of alpha's mercy. The Latin citation following this line confirms the correctness of beta's variant, as does its agreement with the reading of Cx.  myȝtte it be p roued yproued . Fides non habet m eritu m  vbi humana rac io . &c etera racio prebet experimentum . R.10.265: Among the B witnesses, R uniquely omits the final words of this citation: prebet experimentum. The evidence for Cx is mixed, but a majority of C manuscripts, primarily those from the X family, agrees with R's omission of these words. ¶ Þanne is do -bet to suffre  for þi soule soules R.10.266: Though CB support alpha's uninflected possessive, beta reads soules. helthe . Alle þat þe boke bitt  by holy cherche techyng e . And þat is man bi þi myȝt  for m ercyes sake . Loke þow werche it in werke  þat þis þi R.10.269: Beta reads þi; F has þe. worde scheweth . Suche as þow semest in siȝte  be in assay I -founde . Appare quod es aut vel R.10.271: Beta has vel. esto quod appares . And late no -body be  by þi beryng e be beryng R.10.272: This redundancy is owed to alpha (cf. F's berynge here be ); correcting it would have required only common sense and minimal attention from R's scribe; it is shared by Hm through convergence. bygiled . But be suche in þi sole  as þow semest withouten . ¶ Þanne is dobest to be bolde  to blame þe gulty . Sethenes þow sest þi -selue  as in soule clene . Ac blame þow neu er body  and þow be blame -worthi . Si culpar e velis  culpabilis e sse cauebis . — g iij Dogma tuu m sordet cu m te tua culpa remordet God in þe gospel  griml.yche rep reueth . Alle þat lakketh eny lif  and lakkes han hem -selue . Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui t rabe m i n oculo tuo no n vid es &c . R.10.281: Beta omits non vides. Whi meues þow þi mode for a mote  in þi brother brotheres R.10.282: Beta reads brotheres. eyȝe . Siþþe a bem in þin owen  a -blendeth þi -selue . Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo . &c etera . Witt Whiche R.10.285: This reading is unique to R; beta reads Whiche while F has Þe wiche letteth þe to loke  lasse other more . ¶ I rede ech ablynde a blynde bosard  do bote to hym -selue . For abbotes and for prioures  and for alle maner p relates . As p ersones and parisch p restes  þat p reche schulle shulde(n) R.10.288: Both beta and F read shulde. and teche . Alle man er men  to amende be hir e miȝte . Þis tixt was I -told tolde ȝow  to ben war ar ȝe tauȝte . Þat ȝe wer e suche as ȝe seyde  to salue with other e . For godes worde wolde nouȝte be boste [l]oste loste  for þat worcheth eu ere . If it auailed nauȝt þe comune  it miȝt auaile ȝour e -seluen . ¶ Ac it semeth no now R.10.294: This obvious error ( no for now) stems from alpha (cf. F's not). R's failure to correct it probably attests to misplaced reverence for his exemplar. sothliche  to R.10.294: Though Cr agrees with R's omission here, the beta sub-archetype and F show þe before worldes. worldes siȝte . Þat goddes wordes worde R.10.295: Beta has worde, while F garbles the entire half-line and omits any reading at this point. worcheth nauȝth  on lered ne on lewed . But in swich a maner as mark  meneth in þe gospell e . Du m secus [c]ecus ducit secu m [c]ecu m cecus ducit cecum R.10.297: This slip ( secus for cecus / caecus) cannot be owed to the scribe's own pronunciation of Latin (in which the voiceless velar plosive /k/ of classical phonology would have been rendered, as was conventional in ecclesiastical Latin, as the voiceless palato-alveolar affricate /č/). Instead, this mental lapse reveals momentary confusion with English phonology, where initial <c> often represented the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/. No other B copyist makes this mistake.  ambo in fouiam cadunt . ¶ Lewed men may likne ȝow þus  þ at þe bem lyth in ȝour e eyȝes . And þe festu is fallen  for ȝour e defaute . In alle man er men  þoruȝ mansede p restes . Þe bible bereth witnesse  þat alle þe folke of israel . Bytt ere abouȝte þe gultes  of to badde prestes . Offyn and fynes  for her e coueytise . Archa dei meskapud myshapped R.10.304: This is either a mistake or an extremely rare form. MED, s. v. miskepen, lists no occurrences for the inflected form nor for the base. OED2, s. v. miscape, lists R's use of the term as the only known occurrence of meskapud. It is classified as a past tense form of miscape, an intransitive verb meaning "To have a mishap, come to grief." A citation from 1477 in a treatise on alchemy is the only other known use of the verb as an intransitive. One transitive use from 1535 is cited.  and ely brak his ne..kke . heare I beganne ¶ For -þi ȝe corectoures claweth here -on  and corecteth furst ȝow -selue n . And þan ne mow ȝe ma nliche saufly R.10.306: Beta reads saufly while F has soþly, but neither word alliterates properly; R's manliche appears to be authorial. segge  as dauid made þe sauter . Existimasti iniq ue q uod ero tui si milis  argua m te & statua m co nt ra fac iem t uam . ¶ And þanne schulle n burel clerkes  be abasched to blame ȝow ȝow or to greue . R.10.308: At the end of this line, beta adds or to greue . And carpe n nauȝt as þei carpe n now  and calle ȝow dow mbe houndes . Canes no n valentes latrare  And drede to wrathe ȝow in eny worde  ȝour e werkmanschip e to lette . And be p resteore at ȝour e preyeres prayere R.10.312: R's plural is unique; Bx witnesses the singular prayere.  þan for a pounde of nobles . And alle for ȝour e holynesse  haue ȝe þis in herte . ¶ Amonges riȝtful religiouse  þis reule schulde be holde . These lines are not attested in beta. F's version is sufficiently different from R's to require full reproduction here (cf. Appendix 1, R10.314-26, for details and any cross-references to the C version): A-mongis ryghtful relygous / þis rewle sholde be holde. [¶] Seynt Gregory þe grete clerk / & þe goode pope. Of Relygyonys rewle / he reersiþ in hise bookis. & seyþ in exsomple / þat þeyhȝ sholde do þere-after. ¶ Whan fysshis faile þe flood / & þe fressh water. Þey dyȝen for drowhte / whan þei dreyȝe lyȝe. Ryght so quod Gregory / religioun trollyþ. It steruyþ & stynkþ / & stelyþ lordis almesse Þat owt of Couent & cloistre / coueytyn to lybbe. For if hevene be in erthe / & ese to þe soule. It ys in cloystre / or in skole / be fele skylys y fyȝnde. For in Cloistre comeþ no man / to fyȝhte / ne to chyȝde. But al is buxumnesse & bookis / to rede & to leerne . Gregorie Seynt Gregory þe grete clerke  and þe goed pope . Of religioun þe reule Relygyonys rewle he  reherseth in his morales bookis . And seyth it nil in ensaumple  for þat þei schulde do þer e -after . Whenne fissches failen þe flode  or & þe fresche water . Þei deyen for drouthe  whanne þei drie ligge . Riȝt so q uod Grigori  religioun rolleth trollyþ . — Sterueth It steruyþ and stynketh  and steleth lordes almesses . Þat oute of couent and cloystr e  coueyten to libbe . For if heuene be on þis in erthe  and ese to any þe soule . It is in cloister e or in scole  be many fele skilles I fynde For in cloistr e cometh man cometh [no] man comeþ no man  to chide fyȝhte ne to fiȝte chyȝde . But alle is buxu mnesse þer e nil and bokes  to rede and to lerne . ¶ In scole þer e is skile  and nil scorne but ȝif he a clerke wil lerne . R.10.327: Alpha and beta apparently diverged considerably here (the latter omitting skile and from mid-verse and expanding he to a clerke wil); R presumably reflects alpha's reading, while F somewhat distorts it. Kane-Donaldson choose to print the beta version of the line ( In scole þere is scorne but if a clerke wil lerne ), while Schmidt endorses R's reading, which has the merit of alliterating properly. And grete loue and likyng e  for vch of hem loueth other . Ac now is religioun a rider e  a romer e by stretes . A ledere of louedays  and R.10.330: The omission of the indefinite article is unique to R. Cf. the Bx phrase, a londebugger . The same phrase occurs in Ax, where it also includes the indefinite article. londe a londe bugger e . A priker e on a palfray  fram maner to maner . An hepe of houndes at his ers  as he a lorde wer e . And but if his knaue knele  þat schal his cupp e bringe . He loureth on hym and axeth hym  ho tauȝte hym curteisie Litel hadden lordes to done  to ȝiue lond fram her e heires . To religiouse þ at han no reuthe  þouȝ it reyne on her e aut erres . ¶ In many places þer e hij p ersones ben  be hem -self at ese . Of þe pouer e haue þei no pite  & þ at is hir e pur e nil R.10.338: Beta breaks the alliterative pattern by omitting pure. Cx confirms alpha's variant here. charite . Ac þei leten hem as lordes  her e londe lith so brode . ¶ Ac þer e schal come a kynge  & co nfesse ȝow religiousses . And bete ȝow as þe bible telleth  for brekyng of ȝoure reule . giiij us And amende moniales  monkes and chanou ns . And putten hem to her e penau nce  ad p ristinu m statu m ire . And barones with erles  biten bete(n) R.10.344: R's form is unique; Bx has beten. hem  þoruȝ beat us vir res teching e . Þat her e barnes claymen  and blame ȝow foule . Hij in currib us et hij in equis R.10.346: A stain has partly obscured the <equ> of equis.  ip si obligati sunt &c etera . ¶ And þanne freres in here freyt ure  schal fynden a keye . Of costantynes cofferes  in which is þe catel . Þat gregories gode god R.10.349: Most B manuscripts read godchildren instead of the erroneous good(e) children of FHmG. R's gode childerne almost certainly intends the former, not the latter (cf. MED, s. v. god, [n. 1]). childerne  han euel despended . ¶ And þanne schal þe abbot of abyndou n . R's line division here, splitting the two halves of a single archetypal verse, is unique. And alle his vssue for euer e . Haue a knok of a kynge  and incurable þe wou nde . ¶ Þat þis worth soth seke ȝee  þat ofte ou er -seen þe bible . Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributu m . Contriuit domin us baculu m impior um & virgam d ominanciu m . Cedenciu m plaga insabili insa[ na]bili insanabili . ¶ Ac ar þat kyng e come  caym schal awake . Ac dowel schal dyngen hym adou n  & destruyen his miȝte . Þanne is dowel and dobet q uod I  d omin us and kniȝt -hod e . ¶ I nel nauȝt scorne q uod scriptur e  but if scriueynes lye . Kynghod ne kniȝthod e  by nauȝt I can awayte . Helpeth nauȝte to heuene -warde  on heres ende . Ne richesse riȝt nauȝt  ne realte of lordes . ¶ Poule p reueth it inpossible  riche men haue heuene . Salomon seyth al -so  þat silu er is worste to louie . Nichil iniqui us q uam amar e pecuniam . And catou n kenneth vs to coueyten it  noȝt but at pur e nede as nede techeth . R.10.367: R's wording is unique. Beta manuscripts show various versions of this line's last phrase, but beta itself probably read as nede techeth. F has in gret nede. Dilige denariu m  s ed parce dilige formam . And pat riarches and p rophetes  and poetes bothe . Writen to wissen vs  to wilne no richesse . And p reyseden pou erte with pacience  þe apostles bereth witnesse . Þat þei han heritage in heuene  & bi trewe riȝte . Þer e riche man men R.10.373: Beta reads men. no riȝte may clayme  but of ~~riȝt~~ reuth and grace . ¶ Cont ra q uod I be crist  þat can I rep reue . And preuen it by peter  and by poule bothe . Þat is baptized beth sauf  be he R.10.376: A brown stain has rendered he almost illegible. It is the same stain responsible for discoloration on fol. 44v at R10.346. riche or pore . ¶ Þat is in extremis q uod sc riptur e  amonges sarasines & Iewes . Þei mowen be saued so  and þat is our e byleue . Þat on an R.10.379: F has a while beta reads an. vnc ristene in þat cas  may cristene an hethen . And for his lele byleue  whan he þe lif tyneth . Haue þe heritage of heuene  as any man cristene . ¶ Ac cristen men with -outen more  may nouȝte come to heuene . For þat crist for cristene men deyede  & co nfermed þe lawe . Þat ho -so walde and wilneth  with crist to arise . Si cu m christo surrexistis &c etera . He schulde louye and lene  and þe lawe fulfille . Þat is loue god þi lorde þi lorde god  leuest aboue alle . R.10.387: F omits this line completely; beta reads Þat is loue þi lorde god leuest aboue alle. And after alle cristene creatures  i n comun vch ma n other And þus bilongeth to louie  þat leueth to be saued . And but we do þus in dede  ar þe day of dome . It schal be -sitten vs ful sour e  þe silu er þat we kepen . And our e backes þat mote -eten R.10.392: The correct reading is moth- eten. R's apparently nonsensical phrase (cf. F = mote be bety n ) attests to the spelling practice of alpha, who frequently renders /θ/ as <t>, especially in syllable-final position. MED, s. v. motthe, lists no examples of mote as a variant spelling of motthe, and OED2, s. v. moth, notes none earlier than 1520. However, among recorded late-medieval forms, the closest is moȝte, which makes alpha's form easy to account for. ben  & seen beggeres go naked . Or deliȝt in wyn & in nil R.10.393: R's in here is a unique addition to the text of Bx. wildefoule  & wote any in defaute . ¶ For eu ery cristene creatur e  schuld be kende til other . And sitthen hethen to helpe  in hope of amendement God hoteth both heye and lowe  þat no man hurt other And seith sle nauȝt þ at semblable is  to myn owne liknesse But if I sende þe sume tokene  & seith no n mecaberis . Is sle nauȝt but suffre  and alle for þe beste . For Michi vindicta m & ego retribuam . R.10.400: Beta omits this biblical citation completely. Nevertheless, its genuineness is warranted by its presence at the same point in Ax. For I schal punischen R.10.401: R's punischen is the alpha reading; beta reads punysshen hem. Ax agrees with alpha. in hem in purgatorie  or i n þe put of hell e . Vch man for his misdedes  but mercy it lette . ¶ Þis is a longe lessou n q uod I  and litel am I þe wiser . Wher e dowel is or do -bet  derkliche ȝe schewen . Many tales ȝe tellen  þat teologie lerneth . And þat I man made was  and my name I -entred e . In þe legentde of lif  longe er I wer e . Or elles vn -writen for sum wikkednesse . as holy writ telleth wytnesseth R.10.408: In place of alpha's telleth, beta's variant is wytnesseth. Cx has sheweth, while the b-verse in the A cognate of this line has a different word order but uses the same verb as beta. . Nemo ascendit ad celu m nisi qui de celo descendit . ¶ And nil I R.10.410: Beta omits And; F substitutes For. However, Ax affirms the presence of R's And at the head of the line (the two C families disagree on this issue, the P group agreeing with the beta omission while the X set supports R). leue it wel wel quod I R.10.410: After wel beta adds quod I, but Ax and Cx both support RF on the omission of quod I. be our e lorde  & on no lett erur e bett ere . For salomon þe sage  þat sapience tauȝte . God gaf hym grace of witt  and alle alle his godes R.10.412: In place of R's alle godes, beta's variant is alle his godes. F reads of alle goodis. Cx has of goed. after . To reule þe reume and riche to make  R.10.413: Beta omits this line completely. F reads the line thus: To rewle his rewme wel / & hym ryche make . He demed wel and wiselich  as holy writt telleth . Aristotel and he  who wissed men bett ere . Maistres þat of goddes mercy  techen men and p rechen . Of her e wordes þei wissen vs  for wisest in as in R.10.417: Beta reads as before in. Cx agrees with alpha in omitting as. her e tyme . And alle holy cherche  holdeth hem bothe ydampned . ¶ And if I schulde werke by her e werkes  to wynne n me heuene . Þat for here werkes and her e nil R.10.420: Beta omits here. Cx agrees with beta in this omission. In a line whose first half parallels this B / C passage (but whose b-verse differs), the A witnesses are divided on the presence of here (2) — a majority agreeing with alpha and a minority agreeing with beta. witt  now wonyeth in pyne . Þanne wrouȝt I vnwisly  what -so -eu ere ȝe p reche . ¶ Ac of fele witty in fayth  litel ferly I haue . Þow her e goste be vngracious  god for to plese . For many man men on þis molde  more sett her e herte hertis . R.10.424: Beta renders plurals in this line: men instead of alpha's man and hertis instead of herte. Cx agrees with beta on men but with alpha on herte. In goed þan In god  for -þi hem g race faileth . At her e most meschief  whan þei schul lyf lete . As salomon and other dede dede and such other R.10.427: Instead of alpha's non-alliterating and other dede, beta more plausibly reads dede and such other.  þat schewed grete wittes . Ac her e werkes as holy writt writt [seith] wrytte seyth R.10.428: Here R uniquely omits an essential verb.  was eu ere þe contrarie . For -þi wise witted men  ne and R.10.429: R's ne is unique; Bx has and. wel I -lettred clerkes . As þei seyn hem -selue  selden dou n þer e -after . Sup er cathedram moysi . &c etera . R.10.431: Here the scribe again overlooks his usual insertion of a blank line to mark a new paragraph. ¶ Ac I wene I I[t] it worth of many  as was in noes tyme . Þo he schope þat schippe  of schides and of nil bordes R.10.433: Though the CrW branch of beta agrees with alpha on the final b-verse phrase ( and of bordes), it seems likely that beta itself read as LMOHmG ( and bordes). This difference extends into C, where the predominant X-family reading agrees with LMOHmG (i.e., beta) while the majority P-family reading supports RFCrW (i.e., alpha). Was neu ere wriȝt saued þat wrouȝt þer e -on  ne oþer e werkma n elles But brides and bestes  and þe blessed noe . And his wif with his sones  and also her e wyues . Of wriȝtes þat it wouȝte w[r]ouȝte wrouȝte  was noen of hem saued . ¶ God lene it fare nouȝt so by folke  þat þe feith techen . Of holy cherche þat herborw is  and goddes hous to saue And schilde vs fram schame þer e -inne  as noes schip e dede bestes . And men þat maden it  a -mydde þe floed a -dreynten . ¶ Þe culor um of þis clause  in nil curatoures R.10.442: R's in is a unique addition to the presumptive archetypal text. F adds of. Beta agrees with Cx in omitting both of these prepositions. is to mene . Þat ben carpenteres  holy cherche to make . for c ristes oune bestes . Homines et iumenta saluabis d omine . &c etera At domes -day þe deluye flood worth  of deth water and feer at ones . These three lines are not found in beta. In F, they read as follows: At domes-day / þe flood worþ / of watur & feer at onys . ¶ For-þy y conseyle ȝou klerkis / of holy chirche wryghtis. Werke ȝee / as ȝee seen wrete / o lest ȝe worþ y-drenklid . For -þi I conseil ȝow clerkes  of holy cherche þe nil wriȝtes . Wercheth ȝe werkes nil as ȝe seen I -write wrete o  lest ȝe worth nauȝt þ erinne ydrenklid ¶ For a On R.10.448: R's For a is unique; F has For on while beta simply begins the line On; R's a is, however, semantically identical to the F/beta preposition, on. Moreover, both Ax and Cx agree with R on this form, opening the line with the phrase, A Good Friday. goed friday I fynde  a feloun was I -saued . Þat hadde I -lyued alle his lif  with lesynges and with þefte . And for he beknewe on þe crosse  and to crist schrof hym . He was sonn ere I -saued  þan seint Ioh an þe baptist . And ar adam or Isaye  or eny of þe p rophetes . Þat hadde I -lyen with lucifer  many longe ȝeres . ¶ A robber e was I -rawnsoned  rather þen þei alle . With -outen eny penance of p urgatorie  to p erpetuel blisse . ¶ Þanne marie maudeleyne  what womman dedde worse Or ho worse dede nil R.10.457: Beta omits dede (while F omits ho worse ) , but Ax confirms R's inclusion of dede. þan dauid  þat vries deth conspired . Or poule þe apostle  þat no pite hadde . R.10.458: Alpha omits the following line found in beta (and in slightly different form in the A version): Moche crystene kynde to kylle to deth. And R.10.459: L joins R in omitting now before ben, but F and most beta manuscripts attest its presence. ben this as sou ereynes  with seyntes in heuene . Þo þat wrouȝt wikkedlokest  in werlde þo þei wer e . ¶ And þo þat wisly wordedden  and writen many bokes . Of witt and of wisdome  with dampned soules wonye . Þat salomon seith I trowe be soth  and c erteyn of vs all e . Su nt Sine / Siue iusti atq ue sapientes  & op era eor um in manu dei su nt . Þer e aren witty and wel libbing e  ac her e werkes ben y -hudde . In þe hondes of almiȝti god  and he wote þe sothe Wher e for loue a man worth alowed þ ere  and his lele werkes Or elles for his euel wille  and enuye of herte . And be alowed for as R.10.469: Beta reads as. F completely rephrases the half-line. he lyued so  for by lyther . me n knoweth þe gode . ¶ And wher e -by wote R.10.470: There is considerable variation on this reading among beta manuscripts, but beta itself seems to have read either wiste (the lection of CrW) or wote (the reading of LR, and probably of M before it was changed by erasure and overwriting to conform to CrW). men  which is whit  if alle þinge blak wer e . Or And R.10.471: Beta reads And; F has For. who were a goed man  but if þer e were sum schrewe . For -þi lyue we forth with lither men  I leue fewe ben gode . For quantz qant oportet vyn vyent en place  il ny ad qe que R.10.473: Qe is an Anglo-Norman form. pati . And he þat may alle amende  haue m ercy on vs alle . For sothest worde þat eu er god seyde  was þo he seyde nemo bon us . ¶ Clergie þo of cristes mouthe  comended was it litel . For he seyde to seynt peter e  and to swich as he louede . Du m steteritis ante reges & p resides . &c etera . Þouȝ ȝe come by -for kynges  and clerkes of þe lawe . Beth nauȝt abasched for I schal  be in ȝour e mouthes . And ȝiue ȝow wit at and R.10.481: Most beta copies read and, but L agrees with alpha's at. will e  R.10.481: R uniquely omits and before cunnynge. However, neither reading allows the b-verse to alliterate. cunnyng e and kunnynge to concluden . Hem alle þat aȝeynes ȝow  R.10.482: R uniquely omits of before cristendom. F also omits of, but does so in the context of a uniquely phrased b-verse with no reference to cristendom. cristendom of crystenedome desputen . ¶ Dauid maketh mencion  he spak amonges kynges . Al And R.10.484: Beta reads And; F has Þere. Cx agrees with beta. miȝte no kyng e ou er -com hym  as by cu nnyng e of speche . But wit ne wisdom  wan neu ere þe maystrie . Whan man was at mischief  with -oute þe more grace . ¶ Þe douȝtiorokest doughtiest R.10.487: A unique form in R; it is impossible to know whether this represents unintentional morphological error or simply deliberate idiolect, a compounding, for emphasis, of the comparative with the superlative inflection. doctour e  and dyuino ur of þe t rinite . In the left margin opposite these lines, there is the residue of a series of brown inkstains—offset from the marginal comment in the right margin of fol. 47r. Was austyn þe olde  and heyest of hem þe R.10.488: R's hem is unique; both Ax and Bx have þe at this point. four e . Seyde þus in a sarmon  I seiȝ it writen ones . Ecci Ecc[e] Ecce ip si Idioti rapiunt celum . Vbi no s sapientes in inferno m ergim ur . And is to mene to englisch men  more no R.10.492: Only Hm agrees with R; both beta and F read ne. Ax confirms the correctness of the majority reading. lesse . Aren none rather I -rauesched  fro þe riȝt byleue . Þan aren þis cu nnyng e clerkes  þat knowe conne(n) R.10.494: R's knowe is the alpha variant; both Ax and beta have conne. many bokes . Ne none sonner I -saued saued  ne sadder e of bileue . Þanne plowmen and pastours  and pouer pore comune laborers . Souteres and schepherdes  suche lewed iottes . Persen with a pater n oster  þe paleys of heuene . And passen purgatorie penau nceles  at her e hennes partyng e . In -to þe blisse of paradis  for her e puyr e bileue . Þat inp arfitly  knewe here knewe R.10.501: Here R uniquely omits here before knewe; F rewrites the line, but here appears in its a-verse. and and eke R.10.501: Beta adds eke before lyued. lyuede . ¶ Ȝe men knowe clerkes clerkes þat  R.10.502: Before cursen, R uniquely omits þat. The omission of this relative pronoun at the head of the b-verse makes the entire statement ambiguous. Beta reads the b-verse thus: þat han cursed þe tyme. F has þat þey haue cursed þe tyme. cursen cursed þe tyme . Þat eu ere þei coude or knewe more  þan credo in deu m p atrem . And principali þe her R.10.504: Beta reads her. pat ern oster  many a p ersone hath I -wisched wisshed . ¶ I se ensaumples my -self  and so may many an -other other . Þat s eruauntes þat s eruen lordes  selde falle in rerage arrerage R.10.506: R's rerage is a unique form; F reads reragys. Beta has arrerage, which is supported by Cx in a revised version of the same line. . But þo þat kepen lordes þe lordes R.10.507: Beta has þe before lordes. catel  clerkes and reues . Riȝt so lewed men  and of litel kunnyng e knowyng . Selden falleth so þei so foule  and so ferre in synne . As clerkes of holy cherche  þat kepen cristes tresor . R.10.510: From this point in the right margin, extending down to R11.10 ( Sitthen sche seide to me) on this same page, there is an erased note, horizontally written, approximately seven lines long. Þe which is mannes soule to saue  as god seith in þe gospel . david Ite vos in vineam meam . &c etera . p re sens dauid x Passus x us x[j] us decim us [un]decim us de vis ione vt sup ra — — — R.11.0: Above the passus heading, a later reader has inscribed david. Below the passus heading, the same reader has inscribed p (re)sens david . R.11.0: In the extreme right margin, on the same line as the passus heading, there are traces of the rubricator's guide, but nothing is discernible except an x. Þ anne R.11.1: It appears that the blue initial <Þ> originally had a drawing within it (as with the Passus 10 initial), but it was partially erased long ago. sc riptur e scorned me  and a skile tolde . And lakked me a in latyn R.11.2: Beta agrees with the P family of C manuscripts in reading this phrase as in latyne; Russell-Kane opt for that reading as representing Cx as well, but the X family of C manuscripts clearly agrees with R, and probably alpha (F reads this line eccentrically), in rendering it a latyn. There is, of course, no semantic difference between these two phrases.  & liȝt by me he she R.11.2: He, "she." sette . In the right margin, in black ink, there is an early ownership stamp for the Bodleian Library. And seyde multi multa sciunt  & se ip sos nesc iunt . p re sens p ri me ¶ Þo wepte I for sorwe wo R.11.4: Cf. alpha's sorwe to beta's properly alliterating wo. Cx agrees here with beta.  and wrath of hir e speche . your for me elin Bower Rondull wylly And in a wynkyng e wrath R.11.5: This word amounts to an inappropriate and virtually meaningless repetition of the same term from the previous line, but it is witnessed by the beta manuscripts as well as R (F offers six inauthentic lines); indeed the entire line appears to have been corrupt in Bx. Kane and Donaldson conjecture a sort of metathesis distorting original worþ; Schmidt concurs.  til I was wex I R.11.5: R's til I was is unique. Beta reads wex I. a -slepe  A m erueylous metles  me tydde to dreme mette me þanne . R.11.6: The b-verse is from alpha and is clearly inferior, in its redundancy, to beta's mette me þanne. For Þat R.11.7: Beta reads Þat, but Cx clearly agrees with alpha's For. I was rauesched riȝt þer e  for and R.11.7: Both beta and F read and where R has for. The reading of Cx is uncertain: the P family omits all conjunctions, while the X family agrees with R. fortune me fette . And in -to þe lond of longyng e  & loue allone R.11.8: Both beta and F read allone in place of R's & loue. It appears that a majority of the X family of the C version supports this F/beta variant, but the P family and two X-family copies (YcUc) agree with R's harder reading. sche me brouȝte . And i n a merour e þ at hiȝt myddelerd  sche made me to beholde . Sitthen sche seide to me  her e miȝtow se wondres . R.11.10: Extending from R10.510 to this line in the right margin is an erased note, horizontally written, approximately seven lines long. And knowe þ at þow coueytest  & come þ er -to par -aunter . ¶ Þanne hadde fortune folwyng e hir e  to fair e damoysoyles . Concupisce ncia carnis  men called þe elder mayde . And coueytise of eyȝes  Icalled was þat other . Pruyde of parfit lyuynge  pursued hem bothe . And bad me for my contenance  acounte clergie liȝte . ¶ Concupiscencia carnis  colled me a -boute þe nekke . And seyde þow art ȝonge and ȝeep e  & hast ȝeres I -nowe . For to lyue longe  and ladyes to louie . And þis And [in] þis And in þis myrour þow miȝt se  murthes ful many . Þat leden þe wel wil to likyng e  alle þi Iif -tyme . Þe secounde seyde þe same  I schal sewe þi wille . Til þow be a lorde and haue londe  lete þe I nelle . Þat I ne schal folewe þi felaschip e  if fortune it like . He schal fynde me his frende  q uod fortune þ ere -after . Þe freke þat folweth my wille  failed neu ere blisse . ¶ Þanne was þer e on þ at hiȝt elde  þ at heuy was of cher e . Man q uod he if I mete with þe  by marie of heuene . Þow schalt fynde fortune  þe faile at þi moste nede . And co ncupiscencia carnis  clene þe forsake . Bitt erlich schaltow banne þanne  both dayes and niȝtes . Coueitise of eye  þat eu ere þow hir e knewe . And pruyde of þi nil R.11.33: R's þi is a unique addition to the text of Bx. This addition is also unwitnessed in any C copy. parfit lyuynge  to muche peril þe brynge . ¶ Ȝee recche þe neu ere q uod recchelesnesse  stod forth in ragged cloþes . Folewe forth þat fortune wole  þow hast wel fer to elde . A man may stoupe tymes I -now  whan he schal tyne þe croune . ¶ Homo p roponit q uod a poete þo nil R.11.37: Alpha's þo is omitted by beta but supported by Cx.  and plato he hiȝte . And deus disponit q uod he  lat god do his wille . If treuth wil witnesse it be wel do  fortune to folwe . Concupiscencia carnis  ne coueytise of eyes . Ne schal nouȝte greue þe graythly gretly R.11.41: Beta reads gretly, a more obvious reading, but one which is also the reading of Cx.  ne begile þe but þow wolt . ¶ Ȝee farewel fipp q uod fauntelte  and forth gan me drawe . Til concupiscencia carnis  acorded til nil R.11.43: R's second til is a unique addition to the text witnessed by F and beta. However, Cx agrees with R on this variant's presence. alle my werkes . ¶ Allas eyȝe q uod elde  and holynesse bothe . Þat wit schal turne to wrecchednesse  for wille to haue his likyng e . R.11.45: The <y> of likynge appears to have been subpuncted by two red dots but no correction has been made. In reality, the "subpuncting" is probably accidental offset from the red boxing on the facing page at 11.80. R.11.45: Hereafter alpha omits four lines present in the beta manuscripts (KD11.46-49): Coueityse of eyghes conforted me anon after And folwed me fourty wynter and a fyfte more Þat of dowel ne dobet no deyntee me ne þouȝte I had no lykynge leue me if þe leste of hem auȝte to knowe . F then omits the next two lines of Bx as well. The obvious cause of alpha's four-line omission was eyeskip, since KD11.46 begins with the same phrase as KD11.50: Coueytyse of eyes . ¶ Coueytise of eyȝes  cam ofter in my mende . Þanne dowel or do -bet  amonges my dedes alle . Coueytise of eyȝes  conforted me ofte . And seyde haue no consience  how þow come to goed . Go co nfesse þe to su m frere  and schewe hym þi synnes . For whiles fortune is þi frende  su m frer e Freres R.11.51: R's sum frere is unique; Bx reads Freres, as does Cx. These lines present a very good illustration of a difficulty sometimes encountered in R: it is nearly impossible here and in some other instances to distinguish later readers' underlinings from the residue of the original ruling for text. wil þe louie . And fette fecche R.11.52: Cf. F's sette and beta's fecche. R's verb is almost certainly that of alpha (a closely related synonym of beta's variant), a form misread by F on account of <f> being mistaken for tall <s>. þe to her e frat ernite  and for þe by -seche . To her e priour e p rouincial  a pardou n for to haue . And preyen for þe pol by pol  if þow be pecunious . R.11.54: Though the B group agrees with alpha's pecunious, beta presumably had peccuniosus. Some C manuscripts agree with beta. However, four of the X family copies of the C version (P 2KUcDc) agree with the P family in supporting alpha's anglicized form (both OED2 and MED, both s. v. pecunious, agree in citing this line from Langland as the earliest occurrence of pecunious in English. Pena Set pena pecularia pecuniaria R.11.55: R's pecularia is unique error. The other witnesses (both B and C) have pecuniaria. no n sufficit  p ro sp iritual ibus delict is. ¶ By wissyng e of þis wenche I dede wrouȝte R.11.56: R's dede is unique among the B manuscripts; most of the others read some form of wrouȝte, while F, which rewrites the a-verse, attests wrowhte. However, Cx agrees with R's reading.  hir e wordes wer e so swete . Til I forȝat ȝouthe  and ran R.11.57: Beta shows ȝarn, while F has ȝeede. Only Hm agrees with R's reading. Among the C witnesses, there are various lections attested here, including a mixed group of six that agrees with R; however, it seems clear that Cx probably read yorn. into elde . And þan was fortune my foo  for alle hir e fair e beheste . And pou erte pursued me  and putte me lowe . And þo fonde I þe frer e aferde  and flitynge bothe . Aȝeynes our e furste forwarde  for I seide I nolde . Be buried at her e hous  but at my parisch cherche . For I herd ones  how conscience it tolde . Þat þer e a man wer e cristened  be kende he schulde be buried . Or wher e he wer e a nil parischene  riȝt þer e he schulde be grauen . And for I seyde þus to freres  a foel þei me helden . And loued me þe lasse  for my lele speche . Ac ȝeet I cried on my confessour  þ at held hym -self so ku nn~~g e~~y ng e . Be my feyth frere q uod I  ȝe faren like þis woweres . Þat wedden non wydewes  but for to welde her e goed godis . R.11.70: R's singular form is unique; Bx reads godis, as does Cx. Riȝt so bi þe rode  rouȝte ȝe neu ere . Wher e my body wer e buried  by so ȝe hadde my siluer Ich haue muche m erueyle of ȝow  and so hath many other . Whi ȝour e couent coueyteth  to confesse and to burie . Rather þan to baptize barnes  þ at ben catekumelynges . Baptizing e and buriyng e  bothe beth ful nedful . Ac muche more meritorie  me þinketh it is to baptize . For a baptized man  may as meystres telleth . Þoruȝ co ntriciou n come  til to R.11.79: Beta has to while F reads into. þe heȝe heuene . Sola contric io &c etera . ¶ Ac a barne with -outen bapteme  may nouȝt so be ysaued saued . Nisi quis renatus fu erit loke ȝe lettred men whet ur I lye or do nouȝt And lewete þo nil R.11.83: Beta omits alpha's þo. loked on me  and I loured after . R.11.83: After this line, the scribe fails to insert a blank line to separate his verse strophes. Presumably, he omits the blank because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Wher efore lourestow q uod lewte  and loked on me harde. ¶ Ȝif I durst q uod I amonges men  þis meteles auowe . ¶ Ȝe be peter and be poule q uod he and take R.11.86: Though most beta manuscripts read took here, R's take is supported by LMG. hem bothe to witnesse . Non oderis fr atres secrete in corde tuo  s ed publice argue illos. ¶ Þei wol aleggen al -so q uod I  and by þe gospel p reuen . Nolite iudicar e quemq uam  &c etera . ¶ And wher e -of s erueth lawe q uod leute þa nne nil R.11.90: R's þanne is a unique addition to the text of Bx. In an almost identical line, no C witness includes R's addition.  if no lif vndertoke it . Falsnesse ne faytrie  for sum -what þe apostle seide . Non oderis fr atrem . and i n þe saut er al -so  seyth dauid þe p rophete . Existimasti iniq ue q uod ero tui si milis . et c. It is licitu m for lewedmen lewed men  to segge þe sothe . If hem liketh and lest  vch a lawe it graunteth . Except persones and p restes  and p relates of holy cherches cherche . R.11.96: R's plural is unique; Bx reads cherche. It falleth nauȝt for þat folke  none R.11.97: Beta reads no. tales to telle . Þouȝ þe tale were trewe  and it touched synne . ¶ Ac nil R.11.99: Beta omits the conjunction, while F reads A instead. þing e þat alle þe worlde wote  wher efore schuldestow spar e . And reeden it in rethorik e  to a -raten dedly synne . Ac be neu er -more þe furste  þe defaute to blame . Þouȝ þow se euel sey it nauȝt furste  be sori it ner e amendit . No þing e þat is p riue  publiche þow it neu ere . Neither for loue lakke laude R.11.104: R's first use of lakke in this line is unique; the majority of the beta manuscripts read laude and F, typically, rewrites the a-verse. The C line is virtually unchanged, but the verb phrase in question appears as labbe it out. it nouȝt  ne lakke it for enuye . Parum lauda vitup era parcius. ¶ He seith þe nil R.11.106: R's þe is a unique addition to the text here witnessed by both Bx and Cx. sothe q uod sc riptur e þo  and skypte an heyȝ and p reched . Ac þe mate re þat sche meued  lewed if lewed men it knowe knewe R.11.107: The omission of if at the head of the b-verse completely alters the meaning of this line, but it must have occurred in alpha since F also bears witness to its absence. Likewise, alpha's aberrant knowe is attested in F's distorted b-verse ( lewede men not knowe yt). The authorial status of the line as it appears in beta is warranted by its agreement with Cx: Ac þe matere þat she meuede if lewede men hit knewe. . Þe lasse as I leue  loueyen it þey wolde . Þe bileue But þei beleven þat [of] þat lord  þat on þe lettred men men hem techeth . R.11.109: This line is absent from beta, and F's version is sufficiently different from R's that the reconstruction of alpha must remain conjectural. F reads the line: But þei be-leven on þe lord / þat lettrid men hem techeþ. It seems likely, however, that R's version of this line is more faithful to alpha than is F and that the omission of the preposition of from the a-verse occurred in R or its immediate ancestor. ¶ Þis was hir e teme  and hir e tixte  I toke ful gode hede . Multi to a mangerie  and to þe mete were sompned . And whanne þe poeple was plen er come  þe port er vnpy nned þe ȝate . And plukked in pauci p riueliche  & lete þe remenant go rome . R.11.113: Here the scribe omits his usual blank line separating strophes, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Al for tene of hir e tixst  tremeled myn herte. And In a wer e gan I wex . And in a wer e gan I wex  and with my -selue to despute . Whether I were chose or nouȝt chose  on holy cherche I þouȝte . Þat vnderfonge me at þe fonte  for oen of godes chosene . ¶ For crist cleped vs alle  come if we wolde . R.11.118: In the right margin, a black brace extends from this line down to 11.122. Sarasines and sismatices  and so he dede þe Iewes . O vos om nes scicientes R.11.120: R's scicientes is variant spelling of the Vulgate form sicientes. It is found in many B manuscripts (including L, M, and F) and is not rare in late medieval Latin generally. venite &c etera . And bad hem souke for synne  saue saufly R.11.121: RF here read saue against beta's saufly. At first glance, the occurrence of saue appears to be an alpha error, either for safly, or for Kane-Donaldson's conjectured saufte. However, saue is also found at this point in the X family of C manuscripts (the P family = sauete). As evidenced by MED, save can have nominal, adjectival, or adverbial senses. See s. v. saue, (n. 1) and sauf (adj. and adv.). Moreover, Russell and Kane seem to have recanted their emendation, since their edition now offers saue as the original C reading. In light of the shared witness of the X family of C, and the ample evidence that SWMidlands phonology treated /v/ and /f/ as allophonic, R's reading probably is equivalent to "safe" and directly mirrors Bx while beta represents an attempt at glossing the harder reading. at his breste . And drinke bote for bale  brouke it ho -so miȝte . ¶ Þanne may alle cristene come q uod I  and clayme þer e entre . Be þe blod R.11.124: Beta adds þat before he. The C version of the line appears to support beta (though some X family copies omit þat). he þat he bouȝte vs vs [wiþ] vs with R.11.124: The omission of with at the end of the a-verse is unique to R and alters the meaning and grammatical status of the clause. Cx confirms that R is in error.  and þoruȝ baptesme after . R.11.124: In the right margin, a hand points to this line. ☜ Qui crediderit et baptizatus fu erit &c etera . For þouȝ a cristen man coueyted  his cristendom to receyue reneye . R.11.126: Alpha generated this error ( receyue for reneye); it makes nonsense of the statement as a whole (which runs into the next line), though it makes limited sense within its own line. Cx shows the same verb as beta. Riȝtfulliche to reneye  no reson it wolde . ¶ For may no cherle chartre make  ne his catel selle . With -outen leue of his lorde  ne no R.11.129: R's ne is unique; both Bx and Cx read no. lawe wile it g raunte . Ac he may rennen in a -rerage  and renne rowme R.11.130: Beta has rowme so; F reads rayke. Cx agrees with beta on the verb in question but agrees with alpha on the omission of so. fro home . And as he a renneth reneyed caytif  rechelesliche aboute . R's reading of the a-verse of this line is unique. Beta reads And as a reneyed caityf. The problem seems to have begun at line 130, where R's b-verse involves an awkward redundancy (cf. beta's rowme). However, this redundancy probably mirrors alpha, while F seeks to repair the mistake by varying the verb to rayke. At line 131, R's continued confusion then would be merely reproducing serious corruption in alpha that began in the previous line. F, typically, attempts to repair the lapse in sense with & þey he renne recchesly / or romeþ a-bowte (F8.128), but Bx presumably read something like beta's And as a reneyed caityf recchelesly gon aboute . Ac reson schal rekne with hym  and rebuken hym at þe laste nil . Beta omits KD11.131b-32a, presumably as a result of eyeskip involving with hym, which occurs midline in both lines. Cx agrees completely with alpha here. And consience a -counte shal acounte with hym nil  & casten hym in a -rerage . And putten hym after in p risone  in p urgatorie to brenne . R.11.134: The word purgatorie has been cancelled by a later reader with a horizontal black line. And nil R.11.135: Beta omits And from the opening of this line. The cognate C line is slightly revised from B, but its opening phrase is the same (as is the previous line). Most of the P family copies support the beta omission while most of the X family support alpha's reading for his a -rerages rewarden hym þer e  riȝte nil R.11.135: Beta completely omits this alliterative stave-word; F rewrites the b-verse completely and is irrelevant. The a-verse of Cx is slightly revised from B, but its b-verse is identical to R's and affirms the authority of riȝte. to þe day of dome . But if contric ion wel come R.11.136: The spelling of the modal in this phrase is relatively unusual, but OED2, s. v. will, recognizes wel as an acceptable Anglian form for will in the fourteenth century.  and crie be hys leue lyue R.11.136: R's leue is unique; the other copies have lyue; the reading of C for this final stave (in a slightly revised line) agrees with that of F and beta. . Mercy for his misdedes  with mouth or with herte . ¶ Þat is soth seyde scriptur e  may no synne lette Mercy may al alle to R.11.139: Alpha's may al is rendered by beta as alle to ; C revises the a-verse slightly but clearly attests the presence of alpha's may al. amende  þat and mekenesse he hir folweth . R.11.139: By uniquely substituting þat for if, and he for hym (= F) or hir (= beta), R appears here to lose the drift of Langland's thought, which is the conditional operation of Mercy. Beta's version of this line reads Mercy alle to amende and mekenesse hir folwe . Cx seems to agree with beta. For þei beth as our e boke bokes R.11.140: R's singular is unique; Bx has bokes. Cx confirms the majority B reading. telleth  aboue godes werkes . M isericordia eius super o mnia op era eius. ¶ Ye baw for bokes q uod on  was broken oute of helle . Hiȝte troianus had ben a trewe kniȝt  toke witnesse at a pope . R.11.143: The word pope is cancelled by a later reader using a horizontal line. It is the same ink as was used to cancel purgatorie at 11.134 above; also the same as used to draw the pointing hand at 11.124. How he was dede and dampned  to dwelle in pyne . For an vncristene creature  clerkes witen þe sothe . Þat alle þe clergie vnder criste  R.11.146: Most B manuscripts agree with R here in the loss of the negative required for appropriate sense: ne miȝte me cracche . The CrWHm group may have restored the negative through scribal conjecture. miȝte me cracche fro helle . But oneliche loue and my nil R.11.147: R's my is a unique addition to the text of Bx. leute  of and R.11.147: Beta reads and for alpha's of. my lauful domes . ¶ Gregori wist þis wel  and wilned to my soule . Sauacion for þe nil R.11.149: R's for þe is an alpha reading. Beta omits þe, but Cx confirms alpha's reading on this point. sothenesse  þat he seith seigh R.11.149: R's seith is unique in tense; the other B and C copies have a preterite form. of in R.11.149: Beta reads in; Cx confirms beta's reading. my werkes . And after þat he wepte  and wilned me wer e graunted . Grace with -oute n eny bede biddyng e  his bone was vnderfonge . And I saued as ȝe now may R.11.152: The adverb now is unique to R. Bx and Cx have may. R's error presumably resulted from a misreading of an alpha form such as mow(e). se  with -outen syngyng e of masses . R.11.153: R's line is marred by an omitted preposition at its head (beta = By), but the error appears to stem from alpha; F seems to have attempted to correct the deficit by adding Þoru but failed to notice the resulting faulty parallelism created later in the line. Loue By loue and bi lernynge  of my lyuyng e in treuthe . Brouȝt me fro bitt er peyne  þer e no byddyng e miȝte . ¶ Lo ȝe lordes what leute leute [dide] leute did R.11.155: Omission of the verb at the end of the a-verse (F = doþ and beta = did) is a unique error in R.  by an emp erour e of rome . Þat was an vncristene creatur e  as clerkes fyndeth i n bokes . Nouȝt þoruȝ preyer e of a pope R.11.157: The word pope is again cancelled (cf. 11.143 above) by a later reader using a horizontal line. It is the same ink as was used to cancel purgatorie at 11.134 above; also the same as used to draw the pointing hand at 11.124.  but for his pur e treuthe in Ep iscopum Romanu m Was þat sarasyn saued  as seynt gregori bereth witnesse . Wel auȝt þe ȝe lordes þat lawes kepe  þis lessou n to haue i n mynde . And on troian us treuth to thenke  and do treuthe to þe poeple . ¶ Þis matir is merke for mani of ȝow  ac save men of holy cherche R.11.161: Kane and Donaldson, lines 11.160-70 (= R 11.161-71) were omitted by the beta manuscripts and are preserved solely in R and F. F's rendering of these lines is sufficiently different from R's that F's lines should be cited in their entirety (cf. Appendix 1, R11.161-71, for details and any cross-references to the C version): Þis matere is merk for manye / save men of holy chirche. Þe legende sanctorum / lerneþ ȝow ; more largere þan y ȝou telle. & þus leel love / & leel lyvynge in trewthe Pytten owt of peyȝne / a payȝnym of Rome. I-blessid be trowþe / þat brak so helle ȝaatys. & savede þat sarsyȝn / fram sathenases powher. / Þere no Clergie ne cowhde / ne conynge of lawis. Þan is love & lewte / ryght a leel science. God wrouht it / & wroot it / with his owne fynger. & took it Moyses on þe Mount / alle men / it to leere. Þe legende s anc tor um ȝow lereth lerneþ ȝow  more larger þan I ȝow telle . Ac & þus lele loue  and lyuyng e leel lyvynge in treuthe . Pulte pytten oute of pyne peyȝne  a paynym of rome . I -blessed be treuthe  þat so brak brak so helle ȝates . And saued þe þat sarasyn  fram sathanas and his sathenases power Þer e no clergie ne couthe  ne kunnyng e of lawes . Loue Þan is love and leute is ryght a lele science  For þat is þe boke blessed e  of blisse and of ioye nil R.11.169: The line appears uniquely in R. . God wrouȝt it and wrot hit  with his on owne fynger . And toke it moyses vpon on þe mount  alle men to it to lere ¶ Lawe with -oute loue q uod troian us  leye þer e a bene . I lefte here R.11.173: A sixteenth-century reader has inscribed for himself a personal bookmark. The note is in the same hand as the marginal note at 43v. Or any science vnder sonne  þe seuen artz and alle . But þei ben lerned for our e lordes loue  Ilost loste is alle þe tyme . For no cause to cacche selu er þ er -by  ne to be cald a mayster . But alle for loue of our e lorde  & þe bet to loue þe poeple For seynt Ioh an seyde it  and soth aren his wordes . Qui non diligit manet in morte  — ho -so loueth nauȝte leue me  he lyueth in deth -deying e . And þat alle maner men  enemys and frendes . Louen her eyther other  and lene hem as here -selue . For nil R.11.182: Beta omits For. ho -so leueth R.11.182: Kane-Donaldson transcribe R here as agreeing with beta in reading leneth. Contextually, leneth must be what Bx read, but there is no reason in this instance to construe R's as <n> (even though the character forms sometimes overlap in R), especially since the testimony of F ( be-leveþ) indicates that the error derived from alpha. nauȝt he loueth nauȝte  our e lorde god R.11.182: Both beta and F read non-alliterating god in place of R's oure lorde. wote þe sothe . And comaunded comaundeth R.11.183: Although O agrees with alpha in reading a preterite verb form here, beta clearly had the present form comaundeth. vch creatur e  to conforme hym to louye . And sou ereyneliche pore poeple  and here enemys after . For hem þat haten vs  is our e merite to louye And pore poeple to plese  her e preyeres may vs helpe . For oure ioye and oure euel hele R.11.187: R's euel makes no sense and fails to alliterate properly; beta's hele and F's helthe are contextually appropriate but also fail the alliteration test. Kane-Donaldson conjecture alpha and Bx, on the basis of R, as Iuel.  is nil ih esu R.11.187: Beta omits is. crist of heuene . In a pore mannes apparaile  pursueth vs eu ere . And loketh on vs in here likenesse  and þat with louely cher e To knowen vs be oure kende herte  and castyng e of oure eyes . Whe Whe[ther] Wheþer we loue þe lordes here  by -for our e lorde of blisse . ¶ And exiteth vs by þe eu auangelie  þ at whan we maken festes . We schulde nouȝte clepe our e kyn þ erto  ne none kyne riche . Cum facitis co nuiuia nolite inuitare amicos . Ac calleth þe careful þere -to  þe croked and þe pore . For ȝour e frendes wolen fede ȝow  and fonden ȝow to quite . Ȝoure festyng e and ȝour e fayre ȝiftes  vch frende quit quyteth R.11.197: Beta reads quyteth; F has ȝeldeth. so other . ¶ Ac for þe pore I schal paie  and puir e wel quiten her e trauail . R.11.198: A pattern of tiny pinholes (in the shape of saw teeth, with three crests and two troughs facing the page gutter) runs down the left margin, from this point to R11.201. Þat ȝiueth hem mete or mone  and loueth hem for my sake . ¶ Almiȝty god hath made riche God myghte ryche a maad al  men if he wolde . R.11.200: This line is omitted by beta and apparently garbled in alpha; Kane-Donaldson conjecture from R's shape and F's content ( God myghte ryche a maad al ) that Bx read as follows: Alle myȝte god haue maad riche men if he wolde . Ac nil R.11.201: R's Ac for is unique; F has But for and beta simply reads For. for þe beste ben so mme riche  and so mme beggeres . & pore . For alle ar we cristes creatures  and of his coferes riche . As And R.11.203: R's As is unique; F and beta read And. Cx agrees with the B majority. bretheren as of o blode  as wel beggeres as erles . For at on R.11.204: Beta has For on, but Cx attests At. caluarie of cristes blode  cristendom gan springe . And blody brethern we by -come  þer e of one body ywonne . As quasi modo geniti  and gentil men vchone . No begger e ne boy amonges vs  but if it synne made . Qui facit peccatu m s eruus est peccati . ¶ In þe olde lawe  as þe holy R.11.209: Beta reads holy in place of alpha's þe. The C copies are divided: the P family omits any modifier before lettre while the X family agrees with alpha's þe. l ettre telleth . Mennes sones men R.11.210: The word men is bracketed by two slanting lines, apparently drawn by an early reader, perhaps to call attention to what might have been sensed, at first glance, as a case of scribal redundancy eligible for "correction."  called vs echone . hij us Of adames issue and eue  ay til god man deyede . And after his resurrexiou n  redemptor was his name . And we his brethern þoruȝ hym Ibouȝte  bothe riche and pore ¶ For -þi loue we as leue childern bretheren R.11.214: Beta has bretheren, but Cx agrees with alpha's childern. schal  & vch man lauȝh vp oþ er . And of þat vche man may forber e  amende þer e it nedeth . And eueri man helpe oþer her e nil R.11.216: Beta omits here, and Cx agrees with beta.  for hennes schulle we alle . Alt er alteri us onera portate . And be we nauȝt vnkende of our e catel  ne of our e ku nnyg e ku nny[n]g e kunnynge noþ er . For noet no man how neyȝ it is  to be Inome fro bothe . For -þi lakke no lif oþer  þouȝ he more latyn knowe . Ne vndernyme nauȝt foule  for is noen with -oute defaute . For what -eu er clerkes carpe  of cristendom or elles . Criste to a comune woman seyde  in comune at a feste . Þat fides sua schulde sauen hir e  and saluen hir e of alle synnes . ¶ Þanne is bileue a lele helpe  abue ab[o]ue aboue logike or lawe . Of logike ne of lawe  in legenda s anc toru m . Is litel alowed allowaunce þei both made R.11.227: For RF's alowed, beta has allowaunce. The phrase þei both is unique to R (F omits the words) but probably mirrors alpha. Beta's entire a-verse reads: Is litel allowaunce made .  but but if by -leue hem helpe . For it is ouer -longe ar logike  ani lesson assoyle . And lawe is lothe to louie  but if he lacche seluer Bothe logyke and lawe  þat loueth nauȝt for to to R.11.230: R's for is a unique addition to the archetypal text. lye . ¶ I conseile alle cristene  cleue nauȝt þer e -on to sore For somme wordes I fynde write  were of feithes techyng e . Þat saued synful men  as seynt Ioh an bereth witnesse . Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis  remecstiet ur remecietur vobis . For -þi lerne we þe lawe of loue  as our e lorde tauȝte . And as seynt gregorie seyde  for mannes soule helth . Melius est scrutari scelera n ostra q uam n aturas rer um. ¶ Why I meue þis matire  is moste for þe pore . For in her e liknesse oure lorde  of of[t] ofte hath be I -knowe . Witnesse in þe pasqe woke  whan he ȝede to emaus . Cleophas ne knewe hym nauȝte  þat he criste were . For his pore paraile  and pilgrimes wedes . — h ij us Til he blissed and brak  þe brede þat þei eten . So be his werkes þei wisten  þat he was ih esus . Ac be clothyng e þei knewe hym nouȝte  ne be carpyng e of tonge . And alle was was in ensaumple for -sothe nil R.11.246: R's for -sothe is unique; it is omitted by both beta and F. Nevertheless, it may well be original: Cx here reads sothly.  to vs synful here . Þat we schulde be lowe  and loueliche of speche . in vestitu m mileten tio And apparailen vs nauȝt ou er proudly  for pilgrimes ar e we alle . And in þe paraile apparaille R.11.249: In place of R's paraile, beta has apparaille. F omits the entire line. Some C manuscripts of both major families support R's form and some support beta's. of a pore man  and pilgrimes liknesse . Many tyme god hath ben ymette mette  amonges nedy poeple . to punysh m \ þe Between these two lines, Hand2 has tried to indicate an insertion point for þe in the previous line where the scribe had already written þe. Also Hand2 has drawn a tail on the original character's descender to make its identity more explicit. Apparently, he understood the scribe's form in line 251 as ye and was attempting to fix it. Þer e neu ere segg e hym seyȝ  in secte of þe riche . ¶ Seint Ioh an and other seyntes  weren seyn in pore cloþing e. And as pore pilgrimes  preyude men mennes R.11.253: Beta reads mennes. goedes . ¶ Ih esu crist on a Iewes douȝter a -liȝte  gentel woman þouȝ a she R.11.254: R's a (= "she") is unique; other manuscripts have she. wer e . To ponyshe me in shrift A nil R.11.255: Although Hm and Y have sche / she, beta omits all pronoun reference, beginning the line with Was. F omits the line. Cx agrees with beta's omission. was a puir pore mayden  and to a pore man Iweddede . ¶ Martha on marie maudeleyne  and huge pleynt sche made . And to our e saueour e selue  seyde þis wordes . N ota D omine non est tibi cur e &c etera quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare . R.11.258: Here R uniquely omits the end of the citation, which in F and beta reads: quod soror mea reliquit me sola(m) ministrare &c. Among the C manuscripts, the P family agrees with Bx while the X family offers various truncations of the citation. And hasteliche god answered  and eitheres wille folwede . Bothe Marthes and maries  as matheu bereth witnesse . Ac pouerte god putte by -fore  and preysed it þe better e . Maria optimam partem elegit elegit que non auferetur ab ea  — R.11.262: Here R uniquely omits the end of the citation, which in most B copies reads: que non auferetur ab ea. In LMCrW, however, the citation is truncated after non. In the C tradition, the P manuscripts mostly treat the citation fully, as in the majority of beta copies; however, the X family offers a variety of truncated versions. And alle þe wyse þat eu ere were  by auȝt I can aspie . Preisen pouerte for best lyf  if pacience it wolde folwe . R.11.264: R's fourth stave, wolde, is a unique reading; cf. beta's folwe and F's welde. Cx agrees with beta. And bothe bett ere and blisseder  by many folde þan richesse . Alle -þouȝ And it be sour e to suffre  þer e cometh swete after . As on a walnote with -oute  is a bitter barke . And after þat bitt er barke  be þe schelle aweye  Is a kernel of conforte  kende to restore . So is after pou erte or penaunce  pacientliche ytake . Maketh For it maketh R.11.271: Beta begins this line with the phrase For it maketh; R's opening, Maketh, is supported by F and by Cx. a man to haue mynde in god  and a grete wille . To wepe and to wel bidde  where -of wexeth m ercy . Of which crist is a kernel  to conforte þe soule . And wel sikerer he slepeth  þe segge man R.11.274: Beta reads non-alliterating man. Cx agrees with alpha. þat is pore . And lasse he dredeth deth  and in derke to be robbed . Þan he þat is riȝt riche  reson bereth witnesse  Pauper ego ludo du m tu diues meditaris  Alle -þouȝ salomon seyde  as men folke R.11.278: Beta reads folke. seth in þe bible . Diuicias nec paupertates &c etera . Wiser þanne salomon was  bereth witnesse and tauȝte . Þat parfit pouert was  no possession to haue . And lif most likyng e to god  as luk bereth witnesse . Si vis pefectus pe[r]fectus perfectus esse vade et vende  &c etera . And is to mene to men  þat on R.11.284: R uniquely omits the determiner in the b-verse phrase, on þis molde . molde þis molde lyuen  ho -so wil be puir parfit  mote possession forsake . Or selle it as seith þe boke  and þe seluer dele . To beggeres þat gon and begge  & bidden goed for goddes loue . ¶ For fayled neu er man mete  þat miȝtful god serueth . As dauid seith in þe sauter  to swich þat ben in wille . With eny wel or wo nil  / R.11.290: The scribe has left a vertical stroke to mark a position for inserting more text, indicating his awareness that something may be missing here. R.11.290: In alpha, KD11.280 (above) was followed by an extra half-verse punctuated as a separate line, as here; cf. F's to suffre wo for welthe. To s erue god godeliche  ne greueth hem hym no penaunce . Nichil difficile inpossibile R.11.292: Beta reads inpossibile. volenti &c etera . Ne lakketh noyther neuere R.11.293: Beta has neuere; F omits the line. lyuelode  lynnen ne wolenn e . Inquirentes autem d ominum non munuent ur m[i]nuent ur minuentur o mni bono. If prestes weren wise parfyt R.11.295: For R's wise, F has all wise men; beta reads parfyt.  þei wolde no seluer take . in cl ericos — For masses ne for matynes  nouȝt her e mete of vsureres . Ne noyther kertel ne cote  þeiȝ þei for colde schuld deye And þei her e deu er deuor dede(n) R.11.298: Here R and F are defective in sense; F rewrites the a-verse entirely while R omits the required verb, dede.  as dauid seide seith R.11.298: R's seide is unique. All the other B manuscripts read a present-tense form, as with W's seiþ. See the Introduction III.2.2.10 on R's seemingly anomalous tense marking. in þe sauter . Iudica me deus et discerne causam meam . Spera in deo speketh of p restes  þat han no spendyng e siluer Þat if þei trauaile treweliche  and tristen in god almiȝti Hem schulde lak no lyuelode  neyther wolen ne lynnen . And þe title þat ȝe R.11.303: R's ȝe seems to be the reading of alpha (F is substantially different but agrees on the second person); although W agrees with R on this reading, presumably by enlightened correction (in the b-verse, nearly all the B copies agree with R on the second-person pronoun reference ), the mass of evidence indicates that beta had a third-person plural in the a-verse (L = þei). Cx is partially revised in this line but preserves the alpha second-person pronouns. take ordres by  telleth ȝe ben auaunsed . Þan nedeth ȝow nouȝt to take selu er  for masses þat ȝe syngeth . For he þat toke ȝour e toke ȝow ȝowre title  schulde take ȝow ȝour e wages . Nota Or þe bishop e þat blesseth  ȝow  if þat ȝe ben worthi . ¶ For made neu er king e no kniȝt  but he hadde catel to spende . As byfel for a kniȝt  or fonde hym for his strengthe . It is a kar eful kniȝt  and of a caytif kynges makyng e . Þat hath noþer no R.11.310: Beta reads no; the P family of C agrees with this beta lection, but the X family reading matches alpha's noþer. lond ne lynage R.11.310: R's lynage shows an alpha error of omission (F = lyflode); cf. beta's lynage riche, which is also the reading of Cx.  ne riche ne gode los of his hondes . Þe same I segge for -sothe  bi alle swiche p restes . Þat han noither cunnyng e ne kyn  but a crowne one . And a title a tale of nouȝt  to his liflode at mischef ☞ He hath more bileue as I leue  to lacchen þoruȝ his crowne . Cure þan for ku nnyng e  or knowen for clene of bering e . Nota in Ep iscopos I haue wonder and whi  and wherefor þe bischop e . A brace in both margins joins this line to the next. In addition, in the right margin a reader has added a gloss next to the brace. Maketh suche p restes  þat lewed men bytraien . Between these two lines there are traces of red offset from boxing on the facing page. ¶ A chartre is chalengeable  by -fore a chief iustice . If fals latin be in þat lettre  þe lawe it impugneth . Or peinted par -ent relinarie  parcelles ou erskypped . Þe gome þat gloseth so chartres  for a goky is holden . ¶ So is it a goky bi god  þat in his gospel faileth  Or in masse or in matynes  maketh any defaute . Qui offendit in vno in o mnib us &c etera est reus &c . R.11.324: R uniquely omits the end of this citation: est reus . And al -so in þe sauter  seith dauid to ou erskipperes . Psallite deo n ostro psallite  q uoniam rex t erre d eus isr ael psallite sapie nt er . Þe bisshop e schal be blamed  be -fore god as I leue . Þat crowneth suche goddes kniȝtes  þ at ku nneth nauȝt sapient er . Synge ne psalmes rede  ne segge a masse of þe daye . R.11.329: After this line, the scribe omits his usual blank line to separate verse strophes, but no motive other than inattention is apparent. ¶ Ac neu erneyther neu er neyther is blameles  þe bisshop pe and ne R.11.330: R's and is unique; Bx and Cx both have ne. þe chapeleyne . For her eyther is endited  and þat of ignorancia . R.11.331: In the right margin, a pointing hand, in smeared brown ink, directs attention to this line. Non excusat ep iscopos  nec ydiotes p restes . ¶ Þis lokyng e on lewde p restes  hath do me luppe R.11.333: Although there is no semantic difference from the majority here, R's luppe is a unique form, minimally attested by OED2, s. v. leap, and MED, s. v. lepen; F has lope while most of the beta copies read lepe. fram pou erte . Þe wiche I preyse þer e pacience is  more parfit þanne ricchesse . R.11.334: The last word of this line is smudged or partially erased. ¶ Ac muche more in metyng e þ us  with me gan on dispute . And sleping e I seye al þis  and sithen cam kende . And nempned me be my name  and bad me nymen hede . And þoruȝ þe wordes R.11.338: BmBoCot share this error with R ( wordes for wondres), but R is likely mirroring alpha here, and F's rather lame worchynge sounds like attempted repair of this error. of þe þis R.11.338: R's þe is unique; Bx has þis. werlde  wit for to take . And on a mounteyn þat mydelerd e hiȝt  as me þo þouȝte . I was fette forth  by ensaumples to knowe . Þoruȝ ech a creatur e and kende  my creatour to louye . h iiij us I seiȝ þe sonne and þe see  and þe sond after And wher e þat briddes and bestes  by her e make þei ȝeden . Wilde wormes and in R.11.344: R's and is unique; Bx and Cx both read in. wodes  and wonderful foules . With flekked federes  and of fele coloures  Man and his make  I miȝte se bothe bothe byholde R.11.346: R's I miȝte se bothe is unique (cf. F's ful manye seyȝ y þere. Beta reads I myȝte bothe byholde ; Cx has the same reading as that found in R. . Pou erte and plente  bothe pees and werr e. Blisse and bale bothe I seiȝ at ones. And how men token mede  and m ercy refused. ¶ Reson I seiȝ sothely  schewen suen R.11.350: It appears that schewen is an alpha error for beta's suen (with which the reading of Cx agrees); F rewrites the line. alle bestes . In etyng e in drinkyng e  & in engendringe of kende . And after cours of co ncepc iou n  non toke kepe til of R.11.352: R's til is unique; Bx and Cx read of. other . As whan þei hadde ride i n rotey time  anon riȝt þer e -after . Males drowen hem to males  a -moreweny nges by hem -selue . And in eueni nges also  ȝede þe R.11.355: Most beta copies have a simple þe for R's ȝede, but L's reading, ȝe, suggests itself as a likely channel of error from the authorial reading to beta and that R's reading may be original (both for lexical specificity and alliteration); F omits the line. males from females . Þe Þe[r] Þere ne was kow ne kou -kende  þat co nceyued hadde . Þat wolde belwen after boles  ne bore after sowe . Bothe hors and hou ndes  and alle other bestes . Medled nauȝt with her e makes  þat with fole wer e . ¶ Briddes I behelde  þat in busches made nestes . Hadde ner e neuere weye R.11.361: Weye, "person, being, man." wit  to worche þe leste . I hadde wond er at wham  and wher e þe pie lerned . To lege stikkes þe stykkes R.11.363: R omits beta's þe after lege, a feature also characteristic of Cx. F revises the entire phrase.  in which a she R.11.363: He, "she." lenth leythe and bredeth R.11.363: Beta (and presumably Bx) read the b-verse as in whiche she leythe and bredeth. Although F attempts to rationalize the error preserved in R by improvising in lengþe & in breede, R's general conformity to beta here indicates that the error began as a small one in alpha: lenth for original leythe. The alpha form of "she" was probably a, though it is not clear what the R scribe took it to mean. Þere is no nys R.11.364: For alpha's is no (which is shared with Cx), beta has nys, a reading also reflected in a few C witnesses. wit w[r]i[ȝ]t wriȝte as I wene  schulde werche hir e neste to paye . If any masou n made a molde þer e -to  muche wonder it wer e . ¶ And ȝet me m erueyled more  many how many other R.11.366: For R's many other, beta reads how many other while F has of manye oþire. Cx agrees with R. briddes . Hudden and heleden  her e egges ful derne  In mareys and mores  for men schulde hem nouȝt fynde . And hudden her e egges  whan þei þer e -fro wenten . For fere of other foules  and for wilde bestes . ¶ And so mme treden troden R.11.371: For alpha's treden, beta reads a preterite, troden (although Cr 2-3 agree with alpha). Cx agrees with alpha. her e makes  and on tres bredde . And bredde brouȝte(n) R.11.372: This unique error is introduced as an echo from the previous line; from the evidence of F, it appears that alpha showed a present tense form here, where beta read brouȝten. Cx agrees with beta. forth her e briddes so  al a -boue þe grounde . And som me briddes at þe bille  þoruȝ brethyng e conseyued . And so mme cauked I toke hede kepe R.11.374: R's hede is a unique error; Bx attests the correctly alliterating kepe. In a revised line, Cx's verb agrees with that of the B majority.  how pekokes breden . Muche m erueyled me  what mayster þei hadde . And who tauȝt hem on trees  to tymbre so hye . Þer e noþer buirn ne best  ne nil may R.11.377: R's ne is a unique addition to the text of Bx. here briddes reche n . ¶ And sitthen I loked vp -on þe se  and so forth vpon þe sterres . Many selcouthes I seye  beth nauȝt to segge nouthe . ¶ I seiȝ floures of in R.11.380: R's of is unique; Bx reads in. þe frith  and here fair e coloures . And how among e þe grene gras  greuȝ so many hewes . And som me sour e and some swete  selcouth me þouȝte . Of her kende and of R.11.383: Though R's of is also attested by Cr and Cot, it is clear that beta omitted the repeated preposition. F rephrases the verse. here colour e  to carpe it wer e to longe . ¶ Ac þat moste meued me  and my moed chaunged . Þat reson rewarded  and rewled alle bestes . Saue man and his make  many tymes tyme R.11.386: For alpha's tymes, beta has tyme and Cx completely revises this line but agrees with alpha in attesting a plural, tymes. and ofte . No reson hem folwed  and þanne y rebuked . Reson . and riȝt til hym  seluen I seyde . I haue wonder of þe q uod I  þat witty art holde . Whi þow ne schewest suwest R.11.390: Apparently, alpha failed to understand the meaning of suwest (cf. R11.350), and R reproduces his schewest; F once again improvises with makst. man and his make  þ at no misfeith R.11.390: Bo and Cot appear to share R's reading here (their spelling is mysfaith); cf. F's myschef and beta's mysfait. R's form is probably intended to represent the same word as beta's (= ModEng misdeed); cf. the Introduction III.2.2.10 on evidence for R's occasional use of final <th> as a phonological and morphological equivalent to final <t>. he m folwe . ¶ And reson arated me  and seyde recche þe never e . Whi I suffre or nauȝt suffre  þi -self hast nauȝt to done . Amende þow it if þow miȝt  for my tyme is to abide . Suffrance is a souereyne v ertue  and a swift veniance Ho suffreth more þan god q uod he  no gome as I leue . He miȝt amende in a minut while  alle þ at mis -stondeth . Ac he suffreth for so mme mannes goed  and so is our e bett ere . ¶ Holy writt q uod þat weye R.11.398: Weye, "person, being, man."  wisseth wyssheþ men to suffre . These lines do not appear in the beta manuscripts. They display a large array of differences in F, which is therefore reproduced here in full for comparison (cf. Appendix 1, R11.398-409, for details and any cross-references to the C version): Holy writ quod þat weyȝ / wyssheþ men to suffre. Propter deum  subiecti estote  omni creature. Now wille ȝe leere a tale / was told me in towne. How Frensshe men in France / a-faytyn here childryn. Beele vertue est suffraunce  mal dire est pety vengance. Bien dire & bien suffre  fait lui suffrant a bien venir. For -þy  y rede þe Resoun / þou rewle better þy tunge. & er þou my lyf lakke / looke þyn be to preyse. For þere is no creature vndir criȝst / can formen hym -selue. & yf a man myghte / make lakles hym -selue. Ech man wolde ben lakles / leve þou non oþir. Ne shalt fyȝnde but fewe / fayn wolde heere. Of here fowle defawtys / be -fore here face reersed. Propter deu m subiecti estote o mni creature Frenche men and fre men  affeyteth þus her childerne . Vele [B]ele Beele v ertue est soffrance  mal dir e est pety veniance Bien dir e et bien soffrer suffre  fait lui soffrant a bien venir For -þi I rede q uod þe reson  rewle þou rewle þi tonge bett ere better þy tunge . And ar þow lakke my lyf my lyf lakke  loke if þow þyn be to preyse . For is þere is no creatur e vnder criste  can formen hym -seluen . And if a man miȝte make  hym -self goed lakles hym -selue to þe poeple nil . Vch a lif man wold be lakles  leue þow non other . Ne þow nil schalt fynde but fewe  fayne for to wolde her e . Of here defautes foule fowle defawtys  by -for hem here face rehersed . ¶ Þe wise and þe witty  wrot þus in þe bible . De re quiete que te que te non molestat nolite noly R.11.411: Beta reads noly while F has non. In a completely revised verse passage homologous with this one, the C version cites this same Latin tag. In that set of witnesses, the predominant reading (attested by copies from both major families, including manuscripts X and P) is beta's, noly. However, a sizeable minority agrees with the form cited by R. certar e . For be a man faire or foule  it falleth nauȝt for to lakke . Þe schappe ne þe schafte  þat god schope hym -selue . For alle þat he wrouȝt did R.11.414: Beta reads did. was wel ydo  as holy writ witnesseth . Et vidit d eus cu ncta que fecerat et erant valde bona . And bad to vch a euery R.11.416: Beta's opening phrase for this line is And badde euery; F's phrase is God bad ech. creatur e  in his kende encresce . Alle to murth with man  þat most wo tholieth tholye . In fondyng e of þe flesche  and of þe fende bothe . For man was made of swich a mat ere  he may nouȝt wel astert . Þat Þat ne su m-tymes R.11.420: Though L also attests a plural, F and all other beta copies read sometyme. Among the C witnesses, the X family agrees with F and the beta majority, but a majority of the P family agrees with LR. hym bytit  to folwen his kende . Catou n acordeth with -al þere-with R.11.421: For R's with-al, beta has þerewith, while F reads þerto. Cx agrees with beta.  nemo sine c rimine viuit . ¶ Þo cauȝt I colour anon  and co msed to ben a -schamed . And awaked þer e -with  wo was me þanne . Þat I in meteles ne miȝte  more hauen I -knowe . And þanne seyde I to my -selue  & chidde þat tyme . Now I wot what dowel is q uod I  by der e god as me þenketh . ¶ And as I cast vp my eyes  on loked on me and asked . Of me what thyng e it were  I -wis sir e I seide . R.11.428: The red mark between this line and the next is offset from the rubric on fol. 54r. To se muche and suffre more  certes q uod I is dowel . ¶ Haddest þow suffred he seyde  slepyng e þo þow were . Þow schuldest haue knowe þat clergie can  & co nseyued more þoruȝ R.11.431: An offset stain from the blue initial of Passus 12 on the facing page has partially obscured the <þo> of þoruȝ. resou n . For resou n walde haue rehersed þe  riȝt as clergie seyde . Ac for þin ent remetynge  her e art þow for -sake . Philosophus esses si tacuisses . Adam þe nil whiles R.11.435: R's þe whiles is a unique reading among the B copies (the rest of which omit þe ). R's phrase may, however, be the original reading since it has the support of the X family of C manuscripts (while the P family agrees with the B majority in omitting þe ). he spake nauȝte  hadde paradis at wille . Ac whan he mameled aboute mete  & ent remeted to knowe . Þe wisdom and þe wit of god  he was put fram þe nil blisse R.11.437: R's þe is a unique addition to the text here witnessed by Bx. Cx, though slightly revised, agrees with Bx in omitting the determiner. . And riȝt so ferde reson be þe  þow with rude speche . Lakkedest and losedest þing e  þat longed nauȝt þe nil R.11.439: Beta omits þe. to to be done . R.11.439: Between this line and 11.443, at the right margin, a cartoon of a face appears to have been lightly traced and then erased. Þo had he no likyng e  for to ler e þe more . Between these lines, there is a tear in the parchment. ¶ Pruide now and p resu mpc ion  per -auentur e wol þe apele . Þat clergie in nil R.11.442: Beta omits alpha's in. þi companie  ne kepeth nauȝt efte nil to sitte sue R.11.442: Beta omits alpha's efte. Alpha's sitte suggests again that he did not understand the meaning of Bx's sue. Cf. R.11.350: and . For nil R.11.443: Beta omits For. However, Cx attests its presence. schal neu er chalenging e ne chidyng e  chaste a man so sone . He As R.11.444: Once again, R's apparently unique error ( He for original As) probably mirrors the same mistake in alpha, with F attempting a correction ( Þan). schal schame and schende n hym  and schape n hym to amende . For lat a dronken daffe  in a dike falle  Lat hym ligge loke nauȝt on hym  til hym list to rise . For þouȝ resou n rebuked hym þanne  reccheth hym neuere nil . Beta omits this passage through eyeskip caused by the recurring midline phrase hym þanne. Of clergie ne of his conseil  he counteth nouȝt a rusche . Or nil R.11.449: R's Or is unique; F omits it, while beta omits the entire phrase that begins this a-verse. However, Cx concurs with R on the presence of this conjunction. for to bete hym þanne nil  it wer e but pur e synne . Ac whan nede nymeth hym vp  for doute lest he st erue . And schame schrapeth his clothes  and his schynes wascheth . Þanne wote þe dronken daffe  wher e -fore he is to blame . ¶ Ȝe seggen soth by my soule nil R.11.453: Beta omits alpha's by my soule. Cx, however, includes the phrase. q uod I  ich haue Iseyen it ofte . Þere smit non no þinge R.11.454: F reads no man; beta has no þinge. Cx agrees with beta. so smerte  ne smuilleth R.11.454: The <s> was inserted later in a darker ink and a contemporary hand, probably that of the scribe. so foule soure R.11.454: F and some beta copies read sore here; most beta copies have soure. Cx, however, agrees with R's foule. . As schame þer e he scheweth hym  no ma n loueth his felachipp e for euery man hym shonyeth . R.11.455: Beta reads the b-verse as for euery man hym shonyeth . Whi ȝe wisse me þus q uod I  was for I rebuked resou n . ¶ Certes q uod I he þat is soth  and schope hym for to waken wa[l]ken . And I aros vp riȝt with þat  and folewed hym after . And preied hym of his curteysie  to telle me his name . pass us xj us Passus xj us x[i]j us undecim us [duo]decim us de visione vt s upra — — — I am ymaginatif q uod he  Idel was I neu ere . Þouȝ I sit be my -selue  in seknesse ne in helthe . I haue folewed þe in faith  þis fyue and forty wynt er . And many tymes haue meued þe  to þenke on þin ende . And howe fele ferneres be fernȝeres are R.12.5: Beta has fernȝeres are; F omits the line. faren  and so fewe to come n . And of þi wilde wantou nesse  þo þow ȝong e wer e . To amenden it in þi myddel age  lest miȝt þe faile . In þin olde eelde  þat euel can suffre . Pouerte or penaunce  or preieres bidde . Si non in prima vigilia nec in secu nda . &c etera . Amende þe ye [] nil R.12.11: R's ye is a unique addition to the text of Bx. while þow miȝt  þow hast ben warned ofte . With powstes of penaunce pestilences R.12.12: F shows a plural, penances. Beta reads pestilences.  with pou erte & with angres . R.12.12: The page is split horizontally for a space of about 3.8 cm. here, along the length of the b-verse. And with þis bitter e baleyses  god beteth his dere children . Que m diligo castigo  — R.12.14: Alpha omits two lines attested in beta at this point (KD12.13-13α): And dauid in þe sauter seith of suche þat loueth Ihesus Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt &c. Al -þouȝ þow strike me with þi staf  with stikke or with ȝerde . It is but murth as for me  to amende my soule . And þow medlest þe with makyng e makynges R.12.17: Though M supports alpha's singular, the other beta copies read makynges or mastryes.  and miȝtest go sey þi saut er . And bidde for hem þ at ȝiueth þe brede  for þere are bokes Inowe . To telle me n what dowel is  dobet and dobest bothe . And p rechoures to p reue what it is  of many a peir e freres . ¶ I seiȝ wel he seide me soth  ac and R.12.21: This is a unique reading in R; all the other manuscripts have and. somwhat me to excuse . And nil R.12.22: Alpha seems to have been uncomfortable with the enjambment of Bx here, but alpha's extra conjunction ( And), instead of smoothing, actually breaks the syntactic pattern of the statement. seide catou n conforted his sone  þat clerk þouȝ he wer e To solasen hym su m -tyme  and as R.12.23: R's and is shared uniquely with F, but F rewrites the following half-line completely; beta has as. I do whan ich make . Int erpone tuis int erdu m gaudia curis . And R.12.25: Most other B manuscripts here read, of holy men ; R shares the omission of the preposition with Hm (and, originally, with C) by convergence. holy men I her e herde q uod I  how þei otherwile . Pleiden þe parfiter  to be in many a place places . R.12.26: For R's a place, beta has places. Both versions of the b-verse are obviously corrupt, causing F to rewrite it totally: in here prayeres after. Ȝif Ac if R.12.27: The evidence of both beta and F indicates that R has here dropped a word; F begins the line Nou if, while beta begins it Ac if. þer e were any wit wight R.12.27: This is a unique form in R; most of the other manuscripts have wight. However, R's wit probably does not represent a substantive difference from the majority reading. OED2, s. v. wight, documents wyt(e) for the fifteenth century and wite for the fourteenth century as variant spellings of wight. MED, s. v. wight, also lists wit(e) as a variant spelling but offers only one example, from the thirteenth century.  þat wolde me telle . What were dowel and do -bet  and dobest atte laste . Wold I neu er do werke  but wende to holy cherche . And þer e bidde my bedes  but whan ich eet or slepe . ¶ With nil poule in his pistles pistle R.12.31: R is unique in reading the plural pistles, but the serious error of this line, the addition of the preposition With at line head, must reflect a problem in alpha, since F's See Poulis also reads Paul's name as the line's second word. q uod he  p reueth what is dowel . Fides . spes . caritas caritas & R.12.32: Beta adds & before maior. maior maior horum R.12.32: R uniquely omits a final word from this tag: horum. &c etera . Feith hope and charite  R.12.33: Reflecting the difference with alpha in the Latin citation from the previous line, beta has and before alle. alle and alle ben goed . And sauen men sundri tymes  ac non so sone as charite . For he doth wel with -outen doute  þ at doth as leute techeth . Þat is if þow be man maried  þi make þow louye . R.12.37: R uniquely omits the conjunction And at line head. Liue And lyue forth as lawe wole  þe nil R.12.37: R's þe is shared exclusively with F and omitted by beta. while ȝe lyue bothe . Riȝt so if þow be religiouse  ren þow neu ere ferther . To rome ne to roche -madour  but as þi reule techeth . And holde þe vnder obedience  þat heiȝ waye is to heuene . R.12.40: A new strophe is marked by the usual cc in the margin next to R12.41, but the scribe did not skip a line between 12.40 and 41. This is frequently his habit when the last line of a page begins a new paragraph. ¶ And if ȝþow be mayde & mayden to R.12.41:: Beta reads maiden to for R's mayde & to; F's Mayde meeke & confirms that alpha also read mayde. marie  and miȝt wel co ntynewe . Seke þow ner e seynt forther  for no soule helthe . For what made lucifer  to lese þe heiȝ heuene . Or salomon his sapience  other or R.12.44: R's other is unique; F and beta read or. sampson his strengthe . Iob þe iewe his ioye  der e he it abouȝte . Aristotel and other mo  Ipocras and virgil . Alisandre þat alle wan  elengeliche ended . Catel and kende wit  was co mbraunce to hem alle . Felice hir e fair enesse  fel hir e alle to sclaundre . And rosamound riȝt so  reufulliche besette . Þe beaute of hir e body  in badd vse badnesse R.12.51: For alpha's badd vse, beta has badnesse she. despended she dispended . Of many suche men nil may I I may R.12.52: R's men is a unique addition to the text of Bx. Beta transposes alpha's phrase, may I, to I may / myght . rede  of men & of wo mmen Þat wise wordes wolde schewe  and werchen þe contrarie Sunt ho mi nes neq uam bene de virtute loquentes . And riche renkes riȝt so  gaderen and sparen . And þo men þat þei moste haten  mi nstren it atte laste . And for þei soffren and see  so many nedy folkes . And loue hem nauȝt as our e lorde bit  lesen ȝour e her R.12.58: For R's ȝoure (a unique reading), F reads here owen and beta has her. soules . Date et dabit ur vobis  . So & þerfore catel and kende vnkynde wit  acombreth ful many . The first half-line in R (12.60a) differs considerably from the text of F, which reads & þerfore catel & vnkynde wit . The beta manuscripts entirely omit R12.60 (= KD12.55) and the four following lines. The C manuscripts include the first three of these alpha lines. Wo is hym þat hem weldeth  but if nil he hem wil wel R.12.61: R's wil probably signifies the same adverbial here as F's wel. Cf. R.11.136:. despende . Scienti Cienti & bonum & no n facienti varijs flagellis vapulabit . Sapience seith þe boke þe book seiþ þat sapyence R.12.63: R's a-verse phrasing differs markedly from F's, which reads Þe book seiþ þat sapyence .  swelleth a mannes soule . Sapiencia apiencia inflat . &c etera nil . And richesse riȝt so  but if þe rote be trewe . Ac grace is a grace grasse R.12.66: R's redundancy appears to derive from alpha; F notices the problem but his grate simply substitutes nonsense for the original error. Beta agrees with Cx, reading grasse. þer efore þer-of R.12.66: R's þerefore is shared exclusively with F; beta has þerof. Cx agrees with alpha.  þo greuaunces to abate . g row ith Ac grace ne greueth R.12.67: Hand2 has supplied the appropriate reading in the right margin, implying that greueth should be cancelled, but the original reading was never marked as cancelled, either by striking through or by subpuncting. nauȝt  but amonges lowe . Of nil pacience R.12.68: Of is a unique reading in R; F omits the entire line, and beta begins the line with Pacience. and pou erte  þe place is þere it groweth . And in lele lyuynge men  and in lif -holy . And þurȝ gifte þe gyfte R.12.70: Before gifte, R uniquely omits a determiner; F has þat while beta has þe. of þe holy goste  as þe gospel telleth . Spiritus vbi wlt spirat . &c etera . Clergie and kende wit  cometh of siȝte and techynge . As þe boke bereth witnesse  to barnes þat can rede . Quod scim us loquim ur quod vidim us testam ur . Of quod scim us cometh clergie  a and cu nnynge of heuene . And of quod vidim us cometh kende wit  of siȝte of diu erse poeple . Ac grace is a gifte of god  & of grete loue springeth . Knewe neu ere clerke how it cometh forth  ne kend wit his witte þe R.12.78: F reads the possessive as witys for R's wit his. Beta has witte þe. weyes . Nescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit vadit &c  Ac ȝet is clergie to comende  and kende wit bothe . And nameliche clergie for cristes loue  þat of clergie is rote . For moyses witnesseth þat god wrote  for to wise þe poeple . In þe olde lawe as þe l ettre telleth  R.12.83: Manuscript G reads the opening of the b-verse exactly as R does, but beta shows þat was at the head of the b-verse; F rewrites the entire b-verse, reading þe lawe so was to þe Iewis . was þe lawe of iewes . Þat what wo mman were in deuoutrie auoutrie R.12.84: R's form is unique here (beta and F attest auoutrie). But cf. KD 2.176, where R's deuoutrie is accepted for alliterative reasons over the beta reading, auoutrie. Since F agrees with R at this point, and since the same base form shows as archetypal at C2.187 ( deuoutours), there seems no reason to doubt that it represents an example of contemporary usage. MED, s. v. devoutrie, and OED2, s. v. devoutour, both cite only Piers Plowman, labelling the form as a variation / corruption of auoutrie. taken  wer e he she R.12.84: R's form for the third-person singular feminine pronoun here is the one commonly preferred by this scribe and is, as usual, unique. F and beta agree on she. riche or pore . With stones men schulde hire striken  and stonen hir e to dede deth . R.12.85: R's to dede is unique but not ungrammatical or substantially different in meaning from the other B manuscripts, which read to deth. Cf. R.3.262: (KD3.267), where R's phrasing is paralleled by many beta manuscripts: brenne hem to dede . Alpha omits the following line from Bx: A womman as we fynden was gulty of þat dede. Ac crist of his curteisie  and nil R.12.86: R's and is unique; beta omits the conjunction while F completely rewrites the b-verse. þoruȝ clergie hir e saued . For þoruȝ cristes carectus carectus þat cryst wrot R.12.87: For alpha's cristes carectus, beta reads carectus þat cryst wrot .  þe iewes knewe hem -seluen . Gultier as afor god  and gretter in synne . Þanne þe wo mman þ at þer e was  and wenten aweye for schame . Þe clergie þat þer e was  conforted þe womman . Holi cherche kirke R.12.91: Though Hm and B agree with alpha's cherche, beta itself here reads kirke. knoweth þis  þat cristes writyng e saued . So clergie is confort e  to creatures þat repenten . And to mansed men  mischief at here ende . ¶ For godes body miȝte nouȝt be of brede  withoute clergie . Þe whiche body is bothe  bote to þe riȝtful . And deth and dampnac iou n  to hem þat deyeth euele . Ac As R.12.97: R's Ac is unique; cf. F's But and beta's As. cristes carette co nforted  and bothe coupable schewed . Þe wo mman þat iewes bouȝte b[r]ouȝte brouȝte  þat ih esus þouȝte to saue . Nolite iudicar e & no n iudicabimini . &c etera . Riȝt so godes body bretheren  but it be worthily taken . Dampned R.12.101: Although Y supports R's preterite, F and beta attest Dampneth. But the Introduction III.2.2.10 on the R scribe's anomalous tense marking. vs at þe day of dome  as dede þe carette þe carectes dide(n) R.12.101: Beta transposes alpha's phrase and pluralizes the noun: þe carectes dede . þe iewes . For -þi I co nseile þe for cristes sake  clergie þat þow louye . For kende wit is of his kyn  and neyȝ cosynes bothe . To oure lorde leue me  for -þi loue hem I rede . For bothe beth as miroures  to amenden our e defautes . And lederes for lewed men  and for lett erred bothe . For -thi lakke þow neu ere logike lawe  ne his custumes . Ne countreplede clerkes  I conseile þe for euere . For as a man may nauȝt se  þat misseth his siȝtes syghte eyghen . R.12.109: Beta reads eyghen, which is also the reading of Cx; F has the singular syghte. R.12.109: The final <s> of siȝtes appears to have been written over an erasure; it is, moreover, the tall <s>, which this scribe almost never deploys in word terminal position (cf. the same word at R12.146). Its form also seems abbreviated, with the descender entirely absent. Nevertheless, the ink appears indistinguishable from that used by the scribal hand. Na more can no clerke  but if he cauȝte it furst þorȝ bokes . Al -þouȝ men made bokes  god was þe mayster And seynt spiriȝt þe saumplarie  & seyde what ma n men R.12.112: With the exception of OC 2, which agree with alpha, the beta manuscripts here show men. Cx agrees with beta. scholde write . And riȝt as siȝt serueth a man  to se þe heye strete . Riȝt so lereth ledeth R.12.114: Beta has ledeth at this point. Cx, however, agrees with alpha. letterur e  lewed men to reson . And as a blinde man in bataile  ber e bereth R.12.115: R's verb form is unique; Bx and Cx read bereth. wepne to fiȝte . And hath no happ e with his ax  his enemy to hitte . Na more can a kende wedded witted man R.12.117: R's almost nonsensical kende wedded man (in place of beta's kyndewitted man) reflects alpha corruption, while F's omitting kynde and substituting lewid man represents an attempt to make sense of the half-line.  but clerkes hym teche . Come for al his kende wit  to c ristendom and be saued . Whiche is þe coffre of cristes tresor  and clerkes kenpe R.12.119: Either the scribe or an early reader caught an error here ( kene for kepe) and added a light descender in the same ink as that of the scribe. The shape of the descender matches that of the scribe's authentic . þe keyes . To vnlouken it at her likyng e  and to þe lewed poeple . For Ȝyue R.12.121: R is clearly defective here syntactically; but F's grammar seems equally elliptical, and one must conclude that both are responding to some confusion in alpha. Once again, the source of confusion may lie in the fact that this line is enjambed from the previous one. Cf. R's For and F's completely different & graunteþ to beta's Ȝyue. At this point C supports beta, reading To ȝeue. m ercy for her mysdedes  if men it wole aske . Buxu mliche & benigneliche  and bidden it as of R.12.122: R's as is unique; Bx and Cx have of. grace . ¶ Archa dei in þe holde lawe  leuites it kepten . Hadde neu ere lewed man leue  to leggen honde on þat cheste . But he wer e preste or p restes sone  pat riark or p rophete . ¶ Saul for he sacrifised his mys-sacrifyse  sorwe hym be -tydde . These lines are omitted by the beta manuscripts. F's rendering of these lines is sufficiently different from R's that F's lines should be cited here in their entirety (cf. Appendix 1, R12.126-36, for details and any cross-references to the C version): Saul for his mys-sacrifyse / sorwe hym by-tydde. & hise sones also / for þat synne myschevedyn & manye mo oþire men / þat weryn none levites. þat with archa dei wentyn / with worchepeful reuerencis. & leyde on hond / & lyfte it vp / & lurn here lyf after. For -þy ; y conseyle alle creatures / no clergye ȝee dispise. Ne settiþ lyght be here scyence / what so þei do hem -selue. Tak here wordis at worþ / here wytnesses be trewe. & medle not meche with hem / to meve hem to wratthe. Leest Charyte be chased owt / þan ech man choppeth oþir. [N]olite tangere Cristos meos. And his sones al -so  for þat synne myscheued . And many mo other men  þat wer e no leuites . Þat with archa dei ȝeden wentyn  in reu erence and in worchipp e with worchepeful reuerencis . And leyden honde þ er -on to liften leyde on hond & lyfte it vp  and loren her lif after . For -þi I conseil alle creatures  no clergie to ȝee dispise . n ota Ne sette schort e settiþ lyght be her e science  what -so þei don hem -selue . Take we nil her wordes at worthe  for nil her e witnesse wytnesses be trewe . And ne medle we medle nauȝt muche with hem  to meuen any neve hen to wrathe . Lest cheste Charyte chasen vs be chased owt  to choppe vche man þan ech man choppith other . Nolite Olite tangere christos meos  &c etera nil . ¶ For clergie is kynge and nil keper e R.12.137: For alpha's compounded phrase, beta reads simply kepere. Alpha's exact reading here is uncertain; cf. F's keye & kepere .  vnder crist of heuene . Was þ er neu ere no kniȝt  but clergie hym made . Ac kende wit cometh  of al kynnes siȝtes . Of brriddes briddes & of bestes  of tastes of treuthe  & of deseytes . ¶ Liueres to -foren vs  vsede to make marke . R.12.141: Alpha and Cr read make, which makes no sense; cf. beta's marke. Þe selcouþes þat þei seye  her e sones for to teche . And helden it an heiȝ science  her e wittes to knowe . Ac þoruȝ her e science sothely  was neu ere no soule saued . Ne bouȝte brouȝte R.12.145: The error here, bouȝte for brouȝte, is found in both R and F and derives from alpha. be her e bokes  to blisse ne to ioye . For alle her kende knowynges  cam but of diu erse siȝtes  Patriarkes and p rophetes  repreueth repreued R.12.147: R's repreueth is unique; F has a different form of the plural with repreven, while beta reads repreued(en). Though two C copies affirm a present-tense verb here, it is obvious that Cx agrees with beta's preterite. R's tense marking may not, however, represent a difference of intention from beta's. Cf. the Introduction III.2.2.10. her e science . And seide here wordes ne her e wisdome wisdomes R.12.148: Beta has the plural wisdomes; F reads scyence. Though four C copies support R's singular, the vast majority of C manuscripts agrees with beta.  was nas but a folie . As to þe clergie of criste  counted it but a trefle . Sapiencia hui us mu ndi stulticia ap ud . R.12.150: One might construe R's script at the end of this citation as agreeing with the other witnesses if <ap> were taken as ap(ud) and <d>+backslash were seen as an abbreviation for d(eum). Neither Kane-Donaldson nor I read it that way, however. The R scribe never elsewhere uses such an abbreviation for deum and, in fact, no such abbreviation is recognized by Capelli ( Dizionario di Abbreviature latine ed italiane ) nor by Walther ( <foreign lang="lat" TEIform="foreign">Lexicon Diplomaticum</foreign> ). Instead R customarily spells the form as deu(m) (six times out of seven—the seventh form is d(eu)m). Moreover, Capelli recognizes the actual form written by R, ap d , as a late fourteenth-century form for apud. &c etera . R.12.150: Here alpha omits eleven lines present in beta (and also found in a revised form in Cx): For þe heihe holigoste heuene shal to-cleue And loue shal lepe out after into þis lowe erthe And clennesse shal cacchen it and clerkes shullen it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem He speketh þere of riche men riȝt nouȝt ne of riȝt witty Ne of lordes þat were lewed men but of þe hexte lettred oute Ibant magi ab oriente &c. If any frere were founde þere Ich ȝif þe fyue shillynges Ne in none beggares cote was þat barne borne But in a burgeys place of bethlem þe best Set non erat ei locus in diuersorio & pauper non habet diuersorium . ¶ To pastoures and to poetes  appered an þe R.12.151: Beta has þe in place of alpha's an. Cx agrees with beta. angel . And bad hem go to bthlem b[e]thlem bethlem  godes burthe to honoure . And syngen songe(n) R.12.153: R's infinitive (or present tense) syngen is unique among the B copies; F and beta have song(en). However, the C manuscripts are divided by major groups on this reading, with the X family supporting F/beta while the P family agrees with R. a songe of solace  gl oria in excelsis deo . ¶ Riche men rutte rowhted þo  and þat in here reste were . These lines are not found in beta. Þo it schon to schepherdes whan to shepperdis a sterre shon R.12.155: R and F differ here (F = Whan to shepperdis a sterre shon ), but R's version of this phrase agrees with that found in the C manuscripts.  a schewer of blisse . And nil R.12.156: Beta omits And. Cx agrees with beta. clerkes knewe it wel  and comen with her e p resentes . And deden here homage hon ourabely  to hym þat was almiȝti . R.12.157: There is red offset from R12.91 (fol. 57r) partially covering the last word of this line. Whi I haue tolde þe al þis  I toke ful gode hede . How þow contrariedest clergie  with crabbed wordes . How þat lewed men liȝtloker  þan lettred wer e Isaued saued . Þan clerkes or kende witted men  of criste n poeple . ¶ And þow seydest soth of som me  ac se in whaner e what manere . R.12.162: The correct reading is beta's what manere; R here presumably mirrors a loss of text in alpha while F ( an ensample) attempts to guess at a suitable correction. Take to stronge men  and in temese caste hem . And bothe naked as a nedele  her non siker R.12.164: Most beta witnesses read sikerer, but L agrees with R's form (as did M until "corrected" into conformity with the CrW family). þan other . Þat on hath cu nnyng e and can  swy mmen and driuen diuen dyue(n) . Þat other is lewed of þat labour  lerned neu ere swymme . Which trowest þow of þo to  in temese is in moste drede . He þat neu ere dyued  ne nauȝt can of swymmy ng e . Or þe swymmer þat is saf  be so hym -self like . Þere his felawe flet forth  as þe flode liketh . And is in drede to drenche  þat neu ere dede swymme . R.12.171: Immediately hereafter, alpha omitted a line found in beta: Þat swymme can nouȝt I seide it semeth to my wittes. ¶ Riȝt so q uod þe renke  reson it scheweth . Þat he þat knoweth clergie  can sannore sonner R.12.173: Sannore, "sooner," <OE sāna. This form appears in the Z text and it, sanere, and sannour appear in the C version. See Joseph S. Wittig, Piers Plowman: Concordance. Will's Visions of Piers Plowman, Do-Well, do-better and do-best: A Lemmatized Analysis of the English Vocabulary of the A, B and C Versions as Presented in the Athlone Editions, with Supplementary Concordances of the Latin and French Macaronics. (London and New York: Athlone Press, 2001), s. v. soone, p. 609. arise . Out of synne and he R.12.174: Though Cr agrees with R's reading, beta omits he (F rewrites the entire phrase as to be saf). Cx agrees with beta. be safe  þouȝ he senege synne R.12.174: R's unique senege is not an error but, according to OED2, s. v. sin and MED, s. v. sinnen, a legitimate thirteenth and fourteenth-century variant for sin. Cx shows the same form as R at this point. Cf. similar forms at R.17.242: and . ofte . If hym liketh and leste  þan any lewed lelly . For if þe clerke be cu nnyng e  he knoweth what is synne . And how contric ion with -outen co nfession  co nforteth þe soule . As þow seest i n þe saut er R.12.177: A black ink stain partially obscures the <s> of sauter. As þow seest in þe saut er  in psalme psalmes on or tweyne . R.12.178: At the top right margin of this page, there is a smudged word written in black, beginning with what may be a <D>. How contric ion is comended  for it caccheth a -weye synne . Beati quor um remisse sunt iniquitates  & quor um tecta sunt p eccat a nil . R.12.180: Though Hm supports alpha, beta itself omits the last word of this citation, peccata. And þis conforteth vch a clerke  and kenneth keuereth R.12.181: The beta reading is also that of Cx. hym fram wanhope . In which floed þe fende  fondeth a man hardest . Þere þe lewed lith stille  and loketh after lente . And hath no contric ion ar he come to schrifte  and can & þanne can R.12.184: R's phrase manifests a unique omission; cf. F's for þereof ne can and beta's & þanne can. Although the C copies show a number of variations here, the predominant reading is that of beta. he litel telle . And as his lores -man  lereth hym  byleueth and troweth . And þat is after p erson or parisch preste  and par -auenter bothe nil . R.12.186: Beta omits bothe. There appears to have been a line-division problem at this point in Bx, and Kane-Donaldson recast the first word of the next line of Bx ( Vnconnynge) as the final stave word of this line. Vnkunnyng e to lere lewed men  as luk bereth witnesse . Du m cecus ducit cecu m  &c etera . R.12.188: Hereafter alpha omits a line found in beta: Wo was hym marked þat wade mote with þe lewed. not a / ¶ Wel may þe barne blisse  þat hym sette to scole to boke sette . R.12.189: F reads this b-verse as þat sette hym fyrst to skole. Beta has þat hym to boke sette. The beta reading, which alliterates correctly, is also that of Cx. Þat lyuynge after lettrur e  saued hym lif and soule . D omin us pars hereditatis mee  is a mery v erseit . Þat hath take fro tyburne  twenty stronge theues . Þere lewed theues ben lolled vp  loke how þei ben saued . Þe thef þat hadde g race of god  a gode friday as þu speke . R.12.194: A black ink blot intervenes between the final word of this line and the punctus. Was for he ȝelde hym recreant R.12.195: M here agrees with R on the stave word ( recreant), but the beta majority's reading, supported by Cx, is creaunt. F omits the term entirely. to crist  & vpon a cros on þe crosse & R.12.195: In place of R's vpon a cros, beta has on þe crosse & . F omits the entire phrase. Though the end of the b-verse is different in C, its version of this line parallels B up to this point and reads Was for A ȝeld hym creaunt to crist. knowleched knewleched hym R.12.195: R uniquely omits hym before gulty. gulty . R.12.195: Hereafter alpha omits a line preserved in beta: And grace axed of god and he is euer redy. Þat buxu mliche biddeth it  and ben in wille to amenden hem . ¶ Ac þouȝ þat thef hadde heuene  he hadde non heiȝ R.12.197: A red smudge partially covers heiȝ; the same red smudge appears on the facing page, partially obscuring the to of R12.163. No boxing occurs nearby either, so the probable cause is mere spillage of a drop of the rubricator's ink. blisse . As Seint Ioh an and other seintes  þat ass erued R.12.198: R shares this form with L alone; F and beta agree on deserued. The C tradition is divided, but the surviving evidence suggests that that P subarchetype read as RL while the X subarchetype had either serued or deserued. hadde bett ere . Riȝt as so m man ȝeue me R.12.199: There is a superfluous loop above the <m> of me, in a darker ink than the text hand. mete  and sette me amydde þe flore . Ich haue mete more þan I -now  ac nauȝt so muche worchipe As þo þat sitten at þe side table  or with þe sou ereynes of þe halle . But sitte as a beggere bordeles  by my -self on þe grounde . So it fareth be þat feloun  þat a god friday was saued  He sitt noither with Ioh an Seynt Iohan  ne nil R.12.204: R's ne(1) is unique among the B copies; beta omits the word, while F rewrites the line completely. The C manuscripts are split, the X family agreeing with R while the P family supports beta's omission. Symond ne Iude . Ne with maidenes ne with martires  ne nil R.12.205: R's ne confessoures is a unique reading, the negative being omitted by beta (F has ne with Maydenys). The b-verse of the cognate C line has been revised, but it still begins with ne, as with alpha. confessoures ne widewes . But be hym -self as a soleine  and s erued on þe erthe . For he þat is ones a thef  is euermore in daunger . And as lawe liketh  to lyue or to deye R.12.208: Immediately below this line, and above R12.209, there is a scribally cancelled line which reads And reddite vnicuiq ue iuxta op era sua . . ~~And reddite vnicuiq ue iuxta op era sua~~ De peccato p ropiciato noli e sse sine metu . And forto s eruen a seynt  and suche a thef to -gyderes . It were nother reson ne riȝt  to rewarde rewarde hem R.12.211: Nearly all the other B copies (including F) attest rewarde hem at this point, but Cx agrees with R in omitting hem. bothe I -liche . j i us And riȝt as troianus þe trewe kniȝt  tilde nauȝt depe i n helle Þat our e lorde ne hadde hym liȝtliche oute  so leue I þe þe thef be i n heuene . R.12.213: Alpha was clearly missing the key word of the b-verse, thef, a fact which F, as is his custom, attempts to cover over ( so leve y it be in hevene). Beta reads this b-verse precisely as does R, with one addition: so leue I þe thef be in heuene. For he is in þe lowest of heuene  if our e be -leue be trewe . And wollosliche wol losliche he lolleth þer e  be þe lawe of holy cherche . And Quia R.12.216: R's And is unique (but Cx attests the Latin equivalent, Et). Beta reads quia (or Qui), while F begins the line with the phrase Þere þe byble seyþ. reddite reddit R.12.216: Beta has reddit. Cx witnesses reddet. vnicuiq ue iuxta opera sua . ¶ Ac And whi þ at on thef vpon on R.12.217: In this a-verse, R's Ac and vpon are unique among the B copies. For the former, F has But while beta reads And. For the latter, F and beta concur in reading on. Though eight C manuscripts support the latter reading, it seems likely that Cx agreed on both variants with R. þe cros  creaunt hym ȝelde . Rather þan þat other thef  þouȝ þow woldest apose . Alle þe clerkes vnder criste  ne couthe skile þe skil R.12.219: R uniquely omits þe before skile. telle assoille . R.12.219: R's telle is an alpha reading; beta and Cx show assoille. Quare placuit quia voluit . ¶ And so I seye be þe  þat sekest after þe whies . And aresonedest resou n  a rebukyng e as it were . And willest of briddes and of bestes  & of her e bredyng e to knowe . Whi so mme be low alowe and so mme a -lofte  þi likyng e it were . And of þe floures in þe frith  and of her e faire hewes . Where -of þei cacche here colour coloures R.12.226: Beta has coloures.  so clere and so briȝte . And of stones þe stones R.12.227: R uniquely omits þe before stones. and of þe sterres  þow studiest as I leue . How ever best other bridde  hath so breme wittes . ¶ Clergie ne kende wit  ne knewe neu ere þe cause . Ac kende knoweth þe cause hym -selue  no creatur e elles . He is þe pye pyes R.12.231: R's pye is a unique, unmarked genitive. All the other B manuscripts read pyes. patroen  and put putteth R.12.231: put, 3rd sg. pres. ind., "puts." Though Hm and Cr support this alpha form, most beta witnesses read putteth. it in her e ere . Þat þere þe thorne is thikkest  þer e nil R.12.232: Beta omits alpha's þere(2). to buylde and brede . And kende kenned þe pecok  to cauken in suche a kende . And kende nil R.12.234: Beta omits kende. kenned Adam  to knowen his p riue membres . And tauȝte hym and eue  to helyen hem with leues . ¶ Lewed men many tymes  maistres þei apposen . Whi adam ne huled nauȝt furst  his mouth þat ete þe appel . Rather þan his likkh am alowe  lewed asken þus clerkes . ¶ Kende knoweth whi he dede so  ac no clerke elles . Ac of briddes and of bestes  men be olde tyme . Ensaumples toke and termes  as telleth þis poetes . And þat þe fairest foule  foulest engendreth . And febelest foule of fliȝt is  þat fleth or swymmeth . And þat is þe pecok and þe po -hen proude  riche men þei betokeneth . For þe pecok and men pursuen hym  ne nil R.12.245: R's ne seems to be a unique addition to the text witnessed by the other B manuscripts, but it may in fact be the alpha lection, if F misread his exemplar's ne as he. may nouȝt fle heye . For þe trailyng e of his taile  ouertaken is he sone . And his flesche is foule flesch  and his fete bothe . And vnloueliche of ledene  and laithe for to here . ¶ Riȝt so þe riche  if he his ricchesse kepeth kepe . R.12.249: R's kepeth is an alpha form (F = kepiþ); cf. beta's kepe. And deleth it nauȝt til his deth day  þe taile of alle sorwe . Riȝt as þe pennes of þe pecok  payned hym in his fliȝte . So is posession payne  of pans and of nobles . To alle hem þat it holdeth  til here taile be plokked . And þouȝ þe riche repente þanne  and be -rewe þe tyme . Þat eu ere he gadered so grete  and gaf þer e -of so litel . Þouȝ he crie to criste þanne  with kene wille I leue . His ledene be in our e lordes ere  lyl ly[k] lyke apyes a pyes . And whanne his caroyne schal come  in caue to be buried . I leue it flaume ful foule  þe folde al aboute . And alle þe othere þere it lith  enuenymed R.12.260: Both L and Cr concur in this verb form; F and most beta manuscripts read enuenymeþ. þoruȝ his atter . By þe po feet is vnderstonded vnderstonde(n) R.12.261: R's vnderstonded is a unique form. Most of the other B manuscripts have vnderstonde.  as I haue lerned in auynet . Executores fals frendes  þat fulfille nauȝt his wille . Þat was writen and þei witnesses witnesse R.12.263: R's explicit plural marking here is unique, but the other B manuscripts, attesting "witnesse," are presumably intending the same meaning as R, using an unmarked plural of the noun, as is found at R2.108.  to werche riȝt as he it R.12.263: Beta reads it. wolde . Þus þe poet p reueth  þat þe pecok for his federes is reu erenced . Riȝt so is þe riche  be reson of his godes . ¶ Þe larke þat is a lasse foule  is more loueliche of ledene . And wel a -way of wenge  swifter þen þe There is a diagonal tear in the parchment running from this point to the end of swettere in the next line. The scribe has left a gap of approximately 5 spaces between þe and pecok to accommodate this pre-existing imperfection. pecok . And of flesche be fele folde  fatter e and swett ere . To lowe libynge men  þe larke is resembled . ¶ For nil R.12.270: Beta omits For. aristotel þe grete clerk  suche tales he telleth . Þus he likeneth in his glosing e logyk R.12.271: R's non-alliterating stave, glosinge, is descended from alpha. Cf. F's glose and beta's logyk. Although the line is partially revised in the C version, the key term, logyk, agrees with beta's stave word.  þe lest foule oute . And wher e he be saf or nouȝt saf  þe sothe wote no clergie . Ne of sortes ne of salomon  no scriptur e can telle . Ac god is so god I hope  þ at sitth he gaf hem wittes . To wissen vs weyes þere -with  þat wissen vs to be saued . And þe better e for here bokes  to bidden we ben holden . Þat god for his grace  gyue her e soule soules R.12.277: R's soule is an alpha variant (cf. F's sowle). Beta reads a plural, soules, the same reading found in Cx. reste . j ij us For lettred men were lewed men ȝut  ne wer e lore of þe her R.12.278: Beta has her for R's þe. F omits all determiners. bokes . R.12.278: Here the scribe fails to skip a line, even though he marks the next line as beginning a new verse paragraph. ¶ Alle þise clerkes q uod I þo  þat on criste leuen  . Seggen in here sarmons  þat nother sarasynes ne iewes . Ne no creature of cristes liknesse  with -oute cristendom worth saued . ¶ Contra q uod I q uod quod ymaginatif þo  and cumsed for to loure . And seyde saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicij . R.12.283: The left side of this boxed line is left open, unconnected. ¶ Ergo saluabitur q uod he  and seyde namore latyn . Troian us was a trewe kniȝt  and toke neu ere cristendome . And he sauf so seyth þe boke  and his soule in heuene . Ac For R.12.287: Cf. F's But and beta's For. Among the C copies, UcTChNc agree with F's reading and most the of the P family simply omit the opening conjunction, but most of the X family manuscripts support R's Ac. þere is fullyng e of fonte  and fullyng e in blode schedyng e . And þoruȝ fuir is fullyng e  and þat is ferme byleue . Aduenit ignis diuinus no n co mburens s ed illuminans illuminans &c . ¶ Ac treuthe trewth þat R.12.290: Here alpha omitted an essential relative pronoun; cf. beta's trewth þat trespassed . Beta's reading is also that of C. trespased neu ere  ne transu ersed aȝen his lawe . But lyued lyueth as his lawe tauȝte techeth R.12.291: Beta's version of this a-verse shows present-tense verb forms: lyueth and techeth. Though a few copies of C agree with beta on these tenses, the preponderance of evidence from the C manuscripts supports the originality of R's readings.  and leueth þer e be no bettere . And if þer e were he walde amende  and in suche wille deyeth . Ne wolde neu ere trewe god  but trewe nil R.12.293: Beta omits trewe, presumably because it was sensed as redundant with the following noun. F strikes the entire phrase (i.e., trewe treuthe ) and replaces it with his wil. Cx agrees with R. treuthe wer e alowed . And wer e it worth or worth nauȝte  þe byleue is grete of treuthe . And an hope hangynge þer e -in  to haue a mede for his treuthe . For d eus dicit ur q uasi dans vitam et erna m suis . hoc e st fidelib us . Et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis . &c etera . ¶ Þe glose graunteth vpon þat verse  a grete mede to trewe trew[þ]e treuthe . And wit The scribe has skipped approximately five spaces here to allow for a diagonal tear in the parchment; it extends down into the next line, where extra spaces are allowed between kepe and with. Cf. note at , which describes the textual position of the same imperfection on the opposite side of this sheet. and wisdom q uod þ at weye R.12.299: Weye, "person, being, man."  was su m -tyme tresor . To kepe with a comune  no catel was holde bet ere . And muche murthe and manhede  & riȝt myd with R.12.301: Both F and beta have with. þat he vanesched . pass us xii us Passus duodecim us [tertius] decim us de visione vt sup ra . A nd I awaked þer e -with  witles nerehande . And as a freke þat fere fre R.13.2: Cf. F's a-feerd and beta's fre. Cx appears to have had feye, but X, the best single copy of the final version of Piers Plowman, reads fayre (with the last two letters erased later). wer e  forth gan I walken . In maner of a mendinaunt  many ȝere after . And of þis metyng e many tymes tyme  muche þouȝt I hadde . Furst how fortune me failed  at my moste nede . And how þat elde mansed manaced me  miȝte we eu er meten . ¶ And how þat freres folwed  folke þat was riche . And folke þat was pore  att litel pris þei sette . And no corps in here kirkeȝerde  ne in here kirke wer e was R.13.9: This is a unique reading in R; the other B manuscripts show the indicative was. buried . But quik he by -queth hem auȝt  or schulde help quite her dettes . And how þus þis R.13.11: R's þus is unique; other B copies have þis (LMWHm). Most X family copies of the C version agree with the F/beta reading, but four P family copies (RcScZKc) agree with R. Some manuscripts of both major families omit the lection completely. coueytise ouer -cam  clerkes and prestes . R.13.11: There is a pointing hand here in the right margin. ☜ And how þat lewed men ben ladde  but our e lorde hem helpe . Þoruȝ vnkunnyng e curatoures  to incurable peynes . R.13.13: Here RF omit seven lines attested in the beta manuscripts: And how þat ymagynatyf in dremeles me tolde Of kynde and of his connyng and how curteise he is to bestes And how louynge he is to bestes on londe and on water Leneth he no lyf lasse ne more Þe creatures þat crepen of kynde ben engendred And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde vix iustus saluabitur And whan he had seyde so how sodeynelich he passed . ¶ I lay doun longe in þis thouȝte  and at þe last I slepte . And as A dark smudge partially obscures as in line 15 as well as the first two words of line 16. criste wolde þer e come co nsience  to co nforte me i n nil R.13.15: R's in is unique; the other manuscripts omit it. þat tyme . And bad me come to his courte  with clergie schuld I dyne . ¶ And for consience of clergie spake  I cam R.13.17: This is an alpha variant; beta reads come (presumably a preterite as in alpha). wel þe rather e . And þer e I say a mayster  what man he was I neste . Þat lowe louted  and loueliche to scriptur e . ¶ Consience knewe hym wel  and welcomed hym fair e . Þei weschen and wipeden  and wente to þe diner . ¶ Ac pacience in þe paleis stode  in pilgrimes clothes . And preyed mete for charite  for a pore eremite . ¶ Consience called hym in  and curteisliche seide . Welcome weye R.13.25: Weye, "person, being, man." go and wasche  þow schalt sitte sone . ¶ Þis meyster was made sitte  as for þe most worthi . And þanne clergie and consience  and pacience cam after . ¶ Pacience and I  were pote to ben mettes macches . R.13.28: For alpha's mettes, beta has macches. Though two C manuscripts agree with beta (one being the highly contaminated N, Cx agrees with alpha. And seten be our e -selue  at a side -borde . ¶ Consience called after mete  and þanne cam sc riptur e . And serued hym R.13.31: Though Hm and B concur with R's hym, both F and beta have hem; this is also the reading of Cx. þus sone  of sondri metes many . Of austyn of ambrose  of alle þe four e eu aungelistz . Edentes et bibentes  que apud eos sunt . Ac þis mayster ne his man  no man er flesch eeten . Ac þei hadde ete(n) R.13.35: Where RF read hadde, the beta manuscripts show several variants of eten. Although this passage is revised in C, the verb in the revision agrees with beta. metes mete of more coste  mortrewes and potages . j iij us n ota Of þat men mys -wonnen  þei maden hem wel at ese . A bracket in the left margin joins these lines together. A nota appears to the left of it. Ac here sause was ouer sour e  and vnsau ourly grounde . In a morter post mortem  of many bitter peyne . But if þei synge for þo soules  with and many wepe R.13.39: R's with is unique, but many is an alpha variant (the beta phrase = and wepe). Cx agrees with beta. salt teres . Vos qui peccata ho mi num comeditis  n isi p ro eis lac rimas & orac io nes effu nderit is . Ea que in delicijs  in nil comed is comed is[tis] comeditis R.13.41: R's in comedis is unique and ungrammatical; cf. F's comedistis and beta's comeditis. Cx agrees with beta. in tormentis euometis . ¶ Consience ful curteyslich þo  comau nded scriptur e . by -fore pacience brede to bringe  and me þat was his mete macche . R.13.43: Once more, for alpha's mete, beta had either macche or make. Though two C manuscripts agree with beta (one being the highly contaminated N), Cx agrees with alpha. ¶ He sette a sour e lof to -fore vs  & seyde agite penitencia m . And sith he drouȝ vs drinke  dia p erseuerans . ¶ As longe q uod he  as lif quod I as I lyue R.13.46: R's phrasing here is unique; F reverses the phrase (= as lyf quod he); most beta copies have quod I as I lyue (manuscript O concurs with alpha in attesting the third-person pronoun). However, most C manuscripts read the phrase as R does. and likam may dur e . Her e is p ropre s eruise q uod pacience  þer e fareth no prince bett ere . ¶ And þanne he brouȝt vs forth a mees of other mete  of mis erer e mei mei deus R.13.48: F and all beta copies except Cr add deus to the end of this scriptural citation, but the entire text is deleted from C. And he brouȝt of vs of R.13.49: R's phrasing here is unique. Beta adds vs before of. F completely revises the line. beati quor um  and nil R.13.49: R uniquely supplies and to the text attested by beta at this point. F completely revises the line. of beatus vir his makyng e . And R.13.50: For R's And, F shows & (but in a completely rephrased line) while beta reads Et. quor um tecta sunt peccata  in a dische . R.13.50: R agrees with the beta manuscripts against F in attesting a line break between KD13.54α and KD13.55 after dische. Although this is impossible, and F correctly senses that Langland's alliterative pattern requires a line break immediately after the Latin quotation, it is much more likely that this represents one of F-redactor's many shrewd editorial guesses than that F alone here retains by vertical transmission the reading of Bx. Of derne schrift dixi  and confitebor tibi Bryng e pacience so mme pytaunce  p riuelich q uod consience . ¶ Þanne And þanne R.13.53: R uniquely omits And at the head of this line. hadde pacience a pitaunce . R.13.53: Where RF divide this material from the ensuing quotation, most beta manuscripts join it to the Latin in a single long line. Pro hac orabit ad te R.13.54: Here beta distinctively adds ad te to the Latin quotation. However, in a homologous but heavily revised passage, Cx agrees with alpha in omitting this prepositional phrase from the same citation. om nis sanctus  in tempore oportuno . And consience conforted vs  and carped vs mrie m[e]rie mery tales . Cor contritu m et humiliatu m deus non despicies . Pacience was proude  of þat p ropre s eruise . And made hym murth with his mene mete R.13.58: R's mene is unique; cf. F's mowht and beta's mete. Cx agrees with beta.  ac I murned eu ere . For þis doctor vp -on on þis R.13.59: R's vp-on is unique; R shares þis with Hm alone but shares hey with beta. F reads on þe dees while beta reads on þe heigh dese. hey deyes  dronk wyn so faste . Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendu m vinu m . And He eet R.13.61: Cf. R's And eet to F's Þey etym and beta's He eet. Cx agrees with R. many sondry metes  mortrewes and poddynges . Nota Wombe cloutes and wilde brawn  and egges fryed with grece . Þanne sayde I to my -self so  pacience it herde . It is nauȝt four e dayes þat þis freke  by -fore þe den of seynt nil R.13.64: R's seynt is a unique addition. poules . Preched of penaunces  þat poul þe apostel suffrede . In fam fam[e] fame et frigore  and flappes of scourges . Ter cesus su m  et a iudeis quinquies quadrag enas quadragenas &c . Ac o worde þei ouer -huppen  at vch a tyme þ at þei p rechen . Þat poule in his pistel  to alle þe poeple tolde . Et in p ericulo Periculum est in R.13.70: R uniquely differs from the other B manuscripts in rendering the opening phrase of this citation as Et in periculo (cf. beta's Periculum est in). F joins R in omitting est but otherwise attests the same text as beta. The C manuscripts divide on this lection, many P copies agreeing with F while the X family supports beta's reading. falsis fratrib us . Holy writ bit men be -war  I wil nauȝt writen it here . In englich an auentur e  it schuld be rehersed to ofte . And greue þer e -with þat gode men ben  ac gramerienes schul rede . Vnusquisq ue a fr atre se custodiat . Quia vt dicitur p ericulu m est in falsis fratrib us . ¶ I Ac I R.13.76: Alpha and G omit beta's Ac at the opening of this line; though the b-verse in the cognate C line is substantially revised, the opening agrees completely with beta. wist neu ere freke þat as frere a frere R.13.76: R uniquely omits a from the phrase attested by beta (but F uniquely revises the entire a-verse). ȝede  by -fore men an englich Taken it for here teme  and tellen it with -outen glosynge . Ac nil R.13.78: Both R and F attest an alpha line introduced by a contrastive conjunction (R = Ac; F = But); beta clearly omitted such a conjunction, and Cx agrees with beta. þei p rechen þat penaunce  is p rofitable to þe soule . And what mischief and male -ese crist for man tholede . Ac þis godes glotou n q uod I  with his grete chekes . Hath no pite on vs pore  he parfourneth euele . Þat he precheth and nil R.13.82: Where R attests and, F has þus & while beta reads he. Most of the X family of C witnesses agree with R. Manuscripts UcDcTCh and most of the P family agree with beta. p reueth preueth nouȝt R.13.82: Both R and F omit the required negative after preueth (beta's phrase = he preueth nouȝt. F substitutes yt). Apparently this omission derives from alpha. The reading of Cx for this a-verse mostly agrees with beta's.  to pacience I tolde . And wisched witterly  with wil ful egre . Þat disches and dobleres  by -for þis doctor þis ilke doctour R.13.84: F reads the end of this b-verse as þe doctour; beta has þis ilke doctour . Wer molte lede in here his R.13.85: R's here is unique; the other manuscripts read his. mawe  and mahoun a -myddes . I schal iangle to þis iurdan  with his iuysty iust R.13.86: This is the alpha reading (F = Iusty). The beta form is iust. Although two C manuscripts (TCh) agree with alpha's form, the Cx reading was iuyste. wombe . To telle me what penaunce is  of whiche he p reched þer e ay rather R.13.87: R's þer e ay is unique; cf. F's euere and beta's rather. . Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt  and bad wynked on R.13.88: R's bad is an alpha reading; cf. beta's wynked on . me be to be stille . And seyde þow schalt se þus sone  whan he may na more He schal haue a penaunce in his paunche  and puffe at vch a worde . And þanne schullen his guttes godle  and he schal galpen aft er. For now he hath dronke so depe  he wole dyuyne sone And prouen it here it [in] here it by her R.13.93: The source of this emendation is F, which presumptively preserves alpha here; cf. beta's it by her pocalips . Most C witnesses agree with beta. pocalips  and passion of seynt auereys . Þat noþer bacou n ne braun  ne nil R.13.94: Beta omits ne(2). Among the C copies, the X family agrees with alpha on its inclusion while the P family agrees with beta in omitting ne(2). blaumanger ne mortrewes . Is nother fisch ne flesch  but fode for þe a penauntes penaunte . R.13.95: R's þe is unique; F omits a determiner here but agrees with R on penauntes, which is an alpha variant; beta reads the singular, a penaunte. Though C manuscript N agrees with beta (presumably as a result of its usual pattern of micro-contamination), none of the other C copies does and Cx agrees with F. And þan schal he testifie of a trinite  and take his felawe to witnesse . What he fonde in a freiel  after a frer e freres R.13.97: The unmarked possessive, frere, is unique to R; other B manuscripts read freres. However, among the C copies, the predominant form in X family manuscripts is the same as R's. leuyng e . R.13.97: The punctus is topped by a diagonal slash that rises slightly toward the right; no conventional punctuation mark used by the R scribe matches it. Furthermore, there appears to be a superfluous dot below and slightly to the right of the <g> of leuynge. And but if þe furste lyne be lesynge  leue me neuer after And þanne is tyme to talke R.13.99: Though O agrees with R, beta reads take, a lection also supported by most of the X family of C manuscripts. F has a-posen, but F has also revised the b-verse for this line. Most P family witnesses (and several X family copies) agree with R and O on talke.  and to appose þis doctour . Of dowel and of dobet  and ȝif dobest be any penaunce . ¶ And I sat stille as pacience seide  and þus sone þis doctour . As rodi as a rose  robbed his chekes . Couȝwede and carpede  and consience hym herde . j iiij us And tolde hym of a trinite  and toward vs he loked . ¶ What is dowel sir doctour q uod I  is do -best dowel R.13.105: In place of alpha's dobest, beta reads dowel. Once more, N is unique among the C copies, mirroring its beta collational source (= dowel), while several C manuscripts read dobet; nevertheless, Cx clearly agrees with alpha. any penaunce . ¶ Dowel q uod þis doctour  and dronk after toke þe cuppe and dranke R.13.106: R and F differ slightly here (F = dronk a -non þere -after ), but alpha's version of this phrase was obviously quite different from beta's. The entire beta b-verse reads and toke þe cuppe and dranke. Though N reproduces beta's b-verse exactly, all the other C manuscripts support alpha, with Cx reading and he dronke aftur. . Do non euel to þin euencristene  nauȝt by þi power e . ¶ By þis day sir doctour q uod I  þanne be ȝe nauȝt in dowel . For ȝe haue R.13.109: R's haue is the alpha form (supported by Cr); beta reads han. harmed vs to  in þat ȝe eten þe puddynge . Morterewes and other mete  and we no mussel hadde . And ȝe if ȝe R.13.111: Among the B witnesses, R uniquely omits if before ȝe. However, the opening phrase of the same line in Cx shows full agreement with R (though the remainder of the line is revised). fare so in ȝour e fermerie  ferly me thenketh . But cheste be þere charite schulde be  R.13.112: R uniquely splits this line in half. And ȝonge children durst pleyne . I wolde p ermute my penaunce with ȝour e . for I am in poynt to dowel . ¶ Þanne consience ful nil R.13.115: R's ful is an alpha variant omitted by beta. As usual, C manuscript N agrees with beta's omission, but Cx agrees with alpha. curteislich  a contenaunce he nil made . And prentede preynte R.13.116: R's verb inflection here is unique; F chooses an entirely different lexical root and produces plukkid, while beta reads preynte. Cx agrees with beta. vpon pacience  to prey me to be stille . And seyde hym -selue sir dottour R.13.117: OED2 fails to note this form. It might represent nothing more than a slip of the pen creating an accidental ascender on the <c>. But the R scribe clearly renders this word in the same way at R18.369 as well. MED cites a parallel from a fifteenth-century manuscript of Hilton's Scale of Perfection: "If þei wilen vndirstonden holi writ and dottours sawes þerof, þei schulden finden as I seye."  and it be your e wille . What is dowel and dobet  ȝe dyuinoures knoweth . Dowel q uod þis doctour  dos do R.13.119: Cf. R's dos with beta's do and F's ys to doon. as clerkes techeth . And do -bet is he þat techeth  and traueyleth to teche other . And dobest doth hym -self so  as he seith and p recheth . Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celor um ¶ Now þou clergie q uod co nsience  carpest what is dowel . I haue sones seuene sones R.13.124: Before sones, R omits seuene, an omission exclusively shared with L (whose corrector supplies the missing word in the right margin). Because of the stemmatic primacy and steady accuracy of both L and R, only two explanations of this apparent omission seem plausible. Either an authorial marginal in Bx was transmitted in the same form by both alpha and beta, allowing the L and R scribes each to overlook it by chance, while other beta scribes noticed and inserted it into their text; or there is no omission here at all, merely an editorial addition of seuene by the scribe of beta prime (progenitor of the CrW subset of beta), a change which then was passed laterally to the corrector of L. In favor of this latter possibility is the fact that the line is metrically unexceptionable in the form shared by LR, and the fact that a reiterative phrase, þo seuene, is invoked two lines below this passage by the archetypal text. The wording there could well suggest to anyone that the number reference might have dropped out of the earlier line and thus invited early editorial "repair." On the other hand, the strongest evidence in favor of the first hypothesis (randomly shared LR error caused by an overlooked marginal) is that seuene occurs in M as part of the scribe's original copying and not as an erasure / writeover (the usual sign, in this otherwise independent witness, of later lateral "correction" from the CrW branch of beta). The line does not appear in the C version. he seyde  s eruen in a castel . Þer e þe lorde of lif woneth  to leren hym R.13.125: R shares the spelling hym exclusively with beta copies LM; HmCGYBF read hem and WCrO simply omit any pronoun. The RLM form is likely that of Bx but as such may be merely a Northern relict: hym = standard hem. However, Schmidt assumes that the sons of Clergy in this puzzling allegory are the teachers (rather than the pupils) of the Lord of Life; if so, then hym would be a singular, a substantive lection preserved solely in these three witnesses. what is dowel . ¶ Til I se þo seuene  and my -selue acorden . I am vn -hardy q uod he to eny wiȝt p roue to preue(n) R.13.127: R's proue is shared exclusively with F; cf. beta's to preue(n). it . For on peres þe plowman  hath inpugned vs alle And sett alle science at a soep  saue loue one . And no tix tix[t] tixte ne taketh  to meyntene his cause . But dilige deu m  and d omine quis habitabit &c etera . And seyth þat dowel and dobet  aren to infinites . Which infinites with a faith  fynde oute dobest Which schal saue mannes soule  þus seyth peres þe plowma n . R.13.134: After this line, the R scribe omits his usual line break between verse paragraphs, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ I can nauȝt here -on q uod consience  ac I knowe wel peres . He wil nauȝt aȝeynes holy writ speke  I dar wel vndertaken . R.13.136: Between fols. 60 and 61 there was a leaf removed (the original cognate of fol. 60) in the course of producing R. Its stub, which measures an average width of 1.4 cm., was pasted down to the current fol. 61, causing this quire (the ninth) to be an irregular one of 7 leaves (8-1). No evidence of text loss or irregularity is apparent in the immediate vicinity of this intervention, but something must have been awry, either with the scribe's initial "casting off" of text, or with his first try at copying fol. 61, to cause such a radical intervention as cancelling a leaf. It may be significant that the text on current fol. 61v begins precisely at a point where the beta manuscripts omit nine lines of authorial material. If this material existed as a marginal addition or an attached slip in R's exemplar, it may have been initially overlooked (as in beta) but then noticed in time to remedy by means of excising a singleton and recopying. Whatever occurred may also relate to a gradual change in lineation noticeable from early in the seventh quire (41r-48v): while the earlier fascicles of R are ruled exclusively for 36 lines, beginning at 42v most sides are ruled for 37, and at the crucial fol. 60, both sides are ruled for 38 lines. Þanne passe we ouer til peres come  and p reue þis in dede . Pacience hath be in many a nil place R.13.138: R's a place is unique; F's agreement here with LWHm in omitting a suggests that Bx read as they do. The other beta copies render this lection as places  and par -auentur e knoweth . Þat no clerke can ne can R.13.139: R's omission of negation before can is an alpha reading shared with OC 2; beta has ne can.  as crist bereth witnesse . Pacientes vincunt et cetera  At your e preiere q uod pacience þo  so no man displese hem hym . R.13.141: R's hem is unique; the other manuscripts have hym. Disce q uod he doce  dilige inimicos . Disce and dowel  doce and do -bett . Dilige and dobest  þus tauȝt me ones . A lemman þat I louede  loue was hir e name . With wordes and with werkes q uod sche  and wille of þin herte . R.13.147: R uniquely omits Þow at the head of this line. F, on the other hand, preserves all the elements but reverses the phrasing of the a-verse to þy sowle þowh love leely . Loue Þow loue lely þi soule  al þi Iif -tyme  And so to lere and þow lere þe to louye R.13.148: Alpha's a-verse seems to have been garbled here; cf. F's & so to leerne to lowe the and beta's presumably archetypal And so þow lere þe to louye .  for þe lordes loue of heuene . Þin enemye in alle wise  euenforth with þi -selue . Cast coles on his hede  of alle kynde speche . Both with werkes and with wordes  fonde his loue to wynne . And ley on hym þus with loue  til he lauȝhe on þe . And but he bow for þis betyng e  blynde mote he worthe . ¶ Ac for to far e þus with þi frende  foly it were . For he þat loueth þe lelly  lyte of þin desireth coueiteth . R.13.155: R's desireth is an alpha variant; cf. beta's coueiteth. Kende loue coueyteth nauȝte  no catel but speche . With half a laumpe lyne in latyn . Ex vi transic ionis . ¶ I bere þere -inne a -boute  fast I -bou nde dowel . In a signe of þe saterday  þat sette furste þe kalender . And alle þe wit of þe wednesday  of þe next weke after Þe myddel of þe mone  is þe miȝte of bothe . And here -with am I welcome  þere I haue it with me . Vndo it and nil late þis doctour se deme R.13.163: The presumably archetypal se is shared by RF with L (whose lection was sen before "correction" to the common beta reading, deme). R's and and where are alpha variants; and is simply omitted by beta manuscripts while the meaning of where is rendered in beta by if.  wher e if dowel be her e -inne þer-inne R.13.163: R's her e -inne is unique. The other witnesses read þerinne. . For by hym þat me made  miȝte neu ere pou erte . Miseyse ne mischief  ne man with his tonge . Colde ne care ne companye of theues  Ne nother hete ne hayl  ne non helle pouke . Ne nother fuer ne flode  ne fer e of þin enemy . Tene þe eny tyme  and þow take it with þe . Caritas nichil timet . And eek eek so haue god my soule  and þow wilt it love craue . These lines are omitted by the beta manuscripts. F offers numerous variants from R's readings in these lines—and completely omits text for KD13.169 and 171 (= R13.176 and 178)—so the most efficient representation of these differences is to cite F's text here completely (cf. Appendix 1, R13.171-79, for details and any cross-references to the C version): & eek so have god my soule / & þou wilt love crave. Þere nys Emperour ne Empresse / neyþir Erl ne baroun. Þat pure resoun shal the make. Mayster of alle men / þoruhȝ myght of his reede. Nowht þoruh no ryche craft / but þoruh wit of hem -selue. To ȝeve þe al þat þey may ȝeve / as þou for beest ȝeemere. Pacientes vincunt Þere nys neyther nil emp erour ne emp eresse  erl kyng e neyþer erl ne barou n . Pope ne nil patriarch þat puyr e reson ne schal shal the R.13.173: Where R has ne schal, F errs by omitting negation, producing instead shal the. make . Þe nil meyster of alle þo nil men  þoruȝ miȝt of þis redeles his reede . Nouȝt thoruȝ wicche -crafte no ricche crafte but thoruȝ wit  & þow wilt þi -selue of hem . Do kyng e and quene  and alle þe comune after . Ȝyue To ȝeve þe alle þat þei may ȝiue  as þe þou for best ȝemere . R.13.177: R's ȝyue is witnessed in F as To ȝeve; in the b-verse, R's as þe reads as þ(o)u. And as þou demest wil þei do  alle here dayes after . Pacientes vincunt . &c etera vincunt . ¶ It is but a dido q uod þis doctor  a disoures tale . Alle þe wit of þis worlde  ne and R.13.181: R's ne is an alpha variant; cf. beta's and. The same variation is attested in the C version, the X family agreeing with beta while the P family supports alpha's reading. wiȝte mennes strenthe . Can nauȝt conformen a pes  by -twene þe pope and his enemys Ne by -twene to cristen kynges  can no wiȝt pes make . Profitable to aither poeple  and put þe table from hym . And toke clergie and consience  to conseil as it were . Þat pacience þo mote R.13.186: R's mote is a unique form here, though its semantics are identical with beta's most(e). F completely revises the a-verse, producing & leet Pacyense forþ passe. passe  for pilgrimes ku nne wel lye . ¶ Ac consience carped a -loude loude R.13.187: R's a -loude is a unique form. The other manuscripts show loude.  and curteysliche seyde . Frendes fareth wel  and fair e spake to clergie . For I wil go with þis gome  if god wil gyue me g race . And be pilgrime with pacience  til I haue p roued more . ¶ What q uod clergie to consience  ar e ȝe coueytous nowthe . After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes  other or R.13.192: R's other is unique. The remaining B witnesses all begin the b-verse with or. ȝernen to rede redeles . I schal bringe ȝow a bible  a boek of þe olde lawe . And lere ȝow if ȝe ȝow liken R.13.194: Cf. beta's ȝow lyke.  þe lest poynt to knowe . Pacience Þat pacience R.13.195: R uniquely omits Þat at the head of this line. þe pilgrime  parfitlych knew eu erre neuere R.13.195: R's euerre is shared solely with Hm. Beta and F read neuere, which is required by the sense of the sentence. . ¶ Nay by crist q uod consience to clergie  god þe forȝelde . For alle þat pacience me p rofereth  proud am I litel . Ac þe wille of þe weye R.13.198: Weye, "person, being, man."  and þe wil R.13.198: R's apparent omission of the preposition of before folk is not reflected in F but is shared with several key beta manuscripts. It is quite likely here that R is accurately representing an earlier textual transmission error, not merely creating one of his own. The most salient clue lies in the fact that of is also omitted by L (the best beta copy) as well as by M, C and B. The preposition is later inserted into M above the line by Hand2 (a scribe trying to re-work M's text to match that of the CrW sub-family). These facts suggest that of was either completely omitted or interlinear in Bx, that it was inserted (or remained obscurely interlinear) in beta, and was overlooked by alpha. Then F, who is more attentive to the need for such tidying than is the R scribe, and who has a variety of collational sources at his disposal, simply resupplied it. Cf. this textual situation to that found at R.13.124:. On the other hand, Burrow and Turville-Petre prefer simply defending the reading found in R and L as a "harder reading," by glossing wil as an adjective (= "errant"). As is frequently the case with such suggestions, one must decide whether the reading proposed is merely "harder" or in fact metrically awkward and semantically unlikely. folk here . Hath meued my moed  to mourne for my synnes . Þe gode wille of vch nil a R.13.200: Cf. R's vch a to F's euery and beta's a. wiȝt was nere neure R.13.200: R's nere is a unique form; all the other copies have neure. bouȝt to þe fulle . For þere nys R.13.201: R's nys is shared only with L and W (the others read is); however, the attestational authority of these three copies in agreement makes it likely that their form represents the reading of Bx. no tresor þere -to  to a trewe wille . ¶ Haued nauȝt marie nil R.13.202: R's marie is an alpha variant; beta omits it. magdeleyne more  for a box of salue . Þanne zacheus for he seyde  dimidiu m bonor um meor um do paup erib us . And þe pore wydewe  for a peyre of mytes . Þan alle þo þat offreden  in -to gazophilaciu m . ¶ Þus curteyslyche consience  congeyd ferst þe frere . And sitthen softeliche he seyde  in clergies ere Me were leuer be oure lorde  and I lyue schulde . Haue pacience parfiteliche  þan half þi pakke of bokes . ¶ Clergie and to R.13.210: R's and and F's ne attest to an alpha failure to grasp the meaning of the passage; cf. beta's to (the reading of LHmOCYB) and the easier reading adopted by CrWG (= of). M was altered at some point to the latter reading but almost certainly agreed originally with L. consience  no congeye wolde take . But seyde ful sobreliche  þow schalt se þe tyme . Whan þow art weri for -walked  wilne me to conseill e . ¶ Þat is soth seyde consience  so me god helpe  If pacience be our e partyng e felawe  & pryue with vs bothe . Þere ne is nys wo in þis werlde  þat we ne schulde amende . And conformen kynges to pees  of and R.13.216: At this point, beta has and. alle kynne londes . And nil R.13.217: And is an alpha variant; the beta manuscripts omit it. sarasynes and surrie  and so forth alle iewes þe iewes R.13.217: R's alle iewes shows a unique omission; all the other witnesses have alle þe iewes. . Turnen in to þe trewe faith  and in til one byleue . ¶ Þat is soth q uod clergie  I se what þow menest . I schal dwelle as I do  my deuer to schewen . And conformen fauntekynes  and other folke I -lered . Til pacience haue p roued þe  and parfit þe maked . ¶ Consience þo with pacience passed  pilgrimes as it were . Þanne hadde pacience  as pilgrimes han  i n his poke vitales . Sobrete and symple speche  and sothfaste byleue . To confort hym and consience  if þei come in place . Þere vnkendenesse and coueytise  is honger honger[y] hungrye contreyes bothe . And as þey wenten be þe weye  and nil of dowel carpede þei carped R.13.228: R's and of dowel carpede is the alpha version of this b-verse (cf. F's & of Dowel carpeden). The beta half-line is of dowel þei carped. . Þei metten with a ministrale  as me þo thouȝte . Pacience apposed hym furst  and preyed hym he R.13.230: The phrase hym he is another example of a variant attested exclusively by LMR. The majority beta reading here is simply he while F reads hym. Cx agrees with the beta majority. schulde he m telle . To consience what craft he couthe  and to what contre he wolde . actife ¶ Ich am a ministrale q uod þat man  my name is actiua vita . R.13.232: In the right margin opposite this line appears a simple gloss: actife. This marginal gloss is in a very light brown hand and has been partially erased. Alle ydel Iche hatie  for of actif is my name . A waferer e welle R.13.234: R's welle is shared exclusively with Cr; all other B copies, including F, disagree, attesting instead some form of wil here. ȝe wite  and s erue many lordes . R.13.234: At the top right margin of this side, there is a black ink stain, which also has transferred onto the top left of 63r. At the top left margin, there are pen trials or a cartoon, extending down the left margin to R13.242. And fewe robes I fonge  or furred gounes . Coude I lye and to R.13.236: R's and is an alpha variant; beta has to. Though C manuscript N also reads to, showing its unique and typical deference to beta against all its versional siblings, Cx agrees with alpha. do men lawhe  þanne lacchen I schulde . Other mantel or mone  amonges lordes ministrales . Ac for I can nother tabre ne trumpe  ne telle none gestes . Farten ne fithelen  at festes ne harpen . Iape ne iangele iogly R.13.240: Beta reads iogly in place of alpha's iangele. Cx is uncertain; large numbers of Cwitnesses agree with each of the B sub-archetypal readings.  ne gentyliche pipe . Ne noyther sayle ne saute  ne synge with þe gyterne . I haue non gode giftes  of þis grete lordes . For no brede þat I brouȝt brynge R.13.243: The beta manuscripts read brynge. forth  saue a b en ison on þe soneday . Whanne þe prest preyeth þe poeple  her e pat ern oster to bidde . For peres þe plowman  and þat hym p rofit wayteth R.13.245: R's wayteth is an alpha form; beta shows wayten. . And þat I am actif  þat Idelnesse hatye . Of For R.13.247: R's Of is unique; cf. beta's For and F's & for. alle trewe trauailoures  and tylieres of þe erthe . Fro miȝhelmesse to miȝhelmesse  I fynde hem with waferes . ¶ Beggares and bidderes  of my brede crauen . Faitoures and freres  and folk with brode crounes . I fynde payn for þe pope R.13.251: The word pope has been cancelled with a later black horizontal line.  and p rouendre for his palfreye . And I hadde neu ere of hym  haue god my trewthe . Nother p rouendre ne personage  ȝut of þe popes R.13.253: The word popes has been cancelled with 2 later black horizontal lines. ȝiftes . Saue a pardou n with a peys of lede  and to polles a -mydde . Hadde Ich a clerke þat couthe write  I wolde caste hym a bille . laus & vis Indulgencia rum There is a brace in the left margin, calling attention to this marginal gloss. Þat he sent me vnder his sel  a salue for þe pestylence . R.13.257: The beta manuscripts read the opening of this line as And þat. Þat And þat his blissyng e and his bulles  bocches mȝte m[y]ȝte miȝte(n) destruye . In no mi ne meo demonia eicient  — Et super egros man us imponent Et bene habebunt . And þanne wolde I be prest to þe poeple  paste for to make And buxu m and busy  aboute brede and drinke . For hym and for alle his  fou nde ich þat his pardou n . Miȝt lechen a man  as Ich by -leue it schulde . For sethe he hath þe power e  þat peter hym -self hadde . He hath þe pott with þe salue  sothely as me thenketh . Argentu m & auru m no n est michi quod aute m habeo h oc nil R.13.266: Beta omits alpha's hoc; Cx is uncertain: the X family mostly agrees with beta in omitting this demonstrative, but most P family witnesses include it. tibi do . In no mi ne d omini surge et ambula . Ac if miȝt of miracle hym faile  it is for men beth R.13.268: R's inflectional form is unique here; the other B manuscripts read be(n). However, Cx agrees with R. nauȝt worthi To haue no þe R.13.269: In place of alpha's no, the beta manuscripts read þe. Cx agrees with beta. g race of god  and no gult of þe pope . R.13.269: The word pope has been cancelled with a later black horizontal line. May For may R.13.270: R uniquely omits a word at the head of this line; cf. F's Þere may and beta's For may. Cx agrees with beta. no blissyng don vs bote  but if we wil amende . Ne mannes masse make pees  amonges cristene poeple . Til pruide be priueliche purelich R.13.272: Cf. RF's priueliche with the beta variant purelich. Cx agrees with beta. fordo  and alle þat R.13.272: R's alle is unique; cf. F's omission (shared by WCrM) and the beta original reading, þat, found in LHmCOG, which is shared with Cx. þoruȝ payne defaute R.13.272: Covering the right margin opposite R13.272-73 is a black inkblot that has also transferred onto 62v. Additionally, a black stain that appears to have originated in the margin of 62v, just inside the aforementioned pen trials of 62v, seems to have transferred to lines 271-72 here, partially obscuring poeple (271) and payne (272). ¶ For ar ich haue brede of mele  ofte mote Ich swete . And ar þe comune haue corne a -now  many a cold morwenyng e . So ar my wafres ben I -wrouȝte  muche wo I tholie . ¶ Alle londou n I leue  liketh wel my waferes . And louren whan þei lakken hem  It is nauȝt longe I -passed . nota Stratford Þere was a careful comune  whan no carte come to towne . With bake nil R.13.279: Beta omits bake and thereby produces an unmetrical line of the format ax/ay. brede fro statforde st[r]atforde stratforde  þo gan beggeres wepe . And werkemen wer e agast  a litel þis wel wil be thouȝt longe . In þe date of oure driȝte  in a druye au erel . Chicestr e Maior londou n A thousend and thre hondrede  tweyes thretty and tene In the right margin opposite these lines, in a thin black, nearly contemporary hand, someone has written, Chicestr e Maior londou n . My waferes þer e wer e gesene  whanne chichestre wer e was mayre . ¶ I toke grete gode R.13.284: Beta reads gode. kepe by criste  and consience bothe . Of haukyn þe actif man  and how he was I -clothed . He hadde a cote of cristendome  as holy kyrke byleueth . Ac it was moled in many place places R.13.287: The singular form is unique; the other manuscripts show the plural, places.  with mony sondri plottes . Of pruyde he he[re] here a plotte and þer e a plotte  of unbuxu m speche . Of scornyng e and of scoffyng e  and of vnskilful berynge As in apparail and in porte  proude amonges þe poeple . Other -wise þanne he hath  with hert and or R.13.291: R's and is unique; F omits it (and completely rewrites the b-verse), while beta reads or. siȝt schewynge . Hym wilnynge willynge R.13.292: R's wilnynge is unique; cf. F's wenynge and beta's willynge. In a cognate passage (from C6), the C version agrees with R on this variant. þat alle men  wente R.13.292: Wente is a dialect variant for the preterite of ween. OED2, s. v. ween (v.), recognizes the form as viable from the thirteenth through the sixteenth centuries. he wer e þat he is nauȝte . For -whi he bosteth and braggeth  with mony bolde othes . And inobedient to be vnder -nome  of any lyf lyuynge . And so synguler e by hym -selue  as to siȝt of þe poeple nil . Was non suche as hym -selue nil  ne non so pope -holy . I -habited as an heremite  an ordre by hym -selue . Religion sauns reule  and resonable obedience . Lakkynge lettrede men  and lewed men bothe . In lykyng of lele lyf  and a lyere in soule . With in -wit and and with R.13.301: Alpha and Cr hereafter omit a repeated with found in all other beta copies. oute -wit  ymagynen and stodye . As best for his body be  to haue a bolde badde R.13.302: For alpha's bolde, the beta manuscripts have badde. name . And entermeten hym ouer alle  þer e he hath nouȝt to done . Wilnynge þat men wende  his wit were þe beste . Or for his crafty kunnynge  or nil of clerkes þe he were þe wisest . These lines are omitted by beta. F's rendering of these lines is sufficiently different from R's that F's lines should be cited in their entirety (cf. Appendix 1, R13.305-311, for details and any cross-references to the C version): Or for his crafty konyngge / of clerkis he were þe wisest. Or strengest on steede / or styffest gyrt with gyrdel. & lowlyest to loken on / & leellest of werkys. & non so holy as he / ne non of lyf clennere. Or fayrest of fetoures / of face / ne of forme. Or most sotyl of song / or slyest of hondys. Or looþ for to leene / & large for to cacche . Or strengest on stede  or styuest vnder gyrt with gurdel . And louelokest lowlyest to loken on  and lelest of werkes . And non so holy as he  ne ne non of lif clennere . Or feyrest of feytures  of fourme and of schafte face me of forme . And Or most sotyl of songe  other or sleyest of hondes . And large to lene  losse þer e -by to cacche Or looþ for to leene & large for to cacche . And if he gyueth ouȝt R.13.312: R and L alone omit the preposition to before pore. pore gomes  telle what he deleth . Pore of possession  in purs and in coffre R.13.313: Only R and L end the line with coffre; F omits the entire line and the other beta copies add boþe at the end. . And as a lion to loke on to loke R.13.314: R's omission of the preposition on after lion is unique. F includes the preposition but rearranges the phrase so that beta's a lyon on to loke is rendered a lyoun to looken on .  and lordeliche of speche . ¶ Boldest of beggeres  a bostere þat nouȝt hath . In towne and in tau ernes  tales to telle . And segge þinge þat he neu ere seyȝ  and for -soth sweren it . Of dedes þat he neu er dede  demen and boste . And of werkes þat he wel dede  witnesse and seggen . Lo if ȝe leue me nauȝt  or þat I lye wenen . Asketh at hym or at hym  and he ȝow can telle . What I suffred and seyȝ  and so mme -tymes hadde . And what I couth and knewe  and what kyn I come of . Alle he wolde þat men wist  of werkes and and of wordes R.13.324: Beta reads the final phrase of this line as werkes and of wordes . . Whiche miȝt plese þe poeple  and preysen hem -seluen . Si hominib us placerem christi s eruus non essem . Et alibi Nemo potest duob us d om inis s eruire . Both of these red boxings have been blotted and partially erased. ¶ By crist q uod consience þo  þi best cote haukyn . Hath mony moles and spottes  it most ben waschen . ¶ Ȝe ho -so toke hede q uod haukyn  by -hynde and by -fore . What on bakk and on what on body half  and bi þe to sydes . Men schuld fynde many frou nces  and many foule plottes . ¶ And he turned hym as tyte  and þanne toke I hede . It was fouler bi felfolde  þan it furst semed . It was bi -dropped with wrathe  and wikked wille . With eneuye enuye R.13.336: R's form here is unique; Kane-Donaldson transcribe it as a nonsense error, enenye; however, a likelier reading of R's intention is that he meant to render the same word as the other witnesses, enuye. and euel speche  entisyng e to fiȝte . lyȝyng e or lakkyng e Lyȝyng e or and lakkyng e laughynge R.13.337: R's lakkynge is an alpha variant; cf. beta's erroneous laughynge.  a and lef tonge to chide . R.13.337: R shows two small unique features in reading this line: (1) where the other manuscripts read and in the a-verse, R has or; (2) where most of the others read and at the head of the b-verse, R has a (cf. G's and a and F's & with a). Alle þat he wiste wikked  bi any wiȝt tellen it . And blame men by -hynde her bakke  and bidden hem mischance . And þat he wiste bi wille  tellen it to watte . And þat watte wiste  wille wiste it after . And made of frendes foes  þoruȝ a fals tonge . Or with miȝt of mouthe  or thoruȝ mannes strengthe . Auenged Auenge R.13.344: R uniquely deploys the past tense here; the other B manuscripts show Auenge. However, almost all the C manuscripts endorse R's lection, reading Venged. me fele tymes  other frete my -sulue . With -inne as a schepster e schere  I schrewed men and cursed . Cui us maledicc ione os plenu m est est & R.13.346: R's est amaritudine involves a unique omission. All other B witnesses (as well as Cx) agree on est & amaritudine. amaritudine . Sub lingua eius labor . et dolor & alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus . R.13.347: Alpha omits a second tagline, from Ps. 56.5, & alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus . Cx agrees with beta and includes the citation. The first Latin quotation is from Ps. 9.28. Both of these red boxings have been blotted and partially erased. Þere is no lif þat I loue  lestyng e any while . For tales þat I telle  no man tresteth to me . And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maystrie  which swich with R.13.350: R's which is unique. F and some of the beta manuscripts (CrWHm) read swich, while others (LGCO) have with. As for M, the beta editor has "corrected" its reading (from the spacing it appears likely that the original reading was with) to the WHm lection. Cx attests suche, but Kane and Russell choose wiþ for their edition of C, presumably on the basis of its being a "harder reading." malencolye I take Þat I cacche þe crompe  þe cardiacle su m -tyme . Or an ague in suche an angre  and su m -tyme a feuer e . Þat taketh me alle a twelmoneth  til þat I despise . Leche -craft or R.13.354: R's or is shared only with L (cf. the common beta reading, of). F reads be. Although two C manuscripts, Q and F, agree with this RL reading, Cx certainly agrees with the beta majority. If this RL lection is, as seems likely, an error (rather than a harder reading distorted by most of their fellow copyists) it would represent a coincidental misreading of a single character. our e lorde  and leue on a wiche And segge þat no clerk ne can  ne criste as I leue . n ota sowt er of sotwerk To þe souter of south -werk  or of schordych dame emme . R.13.356: In the right margin opposite this line, someone has written sowt(er) of sotwerk. This note is in a thin black, nearly contemporary hand, apparently the same as the note about Chichestre on 63v. To the immediate left of this gloss, between it and the end of the text line, there is a design consisting of a triangle of dots with a penstroke resembling a modern comma extending from the middle of its base. And segge þat no goddes worde  gaf me neu ere bote . But þoruȝ a charme hadde I chaunce  and my chief hele . ¶ I waited wisloker  and þanne was I it R.13.359: Cf. R's I with F's he and beta's it. Apparently the R scribe failed to notice that the confession ends in the previous line and that this description is rendered from the narrator's viewpoint. soyled . With likyng e of lecherie  and by lokyng e of myn his R.13.360: R's myn is an alpha reading; cf. beta's his. eye . For vch a mayde þat he mette  he made hire a syngne Semynge to synwarde  and so mme -tyme he gan taste . Aboute þe mouth or byneth  bygyn neth to grope . Til eytheres wille waxeth kene  and to þe werke ȝeden . As wel wel in R.13.365: Beta reads wel in for alpha's wel. But Cx agrees with alpha. fastyng dayes and fridayes  and for -bode niȝtes . And as lef wel R.13.366: Beta reads wel. Cx agrees with alpha. in lente as oute of lente  alle tymes I -liche . Suche werkes with hem  wer e neu ere out of sesou n . Til þei miȝt na more  and þanne hadde murie tales . And how þat lechoures louyen lawe n  and iapen . Or And of R.13.370: In place of R's unique and incoherent Or, F and beta begin this line And of. Later in the line, R opens the b-verse with and in where all the other copies read in herlotrie her harlotrye and horedom  and nil in here elde tellen ¶ Þanne pacience parceyued  of poyntes his cote . k j R.13.371: At the bottom of 64r, in the lower right margin, a signature mark, k j, appears to be partially detectable but is mostly erased. The bottom middle section of this leaf was torn long ago at a diagonal extending upwards to the left for 4 cm.; it was repaired by stitching. Was colmy thoruȝ coueytise  and vnkende desiryng e . More to goed þan to god  þe gome his loue caste . And ymagined how he it miȝt haue  With fals mesures and mette  and with fals witnesse . Lened for loue of þe wed  and lothe to do treuthe . And awayted þoruȝ whit us which R.13.377: Whitus, "wits." Beta reads which wey to bigile instead of R's more apt whitus weyus to begile. Cf. F's wit fele wyȝes to be -gyle .  wey us wey to begile . And menged his marchandise  and made a goed moustre . Þe werste with -Inne was  a grete wit I lete it . And if my neȝbore hadde an any R.13.380: Beta has any. Cx agrees with alpha. hyne  or any best elles . More p rofitable þan myne  many sleyȝtes Ich made . How I miȝt haue it  al my wit I caste . And but if I hadde R.13.383: Here alpha's phrasing differs slightly from beta, which reads but I (it) had. Cx agrees with beta, and supports the LMWHm inclusion of it in the phrase; but the P family mostly agrees with Hm's order ( hadde it) while the best X family copies agree with LMW (= it had). bi other way  at þe last I stale it . Or priuelich his purs schoke  vn -pyked his lokkes . Other Or bi niȝt other or R.13.385: R's correlative conjunctions other . . . other are unique; except for F, all the other B copies render both of this pair as or; F agrees with them on the second but renders the first as Eyþir. bi daye  aboute was I euere . Þoruȝ gyle to gaderen  þe goed þat Ich haue . ¶ If ich ȝede to þe plow  I pynched so narwe . Þat a fote lande or a forw  fecche Ich wolde . Of my nexte neyȝbore  or ȝaf hem rede þat repen . R.13.389: Here alpha lost a b-verse and a following a-verse, resulting in the compression of two lines into an aa|bb metrical pattern. In F, the resulting half-line reads whan y sholde repen it. To sese to me with her sikel  þat I ne sewe neuere . ¶ And ho -so borwed of me  a -boute þe tyme . With p resentes priueliche  or payed som me certeyne . So walde he or nauȝt walde  wynnen I wolde . And bothe to kytthe and to kynne  vnkynde of þat Ich hadde . ¶ And ho -so cheped my chaffare  chiden Ich wolde . But he p rofered to paye  a peny or tweyne . More þan it was worth  and ȝut wolde I swere . Þat it coste coste me R.13.398: Beta becomes more explicit, inserting me after coste. muche more  swore many othes . ¶ In haly dayes at holy cherche  whan Ich herde masse . Hadde R.13.400: After Hadde, R shares with L alone an obvious error: the omission of the personal pronoun I. Both F and beta include I, as does Cx. This apparently random error, shared exclusively by the two best witnesses to Bx, probably derives from an overlooked marginal correction in that archetypal copy, one that was transmitted faithfully (as a marginal) by both alpha and beta. ner e wil wote god  witterly to be -seche . Mercy for my misdedes  þat I ne morned more . For losse of goed leue me R.13.402: A stain or discoloration of the parchment has partially obscured me.  þan fore for my lih ames gultes . As if I hadde dedly synne done  I dradde nauȝt þat so sore . As whan I lened and leued it loste  or longe ar it wer e payed . So if I kydde any kendenesse  myn euencristene to helpe . Vppon a cruele coueytise  my consience myn herte R.13.406: In place of alpha's correctly alliterating consience, beta reads herte. R.13.406: Wetting has caused the ink to run, partially blurring the word my and the <co> of consience. gan hange . And if I sent ouer see  my s eruantz to brugges . Or in -to pruyslonde my prenteys  my profit to wayte . To marchaunden with monoye  and maken her e chaunges eschaunges . R.13.409: Beta reads eschaunges in place of RF's chaunges. Cx agrees with beta. Myȝte nere neuere R.13.410: R's nere is a unique form here. The other copies have neuer(e). The C manuscripts attest the majority form. me conforte  in þe mene tyme . Nother masse ne matynes  ne no maner shytes s[yh]tes siȝtes . R.13.411: R's nonsensical error here is unique among the B copies. The scribe's usual spelling of the word in question is siȝtes, but the spelling adopted here for the emendation is assumed to have been inherited from his exemplar, so that his only mistake is likely to have been a simple reversal of two letters. Two C witnesses, VcAc, render this word as schytes, but Cx presumably had syhtus. Ne neuer penaunce parfournede  ne pat ern oster sayde . Þat my mynde ne was more  in on my goed in a doute . Þan in þe grace of god  and his grete helpes . Vbi est thesaurus tuus  ibi & cor tuu m . Ȝet glotou n þat goome with grete othes  his granement garnement R.13.416: Although listing it as a viable spelling variation, MED, s. v. garnement, offers no other evidence for this spelling of what is commonly rendered garnement (as in F). OED2, s. v. garment, garneament, and garnement, provides no citations either. hadde was soyled . These lines are omitted by the beta manuscripts. There are, moreover, substantial variations between R and F in this passage, so that it seems preferable here to cite F's version uninterrupted (cf. Appendix 1, R13.416-25, for details and any cross-references to the C version): Ȝeet þat goome with grete oþis / his garnement was soiled. & foule be-flobered it / al with fals speche. & þere no neede was / nempnede god ydellyche. & swoor þerby / swythe ofte / a-bowte þe ale cuppe. & ofte moore eet & drank / þan kynde myȝhte defye. & sumtyme kawte seknesse / þoruh surfetys ofte. Þat for dowhte y dredde / to dyȝen in dedly synne. & into wanhope y wente / y wende neuere to be savid. Þe wyche slewþe is so slowhȝ / þere may no sleyghte it helpe. Ne no mercy a-mende it / þe man þat dyȝeþ þere-Inne . And foule beflobered it  as al with fals speche . As & þer e no nede ne nil was  godes name an Idel nempnede god ydellyche . Swore & swoor þer e -by swithe ofte  and al by -swatte his cote abowte þe ale cuppe And & ofte more mete nil ete and dronke  þen kende miȝt defie And kauȝte seknesse su m -tyme  for my forfetes & sumtyme kawte seknesse þoruh surfetys ofte ofte . And þanne þat for dowhte I dradde to deye  in dedlich synne . Þat & in -to wanhope he y wrathe wente R.13.423: Compare R's wrathe, an impossible choice, with F's wente. However, the error probably occurred in alpha (cf. Kane-Donaldson's emendation worþ), with F, as usual, struggling to smooth nonsense that R is content to reproduce.  and y wende nauȝt neuere to be saued . Þe whiche is sleuthe slewþe is so slow  þat þere may no slithes sleyghte helpe it it helpe . Ne no mercy amenden amende it  þe man þat so deyeth dyȝeþ þereInne . ¶ Ac nil R.13.426: R's line opening is unique. F and most beta copies simply omit Ac; Hm replaces it with Þe. However, Cx agrees with R. whiche ben þe braunches  þat bringeth a man to sleuthe . His woman morneth nauȝt for his mysdedes  ne maketh no sorwe And penaunce þat þe prest enioyneth  p erfourneth euele . Doth non almesdede  drat hym of no synne . Lyueth aȝeyne þe by -leue  and no lawe holdeth . Vch day is haly day with hym  or an heyȝ ferie . And if he auȝt wil here  it is an herlotes tonge . Whan men carpeth of criste  or of clennesse of soule . He wexeth wroth and wil nauȝt her e  but wordes of murthe . Penaunce and pore men  and þe passion of seyntes . He hateth to here þere -of  and alle þat it telleth . Þise ben þe braunches beth war  þat bryngeth a man to wan -hope . Ye lordes ye lordes Ye lordes Ȝe lordes and ladies  and legates of holy cherches cherche R.13.438: R is alone in reading a plural; all other B manuscripts have a singular form, which is also the reading of the C version. . Þat feden fole foles R.13.439: The other B manuscripts show a plural, foles. However, Cx agrees with R. sages  flatereres and lyeres  And han likyng e to lithen hem  to do ȝow lawhe R.13.440: R's omission of to before this verb is shared only with G among the B witnesses. However, to is also omitted in Cx. . k ij Ve vobis qui ridetis ridetis &c . And ȝiueth hem mete and mede  and pore men refuse . In ȝour e deth -deyinge  I drede me me ful R.13.443: R here omits beta's ful (F revises the half-line). Though three C manuscripts (McFcNc) agree with beta, Cx agrees with R in omitting the qualifier. sore . Lest þo thre maner men  to muche sorwe bringe ȝow brynge R.13.444: R uniquely omits ȝow before bringe. Cx includes yow. . Consencientes et agentes  pari pena puniendi su nt punientur . R.13.445: The phrase puniendi sunt is an alpha variant. The beta reading is punientur. Cx agrees with beta. ¶ Patriarkes and p rophetes  and p rechoures of goddes wordes . Sauen þoruȝ here sarmon  mannes soule fram helle . Riȝt so flatereres and foles  aren þe fendes disciples . To entise men þoruȝ here tales  to synne and herlotrie . Ac clerkes þat knoweth R.13.450: R's inflectional suffix ( -eth) is unique among B witnesses; the others show -e(n). Although MSS P and F in the C tradition agree with the majority of B copies on this small issue — i.e., knowe(n) —, the Russell-Kane lemma leaves no doubt that a majority of both sub-families of C agree with R's reading. holy writ  schuld kennen lordes . What dauid seith of such men  as þe sauter telleth . Non habitabit in medio dom us mee q ui facit sup erbia m q ui R.13.452: Among B copies, only Hm joins R in omitting & before qui; however, Cx agrees with R on this omission. loq uit ur iniq ua . Schulde no herlot R.13.453: There is an otiose curl above the <r> of herlot. haue audience  in halle ne in chaumbres . There wise men were  witnesseth godes wordes . Ne non mysproude man  amanges lordes ben a -lowed . ¶ Clerkes and kniȝtes Boþe knyghtis & clerkis  welcometh wolkome kynges ministrales . These lines are not found in the beta copies. F's version is sufficiently different to render it preferable to reproduce it as a single passage here rather than as a string of unrelated notes (cf. Appendix 1, R13.456-74, for details and cross-references to the C version): Boþe knyghtis & Clerkis / wolkome kyngis menstralis. & for þe love of here loord / þey lyghten hem at festis. Mychil more me þynkþ þan / ryche men sholde. Have beggeris be -fore hem / wiche ben goddis menstralis. As he seyþ hym -selue / seynt Iohan beryþ witnesse. Qvi vos spernit  me spernit. / Þerfore y rede ȝou ryche men / at Revelis whan ȝe make. For to solace ȝoure soulis / swiche menstralis ȝee have. Þe poore for a fool sage / ȝee sette at þe table. & a leerned man to leerne the / what oure lord suffrede. For to save þy soule / fram Sathan þyn enemy. & withowtyn flaterynge fythele / of good frydaes storye. & tak a blynd man þy burdour / or a bedrede womman To criȝe a largesse to oure lord / þyn goode loos to shewe. Þese þre manere of menstralis / make men to lawhe. & in his deþ dyeng / þei doon hym gret confort. Þat be his lyve he lystned hem / & lovede hem to heere. Þey solace þy soule / tyl þy -selue be fallyn. In a wol good hope / a-mongis goode seyntys . And for loue þe love of þe here lorde  litheth þey lyghten hem at festes . Muche mychil more me thenketh  riche þan ryche men schulde . Haue beggeres byfore hem  þe nil whiche ben goddes minist rales . As he seyth hym -self  seynt Ioh an bereth witnesse . Qui vos spernit me spernit . For -thi þerfore I rede ȝow riche men at  at reueles whan ȝe maketh . For to solace ȝoure soules  suche ministrales to ȝee haue . Þe pore for a fol sage  syttyng e ȝee sette at þe heyȝ nil table . And a lered leerned man to ler e leerne þe  what our e lorde suffred . For to saue þi soule  fram sathan þin enemy . And fithel þe with -out flateryng e & withowtyn flaterynge fythele  of gode friday þe frydaes storye . And & tak a blynd man for a þy bourdeour e  or a bedrede womman . To crie a largesse  by -for to our e lorde  ȝour e þyn gode loos to schewe Þise thre maner manere of ministrales  maketh a man make men to lawhe . And in his deth deyinge  þei don hym grete conforte . Þat bi his lyue lythed he lystned hem  and loued hem to here . Þise solaseth þe þey solace þy soule  til hym -selue þy selue be falle . In a welhope wol good hope  amonges worthi goode seyntes . Þere Ac R.13.475: In place of alpha's Þere, beta reads Ac. Cx agrees with alpha. flateres and foles  thoruȝ her e foule wordes . Leden þo þat loued louen R.13.476: The beta manuscripts show the present tense louen. hem  to luciferes feste . With turpiloquio a lay of sowe so[r]we sorwe R.13.477: R's unique error here was overlooked by Kane-Donaldson.  and luciferes fythele . ¶ Þus haukyn þe actif man  hadde soyled his cote . Til consience acouped hym þer e -of  in a curteys maner e . Whi he ne hadde wasched it  or wiped it with a brusche . pass us xiij us Passus xiij us xii[i]j us tertius decim us [quartus] decim us . de visione vt sup ra . — — I haue but on hater hool hatere R.14.1: Most beta copies have one hool hatere. L, however, shares the alpha reading. q uod haukyn  I am þe lasse to blame Thouȝ it be soyled and selde clene  I slepe þer e -inne on niȝtes . And al -so I haue an hosewif  hewen and children . Vxorem duxi & ideo no n poss um possum venire R.14.4: R uniquely omits venire from the end of the Biblical citation. &c etera . R.14.4: The right end of the red box is open. Þat wolen by -molen it many tymes tyme R.14.5: Beta reads the singular form, tyme; however, manuscripts G and Cr 2-3 agree with alpha's plural.  maugre my chekes . ¶ It hath ben laued in lenten  and oute of lente n bothe . With þe sope of siknesse  þat seketh wonder depe . And with þe loss e of catel  lothe for to a -gulte . God ar or any gode man  by auȝt þat I wiste . And was schriuen of þe prest  þat gaf me for my synnes . To penaunce pacience  and pore men to fede . Al for coueytise of my c ristendom  in clennesse to kepen it . ¶ And coude I nouȝt neuere R.14.13: For alpha's nouȝt, beta reads neuere. by crist  kepen it clene an hour e Þat I ne soyled it with siȝt  or su mme ydel speche . Or thoruȝ werke or thouȝt þorugh worde R.14.15: In place of R's unique and non-alliterating thouȝt (F = elles þowht), beta has þorugh worde.  and other or R.14.15: R uniquely reads and other for beta's probably correct or. F has or þoruh. wil of myn herte Þat I ne flobere it foule  fram morwe til eue . ¶ And I schal kenne þe q uod consience  of co ntric iou n to make . Þat schal clawe þi cote  of alle kynne kynnes R.14.18: Beta has kynnes, while F reads vn-clene. fulthe . Cordis contric io &c etera Dowel waschen it and wringen it  þoruȝ a wise co nfessour e . Oris confessio . &c etera Dobet þat schal nil schal beten beten it and bouken it R.14.22: R's a-verse is unique; cf. beta's phrase: Dobet shal beten it and bouken it . F has Dobet bowke it & beete it.  as briȝt as any scarlet . And engreynen it with gode wille  and goddes g race to amende þe . And sitthen sende þe to satisfacc iou n  for to sonnen sowen R.14.24: This variant is shared with F. Most beta manuscripts have sowen. it after . Satisfacc io . dobest k iij Schal neu ere myst by -mole it  ne mothe after biten it . Ne fende ne fals man  defoulen it in þi liue . Schal no heraud ne harpour  haue a fairer garment . Þan haukyn þe actif man  and þow do be my techyng e . Ne no ministrale be more worth . amonges pore and riche . Þanne haukynnes wif þe waferere  which is with his R.14.31: Beta reads with his. actiua vita . Si mea penna valet melior mea litera fiet Dextera pars penna Brevior et lenior debit esse In the left margin, an extended comment is written vertically, in a black secretary hand, beginning at R14.54 and reaching upwards in the margin to this point, R14.32. The second line of the comment is under the first and thus slightly closer to the text line initials. ¶ And I schal p urueye þe paste q uod pacience  þouȝ þow nil R.14.32: R's þow is an alpha variant omitted by all beta manuscripts. Though C is substantially revised at this point, a half-line occurs in the cognate passage of the final version that exactly confirms beta's reading (=RK C15.234). no plowȝ erie And flour e to fede folke with  as best be for þe soule . Þowȝ neuer e greyne growede  ne grape vp -on vine . Alle þat lyueth and loketh  liflod wold I fynde . And þat I -now schal none faile  of thinge þat hem nedeth . ¶ We schulde nauȝt be to busy  abouten our e liflode . Ne soliciti sitis &c etera . Volucres celi deus pascit &c etera . Pacientes vincu nt . &c etera . ¶ Þanne lawhed haukyn a litel  and liȝtly gan swere . Who -so leueth ȝow noþ er be by R.14.41: R's noþer is a unique addition to the a-verse witnessed by beta (F completely rephrases this half-line). However, R's be is merely a spelling variation for beta's by. Cf. R.14.29:: be my techynge. our e lorde  I leue nauȝt he be blissed . ¶ No q uod pacience paciently  and oute of his poke hente . Vitales of grete vertues  for alle maner bestes . And seyde lo her e liflode I -nowe  if our e bileue be trewe . For lente ner e was þere neuere was R.14.45: R's þere is a unique addition to the text witnessed by the other B manuscripts; however, R's reading has a substantial likelihood of being original since at the same point the C manuscripts attest either here or, more commonly, þere. lif  but liflode wer e schape . Wher e -of or where -for  and where -by to libbe . ¶ Furst þe wilde worme  vnder weet erthe . Fisch to lyue in þe flode  and in þe fuir þe crikat . Þe corlew be kynde of þe eyre  most clennest flesch of briddes . And bestes by grasse and by greyne  and by grene rotes . In menyng e þat alle men  miȝt þe same . Lif Lyue R.14.52: R's Lif appears, at first, to be lexically unique. F has & lyve and beta shows Lyue; many C manuscripts agree with beta, but many others read Leue. The problem with R's "uniqueness" is that this spelling may not reflect intentional lexical difference but merely inadvertent phonological overlap between voiced <v> and voiceless <f> in Langland's own dialect; cf. the archetypal B spelling for the noun (= ModEng "life") at R.14.27: above: in þi liue . þoruȝ lele byleue  and loue as god witnesseth . Quodcu mq ue pecieritis pecieritis a patre R.14.53: Here alpha omitted the phrase a patre from the Biblical citation as witnessed by beta. Nevertheless, the alpha reading may well be original. Among the C manuscripts , the X family (generally regarded as the more authoritative group) also omits the phrase. in no mi ne meo  &c etera Et alibi . Non in solo pane viuit homo  s ed i n o mni v erbo quod p rocedit de ore dei . ¶ But I loked what þat liflode lyflode it R.14.55: For alpha's þat liflode, beta reads lyflode it. was  þ at pacience so p reysed . And þanne was a was it a R.14.56: RF's reading, was a, is an alpha variant shared with CrHm; beta reads was it a. pece of þe pat ern oster  fiat voluntas tua . ¶ Haue haukyn q uod pacience  and ete þis whan þe hungreth . Or whan þow clomsest for colde  or clingest for drouȝthe drye R.14.58: Beta has drye for R's drouȝthe (F = drowhtys). Cx agrees here with R. . And nil schal R.14.59: F begins this line with Þere shal while beta simply begins with Shal. However, Cx agrees with R. neu ere feytoures gyues R.14.59: R's feytoures and F's faytour ) against beta's correctly alliterating gyues probably reflects a misunderstood gloss in Bx reading fetters. Cx agrees here with beta. þe greue  ne grete lordes wrathe . Prisone ne payne  fo for R.14.60: Neither MED nor OED2 cites s. v. for an example of fo as viable for the preposition signified here, but it occurs in R in four widely separated contexts (cf. R2.64, R15.379, and R20.224) and probably represents an instance of idiolect apocope. Beta here attests the expected for, and F has whil. pacientes vincunt . By so þat þow be sobre  of siȝt and of tonge . In etynge and in handelyng e  and in alle þi fyue wittes . Tharst þow neuer e care for corne  ne lynnen clothe ne wollen . R.14.63: There is a superfluous bar over the <n> of wollen. Ne for drink . ne deth drede  but deye as god liketh . Or thoruȝ honger or thoruȝ hete  at his wille be it . For if þow lyuest after his lore  þe schorter lyf þe leuere better R.14.66: Beta shows better where alpha has leuere. Cx agrees with beta. . Si quis amat christum mu ndu m no n diligit istu m . ¶ For thoruȝ his breth bestes wexeth R.14.68: Cf. F's weren and beta's woxen or wexen. The C manuscripts are divided, typically witnessing the same forms as beta, but seven of them (IP 2RcMcScZWa) agree with R's wexeth.  and a -brode ȝeden . Dixit & facta sunt &c etera . Ergo thoruȝ his breth mowen  men and bestes libben R.14.70: For alpha's libben, beta reads lyuen. The difference is, of course, purely phonological. . As holy writ witnesseth  whan men seggen her e grace graces R.14.71: F offers a completely different b-verse while beta shows the plural form graces. Although C has been slightly revised in this passage, Cx shows the same plural noun form as that in beta (but four manuscripts [KDcWaGc] agree with R). . Aperis tu manu m tuam et imples om ne a ni mal b en edicc ione . ¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter  folke lyuede with -oute tulying e . And oute of þe flint spronge þe floed  þ at folk and bestes dronke . And in Elyes tyme  heuene was I -closed . In the right margin, in black ink, there is an early ownership stamp for the Bodleian Library. Þat non rayn ne roen  þus rett rede(n) men on in R.14.76: R's rett is unique; the same is true of R's on. The majority, including F, attest rede men in. Cx is uncertain, but five manuscripts (YcIP 2UcT) reflect a similar verbal inflection to that found in R ( rat), and XIUcZ agree with R's ensuing preposition. bokes . Þat many wynter R.14.77: R and Cr alone have singular wyntre. F omits the entire phrase in which this term occurs. Cx clearly agrees with the RCr singular. men lyued  and no mete ne teleden . ¶ Seuen slepen as seith þe boke  seuen hundreth wynter And lyueden with -outen liflode  and att þe laste þei woken . And if men lyuede as mesure wolde  schulde neu ere more be defaute. Amoges Amo[n]ges Amonges cristene creatoures  if criste crystes R.14.81: R's unmarked possessive, criste, is unique; all other manuscripts have crystes. Among C copies, only P 2 agrees with R's form. wordes be trewe . Ac vnkendenesse caristia maketh  amonges c ristes crystene R.14.82: All other B manuscripts read crystene. poeple . And ou er -plente maketh pruyde  amonges pore and riche . Ac mesur e is so muche worth  it may nowȝt be to dere . For þe mischief and þe mischaunce  amonges men of sodome . Wex thoruȝ plente of payn  and of puir slewthe . Ociositas et habundancia panis panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit  R.14.87: F omits the entire citation; R leaves off the end, as seen in beta manuscripts: peccatum turpissimum nutriuit . For þei mesured nauȝt hem -selue  of þ at þei eten and dronke . Deden dedly synne  þat þe deuel lyked  So veniaunce fel vpon hem  for here vile synnes . kiiij Þei sonken in -to helle  þe cites vchone . ¶ For -thy mesur e we vs wel  and make our e faith our e scheltroun . And thoruȝ faith cometh contric iou n  consience wot wel . Which driueth aweye dedly synne  and doth it to be venial . And þouȝ a man miȝt nouȝt speke  co ntric ion miȝt hym saue . And brynge his soule to blisse  bi nil so R.14.96: Immediately following this word there is an unintended ink dot. þ at feith bere witnesse . Þat whiles he lyued he byleued  in þe lore of holy cherche . Ergo co ntric ion faith and co nsience  is kendeliche dowel . And surgyanes for dedly synne R.14.99: Many beta copies read this noun as a plural: synnes. However, CrHmB agree with alpha.  whan schrift of mouthe faileth . ¶ Ac schrifte of mouthe more worthi is  if man R.14.100: After man, R shares an omission of the verb be with C alone. in -lich co ntrit For schrifte of mouthe sleth synne  be it neu ere so dedly . Per confessione m to a p rest  peccata occiduntur . Þere contric iou n R.14.103: Here the R scribe uses two separate bars for expanding the final affix, one over the <c> and another over the ; the second of these is partially obscured by the red boxing above. What this instance indicates by inference, however, is that his intended spelling (when the bar covers only his <c> or his <o>) is -cion, and that the only warrant for expanding to -cioun is a bar extending beyond the <o> of this syllable. These conclusions are confirmed by the scribe's overwhelming preference for -cion forms when he spells them out fully. doth but driueth it dou n  in -to a venial synne . As dauid seith in þe sauter  & quor um tecta su nt peccata . Ac satisfacc ion seketh oute þe rote  & bothe sleth and voydeth . And as it neu ere hadde be ybe  to nauȝt bryngeth dedly synne. Þat it neu ere eft is sene  ne sor e  but semeth a wounde I -heled . ¶ Ȝe nil R.14.108: Ȝe is an alpha variant; beta begins this line with Where. where woneth charite q uod haukyn  I wiste ner e neuere R.14.108: R's form here is unique; the other B witnesses, including F, read the negative as neuer(e). in my lyue . Man þat with hym spake  as wyde as I haue passed . There parfit treuth  and pou er hert is  and pacience of tonge . Þer e is charite þe chief chaumbre  for god hym -sulue . ¶ Whether pacience and pou erte paciente pouerte R.14.112: Most of the beta manuscripts render this phrase as paciente pouerte or pacience pouerte. In C, the phrase becomes pouerte and pacience. q uod haukyn  be more plesant to our e lord . R.14.112: Many beta manuscripts (and presumably Bx) read driȝte(n) for R's bland lord; F has god more as the end of the line; R's reading is in agreement only with G, presumably by convergence. The C revision abandons beta's archaic driȝte(n) in favor of god almyhty Þen ricchesse riȝtfulliche I -wonne  & resonabeliche yspended . ¶ Ȝe quis est ille q uod pacience  quik laudabim us eu m . Þouȝ men rede of ricchesse  riȝt to þe worldes ende . I wiste neu ere renk þat riche was  þat whan he rekne schulde . Whan it R.14.117: R's sole partner in reading it is L; F reads &. The majority beta reading is he. In a partially revised line, the C version also attests he at this point. drouȝ to his deth day  þat he ne dradde hym sore And at þe rekenyng e in a -rerage fel  rather þan oute of dette . ¶ Þer e þe pore dar plede  and preue by puir resou n . To haue a -louaunce of his lorde  be þe lawe he it claymeth . Ioye þat neu ere ioye hadde  of riȝtful iuge he asketh . And seith lo briddes and bestes  þ at no blisse ne knoweth . And wilde wormes in wodes  þoruȝ wynteres þou hem greuest . And makest hem wel neyh meke  and mylde for defaute . And after þou sendest hem somer  þat is her e souereyn ioye . And blisse to alle þat ben  bothe wilde and tame . Þan may beggeres and bestes  after bote wayten . Þat alle here lif han lyuede  in langour and in defaute . But god sent hem some -tyme  sum man er ioye . Other her e or elles-where  kende wolde it nere neuere R.14.130: R's form here is unique; beta reads the negative as neuer(e); F rewrites the half-line completely. . For to wrothor -hele was he wrouȝt  þ at neu er ioye was was ioye shaped R.14.131: R's ioye was shaped is an alpha phrasing substantively shared with FHm; beta agrees with Cx in reading was ioye shaped . . ¶ Angeles þat in elle now ben  hadden ioye su m -tyme . And diues in deyntes lyued  and in douce vie . Riȝt so resou n : scheweth þat þo men men þat were riche : R.14.134: Here alpha probably was identical to R's reading; R matches beta exactly through the phrase þo men but is missing þat were riche F reads þo men shulle redyly a -counte . And her e makes also  lyued her e lyf in murthe . ¶ Ac god is of a wonder wille  by þat kende wit scheweth . To ȝiue many men his m ercymonie  ar he it haue deserued . Riȝt so fareth god by su m riche  reuthe me it thenketh . For þei han her e hire here  and heuene as it were . And is grete lykyng e to þe lif to lyue R.14.140: Cf. R's to þe lif to F's of lyf and beta's to lyue.  wyth -oute labour of body . And whan he deieth ben disalawed  as dauid sayth i n þe saut er . Dormieru nt & nichil inueneru nt &c etera nil . And in an -other stede al -so  Velut so mpnu m surge nciu m d omine in ciuitate tua  ad & ad nichilu m eoru m rediges rediges R.14.144: R's eorum is a unique addition to this citation. . Allas þat richesse schal reue  and robbe mannes soule . Fram þe loue of our e lorde  at his last ende . ¶ Hewen þat han her e huir e to -fore afore R.14.147: Alpha is responsible for to-fore where beta reads afore. At the same point, Cx has byfore.  aren eu ermore nedy . R.14.147: A brace extends down the right margin from this line to R14.152. Apparently, it is intended to call attention to the nota at R14.149. And selde deyeth oute deieth he out of dette  þ at dineth or þei he R.14.148: In place of alpha's þei, beta reads he (as does the X family of the C version; the P family of C agrees here with alpha). In the a-verse, beta reads deieth he where R omits the pronoun and F revises the entire half-line. deserue it . nota And til he haue done his deuer  and his dayes iourne R.14.149: In the right margin, in a light brown ink and a near-contemporary hand, there is a large nota . For whan a werkeman hath wrouȝt  þan may me n se þe sothe . What he were worthi for his werke  & what he hath deserued . And nauȝt to fonge byfore  for drede of disalowynge . ¶ So I segge be ȝow riche  it semeth semeth nouȝt R.14.153: R parallels beta but omits nouȝt after semeth, completely inverting the intended sense of the assertion (beta's version is vouched for by Cx). F rewrites the line. þat ȝe schulle . Haue to heuenes for Haue heuene in ȝour e her e -being e  and heuene þer e -after . R.14.154: F offers a typically unique reading of this line ( Cleyme two hevynys oon here & anoþer heerafter ); R's partial agreement with F in the a-verse shows that R's to heuenes descends from alpha. R's for is unique among the B copies. By contrast, the beta manuscripts show considerable variation in the a-verse but clearly attest the singular form heuene. However, the fact that the Cx phrasing for the a-verse is identical with R's strongly suggests that R's reading is the authorial one. Riȝt as a s eruaunt taketh his salarie by -fore . Alpha divides a Bx line here into two lines. And sithe wald clayme huir e more R.14.156: R's huire is an alpha reading (cf. F's his heere eft-soones ); beta shows more.  As he þat non ne nil R.14.157: This double negative is unique to R. Beta has none while F reads non hevene. hadde  and hath heuene huyre R.14.157: R's heuene is an alpha variant; cf. beta's huyre. at þe laste . It may nauȝt be ȝe riche men  or mathew on god lyeth . De delicijs ad delicias difficile est ascendere transire R.14.159: In place of alpha's ascendere , beta has transire . . Ac if ȝe riche haue reuth  and rewarde wel þe pore . And lyuen as lawe techeth  don leute to alle . R.14.161: Beta ends the line with hem alle. Only L agrees with R's omission of the pronoun, while F offers a completely different phrase, his brothir. Crist of his curteysie  schal confort ȝow att þe laste . And rewarde alle double richesse  þat rewful hertes habbeth . And as an hyne þat hadde  his huir e ar he bygu nne And whan he hath don his deu er wel  men doth hym other bou nte . Ȝiueth hym a cote aboue his couenau nt  riȝt so crist ȝiueth heuene . Bothe to riche and to nauȝt riche  þ at riȝtfullich rewfullich R.14.167: Beta reads rewfullich. libbeth . And all e þat don her e deuer wel  han double huir e for her e t rauaill e . Her e for -ȝiuenesse of here synnes  and heuene blisse after . R.14.169: Hereafter alpha omits five lines present in beta (of which, the last two are also found in the C version): Ac it nys but selde yseyn as by holy seyntes bokes Þat god rewarded double reste to any riche wye For moche murthe is amonges riche as in mete and clothyng And moche murthe in Maye is amonges wilde bestes And so forth whil somer lasteth her solace dureth . ¶ R.14.170: R uniquely omits a conjunction at the head of this line; beta reads Ac (which agrees with the reading of Cx) while F has But. Beggeres Ac beggeres aboute missomer  bred -les þei soupe . R.14.170: In the left margin, extending from this line to R14.183, there is a black brace and a hand (at R14.178) pointing to these lines. And ȝet is winter for hem wors  for watschod þei gange . Afurst sore and affyngred  and foule I -rebuked . And arated of riche men  þat reuthe is to here . Now lorde send hem somer and so mme man er ioye . Heuene after her e hennes -goynge  þ at her e han suche defaute . For alle miȝtest þow haue mad  non mener þan other ☞ And I -liche witty and wis  if þe wel hadde liked . ¶ And haue reuth on þis riche men  þat rewarde nauȝt þi prisones prisoneres R.14.178: Prisones, "prisoners." R's form of the word is unique; see the note at R.14.184:. F reads porayle while beta has prisoneres. . Of þe gode þat þow hem gyuest  ingrati ben manye . Ac god of þi godenesse  gyue hem grace to amende . For may no derth ben hem der e  drouȝthe ne wete . Ne noyther hete ne hayle  haue þei her e hele . Of þat þei wilnen and wolde  wanteth hem nauȝt here . ¶ Ac pore poeple þi p risones prisoneres  lore R.14.184: R's prisones is simply an archaic formal variant for beta's prisoneres (cf. R15.207 and R15.380, where beta also shows this form). Perhaps because the F scribe was confused or troubled by this form (he uses prisoner in the other two instances mentioned), the a-verse in F seems completely rewritten: But þe poore in prisoun lyȝn. As for R's lore, see Richard Jordan, Handbook of Middle English Grammar: Phonology , translated and revised by Eugene Joseph Crook (The Hague: Mouton, 1974): §199, remark 3. The spelling occurs as well at R5.409 and R18.61. in þe put of mischief . Confort þo creatures  þat muche care suffren . Þoruȝ derthe þoruȝ drouȝthe  alle here dayes here . Wo in wyntres tyme wynter tymes R.14.187: Beta reads wynter tymes.  for wantynge of clothes . And in somer tyme selde  soupen to þe fulle . Conforte þi carfull e criste  in þi riche . R.14.189: The top right margin of fol. 69r has a tear in it that was long ago repaired by stitching. The tear extended diagonally downwards and to the right for approximately 3.8 cm. For how þow confortest alle creatoures  clerkes bereth witnesse . Co nuertimini ad me & salui eritis . Þus in genere of alle nil his genitrice R.14.192: R's phrase, of alle his genitrice, is part of a complex variation. Most beta copies read of gentries; L, which overlaps with R here, reads of his genitrice; and F also shows partial agreement with R, reading of alle Ientylis.  ih esu crist sayde . To robberes to robberes and to R.14.193: All other B manuscripts have robberes and to . reueres  to riche and to pore . To hores to harlotes  to all e maner harlotys & to hoorys & to all oþer poeple . R.14.194: Beta omits this line. F renders its central phrase as harlotys & to hoorys & to all oþer . Þow tauȝtest hem in þe trinite  to take bapteme . And be clene thoruȝ þat cristenyng e  of alle kynnes synnes . And if vs fel thoruȝ folye  to falle in synne after . Knowlechyng e and confession Confessioun and knowlechyng R.14.198: This pair of nouns is transposed to Confessioun and knowlechyng in the beta copies; F reads & be -knowleche it In confessioun .  and crauynge þi m ercy . Schuld amende vs as many sithes  as man walde desire . And if þe pouke pope R.14.200: Beta reads pope. wolde plede þer e -aȝeine here-aȝeine  & punische n on nil R.14.200: R's on is a unique addition to the text witnessed by the other B manuscripts. vs i n consience. Ho He R.14.201: Ho is unique; cf. beta's He and F's We. schulde take þe a -quitaunce as quik  & do to R.14.201: R's do is unique; the other manuscripts show to. þe qued schewe it . Pateat &c etera per passione m d omini . And putten of so þe pouke  and p reuen vs vnder borwe . Ac þe parchemyn of þis patent  of pou erte be moste . And of puir pacience  and parfit byleue . ¶ Of pompe and of pruide  þe parchemyn decoureth . And principaly of alle poeple  but þei be pore of herte . Elles is alle an ydel  alle þat eu ere we writen . Patern oster and penaunces R.14.209: With the exception of Hm, which here joins alpha, the beta copies show the singular penaunce. In a revised version of this line, Cx agrees with alpha, attesting a plural.  and pilgrimage to rome . And But R.14.210: Cf. beta's But, which agrees with the opening of the line in Cx; on the other hand, at the end of the a-verse, Cx agrees with R, which uniquely reiterates the possessive, reading oure spendynge where beta merely has spendyng. F completely rewrites the a-verse: With oure spendyng of spekynge. oure spenses and our e spendyng e springe  of a trewe welle . Elles is alle our e labour lost  lo how men writeth . In fenestres at þe freres  if fals be þe fundement . For -thi cristene schuld be in comune riche  no n coueytous for hi m -selue . ¶ For seuene synnes þat þer e ben  assailen vs eu ere . Þe fende folweth hem alle  and fondeth hem to helpe . Ac with richesse þo ribaudes þat Ribaude R.14.216: Beta shows the singular þat Ribaude. Cx agrees with alpha.  rathest men by -gyleth . For þere þat richesse regneth  reuerences reuerence R.14.217: Beta has the singular reuerence. Most C manuscripts concur, but three important ones, XYcUc, agree with alpha's plural. folweth . And þat is plesaunt to pruide  in pore and in riche . Ac And R.14.219: Beta has And; F reads But. The C manuscripts divide by major families on this lection, the P family completely omitting the conjunction while the X family, like beta, attests And. þe riche is reuerenced  bi reson of his richesse . Þere þe pore is put by -hynde  and par -auentur e can more . Of wit and of wisdome  þat fer wei awey R.14.221: Most beta copies read awey. F omits the entire line. Among the C manuscripts, KcUcDcZN agree with beta while the others agree with R. is better e . Þan richesse or reaute  and rather I -herd in heuene . For þe riche hath muche to rekne  and riȝt softe walketh . Þe riȝt heigh R.14.224: Here G joins the defective alpha reading; other beta copies have the correctly alliterating heigh. The a-verse of this line also occurs unrevised in C, in the same form as represented in beta. weye to heuene -warde  ofte riche ricchesse R.14.224: Beta reads ricchesse. letteth . Ita possibile diuiti &c etera . ¶ Þere þe pore p recheth preseth R.14.226: R's form is probably a distortion of alpha's procheþ (a reading preserved in F) through misunderstanding a scribal suspension; cf. beta's preseth. The lection in C agrees with that of beta. byfore þe riche  with a pakke at his rugge . Opera eni m illor um sequntur illos  Batauntliche as beggeres dou n  and baldelich he craueth . For his pouerte and his pacience  a p erpetuel blisse . Beati paup eres q uoniam ip sor um est regnu m celor um . ¶ Ac And R.14.231: Beta has And; F reads But. C manuscripts attest either And (mostly in the X family) or Also (P family). pruide in richesse regneth  rather þam þa[n] þan in pouert Or Arst R.14.232: For alpha's Or, beta shows Arst; later in this a-verse, where alpha repeats or, Cr agrees with alpha but beta has þan. On both of these readings, it appears that Cx agrees with alpha (although a cluster of five C manuscripts—P 2TH 2PEc—reads oþur in place of or on both occasions). in þe maister or þan in þe man : su m manseon haueth he ha(ue)th R.14.232: R uniquely omits he before haueth. Cx confirms the correctness of the majority reading. . Ac in pouerte þer e pacience is  pruid hath no miȝt . Ne non of þe seuene synnes  sitten ne mow þere longe . Ne haue power e in pouerte  if pacience it folwe . For þe pore is ay preste  to plese þe riche  And buxu m at his biddyng e  for his broke loues . And buxu mnesse and bost  aren eu ermore at werr e . And ayther hateth other  in alle man er werkes . If wrathe wrastel with þe pore  he hath þe worse ende . For if þei bothe pleyne  þe pore is but feble . And if he chide or chater e  hym cheueth þe worse . For loulich he loketh  and loueliche is his speche . These lines are not found in beta. There are sufficient differences between R and F in these lines to justify reproducing the latter's lines verbatim (cf. Appendix 1, R14.243-53, for details and any cross-references to the C version): For lowly he lookeþ / & lovely is his speche. Þat ony meete or monee / of oþere men mote asken. ¶ & if Glotenye greve pouerte / he gadreþ þe lasse. For hise rentys wil not reche / no ryche meetys to bygge. & þowh his glut be in good ale / he gooþ a-cold to bedde. & hys hevid euele y-helyd / & vnesely y-wryȝe. For whan he streyneþ hym to strecche / þe straw is his schete. So for his grete glotenye / he haþ a greuous penaunce. Þat is wellawo whan he wakeþ / & wepiþ sore . for colde. & sum-tyme for hise synnes / so he is neuere merye. With -outyn moornynge a-moong . & myche myschef to boote. Þat mete ony meete or mone  of other men mote asken . And if glotonie greue pouerte  he gadereth þe lasse . For his rentes ne nil wol nauȝte reche  no riche metes to bugge. And þouȝ his glotonye be to glut be in gode ale  he goth to cold beddyng e acolde to bedde . And his heued vn -heled euele yheld &  vn -esiliche I -wrye . For whan he streyneth hym to streche  þe strawe is his schetes schete . So for his his grete glotonie and his grete scleuthe nil  he hath a greuous penau nce . Þat is welawo whan he waketh  and wepeth wepiþ sore for colde . And su m -tyme for his synnes  so he is neu ere murie . Withoute mornynge amonge  and mischief myche myschef to bote . ¶ And þouȝ if R.14.254: Cf. R's þouȝ (shared with F) with the beta reading, if. Cx agrees with alpha. coueytise walde nil cache þe pore  þei may nouȝt come togideres . And bi þe nekke nameliche  her non may henten other . For men knoweth wel þat coueytise  is of a kene wille . And hath hondes and armes  of longe a longe lengthe . R.14.257: For R's longe lengthe, beta reads a longe lengthe ; F has an huge lengthe. Cx agrees with beta. And pou erte ne is nis R.14.258: R's ne is is unique in form but substantively in agreement with the best of the early beta copies (LMWHmC), which read nis; F and other beta witnesses (CrGYOC 2) read is. Cx agrees with F and the inferior beta group. but a pety thyng e  apereth nauȝt to his nauele . And louely layke was it neuer e  by -twene þe longe and þe schorte . And þouȝ auerice wald angre þe pore  he hath but litel miȝte . For pou erte hath but pokes  to putten in his godes . Þere auerice hath almaries  and Iren bounden cofferes . And whether be liȝter to breke  lasse bost it maketh . A beggeres bagge  þan an Iren bounde coffre . ¶ Lecherie loueth hym nouȝt  for he ȝiueth but litel siluer . Ne doth hym nauȝt dine delicatly  ne drinke wyn ofte . R.14.266: Immediately following this line, alpha omits two lines present in beta (and in the C version, though somewhat garbled there): A strawe for þe stuwes it stode nouȝt I trowe Had þei none but of pore men her houses were vntyled . ¶ And þouȝ sleuthe sue pouerte  and s erue nauȝt god to paye . Meschief is his meyster  and maketh hym to thenke . Þat god is grettest his grettest R.14.269: Alpha and B omit his before grettest. In correcting the error, F presumably misplaced the possessive and ended by creating the phrase, grettest his helpe. helpe  and no gome elles . And he is R.14.270: R's he is is unique in the B tradition but agrees with the vast majority of C manuscripts (of both major families). F and several beta witnesses (Cr W—and M after alteration above the line) read he his. A few C manuscripts support this reading. Most beta copies (including LHmOG—and M before alteration) show simply his. s eruaunt as he seith  and of his sute bothe . And where R.14.271: R's where, a contracted form of beta's whether, is shared, among the B manuscripts, only with L. However, most of the X family in the C tradition supports the RL reading. The P family tends to support the common beta reading. he be or be nauȝt  he bereth þe sygne of pou erte . And in þat secte our e saueour e  saued alle mankende . For -thi alle pore þat pacient is  may claymen and asken . After her e endynge her e  heuene -riche blisse . ¶ Muche hardier may he asken  þat her e miȝt haue his wille . In lorde londe R.14.276: Alpha almost certainly read lorde at the beginning of the a-verse (cf. F's As a lord of) and seems a classic case of scribal anticipation of lordschipe later in the line. Beta, by contrast, has londe. Cx agrees with beta. and in lordschipe and lykyng e of body . And for godes loue leueth al  and lyueth as a begger e . And as a mayde for a nil R.14.278: R's a is a unique addition to the text witnessed by the other B manuscripts; however, the vast majority of C copies agree with R's reading, so it is probably authorial in B as well. mannes loue  hir e moder for -saketh . Hir e fader and alle hir e frendes  and folwed folweth R.14.279: R uniquely deploys the past tense; all others read folweth. But see the Introduction III.2.2.10 on tense ambiguities in this manuscript's tradition. hire make . Muche is þat suche a R.14.280: In place of alpha's þat, beta seems to have read suche a. Cx certainly attests such a . mayde to louie  of hym þat suche on taketh . More þan a mayden is  þat is maried þoruȝ brocage . As by assent of sondri parties  and siluer to bote . More for coueytise of gode  þan kende loue of bothe . ¶ So it fareth be vch a persone  þat possession forsaketh . And put hym to be pacient  and pou erte weddeth . R.14.286: R uniquely omits Þe at the head of this line. Cx agrees with the B majority. Which Þe which is sib to god hym -selue  and so neyȝ is pou erte to his seyntes . R.14.286: Beta's b-verse is entirely different, reading and so to his seyntes . The b-verse of C is completely revised and distinct from alpha or beta: and semblable bothe. ¶ Haue god my treuthe q uod haukyn  þ at huyr e ȝe R.14.287: R's meaning is unclear. Bx itself may have been corrupt at this point. Cf. F's y heere and beta's ȝe. faste preyse preyse faste R.14.287: R's word order is unique; F omits faste while beta reads preyse faste. pou erte . What is pouerte pacience with pacience R.14.288: Beta here reads pouerte with pacience . F omits the phrase entirely. The X family of C agrees with R. Some P manuscripts read patient instead of pacience. q uod he  p roprely to mene . Paup ertas q uod pacience  est odibile bonu m . — Remoc io curar um possessio sine calumpnia . Donu m dei semita sanitatis R.14.291: R's semita is unique ( Bx / Cx = sanitatis), an obvious error by anticipation of the same word later in the citation. mat er absq ue solitudine semita . Sapiencie temp eratrix  negociu m sine dampno . Incerta fortuna . absq ue solicitudine felicitas . ¶ I can nauȝt construe al þis q uod haukyn  Here R divides one Bx line into two. Ye moste kenne me þis an englische . In englisch q uod pacience it is wel harde  wel to expounen . And some -del I schal seyn it  by so þow vnderstande . Pouerte is þe furste poynte  þat pruide moste hateth . Þan is it goed by goed skil  al þat agasteth pruide . Riȝt as contric ion is confortable thyng e  consience wote wel . And a sorwe of hym -selue  and a solace to þe soule . So pou erte p ropreliche  penaunce and ioye . Is to þe bodye  puir sp irituale helthe . Ergo paup ertas est odibile bonu m . ¶ And contric ion conforte  and cura animar um . Selde sit pou erte  þe sothe to declare . Or as iustice to iuge men men enioigned is no pore  R.14.307: The b-verse of this line was either garbled beyond hope or completely lost by alpha; R omits it entirely while F repositions the caesura and fleshes out the line with of gyltys. Beta reads enioigned is no pore, which is similar to the reading of Cx. Ne for nil to R.14.308: R's Ne for to is a unique version of this line's opening. F reads Ne as while beta has Ne to. Cx agrees with beta on this phrase. be a meyr e ou ere aboue(n) R.14.308: R's ouere is unique; F reads on while beta has aboue. Cx agrees with R. men  ne ministre vnder kynges Selde is enemye any pore R.14.309: The problem here seems to have its source in alpha. R's enemye pore is an obvious corruption of beta's any pore; F's þe poore looks like a typical effort to repair the alpha damage merely reflected thoughtlessly by R. Cx agrees with beta. y -put  to puneschen eny poeple . Remoc io curar um . Ergo pou erte and pouer men  parfournen þe comaundement . Nolite iudicare quemq uam  . The thredde . ¶ Selde is pore riȝt any pore R.14.313: The majority of beta manuscripts has any pore in place of alpha's pore riȝt. Cx agrees with alpha. riche  but of his nil R.14.313: R's but of his is unique among B copies; F has but it be of while beta reads but of. However, Cx agrees with R's phrasing. riȝtful heritage . Wynneth he nouȝt with wittes weghtes fals R.14.314: F seems to have been unhappy with alpha's reading, (presumably identical to R's) and smoothed it to hise wyȝles. Beta's reading ( weghtes fals = "false weights") seems more vivid and stylistically superior to R's wittes fals. Most P family copies within the C tradition agree with beta. Nevertheless, R's relatively bland reading may in fact be authorial; a comparison with C shows that five of the best X family manuscripts (XYcKcTH 2) agree with R on this lection. This agreement is highly unlikely to have resulted from merely random convergence; at the very least, the bipolar confusion of this variant array appears to reflect an ambiguously spelled form in the common archetype of both versions. R's reading may, in fact, be no more than a formal variant of beta's; cf. the comments on wit at R.15.225:.  ne with vnseled mesures . Ne borweth of his neyȝebores  but þat he may wel paye . Possessio sine calumpnia  ¶ Þe ferthe it nil is a R.14.317: R's it represents a unique addition to the text witnessed by the other B manuscripts (including F), but it is supported as authorial by a majority of C copies, including the most reliable members of the X family. fortune  þat florescheth þe soule . With sobrete fram alle synne  and also ȝet more . It affaiteth þe flesche  fram folies ful manye . A collateral conforte  cristes oune ȝifte . Donu m dei R.14.321: R omits his usual blank line before the next verse paragraph, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Þe fifte it is þe is moder R.14.322: Cf. R's it is þe moder to F's is þe Moodir and beta's is moder. of hele helthe R.14.322: Cf. RF's hele to beta's helthe .  a frende in alle fondynges . And for þe lawde R.14.323: This variant array shows a truly puzzling configuration of attestation, with C offering no help because of an extensive revision to fix the confusion found in B witnesses. R's lawde agrees with the beta copies CY but makes no obvious sense; F uniquely reads lawe, which is probably no more than a typical piece of that scribe's speculative reconstruction. The most trustworthy beta copies (LMCrWHm) all agree on land, which has the advantage of making ordinary sense, but Kane and Donaldson prefer lewde, the reading of GOC 2B. eu ere a -liche  a lemman of all e clennesse . Sanitatis mater . ¶ Þe sixte it nil is R.14.325: R's it is is unique among the B copies; both F and beta read is. However, a large majority of C manuscripts agrees with R (though five C witnesses support with beta. a path of pees  ȝe þoruȝ þe pa pa[s] altone pas of altoun R.14.325: R uniquely omits the preposition of before altone. G's source may also have omitted it since that manuscript supplies at. . Pouerte miȝt passe  withoute peril of robbynge . For þere þat pouerte passeth  pees folweth after . And euer þe lasse þat he bereth  þe hardier R.14.328: R's omission of he at this point is distinctive. F omits this entire line; beta reads the phrase as hardyer he is . is he is of herte . For -thi seith senecca . Paup ertas est absq ue solitudine solicitudine R.14.329: This error (for solicitudine) is shared with F and thus derives from alpha, but it is also found in several beta manuscripts, indicating that an uncommon Latin suspension in Bx may have been the original stimulus to what seems, at first glance, an unlikely mistake. semita . And an hardy man of herte  amonge an hepe of theues . Cantabat paup ertas coram latrone viator . ¶ Þe seuenthe it nil is R.14.332: R's it is is, once more, unique among the B copies; both F and beta simply read is. Most of the X family in the C tradition agrees with beta; however, a simple majority of C manuscripts (including some of the X set and most of the P set) agrees with R. wel of wysdom  and fewe wordes scheweth . For lordes aloweth hym lite litel R.14.333: All the other B and C witnesses read litel.  or listeneth to his resou n . He tempreth þe tonge to trewthe -warde  þ at and R.14.334: At the head of the b-verse, beta reads and in place of alpha's þat; however, all of the C manuscripts agree with alpha here. no tresor coueyteth . R.14.334: Immediately hereafter, alpha (as well as a majority of C witnesses) omitted a Latin line on poverty found in beta: Sapiencie temperatrix. ¶ Þe eyȝtethe it nil is R.14.335: R's it is is, once more, unique among the B copies; both F and beta simply read is. However, most of the C copies agree with R (though half a dozen—UcDcChEcGcN—support beta). a lele laborer e labor  and lothe to take more . Þan he may wel deserue  in somer or in wynter . And if he chafareth he chargeth no loss e  mowe he charite wynte wyn[n]e wynne . Negociu m sine dampno . ¶ Þe nythe it is nyneth is R.14.339: R's spelling, nythe, is unique among the B copies and may seem an obvious error of the simplest sort: inadvertent omission of a nasal bar; but virtually all of the C manuscripts share this spelling of nyneth Both MED, s. v. ninthe, and OED2, s. v. ninth and nineth, acknowledge the possibility of this spelling of the ordinal in Middle English. R.14.339: Once more, R uniquely reads it is where the other B witnesses have is. As in earlier instances in this listing passage, however, though a few C manuscripts agree with beta's simpler rendering, the vast majority supports R's reiterative phrase. swete to þe soule  no sugur is swetter e . For pacience is payne  for pou erte hym -selue . And sobrete swete drinke  and goed leche in sekenesse . Þus lered me a lered lettred R.14.342: R's form is shared with F; beta has lettred. Several variants (including lewed!) occur at this position in C witnesses, but the majority agrees with alpha on lered. man  for our e lordes loue . Seynt austyn a blissed lif  with -outen busynesse . For body and for soule  solicitudine absque solicitudine felicitas . R.14.344: Among the B copies, R uniquely omits absque at the head of the Latin phrase. The same omission occurs in three C manuscripts of the X family (TH 2Ch), but Cx supports the B majority. Now god þat alle gode gyueth  graunte his soule reste . Þat þus furst wrote to wisse men  what pou erte was to mene . ¶ Allas q uod haukyn haukyn þe actyf man þo R.14.347: R completely drops the second stave of the a-verse ( Bx = þe actyf man þo ), probably mirroring alpha in this loss, while F gives the appearance of trying to repair the damage, replacing the missing material with a simple þanne.  þat after my cristendom  I ne hadde be dede and doluen  for doweles sake . So harde it is q uod haukyn  to lyue and to do synne . Synne scheweth suweth R.14.350: R's scheweth is an alpha error shared with F; beta's suweth is obviously correct. vs euer e q uod he  and sori gan wexe . And wepte water with his eyȝes R.14.351: R shares this version of the plural with F; the beta form is eyghen.  and weyled þe tyme . Þat euer e he dede dede  þat dere god displesed  Swowed and sobbed  and siked ful ofte . Þat eu ere he had londe or lordschipe  lasse other more . Or meistrie ouer any man  mo þan of hym -selue . I were nauȝt worthi  wite wote god R.14.356: Cf. R's wite god to beta's wote god. F and some of the beta manuscripts completely omit the phrase woot god . q uod haukyn  to werie any clothes . Ne noyther scherte ne schone  saue for schame one . To keuere my caroyne q uod he  and cried mercy faste . And wepte and weyled  and þer e -with I awaked . pass us xiiij us . Passus xiiij us x[v] us quartus decim us [quintus] decim us de visione vt sup ra . A c R.15.1: Inside the triangle formed by the top of the ornamental capital, the rubricator has drawn a nun's face. after my walkyng e R.15.1: R shares this error ( walkyng e for Bx's wakyng ) with Bm and Bo alone.  it was wonder longe . Ar I coude kendely  knowe what was dowel . And so my wit wexe and wanyed  til I a foel were . And som me lakked my lif  alowed it fewe . And leten me for a lorel  and lothe to reuerencen . Lordes or ladyes  or any lif elles  As persones in pelur e  with pendauntes of suluer . To seriauntz and ne R.15.8: R's and is an alpha variant; cf. beta's ne. to suche  and nil seide R.15.8: R's phrase, suche and seide, is unique; beta omits and, while F reads swiche men seyde. nauȝt ones . God loke ȝow lordes  ne louted fair e . Þat folke helden me a foel  and in þat folye I raued . Til reson hadde reuthe on me  and rokked me a slepe . Til I seyȝ as it of nil R.15.12: R's line closely parallels that of beta, but R's of is unattested in any beta witness. F includes of, but does so in a totally revised version of this a-verse. sorserie wer e  a sotil thynge with -alle . One with -oute tonge and teth  tolde me wonder whyder I schulde . And wher e -of I cam and whider I schulde what kynde R.15.14: R's b-verse is seriously corrupt, deploying the final phrase from the previous archetypal line ( whider I schulde)—a phrase which he had miscopied in its proper place; by contrast, F has kendely here and beta manuscripts read what kynde. Moreover, R uniquely divides this botched passage so as to cause the final phrase of the Bx line to be displayed as a separate, following line, R15.15.  I co niured hym at þe laste  If he wer e cristes creatur e  for c ristes loue me to tellen : ¶ I am cristes creatur e q uod he  and cristene in many place . In cristes court I -knowe wel  and of his kynne a party . Is noyther peter þe porter  ne powel with þe his R.15.19: R's þe is unique; the other B manuscripts have his. Among the C copies, the X family agrees with R while the P family agrees with the others. fauchon . Þat wole defende me þe dore  dyng e ych neuer so late . At mydnyȝte at mydday  my voys is so so is I -knowe . Þat Ich a creatur e of his courte  welcometh me faire . ¶ What ar ȝe cald q uod I  in þat courte  amonge c ristes poeple . ¶ Þe whiles I quikye þe corps  q uod he  I -cald called am I anima . And whan I wilne and wolde  anim us Ich hate . And for þat I can and knowe  cald am I mens . thouȝte nil R.15.26: R's thouȝte is a unique reading among the B copies and has the appearance of a scribal gloss erroneously incorporated into the text. F's line terminal ofte then would represent a fairly typical example of that tradition's tendency toward "smoothing" earlier mistakes. However that may be, thouȝte also appears at this point in a large number of C manuscripts of both major families, including XYcP 2TH 2Ch (of the X group) and PEcQZWaGcNcFcCa (of the P group); so if it is an error, its source is a manuscript prior to Bx in the line of transmission. . And whanne I make mone to god . And whanne I make mone to god  memoria is my name . And whanne I deme domes  and do as treuthe techeth . Þanne is rac io my riȝte name  resou n an englisch . And whanne I fele þ at folke telleth  my furst name is sensus . And þat is wit and wisdome  þe welle of alle craftes . And whanne I chalenge or chalenge nauȝte  chepe or refuse . Þanne am I consience I -called  godes clerk and his notarie . And whanne I loue lelly  our e lorde and alle other . Þanne is lele loue my name  and in latyn amor . And whanne I fle fro þe flesche  and forsake þe caroyne . Þanne am I spirit speche -les  and nil R.15.37: RF are joined by L alone among the beta copies in adding the conjunction here. However, Cx clearly agrees with this LRF reading. spiritus þanne Ich hatte . Austyn and Isodorus  ayther of hem bothe  Nempned me þus to name  now þow miȝt chese . How þow coueytest to calle me  now þow knowest alle my names . Anima p ro diu ersis accionib us diu ersa no mi na sortitur . Du m viuificat corpus anima est . Du m wlt R.15.43: R's wlt is a common English scribal spelling for Latin vult; it appears to have resulted from an association between the customary phonetic value assigned to Latin initial <v> (= /w/) and a popular sense of the origin of the <w> graph itself as a "double v." Because many other European languages, as well as Latin, had no <w> graph, and foundries therefore omitted the form from standard typographic templates, English printers often resorted to using the digraph <vv> to represent English <w> till the end of the seventeenth century. anim us est  Du m sit s[c]it scit mens est . Du m recolit memoria est . Du m iudicat rac io est . Du m sentit sensus est Du m amat amor est . Du m negat v el consentit co nsiencia e st . In the right margin, just inside the vertical boundary of the page ruling, someone has inscribed, in drypoint, a figure resembling a backwards Roman capital <N>; opposite line 51, in the same vertical column, a figure resembling a properly faced capital <N> has been inscribed; still lower, and slightly closer to the text, in the margin opposite line 53, another reversed <N> appears to have been entered in drypoint. Du m spirat sp iritus est . ¶ Ȝe ben as a bischop e q uod I  alle bourdyng e þat tyme . For bischopes I -blessed  þei bereth many names . Presul and pontifex  and metropolanus metropolitanus . R.15.53: The term metropolanus (= metropolitanus in beta, seems to be an alpha error. However, this spelling is also found in about half of the C witnesses, including manuscript X. And other names an hepe  ep iscopus and pastor . ¶ Þat is soth seyde he  now I se þi wille . Þow woldest knowe and ku nne  þe cause of alle her e names . And of myne if þow miȝtest  me thenketh by þi speche . ¶ Ȝe sir e I seyde  by so no man wer e greued . Alle þe science vnder sonne  and alle þe sotil craftes . I wolde Ich R.15.60: R's Ich is unique, but only in form; the other B manuscripts have I or y, as does Cx. knewe and coude  kendelyche in myn herte . ¶ Þanne art þow inparfit q uod he  and on of pruydes kniȝtes . For suche a luste and likynge  lucifer fel fram heuene . Pona m pedem meu m in aquilone  et si mil is ero altissimo . ¶ It wer e aȝeynes kende q uod he  and alle kyne resou n . Þat any creatur e schuld kenne kunne al  excepte criste cryste one . R.15.65: R here shows a unique omission; Bx reads cryste one. Cx agrees with the B archetype. Aȝeynes suche salomon speketh  and despiseth her e wittes . And seith sicut qui mel comedit  R.15.67: The scribe has included midline punctuation here, but he has partially obscured it by overwriting it with the first stroke of the following <m>. multu m no n est ei bonu m . Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opp rimatur opprimitur R.15.68: Cf. F's opprimetur and beta's opprimitur. Cx agrees with R on this inflectional form. a gl oria . To englisch men þis is to mene  þat mowen speke and her e . Þe man þat muche hony eet eteth R.15.70: This is an alpha variant; cf. beta's eteth. Most C copies agree with alpha, but some with beta.  his mawe is englaymed engleymeth . And þe more þat a man  of gode mat ere hereth . But he do þer e -after  it doth hym double skathe . Beatus est seith seint bernarde  qui scripturas legit . Et vertit v erba verba vertit in opera  follich to his power e . Coueytyse to kunne  and to knowe science . Pulte oute of paradys  adam and eue . Sciencie R.15.77: There is an otiose curl on the tail of the first <e> of Sciencie; it is not altogether different from a flourish that is part of the scribe's normal repertoire, but from its slightly altered position, it looks as though he was planning to bar the <e> to represent the following <n> but then changed his mind. appetitus ho mi nem immortalitatis gl oriam spoliauit . And ȝet riȝte R.15.78: R's ȝet is unique; Bx and Cx = riȝte. as hony is euel to defie  and engleymeth þe mawe . Riȝt so þat thurȝ resou n  wolde þe rote knowe  Of god and of his grete miȝtes  his graces it letteth . For in þe likynge lith a pruide  and a lycames coueytise . A -ȝeynes cristes consell e  and alle clerkes techyng e . Þat is non plus saper e q uam oportet sapere . ¶ Freres and other fele other R.15.84: After and beta supplies fele, a modifier omitted by G as well as alpha. maistres  þat to þe lewed men p rechen . Ȝe meuen materes vnmesurables  to tellen of þe trinite . R.15.85: Hereafter RF omit a line found in beta: Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple of her bileue douten. Beter e by -leue byleue were by nil mone R.15.86: Mone, "many."  doctoures techyng e such techyng . R.15.86: The Bx version of this line seems much in doubt; there are complex textual variations among all the manuscripts. Likeliest to represent the beta version is L, whose rendering closely parallels that of Cr: Bettere byleue were mony doctoures such techyng . F has Bettre it were to be-leve on / as doctouris vs techeþ . And telle men R.15.87: Here R is joined only by G in omitting of after men; F omits men. þe ten comaundementz  & touchen þe seuen synnes . And of þe braunches þat bourgeleth burgeouneth R.15.88: R's bourgeleth is unique. F reads burgoneþ and beta manuscripts show spelling variations of the same, e.g., burgeouneth.  of hem  and bringeth me n to helle . And how þat folke in folies  myspenden her e fyue wittes . As wel freres as other folke  folilich spenen . In housyng e in hateryng e  in -to and into R.15.91: Beta's phrase is and into. hey clergie schewyng e . More for pompe þanne for puir e charite  þe pople wote þe sothe R.15.92: There is an ink smudge in the left margin at this point, apparently the result of blotting contact with the note in the right margin at R15.125 on the recto page. Þat I lye nauȝt loo  for lordes ȝe plesen . And reuerencen þe riche  rather þe rather R.15.94: R uniquely omits þe before rather. Cx agrees with the other B manuscripts on this. for her e suluer . Confundant ur om nes qui adorant sculptilia . et alibi . Vt quid diligitis vanitatem et queritis queritis mendacium R.15.96: R uniquely omits mendacium after queritis. &c etera . Go to þe glose of þe vers  ȝe grete clerkes . If I lye on ȝowe to my lewed wit  ledeth me to brennyng e . For as it semeth ȝe forsaketh  no mannes almesse . Of vsureres of hores  and of R.15.100: R's and is unique; F reads & of while beta has of. auerous chapmen . And louten to þis lordes  þat mowen lene ȝow nobles Aȝeyne ȝour e reule & ȝour e nil R.15.102: Here R uniquely adds a second ȝour e to the line. religiou n  I take recorde at Ih esus . Þat seyde to his disciples  ne sitis accept ores p ersonar um personarum acceptores . R.15.103: Beta transposes the RF phrase to personarum acceptores . ¶ Of þis mat ere I miȝte  make a grete longe R.15.104: In place of R's grete, F reads mychil and beta shows longe. bible . Ac of curatoures ouer of R.15.105: R's ouer is unique; the other manuscripts read of. c ristene poeple  as clerkes bereth witnesse . I schal tellen it for treuthe treuthis sake  take hede ho -so lyketh . ¶ As holynesse and honeste  oute of holy cherche spredeth . These lines are marked by a brace in the right margin, as well as a pointing hand. There is a brown ink stain immediately above the end of line 107. Þoruȝ lele lybbyng e men  þat godes lawes lawe techeth . ☜ Riȝt so oute of holy cherche  alle eueles spredeth . Þer e inparfit p resthode is  and nil R.15.110: The beta manuscripts omit this conjunction. p rechoures and techoures . Beginning just below the pointing hand referred to at R15.107, there is an erased note in the right margin, written horizontally in some 16 short lines that extend down the page to a point approximately 2.2 cm. below the last line of scribal text. The hand appears to be the same as that discernible in the extensive erased note on fol. 94r. And se it by ensaumple  in somer tyme on trewes . Þer e so mme bowes ben leued  and so mme bereth none . Þer e is a meschief in þe more  of suche man er bowes . Riȝt so p ersones and prestes  and p rechoures of holy cherches cherche R.15.114: R uniquely deploys the plural; the other manuscripts read cherche. Cx agrees with them against R. Is þe Þat aren R.15.115: Where R reads Is þe, beta has Þat aren and F shows Þey sholde been. A majority of C manuscripts agrees with R. rote of þe riȝt faith  to reule þe poeple  Ac þer e þe rote is roten  reson wote þe sothe . Schal neu ere flour e ne fruit  ne fair e lefe be grene . ¶ For -thi walde þe ȝe lettred  leue þe lecherie of clothynge . And be kynde as byfel for clerkes  and curteys of cristes godes . Trewe of ȝour e tonge  and of ȝour e taile bothe . And hatyen to here herlotrie  and auȝt nouȝt R.15.121: R uniquely reads auȝt; F reads looþ wrong ; a majority of the beta copies show nouȝt. to vnderfonge . Tythes of trewe vntrewe R.15.122: RF are in agreement on trewe (supported by CrWG), but most beta manuscripts read vntrewe. thynge  I -tyled or I -chafared chaffared . ¶ Lothe were lewed men  but þei ȝour e lore folwede . And amenden hem þat þei nil R.15.124: R's þei is unique; all the other manuscripts omit it. mysdon  more for ȝour e ensaumples . Ipocrysye Þan for to p rechen and p reue it nauȝt  ypoc risie it semeth . R.15.125: A sixteenth-century reader has inscribed in the right margin opposite this line Ipocrysye . For ypocrisie in latyn  is likkned to a dongou n dongehul R.15.126: Beta reads dongehul where RF have dongou n . In a substantially revised version of this line, the C version attests donghep, suggesting that beta's reading was original. Þat wer e bi -snewed with snowe  and snakes with -Inne . Or to a wal þat wer e white -lymed  and wer e foule with -Inne . l ij us Riȝt so many p restes  p rechoures and p relates . Ȝe ar enblaunched with bele paroles . and with clothes with clothes also . R.15.130: F's final phrase is completely unique ( blewe burnet cloþis ), but beta differs here from R only by adding also at the end of the line. The C version attests with bele clothes . And Ac ȝour e werkes and ȝour e wordes  þer e -vnder aren ful wlueliche vnlouelich . R.15.131: For R's wlueliche, F shows foxly and beta reads vnlouelich. R.15.131: The spelling wlueliche is probably not erroneous. Cf. R.15.43:, and the note on wlt. ¶ Ioh annes criostomus cri[s]ostomus crysostomus  of clerkes speketh and p restes . Sicut de templo om ne bonu m p rocedit progreditur R.15.133: The form procedit is from alpha. Beta witnesses read progreditur, the same verb form found at this point in the C version.  Sic de templo om ne malu m p rocedit . Si sac erdociu m integru m fuerit  tota floret ecc lesia . Si autem corupta corruptum R.15.136: Beta reads coruptum. Both inflectional forms are found in C witnesses, but distribution and numbers suggest that the alpha reading was archetypal in C. fu erit  o mni um fides marcida est . Si sacerdos sacerdocium R.15.137: Beta reads sacerdocium. Both inflectional forms are found in C witnesses, but the beta reading is archetypal in C. fu erit in p eccatis  totus p op ul us co nu ertit ur ad p eccatu m peccandum . R.15.137: Beta reads peccandum. Both readings are found in C witnesses, but the beta reading is archetypal in C. Sicut cu m videris arbore m pallidam & marcidam . In tellis Intelli[gi]s inteligis quod viciu m h abet in radice . Ita cu m videris p op ul um indisciplinatu m & irreligiosu m . Sine dubio sac erdociu m eius no n est sanu m . ¶ If lewed men wiste  what þis latyn meneth . In the left margin, a black brace extends the entire length of this verse paragraph. And who was myn auctour  muche wonder me thenketh . But if many p reste a prest bere  for her e broches and for her e baselardes for here baselardes and here broches . R.15.144: Most beta witnesses have But if many a prest bere for here baselardes and here broches , where the alliterative pattern suggests that Bx was already corrupt. R reads the nouns of beta's final phrase in transposed order. The R scribe's placement of a punctus elevatus after bere probably indicates that he did not take and for here baselardes to have constituted the b-verse by itself. F's line ( But euery prest sholde bere / for here broode baselardis ) is unique, revised in the light of a seemingly confused exemplar. A peyre bedes in her e honde  or and R.15.145: R's or is an alpha reading; beta has and. a boke vnder her e arme . Sire ioh an and sir e gefferey  hath a gurdel of suluer . A baselard or a ballok -knyf  with botones ou ergilte . Ac a portos þat schulde be his plow  placebo to segge . Hadde he neu ere s eruise to haue saue R.15.149: For R's to haue, F reads ne; the other manuscripts read to saue. siluer þer e -to  seith it with euel R.15.149: Most beta manuscripts have ydel; but L (= yvel) joins alpha in reading euel. wille . Allas ȝe lewed men muche lese ȝe on p restes . Ac þinge þat wikkedliche is wonne and with fals sleȝtes . Walde neu ere wit þe witte of witty god  but wikked men it maked hadde(n) . R.15.152: R's maked is an alpha reading (cf. F's made). Beta reads hadde. Cx agrees with beta. Þe whiche aren p restes in -parfit  and p rechoures after siluer . Seketoures and sodenes  somnoures and her e lemmanes . Þis þat with gile was gete  vngraciousliche is spened spended . R.15.155: R's spened is unique; F and most beta copies have spended, from the R verb's etymological parent—though W reads despended. The P family of C agrees with W (and by implication beta and F), but the majority of the X family supports R (reading yspened). So harlotes and hores  aren hulpen with suche godeth gode[s] goodis . Ac And godes folke for defaute þer e -of  forfaren and spillen . . ¶ Curatoures of holy cherche  and as clerkes þat ben auerous . Liȝteliche þat þei leuen  loseles it habbeth  Or deyeth intestate  and þanne þe bischop e entreth . And maketh murthe þere -with  and his men bothe . And seggen he was a nygarde  þ at no gode miȝt aspar e . To frende ne to fremede . þe fende haue his soule . For a wreched hous he helde  al his lyf -tyme . And þat he spared and bi -sperred  spene we in murthe . ¶ By lered by lewed  þat lothe is to spene spende . R.15.166: R's spene is unique; F and most beta copies have spende, from the R verb's etymological parent—though W reads despende. Cf. R.15.155: above. Þus goen her e godes  be þe goste faren . Ac for gode men god wote  grete doel men maketh . And bymeneth gode meteȝiueres  and in mynde hem nil haueth . In preyeres and in penaunces  and in parfite charite . ¶ What is charite q uod I þo  a childisch þinge he seyde . Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli  no n intrab itis in regn um cel orum . Withoute fauntelte or folye  a fre liberal wille . Where schuld men fynde suche a frende  with so fre an herte . Longe Wylle R.15.175: This decorative, rubricated marginal, very unusual in the typical pattern of Piers Plowman glosses, may offer evidence for how early in the transmission chain MS R stands: MSS L and M both have sixteenth-century glosses taking note of Longe Wylle (M repeating the actual textual phrase, as in R); but among beta copies, only MS O (which Ralph Hanna dates to the first quarter of the fifteenth century) shows this gloss in a hand contemporary to its main scribal hand. Another alpha/beta shared gloss, involving MSS R and L, occurs somewhat later in this passus with the unexpected and atypical Isa. 3 note at R15.582, attested solely by MSS L, R and F. ¶ Ich haue lyued in londe q uod I  my name is longe wille . And fonde I neu ere ful charite  by -fore ne byhynde : Men beth merciable to mendinauns mendynantz & R.15.177: R uniquely reads to; cf. beta's & to and F's ne to. to pore . And wole lene þer e þei leue  leleliche to ben apayed payed . Ac charite þat powel p reyseth best  and moste plesaunt to god oure saueoure . R.15.179: F reads the end of this line as god in heuene while beta reads owre saueoure. As no n inflatur no n e st ambiciosa no n q uerit q ue sua su nt . I seiȝ neu ere suche a man  so me god helpe . Þat he ne wolde aske after his  and other -while coueyte . Þing e þat hym neded neded hym R.15.183: R's hym neded is an alpha reading transposed in beta to neded hym. The beta order is also that found in Cx. nauȝt  and nyme it if he miȝte . ¶ Clerkes kenneth R.15.184: R uniquely reads kenneth; All other manuscripts have kenne(n). me þat criste  is in alle places . Ac I seyȝ hym neu ere sothly  but as my -sulue i n myrour e a miroure . Hic nil in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem : And so I trowe trewely  by þat men telleth of charite . It is nouȝt championes fiȝt  ne chaffar e as I trowe . ¶ Charite q uod he ne chaffareth nouȝte  noþ er ne R.15.189: R uniquely reads noþer at the head of the b-verse; the other copies have ne. chalengeth ne craueth . As proude of a peny as of a pounde of golde . And is as glad of a gowne  of a grayre graye graye russet . As of a tunicle of tars  or of trie skarlet . He is gladde with alle glade  and gode til all e wikked . He And leueth R.15.194: R's He is an alpha lection; beta has And; R's leueth is matched only in Cr; F reads beleviþ while beta manuscripts are ambiguous. Kane and Donaldson read them as leneth, but Skeat construed L's reading as leueth. and loueth alle  þat our e lorde made . l iij us Curseth he no creatur e  ne he can bere no wrathe Ne no likyng e haue hath to R.15.196: R's haue is unique; beta reads hath to ; F transposes the opening of the a-verse as Ne he haþ lykynge to. Cx supports beta here. lye  ne lawhe me men R.15.196: R's me is unique; cf. beta's men and F's non. Cx supports beta here also. to scorne . Alle þat men seith  he let it sothe  and in solace taketh . And alle maner meschiefes  in myldenesse he suffreth . Coueyteth he non erthely godes good R.15.199: Alpha shows the plural; beta reads the singular, good.  but heuene -riche blisse . ¶ Hath he any rentes or richesse  or any riche frendes . ¶ Of rentes ne of richesse  ne recheth he neu ere . For a frende þat fynt R.15.202: R's fynt is a unique form of the verb; most of the other manuscripts, including F, read fyndeth. The Cx reading is uncertain: most P family copies support the F/beta reading, but most X family witnesses agree with R. hym  failed hy hy[m] hym neu ere at nede . Fiat voluntas tua  fynt hym eu er -more . And if he soupeth eet but a soppe  of spera in deo . He can portreye wel þe pat ern oster  and peynten it with aue aues . R.15.205: Alpha shows the singular; beta reads the plural, aues (as does the C version). And other -while is he is wone R.15.206: R uniquely omits a pronoun reference from is wone. Most beta manuscripts read he is wone; others (LMHm) read is his wone ; F has he is wont. Cx attests his wone is. to wende o pilgrimage . Þer e pore men and p risones liggeth  her e pardou n to haue . Þouȝ he bere hem no brede  he bereth hem swetter e liflode . Loueth hem as our e lorde bit  and loketh how þei fare . ¶ And whan he is weri of þat werke  þan wole he su m -tyme . Labory in a lauandrie  wel þe lengthe of a myle . And ȝerne in -to ȝouthe  and ȝepliche seche speke R.15.212: R's seche is unique; cf. beta's speke and F's þere seken. Cx's reading ( secheth) supports R here. . Pruide with alle þe purtenaunce  and pakken hem to -gyderes . And bouken hem at his breste  and beten hem clene . And leggen on longe  with laboraui in gemitu meo . And with warme water at his eyȝes  waschen hem after Þanne And þanne R.15.217: Beta's opening phrase reads And þanne. In a slightly revised line, Cx supports alpha, omitting And. he sengeth whan he doth so  and su mtyme seith weping e . Cor contritu m & humiliatu m deus no n despicies  ¶ By crist I wold þat I knewe hym q uod I  no creatur e leuere . ¶ With -outen helpe of peres þe plowman q uod he . R.15.220: R uniquely divides a Bx line in half here, rendering it as two. His persone seest þow neuere  ¶ Wher e clerkes knowen hym q uod I  þa þa[t] þat kepen holy cherche . ¶ Clerkes han no knowlechyng e knowyng R.15.223: R's knowlechyng e is unique; the other manuscripts read knowyng. q uod he  but by werkes & by wordes . Ac peres þe plowman  parseyueth more depper e . Þat What is is þe wil R.15.225: After is alpha omits þe, which is present in beta. and wher efore  þat mony wit wyȝte R.15.225: R's wit is unique in form but probably represents the same word as beta's wyȝte and F's whyȝt. Both MED and OED2 document this spelling s. v. wight. suffreth . And Et R.15.226: R's And is unique; the other manuscripts read Et. Cx supports the majority here. vidit deus cogitaciones eor um . For þer e are ful proude herte herted R.15.227: R's herte is unique. Other B manuscripts read herted. men  pacient of tonge . And buxu m as of beryng e  to bugrgeys R.15.228: The <r> of burgeys appears to have been written over another character. and to lordes . And to pore peple  han peper in þe nose . And as a leon he loketh  þer e men lakketh his werkes . ¶ For þer e aren beggeres and bydderes  bedmen as it wer e . Loketh as a lambrou n  and semed semen R.15.232: R's semed is unique; cf. beta's semen and F's seme of. lif -holy . Ac it is more to haue her e mete  on with suche an esye man ere Þanne for penaunce & parfitnesse  þe pouerte þat such taketh . ¶ Þer e -for by colour e ne by clergie  knowe schal þow hym neu ere . Noyther þoruȝ wordes ne werkes  but þoruȝ wil one . And þat knoweth no clerke  ne creatur e an erthe . But peres þe plow -man  petrus id est christus . For he nis nauȝt in lolleres  ne in lande -leperes eremites . Ne at ancres þer e a box hangeth  alle suche þei fayten . Fy on faitoures  and in fautores suos . ¶ For charite is godes chaumpion  & as a gode childe hende . And þe muriest of muthe  at mete wher e he sitteth . To Þe R.15.244: R's To is unique error; all the other manuscripts read Þe. loue þat lyth in his herte  maketh hym liȝt of speche . And is co mpanable and co nfortatif  as crist bit hym -selue . Nolite tristes fieri sicut yporcrite ypocrite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c . R.15.246: Kane-Donaldson note R's unique phrasal variation for this Latin line (the other manuscripts have Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c ), but they overlook the erroneous spelling, yporcrite. Cx supports R's phrasing of this tagline. ¶ For I haue seyne hym i n silke  & su m -tyme i n russet . Bothe in gray and in gris  and i n gulte herneys . And as gladliche he it gaf  to gomes þat it neded . ¶ Emu nd and edwarde  eyther wer e kynges . And seyntes I -sette  so for R.15.251: For RF's so, beta reads tyl or for. charite hem folwede . ¶ Ich haue I -seyn charite al -so  syngen and reden . Riden and rennen  in ragged wedes . Ac biddyng e as beggeres  byhelde I hym neuer e . Ac in riche robes  rathest he walketh . l iiij I -called and I -crymeled  and his croune yschaue . And in a frere freres R.15.257: R's frere (an unmarked genitive) is unique; all the other manuscripts read freres however, the preponderance of C evidence (most of the X family and some of the P family) supports R's reading. frocke  he was Ifounde ones . Ac it is ferre agoo  in seynt fraunceys tyme . In þat secte sitthe  to selde hath he be knowe . ¶ Riche men he recomendeth  and of here robes taketh . Þat with -oute wiles  leden here lyues . Beatus est diues qui &c etera . ¶ In kynges court he cometh ofte þer e þe conseil is trewe . Ac if coueytise be of þe conseil  he wol nauȝt come þ er -inne . In court amonges iaperes  he cometh but selde . For braulyng e and bagbytyng e  and beryng e of fals witnesse . ¶ In þe constorie byfore þe comissarie  he cometh nauȝt ful ofte . For her e lawe dureth ou er -longe  but if þei lacchen suluer And matrimonye for mone  maken and vn -maken . And þat consience and criste  hath yknyt faste . Þei vndon it vnworthiliche  þo doctoures of lawe . ¶ Amonges erchebischopes and oþer bischopes With Bisshopis & abbotys These lines are unique to alpha and there are line-division problems. Moreover, there are sufficient differences between R and F in these lines to justify reproducing the latter's lines verbatim (cf. Appendix 1, R15.272-77, for details and any cross-references to the C version): ¶ With Bisshopis & abbotys / & prelatis of holy chirche. For to wone with hem / hys wone was sum-tyme. & cristis parsymonye to þe pore / parcel-mel þey deltyn. But Auerise hathorn; þe keyȝes /& kepithorn; for hise kenysmen. & for hise seketouris & seruauntis /& summe for hise chirdryn . And p relates of holy cherche  Forto wonye with hem  his wone was su m -tyme . And cristes patrimonye parsymomye to þe pore  p arcel -mel dele þey deltyn . Ac But auerice hath þe keyes now nil  and kepeth for his kynnesmen . And for his seketoures & his nil s eruantz  & so mme for her e hise childru n . Ac I ne lak no lif  but lord amende vs alle . And gif vs grace gode god  charite to folwe . For ho -so miȝt mete with hym  suche maneres hym aileth . Noyther he blameth ne banneth  bosteth ne preyseth . Lakketh ne loseth  ne loketh vp sterne . Craueth ne coueyteth  ne crieth after more . R.15.283: Immediately after this line, alpha omits a Latin line found in beta: In pace in idipsum dormiam &c. OC 2 have this line in the margin, suggestive of how it might have been overlooked in alpha if this were its location in Bx. Þe moste lyflode þat he lyueth lyueth by R.15.284: After lyueth R uniquely omits by.  is loue in godes passiou n . Neyther he ne nil R.15.285: R's first ne in this line is unique; all the other B manuscripts omit it. However, among the C manuscripts, most of the X family agrees with R, while the others agree with beta. byddeth R.15.285: There is a discoloration in the parchment (resembling a large punctus) immediately after byddeth, but it has no significance. ne beggeth  ne borweth to ȝelde . Misdoth he no man  ne with his mouth greueth . ¶ Amonges cristene men  þis myldnesse schuld laste . In alle man er angres  haue þis atte herte . Þat þouȝ þei suffred alle þis  go go[d] god suffred for vs more . In ensaumple we schulde do so  and take take [no] take(n) no veniaunce . R.15.290: R inadvertently (and uniquely) omits no before veniaunce, causing the statement to express a very uncharitable outlook. Of oure foes þat doth vs falsenesse  þat is our e fad eres wille . For euery man may wel wel may euery man R.15.292: Beta transposes the opening phrase of this line as For wel may euery man . wite  if god god hadde R.15.292: With the exception of G, which here joins alpha, the beta manuscripts read god hadde wolde here. wolde hym -sulue . Schulde ner e neuere R.15.293: R's nere is unique; the other manuscripts read neuere. iudas þe R.15.293: R's þe is shared only with BmBoCot; F reads hise and beta reads ne. Beta's reading is unquestionably the original. Iewe  haue ih esu done on rode . Ne haue martyred peter ne powel  ne in p risone holde . Ac he suffrede in ensaumple  þat we schuld suffre also . And seide to suche þat suffre wolde  þat pacientes vi ncu nt . ¶ Verbi g racia q uod he  and verrey ensaumples manye . In legenda s anc tor um  þe lif of holy seyntes . What penaunce and pou erte  and passion þei suffred . In hunger in hete  in alle man er angres . Antonye and egidie  and oþ er holy faderes . Woneden in wildernesses wildernesse R.15.302: R's wildernesses is unique; the other manuscripts read wildernesse.  amonges wilde bestes . Monkkes and mendynans  men by hem -selue . In spekes and spelonkes  selde speken to -gyderes . Ac noyther antonye ne egydie  ne eremite þat tyme . Of lyons ne of leopartz  no lyflode ne R.15.306: A brown stain makes ne almost illegible. toke . But of þe nil R.15.307: Beta here omits þe. foules þat fleeth  þus fynt men in bokes . Excepte þat egide  after an hynde criede . And þoruȝ þe melke of þat meke mylde R.15.309: F shows no adjective (= þe beeste), while R's meke is replaced in beta with mylde. beste  þe man was ysusteyned susteyned . Ac And R.15.310: R's Ac is unique; beta reads And while F shows an omission. day by day hadde he hir e nauȝt  his honger forto slake . But selden and sundry tyme tymes R.15.311: Where alpha has the unmarked plural tyme, beta has tymes.  as seith þe boke and techeth . ¶ Antonye on a day adayes  aboute none -tyme  Hadde a bridde þat brouȝte hym  his nil R.15.313: R's hym his is unique; beta reads hym and F has hym to. brede þ at he by lyuede . And þouȝ þe gome hadde a geste  god fedde fonde R.15.314: Cf. beta's fonde. hem bothe . ¶ Powel p rimus heremita  hadde parroked in nil R.15.315: Beta omits alpha's in. The C version agrees with beta's omission. hym -selue . Þat no man miȝt hym se  for mosse and for leues . Foules hym fedde R.15.317: An ink blot covers the -ed of fedde.  fele wyntres with -alle . Til he founded freres  of austynes ordre . Powel after his prechyng e  payneres he made . And wan with R.15.320: Virtually all beta manuscripts (and F) add his before hondes. hondes  þat his wombe nedede . Peter fischede for his fode  and his felawe andrewe . So mme þei solde and som me þei eeten sothe R.15.322: Alpha's eeten is an easier replacement for the correctly alliterating sothe(n) found in the best beta manuscripts. Cf. R.15.468:. The C version incorporates this same line, but the lemma in question shows a wide range of attested readings among C witnesses.  & so þei lyued bothe . And also marie maudeleyne  by mores and by lyued and R.15.323: Alpha omits lyued after mores; beta omits the second by from this b-verse, as witnessed by alpha. On both of these issues, Cx agrees with beta. dewes . Ac moste thoruȝ deuocion  and mynde of god almiȝty . I schulde nouȝt þis seuen dayes  seggen hem alle . Þat lyueden þus for our e lordes loue  amonges wilde bestes manye longe ȝeres . R.15.326: For alpha's amonges wilde bestes, beta (and the C version) read manye longe ȝeres. Ac þer e ne was lyon ne leopartz leopart R.15.327: R uniquely shows the plural; F and beta read the singular, leopart.  þat on laundes wente . Noyther bere ne bore  ne other best wilde . Þat ne fel to hire fete  and fauned with þe taile tailles . And ȝif þei couthe haue I -carped  by crist as I trowe . Þei wolde haue I -fedde þat folke  by -fore wilde foules . For alle þe curteisie þat bestes kunne kyȝndenesse þat þey cowde R.15.332: R's curteisie þat bestes kunne is unique; F reads kyȝndenesse þat þey cowde and beta omits the entire line.  þei kidde þ at to R.15.332: R's second þat is unique; F reads to. Beta omits this entire line as well as the next one. folke ofte . In likkyng and in lowynge lovynge  þer e þei on laundes ȝede wentyn . R.15.333: R's in lowynge is unique; F reads lovynge. R's ȝede is unique; F reads wentyn. Beta omits the entire line. Ac god sent hem fode by foules  and by no ferce bestes . In menyng e þat meke thynge  mylde þing e schulde fede . As ho seith religiouse  riȝtful men schulde fynde . And lawful men to lif -holy men  liflode brynge . And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes  by be R.15.338: R's by is unique here; based on the scribe's uniform spelling of the linking verb elsewhere (= be), this occurrence may be an error, but it cannot be so designated conclusively. It may represent another example of R's many relict forms. MED, s. v. ben, attests to the viability of by in this sense with citations from both the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, including one from the Ayenbite of Inwyt ( He haþ niede, by hit to þe bodie, by hit to þe zaule —BL Arundel 57) and The Seven Sages ( He schal dwelle on lyue tyl to morwe day, And by than as hit may —Cam. Dd.1.17). Moreover, at R16.166, the scribe demonstrates his comfort with the inverse situation, signifying ModE "by" with be, a form that OED2, s. v. by (prep., adv.), attests as viable for this period. lothe to agulte . And to take of her e tenauntz  more þan treuthe wolde . Fonde þei þat freres  wolde forsake her e almesse . And bidden hem beren it  þer e it was borwed yborwed . For we beth goddes foules  and abyden alwey . Til briddes bringen vs  þat we schulde leue R.15.343: R's leue is unique among the B manuscripts (cf. R15.400), but OED2 attests it as a recognized form for liue. (See Trevisa, 1387, s. v. live (v. 1). by . For hadde ȝe potage and payne I -now  and peniale to drinke . And on R.15.345: In place of alpha's on or oo (= F), beta here shows a. mess e þer e -myde of on maner e kende . Ȝe hadde riȝt I -now ȝe religious  & so ȝour e ordre reule R.15.346: Alpha here substitutes non-alliterating ordre for Bx's reule (attested in beta). me tolde . Nu mq uam dicit Iob rugiet rugit R.15.347: Beta reads rugit, but Cx agrees with alpha's verb form. onager cu m h abuerit herbam heribam habuerit . R.15.347: Beta transposes this phrase as herbam habuerit , but Cx agrees with alpha's phrasing. Aut mugiet bos cu m ante plenu m p resepe steterit steterit Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficiat . R.15.348: Here alpha drops a long passage from the Latin citation as witnessed by both beta and the C version: brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat . Ex adipe p rodijt iniquitas tua  ¶ If lewed men knewe þis latyn  þei wold loke wham þei ȝeue . And auise hem byfore  R.15.351: The beta phrasing is a fyue dayes. fyue dayes a fyue dayes or sixe . Ar þei amortised to monkes  or chanounes here rentes . Allas lordes and ladyes  lewed conseil haue ȝe . To ȝyue fram ȝour e heyres  þat ȝour e ayeles ȝow lefte . And ȝiueth to bydde for ȝow  to suche as þat ben riche . And ben I -founded founded and feffed eke  to bydden for other . R.15.356: The scribe fails here to skip a line between strophes, as is his custom, presumably because the next line is the last ruled one for this side. ¶ Ho parfourneth þis p rophecie  of þe peple þat now libbeth  Dispersit dedit paup erib us &c etera . Ȝif any poeple parforne þat tixte  it are þis pore freres For þat þei beggen aboute  in buyldynge þei spende . And on hem -selue su m  and such such as R.15.361: R's such is followed by a unique omission; most beta copies follow such with as and BF read þat. ben here laboreres . And of hem þat habbeth þei taketh  and ȝiueth hem þat ne habbeth . ¶ Ac clerkes and kniȝtes  and comuneres þat ben riche . Fele of ȝow fareth  as if I a forest hadde . Þat were ful of feir e tres  and I founded and caste . How I miȝte mo þer e -inne  amonges hem sette . Riȝt so ȝe riche  ȝe robbeth R.15.367: In this case (cf. R15.371), RF share with some beta copies a root form, Robbe, classified by OED2 as a sixteenth-century variant spelling for robe, v. (= ModE "clothe"); it is traceable to OF robbe (= ModE "robe"), derived from the same root as OF rob since the original meaning of "robe" was "booty, spoils." þat beth R.15.367: R's beth is unique; all other witnesses read be(n). riche . And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝow  & ȝyueth þer e no nede is . As ho -so fulled a tonne ful nil  of a ful fressh R.15.369: R's second ful is unique; beta reads fressh and F has an omission. ryuer e . And wente forth with þat water  to woke with temese . Riȝt so ȝe riche ȝe robbeth R.15.371: See note at R.15.367:. and fedeth  Hem þat han as ȝe han  hem ȝe make at ese . Ac religious þat rich ben  schulde rather fede feste R.15.373: In place of alpha's fede, beta has feste. beggeres . Þan burgeys þat riche ben  as þe boek techeth . Quia sacrilegiu m est res paup eru m no n paup erib us dar e . Item idem nil p eccatorib us dar e est demonib us immolar e immolare Item monache si indiges & accipis pocius das quam accipis Si autem non eges & accipis rapis . R.15.376: Here alpha drops a long passage from the Latin citation as witnessed in beta: Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipis Si autem non eges & accipis rapis . Porro no n indiget monachus si h abeat quod nature sufficit . For -thi I co nseill e alle cristene  to co nformen hem to charite . Fo For R.15.379: Neither MED nor OED2, s. v. for, cites an example of fo as viable for the preposition signified here, but it occurs in R in four widely separated contexts (cf. R2.64, R14.60, and R20.224) and probably represents an instance of idiolect apocope. Cf. R's common use of fro (= ModE "from") and mo (= ModE "more"). charite with -oute chalengyng e . vnchargeth vnchargeth þe soule . R.15.379: R uniquely omits the end of Bx's b-verse: þe soule. And many a prison fram purgatorie  þoruȝ his preyeres is deliuered he delyureth . R.15.380: For R's is deliuered, F reads ben dylyuered ; beta reads (he) delyureth. ¶ Ac þer e is a defaute  in þe folke þ at þe feith kepeth . Wher e R.15.382: R is almost unique (cf. Cot) in this reading; F and the other beta copies read Wherfore. folke is þe febler e  and nouȝt ferme of byleue . As in lossheborues is a lither alay  & ȝut loketh he like a sterlyng e . Þe merke of þat mone is gode  ac þe metal is feble . And so it fareth by sum folke nowe  þei han a fair e speche . Croune and c ristendom  þe kynges merke of heuene . Ac þe metal þat is mannes soule  with synne is foule alayed . Bothe lettred and lewed beth  alayed now with synne . Þat no lyf loueth other ne our e lorde as it semeth . For what nil þoruȝ werre and wikked werkes  & wederes vnresonable . Wederwise schipmen  and witty clerkes al -so . Han no byleue to þe lift  ne to þe lore of filisofres . ¶ Astrimyanes al -day  in her art failen . Þat whilum warned bifore  what schuld byfalle falle(n) R.15.394: R's byfalle is unique; all the other manuscripts read falle(n). However, most of the C manuscripts agree with R. after . Schipmen and schepherdes  þat with schip e and schepp e wente n . Wisten by þe wakkne wa[l]kne walkene  what schuld by -tyde . As of wederes and of nil wyndes  þei warned men ofte . ¶ Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe  tolden her e meystres . By þe seed þat þei sewe  what þei selle miȝte . And what to leue and to what to leue R.15.400: Cx agrees here with R's unique form, against lyue found in most B witnesses. See note at R.15.343:. by  þe londe was so trewe . Now faileth þe folke of þe floed  and of þe londe bothe . Schep erdes and schipmen  and so doen þis tilieres . R.15.402: An early reader has inserted a red star or cross in the right margin at this point. Nother þei kunneth ne knoweth  on cours by -for an -other . Astrimyanes also  ar e att her e wittes ende . Of þat was calkuled of clement þe element R.15.405: For alpha's of clement, beta reads of þe element(s) . Alpha's reference is opaque; but at least, unlike beta's, it alliterates. Schmidt conjectures clemat, based on the unquestioned reading of the C version at this point, clymat.  þe contrarie þei fynde . Gramer e þe grou nde of alle  bygileth now childurne . For is non of þis new clerke clerkes R.15.407: R's apparent singular, clerke, is unique; the other copies have the explicit plural required by immediate context, clerkes.  ho -so nymeth hede . Þat can v ersifie fair e  ne formeliche endenten end[i]ten endite(n) . Ne nauȝt on amonges an hundreth  þ at an autour can co nstrue . Ne rede a lettre in any langage  but i n latyn or in englische . Go now to any degre  and but if gyle be maister . And flatre flaterere R.15.412: For R's flatre, "flatterer, one who flatters" from OF flatour, Bx reads flaterere, the same form found in Cx. his felawe  vnder hym to fourmen . And nil R.15.413: And is alpha's erroneous addition to the text of Bx. muche wonder me thenketh  amonges vs alle . Doctoures of decres  and of diuinite maystres . Þat schulde kunne and knowe  alkynne clergie . And answer e to argumentz  and also to a quod -libet . I dar nouȝt seggen it for schame  if suche weren apposed . Þei schulde faile in of her e filosophie  & in fisike bothe . Wherefore Ich am afered  of folk of holy cherche . Lest þei ouer -hippen as other don  in offices and in houres Ac þouȝ if R.15.421: R's þouȝ is unique; beta reads if and F shows an omission. þei oue oue[r] ouer -hippe as I hope nauȝt  our e bileue sufficit suffiseth . R.15.421: For alpha's Latin, beta provides an English equivalent: suffiseth. As clerkes in corpus christi fest  syngen and reden . Þat sola fides sufficit  to saue with lewed peple . ¶ And so may sarasynes be saued  scribes and Iewes . Allas then but our e lores -men  lyuen as þei leren vs . And for her e liuyng e þ at lewed men be  þe lother god agulten . R.15.426: There is a superfluous tilde over the -en of agulten. For sarasynes han su mwhat  semyng e to our e bileue . For þei loue and bileue  in on p ersone almiȝty  And we lered and lewed  in on god by -leueth . Cristene & so cristene and vncristene  on one god bileueth ben leven . R.15.430: Beta omits this line. Ac oen machometh  a man in mysbileue . Brouȝt sarasenes of surrie  and se in what maner e . Þis macumeth was cristene man nil  and for he most nauȝt be a pope . in -to surrie he souȝte  and thoruȝ his sotil wittes . Daunted a dowue  and day and niȝt hir e fedde . Þe corne þat sche cropped  he caste hit in his her e . R.15.436: Hereafter alpha omits two lines found in beta, presumably on account of eyeskip (the second of the omitted lines ends with ere): And if he amonge þe poeple preched or in places come Þanne wolde þe coluer come to þe clerkes ere . Menyng e as after mete  þus macumeth hir e chaunted enchaunted . R.15.437: Beta reads enchaunted, while F shows a present-tense form of alpha's apheretic verb: chawnteþ. Cx agrees with beta. And dede folke þanne falle on knes  for he swore in his p reching e . Þat þe culuer þat come so  cam fram god of heuene . And As messager R.15.440: Where alpha has And messager, beta reads As messager . to macumeth  men for to teche . And þus þoruȝ wiles of his wit  and a white dowue . Macumeth in misbileue  men and wymmen brouȝte . Þat lered ther e and lewed  ȝut leuen on his lawes . ¶ And sitthe our e saueour e suffred  þe sarasynes so bygiled . Þoruȝ a cristene clerke  acursed in his soule . Ac for drede of þe deth  I dar nauȝt telle treuthe  How englische clerkes a culuer e feden  þat coueytise hatte . And ben manered after macumeth  þat no man vseth treuthe . ¶ Ancres and heremites  and monekes and freres . Peres Peren R.15.450: Cf. alpha's noun form, Peres, to beta's verb form, Peren. to apostles  thoruȝ her e parfit lyuynge . Wolde ner e neuere þe faithful fader  þat his mi nstres schulde . Of tyrauntes þat teneth trewe men  taken any almesse . But doen as antonye dede  dominik or and R.15.453: For alpha's or, beta reads and. fraunceys . Benet or & R.15.454: For alpha's or, beta reads &. bernarde  þe which hem furste tauȝte . To lyue by litel and in lowe house houses R.15.455: R uniquely shows the singular; the other manuscripts read houses.  by lele mennes fyndyng e almesse . Grasse schulde growe and be grene  þoruȝ her e lele good R.15.456: For alpha's lele, cf. beta's correctly alliterating good. lyuyng e . And folke folkes schulde fynde  þat ben in diuers syknesse . Þe bett ere for her e biddynges  in body and in soule . Her e preyeres and her e penaunces  to pees schuld hem nil R.15.459: Beta omits hem. bringe . Alle þat ben at debate  and bede -men wer e trewe . Petite et accipietis &c etera . R.15.461: The R scribe here deviates from his usual practice of inserting a blank line between strophes, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Salt saueth catel  seggeth þis wyues  Vos estis sal terre &c etera . F omits these 68 lines (= KD15.429α-92), reflecting the contents either of a single leaf or (more likely) an 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, has pointed out that this lacuna coincides with the opening of fols. 78v-79r in R; he argues, we think unconvincingly, that this coincidence supports the proposition that F was copied directly from R. Þe heuedes of holy cherche  and þei holy were . Crist called calleth R.15.465: Beta here shows the present-tense form, calleth. F omits the line. hem salt  for cristene soules  Et si sal euanuerit in quo saliet ur . Ac fresche flesch orther other fische  whan it salt faileth . It is vnsauori for -sothe  seothen ysothe(n) or baken . So is mannes soule sothly  þat seth non gode saumple ensaumple . Of hem of holy cherche  þat þe heye wey schulde teche . And be gyde and go before  as as a R.15.471: The beta version of the phrase shows a determiner: as a good baneoure . F omits the line. goed baneour e . And hardy hem þat byhynde ben  and ȝif hem gode euydence . ¶ Elleuene holy men  al the worlde torned . in -to lele byleue  þe liȝtloker me thenketh . Schulde al man ere men  we han so many maystres . Prestes and p rechoures  and a pope aboue . Þat godes salt schulde be  to saue mannes soule . ¶ Al was hethenesse su m -tyme  england and wales . Til gregori and grete R.15.479: Only B supports R's inferior reading ( and grete); the other beta manuscripts read garte or gerte. F omits the line. clerkes  to go and to p reche . Austyn at canterbirie  cristened þe kynge þer e nil . R.15.480: R's kynge þere is unique; the beta copies have kynge while F omits the line. And þoruȝ miracles as men may rede  al þat marche he t urned . To crist and to cristendom  and cros to honour e . And fulled folke folke faste R.15.483: After folke, beta adds faste. F omits the line.  and þe faith tauȝte . More þoruȝ miracles  þan þoruȝ muche p rechyng e . As wel þoruȝ his werkes  as with his holy wordes . And seide hem what fullyng e  and feith was to mene . ¶ Clothe þat cometh fro þe weuyng e  is nauȝt comely to werie Til it is fulled vnder fote  or in fullyng e stokkes . I -waschen Wasshen wel with water  and with taseles cracched . I -touked and tentted  and vnder tailoures handes . And so it fareth by a barne  þat boren is of wombe . Til it be cristened in cristes name  & co nfermed of þe bischopp e . It is hethen as to heuene -warde  and helples to þe soule . ¶ Hethene is to mene after heth  and vntiled erthe . As in wild wildernesse  wexeth wilde bestes . Rude and vnresonable  rennyng e with -oute keperes cropers R.15.496: R's keperes is unique; beta's variants seem nonsensical: LYOGC 2 have crep(e)res while WHmCrCBM show crop(i)ers. F omits the line. . ¶ Ȝe take wel hede myn(n)en wel R.15.497: In place of R's non-alliterating take wel hede, beta reads menen wel. F omits the line. whate R.15.497: Here only G joins R in reading what; the other beta manuscripts show how. mathew sayth  how a ma n made a fest . He fedde hem with no venison  ne fesauntes Ibake . But with foules þat fram hym nolde  but folwed his whistlyng e . Ecce altilia mea et o mnia parata su nt &c etera . And with calues flesch he fedde  þe folke þat he louede . Þe calf bitokneth clennesse  in hem þat kepeth lawes . For as þe cow thoruȝ kende melke  þe calf norischeth til an oxe . So doth nil loue & lewte  and nil lele R.15.504: In the a-verse, doth is a unique addition to the text of this line as witnessed by beta; in the b-verse, the same is true of and (before lele). F omits the line. men susteyneth . And maydenes and mylde men  m ercy desiren . Riȝt as þe cow calf  coueyteth swete melke . So doth riȝtful men  mercy and treuthe . And by þe hande fedde foules  his R.15.508: His, "is." These lines are omitted by all beta manuscripts and survive in R alone. folk vnderstonde . Þat loth ben to louye  with -outen lernyng e of ensaumples . Riȝt as capones in a court  cometh to menne s whistlyng e . In menyng e after mete  folweth men þat whistlen . Riȝt so rude men  þat litel reson cu nneth  Louen and byleuen  by lettred me nnes doynges . And by her e wordes and werkes  wenen and trowen . And as tho foules to fynde  fode after whistlyng e . So hope þei to haue  heuene þoruȝ her whistlyng e . And by þe man þat made þe feste  þe mageste bymeneth . Þat is god of his grace  gyueth al men blisse . With wederes and with wondres  he warneth vs with a whistler e . Wher e þat his wille is  to worschipen vs alle . And feden vs and festen vs  for euer e -more at ones . ¶ Ac who beth þat excuseth hem hem þat  R.15.522: Here the beta copies add þat. aren p ersones and p restes . Þat heuedes of holy cherches cherche  ben þat han her e wille her e . With -oute trauaile þe tithe del  þat trewe men by -swynken . Þei wole be wroth for I write þus  ac to witnesse I take . Bothe mathew and marke  and memento domine dauid . Ecce audiuim us eu m eam in effrata  &c etera . R.15.527: Beta omits this Latin citation and F has omitted at least a folio of surrounding material, including this phrase. What pope or p relate nowe  p erforneth þat criste hiȝte . Ite in vniu ersum mu ndu m . et p redic ate . &c etera . R.15.529: Here the R scribe omits his usual line break before a new strophe, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Alls All[a]s Allas R.15.530: R's Alls is undocumented in MED or OED2 s. v. alas and is, presumably, a unique spelling error; F omits this line, beta has Allas, the same form that occurs in Cx. þat men so longe  on macumeth schullen shulde(n) R.15.530: R's schullen is unique; most beta copies read schulde(n) or sholde. byleue . So many p relates to p reche  as þe pope maketh . Of nazareth of nynyue  of neptalym and damaske . Þat þei ne wenten as criste wisseth  sithen þei wilne wil R.15.533: Alpha's wilne derives from a different verb stem than beta's wil, but it is doubtful that Langland saw these forms as distinct since they share virtually identical semantics. The C manuscripts, in a revised b-verse, split on these two verb forms (the majority agreeing with alpha), thus confirming their status as twins in early fifteenth-century usage. a name . To be pastores and p reche  þe passion of ihesus . And as hym -sulue saide  so to lyue and deye . Bonus pastor animam suam ponit &c etera . And seyde it in sauacion  of sarasynes and other . To For R.15.538: Beta reads For in place of alpha's To. Beta omits the second to in this a-verse. cristene and to nil vncristene  criste seyde to p rechoures . Ite vos in vineam meam meam amp;c  And sitthen þat þis sarasines  scribes and iewes . Han a lippe of our e byleue  þe liȝtloker it semeth me thynketh R.15.541: For alpha's it semeth, beta and the C version read me thynketh. . Þei schulde turne ho -so trauaile wolde  & techen to teche R.15.542: R's & techen is unique; all other B copies read to teche. hem of þe t rinite . Querite et inuenietis &c etera . For al paynymes preyeth  to on p ersone to helpe and parfitly bileueth . R.15.544: In place of R's softened b-verse (which F varies from with of helpe ), beta copies read and parfitly bileueth. Cx agrees with beta. On In o þe holy grete god þei greden nil  and his grace grace þei asken . R.15.545: R's b-verse is virtually identical to beta's (which reads and his grace þei asken ), but the a-verse in the two subarchtypes is radically different. Beta's version of the latter reads In þe holy grete god. And maken her e mone to macumeth  her e message to schewe . Þus in a feith lyueth leuen þat folk  and in a fals mene . And þat is reuth for þe nil R.15.548: In place of R's for þe), most beta copies and F read for while Cr has of. The reading of Cx is uncertain here, the P family agreeing with R while the X family reads for tho. riȝtfulmen riȝtful men  þ at in þe reume wonyen . And a peril to þe pope  and to nil R.15.549: R uniquely attests this preposition; F omits the line. p relates þat he maketh . Þat bereth bischopes names  of bethleem and of babyloyne . ¶ Whan þe heye kynge of heuene  sent his sone to erthe . Beta omits these lines. The differences between F's version of these lines and that attested in R are sufficiently numerous to make full citation of F's passage here advisable (cf. Appendix 1, R15.551-68, for details and any cross-references to the C version): Whan þe hyȝe kyng of heuene / sente his sone to erþe. Manye myraclis he wroghte / man for to turne. In ensaumple þat sholde seen / þat by sad resoun. Men myghte not ben savid / but þorghȝ mercy & grace. & þorghȝ penaunce & passioun / & parfyȝt beleve. & by -cam of a mayde / & metropolitanus after. & was baptyzed & y -sygned / with þe blood of his herte. Alle þat wilned & wolde / with wit be-leve it. Manye a seynt sytthen / haven suffred to dyȝen. Al for to ferme þe fayȝþ / in fele contrees dyȝen. In yȝnde in Alysaundre / in Armonye in spayne. & in doolful deþ þey dyeden / for þeyre feyþis sake. In savacioun of þe fayþ / seynt Thomas was y-martred. And a-mong vnkyȝnde cristene / for cristis he dyȝede. & for þe ryght of al þis rewme / & alle rewmes cristene. Holy chirche ys honoured / hyȝlyche þorghȝ his dyȝenge. He is be-leve to alle bisschopis / & a bryght merrour. & souereynly to swiche / þat of surrye beren þe name . Many miracles he wrouȝte  man for to turne . In ensaumple þat men nil schulde se  þat by sadde resou n . Men miȝt nouȝt be saued  but þoruȝ mercy and grace . And thoruȝ penaunce and passion  and parfit byle byle[ue] beleve  And by -cam man nil of a mayde  and metropolitanus metropolitanus after . And & was baptised and bischined ysygned  with þe blode of his herte . Alle þat wilned and woled  with inne -wit wit byleue it . Many a seint sytthen  hath haven soffred to deye . Al for to enforme ferme þe faith  in fele contreyes deyeden dyȝen . In ynde and nil in alisau ndre  in ermonye and nil in spayne . In & in delfol deth deyeden þey dyeden  for ther e faith feyþis sake . In sauac iou n of þe fayth  seynt t~~....~~homas R.15.563: The erasure is not original; the first and last letters of the deleted name appear to have been <t> and <s> respectively. The name is obvious both historically and textually. was ymartired. Amonges And amoung vnkende cristene  for cristes loue nil he deyede . And for þe riȝt of al þis reume  and al reumes cristene Holy cherche is honoured  heyȝliche þoruȝ his deyng e . he is a for -bysene He is a forbysene beleve to alle bishopes  and a briȝt myrour e . And souereyneliche to suche  þat of surrye bereth þe name . And nauȝt to Þat huppe aboute her e nil in englande  forto to halwe autres mennes auteres . R.15.569: Although it begins in harmony with R, F's version of this line is unique in several ways ( & nowht to hoppe here & þeere / for halwen awteris). Beta differs from R in three respects: (1) where R's opening reads And nauȝt to , beta has Þat; (2) beta omits R's here later in the a-verse but (3) adds mennes after halwe in the b-verse. And crepe in nil amonges curatoures  and nil confesse men nil R.15.570: R's confesse men is unique; F and most beta copies read confesse(n), while GC 2B read confessyon. Cx agrees with the majority F/beta reading. aȝeyne þe lawe . Nolite mitter e falsem in mess em messem alienam R.15.571: R's omission of text after messem is unique; all the other manuscripts of B read alienam after messem. Cx agrees with the Bmajority. &c etera . ¶ Many a nil man for cristes loue  was martired amonges in R.15.572: R's amonges is unique; all the other manuscripts of B read in. However, Cx agrees with R. romaynes Romayne R.15.572: R's romaynes is unique; most beta copies read Romayne; CrCot have Rome, while F shows grete roome. However, Cx agrees with R. . Ar cristendom wer e was knowe þer e  or any cros þer e nil R.15.573: R's cros þere is unique; all the other manuscripts of B read cros. Cx agrees with the majority against R. honoured . R.15.573: Immediately hereafter, the beta manuscripts witness to some 35 lines of text not present in alpha but clearly attested in the C version. The entire question of the order of these complementary omissions (with alpha witnessing uniquely to KD15.511-28 and beta now uniquely attesting KD15.533-69—and short neighboring passages seemingly out of their logical order as well) is discussed by Kane-Donaldson on pp. 176-79. Cf. section II.2.5, esp. paragraphs 5 and 6, of our Introduction for a different assessment of the cause of this dislocation (but complete agreement with Kane-Donaldson on the proper ordering of the text). The lines here omitted by alpha read as follows in beta: It is reuth to rede how riȝtwis men lyued How þei defouled her flessh forsoke her owne wille Fer fro kitth and fro kynne yuel yclothed ȝeden Badly ybedded no boke but conscience Ne no richchesse but þe Rode to reioyse hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c And þo was plente & pees amonges pore & riche And now is routhe to rede how þe red noble Is reuerenced or þe Rode receyued for þe worthier Þan crystes crosse þat ouercam deþ and dedly synne And now is werre and wo and whoso why axeth For coueityse after crosse þe croune stant in golde Bothe riche and religious þat Rode þei honoure Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles For coueityse of þat crosse men of holykirke Shul tourne as templeres did þe tyme approcheth faste Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyse men how þo men honoured More tresore þan treuthe I dar nouȝt telle þe sothe Resoun & riȝtful dome þo Religious demed Riȝt so ȝe clerkes for ȝowre coueityse ar longe Shal þei demen dos ecclesie and ȝowre pryde depose Deposuit potentes de sede &c. Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte and comune conscience Togideres loue lelly leueth it wel ȝe bisshopes Þe lordeship of londes for euere shal ȝe lese And lyuen as leuitici as owre lorde ȝow techeth Per primicias & decimas Whan costantyn of curteysye holykirke dowed With londes and ledes lordeshipes and rentes An Angel men herde an heigh at Rome crye Dos ecclesie þis day hath ydronke venym And þo þat han petres powere arn apoysoned alle A medecyne mote þer-to þat may amende prelates Þat sholden preye for þe pees possessioun hem letteth Take her landes ȝe lordes and let hem lyue by dymes If possessioun be poysoun & inparfit hem make Good were to dischargen hem for holicherche sake And purgen hem of poysoun or more perile falle Ȝif presthod were parfit þe peple sholde amende Þat contrarien crystes lawe and crystendome dispise . ¶ Euery bischop e þat bereth cros  by þat þat he R.15.574: Before is, R uniquely omits he. is holde . Þoruȝ his p rouince to passe  and to his peple to schewe hym . Tellen hem and schewen techen R.15.576: R's schewen is an inferior alpha reading; cf. beta's properly alliterating techen. hem  on þe t rinite to byleue . And feden hem with gostly fode  and nedy folke to fynden . Beta omits these lines. Ac But R.15.578: R's Ac is unique; beta omits the entire line while F reads But. ysaie of ȝow speketh as how þou spekist R.15.578: R's of ȝow speketh is unique; beta omits the entire line while F reads how þou spekist.  and osyas bothe . R.15.578: Beginning here, there is another long, erased note in the right margin, most of it in the same hand as the example on fol. 94r. The hand appears to be nearly contemporary to that of the main scribe. However, the first three lines of the erased note appear to be in a secretary hand. Total length of the note is some 23 short, horizontally arranged lines, extending to a point approximately 3.5 cm. below the last ruled text line. Þat no man schuld be bischop e  but if he hadde bothe . Bodily fode and gostly fode nil R.15.580: R's fode is unique; beta omits the a-verse while F omits the word.  to gyue þer e it nedede nedeth R.15.580: R's nedede is unique; the other manuscripts all read nedeth. . In domo mea no n est panis  neq ue vestimentu m . Et ideo nolite constituer e me regem  y 3 . R.15.582: R's y 3 is an abbreviated reference for the biblical citation immediately preceding (from Isa. 3). Such references are rare in the B manuscripts; this one clearly derives from alpha, at least, since a very similar reference occurs in F here, but what is especially noteworthy is that an absolutely identical citation occurs at this point in L, one of the oldest beta manuscripts. Ozias seith for suche  þat syke ben and feble . Inferte om nes decimas in oreu m meu m  vt cib us in domo mea &c etera . Ac we cristene creatures  þat on þe cros byleuen . Aren for me [forme] ferme R.15.586: R's for me probably is a misreading of forme in alpha. F tried to rationalize this variant as formed. Beta reads ferme. as in þe faith  godes forbode elles . And han clerkes to kepen vs þer e -inne  & he m þ at schal come aft er vs . ¶ And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe  our e lorde wrote it hym -selue . In stone for it stedfast was  and stonde schulde eu ere . Dilige deu m et p roximu m  is parfit iewen lawe . And toke it moyses to techen it hem men R.15.591: For alpha's defective it hem, beta correctly reads men.  til messye come . And on þat lawe þei leue  and ȝit and leten it þe best . And ȝut knewe þei criste  þat cristendom tauȝte . And nil R.15.594: Alpha's And is omitted by beta but included in Cx. for a parfit p rophete  þat muche poeple saued . Of selcuth sores  þei seyen it ofte . Bothe of miracles and m eruayles  and how how he R.15.596: Before men, R uniquely omits he. men festede . With to fisches and fyue loues  fyue thousend poeple . And by þat mangerie þei men miȝt wel se  þ at messye he semed . And whan he lufte vp lazar  þat leyde was in graue . And vnder stone stanke and dede ded & stanke R.15.600: Beta merely transposes R's phrase to ded & stanke, but F is unique: he stank ded.  with stif voys hym calde . m j us Lazar veni foras  Dede hym rise and rome  riȝt byfore þe iewes  Ac þei seyde and sworen  with sorcerie he wrouȝte . And studieden to struyen hym  and struyeden hem -sulue . And þoruȝ his pacience her e poer e  to puir nauȝt he brouȝte . Pacientes vincunt  . ¶ Daniel of her e vndoyng e  dyuined and seide . Cu m veniat sanctus s anc tor um sanctus sanctorum veniat &c etera cessabit vnxio vestra . R.15.608: Beta's version of this citation is fuller than alpha's, and the opening is transposed: Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnxio vestra . And ȝet wenen þo wrecches  þat he wer e seudo -p roph eta . And þat his lore be lesynges  and lakken it alle . And hopen þat he be to come  þat schal hem releue . Moyses eft or messye  ȝet nil her e maystries R.15.612: Beta transposes this phrase to here maisteres ȝet . dyuineth ȝet deuyneth . ¶ Ac farisewes and sarasines  scribes and grekes . Aren folke of o faith  þe fader god þei honouren  And sithe þat þe sarasynes  and also þe iewes . Kunnen þe furst clause  of our e byleue  Beta presents these two alpha lines as a single line. Credo in deu m patrem o mnipotentem &c etera . Prelates of cristene p rouince prouynces R.15.618: R's singular form is unique; the other manuscripts read prouynces.  schulde p roue if þei miȝte . Lere hem litlu m and litlu m  & in ih esum christum filiu m . Til þei coude speke and spelle  and et R.15.620: R's and is unique; beta shows et while F reads Credo. Although a few C manuscripts (PVcAcZ) agree with R, Cx clearly agrees with beta on this lection. i n sp iritum sanctu m . And reden it and recorden it  with remissione m p eccator um . Carnis resurrexione m  et vitam et ernam amen . Pass us xv us Passus xv us xv[j] us quintus decim us [sextus] decim us . de visione vt sup ra . — — N ow fair e falle ȝow q uod I þo  for ȝour e fair e schewyng e . For haukynes loue þe actif man  eu ere I schal ȝow louye . Ac yet I am in a wer e  what charite is to mene . ¶ It is a ful trie tre q uod he  treuthe trewly R.16.4: This is an alpha variant. Beta reads trewly. to telle . Mercy is þe more þere -of  þe mydel stok is reuthe . Þe leues ben lele wordes  þe lawe of holy cherche . Þe blosmes beth buxu m speche  and benigne lokyng e . Pacience hatte þe puir tre  and pore symple of herte . And so þoruȝ god and gode men  groweth þe fruit charite . Agite penitenciam ¶ I wolde trauaile q uod I þis tre to se  twenty hundreth mile . . R.16.10: In the right margin, close to the text, an early reader has added a gloss: Agite penitenciam . And to haue my fille of þat fruit  forsake alle other soule . Lord q uod I if any wiȝt wite  whoder -out R.16.12: R's whoder is a unique form among the B manuscripts (which mainly attest whider) but is well-attested as a western form of that adverb ( LALME, dot map 576). R's þat is probably an alpha form since F's altered b-verse also attests its presence at approximately the same position but beta shows no evidence of its presence. þat nil R.16.12: Beta omits þat. it groweth . ¶ It groweth in a gardyn q uod he  þat god made hym -selue . Amyddes mannes body  þe more is of þat stokke . Herte hatte þe erber  þat it inne groweth  And liberu m arbitriu m  hath þe londe to ferme . And nil R.16.17: And is an alpha variant unattested by beta witnesses. vnder peres þe plowman  to piken it and to weden it . Peres þe plowman q uod I þo  and al for puir ioye . Þat I herde nempne his name  anon I swowned after . And lay longe in a loue dreme  and atte þe last me þouȝte . Þat peres þe plowman  alle þe place me schewede . And bad me toten on þe tre  on top and on rote . With thre piles was it vnder -piȝt  I parceyued it sone . Peres q uod I R.16.24: R's omission of the second I in this a-verse (immediately following the first one) is shared only with M. preye þe  whi stonden þise piles here . ¶ For wyndes wiltow wit q uod he  to kepen witen R.16.25: R's non-alliterating stave-word is an alpha variant; in place of kepen, beta reads witen. it fram fallyng e . Cu m ceciderit iustus non collidetur q uia d omin us s upponit . m anum . s uam . And in blowyng e tyme abit þe floures  but if þis piles helpe . Þe werld is a wikked wynde  and crepeth amonge þe leues . R.16.28: Here alpha compressed two Bx lines into one, merging the a-verse of KD16.27 with the b-verse of KD16.28. The missing b-verse and following a-verse, as witnessed in beta, reads: to hem þat willen treuthe Coueityse cometh of þat wynde . The C version also attests the authenticity of these verses omitted by alpha. And forfret neiȝ þe fruit  þoruȝ many fair e siȝtes . And Þanne R.16.30: R's And is unique among the B manuscripts but agrees with Cx; beta begins the line with Þanne while F omits both and shows a radically different version of the line. with þe furst pile  I pall e hym doun  þ at is pote ncia dei p atris . ¶ Þe flesch is a fel wynd  and in flouryng e tyme . Þoruȝ likyng e and lustus  so loude he gynneth blowe . Þat it norescheth nyce siȝtes  and some -tyme wordes . And wikked werkes þere -of  wormes of synne . And for -biteth þe blosmes  riȝt to þe bar e leues . ¶ Þanne sette I to þe secunde pil  sapiencia dei p atris . Þat is þe passion and þe power e  of our e prince ih esu . With Þorw R.16.38: With is an alpha variant; beta reads Þorw. preyeres and þoruȝ penaunces  & godes passion i n mynde . I saue it til I se it ripen  and so mme -del I -fruited . And þanne fondeth fende þe fende R.16.40: R uniquely omits þe before fende. Cx agrees on this reading with the B majority.  my fruite to destruie . With alle þe wiles þat he can  and waggeth þe rote . And casteth vp to þe crop  vnkende neyȝbores . m ij us Bagbiteres brewe breke -cheste R.16.43: R's brewe-cheste is unique; F shows & boosteris &; beta copies diverge, with CrWHm reading breke þe cheste while LCGOC 2YB have breke-cheste(s).  brauleres and chideres . And leith a ladder þer e -to  of lesynges aren þe ronges . And feccheth awey my floures su m -tyme  byfore afor bothe myn eyes Ac liberu m arbitriu m  letteth hem R.16.46: Most other B witnesses have the singular form here, correctly since the antecedent is the fende of R16.40. Cr 2-3 and Hm agree with R's plural form. su m -tyme . Þat is liu -tenant to loken it wel  by leue of my -selue . Videatis qui p eccat in sp iritum sanctu m nu nq uam re mittetur . &c etera . Hoc est idem qui p eccat p er liberu m arbitriu m no n repug nat . Ac what whan R.16.50: Alpha's what seems an obvious error (cf. beta's whan). þe fende and þe flesche  forth with þe worlde . Manasen byhynde me  my fruit forto feche . Þanne liberu m arbitriu m  laccheth þe thridde firste planke plante . R.16.52: The phrase thridde planke is from alpha (with L agreeing on thridde). The majority beta phrase is firste plante . And palleth a -downe þe pouke  priueliche purelich R.16.53: For alpha's priueliche, beta reads purelich. þoruȝ grace . And helpe of þe holy goste  and þus haue I þe maystrie . ¶ Now fair e falle ȝow peres q uod I  so fair e ȝe descreuen . Þe power of þis postes  and her e p ropre miȝte . Ac I haue thouȝtes a thraue  of þis thre piles . In what wode þei woxen  and wher e þat þei growed . For alle ar thei a -liche longe  non lasse þan other . And to my mynde as me thenketh  on one more þei growed . And And of R.16.61: R uniquely omits of after And. o gretnesse  and grene of greyne þei semen . ¶ Þat is sothe seide quod R.16.62: For alpha's seide, also supported by L, most beta manuscripts read quod. peres  so R.16.62: Only G shares with R in the omission of it after so; F uniquely transposes the phrase: it may so. may be -falle . I schal telle þe as tyt  what þis tre hatte . Þe grounde þere it groweth  godnesse it hiȝte . And I haue tolde þe what hiȝte þe tre  þe trinite it meneth . And egreliche he loked on me  and þer efor I spared . To asken hym anymore þer e -of  & bad hym ful fair e . To descreue þe fruit  þat so faire hangeth . ¶ Here now by -nethe q uod he þo  If I nede hadde . Matrimonie I may nym  a moyst fruit with -all e . Þanne continence is nere þe crop : as caylewey bastarde . Þanne bereth þe crop kende fruit  and clennest of alle . Maydenhode angeles peres  and rathest wol be ripe . And swete with -oute swelyng e  sour e worth it neu ere . ¶ In pri ede I prayed R.16.75: Here the R scribe made a colossal mistake, misconstruing his exemplar's I prayed , the Bx reading, as In pride. His corrector notices the mistake and alters the noun with a supralinear <e>, but he overlooks the need to correct the initial preposition, so that the "corrected" reading is still nonsense. peres to pulle a -doune  an appel & he wolde . And suffre me to assay  what sauour e it hadde . And peres caste to þe crop  and þanne co msed it to crie . A And R.16.78: R's A (= ModE "He"), though unique, agrees with Cx; F has & anoon while beta reads And. wagged wedew -hod  and hit wepte after . And whanne he it R.16.79: For alpha's he (presumably original), beta manuscripts read it. meued matrimonie  it made a foule noyse . Þat Þat I R.16.80: R uniquely omits I before hadde. hadde reuthe whan peres rused rogged R.16.80: R's rused is unique but more closely akin to F's rusched than to beta's rogged.  it gradde so reufulliche . For euer as þei dropped adoune  þe deuel was redy . And gadered hem alle to -gyderes  bothe grete and smale . Adam and abrah am  and Isaie þe p rophete . Sampson and samuel  and seint Ioh an þe baptiste . Bare hem forth baldely  no -body hem lette letted . R.16.85: Beta has letted, but Cx agrees with alpha's reading. And made of holy men his horde  in lymbo inferni . Þer e is dernesse R.16.87: dernesse, "darkness." Cf. R's form with C manuscript P's deornesse and also note the spelling dernesse in manuscript A at C20.104. For loss within consonant clusters, cf. also R.18.121: where sofly appears for "softly." and drede  and þe deuel maister . And peres for puir tene  þat o pyl he lauȝte . And hitte after hym  happe how it miȝte . Filius by þe faderes fader R.16.90: RF are here joined by Cr (and agree with Cx); beta reads fader. wille  and frenesse of sp iritus s anc ti . To go robbe þat rageman  & reuend reuen reue R.16.91: R's reuend is an error for beta's reue (cf. F's be-reve). The Cx reading, albeit in a revised line, agrees with beta's. þe fruit fro hym . ¶ And þanne spake spiritus sanct us  in gabriel Gabrieles R.16.92: This form is unique to R; the other B manuscripts read Gabrieles. The C manuscripts attest both forms (P 2TH 2Gc agreeing with R), but Cx clearly supports the F/beta reading. mouthe . R.16.92: In the right margin opposite this text line, there were two lines of a gloss, now erased, apparently in the same hand as a number of others, including one on 94r. To a mayde þat hiȝt marie  a meke thynge with -alle . Þat on ih esus a iustice sone  moste iouken in her e chaumbre . Til plenitudo temporis  tyme fully I -come come(n) R.16.95: Alpha's reading probably was identical to R's tyme I -come rather than to F's tyme come it; beta reads fully comen. R's version agrees with Cx. were . Þat peres fruit flourede  and fel to be ripe . And þanne schulde ih esus iuste þer -fore  & nil by R.16.97: For R's & by (supported by most C copies), the other B manuscripts read bi. iugement of armes . Whether schulde fonde þe fruit  þe fende or hym -sulue . ¶ Þe mayde mildliche þo  þe messager e graunted . And seyde hendely to hym  lo me his hande -maiden . Forto worchen his wille  with -outen any synne . Ecce ancilla d omini fiat michi &c etera . And in þe wombe of þat wenche  was he fourty wekes . Til he wex a faunt þoruȝ hir e flesche  & of fyȝtyng e coude . To haue yfouȝte with þe fende  ar ful tyme come . And peres þe plowman parseyued þe nil R.16.106: R's þe is a unique addition to this phrase as witnessed by beta ( parceyued plenere tyme). F has its own unique wording at this point, parseyuede in þat plener tyme . plener tyme . And lered hym leche -craft  his lif forto saue . Þat þouȝ he wer e wonded with his enemy  to warschen hym -selue . And ded hym assaye his surgerye  on hem þat sike were . Til he was parfite practisour  if any perel fulle . m iij us And souȝt oute þe sike  and synful bothe . And saluede sike and synful  bothe blynde & crokede . R.16.113: R uniquely omits And at the head of this line. The C version here confirms the accuracy of the majority B reading. Comune And comune wo mmen co nu erted  and to gode turned . Non e st sanis opus medici medicus R.16.114: R's medici is a unique reading; some copies (LWHmCBmBoF) have medicus; others (CrMO) show medico; G reads medicine. sed m ale h abentibus R.16.114: The phrase m ale h abentibus is an alpha variant; beta probably read in &c. &c etera . Bothe meseles and mute  and i n þe meneson blody . Ofte he heled suche  he ne helde it for no maystrie . Saue þo he leched lazar  þat hadde I -leye in graue . Quatriduan us quelt  quik dede hym walke . Ac as he made þat þe R.16.119: In place of alpha's þat, beta reads þe. maistrie  mestus cepit esse . And wepte water with his eyes  þer e seyȝen it manye . So mme þat þe siȝte seye  seyde þat tyme . Þat he was leche of lif  and lorde of heye heuene . Iewes Iangeled þer e -aȝeyne  þat and R.16.123: For R's unique þat, F reads þo þat; beta reads and. iuged lawes . And seyde he wrouȝte þoruȝ wicche -crafte  & wit þe deueles miȝte . Demoniu m habes . &c etera . ¶ Þanne ar ȝe cherles q uod ihesus I(ch) R.16.126: R's reading is unique; cf. F's crist and beta's ich / I.  and ȝour e childre bothe . And sathan ȝoure saueour e  ȝow -selue now ȝe witnessen . For I haue saued ȝow -selue ȝow -self seith cryst R.16.128: Beta adds, at the end of the a-verse seith cryst. F agrees with R in omitting the phrase.  and ȝour e sones after . Ȝoure bodies ȝour e bestes  and blynde men holpen . And fedde ȝow with fisches  and with fyue loues . And left basketes ful of broke mete  bere awey ho -so wolde . And mysseyde þe iewes manliche  & manased hem to bete . And knocked on hem with a corde  and cast a -doun her e stalles . Þat in cherche chaffaredden  or chaunged any mone . And seyde it in siȝt of hem alle  so þat alle herden . I schal ou er -torne þis temple  and adoun throwe . And in thre dayes after  edifye it newe . And make it as muche other more  in all e man er poyntes . As eu er it was and as wide  wher e -fore I hote ȝow . Of preyeres and of parfitnesse  þis place þat ȝe callen . Dom us mea dom us orac io nis vocabitur . Enuye and euel wil  aren was R.16.142: R's aren is unique but outweighs the consensus of F and the beta copies (which have was) on account of the latter's defective alliteration. A majority of C manuscripts (= ern, preterite of rennen) also support this reading. See Kane and Donaldson, p. 186, for discussion of the forms. in þe iewes . Þei casten & co ntreueden  to kullen hym whan þei miȝte . Vche day after other  þeir e tyme þei awaited . Til it byfel on a friday  a lite litel R.16.145: R's lite is unique; most other B manuscripts read litel, supported by Cx. Cr1-2 show little. be -fore pasche . Þe thoresday be -fore  þere he made his cene maundee . R.16.146: In place of alpha's cene, beta reads maundee. Sittande Sittyng at þe sopere  and he R.16.147: For R's and, F reads hym -selue and beta has he. seide þise wordes . I am solde þoruȝ su mme one R.16.148: This is an alpha variant; beta reads the non-alliterating one in place of summe. of ȝow  he schal þe tyme rewe . Þat eu er euere he R.16.149: R uniquely omits he after euer. his saueour solde  for siluer or elles . ¶ Iudas ianglede þer e -aȝeyne  ac ihesus hym tolde . It was hym -self sothely  and seyde tu dicis . R.16.151: In the right margin opposite this line and extending down five lines to R16.156, there is an erased gloss, apparently in the same hand as the long, erased note on 94r. Þanne wente forth þat wikked man  & with þe iewes mette And tolde hem a tokne how  to knowe with ih esus . Þe And R.16.154: Þe is an alpha reading; beta has And. whiche tokne to þis day  to muche is vsed . Þat is kyssyng e and faire co ntenaunce  & vnkende wille . And so was with Iudas þo  þat ihesus bitraied . Aue rabi q uod þat ribaude  and riȝt to hym he ȝode R.16.157: R's ȝode is unique in form but not in sense; the beta manuscripts have ȝede while F shows wente. . And kest hym to ben cauȝt þer -by  and kulde þoruȝ of R.16.158: Alpha's þoruȝ is replaced in beta by of. þe iewes . ¶ Þanne Ih esus to Iudas  and to þe iewes seyde . Falsnesse ich R.16.160: R's ich is unique in form but not in sense; the other B manuscripts (as well as those of the C version) have I or y. fynde  in þi fair e speche . And gile in þi glade chere  and galle is in þi lauȝyng e . Þow schalt be myrour to manye  men to deseyue . Ac þe wors and þe wikkednesse  schal worth vpon þi -selue . Necesse est vt veniant scandala . Ve homini illi p er que m scandalu m venit . Þouȝ I be treson be take  and at R.16.166: R's and is unique; cf. beta's at and F's & þorgh. ȝoure owene wille . Suffreth my postles R.16.167: Only L joins R in this clipped form; all other B manuscripts have Apostles. R and L are also alone in reading the possessive as my where the other copies have myn. The C manuscripts are divided on this phrase, with most of the X family supporting LR and most of the P family agreeing with the beta majority. in pays  and in pees gange . In On R.16.168: Beta reads On. a thorsday in thesternesse  þus was he taken . Thoruȝ Iudas and iewes  ihesus was his name . Þat on þe friday folwynge  for mankende sake . Iusted in ier usal em  a ioye to vs alle . On cros vpon caluarie  criste toke þe bataile . Aȝeynes deth and þe deuel  destruyde þer e her beir e bother(es) R.16.173: According to OED2, s. v. bo (a. and pron.) and both (a. and adv.), R's unique form beire is a genitive plural form of bo (= "both"). So R's phrase, þere beire miȝtes, means the powers of both of them . Beta has bother(es) while F rewrites the line. miȝtes . Deyede and deth for -dede  and day of nyȝt made . ¶ And I awaked þer ewith  and wiped myn eyes R.16.175: Beta's form is eyghen. . And after peres þe plowman  pried and stared Estward and westwarde  I waited after faste . And ȝede forth as an Ideot  in contre to a -spie . After peres þe plowman  many a place I souȝte . And þan mette I with a man  a mydlenten soneday . m iiij us As hoer as an hauȝthorne  and abrah am he hiȝte . I frayned hym furste  from whennes he come . John Sympson In the left margin, between these two verse paragraphs, a sixteenth-century signature (apparently a pen trial) has been mostly erased. And of whennes he wer e  and whider þat he thouȝte . ¶ I am feith q uod þat freke  it falleth nauȝt me nil R.16.184: F transposes this phrase as falleþ me nowht; beta omits me. In a revised line, the prevalent C reading agrees with R's (though a minority of C witnesses read the phrase in F's order). to lye . And of abrah ames hous  an heraude of armes . I seke after a segg e  þat I seiȝ ones . A ful bolde bachelere  I knewe hym by his blasen . ¶ What bereth þat buyrn q uod I þo  so blisse þe be -tyde . ¶ Thre ledes in on lith  non lenger þan other . Of on muchele and miȝt  in mesur e and in lenthe . Þat on doth alle doth  and vch R.16.191: R's vch is unique in form but not in sense; OED2, s. v. each (a., quasi-pron.), lists it as a viable form from twelfth-fifteenth century Most other B manuscripts have ech(e). doth by his one . Þe firste hath miȝt and mageste  maker e of alle thyng e . Pater is his p ropre name  a p ersone by hym -selue . Þe secunde of þat sir e is  sothfastnesse filius . Wardan of þat wit hat hath R.16.195: R's hat is unique in form among the B manuscripts, but not in sense; OED2, s. v. have, lists it as a viable fifteenth century form for the 3rd sing. pres. of have. Most other B manuscripts read hath.  was euer with -outen gynny ng e . Þe thridde hat þe holy goste  a p ersone by hym -seluen . Þat alle þe liȝt of þe lif Þe liȝte of alle þat lyf hath R.16.197: The syntactic confusion in this a-verse began in alpha, which omitted the verb (cf. F's Þat al þe lyght & þe lyf). Beta witnesses read the full line as Þe liȝte of alle þat lyf hath a londe & a watre.  a londe and a wat ere . Confortour e of creatoures  of hym cometh alle blisse . So thre bylongeth for a lorde  þat lordschip e claymeth . Miȝt and a mene to to knowe R.16.200: After to, R omits the verb knowe. This line was already metrically defective in Bx, which appears to have read as beta does: Myȝte and a mene to knowe his owne myȝte. Assuming this shape for Bx, R's only additional deficit is the aforementioned loss, which probably occurred in alpha. Cf. F's version of the line: Myght & eek a meyne to his myght owiþ . The C version of this line also seems metrically defective: Miȝte and a mene to se his owne myhte . his owene miȝte . Of hym -selue hym R.16.201: R's hym -selue is an alpha variant; cf. beta's hym. and of his s eruant  and what soffret hem þei suffre R.16.201: The phrase soffret hem is an alpha variant; beta reads þei suffre. Both alpha variants in this line are authenticated by their presence in Cx. bothe . So god þat gynnyng e hadde ner e neure R.16.202: R's nere is a unique form; the other manuscripts read neure.  but þo hym gode thouȝte . Sent forth his sone  as for s eruant þat tyme . To ocupien hym here  til issue wer e spronge . Þat is childurne of charite  and holy cherche þe moder . Patriarkes and p rophetes  and apostles wer e þe barnes chyldren . R.16.206: Beta has chyldren in place of RF's barnes, and Cx agrees with beta's reading. And crist and cristendom  and alle nil R.16.207: Beta omits alle, as does the P family of C manuscripts; but the X family of C manuscripts agrees with RF, including the word. cristene holy cherche . In menyng e þat man moste  in on R.16.208: This is an alpha variant (also attested in Cr); the other beta copies read on. o god byleue . And þer e hym lyked and louede  in thre p ersones hym schewed . And þat it may be so & soth  man -hode it scheweth . Wedlok and widewehode  with virginite I -nempned . In tokenyng e of þe trinite  was take out of o man R.16.212: R's o man and beta's a man are both enumerative and semantically identical, emphasizing that all three states of grace emanate from "one man," while F seems to miss the point, reading mankynde. . Adam our e aller fader  eue was of hym -selue . S opp R.16.214: At the bottom margin of fol. 83v, near the gutter, in a brown secretary hand, there is a pen trial: S opp. And þe isue þat þei hadde  it was of hem bothe . John Sympson Smithe John John Sympson William Joh Jhon Sympson Across the top margin of fol. 84r, all of the pen trials appear to be in the same hand, but the different shades of ink and variations in cut of the stylus suggest that they were executed at different times. And eyther is otheres ioye  in thre sondri p ersones . And in heuene and here one singuler e name . And þat þus R.16.217: For alpha's þat, beta reads þus. is man -kende  or manhode  of matrimonie spronge . R.16.217: In the extreme right margin there is some scribbling that appears to be a continuation of the pen trials higher on the page, with the writer continuing to practice the capital <S> of Sympson. And bi -tokeneth þe trinite  and trewe byleue : ¶ Miȝte is in nil R.16.219: Beta omits in. matrimonie  þat multiplieth þe erthe . And bitokeneth treweli  telle if I durste . He þat first formed alle  þe fader of heuene . Þe sone if I it durste say  resembleth wel þe widewe . Deus m eus deus m eus vt quid me dereliquisti dereliquisti me . R.16.223: For R's me dereliquisti, the other B copies show a reversal: dereliquisti me . Þat is creatour wax creature  to knowe what was bothe . N ota R.16.225: To the right of the nota, there is a symbol resembling a modern script capital <E>. As widewe with -oute wedloke  was neu ere ȝet I -seye . Ne nil na R.16.226: R's Ne is a unique addition to the text of Bx. more miȝte god be man  but if he moder hadde . So widewe with -oute wedloke  may nouȝt wel stande . Ne matrimonie with -oute moyler e  is nauȝt muche to p reyse . Maledictus homo qui no n re liquit se men in isr ael &c etera . Þus in thre p ersones  is p arfitliche puir nil R.16.230: R's puir is unique (beta omits it while F reads þorghȝ); nevertheless, the metrical requirements of the line indicate that puir is authentic. manhode . Þat is man and his make  & moiller e her e nil R.16.231: L agrees with RF, though the other beta copies omit here. childerne . And is nouȝt but gendre of o generac iou n  bi -for ih esu crist in heuene . So is þe fader forth with þe sone  and fre wil of bothe . Sp iritus procedens a patre et filio  Which is þe holy gost of al  and al is but o god . Þus in a somer I hym seyȝ  as I sat in my porche . I ros vp and reuerenced hym  and riȝt fair e hym grette . knak ¶ Thre men to my syȝte  I made wel at ese . R.16.238: In the right margin, an early reader has written knak vertically, beginning here and extending upwards in the margin to a spot opposite R16.237. Wesche here fete in [a]n[d] and wiped hes hem R.16.239: R's hes is unique but is not a careless error. According to OED2, s. v. his, hise (pers. pron., 3rd sing. fem. acc.), this form is a twelfth-fourteenth century variant of the 3rd person sing. accus., his(e), which is equivalent to standard ME hem. MED, s. v. netheren (v.) and God, cites an example from the thirteenth-century Vices and Virtues ( Bute hie hem seluen neðerien..scal goddalmihtin hes forliesen — BL Stowe 34).  and afterwarde þei eten . Calues flesche and cake brede  and knewen what I thouȝte . Ful trewe toknesse bitwene vs is  to telle whan me liket h . R.16.241: Someone after the R scribe had finished his work has partially erased the <h> of liketh, but its remains are still visible and recognizable. Furste he fonded me  if I loued better e . Hym or Isaac myn ayr  þe whiche he hiȝt me kulle . He wist my will e bi hym  a he R.16.244: A, "he." wol me it a -lowe . I am ful siker in soule ther e  of and my sone bothe . Wyll ND I circu mcised my sone  sith for his sake . In the right margin, there is a pen trial (in a black secretary hand): Wyll ND . It is written vertically upwards from a point below the last text line to a point in the right margin opposite R16.246. My -sulue and my mayne R.16.247: R's mayne is unique in form but not meaning; MED, s. v. meine, attests its viability as a spelling of meine for the fourteenth-fifteenth centuries. F has meyghne. The beta manuscripts show a variety of spellings, with a majority reading meyne(e). The C form is identical to R's.  and al þat male wer e . Bledden blode for þat lordes loue  & hope to blisse þe tyme . My affiance and my fay R.16.249: R's fay is unique in form but not meaning; MED, s. v. feith, attests its viability as a spelling variant of feiþ for the fourteenth-fifteenth centuries. The C form, however, is identical to that of the B majority.  is ferme in þis bileue . For hym -sulue be -hiȝt to me  and to myn issue bothe . Londe and lordschip e  and lif withouten ende . To me and to myn issue  more ȝet he me graunted . Mercy for oure mysdedes  as many tyme as we asken . Quam olim abrahe p romisisti et semini eius . And sitthe he sent me to seye  I schulde do sacrifice . And done hym worschpe worsch[i]pe worshipe with brede  and with wyne bothe . In the left margin opposite these lines, there are traces of an erased pen trial, apparently a signature, running vertically downwards and encroaching slightly, at the bottom, into the text area. And called me þe fote of his feith  his folke for to saue . And defende hem fro þe fende  folke þat on me leued R.16.258: Kane and Donaldson read R here as lened. . Þus haue I ben his heraud  here and in helle . And co nforted many a careful  þat after his co mmyng e waiten . And þus I seke hym he sayde  for I herde seyn late . Of a buyrn barne R.16.262: Beta reads barne. þat baptised hym  Ioh an baptist was his name . Þat to patriarkes and to p rophetes  and to other peple i n derkenesse . Seyde þat he seyde seigh R.16.264: Beta has seigh. here  þat schal sauen hem vs alle . R.16.264: Beta's version of the b-verse is þat sholde saue vs alle. R's schal is shared with CF and hem with F alone. The Cx version of this entire line is substantively identical to that of beta. Ecce agnus dei &c etera . ¶ I hadde wonder of his wordes  and of his wide clothes . And For R.16.267: In place of alpha's And, beta reads For, which is also the reading of Cx. In his bosom he bare a thyng e  & nil R.16.267: Beta omits &. Cx agrees with alpha. þ at he blessed euer e . And I loked on his lappe  a laȝar lay þer e -Inne . R.16.268: Immediately following the last word of this line, there is an indecipherable, tiny note written in a later hand, accompanied by a small vertical bar. Amonges patriarkes and p rophetes  pleyede pleyande R.16.269: R's use of the preterite is unique in the B tradition (a few copies of C attest a preterite here); most beta copies have pleyinge (which is also the reading of Cx); but cf. F's pleyende and L's pleyande. These forms of the present participle suggest that R's mistake may have amounted to nothing more than overlooking a nasal bar in his copytext. to -gyderes . ¶ What a -waitest þow q uod he  & what wildestow woldestow R.16.270: The other B copies show woldestow, which is also the reading of a majority of C witnesses (primarily among the P family). Many X family witnesses read wost thow. haue . ¶ I wolde wite q uod I þo  what is in ȝour e lappe . ¶ Lo q uod he and lete me se  lorde mercy I seyde . Þis is a present of muche pris  what prince schal it haue . ¶ It is a p reciose p resent q uod he  ac þe pouke it hath atached . And me þer e -with q uod þat weye man R.16.275: Weye, "person, being, man." Beta has man.  may no wed vs quite . Ne no buyrn ben our e boruȝ  ne bryng e vs fram his daunger e . R.16.276: Alpha omits the following line attested by beta manuscripts (and in a slightly revised form by the C version): Oute of þe poukes pondfolde no meynprise may vs fecche. Til he come þat I carpe of  crist is his name . Þat schal deliuer e vs sum day  out of þe deueles power . And better e wed for vs legge  þan we ben al worthi . Þat is lif for lif  or ligge þus euer e Lollynge in my lappe  til suche a lorde vs feche . ¶ Allas thouȝte I þo  þat is a longe a -bydynge . These three lines are from alpha. They are judged by Kane-Donaldson as well as by Schmidt to be spurious. Kane-Donaldson hypothesize loss of the authentic lines through similarity of line heads (KD16.270 = Allas I; KD16.274 = I). This rationale seems unlikely and also depends on the assumption that alpha later noticed the loss and generated the spurious lines as a replacement. In reality, the alpha version of these lines was probably deliberate, motivated by censorship of material deemed to be theologically dangerous (in beta, sin is said to be able to hinder the might of God's mercy). Beta (as well as the C version, in a slightly revised form) reads: Allas I seyde þat synne so longe shal lette Þe myȝte of goddes mercy þat myȝt vs alle amende I wepte for his wordes with þat sawe I an other Rapelich renne forth þe riȝte waye went . The last of these four lines was omitted by alpha. The text of alpha is not entirely clear, since R differs significantly from F, which reads as follows: Allas þowhte y þoo þat is a long a-bydynge & oon on foote sewede hym for he softely wente & he be-took hym þe targe as tyȝt trewly to me it telle . And sued hym for he softe ȝede . Þat he toek vs as tit  ac trewly to telle . I afrayned hym furste  fram whennes he come . What And what he hiȝte and whider he wolde  and whithliche R.16.286: R's form here, whithliche, is unique in the B tradition but is identical with the spelling found in Cx. Though the form is not semantically distinctive, its occurrence in R is phonologically of interest and is likely a relict. he tolde . pass us xv us Passus xv j us xv[ij] us quintus decim us [septimus] decim us de visione vt sup ra . — — R.17.0: An early user has attempted to correct the scribal passus number (which is now undercounted by two) by adding a single red <j> after the <v> of the heading. I am spes a spie q uod he quod he a spye R.17.1: Beta reverses the alpha phrase, reading quod he a spye; Cx, however, agrees with alpha.  R.17.1: R uniquely omits and before spere. The C reading agrees with the B majority. sper e and spire after a kniȝte . Þat toek me a maundement  vp -on þe mont of synay . To reule alle reumes þer e -with with R.17.3: In place of alpha's þer(e)-with, the beta copies read with; Cx, however, agrees with alpha.  I bere þe writ here . R.17.4: There is no cc in the margin because there would have been no space for a paraph marker anyway (the passus initial extends down beyond this line in the left margin). Is it aseled I seyde  may men se þi l ettres . Here there is another erased note, in the right margin, written horizontally in a sprawling style that spreads, at its top, over into the ruled area of the page; the note extends for some four lines and appears to be in the same fifteenth-century hand as that found on fol. 94r. ¶ Nay he seyde I seke hym  þ at hath þe sel to kepe . And þat is cros and cristendom  and criste þer e -on to hange . And whan it is aseled so  sathanas power Þat Lucyferes lordeship schal last no lenger . Here alpha must have merged two lines from Bx into one. However, as the lines survive in the extant copies, they differ considerably not only between alpha and beta witnesses but between R and F as well. Beta manuscripts read: And whan it is asseled so I wote wel þe sothe Þat Lucyferes lordeship laste shal no lenger . RF and beta essentially agree on the initial a-verse of this pair, but then R supplies a unique b-verse followed by a hypometrical line: And þus my lettre meneth . By contrast, F reads these two lines as follows: & whan it ys / a-selyd soo / sathenas haþ lost his power & þus myn lettre meneþ / men mowe knowe yt . W. W. Skeat, The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman , EETS, OS 38 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1869): 416, proposed that RF's exemplar must have read: And when it is aseled so Sathanas power Schal last no lenger and þus my lettre meneth . And þus my l ettre meneth meneþ men mowe knowe yt alle  R.17.8: Beta omits this line, and R has truncated it. Cf. F, whose b-verse reads men mowe knowe yt alle. R.17.8: Although the line following this one is marked in the margin with cc as a separate paragraph, the scribe does not follow his usual practice of skipping a line between strophes. It is impossible to know why he departed from his custom here, but he may have been troubled by his exemplar's wasteful attitude toward parchment in this part of the poem, where strophes tend to be very short, indicating only a change of speakers in a rapidly shifting dialogue. ¶ Lat se þat þi l ettre lettres R.17.9: In place of alpha's þat lettre, beta reads þi lettres, which agrees with the reading of Cx. q uod I  we miȝte þe lawe knowe  R.17.9: The blank line following this one was originally written on and later erased by the scribe. ¶ A plucked Þanne plokked he R.17.10: A, "he." forthe a patente R.17.10: R's a-verse is supported by Cx ( A pluhte forth a patente), but F begins the line & he while beta attests a reversal ( Þanne plokked he).  a pece of a harde roche . Wher e -on was were(n) R.17.11: L joins alpha in reading a singular; the other beta copies have were(n). Cx agrees with LRF on this point. writen to wordes  on þis wise Iglosed . Dilige deu m et p rox imum . tuu m &c etera . Þis was þe tixte treweli  I toke ful gode gome ȝeme R.17.13: For R's gome, beta shows ȝeme while F reads keepe. Although both of the latter forms appear in C manuscripts, it seems clear that Cx agrees with R's gome. . Þe glose was gloriousliche I -write write(n) R.17.14: Cf. F's wrete and beta's writen. Though some C manuscripts show write, it appears that Cx agrees with beta's writen.  with a gulte penne . In hijs duob us pendet tota lex tota lex pendet & p roph etia . R.17.15: F reads this citation as In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophete. Most beta copies agree. However, Cx basically agrees with R's form of the citation, though the X family reads (pe)pendit. ¶ Is Ben here alle þi lordes lawes q uod I  ȝe lef me me wel R.17.16: After me beta adds wel. However, Cx agrees with alpha in omitting this word. he seyde . And who -so wercheth after my wit þis writte R.17.17: R's my wit is unique; F, beta, and Cx agree on þis writte.  I wole vndertaken . Schal neu ere deuel hym dere  ne deth in soule greue . For þouȝ I seye it my -selue  I haue saued with þis charme . Of men and of wommen  many score thousendes . ¶ He seith soth seyde þis heraud  I haue I -founde it ofte . Lo here in my lappe  þat leued of on R.17.22: R's of is unique; the other B manuscripts read on. þat charme . Iosue and Iudith  and Iudas machabeus . And Ȝe and R.17.24: Beta copies begin this line with the phrase Ȝe and. sexti thousand by -side forth  þat be nauȝt senyne here . ¶ Ȝour e wordes aren wonderful q uod I þo  which of ȝow is treweste. And lelest to leue on  for lif and for soule  Abrah am seyth þat he seyȝ  holi þe trinite  Thre p ersones in parceles  departable fram other . And alle thre but o god  þus abrah am me tauȝte . And hath saued þat bileueth bileued R.17.30: Here F reads byleve, so alpha presumably had a present-tense form (but the Introduction III.2.2.10 on the pervasively problematic <-th> tense marking of the alpha tradition); beta, on the other hand, reads bileued. Although six C manuscripts (five from the P family) agree with R's reading, Cx supports beta. so  and sori for her e synnes . He can nauȝte segge þe somme  & su mme aren in his lappe . What neded it þanne  a newe lawe to bringe bigynne R.17.32: In place of alpha's bringe, beta reads bigynne. Cx's reading agrees with alpha. . Sitth þe furst sufficeth  to sauac iou n and to blisse . ¶ And now cometh spes and speketh  þ at hath aspied þe lawe . And telleth nauȝt of þe trinite  þat toek hym his l ettres . To bileue and louye  in o lorde almiȝty . And sitth riȝt as my -selue  so louye all e poeple . R.17.37: Following this line, both R and F omit eleven lines of text present in the beta manuscripts: Þe gome þat goth with o staf he semeth in gretter hele Þan he þat goth with two staues to syȝte of vs alle And riȝte so by þe Rode resoun me sheweth It is lyȝter to lewed men a lessoun to knowe Þan for to techen hem two and to harde to lerne þe leest It is ful harde for any man on abraham byleue And welawey worse ȝit for to loue a shrewe It is liȝtor to leue in þre louely persones Þan for to louye and lene as wel lorelles as lele Go þi gate quod I to spes so me god helpe Þo þat lerneth þi lawe wil litel while vsen it . ¶ And as we wenten þus in þe weye  wordyng e to -gyderes . Þan seye we a samaritan  sittende sittynge on a mule . Ryden Rydynge R.17.40: Cf. F's Rydende and beta's Rydynge. Cx shows the same form as beta. ful rapely  þe riȝt weye we ȝeden  Comynde Comynge R.17.41: R's Comynde is a unique present-participle form here; most B copies, including F, read Comynge. Cx agrees with the predominant B form. fram a contre  þat men called iherico . To a iustes in iherusalem  he chased a -weye fast . Bothe þe heraud and hope  and he mette at ones . id est christus . R.17.43: This Latin phrase is in the scribal hand and appears to have been mistaken by R for part of the poem's text although it is clearly an early gloss. Presumably, it derives from Bx since the Laud scribe also reproduces the same gloss and reacts to it with confusion, placing it very close to his ruled text and only halfway as far to the right as the position usually allocated in his copy for marginal notes. The same gloss and ambiguous placement occurs in M. Where a man was I -wounded wounded  and with theues taken . A He R.17.45: A, "he." miȝte neyther steppe ne stande  ne ster e foet ne handes . Ne helpe hym -sulue sothly  for semiuif he semed . And as naked as a nedle  and noen helpe aboute aboute hym . R.17.47: Alpha's helpe aboute(n) is supported by the best X family copies of the C version, but a majority of C manuscripts agrees with beta's helpe aboute hym. ¶ Faith had furst siȝt on of R.17.48: Cf. beta's of. hym  ac he fleiȝ on -syde . And nolde nauȝte neȝen hym  bi nyne londes lengthe . ¶ Hope cam hippyng e after  þat hadde so ybosted . How he with moyses mau ndement  had many man yholpe . Ac whan he had siȝthe of þat segge  a -syde he gan hym drawe . Dredfully by this day  ads doke doth fram þe faukou n . ¶ Ac so sone so þe samaritan  had siȝt of þis lede . He liȝtte a -dou n of liard  and ladde hym in his handes hande R.17.55: Beta has hande. Cx's reading, like alpha's, is plural. . And with þat to þe R.17.56: R's with þat is unique; the other B copies all show to þe. Cx reads to this. weye he wente  his wou ndes to beholde . And parceyued in bi R.17.57: R's in is unique; the other B copies read bi. Cx agrees with the B majority. his pous  he was in peril to deye . And but ȝif he hadde recourer e R.17.58: L agrees exactly with R's recourere, but cf. F's recure and the common beta form, recouerer. The majority of C manuscripts agrees with beta.  þe rathere  þ at rise schulde he neu ere . And breyde he breyded to his boteles  and bothe he atamede Hem tamede . R.17.59: This line is omitted by beta. F's variants for this line include He breyded for R's And breyde and hem tamede for R's atamede. Cx revises the a-verse but agrees with R for the b-verse. With wyne and with oyle  his woundes he waschede . Enbaumed hym and bonde his hede  and in his lappe hym leyde . And ladde hym so forth on liarde  to lex christi a graunge . Wel six mile or seuene  by -syde þe newe market . Herberwed hym at an hostrie  and þe to þe hostelere called . And seyde haue kepe þis man  til I come fro þe iustes . And lo her e siluer he seide  for salue to his woundes . And he toke hym to pans  to liflode as it wer e  And seyde what he speneth more  I make þe gode her e -after . For I may nauȝt lette q uod þat lede  and liard he bi -strideth . And raped hym to Ier usal em -warde  þe riȝte weye to ride . ¶ Faith folweth after faste  and fonded to mete hym . And spes sparkliche spaklich R.17.72: Beta reads spaklich. Both the beta and alpha forms are presumably misreadings of Bx's sprakliche, in which the r was inscribed as a superscripted loop. hym spedde  spede ȝif he miȝte . To ou ere -take hym & talke to hym  ar þei to tou nne come . ¶ And whan I seiȝ þis I souiorned nauȝte  but schope me to renne . And sewed þe þat R.17.75: For alpha's þe beta has þat; Cx agrees with alpha. samaritan  þat was so ful of pite . And graunted hym to ben his gorme grome  graunt m ercy he seyde . Ac þi frende and þi felaw q uod he nil  þow fyndest me at nede . ¶ And I thanked hym þo  and sitth I hym tolde . How þat faith fleȝ away  and spes his felawe bothe . For siȝte of þe soreful man  þat robbed was with theues . ¶ Haue hem excused q uod he  her e helpe may litel auayle . May no medecyn vnder on R.17.82: In place of alpha's vnder beta reads on; Cx agrees with alpha. molde  þe man to hele brynge . Neither feith ne fyne hope  so festred ben his woundes . With -oute þe blode of a barne  borne of a mayde . And be he be R.17.85: Beta manuscripts all add he; LWHm = be he while the others read he be. bathed in þat blode  baptized as it were . And þanne plastered with penaunce  and þe nil R.17.86: Beta copies omit þe. The metrics of the beta version, which thus avoids two strong dips in the b-verse, is liklier to be authorial. passion of þat baby . He schulde stande and steppe  ac stalworth worth he neuer e . Til he haue eten al þe barne  and his blode y -dronken . For wente neu ere wiȝt in þis worlde  þoruȝ þat wildernesse . Þat he ne was robbed ne or R.17.90: For R's ne, F has & and beta reads or. rifled  rod he ther e other or R.17.90: R's other is unique; all other B copies show or. Cf. F's eyþer or, which suggests an error in alpha. ȝede . Saue faith and his felawe  spes and my -selue . And þi -selue nowe  and suche þat R.17.92: F and nearly all beta manuscripts here read as. sewen our e werkes . ¶ For outlawe is outlawes in R.17.93: For alpha's outlawe is in, beta reads outlawes in. þe wode  and vnder banke lotyeth . And may mowe(n) vche man se  and gode merke taketh take . R.17.94: For alpha's taketh, beta has take. Ho is bihynde and ho bifore  and ho ben an horse . For he halt hym hardier an horse  þan he þat is a -fote . R.17.96: Only L agrees with R's a-fote; most other B witnesses, including F, attest on foote . For he seith seigh R.17.97: R's seith is an alpha reading (although a few beta copies concur); beta's reading is seigh . me þat am samaritan  sewen faith and his felawe . On my capil þat hatte caro  of man -kende I toke it . He was vn harlot vnhardy þat harlot R.17.99: R's vn harlot is obviously defective; cf. F's reading, but an harlot , with the beta reading that almost certainly reflects Bx: vnhardy þat harlot.  & hud hym in inferno . Ac ar þis day thre dayes  I dar vndertaken . Þat he worth fettred þat felou n  fast with cheynes . And neu ere eft greue gome  þat goth þis ilke gate . O mors ero mors tua . &c etera morsus tuus ero inferne . R.17.103: This 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). Hereafter, alpha omits a dozen lines attested in beta witnesses between R17.103 and 104: And þanne shal feith be forester here and in þis fritth walke And kennen out comune men þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre Which is þe weye þat ich went and wherforth to iherusalem And hope þe hostelleres man shal be þere þe man lith an helynge And alle þat fieble and faynt be þat faith may nouȝt teche Hope shal lede hem forth with loue as his lettre telleth And hostel hem and hele þorw holicherche bileue Tyl I haue salue for alle syke and þanne shal I retourne And come aȝein bi þis contree and confort alle syke Þat craueth it or coueiteth it and cryeth þereafter For þe barne was born in bethleem þat with his blode shal saue Alle þat lyueth in faith and folweth his felawes techynge . ¶ A swete sir e I seide þo  whether I schal bileue . As faith and his felawe  enformed me bothe . In thre p ersones departable  þat p erpetuel were eu ere . And al thre but o god  þus abrah am me tauȝte . And hope afterwarde  he bad me to louye . O god with al my goed  and alle gomes after . Louye hem like my -suluen  ac our e lorde a -boue alle . ¶ After abrah am q uod he  þat heraud of armes . Sette faste þi faith  and ferme bileue  And as hope behiȝt hiȝte R.17.113: Cf. beta's hiȝte. þe  I hote þat þow louye . Þine euene -cristene eu ermore  euen -forth with thi -selue . And if consience carpe þer e -aȝeine  or kende wit other . Or eritikes with argumentz  þi hande þow hem schewe . For god is after an hande  I -here now and knowe it . ¶ Þe fader was furst as a fust  with o fynger folden foldynge . R.17.118: In place of RF's folden, beta reads foldynge . Til hym leued loued R.17.119: Cf. F's lyþed and beta's loued. Cx reads likede. and luste  to vnlosen his fynger . And profered profre R.17.120: Beta has the infinitive profre. Though several C manuscripts support beta's reading, Cx agrees with alpha. it forth as with a paume  to what place it schulde . Þe paume is puirliche þe hande  & p rofereth forth þe fyngeres . To mi nstre and to make  þat miȝt of honde knoweth . And bitokneth treweli telle ho -so liketh . Þe holy goste of heuene  he is as þe paume . Þe fyngeres þat fre ben  to folde and to s erue . Bytokneth sothly þe sone  þat sent was til erthe . And Þat R.17.127: And (and the rest of this defective line) is almost certainly from alpha; beta more plausibly has Þat toched and tasted atte techynge of þe paume. In attempting to salvage the a-verse, F completely rewrites it as & þorghȝ towchyng & tastyng . Cx reads the entire line as beta does, except for the initial That, which is omitted. touched and tasted  and atte techyng e of þe paume . Seinte marie a mayden Mayde R.17.128: The other B copies read mayde. Although a majority of the C manuscripts also read mayde, the best X family witnesses agree with R on mayden.  and man -kende lauȝte . — Qui conceptus est de sp iritu s anc to . &c etera . Þe fader is þanne as fuste a fust R.17.130: The other B manuscripts all read as a fust .  with fynger to thouche touche R.17.130: Kane-Donaldson transcribe R's thouche as chouche, but there is no warrant for this transcription—nonsensical in context, as opposed to an idiolectal spelling of the expected word—since the R scribe on this same page frequently executes his t with a negligible ascender indistinct from his c. . Quia om nia trah am ad me ip sum &c etera . Alle þat þe paume p erceyueth  p rofitable to fele . Þus ar þei alle but one  as it a fust an hande R.17.133: For alpha's a fust, beta reads an hande . Cx agrees with beta. were . And thre su ndry siȝtes  in oen in nil R.17.134: R uniquely adds the second in of this b-verse. schewynge . R.17.134: There is a superfluous tilde over the terminal punctus (not a punctus elevatus). Þe paume for þe paume he R.17.135: The second occurrence of þe paume in this a-verse is unique error in R; cf. F's it and beta's he. put putteth R.17.135: Cf. beta's putteth. forthe  fyngres and þe fuste bothe . Riȝt so redely  resou n it scheweth  How he þat is holy goste  sir e and sone p roueth . And as þe hande halte harde  and al thyng e faste . Thoruȝ four e fyngres and a thumbe  forth with þe paume . Riȝt so þe fader and þe sone  and seint spiriȝt þe thridde . Halt al þe wyde worlde  with with-in R.17.141: In place of alpha's with, beta reads within. hem thre . Bothe wolkne and þe wynde  water and erthe . Heuene and helle  and alle þat þer e is Inne þer inne is . Þus it nedeth no man R.17.144: Though HmCG agree with alpha's version of this a-verse, it appears that beta reads Þus it is nedeth no man .  to nil R.17.144: L agrees with RF, though the other beta copies omit to. trowen non other Þat thre thynges bylongeth  in our e lorde of heuene . And aren surleps bi hem -sulue  a -sondry wer e were þei neuer e . R.17.146: L agrees with RF's reading; in the other beta witnesses, the final b-verse phrase reads were þei neuere. Namore þan may an hand myn hande may R.17.147: For alpha's may an hand, beta reads myn hande may .  meue with -outen fyngres my fyngeres . ¶ And as my fust is ful honde  I -folde to -gyderes . So is þe fader a ful god  formeour e and schepper e . Tu fabricator o mni um &c etera . And alle þe miȝte myd hym is  in makyng e of thynges . ¶ Þe fyngres formeth a ful honde  to purtreye or peynten . Keruynge or and R.17.153: For alpha's or, beta reads and. cu mpassyng e  is as R.17.153: Among the beta copies, only Cr agrees with alpha's is; the others read as. crafte of þe fyngres . Riȝt so is þe sone  þe science of þe fader . And ful god as is þe fader  no febler e ne no better e . Þe paume is puirliche þe hande  hath power e bi hym -selue . Other -wise þan þe writen R.17.157: Y originally shared R's erroneous writen but was corrected. Several C copies also share R's reading. F's wrytynge is probably an attempt to make sense of the alpha error reflected in R. Cf. beta's wrythen, which must have been the reading of Bx. Cx agrees with beta's reading. fuste  or werkman -schepe of fyngres . For þe paume hath power e  to pult put R.17.158: R's pult is a rare verb (= ModE thrust ) but is likelier to be the Bx form than is beta's put or F's pittyn. Most C manuscripts agree with the B majority on putte, but the most reliable X family manuscripts agree with R. oute þe alle þe ioyntes R.17.158: Where alpha reads þe ioyntes, beta has alle þe ioyntes . Among the C witnesses, only manuscript N (which shows massive evidence throughout of having been proofed—and contaminated—by a beta manuscript) agrees with beta on this phrasing. . And to vnfolde þe þe folden fust  for hym it bilongeth it to hym longeþ . R.17.159: Cx agrees exactly with R's version of this b-verse, but F renders it as for it to hym longeþ. Beta omits this b-verse (KD17.179b) as well as the next line (KD17.180) and a following half-line (KD17.181a), probably because of eyeskip on fust. And & to receyue þat þe fyngres recheth  and & to refuse bothe . R.17.160: This line, omitted by beta, is rendered with slight differences in F: & to receyve þat þe fyngris reche & to refuse boþe. Cx's version of this line exactly agrees with R until the end of the b-verse, where bothe is replaced by yf hym liketh . Whan he feleth þe fust And to vnfolde þe folden fuste  and atte þe fyngres wille . So is þe holy gost god  nother gretter ne lasse . Þan is þe sir e or and R.17.163: Cf. beta's and. Though some C manuscripts agree with with beta, it is clear that Cx agrees with alpha's or. þe sone  and in þe same miȝte . And alle ar þei but o god  as is myn hande and my fyngres . Vnfolden or folden  my fust and my paume . Al is it R.17.166: Beta omits it. Some C manuscripts agree with beta's omission, but the majority, including the best X family copies, agree with alpha in including it. but an hande  how so I turne it nil . R.17.166: Following this line, for no apparent reason, the R scribe fails to insert his customary blank line between verse strophes. ¶ Ac who is herte in þe honde nil  euene in þe myddes . He may reseyue riȝt nauȝt  reson it scheweth . For þe fyngres þat folde schulde  & þe fust make . For peyne of þe paume  power hem faileth . To cluche or to clawe  to cluppe or to holde . ¶ Wer e þe myddel of myn hand  ymaymed other or ypersed ypersshed . R.17.172: R's other ypersed is unique. F omits the entire line. The other B manuscripts agree in reading or for R's other, but they offer a variety of verb forms: yperissed (WC), peris(s/c)hed (MCrHm), and ypersshed (L). I schulde reseyue riȝt nauȝt  of þat I reche miȝte . Ac þouȝ my thombe and my fyngres  bothe wer e to -swolle . And þe myddel of myn hande  with -oute male -ese . In many kynne maneres  I miȝte my -sulue helpe . Bothe meue and amende  þouȝ alle my fyngres oke . By this kile [s]kile skil he seyde me þynkeþ R.17.178: For alpha's he seyde, beta reads me þynkeþ , which fails in alliteration. Cx revises skile to simile but agrees with alpha on the following words: he saide.  I se an euydence  Þat ho -so synneth in þe seynt spiriȝt  assoyled worth he neu ere . Nother here ne elles -wher e  as I herde telle . Qui peccat in sp iritu s anc to nu mq uam nil &c etera . . R.17.181: F omits this citation, and the beta copies omit numquam. The C manuscripts here agree with beta. For he priketh god as in þe paume  þ at p eccat in sp iritu s anc to For god þe fader is as a fust  þe sone is as a fynger . Þe holy goste of heuene  is as it wer e þe paume . So ho -so synneth a -ȝeynes in þe R.17.185: In place of alpha's a-ȝeynes þe, beta reads in. Cx agrees with alpha. seynt spirit  it semeth þ at he g reueth R.17.185: The <h> of greueth is nearly lost in the binding, but is still visible in the manuscript, though not in the digital image. God þ at he gripeth with  and wolde his grace quenche . ¶ For And to a torche or to nil a taper e R.17.187: Alpha's a-verse reads For to a . . . or to a . . . , while beta has And to a . . . or a . . .. Cx agrees with alpha.  þe t rinite is likned As wex and a weyke  wer e twyned to -gyderes — And þanne a fere flawmende flawmynge R.17.189: Most beta copies read flawmynge (which is also the reading of Cx in a revised form of this line) and F has flawmeþ, but L agrees with R's form.  forth ouȝt R.17.189: Ouȝt, "out." of bothe . And as wex and wyke  and warme hote R.17.190: R's warme is shared with F alone; cf. the non-alliterating beta variant, hote. Cx agrees with alpha. fer e to -gyderes . Fostren forth a flawme  and a fair e leye . So doth þe sire and þe sone  and al -so sp iritus s anc tus . fostren forth amonges folk R.17.192: These boxed catchwords are heavily cropped. Fostren forth amonges folk  loue and bileue . Þat alkynne cristene  clensede clenseth R.17.194: Both F and the beta copies read clenseth. Cx agrees with them. of synnes . And as þow seste somtyme  sodeyneliche a torche . Þe blase þere -of I -blowe oute  ȝet brenneth þe weke . With -oute leye or liȝte  þat þe macche brenneth . So is the holy gost god  and grace with -oute mercy . To alle vnkende creatures  þat coueyte to destruye . Lel loue other lif þat oure lorde schupte . R.17.200: R's schupte is a unique preterite form among the B manuscripts, whose typical form is shapte; but schupte is uniformly attested in C copies. After this line, R and F omit twenty-seven lines found in the beta manuscripts: And as glowande gledes gladieth nouȝte þis werkmen Þat worchen & waken in wyntres niȝtes As doth a kex or a candel þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth Namore doth sire ne sone ne seynt spirit togyderes Graunteth no grace ne forȝifnesse of synnes Til þe holi goste gynne to glowe and to blase So þat þe holygoste gloweth but as a glede Tyl þat lele loue ligge on hym & blowe And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre on fader & on filius And melteth her myȝte into mercy as men may se in wyntre Ysekeles in eueses ( or euesynges) þorw hete of þe sonne Melteth in a mynutwhile to myst & to watre So grace of þe holygoste þe grete myȝte of þe trinite Melteth into mercy to mercyable & to non other And as wex withouten more on a warme glede Wil brennen & blasen be þei togyderes And solacen hem þat may se þat sitten in derkenesse So wole þe fader forȝif folke of mylde hertes Þat reufulliche repenten & restitucioun make In as moche as þei mowen amenden & payen And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz þat in suche a wille deyeth Mercy for his mekenesse wil make good þe remenaunte And as þe weyke and fyre wil make a warme flaumbe For to myrthe men with þat in merke sitten So wil cryst of his curteisye and men crye hym mercy Bothe forȝiue & forȝete & ȝet bidde for vs To þe fader of heuene forȝyuenesse to haue . ¶ Ac hewe fuyr and at R.17.201: For R's and, F reads on a and beta has at a. The P family of C manuscripts reads of a at this point, but the X family agrees with beta. flint a flynte  four e hundreth wynter . But þow haue tacche towe R.17.202: Beta has towe in place of alpha's tacche. Cx agrees with alpha. to take it  with tunder or broches . Al þi labour is lost  and al þi longe trauaile . For may no fuir e flaume make  faile it his kende . So is þe holy gost god  and grace with -oute mercy . To alle vnkende creatures  crist hym -selue witnesseth . Amen dico vobis nescio vos  &c etera . ¶ Be vnkende to þin euencristene  and alle þat þow ca nste bidden . Delen and do penaunce  daye and niȝt euere . And purchase al þe pardou n  of paemploen and rome . And indulgences Inowe  and be ingrat ingratus R.17.211: R's ingrat is an alpha variant shared with F; cf. beta's ingratus. At the end of this line, kynne is likewise an alpha variant; beta reads kynde. On the first of these variants, the C manuscripts split, with many P family copies supporting alpha while the X family mainly supports beta. On the latter variant, Cx clearly agrees with beta. to þi kynne kynde . Þe holy gost hereth þe nauȝte  ne helpe may þe be resou n . For vnkendenesse qwenche hem quencheth hym R.17.213: The other manuscripts all read quencheth hym. The C manuscripts agree with the B majority.  þat he can nauȝt schine . Ne brenne ne blase clere  for blowyng of vnkendenesse . Powel þe apostel  p roueth where I lye . Si linguis hominu m loquar loquar &c . For -thi beth war ȝe wise men  þ at with þe worlde deleth . Þat riche ben and reson knoweth  rewleth wel ȝour e soule . Beth nauȝt vnkende I consel ȝow  to ȝour e euen -cristene . For many of ȝow riche men  be my soule men telleth . Ȝe brenneth R.17.221: The other B copies read brenne, but Cx agrees with R. but ȝe blaseth nauȝte  & nil R.17.221: This occurrence of & at the head of the b-verse is omitted by beta. Once more, Cx agrees with alpha. þ at is a blinde bekne . Non o mnis qui dicit d omine d omine  intrabit &c etera . ¶ Diues deyed Idampned dampned  for his vnkendenesse  Of his mete and mone R.17.224: R's and mone is shared only with Y ( and monoie). F has a rewritten a-verse. LMC agree with the best X family copies of C in reading & his moneye while CrWHmG agree with the C majority in attesting and of his moneie .  to men þat it nedede . Vche a riche I rede  rewarde at hym take . And gyueth ȝour e gode to þat god  þat grace of ariseth . For þat ben vnkende to hise  hope I non other . But þei dwelle þere diues is  dayes with -outen ende  Þus is vnkendenesse þe contrarie  þat que ncheth as it were . Þe grace of þe holy goste  godes owene kende R.17.230: Cf. R's kende (shared with F) to the beta form kynde. Cx shows the same form as beta. . For þat kende deth  vnkende fordoth as þese cursed theues . Vnkende cristene men  for coueytise and enuye . Sleth a man for his mebles  with mouthe or with handes . For þat þe holy gost hath to kepe  þo harlotes destruyeth . Þe whiche is lif and loue  þe leye of mannes body . For euery man er goed man  may be lickned to a torche . Or elles to a taper  to reuerence þe trinite . And ho -so morthereth a goed man  me thenketh be myn in -witt . He fordoth þe leuest liȝt  þat our e lorde louyeth . ¶ Ac ȝut in many mo maneres  me n offenden þe holy gost . Ac þis is þe worste wise  þat any wiȝt miȝte . Synegen R.17.242: R's synegen is listed by OED2, s. v. sin (v.) as a variant of the infinitive form of sin for the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Cf. R.17.254: below, where the past participle, syneged, is used, and R.18.223:, where synege occurs. MED, s. v. sinnen, offers a number of citations for synegen and its inflected forms, but virtually all are from various Piers Plowman manuscripts of all three versions (e.g., Laud 581, Hm 137, and Vernon). aȝeyne þe seint spiriȝt  assente to destruye . For coueytise of any kynnes thyng e  þat crist dere bouȝte . How miȝte he aske mercy  or any mercy hym helpe . R.17.244: This line is clearly attested by both R and F and probably descended unaltered from Bx. However, evidence for its attestation in beta is mixed: although it is present in LMCr, it is not found in any other copies of the beta tradition. Þat wickedlich and wilfulliche  wolde mercy anynte . Innocense is next god  and niȝt and daye it crieth . Veniance veniance  for -ȝyue be it neuere . Þat schent shent vs R.17.248: Beta has shent vs. Cx agrees with beta. and schedde our e blode  for -schupte vs as it semed were R.17.248: Where R reads semed, F shows semeþ and beta has were. Cx agrees with R. . Vindica sanguine m iustor um . Þus veniance veniance  verrey charite asketh . And sitthe holy cherche and charite  chargeth þis so sore . Leue I neu ere þat our e lorde  wil loue þ at charite lakketh . Ne haue pite for eny preyer e  þere þat he pleyneth . ¶ I pose I had syneged so  and schuld nouȝ deye . And nouȝt now R.17.255: This mistake is shared with F. The substitution, in alpha, of nowht for beta's (and Cx's) now probably reflects confusion about a nowth spelling for now. am sori þat R.17.255: Here R and L alone omit I in the a-verse. L leaves the line completely without a pronoun reference while R transposes the syntax by moving the pronoun to the final phrase of the b-verse, uniquely reading I agulte where the other copies all show agulte. Nevertheless, the other B manuscripts also attest uncertainty about the pronoun's placement, and about whether there is one I in the a-verse, or two. The likeliest version of the line (which agrees with Cx) is W's: And now am I sory þat I so . þe Seint Spirit agulte. It seems probable, from the massive confusion over I's placement, and its complete omission from L, that it was a marginal addition in Bx. so  þe seint spiriȝt I nil agulte . Confesse me and crie his grace  god þat al made . And myldelich his mercy aske  miȝt I nauȝt be I -saued saued . ¶ Ȝus seyde þe samaritan  so so wel þow miȝtest myȝte R.17.258: R's þow miȝtest is an alpha variant; cf. beta's wel þow myȝte. repente . Þat riȝtwisenesse to þorw R.17.259: This is an alpha variant; cf. beta's þorw. Cx agrees with beta. repentance  to reuthe miȝte turne . Ac it is but selden I -seye  þer e sothenesse bereth witnesse . Eny creatur e be þat is R.17.261: R's be is an alpha reading; cf. beta's þat is . Cx agrees with alpha. coupble coup[a]ble coupable  by -for afor a kynges iustice . Be raunsouned for his his repentaunce R.17.262: After his, R completely lacks the second stave of the a-verse, probably because alpha was already corrupt. Beta reads repentaunce; F's gilt is unique. It is characteristic of F to have attempted to make sense of a defective exemplar. Cx's reading here agrees with beta.  þere al resou n hym dampneth . For þere þat partie pursueth  þe peel peple R.17.263: L supports the RF reading here; most beta copies have peple; Cx supports the LRF lection, reading apeel. is so huge . Þat þe kynge may do no mercy  til bothe men acorde . And eyther haue equite  as holy writt telleth . Nu mq uam dimittitur p eccatu m &c etera . Þus it fareth bi suche folke  þat falsliche al her e lyue lyues . R.17.267: Cf. beta's plural form, lyues. Euele lyuen and leten nouȝt  til lif hem forsake . Drede & drede of desp erac iou n  dryueth a -weye þanne þanne dryveþ a wey grace . These lines are attested only in alpha. F's version of these lines differs from R's as follows: (1) for R's Drede, F reads & drede; (2) for R's dryueth a weye þanne, F reads þanne dryveþ a-wey. The P family of C agrees with R on the first of these variants and with F on the second. The X family offers several unique variants, including the opening phrase, Som drede and the omission of away later in the line. Þat m ercy in her mynde  may nauȝt þanne falle . Goed hope þat helpe schulde  to wanhope turneth . Nouȝt of þe nounper nounpowere of god  þat he ne is miȝtful . To amende al þat amys is  and his m ercy gretter e . Þanne al our e wicked werkes  as holy writt telleth . M isericordia d omini eius R.17.275: R's domini is attested only by RF; the beta copies have eius. Cx agrees with beta. super om nia op era eius . Ac ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe turne  su m restitucion by -houeth . R.17.276: Hereafter alpha omitted a single line from Bx attested by beta manuscripts: His sorwe is satisfaccioun for hym þat may nouȝte paye. The C version attests a revised version of this line. ¶ Thre thynges ther e ben  þat doth R.17.277: L agrees with alpha's doth; the form in the other beta manuscripts is doon. The grammar of this line is substantially revised in C, but Cx reads doth. a man be strengthe . Forto flen his owene hous  as holy writt scheweth . Þat on is a wicked wif  þat wil nauȝt be chasted . Hire fere fleth hir e fro hyr R.17.280: Cf. beta's fleeth fro hyr. The P family of C manuscripts agrees with beta, but the X family mostly supports alpha's reading.  for fere of hire tonge . And if his hous be vnheled  and reyne on his bedde . He seketh and seketh til he slepe drie . ¶ And whanne smoke and smolder  smitte in his siȝte . It doth hym wors þan his wif  or wete to slepe . For smoke and smolder  smerteth smyt in R.17.285: In place of alpha's smerteth, beta reads smyteth. Cx supports the alpha verb form. his eyȝes . Til he he be R.17.286: Bx reads he be blereighed; R shares the omission of be solely with Bm, whose corrector supplies the missing verb. blereneyed or blinde  and cowȝhe hors in þe throte R.17.286: R's and cowȝhe in þe throte suggests that alpha had lost an alliterating stave. F has & a bold cowhe after. Beta witnesses make sense but lose the alliterative pattern, reading and hors in þe throte . In place of cowȝhe or hoors, Cx has borre, which probably was the authorial B version of this stave. . He R.17.287: F completely revises the a-verse ( þan kenely he curseþ ) while beta omits the pronoun reference and begins this line with the verb, Cougheth; only G shares R's He, and the pronoun is added in that copy in the margin. Cx reads as beta. kouȝeth and corseth  þat crist ȝeue hym sorwe . Þat schuld brynge in better e wode  or blowen it til it brende . ¶ Þise thre þat I telle of  þus ben ben þus R.17.289: Alpha's þus ben is transposed in beta to ben þus. Cx agrees with alpha. vnderstonde . Þe wif is our e wikked flesche  wil þat wil R.17.290: At the head of this b-verse, R omits þat, which is found in all other B copies. However, Cx agrees with R in this omission. nauȝt be chasted . For kende cleueth on hym euer e  to contrarie þe soule . And þow it fall e it fynt skiles  þat frelte it made . And þat is liȝtlych for -ȝyue  and for -ȝete bothe . To man þat mercy asketh  and amende thenketh . n ij us ¶ Þe reyne þat reyneth þer e we rest schulde  Ben siknesses and other nil R.17.296: R's other is, among the extant B copies, a unique addition to this line. However, the appearance of this same word at this point in Cx indicates that other was probably authorial in B also. sorwes  þat we suffren ouȝte oft R.17.296: For alpha's obviously correct ouȝte, beta supplies the easier oft. Many C manuscripts agree with beta's reading, but the most reliable ones of both major families support the alpha reading. . As poule þe apostel  to þe poeple tauȝte . Virtus in infirmitate p erficitur perficitur &c . And þouȝ þat men make muche  doel in her e angre . And be inpacient in here penaunce  puir resou n knoweth . Þat þei han resou n cause R.17.301: For alpha's resoun (deficient in alliteration), beta correctly reads cause. Cx agrees with beta. to contrarie  by kynde of here sikenesse . And liȝtliche our e lorde  at here liues ende . Hath mercy on suche men  þat so euele may suffre . ¶ Ac þe smoke and þe smolder  þ at smitte i n our e eyȝes . Þat Þat is R.17.305: Here R uniquely omits the verb from the a-verse; other B manuscripts read Þat is. Cx agrees with the B majority. coueitise and vnkendenesse  quencheth þat quencheth R.17.305: Here F has þey qwenche while beta reads þat quencheth . Cx reads whiche quencheth. godes mercy . For vnkendenesse is þe contrarie  of alle kynne resou n . For þer e nis sike ne sori  ne none so muche wrecche . Þat he ne may louye and hym like  and lene of his herte . Goed wille goed & good R.17.309: Cx agrees with alpha in this lection. worde  both wischen and wilnen willen R.17.309: R's wilnen is shared with F alone; beta reads willen. Although a number of C copies agree with beta, it seems clear that Cx reads as alpha. . Alle maner men  mercy and forȝeuenesse  And louye hem lich hym -sulue  and his lif amende . I may no lenger lette q uod he  and liard he prikede . And went a -way as wynde  and þere -with I wakede . pass us xvj us Passus xvj j us xv[ii]j us septimus decim us [octauus] decim us de visione vt sup ra . — — R.18.0: An early user has attempted to correct the scribal passus number (which is now undercounted by two) by adding a single brown <j> after the <vj> of the heading. W W olward and wete -schode  wente I forth after . As a reccheles renke  þat of no wo recchetth And ȝede forth like a lorel  al my Iif -tyme . Til I wex weri of þe worlde  and wilned efte slepe to slepe R.18.4: The other B witnesses read eft to for R's efte. Eight C manuscripts agree with R's omission of to but Cx presumably read as the B majority. . And lened me to a lentene  and longe tyme I sclepte . And of cristes passiou n and penaunce  þe poeple þat of -rauȝte . Rested me þere and rutte faste  til ramis palmaru m . Of gurles and of gloria laus  gretliche me dremed . And how osanna by orgene  olde folke songen . ¶ On semblable to þe samaritan  & su mdel to peres þe plowman . Barefoet on an asse bake  boteles cam prikyng e R.18.11: Only Cr agrees with R's form. Cf. beta's pryke. F reads springe, a variant that makes little sense. Presumably, in a copy between alpha and F someone had substituted the synonymous spurringe for alpha's prikyng e , a mistake magnified by F's misreading. The reading of Cx here is uncertain, but a majority of the X family copies agree with R. . With -oute spores other sper e  spracliche spakliche R.18.12: This is an alpha variant; beta reads spakliche. However, Cx almost certainly agrees here with alpha. Cf. note at R.17.72: he lokede . As is þe kende of a kniȝt  þat cometh to be dubbed . To geten hym gulte spores  or galoches ycouped . R.18.14: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason beyond oversight is apparent. ¶ Þanne was feith in a fenestre  and criede a fili dauid . As doth an heraude of armes  whan auntrous cometh to iustes . Olde Iewes of iherusalem  for ioye þei songe . B en edictus qui venit in no mi ne d omini . ¶ Þanne I frayned at feith  what all e þat fare bemente . And ho iuste sholde iouste R.18.20: After ho, R uniquely omits sholde. Cx confirms that this omission is an error. in iherusalem  ihesus he seyde . And feccheth fecche R.18.21: Cf. F's fettyn and beta's fecche. Cx agrees with beta. þat þe fende claymeth  peres fruit þe plowma n . Is peres in þis place q uod I  and he prent on me . Þis ihesus of his gentrie gentrice  wol iuste in peres armes . In his helme and in his haubergou n  humana natura . Þat criste be nauȝt beknowe knowe(n) here  for co nsum matus d eus . In peres paltok þe plowman  þis prikiar e schal ride . For no dint schal hym dere  as in deitate patris . ¶ Ho schal iuste with ihesus q uod I  Iewes or scribes . ¶ Nay q uod faith he but þe þe foule R.18.29: Where alpha reads faith but þe, beta has he þe foule. Cx agrees with alpha. fende  and fals dom to deye & deth . R.18.29: For alpha's to deye, beta reads & deth . Cx agrees with alpha. Deth seyth he schal fordo  and adoune bringe . Alle þat lyueth and or R.18.31: For alpha's and, beta reads or. A majority of C witnesses agrees with beta, but the P family subarchetype may have read oþer. loketh  in londe or in water . Lif seith þat he likth lieþ R.18.32: Among the beta manuscripts, only L shares alpha's lykth, a variant of lieth. Russell-Kane do not record any C manuscripts with this spelling.  and leith his lif to wedde . Þat for al þat deth can do  with -inne thre dayes . R.18.33: An early reader has marked this line in the right margin with a small red cross or star. To walke and fecche fro þe fende  peres fruit þe plowman . And legge it þere hym liketh  and lucifer bynde . And forbite forbete R.18.36: R's reading is unique; both F and beta show forbete; some beta copies have corrupted this to for to bete. In the C tradition, three X family manuscripts and most of the P family agree with R's reading. and doun bringe  bale deth for euere . O mors mors tua ero mors ero mors tua . — R.18.37: R's phrasing here is unique; the rest of the B manuscripts read O mors ero mors tua; however, the majority of the X family of C reads the line as R does. ¶ Þanne cam pilatus with muche poeple  sede ns p ro tribunali . To se how douȝtiliche deth schulde do  & deme her e beither both(er)es R.18.39: R's beither is a unique form; F has boþe; LWHm read botheres; M and Cr 1 have boþes. There is a similarly wide variety of lections in the C manuscripts at this point, but none of them shows R's form. However, at C2.69 (Russell-Kane), manuscript F has beither. riȝte . Þe iewes and þe iustice  aȝeine ih esu þei were . And al here R.18.41: Only L shares here with R; the other beta copies and F agree on þe. The C version agrees with the reading of F and the beta majority. court on ih esu hym R.18.41: R's ihesu is unique; Bx has hym. criede  crucifige scharpe . ¶ Þo put hym forth a pilour e  bi -for pilat and seide . Þis ih esus of oure R.18.43: Here alpha omitted a stave word; cf. beta's iewes temple. temple iewes temple  iapede and despisede . To fordou n it in on R.18.44: R's in is an alpha variant; beta has on. Though four C manuscripts agree with RF, it is clear that Cx agrees with beta. a day  and in thre dayes after . Edifien it eft newe  here he stant þat seyde it . And ȝut maken it as muche  in al maner e poyntes . Bothe as longe and as large  a -lofte bi loft R.18.47: Cf. F's on lofte and beta's bi loft. Cx agrees with R. and bi grounde . ¶ Crucifige q uod a cacchepole  I warante hym a wicche . Tolle tolle q uod an -other  and toke of kene thornes . And bygan of kene thorne  a gerland to make . And sette it sore on his heued  & seyde in e nuye . Aue rabi q uod þe þat R.18.52: In this noun phrase, R's þe is unique; F has þo and beta has þat. Cx agrees with beta. As for the following noun, the plural is an alpha variant; beta shows rybaud and Cx concurs. ribaudes Ribaude  and threwe redes at hym . four e Nayled hym with thre R.18.53: At this point, beta reads thre while F has fowre. Hand2 has written foure in the left margin and placed a caret before thre (the R scribe's choice). However, thre has not been struck through nor erased, and we see no evidence for Hand2's having had supervisory authority in the production of MS R. The marginal note engages a famous medieval controversy about the details of the Crucifixion. Skeat notes that a "long essay might be written on the wholly unimportant question whether three or four were used in the Crucifixion." The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman, in Three Parallel Texts (Oxford: Clarendon, 1886): 2.251. Because of the commonplace nature of the nail dispute, the reading of alpha itself must remain in doubt, but the usual patterns of copying in R and F suggest that alpha was much likelier to have read thre than foure. Kane-Donaldson certainly saw it that way: since R's original reading has not been subpuncted or struck out, they treat R's intended reading as thre, ignoring the marginal foure. nailes  naked vp -on on R.18.53: R's vp-on is unique; the other B witnesses show on. Nevertheless, vp-on may well represent Bx here since the X family of C manuscripts also attests this reading (the P family agrees with beta). þe rode . And poyson on a pole  þei putte put vp R.18.54: R reads this line in harmony with beta except that after putte, R uniquely omits vp from the beta phrase. It is true that F also omits this word, but that fact has no importance for assessing the archetypal reading since F completely transposes the entire Bx line. The X family of C agrees with beta on this lection, but the P family agrees with R in omitting vp. to his lippes . And bede hym drinke his deth euel  hys dayes were I -done . And ȝif þat þow sotyl be  helpe now þi -seluen . Ȝif þow be criste and kynges sone  co mme doune of þe rode . Þan schul we leue þat lif þe loueth  & wil nauȝt lete þe deye . ¶ Consu mmatu m est q uod criste  and comsed for to swowne . Pitousliche and pale  as a prison þat deyeth  Til Þe lore R.18.61: F begins this line with Tyl þe lord; beta reads simply Þe lorde. For the spelling lore, see Richard Jordan, Handbook of Middle English Grammar: Phonology, translated and revised by Eugene Joseph Crook (The Hague: Mouton, 1974): §199, remark 3. Cf. R.5.409: and R.14.184:. of lif and of liȝt  þo leyde his eyȝes to -gidres . ¶ Þe day for drede with -drow  and derk bicam þe sonne . Þe wal waged and clef  and al þe worlde quauede . Dede men for þat dene  come oute of here depe R.18.64: Alpha had lost the alliterating stave from the b-verse, substituting here for depe (the reading of beta and of Cx). graues . And tolde whi þat tempest  so longe tyme dured . For a bitter bataile  þe dede body seyde . Lif and deth in þis derkenesse  her on fordoth her other . Schal no wiȝte witte witterly  ho schal haue þe maystirie . Er soneday aboute so nne risynge  and sanke with þ at til erthe . Su mme seyde þat he was godes sone  þ at so fair e deyede . Vere filius dei erat iste  And so mme seyde he was a wicche  gode is assaye þat we assaye R.18.72: The beta b-verse (presumably = Bx) is good is þat we assaye . From this phrase, F omits þat and R leaves out þat we. Cx agrees with beta. . Where he be dede ar nauȝte dede  dou n er he be takne . ¶ To theues also  tholed dede þat tyme . Vpon a cros bisides crist  so was þe comune lawe . Ac nil R.18.76: F begins the line with But a; beta omits both conjunctions and opens with A. The P family of C manuscripts reads Qikliche cam a, but the X family agrees with beta. a cacchepol cam forth  and craked bothe her legges . And her armes after  of eyther of þo theues . Ac was no boy so bolde  godes body to touche . For he was kniȝt and kynges sone  kynde forȝaf þat th rowe tyme . R.18.79: For alpha's throwe, beta has tyme. Although beta's reading seems clearly inferior, Cx agrees with it. Þat non harlot were so hardy  to leyn an hand R.18.80: Here F reads the plural hondys while R's singular form agrees with beta. R's phrase, an hand, adds the determiner to Bx's text (which reads leyne hande); the addition of an is shared by convergence with Bo, whose corrector caught and deleted it. vppon hym . ¶ Ac þere cam forth a kniȝt  with a kene spere I -grounde . Hiȝt longeus as þe l ettre telleth  and longe had lore his siȝte . Bi -fore pilat and other poeple  in þe place he houed . Maugre his many teth  he was made þat tyme . To take þe spere in his honde  and iuste with ih esus . For alle þei were vnhardi  þat houed on hors or stede stode(n) . R.18.86: For alpha's redundant noun stede, beta attests the verb stode. Although the C line is revised, its sense and its final stave agree with beta's stode. To touche touche hym R.18.87: The beta phrase is To touche hym. Though this line is slightly revised in the C version, it is clear that Cx agrees with beta on this variant. or to taste hym  or take hym doun of rode . But þis blinde bacheler e  þat nil R.18.88: Some beta copies omit þat; others read þanne. Cx agrees here with alpha. bar e hym thoruȝ þe herte . Þe blode sprange doune be þe spere  & opned vnspered R.18.89: Alpha had lost the alliterating stave from the b-verse, substituting the common synonym opned for beta's vnspered. Cx reads as beta. þe kniȝtes eyȝes . Þan fel þe kniȝte vpon knes  and criede ih esu hym R.18.90: Cf. F's crist and beta's hym. Cx agrees with R. mercy . Aȝeine my will e it was lorde  to wounde ȝow so sore . He siȝede and seyde  sore it me athenketh . For þe dede þat I haue do  I do me in ȝour e grace . Haue on me reuthe riȝtful ih esu  and riȝt with þat he wepte . ¶ Þanne gan feith felli  þe fals iewes despise . Called hem caytyues  acorsed hem nil R.18.96: Beta omits the second hem from this line. Cx agrees with beta. for euere . For þis foule vilenye  veniaunce to ȝow alle . To do þe blinde bete hym I -bounde  it was a boies conseile . Cursed caityues  knyȝthod was it neuere . To mys -do a dede body  bi day or bi niȝte . Þe gre ȝut hath he geten  for alle his grete wounde . ¶ For ȝoure champion chiualer e  chef kniȝt of ȝow alle . Ȝelt hym recreaunt rennyng e  riȝt at ih esus wille . For be this derkenesse I -do  deth his deth worth I -venkesched avenged . R.18.104: In place of alpha's deth worth I-venkesched, beta's b-verse reads his deth worth avenged. Cx agrees with alpha. And ȝe lordeynes han I -loste  for lif schal haue þe maistri . And ȝoure fraunchise þat fre was  fallen is in thraldam . And ȝe cherles and ȝour e children  cheue schal ȝe neuere . Ne haue lordeschip pe in londe  ne none lond tulye . But alle barayne be  and vsurie vsen  Whiche is lif þat oure lorde  in alle lawes acorseth . Now ȝoure gode dayes be do  as daniel p rophecide . Whan crist cam þe her kyngdom R.18.112: R's þe kyngdom is unique; F shows to his kyngdom while beta reads her kyngdom (though the CrWHm subset attests of hir kyngdom).  þe crou nne schulde lese cesse . n ii ij us R.18.112: A fragment of a signature remains at the bottom right margin of this leaf: n ii. Cu m veniat sanct us sanctor um sanctorum cessabit unixo vextra R.18.113: Alpha omits the rest of the verse, which beta completes by adding cessabit vnxio vestra. The beta version of this citation is also that of the P family of C manuscripts; the X family shows more internal variation, with some of the best witnesses ending the citation at cessat. . ¶ What for fere of þis ferly  and of þo þe R.18.114: R's þo is unique; F and beta have þe. Some C manuscripts read thes, but Cx agrees with beta and F. fals iewes . I drouȝ me in þat derknesse  to descendit ad inferna . And þere I seiȝ sothly  secundu m scripturas . Out of þe west cost  a wenche as me thouȝte . Cam walkyng e in þat þe R.18.118: R's þat is unique; F and beta read þe. Cx agrees with the B majority. weye  to helwarde sche lokede . Mercy hiȝt þat mayde  a meke thyng e with -alle . A ful benygne burde  and buxu m of speche . Hire suster as it semede  cam sofly walkyng e . Euene out of þe est  and westwarde sche lokede . A ful co mmely creatur e  treuthe sche hiȝte . For þe v ertue þat hire folwed  aferde was sche neu ere . And nil whan R.18.125: Beta omits alpha's And. Cx agrees with beta. þis maydenes mette  m ercy and treuthe . Eyther asked other  of þis grete wonder . Of þe dene and of þe derkenesse  & how þe day rowede . And swich which R.18.128: For alpha's swich, beta reads which. Cx agrees with beta. a liȝte and a lem  lay byfor helle . Ich haue ferly of þis fare  in feith seide treuthe . And am wendyng e to witte  what þis wonde wonde[r] wonder meneth . ¶ Haue no m eruayle q uod m ercy  murthe it betokneth . A mayde mayden þat hat marie  and moder with -oute felyng e . Of any kende kynnes R.18.133: For alpha's kende, beta reads kynnes. Cx reads either kynde (X family) or kynde of (P family). creatur e  co nseyued thoruȝ speche . And grace of þe holy gost  wex grete with childe . With -outen wem  in -to þis worlde sche brouȝte hym . And þat my tale be trewe  I take god to witnesse . Sith þis barne was bore  ben thretty wynter passed . Wich deyede and deth tholede  þis day aboute mydday . And þat is cause of þis clipps  þ at closeth now þe sonne In menyng e þat man schal  fro merkenesse be drawe . Þe while þis liȝte and þis lem  schal lucyfer ablende . For patriarkes and p rophetes  han p reched here -of often . Þat man schal man saue  thoruȝ a maydenes helpe . And þat was tynt þoruȝ tre  tre schal it wynne . And þat deth dou n brouȝt  deth schal releue . ¶ Þat þow tellest q uod treuthe  is but a tale of waltrott For adam & eue  and abrah am with other . Patriarkes and p rophetes  þat in peyne lygen . Leue þow neu ere þat ȝone liȝte  hem on lofte R.18.149: In place of alpha's on lofte, beta reads alofte. Cx agrees with beta. brynge . Ne haue hem oute of helle  halde þi tonge mercy . It is but but a trufle þat þow telleste  R.18.151: Beta begins the b-verse with a reiterated pronoun reference: I treuth wote . Cx agrees with beta. treuthe I treuth wote þe sothe . For þat is ones in helle  out cometh it neuere . Iob þe p rophete patriarche  rep reueth þi sawes . Quia in inferno nulla e st redempc io . ¶ Þanne m ercy ful myldly  mouthed þes wordes . Þoruȝ exp erience q uod he I hope þow schalt þei shal R.18.156: R's þow schalt is unique; F has y shal while beta reads þei shal. Cx agrees with beta. be saued . For venym fordoth venym  and þat I p roue be resou n . For of alle venymes  foulest is þe scorpiou n . May no medicyne helpe  þe place þere he stengeth . Til he be dede and do þere -to  þe euel he destruyeth . Þe furst venymouste  þoruȝ v ertue venym R.18.161: For alpha's vertue, beta reads venym. Cx agrees with alpha. of hym -sulue . So schal þis deth do fordo R.18.162: Cf. beta's fordo. Cx agrees with beta.  I dar my lif legge . Alle þat deth dede furste  þoruȝ þe deueles entysyng e . And riȝt as þoruȝ gile  man was bigyled . So schal grace þat bigan  make a gode sleyȝte . Ars vt artem fallereth falleret falleret  R.18.166: This obvious Latin spelling mistake is probably attributable to the same general pattern of final <-t> being often equated to final <-th> in this tradition's English spellings (discussed in the Introduction III.2.2.10. ¶ Now suffre we seyde treuthe  I se as me thenketh . Oute of þe nippe of þe north  nauȝt ful fer hennes . Riȝtwisnesse come rennyng e  rest we þe while  For he R.18.170: He, "she." wote more þan we  he R.18.170: He, "she." was er we bothe . Þat is soth seide m ercy  & I se here bi southe . Where cometh pes pees cometh R.18.172: R's phrase is reversed in F and beta to pees cometh, but Cx agrees with R. pleyinge  in pacience I -clothed . Loue hath coueyted hir e longe  leue I non other But he sent hir som me l ettre  what þis liȝt bimeneth . Þat ou erhoueth helle þus  he she R.18.175: He, "she." R.18.175: Where alpha and L read he (altered to she in L), the other beta copies read she. Cx agrees with alpha and L's original reading. vs schal telle . ¶ Whan pes in pacience clothed  aproched ner e hem tweyne . Riȝtwisnesse hir e reuerenced  for hir e riche clothyng e . And preied pes to tel hir e  to what place he she R.18.178: R's he is an alpha variant; beta has she, and Cx agrees with beta. wolde . And in hir e gay garmentz  wham he she R.18.179: He, "she." R.18.179: R's he is an alpha variant; beta has she, and Cx agrees with beta. grete thouȝte . R.18.179: R omits his usual blank line between verse strophes after this line, presumably because the next line is the last ruled one on this side. ¶ Mi wille is to wende q uod he she R.18.180: He, "she." R.18.180: R's he is an alpha variant; beta has she.  and welcome hem alle . Þat many day miȝte I nouȝte se  for merknesse of synne . Adam and eue and other mo in helle . Moyses and many mo  mercy schal haue . R.18.183: Alpha omits the following line from Bx: And I shal daunce þerto do þow so sustre. This beta-attested line also occurs in the C version. For ih esus iusted wel  ioye bigynneth dawe . Ad vesperu m demorabitur fletus & ad matutinu m leticia . Loue þat is my le mman  suche l ettres he nil R.18.186: R's he me is unique among the B copies, the others all omitting he. However, a majority of the X family of C reads this phrase in agreement with R. The other C manuscripts agree with beta. me sent . Þat mercy mercy my sustre R.18.187: Alpha has obviously dropped a stave. Beta manuscripts add my sustre after mercy. Cx agrees with beta. and I  mankende schulde saue . And þat god hath forgyue  & graunted me pes & m ercy . To be mannes meynp ernour e  for euer e -more after . Lo here þe patent q uod pees  In pace in idip sum . And þat þis dede schal dur e  dormiam & requiescam . ¶ What rauestow q uod riȝtwisnesse  or þow art riȝt dronke . Leuestow þat ȝonde liȝte  vnlouke miȝte helle . And saue mannes soule  suster wene þow nil R.18.194: Beta omits alpha's þow. Cx agrees with beta. it neuer e . At þe bigynnyng e god  gaf þe dome hym -sulue . Þat adam and eue  and alle þat hem sued . Schulde deye dou n -riȝt  and dwelle in peyne after . Ȝif þat þei touched a tre  and þe fruit eten . Adam afterwarde  aȝenes his defence . Frette of þat fruit and forsoke as it were . Þe loue of oure lorde and his lore bothe . And folwed þat þe fende tauȝte  & his felawes wille . R.18.202: Hereafter, alpha omits a line preserved in beta and in most C version witnesses: Aȝeines resoun I riȝtwisnesse recorde þus with treuth. A related problem is that the single best B witness, manuscript L, reads I rather than and in the middle of the line, a superior choice also attested by a select group of the C manuscripts (XYcI). Þat her e peyne be p erpetuel  & no preyere hem helpe . For -thi late hem chewe as þei chose  & chide we nauȝte sustres . For it is botles bale  þe bitte þat þei eten . ¶ And R.18.206: L and Y join R in merely implying, rather than stating, the pronoun subject here, but F agrees with the other beta copies in reading explicitly And I shal. Cx agrees with F and the beta majority. schal preie preue R.18.206: R's preie is an alpha variant. Beta has preue. Cx agrees with alpha. q uod pees  her e peyne mote haue ende . And wo into wel  mowe wende at þe laste . For þei had þei wiste R.18.208: Beta reads had þei wist . Almost certainly alpha omitted had since the only evidence for it in that family is in the form of a supralinear correction in the scribal hand of F, which, as a result, reads þey hadde wiste . Cx agrees with beta. of no wo  wele hadde þei nauȝte knowe . For no wiȝt wote what wele is  þ at neu ere wo suffrede . Ne what is hote hunger e  þat hadde neu ere defaute . ¶ If no niȝt ne were  no man as I leue . Schuld witte witt erly  what day is to mene . Schuld neu ere riȝt riche man  þat lyueth in reste and ese . Wite what wo is  ne wer e þe deth of kende . So god þat bigan alle  of his gode wille . Bycam man of a mayde  mankende to saue . And suffre R.18.217: R's error here ( Bx = suffred) is almost unique, being shared only with Cr 2-3. Cx agrees with the B majority. to be solde  and to R.18.217: For alpha's and, beta reads to. Cx agrees with beta. se þe sorwe of deying e . Þe whiche vnknitteth alle care  and comsyng e is of rest . For til modicu m mette with vs  I may it wel auowe . Wote no wiȝte as I wene  what is nouȝte ynough R.18.220: R's is nouȝte is unique; F shows it is , while beta has is ynough. Cx agrees with beta, reading is ynow. to mene . Forthi god of his godenesse  þe furste gome adam . Sette hym in solace  and in sou ereyne ioye myrthe . R.18.222: Beta has myrthe in place of alpha's ioye. Cx agrees with beta. And sitthen he suffred hym synege R.18.223: R's synege is a unique form here; cf. R.17.242:.  sorwe to fele . To wite what wele is was R.18.224: Beta has the past form, was. Cx agrees with beta.  kendeliche to knowe it . And after god auntred hym -selue  & toke adames kende . To wite what he hath sufred in thre sundri places . Bothe in heuene and in herthe  and nowe til helle he thenketh . To wite what alle wo is  þat wote of alle ioye . ¶ So it schal far e be þis folke  here foly and here synne . Schal lere hem what langour e is  and blisse R.18.230: R's blisse agrees only with G; F omits the word, merging this b-verse with the next line, while beta has lisse. Cx agrees with beta. with -outen ende . Wote no wiȝte what werr e is  þere þat pees regneth . Ne what is witt erly wele  til weyleweye hym teche . ¶ Þanne was þer e a wiȝte  with to brode eyȝes . Boek hiȝte þat bewpere  a bolde man of speche . By godes body q uod þis boke  I wil bere witnesse . Þat þo þis barne was I -bore  þer e blased a sterre . Þat alle þe men wyse R.18.237: Alpha's men breaks the alliterative pattern of the a-verse; cf. beta's wyse. Cr may have consulted both alpha and beta copies and tried to split the difference with its wise men. Cx agrees with beta. in of þis worlde  in o witt acordeden . Þat swilk a barn was yborn  in bethlem þe R.18.238: R's þe is supported only by W; all other B copies, including F, omit it. However, Cx agrees with RW on the presence of þe here. cite Þat mannes soule schulde saue  and synne destuye dest[r]uye destroye . And alle þe elementz q uod þe boke  her e -of bereth witnesse . Þat he was god þat alle wrouȝte  þe walkne furste schewede . Þo þat weren in heuene  token stella comata . And tendeden her e as a torche  to reu erencen his burthe . Þe liȝte folwed þe lorde  in -to þe lowe erthe Þe water witnesseth þat he was god  for he wente on it . Peter þe apostle parceyued his gate . And as he wente on þat þe R.18.247: R's þat is unique; the other B witnesses have þe. Cx agrees with the B majority. wat er  wel hym knewe and seyde . Iube me venire ad te super aquas . And lo how þe so nne gan loke louke  hire liȝte in hire -selue . Whan sche sey hym suffre  þat sonne and mone se R.18.250: Beta reads se in place of alpha's mone. Cx agrees with beta. made . Þe erthe for heuynesse  þat he wolde suffre . Quakede as quikke thyng e  & al biquasche biquasht R.18.252: R's biquasche is an alpha variant; beta shows a preterite form, biquasht. Though many C manuscripts agree with beta on the tense of the verb (= toquasched), the best X family copies, as well as some in the P family, read toquasch, agreeing with alpha. þe roche . Lo helle miȝte nouȝte holde  but opnede þo god tholed . And lete oute symondes sones  to sen hym hange on rode . And now schal lucifer it lucifer [lese] it lucifer leue it R.18.255: R uniquely omits an essential word at this point; the beta manuscripts read leue while F reads leese. Cx agrees with beta.  þow hym lothe thenke . R.18.255: Immediately hereafter, alpha omitted the following lines from Bx: For gygas þe geaunt with a gynne engyned To breke & to bete dounn þat ben aȝeines ihesus . A revised version of these two lines appears in the C version. And I boek wil be brente  but ih esus rise to lyue . In alle miȝtes of a nil man R.18.257: Beta omits the determiner, reading simply of man.  and his moder gladie . And co nforte al his kyn  and oute of care brynge . And alle þe iewene ioye  vnioynen and vnlouken . And but þei reuerencen  his rode & his resurrecc iou n . And bileue on a newe lawe  be lost lif and soule . ¶ Suffre we seide treuthe  I her e and se bothe . A How a R.18.263: Beta begins this line with How a; Cx agrees with alpha in omitting How. spiriȝt speketh to helle  and bitt vnsperre þe ȝates . Attollite portas portas &c  a uoys loude i n þ at liȝt  to lucifer crieth . R.18.264: Beta reads this passage as two lines, dividing alpha's line between the Latin and the English. Though most C manuscripts agree with the line division of beta, some of the best X family witnesses (XIP 2K) agree with alpha. Princes of þis place  vnpinneth & vnlouketh . For here cometh with croune  þ at kyng e is of glorie . ¶ Þanne siȝede R.18.267: Alpha's form (i.e., R's siȝede), though semantically identical to beta's syked, was sufficiently unfamiliar to the F scribe to cause him to flounder, producing seyde. However, Cx's syhed is clearly identical to alpha (phonologically) and distinct from beta. sathan  and seide to helle hem alle . Swiche a liȝte aȝeynes our e leue  lazar it fette . Kare and combraunce  is come to vs alle . If þis kynge come in  mankende wil he fecche . And lede hem it R.18.271: Beta reads it in place of alpha's hem. Cx agrees with beta. þere lazar is hym lyketh  and liȝtliche me bynde . Patriarkes and p rophetes  han parled here -of longe . Þat swhich a lorde and a liȝte  schal shulde R.18.273: For alpha's schal, beta reads shulde. Although a few C manuscripts support beta, Cx agrees with alpha. lede he m all e he nnes . ¶ Listeneth q uod lucifer  for I þis lorde knowe . Bothe þis lorde and þis liȝte  is longe ago I knewe hym . May no deth þis lorde hym R.18.276: For alpha's phrase, þis lorde, beta reads hym. Cx agrees with alpha. dere  ne no deueles queyntise . And where he wil is weye his waye R.18.277: R uniquely omits a word here; all but one of the other B copies, including F, read is his waye; Bm transposes to his is. Cx agrees with the B majority.  ac ware hym of þe p erils . If he reue me of nil R.18.278: Beta apparently omitted of. But Cr agrees with alpha on the presence of this preposition; Cx concurs. my riȝte  & robbe he robbeth R.18.278: For alpha's & robbe, beta reads he robbeth . Cx agrees with beta. me be maistrie . For be riȝt and be resou n  þe renkes þat ben here . Body and soule be myne  bothe gode and ille . For hym -self seide  þat sire is of heuene . Þat nil R.18.282: Beta omits Þat. ȝif adam ete ete þe apple R.18.282: R uniquely omits þe apple from the end of this a-verse.  alle schulde deye  And dwelle with vs deueles  þis thretyng e he made . And And he R.18.284: R uniquely omits he from the Bx phrase And he þat . Bx was already lacking an alliterating initial stave. þ at sothenesse is  seide þese wordes . And I sitthen I -sessed R.18.285: The readings of alpha and of Bx are doubtful here. Cf. F's Sytthe y was sesed. Beta reads And sitthen I seised.  þise seue seuen hundreth wynter . I leue þat lawe nil nauȝte  late hym þe leste . ¶ Þat is soth seide sathan  but I me sore drede . For þow gete hem with gile  and his gardyn breke . And in semblaunce of a s erpent  sete on þe appeltre . And eggedest hem to ete  eue be hire -sulue . And toldest hire a tale  of tresou n were þe wordes . And al -so so R.18.292: R's al -so is the alpha reading; beta has so. The X family of C agrees with beta. The P family reads Thus at this point. þow haddest hem oute  and hider atte laste . It is nouȝt greythely gete  þere gile is þe rote . For god wil nouȝt be bigiled  q uod gobelyn ne be -iapede . We han no trewe tilyle ti[t]yle title to hem  for þoruȝ tresou n were þei dampned . Sertes I drede me q uod þe deuel  lest treuthe wil hem fecche . ¶ Þis thretty winter as I wene  he wente aboute hath he gone R.18.297: Cf. alpha's he wente aboute to beta's hath he gone . Beta's reading is obviously defective in alliteration. Cx agrees here with alpha. & p rechede . Ich haue assailed hym with synne  and some sometyme R.18.298: In place of alpha's some, beta reads sometyme. Cx agrees with beta. I asked . R.18.298: RF's basic agreement here attests that alpha read I asked (F reads the b-verse as summe y have hym asked). Cx agrees with R, reading ich askede. By contrast, beta (reflected by LMW) appears to have construed this form as a past-participle, yasked. Where he were god or godes sone  he gaf me schorte answer e . In the right margin opposite these lines, there is a partially erased and illegible (under ultraviolet light) note in a near-contemporary hand. It is ten lines long: 4 lines + a signature line and then the same pattern repeated with the same signature, which might be Robert Smith or Robin Swift . And þus he hath hath he R.18.300: Beta transposes this phrase as hath he. Cx agrees with beta. trolled forth  þis to and thretty wynter And whan I seyȝ it was so  slepyng e I wente . To warne pilates wif  what done man was ih esus . For iewes hateden hym  and han don hym to deth And nil R.18.304: Beta omits the conjunction And. Cx agrees with beta. I wolde haue lengthed his lif  for I leue leued R.18.304: This is an alpha reading; beta shows the preterite, leued. Cx agrees with beta. ȝif he deyede . Þat his soule walde nauȝt nil R.18.305: Beta omits nauȝt. suffre  no synne i n his siȝte . For þe body while it on bones ȝede  aboute was euere . To saue men fram synne  ȝif hem -self wolde . And now I se wher e a soule  cometh hyderward sailyng e . With glorie and & with R.18.309: Beta reads & with. Cx agrees with beta. grete liȝte  god it is I wote wel . I rede we fle q uod he  fast alle hennes . For vs were better nauȝt be  þan biden his siȝte . For thi lesinges lucifer e  lost is alle our e preye . ¶ Furst þoruȝ þe we felle  fram heuene so hiȝe . For we leuede þi lesynges  we loupen oute alle with þe nil . These verses are attested only in alpha, beta having lost them by eyeskip. In addition, only R shows the final phrase of 314b, with þe. The C version attests the authenticity of alpha's phrases in a revised version, where the second of these half-lines is clearly derived from a source common with alpha (cf. Russell-Kane 20.348: And now for a later lesynge). And now for thi last lesynge  I -lore haue we we haue adam . And al our e lordschip pe I leue  a londe and a water . Nunc p rinceps mu ndi hui us huius mundi R.18.317: R here shows a unique transposition of the Bx phrasing, huius mundi. Cx agrees with B majority on the order of this phrase. eicitur foras . R.18.317: In the left margin, beginning at this point, the leaf was torn on an inward and downward diagonal for a space of some 5.5 cm.; it was long ago repaired by stitching. No text is affected. ¶ Efte þe liȝt bad vnlouke  and lucifer answered . What lorde art þow q uod lucifer  quis est iste . Rex glorie þe liȝte seide sone seide  þe And lord of miȝt & of ma n & all e man er v ertues . Alpha obviously had a different arrangement of text here from the beta witnesses, which read: Rex glorie þe liȝte sone seide And lorde of myȝte & of mayne & al manere vertues. Dominus virtutum Dukes of þis dym place anon vndo þis ȝates . By contrast, R makes two lines of the passage, omits beta's sone before seide (as does F) and, with W, reads ma(n) for beta's mayne (F here reads man(er)e). F deviates from the line division found in R (which presumably reflects alpha) and abbreviates the passage, omitting Dominus virtutum. D ominus v irtutu m . Duk Dukes R.18.321: The singular is an alpha variant; beta has Dukes. Among the C manuscripts, the P family agrees with alpha while the X family agrees with beta. of þis dym place  anone vndo þis ȝates . Þat crist may come in  kynges þe kynges R.18.322: Here R shows a unique omission; the other B witnesses have þe kynges sone . Cx agrees with the B majority. sone of heuene . And with þat breth helle braste brake R.18.323: The beta variant here is brake, which agrees with the reading of Cx.  with belialles barres . For any wey or warde  wide opned þe ȝates . ¶ Patriarkes and p rophetes  populus in tenebris . Songen seint Iohanes songe  Ecce agnus dei . Lucifer loke ne miȝte  so liȝt hym a -blente . And þo þat oure lorde loued  in -to his liȝt he lauȝte . And seide to sathan  lo here my soule to amendes . For alle synful soules  to saue þo þat be worthi . Myne þei ben and of me  I may þe bet hem cleyme . Alle -þouȝ reson recorde  and riȝt of my -sulue . Þat ȝif þei ete þe apple  alle schulde deye . I be -hiȝt hem nouȝt here  helle for euer e . For þe dede þat þei dede  þi deseite it made . With gile þow hem gete  ageynes alle resou n . For in my paleis paradys  in p ersone of an addre . Falsliche þow fecchest fettest þere  þing e þat I louede . ¶ Þus I -like a lusarde  with a ladi visage . Theueliche þow me robbedest  þe olde lawe graunteth . Þat gilours be bigiled  and þat is gode resou n . Dente m p ro dente et oculu m p ro oculo . Ergo soule schal soule quite  and synne to synne wende . And al þat man hath mys -do  I man wol amende it nil R.18.344: R's it is unique in line-terminal position and is entirely omitted by beta. Nevertheless, while R's phrasing here differs from F's, their common witness to the presence of the pronoun indicates that alpha's b-verse, unlike that of beta, attested it. Cx, which is revised here, also shows the pronoun in line-terminal position, reading to amenden it. . Membre for membre  be þe olde lawe was amendes . And lif for lif al -so  and be þat lawe I clayme clayme it . Adam and alle his issue  at my wille here -after . And at [þ]at þat deth in hem fordede  my deth schal releue . And bothe quik and quite  þat quent was þoruȝ synne . And þat grace gile destruyeth destruye  gode feith it asketh . So leue it I neuer e nouȝte R.18.351: For alpha's neuere, beta reads nouȝte. Cx agrees with beta. lucifer e  aȝeyne þe lawe I fecche hem . But bi riȝt and resou n  raunsou n here my leges . Non veni soluer e legem sed implere adimplere R.18.353: R's verb here is unique; the other B manuscripts read adimplere. Cx also reads adimplere.  Þow fetteste myne in my place  aȝeynes resou n al resoun R.18.354: In place of R's resoun, the beta phrase reads al resoun while F shows ryght & resoun. . Falsliche and felounliche  gode feith me it tauȝte . To recouer hem thoruȝ raunsou n  and be non resou n elles . So þat with þorw R.18.357: For L's and alpha's with, most beta witnesses have þorw. Among the C copies, the P family agrees with the beta error while most of the X family agrees with L and alpha. gile þow gete  þoruȝ grace it was is R.18.357: Beta reads is. Cx agrees with beta. I -wonne . Þow lucifer in liknesse  of a lither addre . Gete be gile  þing þo e R.18.359: For alpha's þinge, beta reads þo. þat god louede . ¶ And I in liknesse of a lede  þ at lorde am of heuene . Graciousliche þi gile haue quit  go gile a -gayne gile . And as adam and alle  thoruȝ a tre deyeden . . Adam and alle þoruȝ a tre  schule turne torne aȝeine R.18.363: Beta reads torne aȝeine; Cx agrees with alpha. to lyue . And gile is begiled  and in his gile fallen  Et cecidit in foueam qua m fecit . Now begynneth þi gile  agayne þe to turnen . And my grace to growen  ay gretter e and gretter e wyder . R.18.367: Rather than repeat grettere as alpha does, beta reads wyder. Cx agrees with beta. Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe  now brouke it þi -selue . Þat art dottour R.18.369: This form is unusual but not unparalleled; cf. R.13.117: of deth  drinke þat þow madeste . R.18.369: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason beyond oversight is apparent. ¶ For I þat am lord of lif  loue is my drinke . And for þat drinke to -daye  I deyede vppon erthe . I fauȝte so me thurstes R.18.372: The verb form is that of alpha, but it also occurs in L; cf. the majority beta form þursteþ. The inflectional ending of Cx (= fursteth) agrees with the prevalent beta form. ȝut  for mannes soule sake . May no drinke me moiste  ne my threst slake . Til þe vendage falle  in þe vale of iosephath . Þat I drinke riȝt ripe most  resurrexio mortuor um . And þan schal I come as a kynge  crouned with angeles . And han oute of helle  alle mennes soules . ¶ Fendes and fendekynnes  bifor me schul stonde . And be at my bidyng e  where -so -euer e me liketh . Ac And R.18.380: R's Ac is unique among the B witnesses; F has But while beta reads And. However, Ac is also the reading of Cx. merciable to be merciable R.18.380: R's reading is unique, presumably because alpha here suffered a loss of text; cf. beta's to be merciable ." F weakly attempts a repair with not so merciable . Cx agrees with beta. to man   my kende þanne þanne my kynde it R.18.380: Beta shows a transposed form of R's phrase: þanne my kynde . F rephrases the entire b-verse as my keende may not aske. Cx agrees with beta. asketh . For we beth bretheren of blode  but nouȝte in bapteme alle . Ac alle þ at beth myn hole bretheren  in blode and in bapteme . Schal nouȝt be dampned to þe deth  þat is with -outen ende . Tibi soli p eccaui peccaui &c . It is nouȝt vsed on in R.18.385: R's preposition is unique; the other B witnesses show in. Nevertheless, though a few C manuscripts support the B majority reading, Cx agrees here with R. erthe  to hangen a feloun . Ofter þen ones  þouȝ he were a tretour . And if þe kynge of þat kyngedom  come in þat tyme . Þere þe felon thole shulde  deth or other -wise . Lawe wolde he ȝaf hym lif  and if R.18.389: In place of alpha's and, beta reads if. Cx agrees with alpha. he loked on hym . And I þat am kynge of kynges  schal come suche a tyme . Þere dome to þe deth  dampneth alle wikked . And ȝif lawe wil I loke on hem  it lyth in my grace . Whether þei deye or deye nauȝte  for þat þei deden ille . Be it any -thinge abouȝte  þe boldenesse of here synnes . I may nil R.18.395: L here uniquely joins the alpha reading (the other beta copies omit may). Cx agrees with alpha and L. do mercy þoruȝ riȝtwisnesse  and alle my wordes trewe . And þouȝ holy writ wil I R.18.396: In place of R's wil I, beta reads wil þat I . Cx agrees with beta. be wroke  of hem pat deden ille . Nullu m malu m inpunitu m inpunitum &c . Þei schul be clensed clereliche  & waschen of her e synnes . In my p risone purgatorie  til parce it hote . And my mercy schal be schewed  to many of my bretheren . R.18.400: There is a long, superfluous bar extending from above the <-en> of bretheren far into the right margin beyond the vertical ruling. For blode may suffre blode  bothe hungri and akale . Ac blode may nouȝte se his nil R.18.402: Beta omits his. Cx agrees with beta. blode  blede but hym rewe . Audiui archana verba  q ue no n licet ho mini loqui . Ac my At the beginning of these two lines there is a slight ink stain from offset of the Bodleian ownership stamp in the margin of 96r. riȝtwisnesse and riȝte  schal reulen alle helle . And m ercy al mankende  by -for me in heuene . For I were an vnkende kyng e  but I my kyn kynde R.18.406: Beta reads kynde. Cx agrees with beta. holpe . And namelich at swich a nede  þer e nedes help e bihoueth . Non intres i n iudiciu m cu m s eruo tuo . Þus be lawe q uod our e lorde  lede I wil fram hennes . Þo þat I me R.18.410: For alpha's I, beta reads me. Cx agrees with alpha. louede  & leuede i n my comyng e . And for þi lesing e lucifer  þat þow lowe R.18.411: This form, found in alpha and L, is an obsolete past tense and past participle of LIE (= "to tell an untruth"); the majority beta reading, leighe, is substantively the same. Cx's form for this verb is the same as in alpha and L. to eue . Þow schalt a -bye it bitter e  and bonde hym with cheynes . Astarot and alle þe route  hudden hem in hurnes . Þei durst nauȝt loke on our e lorde  þe boldest of hem alle . But leten hym lede forth  what hym liked  & lete what hym lyste . ¶ Many hundreth of angeles  harpeden and songen . Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro . ¶ Þanne pipede pees  of poysye a note . ☞ Clarior est solitus solito R.18.419: R's uninflected form of this word is unique; the other B copies read solito. Cx agrees with the B majority.  post maxi ma nebula phebus . R.18.419: In the left margin opposite this line, there is a pointing hand, drawn in black ink. Post inimicicias  clarior est et amor . After scharpest sharpe R.18.421: Beta reads sharpe. Though a few C manuscripts concur with beta's reading, Cx agrees with alpha's scharpest. schoures  q uod pes  moste schene is þe sonne . desunt R.18.422: In the bottom right margin of this page, there is a symbol resembling a modern script capital H, beneath which is written the word desunt in what appears to be an early-modern italic hand. The note was clearly intended to draw attention to the textual gap that occurs here. Leaves including the last twenty-three lines of Passus 18, all of Passus 19, and the first twenty-six lines of Passus 20 were detached from R and lost long ago. Is no weder warmer  þan after wateri cloudes . Passus vicesimus de visione vt supra R.20.0: At the top left of fol. 96r, an early modern italic hand, probably the same as that found at the bottom of fol. 95v, adds the passus heading. Passus vicessimus And bete men ouer bitter  and su m -body somme of hem R.20.1: For R's sum -body , beta reads somme of hem. F has summe bodijs. Cx agrees with R. to litel . R.20.1: The manuscript resumes after a lacuna running from KD18.411 to KD20.27. And greue men gretter e  þan gode feith it wolde . And sp iritus iusticie  schal  iugen wol he nol he . After þe kynges conseil  and þe comune like . And sp iritus prudencie  in many a poynt schal faile . Of þat he weneth wold falle  if his witt ne were . wenyng is no wisdom Wenyng e is no wisdom  ne wise ymaginac iou n . Homo p roponit & deus disponit  and gou erneth alle . Alpha's and beta's line division differ here. Beta reads as follows: Homo proponit & deus disponit & gouerneth alle good vertues Ac nede is next hym for anon he meketh . The C manuscripts also show considerable variation in how this series of lines is divided. Gode vertues and nede is next hym  for anon he meketh . And as lowe as a lamb  for lakkyng e þat of þat R.20.10: Beta reads of þat; a majority of the P family of C manuscripts agrees here with beta, but the X family and some P manuscripts agree with alpha. hym nedeth . ¶ For nede maketh nede  fele fele for nedes lowh herted Of herte . R.20.11: This line is omitted by beta but attested by the C witnesses. Filosofres Wyse men R.20.12: Beta reads Wyse men, taking the line to alliterate on /w/. However, Cx agrees here with alpha. forsoke welth wele  for thei wolde be nedy . And woneden wel in elengly wildernesse R.20.13: For R's wel elengly (cf. F's wol elengely), beta reads in wildernesse. Cx agrees here with alpha.  and wolde n nouȝte be riche . ¶ And god alle his grete ioye  gostliche he lefte In the right margin, in black ink, there is an early ownership stamp for the Bodleian Library. And cam and toke mankende  & bicam nedy . So he was nedy So nedy he was R.20.16: This phrase is transposed in beta as So nedy he was; F reads He was so needy. The P family of C manuscripts agrees with F on this phrasing, but the X family agrees with R. as seyth þe boke  i n many sundri places . Þat he seide in his sorwe  on þe selue rode . Bothe fox and foule  may fle to hole and crepe . And þe fisch hath fyn  to flete with or nil R.20.19: Beta omits or, as does Cx. to reste . Þere nede hath I -nome me  þat I mote nede a -byde . And suffre sorwes ful sour e  þat schal to ioye turne . For -þi be nouȝt a -basshed  to bidde and to be nedy . Sith he þat wrouȝte alle þe worlde  was wilfullich nedy . Ne neuer e none so nedy  ne pouerer e deyede . ¶ Whan ned hadde vnder -nome R.20.25: At this point F and most beta manuscripts include a direct object, me; but R shares the omission with O, while M supplies the missing pronoun above the line. The same omission of me is seen in three of the best X family manuscripts of C: manuscripts XYcUc. þ us  anon I fel a -slepe . And mette ful merueylously  þat in mannes forme . Antecrist cam þanne  and alle cropp e of treuthe . Turned it vp -so -doun  and ou ertilth ouertilte R.20.28: R's spelling here is unique (cf. the comments on this lection in the Introduction III.2.2.10, but the meaning is likely to be identical with that found in all the other B manuscripts, which read tilte. Cx has tulde. þe rote . And made nil R.20.29: Beta omits made but the C witnesses include it. fals springe and sprede  & spede me nnes nedes . In ech a contre þer e he cam  he cutte a -wey treuthe . And gert gile growe þer e  as he a god were  Fryers ¶ Freres folwed þat fende  for he ȝaf hem copes . And religiouses religiouse R.20.33: This plural form is unique to R; beta and F both show the singular, as does the C version. reu erensed hym  and ronge n her e belles . And alle þe couent cam forth cam R.20.34: R's reading, cam, is unique among the B copies; F has cam holly; beta reads forth cam. Among the C manuscripts at this point, the P family reads þo cam but the X family agrees exactly with R.  to welcome a þat R.20.34: For R's a, both beta and F read þat. Among the C manuscripts, the P family and several of the X family agree with the B majority; however, a majority of the X family, including the most reliable copies, agrees with R's reading. tyraunt . And alle his as wel as hym  saue onliche foles . Whiche foles were gladder wel leuer e R.20.36: Beta reads wel leuer. The C manuscripts agree here with alpha.  to deye þan to lyue . Lengore sethe leute R.20.37: Alpha's leute is clearly the correct reading here, supported by Cr and Hm as well as Cx, but beta's reading seems to have been lenten. was so rebuked . R.20.37: There is a diagonal smudge of uncertain origin between the <d> of rebuked and the terminal punctus. And a fals feend antecrist  ouer alle folke regned . And þat we were(n) R.20.39: For alpha's we, beta reads were. Cx agrees with beta. mylde men and holy  þat no n meschef dradde n . Defiede alle falsenesse  and folke þat it vsede . And what kynge þat hem conforted  knowyng e hem gyle any while R.20.41: For alpha's gyle, beta reads any while. Cx agrees with alpha. . Þei corsed and her conseil  were it clerke or lewed . ¶ Antecrist hadde þus sone  hundredes at his baner . And pride it bare  boldely aboute . R.20.44: There is a diagonal smudge of uncertain origin between the <e> of aboute and the terminal punctus. With a lorde þat lyueth  after lykyng e of body . Þat cam aȝeyne consience  þat keper was and gyour e . Ouer kynde cristene  and cardinales cardynale R.20.47: R's plural is unique in the B tradition; both F and beta read the singular cardynale. Among C copies, though manuscripts EcRcMcVcNc agree with R, Cx agrees with the B majority. v ertues . ¶ I conseile q uod consience þo  cometh with me ȝe foles . in -to vnite holy cherche  and holde we vs ther e . And crie we to kende  þat he come and defende vs . Foles fro þis fendes lymes  for peres loue þe plowman . And crie we on to R.20.52: For alpha's on, beta reads to. Cx agrees with alpha. alle þe comune  þat þei come to vnite . And þere abide and bikere aȝeyne  belialles children . ¶ Kende consience þo herde  and cam out of þe planetes . And sende sent R.20.55: Only G agrees with R in reading an apparent present tense here; all other B manuscripts read sent. However, in light of the morphological and phonological ambiguities discussed in the Introduction III.2.2.10, and since R20.54 clearly depicts a situation in the preterite, it may well be that the R scribe intended sende here as a preterite. Although several C copies (DcQScFc) share the RG reading, Cx agrees with the B majority. forth his forreores  feueres & fluxes — Couȝhes and cardiacles  crampes and tothaches . Rewmes and radegondes  and roynouse skalles . Byles and boches  and brenny nge aguwes . Frenesyes and foule eueles  forageres of kende . Hadde I -priked and praied  polles of peple . Largeliche Þat largelich R.20.61: Beta reads Þat largelich. Cx agrees with alpha. a legiou n  lose R.20.61: R's form here is unique, but L also attests a present-tense form, lese; most B witnesses, including F, show a preterite (e.g., W's loste). The Cx reading ( lees) agrees with L. here lif sone . ¶ Þere was harrow and helpe  her e cometh kende . With deth þat is dredful  to vndoen vs alle . ¶ Þe lorde þat lyuede after lust  þo a -loud criede . After kniȝte conforte a knyghte R.20.65: In place of R's truncated kniȝte, which clearly involves an omission, beta reads conforte a knyghte. The omission appears to have occurred in alpha, with F attempting a typical repair by fleshing out a komely knyght. Cx agrees with beta, and no C manuscript shows a comparable error to that attested by the alpha manuscripts.  to come and bere his banere . Alarme alarme q uod þat lord  ech lyf kepe his owene . R.20.66: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason beyond oversight is apparent. ¶ Þanne And þanne R.20.67: Beta begins this line And þanne; the C manuscripts agree with alpha. mette þise men  er mynstralz miȝt pipe . And er heraudes of armes  hadden descreued lordes . Elde þe hore l hore R.20.69: Kane-Donaldson thought that the <l> of R's horel (= "whoremonger") was inserted later. The ink color is identical to that used by the R scribe, though the character form is much more compressed than his typical final <l>, so the likelihood is that he himself added the character, possibly even before copying the next line, in order to "correct" R to the alpha reading also found in F. Beta shows hore, which is also the reading of C. One would normally assume, when confronted by such an array, that the beta / C reading is authorial; however, in this instance it would be easy to argue that their shared phrase, Elde þe hore, is not only a classical example of an "easier reading" (because stereotypical) but that the initial omission of final <l> in R's transcription offers evidence of another motive that may explain the widespread presence of the dominant lection: censorship.  he was in vaunt -warde þe vauntwarde R.20.69: Following in, R uniquely omits þe. The C manuscripts here agree with the B majority. . And bare þe baner bifore deth  bi riȝt he it claymed . Kende cam after hym nil R.20.71: Beta omits hym. Cx agrees with alpha.  with many kene sores . . As pokkes and pestilences  and muche poeple schente . So kende thoruȝ corrupc iou ns  kulled ful manye . ¶ Deth cam driuende dryuynge after  and al to duste pdaschte passhed . R.20.74: Once more, R began with the correct reading, paschte (cf. beta's passhed and Cx's paschte) but was "corrected" by Hand2 to the erroneous reading attested in F. The likeliest cause for this seemingly bizarre series of "corrections" (cf. R5.178 and R18.53) is that Hand2 was comparing R to a debased alpha copy; in this particular instance, the scribe of that debased copy would have found daschte appealing on grounds of extra alliteration (aa|aa) as well as greater familiarity. Kynges and kniȝtes  caiseres and popes . Lered ne lewed  he left let R.20.76: Beta reads let. Cx agrees with alpha. no man stande . Þat he hitte euene  þat euer stired after . Many a louely louely lady R.20.78: Here R shows a unique omission: the other B and C witnesses attest louely lady.  and lemmanes lemmanes of R.20.78: Once more, R shows a unique reading (relative to its B cousins): most of them attest lemmanes of knyghtes . F shows an entirely unique half-line. However, in this instance, Cx agrees with R. kniȝtes . Swouned and swelted  for sorwe of dethes dyntes . ¶ Consience of his curtesie  to kende he be -souȝte . To sese and suffre  and se wher e þei wolde . Leue pride p riueliche  and be p arfit cristene . ¶ And kende sesed þo  to se þe poeple amende . Fortune gan flateren þanne  þo fewe þat were n alyue . And be -hiȝte hem longe lif  and leccherie he sente . Amonges alle maner e men  wedded and vnwedded . And gadered a grete hoste  al agayne consience . Þis leccherie leyde on with lawhyng e a laughyng R.20.88: Beta reads a laughyng. Cx agrees with alpha. cher e . And with p riue speche  and peynted wordes . And armed hym i n Idelnesse  & in heȝ beryng e . He bare a bowe in his hande  and many blody arwes . Weren fethered with fair e beheste  and many a fals treuthe . With vntidy his vntydy R.20.93: At this point, beta reads his vntydy. Cx agrees with alpha. tales  he tened ful ofte . Consience and his companye  of holy kerke cherche R.20.94: Alpha is responsible for correctly alliterating kyrke, and is joined by Cr in that reading. The remaining beta and almost all C witnesses attest either chirche or cherche. þe techeres . R.20.94: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Þanne cam coueytise  and cast how he miȝte . Ou ercome co nsience  and cardinales cardynal R.20.96: Once more (cf. R20.47), R's rendering of this word as a plural is unique; the other B manuscripts attest the singular, cardynal. Among C copies, though manuscripts EcMcNc agree with R, Cx agrees with the B majority. vertues . And armed hym i n auarice  & vng riseliche hungriliche R.20.97: R's vng riseliche is unique; cf. beta's hungriliche and F's vngryly. R's form is not found in any C manuscript; moreover, the sole attestation for the word in MED, s. v. ungriseliche, is from this passage. MED offers a possible gloss of "Not hideously, sumptuously" but also notes that it may be merely an error for the commonly attested form, hungriliche. liuede . His wepne was al wyles  to wynnen and to hyden . With glosynges and gabbynges  he giled þe peple . Symonye hym seude sent R.20.100: R uniquely deploys this apparent nonsense word; almost all other B manuscripts read sent. However, on the basis of R's apparent metathesis of a very plausible reading unanimously attested in C manuscripts, Kane-Donaldson proposed emending B to that reading, suede.  to assaile co nsience . And p reched to þe peple  and p relates þei hem made n . To holde with antecrist  here temporautes to saue . And come to þe kynges conseil  as a kene barou n . And kneled to consience  in courte be -fore hem alle . And gert goed faith fle  and fals to abide . And boldliche bar e adoune  with many a rede briȝte R.20.106: In place of alpha's rede, beta and Cx correctly alliterate with briȝte. noble . Muche of þe witt and wisdom m  of westmynst er halle . He iugged til a iustice  and iusted in his ere . And ou ertilte al his treuthe  with take þis vp amendement . And i n -to R.20.110: Beta copies (except for Hm, which agrees with alpha), read to. Among the C manuscripts, the P family agrees with beta while the X family agrees with alpha. þe arches in haste  he ȝede anon after . And turned syuile into symonye  & sitth he toke þe official . For a menyuer e ma ntel mentel of menyuere R.20.112: Beta reads mentel of menyuere. Cx agrees with alpha.  he made lele matrimonie . Departen ar deth cam  and a nil deuos R.20.113: Beta reads & deuos where alpha attests and a deuos. Cx agrees with alpha. schupte . ¶ Allas q uod consience and cride þo  wolde crist of grace his grace R.20.114: R uniquely omits his before grace. Cx agrees with the B majority. . Þat coueityse wer e cristene  þat is so kene to fiȝte a fiȝter . R.20.115: For alpha's to fiȝte, beta reads a fiȝter . Cx agrees with alpha. And bolde and abydyng e  þe nil while R.20.116: In place of alpha's þe while, beta has while. Cx is uncertain here since the manuscripts are almost evenly divided, with members of both major families supporting alpha and others agreeing with beta. However, those that agree here with alpha include most of the best copies of both X and P groups. his bagge lasteth . R.20.116: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ And þanne louȝ lif  and lete dagge his clothes . And armed hym in haste  in harlotes wordes . And helde holinesse a iape  and hendenesse a wastour e . And lete leute a cherle  and lyere a fre man . Consience and conseil  he counted it folye . R.20.121: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Þus relied lif for a litel fortue fortu[n]e fortune . And p riked forth with p ruyde  p reiseth he no v ertue . Ne careth nauȝt how kende slow  & schal come atte laste . And calle culle R.20.125: For alpha's calle, beta reads either kille (the lection found in WCrCO) or, more likely, culle (the reading of LM). The latter reading is also that of the C version. All three choices are textually and theologically viable, but the agreement of LM with C probably indicates the authorial original. alle erthly creatur e  saue co nsience one  Lif seith leep(te) occide asyde R.20.126: For R's non-alliterating seith occide , F has seyde occide , but beta (agreeing here with C) reads leep asyde.  and lauȝte hym a lemman . Hele and I q uod hee  and heyȝenesse of herte . Schal do þe nauȝt drede  nother deth ne elde . And to forȝete sorwe  and ȝif nauȝt of synne . ¶ Þis liked lif  and his lemman fortune . And geten in her e glorie  a gedelyng e at þe laste . On þat muche wrouȝte wo wrouȝte R.20.132: Here alpha omitted a word; cf. the phrase from beta and the C version: moche wo wrouȝte .  slewthe was his name Slewthe wex wond ere ȝerne  and sone was of age . And wedded on wanhope  a wenche of þe stues . Hir e sire was a sisour e  þat neu ere swore treuthe . On tohomme to -tongge  ateynte at vch a queste . R.20.136: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Þus sleuthe was war of werre  and a slynge made . And threw drede of dispair e  a doseine myle aboute . For care consience þo  crieden cried cryed R.20.139: R's plural form for this line's verb is unique error. vppon elde . And bad bad hym R.20.140: After bad, alpha omits hym, witnessed by beta and the C version. fonde to fiȝte and afere wanhope . ¶ And elde hente gode hope  & hasteliche he schifte hym . And wayued away wanhope  and with lif he fiȝteth . And lif fleyȝ for fere  to fisike after helpe . And bisouȝte hym of socour e  and of his salue hadde . And gaf hym goel go[ld] golde goed wone  þat gladede her e hertes his herte R.20.145: R's plural possessive in this phrase is unique among the B manuscripts; both beta and F read his herte. However, all but six of the C manuscripts agree with R's reading. . ¶ And þei gyuen hym a -geyne  a glasen houe . Lif leuede þat lechecrafte  lette schulde elde . And to nil R.20.148: Beta omits to. More than half a dozen of the P family manuscripts of C concur with alpha on this reading, but the rest—and all of the X family—agree with beta's omission. driue awaye deth  with dayes dyas R.20.148: R's dayes occurred as an error in alpha for dyas, witnessed in beta and in Cx. and dragges . R.20.148: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ And elde auntrede hym on lyf  and at þe last he hitte . A fisisian with a furred hode  þat he fel in a palsie . And þer e deyede þat doctour  ar thre dayes after . Now I se seyde lif  þat surgerie ne fisike . May nouȝte a myte auayle  to medelen aȝeyne elde . ¶ And in hope of his hele  gode herte hente . R.20.154: The Bx phrase is herte he hente; Bo and Cot also omit he, but F includes it. Cx agrees with the B majority. And rode so to reuel  a riche place and a myrie . Þe companye of conforte  me n clepeden it su m -tyme . R.20.156: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ And elde anon after hym me R.20.157: Where alpha reads hym, most beta copies read me. Cx agrees with alpha.  and ou er myn hede ȝede . And made me balled before  and bare on þe croune . So harde he ȝede ou er myn hede  it wol be sene eu ere . R.20.159: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Sire euel ytauȝte elde q uod I  vnhende go with þe . Sith whanne was þe waye  ou er mennes hedes . Haddestow be hende q uod I  þow woldest haue asked leue . ¶ Ȝe leue lordeyne q uod he  and leyde on me with age . And hitte me vnder þe ere  vnnethe may ich here . He buffeded me aboute þe mouthe  & bet out my wange tethe tethe R.20.165: The beta version of this b-verse is uncertain but is likely to have been that now attested in LMCr: & bett out my tethe. F reads the verse as R does, except that F's verb is the uniquely represented buscht. The reading of Cx agrees with R. And gyued me in goutes  I may nouȝt go at large . p iij us n ota And of þe wo þat I was inne  my wif hadde reuthe . A bracket drawn in brown ink in the left margin focuses attention on these six lines; opposite the space between R20.169-70, at the nose of the bracket, a small n ota is inscribed. And wischede wel ful R.20.168: Cf. beta's ful and F's often. Cx agrees with R. witt erly  þat I were in heuene . For þe lyme þat sche louede me fore  & leef was to fele . An niȝtes nameliche  whan we naked wer e . I ne miȝte in non man er  maken it at hire wille . So elde and hee she sothly R.20.172: Hee, "she."  it hadde hadde(n) it R.20.172: Here R shows a unique word order for a phrase which reads hadde(n) it in most other B manuscripts, including F. However, Cx agrees with R's phrasing. forbete . ¶ And was as R.20.173: For alpha's was, beta reads as. Cx agrees with beta. I seet in þis sorwe  I say how kende passed . And deth drouȝ neȝ me  for drede gan I quake n . And cried to kende  oute of car e me bringe . Lo elde þe hore  haueth R.20.176: R's inflection for this verb is unique among B copies, but manuscripts RcMcQScZNc of C show the same form, haueth. F, beta, and Cx all attest hath. my lif me seye biseye R.20.176: R's seye is unique; both F and beta read biseye, as does Cx. The preceding phrase in R, my lif , is from alpha; beta and Cx read me. . Awreke me ȝif ȝour e wille be  for I wolde be hennes . R.20.177: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason for this omission is apparent. ¶ If þow wilt ben Iwreke R.20.178: R's form for this verb is unique among B copies but closely resembles the spelling favored in many C manuscripts, awreke.  wende into vnite . And halde þe þer e euer e  til I sende for þe . And loke þow cune su m crafte  ar þow come þennes . R.20.180: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason for this omission is apparent. ¶ Conseileth Conseille R.20.181: R's inflection for this verb is unique among B copies, but most C manuscripts agree with R. F and beta attest Co(u)nseille. me kende q uod I  what crafte be is R.20.181: R's be is unique; beta reads is while F rephrases the entire b-verse as what craft y myȝhte leerne. Though several C manuscripts agree with beta, Cx agrees with R. best to lerne . R.20.181: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason for this omission is apparent. love ¶ Lerne to loue q uod kende  and leue leue of R.20.182: Cr joins alpha in omitting of after this verb. The other beta copies include it, reading leue of alle othre . Cx agrees with Cr and alpha in reading simply leef alle othere . alle othere . R.20.182: In the left margin opposite this line, in a black, late-medieval cursive hand, the word love appears. How schal I come to catel so  to clothe me and to fede . And þow loue lelly lelly quod he R.20.184: At the end of this a-verse, the beta manuscripts interject quod he. Cx agrees with alpha in omitting the phrase.  lakke schal þe neu ere . Wede Mete R.20.185: In place of alpha's Wede ne worldly mete, beta reads Mete ne wordly wede; Cx agrees with alpha's phrasing. ne wordly mete wede  while þi lif lasteth . And þer e be conseile of kende  co msed I comsed R.20.186: R here omits any reference to the subject; cf. beta's I comsed and F's he comsed; F's reading suggests an inept attempt to restore a word sensed as grammatically necessary. Among the C copies, RcMcQScZFc read the b-verse as beta does, while the majority agrees with R. However, it is clear that, unlike any B manuscript, Cx positioned the pronoun reference in the a-verse: And y bi conseil of kynde. to rome . Þoruȝ contric iou n and co nfessiou n  til I cam to vnite . And þer e was constable conscience constable R.20.188: Again R omits a stave (cf. conscience constable, the reading of beta and of Cx), presumably reflecting an error in alpha since F tries to patch up the same omission with he was mad a cunstable .  cristene to saue . And biseged sothly  with seuene grete geauntes . Þat with antecriste helden  harde aȝeine consience . ¶ Sleuthe with his slynge  and harde saute he made . Proude p restes come with hym  passyng e an hundreth moo þan a thousand . R.20.192: Beta's b-verse breaks the alliterative pattern of the line, reading the b-verse as moo þan a thousand. Although two C manuscripts—P 2Fc—agree with beta's reading (presumably through lateral contamination), Cx agrees exactly with alpha's b-verse. In paltokes and piked shoes  and pisseres longe kniues . Comen aȝeyne consience  with coueitise þei helden . ¶ Be þe nil R.20.195: R's þe is unique among the B witnesses; the others omit the word. However, Cx agrees with R in including it. marie q uod a mansed prest  was nil R.20.195: Beta omits alpha's was. Several C copies support beta but Cx agrees with alpha. of þe marche of erland e . I counte namore co nsience  bi so I cacche siluer . Þan I do to drinke a drauȝte  of gode ale . And so seide sixti  of þe same contray . And shoten aȝeine with shote  many a shef of othes . And brode hoked arwes  godes herte and his nailes . And hadden almoste vnite  and holinesse adowne . R.20.201: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason for the omission is apparent. ¶ Consience cride helpe  clergie or elles I falle . Þoruȝ inparfit prestes  and p relates of holy cherche . Freres herden hym crie  and comen hym to helpe . Ac for þei coude nauȝt wel her crafte  co nsience forsoke he m . ¶ Nede neyȝede þo neer e  and co nsience he tolde . Þat þei come for no nil R.20.207: Erroneous no appeared in alpha. C manuscripts support beta witnesses here in omitting it. coueytise  to haue cur e of soules . And for þei aren pou er p ar auent ure  for patrimonye hem faileth . Þei wil flater e to fare wel  folke þat ben riche . And sitthen þei chosen chele  and cheytifte R.20.210: F is uniquely garbled in this b-verse, reading this variant as chastite. The most commonly attested reading in beta manuscripts at this point is cheitif (MCrHmCO); but the original beta reading is probably that of LW, which agrees with R and Cx: cheytifte. The widespread misreading of this word is probably owed to its comparative rarity relative to the adjective—as well as to the unexpected syntax. pou erte . Late hem chewe as þei chese  and charge hem with no cure . R.20.211: Alpha omits the following two lines, which are attested by beta and by Cx: For lomer he lyeth þat lyflode mote begge Þan he þat laboureth for lyflode & leneth it beggeres . For And R.20.212: Beta reads And. Cx agrees with beta. sitth freres forsoke R.20.212: Beta reads þe felicite . Cx agrees with beta. felicite þe felicite of erthe . Late hem be as beggeres  or lyue be angeles fode . ¶ Consience of þis conseile conseille þo R.20.214: Immediately after conseile, beta adds þo. Though a number of P family manuscripts (RcMcQScZWaFcNc) agree with alpha in omitting þo, the word seems clearly attested in all other C manuscripts.  comsed for to lauȝwe . And curteisliche conforted hem  and calde i n alle freres . And seide sires sothly  welcome be ȝe alle . To vnite and holy cherche  ac o thyng I ȝow preye . Holdeth ȝow in vnite  and haueth non enuye . To lered ne to lewed  but lyueth after ȝour e reule . And I wil be ȝour e borwe  ȝe schul haue brede & clothes . And other necessaries Inowe  þow schalt ȝow shal R.20.221: For R's þow schalt, beta reads ȝow shal and F shows for ȝee shal. Though a sizeable number of C manuscripts read ȝe shal, the majority agrees with beta. nothyng e lakke faille R.20.221: Beta reads faille, but Cx agrees with alpha's lakke. . With þat ȝe leue logik  and lerneth for to louye . For loue lefte þei lordschip e  both lond and scole . Frer e franceys and dominik  fo for R.20.224: Neither MED nor OED2, s. v. for, cites an example of fo as viable for the preposition signified here, but it occurs in R in four widely separated contexts (cf. R2.64, R14.60, and R15.379) and probably represents an instance of idiolect apocope. loue to be holy . ¶ And ȝif ȝe coueyte cur e  kende wol ȝow telle teche . R.20.225: For alpha's telle, beta reads teche. Cx agrees with alpha's reading. Þat in mesur e god made  alle maner e thynges . And sette it at a certeyne  and at a siker nombre . And nempned hem nil R.20.228: Beta omits alpha's hem, but Cx includes it. names  and newe names newe and R.20.228: Beta transposes the alpha phrase to newe and. None of the C manuscripts attests newe in the line in either position. nombre noumbred R.20.228: R's uninflected verb form is a unique error; F, beta, and C all attest noumbred. þe st erres . Quis Qui num erat multitudi nem stellar um stellarum & omnibus eis &c . R.20.229: R's Quis is unique; all other B and C manuscripts read Qui. R's complete omission of much of this Latin citation is unique among the B witnesses; O shares R's gap for the initial part of the omission, a phrase that beta renders as & omnibus eis (cf. F's & omnia eis ). The most interesting feature of the attestational array for the B manuscripts here is that the C-version's citation of this text agrees completely in its shape with that of R. Kynges and kniȝtes  þat kepten kepen R.20.230: R's preterite form is unsupported by any other B copy; the others all show kepen. Nevertheless, though most C witnesses agree with beta, three of the most authoritative X family manuscripts (XIP 2) agree with R's preterite. and defenden . Han officeres vnder hym R.20.231: R is joined by Bm and Bo in reading hym, but F agrees with beta and with Cx on the plural pronoun, hem.  and vch of he m c erteyne . And if þei wage men to werre  þei write n he m i n nombre . Wil no tresorer e taken hym hem R.20.233: Once more F agrees with beta in reading the plural pronoun ( hem) against R's singular; however, the entire phrase in which the pronoun occurs ( take hem wages) has been corrupted in beta to read hem paye . The C version reads the phrase in exact agreement with F. wages  trauaile þei neu er so sore . R.20.233: The final punctuation here appears ambiguous because it has been partially rubbed away; it may have been a punctus elevatus originally. After this line, the R scribe omits his customary practice of inserting a blank line to divide poetic strophes, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Alle other i n bataille  ben yholde briboures . Piloures and pike -herneys  i n vch a parische place R.20.235: The beta variant is place. C attests the same variant as alpha. acursed . Monkes and moneales  and alle men of religion . Heraude Her ordre and R.20.237: Alpha is responsible here for a botched a-verse (apparently alpha omitted ordre, leaving Her ande, which R took to be Heraude). F attempted a complete revision of alpha's a-verse to Þer is in here rewle wel. Beta and C witnesses have Her ordre and her reule wil. her e reule wol  to haue a certeyne nombre . Of lewed and of lered  þe lawe wil and asketh . A certeyn for a certeyne  saue onlich of freres . For -þi q uod consience be criste  kende witt me telleth . It is wikked to wage ȝow  ȝe wexeth of on out of R.20.241: Cf. R's of on to F's ouer ony and beta's out of. Once again it appears that R probably reproduces an alpha error here, which F attempts to correct. The C reading is the same as beta's. nombre . ¶ Heuene hath euene nombre  and helle is withoute no mbre . For -þi I wolde witt erly  þat ȝe wer e in þe registre . And ȝour e nombre vnder notari notaries sygne  & noþ er mo no lesse . Enuye herde þis  and hett freres go to scole . And lerne logik and law  and eke co ntemplac iou n . And p reche men of plato  and p reuen it be senecca . Þat alle thynges vnder heuene  ouȝte to be in comune . ¶ He And ȝit he lyeth R.20.249: Beta reads And ȝit he lyeth. Cx agrees with alpha. as I leue  þat to þe lewed so p recheth . For god made to men a lawe  & moyses it tauȝte . Non co ncupisces rem p rox imi tui &c etera . And euele is þis I -holde  in paresches of englonde . For persones & paresch p restes  þ at schuld þe peple schryue . Beth R.20.254: R's Beth is a unique form but semantically equivalent to the predominant Ben. curatoures calde  to know and to hele . Alle þ at ben her e parshiens  penaunces penaunce R.20.255: Beta reads the singular, penaunce. The C manuscripts are divided between these two options, with members of both major families attesting each reading. enioynen to enioigne . And beth shulde(n) be(n) R.20.256: Beta reads shulden be. The C manuscripts agree with alpha. Once more, only R shows the verb form as beth. aschamed i n here shrifte  ac shame maketh he m wende . And fle to þe freres  as fals folk e to westmenster . Þat borweth and bereth it þider  & þanne biddeth frendes . Ȝerne of forȝyuenesse  or lenger e yere ȝeres leue . R.20.259: R's unmarked possessive (= yere) is completely unique. For the entire phrase, the beta majority reads ȝeres loone. F's bleve seems an obvious editorial conjecture. R's leue is uniquely shared with L and is almost certainly the original B reading. It is shared with Cx. ¶ Ac while he is i n westmynstre  he wil be bifore . And maketh make(n) hym merie  with other men mennes R.20.261: R's unmarked possessive (= men) is unique among the B copies; however, though a majority of C manuscripts agrees with beta on mennes, a significant group of good copies in both families agrees with R. godes . And so it fareth with muche folk e  þ at to freres þe freres R.20.262: Though Cr reads this phrase in agreement with alpha, beta apparently had to þe freres . Cx concurs with alpha. shriueth . confession made to Fryers As sisoures and executoures  þei schul wil(len) R.20.263: Beta reads wil. Cx agrees with alpha. ȝyue þe freres . A parcel to preye for hem  & make hem hemself(en) R.20.264: The other B manuscripts read hemself here, but Cx agrees with R's reading; the alliterative pattern of the archetypal b-verse fails in C as well as B, probably through an error in line division. murie . With residue þe residue & remenaunt þe remenaunt R.20.265: R omits two determiners from the beta (and presumably Bx) phrase, which reads With þe residue and þe remenaunt . Cx shows a major difference here, completely omitting þe residue and.  þ at other me n by -swonke . And suffre þe dede i n dette  to þe day of dome . ¶ Enuye her e -fore  hatede consience . And freres to filosophie  he fonde hem to scole . Þe while coueytise and vnkendenesse  consience assailed . In vnite holy cherche  consience helde hym . And made pees porter e  to pynne þe ȝates . . ¶ Of alle tale telleres  and tytereres an in R.20.272: R's an is unique in the B tradition; beta has in; F reads of. However, among the C manuscripts, most of the X family agrees with R. The P family and several members of the X family agree with beta. ydel . It D Ipocrisie and he  an harde sawte þei made . R.20.273: In the right margin, there are remains of a pen trial, in light brown ink. Ipocrisie at þe ȝate  harde gan fiȝte . Dvd And wounded wel wikkedliche  many a nil R.20.275: Though Cr 1W agree with alpha on the presence of a here, the other beta copies omit it. A few C copies agree with beta on this point, but Cx agrees with alpha. wise techer e . R.20.275: As with R20.273, here there are remains of a pen trial, in the same hand. Þat with co nsience acorded  and cardinales cardinale R.20.276: R's use of the plural form here is unique in the B tradition (cf. R20.47, 96); the other B witnesses read cardinale. Manuscripts EcRcMcNc of the C tradition agree with R, but Cx agrees with the B majority. v ertues . ¶ Consience calde a leche  þat cowde wel shriue . Go salue þo þat syke wer e ben R.20.278: In contrast to alpha's preterite form (cf. F's weren), beta reads ben. Cx agrees with alpha.  and thoruȝ synne ywounded . Shrifte shuppte scharpe salue  and made men do penau nce . For her e misdedes  þat þei wrouȝt hadden . And þat peres wer e payed  redde quod debes . ¶ Su mme liked nouȝt þis leche  and l ettres þei sente . Ȝif any surgien wer e in nil þe sege segge R.20.283: In place of alpha's in þe sege (also attested by Cr), beta reads þe segge. Cx agrees with alpha.  þ at softer coude playstre . Sir lif lief R.20.284: Beta reads lief for alpha's lif, but the alpha reading is supported by Hm and Cr as well as by Cx. The Russell-Kane edition emends this reading, replacing it with that of beta. to lyue in leccherie  lay þer e and groned . For fastyng e of o a friday R.20.285: All other B manuscripts read a fryday . Although one manuscript of C shows the same numerical determiner as R, Cx agrees with the B majority.  he ferde as he wolde deye . Þere is a surgien in þis sege  þat softe can handele . And more of fisike be fer  and fairer e he plastreth . On frere flaterer e  is fisisien and surgien . Quatz R.20.289: R's spelling for this verb, quatz, is anomalous and unique, probably attesting the Northeastern origins of the immediate scribe. Both Bx and Cx read Quod. contric iou n to co nsience  do hym come to vnite . For her e is many a man hert  þoruȝ Ipocrisye . ¶ We han non nede q uod consience  I wote no bett ere leche . Þen p ersone or parisch p rest  penauncer penytancere R.20.292: R's penauncer is unique; beta has penytancere and F reads pentawncer. No C copy supports R's lection. or bischop e . Saue peres þe plowman  þat haueth R.20.293: Both beta and F render this form as hath (although F transposes the phrase). Mss RcNc in the C tradition replicate R's form, but Cx agrees with the B majority. power ou er alle hem alle R.20.293: Beta reads ouer hem alle . Cx agrees with alpha. . And indulgence may do  but if dette lette it . I may wel suffre seyde co nsience  synnes ȝe desiren . Þat frere flaterer e be fette  and fisike ȝow seke . ¶ Þe frer e here -of herde  and hyȝede faste  To a lorde for a lett ere  leue to haue to curen . As a curatour e he wer e  and cam with his lett ere lettres R.20.299: Beta here shows a plural, lettres. The reading of Cx is uncertain; the P family agrees with beta while the X family agrees with alpha's singular form. . Boldely to þe bischop e  and his breef hadde . In contreyes þer e he cam come in R.20.301: The beta form of the verb is come. All beta copies except W (which agrees with alpha in omitting the postpositional particle) read the phrase as come in. Cx agrees completely with alpha's lection.  confessiouns confessiouns to here . R.20.301: R uniquely omits the end of this line, which in Bx reads to here. And cam þer e consience was  & knocked at þe ȝate . ¶ Pees vnpynned it  was porter of vnite . And in haste asked  what his wille were . In faith q uod þis frer e  for p rofit and for helthe . Carpe I wolde with contric iou n  & þer efore cam I hider . ¶ He is syke seyde pees  and so ar many other . Ipocrisie hath herte hem  ful harde is if þei keuere . ¶ I am am a surgyan seyde þe frer e segge R.20.309: The beta reading for alpha's frere is segge, presumably intended to resolve an anomaly in the line's alliteration. However, Cx agrees with alpha.  & salues can make . Consience knoweth me wel  & what I can do bothe . I preye þe q uod pees þo  ar þow passe forther . What hatestow I preye þe  hele nauȝte þi name . penetrans domos ¶ Certes seyde his felawe  sir penetrans domos . ¶ Ȝee go þi gate q uod pees  bi god for alle þi fisike . But þow cunne any somme R.20.315: R's any is unique in the B tradition; cf. F's more and beta's somme. However, though seven P family copies (RcMcQScZWaFc) read other, most C manuscripts agree with R. crafte  þow comest nouȝt he he[r] -Inne her-Inne . I knewe swich on ones  nouȝt eyȝte wynt er passed . Come in þus Icoped  at a court þer e I dwelte . And was my lordes leche  and my ladyes bothe . And at þe last þis lymitour e  þo my lord was oute . He salued so our e wymmen  til su mme wer e with childe . ¶ Hende speche heet pees þo nil  R.20.321: Beta omits þo. However, Cx agrees with alpha. opene þe ȝates . Late in frere þe frere R.20.322: R uniquely omits the determiner in the Bx phrase, þe frere. Only one C manuscript (Sc) duplicates this error. and his felawe  and make he m fair e cher e  He may se and here her  so so it R.20.323: Cf. F's er so. As the testimony of Cx suggests, this Bx line probably read as in R: He may se and here her so may befalle . Surviving beta manuscripts read He may se and here so it may bifalle . may befalle . Þat lif thoruȝ his lore  schal leue coueitise . And be adrad of deth  and withdrawe hym fram pride . And acorde with consience  and kysse her eyther other e . ¶ Þus þoruȝ hende speche  entred þe frere . And cam in to consience  and curteiseliche hym grette . Þow art welcome q uod consience  canstow hele syke þe syke R.20.329: Beta renders this phrase as hele þe syke ; Cx agrees with alpha. . R.20.329: In the lower left margin of fol. 100v, there are the smudged, partially erased remains of various pen trials. Here is cont ricion q uod consience  my cosyn I -wounded . Conforte hym q uod consience  and take kepe to his sores . Þe plastres of þe p ersone  and poudres ben biten R.20.332: R's ben is unique in the B tradition; cf. F's byte and beta's biten. However, Cx agrees with R. to sore . There is a black ink stain about 2 cm. long in the right margin beside these lines. And He R.20.333: Among the B copies, And is unique to R; beta and F read He. However, Cx agrees with R. late hem liggen ouerlonge  and lothe is to chaunge hem . Fro lente to lente  he lette his plastres bitte . ¶ Þat is ouer -longe q uod þis lymitour e  I leue I schal amende it . And goth goth and R.20.336: R's reading is unique; F and beta show goth and . Nine C manuscripts, mostly of the P family, agree with F and beta, but the majority of C witnesses, including most of the X family, agrees with R. gropeth contricion  and gaf hym a plaistre . Of a priue paiement  and I schal praie for ȝow . For alle þat ȝe be holde to  al my Iif -tyme . And make ȝow my lady  in masse and in matynes . As freres of our e frat ernite  for a litel siluer . ¶ Þus he goth and g . adereth There is a hole in the leaf here, the result of damage after copying.  and gloseth þer e he schriueth . Til contric iou n had . clene for -ȝetene  to crie and to wepe . And wake for his wikked werkes  as he woned was wont R.20.343: From the b-verse of beta ( as he was wont to done ) and that of F ( þat he was whont to doone ), as well as that of Cx ( as he was woned bifore ), it appears that R accidentally omitted alpha's was; nevertheless, F's general adroitness and eagerness to repair corruption make it difficult to rule out the possibility that R's error is derived from an omission in alpha itself. to done . For confort of his confessour e  contric ion he lefte . contricion Þat is þe sou ereynest salue  for alle kynne synnes . ¶ Sleuthe seye þat  and so dede pruyde . And come with a kene wille  consience to assaile . Consience cride eft  and bad clergye helpe hym . Between these two lines, there is a hole in the manuscript, but no text has been affected. And al -so contric ion  for to kepe þe ȝate . ¶ He lyeth and dremeth seyde pees  and so doth many other . Þe frere with his fisyke  þis folke hath so nil R.20.351: Beta omits so. Cx agrees with beta. enchaunted . And plastred hem so hesily  þei drede no synne . ¶ By crist q uod consience þo  I wil become a pilgrime . And walken as wide  as all e þe worlde lasteth . To seke peres þe plowman  þat p ruyde myȝte may R.20.355: Beta reads may. Cx agrees with alpha. destruye . And þat freres had a fyndyng e  þat for nede flateren . And co nt repleteth me consience  now kende me auenge . And sende me hap and hele  til I haue peres þe plowma n . And siththe R.20.359: Someone has scribbled these replacements in modern pencil in the right margin opposite this line. A nd sithe he R.20.359: Although the erasure here is thorough, with manipulation in Photoshop it is possible to make out the probable original reading. gradde aft er grace  til I gan a -wake . Will iam Butt es Passus ij us de dobest — — R.20.359: Regarding the location and purport of this rubric, I have noted ("The Reliability of the Rubrics in the B-Text of Piers Plowman," Medium Aevum 54 (1985): 214, n.11) that it "is an anomaly with no significance other than as an indication of incidental contamination in the ordinatio of the MS. . . . It appears at the very end of the text of Piers Plowman and would seem to be an explicit, but this MS uses no explicits elsewhere and there is no clear indication that the scribe even realized he had reached the end of the entire poem." In actuality, the only manuscripts with an identical rubric are four C copies (XDcYcUc), which use the phrase as an incipit for the final passus. p assus ij us de dobest