L.7.39KD.7.40 L.7.39: Though the scribe left a blank line, usually indicative of a strophe division, there is no parasign. Men of lawe lest pardoun hadde þat pleteden for Mede
# de legum peritis quia minime de Indulgencia recipiunt
M.7.39KD.7.40Men of lawe leste pardoun hadde . þatM.7.39: M's original reading without þat, not noted by Kane and Donaldson, agreed with G. pleteden for mede
Cr1.7.39KD.7.40 Men of law least pardon had , that pleden for Mede
W.7.39KD.7.40 ¶ Men of lawe leest pardon hadde . þat pleteden for Mede
Hm.7.39KD.7.40 ¶ Men of lawe leste pardoun hadde · that pledyn for mede
C.7.38KD.7.40 ¶ Men of lawe leest pardon hadde · þat pleteden for mede
G.8.39KD.7.40 men off þe lawe s leyste perdon ghadde pleteden for mede
O.7.39KD.7.40Men of lawe leest pardoun hadde þat pleteden for mede
R.7.39KD.7.40 Men of lawe leste pardoun 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.
R.7.40KD.7.40 Þat pleteden for mede for þat craft is schrewed .
F.5.1023KD.7.40But men of Lawe of pardoun / þe leeste part þey haddyn. Beta witnesses read:
Men of lawe leest pardon hadde þat pleteden for Mede
For þe Sauter saueþ hem noȝt swiche as taken ȝiftes.
R differs from F in 5.1024, reading "þat pleteden for mede for þat craft is schrewed."
F.5.1024KD.7.40For þey for meede pletyn moore / þan mychil for goddis helpe.