M.4 – PPEA

<lg>

C

<l><hi><hi>C</hi></hi>Esseth seith þe kyng<del>e</del><add> .</add> I suffre <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ow no lenger<del>e</del></l>

<l><del>Ȝ</del><add>Y</add>e shal sauȝtene for sothe . and serue me bothe</l>

<l>Kisse hire q<expan>uo</expan>d þe kyng<del>e</del><add> . </add> Conscience I hote . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.4KD.4.4

<l>Nay bi Crist<del>e</del> q<expan>uo</expan>d Conscience . congeie me for eu<expan>er</expan>e</l>

<l>But resoun rede me þerto  rather wol I deie . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

# <foreign>Rex mandau<expan>i</expan>t Consc<expan>ientiam</expan> adq<expan>ui</expan>rere Rac<expan>ionem</expan></foreign>

<l>And I comaunde þe q<expan>uo</expan>d þe kyng<del>e</del> . to conscience þanne</l>

<l>Rape þe <add>to</add> ride . and resoun þow fecche . </l>

M.4.8KD.4.8

<l>Comaunde hym þat he come . my conseill<del>e</del> to here</l>

<l>For he shal reule my rewme . and rede me þe beste</l>

<l>And acounte w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> þe conscience . so me crist helpe</l>

<l>How þou lern<del>....</del><add>est</add> þe p<del>.</del><add>e</add>ple . þe lered and þe lewede</l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.12KD.4.13

<l>I am fayn<del>e</del> of þat forward . saide þe freke þanne . </l>

<l>And rit riȝt<del>e</del> to resou<expan>n</expan> . and rowneth in his ere</l>

<l>And saide as þe kyng<del>e</del><add><seg> —</seg></add> bad<del>de</del><add><seg> —</seg></add> . and sithen to<del>..</del><add>ok</add> his leue</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>I shal arraie me to ride . q<expan>uo</expan>d resou<expan>n</expan> reste þe a while</l>

M.4.16KD.4.17

<l>And called Catou<expan>n</expan> his knaue . curteis of speche</l>

#<note>M.4.17: The text from here to the end of the page is marked with a bracket in the left margin.</note>

<l>And also to<expan>m</expan>me trewe tonge  telle me no tales</l>

<l>Ne lesynge to lawȝe of  for I loued hem neuere /</l>

<l>Sette<note>M.4.19: All other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts except F begin the line with <hi>And</hi>. M's omission of the word agrees with the <hi>A</hi> text.</note> my sadel vpon suffre . tyl I se my tyme</l>

M.4.20KD.4.21

<l>And lete warrok it wel  w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> witty wordes gerthes</l>

<l>And hange on hym þe heuy bridul . to holde his hed lowe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Thanne Conscience vpon his . caple . kaireth forth faste</l>

M.4.24KD.4.25

<l>And resoun with hym rit<del>te</del>  rownynge to<seg>-</seg>g<del>.</del><add>i</add>dres</l>

<l>Whiche maistries Mede . makeþ on þis erthe . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Oon waryn wisdom  and witt<del>.</del><add>y</add> his fere</l>

<l>Folwed hem faste  for he<note>M.4.27: M's reading of <hi>he</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, most of which read <hi>þei</hi>.</note> h<del>....e</del><add>adde</add> to doone</l>

M.4.28KD.4.29

<l>In þe chekker<del>e</del> and chauncerie  to be descharged<del>e</del> of þinges . </l>

<l>And riden faste for resoun shulde  rede hem þe beste</l>

<l>For to saue <add>hem</add> for siluer  from shame and from harmes</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>And Conscience knew<del>e</del> hem wel  þei louede coueitise</l>

M.4.32KD.4.33

<l>And bad resoun ride faste . and recche of here neyþer<del>e</del></l>

<l>Þere arn<del>e</del> wiles in h<del>...</del><add>ire</add> wordes  and w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> Mede <add>þei</add> dwelleth</l>

<l>Þere as wratthe and wrangelynge is  þere wynne þei syluer . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Ac þere is loue and lewte  þei wol not come þere . </l>

M.4.36KD.4.36α

<l><hi><foreign>Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eor<expan>um</expan> & c<expan>etera</expan></foreign></hi></l>

<l>Þei ne g<del>.</del><add>y</add>uen nouȝt<del>e</del> of god  on gose wynge . </l>

<l><hi><foreign>Non est timor dei ante oculos eor<expan>um</expan></foreign></hi></l>

<l>For wot god þei wolde do more  for a dosein of Chikenes</l>

M.4.40KD.4.38.1

<l>Or as many Capouns  or for a seem of Otes</l>

<l>Þan<del>ne</del><add><seg> —</seg></add> for loue of oure lord<del>e</del>  or alle his leue seint<del>..</del><add>es</add></l>

<l>For<seg>-</seg>þi resoun l<del>..e</del><add>at</add> hem ride  þo Riche by hem<seg>-</seg>selue<del>ne</del></l>

<l>For Conscience knoweth hem nouȝt<del>e</del> . ne Crist as I trowe</l>

M.4.44KD.4.42

<l>And þanne resoun <del>....</del><add>rood</add> faste  þe riȝte heiȝe weye<note>M.4.44: M's reading of <hi>weye</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>gate</hi>.</note></l>

<l>As Conscience hym ke<expan>n</expan>n<del>..</del><add>ed</add> . til þei come to þe kyng<del>e</del></l>

</lg>

<lg>

# <foreign>Rex obuiau<expan>i</expan>t cu<expan>m</expan> rac<expan>i</expan>on<expan>e</expan></foreign>

<l>Curteisly þe kyng<del>e</del> þanne . com<del>e</del> aȝein resoun</l>

<l>And bitwene hym<seg>-</seg>self and his sone . sette <del>..</del><add><seg> —</seg></add> hym on benche</l>

M.4.48KD.4.46

<l>And wordeden wel wysely . a gret while tog<del>.</del><add>i</add>dres</l>

</lg>

<lg>

# <foreign>co<expan>n</expan>quest<expan>us</expan> est pax con<expan>tra</expan> Iniuriam</foreign>

<l>And þanne com<del>e</del> pees in<seg>-</seg>to p<expan>ar</expan>lement . and put forth a bille</l>

<l>How wro<del>...e</del><add>ong</add> aȝeins his will  had his wif taken</l>

<l>And <del>h.</del><add>how <add>he</add><note>M.4.51: The original reading may have omitted <hi>how</hi>, as F.</note> r</add>auysshede Rose . Re<del>..</del><add>ig</add>naldes loue</l>

M.4.52KD.4.50

<l>And <del>m</del><add>M</add>argrete<note>M.4.52: It was evidently important to someone reviewing the text that the proper name begin with a capital letter.</note> of hire maydonh<del>o</del><add>e</add>de<note>M.4.52: The form <hi>maydonhode</hi> has been altered to <hi>maydonhede</hi>, the reading of WCrF.</note> . mawgre hire chek<del>..</del><add>es</add></l>

<l>Boþe my gees and my grys / his gadlinges <del>.</del><add>f</add>eccheth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>I dar nouȝt<del>e</del> for feere of hym . fiȝte ne Chide </l>

# the borowing off bayerd

<l>He <del>.......</del><add>borwede</add> of me bayard . he brouȝte h<del>.</del><add>y</add>m hom<del>e</del> neue<del>..</del><add>re</add></l>

M.4.56KD.4.54

<l><del>..</del><add>Ne</add> no <del>........</del><add>ferthyng</add> þerefore  for nouȝt<del>e</del> I coude plede</l>

<l>He mainteigneth his men . to morthere my<del>...?...</del><add>ne hewen</add><note>M.4.57: For rewritten <hi>hewen</hi> RF have <hi>hennes</hi>.</note></l>

cor

<l>Forstalleth my feires . and fiȝteth in my chepinge</l>

<l>And breketh vp my<del>n</del> berne dore . and bereth awey my whete</l>

M.4.60KD.4.58

<l>And taketh me but a taille . for ten quart<expan>er</expan><del>e</del><note>M.4.60: M shares the reading <hi>quart<expan>er</expan></hi> with Cr. Kane and Donaldson record the erased letter as <s>, which would agree with the form in all other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, but the letter seems clearly to be an <e>.</note> Ot<del>.</del><add>e</add>s</l>

<l>And <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>et he beteth me þerto  and l<del>ii</del><add>y</add>th by my mayde . </l>

<l>I <del>h</del><add>n</add>am<note>M.4.62: M's revised reading, motivated by the otiose initial <h>, is shared with CL.</note> nouȝt hardy for hym . vnnethe to loke</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Þe kyng<del>e</del> knew<del>e</del> he saide soth<del>e</del> . for conscience hym tolde . </l>

M.4.64KD.4.62

<l>Þat wrong<del>e</del> was a wikked li<del>..</del><add>ft<note>M.4.64: This use of <hi>lift</hi> puzzles the scribes, who write <hi>lust</hi> GBR, <hi>luske</hi> Cr, as well as wilder variants.</note> </add> and wrouȝte moche sorwe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Wrong<del>e</del> was a<seg>-</seg>fer<del>..</del><add>ed</add> þanne . and wisdome he souȝte</l>

<l><del>...</del><add>To<seg> —</seg></add> make pees with his pens . he<note>M.4.66: M's <hi>he</hi> agrees with F; other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>and</hi>.</note> p<expan>ro</expan>ferede hym manye</l>

<l>And saide hadde <add>I</add><note>M.4.67: M's original reading without <hi>I</hi> agreed with F.</note> loue of my lord<del>e</del> þe kyng<del>e</del>  litul wolde I recche</l>

M.4.68KD.4.66

<l>Theiȝ<del>e</del> pees and his power<del>e</del>  playnede hym euere</l>

</lg>

<lg>

# wyt & warin wisdom

<l>Þo w<del>....</del><add>ente</add><note>M.4.69: The altered word brings M into line with most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, though LR read <hi>wan</hi>, and CBoCot read <hi>whan</hi>.</note> w<del>..</del><add>is</add>dome . and sire warin þe witty</l>

<l>For þat wrong<del>e</del> had y<seg>-</seg>wrouȝt<del>e</del> . so wikked<del>e</del> a dede</l>

<l>And warned wrong<del>e</del> þo . with suche a w<del>..</del><add>ys</add> tale . </l>

M.4.72KD.4.70

<l>Whoso worcheþ by my wille . wratthe makeþ ofte</l>

<l>I seie it by <del>..</del><add>my</add><note>M.4.73: M's altered reading <hi>my</hi> agrees with most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts. YOC<hi>2</hi>LRF read <hi>thy</hi>.</note><seg>-</seg>self . þou shalt it wel fynde . </l>

<l>But <del>ȝ</del>if Mede it make  þi meschief is vppe</l>

<l>For bothe þi lif and þi lond  lith in his grace . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.76KD.4.74

<l>Þanne wowede wrong<del>e</del> . wisdom<del>e</del> ful <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>erne</l>

#

<l>To make <add>his</add><note>M.4.77: M's original reading without <hi>his</hi> agreed with WH.</note> pees with his pens  handi<seg>-</seg>dandi payed<del>e</del></l>

<l>Wisdom and wit<del>te</del>  þanne wenten to<seg>-</seg>g<del>.</del><add>i</add>dres</l>

<l>And tooken m<del>..y</del><add>ede</add> myd hem  mercy to wynne . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.80KD.4.78

<l>Pees put forth his hed<del>e</del>  and his panne blody</l>

<l>With<seg>-</seg>outen gilt<del>e</del> god it wot . gat I þis skaþe</l>

<l>Conscience and þe comune . knowen þe sothe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Ac wysdom and witty<note>M.4.83: M's reading <hi>witty</hi> is not attested in other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>wit</hi>.</note> . weren abouten faste</l>

M.4.84KD.4.82

<l>To ouercome þe kyng<del>e</del> . with catel <del>ȝ</del>if þei miȝte</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Þe kyng<del>e</del> swo<del>..</del><add>or</add> by crist . and by his crowne boþe</l>

<l>Þat wronge for his werkes . shulde wo þolie</l>

<l>And comaunded a Conestable  to caste hym in yrens</l>

M.4.88KD.4.86

<l>And lete hym nouȝt  þis seuen <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ere seen his fe<del>..</del><add>et</add> ones . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>God wot q<expan>uo</expan>d wysdom  þat were nouȝt þe beste</l>

<l>And he <del>...?...</del><add>ame<expan>n</expan>des mowe</add> make . lat meymprise hym haue . </l>

cor

And be borwe for his bale

ij<expan>us</expan>

iiij<expan>us</expan> pass<expan>us</expan>

<l>And be borwe for his bale . and biggen hym bote</l>

M.4.92KD.4.90

<l>And so amende þat is mysdo . and euer<seg>-</seg>more þe bett<del>..</del><add>re</add></l>

</lg>

<lg>

# no<expan>t</expan>a<note>M.4.93: This paragraph is marked with lines in the right margin.</note>

<l>Wit<del>.</del> accord<del>.</del><add>e</add>d here<note>M.4.93: M's reading <hi>here</hi> is unattested among other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>þer</hi>.</note><seg>-</seg>wiþ . and saide þe same</l>

<l>Bett<del>..</del><add>re</add> is þat b<del>...</del><add>ote</add> . bale a<seg>-</seg>doun bringe</l>

<l>Þan bale be y<seg>-</seg>bet<del>.e</del><add>e</add> . and bote neuer þe bett<del>..</del><add>re</add></l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.96KD.4.94

<l>And þanne gan <del>m</del><add>M</add>ede to mongen<note>M.4.96: M's reading of <hi>mongen</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts. The majority reading is <hi>mengen</hi>.</note> here . and mercy she bisouȝte <note>M.4.96: This paragraph is marked with a bracket.</note></l>

no<expan>t</expan>a

<l>And profred pees a present . al of pure golde . </l>

<l>Haue þis man of me q<expan>uo</expan>d she  to amende þi skaþe . </l>

<l>For I wol wage for wrong<del>e</del>  he wol do so namore</l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.100KD.4.98

<l>Pitousely pees þanne . praide to þe kynge</l>

<l>To haue mercy on þat man . þat mysd<del>...?...</del><add>ide hym</add> ofte<note>M.4.101: It is likely that the original reading was <hi>him so ofte</hi> as in most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts. Only G shares M's omission of <hi>so</hi>, though it is the reading of <hi>A</hi> manuscripts. Here there are apparently two correctors at work. The first is responsible for <hi>ide hi</hi>, while a second has altered the second <i> to <y> and added <m> for <hi>hym</hi>.</note> . </l>

<l>For he<note>M.4.102: M alone among <hi>B</hi> manuscripts lacks <hi>haþ</hi> at this point.</note> waged me wel . as wisdome hym tauȝte</l>

<l>And I for<del>....</del><add>giue</add> him þat gilt<del>e</del> . with a gode wille</l>

M.4.104KD.4.102

<l>So þat þe kyng<del>e</del> assente  I can seie no bett<del>..</del><add>re</add></l>

<l>For <del>m</del><add>M</add>ede haþ made me amendes . I can<note>M.4.105: M's reading of <hi>can</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>may</hi>.</note> no more axen . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Nay q<expan>uo</expan>d þe kyng<del>e</del> þo . so me crist helpe</l>

<l>Wrong<del>e</del> wendeth not so away . arst wil I wite more</l>

# <foreign>B<expan>e</expan>n<expan>e</expan> Iudicat<expan>us</expan> est Rex</foreign>

M.4.108KD.4.106

<l>For loupe he so liȝtly . lawghen he wolde</l>

<l>And eft<del>e</del> þe balder be . to beten myn hynen</l>

<l>But resoun haue reuthe on him . he shal reste in my stokkus . </l>

<l>And þat as longe as he liueþ . but lowenesse hym borwe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.112KD.4.110

<l>Su<expan>m</expan>me men redde Resoun  to<note>M.4.112: The reading <hi>to</hi> is shared with H. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>þo to</hi>.</note> ruwe<note>M.4.112: M's reading of <hi>ruwe</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>have ruþe</hi>.</note> on þat shrewe</l>

<l>And for to con<del>c</del><add>s</add>eille þe kynge . and co<del>n</del><add><expan>n</expan>s</add>cience aft<del>.</del><add>e</add>r</l>

<l>Þat Mede most<add>e</add> be mainp<expan>er</expan>nour . resoun þei bisouȝte</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Rede me nouȝt<del>e</del> quod resoun . no reuthe to haue</l>

# <foreign>opti<expan>m</expan>e dic<expan>i</expan>t Rac<expan>i</expan>o</foreign>

M.4.116KD.4.114

<l>Til lord<del>.</del><add>e</add>s and ladies . louen alle truthe . </l>

<l>And haten al harlotrie . to heren <del>it</del><note>M.4.117: M's revised reading agrees with WHmCrG. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>heren it</hi>.</note> or to mouthe it</l>

#

<note>M.4.118-125: These lines are marked with a bracket in the right margin.</note>

<l>Til pernels purfil . be put in here hucche . </l>

<l>And Children cherisshinge  be chastinge w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>erd<del>.</del><add>e</add>s . </l>

M.4.120KD.4.118

<l>And harlotes holinesse . be holden for an hyne . </l>

<l>Til clerken coue<add>i</add>tise be  to clothe pore<note>M.4.121: The reading <hi>pore</hi> is shared with Hm. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>þe pore</hi>.</note> and fede . </l>

<l>And religious rom<del>.</del><add>e</add>res . <hi><foreign>Recordare</foreign></hi> in hire cloistres . </l>

<l>As seint Bernard hem bad . Benet<del>e</del><note>M.4.123: All other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have the names <hi>Bernard</hi> and <hi>Benet</hi> in the other order.</note> and Fraunceis</l>

M.4.124KD.4.122

<l>And til prechours prechinge  be preued<del>e</del> on hem<seg>-</seg>seluen</l>

<l>Til þe kynges con<del>c</del><add>s</add>eill<del>e</del> . be þe comune profit . </l>

<l>Til bisshopes baiardes . be beggers chambres</l>

<l>Hire haukes and hire houndes . help<del>e</del> to pore Religious</l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.128KD.4.126

<l>And til seint Iames be souȝt<del>e</del> . þere I shal assigne</l>

<l>Þat no man go to Galis . but <del>ȝ</del>if he go for euere</l>

<l>And alle Rome renneres  for robbers of biȝende</l>

<l>Bere no siluer<del>e</del> ouer<del>e</del> see  þat signe of kyng<del>e</del> sheweþ</l>

M.4.132KD.4.130

<l>Neithur graue ne vngraue  gold neith<del>.</del><add>e</add>r siluer<del>.</del></l>

<l>Vpon forfeture of þat fee  whoso fynt him at Douere</l>

<l>But it be marchaunt or his man  or messager<del>e</del> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> l<expan>ett</expan>res</l>

<l>Prouisour or preest  or penaunt for his synn<del>..</del><add>es</add></l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.136KD.4.134

<l>And <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>et q<expan>uo</expan>d Resoun by þe Rode  I shal no reuthe haue</l>

<l>Whil Mede haþ þe maistrie . in þis mote halle</l>

<l>Ac I may shewe emsamples  as I se other<del>e</del><seg>-</seg>while</l>

M.4.140KD.4.138

<l>That I were kyng<del>e</del> with crowne  to kepen a reume . </l>

<l>Shulde neuere wrong<del>e</del> in þis world<del>e</del> . þat I <del>.</del><add>w</add>yte miȝte</l>

<l>Ben vnpunisshede in my power<del>e</del> . for peril of my soule</l>

<l>Ne gete my grace for gift<del>.</del><add>e</add>s . so me god saue . </l>

M.4.144KD.4.142

<l>Ne for no mede haue mercy  but mekenesse it make . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l><hi>For <foreign>nullum malum</foreign> þe man . mette w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> <foreign>inpunitum</foreign></hi></l>

<l><hi>And bad <foreign>nullum bonu<expan>m</expan></foreign> . be <foreign>irremuneratum</foreign> .</hi></l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Lat <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>oure confessour sire kyng<del>e</del> . construe þis vnglos<del>.</del><add>e</add>d</l>

# <foreign>q<expan>uod</expan> lex laborab<expan>i</expan>t</foreign> & lede a<seg>-</seg>Feld dong

M.4.148KD.4.146

<l>And <del>ȝ</del>if <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e werken it in werk<del>e</del> . I wedde myn eres . </l>

<l>Þat lawe shal ben a laborer . and lede a<seg>-</seg>field<del>e</del> donge</l>

<l>And loue shal lede þi lond<del>e</del>  as þe lief likeþ . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Clerkes þat were confessours . coupled hem to<seg>-</seg>gedres . </l>

M.4.152KD.4.150

<l>Alle to construe þis clause . for þe kynges Profit</l>

<l>Ac nouȝt<del>e</del> for confort<del>e</del> of þe comune  ne for þe kynges soule</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>For I seiȝ<del>e</del> Mede in þe moothalle . on men of lawe wynken</l>

<l>And þay lawghynge lope to hire . and lafte resoun manye</l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.156KD.4.154

<l>Waryn wisdom<del>e</del> . wynkede vpon mede . </l>

<l>And saide ma<seg>-</seg>dame I am <del>.</del><add>y</add>oure man . what so my mouth<del>e</del> iangeleth</l>

<l>I <del>...?...</del><add>faille</add><note>M.4.158: M's altered reading <hi>faille</hi> agrees with Cr. Hm also alters the word to <hi>fayle</hi>. Most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts read <hi>falle in</hi>, and an erased <hi>in</hi> is likely here.</note> Flor<del>.</del><add>y</add>nes quod þat freyke . and faille speche ofte . </l>

iiij<expan>us</expan> p<expan>assus</expan>

<l>¶ Alle riȝtful recorded . þat resoun truthe tolde</l>

M.4.160KD.4.158

<l>And wit<del>te</del> accord<del>.</del><add>e</add>d her<del>e</del><seg>-</seg>w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan><note>M.4.160: M's reading of <hi>her-w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan></hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>þerwith</hi>.</note> . and comend<del>.</del><add>e</add>d his word<del>.</del><add>e</add>s</l>

<l>And þe mooste p<del>.</del><add>e</add>ple in þe halle . and manye of þe grete</l>

<l>And leten mekenesse a maister . and Mede a mansud shrewe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

¶

<l>Loue le<del>..</del><add>et</add> of hire liȝte . and lewte <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>et lasse</l>

M.4.164KD.4.162

<l>And saide it so heiȝe . þat all<del>e</del> þe halle it herde</l>

<l>Whoso wilneþ hire to wif  for welthe of hire god<del>.</del><add>e</add>s</l>

<l>But he be knowe for a cokewold<del>e</del>  kutte of my nose . </l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>Mede mournede þo  and made heuy chere . </l>

# þ<expan>a</expan>t mede is Callyd a hore

M.4.168KD.4.166

<l>For þe mooste comune of þe court<del>e</del> <add></add> callud hire an hore</l>

<l>Ac a sisoure and a sompno<del>r</del><add><expan>ur</expan></add>  suwed hire faste</l>

<l>And a shireues clerk<del>e</del>  bishrewed al þe route . </l>

<l>For ofte haue I quod <add>s</add>he<note>M.4.171: M's original <hi>he</hi> agrees with FH. Hm also alters <hi>he</hi> to <hi>she</hi>.</note>  holpe <del>.</del><add>y</add>ow at <add>the</add> ba<del>...</del><add>rre</add></l>

M.4.172KD.4.170

<l>And <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>et <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>eue <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e me neuere  þe worth of a russhe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>The kyng<del>e</del> called conscience . and aft<del>.</del><add>e</add>rwardes resoun</l>

<l>And recorded þat resoun  had riȝtfulliche shewed<del>.</del><add>e</add> . </l>

<l>And modiliche vpon mede  w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> miȝt<del>e</del> þe kyng<del>e</del> loked</l>

M.4.176KD.4.174

<l>And gan waxe wroth w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> lawe . for mede . hadde almoost<del>e</del><note>M.4.176: All other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts except Y reverse the order of <hi>hadde almoost</hi>.</note> shent it . </l>

<l>And saide þorwgh <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>oure lawe as I leue . I lese many chetes</l>

<l>Mede ouermaistreth lawe . and mochul truþe letteþ</l>

<l>Ac resoun shal rekene with <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ow  <del>ȝ</del>if I regne any while . </l>

M.4.180KD.4.178

<l>And deme <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ow by þis day . as <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e han deserued<del>e</del></l>

<l>Mede shal nouȝt mainprise <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ow . by þe marie of heuene</l>

<l>I wil haue lewte in lawe . and lette al <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>owre iangelinge</l>

<l>And as mo<del>s..</del><add>ost</add> folk wittnesseth wel . wrong<del>e</del> shal be demed</l>

</lg>

<lg>

M.4.184KD.4.182

<l>Quod conscence to þe kyng<del>e</del> . but þe comune wil assente</l>

<l>It is ful hard<del>e</del> by myn hede  herto to bringe it . </l>

<l>Alle <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>oure lige leodes . to lede þus euene</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>By hym þat rauȝte on þe Rode  quod resou<expan>n</expan> to þe kynge</l>

M.4.188KD.4.186

<l>But <del>ȝ</del>if I rule þus <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>owre rewme  rende out my gutt<del>.</del><add>e</add>s</l>

<l><del>....</del><add>If ye</add> bidden <sic>buxomn<del>....</del><add>sse</add></sic> <corr>buxomn<del>....</del><add>[e]sse</add></corr> <add></add> ben of myn assent</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>And I assente <del>.....</del><add>seith</add><note>M.4.190: B manuscripts vary considerably at this point between <hi>quod</hi> and various forms of <hi>seith</hi>.</note> þe kyng<del>e</del>  by seinte marie my lady</l>

<l>Be my conseill <del>.</del><add>y</add>comen  of clerk<del>.</del><add>e</add>s and of erles . </l>

M.4.192KD.4.190

<l>Ac redily resoun  þow shalt nouȝt ride from me</l>

x

<l>For as longe as I l<del>.</del><add>y</add>ue . lete þe I nille</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l>I am aredy quod resoun . to reste with <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ow euere</l>

<l>So co<del>n</del><add><expan>n</expan>s</add>cience be of <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>owre<note>M.4.195: M and C<hi>2</hi> agree in reading <hi>yowre</hi>, corrected from <hi>ȝowre</hi> in M; all other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>oure</hi>, except for H which has <hi>my</hi>. The majority of <hi>A</hi> manuscripts have <hi>ȝour</hi>.</note> conseille . I kepe no bett<del>.r<expan>e</expan></del><add>re</add></l>

M.4.196KD.4.194

<l>And I graunte quod þe kyng<del>e</del><add> .</add> god forbede it fa<del>l</del><add>i</add>le</l>

<l>As longe as <del>ȝ</del>owre<note>M.4.197: All <hi>B</hi> manuscripts read <hi>oure</hi>.</note> lif lasteth . lyue we to g<del>.</del><add>i</add>dres</l>

</lg>