<div1>
<milestone>fol. 1rI</milestone>
<head><space>  </space><hi><hi>P</hi></hi>ers plowman<note><p>O.P.000: A vertical line, hooked at the top, three line-spaces in height, precedes the title. The following lines appear at the head of the text: <lb/>
<foreign><hi>E</hi>t s<expan>i</expan>n<expan>e</expan> v<expan>er</expan>bo<expan>rum</expan>  sonitu . fit doctor eo<expan>rum</expan><lb/>
<hi>I</hi>p<expan>s</expan>e tua<expan>m</expan> me<expan>n</expan>te<expan>m</expan>  regat & faciat sapie<expan>n</expan>te<expan>m</expan><lb/>
<hi>R</hi>ecte c<expan>re</expan>dente<expan>m</expan>  monitos q<expan>ue</expan> bonos retine<expan>n</expan>te<expan>m</expan><lb/>
<hi>V</hi>t b<expan>e</expan>n<expan>e</expan> viue<expan>n</expan>do  ma<expan>n</expan>data q<expan>ue</expan> sana sequendo <lb/>
<hi>L</hi>eticia<expan>m</expan> v<expan>er</expan>e  luc<expan>is</expan> . m<expan>er</expan>earis habere <lb/>
<hi>Q</hi><expan>ue</expan> teneb<expan>ra</expan>s nescit  miro q<expan>ue</expan> decore nitescit <lb/>
<hi>E</hi>t cuicu<expan>m</expan><expan>que</expan> dat<expan>ur</expan>  s<expan>i</expan>n<expan>e</expan> fine beatificat<expan>ur</expan><lb/>
<hi>H</hi><expan>oc</expan> t<expan>ibi</expan> det mun<expan>us</expan>  q<expan>ui</expan> regnat t<expan>ri</expan>n<expan>us</expan> & vn<expan>us</expan> . ame<expan>n</expan>.</foreign></p><p>In the endleaves of the manuscript, Skeat describes these lines as "the tag-end of a Latin poem of small merit" which "has no connection whatever with <title>Pers Plowman</title>." They are the final eight lines of the <title><foreign>Carmen Paraeneticum ad Rainaldum</foreign></title>, a twelfth-century poem of unknown authorship (<title>PL</title> 184, 1307A-1314C). Thanks are owed to Michael Blum for the research that led to the identification of this fragment.</p></note></head>
<l><hi><hi>I</hi></hi><hi>N</hi> a somer sesoun  whanne soft was þe sunne</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> schope me in schroudes  as I a scheep were</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n habyt as an heremyt  vnholi of werkis</l>
O.P.4KD.P.4
<l><hi>W</hi>ente wyde in þis world  wondres to heere</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>c on a may mornyng  on Maluerne hillis</l>
<l><hi>M</hi>e befel a ferly  of fayrie me þouȝte</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> was wery for<seg>-</seg>wandrid  and wente me to rest</l>
O.P.8KD.P.8
<l><hi>V</hi>ndir a brood bank  bi a bornes syde</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd as I lay & lenede  & lokede in þe watris</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> slumbrede in a slepyng  it sweyuede<note>O.P.10: This word caused scribal confusion. YC<hi>2</hi>CL share the reading of O; other variants include <hi>sweyd</hi> (G), <hi>swyȝed</hi> (HmCRF), <hi>sweyed</hi> (WM), and <hi>sweuenyd</hi> (H). Although the <title>MED</title> relates the form <hi>swiȝede</hi> in the corresponding line of the C-text (Trinity MS) to <hi>swevenen</hi>, "to dream," Skeat's gloss on <hi>sweyued</hi> as meaning "flowed, rippled along" (Dan. <hi>svæve</hi>) accords better with the sense of the line. However, the <title>MED</title> lists no forms of <hi>sweien</hi> with a medial <u>. Schmidt (363) adopts the reading of ZA, <hi>sweyed</hi>, which he glosses as "sounded." Kane and Donaldson adopt this form as well.</note> so myrie</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>anne gan I to meten  a merueylous sweuene</l>
O.P.12KD.P.12
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t I was in wildernesse  wiste I neuere where</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>s I behelde in<seg>-</seg>to þe est  on hyȝ to þe sunne</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> sawȝ a toure on a toft  triedliche<note>O.P.14: The form <hi>triedliche</hi>, meaning "excellently," appears in ME only here and in <title>The Destruction of Troy</title> 3054, 9786, 10583 (cited in <title>MED</title>). Variants include <hi>trieliche</hi> (WGYLF), <hi>trychlych</hi> (Cr<hi>3</hi>), <hi>ryaly</hi> (H), <hi>rieliche</hi> (CM), <hi>rychely</hi> (HMCR<hi>12</hi>), and <hi>reallecle</hi> (C<hi>2</hi>). Kane and Donaldson adopt <hi>trieliche</hi>.</note> I<seg>-</seg>maked</l>
<l><hi>A</hi> deep dale byneþe  a dongeou<expan>n</expan> þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>Inne</l>
O.P.16KD.P.16
<l><hi>W</hi>iþ depe dichis & derke  & dredeful of syȝt</l>
<l><hi>A</hi> faire feeld ful of folk  fonde I þere bitwene</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f al man<expan>er</expan>e of men  þe mene & þe riche</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>orchynge & wandrynge  as þe world askiþ</l>
O.P.20KD.P.20
<l><hi>S</hi>u<expan>m</expan>me putte hem to þe plow  pleyede ful seelde</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n settynge & souwynge  swonken ful harde</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd wonnen þat wastouris  in<note>O.P.22: GOC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>in</hi> in place of correctly alliterating <hi>with</hi>.</note> glotenye distroyen</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd su<expan>m</expan>me putten hem to pride  apparayleden hem þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>after</l>
O.P.24KD.P.24
<l><hi>I</hi>n countenaunce of cloþing  coomen disgysed</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n preyere<note>O.P.25: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the singular form.</note> & in penaunce  putten hem many</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>l for loue of oure lord  lyueden ful streyte</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n hope for to haue  heuene<seg>-</seg>riche blisse</l>
O.P.28KD.P.28
<l><hi>A</hi>s ancres & heremytis  þat holde<expan>n</expan> he<expan>m</expan> in her selles</l>
<milestone>fol. 1vI</milestone>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd coueyten not in contre  to cayren aboute</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or no likerous lijflode  her lickam to plese</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd su<expan>m</expan>me chosen chaffare  þei cheuen þe better</l>
O.P.32KD.P.32
<l><hi>A</hi>s it semet to oure siȝt  þ<expan>a</expan>t swiche<note>O.P.32: OC<hi>2</hi> alone lack a word between <hi>swiche</hi> and <hi>þryuen</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>men</hi>.</note> þryuen</l>
<hi>Minyst<expan>ra</expan>lis</hi>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd su<expan>m</expan>me myrþes to make  as mynyst<expan>ra</expan>les ku<expan>n</expan>nen</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd geten gold wiþ her gle  not<note>O.P.34: OC<hi>2</hi> alone include the negative.</note> synles I leue</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>s iapers & iangeleris  Iudas children</l>
O.P.36KD.P.36
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at<note>O.P.36: YOC<hi>2</hi>M alone include <hi>Þat</hi>.</note> feynen hem fantasies  & foles hem maken</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd han her witt at her wille  to wirche if þei schulden<note>O.P.37: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>schulden</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>schulde</hi>.</note></l>
<foreign><hi>Q<expan>ui</expan> no<expan>n</expan> laborat <lb/>
no<expan>n</expan> ma<expan>n</expan>ducet</hi></foreign><note>O.P.38: This line is divided after <foreign><hi>laborat</hi></foreign>, so that it appears opposite ll. 38-39. Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this gloss, which occurs only in OC<hi>2</hi>, on the grounds that it is scribal.</note>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at poul prechiþ of hem  I nyle not preue it heere </l>
<l><foreign><hi>Q</hi>ui turpiloq<expan>ui</expan>u<expan>m</expan> loq<expan>ui</expan>t<expan>ur</expan></foreign>  is lucifers knaue</l>
O.P.40KD.P.40
<l><hi>B</hi>idderis & beggeris  faste aboute ȝieden<note>O.P.40: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>ȝieden</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>yede</hi>.</note></l>
<l><hi>W</hi>iþ her bely & her baggys  of breed ful I<seg>-</seg>cra<expan>m</expan>myd</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>aiteden for her fode  fauȝten at<note>O.P.42: OC<hi>2</hi> alone lack <hi>þe</hi> before <hi>ale</hi>.</note> ale</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n glotenye . god it woot  goon þei to bedde</l>
O.P.44KD.P.44
<l><hi>A</hi>nd rysen wiþ ribaudie  þe<note>O.P.44: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>þe</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>þo</hi>.</note> roberdis knaues</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>leep & sory slouþe  suen he<expan>m</expan> euere</l>
<l><hi>P</hi>ilgrymys & palmeris  pliȝteden<note>O.P.46: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>pliȝteden</hi>; variants include <hi>plyght</hi> (Cr), <hi>plighted</hi> (YLM), <hi>pyghtyn</hi> (F), <hi>pyth</hi> (H), <hi>gedir</hi> (C), and <hi>pliȝten</hi> (WHmG).</note> hem to<seg>-</seg>gyderes</l>
<hi>Pilg<expan>ri</expan>mys</hi>
<l><hi>T</hi>o seke seynt Iames  & seyntis in Rome </l>
O.P.48KD.P.48
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ey wenten forþ in her wey  wiþ many wise tales</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd hadden leue for to lye  al her lijf after</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> seyȝ su<expan>m</expan>me þat seyden  þei hadden I<seg>-</seg>souȝt seyntis</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o iche a tale þat þei tolden<note>O.P.51: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>tolden</hi> in place of <hi>tolde</hi>.</note>  her tunge was te<expan>m</expan>perid to lye</l>
O.P.52KD.P.52
<l><hi>M</hi>ore þan<note>O.P.52: OC<hi>2</hi> alone lack <hi>to</hi> before the infinitive.</note> seye soþ  it semede . bi her speche</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>eremytis on an heep  wiþ hoked staues</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>enten to walsyngh<expan>a</expan>m  & her wenchis after</l>
<hi>heremytis</hi>
<l><hi>G</hi>rete lobyes & longe  þat loþ weren to swynke </l>
O.P.56KD.P.56
<l><hi>C</hi>loþeden hem in copis  to be knowen from oþ<expan>er</expan>e</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd schopen hem heremytis  her ese to haue</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> fonde þere freris  alle þe foure ordres</l>
<hi>Freris</hi>
<l><hi>P</hi>recheden þe peple  for p<expan>ro</expan>fiȝt of hem<seg>-</seg>seluen </l>
O.P.60KD.P.60
<l><hi>G</hi>loseden þe gospel  as hem good likede</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or coueytise of copes  construeden it . as þei wolden<note>O.P.61: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>wolden</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>wolde</hi>.</note></l>
<l><hi>M</hi>any of þeise maystre freris  mowen cloþen he<expan>m</expan> at likyng</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or her money & marchaundises<note>O.P.62: OYC<hi>2</hi>C alone have the plural form.</note>  marchen to<seg>-</seg>gyderis</l>
O.P.64KD.P.64
<l><hi>F</hi>or siþ charite haþ ben chapman  & cheef to schryue lordis</l>
<foreign>charitas</foreign>
<l><hi>M</hi>any ferlies han fallen  in a fewe ȝieris </l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut holi chirche & þei  holde bettre to<seg>-</seg>gyderis</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e moost myscheef on erþe<note>O.P.67: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>erþe</hi> in place of <hi>molde</hi>.</note>  is mountynge vp <add>wel<note>O.P.67: OC<hi>2</hi> alone include both <hi>vp</hi> and <hi>wel</hi>.</note></add> faste</l>
<milestone>fol. 2rI</milestone>
<hi><hi>P</hi>erdonneris</hi>
O.P.68KD.P.68
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ere p<expan>re</expan>chede a p<expan>ar</expan>doner  as he a preest were </l>
<l><hi>B</hi>rouȝte forþ a bulle  wiþ bischoppis seelis</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd seyde þ<expan>a</expan>t hym<seg>-</seg>self myȝte  assoylen he<expan>m</expan> alle</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f falshed of fastyng  & of vowes Ibroken</l>
O.P.72KD.P.72
<l><hi>L</hi>ewede men leueden<note>O.P.72: O alone has the form <hi>leueden</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>leued</hi>.</note> hy<expan>m</expan> wel  & likeden hise wordis</l>
<l><hi>C</hi>omen vp knelynge  to kissen hise bulles</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>e bunchede hem wiþ his breuet  & blerede her yen</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd rauȝte wiþ <add>his</add> ragman  rynges & broches</l>
O.P.76KD.P.76
<l><hi>Þ</hi>us þei gyuen her gold  glotounes to kepe</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd louen<note>O.P.77: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>louen</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>leneþ</hi>.</note> siche loselis  þat leccherie haunten</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>ere þe bischop Iblessid  & worþ hise boþe<note>O.P.78: O alone transposes <hi>boþe hise</hi>.</note> eres</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>is seel schulde not be sent  to disceyue þe peple</l>
O.P.80KD.P.80
<l><hi>A</hi>c it is not bi þe bischop  þ<expan>a</expan>t þe boye prechiþ</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or þe parisch preest & þe p<expan>ar</expan>doner  parten þe siluer</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at þe pore porayle<note>O.P.82: YOC<hi>2</hi>M alone have <hi>pore porayle</hi>; variants include <hi>pore men</hi> (F), <hi>poraille</hi> (WHmCL), and <hi>pouerty</hi> (Cr). Kane and Donaldson emend to <hi>pouere peple</hi>.</note> of þe parisch  schulde haue . if þei ne were</l>
<hi>Curatis</hi>
<l><hi>P</hi>ersounes & p<expan>ar</expan>isch prestis  pleyneden<note>O.P.83: O alone has the form <hi>pleyneden</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>pleyned</hi>.</note> hem to þe bischop </l>
O.P.84KD.P.84
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t her parisches weren pore  siþ þe pestelence tyme</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o haue a licence & leue  at london to dwelle</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd syngen þere for symonye  for siluer is swete</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ischoppis & bacheleris  boþe maystres & doctouris</l>
O.P.88KD.P.88
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at han cure vndir crist  & crownyng in tokene</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd signe . þ<expan>a</expan>t þei schulden  schryuen her parischenes</l>
<l><hi>P</hi>rechen & preye for hem  & þe pore fede</l>
<l><hi>L</hi>iggen in london  in lente<expan>n</expan> and ellis</l>
O.P.92KD.P.92
<l><hi>S</hi>u<expan>m</expan>me s<expan>er</expan>uen þe kyng  & his siluer tellen</l>
<l><hi>I</hi>n checker & in chauncerie  chalengen hise dettis</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f wardis of<note>O.P.94: HmOC<hi>2</hi>H alone have <hi>of</hi>; variants include <hi>&</hi> (CrGYCLM) and <hi>and of</hi> (WRFH).</note> wardmotes  of weyues of<note>O.P.94: HmOC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>of</hi> in place of <hi>and</hi> before <hi>streyues</hi>.</note> streyues</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd su<expan>m</expan>me s<expan>er</expan>uen as s<expan>er</expan>uauntis  lordis & ladyes</l>
O.P.96KD.P.96
<l><hi>A</hi>nd in stede of stiwardis  sitten & demen</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>er messe & her mateyns  & many of her ouris</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>rn doon vn<seg>-</seg>deuoutliche  drede is at þe last</l>
<l><hi>L</hi>est crist in consistorie  curse<note>O.P.99: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>curse</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>acorse</hi>.</note> ful many</l>
O.P.100KD.P.100
<l><hi>I</hi> p<expan>ar</expan>ceyuede of þe power  þat peter hadde to kepe</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o bynde & to vnbynde  as þe book telliþ</l>
<l><hi>H</hi>ow he . it self<note>O.P.102: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>self</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>lefte</hi>.</note> wiþ loue  as oure lord hyȝte</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>mong<expan>ys</expan> foure v<expan>er</expan>tues  þe best of alle vertues</l>
O.P.104KD.P.104
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at cardynalis ben clepid  & closyng ȝatis</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ere crist is in kyngdam  to close & to schitte</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd to opene it to hem  & heuene blis schewe</l>
<milestone>fol. 2vI</milestone>
<l><hi>A</hi>c of þe cardynalis at court  þat cauȝten of þat name</l>
O.P.108KD.P.108
<l><hi>A</hi>c<note>O.P.108: O alone has <hi>Ac</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>And</hi>.</note> power p<expan>re</expan>sumeden<note>O.P.108: O alone has <hi>presumeden</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>presumed</hi>.</note> in hem  a pope to make</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o haue þat power þat petir hadde  Impugne it<note>O.P.109: OC<hi>2</hi> alone include <hi>it</hi> before <hi>I</hi>.</note> I nylle</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or in loue & lettrure  þe elecciou<expan>n</expan> bilongeþ</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or<seg>-</seg>þi I can & I<note>O.P.111: OC<hi>2</hi>H alone include <hi>I</hi> before the second occurrence of <hi>can</hi>.</note> can not  of court speke more</l>
O.P.112KD.P.112
<l><hi>Þ</hi>anne cam þ<expan>er</expan> a kyng  knyȝthod hym ladde</l>
<l><hi>M</hi>yȝt of þe comunes  made hym to regne</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd þanne kam kynde witt  & klerkis he made</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or to counceyle þe kyng  & þe comune saue</l>
O.P.116KD.P.116
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e kyng & knyȝthod  & clergye boþe</l>
<l><hi>C</hi>asten þ<expan>a</expan>t þe comune  schulden<note>O.P.117: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>schulden</hi> in place of <hi>sholde</hi>.</note> hem<seg>-</seg>self fynde</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e comune contreuede  of kynde witt . craftes</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd for p<expan>ro</expan>fiȝt of al þe peple  plowmen ordeyneden<note>O.P.119: O alone has the form <hi>ordeyneden</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>ordeyned</hi>.</note></l>
O.P.120KD.P.120
<l><hi>T</hi>o tilie & trauayle  as trewe lijf askeþ</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e kyng & þe comune  & kynde witt . þe þridde</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>chopen lawe & leute  iche man to knowe his owne</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>anne lokede vp a lunatyk  a lene þing wiþ<seg>-</seg>al</l>
O.P.124KD.P.124
<l><hi>A</hi>nd knelynge to þe kyng  clergiali he seyde</l>
<l><hi>C</hi>rist kepe <add>þee</add> sir kyng  & <del>þe</del> þi kyng<seg>-</seg>riche</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd lene þee to<note>O.P.126: OYC<hi>2</hi>M alone include <hi>to</hi> before <hi>lede</hi>.</note> lede þi lond  so leute þee louye</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd for þi riȝtful rewlyng  be rewardid in heuene</l>
O.P.128KD.P.128
<l><hi>A</hi>nd siþþen in þe eir on hyȝ  an aungel of heuene</l>
<l><hi>L</hi>owede to speke in latyn  for lewede men ne kouden<note>O.P.129: OC<hi>2</hi>M alone have the form <hi>kouden</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>koude</hi>.</note></l>
<l><hi>I</hi>angle ne Iugge  þat Iustifie hem schulde</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut suffren & s<expan>er</expan>uen  for<seg>-</seg>þi seyde þe aungel</l>
<foreign>v<expan>ersus</expan></foreign>
O.P.132KD.P.132
<l><foreign><hi><hi>S</hi>u<expan>m</expan> rex su<expan>m</expan> p<expan>ri</expan>nceps  neutru<expan>m</expan> fortasse deinceps</hi></foreign></l>
<l><foreign><hi>O q<expan>ui</expan> iura regis  cristi . sp<expan>eci</expan>alia regis</hi></foreign></l>
<l><foreign><hi>Hoc quod agas meli<expan>us</expan>  iust<expan>us</expan> es . esto pius</hi></foreign></l>
<l><foreign><hi>Nudu<expan>m</expan> ius a te  vestiri vult pietate</hi></foreign></l>
O.P.136KD.P.136
<l><foreign><hi>Qualia vis metere  talia g<expan>ra</expan>na sere</hi></foreign></l>
<l><foreign><hi>Si ius nudat<expan>ur</expan>  nudo de iure metat<expan>ur</expan></hi></foreign></l>
<l><foreign><hi>Si serit<expan>ur</expan> pietas  de pietate metas</hi></foreign><note>O.P.138: A bracket in the right margin connects the preceding seven lines; horizontal wavy lines join each line of text to the bracket.</note></l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>a<expan>n</expan>ne greuede hym a goliardeys  a glotoun of wordis</l>
O.P.140KD.P.140
<l><hi>A</hi>nd to þe aungel on hyȝ  answerede after</l>
<foreign>v<expan>ersus</expan></foreign>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>C</hi>u<expan>m</expan><note>O.P.141: YOC<hi>2</hi>C alone have <foreign><hi>Cum</hi></foreign> in place of <foreign><hi>Dum</hi></foreign>.</note> rex a regere  dicat<expan>ur</expan> nomen habere</hi></foreign></l>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>N</hi>omen habet sine re  nisi studet iura tenere</hi></foreign><note>O.P.142: A bracket in the right margin connects the preceding two lines; a wavy line joins l. 141 to the bracket.</note></l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>anne gan alle þe comunes  crie . in vers of latyn</l>
O.P.144KD.P.144
<l><hi>T</hi>o þe kyng<expan>ys</expan> counceyl  construe . who<seg>-</seg>so wolde</l>
<foreign>v<expan>ersus</expan></foreign>
<l><foreign><hi><hi>P</hi>recepta regis  sunt nobis vincula legis</hi></foreign><note>O.P.145: This line is followed by three ticks.</note></l>
<milestone>fol. 3rI</milestone>
<hi>Ratounes .</hi>
<l><hi>W</hi>iþ þat ran þer a route  of ratounes at ones </l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd smale myce wiþ hem  moo þan a þousand</l>
O.P.148KD.P.148
<l><hi>A</hi>nd comen to a counceyl  for her comune p<expan>ro</expan>fiȝt</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or a cat of a court  cam whanne hym likede</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd ou<expan>er</expan>leepe hem lyȝtly  & lauȝte hem at his wille</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd pleyede wiþ he<expan>m</expan> p<expan>er</expan>elouslich  & possede he<expan>m</expan> aboute</l>
O.P.152KD.P.152
<l><hi>F</hi>or doute of dyuerse dedes<note>O.P.152: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>dedes</hi> in place of <hi>drede(s)</hi>.</note>  we doren<note>O.P.152: O alone has <hi>doren</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>dar</hi>.</note> not wel loke</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd if we grucchen of hys gamen  he wole g<add>r</add>eue vs alle</l>
<l><hi>C</hi>racche vs & clawe vs  & in hise cloches holde</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>a</expan>t vs loþeþ þe lijf  or he lete vs passe</l>
O.P.156KD.P.156
<l><hi>M</hi>yȝten<note>O.P.156: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>Myȝten</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>Miȝte</hi>.</note> we wiþ any witt  his wille wiþ<seg>-</seg>stonde</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>e myȝten be lordis a<seg>-</seg>loft  & lyuen at oure ese</l>
<l><hi>A</hi> Ratou<expan>n</expan> of renou<expan>n</expan>  moost renable of tunge</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>eyde for a souereyn  help . to hym<seg>-</seg>seluen<note>O.P.159: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have <hi>hym-seluen</hi>; all other beta witnesses have <hi>hymselue</hi>.</note></l>
O.P.160KD.P.160
<l><hi>I</hi> haue seyn segges quod he  in þe cite of london</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>eren byes ful bryȝt  abouten her neckis</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd su<expan>m</expan>me colers of crafty werk  vncoupled þei wenden</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>oþe in wareyn & in wast  where hem leue likiþ</l>
O.P.164KD.P.164
<l><hi>A</hi>nd oþ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>whyle . þei arn ell<expan>is</expan><seg>-</seg>where  as I here telle</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>ere þ<expan>er</expan> a belle on her byes<note>O.P.165: YOC alone have the plural form.</note>  bi <expan>iesu</expan> as me þinkeþ</l>
<l><hi>M</hi>en myȝten wite where þei wenten<note>O.P.166: OC<hi>2</hi> alone have the form <hi>wenten</hi> in place of <hi>wente</hi>.</note>  & awey renne</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd riȝt so quod þe<note>O.P.167:   GOC<hi>2</hi>F alone have <hi>þe</hi> in place of <hi>þat</hi>.</note> ratou<expan>n</expan>  resou<expan>n</expan> me schewiþ</l>
O.P.168KD.P.168
<l><hi>T</hi>o bigge a belle of brasse  or of bryȝt siluer</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd knytte on a koler  for oure comune p<expan>ro</expan>fiȝt</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd hange it vp<seg>-</seg>on þe cattis hals  þa<expan>n</expan>ne . here we mowen<note>O.P.170: This and the preceding line are encompassed by a very lightly written red parenthesis in the right margin.</note></l>
<l><hi>W</hi>here he rit or restiþ  or renneþ to pleye</l>
O.P.172KD.P.172
<l><hi>A</hi>nd if hym liste for to layke  þa<expan>n</expan>ne loke we mowen</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd peren in his p<expan>re</expan>sence  þ<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>while hym pleye likiþ</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd if hym wraþþeþ be ywar  & his weye schonye</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>l þis route of ratounes  to þis resou<expan>n</expan> assenteden<note>O.P.175: O alone has the form <hi>assenteden</hi> in place of <hi>assented</hi>.</note></l>
O.P.176KD.P.176
<l><hi>A</hi>c þoo þe belle was I<seg>-</seg>bouȝt  & on þe bye hangyd</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi><expan>er</expan> ne was ratoun in al þe route  for al þe rewme of fraunce</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at durste haue bounde þe belle  aboute þe cattis necke</l>
<l><hi>N</hi>e hangen it aboute þe cattis hals  al Englond to wynne<note>O.P.179: The letter <E> has been rewritten in the right margin in the main scribal hand, apparently because the <E> in <hi>Englond</hi> is ill-formed.</note></l>
O.P.180KD.P.180
<l><hi>A</hi>nd helden hem vnhardi  & her counceyl feble</l>
<hi>Myce</hi>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd leeten her labour lost  & her longe studie </l>
<l><hi>A</hi> mous þat myche good  couþe . as me þouȝte</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>troke forþ sterneli  & stode bi<seg>-</seg>forn hem alle</l>
O.P.184KD.P.184
<l><hi>A</hi>nd to þe<note>O.P.184: OC<hi>2</hi> alone here lack the object of the prepositional phrase, and thus the first alliterating stave. Most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>route of</hi>.</note> ratounes  rehercede þeise wordis</l>
aiij
<milestone>fol. 3vI</milestone>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ouȝ we killeden<note>O.P.175: O alone has the form <hi>killeden</hi>; variants include <hi>haddyn kyllyd</hi> (F), <hi>had Iculled</hi> (R), <hi>kylled</hi> (C<hi>2</hi>), <hi>kulled</hi> (CLM), <hi>killen</hi> (WHmG), and <hi>kylle</hi> (HYCr).</note> þe cat  ȝet schulde þ<expan>er</expan> come an<seg>-</seg>oþ<expan>er</expan></l>
<l><hi>T</hi>o cracche vs and al oure kynde  þouȝ we cropen vnd<expan>er</expan> benchis</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or<seg>-</seg>þi I cou<expan>n</expan>ceyle al þe comune  to latte þe cat worthe</l>
O.P.188KD.P.188
<l><hi>A</hi>nd be we neu<expan>er</expan>e so bold  þe belle hym to schewe</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or I herde my sire seyn  is seuene ȝer ypassed</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ere þe cat is a kitou<expan>n</expan>  þe court is ful elenge</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>at witnessiþ holi writ  who<seg>-</seg>so wole it rede</l>
O.P.192KD.P.196
<l><foreign><hi><hi>V</hi>e t<expan>er</expan>re  vbi puer est Rex<note>O.P.192: HmOC<hi>2</hi>R alone transpose <foreign><hi>Rex est</hi></foreign>.</note> & c<expan>etera</expan> .</hi></foreign></l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or may no renke þere rest haue  for ratou<expan>n</expan>s bi nyȝt</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e whyle he cacchiþ conynges  he coueitiþ not oure careyne</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut fet hym wiþ venysou<expan>n</expan>  defame we hym neuere</l>
O.P.196KD.P.191
<l><hi>F</hi>or better is a litil losse  þan a longe sorwe</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>e mase among<expan>ys</expan> vs alle  þouȝ we mysse a schrewe</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or many me<expan>n</expan>nys malt  we myce wolden distroye</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd also þe route of ratou<expan>n</expan>s  rende me<expan>n</expan>nys cloþis</l>
O.P.200KD.P.200
<l><hi>N</hi>ere þat cat of þat court  þat can ȝow ou<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>lepe</l>
<l><hi>F</hi>or hadden<note>O.P.201: O alone has the form <hi>hadden</hi> in place of <hi>hadde</hi> or omission.</note> ȝe rattis ȝoure wille  ȝe couþen<note>O.P.201: O alone has the form <hi>couþen</hi> in place of <hi>kouþe</hi>.</note> not reule ȝow<seg>-</seg>selue</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> seye for me quod þe mous  I se so mykil after</l>
<l><hi>S</hi>chal neuere þe cat ne þe kitou<expan>n</expan>  bi my cou<expan>n</expan>ceyl be greuyd</l>
O.P.204KD.P.204
<l><hi>N</hi>e carpyng of þis coler  þat costede me neuere</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd þouȝ it hadde cost me catel  biknowe it . I nolde</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>ut suffre . as hym<seg>-</seg>self wolde  to do as hym likiþ</l>
<l><hi>C</hi>ouplid & vncouplid  to cacche . what þei mowen</l>
O.P.208KD.P.208
<l><hi>F</hi>or<seg>-</seg>þi . iche a wyse wyȝt  I warne . wite wel his owne</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>hat þeise<note>O.P.209: YOC<hi>2</hi> alone have the plural form.</note> metels bemenett<note>O.P.209:It would seem that O alone has <hi>bemenett</hi>, which Kane and Donaldson do not record. C<hi>2</hi> has <hi>bemenet</hi>.</note>  ȝe men þat ben myrie</l>
<l><hi>D</hi>yuyne ȝe . for I ne dar  bi dere god in heuene</l>
<l><hi>Ȝ</hi>et houeden<note>O.P.211: O alone has the form <hi>houeden</hi>; most <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>houed</hi>.</note> þere an hundred in howues of silk</l>
O.P.212KD.P.212
<l><hi>S</hi>ergeauntis it semeden  þat s<expan>er</expan>ueden at þe barre</l>
<l><hi>P</hi>lededen for penyes  & poundis . þe lawe</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd not for loue of oure lord  vnlose her lippis ones</l>
<l><hi>Þ</hi>ow myȝtist better . mete <add>þe</add> myst  on malu<expan>er</expan>en hillis</l>
O.P.216KD.P.216
<l><hi>Þ</hi>an gete a mu<expan>m</expan>me of her mouþe  but money be schewid</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>arou<expan>n</expan>s & burgeys  and bonde<seg>-</seg>men also</l>
<l><hi>I</hi> seyȝ in þis assemble  as ȝe schul here after</l>
<l><hi>B</hi>axters & brewsters  and bocheris manye</l>
O.P.220KD.P.220
<l><hi>W</hi>ollen websteris  and weueris of lynnen</l>
<l><hi>T</hi>aylouris & tynkeris  & tolleris in markettis</l>
<l><hi>M</hi>asou<expan>n</expan>s & mynouris  & many oþere craftis</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f alle kyn libbynge laboreris  lopen forþ su<expan>m</expan>me</l>
<milestone>fol. 4rI</milestone>
O.P.224KD.P.224
<l><hi>A</hi>s dykers & deluers . þat doon her dedis ille <note>O.P.224: In the top right margin of this folio is a mark resembling an <n>, partially effaced by smearing with water. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 2.</note></l>
<l><hi>A</hi>nd dryuen forþ þe longe day . wiþ <foreign>dieu vous saue dame Emme</foreign></l>
<hi>Cookes</hi>
<l><hi>C</hi>ookes & her knaues  cryeden hote pyes hote </l>
<l><hi>G</hi>oode gees & grys  go we dyne go we</l>
O.P.228KD.P.228
<l><hi>T</hi>au<expan>er</expan>ners vn<seg>-</seg>til hem  tolden þe same</l>
<l><hi>W</hi>hyte wiyn of Oseye  & rede wiyn of Gascoigne</l>
<l><hi>O</hi>f þe Ryne & of<note>O.P.230: O alone lacks <hi>þe</hi> before <hi>Rochel</hi>.</note> Rochel  þe roost to deffye</l>
<l><hi>A</hi>l þis sawe I slepynge  & seuene syþes more .</l>
</div1>
MED